News

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option

City Manager's Weekly Update 4/24/2026: Police Annual Report, Development Project, Wildlife Updates, Bench Poll Results

Post Date:04/24/2026 4:09 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

 

CITY UPDATES

Police Annual Report: Police Chief Matt Rokus shared the following:

“The Eau Claire Police Department is pleased to present its 2025 Annual Report. This annual report showcases major accomplishments across the Department and highlights new programs and initiatives launched over the past year. It also features perspectives from division leaders, updated crime data, and news about advancements in public safety.

The crime rate remained mostly steady in 2025. When evaluating crime statistics, it is best to view them across multiple years. There will be year-to-year fluctuations in some categories that are not indicative of the overall trends our community is experiencing. As our community has grown the past five years, crimes against persons have experienced modest increases. During the same time period, property crimes have fallen at a much higher rate.

A highlight of 2025 is the measurable results of proactive policing. These policing efforts are evidence-based and directed at defined problems. Examples include:

  • Our officers’ self-initiated traffic stops on Clairemont Ave increased 41 percent and traffic crashes in this area dropped by nearly 14 percent.
  • In our downtown area, calls for service decreased by 26 percent following an initiative where our officers led weekly clean-up efforts with other City departments and service providers in areas impacted by homelessness.
  • Proactive patrol efforts in the Water Street area resulted in a 22 percent decrease in disorder call types.
  • While our crime data shows increase in drug offenses and weapons violations, the vast majority of these offenses are identified through officer-initiated activity. The increases in drug and weapons violations are a result of officers working proactively to make Eau Claire safer.

As we look forward, our goals remain straightforward. We will do our part to ensure a safe community, strengthen the trust placed in us, partner with others to make Eau Claire even better, and support the well-being of our employees. We will remain present and engaged in our community. Finally, we will continue to prioritize the hiring and professional development of people who share our values and care about our city.”

Council Member Andrew Werthmann shared appreciation for this approach, noting:

“People often ask me how Eau Claire has become one of the safest communities in the nation. One of the biggest reasons is the outstanding work of our Police Department and their commitment to proactive, community-based policing that prioritizes partnerships and problem-solving.

The 2025 Eau Claire Police Department Annual Report just came out, and it shows what that approach looks like in practice… Record demand for service. A steady crime rate. Measurable results. That is community policing done right. Thank you to Chief Rokus and every officer, dispatcher, and staff member who makes Eau Claire a safer place to live.”

You can view a digital version of the 2025 Annual Report at the following link: 2025 Annual Report Pictured below are two images from the Report.

Demands for ServiceAnnual Report

Wildlife Updates: Wildlife questions and concerns keep coming to us, and here are two updates...

Turkeys: For all who have been following the story of the aggressive turkeys, we have an update! Community Services staff have been carrying out a mission to capture and relocate the turkeys, with permission from the DNR. They haven’t yet captured any, however, they achieved a different goal. Here’s what they shared:

“When we first began attempting to capture these turkeys, we were able to get fairly close to them -- sometimes even driving right up beside them while they stood in the road. Recently, however, they’ve stopped lingering in the roads and are spending more time in the woods, and the original group we were monitoring has split up. We tried corralling them near Old Wells Road, but they flew off before we could contain them. Each time we’ve thrown the net, they’ve managed to slip and dodge it. It’s been… interesting, to say the least.

We’ve also identified what appears to be a separate flock of toms and jakes around Domer Park. During one of our outings, we even witnessed a full-on ‘clash of the turkeys’ between the groups. One of the videos shows the toms attacking the jakes.

They seem to favor the neighborhood off of Hewitt, where we’ve seen several of them frequenting bird feeders. A few residents have come out to ask what we were doing, and after we explained that we were tracking their patterns in hopes of relocating them, they told us this particular group is extremely tame. Some residents even feed them by hand. They expressed concern that relocating these birds into the wild would essentially be a death sentence for them.

We have been out daily for a couple of weeks now challenging the turkeys, and we can no longer get close to them. I’m optimistic that this daily pestering has seasoned the turkeys to stay away from people.”

We heard from one constituent who said that she thinks the strategy seems to be working! She wrote: “Just wanted to reach out to say thank you. I have since been running in that area and have not been harassed by turkeys! I appreciate your quick response and follow up. You're doing a great job, and I'm glad you were on the case.”

