[0:00] of the city of River Falls common

[0:01] council to order and we'll start with

[0:04] the pledge of

[0:04] » Allegiance

[0:11] to the flag of the United States of

[0:14] America and to the republicy.

[0:26] » Miss White, the roll call. Abd

[0:29] » Here.

[0:30] » Gearstead

[0:30] » Here.

[0:31] » Carol Downing

[0:33] » Here.

[0:34] » Odin

[0:34] » Here.

[0:35] » Paige

[0:36] » Here.

[0:36] » Walker

[0:37] » Here.

[0:40] » All right. Thank you very much. Then we

[0:42] have the approval of the minutes from

[0:44] the August 28th, 2026 council meeting.

[0:48] » I so move.

[0:49] » Second.

[0:50] » We have a motion and a second to approve

[0:52] the minutes from August 28th. Any

[0:54] questions or comments? Hearing none. All

[0:56] in favor signify by saying I.

[0:58] » I.

[0:59] » Opposed say no. Motion carries. Next we

[1:02] have the approval of the bills with

[1:04] council member Odin.

[1:05] » Um madame mayor and councel um I move

[1:07] approval of the bills in the amount of

[1:10] $4 million 97,56424

[1:15] subject to the controller. And I will um

[1:18] remark that it is so high. It is high

[1:20] because there were some significant um

[1:22] debt reduction payments.

[1:24] » Second

[1:26] We have a motion and a second to approve

[1:28] the bills. Any questions or comments?

[1:31] Hearing none. All in favor signify by

[1:32] saying I.

[1:33] » I.

[1:34] » Oppos say no. Motion carries. We're

[1:37] going to rearrange the agenda this

[1:39] evening because we have some very

[1:40] special guests in the audience with us

[1:42] this evening. Many of our first

[1:44] responders are here. So, we're going to

[1:46] move the proclamations uh to the front

[1:48] of the agenda this evening. But thank

[1:51] you very much for being with us. And I

[1:53] will go ahead and read the proclamation

[1:56] recognizing the 25th anniversary of

[1:58] September 11th, 2001.

[2:02] September 11, 2026 marks the 25th

[2:05] anniversary of the terrorist attacks of

[2:08] September 11th, 2001. A day that forever

[2:11] changed our nation and the lives of

[2:13] countless Americans. Nearly 3,000

[2:16] innocent people lost their lives in the

[2:18] attacks on the World Trade Center in New

[2:20] York City, the Pentagon in Arlington,

[2:22] Virginia, and aboard United Flight 93 in

[2:26] Pennsylvania. We will never undo the

[2:29] pain and injustice born that terrible

[2:31] morning. Nor will we ever forget those

[2:33] we lost. These attacks were meant to

[2:36] terrorize our nation. But on September

[2:38] 11th, 2001, amid shattered glass,

[2:42] twisted steel, and clouds of dust, the

[2:45] spirit of America shone through. We

[2:48] remember the sacrifice of strangers and

[2:51] first responders who rushed into

[2:53] darkness to carry others from danger. We

[2:56] remember the unbreakable bonds of unity

[2:58] we felt in the long days that followed.

[3:00] We recall how Americans of every station

[3:03] and background joined together to

[3:06] support the survivors in their hour of

[3:08] need and to heal our nation in the years

[3:10] that followed.

[3:12] We remember the outpouring of love we

[3:14] felt from nations and people across the

[3:16] globe as they extended a caring hand.

[3:19] This 25th 25th anniversary of September

[3:22] 11th provides an opportunity for the

[3:25] city of River Falls to reflect upon the

[3:28] events of that day. It's an opportunity

[3:30] to honor the families, friends,

[3:32] colleagues, and communities who continue

[3:35] to carry the loss of loved ones as well

[3:37] as the survivors and first responders

[3:40] who continue to experience the lasting

[3:42] effects of that day.

