Finance & Personnel Committee - Regular Meeting

I'm gonna call this meeting to order for the first the for the finance and personnel committee, Thursday, March 5, 06:04PM. Members of the Finance and Personnel Commission are here, excused, councilmember Kahlo and councilmember Newberry. Our new business tonight, starting with 20 six-fifty four, resolution approving investment service agreements for the period of 04/01/2026 through 03/31/2027. Councilmember Jansen? Move to approve.

Move to approve by council member Jansen, seconded by council member Sleznikol. Council member Sleznikol?

I'm hoping our director of finance can just give us an overview of what this involves. I'm pretty sure I understand it, but just so that the public as well understands what's happening here.

Sure. Thank you for the question. Kind of anticipating to be asked, so that's great. So every year, as far back as I know, the city has or the city council has authorized the use of some of our invested funds, a portion of it, not all of them to be distributed amongst local investors here within the city. I think the idea and the goal is that the local institutions would then utilize those funds to grant loans and utilize that money to the public, benefiting the city as a whole.

So past practice has been to take 20% of a portion, up to 25% of a portion of our investable cash and put that back into the local economy. So that's what this is doing. And then what we, one of the stipulations that they have to follow is that they have to beat our local government investment pool interest rates. So not only are we helping to benefit local economy and residents here, we're also receiving a little extra on our interest rates. So kind of a win win all around.

Thank you. Any

other questions? Thanks, director Hawkins. Any further discussion? Not seeing or hearing any, we'll move to the vote. That motion passes unanimously.

Moving on to twenty six dash zero one two two. Resolution amending appendix c of the municipal code for the city of La Crosse entitled fee schedule regarding fees for building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and erosion control permits. Council Member Slesnikov?

Move to approve.

Motion to approve by council member Slesnikow, seconded by council member Jansen. Is there any member Slesnikow.

I'm not sure who from

who is here from

planning who might be able to vote. Andrea, I see you online. Yes. I'm just curious why why this needs to come forward. What change will this be making that, requires it to, you know, come before council?

Sure. So there were some updates that the council approved to change some of the fees with the fee schedule at the end of last year effective 2026. So this is making the language in that. There were there were some fees that were increased more than just the CPI. Current language says that it should change only based on the CPI. So this is updating that to allow that change to be not just the CPI. So the language in that was approved at j and a on Tuesday, and then this is the update of the approval of the fee. So the actual monetary amount associated with those permits.

Thank you.

Any other questions for director Trane? Thank you, director Trane. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. That motion passes unanimously. Next agenda item is 26 dash zero one two eight, resolution amending the compression pay for battalion chiefs, assistant fire chief, and fire chief. Sponsored by mayor Washington Spivey. Council member Slesnikow.

Move to approve.

Move to approve by council member Slesnikow, seconded by council member Jansen. Council member Slesnikow.

Thank you, chair. I'd ask our HR director if she could just describe what happens with compression in salaries and what brings this forward at this time.

Thank you. So this is being brought forward. I find it my duty and responsibility to our staff to evaluate our wages on a continuous basis and evaluate any of our resolutions that address wages. So the last time this, particular resolution was addressed was when it was introduced in 2015. So lots has changed with our compensation since then.

And what we had found is this resolution from 2015 specifically addressed battalion chiefs, and it included our assistant fire chief, but it did not include our fire chief. So what we're now finding is based on the increases that our collective bargaining group has gotten, that have been at times different than what our nonrepresented employees have gotten, it has got made that gap even smaller between the earnings of our assistant fire chief and our chief to the point now there's less than a 1% gap between their earnings. So this is that corrective action to make sure that we keep an appropriate gap in there between their two earnings. Specifically, this will help in the future should we need to recruit for that position. If there's a retirement or any other turnover within any of these three categories.

And specifically, compression pay is, again, when we're having two wages that get a little bit too close together and there needs to be an appropriate there between those.

Go ahead.

I see the compression gap 6%. Is that sort of an industry standard, or how was that percentage arrived at?

So that percentage was arrived at over ten years ago. That's what's been in the resolution since 2015. That was deemed the appropriate, difference in the fire service and what their, compensation structure should be. So I can't say what got us to six percent ten years ago, but the feedback I have gotten is that's an appropriate level and that they are satisfied with that within the fire department.

Councilmember Jansen? As I

was reading the staff report and the attachment, it it appeared that part of the problem was overtime for people below the cheap. Shouldn't we be addressing that instead?