You can see some of the efforts in this photo below and this video: Turkeys in Eau Claire

Turkey Operation

Deer: We have also been receiving complaints about the community’s deer population. One person, who is an ecologist, shared these concerns. He noted that with no predators, the population keeps growing, which destabilizes the ecological balance. Deer can starve, and they also damage trees with their foraging. He also expressed concerns about the public health impact, saying: “Deer are a main spreading agent of ticks in the state of Wisconsin. Ticks have been getting much worse over recent years. Ticks only stay on a host until they have gained a full ‘meal’. Then the females drop off so they can find a place to lay eggs, which creates more ticks. As deer move around the city, they also carry ticks with them and drop them all along their walking paths. This can be anywhere from parklands to residential yards.”

He shared a goal for culling the herds: “While I understand the desire to want to let all of the animals live their lives without interference from us, the fact is that we have already interfered by building a non-natural environment (the City of Eau Claire) where they are completely free of predators. That idea is naïve to the fact that it is our responsibility as good land stewards to help maintain ecological balance, with or without predators. If we don’t want the predators (e.g., wolves) in the city (and I don’t know anyone who wants that), then we need to function in their place, removing the unhealthy individuals, and bringing the deer population back to manageable levels for this habitat.”

Community Services Director Lane Berg shared: “Years ago, the City used sharpshooters to safely harvest the deer. No use of a firearm in the city is completely safe, so we need to give this careful consideration.”

Council Member Werthmann said that he would like to look into non-lethal methods. If we do use a sharp-shooter, he said he’d like to make sure that the deer meat is used and not wasted. Andrew suggested that a plan be shared with the Waterways, Parks, and Urban Forestry and then the City Council. Pictured below is a row of seven deer on a walk in the Third Ward.

Row of Deer

Happy Arbor Day: Our City Forester Matt Staudenmaier shared “It is already that time of year again – Arbor Day! Passive annual benefits of our urban forest continue to rise, diversity continues to rise (with more resilience to future issues), and canopy coverage should continue to improve."

Our Recreation and Parks Division shared: "Strong roots, stronger communities. This Arbor Day, discover the real value of community trees! With over 27,000 City-managed trees, we're seeing the benefits. Including, cleaner air, reduced runoff, and more than $3.4 million in annual benefits!" The graphic below indicates those benefits. For more information visit: Dnr.Wi.Gov/Topic/UrbanForests/Ufia

Arbor Day Graphic

A Special Bit of Library History: Our Library shared this note that showed that even 125 years ago, Eau Claire's residents were very invested in our community and carried out lively debates about our infrastructure: “In October, 1901, Library Board President W. J. Starr wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie to describe Eau Claire and its need for a real library. In early 1902, the Library Board applied to the Carnegie Foundation for a grant to build a library in Eau Claire. The foundation agreed to provide $40,000, provided that a suitable site was chosen and at least $4,000 a year was promised toward the maintenance of the library. The City Council quickly appropriated the annual money for maintenance, but the ‘suitable site’ became a hotly debated question that divided the city into two factions -- the east side and the west side. Debate raged back and forth, but eventually the Library Board sent a letter to the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Eau Claire stating the Boards’ decision to purchase a site owned by Mr. Hinrichs at the corner of Farwell Street and Grand Avenue. The new Library building’s grand opening was held on April 21, 1904. This building is now City Hall.

For references, on Friday, April 22, 1904, an article titled ‘Building Beautiful’ appeared in the Eau Claire Leader: https://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/building-beautiful/

The article had three subtitles: 

  • NEW CARNEGIE LIBRARY BRILLIANTLY ILLUMINED AND FLOWER ADORNED FORMALLY PRESENTED TO THE CITY.
  • CITIZENS BESIEGE THE BUILDING IN SUCH NUMBERS THAT HUNDREDS DO NOT GAIN ADMITTANCE. 
  • REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE IN KEEPING WITHIN THE $40.000 DONATION.”

Carnegie Library

Earth Fest and the Sustainable Eau Claire Awards: This past weekend’s Earth Fest was a big success. The Sustainability Advisory Committee hosted a booth at Earth Fest, and SAC members interacted with the public and collected feedback regarding water and sustainability priorities. Feedback collected will help inform the City’s Water Study, as well as the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update.

Additionally, the Sustainability Advisory Committee handed out the Sustainable Eau Claire Awards. The Sustainable Eau Claire Awards recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that are committed to creating a more sustainable Eau Claire. These awards are also meant to encourage all residents, businesses, community groups, and non-profits to implement similar sustainable actions. This is the 10th year of the awards!

