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Record of Proceedings

La Crosse Common Council Meeting Summary - March 12, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Thursday, March 12, 2026

BodyLa Crosse, Wisconsin

SessionCommon Council & Committees

DateThursday, March 12, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:04:59

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0:01

All right, we're gonna call this meeting to order at 6 p.m.

0:04

on March 12th, 2026.

0:08

Can we let the record reflect that all common council members are present?

0:13

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:34

We recognize that the city of the Cross occupies the land of the Ho Chunk people.

0:38

Please take a moment to celebrate and honor the ancestral Ho Chunk Land and their sacred lands of all indigenous people.

0:49

Thank you.

0:50

We'll now take a motion for the approval of the minutes of February 12th, 2026.

0:56

Motion made by Council President Dickinson, second by Councilmember Northwood.

1:01

Any discussion, changes or corrections.

1:04

CNN, please vote.

1:10

And that motion passes unanimously.

1:12

Moving on to reports 260256 financial report from the Director of Finance for the month of January.

1:24

Motion to receive and file made by Councilmember Kalow, second by Councilmember Bedford.

1:29

Any discussion?

1:31

See and none, please vote.

1:40

And that motion passes unanimously.

1:43

Moving on to notices and discussions.

1:46

Please, if there are council members that have notices or discussions, uh click your button.

1:51

Council President Dickinson.

1:57

I just wanted to share that one of my constituents reached out.

2:01

They were having some questions about something as you would perceive as so simple as a dog um tag uh renewal.

2:10

And actually, they came to the treasurer's office and were very pleased with the service regarding this dog licensure.

2:17

And that person was Selena Lease.

2:20

And I want to thank her personally for being able to satisfy that person's needs, and that they bothered to say thank you through myself.

2:30

Thank you.

2:30

Councilmember Goggin.

2:33

Thank you, Mayor.

2:34

I have two if that's okay.

2:36

Feel free.

2:37

Okay, so first one is um Saturday, March 7th, we had the polar plunge at the Black River Beach, and it was a tremendous success.

2:44

I want to give a special shout out to Kate Croft for all her extraordinary effort to make this event run so smoothly.

2:50

Also, the park and rec department, the fantastic job of all of the volunteers, the lacrosse dive team, and of course all the plungers.

2:59

I'm not sure, I'm sure I'm missing somebody, but it I've this is my first time.

3:03

Um I didn't plunge.

3:05

I judged, I judge plungers.

3:07

Um, this wonderful event all benefited the Special Olympics, but it was great music, uh, a lot of camaraderie, and it was just really fun to watch.

3:16

So um thanks again to the Park and Rec department in Cat.

3:19

And then my second thing is I'd like to make a special mention of a wonderful woman who has lived on her entire life on the north side, moving between district two and district one.

3:28

Her name is Shirley Hefty, and she will be turning 101 years old on March 28th.

3:34

We will be celebrating her um birthday at the Harry J.

3:38

Wilson Senior Center.

3:39

Seems appropriate.

3:40

And um, I welcome all to come between 11 and 12:30 p.m.

3:45

on March 18th at our standing Wednesday for lunch.

3:49

Just a little bit.

3:50

Shirley still drives, does loves to do crafts, cleans her own home, does yard work when she can.

3:56

She's a card shark, a valued member of her church, and a great neighbor.

4:00

And a special shout out to the people on the 1700 Buck of Liberty that keep an eye on her.

4:05

Thank you.

4:06

Thank you.

4:07

Uh I just want to say I was one of the plungers.

4:10

This is my first plunge.

4:11

It was awesome, and it was very cold.

4:13

And I welcome any council member to join me next year for the polar plunge, as I've already asked directors.

4:21

See, no, it was not.

4:26

Oh, see, no.

4:29

Very windy.

4:30

Uh Councilmember Bedford.

