Alderperson District 1· 2024-04-16–2028-04-01 (start 2024-04-16 per Re-Organizational Council Minutes oath of office for 2024 class, re-sworn 2026-04-21 per Council Organizational Meeting Minutes; month-level end: April 2028 - two-year term, successors sworn at the April organizational meeting)
Sherri Ames
Lake Geneva
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 45
- Total speaking time
- 1:07:50
- Avg per meeting
- 1:30
- Segments
- 1138
Want every word Ames has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Ames said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
2027 Budgets and Capital Improvement Planning
The city budget being crafted now will determine spending and tax levels for the coming year.
Future Public Safety Facility and Edwards Boulevard Land Purchase
A purchase and future facility could involve tens of millions of dollars and affect property taxes; the parcel coming off the tax rolls would reduce revenue.
Changing City Attorney from elected to appointed position
Cost of an elected versus appointed attorney is unknown — alders said a cost comparison is needed before any referendum.
Highway 50 construction update
State disaster reimbursement of roughly 70% for July 3 storm damage is being documented; storm costs will exceed the $104,000 preliminary estimate.
Highway 50 project
State disaster reimbursement of roughly 70% for July 3 storm damage is being documented; storm costs will exceed the $104,000 preliminary estimate.
YMCA Funding Dispute and Process Breakdown
None directly — the failed motion would only have authorized feasibility discussions with a report due by November 30.
Hillmoor property future use
Roughly $300,000 is expected over the first three years of restoration work, with costs dropping after that.
Child Safety Zones Ordinance Update
Peller Property Land Use Map Amendment
The attorney for the Pellers says the town currently collects only about $4,000 a year in property taxes on the land, so any tax shift would be minimal.
Cemetery Stewardship Fund creation
Revenue increases intended to make the cemetery self-sustaining; current rates are far below regional comparables.
Public Works Mechanic Position
The mechanic position is unbudgeted for 2027; funding decisions would come in the 2028 budget cycle.
Symphony Bay path surface and erosion concerns
Gravel is cheaper to maintain than mulch, and the no-plowing condition avoids winter plowing costs, though Fesenmaier seeks a dedicated maintenance line item.
Broad Street and Highway 120 construction
State disaster reimbursement of roughly 70% for July 3 storm damage is being documented; storm costs will exceed the $104,000 preliminary estimate.
2026 Lead Service Line Replacement Project
Cost not yet specified until bids come in next year.
Preliminary 2026 Sidewalk Assessments
Assessments range from $15.40 to over $5,000 per parcel, payable over ten years for larger amounts.
Storm Damage and Veterans Park Playground
The capital improvement plan included roughly $1.2 million toward a multipurpose building at the park.
Future lakefront Capital Improvement Projects
Permanent docks could save roughly $100,000 a year in seasonal install/removal costs; a new pier would be expensive but potentially donor-funded.
Otty's and Mashtun Brewing building at 140 Broad St
Adds a commercial business to the downtown tax base.
Fence CUP Denial at 533 Spring Street
Alder agenda item request process
No direct cost — this is about procedure, though opponents say slower routing wastes meeting time.
Decisions during term (436)
Recorded while Ames was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Add $75,000 Veterans Park playground edging to capital plan
Consent Agenda (items 10.a–10.f)
Ordinance 26-11 — Televised meetings for Personnel and Standing Committees
Charter Ordinance No. 195 — City Attorney appointment amendment
Resolution 26-R59 — Publish 2027 budget public hearing notice
Surplus auction items list — Department of Public Works
Hydrant relocation and new hydrant installation (PIN ZYUP00131)
Joint public hearing date for Peller Investments land use map amendment
Child Safety Zones — adopt Map D framework
Letter of intent — Alta Vista Foundation $5 million Hillmoor donation
Adjournment
Approval of September 21, 2026 meeting minutes
Downtown Design Review — sandwich board sign at 772 W Main Street (PC-2026-067)
Site Plan Review — mural at 600 N Edwards Boulevard (PC-2026-056)
Alley vacation in Watson's Boulevard Addition (PC-2026-073)
Conditional Use Permit for billiard parlor at 772 W Main Street (PC-2026-055)
Planned Development PIP for 140 Broad Street (PC-2026-0057)
Approve Minutes of the September 21, 2026 Plan Commission meeting as distributed.
Approval of minutes from September 21, 2026
Approval of September 2026 Financials
Voting record (144)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Charter Ordinance No. 195 — City Attorney appointment amendment
Resolution 26-R59 — Publish 2027 budget public hearing notice
Child Safety Zones — adopt Map D framework
Letter of intent — Alta Vista Foundation $5 million Hillmoor donation
YMCA 2027 funding set at $65,564 with offsetting Parks cuts
Add $75,000 Veterans Park playground edging to capital plan
Motion to enter closed session for Highway 50 property purchases
Complimentary Riviera Ballroom Request for Winterfest 2027 (Item 10.h)
Resolution 26-R57: CUP for 4-foot fence at 533 Spring Street
Believed a 4-foot fence would degrade the neighborhood's appearance
Charter Ordinance: Appointed City Attorney
Public Works Mechanic Job Description
Referral of agenda item request form and ordinance change to Common Council
Motion to continue Strategic Plan Metrics
Approve Strategic Plan Metrics
move item 15 up
approve items a-c
continue
approve
approve
remove page 4, the snapshot page in the document
approve Resolution 26-R56
approve Resolution 26-R55
amend the resolution to add that the City will not plow the gravel path
approve
Direct the City Attorney, in consultation with the City Clerk, Administrator, and information-technology or media staff, to prepare ordinance language amending municipal code section 2-501 to require
direct the City Attorney to prepare ordinance language establishing a Finance and Operations Committee as a standing committee of the Common Council, replacing the existing Personnel Committee and ass
direct the City Attorney to prepare ordinance language establishing a nonvoting Common Council liaison to the Police and Fire Commission for purposes of communication and coordination between the Comm
Strategic Plan adoption (Item 15)
Resolution 26-R55 — Symphony Bay gravel paths
Finance and Operations Committee ordinance (Item 16)
Council liaison to Police and Fire Commission (Item 18)
Liaison historically could not contribute to discussions; questioned the benefit
approve placing the soda truck in 1 parking space by the west end restrooms
authorize the City Administrator, Mayor and Alders Hoiland, Fesenmaier and Smith to initiate a public facilities partner initiative to include discussions with the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA and school
Dragon Days soda truck parking (9.e)
Received complaints from West End property owners about the spot last year
YMCA public facilities partnership initiative (item 17)
Notes the property referenced is owned by Joint 1 school district, not Badger