  • Outstanding Business – Kersten Family Junk Removal
  • Outstanding Organization – Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership, Leave the Leaves
  • Outstanding Individual – Paul Tolar

A photo of the winners is attached, along with other photos from Earth Fest of Water Stewardship and Conservation, the West Central Regional Rail Coalition, and a Transit bus, as staff were providing tips on how to use the Transit system.

Ceremony PhotoEarth FestWisconsin Rail CoalitionLearn to Take the Bus

Fire Scene Roles: Here’s another installment of our Fire Department’s blog…

“A couple Fridays ago, we answered a common question: 'Why are there so many firefighters at a scene?'

We received a great follow-up question: 'Who is Command, the Rapid Intervention Team, and the Safety Officer?' Since each position is unique in itself AND we have a lot of Fridays in a year, we’re breaking it down over the next few Fridays.

This week: COMMAND

Command is typically one of our Battalion Chiefs. They are the eyes and ears of the entire department during a shift (24 hours).

At a fire scene, Command:

  • Oversees all operations;
  • Develops response strategies and adjusts the incident action plan as things evolve;
  • Conveys to dispatch when additional resources are needed;
  • Communicates constantly with crews to keep track of crew assignments (As we have already shown, there are many); and
  • Works closely with the Safety Officer to manage risks.

BUT their job doesn’t stop at the scene… While managing the incident, they’re also:

  • Monitoring what’s happening across the entire city;
  • Making sure enough units are ready for the next emergency;
  • Moving resources to maintain proper coverage; and
  • Requesting Mutual Aid if there are not enough units available

Around here, they’ve earned the nickname ‘Chaos Coordinator’ for a reason. Because even when things look hectic, Command is the one making sure everything runs safely, smoothly, and efficiently.  Command is typically one of our three Battalion Chiefs, Brian Toonen (A-Shift), Jamie Burkhardt (B-Shift), and Steve Vargo (C-Shift). They are the eyes and ears of the entire department during a shift (24 hours).

Stay tuned next Friday as we break down the next role!”

 

COUNCIL UPDATES

Next week is a City Council Meeting week, and you can find the packets here:  4/27/2026 and 4/28/2026 City Council Packets | News | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin This week was a busy Council week as well, with a special meeting on Monday and our Organizational Meeting on Tuesday.

Here are a few key topics from this week and next.

Council Appointment: The Council held a special meeting on Monday with the goal of appointing a new person to the open District 2 seat. The appointment requires six votes for approval, and they were not able to reach that amount after several rounds of voting. They decided to hold off on appointing until next Tuesday’s meeting when additional Council Members will be present.

Organizational Meeting: At the Organizational Meeting, Judge Doug Hoffer swore in Council President Jeremy Gragert and the Council elected Jess Schoen as Vice President. Additionally, the Deputy City Clerk circulated a hat to have members draw seats and Council Members selected which Boards, Commissions, and Committees they’d like to serve on. The new President provided comments, and I did as well (which you can read here). Before the meeting, Council Members shared appreciation for outgoing Council Member Emily Anderson who has served the community for eight years. The farewell to Emily and selection of seats is pictured below.

Farewell to Emily AndersonDrawing Seats

Proposed ABF Ingredients Project: One of the agenda items for next week is Council consideration of a proposed development agreement for a large new plant. Here is a bit more information, and more details can be found in the packet and will also be presented at the Monday Public Hearing. The City has sought this manufacturing plant because of its alignment with Council strategic priorities of sustainability, smart growth, and creation of good jobs, as well as its match with Council guidance related to water use. It's our hope that this project also helps attract related industries to help make our region a center for food technology. This technology shows some promise in reducing water demand in other parts of the world, such as through the development of meat alternatives.

The new manufacturing facility that the Council will consider next week will be used by Ohly, which is a global specialty ingredients business. 

According to the press release, “Ohly is one of the world's leading suppliers of yeast derivatives, culinary powders and lipid powders for the global food, biotechnology, human, and animal health markets. The company offers a wide range of multifunctional specialties based on natural bakers and torula yeast.”

From the Council Meeting packet: 

"The City and ABFI North America, formerly known as Project Aurora, have finalized an agreement to support their expansion into Gateway Northwest Industrial Park. ABFI will build their facility in three phases... ABFI anticipates an overall investment of $270 million, a guaranteed taxable value $56 million across all three phases, and 90 to 100 jobs paying wages estimated in the $24 to $60 per hour range."

