Altoona, Wisconsin City Council Meeting - June 11, 2026

The Altoona Common Council met Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Altoona City Hall, 1303 Lynn Avenue, Altoona, WI. Council President Matthew Bier presided in the absence of Mayor Brendan Pratt. Present were Councilmembers Dale Stewart, Timothy Lima, Susie Zilmer, and Susan Rowe; Councilmember Bruce Thielen was absent. Also present were City Attorney Samba Campson, Planning Director Taylor Greenwell, Parks and Recreation Director Chad Durkup, and City Clerk Cindy Bauer (listed as "Cindy Bowers" in the transcript). The council approved the May 28 meeting minutes, a consent agenda of alcohol and tobacco licenses and a Juneteenth proclamation, a new Class "A" liquor/beer license for Ranch Brand Meat Company (Rumps), an extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) agreement with the Town of Washington, a new River Prairie Event Center management agreement, a fee schedule ordinance, and an exclusive rental use policy for the Yard Container Park. It also received the quarterly Visit Eau Claire tourism report and a department head report on intergovernmental and storm-related matters. The meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the May 28, 2026, regular council meeting by unanimous voice vote.
• Approved consent agenda items 1-4 and 6 in one motion: Combination "Class B" Retailers license (intoxicating liquors), Class "B" beer license, Class "C" wine license, Class "A" liquor and beer retail licenses, and the proclamation recognizing Juneteenth Celebration Day on June 19, 2026. The motion carried unanimously.
• Item 5, the cigarette, tobacco, and/or electronic vaping device retail licenses, was pulled for a separate vote and approved, with Councilmember Rowe abstaining.

Public Comments and Testimony

• No members of the public came forward during the Citizens Participation Period; the council closed the period by unanimous voice vote.

New Business: Quarterly Tourism Report (Visit Eau Claire)

• Kenzie Hablachek, Executive Director of Visit Eau Claire (which holds the city's tourism contract), presented the quarterly report. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism released 2025 county-level figures earlier that week showing Eau Claire County total economic impact up 4% year over year, surpassing the inflation rate.
• Altoona pages drew nearly 31,000 website sessions, and more than 5,300 referrals were sent to Altoona businesses - a 74% increase over the same period last year, attributed heavily to the Yard Container Park.
• Over the past five months, Visit Eau Claire created more than 30 website content pieces and 24 social media videos featuring Altoona businesses and locations.
• The "Get Out Again" spring campaign targeted 11 Midwest priority markets, including Minneapolis, Chicago, and Madison, generating 4.7 million impressions and over 7 million social impressions.
• Hablachek noted a busy summer festival season (the return of Eau Claire's festival and Ride Across Wisconsin, hosted by the Wisconsin Bike Federation) and a 10-year destination master plan under development - firm selection expected in July and completion in roughly nine months - with Altoona included. She invited council members to reach out to promote Altoona events.

New Business: Class "A" Retail License - Ranch Brand Meat Company, LLC

• Staff presented the license separately because Rumps has been sold; prior owner Kyle Niederman surrendered the license, and the new owners were told they may not sell liquor during the interim period before the new licensing year begins July 1.
• The council approved the Class "A" retail license to sell intoxicating liquors and the Class "A" retail license to sell fermented malt beverages for Ranch Brand Meat Company, LLC, DBA Rumps/Ranch Brand Meat Co. (agent Steven J. Rooney, 1411 Lynn Avenue) for the July 1-June 30 licensing year, plus a provisional license covering June 12-30, 2026.
• Discussion noted that Ranch Brand Meat Company is based in Chippewa, owns its own cattle herd, and has other operations in the area; staff said the beef at Rumps was already largely local.
• Vote: all in favor; motion carried.

New Business: ETJ Agreement - Amy Alpine, City of Altoona, and Town of Washington

• The Alpines, who were present, propose donating approximately 60 acres to the Town of Washington for conservation by consolidating three parcels on Altoona's southern border into a 57-acre conservancy lot and a 5-acre lot containing the single-family home.
• Because the property lies within Altoona's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and new parcels must meet a 10-acre minimum, the standard ETJ agreement is required. The agreement provides that any future development would require annexation into the City of Altoona and connection to city utilities; for now the land remains in the Town of Washington.
• Staff said the city made its best case for the land to be in Altoona, but the Alpines prefer to keep it in its natural state as a conservancy. Staff described it as a good resource for residents.
• Vote: all in favor; motion carried.

New Business: River Prairie Event Center Management Agreement - Hospitality Management T & T, LLC

• The council approved a management agreement with Hospitality Management T & T, LLC (the same management group as before) for July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028.
• The structure changes from a cost and revenue share on food and rentals to a more traditional arrangement: T&T will pay the city $9,200 per month (about $110,000 per year), set its own rates, and keep revenue above the monthly fee. Staff said this exceeds the roughly $95,000 per year the city typically received, gives T&T incentives to grow the business, and simplifies bookkeeping.
• T&T may host up to 10 public events of its own per year (for example, St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve, and Thanksgiving). The city retains use of the facility for elections and city events; T&T provides food at cost for two city events per year (breakfast with Santa and Easter); and the city may bring in outside catered meals for its own events.
• Vote: all in favor; motion carried.

