Hello City of Eau Claire employees, residents, and Council Members –

Here are some updates from around Eau Claire. Note that prior updates can be found here, and you can always send the City Manager’s Office or City Council feedback.

City Manager Stephanie Hirsch

CITY UPDATES

Carson Park Baseball Next Steps: We are happy to announce that a plan has been developed to make some improvements to Carson Park Baseball Stadum. By way of history, residents raised approximately $400,000 to improve the Stadium, however, we have faced challenges with completing the project due to rising construction costs. It has taken some years to piece together funding sources and to determine a plan that matches the funding available, while making an appreciable impact.

Community Services Director Lane Berg shared this update:

“At the Council meeting this week, the use of $1.6 million of Capital Improvement funds was approved for the Carson Baseball Stadium. In addition to that funding, there is approximately $400,000 in the Community Foundation to be used for seating. We will be working together with the baseball community to gather input on this project as it progresses to ensure the most benefit for everyone involved.

Some projects that we have identified for these funds, along with future potential funds that may be raised, include:

• New dugouts: This week, the City held a contractor walkthrough, and the project will be started this fall and completed before the next baseball season.

• New bleachers: Funds that have been raised and that are being held by the Community Foundation will be used to purchase new bleachers along the First and Third baselines. The bleachers have a long lead time, so you will likely see them installed in the fall of 2026. The bleachers will resemble what Copeland Park in La Crosse has. The first several rows will feature seats with backrests, and they will have tags affixed to them to honor those who have donated to this program.

• New restroom/storage/concession structure: We are working with vendors to design a modular building that serves all of these purposes. The location of this structure is being investigated, with water and sewer service being a determining factor. These steps will improve the restroom amenities that are available for use in the early part of the baseball season while the grandstand building is still thawing from winter.

• Historic grandstand: Some projects planned for the grandstand include waterproofing, tuckpointing, windows, doors, electrical upgrades, and HVAC upgrades. These are important steps to preserve the longevity of the historic grandstand building that so many people in the community have enjoyed for many, many years.

• Turf: We are also working with stadium users on potential fundraising to install artificial turf. This can be done either all at once or in phases, depending on fundraising. The infield area and warning track around the stadium would be a first phase, with the outfield area being a second phase. Shifting to artificial turf will allow for significantly more use at the stadium throughout the baseball season. Games can be scheduled with short turnaround between games. This is helpful during the packed WIAA/NCAA season and during unpredictable spring weather. Tournaments also become easier to schedule, as more games can be played each day. An artificial turf field can also be used for other things, like practices, clinics, and other community events such as concerts. 

Our list of projects is pretty bold, but we are confident that with some progress, we may be able to generate momentum toward additional fundraising. There are people who are willing to start that effort again.

We are grateful for the individuals and groups who have been so determined to see the stadium improved, even though it has been a long process. They have shown their passion in making it happen, and we are happy to take these planned steps. Carson Baseball is a gem, and it deserves to be invested in.”

The baseball diamond and dugouts are pictured below.

Owen Park Community Renovation Project: This year, the City had planned to replace Owen Park playground equipment as part of a routine schedule. However, residents and neighbors expressed an interest in trying to fundraise to make a bigger investment in new playground features, given Owen’s status as a downtown, destination space. Those volunteers are hosting a meeting next week to explore ideas, and all are welcome. A notice is below, and please contact Council Member Aaron Brewster or community leader Chad Rowekamp with any questions.

“A public input meeting will be held Tuesday, August 19th at 5:30PM at Owen Park (rain location: Eau Claire Public Library) to gather ideas for a new, inclusive, and innovative playground that will serve children and families for decades.

The City of Eau Claire has already committed $250,000 through its Capital Improvement Plan. The goal now is to raise at least $1 million more through community donations, grants, and fundraising efforts.

‘We know City budgets are tight -- but this is something we can all get behind,’ organizers said. ‘Owen Park is one of Eau Claire’s most beloved public spaces, and this is our chance to create a destination playground -- one that will draw more visitors to downtown, boost local tourism, and inspire and include everyone.’

Funds raised beyond the $1 million goal will be used to expand the vision, adding features like more play equipment, improved parking, landscaping, and other amenities.

The meeting will include: A short presentation on the project and goals; Idea-sharing sessions with community members; and Information on how to get involved through fundraising, sponsorship, or volunteer work.”