How the fire compression works is it's not necessarily related to the overtime. This one, how this is written is it's 6% of gross earnings, so it's not necessarily addressing that piece. That could be an issue in other departments with some compression pay, but I would say with the fire one that that is not necessarily the issue right now. Because our battalion chiefs and our assistant chief are exempt employees, so they would not be eligible for overtime.

Is that the question you want to ask? Any

other discussion or questions for director Fransen? Seeing or hearing none, any other discussion? Seeing and hearing none, we'll move with the vote. And that motion fails two to one two to two. Excuse me.

Two to two. Excuse me. Sorry about that. Moving on to 26 dash 0146. Resolution approving first amendment to development agreements with the Chalmers LLC, a multifamily housing development located at 215 Pine Street and 401 3rd Street North, sponsored by councilmember Calo.

Council member Jansen.

Move to adopt.

Motion to adopt by council member Jansen, seconded by council member Sleznikow. Council member Sleznikow.

If someone can just give an overview of what's what would be happening, you know, with this this change. Thank you.

We have, Matt Balwig from T Wall Enterprises here. He's attending virtually. And Julie Emsley is also here. Julie, you wanna go first?

Yes. I will go ahead and just give an overview for just so just as a reminder, this is the property that will be redeveloped at that's the old Lacrosse Tribune building downtown as well as the vacant, parcel that's, between 2nd And 3rd Street, off of Pine there. So this amendment is just to take the development agreements that were approved by council last summer and combine them into one, one development agreement. And the impetus for this change is a result of recent, building code changes that happened at the state level. So the developer needed to move those all into one phase.

As far as the TIF request, it doesn't change anything in that. It it doesn't that those payments will stay the same, and they don't increase at all. All the restrictions are in place. Same with the the value guarantee. What it does for the timeline is it will move the timeline to start construction back by a little over a year. However, compressing it all into one phase completes the project a little over a little less than two and a half years early. So the project was originally proposed to be completed by March 2031. With this amendment, it will be completed by November 2028. And I'm happy to answer any other questions that we did review it. Again, review the financial analysis when we received this amendment request.

Both myself and then also working with Ehlers, we didn't see any issue with it. And then also, as was mentioned, Matt Belwig, who's here with TUOL Enterprises, who's the, developers online too to answer questions you might have.

Any other questions for Julie Emsley? Seeing none. Any other quest any questions for Matt Balwick from Tiwal Enterprises? Councilmember Slasnikol.

I just wanted to thank you for trying to find a way to move this forward a little more efficiently and bring the timeline in a shorter phase. I think that's think that's commendable if that can be done, you know, effectively. And if this is what is required to do that, I appreciate moving this forward. Thank you.

Of course. Yeah. We were originally the three originally planning the three phases and now with the as Julie mentioned, with the new building code update, we just didn't really see a way forward to do it in phases still. So we're we're pivoting to this and and moving forward. So thank you.

Thank you, Matt. Any other further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. This motion passes unanimously. 26 dash zero one four nine, resolution resolution approving a reorganization of the tables of positions and classifications for the park and rec department sponsored by council member Troost.

Council member Jansen. Move to adopt. Motion to adopt by council member Jansen, seconded by council member Slesnicole. Council member Sesnikau.

If we could just get an overview of what's going to be happening with this, I would appreciate it. Thank you.

Sure. Thank you for the question. So with a recent resignation within our department, we took the opportunity to, kinda reassess our needs and maybe shuffle some, responsibilities around, which is why we're asking for this reclassification, of duties, which would ultimately result in a reduction with a of one full time position within our department and savings of roughly $60,000. The reason we're doing that is is with respect to the the previous budget cuts and budget potential budget cuts on the horizon. We felt that this is kind of a gives us a little bit of flexibility moving forward into the, 2027 operating budget, preparation stage where we can have, you know, that 60,000 to address some of the needs still that we have here in '26 because those needs obviously are not going away.

We are still, know, accountable for what, you know, the council and and mayor and residents expect of us. But it still does offer us that opportunity to make cuts not to a full time position in '27, but address maybe that maybe in our limited term salary line.

I just wanna thank Parks for being proactive with this. We know the challenges that we face with our operating budget. So trying to find these wins even if they're not the largest, but at least to be looking for those. And when the opportunity presents itself, to try to take advantage of it, I definitely appreciate that. So thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions for mister Tussoni? Seeing none. Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote.

That motion passes unanimously. Next agenda item is 26 dash zero one five zero. Resolution amending the compression pay for police captains, assistant chief of police, and chief of police. Sponsored by mayor Washington Spivey. Council member Slesnikow?

