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 use these linked forms to send feedback to the City Manager’s Office or City Council.

City Manager Stephanie Hirsch

 

CITY UPDATES

Proposed 2026 Budget Published: The City has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, which is the result of extensive analysis and difficult decisions by staff and Council. The budget document includes highlights from 2025, outlines new and ongoing projects for 2026, and discusses the fiscal challenges we face in maintaining City services. A short summary is below, however, please take time to review the full document: Budget | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Sample of 2025 Accomplishments: Some initiatives completed or well underway in 2024 include:

• Construction of a PFAS remediation site and launch of a water study to clarify our water usage needs and values;

• Opening of the new Transit Transfer Center and launch of a micro-transit pilot;

• Conversion of 85 acres of mowed City land to pollinator habitat and adoption of a new Tree Preservation Ordinance;

• Completion of Princeton Valley and Cannery Parks, Council acceptance of an Open Space Plan, and implementation of systems to monitor and improve our trail pavement conditions;

• Adoption of our Century Code updates, after an extensive two-year community process;

• Continued implementation of our Neighborhood Services Division, which supports quality of life citywide and in the downtown area;

• Support for housing affordability and services, carried out in collaboration with partners;

• Continued investment in employee wellbeing;

• Continued investment in operational efficiencies, such as implementation of an Asset Management system; and

• Continued efforts to address the City’s forecasted structural deficit and ease financial burdens on property taxpayers.

Priorities for 2026: Next year, we will continue work on this year’s projects, and here are some additional planned initiatives for 2026:

• An update to our Comprehensive and Strategic Plans;

• Continued planning for construction of an updated Public Safety Training Facility and a new westside Fire Station;

• A comprehensive study on how we can improve trash collection;

• Work on and improvement to our parking management systems, in conjunction with rollout of paid downtown parking; 

• A focused effort to improve constituent services across all divisions and departments;

• A shift of resources to allow us to prioritize economic development; and

• Continued major infrastructure work, including on bridges and roadways, and including decision making regarding parking garages and several other significant projects.

Ongoing Fiscal Challenges: As we’ve shared in prior years, Eau Claire is the largest city in northern Wisconsin and serves as a regional hub, but state funding models and tax laws limit our revenue options. We receive less shared revenue per capita than most peer cities, and we cannot adjust taxes for inflation. While we support regional assets like transit, parks, and public safety, we rely heavily on property taxes from City residents to do so.

Recent Actions: To close funding gaps in recent years, we have:

• Passed a referendum for public safety staff;

• Approved a Local Vehicle Registration Fee (LVRF);

• Lobbied for increased shared revenue; and

• Reviewed fiscal partnerships to ensure local tax dollars stay local.

As we finalize the 2026 budget, we continue to weigh whether to ask more of residents or to reduce services. These are decisions that impact our quality of life, the strength of our local safety net, dynamics of our community partnerships, and our ability to continue to attract new residents and businesses. Thus, we recognize the gravity of the decisions we are making as part of this budget process, and we take the process very seriously.

Specific 2026 Steps to Close Gaps: We know that property owners and residents are struggling with many of the same market forces that the City faces, such as inflation or the high cost of transportation and health care. We have closed the budget gap this year by increasing our Local Vehicle Registration Fee, which we recognize will impact our residents. Knowing this, we continue to work to spend every dollar with as much care as possible to maximize the impact on local services and minimize the impact on residents. Below are some strategies this budget includes.

Steps to increase operational efficiencies include:

• $43,000 saved by refocusing existing staff on Council priorities, including sustainability projects.

• $28,000 saved by reducing overtime.

• $20,000 saved by adjusting Police Department staffing.

• $50,000 in electricity saved due to conversion of streetlights to LED.

Steps to strategically reallocate funds include:

• $350,000 moved from Streets operating budget to capital budget using LVRF funding, extending the useful life of roads while freeing up general fund resources.

• $17,000 reduction in partner donations: DECI ($8K), Senior Center ($4K), EDC ($5K).

Additional revenue collection planned includes:

• Implementation of downtown paid parking in the spring of 2026, which will allow for a reduction of approximately $350,000 in general fund subsidy to the parking fund.

• An anticipated $26 per vehicle increase in the Local Vehicle Registration Fee (LVRF) funding, which, if approved by the Council, will generate $1.19M and will ensure that transportation-related functions are maintained at current service levels.