[3:45] It's an opportunity to recognize the

[3:47] extraordinary courage and sacrifice of

[3:49] the firefighters, law enforcement

[3:52] officers, emergency medical personnel,

[3:55] members of the United States armed

[3:56] forces, and ordinary citizens who

[3:59] responded with bravery and compassion on

[4:02] September 11 and in the days, months,

[4:04] and years that followed. And it is an

[4:08] opportunity to ensure that future

[4:10] generations understand the significance

[4:12] of this day in our nation's history. Now

[4:16] therefore, I, Allison Paige, mayor of

[4:18] the city of River Falls, Wisconsin, do

[4:21] hereby hereby proclaim September 11,

[4:23] 2026 as a day of remembrance in the city

[4:26] of River Falls, and encourage all

[4:29] residents to honor the memory of those

[4:31] who lost their lives. recognize the

[4:33] courage and sacrifice of first

[4:35] responders and service members and carry

[4:38] forward the spirit of unity, compassion,

[4:42] and service that brought our nation

[4:44] together in the aftermath of 911 dated

[4:48] this 8th day of September 2026.

[4:53] So, thank you for being with us this

[4:55] evening.

[5:04] What? Do we want to do a picture? We

[5:07] want to pause right now and do that.

[5:09] Okay, let's do that. Where would we like

[5:10] to do a photo?

[5:13] Okay.

[5:15] Okay, we should all stand. Just right

[5:18] here.

[5:52] You can probably come right here.

[5:53] » Oh yeah.

[5:54] » Okay, I got it now.

[5:58] » Okay. In three, two, one. Let's do a

[6:03] little angle. In three, two, one. Let's

[6:06] go on this side. 30

[6:12] should be good.

[6:14] » Great.

[6:15] » Thank you.

[6:16] » Thank you.

[6:21] [applause]

[6:59] I think we're good.

[7:02] » Thank you.

[7:03] » Thank you. Have a nice evening

[7:06] coming. Our next proclamation is

[7:08] honoring Hispanic Heritage Month,

[7:11] September 15th through October 15th,

[7:13] 2026.

[7:15] Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month is

[7:17] federally recognized from September 15

[7:19] through October 15th to recognize and

[7:22] celebrate the histories and

[7:23] contributions of Hispanic and Latin

[7:25] Americans. And whereas Hispanic Heritage

[7:28] Month celebrates the histories and

[7:30] cultures of Americans whose families

[7:31] originated in Spain, Mexico, the

[7:34] Caribbean, or Central and South America.

[7:37] And whereas Hispanic Americans have made

[7:40] significant contributions through

[7:41] leadership, public service, education,

[7:44] business, agriculture, the arts,

[7:46] sciences, military service, and

[7:48] countless other endeavors. And whereas

[7:50] the city of River Falls is proud to

[7:52] recognize and honor the history,

[7:54] culture, and contributions of Hispanic

[7:56] Americans in our community and

[7:58] throughout our state and our nation.

[8:00] Now, therefore, be it resolved that I,

[8:02] Allison H. Page, mayor of River Falls,

[8:05] Wisconsin, to hereby proclaim September

[8:07] 15th through October 15, 2026 as

[8:10] Hispanic Heritage Month and authorized

[8:13] the Hispanic Heritage Flag to be flown

[8:15] at city hall during that time frame to

[8:17] honor the Hispanic Americans who

[8:20] contribute to our community, state, and

[8:22] country. We call upon the people of our

[8:24] community to observe this month with

[8:26] appropriate activities and celebrations

[8:29] dated this 8th day of September, 2026.

[8:33] I would mention also that there is um an

[8:36] explanation of the Hispanic Heritage

[8:38] flag that is available uh in a brochure

[8:41] out in the entryway. It's very uh

[8:44] interesting. So, thank you for that. Uh

[8:47] and now council member Abdusha is going

[8:49] to share with us a proclamation uh for

[8:51] the Chamber of Commerce Month

[8:54] » Recognizing the Riverfalls Chamber of

[8:57] Commerce and Tourism Bureau in

[8:58] conjunction with Chamber of Commerce

[9:00] Month. Whereas small businesses are at

[9:04] the heart of Riverfalls community,

[9:06] acting as catalysts for local economic

[9:08] growth, supporting the livelihoods of

[9:11] many residents, and enriching the

[9:13] character of a place we call home. And

[9:16] whereas acting as key partners in

[9:18] supporting the success of local small

[9:21] businesses in our local economy, the

[9:23] River Falls Chamber of Commerce and

[9:25] Tourist Bureau plays an essential role

[9:28] in connecting businesses, residents, and

[9:30] visitors. And whereas the Riverfalls

[9:33] Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau

[9:36] provides a wide variety of services to

[9:38] its members and the community, including

[9:40] advocacy, education, and economic

[9:43] development, promoting entrepreneurship,

[9:46] encouraging local tourism, and helping

[9:48] solve unique economic challenges. And

[9:51] whereas the Riverfalls Chamber of

[9:53] Commerce and Tourism Bureau serves as a

[9:56] critical community partner and problem

[9:58] solver, working with shareholders from

[10:01] both the private and public sectors to

[10:04] ensure our local local economy thrives.

