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

District Discussions Return: We are planning our fall District Discussions. These informal meetings will be opportunities to learn about citywide and neighborhood initiatives, discuss the proposed 2026 City budget, meet neighbors, and talk to the City Manager and Council Members.

Please save the dates as follows, and we will share more information soon:

• West Side Discussion: Sunday, October 26th at 3PM

• North Side Discussion: Sunday, October 26th at 5PM

• South Side Discussion: Sunday, November 2nd at 3PM (tentative)

• Central Discussion, Sunday, November 2nd at 5PM

Park Updates: Our Community Services Director, Lane Berg, shared the following updates about work underway at different parks.

Mt. Simon Playground Replacement: “The City received a generous $300,000 donation from the Jane Honadel estate denoting that it be used for amenities at Mt. Simon Park with a focus on youth. We met with the Northside Hill Neighborhood Association to get their input, and we jointly agreed that new playground equipment in the upper section of Mt. Simon Park and a pavilion would be a great use of the funds.

Since then, City staff have been busy behind the scenes working on playground procurement and site prep, which has been done by Parks and Streets employees. The old playground equipment has been removed and some of it was donated to the Chippewa Falls YMCA. Site excavation was performed, and a concrete border has been poured around the perimeter. A sidewalk was extended to Addison Avenue to improve site access and ADA accessibility. 

The new playground equipment will start arriving on Monday, October 13th, with construction anticipated to last just over a week. Poured-in-place surface material will be installed (weather permitting) after construction, and wood chips will be installed. The pavilion will be constructed in 2026. A huge thank you to the Jane Honadel Estate for facilitating decades of fun and enjoyment to Mt. Simon Park users!”

The picture shows the installed border.

Carson Baseball Dugouts: “The City has committed to investing funds into the historic Carson Park Baseball Stadium. Several projects are planned, including, but not limited to (and contingent on funding) dugout replacement, first and third base line bleacher replacement, a new restroom/storage/concession building, waterproofing, tuck-pointing, window and door replacement, electrical and HVAC upgrades, and installation of artificial turf on the field.

We have started the first of those projects by replacing the dugouts. A project was designed by River Valley Architects and was put out for bid, with the successful bidder being Rocket Construction of Eau Claire. Demolition is complete, footings and foundations have been poured, and concrete blocks are currently being installed. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of October. City staff is procuring benches, bat and helmet racks, and storage cubbies to be installed at a later date, but prior to the 2026 baseball season. The new dugouts are much larger in size and should accommodate large teams and with improved amenities.”

The picture shows the current state of the third base line dugout.

Carson Park Restroom Replacement: “The restroom near the Carson Park Playground is old, outdated and is in a poor location. Because of this, we added funding to our Capital Improvement Plan to replace the restroom with a modern facility that will be in a much more favorable location.

Huffcutt Construction of Chippewa Falls was awarded the contract to build a modular unit that is being built at their plant and will be delivered to Carson Park to be set in place with a crane. The cost of the modular unit is $155,000, with other prep work at an additional cost. The building will be delivered in three 55,000-pound sections, and it will feature four separate restrooms with ADA accessibility and a drinking fountain with bottle filler. 

Work to date includes installation of footings and foundations, and stubbing in of water, sewer, and electrical lines. The modular unit is scheduled to be delivered late October, with the restroom going into service in the spring of 2026. 

Special thanks to Utilities Supervisor Mike Mancl for taking the lead on this project and seeing it through construction, and thanks also to the work of others from multiple divisions. This is another collaborative effort that ultimately saved the City thousands of dollars by doing as much work as possible in-house.” 

The picture shows the current state of the site that is prepped and ready for the modular unit.

Engineering Updates: Our Engineering Division shared these updates.

Birch Street Open to Traffic: “On Wednesday, October 8th, Birch Street, Franklin Street to Bergen Avenue was fully opened to traffic. Construction this summer on Birch Street in this area included:

• removing existing concrete and replacing it with new asphalt,

• spot repair of concrete sidewalks,

• curb and gutter replacement, and

• pedestrian ramp installation.   

Additional traffic calming features are still being implemented along the project, such as Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon pedestrian signage at Franklin Street and an additional speed feedback sign for eastbound traffic near Longfellow Elementary School. Several pedestrian crossing locations have high visibility crossing markings (block style markings) along the Birch Street corridor to assist with pedestrian and bicycle crossing of Birch Street, improving connectivity of the Northside Hill Neighborhood. The asphaltic pavement provides good contrast for pavement markings and is generally quieter.”

Pictured below are photos of the newly installed pedestrian crossings. 

