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City Manager's Weekly Update 1/23/2026: Cold Weather and Exploding Trees, Plank Hill Plan, Library News, and Q&As

Post Date:01/23/2026 4:31 PM

 

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

 

TWO CHALLENGES

Shoveled Sidewalk Champions: Here are a few more Shoveling Champions, with quotes from their nominators and pictures for some. (Suggest your favorite shoveling champion or stretch of sidewalk here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfEauClaire/SnowShovelingChampionChallenge)

1000 Block of Omaha Street: “Pat does a great job shoveling not only his property, but also the neighbors on either side. He helps keep the sidewalk safe. He goes above and beyond to keep that stretch of sidewalk clear and slip free.”

Lincoln Ave: “Todd is up before most of us. He shovels for several who need the help, and even for those in between, just because! Great big-hearted caring helper!”

Todd on LIncoln.jpeg

Morningside Drive: “Scott meticulously cares for the driveway and sidewalks near it, and he helps our neighbors out when need be. He also takes care of his mom’s snow removal, who lives up around the corner. He does the best snow removal on our block! Proud of him! Seems like good snow removal is a lost art!”

Scott on Morningside

Summit Avenue and Rust Street: “Steve comes around the corner to not only shovel our sidewalk, but also our driveway. We had the terrible influenza, and Steve made sure that we had food and clean sidewalks and driveway. It made being sick easier. Thank you, Steve.”

Transit Promo Challenge: For our second contest, submit your ideas for a transit advertisement here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfEauClaire/StudentRideFreeChallenge Pictured below is a photo of an EC Transit Bus as it passes by the University.

Bus Picture

CITY UPDATES

Cold Weather: The challenging winter weather continues, with extreme cold watches and warnings. When we receive these official alerts, we support a regional response, which includes free Eau Claire transit during the period of the alerts. The Health Department helps coordinate partners during extreme temperatures so that there are no gaps in services for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. We are very fortunate to have great community partners who are willing to help in these extreme temperatures. Sojourner House extended morning hours, and the new Day Resource Center extended their evening hours as well. Power companies have been contacted and are on standby in case further coordination is needed following a power outage. More information on current conditions and regional resources can be found here: Public Information Portal

As the cold continued into Saturday morning, the City needed to shift to limited power use for some of its buildings. This is triggered by our enrollment in an "interruptible rate" plan through Xcel. Xcel's processes help manage capacity on peak days. City Hall, our Central Maintenance Facility, and the Library all have generators that provide energy to the buildings. That said, one of the building's generators shut down, possibly due to the temperature of its fuel line. A Fire Station also experienced a heat failure, but staff were able to restore it for key areas in the station.

Our first responders also have been encountering many cold-related requests, such as calls related to animals left outside, burst pipes, and stalled cars. One example from Friday's police report reads, "BRIEF SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY: Call requested officers check the welfare of a subject due to the cold weather.

Pictured below is the temperature from the Public Information Portal on Friday.

Extreme Cold Portal

Exploding Trees? You may have seen reports that trees can “explode” during the extreme cold. We have a tree expert on staff, and I asked City Forester Matt Staudenmaier to verify or dispel this rumor… He shared:

“Trees do not 'explode' from frost. They can crack from frost, and that can make some noise, but they do not explode from frost.  Interestingly enough, trees can explode when they are struck by lightning. When that happens, the temperature of the sap instantaneously superheats and basically makes the tree a steam bomb! So, shrapnel is often strewn far and wide when lightning hits a tree.

In the late summer and fall, trees prepare for winter by drawing back moisture and resources from the actively-growing areas above the ground. They ‘store’ the resources in the roots for the following spring's reemergence. This process turns the fluids within the living cells into a higher concentration, and this acts as an ‘anti-freeze.’  If the water concentration is too high in the cell, the cell membranes and cell walls of plants can rupture during a frost. This is why early blossoming plants are subject to late frosts, and early frosts in the fall are damaging to actively-growing plants. It is also why your garden veggies that freeze and thaw turn to mush.

