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.

Quick reminder that odd/even parking restrictions begin this weekend! More information is here: Alternate Side Parking | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

City Manager Stephanie Hirsch

CITY UPDATES

Food Access: We have received questions about how to make sure our residents have access to food, since Foodshare benefits are pausing due to the government shutdown. There are about 10,000 residents in Eau Claire County who rely on FoodShare, with about a quarter of those residents being children.

Here is some information to guide those who need access to food and people who may be able to contribute:

WIC and School Nutrition: Both WIC and Free and Reduced Lunch meals in our schools will continue to be available for November. Although they will remain open for now, we do not know if they will remain available if the shutdown continues.

FoodShare: Current balances on FoodShare cards may be used until exhausted. New allocations of FoodShare benefits will not be available starting November 1st, though they may become available in coming days or weeks. The situation is evolving and dependent on the outcome of several lawsuits. Check here for updated information: FoodShare: News for Members | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Resources Available: Some community resources are available to help bridge the gaps, including these two below:

• The Community Table serves a free daily meal, 365 days a year, no questions asked. Visit www.thecommunitytable.org/about to view the meal schedule and learn more about other resources and supplies they have available.

• Feed My People Food Bank offers pop-up pantries. When you drive up to one of these free grocery distribution events, food items will be loaded directly into your vehicle by volunteers. No ID is required to qualify. You may pick up for another household if needed. Check here for more information: pop-up_calendar.pdf

Additional food resources can be found in the attached pamphlet, and residents may contact 211 Wisconsin with questions.

How to Help: For those who have resources they can share, the Community Table and Feed My People Food Bank both need funding and volunteers. More information on how to help can be found here: 

• The Community Table Eau Claire | Volunteer Hub | Join Volunteer Efforts Today

• Volunteer | Feed My People Food Bank

 The image from the cover of the Food Pantry Guide is pictured below.

District Discussions: Residents joined us this past Sunday at our first two District Discussions, and they asked us lots of good questions and shared their perspectives. Topics of discussion included:

• The City budget and proposed Local Vehicle Registration Fee increase, and how residents could comment.

• Questions about plans for trail extensions, such as north of Roosevelt and along Clairemont past Menomonie.

• Concerns about safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists in some areas, with questions about Abbe Hill Drive, Riverview Drive, and unregulated intersections.

• Questions about pavement conditions on some roads, including Virginia.

• Concerns about the pause of some Federal food benefits for residents (as mentioned above) and what residents can do to help.

• A discussion of the future of the pilot Northern Lite Transit service.

• Questions, discussions, and kudos related to street projects.

Plan to join us this Sunday for our last two District Discussion. Ask any questions of Council President Emily Berge, additional Council Members, the City Manager or Deputy City Manager, the Community Development Director, and others. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. See if you can stump us with your toughest questions!

The remaining Discussions are as follows, and more information can be found here: District Discussions | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

• South Side Discussion: Sunday, November 2nd at 3PM (Putnam Heights Pavilion and Shelter)

• Central Discussion: Sunday, November 2nd at 5PM (Boyd Park Pavilion and Shelter)

Pictured below are Council Member Serrano with staff member Ben who helped us get the spaces ready, the meetings at McDonough and Pinehurst, and a map of the locations of meetings.

Live Burn Fire Training: This week, I got to observe the Fire Department carry out an active burn simulation at their training area at Station 9, adjoining the CVTC West campus. In an active burn training, a specialized building with a real fire recreates the conditions of a structure fire.

I sat in the command vehicle and could hear how the incident command leader directed resources. The firefighters wear gear that weighs 70 pounds, and then they carry additional weight in hoses and equipment. They encounter high temperatures, preparing them for future exposure to similar and more complicated situations in the field. Deputy Chief Bob Haller shared: "In the burn room, our goal is to maintain the ceiling temperature near 800 degrees. The ambient temperature can vary between 200 and 400 degrees, depending on the firefighter's position within the room. This is one of the reasons we recommend that the public stay low to the floor -- to minimize exposure to heat and smoke if they are ever caught in a fire."

I saw the crews after they had completed three simulations, and they were very tired. One notable point about the experience was getting to see that our most senior staff – our Chief and Deputy Chiefs -- completed the simulations with the crews. I imagine it is harder to do this work as someone a bit older, but it was really inspiring to see them in the field with our youngest employees and the staff who are at all levels in between. Deputy Chief Haller said: "As individuals age, the physical demands of the job may become more challenging, but we adhere to these practices to set a positive example by leading from the front."

Pictured below are images from the training.

Structure Fire: The ECFD responded to a structure fire this week. They reported: “On Sunday October 26th, at approximately 10:14PM, the ECFD responded to LaSalle Street for report of a structure fire. The initial caller reported smoke and flames coming from the structure and believed the home to be unoccupied. Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the front and side of the home. They immediately deployed hose lines, entered the building, and extinguished the fire. Additional crews searched the structure which was found to be unoccupied. Heavy smoke and fire damage was found throughout the entire home. Three Engines, one Truck, one Ambulance, two Chief Officers, and one Fire Inspector responded to the incident. One firefighter received an injury while performing firefighting duties. The fire is currently under investigation. ECFD was assisted by Xcel Energy, Eau Claire Police Department, and the Eau Claire Communication Center.”

