La Crosse Common Council Meeting - April 9, 2026

The La Crosse, Wisconsin Common Council met on Thursday, April 9, 2026, beginning at 6:44 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 400 La Crosse Street. Council President Tamra Dickinson presided, and all 13 council members were present. The Council approved routine items, confirmed appointments, considered a failed proposal to reopen the North Side Pool, adopted amended 2025/2026 budget carryovers, and denied Mayo Health System's appeal of a historic preservation designation. The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the March 3 and March 12, 2026 Common Council meetings unanimously.
• Received and filed the February 2026 Financial Report from the Director of Finance unanimously.
• Adopted a resolution approving 2025/2026 bills and engineering estimates paid in April 2026 unanimously.
• Confirmed two groups of mayoral appointments unanimously, including Rachel MacFarland (Board of Zoning Appeals); Gina Miller (Economic and Community Development Committee); Jeannie Groskreutz and Scott Arenz (Aviation Board); Randi Pueschner (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee); Vince Ristow (Building & Housing Appeals Board); Fred Giese and Heather Talbot (Citizens Board of Review); Katrina Bjornstad (City Plan Commission); Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman and Suzanne Anglehart (Library Board).
• Awarded contracts unanimously: Gerke Excavating Inc., $207,061.40 for the St. Cloud Street - Avon Street to Liberty Street project; Fowler & Hammer, Inc., $99,620.50 for the 2026 Annual Sidewalk Infill project; and A-1 Excavating LLC, $604,415.00 for the Vine Street - 15th Street to 16th Street and 16th Street - Vine Street to State Street project.
• Rejected all bids for the Non-compliant Laterals - King St project unanimously because bids exceeded budget.
• Adopted the remaining consent agenda unanimously, including renaming the Arts Board as the Arts and Culture Board, alcohol and license approvals, dedication/vacation of city property, denial of Rolling Trees LLC's tobacco/vaping license, approval of the Featherstone Rise preliminary plat, TID 11 funding for a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon across Hwy 14/61, and the Arts Board budget carryover. A Certified Survey Map item was re-referred for 30 days to the May 2026 meetings. Item 26-0289 was removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public testimony occurred during the Mayo Health System appeal hearing; each speaker was limited to three minutes.
• Samuel Lindner, a La Crosse resident, opposed the appeal and supported the historic designation, saying the designation does not prevent interior adaptation and that exterior review typically adds weeks, not years.
• Paul Molling, a Mayo physician, supported the appeal, arguing health care changes rapidly and facility flexibility is necessary to care for patients.
• Marc Zettler, West Salem, president of the Preservation Alliance of La Crosse, opposed the appeal, noting designation allows flexible building-code alternatives, high-efficiency windows can meet historic standards, matching materials remain available, and only exterior work is reviewed.
• John Reiman, an HPC member and La Crosse resident, opposed the appeal, saying the building strongly meets designation criteria and is important to women's history in nursing.
• Gordon Howie, Pleasant Valley, supported the appeal, saying patient needs must guide building flexibility.
• Jennifer Livingston Thompson, Mayo Clinic Health System director of community engagement, supported the appeal, stating Mayo has invested millions, has no plans to demolish the building, and wants a collaborative process with the city.
• Barbara Kooiman, a La Crosse historic preservation professional, opposed the appeal, citing prior buildings lost through council-approved demolition appeals and saying demolition cannot be undone.

North Side Pool ARPA Interest Funds (26-0391)

• This item was brought directly to Council after unanimous suspension of Council Rules XV and IX. The resolution would have appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) interest funds to open and operate the North Side Pool at 816 Sill Street for the 2026 season.
• Finance Director Hawkins said the ARPA interest account held about $500,000, ARPA interest funds have no federal expenditure deadline, and spending from that account would not affect the general fund or ERP. Parks Director Odegard said the pool was closed because of a $100,000 cut in the 2026 operating budget; operating costs were about $120,000 versus $30,000 revenue in 2025; 2025 usage was about 3,800 visits compared with 12,000 at Veterans Memorial and 14,000 at Erickson; and reopening by June 1 would be difficult.
• Supporters, including Goggin, Kahlow, and Janssen, called the pool a safe community asset and described the ARPA interest funding as a creative funding solution. Opponents, including Newberry, Mindel, and Northwood, argued it was a one-year patch without a sustainable long-term plan and would not prevent a likely 2027 closure.
• The motion failed 5-8. Voting yes were Goggin, Janssen, Sleznikow, Kahlow, and Padesky. Voting no were Dickinson, Stine, Mindel, Newberry, Trost, Bedford, Weston, and Northwood.