The action of exploding trees would not really be possible in effect, due to the lack of water (which expands when it freezes). If there are pockets of water trapped in hollows of a tree or in a poor branch connection, the water can freeze and act like a wedge, splitting the two sides in a cleaving action. This can result in the phenomenon of a ‘frost crack.’ It would not be explosive so much as a ‘pop.’ If you have ever been on a lake when it is freezing/‘building ice’ you will hear pops and groans in a similar sense.

Needless to say, the Forestry crew does not need to be trained as ordnance disposal experts. The bomb squad can also rest easy.” Thank you for these insights, Matt!

Pictured here are two photos of trees and the river on this week's coldest days from our local photographers, Tina Ecker and Terri Noel. 

River - Tina Ecker

River - Terri Noel

Plank Hill Master Plan: Working with the Eastside Hill Neighborhood Association, who generated significant public engagement through multiple workshops, the City and its consultant have developed a long-range “master plan” for the area that includes Seven Bumps sledding hills, between Forest Hills Cemetery and the rest of East Hill. This area is called Plank Hill in the design, and it's pictured below.

Our staff shared: "The Plank Hill Master Plan is coming to the Parks and Waterways Commission meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, January 28th, at 5PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting will include a discussion that’s open to the public, including conversation about the project priorities and costs, which may help inform fundraising approaches. After review by Parks and Waterways, the plan will be presented to the City Council." 

The draft plan can be reviewed here: Eau Claire Plank Hill Report 2026

Plank Hill

Library News: Here are some updates on what our Library is working on…

Featured Library Resource: Things? Did you know that you can check out more than books at the Library? Because you absolutely can. Besides videogames, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, and play kits, the Library also offers … things. Our Library of Things is a large collection of useful/fun objects you can borrow just like a book. Check out some examples…

  • A sewing machine
  • Snowshoes
  • A banjo (not kidding)
  • Games and puzzles
  • Photo digitizing tools
  • Lefse making tools
  • Leather working gear
  • Wireless internet hotspots
  • Audio recording gear
  • A glockenspiel (still not kidding)

…and lots more, all for free. All you need is a library card.

Featured Upcoming Library Events: To fulfill its mission to provide Eau Claire with lifelong learning opportunities, the Library offers events and workshops all year long for every age. Check out a *tiny* selection of interesting upcoming programs…

  • Snack-Sized Sculptures (for Teens), Monday, January 26th (4–5PM): Craft tiny, polymer clay versions of fruit, vegetable, or other fun food! Registration required.
  • Update Your Resume: A Guided Work Session (for Adults), Thursday, January 29th (10AM–Noon): With the guidance of an expert, participants will have the opportunity to update their resumes to increase the likelihood employers will review their applications. Registration required.
  • Group Art Exhibit: 4-Sight (All Ages) Now through February 23rd (normal library hours): Four retired local art teachers show off their tremendous skill and creativity.

See all our library events and register at www.ecpubliclibrary.info/events

Dance Party

 

CITY COUNCIL UPDATES

Next week is a City Council meeting, and materials for the meeting can be found here: 1/26/2026 & 1/27/2026 City Council Packets | News | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin Two items that residents may want to tune in for are:

Comprehensive Plan: On Tuesday, the Council will participate in a work session to discuss our upcoming Comprehensive Plan update. More information on this process can be found here: Comprehensive Plan | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Strategic Plan: The Council will also deliberate about adopting a new Vision statement, along with community values and high-level goals that guide more granular workplans. There will be opportunities for public comment before the whole plan is finalized, though you can also send comments at any point to the City Council via this form: Council Contact Form. The draft document can be found in the Council packet.

 

QUESTION & ANSWER: Feel free to share your question here and we will work on answering it: Service Request Form - City Manager | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin (eauclairewi.gov) You can also send questions or comments to the City Council via this form: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/city-council/city-council-members/city-council-contact

Sidewalks and Parking Enforcement

Comments: Residents wrote in these questions/comments about code enforcement…

“The sidewalks in the Third Ward and Randal Park are still an icy mess…. We’ve had codes on the books to deal with this for a decade. We have the staff to enforce the codes. I’m not sure why, when it comes to pedestrians, the city of Eau Claire chooses to not do its job.”

