City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Common Council  
Thursday, September 8, 2022  
6:00 PM  
Council Chambers, City Hall  
400 La Crosse Street  
Mayor Mitch Reynolds, Presiding  
Roll Call  
Mayor Reynolds called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  
12 -  
Present:  
Andrea Richmond, Scott Neumeister, Barb Janssen, Larry Sleznikow, Chris  
Kahlow, Mac Kiel, Mackenzie Mindel, Chris Woodard, Rebecca Schwarz,  
Jennifer Trost, Douglas Happel, Mark Neumann  
Pledge of Allegiance  
Invocation  
Pastor Mark Lockett, Neighborhood City Church.  
Appointment of District 5 Council Member  
Jenasea Hameister received a majority vote of the Council Members present in the  
initial round and was, therefore, appointed as 5th District Council Member. The Oath of  
Office was administered by City Clerk Nikki Elsen.  
Roll Call  
13 -  
Present:  
Andrea Richmond, Scott Neumeister, Barb Janssen, Larry Sleznikow,  
Jenasea Hameister, Chris Kahlow, Mac Kiel, Mackenzie Mindel, Chris  
Woodard, Rebecca Schwarz, Jennifer Trost, Douglas Happel, Mark  
Neumann  
Approval of Minutes  
A motion was made by Woodard, seconded by Kahlow to APPROVE minutes of  
August 11, 2022; the motion carried unanimously by voice vote.  
Reports  
Financial Report from the Interim Director of Finance for the month of July  
2022.  
2022-09-001  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Mindel, that the Report be  
ACCEPTED AND FILED . The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
Notices and Discussions  
Sleznikow acknowledged Olivia Herken on their reporting of city government for the  
Tribune and wished her well on her move to the Wisconsin State Journal. Happel  
acknowledged new Fire Chief Schott on his first official meeting of the Common  
Council. Kahlow recognized the City and Parks and Rec. department for the  
outstanding facility award received on August 16 for the Green Island tennis complex.  
Mayor Reynolds acknowledged the City stormwater utility updates lead by the Director  
of Engineering and Public Works and the efforts of WTC and UWL to add stormwater  
retention.  
COMMON COUNCIL MATTERS  
Amended Resolution approving a premise lease agreement between the City  
of La Crosse Fire Department & Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance.  
2022-08-021  
A motion was made by Richmond, seconded by Sleznikow to RECONSIDER;  
the motion carried unanimously by voice vote.  
A motion was made by Happel, seconded by Kahlow to AMEND by changing  
the lease from 6 months to 1 year; the motion carried unanimously by voice  
vote.  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Sleznikow, that the Resolution be  
ADOPTED AS AMENDED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
Resolution approving 2022 Bills and Engineering Estimates paid in September  
2022.  
2022-09-002  
A motion was made by Richmond, seconded by Janssen, that the Resolution  
be ADOPTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR  
Police and Fire Commission: Ellen Frantz. Room Tax Commission: Ryan  
Johnson.  
2022-09-003  
A motion was made by Kahlow, seconded by Richmond, that the Appointment  
be CONFIRMED . The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
SUSPENSION OF COUNCIL RULE VIII FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:  
(2/3 Vote Required)  
A motion was made by Janssen, seconded by Sleznikow to SUSPEND Council  
Rule VIII for items 22-1079, 22-1115, and 22-1149; the motion carried  
unanimously by voice vote.  
REPORT OF BID/QUOTE RECOMMENDED TO BE ADOPTED  
Report of Bids and Resolution awarding contract to Chippewa Concrete  
Services in the amount of $10,961,937.96 for the River Point District - Phase  
2 (Street & Utilities) Project.  
2022-09-004  
A motion was made by Richmond, seconded by Janssen, that the Report of  
Bids be ADOPTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
REPORT OF BID/QUOTE RECOMMENDED TO BE REJECTED  
Report of Bids for Riverside South Toilet Rooms Project.  
2022-09-005  
A motion was made by Schwarz, seconded by Mindel, that the Report of Bids  
be REJECTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
ITEM WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION  
Resolution appointing Chadwick Hawkins as Director of Finance.  
2022-09-006  
A motion was made by Woodard, seconded by Kahlow, that the Resolution be  
ADOPTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
ITEMS RECOMMENDED TO BE ADOPTED  
A SECOND AMENDED ORDINANCE to create Sec. 32-191 of the Code of  
Ordinances of the City of La Crosse prohibiting Conversion Therapy. (Note:  
The Committee and/or Council may convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat.  
