Town of Germantown

Town of Germantown

Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

January 20, 2026

Present: Commission Chairperson Keith Korbein, Commissioners, Tamaya Loewe, Gervase Thompson, Mike Edwards, Joe Witmer, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Michaele Korbein

Absent:  Zoning Administrator Dick Martin

Also present were two members of the public.

–Call to Order

The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chairperson Keith Korbein at the Germantown Town Hall at 5:30pm.

–Pledge of Allegiance

–Possible approval of meeting minutes

Joe Witmer made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2025 Planning Commission meeting, seconded by Mike Edwards; motion passed 5/0.   

–Discussion re: the Johnson property at N7333 Winona Avenue

The owners of this property have not done anything to this property, and they have not presented any other documentation to the Zoning Administrator, to show progress of cleanup on the property since the November 18, 2025 Planning Commission meeting; so, this will be turned over to the Town’s Attorney.

–Work Session on Short Term Rental ordinance

Discussed Attorney Curran’s letter from October 23 on the work-in-progress Short Term Rental ordinance, along with Keith’s phone conversation with Attorney Curran. Tonight’s work-in-progress copy is the result of that.  To recap, several areas were either moved to be more together in context, removed for being redundant, or had wording updated as suggested.  After this evening’s review, two more changes were added to include disclosing the use of a lodging marketplace, such as PMI, AirBNB, and VRBO, and to note that any changes to their application must be notified and amended to the Town.  Joe Witmer made a motion, seconded by Gervase Thompson, to approve this evening’s latest version of the Short Term Rental ordinance with the inclusion of the two additional changes as discussed; motion passed 5/0.

–Work Session on Room Tax ordinance

Discussed Attorney Curran’s letter from November 18 on the work-in-progress Room Tax ordinance, along with Keith’s phone conversation with Attorney Curran. Tonight’s work-in-progress copy is the result of that.  After review, the word “room” was requested to be included to appear before the word “tax” so as not to be confused with any other type of tax.  Also, the members requested verbiage to be include in the penalties for failure to file a monthly report with every day a separate violation of such.   Question on when the 70/30 split disbursement has to happen once the room tax fees are received in the Town office.  Tamaya would like to set up a remote or in-person meeting with Andrew Nussbaum of Wisconsin’s Dept. of Tourism to go over setting up a tourist commission and discuss anything on room tax.    Joe Witmer made a motion, seconded by Mike Edwards, to approve this evening’s latest version of the Room Tax ordinance with the inclusion of the changes discussed; motion passed 5/0.

–February meeting

The next meeting date will be February 17, 2026, starting at 5:30pm. 

–Adjourn  The meeting adjourned at 7:31 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Michaele R. Korbein, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer