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City Manager's Weekly Update 12/20/2025: Library News, Brush Fire, Sustainability Awards, Incorporation Hearing

Post Date:12/20/2025 11:20 AM

 

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.

Next week, I won't be sending a newsletter due to the holiday. Then to kick off 2026, I'll send a "Year in Review" newsletter for the first Friday in the new year.

In the meantime, I hope everyone's holiday weeks are peaceful and safe.

City Manager Stephanie Hirsch

 

CITY UPDATES

Brush Site Fire: Our Parks Division and Fire Department shared this information about an ongoing effort at the City's brush site on the northside of Eau Claire: "On Friday December 19th, at approximately 8:32AM the Eau Claire Fire Department was dispatched to a reported brush fire at the City of Eau Claire's brush disposal site at 5300 Jeffers Rd. The first arriving unit found a 100-yard by 50-yard pile of brush and yard waste that was smoldering from within the large piles. Crews applied water but were unable to access the hot and smoldering areas buried within.

The Eau Claire Parks/Forestry and Streets Divisions responded with heavy equipment and worked through the day to pull apart the pile enough to cool and extinguish the fire. Staff remained on site and to monitor conditions until 9:30PM. The brush pile began to smolder again this morning, December 20th. ECFD is continuing to work with the Community Services Department through the day ensure the brush pile is spread out and extinguished. The Forestry Division will also have the material hauled off site as soon as it is safe for transport."

Pictured here is a short video of what the scene looks like (thank you to Lucas) and below is a photo from Parks Manager Phil Lubke. Brush fires can occur due to spontaneous "aerobic decomposition," which is heat generated during the composting process. 

Brush Site

Incorporation Hearing: This week, City staff attended a hearing that focused on the request by the Town of Washington to incorporate into a village. 

In Wisconsin, communities are one of three types – townships, villages, or cities. Each type has its own authority and requirements. Everyone in Wisconsin lives in a county, plus one of the three types of municipalities. There are approximately 72 counties, 190 cities, 400 villages, and 1,260 towns.

According to this UW Extension resource Local Government Education – University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, here are the similarities and differences between the forms of government.

  • All types of local government provide essential services, like elections, property tax administration, road maintenance, and fire protection. Cities and villages generally provide additional services, such as police, planning/zoning, water and sewer, and libraries. 
  • Because of the differences of service levels, cities and villages generally collect more taxes from residents than townships do.
  • Cities and villages are incorporated and have more self-governing authority, while towns are not incorporated. Property owners who live in towns may elect to annex into a city or village so that they can access those urban services, such as water and sewer. These services generally allow for higher density residential properties or the development of industry or commercial properties. In Eau Claire, all private landowners and residents have made this voluntary choice to annex for city services and other reasons unique to each person and their land. 

A prior incorporation petition was dismissed. The City of Eau Claire joined the review process for this second incorporation petition, due to the incorporation’s impact on the region’s ability to grow, consistent with joint agreements, and for the efficient use of public and private investment, the ability to generate diverse and affordable housing, the capacity for private job creation and investment, and the ability to deliver public safety through fire, EMS, police, and other essential public services provided by the City. These are all essential to the health of our community and West Central Wisconsin.

More information on the petition can be found at these locations:

Pictured below is a slide from the City's presentation that lists some of the City services that Eau Claire provides.

City Services

New North Side Shared Use Path: Our Engineering Department shared: "Eau Claire County is working with the City of Eau Claire, Town of Seymour, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation to design and build a shared-use 10-foot wide path along the Birch Street and McKinley Road between River Prairie Drive and State Highway 312. The project is located within the City of Eau Claire and the Town of Seymour. The project is estimated to cost around $1.3M, with cost sharing of 80 percent funded by WisDOT, 9.5 percent by City of Eau Claire, 9.5 percent by Eau Claire County, and 1 percent by Town of Seymour. Construction is scheduled for 2028. Additional information about this project and the PIM can be found in the links below. Construction Improvement Projects | Highway Department | Eau Claire County, WI" An image from the project plan showing its location is below.

McKinley Project

Discontinuation of Hoopla: The Library shared this notice this week… “The Library will discontinue its subscription to the Hoopla Digital streaming service, effective January 1st, 2026. The decision follows a unanimous vote by the Library’s Collection Development committee to prioritize sustainable budgeting and long-term resource management.

The decision to transition away from Hoopla is driven by the platform’s ‘cost-per-circulation’ model. Unlike traditional digital platforms, this model charges the Library a fee for every individual checkout. As the service’s popularity has grown, so have its costs, which have nearly tripled since 2021.