Move to approve.

Motion to approve by council member Slesnikow, seconded by council member Jansen. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. And that motion fails with a vote of two to two. Next agenda item is 26 dash zero one seven three, resolution creating and appropriating funds for capital improvement design for the La Crosse City Hall sixth floor remodeling project.

Sponsor is mayor Sean Shawndell Washington Spivey. Council Member Slesnikov?

Move to deny.

Motion to deny by council member Sledgenicko, seconded by council member Jansen. Is there any discussion? Council member Jansen?

I'm I'm voting in favor of denying this because I think that, it's not a a good use of taxpayer dollars. And, I think that we are at a point in in the city of La Crosse that it's time to make tough choices. And, this is actually a pretty easy one at this point. So

Councilmember Slesnikov?

I have to agree with Councilmember Janssen on this. This is an issue. My understanding is there has been some smaller amount of remodeling in past years on the 6th Floor. I think when we have the budget considerations that we have, especially internally, if departments are getting along and this is just a design element, to move forward with actual remodeling would be a much more expensive process. So to me, it doesn't pay to do design for something that I would not support moving forward with the CIP at this time. So that's where I am. It's just it's just it would be nice to have if we had the funding, but, unfortunately, we really don't. And this seems to be a pretty easy one to just wait on for the time being.

I'm gonna chime in also. I was my thought is how are we gonna tell the citizens, of course, that we don't have money for the essential things that we're closing or losing, but we're we have money to renovate City Hall. And when you walk into City Hall, most residents can only get to the lobby. So we probably shouldn't be spending money on places they can't even see. I'm going to also vote against this.

Any further discussion? So we're gonna, call the vote for the motion to deny. This motion passes unanimously four to zero. Moving on to agenda item twenty six zero one nine seven. Resolution amending appendix c, fee schedule of the La Crosse Municipal Code to include a fee for late renewal of alcohol beverages and cigarette, tobacco, and vaping device applications, sponsored by Councilmember Mendell.

Councilmember Jansen. Move to adopt. Motion to adopt by Council Member Jansen, seconded by Council Member Slesnikle. Council Member Jansen? Thank you. Any discussion or questions? Seeing none, move forward with the vote. This motion passes unanimously. Next agenda item is 26 dash zero two zero nine. Resolution requesting TID 11 funds for downtown beautification project.

Sponsor is council member, KLO. We do have a speaker on this item. Mr. Honeycutt, would you like to step to the mic? Oh, sorry. One one second for procedure, please. Oh, a motion for public hearing. A unanimous consent will do. Can I get a thumbs up? Okay.

And we now have a unanimous consent for an open or a you know what I'm saying. And Mr. Honeycutt.

Chad Honeycutt, City of La Crosse, DMI. Does everyone have this packet in front of them? Perfect. Okay. What's happened when I got hired to do this job, I was told to bring new life and energy and to draw more investment into downtown. Right now, it's actually a really unique and, I would say, awesome time because a lot of the nonprofits are really stepping up. For DMI, we've run a planner program for the past umpteen years, really. We service 37 of the downtown planners. You'll see three different installations throughout the year. We have a very dedicated group, a very conscientious along with the community.

Along with that, just to let you know, we just did a quarterly cleanup that had over 100 volunteers come up right after Oktoberfest and clean the downtown. So we do have a bandwidth of people that are helping us with these plantings, maintenance, watering, etcetera. But just to underscore, clean, safe, attractive, accessible are the four horsemen of DMI. It's what I everything has to flow back to that, and we're missing a big attraction element right now. For instance, when we come into the city, you see the derelict building next to the GECU that's boarded up, and then you see the Burger King Island.

And I'm not really sure it gives it doesn't honor, actually, the uniqueness of this city and all the things that are downtown. We have 3rd And 4th Street coming up in five years, and I understand gonna be some concerns about that. The way I look at that is that's the bow, that's the ribbon on a five year revitalization that we're gonna do together as a community. These planners are important because they provide a sense of welcome for downtown. It softens a lot. Have just a park on the river. We have a few parks, but people eat with their eyes. And then for us to keep drawing business, keep drawing customers, and keep creating tax base, we need to create a space for people that think that's clean, accessible, and attractive. So we have 94 planners total. I went through each one.