[10:08] And whereas September is recognized

[10:11] annually as Chamber of Commerce Month,

[10:14] encouraging chambers across Wisconsin to

[10:17] spotlight their work and facilitate

[10:20] greater community connection among

[10:22] residents, visitors, and businesses of

[10:24] all shapes and sizes. And whereas this

[10:27] month, the city of Riverfalls recognizes

[10:30] and commends the Riverfalls Chamber of

[10:33] Commerce and Tourism Bureau for making

[10:36] Riverfalls a better place to live, work,

[10:40] raise a family, open a business, and

[10:43] more. Now, therefore, be it resolved

[10:47] that Allison H. page. Mayor of the city

[10:50] of River Falls, Wisconsin does hereby

[10:53] proclaim September 2026 as Chamber of

[10:57] Commerce Month in Riverfalls, Wisconsin,

[11:00] and encourage all residents to recognize

[11:03] and support the River Falls Chamber of

[11:05] Commerce for its dedication to our

[11:07] community's prosperity dated this 8th

[11:10] day of September, 2026. And mayor, if I

[11:14] may add that the perfect way to do so is

[11:18] to celebrate at Bacon Bash.

[11:23] » Let it be noted. [laughter]

[11:26] All right. Thank you, Council Member

[11:27] Abdush. We'll move back then back up to

[11:30] the agenda for public comments um and

[11:32] requests, petitions, communications. Is

[11:35] there anyone in the audience who would

[11:36] like to address the council this

[11:38] evening? Um, remember to uh let us know

[11:41] who you are and where you live and put

[11:43] your name down if you will. And then you

[11:45] have two minutes of time to address the

[11:47] council on anything you would like to

[11:49] speak to us about.

[12:06] Good evening.

[12:07] I'm William Hansen, N8723,

[12:11] 1025th Street, River Falls.

[12:16] It's in the interest to look back

[12:17] sometime in history at events such as

[12:20] the arguments that destroyed the

[12:21] junction led to the destruction of the

[12:23] Junction Falls dam and Idram's decision.

[12:27] This is our largest source of renewable

[12:29] electricity.

[12:32] Reading from a 2019 Friends of the Kenny

[12:35] brochure, it's interesting to contrast

[12:38] statements from this formative time and

[12:41] the actual state of play today.

[12:45] A subsection of the handout labeled,

[12:47] "How much is it going to cost and who is

[12:49] going to pay for it?" states in part,

[12:53] "The expense of the restoration of the

[12:55] Kenny River through dam removal can be

[12:59] greatly offset by private funding

[13:02] through donations from individuals

[13:05] with friends of the Kenny organization

[13:08] dedicated in part to raise funds."

[13:12] Answering that same question today, who

[13:15] will pay? We find the following proposed

[13:18] plan.

[13:20] Federal tax dollars through the Army

[13:22] Corps of Engineers.

[13:24] State tax dollars gifted through the

[13:27] efforts of former mayor Tolen from

[13:30] Governor Ivers, plus every other service

[13:34] services of state and local employees

[13:37] and funds set aside from the River Falls

[13:40] electric utility rate payers.

[13:43] If the city council chooses to remove

[13:46] our dam and the operating hydroelect

[13:48] electric generator, removal costs then

[13:52] are proposed to be paid by federal,

[13:54] state, and local tax dollars and by

[13:58] money from River Falls residents monthly

[14:01] electric bills.

[14:03] Quite a change from costs were that were

[14:06] supposed to be greatly out offset by

[14:09] private funding. Thank you.

[14:13] Thank you, Mr. Hansen.

[14:24] Alicia and Costco,

[14:27] 514 River Hills

[14:30] Drive.