The 2026 budget emphasizes cost-saving measures, operational efficiencies, and sustainable investments while continuing to deliver high-quality services to the community. We continue to work with our legislators, other municipalities, and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities to lobby for revenue reform. This reform would enable us to maintain service levels and reduce our reliance on property taxes. We will communicate our efforts throughout 2026 so the public can better understand the fiscal limitations of cities and, we hope, join in on a unified message.

Pictured below is a graph that shows that Eau Claire (like other Wisconsin municipalities) has relied more and more on property tax to fund operations over recent decades, as state aid has continued to fall and other potential sources of revenue collection have been blocked. In 2025, about 60 percent of our revenue comes from property taxes, while in 1995, only 25 percent of our revenue came from property tax.

Zoning Implementation: The once-in-a-generation effort to modernize our City’s zoning and subdivision came to a conclusion this past week, as the new zoning went into effect on Wednesday, October 1st. This implementation concludes a two-year process that engaged residents and local stakeholders to help shape the outcome.

The zoning advances a number of key goals, including:

• Increasing compact development by removing density standards and reducing lot sizes, setbacks, and parking requirements;

• Incentivizing affordable housing;

• Allowing more live-work and mixed-use spaces;

• Encouraging a wider diversity of housing types, such as accessory dwelling units/tiny homes and rowhouses;

• Introducing new quality-of-life and sustainability components, such as tree preservation, building design standards, and social gathering spaces.

In the months ahead, the City will share a series of news items and social media posts to help the community better understand the new Land Development Ordinance (LDO) and how it may affect residents, businesses, and future development. These updates will highlight key changes, explain new opportunities, and make the ordinance more accessible to the public. For those who want to explore the details directly, the full LDO and application manual are available at EauClaireWI.gov/Planning. In addition, the Century Code Project website will remain active through the end of the year. 

Pictured below is a graph of the two-year timeline of the work that was undertaken.

Fatal Crash: Our Eau Claire Police Department shared this notice about a very difficult incident this week:

“At about 2:40AM on October 1st, ECPD officers attempted to stop a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed and going into oncoming traffic. The driver fled from officers and continued their dangerous driving behavior. A short pursuit ensued before the officer lost sight of the vehicle on Eau Claire's west side.

Within minutes, additional officers observed the same vehicle traveling on North Clairemont Avenue at a dangerous speed. The driver had turned the vehicle's headlights off and was driving recklessly. Due to the excessive danger presented to the public, officers attempted to catch up to the vehicle.

Within seconds, the suspect vehicle crashed into another motorist at the intersection of West Clairemont Avenue and Craig Road. The crash left the victim's vehicle engulfed in flames. Officers exhausted all efforts attempting to extract the victim. As a result of the crash, the victim was tragically killed.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where they were combative and violent with officers and hospital staff.

Our hearts are heavy following this tragic incident. The suspect's reckless actions took the life of an innocent member of our community. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim. We are committed to supporting their loved ones and all of the first responders affected by this incident.

The victim in the crash has been identified as Jack C. Ritchie, 35 of Eau Claire.

The suspect has been identified as Anthony M. Reyes, 27 of Eau Claire. Reyes was arrested on the following preliminary charges:

• Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle

• 1st Degree Reckless Homicide

• Knowingly Flee An Officer

Reyes is expected to appear in court next week. The crash remains under investigation. Due to the nature of this incident, we have requested the involvement of the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation and Wisconsin State Patrol to complete the investigation.”

Shut-Down Impact: We are following news at the national level about the shut-down of the Federal government. The impact to municipalities is fluid and will be closely monitored by the Finance Director and all of the individual department directors. Departments most reliant on Federal funding our Housing Authority, Transit, and the City County Health Department. These departments have said that they are not aware of any immediate impact.

West-Nile Virus Case: Our Health Department shared: “A human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) has been identified in Eau Claire County. It's the first confirmed human case of WNV in the county in 2025. WNV has been detected in other parts of Wisconsin this year, including in neighboring counties. To protect yourself, try to prevent mosquito bites. Read more: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/49897”

Transfer Center Opening: Starting at 5:30AM on Monday of this week, people gathered to take the first bus out of the new Transfer Center, including Council President Emily Berge and Council Members Clara Serrano, Joshua Miller, and Nate Otto, and former Council Members Jeremy Gragert and Jill Christopherson. Pictured below from that morning are the bus operator for the first Route 3 bus that left the station, Transit Manager Katrina Running staffing the constituent service desk, and transit enthusiasts and riders. Please note that when the parking ramp spaces above the Transfer Center are available for use, we will notify the public. 