I labeled them good, fair, and poor. Poor was exposed rebar disintegration. Fair was minor cracks. And good was there's little or no damage, and they have a long shelf life. Right now, we have 24 good ones, 30 fair, and 40 that are in poor condition. To be frank, I don't know the age of these planters. When I came on this job, people asked who owned them. Eventually, we found out we believe the city did, but I still have to go through sort of some old, old paperwork to figure out what's going on. If you flip to the next page, you'll see the planters, the different pictures of the there's rebar showing, and then I have a heat map of all where they are. Most of them that are in poor or bad condition are actually right in our downtown nucleus with a lot of the good planters being on the 2nd Street.

I almost said cycle track, but on 2nd Street. So what I'm looking for along with these planters is a few more trash cans downtown. We have a big ashtray. We don't have a lot of ashtrays, we have a lot of cigarette butts. So I'm I'm looking to do this capital improvement project because I think it's important for us to pay attention to the details of downtown. I know we go through a lot of investment and economic development in the millions. So we want to spend the taxpayers' money wisely, and these are just a onetime capital improvement that will service for decades to come. Open for questions, obviously. Councilmember Jansen.

So have you explored having some of these repaired instead of replaced?

We've talked a little bit about the repair. We work with Wausau Tayo. Actually, this past week, we've sort of reformulated the plan. Originally, this came as 80 new terracotta planters. And after talking to parks and talking about some different things, I said, you know, we probably should try to replace the current ones. I can look at the repair schedule on that. I think that's an excellent idea.

Well, I guess my other question is if you put something new there, is it gonna be protected from all the salt that gets thrown at them?

I mean, I guess I they would be the same elements as the old ones, and anything that's outside has to do with the weather. That's pretty incompetent being an outdoor structure.

Can you address the trash cans as well?

Yeah. So downtown, about half the trash cans are rusted or have graffiti. We could repaint some of them, but I do think we actually are missing some on certain stretches. A lot of times when we're cleaning out the planters, we that the streets that don't have trash cans, the planners are pretty full of trash. So it's sort of like people at least people are trying to find a bucket, but we don't want it with, you know, all the new flowers and everything. So I have 10 new trash cans here that I think up by 6th Street and a few other places could use them.

And who empties the trash cans?

Streets does, but we're working on a litter a small litter and watering team. And if there's any overflowing or sort of spot needs that we'll be happy to do that downtown to supplement the city's efforts.

Council member Slesnicole.

I see here that the downtown business is currently plant water 20 57 of the planters without assistance. I assume then Parks takes care of the the others. Is that correct?

Parks does the city does the six in front of the La Crosse Center. DMI does all the other ones, and every the other portion is serviced by the individual businesses. So the city only does six of the planters that I'm talking about.

And does do downtown businesses, do they actually do the planting with the plants and the whole works?

The whole shebang. In fact, a lot of them like to do their own style, their own you know, to reflect their business, which is great. It's sort of a nice hybrid approach to doing this. I mean, we like a lot of standardization, but, obviously, want the business to show up their unique identities. The Sharma is a good example. The Distillery is

a good example. And I guess with the question with council member Jansen had asked about repairs, it sounded like you might be able to look into a little bit

more detail.

Would that be possible to have that for the council meeting next week?

I'll have it for you tomorrow afternoon if you need. That would be great. But it's

just just so other council members would have that as well. You got it. Thank you.

So the what I'm looking at here is I I believe the ask is for a 125,000.

Well, I sort of that was the yes. But after going through some conversations and some reductions, I'm actually looking for 92, and I'm guessing it's gonna be lower than that after I have this repair conversation.

Okay. Because that's what I'm seeing is that the the 32,350 that's left. It

I'm not looking to spend money I don't need, gal. Yeah. I mean, excuse me. But I'm just saying, like, if I don't need it, I'm not gonna ask for it.

Thank you.

Yep. Okay.

With, we're councilmember Dickinson?

I don't see the, attachment. Could that be attached? What you're referring to tonight is some kind of packet with numbers.

Get a packet?

That will be attached in Legistar.

Oh, that's okay.

Well, there will be others that if it could actually be attached

piece of legislation on The clerks will do that tomorrow. He would they brought the for the finance and personnel committee, so we can get that to the the full council. Thank you, Chad.

Yep. Thank you.

And with that, we'll close public hearing

Thank you.

By unanimous consent.

It still should be attached.

I need a motion. Council member Slesnikow?

I motion to move to the common council meeting with no recommendation.

Motion to move with no recommendation by council member Sesnikos, seconded by council member Jansen. Any discussion? Council member Jansen.