Related to water use, "Developer anticipates daily water usage of up to approximately 200,000 gallons per day (GPD) at full build out of all phases of the Developer Improvements.... Developer anticipates up to approximately 199,000 GPD at full build out of all phases of the Developer Improvements of wastewater discharge to the City’s POTW (public owned treatment works / wastewater facility)"

Budget Forums: Another reminder that there are two budget sessions, as follows.

  • Sundays: April 26th, and May 3rd
  • 3PM at The Plus, 208 S Barstow St. Downtown Eau Claire

All are welcome and come with your questions!

 

QUICK POLL - RESULTS

Bench Poll Responses: We invited residents to complete a quick poll about whether or not the City should contract with a private company that could build/maintain benches at bus stops (and potentially other locations) in exchange for advertising. A lot of people had thoughts on this, with 48 percent saying "no", and 35 percent saying "yes". Below are the totals and examples of comments. They will be passed along to the Transit Commission and Council.

 

Count

Percent

No

206

48%

Maybe

78

18%

Yes

146

34%

Total

430

52%

 

Comments supportive of idea: Key points about practicality and need for people who are elderly or need to sit and cost savings. A few quotes…

  • “A well-maintained bench with advertising is far better than no bench at all. And I think those with mobility issues would soundly agree.”
  • “About the ads -- too bad they don't come with ad blockers like on my PC!”
  • “I hate seeing people wait for the bus have to sit on the sidewalk while they wait. I think it's rather odd we don't have benches or wind blockers at the bus stops. I support anything that makes bus stops more comfortable and safe.”
  • “I’d rather have ads than higher taxes.”

Comments opposed to idea: Key points about it looking bad and not matching our community’s aesthetics, too much exposure to advertising, question about who maintains them going forward, concerns about the hostile architecture of the middle bar. A few quotes…

  • “This looks awful, honestly. Like, truly terrible. I get budget are tight. I truly do. And I appreciate creative attempts to generate funds. Raise my taxes if you must. Just don’t do this. This turns a relaxing and pleasant time at the park or walking around into an advertising onslaught that feels jarring and gross and intrusive. It ruins a sense of community and makes me feel like a product to be advertised to instead of a person.”
  • “We are already so inundated with advertising everywhere. Please keep our city spaces beautiful and not a constant reminder that we live in a capitalist hellscape.”
  • “My god, please don't continue to foster an aesthetic of insubstantiality.”
  • “Terrible idea. Adds to the clutter of the city.  Whoever came up with this idea should be fired.”
  • “We don’t need to make Eau Claire look like a big city. Let’s keep Eau Claire beautiful. People concerned with taxes are welcome to move out of town to a place with lower taxes (and less charm and amenities).”

Comments from "maybes" and suggestions: Key points that if we do it, have them only at bus stops and ensure City retains control. People also asked for alternative approaches (art benches, more memorial benches, local sponsorship) A few quotes…

  • “Please ensure the benches do not employ hostile architecture as the one pictured in the email. We don’t do enough for our unhoused population, no reason to further make their lives harder by denying them a place to rest.”
  • “Yes, if the bench ads help local businesses, increase bench counts within the city, and overall generate a little revenue for the city. On the cons side, society is so inundated with ads everywhere we look that it can be tiring and annoying. An alternative could be having local artists decorate benches, though I'm not sure how the funding for this would come about.”

Our Visit Eau Claire partners suggested seeing if there's a way to get more sponsored custom designs for seating areas, such as is being done in Bay County, Michigan, pictured below. We are looking into how this could potentially be done. 

Painted Chairs

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

Take-Back Day: Our Health Department shared... "This Saturday is the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with events in Altoona, Eau Claire, and Fairchild. Curbside drop-off will be available, making it quick and convenient for community members to safely dispose of unused or expired medications. We will also be accepting sharps. This event helps raise awareness about safe medication disposal in Eau Claire County. Residents are encouraged to participate by dropping off unwanted and expired medicines or sharps, no questions asked.

