The Lake Geneva Municipal Minute

Featured Photo

Each installment of the Lake Geneva Municipal Minute features a photo from a picturesque location or landmark in our stunning community. Maryann Schroeder submitted the picture above of the Aug. 4 sunset over Geneva Lake. Please send any pictures you'd like to see in the LGMM to newsletter@cityoflakegeneva.gov.

Musings from the Mayor

I hope this newsletter finds everyone well as we approach September.

Last month, Lake Geneva celebrated the 64th Annual Venetian Festival, sponsored by the Lake Geneva Jaycees, and it was truly a record year for attendance. It is always meaningful to see our lakefront come alive with families, friends, visitors, music, the carnival, the boat parade and the fireworks that have made this event such a treasured tradition. For many of us, Venetian Fest marks the beginning of the end of summer— a final community celebration before the pace of fall begins to arrive.

I would also like to provide an update on one of the concerns raised by many residents throughout the City: short-term rentals. Over the last three years, Lake Geneva has made tremendous progress in identifying and addressing short-term rental activity through a more organized and accountable program.

Before reviewing those updates, I want to state clearly that the lion’s share of people who operate short-term rentals are enrolled in the City’s program, are reputable and do a good job. Regardless of how anyone may feel about short-term rentals, it is important to recognize that the city is bound by Wisconsin Statute §66.1014, which prohibits municipalities from entirely banning short-term rentals.

Within that legal framework, Lake Geneva has navigated short-term rental management through a variety of approaches. The City adopted City Ordinance Sec. 98-206(8)(y), which establishes comprehensive guidelines for permits, fees, operations, occupancy, booking periods and other requirements for short-term rentals.

The City uses software that allows owners to upload their state license, current insurance and floor and site plans in order to purchase a permit. Once submitted, the STR Administrator is automatically notified to review the paperwork. If everything is in order, a city inspection is completed and a license is issued.

The software also helps identify properties with live listings across multiple rental platforms and tracks booking activity. To ensure accountability, Lake Geneva employs a dedicated Short-Term Rental Administrator who guides owners and property managers through the process while responding promptly to public complaints. I also receive a weekly update from the Lake Geneva Police Department, and those reports continue to show minimal activity or complaints related to short-term rentals.

The City of Lake Geneva currently has 91 licensed, short-term rentals. Beth Kroening is our STR Administrator, and she has performed exemplarily in her position. I have always said that you can have all the policies and rules in place, but if they are not enforced, what is the point?

I wish everyone an enjoyable September. The current forecast looks like it will give us a couple more weeks of warm weather, offering a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy the City and the lake before fall settles in.

Sincerely,

Mayor Krause

Beach Closing

Riviera Beach on Wrigley Drive will close for the season at 5 p.m. on Labor Day, which is September 7. For more information on going to the beach please visit the City's website.

September 2026 Meetings

Listed below are the City's meetings for the month of September . Please check the municipal calendar on the city's website if you plan to attend a meeting to be certain nothing was moved or cancelled.

Meetings are held in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall, 626 Geneva Street, unless otherwise noted.

September 8 – 4 p.m. Historic Preservation Committee

           Conference Room 2C, City Hall

September 8 – 4 p.m. Tree Board

           Conference Room 2A, City Hall

September 8 – 5 p.m. Piers, Harbors and Lakefront Committee

September 8 – 6 p.m. Avian Committee

           Conference Room 2A, City Hall

September 9 – 4 p.m. Personnel Committee (rescheduled from September 7)

September 9 – 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole

September 10 – 4 p.m. Police and Fire Commission

September 10 – 6 p.m. Hillmoor Commission

September 14 – 6 p.m. Common Council

September 15 – 4 p.m. Tourism Commission

September 15 – 6:30 p.m. Board of Park Commissioners

           Conference Room 2A, City Hall

September 17 – 5:30 p.m. Library Finance, Building & Grounds Committee

Smith Meeting Room, Lake Geneva Public Library

September 17 – 6 p.m. Library Board

Smith Meeting Room, Lake Geneva Public Library

September 21 – 4 p.m. Utility Commission

September 21 – 6 p.m. Plan Commission

September 22 – 9 a.m. Special Common Council Budget Meeting

September 28 – 4 p.m. Public Works Committee

September 28 – 6 p.m. Common Council

Walworth County Fair

Rodeos, tractor pulls, demolition derbies, animal exhibits and grandstand entertainment featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd on Sept. 5 and Ludacris on Sept. 6 are among the attractions at the 177th annual Walworth County Fair. The fair starts Sept. 2 and runs through the 7th at the Walworth County Fair Grounds in Elkhorn.