[14:31] » You might have to move the mic down just

[14:32] a tad there, too.

[14:35] » I was leaning over to try to multitask,

[14:37] too. Um I'm g my

[14:44] so I'm a resident of River Falls

[14:46] actually and I am also a certified

[14:48] planner my AICP

[14:51] I've reviewed in my time I've reviewed

[14:53] hundreds of plans in four different

[14:54] states hundreds of communities both um

[14:58] incorporated unincorporated counties and

[15:00] in counties. Last week, I sat down to

[15:03] look at a few of the most recent plans

[15:04] in and ordinance changes that have come

[15:06] before the council and the plan

[15:08] commission.

[15:10] And you might expect me to say I didn't

[15:12] like something or some like something

[15:14] like this, but what I actually I cannot.

[15:15] I actually found that there wasn't

[15:17] enough information in the staff reports

[15:19] when I would try to cross reference

[15:21] different um applica, you know,

[15:22] applications or um and then look online.

[15:25] There was actually not enough

[15:27] information for me to ethically say but

[15:29] if I'm speaking professionally that this

[15:32] is what I think about some of them like

[15:35] it's last four months worth. Um normally

[15:38] I can at this point I can usually refer

[15:41] review a plan or a subdivision proposal

[15:42] in about 15 to 20 minutes. Storm water

[15:45] is especially my jam. But um at the last

[15:49] couple meetings I went to and then I

[15:50] listened to some when I was commuting um

[15:53] I also noticed there's been you know

[15:55] during the proposed PUDS or ordinance

[15:57] changes they've been okayed fairly

[16:00] rapidly by the plan commission.

[16:02] Um and that's what I'm actually here to

[16:05] talk about. As a planner I'm responsible

[16:08] equally to a resident or to a developer.

[16:10] Doesn't matter if it's an unincorporated

[16:12] area or a municipality.

[16:14] Um

[16:16] and this typically means that we look

[16:18] for different levels of although this

[16:19] looks we look for different levels of

[16:21] detail between municipalities and

[16:23] uninorporated areas but the core

[16:26] foundation is we look at equally the

[16:28] impacts of both and the burden of future

[16:31] cost.

[16:32] » So while I was listening

[16:34] » I'm sorry 15 seconds.

[16:36] » Okay I guess I'm not going to be able to

[16:37] finish wrap up that's okay we'll let you

[16:40] give you some time.

[16:41] » Go for it. We've got time.

[16:46] It's um what I was going to say is that

[16:51] um

[16:52] that's my train of thought. Um listening

[16:55] I heard often um you all or the plan

[16:59] commission asking questions like does

[17:00] this make sense or what about this, what

[17:02] about that? Um and hearing staff say

[17:06] well we'll deal with that if it becomes

[17:07] a problem. But when I hear somebody say,

[17:10] "We'll deal with that when it becomes a

[17:12] problem," I hear potential cost in the

[17:14] future to the residents. You know,

[17:16] whether it's storm water or parking and

[17:18] especially in a flexible um in some of

[17:21] the what's been going on are fairly

[17:23] flexible. There's room for negotiation

[17:26] in a PUB. So, an example would be a

[17:29] street sign where there's going to be

[17:30] more pedestrians. Um that's much less

[17:33] expensive than a large parking lot.

[17:36] So you are our representatives. Um if

[17:40] the data is not there as citizens of

[17:42] this community, we depend on you to use

[17:47] your experience and the data that you've

[17:49] collected as a resident also to

[17:51] represent us and to ask those questions.

[17:54] And I I've don't think I've ever said

[17:56] actually no to an entire proposal, but

[17:59] it's okay to say no and negotiate,

[18:02] especially within a PUB process.

[18:04] » Okay. Thank you. Thank you for coming

[18:06] out.

[18:08] Great.

[18:20] » Thank you. I had originally planned on

[18:22] speaking on two things. Now I'll do

[18:23] three. Um it's really disconcerting to

[18:27] have somebody verbally interrupt a

[18:28] speaker here. I'd be happy to set up a

[18:30] light or something like that so that

[18:32] it's a little less uh interrupting

[18:35] during this. I realize you have to have

[18:36] limits, but interrupting sets us it

[18:40] really sets us back.

