City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes  
Human Rights Commission  
Wednesday, October 22, 2025  
5:15 PM  
Eagle Room  
This meeting will also be conducted through video conferencing.  
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Call to Order  
Bakalars called the meeting to order at 5:18 PM.  
Roll Call  
5 -  
Present:  
Kimberly Cable, Gretchen Guinn Paquette, Claire Bakalars, Rosanne  
Northwood,Kerrigan Trautsch  
2 - A Xiong,Marissa Sutherland  
Excused:  
Approval of Minutes  
A motion was made by Northwood, seconded by Guinn Paquette, that these  
Minutes be APPROVED. The motion carried by voice vote.  
Notices and Discussion  
Trautsch and Cable introduced themselves to the commissioners. Then the  
commissioners introduced themselves to the new members.  
Agenda Items:  
Discrimination Complaint - Samantha Anderson v. River City Rentals  
25-1148  
Complainant shared more details about her attempt to tour apartments, citing travel  
arrangements and communications. When here appointments were cancelled, she  
alleged that the landlord had no intention of renting to her because of her disability.  
Cable asked how much the travel expenses were. Complainant did not have them on  
hand.  
Respondent explained application process and apartment touring protocols they follow,  
and shared that it has leased apartments to disabled people. Cable asked for more  
details for applicants traveling from out of town. Respondent explained their process.  
Bakalars asked for documentation about the application fee and the respondent  
provided it. Bakalars asked for the addresses of the apartments. Cable asked about  
whether the business address was in La Crosse (it's in Campbell). Northwood asked  
whether pre-approval language means the applicant should be able to expect to get an  
apartment (the application is good for 90 days for any apartment).  
Complainant responded by clarified her travel itinerary and why rescheduling was not  
possible.  
A motion was made by Cable, seconded by Trautsch, to convene in closed  
session. The motion carried by voice vote.  
The Commission reconvened in open session. The commission determined  
that the complaint does not allege sufficient facts to move forward. The  
complaint based on a disability occurred within 180 days and it is unclear  
whether the location of the discrimination was in the city of La Crosse.  
A motion was made by Guinn Paquette, seconded by Trautsch, that this  
Discrimination Complaint be DENIED. The motion carried by voice vote.  
Adjournment  
Bakalars adjourned the meeting at 6:02 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.