The playground at Owen Park is pictured below.

Continued Growth: The WI Department of Revenue recently released updated population estimates for 2025. Eau Claire and our region as a whole continue to grow faster than most parts of Wisconsin. Here are some details.

Seventh largest city: Eau Claire recently moved into the spot of the seventh largest city in the state, and it’s inching closer to the sixth or fifth position. If our growth continues at the pace we’ve seen in the past few years, we may soon break into the top-five list of cities. Below is a list of the cities over 50K in population in Wisconsin and where Eau Claire sits in the rankings. If the growth of all of these communities continues at its recent pace for the next five years, Eau Claire will be the fifth largest city by 2030, after Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Kenosha.

Looking at growth for all communities with populations of 20,000 or more, Eau Claire has the highest growth outside of Madison, and a few suburbs of Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay.

Regional growth: While 39 percent of all Wisconsin communities are shrinking or not growing, our region has been faring well. Eau Claire County is the fourth fastest growing county in the state. St. Croix County (where Hudson is, west of Dunn) is just ahead of us in growth, underscoring the growth in the corridor between the greater Chippewa Valley and Twin Cities areas. Altoona has the 13th highest percent growth among 1,854 towns, villages, and cities in Wisconsin. Between 2020 and 2025, Altoona grew 18.59 percent growth and added an estimated 1,542 residents. That's almost as many new people as all of Milwaukee added! Lake Hallie also had strong growth of 4.77 percent and Chippewa Falls had 3.81 percent. These numbers are reflected in the strong growth of both Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties, as is pictured below. 

Looking ahead: Eau Claire strives to grow wisely through sound investments to public infrastructure that supports business and residential growth. We work to generate homes and businesses of different types, to support multiple thriving business districts, and to maintain parks, trails, and amenities that are inviting to both residents and visitors.

Deputy City Manager Dave Solberg, who grew up in Hallie, shared this reflection: "Growing up, I was proud to be from the Chippewa Valley. Watching the area get punched in the stomach when Uniroyal left was tough. When I was graduating from college in the 1990s, many of my classmates moved to the Twin Cities. But that’s been changing for decades. I joined the City of Eau Claire hoping to be part of a team that's striving to help Eau Claire to compete with -- or even outperform -- the prominent suburbs of the Twin Cities on measures of quality of life. Over the years, there were deliberate, smart, and courageous decisions made by elected officials and staff that created the City and region that we enjoy now. And today, we all continue to do the work that enhances the City for those who follow us. On to #5! Getting to #4 may take longer, but it isn't out of the range of possibility!”

As Dave says, continued growth is essential for the health of our community and region. We will continue to pursue strategies that support growth, including adding housing units, seeking the creation of good jobs, protecting a high quality of life, partnering with regional entities, and welcoming people of all walks of life and interests who want to live in this beautiful place.

Life and Times of a Library Hold: In a recent blog post, Bethany from the Library’s Reference Services provides a behind-the-scenes look at how holds get processed in the Library. Read more here to learn about all of the work that goes into getting patrons the books they need and want. The Life and Times of a Library Hold | L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library Pictured below is one of the Library's Circulation workrooms, and here's a quote from the post: ”Our Circulation Department has people assigned to work on processing holds ALL DAY! They will print a list of holds and go through the Library gathering items to either be placed on our hold shelves, or to be sent to other libraries. This happens multiple times a day and results in an average of 500 items being processed daily!"

COUNCIL UPDATES:

Zoning Passes: The Council held two very long meetings this past week. Monday’s presentation to the Council, which includes an overview of zoning issues, can be found here: Council Presentation on Zoning for Monday Hearing. On Tuesday, the Council approved the entire zoning. They reversed an amendment that had been approved at the July 22nd meeting to rezone an area of Randall Park from NR to GR. NR allows for a higher level of density than GR. Because of the reconsidered amendment failed, the approved zoning allows for that higher level of density in a number of neighborhoods, including Randall Park.

The map below shows these areas in the darker yellow. The areas that allow for higher density include the Third Ward, Randall Park, East Hill, some of the West and North Sides, and pockets of areas on the South Side. Some Council Members expressed an interest in shifting to NR for all of the city. Staff said that this could be explored, but that it would take time to rework the code and maps and to let residents know. The idea, though, could be carried out in coming months, potentially in combination with our planned review of our Comprehensive Plan.