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Here is a round-up of a few questions that have come through my office, along with answers from staff.

Different Types of Siren Sounds

Question: “How does the Fire Department use different types of sirens for their ambulances or engines? They sound different at different times of day.”

Answer: Deputy Chief Bob Haller shared some interesting information, demonstrating knowledge gathered over his long commitment to the Fire Service:

“The purpose of the siren is to alert people that we are moving through an area emergently and to draw attention that we need people to move safely away from our trucks as we travel down the road.

Generally, we have three to four different sounding sirens that we use. Most people are familiar with the ‘Wail’ siren, or what firefighters call the ‘Q’ siren because the original mechanical siren was made by the Federal Signal Q- Siren company which we still use on our fire trucks today. Our ambulances use an electronic ‘Q’ siren which sounds a little different. (A musician would describe this as the difference between a Tube and Solid-State amplifier; one is a little richer sounding than the other.) The ‘Q’ siren has the long back and forth oscillating tone that can be heard for miles to let people know we are coming.

As we get closer to intersections, we switch the siren tones to either a ‘Yelp’ which is a rapid high-pitched tone or the ‘Phaser' which also is a rapid high-pitched tone, to let people know we are approaching and moving through the intersection. The ‘Yelp’ and ‘Phaser’ siren tones are very loud in the immediate vicinity but do not travel as far as the ‘Wail’ siren. We also use an air horn to alert traffic when sirens alone are not alerting traffic to move over or when we are approaching an intersection.

In some of our apparatus, we also have a ‘Rumbler’ siren which is a lower frequency tone. People with hearing difficulty or loud radios in their vehicle can feel the siren as it creates a vibration inside that they can feel. That’s a lot about sirens and we do have some other tones that we may use but these are the most common.”

Thank you, Deputy Chief Haller! I know I will be listening carefully the next time I hear a siren. Pictured below is one of our ambulances. 

Street Light Request

Question: “Is there a way to have a streetlight put on street? There is a lot of late-night activity, and it's quite dark.”

Answer: Our Engineering Department shared: “Anyone wishing to add a streetlight can contact Engineering with their street address. (See here for contact information). Staff can look at the current lighting levels and potential for installation of an additional light on the street block. The City follows the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) standards for lighting and do have certain criteria we look at when installing lighting within blocks.”

Surveying

Question: “Do you know why or where I could find information on land surveying? Our property's lines aren't marked well, and we want to redo things such as a fence and planting trees and other plants.”

Answer: Engineering shared: “There should be corner pins for your lot that you can work off of. If not, you may need a local surveyor to establish those. Our City Surveyor does not define private lot lines. Below is a link to our City Mapping service which provides a good aerial of the City. Depending on what you are looking to do, you could potentially use the City's assessing database as a reference.”

Northwest Park

Question: “Could you include some information in your next newsletter on what is happening at Northwest Park?”

Answer: Our Parks staff shared: "The City has an existing agreement with CORBA (Community for Outdoor Recreation, Biking, and Adventure) allowing them to maintain single track trails for non-motorized recreational use within Northwest Park. We are not aware of any new trails, but there is ongoing maintenance work being done, with the CORBA website noting that maintenance work was done within the last couple weeks. Their website is here: https://corbatrails.org/trails/northwest-park/"

Speed in Parking Lots

Question: “Is there a way to slow speed in a large parking lot where there are a lot of children around, mainly thinking about the parking lot by the soccer fields?”

Answer: Engineering shared: “We poured speed tables or speed humps in the Fairfax lot to slow traffic down (see new concrete in middle of photo below). That lot isn’t plowed in the winter, so the humps then don’t take abuse from the snowplows. We could have staff go out and look at the Soccer Park parking lot to provide some potential recommendations.”

Plank Hill Master Plan

Question: “What’s the status of the Plank Hill Master Plan?”

Answer: Parks staff shared: “We will be bringing this item to Waterways and Parks Commission soon and then Council for adoption.” Note that we currently do not have a funding source to implement the plan recommendations, but the Master Plan may be used for grant-writing activities.

Noise from New Stadiums

Question: With the addition of updated stadiums at North and Memorial, a neighbor of Memorial asked: “When the school hosts events, the sound system is quite loud. What can be done?”

