City Council Public Hearing 10/26/2026

The City of Eau Claire held a public hearing and discussion meeting on October 26, 2026. Finance Director Ketsy Winters presented the proposed 2027 operating budget, including a $103 million general fund and an initial $2.4 million cost-to-continue gap. The city applied $892,000 toward that gap, held several positions vacant, and kept the library and health department budgets at 2026 levels. Winters also described using $1 million in fund balance for capital projects and noted that paid parking helps cover parking costs that otherwise could require nearly $400,000 in property-tax support. Council amendments were requested by November 2; no budget vote occurred at this meeting.

Council discussed a proposed intent-to-negotiate purchase agreement with Impact 7 Incorporated for the approximately 13,000-square-foot Seaver Street lot, at a proposed price of about $20,000. The contingent arrangement would allow due diligence for a proposed 60-unit housing development and depends on the developer receiving competitive WHEDA tax credits; final terms and design would return to the council for review. No vote was taken on the agreement. Visit Eau Claire also presented its 2027 marketing and work plan, projecting more than $2.7 million in revenue, including $2.1 million from city room tax, and over $750,000 in community reinvestment and grants. During public comment, a speaker asked whether current users would retain access under a proposed homeless bus-pass agreement expected to come before the council the following day; that agreement was not acted on at this meeting.