By 2025, Hoopla reached a point where it consumed approximately 20 percent of the Library’s annual budget for physical materials. Library leadership determined that these funds could be more effectively utilized by purchasing permanent physical and digital assets that can be shared among the community for years, rather than paying for one-time access.

Following the discontinuation of Hoopla, the Library will reinvest funds into the Libby app by OverDrive. This shift will allow the Library to purchase more copies of high-demand e-books and e-audiobooks, effectively reducing wait times and expanding the permanent digital collection. More information can be found here: https://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/goodbye_hoopla” Pictured below is an image of "hoopla", with the title "A Difficult Goodbye to a Favorite Service"

Hoopla

ArtsWest Art Show Invitation: A second Library note said: "The Library invites area artists to enter Wisconsin ArtsWest 47, which is the Library’s annual juried art show. The show will open on March 16th and run through May 18th. This exhibit is open to all working artists and students, ages 18 and older, living in Wisconsin. All media are acceptable. More information can be found here: ArtsWest47.pdf and on the entry form at www.ecpubliclibrary.info/submit47. The deadline for entries is January 20, 2026. No entry fees are required."

Library Exhibit Hall

Library Winter Break Activities: And one last Library note… When the rest of the City slows down for the holidays, life at the Library gets extra busy! Their creative staff have developed a lineup of fun for kids of all ages for the days that schools are closed. Look at the options here: Winter Break Week Activities for Kids & Teens - Kids For any Library question, contact Information & Reference by calling 715-839-5004, emailing librarian@eauclaire.lib.wi.us, or visiting the library’s website at www.ecpubliclibrary.info.

Note that my family likes to check out board games from the Library of Things, and we can recommend  these two (with our caveats) for your holiday breaks:

Megaland: "A bit challenging to learn, but straightforward after we read the instructions several times."

Patchwork: "Unless you play this game many times to figure out what the strategy could be, it seems to be more about luck than skills."

Megaland

Patchwork

Continuing Snow: The wintery weather continued this week. On Thursday (12/18), dropping temperatures froze the rain that had fallen on the streets and sidewalks. In the evening, and heading into Friday, the City sent 13 trucks out to plow, salt, and sand. The entire city was sanded for the weekend, and sidewalk crews cleaned up steps and sidewalks. Pictured below is snow falling over Grand Ave Bridge.

Winter Wonderland

Sustainable Eau Claire Award Winners: This week, our Sustainability Committee recognized a number of individuals, businesses, and organizations for their efforts to create a more sustainable Eau Claire. The award recipients were as follows:

Outstanding Individual: “Mari Jackson has served as one of the leaders of the shared garden in downtown Eau Claire. Recently, she led a group of community members to clean up and replant the garden at the corner of Madison and Forest Streets. With a group of volunteers and funds from a Community Foundation Grant, this neglected garden was planted with natives and renamed Bee Haven.

In addition to her community beautification work, Mari has given talks and led tours through native gardens to show how individuals can incorporate pollinators into their gardens. Mari is an amazing advocate for environmental stewardship through her community work, involvement as a Master Gardener, and active membership in the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership.”

Outstanding Business: “Riverflow Refillery, owned by Jordan Hauser, is making great strides with waste reduction in our community. The Riverflow Refillery offers refill options for items such as cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, and personal hygiene products, reducing the need for plastic packaging. In addition, the Riverflow Refillery offers other sustainable options such as bamboo cutlery, cloth bags, and other goods to replace single use items.

Jordan is also the co-leader of Plastic Free EC and has been present at local festivals, Farmers Market, and other community events to educate and encourage individuals to take the Plastic Free EC pledge. Jordan’s future plans include working with DECI to launch a more comprehensive program for restaurants to reduce their plastic waste in follow-up to the pilot program she launched in 2023. Jordan has worked tirelessly through her store, Plastic Free EC, and throughout the community to educate and provide single use plastic alternatives to the residents of Eau Claire.”

Outstanding Organization: “Prairie Partners is a 100 percent volunteer operated 501(c)(3).  Its major initiative is maintenance of the native prairie and accompanying gardens located East of Boyd Park. The group also maintains gardens around the Boyd Park pavilion, as well as native plantings around the Boyd Park playground, basketball courts, and skate park. The group offers educational prairie walks during Boyd Night Out, a weekly Eastside Hill Neighborhood summer event; maintains an informational kiosk by the Boyd Park Pavilion; and regularly hosts free plant giveaways.