Answer: We reached out to the School District, and they shared that football games are four or five Fridays a year, and those will generate more noise than other events. Other activities should generate less for the neighborhood. It’s a learning curve, and residents can continue to contact the City or School District with comments.

7 Brew Backups

Question: “What can be done about traffic backed up due to the two 7 Brew locations? Why did the City approve the locations given the traffic issues?”

Answer: Engineering shared that, when a new business plans to open, a traffic impact analysis is performed. They model the traffic based on the average visits expected to occur, and not accounting for special daily sale promotions. 7 Brew has been running these kinds of promotions, and they have said that they will reduce these which should help with the bottlenecks.

 

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.

Open Employment Positions

Utility Systems Technician I (Water Systems): We need you to help us meet our mission to provide an uninterrupted water supply to the residents of Eau Claire! Put your repair experience, knowledge of construction, and desire to be part of a small team to work as a Utility Systems Technician I (Water Systems). We are currently accepting applications for this position in our Community Services Department. Duties include: installing water services; installing water meters; maintaining and repairing valves, gauges, pumps, and other related equipment; disinfecting and pressure testing water mains; testing for water leaks in residences and commercial establishments; and more! This position includes public contact and manual labor. Deadline to apply: October 6th at 11:59PM

Project Coordinator Intern (Community Development): Are you a current undergraduate student? Do you have an interest in planning, architecture, GIS, urban studies, or a related field? Join us and grow your skills! We are currently accepting applications for a Project Coordinator Intern in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department. Duties include: assisting with Planning Division projects including housing data analysis, GIS updates, and working on action items from the Housing Opportunities Commission, and more. Deadline to apply: October 6th at 11:59PM.

Parks, Forestry, and Cemeteries Manager (Community Services): Ready to take on a leadership role that makes a lasting impact? The City is seeking a Parks, Forestry, and Cemetery Manager to guide the care, maintenance, and operations of some of our most valued community assets. This position is responsible for directing a wide range of programs and services, including the upkeep of parks and open spaces, the management of cemetery operations, and the development of urban forestry initiatives that ensure a healthy and sustainable tree canopy for the future. This role requires a leader who can balance planning with hands-on management, oversee staff and resources effectively, and provide the vision needed to maintain facilities and spaces that enhance the quality of life in our community. If you are looking for variety, responsibility, and the opportunity to shape how residents experience their city, we invite you to apply. Deadline to apply: Open until filled, with first review of applications on October 13th.

Police Officer (Police Department): Enhance the quality of life in Eau Claire by partnering with the community to solve problems, reduce crime and disorder, safeguard individual rights, and improve public safety. Join the City of Eau Claire’s Police Department. We are now accepting applications for current Police Officer openings and a hiring eligibility list. Now accepting lateral transfers. Deadline to apply: October 26th at 11:59PM. Learn more here: https://www.joinecpd.org/ 

Open Boards, Commissions, and Committees Seats: We have a few spots open on our volunteer committees. Find out more information and express your interest here: Boards, Commissions & Committees | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Administrative Review Board: This Board meets as needed to review decisions made by an agency, board, or department of the City that adversely affect a person's right, duties, or privileges.

Landmarks Commission: This Commission has the power to designate landmarks, landmark sites and historic districts within the city limits. They also regulate construction, reconstruction and exterior alteration to landmarks, landmark sites, and structures within historic districts. If you are passionate about the city of Eau Claire's history - consider joining the Landmarks Commission.

 

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

UWEC Homecoming Parade: UWEC Homecoming is this weekend. Happy Homecoming Blugolds! The Homecoming Parade is scheduled for Saturday the 4th. The parade will cover the length of Water Street starting at 2nd Avenue and ending at the Sonnentag Center. Expect road closures starting at 9:30AM and lasting until about 11AM on these roads: Water (Second to Menomonie), Second (Chippewa to Water), Third (Chippewa to Water), Fourth (Chippewa to Riverside), Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth (Chippewa to Menomonie). Please plan to use alternate routes to get to and from the area. A map of the parade route is below.

Other Reminders:

• Temporary Drop Box Closures: Reminder that the Library’s eight off-site return boxes are temporarily closed due to a staffing shortage, and we anticipate them to open within a few weeks.

• Eddy Street Bridge: The bridge is open only to bicycles and pedestrian traffic.