Decreasing Delays Downtown: Thursday, October 9th, Engineering had a consultant on site implementing new signal timings along the Madison Street Corridor and Golf Road Corridor. The new timings should help the flow of traffic along Madison Street and through the USH 53 interchange with Golf Road by operating the signals in coordination. These modifications will reduce delays and lower emissions. Timings were adjusted at the Bellinger, Oxford, Forest, Barstow, and Farwell Street intersections for weekday and weekend travel. Timings on Golf Road were completed in conjunction with WisDOT at the USH 53 ramp terminals and adjusted at the Prill Road intersection for weekday and weekend operations, along with adjustments made for the upcoming holiday traffic patterns.

If you notice something not operating as it should, please e-mail Engineering at Engineering@eauclairewi.gov and staff will look into the issue further.”

Planned Closure of Graham Riverside Parking Deck: “Engineering staff and maintenance personnel recently met to set a closing date for the Graham Riverside Parking Deck due to safety concerns. The City of Eau Claire is not intending to use snowplows on the top deck this winter, and a date of November 1st was set to close the upper deck.  If there is snow prior to that time, it will be brushed or allowed to melt. The lower level will remain open until March 1st, 2026.

There are several paid parking alternatives in the downtown area including the Lower Level of Graham Riverside, Farwell/Gibson Municipal Ramp, North Barstow Ramp, or private parking lots. The Schlegelmilch Lot is available at no cost. Also, the Seaver Street Lot is free until such time as the Transfer Center Parking ramp opens, then it will also have permits available. The Transfer Center Parking Ramp will have 130 stalls with a 'first-come, first-served' availability in 2026.”

More information on parking can be found here: Parking | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin Plans for this parcel's future are being discussed. The ramp is pictured below in news coverage from WQOW on the closure. 

CITY COUNCIL UPDATES:

Next week is a Council meeting week, and you can find agenda material here: News | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. On Monday evening's public meeting evening at 6PM, there will be a Public Discussion on the 2026 Proposed Operating Budget, as discussed in last week's newsletter. The City's budget information can be found here: Budget | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

We have received some questions and comment on, in particular, the proposed increase to the Local Vehicle Registration Fee. On Tuesday, there will be a budget work session, and the Council may discuss related topics, such as the possibility of implementing a provision that ties a reduction or elimination of the LVRF to the ability to generate alternative revenue sources. We will also explore short and longer-term mechanisms by which the City can shift some of the revenue burden off of residents, both through lobbying efforts of the State and through any tools we have available locally. We are working to generate ideas that can be considered.

SHOUT OUTS: Here are some thank yous to our hard working staff and community members.

Collaborative Effort: Community Services Director Lane Berg shared this shout out... "The attached picture is a collaborative effort between our Parks and Street Divisions. The crews (pictured below) worked together to place forms for a concrete pour. The work was completed in preparation for the Mt. Simon playground installation that will occur in mid-October (as discussed above). The concrete forms a border around the playground equipment defining the area but also serves to keep the poured in-place material from segregating.

Our crews love to help each other out and take pride in the work that they are able to provide. This effort took some great teamwork to lay out the correct dimensions and to place the concrete at the correct elevations to factor in cross slopes and drainage. Kudos to our great staff."

Thank You to Compassionate Officers: A new employee recently had the chance to observe Eau Claire Police Officers interacting with people who were in need. She said she was happy she had a chance to observe them in action and was really impressed. She said: “They were compassionate, sincere, and accommodating while identifying safety needs and a response.”

Thank You to Pete: Just as the busiest ice usage season begins, our aging Hobbs facility infrastructure had a challenge. A condenser water pump (pictured below) for the Hughes Rink ice plant failed, the pump seal wore out, and water started heavily leaking out. This pump is critical to the operation of the ice plant. Recreation Manager Pat Newkirk shared that Pete Seymour worked hard to address the emergency situation and to prevent the ice from melting. Pat said: “Pete stayed into the night to monitor and make sure the system was still running OK and then came in early in the morning again. Big thanks to Pete for making that happen!”

Congrats to New TEMS Team: Our Fire Chief shared an announcement that a new specialized and trained team of Fire personnel will be assisting the region on certain calls. Chief Jaggar said: “I am pleased to announce that the Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) Agreement between Eau Claire County and the City of Eau Claire has been finalized. Therefore, effective October 1st, the Eau Claire Fire Department will be the TEMS service provider for the Eau Claire County Sheriff Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). I would like to publicly thank Eau Claire County Sheriff Lieutenant Dustin Walters, members of Fire Leadership, and Firefighter Christopher Nyhus for their hard work, which resulted in the culmination of the furtherance of Eau Claire Fire Department’s Mission and Vision through enhancing service to our great community.”

Thank You to Scheels: Our Library staff shared… “Our Youth Services Department (pictured below) recently received two generous donations from Scheels Eau Claire, totaling $1,000. Their 'Random Act of Kindness' program provided funds for a new piece of play furniture, while a donation selected by their employees funded new toys for our Play-n-Learn area.”

