City of River Falls Common Council Meeting 10/13/26

The City of River Falls Common Council meeting on October 13, 2026, included approval of the bills as presented by unanimous vote; the transcript’s stated total is garbled and cannot be confirmed. During public comment, a speaker urged the city to include living-wage requirements when its transit-service contract is renewed. Residents also raised concerns about data-center development, water and energy use, and surveillance technology; speakers welcomed the police department’s announcement that Flock cameras would be discontinued and removed as soon as practical. The council considered an amendment to driveway regulations, but the transcript does not capture the final vote or outcome.

The council discussed, but did not formally adopt, a temporary data-center moratorium. Staff reported that a prior Project Badger inquiry had ended, while the city has exploratory discussions with a major data company; no specific proposal or nondisclosure agreement is in place. Project Badger’s estimates included roughly $500 million in investment, excluding most building equipment, and about $80 million in substation and transmission connection costs. By consensus, council members directed further review of existing zoning regulations and related concerns, with a workshop planned for the coming months and continued dialogue with interested businesses; members indicated the city would not move forward with approvals or agreements in the near term. The discussion highlighted the city’s control over development of its Man Valley property and the need to assess infrastructure costs, utility demand, and environmental impacts before any decision.