Altoona Common Council Meeting - September 25, 2025

The Altoona Common Council met at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1303 Lynn Avenue, Altoona, WI. Mayor Brendan Pratt presided; council members Dale Stuber, Timothy Lima, Bruce Thielen, Matthew Beer, Susie Zilmer, and Susan Rowe were present, along with city staff. The Council approved prior minutes and a Police and Fire Commission appointment, discussed a library grant application and the East Neighborhood development concept, and entered closed session regarding a future fire station site.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Mayor's appointment of Amie Saykally-Wing to fill the vacant Police and Fire Commission position by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No one spoke during the formal Citizens Participation Period.
• During the East Neighborhood discussion, nearby resident Todd Adams of the Town of Washington said he has lived next to the site for 26 years and is concerned about impacts on his property, including lighting, trespassing, trash, and loss of rural surroundings; he asked for a buffer or shielding and to be kept informed.
• Nearby resident Kim Lino said she sympathized because she lives next to White Tail Woods; she questioned the proposed neighborhood's proximity to the landfill, the safety of the Highway 12 traffic area, and whether homes would sell, and noted the property is in the Fall Creek School District. She also cited a density change in another nearby development as a concern.

Reports & Updates

• City Administrator Michael Golat reported on a Chamber business-day presentation with Eau Claire and Eau Claire County focused on growth challenges; he also discussed park punch-list work by Containers Up, with roughly $30,000 still outstanding and communication challenges continuing.
• A city report highlighted the seventh annual River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival, the recent Design Wisconsin charrette, and the new city website going live the next day at noon with the old domain redirecting to the new .gov site.
• Police Chief Kelly Bachen reported year-to-date calls for service down about 100, citations up about 50, warnings up just over 180, crashes up about 20, and non-traffic citations up about 40. He also described a probationary officer's wellness-program project, including a foundation donation that may fund nutrition coaching, personal training, yoga, biometrics testing, and family wellness; a presentation may come in late November.
• A council member asked for more police presence on Highway 53 during rush hour; the chief agreed and noted crashes and construction complications, but cautioned that a traffic study could increase rather than reduce the speed limit.

Discussion Items

Library Grant Application

• City staff reviewed the upcoming Non-State Grant Program: five state regions each allocated $10 million, a $2 million maximum award, and a 100% match requirement. Last year the library's Flexible Facilities grant application missed by one point.
• Staff met with the library and design consultants to value-engineer the plan because the application deadline is the end of October. The library has roughly $500,000 in donated funds; a $4 million project could leave about a $1.5 million gap after grant matching.
• A council member described the library's need for general space, private small-group/individual rooms for telehealth and online interviews, and a flexible larger programming/maker space.
• The Council discussed the adjacent community room; it would remain a community/early-voting/programming space rather than being absorbed into the library expansion.
• A motion to authorize city staff to submit the Non-State Grant Program application for the library carried by voice vote.

East Neighborhood Development

• Staff reviewed the history: property purchased 2020, East Neighborhood Plan RFP 2021, plan completed 2022, infrastructure work began, and development RFP in 2023 drew no serious interest until Cody/CNM Homes.
• The microgrid study was concluded not feasible, especially after loss of federal incentives, though sustainability remains a stated goal.
• The revised concept keeps the prior plan's character: commercial frontage, housing variety, a linear park that integrates stormwater, trails, vertical mixed use, and single-family homes toward the rear. An optional 10-acre heavy commercial/light industrial site at the corner was proposed to help finance infrastructure through a potential TID.
• Council discussion included traffic and access concerns on Highway 12/County SS, sidewalk connectivity to the trail/school system, whether a TID would be used, and the risk that commercial space fills only with banks, as at River Prairie. The developer described a transparent partnership model and said the city would remain a partner/owner.
• Affordable housing discussion: the developer proposed CrossMod/modular homes priced around $300,000. A council member said 'I don't believe that 300,000 is affordable housing'; the developer agreed it is not truly affordable but is significantly below Hillcrest's current $430,000-$440,000 new-home prices. The developer cited Habitat for Humanity funding stacks that could lower income-qualified buyers' costs.
• A council member moved to direct staff to continue working on a partnership with CNM Homes and to prepare possible future council action on forming a TID, marketing the heavy commercial/light industrial site, and a development agreement. The motion was seconded and carried.

Closed Session

• The Council voted unanimously to enter closed session at 7:08 p.m. under Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(e) to discuss a future fire station site.
• After reconvening, it was reported that no action was taken; staff would continue exploring possible property acquisition for a fire station.

Miscellaneous Business

• A council member praised the Design Wisconsin presentation but called for broader community input, including a random survey, before considering changes such as Spooner Avenue/one-way street changes. Another council member relayed that the library director has heard parents like the slower traffic/four-way stop near the library.
• A council member raised data centers as an emerging policy issue, using Menomonie as an example, and asked whether city code/zoning would govern such a use; no action was taken.
• The final Wednesday concert at Four Seasons Park drew 180 people, above the roughly 120-130 average.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the September 11, 2025 regular council meeting minutes.
• Approved the mayoral appointment to the Police and Fire Commission.
• Authorized submission of the Non-State Grant Program application for the library.
• Directed staff to continue East Neighborhood partnership discussions with CNM Homes, with future council action anticipated on TID formation, marketing the optional commercial/industrial site, and a partnership development agreement.
• Entered and exited closed session on the future fire station site; no action taken, but staff will keep exploring a possible property acquisition.
• Adjourned at 7:25 p.m.