[18:43] As a representative of the River Falls

[18:45] Alliance for the Homeless, I'm here to

[18:48] inform the city that um

[18:53] because of the economy and cost of

[18:55] living, a lot of people that were on the

[18:57] very edge of homelessness are now

[19:00] plunging into it. Um

[19:03] the resources that normally run out in

[19:06] January and February are running out

[19:07] now. And so there's going to probably be

[19:11] some um

[19:14] a lot more homelessness in River Falls

[19:16] and it's not going to be able to go

[19:17] someplace else because it be everywhere.

[19:19] I'd like to to

[19:22] plan uh with the city um for that to

[19:25] help um minimize the impact. I don't

[19:29] know who I would speak to. Normally

[19:31] Chief Young would be the person I'd

[19:32] start with, but apparently he doesn't

[19:35] want to speak to me. The other thing is

[19:37] as a resident of of the community, um,

[19:40] flock cameras, mass surveillance AI

[19:43] connected cameras are a big issue.

[19:46] Cities are discovering across the United

[19:48] States that they were misrepresented in

[19:50] the contracts. There are things hidden

[19:51] in the contracts that allow the

[19:53] contracts to be broken without cost. I'm

[19:56] sure the city council can find some of

[19:59] those if you decide to break your

[20:01] contract. Uh, and I hope you do. And I

[20:04] hope you don't just replace it with

[20:05] something else. The technology has

[20:07] outstripped the regulation. There needs

[20:09] to be some time. It's an election year.

[20:11] I doubt it's going to happen in the next

[20:13] 6 months. But I would hope that you

[20:15] would decide to shut them down, even

[20:18] though it's a fantastic tool for law

[20:21] enforcement until some regulation covers

[20:23] it. Thank you very much and thank you

[20:26] for your time.

[20:27] » Thank you, Mr. Lyn Scott. We appreciate

[20:29] your your comments.

[20:32] Is there anyone else who would like to

[20:33] address the council this evening?

[20:37] If not, we will move on to the next

[20:40] agenda item, which is a series of three

[20:42] public hearings, second readings on

[20:45] ordinances.

[20:46] So, first we're going to have the second

[20:48] reading on ordinance 202615,

[20:51] an ordinance amending title 17 zoning

[20:54] chapter 1708. At this point, I'll close

[20:57] the council meeting and open up a public

[20:59] hearing and ask if there are any

[21:01] comments from people in attendance this

[21:04] evening regarding that ordinance. And I

[21:07] believe Miss White, if you could just

[21:08] recap for me in two sentences. This is

[21:11] the ordinance about the um the fences.

[21:15] Is this the fence? That is correct. the

[21:18] fences, the distance of the fences from

[21:20] the property line and and

[21:25] you have some Alicia Castro 514 River

[21:28] Hill Drive. I do have some historical

[21:30] context because I was around when that

[21:33] original the I did also listen to the

[21:35] meeting. So, the concept of the of

[21:37] landscaping or buffer was so that

[21:40] anybody could have whatever in the heck

[21:42] uh fence they wanted. And I do hear why

[21:45] that would be encumbersome when the

[21:46] public you was talking. Um but I just

[21:49] wanted to share that and um in driving

[21:51] by it. I think the other concern was the

[21:53] maintenance of fences. Like if we if

[21:55] there was a um some sort of design

[21:57] buffer then we wouldn't have to be on

[21:59] people about their maintenance as much.

[22:01] Driving down um division. I think you

[22:03] can see what I'm talking about a little

[22:05] bit. Um, and I could p again this is as

[22:08] I'm not speaking as a individual. I

[22:10] could really care less what people's

[22:11] fences look like. Um, as an individual,

[22:13] as a planner, I'm just giving you some

[22:15] historical background.

[22:16] » Thank you. Thank you. Other comments on

[22:19] this ordinance

[22:22] from the public?

[22:24] If not, then we will uh close the public

[22:28] hearing and open up the council meeting.

[22:30] And I would ask, are there any questions

[22:32] or comments from council members

[22:33] regarding this ordinance?

[22:39] Okay. If not, then do we have a motion

[22:41] to approve this uh ordinance for a

[22:43] second reading?

[22:45] » I move I move [clears throat] approval

[22:46] of ordinance 2026-15,

[22:48] an ordinance amending title 17 zoning

[22:50] chapter 17.08.