New Business: Ordinance 6A-26 - Fee Schedule Amendments

• The council considered Ordinance 6A-26, amending Chapter 3.08, Addendum "A" (the city's fee schedule). The ordinance removes fees associated with rental of the River Prairie Center (now managed by T&T), lowers River Prairie outdoor space fees for city events, and adds Yard Container Park fees: tent rental free Monday through Thursday and $30 per hour Friday through Sunday; container park rental $150 per hour with a three-hour minimum; and mobile speakers $30 per hour with a two-hour minimum.
• Staff said rentals are coordinated with T&T management to avoid conflicts, and a summer Saturday tent rental reserved a year in advance would likely be declined because it could conflict with a wedding or event. Staff also said Yard tent and outdoor spaces will operate like regular park pavilions - available on a first-come, first-served basis unless a permit is posted.
• After discussion, a councilmember moved to amend the motion to approve the ordinance as presented, and the amended motion passed unanimously.
• Vote: all in favor; motion carried.

New Business: Exclusive Rental Use Policy - Yard Container Park

• The policy was developed after someone asked to rent the entire Yard (about 300 people) in August, a request with no existing provision. If a rental overlaps normal business hours, all five Yard vendors must agree the event benefits them. The city may rent the park outside normal hours: after 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; after 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday (the official closing time, though vendors sometimes stay open later); Sunday after 3:00 p.m.; and Monday all day.
• No outside food or alcohol may be brought in; renters must arrange food with one or more Yard vendors and alcohol through the Iron Horse.
• The application process will use the city's special event permit. Staff will add signage about renting the park, put up tent walls (weather permitting), and have tables and chairs available within a couple of weeks, with delivery arranged for earlier rentals.
• Vote: all in favor; motion carried. Councilmembers described the policy as a potential win-win.

Miscellaneous Business and Communications

• A city official (referred to as "Mike" in the transcript) arrived late, apologized, and gave a department head report covering the following:
  • Fire shared services: discussions with Eau Claire (David Solberg) are being restarted to cover both fire shared services and the sewer agreement. A Town of Washington fire arrangement was tried but would not work at this time; staff said working with Eau Claire makes the most sense.
  • Sewer agreement settlement: progress is being made with Eau Claire, whose new manager agreed to have a rate expert review the proposal; a follow-up meeting was set for June 12 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Innovation (shared-services) grant: the process is ongoing; much of the available funding has already been awarded (though "quite a bit more" remains), and the grant term was shortened from five to four years, so the city must prepare for the next application window. Staff said lessons from the earlier Chippewa Falls Fire District effort remain valuable.
  • Storm response: roughly 3 inches of rain fell quickly the previous day; Altoona fared well, with some manhole covers popping and crews standing by until water receded. A library leak came through a brick wall (unrelated to the new roof) for the second time in heavy rain, and staff are getting a price to install a liner. Water also backed into the Yard boutique through the front door, but the roof was not the cause.
  • Center City Days: staff reported the event went well and was busy, with a delayed Saturday start due to rain and softball.
  • Independence Day celebration (Saturday, June 27, the Saturday before July 4): Festival Foods will again pay for fireworks, contributing $12,500 toward an expanded show; an additional $2,500 in sponsorship funds brought the show to $15,000. The band Thunderman will play. A July 2 veterans ceremony on the pond walk will feature flags around the pond, a summer jam, patriotic elements, and possibly the unveiling of the memorial to fallen veterans if it is ready (the statue is not yet installed; landscaping is underway).

Key Outcomes

• Approved the May 28, 2026, council meeting minutes (unanimous).
• Approved the consent agenda (items 1-4 and 6) unanimously; approved item 5 (tobacco/vaping licenses) with Councilmember Rowe abstaining.
• Approved the Class "A" liquor and beer retail licenses for Ranch Brand Meat Company, LLC, DBA Rumps/Ranch Brand Meat Co., including a provisional license covering June 12-30, 2026 (unanimous).
• Approved the ETJ agreement among Amy Alpine, the City of Altoona, and the Town of Washington (unanimous).
• Approved the River Prairie Event Center Management Agreement with Hospitality Management T & T, LLC for July 1, 2026-December 31, 2028 (unanimous).
• Approved Ordinance 6A-26, amending the city's fee schedule for the River Prairie Center, River Prairie outdoor spaces, and Yard Container Park fees (unanimous).
• Approved the exclusive rental use policy for the Yard Container Park (unanimous).
• Adjourned at 6:38 p.m.