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Record of Proceedings

Climate Action Plan Steering Committee Meeting - March 9, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Monday, March 9, 2026
BodyLa Crosse, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Committees
DateMonday, March 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:41

Original source
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0:03

I hope you can hear that online.

0:04

I hit the gavel.

0:06

That means this meeting is being called to order at 4.01 p.m.

0:11

It is your favorite vice chair, Andrew Erickson running this meeting because McKenzie Mandel is at home.

0:20

First item is roll call.

0:27

Is everyone on the committee here?

0:29

Yes.

0:30

Everyone is here.

0:31

That's fantastic.

0:33

All right.

0:34

The next item is approval of the minutes.

0:37

I'm looking for a motion to approve.

0:40

Hi, motion to approve.

0:42

Motion from Lauren.

0:47

I can second that.

0:48

Okay, we have a second from Steph.

0:50

Discussion on approval of the minutes.

0:57

Not seeing any, we can move to vote.

1:00

All those in favor of approving last meeting's minutes, please raise your hand or say aye or thumbs up.

1:06

That is unanimous.

1:09

All right.

1:10

Next notices and discussion.

1:16

Mr.

1:16

Kuhlman.

1:17

I've got a f I've got a few.

1:20

Um the reporting for the Youth Climate Action Fund was due a while ago, and I submitted all the documentation required.

1:33

They sent it back to request some revisions.

1:38

Also, since not all of the since some of the grantees re are returning money, um, I needed a proposal for how to spend that or how to allocate that money to money we already spent.

1:56

And I said, so I sent back that as well.

1:58

So that's all so far so good.

2:02

In progress, influx.

2:04

Have not heard about um round three yet.

2:09

Um for the energy innovation grant, or any any questions about that.

2:17

Okay.

2:18

Actually, I've got a question.

2:21

Is there any hint as to when there might be a final decision on that?

2:25

Just it I'm just thinking timing-wise, it's already really we're getting late in the school year.

2:31

Yeah, I could actually get students involved.

2:34

So good point.

2:36

I will I'll reach out and I'll double check my notes and then reach out if I don't if there's nothing in there.

2:43

So yeah, that's a good point.

2:44

Okay.

2:45

And thanks for all your work trying to secure that grant again.

2:48

Yeah, no problem.

2:50

All right.

2:51

Um we're still rolling with the energy innovation grant program.

2:56

Uh as you may recall, we got an extension um to complete that uh to complete the home energy assessments.

3:05

There were some errors in the last quarter's invoice um from quarter Q4 of 2025.

3:14

Um, those have all been addressed promptly.

3:18

I appreciate the hard diligent work of uh Kevin at Green Homeowners United for getting that all squared up with the public service commission, so that we should be good there.

3:29

Also, the um PSC announced they're accepting comments for the next round of the uh energy innovation grant program.

3:41

Um so if you have any suggestions about that, um you can make those.

3:47

One of the things that um came up in our reporting from last month was uh we we now have to fill out paperwork for the build America buy America requirements.

4:01

So that was a new thing in the reporting.

4:05

And um it sounds like other communities are struggling with that.

4:10

So um that might be a point of conversation for the for the next round and also filing or yeah, uh submitting NEPA reports for certain work too.

4:26

So um yeah.

4:30

Uh and then, or any questions on the energy innovation grant program.

4:39

Okay.

4:40

Uh next, I just wanted to bring your attention to the uh bright action newsletter that went out last week or last month.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Parks and Recreation████████████████████20%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Climate Action Plan Steering Committee Meeting - March 9, 2026

The Climate Action Plan Steering Committee met on March 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM in the Eagle Room at City Hall and via Zoom. The committee approved previous minutes and discussed several agenda items including funding for solar panel removal, sponsorship of a visiting speaker, updates on zoning work, and Earth Fair participation. The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously by voice vote following a motion by Fortin, seconded by Hanna.

Notices & Discussion

  • Youth Climate Action Fund: Staff reported that round two final reporting has been submitted and returned for revision. Round three awardees have not been announced. A committee member asked about the timing for involving students; staff will follow up.
  • Energy Innovation Grant Program: Staff provided an update on the extended home energy assessments, noted errors in Q4 2025 invoice that have been corrected, and mentioned that the Public Service Commission is accepting comments for the next round.
  • Bright Action Newsletter: The newsletter highlighted a "Bring Your Own Mug" campaign and a story on an electric vehicle purchase. Staff requested suggestions for future content.
  • US Solar Power Purchase Agreement: Staff received no update but noted a February meeting discussing the need for multiple large entities to express interest directly to XL Energy.