• Recreation Fall/Winter Registration Open: Register for Recreation activities online now at: http://activenet.active.com/eauclaire/

• Green Waste Facility: The Green Waste Facility on Jeffers Road continues to be open Monday and Wednesday from 10AM to 6PM, and Saturday from 8AM to 3PM. For more information on what can be taken there and costs, please visit: EauClaireWI.gov/Brush. The facility is typically open until mid-November.

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:

• Birch Street Phase 2 (Franklin to Center Street)

• South Dewey Street (Emery to Lake)

• East Polk Ave (Nimitz to East Lexington)

• Eddy Lane (Wellington Drive East to Venus Avenue)

• Emery Street (South Farwell to South Dewey)

• First Street (Platt Street to Third Street)

• May Street (East Polk to East Lexington)

• Mars Avenue (Eddy Lane to Virginia Lane)

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

• Pleasant Street (South Hastings Way to Vernon Street)

• Vernon Street (Otter Road to Pleasant Street)

• Vine Street (Third Street to First Street) – Restoration scheduled for week of September 1^st

• West Tyler Avenue (Ellis Street to South Lexington Boulevard)

 

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 Jenny Berg. Co-workers shared these quotes about Jenny: 

• “I wanted to reach out and let you know how absolutely and consistently impressed I've been with Jenny. Not only is she friendly and personable, she also goes the extra mile in everything she does. As busy as I know she is, it is all the more impressive that she takes the time to do such a great job. You have a really great asset in Jenny, and I just wanted to make sure you know.”

• "Jenny came up in our staff meeting this morning, and I just wanted to share that everyone feels she is extremely kind and goes above and beyond in order to provide the best customer service she can. She's quick to offer a sweet little treat after a tough situation and is always willing to help where needed."

• “Jenny has done an amazing job in her short time with Engineering, learning about the Department and City overall. She is the face of the Department, answering customer calls and residents' questions related to Engineering projects or in general directing them to the appropriate department. She’s a team player that keeps the Department team unified as well by assisting with all different types of projects from sending out notices and street closures to interpreting documents between languages."

And here's a big more information about Jenny: 

Your Position: "Administrative Associate, Engineering Department"

Life philosophy: "There are two tenets by which I try to live. 'Respect all, harm none' reminds me that we are all human and make mistakes, but we all deserve respect, dignity, and compassion. 'Autograph your work with excellence' is something my favorite high school literature teacher taught me. I don’t always succeed in living up to them, but I do my best every day." 

Hobbies and Interests: "I am an avid reader – both print and audio. I love the Libby app available through the Library, and it has gotten me through a lot of housework, solo road trips, and crochet projects. My husband and I enjoy exploring state and county parks in the area. If you haven’t been to Willow River State Park, Peninsula State Park, Whitefish Dunes State Park, or Interstate Park, they are true gems in the state and worth the travel time. When our daughter’s home on break from school, we attend Ren Faires, concerts, and artist markets. I enjoy a good chai, lavender honey latte, or London Fog, so my husband and I can be found in one of several area cafés any given day of the week. I love to bake and am grateful my coworkers enjoy trying new culinary creations." 

Fun Fact: "When our daughter turned 11, we took her to Universal Studios in Florida to experience the Harry Potter worlds. It was fun to see the detail put into creating this world described in the books, interact with street characters, eat in the Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head, and enjoy ice cream at Fortescue’s. My favorite ride was the Dueling Dragons roller coaster (now Hagrid’s Motorbike Ride). One of the most memorable moments was the Hogwarts Express conductor photobombing us when we took the train between the parks."

Best Part about Working for the City: "I work with a very supportive, fun group of people and have met so many warm and inviting people in other departments. There’s never a lack of challenging tasks to complete, new tasks to learn, or lingo to understand. Each day is different, and I’m never bored."

Hardest Part about Working for the City: "All there is to learn! There’s so much! Being in my position less than a year, it’s been an incredible learning adventure – City ordinances, new vocabulary, where to route calls and email, construction season, the different City commissions and boards, where everyone is located – but I’m glad I was invited along for the journey."

Attached is a picture of Jenny's family at Watkins Glen State Park, NY when they dropped their daughter off for her first year at Cornell University.

 

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)

• Tuesday October 7th, Council/Staff Strategic Planning Session on Environmental Sustainability, 4 to 5PM, Virtual: Meeting Link

• Wednesday, October 8th, Council/Staff Strategic Planning Session on Community Engagement and Connections, 4 to 5PM, Virtual: Meeting Link, 

• Monday, October 13th, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, October 14th, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM

• Monday, October 27th, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, October 28th, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM