Water Street BID Full Board Hybrid Meeting 9 17 2026

The Water Street BID Full Board hybrid meeting for the City of Eau Claire (meeting title dates it September 17, 2026; metadata lists September 29) discussed a proposed commemorative brick program for Water Street. Board members supported further exploration, but made no spending or contractor decision: Downtown Eau Claire Inc. (DECI) will consult with city engineering about approvals, installation requirements, and qualified masonry contractors, then bring back feasibility and pricing information. The board also discussed seasonal banners; a motion passed to authorize up to $1,000 for a possible November banner change, with design options to be circulated before approval and installation. Thomas Lee Lighting was identified as the banner installation vendor, and the University prints the banners.

The board debated its 2027 budget and whether to increase the BID mill rate to fund DECI support and additional district improvements. A proposed budget of about $57,720 was discussed alongside lower-cost alternatives, but no budget or rate increase was approved; members planned another meeting before the city’s September 30 budget deadline. Financial discussion included approximately $11,393 in projected assessment revenue and a $5,000 amount expected to return to reserves. The board also reviewed available funds for other projects, but made no additional procurement commitments.