The ECFD has responded to a large and growing number of structural fires this year, in addition to their EMS calls. Year-to-date totals are 106 fires, of which 47 were structural fires. Additionally, we have responded to 7,969 rescue and emergency medical incidents this year. For comparison, at this time last year, we had responded to a total of 86 fires, with 25 of those being structural fires, and a total of 7,527 rescue and emergency medical service incidents. We are not sure of why these incidents are increasing, however, at least some are due to household conditions or due to increased use of different and more flammable types of materials in furniture and building supplies.

Water Rescue: On Friday, the ECFD had another significant incident. "At approximately 8:42 AM on 10/31/2025, the Eau Claire Fire Department was dispatched to a respond to an individual in the water. Responding units included Engine 2, Battalion 1, Truck 5 (Boat 5), Engine 10 (Boat 10), Medic 5 and Chief 2. Upon arrival, crews from Engine 2 located an individual in the water floating downstream toward the YMCA. Battalion 1 assumed command and directed operations. Engine 2 repositioned to 816 Porter Avenue to attempt a shore-based rescue while Truck 5 launched Boat 5. Engine 10 prepared Boat 10 for deployment as Chief 2 assisted with coordination. Engine 2 personnel reached the victim near the shoreline and were able to secure and stabilize them. Due to low river levels and limited access points, Boat 5 was unable to reach the area and had to abort its response upriver. Additional crews and equipment were requested to assist with the rescue and removal of the patient up a steep riverbank. The victim was safely removed from the water and transferred to Medic 5, which transported the patient to MEC for medical evaluation. No firefighter injuries were reported."

Police Incidents: Our Police Department also had a busy week. Take a look at their police Log ECPD Notable Case Log 10/27 - 10/30 | PD News | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Here are a few examples of the types of calls they receive, which are often related to substance misuse, traffic violations, or recidivism/repeat offenses. They also often respond to calls for family issues and animals. You can see below that some of these involve working with our Fire Department or other public safety or City departments.

• Trespassing (South District): “Gas Station staff called to report that a person had been in the bathroom for more than an hour and refused to leave when told to do so. The person was disorderly during the contact and shoved the bathroom stall door into officers when they were being removed. They were arrested for DC and Bail Jumping and transported to the jail.”

• Assist – EMS (South District): “Officers and EMS were detailed to a restaurant for a report of a person overdosing in the restroom. Officers located the person sitting in the restroom stall. There was a bloody syringe and a knife located on the infant changing table. The person was initially unresponsive but did wake up when they were moved. They denied medical assessment and were taken into custody after multiple pieces of drug evidence were located. They were arrested for Carry a Concealed Knife, Poss. of Drug Para, Poss. of THC, Poss. of Cocaine, Poss. of Methamphetamine and a PO hold.”

• Traffic Stop (North District): “Officers stopped a person for driving left of center. They participated in SFSTs and were found to be impaired. They were arrested for OWI 1st and were issued multiple citations. They PBT’d .179 at the jail.”

COUNCIL UPDATES

Budget and LVRF FAQs and Next Steps: A public hearing on the proposed 2026 Operating Budget will be held at the Council’s meeting on Monday, November 10th. You can find more detailed information on the budget here, including presentations to the Council that outlines some of the constraints: Budget | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Budget documents can be found here:

• 2026 Proposed Operating Budget (Online Version)

• 2026 Proposed Operating Budget (PDF Version)

For additional background on the budget and cuts considered, please review the Council’s deliberations in these two work sessions:

• September 9th FY26 Work Session - Budget discussion begins around minute 20: City Council Meeting - Tuesday

• October 28th FY26 Work Session - Budget discussion begins around minute 48: City Council Meeting - Tuesday

We welcome your feedback at the City Council Public Hearing on November 10th. The Council will then deliberate on and potentially adopt the FY26 budget on November 11th.

We have been talking to residents about the budget and the proposed increase to the Local Vehicle Registration Fee (LVRF). In response to questions we have received, we prepared this FY26 and Local Vehicle Registration Fee FAQ. Take a look to learn more about answers to these questions:

• What are the challenges of the budget?

• What can the City do about these challenges?

• What is the City of Eau Claire LVRF and who pays it?

• How can LVRF funds be used?

• Why does the City still charge Special Assessments for street projects?

• What is the Eau Claire County LVRF, and what does it fund?

• How can the City LVRF funds be used?

• How is the City looking for structural solutions?

• When was the LVRF implemented in the City?

• What has the LVRF funded and what will it fund in the future? 

• How can I comment?

The Council is pictured below discussing the FY26 Budget.