UWEC and Eau Claire School District students volunteer with Prairie Partners throughout the year, learning about native plantings, sustainability, natural resources, and water conservation. ECASD student volunteers are North and Memorial High School students who are part of Upward Bound (a federal TRIO Program designed to support youth from low-income families and families where neither parent holds a bachelor's degree) in preparing for and succeeding in postsecondary education. Prairie Partners works closely with the Eastside Hill Neighborhood Association, the City’s Parks & Forestry Division, and is a member of the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership."

The award recipients are pictured below. Congrats to all and thank you for your contributions to our community's future!

Sustainability Winners

Structure Fire: The Eau Claire Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on William Street on Tuesday afternoon. They reported: “On arrival, smoke conditions were found on the first floor and tenants were evacuating. A smoldering fire was located in one of the apartments and quickly extinguished. Crews ventilated the structure and were able to have all tenants return to the building within an hour. No injuries were reported. The ECPD and EC Communications Center assisted during the incident.”

 

WAYS TO SERVE

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

Library Assistant - Circulation Services (Library): The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library is seeking an outgoing, enthusiastic and detail-oriented Library Assistant who has a passion for public service, exemplary customer service and strong organizational skills. This is a full-time, non-exempt position, 40 hours per week. The 2026 starting wage is $20.08 per hour. Deadline to apply: 8AM on Monday, December 22nd.

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: Sunday, January 4th, 2026 at 11:59PM. Learn more here: https://www.joinecpd.org/

NEW: Desk Clerk (Library): Do you love helping people and connecting them with the resources they need? The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library is currently seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Desk Clerk who has a passion for public service to work at the Library’s front desk.  This is a part-time position, averaging 19 hours per week. The proposed 2026 starting wage is $16.40 per hour and includes paid floating holiday. Deadline to apply: 8AM on Monday, January 5th

 

Boards, Commissions, and Committees: We have several openings on the volunteer Boards, Commissions, and Committees that are listed below. Learn more about these roles and apply here:  Boards, Commissions & Committees | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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. An understanding of zoning and land use is helpful, but not required.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee: This commission provides advice to City Council that reflects community values on bicycle and pedestrian practices relative to the City.

 

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

Holiday Hours: Here are what’s open and closed for the upcoming holidays…

  • City Offices will be closed on December 24th, 25th, and January 1st
  • The Library will be closed on December 24th, 25th, and January 1st. The Library will also close at 5PM on December 31st
  • Eau Claire Transit will stop operations December 24th at 7PM and resume normal service on the 26th. The ticket window will be closed from 24th through 26th. Buses will not run on New Year's Day.

Our emergency response, utilities, and snow removal staff will be working 24-7 to keep our city safe. Please join me in thanking them for their dedicated service throughout the holidays.

Merry Mulch to Open: The “Merry Mulch” Christmas Tree Recycling Program is planned to be open during daylight hours from Friday, December 26th through Friday, January 30th, 2026, pending site preparation, and contingent on resolution of the fire situation described above. Please stay tuned to Eau Claire Parks, Recreation and Forestry social media pages for confirmation of the opening date. The Green Waste Facility is located at 5710 Jeffers Road. Please remove all lights, tinsel, and ornaments before recycling, and please do not bring in wreaths with metal wire or artificial trees. No other items will be accepted at this time. This free program is available to all Eau Claire County Residents.

A Few More Reminders:

  • Kids/Teens Ride Transit for Free in 2026: Children (and adults who are still in high school) will take Transit for free starting in 2026! Hop on for free starting January 1st, and stay tuned for more details.
  • Shelters and Rinks: Pinehurst’s supervised warming shelter is now open. Rinks are planned to open on December 26th, though this is weather dependent. If rinks are skateable before then, we will announce this. Please visit these ties for up-to-date information:
  • Communicable Disease Updates: Stay on top of the virus outlook by signing up for the Health Department’s monthly communicable disease email newsletter by clicking here.
  • Odd/Even Parking Restrictions: The City is enforcing 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.

 

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

  • Contact City Council. Council Members welcome contacts, and you can reach them here: City Council
  • 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
  • Invite us to a meeting. We are also always happy to send staff and Council Members to other meetings residents or stakeholders would like to hold. We can attend book clubs, lectures, classes, church assemblies, etc. We will come to you -- just let us know where and when.

 

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)

  • CANCELLED: December 22nd and 23rd Meetings
  • Monday, January 12th, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, January 13th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
  • Monday, January 26th, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, January 27th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
  • Monday, February 9th, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, February 10th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
  • Monday, February 23rd, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, February 24th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
  • Monday, March 9th, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, March 10th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
  • Monday, March 23rd, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, March 24th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
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