City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes  
Climate Action Plan Steering Committee  
Monday, July 14, 2025  
4:00 PM  
Eagle Room  
This meeting will also be conducted through video conferencing.  
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Call to Order  
Mindel called the meeting to order at 4:02 PM.  
Roll Call  
4 - Andrew Ericson, Casey Meehan, Mackenzie Mindel,Stephanie Hanna  
3 - Adam Jacobson, Dorothy Lenard,Natalie Heneghan  
Present:  
Excused:  
Approval of Minutes  
Ericson motioned to approve the minutes, Meehan seconded. The motion  
carried by a voice vote.  
Notices and Discussion  
Staff has two Grow Solar La Crosse yard signs available. Power Hours will be 5:30 PM  
on 7/15 at Onalaska City Hall and 5:30 PM on 8/7 at The Nature Place. There are  
enough sign ups to reach the second tier of pricing. Regarding the Energy Innovation  
Grant, Focus on Energy has begun offering home energy audits for low-income  
households, so staff requested to include moderate-income households to ensure that  
the program reaches 350 households. Parks has a successful Soak It Up event  
where they gave away eight rain barrels and two downspout diverters.  
Ericson shared that WisDOT is hosting an open house on planning for Highway 53 at  
4:30 PM on 7/16 at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center. There is a bike ride  
with the mayor at 9 AM on 7/31 beginning at City Hall.  
Agenda Items:  
Presentation on Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Upgrades - Jared  
25-0800  
1
Greeno  
Greeno provided a timeline of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) improvements to be  
more energy efficient. Ericson asked for more information on burning bio solids for  
energy in regard to UWL. Gundersen has used bio solids in their furnace. Meehan  
asked what ways the committee could help the WWTP, and if there has been any talk  
about purifying wastewater to drinkable standards. Committee could help by being  
aware of utility approval processes and ensure that customers like the WWTP know  
what is expected, so there aren't any surprises. WWTP is exceeding standards. While  
there is a lot of sources of water around, there may not be good quality water. WWTP  
projects do qualify for direct pay incentives and may need help with that paperwork.  
Committee members can get a tour by emailing Greeno. Mindel suggested promoting  
WWTP in blog and social media.  
Proposal to host a Fleet Electrification Workshop - Paul Nicholas  
25-0801  
2
Attachments:  
Event Outline  
Fleet Procurement Analysis Tool  
Staff provided brief introduction. A top action in the Climate Action Plan is to help  
commercial fleets take advantage of incentives. Nicholas shared a concept and outline  
for a workshop in September. Mindel thought invitation was a good idea. Trane would  
be invited to share their progress. Hospitals would be invited as well. Mindel  
suggested inviting Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Renew  
Wisconsin, USPS, and other organizations with subject matter expertise, especially  
regarding incentives. She also wondered whether it is possible to get vehicle miles  
traveled data and emissions for fleet vehicles over time. Ericson mentioned a Fleet  
Procurement Analysis Tool to share with participants.  
A motion was made by Meehan, seconded by Ericson, that this Proposal be  
APPROVED . The motion carried by voice vote.  
Pave the Way Fundraiser - Kaitlyn Wiehe  
25-0802  
3
Attachments:  
Hyperlink  
Event Flyer  
Paver Donation Flyer  
Wiehe gave an overview of the fundraiser that will be running through next Spring.  
There will be a kickoff event on August 6th from 5-8 PM at Logan Middle School, with  
music, food trucks, and tours of the projects. Staff shared that there is about $50,000  
remaining in the budget.  
Follow-up on Suggested Revision to the Stormwater Credits - Tina Erickson  
25-0803  
25-0427  
4
5
Attachments:  
Memo Sent July 2024  
Mindel reviewed that attached memo. Credits for trees would be difficult to quantify and  
the City does not have enough staff for outreach. La Crosse Waters is weighing the  
possibility of offering to managing the stormwater credit process.  
Youth Climate Action Fund Micro-Grant Application Review and Selection  
Staff provided an update on the breakdown of how the funds were distributed. Four  
grantees did not get their full requested amount. A previous awardee ran into some  
challenges and declined to pursue the project. Staff was forced to choose a  
"shovel-ready" project to distribute funds on time. The MTU is able to fund both  
transit-related projects. Meehan will start to plan for the celebration event.  
Graduate Capstone Project: City of La Crosse Green Space Expansion - UW  
La Follette School of Public Affairs  
25-0735  
6
Attachments:  
Policy Brief  
Report  
This project was from two years ago and staff wanted to ensure that it was in the  
books. The project demonstrates the type of low or no cost technical assistance  
available on sustainability projects. Mindel recommended sharing with Parks.  
A motion was made by Ericson, seconded by Hanna, that this Report be  
RECEIVED AND FILED. The motion carried by voice vote.  
Next Meeting / Agenda Items  
The next meeting will be 8/11.  
Adjournment  
Mindel adjourned the meeting at 5:17 PM.  
Notice is further given that members of other governmental bodies may be present at the  
above scheduled meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have  
decision-making responsibility.  
NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY  
Requests from persons with a disability who need assistance to participate in this meeting  
should call the City Clerk's office at (608) 789-7510 or send an email to  
ADAcityclerk@cityoflacrosse.org, with as much advance notice as possible.