4:32

I just wanted to pass along a kudos to our snow removal team here from the Citizens Committee for the Committee for Citizens with Disability.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████████████████38%

Procedural███████████11%

Budget Equity Analysis███████████11%

Economic Development██████████10%

Public Engagement█████████9%

Personnel Matters████████8%

Parks and Recreation█████5%

Public Safety████4%

Water And Wastewater Management██2%

Summary of Proceedings

La Crosse Common Council Meeting - March 12, 2026

The La Crosse Common Council convened Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall (400 La Crosse Street), with Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey presiding and 13 members present. The meeting covered routine approvals, seven construction contract awards, two split votes on public safety compression pay, a failed downtown beautification funding request, a denied City Hall sixth-floor design appropriation, and a contested zoning change. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.

Notices and Recognitions

Council President Dickinson thanked Selena Leis for constituent service regarding pet license renewal at the Treasurer's Office.
Council Member Goggin recapped the March 7 Polar Plunge at Black River Beach (benefiting Special Olympics), thanking Kat Craugh, the Park & Recreation Department, and the La Crosse Dive Team; she also recognized Shirley Hefti, a lifelong north-side resident turning 101 on March 28, with a birthday celebration at the Harry J. Wilson Senior Center.
Council Member Bedford passed along thanks from the Committee for Citizens with Disabilities to the snow-removal crew for clearing north-side curb cuts with smaller equipment.
Council Member Janssen praised La Crosse Center staff after a pre-WIAA Wrestling tournament walkthrough.
Mayor Washington-Spivey acknowledged Women's History Month and thanked women department heads and staff.

Consent Calendar

Minutes of February 12, 2026 approved unanimously.
January 2026 Financial Report from the Director of Finance received and filed unanimously.
Resolution approving 2025/2026 bills and engineering estimates paid in March 2026 adopted unanimously.
Consent agenda adopted unanimously, including Ordinances 5365 (permit fee increases for building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and erosion control), 5366 (state National Fuel Gas Code), 5367 (Fire Suppression System Coordination and Testing), 5368 (retail cigarette, tobacco, and vaping device licensing and minimum age), and 5369 (alcohol regulations and municipal sales in City parks); Investment Services Agreements for April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027; March 2025-2026 license applications; Twilight Medical Transport LLC vehicle-for-hire license; Fee Schedule amendments; the 2026 Joint Powers Agreement for the County 9-1-1 Emergency System; the First Amendment to development agreements with The Chalmers, LLC (215 Pine Street and 401 3rd Street North); Parks and Recreation position table reorganization; late renewal fees for alcohol/tobacco/vaping applications; Hilltopper Refuse & Recycling contract Amendment No. 1; and two MOUs with International Association of Firefighters Local #127 (vacation conversion and Tri-State Ambulance leased employee compensation).
Re-referred without objection: 26-0133 (zoning for 1402 & 1410 Gillette Street and 1552 Loomis Street) to the May 2026 meetings (60 days) and 26-0144 (Certified Survey Map, right-of-way dedication) to April 2026 meetings (30 days).

Discussion Items

Construction Bids

2026 Sewer Utility Sidewalk Replacement bids REJECTED unanimously (26-0158).
Contracts ADOPTED (unanimous unless noted):
- Trane US, Inc. - $87,125.00 - La Crosse Center Chiller Replacement (26-0089)
- Steiger Construction Inc. - $229,800.00 - 2026 Citywide Traffic Signal Interconnect (26-0151; 12-0-1, Padesky non-voting)
- Gerke Excavating Inc. - $110,814.80 - St. Andrew Street, Copeland Avenue to Rose Street (26-0152)
- Fowler & Hammer, Inc. - $102,549.50 - 2026 Citywide Miscellaneous Curb Ramp & Sidewalk Replacement (26-0154)
- Fowler & Hammer, Inc. - $119,007.80 - 2026 Annual Miscellaneous Curb & Gutter and Pavement Replacement (26-0156)
- Fowler & Hammer, Inc. - $152,073.95 - 2026 Water Utility Sidewalk Replacement (26-0157)
- Gerke Excavating Inc. - $576,428.25 - Liberty Street, Windsor Street to Clinton Street (26-0159)

