Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in La Crosse public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
2025 federal grant performance (CAPER) and public service subrecipients
Karuna Inc. dissolved and can't use its share of the HOME-ARP supportive services award, leaving the city to figure out how to redirect funds that serve the chronically homeless. Staff will bring options back next month.
Homelessness prevention funding
St. Clare Health Mission received $30,183.05 in leftover public service funds for its TNT program, which the director said is the main prevention arm keeping people from becoming homeless — housing 10-14 people in a typical month.
Redevelopment of former community policing center at 713 St. James St.
The city is preparing to seek redevelopment proposals for its vacant former community policing center, modeled on the recent library RFP. Commissioners flagged that the site could be rezoned for housing, and the mayor emphasized the city shouldn't let owned buildings sit vacant.
CDBG housing rehabilitation program partnership
The city is handing its long-running home repair program — around since 1981, with over 1,300 homes renovated — to a nonprofit partner to run with $250,000 a year in federal CDBG funds. Low-income homeowners get health and safety repairs like roofs, furnaces, and accessibility ramps.
Driftless Apartments development agreement compliance
The first completed project at River Point District passed its annual compliance review, with an amended agreement setting a $9.6 million tax base guarantee by tax year 2027 and clarifying how payments in lieu of taxes count toward the developer's obligations.
Third and Fourth Street corridor redesign
WisDOT is planning major changes to Highway 16 through La Crosse — a lower speed limit, narrower lanes, new paths, and intersection reworkings. The choices made now will shape safety for walkers and bikers for decades, with construction not starting until 2031.
Fire Station #1 window replacement
Fire Station #3 is in the middle of a remodel, and its four garage doors are being replaced with heavier-duty versions. The new springs are rated for 50,000 uses versus the 10,000-cycle springs currently at their max — important since fire rigs go in and out constantly. The doors will be red to match Stations #2 and #4.
Ott House local landmark designation, 1512 Winnebago Street
One of La Crosse's 10 oldest surviving homes could become a local historic landmark. The owner-nominators spent hours in archives tracing the house's history, including its move from downtown around 1911-12. A public hearing and final decision come October 22.
TID 11 amendment and Public Market predevelopment
The Authority is spending $45,000 of a $600,000 city contribution to update the 2018 public market studies and gauge whether the project — and public interest — still justifies moving forward.
Downtown historic district sign standards
Commissioners flagged that the new Bodega sign is very large but the district's standards set no size limits — leaving the commission unable to require a smaller sign. Revisiting the standards may be a future project.
River Point District development momentum
Staff reported that five or six projects — including Cowboy Jack's, 18 War Eagle condos, the Unwind 42 townhomes, and a roughly $80 million senior housing development — could break ground next spring. Developers who finished this year leased up their buildings in about a month and praised the city's process.
Northside Floodplain Redevelopment
Final Letter of Map Revision work will get Lot 10 out of the floodplain, splitting up to $15,000 in Authority costs with War Eagle LSE — a step that clears the way for development there.
Municipal Harbor campground and sauna concepts
The west harbor property could get a city-run campground with eight seasonal sites and a group site, plus a wood-fired sauna and cold plunge business in the off-season. Details and pricing still need to come back for approval.
Bicentennial Trail Phase 3 reroute
The steep Bicentennial Trail climb in Lower Hixon Forest would be rerouted to under 10% grade, making it safer and easier to maintain. Construction could start in early 2027 after public input.
Loggers lease extension at Copeland Park
The city locked in the Loggers and Steam at Copeland Park through 2043 with flat $25,000 annual rent instead of per-game revenue. The Loggers now handle stadium scheduling, saving parks staff time.
2027-2031 Capital Improvement Budget
Parks staff walked through projects across the city: Copeland Park shelter rebuild, eight new pickleball courts at Trane, Memorial Pool wall repair, the Veterans Freedom Trail, and the $3.5 million River Point marina plus $10.9 million park plan — funded by a mix of TID money and borrowing.
King Street Greenway funding
The council told WisDOT it prefers a new 'hybrid' alternative: bike lanes on Third and Fourth Streets from Vine to La Crosse Street using existing extra lane space, keeping on-street parking south of Vine and losing only about 6-7 stalls near the old Tribune site. A roundabout is planned regardless of this choice.
Week Without Driving participation
La Crosse will join the national Week Without Driving October 1-8, asking elected officials to experience getting around without a car. WisDOT estimates 40% or more of city residents are non-drivers.
Regional Safety Action Plan
Committee members want pedestrians to get a head start at crossings, but the city's five-section signal heads make that impossible without confusing left-turning drivers. Andrew Sherman said intersections are where he's come closest to being hit.
Bike parking design standards
A proposal to ban worst-offender bike racks (schoolyard-style, wheelbenders) and require secure, usable short-term parking, plus indoor long-term bike storage in larger multifamily buildings. It would ride along with the city's zoning code update, though members want more evidence from cities La Crosse's size before committing.
Losey Boulevard safety improvements
The board approved payments for property the city needs along Losey Boulevard, which keeps the road project moving forward.
2027 City Operating Budget
The board had to pick between two budget scenarios for 2027 city spending. Ten residents spoke at the public hearing before the board settled on scenario #2, which now moves forward as the recommended budget.
Illicit railroad storm sewer connection closed
The railroad piped an unpermitted connection into the city storm sewer at Charles and St. James Streets using substandard materials. Staff closed it off; the railroad must go through the engineering department if it wants to reconnect.
Green steel trial at the wastewater plant
The plant is only the second city in the country trialing 'green steel' — steel mill slag — to replace ferric chloride for phosphorus removal. Sixty days in, the plant is running better than ever with a third less chemical, and staff built the feeder in-house for $2,150 instead of a $100,000 system.