Thank You to Retiring Firefighters: Our Fire Department shared this note: “We held our annual retirement get together (pictured below) to honor our recent retirees. We were able honor Lieutenant Drew Dorn for 27 years of service to the ECFD and Engineer Pat Hamler for 25 years of service to the ECFD. We had two other recent retirees that were unable to make it today and we would still like to acknowledge. Engineer Scott Mohr with 27 years of service and Engineer Christian Meyer with 13 years of service. Thank you all for your dedication to the City of Eau Claire and your outstanding careers.”

Thank You to Parking Staff: A constituent recently wrote to thank staff for addressing a concern about parking near the Senior Center. She wrote: “Please extend my appreciation to everyone involved in looking at parking on Whipple Street between Madison and Cameron Streets. The new ‘no parking to the corner’ sign posted at the entrance to the Senior Center parking lot is much appreciated. It should definitely improve the visibility of those folks entering or exiting that lot."

Thank You to Partners: Our Police Department shared this note of thanks to those who helped with this week’s K9 conference (and thanks also to the public who kept their distance, though many did want to watch!): “The 2025 Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler's Association Conference wraps up today. Over the last few days K9 teams from across the state were able to train at several sites in Eau Claire, enhancing both their skills and their bond as a team. Thank you to our community partners who helped to provide those opportunities!” One location where the training occurred is pictured below.

WAYS TO SERVE

Employment Openings: Take a look at our open positions here: Job Openings | Sorted by Posting Date descending | JOB OPENINGS (governmentjobs.com)

Parks, Forestry, and Cemeteries Manager: 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. Deadline to apply: Open until filled, with first review of applications on October 13th.

Police Officer: 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. More information is here: Home | Eau Claire Police Department

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

Administrative Review Board: The City's Administrative Review 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.

Zoning Board of Appeals: The work of the board is to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Zoning Administrator. The Board is quasi-judicial in nature, meaning that the Board members sit as a panel of judges.

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. The Commission is currently looking in particular for a member with specialized skills, and is currently in need of a licensed Real Estate Broker or Salesperson.

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

Cemetery Cleanup: The City of Eau Claire Cemeteries staff will be performing their semi-annual clean-up of Eau Claire’s two cemeteries on Wednesday, October 15th. They wish to remind everyone that personal items and summer decorations that they want to keep should be removed from the grave sites on or before October 14th. Items remaining after that date will be removed by staff. Metal flowerpot stands may remain in place, but should be emptied prior to October 14th. Both City Cemeteries, Forest Hill and Lakeview have a spring clean-up date in March and fall clean-up date in October to help keep the grounds maintained to high standards. If there are questions please contact the Eau Claire Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department at (715) 839-5039. Learn more about Lakeview and Forest Hill Cemeteries on our website at: EauClaireWI.gov/services/cemetery-services

Prescription Drug Take Back: National prescription Drug Take-Back Day will occur on Saturday, October 25th, from 10AM to 2PM. Safely dispose of meds at Eau Claire County Government Center at 721 Oxford. More information is here: Facebook

Book Festival Seats: The Library reminds people to get seats for the 2025 Chippewa Valley Book Festival, which runs October 21st to 25th with "five days of unforgettable, book-tastic events in downtown Eau Claire."Check out www.cvbookfest.org/events for details and registration!

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.

Closures/Work Underway:

• 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)

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

Upcoming Construction and Closure

• Fairfax Street (Mitscher Ave to East Hamilton) – Tentatively scheduled for late October

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 highlight Officer Richter. Thank you for being a part of ECPD! Watch a profile of Officer Richter, and here are a few excerpts from the video:

Your Role: “I am the School Resource Officer for North High School. I have been with the Eau Claire Police Department for just over three years.”

Favorite Part about Job: “I would say my favorite thing about being a police officer now is being able to interact with students. This is my first semester up here at North High School. It’s such a unique job, and it’s fulfilling... You get to interact with students and with staff. It’s an opportunity to build relationships with those in our community, to be there at their sporting events, in the hallways, and getting to know people.”

Work Activities You have Been Part Of: “I’m on our honor guard team, our CIT team, and our peer support team. There’s a lot that I’ve done in my short time here.”

Why Work for ECPD: “There are a lot of reasons why I’d encourage someone to join the Eau Claire Police Department. I think it’s the best agency in the state (not being biased), but there are so many opportunities here at the ECPD for you. In addition to that, what makes the ECPD different from anywhere else you are going to work at is the people you get the opportunity to work with. They are very supportive, they are always there for you, and they make it a fun, positive place to work.”

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

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

Thursday, October 16th, City Council and Staff Strategic Planning Session on Stewardship, North Conference Room, 4PM

Tuesday, October 21st, City Council and Staff Strategic Planning Session on Quality of Life, North Conference Room, 4PM

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

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

Thursday, October 30th, City Council and Staff Strategic Planning Session on Safety and Health, North Conference Room, 4PM 

Friday, October 31st, City Council and Staff Strategic Planning Session on Wellbeing and Belonging, North Conference Room, 11AM