City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Neighborhood Revitalization Commission  
Wednesday, July 12, 2023  
6:00 PM  
Council Chambers- City Hall- 400 La Crosse St  
Members of the public will be able to attend the meeting in person in the Council Chambers at  
City Hall located at 400 La Crosse St in La Crosse, or online via video conferencing with the  
links below.  
Join Zoom Meeting:  
https://cityoflacrosseorg.zoom.us/j/82155464093pwd=aGw1NWRRUE4xM1RxajJxaTM0QkNU  
QT09  
Meeting ID: 821 5546 4093  
Passcode: 543969  
Participate by phone: 1-312-626-6799  
Call to Order  
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.  
Roll Call  
7 -  
Present:  
Ralph Geary, Jim Bagniewski, Larry Sleznikow, Jennifer Trost, Jessica  
Stanton, Sean Hurtubise ,Robert McDonnell  
2 - Will Kratt,Greg Clark  
Excused:  
Absent:  
2 - Steve Nicolai,Vacant 1  
Approval of Minutes  
Approval of the June 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes.  
A motion was made by Bagniewski, seconded by Stanton, that these minutes  
be RECOMMENDED TO BE ADOPTED. The motion carried by voice vote.  
Agenda Items:  
Discussion on possible regulation/legislation of AirBnBs/short-term rentals.  
22-1153  
1.  
Staff provided an update on the updated short-term rental draft ordinance.  
Staff pointed out the changes that were made to the draft ordinance based on  
past comments. Jim Bagniewski asked what the application cost would be.  
Staff informed him the cost would be $50 every year to cover staff time.  
Bagniewski asked if short-term rentals that were already existing would be  
grandfathered in. Staff informed the Commission that any existing short-term  
rentals will still be required to get this license. However, the fees will not incur  
until 2024. CM Sleznikow asked if the City knows when a short-term rental is  
established. Staff stated there is currently no way to know this and the  
ordinance would assist the City with knowing when new short-term rentals  
open up in the City. Jessica Stanton asked the difference between the citizen  
complaint process and the enforcement process of a nuisance property. Ellen  
Atterbury from the City Attorney's Office informed the Commission that the  
citizen complaint adds the avenue for citizens to initiate the process to revoke,  
suspend, or deny a license through a sworn written complaint. CM Sleznikow  
asked if it was possible to ask Airbnb how many operations they had in La  
Crosse. Atterbury stated we can request that information but getting Airbnb to  
respond is not easy. Jim Bagniewski motioned to approve this ordinance to  
move onto its next steps through the Council cycle. Jessica Stanton seconded.  
CM Sleznikow motioned to open public hearing. Ralph Geary seconded. The  
motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.  
Eric Doyle, citizen of La Crosse, spoke in favor of stricter regulations than  
presented by the draft ordinance. Doyle stated short-term rentals are  
commercial uses in R-1 zoning.  
Joe Leinfelder, citizen of La Crosse, spoke in favor of stricter regulations than  
presented by the draft ordinance. Leinfelder brought forward concerns with the  
short-term rentals in their neighborhood.  
CM Sleznikow motioned to close public hearing. Bob McDonnell seconded.  
The motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.  
CM Trost reminded Commission Members there was a motion on the floor to  
approve the draft ordinance and move it onto its next steps by going through  
the Council cycle. The motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.  
Update and discussion on Accessory Dwelling Unit policy research - Lewis  
Kuhlman  
23-0382  
2.  
Staff provided a brief update on the process of an Accessory Dwelling Unit  
Ordinance. Staff is meeting internally to discuss questions, concerns, and  
solutions and plans to come back to the Commission once those are  
addressed.  
Updates: Comprehensive Plan, Tree Walk, Neighborhood Reports.  
3.  
Staff stated that the Comprehensive Plan is going through internal review. The  
final draft will be posted for public viewing and feedback in the coming weeks.  
Staff stated there will be a Community Tree Workshop for the Downtown on  
July 27, 2023 at 5:30 PM at Burns Park. There will be a community-wide  
workshop as well sometime in September.  
CM Sleznikow stated he has heard concerns regarding the metronet fiber  
optics being installed in the City. CM Sleznikow stated that there were  
complaints about noise, damage, etc. CM Sleznikow stated the original  
contractor was let go and a new contractor has been hired. He also stated any  
damaged sidewalks will be replaced. Moving forward he suggested taking  
pictures of damage to document.  
Call for items for next meeting.  
4.  
Adjournment  
The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 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.  
Neighborhood Revitalization Commission Members:  
CM Jennifer Trost, CM Larry Sleznikow, Jessica Stanton, Jim Bagniewski, Greg Clark, Ralph  
Geary, Robert McDonnell, Sean Hurtubise, Steve Nicolai, Will Kratt