19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel. Following such closed session, the  
Committees and/or Council may reconvene in open session.)  
Ord. 5220. For complete ordinance, see p. _________ of Volume 11 of Ordinances.  
A motion was made by Woodard to OPEN public hearing; the motion failed for  
lack of second.  
A motion was made by Janssen, seconded by Richmond to CONVENE in closed  
session pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel; the  
motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.  
Unanimous consent to reconvene in OPEN session.  
A motion was made by Richmond, seconded by Woodard to postpone  
indefinitely; the motion failed on a vote of 5 - 8 (No - Sleznikow, Hameister,  
Kahlow, Kiel, Mindel, Schwarz, Trost, Neumann).  
A motion was made by Kiel, seconded by Neumann, that the Ordinance be  
ADOPTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
8 - Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel, Mindel, Schwarz, Trost, Neumann  
4 - Neumeister, Janssen, Woodard, Happel  
1 - Richmond  
Yes:  
No:  
Abstain:  
Resolution declaring a climate emergency, committing to policies that reduce  
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and accelerating the clean energy  
transition, and supporting intergovernmental cooperation to reduced GHG  
emissions.  
2022-09-007  
A motion was made by Mindel, seconded by Kahlow, that the Resolution be  
ADOPTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
9 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel, Mindel, Schwarz, Trost,  
Neumann  
4 - Neumeister, Janssen, Woodard, Happel  
No:  
Resolution granting Various license applications pursuant to Chapters 4, 6,  
and/or 10 of the La Crosse Municipal Code for the remainder of license period  
2022-2023 (September).  
2022-09-008  
A motion was made by Richmond, seconded by Kahlow, that the Resolution be  
ADOPTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
12 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
1 - Woodard  
Abstain:  
Resolution creating a storm water utility project and appropriating funds for  
emergency repairs to the storm drainage way south of Brickyard and Millatti  
Lanes.  
2022-09-009  
A motion was made by Mindel, seconded by Kiel, that the Resolution be  
ADOPTED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
13 -  
Yes:  
Richmond, Neumeister, Janssen, Sleznikow, Hameister, Kahlow, Kiel,  
Mindel, Woodard, Schwarz, Trost, Happel, Neumann  
CONSENT AGENDA  
A motion was made by Richmond, seconded by Mindel to ADOPT the Consent  
Agenda; the motion carried unanimously by voice vote.  
ITEMS RECOMMENDED TO BE ADOPTED  
AN ORDINANCE to amend sec. 46-175 and to repeal secs. 46-176 and  
46-185 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Crosse regarding the  
Stormwater Utility.  
Ord. 5230. For complete ordinance, see p. _________ of Volume 11 of Ordinances.  
AN ORDINANCE to amend Subsection 115-110 of the Code of Ordinances of  
the City of La Crosse by transferring certain property from the Traditional  
Neighborhood District - Specific to the Traditional Neighborhood District -  
Specific allowing for a four-unit townhouse building with a four-car garage and  
four parking spaces at 618, 622, and 624 Jackson St., and 1002 7th St. S.  
Ord. 5231. For complete ordinance, see p. _________ of Volume 11 of Ordinances.  
Amended Resolution approving the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Program  
Budget.  
2022-09-010  
Resolution authorizing the appropriation of funds for River Point District Phase  
II related street and infrastructure improvements.  
2022-09-011  
Resolution amending Appendix C Fee Schedule regarding Stormwater  
Application fees.  
2022-09-012  
Amended Resolution approving adjustments to the 2021 assessment and tax  
roll.  
2022-09-013  
Resolution establishing locations for the 2022 Board of Review meetings.  
2022-09-014  
Resolution approving Application of LAX Food Hall LLC for a Conditional Use  
Permit at 508 Jay St. allowing permission to apply for a Combination "Class  
B" Beer & Liquor license.  
2022-09-015  
Resolution requesting the release of funds from the La Crosse Center Room  
Tax Reserve Account for various equipment, repair and maintenance.  
2022-09-016  
Resolution authorizing the increase of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) for a  
position within the IT Department.  
2022-09-017  
Resolution establishing definition of a Storm Event as part of the Stormwater  
Utility update.  
2022-09-018  
Resolution approving a service agreement between the City of La Crosse Fire  
Department and Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Medical Center.  
2022-09-019  
Resolution Approving Condominium Plat of Jackson Street Townhomes to the  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin (7th & Jackson Streets).  
2022-09-020  
Adjournment  
Meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.