We are working to implement the approved zoning, which will take effort from our Planning and City Attorney staff, especially on some of the more complex aspects. It will also be a learning curve for residents, contractors, tradespeople, and developers. Next steps in the process are Council's review of related municipal code sections and fee schedule updates. These will occur in September. The new zoning goes into effect on October 1st, 2025. Pictured below is the zoning map and a photo of one of the planners being interviewed after the zoning passed. More information on zoning can be found here: Eau Claire Century Code Update

City Celebrates 35th Anniversary of the ADA: Our ADA Coordinator, Anoosheh Hamzehee, shared this update:

"In July, the City of Eau Claire joined communities across Wisconsin and the nation in honoring the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a landmark law advancing accessibility and inclusion for people of all abilities. The City Council issued a proclamation, which was accepted by Jason Endres, who is an advocate for people with disabilities, a wheelchair user, and a lifelong Eau Claire resident. Jason shared how the ADA has shaped his life. From improving access to buildings and parks to enabling him and his wife Julie to build Eau Claire’s first ADA-compliant home, Jason reflected on the progress made and the importance of continued efforts toward inclusion.

As we celebrate this milestone, the City is actively advancing ADA compliance by finalizing and adopting its ADA Transition Plan, prioritizing improvements, and collaborating across departments for implementation. The City is in the phase of self-evaluation, and the next phase includes launching prioritized upgrades, providing staff training on ADA responsibilities, and establishing a process for ongoing review to ensure our community continues moving toward more improved accessibility.”

To learn more about the ADA and how it impacts residents, you can view a special panel that the UWEC hosted on July 22nd. Students, staff, faculty, and emeriti shared personal experiences under the ADA (watch here). An image from the panel is pictured below.

WAYS TO SERVE: Take a look at our open positions here: Job Openings | Sorted by Posting Date descending | JOB OPENINGS (governmentjobs.com) Here are a few roles that we hope to fill with great contributors.

Recreation Part-Time Positions (Recreation): The City of Eau Claire Recreation Division is now hiring for part-time Recreation positions! For a full list of positions, visit our website. Deadline to apply: Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Please apply early.

Community Service Worker I (Streets): Do you have previous construction experience? Are you interested in snow plowing? Join our dedicated and hardworking team of laborers! We are currently accepting applications for a Community Service Worker I position in the Street Maintenance Division. Deadline to apply: August 17th at 11:59PM.

Business Administration Intern: Ready to make an impact on your community? Join us! The City of Eau Claire Recreation Division is accepting applications for an exciting internship that blends public service with hands-on experience in marketing, communications, and business administration! Deadline to apply: August 17th at 11:59PM.

Boards, Commissions, and Committees: One of our volunteer boards has an opening. Apply or learn more about any of the City's Boards, Commissions, or Committees here: EauClaireWI.gov/BCC

Housing Advisory Board: This Board meets to hear appeals requested by individuals regarding notices they have received from the Health Department regarding violations of the Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code. The Board has the authority to uphold, modify, or withdraw these orders on a case-by-case basis. Section 16.08.140 of the Housing Code provides a description of the Board’s responsibilities. The Board may act upon application/requests from tenants, landlords, homeowners, the City Council, or a Health Officer, or upon its own motion.

CLOSURES/DETOURS, OPENINGS, DEADLINES, ALERTS, & REMINDERS:

Prime Time Release: Recreation shared this note: “The 2025 Fall/Winter Prime Times Activity Guide is NOW AVAILABLE! Check it out online at: eauclairewi.gov/primetimes Online registration begins Wednesday, September 3rd at 8AM.”

Street Updates: Take a look at an updated Street Closure Report. You can also view the work underway via this interactive map: Active Map of Street Construction. 

Closures/Work Underway:

• Alley South of Clairemont (Patton Street to East Lexington Boulevard)

• Alley West of Nine Ave (Lakeside Ave to 250 Feet North)

• Birch Street Phase 1 (Centre Street to Bergen Avenue)

• Charles Street (Platt Street to Maxon Street)

• Eddy Lane (Wellington Drive East to Venus Avenue)

• First Street (Platt Street to Third Street)

• Mars Avenue (Eddy Lane to Virginia Lane)

• Maxon Street (Charles Street to Whipple Street)

• Otter Road (East Clairemont Ave Frontage Road North to Vernon Street)

• Pleasant Street (South Hastings Way to Vernon Street)

• Seventh Street (Walnut Street to Marshall Street)

• Vernon Street (Otter Road to Pleasant Street)

• Vine Street (Third Street to First Street)

• Whipple Street (Maxon Street to Platt Street)

Upcoming Construction Closures: Tentatively scheduled to start early to mid-August or early September.