“What can be done to actually enforce parking ordinances in Eau Claire? I have talked to the police, and they ticket when I call, but I should not need to call multiple times for a resolution to happen.”

A resident wrote that they have seen cars parked illegally for a long time…. “After just paying the wheel tax, I keep thinking that funds could be realized from the parking abuses to help as well as clear the streets for known reasons."

City Response: To address code complaints such as snow removal, weeds, and illegal parking, we formed a new division called Neighborhood Services. We are still staffing up the division, so we expect we will have more capacity in the future. We very much share residents’ frustration with the unshoveled sidewalks and illegal parking.

Residents can submit specific problem sidewalks or parking issues to Neighborhood Services via this form: Report a Sidewalk Concern | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

For sidewalk enforcement, these are the steps staff take after receiving a complaint:

  • Go out to inspect the property;
  • Provide notice to the property to clear the sidewalks;
  • After a period of time, return to re-inspect the property;
  • If the sidewalks are not remediated, clear the sidewalks using a contractor or City staff; and
  • Bill the property owner for the work carried out.

The process is quite intensive. We have two inspectors working on all citywide code issues, including parking enforcement and cleared sidewalks. There are about 26,000 properties, so it can be very challenging to work through these steps. We are sorry about the sidewalks, and we hope that the steps we are taking now to build capacity will eventually lead to much more compliance. In the meantime, we implore all residents and landlords to ensure that sidewalks are passable. It makes a difference for people's safety and quality of life.

In response to the "Shoveling Champion" request, we received some "anti-champion" nominees, like this one below. The condition of sidewalks like this makes walking challenging.

Anti Shoveling Champ

By-Mail Votes

Question: “Are there steps being taken to fully inform by mail voters regarding the new ‘post mark date’ rules?”

Answer: Our City Clerk shared…: “This does not actually affect Wisconsin Voters. In Wisconsin, we do not use post mark dates for absentee ballots. All absentee ballots must be to their polling places by 8PM. Some states allow processing of absentee ballots based on the post marks after the day of the election, but Wisconsin does not and has not for many years. We will continue using the instructions for voters to return their ballots by 8PM on Election Day.”

Poll Safety

Question: “What steps are the City taking to ensure, during elections, that everyone can be assured that they can safely go to their polling places without fear of being intimidated?”

Answer: Our City Clerk shared… “We always review the safety concerns for voters before each election, and we update our emergency plans and training accordingly. We work closely with the Eau Claire Police Department to ensure that election days are safe. Chief Inspectors at the polling place and the Municipal Clerk are empowered to preserve order and prevent electioneering at the polling place on election day and can order disruptive people to leave, and/or order law enforcement to remove them or take the person into custody. If an incident occurred at a polling site, a judge can extend hours due to a major disruption, or we could move the polling place to City Hall, which is our emergency polling place.”

Illegal Burning

Question: “My neighbors burn all of their garbage. They are not just burning items that are safe to burn, they are burning everything. They burn it late at night and early morning. What can be done?"

Answer: Our Fire Department staff shared.... "The residents may be using a 'burn barrel,' which is not permitted within the City. The Fire Department has increased enforcement of illegal burning regulations, and we are actively issuing citations for violations. Enforcement is still limited by the plain view doctrine -- we can only access the property if we observe an active fire. This means firefighters must make contact with the occupant. We recommend that neighbors witnessing fires contact the Fire Department through the Communication Center. If an illegal fire is confirmed, we will proceed with issuing a citation."

Use of Generative AI

Question/Comments: I received several messages from the public about the use of generative AI for two images in my last newsletter. To summarize, the residents' concerns focused on AI’s use of natural resources (such as from reliance on data centers) and use of content created by artists without payment or attribution. They also express concern about the accuracy of AI-generated content. Here are two of the comments:

  • “Please refrain from using AI generated things, especially photos that could be easily searched, sourced and used. Unnecessary AI use puts extra strain on so much infrastructure that truly can't handle the current needs of populations. Please be responsible when deciding to use any AI and also continue to disclose when you use it at a minimum.”
  • “I recently read through the Weekly Update and had seen the use of Generative AI to make images in relation to a topic that was being discussed. I find this deeply disappointing to see. The information you are explaining is very succinct without it. AI steals from many artists and creators around the world. Not to mention the impact it has on neighborhoods where those data centers exist to create those images. I would hope that in the future you refrain from using it.”