Main Street closure for US Bank crane work
A large crane operation will close Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets for roughly one day next week to remove cell equipment from the US Bank Building. The contractor handles traffic control, business notifications, and 24-hour no-parking signage.
$65 Million Wastewater Plant Upgrade and Phosphorus Compliance
La Crosse's new state discharge permit took effect October 1 with stricter limits, including PFAS monitoring mentioned 105 times in the permit. The plant's biosolids tested at 0.0843 parts per billion against a 20 ppb limit — well under, unlike some neighboring communities.
Leaf collection and road salt practices
Leaf collection starts in about two weeks — residents should pile leaves on the boulevard, not in the street, where they clog storm drains and add nutrients to waterways. Staff also previewed winter salt reduction using brine and sand.
PFAS contamination at French Island wells
La Crosse's new state discharge permit took effect October 1 with stricter limits, including PFAS monitoring mentioned 105 times in the permit. The plant's biosolids tested at 0.0843 parts per billion against a 20 ppb limit — well under, unlike some neighboring communities.
Non-Compliant Utility Service Separations
State PSC rules require every unit in a multi-unit building to have its own shutoff, and shared sewer lines between duplexes must be separated — hitting property owners with $6,000-$10,000 bills, sometimes decades after the fact. Council members are frustrated; staff are testing a right-of-way assessment pilot and pricey remote-shutoff meters ($700 vs $150) as relief options.
Council Vote on Rezoning and Appointments
The La Crosse Common Council voted to rezone the North Side Library property and change some city department leadership. If you’re on the North Side or use city services, this could shift what happens at that site and how departments are run.
Army Corps Flood Risk Management Study Agreement
The city is officially partnering with the Army Corps on a $3 million, three-year study of the North Side levee system — the first at this scale since 1975. It's the gateway to federal funding for actual flood protection projects later.
Council Expense Accounts and Reimbursement Policy
A proposal to convert the $300 monthly council expense stipend into receipt-based reimbursement failed 9-3-1. Supporters of the stipend argued it keeps council service possible for working parents and people without flexible jobs; others said council should model employee policies and find budget cuts.
Water Utility Fleet and Equipment Needs
The water utility kept three trucks it was going to sell because flushing and valve-turning work left crews short on vehicles — cheaper than renting at $2,000 per truck for six months.
2027 Sewer Rate CPI Adjustment
Sewer bills are going up 4%, likely starting December 1 or January 1. The board also ordered a full rate study, with results back in 2027, to figure out longer-term sewer pricing.
Copeland Park shelter and bathroom project progress
Good news at Copeland Park: the downsized open-air shelter is finished and the old bathroom building is demolished. Crews are waiting on Bright Speed to relocate a fiber line before digging the new bathroom foundations.
16th & State raised intersections
An extra $30,000 (total $90,000) funds raised intersections at 16th & State and 15th & State this year — traffic calming and safer crossings on a narrow, heavily used street residents say is hard to cross.
$13.8 Million General Obligation Borrowing
The council authorized up to $13.805 million in general obligation notes to finish capital projects and buy city equipment — borrowing that is ultimately repaid through property taxes.
Clean 2025 city audit
The city's books got a clean bill of health: unmodified opinion, no internal control findings, no federal or state grant findings, and just one minor audit adjustment.
Alcohol and tobacco license compliance
The police department's quarterly review showed several bars sold alcohol to underage buyers in compliance checks, and Rolling Trees was arrested in an investigation over illegal tobacco sales. The fake ID fine was raised to $575 for a first offense.
Charter ordinance on department-head appointments
A charter ordinance updating how department heads are appointed — separating finance and HR roles, adding probationary periods, and making the transit director a for-cause position — was sent back 30 days so council can first debate broader city government structure options.
1552 Kane Street community center
A single-family-zoned property would become Public and Semi-Public so it can host a community center. The public hearing drew supporters and no opposition, and it passed the City Plan Commission unanimously the day before.
Underage drinking enforcement and bar license suspensions
Two downtown bars got 10-day license suspensions after underage-drinking complaints, but the council pushed the start dates to Sept. 28 to protect staff paychecks. The split 8-5 votes exposed a real debate about fairness, favoritism and how the city holds both businesses and licensed bartenders accountable.
TID 11 funds for Water and Street departments
Tax increment district money was approved for Water and Street department use, directing development-district funds toward infrastructure work.
Sunset Lane sanitary sewer extensions
The city will extend sewer service to three west-side Sunset Lane properties that can't legally connect to existing sewer lines, funded as a new capital project, plus a $101,995 construction contract.
Citywide zoning code rewrite
The city continues its multi-year project to rewrite the zoning and subdivision code, with an update scheduled for the Commission. The new code will shape what can be built where for decades.
Reuse of North Community Library building
The commission was scheduled to consider issuing a Request for Proposals for the vacant former North Community Library. The RFP would invite developers to propose a new use for the city-owned building.
Featherstone Rise subdivision
A new 36-lot residential subdivision with a park outlot in the Town of Shelby moved forward with unanimous approval, adding future housing on the city's edge.
No overnight parking at Eagle Watch lot
Overnight parking is now banned at the Eagle Watch public parking lot on the 2600 block of Rose Street.
65 Kraft Street commercial lease
A prospective tenant, Damian Meza of Socramda, is leasing 65 and 67 Kraft Street and planning ADA-accessible remodels. The board approved the lease after hearing from him and reviewing terms in closed session.
Affordable homeownership flexibility
The commission let a first-time affordable-home buyer rent her city-assisted house while she's away at school, with HUD protections. It sets a precedent the commission acknowledged could make future requests trickier.