OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Finance & Personnel Committee Meeting - September 3, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Thursday, September 3, 2026
BodyLa Crosse, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Committees
DateThursday, September 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 44:24

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Good evening.

0:04

We're calling the meeting of finance and personnel to order at 6 p.m.

0:08

on Thursday, September 3rd.

0:10

All members of the finance and personnel committee are present in chambers.

0:15

Moving to our first agenda item, unfinished business 260-5.

0:23

Resolution approving assignment of parking assignment at Market Square.

0:27

Parking ramp from Cameron Park Condo Association to Free Heel Capital.

0:33

Note the committee andor council may convene in closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85 pairing one pair and E to formulate and update negotiation strategies and parameters following such closed session.

0:46

The committees andor council may reconvene in open session.

0:52

Councilmember Jansen.

0:54

I'd like to move to refer this for 60 days to allow our staff to um have discussions and negotiations with the new owner of Market Square Building.

1:07

Motion to refer by Councilmember Jansen, second by councilmember Kalo.

1:16

Is there any discussion?

1:31

Sixty days.

1:38

Councilmember Jansen motioned Councilmember Caleb seconded.

1:44

And just as a matter, we have a speaker.

1:48

If we referring, do we still open public hearing?

1:59

I'm sorry, I don't know that the answer to that.

2:01

Okay.

2:06

Could I have a motion to open up public hearing?

2:13

Motion to open by Councilmember Kalos, second by councilmember Northwood.

2:16

All in favor, raise your hands.

2:20

Any opposed?

2:22

We'll open public hearing.

2:25

Nicole Frank, would you like to speak?

2:37

It appears that Ms.

2:38

Frank isn't in the council, so we will.

2:42

Could I have a motion to close public hearing?

2:47

Okay.

2:48

Motion to close by Councilmember Northwood, seconded by Councilmember Kalo.

2:53

All in favor, raise your hands.

2:56

Any opposed?

2:58

That the council or the closed session is closed.

3:03

Or you know what I'm saying?

3:04

Okay, new business.

3:07

Oh, sorry.

3:07

We need a vote to on the referral.

3:11

Move forward with the vote by showing of the hands.

3:17

Any opposed?

3:19

That motion passes unanimously.

3:23

Now we'll move on to new business.

3:26

26-0841 resolution amending appendix C fee schedule regarding fees relating to fire prevention.

3:47

Okay.

3:48

While we're waiting, let me just explain that we're not using the normal vote cast because we don't our system isn't up.

3:56

So we'll be doing this by voice and hand.

4:03

Thank you.

4:09

Okay.

4:10

So resolution.

4:11

I'm gonna just repeat it.

4:12

Resolution amending appendix C fee schedule regarding fees relating to fire prevention.

4:18

Councilmember Newberry?

4:21

Motion to approve.

4:25

Motion to approve by councilmember Newberry, seconded by councilmember Slezniko.

4:28

Any discussion?

4:31

Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote.

4:38

All in favor?

4:42

Any opposed?

4:44

That motion passes unanimously.

4:47

Next item is 26-0859.

4:50

Resolution approving a change in project scope for the Lacrosse Center basketball floor project.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████████39%
Procedural█████████████████████████████████33%
Affordable Housing███████████████████19%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Public Engagement██2%
Water And Wastewater Management██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Finance & Personnel Committee Meeting - September 3, 2026

The Finance & Personnel Committee of the City of La Crosse met on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. All six committee members were present. The committee reviewed 16 agenda items, including one unfinished business item and multiple new business items, with most receiving unanimous recommendations for approval to the Common Council. Notable votes included an amendment to redirect funding for the Civic Center Park Project and a split vote on the issuance of general obligation promissory notes.

Unfinished Business

  • 26-0545 – Parking assignment at Market Square Ramp: The committee voted unanimously to refer this resolution for 60 days to the November 2026 meetings to allow staff to negotiate with the new owner of Market Square Building. A public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers.