[22:53] » Second.

[22:53] » We have a motion and a second to approve

[22:55] ordinance 202615.

[22:58] Questions or comments? Hearing none. All

[23:00] in favor signify by saying I.

[23:02] » I.

[23:03] » Oppose say no. Motion carries. The

[23:06] second ordinance that we're considering

[23:08] this evening for a second reading is

[23:09] ordinance 202616,

[23:12] an ordinance amending title 12 streets,

[23:15] sidewalks, other public places, and

[23:17] property use impacts chapter 1204

[23:20] creating a new section 1204050.

[23:25] So, at this point, I'll close the

[23:26] council meeting and open up a public

[23:28] hearing and ask again, are there any uh

[23:30] comments or input from members in or

[23:34] people in attendance this evening?

[23:37] » Mayor, just for the record, this is this

[23:39] is in regards to Boulevard maintenance

[23:41] um establishing

[23:43] um in the ordinance officially that

[23:45] Boulevard areas are to be maintained. Um

[23:52] » Boulevard maintenance. This this was an

[23:54] interesting one in in how much um

[23:57] ability that PE residents have to

[23:59] maintain the boulevard.

[24:02] » Okay. Any other comments or questions

[24:04] from people in attendance?

[24:07] If not,

[24:09] did I close the council meeting already?

[24:11] No. Okay. I'll close the council meeting

[24:13] and open up a public hearing. Are there

[24:15] any other comments from the public on

[24:17] this ordinance?

[24:20] Okay. If not, then we'll close the

[24:22] public hearing and open the council

[24:24] meeting. Any questions or comments from

[24:26] council members?

[24:29] Okay. Council member Abdush. Scott, can

[24:32] you remind me please? So, do residents

[24:38] I know it's clear that if there's

[24:40] bailing trees, that is not their

[24:42] responsibility. So just like we had the

[24:44] ash trees, it is still anticipated that

[24:47] the city would be responsible for

[24:51] removing

[24:52] trees that are diseased and such from

[24:56] the boulevard.

[24:58] And we're and we are this would

[25:00] officially expect that residents would

[25:03] be mowing the grass, but they are still

[25:06] allowed to do things like plant flowers

[25:10] or put in ornamental rock. Like there

[25:14] are still liberties that a resident has,

[25:18] but like are they expected to trim a

[25:21] tree

[25:23] that is in the boulevard? Yeah, there

[25:24] isn't any new expectations regarding

[25:26] trees that are part of this. Um, and

[25:29] there are also other ordinances that are

[25:32] related to boulevards.

[25:34] » So, this is just in regards to lawn.

[25:37] » Yeah. And we have a natural I believe we

[25:39] call it natural lawn ordinance. So,

[25:41] there's a process if people want to not

[25:44] have

[25:46] » A maintained grass lawn um they can

[25:51] » They have some alternatives to that.

[25:52] Yeah. which would include the boulevard

[25:54] area. Um but this does specifically talk

[25:57] about um

[26:00] and we also have an ordinance on

[26:02] sidewalk maintenance which is in the you

[26:04] know so this is essentially um in

[26:08] addition to all of those other

[26:10] ordinances but specifically to trees

[26:12] there isn't any new requirements for

[26:14] tree maintenance. That's still something

[26:16] the council has um expected the the

[26:19] council and via ordinances they've

[26:22] expected the maintenance of trees in the

[26:24] public right away to be by the city not

[26:26] the private property owner. This would

[26:29] um kind of codify practice um which is

[26:32] that adjacent property owners, you know,

[26:35] and your home or the apartment or the

[26:39] business would maintain the the grassy

[26:42] area or in some cases the

[26:46] bouldered area or bricked area or

[26:49] whatever in front of the And then it

[26:51] also has some new um it has some

[26:55] restrictions essentially to help

[26:58] the folks that are maintaining that. So,

[27:00] there's some restrictions on placing

[27:02] yard waste, debris, or other things in

[27:05] the boulevard by anybody so that you're

[27:08] not having to take on that

[27:09] responsibility.

[27:11] Um,

[27:13] but it's a policy decision of the

[27:14] council if they wish to do that. It's

[27:16] something staff has said, you know,

[27:19] there's

[27:21] it closes this one little loop. um you

[27:25] know, somebody still wouldn't if you

[27:27] didn't pass this, they'd still have to

[27:28] shovel the sidewalk.

