Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Park Commission  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, August 27, 2025  
5:30 PM  
Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at the  
Heritage Center Upper Level, 3101 Lake  
Farm Rd, Madison; attend virtually via Zoom  
A. Call To Order  
Chair Thoresen called the Park Commission Meeting to order at 5:34 PM.  
Staff Present: Lael Pascual, Andy Paulios, Sharene Smith, Joleen Stinson,  
Summer Thoresten.  
Others Present: Andrew Bremer, Claire Finucane, Tyler Mclaughlin.  
4 - NANCY BOGUE, TOM THORESEN, DON POSTLER and JASMINE BANKS  
Present:  
3 - STEFANIE BROUWER, ANALIESE EICHER and KRISTIE GOFORTH  
Excused:  
B. Public Hearing for Dane County Parks Proposed 2026 Fees  
Chair Thoresen opened the Public Hearing at 5:40 PM. There were no meeting  
attendees in person, no virtual registrations, and no communications received  
related to the proposed 2026 Dane County Park fees. Chair Thoresen closed  
the Public Hearing at 5:43 PM.  
Dane County Parks Fee History With Proposed 2026 Fees  
2025  
RPT-209  
Attachments: Park Permit & Educational Program Fees Proposed 2026  
C. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the July 9, 2025 Park Commission Meeting  
2025  
MIN-198  
Attachments: 2025 MIN-198 Park Commission Minutes 07-09-2025  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by BOGUE, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0.  
D. Presentations  
1. Conservation Fund Grant Application from the Village of McFarland for a land  
purchase, Lower Yahara River Trail  
Andrew Bremer from the Village of McFarland presented a proposed land  
acquisition project to complete a missing segment of the Lower Yahara River  
Trail. The Village is requesting approximately $185,000 from the Dane County  
Conservation Fund Grant program.  
Village of McFarland Conservation Fund Grant Request Presentation  
2025  
RPT-318  
Attachments: McFarland_Bashford Street  
2. Conservation Fund Grant Application from the Ice Age Trail Alliance for a land  
purchase, Ice Age Trail, Table Bluff Segment  
Claire Finucane from the Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) presented a proposed  
land acquisition project that would connect to existing public and IATA-owned  
lands and relocate a 0.7-mile on-road segment to a new off-road alignment. The  
IATA is requesting approximately $557,000 from the Dane County Conservation  
Fund Grant program.  
Ice Age Trail Alliance Conservation Fund Grant Request Presentation  
2025  
RPT-319  
Attachments: IATA_Brooks  
E. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
AUTHORIZING THE BIDDING AND SUBSEQUENT PURCHASE OF 7874 FISH LAKE ROAD  
1. 2025  
RES-129  
DOOLAN, ENGELBERGER, POSTLER and BLAZEWICZ  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-129  
2025 RES-129 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-129 AREA MAP  
2025 RES-129 SUBJECT MAP  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by BOGUE, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-0.  
AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM  
FUNDING FROM WisDOT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOWER YAHARA  
RIVER TRAIL INTERPRETATIVE SIGN  
2. 2025  
RES-130  
CHAWLA, BARUSHOK, ENGELBERGER and BLAZEWICZ  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-130  
2025 RES-130 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-130 CONTRACT #15927  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by BOGUE, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 4-0.  
ACCEPTANCE OF A WDNR PHEASANT STAMP GRANT FOR HABITAT  
IMPROVEMENTS  
3. 2025  
RES-131  
CHAWLA, ENGELBERGER, POSTLER and BLAZEWICZ  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-131  
2025 RES-131 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-131 CONTRACT #15928  
A motion was made by BOGUE, seconded by POSTLER, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 4-0.  
ACCEPTANCE OF A WDNR TURKEY STAMP GRANT FOR HABITAT  
IMPROVEMENTS  
4. 2025  
RES-132  
CHAWLA, ENGELBERGER, POSTLER and BLAZEWICZ  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-132  
2025 RES-132 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-132 CONTRACT #15929  
A motion was made by BOGUE, seconded by POSTLER, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 4-0.  
F. Items Requiring Committee Action  
G. Reports to Committee  
1. Anderson Farm County Park Community Garden Management RFP  
Joleen Stinson presented an overview of community gardening initiatives  
included in the 2025-2030 Parks and Open Space Plan. Current garden sites  
are operated through nonprofit partners at several county parks.The Anderson  
Farm Garden is nearing the end of its current management contract, and staff  
will issue a new RFP for a five-year contract (2026-2030) to select a qualified  
nonprofit operator. The RFP is expected to be issued in early September.  
Anderson Farm County Park Community Agriculture Request for Proposals  
Presentation  
2025  
RPT-317  
Attachments: Anderson Farm Co Park Community Agriculture RFP Powerpoint  
H. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Wednesday, September 10, 2025  
*note 5:00 PM start time and only discuss pressing businsess  
Heritage Center  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
2. Wednesday, October 22, 2025  
Heritage Center  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
I. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
J. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
K. Closed Session  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by EICHER, that the Meeting enter  
into closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
4 - BOGUE, Chair THORESEN, Supervisor POSTLER and BANKS  
Ayes:  
The Commission (or Committee) met in closed session for the purpose of deliberating or  
negotiating the purchasing or acquiring of property where open discussion of bargaining  
positions and strategies would discourage bargaining and harm the public's interest in  
obtaining properties. The authority for this possible closed session is Wis.Stat.19.85(1)  
(e).  
Supervisor Analiese Eicher and Kristie GoForth joined the meeting at 6:35 PM.  
6 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, ANALIESE EICHER, TOM THORESEN, KRISTIE GOFORTH,  
DON POSTLER and JASMINE BANKS  
1 - STEFANIE BROUWER  
Excused:  
L. Return to Open Session  
A motion was made by POSTLER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Meeting exit  
out of closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, Supervisor EICHER, Chair THORESEN, Second Vice Chair GOFORTH,  
Supervisor POSTLER and BANKS  
M. Adjourn  
A motion was made by BOGUE that the Meeting be adjourned. The motion  
carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
Meeting adjourned 6:57 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.