Check out the fair's website for a schedule of events and more information.

Comprehensive Plan Update

Announcement of Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process

The current City of Lake Geneva Comprehensive Plan was adopted on May 9, 2020 and is due for a comprehensive revision in 2030. During this 10-year period, amendments to the Comprehensive Plan may be necessary. Instead of hearing those amendment requests individually throughout the year, the City of Lake Geneva has adopted a process for processing a single amendment each year. 

Applications for this year’s process will be accepted from September 1, 2026 through September 30, 2026. The Plan Commission will review the applications at its October 19, 2026 meeting to provide feedback to the applicants.

Once applications are finalized, it is anticipated that a joint public hearing will be held with the Council and Plan Commission to formally review the amendment requests. Lastly, the Council will deny or adopt the proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan during a regularly scheduled meeting.

Please contact the Building and Zoning Department for information on application forms and process at bzadmin@cityoflakegeneva.gov

Parks Foundation - Members Needed

Join us and help build something Lake Geneva will love for generations.

Lake Geneva's parks, lakefront and open spaces aren't just amenities. They are the heart of our community. And for the first time, we're building a dedicated organization to invest in them.

The Lake Geneva Parks Foundation is forming now, and we're looking for people who care deeply about this community to join its founding board.

What you'll do: help raise private funds for park improvement, set priorities alongside the Parks Director, and make sure our parks reflect what this community values today and 50 years from now.

We'd love to hear from people with backgrounds or connections in finance, law, marketing, real estate, hospitality, philanthropy or community organizing. But if your passion is simply Lake Geneva itself, that matters, too. This board will be built on a mix of skills and shared love for our city. The Lake Geneva Parks Foundation is a nonprofit in formation and independent of the City of Lake Geneva.

Since posting this notice in the August 15 edition of the LGMM a few individuals volunteered to be part of the foundation, but more members are needed. If you are interested, reach out to the Mayor's Office at mayor@cityoflakegeneva.gov.

David Winger, Parks Director

Work at the Library -

Adult Services Librarian

The Lake Geneva Public Library is looking to hire an Adult Services Librarian. The position is 40 hours per week and role focuses on community engagement, adult programming, and library-wide marketing and public relations.

You'll plan and lead the annual adult program series and Adult Summer Reading, schedule technology classes and build relationships with patrons, businesses, and community organizations both in the library and at off-site locations.

You'll also lead the library's marketing efforts — designing promotional materials, managing social media and the website, and developing the library's promotional calendar — and contribute to collection development for adult materials. Dedicated community engagement time at our circulation desk keeps you connected to the patrons and community you serve.

More information, including instructions on how to apply, is available at the employment website of the Lake Geneva Public Library.

Placement of Political Signs

There are some simple guidelines to follow in the City of Lake Geneva regarding placement of political signs.

• Campaign signs may be placed beginning on the first day for circulation of nomination papers through election day (WI Stat §12.04)
• Signs shall be removed within 10 days of election day (Lake Geneva Municipal Code §98-811(3.A))
• Signs must be located entirely on private property, and not in any street terrace or other portion of the right-of-way (Lake Geneva Municipal Code §98-805 (3)c)
• Yard signs may not exceed 11sq ft. (WI Stat §12.04)
• Guidelines are directed towards temporary campaign yard signs.
• Signs that are affixed to buildings or permanent structures may be subject to City of Lake Geneva Zoning Code: Signage Regulations 

The 2026 Wisconsin fall general election is November 3. More information is available at MyVote Wisconsin.

News from Public Works

The City of Lake Geneva Public Works Department wants to share some news and reminders.

• Through Sept. 1 public works crews and contractors removed and disposed of 6,644 cubic yards of debris from the July 3 storm. That is the rough equivalent of 2,500 tons of material, or 2,650 loads in a pickup truck.

