As Sturgeon Bay City Hall was buzzing with last-minute voters casting their ballots, the Common Council was busy in Council Chambers with its meeting Tuesday evening addressing the 2025 budget and several agenda items dealing with several housing projects.

After a short public hearing on the tentative 2025 budget and tax levy, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council unanimously approved the $8.4 million budget, which reflects a 3.9 percent increase over last year. 

A recommendation by the City Plan Commission on a modification of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for property located at 1361 North 14th Avenue was approved.  The new wording will allow the developer, Estes Investments, to have two four-unit buildings instead of an eight-unit structure.   The first reading of the ordinance change was approved as well.  Later in the meeting, the council approved an amendment to the original development agreement.

Another housing project for a 58-unit multiple-family residential development received preliminary PUD approval for a building at the corner of Georgia Street and North 14th Avenue by Spoerl Commercial.

A development agreement revision for the Hampton Inn located at Egg Harbor Road and North 12th Avenue was approved.  The developer of the 81-room hotel, now known as Sturgeon Bay Hotel, LLC., will now have until April 1st, 2025, to acquire the property and until June 30th, 2026, for completion, and construction would start in spring 2025.

Mayor David Ward ended the meeting by recognizing council member Helen Bacon for spearheading the art movement within Sturgeon Bay and recently having received an award on behalf of the city.