TID 11 Funds for Civic Center Park (26-0276)

• The resolution appropriated Tax Incremental District 11 funds, about $450,000, for Civic Center Park improvements. Staff said the project was moved up in the Capital Improvement Plan from 2030 to 2026 because TID 11 funds were available and could be put under contract by the October 12, 2026 deadline, avoiding general obligation borrowing.
• The park infrastructure dates to the late 1970s and early 1980s and includes fountain pumps, leaking plumbing, heaved concrete, non-ADA picnic tables, and lighting upgrades. Staff noted TID 11 held about $2.6 million in cash, generates about $4.5 million in increment annually, and could close in about five years with roughly $17 million under current forecasts.
• Padesky called the use of TID funds a no-brainer. Newberry questioned why the project was inserted mid-CIP after previously not making the funding cut. Staff also explained potential uses as a donor TID to TID 18 or through the Redevelopment Authority.
• The resolution passed 10-3. Voting no were Dickinson, Newberry, and Northwood.

2025/2026 Carryover and Year-End Budget Adjustments (26-0314)

• This amended resolution approved carryover of unexpended 2025 operating appropriations into 2026 and year-end adjustments for departmental cost overruns.
• Finance Director Hawkins said the city as a whole finished 2025 about $74,248.82 under budget, but police and fire exceeded their budgets and were offset by surpluses in other departments. He described past underfunding of some departments as a financial strategy used to meet ERP, tax-rate, and budget constraints, and said he plans to move toward more transparent full-strength budgets.
• The library director said the library came in more than $250,000 under budget due to deliberate decisions, including closing a branch and holding positions open; by state statute, those funds remain with the library. The Human Resources director requested a $19,780 carryover for a compensation market update that was not part of the approved 2026 budget.
• Goggin and Janssen criticized the practice as a transparency failure. Trost noted similar carryover adjustments for police and fire had occurred in many prior years. An amendment offered by Janssen and Padesky passed 12-1, with Goggin voting no. The amended resolution then passed 11-2, with Goggin and Newberry voting no.

Mayo Health System Historic Preservation Appeal (26-0322)

• Although the agenda listed this as a possible closed-session item, the Council held the public hearing and final vote in open session.
• Mayo Health System appealed the Heritage Preservation Commission's designation of 615 10th Street South as a historic structure. Mayo argued the designation could delay patient-care projects, complicate ADA compliance and energy-efficiency upgrades, restrict equipment and utility installations, and limit expansion flexibility. Mayo representatives stated the organization has no plans to demolish the building and has already invested millions in it.
• Opponents and city staff responded that only exterior changes requiring building permits are reviewed, interior alterations are not regulated, designation allows flexible building-code alternatives, replacement windows and materials are available, and demolition would require a certificate of appropriateness and could still be appealed. Planning Director Acklin recommended denying the appeal, and HPC Chair Mindel said the commission followed its process correctly.
• The Council voted 10-3 to deny the appeal, affirming the historic designation. Voting yes to deny were Goggin, Janssen, Sleznikow, Stine, Kahlow, Padesky, Mindel, Trost, Bedford, and Northwood. Voting no were Dickinson, Newberry, and Weston.

Key Outcomes

• Approved all routine consent items, appointments, and contract awards by unanimous or recorded votes.
• Failed to allocate ARPA interest funds for the North Side Pool by a 5-8 vote.
• Authorized about $450,000 in TID 11 funds for Civic Center Park by a 10-3 vote.
• Adopted the amended 2025/2026 carryover resolution by an 11-2 vote after approving the amendment 12-1.
• Adopted the ARPA administration resolution (26-0289) unanimously after it was removed from the consent agenda.
• Denied Mayo Health System's appeal by a 10-3 vote, leaving the historic designation in place.