Discussion Items

  1. 26-0251: Request for Funds to Temporarily Remove Solar Array at Fire Station No. 3
    Staff reported that after seeking additional quotes, estimates for temporarily removing solar panels during roof replacement are now under $12,000 (down from an initial $40,000). The fire department will select a contractor. Committee members expressed support, noting the funds originated from solar installations on fire stations.
  2. 26-0170: Request to Sponsor Prairie Springs Lecture Series Keynote
    Chair Ericson announced that the full fundraising goal for keynote speaker Timothy Beatley (author of Biophilic Cities and Bird Friendly Cities) has been met; no funding request was made. The keynote will be April 15-16 at UWL. The committee brainstormed ways to maximize Beatley's visit, including inviting city departments (stormwater, parks, engineering), the mayor, developers, and institutions like Emplify. Ideas included a seminar at the Nature Place or a tour of the River Point District.
  3. 26-0018: Zoning for Climate Action Update
    Staff reported that consultants have selected about 10 communities to interview regarding sample ordinances, with interviews expected to wrap up within a week. The approach focuses on core elements and then add-ons, including equity and ADA accessibility considerations and incentives.
  4. 26-0141: 2026 Earth Fair Vendor Participation
    Staff and Chair Mindel will be out of town due to the National Planning Conference. Chair Ericson offered to represent the committee at the Earth Fair. The committee discussed collaborating with the Parks Department and Habitat for Humanity (ReNew the Block) to showcase how climate actions connect with community partnerships. Natalie Heneghan noted that Habitat already tracks which Climate Action Plan actions relate to ReNew the Block.

Key Outcomes

  • Solar Panel Removal Funding (26-0251): Motion by Mindel, seconded by Lenard, to authorize up to $12,000 in committee implementation funds for the Fire Department to contract removal and reinstallation of solar panels at Fire Station No. 3, with staff given administrative authority for amounts up to $12,000. Approved unanimously.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for April 13, 2026. Agenda will include an update on the communications plan.

Meeting Transcript

I hope you can hear that online. I hit the gavel. That means this meeting is being called to order at 4.01 p.m. It is your favorite vice chair, Andrew Erickson running this meeting because McKenzie Mandel is at home. First item is roll call. Is everyone on the committee here? Yes. Everyone is here. That's fantastic. All right. The next item is approval of the minutes. I'm looking for a motion to approve. Hi, motion to approve. Motion from Lauren. I can second that. Okay, we have a second from Steph. Discussion on approval of the minutes. Not seeing any, we can move to vote. All those in favor of approving last meeting's minutes, please raise your hand or say aye or thumbs up. That is unanimous. All right. Next notices and discussion. Mr. Kuhlman. I've got a f I've got a few. Um the reporting for the Youth Climate Action Fund was due a while ago, and I submitted all the documentation required. They sent it back to request some revisions. Also, since not all of the since some of the grantees re are returning money, um, I needed a proposal for how to spend that or how to allocate that money to money we already spent. And I said, so I sent back that as well. So that's all so far so good. In progress, influx. Have not heard about um round three yet. Um for the energy innovation grant, or any any questions about that. Okay. Actually, I've got a question. Is there any hint as to when there might be a final decision on that? Just it I'm just thinking timing-wise, it's already really we're getting late in the school year. Yeah, I could actually get students involved. So good point. I will I'll reach out and I'll double check my notes and then reach out if I don't if there's nothing in there. So yeah, that's a good point. Okay. And thanks for all your work trying to secure that grant again. Yeah, no problem. All right. Um we're still rolling with the energy innovation grant program. Uh as you may recall, we got an extension um to complete that uh to complete the home energy assessments. There were some errors in the last quarter's invoice um from quarter Q4 of 2025. Um, those have all been addressed promptly. I appreciate the hard diligent work of uh Kevin at Green Homeowners United for getting that all squared up with the public service commission, so that we should be good there.

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