Altoona City Council Regular Meeting - February 13, 2025

The Altoona City Council met on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers at Altoona City Hall. The meeting covered routine reports, two approvals related to infrastructure grants and easements, and a detailed presentation and discussion on Phase II of the Zoning/Development Code rewrite. A closed session was held to discuss litigation strategy regarding the City of Eau Claire sewer contract. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.

Reports & Recognitions

• Mayor Pratt paid tribute to former council member Dave Roll, who recently passed away, highlighting his service to the community.
• Police Chief Kelly Bachin was recognized for being sworn in as President of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association (the second female in that role) and receiving a CEO of the Year award from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group. Chief Bachin also provided a staffing update: a new detective sergeant position was filled internally, a patrol sergeant promotion moved a detective assignment, and a new CSO was hired.
• City Administrator Michael Golott reported that the test well at Bartlett Crossing appears viable (approximately 200 GPM, good water quality).
• Parks and Recreation reported a successful Snowshoe Hike event with a couple hundred attendees.
• The city hired Julian Emerson as Grant and Housing Program Manager, starting March 3, 2025, to focus on affordable housing programs and grant writing.

New Business

1. Discuss/Consider Agreement with WCWRPC for FEMA Community Safe Room Grant Administration at Hillcrest Estates

• The city received a FEMA grant to build a safe room at Hillcrest Estates. The city acts as fiscal agent with no financial obligation; the match is provided by the land owner. The West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC) will administer the grant, with fees paid from the grant funds. Minor amendments to the 2022 contract will be brought forward to ensure city reimbursement.
• Vote: Motion to approve the agreement passed unanimously.

2. Discuss/Consider Electrical Overhead Distribution Easement at 211 Division Street (Container Park)

• An easement is required for Northern States Power (Xcel Energy) to upgrade service to three-phase for the Container Park. Discussion addressed proximity of a stairwell footing within the easement and a proposed taller pole for safety. Future plans include undergrounding the east end.
• Vote: Motion to approve the easement and authorize the mayor to sign passed unanimously.

3. Phase II of the Zoning/Development Code Rewrite – Presentation and Discussion

• Planning Director Taylor Greenwell presented the second of three phases, covering development standards (parking, landscaping, fencing), building design standards, and sign regulations. Key proposals included:
  • Parking: Reduce residential parking to 1 space per dwelling unit; exempt downtown ground-floor non-residential from parking requirements; encourage shared parking; require bicycle parking for multi-family and non-residential uses.
  • Landscaping: Expand landscaping requirements for parking lots (interior islands when over 10 spaces, perimeter buffers, foundation plantings). Council debated trade-offs between aesthetics, maintenance costs, and developer burden. The threshold of 10 spaces was questioned; the council suggested possibly raising it to 20.
  • Fencing: Increase front yard fence height from 3 to 4 feet; reduce rear/side yard height from 8 to 6 feet; remove the current exception that allows 6-foot fences on corner side lots. Continue allowing chain-link and vinyl. Allow barbed wire in industrial zones but not residential/commercial.
  • Design Standards: Instead of restricting specific materials, the approach will allow a broad list with a mix requirement on front and side facades. A glazing requirement was set at 30% front/10% sides for downtown, and 10% front/5% sides for other districts. Roof articulation every 60 feet for buildings with 3+ units. Multi-building developments must have visual variety across three of several characteristics (roof pitch, windows, cladding, etc.). A proposed list of “quality enhancements” was criticized as outdated and costly; the council decided to table that list for revision.
  • Compatibility Language: Council directed removing the phrase “compatible with surrounding development,” noting it had been used to oppose higher-density projects; compatibility with the comprehensive plan is sufficient.
  • Signage: Updated sign code to remove content-based restrictions; pole signs allowed only in commercial, heavy industrial, and flex districts.
  • Affordable Housing Incentives: Optional zoning incentives (e.g., density bonuses) for projects including affordable housing were introduced for discussion.
• No formal vote was taken; staff will incorporate feedback and continue working on the final phase (subdivision and procedures).

Closed Session

• The council convened in closed session at 7:40 PM pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel regarding strategy for potential litigation on the City of Eau Claire sewer contract. The session ended at 8:23 PM, and the council reconvened in open session. Council reported that the discussion centered on the proposed rate increase dispute from November 2024 and that the matter will continue to be worked on.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the agreement with WCWRPC for FEMA safe room grant administration.
• Approved the electrical easement for Xcel Energy at the Container Park.
• Directed planning staff to revise the draft zoning code based on council feedback, including removing the “compatible with surrounding development” language, adjusting parking-lot landscaping thresholds, revisiting the quality enhancements list, and continuing to balance design standards with affordability.
• Discussed litigation strategy regarding the sewer contract with Eau Claire in closed session; no public action was taken.