The drop off location/time for Eau Claire is: 

Eau Claire County Government Center, In front of the main courthouse entrance, 721 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire

Saturday, April 25th

10AM to 2PM

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back event is hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and is coordinated locally by the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, Altoona Police Department, Fairchild Police Department, Eau Claire City-County Health Department, and the Eau Claire Health Alliance.sa

For additional details, please see the attached flyer or visit the website: www.echealthalliance.org/news"

Continued Flooding: Our Community Services staff shared... "At 2100 hours on 4/24 the Chippewa River gauge at Grand Avenue in Eau Claire read 764.27 ft. placing it in the Action Stage for flooding preparedness. The recent rise of the Chippewa River to 764.27 ft at Eau Claire is largely driven by the recent rain event across the watershed. Rainfall added significant runoff into the river system, especially with soil already saturated. The river is expected to crest at 765.80 ft on Sunday morning. The NOAA forecast considers the next 24 hours of projected rain, so the river level will be monitored closely with more rain expected next week."

Park Bathrooms Open: Park bathrooms are officially OPEN for the season! With warmer days ahead, it’s the perfect time to get outside, explore your favorite parks, and enjoy everything they have to offer.

Amazing Eau Claire Cleanup: Reminder, our Recreation Division shared: “This year’s clean-up will be held on Saturday, April 25th from 9AM to Noon. We have right now about 800 volunteers registered.” You’ll see people around cleaning throughout the city.

Housing Events: Reminder that there are several forums that will help us learn about the community’s housing needs, as follows…

Stronger Together Series: Lake Street United Methodist Church will be hosting a four-part series related to housing and homelessness. All sessions will be from 7 to 8:30PM on Thursdays in April and May, with the remaining sessions on these dates - April 30th, May 14th, and May 21st

Jonah Affordable Housing Series: The JONAH Affordable Housing Task Force will host an event “Keys to Unlocking Affordable Housing,” on May 14th, 5 to 7PM in the Library Riverview Room.

A Few More Reminders:

  • Green Waste Facility Opening: For more information on prices, accepted items, and hours of operation, visit the Green Waste Facility on our website at EauClaireWI.gov/Brush
  • Weight Restrictions: Seasonal weight restrictions are in place. More information is here: weight restrictions.
  • Police Non-Emergency Line Reminder: Save the Police Department’s non-emergency line in your phone: 715-839-4972. The non-emergency number is for situations that do not require an immediate police response but still need attention.
  • Pool Passes Available: Pool Memberships are 10 percent Off from February 1st through May 15th. You may purchase the passes online at https://activenet.active.com/eauclaire/ or in person at the Recreation Office at 915 Menomonie Street.
  • Kids/Teens Ride Transit for Free in 2026: Children (and adults who are still in high school) can take Transit for free.
  • 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 SERVE

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

Asset Management Intern (Community Services): Are you a detail-oriented student who takes pride in accuracy and organization? Join us! The City of Eau Claire Community Services Department is accepting applications for an exciting internship that blends public service with hands-on experience in data entry, geographic information systems, and asset management! Deadline to apply: Sunday, April 26 at 11:59PM.

Adult Services Librarian (Library): The library is seeking an adult services librarian who is passionate about connecting people, ideas, and community.  As a member of our 11-person Adult Services Division, you’ll work closely with others to provide service and resource recommendations using both print and digital tools. You’ll collaborate with our programming team to develop, facilitate, evaluate, and promote innovative programs designed to support lifelong learning. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in collection development and curate for the library's collection.  Starting rate of pay is $28.24 per hour. This is an exempt full-time benefit-eligible position. Deadline to apply: 8AM on Wednesday, April 29th.

NEW - Fiscal Associate II - Accounting Services (Finance): Are you a leader who works well in a cooperative team environment? We are currently accepting applications for a go-getter to join our team as a Fiscal Associate II in our Financial Operations Division. Deadline to apply: Sunday, May 3rd at 11:59PM.

NEW - Neighborhood Services Specialist I - Parking Enforcement (Neighborhood Services): Are you passionate about keeping the community clean, safe, and well-organized? As a Neighborhood Services Specialist I, you’ll play a key role in enforcing parking regulations, ensuring compliance with municipal ordinances related to trash collection, zoning, parking, and more. Deadline to apply: Sunday, May 3rd at 11:59PM.

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: This Board hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Zoning Administrator.

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

 

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)

  • Monday, April 27th, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, April 28th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
  • Monday, May 11th, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, May 12th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers
  • Monday, May 25th, Council Public Hearing, 6PM, Council Chambers
  • Tuesday, May 26th, Council Legislative Session, 4PM, Council Chambers

 

 

Return to full list >>