City Council Meeting Tuesday 2025 01 28

The City of Eau Claire City Council meeting on January 28, 2025, included approval of the Housing Opportunities Commission’s 2025 work plan and amended 2024–25 operating and capital budgets. The budget amendments included a $15,000 library increase funded by the Friends of the Library, grant-supported police and road-lighting adjustments, a Fairfax Pool heater replacement, and a $150,000 increase to the Mount Simon play-structure project, funded by a larger-than-expected estate donation. The council also unanimously approved alley, street and utility improvement resolutions involving special assessments, and authorized a donation from the Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance to fund free transit rides and event marketing for Transit Equity Day. No RFPs, contract awards, or vendor selections were identified.

The council approved a 4.1% water-utility rate increase, effective February 1, 2025, citing rising operating and capital costs. Discussion of the housing work plan covered affordable-housing funding criteria, regional stakeholder meetings, public-private partnerships, and outreach about state housing programs. The council also discussed a parking-study work session, including potential paid on-street parking and accessibility considerations; implementation and related budget decisions remained for future consideration.