• There are still roughly 150 trees throughout the City that suffered storm damage and need to be removed.

• In Oak Hill Cemetery spring and summer decorations must be removed by October 15th. The City will dispose of any decorations not removed by that time.

• Drainage repair and pavement replacement at Oak Hill Cemetery will be starting in the upcoming weeks. Please use caution when in the cemetery. Check the City's website and Facebook pages for more information.

• The brush drop off at 1065 Carey Street will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday September 12th. It is only open to City of Lake Geneva residents and proof of residency is required. Click HERE for more information on brush drop off.

• A City resident electronic recycling event is taking place from 8 a.m.to 2 p.m. on September 12th. See the flier below for details.

Hwy 50 Website

A website devoted to the Hwy 50 construction in 2027 and 2028 is now live on the city’s webpage.

The site can be accessed by

• Going under “Residents” at the banner at the top of the home page
• Clicking the Hwy 50 icon near the social media logos
• Clicking the heading under News Flash on the home page
• Clicking the illustration of orange cones and Hwy 50 sign in the slideshow on the home page

Feel free to bookmark the site and refer to it as your resource for all information related to the Hwy 50 construction project. The city will post information to the site as it becomes available.

Downtown Substation Construction

Parking Information

Construction on the downtown electrical substation behind the Lake Geneva Museum is scheduled from mid-September through April of 2027. During this time, a portion of the Sage Street lot adjacent to the Museum will be reserved and temporarily unavailable. Space in the lot will be needed for construction activities, equipment and large deliveries.

Work will include demolition of the existing substation, installation of underground utilities, construction of the new substation walls and installation of the transformer. Above-ground construction is expected to continue through March of 2027, with the project anticipated to be done in April of 2027.

A section of the back row of the Sage Street parking lot, closest to the work location, will be reserved for the duration of the work. At various stages of the project approximately five to nine parking spaces in the center of the lot may need to be blocked for large construction loads. These closures may occasionally extend beyond the anticipated work window of Monday through Wednesday.

We appreciate the public's patience and cooperation while this important infrastructure project is completed. Parking availability in the area may be reduced at times, so visitors are encouraged to plan accordingly.

For more information on parking in Lake Geneva please check out the website of the City's Parking Services Department.

Beth Gehris-Padro

Parking Manager

Job Openings at the

Lake Geneva Fire Department

The Lake Geneva Fire Department is a combination department with personnel on duty seven days a week, 24 hours per day. Paid-on-call personnel are utilized during all hours for General Alarms and multiple calls.

The department is currently accepting applications from individuals with a strong desire to serve and want to be part-time or on-call firefighters or emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

All applicants must:

• Pass a background investigation
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Possess a clean driving record
• Pass an oral interview
• Complete a physical, written, and trait assessment.

Information regarding the positions is available for download at the fire department's employment website. Should you have any further questions or require further assistance, please email the fire department.

Additional Municipal Newsletters

The Hillmoor Commission and Lake Geneva Public Library also publish monthly newsletters. Anyone interested in the latest news and happenings at HIllmoor is encouraged to sign up and receive a monthly update in their Inbox by going to this link. Those who want to know more about the exciting programs and events at the Lake Geneva Public Library can sign up here.

Introducing City Staff

Jessi Dyszelski joined the City of Lake Geneva Municipal Court in October 2024, marking her first position in municipal government. As Assistant Court Clerk, she helps manage court records, process citations and payments, schedule hearings, prepare court documents, and assist the judge with a variety of court-related matters.

Jessi recently moved to Mukwonago, where she lives with her husband, Aaron, and their two children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking with her dogs, and hunting.

Newsletter Nuts and Bolts

Please contact the City at newsletter@cityoflakegeneva.gov if there is a topic you want to see addressed in an upcoming issue of the newsletter. The newsletter will be published twice a month from May to September and once each month from September to May.

Please click this link to sign-up for the newsletter if you received it from a friend and please feel to share this newsletter with a friend. On behalf of the City, thank you for helping launch this new initiative in communication with our beloved citizens.

Previous Newsletters

Recent editions of The Lake Geneva Municipal Minute are linked below.

The Lake Geneva Municipal Minute - August 1, 2026

The Lake Geneva Municipal Minute - August 15, 2026