Public Safety Compression Pay (26-0128 and 26-0150)

Fire resolution (26-0128) ADOPTED 8-4-1 (no: Janssen, Newberry, Trost, Northwood; abstain: Mindel). HR Director Rebecca Franson said the amendment adds the Fire Chief to the 2015 compression-pay program because a 0.6% pay gap existed between the Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Chief, versus the 7% standard from the 2022 pay-class study. The payment is set at 6% of gross earnings into a 457 account and was estimated at $8,000-$10,000 from the fire operating budget; no documentation was found explaining the 2015 omission. Trost voted no, citing constituent concerns about spending; Janssen noted the recent removal of responsibilities from the Fire Chief and that 4% collective-bargaining increases run through 2028.
Police resolution (26-0150) ADOPTED 8-4-1 on the same tally. Franson explained the 2016 structure sets Captain pay at 7% above the average of police lieutenant earnings; the amendment adds the Assistant Chief and Chief, with no payments anticipated in 2026 or likely 2027. Weston voted yes with hesitation, noting state employment does not provide similar compression adjustments; Kahlow attributed budget strain to state shared revenue policy.

TID 11 Downtown Beautification Project (26-0209) - FAILED

A 30-day referral motion failed 5-8 (yes: Janssen, Sleznikow, Stine, Newberry, Trost). The resolution requesting TID 11 funds failed 4-9 (yes: Janssen, Stine, Kahlow, Padesky).
The $125,000 request was for Downtown Main Street's (DMI) planters and trash can replacement proposal; DMI's itemized estimate was $92,650, leaving roughly $32,350 in contingency. Parks Director Trusoni said the department had not agreed to DMI's roles-and-responsibility sheet (installation, removal, ownership, and insurance all assigned to the city) and noted the landscaping budget was cut from about $70,000 to $50,000 (Janssen separately cited a $33,000 beautification reduction). Engineering Director Gallagher said 10 additional trash cans could cost at least $10 per can per service, or roughly $5,200 to $10,000 annually, and that a sealed-bid installation likely could not be ready for spring 2026 planting. Finance Director Train said TID 11's expenditure period ends October 12, 2026, that the TID holds about $19 million, and that making TID 11 a donor to TID 17 is an option.
Sponsor Kahlow called it a one-time capital cost for city-owned planters that downtown businesses have maintained for 15-20 years with no operating budget impact. Janssen, Bedford, and Goggin argued details (MOU, process, scope) should be resolved first; Bedford also asked to separate planters from trash cans and to address accessibility concerns for blind or cane users. Newberry opposed, saying, "If we don't have $30,000 for the sixth floor, I don't think we have $120,000 for the flowers."

Nuisance Abatement Ordinance (26-0171)

ADOPTED unanimously. City Attorney Murdy explained the change removes a clause that barred charging property owners who had not yet instituted eviction proceedings, providing an additional enforcement tool for drug- and gang-house nuisances.

Water Utility Capital Reallocation (26-0213)

ADOPTED 12-1 (Kahlow no). Unused funds from completed capital purchases/projects are re-allocated to requested Water Utility equipment; roughly $10,000 in surplus returns to the Water Utility cash balance.

City Hall Sixth Floor Remodeling Design (26-0173) - NOT ADOPTED

The motion NOT to adopt carried 8-5 (yes: Goggin, Janssen, Sleznikow, Stine, Kahlow, Padesky, Newberry, Bedford; no: Dickinson, Mindel, Trost, Weston, Northwood). The proposal would have appropriated about $35,000-$36,000 for architecture/engineering design and a $1 million placeholder in the 2027 CIP for a full sixth-floor remodel. Goggin called the request "a terrible idea" given closed pool and library decisions; Janssen said it was not a priority; Padesky said the city should first decide on a city administrator; Dickinson supported proceeding with design; Bedford noted Legal Department needs on the sixth floor but agreed timing could wait.

