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, April 22, 2026  
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 5:30 PM.  
Staff Present: Alex DeSmidt, Laura Hicklin, Lael Pascual, Sharene Smith,  
Joleen Stinson.  
Others Present: Tony Abate.  
Youth Governance Program Member Aleena Sanghvan present.  
6 -  
Present:  
NANCY BOGUE, STEFANIE BROUWER, TOM THORESEN, KRISTIE GOFORTH,  
DON POSTLER and JASMINE BANKS  
1 - ANALIESE EICHER  
Excused:  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes of the March 25, 2026 Park Commission  
2025  
MIN-661  
Attachments: 2025 MIN-661 Park Commission Minutes 03-25-26  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by BANKS, that the Minutes be  
approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
C. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)  
AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING  
ADDENDUM FOR 2026 FROM THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF  
NATURAL RESOURCES  
1. 2025  
RES-430  
CHAWLA  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-430  
2025 RES-430 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by BOGUE, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
ACCEPTANCE OF A WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL  
RESOURCES GRANT TO REPLACE SNOWMOBILE TRAIL BRIDGE ON  
PRIVATE PROPERTY  
2. 2025  
RES-431  
CHAWLA  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-431  
2025 RES-431 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-431 CONTRACT #16294  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by BANKS, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
AUTHORIZING THE EXTINGUISHMENT OF .4 ACRES OF CONSERVATION  
EASEMENT FOR HIGHWAY 51 PROJECT  
3. 2025  
RES-433  
CHAWLA and RYLANDER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-433  
2025 RES-433 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-433 MAP  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Resolution  
Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a  
voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
AUTHORIZING A TEMPORARY LIMITED EASEMENT ON A CONSERVATION  
EASEMENT FOR HIGHWAY 51 PROJECT  
4. 2025  
RES-434  
CHAWLA and RYLANDER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-434  
2025 RES-434 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-434 MAP  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by BANKS, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
AUTHORIZING THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF LAND IN THE LOWER  
MUD LAKE NATURAL RESOURCE AREA AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE  
HO-CHUNK NATION AND GROUNDSWELL CONSERVANCY  
5. 2025  
RES-435  
MILES, BARUSHOK and BRANDMEIER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2025 RES-435  
2025 RES-435 FISCAL NOTE  
2025 RES-435 MAP  
Tony Abate, Groundswell Conservancy's Senior Director of Conservation,  
spoke in support of this resolution.  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Resolution  
be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION OF THE  
WALKING IRON TRAIL  
6. 2026  
RES-001  
ENGELBERGER  
Sponsors:  
Attachments: 2026 RES-001  
2026 RES-001 FISCAL NOTE  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by BANKS, that the Resolution be  
recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0, YGP 1-0.  
D. Items Requiring Committee Action  
E. Presentations  
F. Reports to Committee  
1. Review 2027 Park Fee Recommendations  
Draft 2027 park fee proposal includes an increase for annual permits, camping  
and shelter reservations, as well as an increase in daily permit fees to align with  
the new state park entry rate of $13, and more substantial increases for  
non-Dane County residents, including the introduction of non-resident rates for  
permits that do not currently include that category. Resident annual  
cross-country ski permit fees will not be increased, recognizing that climate  
change continues to make snow conditions in southern Wisconsin increasingly  
unreliable. Cooperative permit partners have been notified of the proposed  
changes. Commissioners expressed support for the draft proposal, allowing  
public outreach and communication to begin in mid-May in preparation for the  
public hearing scheduled for June 10.  
Proposed 2027 Park Fees  
2026  
RPT-004  
Attachments: Proposed 2027 Park Fees  
YGP Aleena Sanghvan left the meeting at 6:23 PM.  
2. Ribbon Cutting at Mendota County Park  
Friday, May 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM  
G. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. Thursday, May 7, 2026 Joint Meeting DATE CHANGE  
Tentative New Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026  
Land & Water Resources Department  
5201 Fen Oak Drive, Madison  
2. Wednesday, May 27, 2026  
Heritage Center  
3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison  
H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
J. Closed Session  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Meeting  
enter into closed session. The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, Vice Chair BROUWER, Chair THORESEN, Second Vice Chair  
GOFORTH, Supervisor POSTLER and BANKS  
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).  
K. Return to Open Session  
A motion was made by BROUWER that the Meeting exit out of closed session.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Ayes:  
BOGUE, Vice Chair BROUWER, Chair THORESEN, Second Vice Chair  
GOFORTH, Supervisor POSTLER and BANKS  
L. Adjourn  
A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by GOFORTH, that the Meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.  
Meeting adjourned 7:11 PM.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Joleen Stinson, pending Park Commission approval.