Alderperson District 11· 2026-05-19 to 2028-04-30 (start 2026-05-19 per Legistar OfficeRecord; end 2028-04-30 per Legistar OfficeRecord)
Erik Helgestad
Waukesha
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 13
- Total speaking time
- 29:48
- Avg per meeting
- 2:18
- Segments
- 429
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Top issues during term (20)
2027 operating budget review begins
This is where next year's property tax-backed spending and city service levels get decided — the full dollar impact wasn't broken out at this session.
WEDC Small Business Development Grant application
Costs for glass and hinge work were shared between the tenant and the building owner.
Raised bike and pedestrian bridges
City share of design is about $279,200; construction could cost $18-19 million total.
City Hall monument sign rehabilitation
Cost covered by the city's insurance rather than the general budget.
Multi-family development on School District land near Oakdale Drive
The site is currently tax-exempt school district land, so any development would add it to the tax rolls — the developer touts a roughly $60 million investment, though no tax impact estimates exist yet.
Sale of city-owned Big Bend Road property
Selling the parcel could return land to the tax roll or generate revenue for the city.
Prairie Home Cemetery operations and services
Levy support is $88,661, unchanged for over a decade; costs covered largely by sales and services.
2027-2031 Community Investment Program
The plan shapes future utility infrastructure spending that eventually factors into water rates.
E-bikes and e-cycles damaging parks and streets
Repairing torn-up diamonds costs park staff time and money; no dollar figure given.
Employee PTO, holiday, and retiree insurance policy changes
Vacation leave policies affect the library's personnel costs, though specific figures weren't discussed.
Multi-family development at Elkhart Drive terminus
No cost or tax-base figures are available at this conceptual stage.
Snow and ice removal ordinance update
Higher fines ($50 plus admin fees) for repeat sidewalk non-clearance.
General Manager leadership transition
GM and operations position labor is included in the 2027 budget, contributing to a 16% compensation increase (4.7% adjusted for vacancies).
TIF assistance for Les Paul Parkway housing development
Housing shortages raise costs for both renters and homeowners, per the city's housing study.
2027 water rate increase
A pause could delay higher water bills for customers pending the Milwaukee rate outcome.
S.J. Louis Construction v. City of Waukesha litigation
Attorney fees for the lawsuit are budgeted in the 2027 outside services account of about $311,000.
Disposal of five water utility properties
A combined $569,000 for demolition of the two well structures.
Renee Rossa Property Damage Claim
Denial avoids an unquantified payout from city funds.
UPS purchase for new Operations Center
Move cost well under the $50,000 budgeted; long-term operating savings uncertain until solar and geothermal output is known.
Clean Water Plant sand filter defects
The phase three project contract now stands at $18,619,389.33 after a $46,000 credit from the approved change order.
Decisions during term (446)
Recorded while Helgestad was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of Minutes — September 23, 2026
Land Use Plan Amendment — 222 Maple Avenue
Rezoning Petition — Elkhart Drive (Pvt), Horizon Development Group
Minor Site Plan & Architectural Review — Winterberry Reserve Phase 2
Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture agreement
TIF term sheet for 84-unit development at Les Paul Parkway and Genesee Road
2027 executive operating budget recommendation
Approval of September meeting minutes
Change Order No. 1 — abandonment of Wells 5 and 6
Approval of general fund and improvement fund payments
Hire Two Men and a Truck for office move
Approval of October 13, 2026 meeting minutes
Approval of Minutes
Approval of September 29, 2026 minutes
Approval of September 17 minutes
Payment approvals (six invoices, two final)
Change order — North Moreland/Michigan Ave traffic signal project
Settlement agreement — Clean Water Plant sand filter #8
Change order #3 — JF Ahern, Clean Water Plant Phase 3
AECOM contract — raised bike/pedestrian bridge design
Voting record (130)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Approval of September 15, 2026 meeting minutes
Police range facility use contract with Waukesha County Sheriff's Department
Resolution authorizing WEDC Small Business Development Grant application
Club 400 extension of premises for 10/10/26
Invited bartender application — Ashley Rodriguez
Motion to enter closed session — Big Bend Road property sale
Reconvene in open session
Direction to staff to pursue offers for Big Bend Road property
approve the Invited Bartender Application for Chelsea Gorsuch
that this be approved
approve the Invited Bartender Application for Ashley Rodriguez
approve the Other Bartender Application for Samuel Strukel
approve the Other Applications as listed: Summit Food & Gas Town for a Class "A" Beer & Cider License, Craft Bar for a Class "C" Wine License, Wireless Vision, LLC (T-Mobile Store) for a Secondhand Ar
Invited Bartender Application — Chelsea Gorsuch
Invited Bartender Application — Ashley Rodriguez
Other Bartender Applications — Kelsey Hannan and Samuel Strukel
Other Applications — liquor and merchant licenses
that the September bills ($69,895.62) be approved
that this Financial Report be approved
Remove library self-vending lockers ($50,000)
He is a user; lockers serve busy residents after hours.