2415 State Road Zoning Change (26-0143)

ADOPTED 9-4 (no: Goggin, Janssen, Kahlow, Padesky). The ordinance transfers the property from the Local Business District to the Planned Development District - General, allowing a mixed-use residential and commercial development. Padesky opposed, citing parking on Farnham Street pushing traffic into neighborhoods and the building height growing from three stories (shown at the 2020-21 Kmart community meeting) to five stories in the 2022 application. Janssen said he does not support five-story buildings on that lot.

Key Outcomes

Referred 30 days: Mayor's appointments of Rachel MacFarland (Board of Zoning Appeals) and Gina Miller (Economic and Community Development Committee) to April 9, 2026, for legal corrections (12-1, Trost no).
Unanimous approvals: minutes; financial report; March 2026 bills and engineering estimates; sewer sidewalk bid rejection; all seven construction contracts (one with Padesky non-voting); consent agenda; nuisance abatement ordinance (26-0171).
Split approvals: fire compression pay 8-4-1; police compression pay 8-4-1; Water Utility reallocation 12-1; 2415 State Road zoning 9-4.
Failed: TID 11 Downtown Beautification referral (5-8) and final adoption (4-9).
Not adopted: City Hall sixth-floor remodeling design funds (8-5).
Re-referred: 26-0133 to May 2026; 26-0144 to April 2026.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we're gonna call this meeting to order at 6 p.m. on March 12th, 2026. Can we let the record reflect that all common council members are present? Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. We recognize that the city of the Cross occupies the land of the Ho Chunk people. Please take a moment to celebrate and honor the ancestral Ho Chunk Land and their sacred lands of all indigenous people. Thank you. We'll now take a motion for the approval of the minutes of February 12th, 2026. Motion made by Council President Dickinson, second by Councilmember Northwood. Any discussion, changes or corrections. CNN, please vote. And that motion passes unanimously. Moving on to reports 260256 financial report from the Director of Finance for the month of January. Motion to receive and file made by Councilmember Kalow, second by Councilmember Bedford. Any discussion? See and none, please vote. And that motion passes unanimously. Moving on to notices and discussions. Please, if there are council members that have notices or discussions, uh click your button. Council President Dickinson. I just wanted to share that one of my constituents reached out. They were having some questions about something as you would perceive as so simple as a dog um tag uh renewal. And actually, they came to the treasurer's office and were very pleased with the service regarding this dog licensure. And that person was Selena Lease. And I want to thank her personally for being able to satisfy that person's needs, and that they bothered to say thank you through myself. Thank you. Councilmember Goggin. Thank you, Mayor. I have two if that's okay. Feel free. Okay, so first one is um Saturday, March 7th, we had the polar plunge at the Black River Beach, and it was a tremendous success. I want to give a special shout out to Kate Croft for all her extraordinary effort to make this event run so smoothly. Also, the park and rec department, the fantastic job of all of the volunteers, the lacrosse dive team, and of course all the plungers. I'm not sure, I'm sure I'm missing somebody, but it I've this is my first time. Um I didn't plunge. I judged, I judge plungers. Um, this wonderful event all benefited the Special Olympics, but it was great music, uh, a lot of camaraderie, and it was just really fun to watch. So um thanks again to the Park and Rec department in Cat. And then my second thing is I'd like to make a special mention of a wonderful woman who has lived on her entire life on the north side, moving between district two and district one. Her name is Shirley Hefty, and she will be turning 101 years old on March 28th. We will be celebrating her um birthday at the Harry J. Wilson Senior Center. Seems appropriate. And um, I welcome all to come between 11 and 12:30 p.m. on March 18th at our standing Wednesday for lunch. Just a little bit. Shirley still drives, does loves to do crafts, cleans her own home, does yard work when she can. She's a card shark, a valued member of her church, and a great neighbor. And a special shout out to the people on the 1700 Buck of Liberty that keep an eye on her. Thank you.

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