[27:31] Um they still couldn't put a couch out

[27:33] in the boulevard. So, there's other

[27:34] ordinances that pertain this

[27:36] specifically is is saying we need your

[27:39] help. That's an expectation of the

[27:42] community is we need your help

[27:43] maintaining that grassy area.

[27:45] » Perfect. Thank you for the

[27:46] clarification.

[27:48] » The questions or comments, council

[27:50] member Odin. Oh, I was going to make a

[27:52] motion um that we approve ordinance

[27:54] number 202616

[27:57] amending title 12 streets, sidewalks,

[27:59] and other public places and property use

[28:01] impacts um specifically boulevard

[28:03] maintenance.

[28:04] » Second.

[28:06] » All right, we have a motion, a second to

[28:07] approve the ordinance. Any other

[28:09] questions or comments? If none, all in

[28:11] favor signify by saying I.

[28:13] » I.

[28:13] » Opposed say no. Motion carries. Moving

[28:17] on to the last ordinance of the evening.

[28:19] This is the second reading of ordinance

[28:21] 202617,

[28:22] an ordinance amending the official

[28:24] traffic control map. This one was more

[28:27] extensive. Do you want to

[28:30] » Yeah. To summarize this, this is making

[28:32] six um essentially six changes to the

[28:35] official traffic control map. The city's

[28:37] official traffic control map is found um

[28:41] in our ordinances and it provides legal

[28:43] authority for um both police department

[28:46] and code enforcement uh staff but

[28:49] primarily police department um to issue

[28:52] citations for failure to to um abide by

[28:56] things that are in the official traffic.

[28:57] So you um a stop sign isn't just placed

[29:01] and then you can write a ticket if

[29:02] somebody runs the stop sign. you have to

[29:05] place the stop sign and the council has

[29:07] to make it law that you need to stop at

[29:10] that corner. So, um there is some

[29:13] changes to the school bus stop ahead

[29:16] signs. So, there's location changes

[29:18] based on the distance and and speeds and

[29:21] other things that have changed in the in

[29:23] the uh I believe it's in the uniform the

[29:26] manual of uniform traffic control

[29:28] devices. Um, there's a no parking here

[29:30] to corner on radio near the roundabout.

[29:33] 35 mph speed limit signage on Powell

[29:35] from Apollo to radio. No parking here to

[29:38] to corner on North Wson from East

[29:41] Division to the first driveway. A stop

[29:44] sign on Balmoral Place at the

[29:46] intersection of Newcastle would be for

[29:47] folks exiting the uh um daycare property

[29:51] and and going into the residential

[29:53] neighborhood. um pedestrian crossing

[29:56] signage and a crosswalk at the

[29:57] intersection of North Fremont Street and

[29:59] West Division Street. Um there's detail

[30:01] on each of those changes um in the map.

[30:04] Um and this is it is a physical map um

[30:09] that's kept um I guess in the internet

[30:14] um but is available to to the public

[30:16] also if they wanted us to print sections

[30:18] of it.

[30:21] » Great. Thank you, Mr. Simpson. With

[30:23] that, we'll close the uh council meeting

[30:26] and open up the public hearing. Are

[30:28] there any comments from anyone here this

[30:30] evening on this ordinance change?

[30:36] Okay, with that then we will close the

[30:38] public hearing and open the council

[30:40] meeting. Are there all right? Council

[30:42] member um Downey.

[30:44] » Uh mayor, I'm in favor of this. However,

[30:46] there are parts of the city, I believe,

[30:48] that would also benefit from a

[30:49] distinguished sidewalk such such as

[30:51] between like the library and Brierwood,

[30:53] for example. Uh my question for staff is

[30:56] could you describe the process from a

[30:57] study that gets to a recommendation from

[31:00] planning to council?