• South Dewey Street (Emery Street to Lake Street) – Scheduled to start September 2nd (new date)

• Emery Street (South Farwell Street to South Dewey Street) – Scheduled to start September 2nd (new date)

• East Polk Avenue (Nimitz Street to East Lexington Boulevard) – Scheduled to start late September

• West Tyler Avenue (Ellis Street to South Lexington Boulevard) – Scheduled to start Aug. 25th (new date)

Additional Reminders:

• Doggie Swim Fest: The 2025 Doggie Swim Fest will be on Sunday, August 24th at Fairfax Pool. Complete your registration form and email it to RecFairfaxPool@eauclairewi.gov The online registration form can be found online at: Doggie Swim Fest Registration Form

• Eddy Street Bridge: The bridge is now open to bicycles and pedestrian traffic. Union Pacific provided an update to the City this week that they have a site visit scheduled for the week of August 18th with the contractor to review the repair work.  We will have a better timeline related to the repairs after that meeting.

• Beach Closings: Before you head to the beach, check out water quality notices, which can be found here: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/our-divisions/health-department/beach-closings

• Food-Truck Fridays: During Food Truck Fridays, one lane of Riverfront Terrace is closed to accommodate the Food Trucks. The final event will occur on September 5th.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: We have the best employees! Get to know one of them this week. (And submit your suggestion for an employee to spotlight here…)

Today we spotlight Council Member Larry Mboga. Co-workers describe Larry this way:

• “Larry is a treasure to the community. The enthusiasm he brings to his role as both a Council Member and a community leader is inspiring. I appreciate his positivity and regular reminders that even in times of disagreement or conflict -- we are all in this together.”

• “Larry is generous in all ways… by spending his time and boundless energy on our community and its residents, by giving people the benefit of the doubt, and by advocating and supporting all around him. It’s a joy to have him part of our organization!”

• “Larry walks the same streets as his neighbors, listens with intent, stands with them at their gatherings, and carries their voices into Council.”

• “The first time I met Larry was during the summer of COVID, a time when tensions were running high across the country following the murder of George Floyd. Recognizing the deep divide and struggles many people faced, Larry joined an effort in Eau Claire to bring the community together. He helped organize regular meetings between Eau Claire Police and community members -- events like barbecues, soccer games, and social gatherings. These were opportunities for residents to ask questions, engage in dialogue, and, more importantly, remember that we have far more in common than we often realize. Larry’s commitment to meeting people where they are and fostering community connection embodies his work on the City Council. His love of sports, passion for celebrating diverse communities and cultures, and the big heart he brings to each interaction he has is a special quality, and Eau Claire is better for it.”

And here’s a bit more information about Larry:

Life Philosophy: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”

Activities Outside of Work: “I run six days a week, typically four to six miles. Also, I play soccer four times a week for two to three hours.”

What People May Not Know: “I come from a large family and am very close to my family members.”

Favorite Places in Eau Claire: “Soccer Park, Phoenix Park, and Fairfax Park”

Hometown and/or How You Ended Up Working for the City: “I was born in Kisil, Kenya, and ended up in Eau Claire because of my family.”

Best Part About Being a City Member: "Solving problems and working with my colleagues, City Council members, and staff”

Hardest Part About Being a City Council Member: “Making decisions that affect people.”

Goals as an Elected Official: “Making Eau Claire the safest city, and welcoming everyone from all backgrounds.”

What You Have Learned: “This is a job that requires a significant amount of time, including meetings, emails, and attending events and conferences."

Larry is pictured below playing soccer, helping in the Spring Cleanup, and participating in a Fire Training. 

COUNCIL CALENDAR (Tentative – Please see: City Calendar | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin (eauclairewi.gov) for most complete and up-to-date list of public meetings)

• Monday, August 25th, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, August 26th, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM

• Monday, September 8th, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, September 9th, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM

• Monday, September 15th, City Leadership Strategic Planning, Library Riverview Room, 4PM

• Monday, September 22nd, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, September 23rd, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM