City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes  
Economic and Community Development Commission  
Wednesday, March 26, 2025  
3:00 PM  
Council Chambers  
Call to Order  
Chair Reynolds called this meeting to order at 3:00 PM.  
Roll Call  
6 -  
Present:  
Douglas Happel, Linda Lee, Chris Kahlow, Vicki Markussen, Mary  
Rohrer,Mitch Reynolds  
1 - Gina Miller  
Excused:  
Approval of Minutes  
A motion was made by Happel, seconded by Lee that the minutes be  
APPROVED. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Agenda Items:  
Public Hearing for the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.  
25-0253  
Public Hearing  
Attachments:  
2.19.25_La Crosse Analysis of Impediments.pdf  
25-0253 Staff Report.pdf  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to open Public Hearing.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to close Public Hearing.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Resolution approving the Sale of Surplus Property at 2710 Onalaska Avenue.  
25-0263  
Attachments:  
Resolution  
Photo of 2710 Onalaska Avenue  
Staff Report  
CPC Staff Report 03312025.25-0263.MK  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Markussen to APPROVE this  
resolution. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Action on Offer to Purchase 608 Rose St  
25-0364  
Attachments:  
25-0364 Staff Report - OTP 608 Rose St.pdf  
25-0364 Development Agreement 608 Rose St.pdf  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to APPROVE this purchase.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to AMEND this stating the  
property must be listed for sale for 180 days before becoming a rental.  
A voice vote was taken to APPROVE as AMENDED, voice vote carried  
unanimously.  
Consideration and Possible Action on HOME - Community Housing  
Development Organization Application  
25-0353  
25-0271  
Attachments:  
HOME CHDO Application 2025 Habitat for Humanity.pdf  
25-0353 Staff Report.pdf  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to APPROVE this application.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application from the Hmong Cultural and Community Center.  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
Hmoob application  
Meeting went into Recess  
Meeting Reconvened  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Rohrer to APPROVE this at an award  
amount of $10,000. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application for North La Crosse Business Association.  
25-0273  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
NLBA application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Rohrer to APPROVE this at an award  
amount of $7,500. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application for Hope Restores.  
25-0282  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
Hope Restores application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Rohrer to APPROVE this at an award  
amount of $10,000. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application for Central Conservation, Inc. (DBA Wisconsin Conservation  
Corps) (WisCorps).  
25-0323  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
Central Conservation, Inc. application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Rohrer to APPROVE this at an award  
amount of $19,500. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application from La Crosse County for SMRT Bus.  
25-0329  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
La Crosse County SMRT Bus application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Rohrer to APPROVE this at an award  
amount of $8,500. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application for Outdoor Recreation Alliance Of The Seven Rivers Region,  
25-0348  
Inc.  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
ORA application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Rohrer to DENY this application.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application from Friends of the Blufflands, Inc.  
25-0349  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
Friends of the Blufflands application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Rohrer to APPROVE this at an award  
amount of $10,000. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application from Riverside International Friendship Gardens.  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
25-0363  
Attachments:  
Riverside International Friendship Gardens application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Kahlow to DENY this application.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Consideration and possible action on Community Enhancement Grant  
application from Sacred Voice.  
25-0366  
(Note: The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session  
pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(e) to formulate & update negotiation strategies  
and parameters. Following such closed session, the Committee and/or  
Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Attachments:  
Sacred Voice application  
Commissioner Markussen recused herself.  
Unanimous consent from the commission to open public hearing.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Lee to go into close session.  
Voice vote carried unanimously.  
A motion was made by Lee, seconded by Kahlow to APPROVE this at an award  
amount of $5,000. Voice vote carried unanimously.  
Adjournment  
Chair Reynolds adjourned this meeting at 4:45 PM.  
Economic and Community Development Commission Members:  
Mayor Mitch Reynolds, Chris Kahlow, Doug Happel, Linda Lee, Gina Miller, Mary  
Rohrer, & Vicki Markussen.