WAYS TO SERVE: 

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

Telecommunicator - 911 Dispatcher (Police Department): Put your customer service skills to use while serving your community. Help us provide an essential service for Eau Claire County residents and visitors. Join our team as a full-time Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher). We are currently hiring in the Eau Claire Communications Center. Deadline to apply: November 2nd at 11:59PM.

Part-Time WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (Health Department) The Eau Claire City-County Health Department has an opportunity for a part-time (up to 28 hours/week) WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in the Healthy Beginnings Division. This position counsels pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in the WIC program, assists the WIC team, and provides health-related and social service referrals among other duties. Candidates must have successful breastfeeding experience of at least six months, within the last seven years; candidates do not need to be currently breastfeeding. Wage range starts at $17.91. Deadline to apply: November 9th.

NEW: Constituent Services Associate II (Community Services): Do you have great customer service skills? Do you like variety and problem solving? If yes, join us. We are currently accepting applications for two full-time Constituent Services Associate II positions in our Community Services Department. Each position will perform complex and varied administrative duties for the Community Services Department and service areas across the City. Deadline to apply: November 10th at 11:59PM

Firefighter (Fire Department): We are seeking responsible, compassionate, and courageous individuals who value community service and are interested in a rewarding career. As a member of our team, you will enhance the quality of life for City of Eau Claire residents and visitors by protecting lives and property through fire suppression, emergency medical services, disaster response, fire prevention, and public education. Join the ECFD to be part of a professional, inclusive, and progressive team. We are now accepting applications for current Firefighter openings and the hiring eligibility list. Deadline to apply: Open until filled, apply by November 10th to be considered for an interview.

Volunteer Roles

Clearwater Parade: We are calling all volunteers to help make the Clearwater Winter Parade shine! Join in the fun and help bring this festive event to life. For more information, visit Clearwater Winter Events | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin The parade will be held on Friday, December 5th on Grand Avenue, at 6:30PM, and it gets kicked off with fireworks over the Grand Avenue bridge.

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

Other Reminders:

• Odd/Even Parking Restrictions: Starting November 1st, the City enforces its winter odd/even parking restrictions. Alternate Side Parking rules are in effect even if there is no snow. If you're new to Eau Claire or just need a refresher, visit EauClaireWI.gov/AlternateSideParking for what you need to know. Alternate Side Parking rules do not replace more restrictive parking regulations, including any street posted with No Parking sign.

• Visit Eau Claire Grants Open: Our tourism partner, Visit Eau Claire, has announced their next round of grant funding for events, arts projects, or other community ideas. The applications are due November 15th. All application materials and complete guidelines are available on our website:
  visiteauclaire.com/about/grant-information

• 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. The Green Waste Facility, which is located at 5710 Jeffers Road, will close for the season at 3PM on Saturday, November 22, 2025. This date is subject to change if weather conditions warrant. For further details, please visit www.eauclairewi.gov/brush.

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:

• 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)

• 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

• Third Street (South of Vine Street to Truax Boulevard) –Tentatively scheduled to start Nov. 3

WAYS TO GET IN TOUCH: We encourage you to use these different ways to follow City news and reach out to us.

• Follow our social media accounts. Those accounts include: Police, K9 Murphy, Fire, Transit, Parks/Recreation, Fairfax Pool, Hobbs Ice Arena, Economic Development, and the General City account. Some of the accounts allow constituents to send direct messages, which staff will respond to.

• Use web forms. Submit a question or comment via our web forms: Service Request | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin We will reply, and I will continue to share the FAQs we hear in the weekly newsletter.

• Contact City Council. Council Members welcome contacts, and you can reach them here: City Council

• Sign up for City notices. The City sends out notices on many different topics, and you can elect to receive any of them here: Sign Up for eNotifications | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

• Attend Council Meetings. Individuals can stream or attend City Council meetings, and each Monday evening session has a period of public comment. Meetings can be found here: Meetings | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

• Attend (or apply to be part of) a Board, Commission, or Committee: Individuals can also attend the meetings of our different volunteer committees. Those also have a public comment period. Residents can learn more here: Boards, Commissions & Committees | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

• Attend an upcoming District Discussion. We invite you to come chat with us. More information can be found here: District Discussions | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin We are also always happy to send staff and Council Members to other meetings residents or stakeholders would like to hold. We will come to you -- just let us know where and when.

• Join (or form) a Neighborhood Association. Neighborhood Associations are the building blocks of community ties and community change. Visit this site to learn more about how to join or create a Neighborhood Association: Neighborhood Associations | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

• Volunteer. Get involved in the nuts and bolts of City Operations by volunteering to staff the winter parade, to help maintain a park, or more. Learn more here: Volunteer Opportunities | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

• Contact the ADA Coordinator. Have a question about accessibility? Contact the ADA Coordinator here: ADACoordinator@EauClaireWI.gov, or learn more here: ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act Information

• Contact Us: Find more ways to reach us via this page: Contact Us - Service Directory | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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, November 10th, Public Hearing, Council Chambers, 6PM

• Tuesday, November 11th, Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 4PM