Periodically, I put this information out on the web or in the paper. If you are interested in serving on any of these committees, please feel free to contact me, as, in many cases, I make the appointments for the committees, with approval from the Council. There are other special and limited-term committees which we put together from time-to-time. One is the Community Appearance Team, which has been making some great recommendations on improving the look of the community. We are also considering a committee to come up with recommendations on a revamped, graphically-improved city website, and a committee to explore options for improving the Silver Creek corridor. Stay tuned. Several of our committees will have openings in 2009. If you are interested, please email me or call me at 920-291-5250. Now, on to the existing committees:
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC MEMBERSHIP
Board of Review: The board of review has the powers and duties as established by state statues. Membership consists of the mayor, city administrator, a council member from each district, and the assessor, who is not entitled to a vote. The board meets annually in city hall on the date(s) set by state statue.
Ripon Area Fire District Governing Board: The fire district board governs all operations of the Ripon Area Fire District. The fire district serves the City of Ripon and Towns of Ripon and Nepeuskun. It is supported by assessments to each of the members. The board is represented by four members from the city council, two from Town of Ripon and one from Town of Nepeuskun. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 in the fire station conference room. September and November.
OPEN TO PUBLIC MEMBERSHIP
Board of Zoning Appeals: The board of zoning appeals considers and approves zoning variance requests. The board is made up of five members plus two alternates. Memebers serve three-year terms. Meetings are held as needed on the third Wednesday of the month at 5:00 PM in city hall.
Business Improvement District: The primary mission of the business improvement district (BID) is to assist in efforts to: a) Achieve a livable, attractive, economically viable, and dynamic downtown, b) Improve and maintain the quality of life in the downtown, c) Encourage economic vitality in the Ripon area. BID activities are supported by a special assessment on properties in the district. The majority of the members must own property within the business improvement district. Members serve a three-year term. Meetings are held at a time and location determined by the board.
Cable TV Committee: The cable TV committee serves in an advisory capacity to the mayor and council with regard to development and enforcement of specific rules and regulations relating to the use of the city's public cable TV channels and to make recommendations concerning cable TV program offierings. Membership consists of one each from the Ripon school district, Ripon College, Ripon library, city government and two at large. Members serve a five-year term. The committee meets in city hall as needed.
Historic Preservation Commission: The historic preservation commission considers matters relating to the protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of improvements or sites of special character, archeological, architectural, or historic interest or value. Members serve a three-year term and are city residents, including one plan commission member. Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at 5:00 PM in the city hall conference room.
Hospital Board of Directors: The purpose of the hospital board is to support, benefit, promote and otherwise assist the health care activities of the Ripon Medical Center (RMC). The RMC buildings are owned by the city and leased to an independent corporation. Five of the nine directors are appointed by the mayor, one of whom must be an elected official of the city and the hospital board appoints four directors. Members serve a three-year term. The board meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 5:15 PM at the Ripon Medical Center. This is a non-public meeting.
Housing and Community Development Authority: The housing and community development authority (CDA) acts as agent of the city in planning and carrying out community development programs and activities. Membership is seven residents, two of which are members of the city council. Members serve a four-year term. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month in the city hall conference room at 6:00 PM.
Library Board: The library board has exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected, donated or appropriated for the library fund and the supervision, care and custody of the library and reading rooms. Its seven members are residents of the City of Ripon or surrounding towns. No more than two are town residents and one must be a school district administrator or representative. Members serve a three-year term. Meetings are held the last Tuesday of the month at the library at 6:30 PM.
Loan Review Board :The loan review board makes standards and policy recommendations and reviews, selects and recommends loan applications to the city council. Membership is the mayor, city clerk, city council representative, president of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, president of the Ripon Community Development Corporation, city resident and an executive officer from each of the state and/or federally chartered commercial lending institutions in the City of Ripon. Terms are continuous except bi-annually for the council representative and a three-year term for the city resident. Meetings are held as needed in the city hall conference room.
Park and Recreation Committee: The park and recreation committee advises and assists the city recreation director, city administrator, city council and the board of public works in planning and developing the Ripon park system to include parks, open spaces, forestry, waterwasy and other related areas. The committee consists of five members, including one representative from the city council. Members serve a four-year term. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month except December and January at 5:00 PM in the city hall conference room.
Plan Commission: The plan commission has the powers and duties prescribed in Section 62.23, Wisconsin Statutes and such other powers and duties vested in them by law or the city council. The commission considers matters regarding the physical development of the city, such as site development, conditional use, planned unit development, re-zoning, etc. It's seven members are made up of four citizens, the city engineer, an council member and the mayor. Members serve a three-year term. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the city hall conference room.
Police Commission: The police commission has all the powers and duties delegated to it in Section 62.13, Wisconsin Statutes excepting the optional powers in Section 62.13 (6) and any additional powers designated by the city council. Members serve a five-year term. Meetings are held ervery other month on the third Wednesday at 7:00 PM in city hall - January, March, May, July, Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission assists a private operator to establish, operate and maintain a public transportation service,or in failing this, to move to implement a regular limited transit service for senior citizens in conjunction with the senior citizen center and the area council on aging. Membership consists of four citizens and one council member. Members serve a four-year term. Meetings are held when necessary.
