Altoona City Council Meeting — February 12, 2026

The Altoona City Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1303 Lynn Avenue. Mayor Brendan Pratt presided. The council approved the Safe Steps Home Improvement Program with a $1.5 million investment, authorized a contract with E-Plan for expedited state plan reviews, awarded a design contract for Well #10, and directed the city engineer to defer sidewalks on certain segments of the 2026 reconstruction project. Council also received the 2025 Housing & Development Report and approved an ordinance removing the 48-hour advance submission requirement for council materials.

Consent Calendar and Approvals

• The council unanimously approved the minutes of the January 22, 2026 regular council meeting.
• Ordinance 2A-26, repealing Chapter 2.06 of the Municipal Code ("Matters Before The Council"), was approved. The change eliminates the 48-hour advance submission requirement for resolutions, ordinances, and proposals, aligning city code with the state’s 24-hour notice requirement.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Marlo Erickson, owner of apartment buildings on Alsace and Vernon at Gloaty Avenue, spoke in opposition to installing a sidewalk on Gloaty Avenue. She cited safety concerns (trucks entering/exiting UPS, cars backing out), plowing and maintenance difficulties, and questioned whether the sidewalk would see meaningful pedestrian use. She stated that if a sidewalk were necessary, she supported the engineer’s alternative to narrow the street by four feet to preserve parking.

Discussion Items

• Sidewalk Deferral (2026-01 Street Reconstruction Project): City Engineer Christian Hupert presented a recommendation to defer sidewalk construction on certain segments under Municipal Code Chapter 12.04.015. He recommended deferring sidewalks on the north-south stretches of Vernon Street and Alsace Street due to narrow 50-foot right-of-way and existing parking. He also recommended a deferral on the east-west dead end of Hamilton Avenue due to very low pedestrian use. For Gloaty Avenue, he recommended installing a six-foot sidewalk on the north side by reducing the street width from 41 feet to 37 feet, preserving parking on the south side. Council members expressed differing views: Mayor Pratt and several council members supported the sidewalk connection for pedestrian safety and future trail connectivity, while Councilmember Susie Zilmer agreed with Ms. Erickson’s opposition. The council voted to direct the engineer to proceed with the design as proposed. The motion carried with opposition.
• Agreement with E-Plan for State Plan Reviews: Staff presented a contract with E-Plan, a company authorized by the state to perform building plan reviews with a guaranteed 15-business-day turnaround, compared to typical state delays of three to six months. The service costs applicants about $50 more than the state fee. The city receives 10% of the fee at no cost to itself. Applicants may still choose the state process. The council approved the contract.
• Safe Steps Home Improvement Program: Grant and Housing Program Manager Julian Emerson presented the program, which will be the first expenditure from the city’s affordable housing fund (now ~$6.5 million from the River Prairie TID extension). The program has four categories: critical home repairs (loans up to $7,500, five-year term, 0% interest), energy efficiency (loans up to $12,000, ten-year term, 0% interest), yard cleanup (one-time cleanup up to $500, no loan), and disabled vehicle removal (free through partner organizations). Eligibility is limited to households earning 80% or less of county median income (about $59,200 for Eau Claire County, representing roughly one-third of Altoona households). The program targets 20–24 repairs per year and includes a second mortgage on homes as a repayment safeguard. The council approved the $1.5 million initial investment and the concept of the program.
• Agreement with West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission: To administer the Safe Steps revolving loan program, the council approved a contract with the Regional Planning Commission. The fee is $35 per hour, with an estimated minimum of about five hours per loan. Councilmember Bruce Thielen requested ballpark cost estimates and regular updates on administrative costs and program performance.
• 2025 Housing & Development Report: Planning Director Taylor Greenwell presented the report. Key data: Altoona is in the top 5% of Wisconsin communities for population growth. Since 2020, the city’s population has grown 18.59% (plus 1,542 people), compared to 6.5% for Eau Claire and 6.1% for Eau Claire County. Equalized value rose from $806 million to $1.3 billion (a 73.39% increase). In 2025, 47 permits were pulled for 141 new units; 90 units were multifamily, 38 were twin homes/duplexes, and 8 were single-family (one replacement). No dedicated senior housing was constructed. Owner-occupied housing is 51.9%, renter-occupied is 48.1%; vacancy rate is 5.1%. Median gross rent is $1,285; median housing cost with a mortgage is $1,665. The poverty rate is 13.1%. The council discussed efforts to encourage senior/age-in-place housing.
• Awarding Bid for Well #10 Development: The council approved awarding a design contract to MSA Professional Services (the firm that completed test wells and Wells #8 and #9) for $120,000 in 2026 and $172,000 in 2027, contingent on construction being adopted in the 2027 budget. The well will be located on Glacier Drive in Bartley Crossing.

Key Outcomes

• Sidewalk Deferral: The council directed the city engineer to defer sidewalk construction as proposed on Vernon, Alsace, and Hamilton Avenue, and to proceed with the design including a sidewalk on the north side of Gloaty Avenue with a four-foot street narrowing. Motion carried with opposition.
• E-Plan Agreement: Approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Safe Steps Home Improvement Program: The council approved the $1.5 million initial investment in the program. A separate contract with the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission for program administration was also approved. A formal agreement with Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity will be brought to the council at a future date. Staff committed to providing regular (likely quarterly) updates on program status, costs, and number of loans.
• Well #10 Design Contract: Approved with a motion specifying the $120,000 (2026) and $172,000 (2027) amounts, contingent on budget adoption. Motion carried.
• Ordinance 2A-26: Approved, removing the 48-hour advance submission requirement for council materials and aligning with the state’s 24-hour notice requirement.
• Next Steps: The zoning code update is expected to go before the council on February 26. Staff will continue discussions with the Chippewa Fire District, Senator Baldwin’s and Representative Van Orden’s offices for additional CDS funding, and the Town of Washington on a boundary agreement. The Safe Steps program is expected to launch in late spring or early summer (likely May).