I think, moving it without a recommendation is good. I think there's some things that need to be worked out. Clearly, there's the repair issue needs to be addressed. We have to be much more careful how we are spending money. It concerns me that, we're adding this many more planters, more trash cans. That means more staff time emptying trash cans. There's a cost associated with that. Obviously, the taxes and fees needs to be addressed if the city is actually purchasing these or if we're reimbursing. I guess there are details yet that need to be worked out.

Councilmember Slesnikow.

Thank you, chair. I requested moving with no recommendation because I think we are waiting for more information. I think other council members need to hear this, but I do think it's very important, the aesthetics of our downtown. So this is something I would will seriously consider moving forward. But having been downtown and seeing some of the concerns that were brought forward and hearing from people that visit other municipalities and talk about the beautiful downtown, the beautiful flower displays that they have, and that's sticking in their minds. And this is very visible not only for our community members but for visitors. So, this is something I think, should, require serious consideration. Thank you.

Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. And that motion passes four two zero. Our next item is 26 dash zero two one three, resolution to reallocate unused funds from completed capital purchases and or projects to newly requested capital equipment purchases for the water department. Sponsored by council member Podeski.

Council member Jansen.

Move to adopt.

Motion to adopt by council member Jansen, seconded by council member Slesenicol. Council member Slesenicol.

Again, I do wanna appreciate, the water utility and looking at capital improvement funds and where they can save money. Perhaps they don't need a piece of equipment originally budgeted for, need something else that costs less with the savings, I do appreciate that. So I'm happy to approve or vote to approve items like this. Again, our efficiencies are going to be extremely important, whether it's capital or operating. So thank you for looking at this and making these decisions.

Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. I'm gonna ask for a point of clarification here. The next items are, could go into close can I read them all three? And then or do I need to read them separately?

Well, then I'm going to read them each, and then we will go into I will then entertain a motion to go into closed session. So agenda item 20 six-two 14, resolution approving amendment number one to the City of La Crosse Refused and Recycling Services for City Buildings and Facilities 2022 through 2026 contract by and between Hilltopper Refused and Recycling Services and the City of La Crosse. And then note, the committee and or council may convene in closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85 paren one paren e to formulate and update negotiation strategies and parameters. Following such closed session, the committees and or counsel may reconvene in open session. The next one is Agenda Item 20 six-two 20, resolution amending a vacation conversion memorandum of understanding, parent MOU, between the City of La Crosse and the International Association of Firefighters, local number one twenty seven.

Note, the committee and or council may convene in closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(one) to formulate and update negotiation strategies and parameters. Following such closed session, the committees and or counsel may reconvene in open session. This was short circuited by Mayor Washington Spivey on threetwotwenty twenty six. The next one is 20 21, Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding, parent MOU, for tristate ambulance employee leased agreement operational and compensation changes between the city of La Crosse and the International Association of Firefighters, local number 127. Note the committee and or council may convene in closed session pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85 parent one parent e to formulate and update negotiation strategies and parameters.

Following such closed session, the committees and or council may reconvene in open session. This was also short circuited by mayor Washington Spivey on 03/02/2026. I'll entertain a motion to go into closed session by unanimous consent. We will go into closed session. Thank you.

F and P is back in session. The next item on the agenda is 26 dash zero two one four. Resolution approving Amendment No. One to the City Of La Crosse Refuge and Recycling Services for City Buildings and Facilities twenty twenty two to twenty twenty six contract by and between Hilltopper Refuse and Recycling Services in the City Of La Crosse. Councilmember Schlesnikow.

Move to adopt.

Move to adopt by Councilmember Schlesnikow, seconded by Councilmember Jansen. Seeing none, move to the vote. I'm sorry. I don't know how to, get Dickinson on the vote, so it's gonna be three. She vote.

So the motion passes unanimously four to zero. I was gonna say it'll be corrected tomorrow. So Thank you. I appreciate that. Next item on the agenda, 20 six-two 20, resolution amending a vacation conversion memorandum of understanding, parent MOU, between the City of La Crosse and the International Association of Firefighters, local number 1 two seven. Councilmember Jansen. Move to adopt. Motion to adopt by council member Jansen, seconded by council member Slesnico. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to the vote.

And that motion passes unanimously. And our final item on the agenda that is 26 dash zero two two one, resolution approving a memorandum of understanding, parent MOU, for tri state ambulance employee leased agreement operational and compensation changes between the City of La Crosse and the International Association of Firefighters, local number one two seven. Council member Jansen. Move to adopt. Motion to adopt by council member Jansen, seconded by council member Slesnikow.

Council member Jansen? Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing and hearing none. Move forward with the vote.

That motion passes unanimously. And with that, we bring this meeting to an end. Thank you all.