City Response: I appreciate that our residents read the newsletter and also appreciate feedback. It’s a new and evolving technology, and new to me. The City has an AI policy that helps us ensure compliance within the organization. As the technology and community discussion related to it evolve, we will work with our staff and the community to navigate issues that arise. Related to using AI tools within City government, there are conflicting opinions about the opportunity and risk of its use. One example of how we think AI technology may be useful are tools that summarize information that currently sits in our folders or on our website. Those “digital assistants” can suggest answers to questions from constituents. We see some value in these features, but we also need to figure out how we ensure quality control and accuracy. This use would not probably raise the issue of using artist-created content, as the source material comes from the City.

With regard to AI’s use of natural resources, including energy and water, the City is studying the impact modern data centers have on communities. We will continue to communicate with the community and all stakeholders about any deliberation on this front. Separately, our Council plans to work through a discussion of our priorities and values related to water use. It’s our understanding that new data center technology does have a very significant power usage, but less water usage. That said, we will explore this more in coming months and years. And for myself, I'm happy to avoid using any kind of AI tools in any future newsletter. I can stick with old school style photos and writing.

 

WAYS TO SERVE

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

Seasonal Laborers - Limited Term Employment (Engineering and Community Services): Don't want to spend your summer stuck in an office? Join us in the outdoors! Our Community Services & Engineering Departments are hiring Seasonal Laborers for the 2026 Summer Season. Deadline to apply: Open until filled.

City Assessor (Finance): Put your assessment expertise and leadership skills to work in a meaningful way. If you're passionate about driving change and delivering results, we want to hear from you! We're a welcoming, fast-growing Wisconsin city, nationally recognized as one of the best places to live in the country. The City Assessor directs trained personnel in assessment and appraisal related activities to ensure Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and statutory compliance. Deadline to apply: Open until filled, with first review of applications January 26th.

Public Health Specialist (Health Department): The Eau Claire City-County Health Department has an opportunity for a full-time Public Health Specialist focused on social determinants of health and population health data. This position will be responsible for the analysis of population health data to identify areas of need and for spearheading internal and external initiatives related to the social determinants of health that impact population health outcomes. Priority topics include access to childcare, affordable housing, and access to healthcare. Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in public health, health education or related field. Deadline to apply: January 26th.

NEW - Community Service Worker I (Community Services, Streets Division): 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: February 1st at 11:59PM. Learn more by watching this video: Community Service Worker Video

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 this 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 the City Council on bicycle and pedestrian policies and practices, ensuring they reflect community values and priorities.

Housing Opportunities Commission: This Commission advises on and reviews policies to ensure affordable housing in Eau Claire, facilitates access to housing programs and funding, promotes public-private partnerships to expand diverse and affordable housing options. We are currently seeking residents with experience in housing real estate, building/development, accessible design, property management, or home financing.

 

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

Taxes Due: Our County Treasurer reminds residents that the final due date to pay your property taxes is January 31st. Please be sure your payment is submitted on time to avoid interest and penalties. Here are three ways to pay:

  • Pay in person at 721 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire (the last day to pay on time in person is Friday, January 30th).

A Few More Reminders:

  • Sand Available: Remember, City of Eau Claire residents can get free sand for slippery sidewalks at Central Maintenance Facility, 911 Forest Street, available anytime. Bring your own container and shovel. There's a five-gallon limit. This is sand only -- no salt is added.
  • Merry Mulch Open: Recycle your Christmas tree at the City of Eau Claire Brush Site during Merry Mulch. Open daily through January 31st at 3PM. Located at 5710 Jeffers Road.
  • 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! Stay tuned for more details.
  • Shelters and Rinks: Please visit these sites 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)

  • Wednesday, January 21st, Transit Commission Meeting with Invitation to City Council, 4:30PM, 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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