New Business

  • 26-0841 – Fire prevention fee schedule: Unanimously recommended to adopt. No discussion.
  • 26-0859 – La Crosse Center basketball floor project: Unanimously recommended to adopt. Councilmember Sleznikow expressed support for the cost-saving renovation approach.
  • 26-0869 – Termination of Girl Scouts lease and building acquisition: Unanimously recommended to adopt. The building will become city property, be declared surplus, and be sold or leased.
  • 26-0871 – Additional TID funds for Civic Center Park: The committee voted 5-1 to amend the resolution, shifting funding from TID 11 to TID 17 and increasing the amount from $365,383 to $414,103. The amended resolution was then recommended to adopt by a 5-1 vote, with Councilmember Newberry voting no in order to allow further discussion at the Common Council.
  • 26-0886 – Escalator/elevator maintenance contract with Kone: Unanimously recommended to adopt the $434,164.24 three-year contract after a competitive quote process.
  • 26-0892 – Sanitary sewer extension on Sunset Lane: Unanimously recommended to adopt to connect three parcels; no assessments expected.
  • 26-0893 – Brick sidewalk replacement on Main Street: Unanimously approved an amendment increasing funding from $20,000 to $40,000 to include boulevard brick, then unanimously recommended the amended resolution to adopt.
  • 26-0896 – King Street Neighborhood Greenway additional funding: Unanimously recommended to adopt.
  • 26-0899 – Increase in court costs for municipal citations: Unanimously recommended to adopt.
  • 26-0900 – Renewal of Urban Search and Rescue agreement: Unanimously recommended to adopt. Fire Chief Schott outlined the services and noted the hourly rate increase from $55 to $60.
  • 26-0901 – Issuance of $13,805,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes: Recommended to adopt by a 5-1 vote, with Councilmember Goggin opposed. No discussion.
  • 26-0936 – Appointment of interim Director of Finance: Unanimously recommended to adopt. Short-circuited by the Mayor.
  • 26-0824 – Amendment to Driftless Apartments and Townhomes development agreement: Unanimously recommended to adopt. The amendment addresses three clarifications: minimum assessed value guarantee date, land as increment, and deficiency PILOT.
  • 26-0825 – Development agreement with Copper Rocks LLC for mixed-use at 2415 State Road: Unanimously recommended to adopt. The project includes 214 apartments, 33 townhomes, 12 pathways home units (with 10-year rent control), 25,000 sq ft commercial space, and 3,000 sq ft community space. TIF funds will cover up to $1 million for public infrastructure improvements.

Key Outcomes

  • All items received favorable recommendations to the Common Council for the September 10, 2026 meeting, with the exception of item 26-0545 which was referred to November 2026.
  • Two items (26-0871 and 26-0901) had split votes; all others were unanimous.
  • The meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. We're calling the meeting of finance and personnel to order at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 3rd. All members of the finance and personnel committee are present in chambers. Moving to our first agenda item, unfinished business 260-5. Resolution approving assignment of parking assignment at Market Square. Parking ramp from Cameron Park Condo Association to Free Heel Capital. Note the committee andor council may convene in closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85 pairing one pair and E to formulate and update negotiation strategies and parameters following such closed session. The committees andor council may reconvene in open session. Councilmember Jansen. I'd like to move to refer this for 60 days to allow our staff to um have discussions and negotiations with the new owner of Market Square Building. Motion to refer by Councilmember Jansen, second by councilmember Kalo. Is there any discussion? Sixty days. Councilmember Jansen motioned Councilmember Caleb seconded. And just as a matter, we have a speaker. If we referring, do we still open public hearing? I'm sorry, I don't know that the answer to that. Okay. Could I have a motion to open up public hearing? Motion to open by Councilmember Kalos, second by councilmember Northwood. All in favor, raise your hands. Any opposed? We'll open public hearing. Nicole Frank, would you like to speak? It appears that Ms. Frank isn't in the council, so we will. Could I have a motion to close public hearing? Okay. Motion to close by Councilmember Northwood, seconded by Councilmember Kalo. All in favor, raise your hands. Any opposed? That the council or the closed session is closed. Or you know what I'm saying? Okay, new business. Oh, sorry. We need a vote to on the referral. Move forward with the vote by showing of the hands. Any opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Now we'll move on to new business. 26-0841 resolution amending appendix C fee schedule regarding fees relating to fire prevention. Okay. While we're waiting, let me just explain that we're not using the normal vote cast because we don't our system isn't up. So we'll be doing this by voice and hand. Thank you. Okay. So resolution. I'm gonna just repeat it. Resolution amending appendix C fee schedule regarding fees relating to fire prevention.

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