Climate Action Plan Steering Committee on 2026-03-09 4:00 PM — La Crosse, WI
Date: 2026-03-09

City Hall
 City of La Crosse, Wisconsin 400 La Crosse Street
 La Crosse, WI 54601


 Meeting Minutes

 Climate Action Plan Steering Committee

Monday, March 9, 2026 4:00 PM Eagle Room



 This meeting will also be conducted through video conferencing.

 Join Zoom Meeting:
 https://cityoflacrosse-org.zoom.us/j/89556262687?pwd=TmzYMQRWEj7sOuWitzv04sLbpMOYp5.1

 Meeting ID: 895 5626 2687 Passcode: 102161 Join by Phone: +1-507-473-4847

 Call to Order

 Ericson called the meeting to order at 4:01 PM.


 Roll Call

 Present: 7 - Andrew Ericson, Casey Meehan, Dorothy Lenard, Lauren Fortin, Mackenzie
 Mindel, Natalie Heneghan,Stephanie Hanna

 Approval of Minutes

 Fortin made a motion, seconded by Hanna, that the Minutes be APPROVED.
 The motion carried by a voice vote.

 Notices & Discussion

 Staff notified the committee that final reporting for the second round of the Youth
 Climate Action Fund has been submitted and have been sent back for revision. The
 third-round awardees have not been announced yet. Staff updated the committee
 about Energy Innovation Grant Program reporting; the Public Service Commission is
 accepting comments about the next round of the program. Staff highlighted Bright
 Action newsletter and requested suggested for content for next month's newsletter.
 Staff did not receive an update on the power purchase agreement with US Solar.

 Agenda Items:

1 26-0251 Request for funds to temporarily remove solar array on Fire Station No. 3
 during roof replacement - Chief Schott
 Staff provided an overview of the issue and reported new estimates under $12,000.
 The vote would be up to how much to give the Fire Dept. and they would select the
 contractor.

 A motion was made by Mindel, seconded by Lenard, that the Request of up to
 $12,000 for a contractor selected by the Fire Department to temporarily remove


City of La Crosse, Wisconsin Page 1
Climate Action Plan Steering Meeting Minutes March 9, 2026
Committee

 the solar panels on Fire Station No. 3. be APPROVED. The motion carried by
 the following vote:

2 26-0170 Request to Sponsor Prairie Springs Lecture Series Keynote - Andrew Ericson

 Ericson was able to meet the fundraising goal, so he took the opportunity to promote
 the event. He solicited ideas from the committee on ways to use Timothy Beatley's
 time to benefit the committees work while he's in La Crosse, 4/15-16. Other City staff
 may benefit from meeting with Beatley, such as stormwater and parks. Mindel also
 brought up consideration of new lighting requirements, and inviting the mayor,
 department representatives, and reps from other institutions like Emplify. Ericson
 suggested an event at the Nature Place or River Point District. This talk could be
 promoted by the Forward La Crosse, too.

3 26-0018 Zoning for Climate Action Update

 Attachments: Presentation (Jan '26)
 Draft Community Interview Questionnaire (Feb '26)

 Staff provided an overview of the process. Consultants listed 10 communities to
 interview about sample ordinances. They will wrap up interviews next week.

4 26-0141 2026 Earth Fair Vendor Participation Inquiry

 Staff will not be available due to the National Planning Conference. Neither will Mindel.
 Staff inquired about plugging into what committee members are already doing.
 Ericson could represent the committee at the fair. Mindel suggested collaborating with
 Parks, since they are tabling. Heneghan suggested that Habitat for Humanity has a
 list of which Climate Action Plan actions ReNew the Block takes on.

 Next Meeting / Agenda Item

 The next meeting will be April 13. Agenda items may include an update on the
 communications plan.

 Adjournment

 Ericson adjourned the meeting at 4:35 PM.


 Notice is further given that members of other governmental bodies may be present at the
 above scheduled meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have
 decision-making responsibility.

 NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY
 Requests from persons with a disability who need assistance to participate in this meeting
 should call the City Clerk's office at (608) 789-7510 or send an email to
 ADAcityclerk@cityoflacrosse.org, with as much advance notice as possible.




City of La Crosse, Wisconsin Page 2