[31:04] » Uh I'm trying to understand that

[31:05] question. Council member, are you asking

[31:07] about changes to to enforcement areas on

[31:11] sidewalks or physically constructing

[31:13] sidewalks? No, just from how do you get

[31:16] from the process of you you just you

[31:19] figure out there's a problem, how you do

[31:20] that, then how do you how it gets to the

[31:22] staff and then plan commission then

[31:24] council. Could you define the process of

[31:26] how they identify a problem and then

[31:28] move forward it? Because there's other,

[31:30] you know, projects in this that I would

[31:32] have liked to have seen but that didn't

[31:34] get it. But I understand that we have

[31:35] only so much time and availability and

[31:38] planning in any given amount of time and

[31:40] space. So, if I'm understanding your

[31:42] question, you're asking how these six

[31:44] items,

[31:45] » The process

[31:46] » Were placed on on the official agenda

[31:49] and addressed,

[31:50] » But the process of how they're evaluated

[31:53] is what I'm getting at.

[31:54] » Um, so there's there's a number of we

[31:56] don't first of all, we don't have a

[31:58] traffic committee. So there's I have

[32:00] actually worked in one city that had a

[32:02] committee an official map committee and

[32:05] so then

[32:07] a police officer, a city engineering

[32:10] tech, a city administrator, a city

[32:12] engineer, a resident could submit a form

[32:16] and say this needs to happen. I want a

[32:20] stop sign here, a yield sign, children

[32:22] at play. and then it went to the

[32:24] committee and then they evaluated it and

[32:27] made a recommendation to council and it

[32:29] was kind of all comers. We don't have a

[32:32] process like that. Um so we're primarily

[32:35] getting requests through our engineering

[32:37] staff and through the police department.

[32:39] Um there is an occasional um request

[32:42] that or area of study that comes from

[32:45] the city council. Um, but a lot of times

[32:47] it's through when we do area planning,

[32:50] comp planning, park planning, other

[32:52] things where we're doing things. If we

[32:53] do construction projects, so we're doing

[32:55] milling overlays or other things, it's

[32:58] from our people, sensors, our city staff

[33:02] who are out out and about doing that

[33:05] that are recognizing a problem.

[33:07] Occasionally, it's an email from a

[33:08] resident to either one of you or the

[33:11] city administrator um to review. And

[33:14] then

[33:16] nearly 100% of the discretion is to the

[33:19] city engineer to kind of review um

[33:22] through through the criteria. Um and I

[33:26] referenced that there's the manual of

[33:28] uniform traffic control devices. So

[33:30] there's there's guidance and criteria

[33:32] for how you place things or don't place

[33:34] things. Um but there's also professional

[33:37] judgment and then the city engineer can

[33:39] determine that um his or her experience

[33:42] isn't enough to make the decision and so

[33:44] they can consult with traffic engineer.

[33:46] They can consult with other members of

[33:48] the staff. They could do um traffic

[33:52] studies either by um laser or um by

[33:57] video to try to determine um where

[33:59] they'd come. And so there is other

[34:01] requests from council um that are in the

[34:04] hopper so to speak, but um those are

[34:08] kind of behind an urgency for the ones

[34:10] here. And so they're done in batches

[34:12] typically. Um the police chief also has

[34:14] discretion in some cases to make changes

[34:17] for 90 days on his own discretion. So

[34:19] there's a number of things the police

[34:21] chief under statutes can do to say for

[34:24] 90 days I'm going to do some of these

[34:26] things. So, police chief can order 90

[34:30] days of no parking on a certain spot.

[34:32] Police chief can put up um can request a

[34:34] stop sign go up and be enforced. So,

[34:37] that's another process that's out there,

[34:38] but that's not intended to be

[34:41] the law permanently. It's the process of

[34:45] official map changes. I'm not aware,

[34:47] attorney Ghart, of any way to do an

[34:50] official map change without it going to

[34:52] council. It

[34:53] » Needs public hearing council. Correct.

[34:57] Does that answer the question?

[34:58] » Yeah. So, I mean essentially like if

[35:00] there's a request for a digital um speed

[35:03] limit cart, does that essentially get

[35:05] reviewed um by our city engineer or

[35:09] someone at some point because of how

[35:11] it's queued up or is it more of a

[35:13] question of is it already online?

[35:15] » Yeah, in that case it wouldn't be an

[35:17] official map issue. It would be just the

[35:19] service level um at the discretion of

[35:22] the police chief. Um and so those

[35:24] requests just come in. Again, city

[35:26] council member, mayor, myself, the

[35:29] police chief um would request those and

[35:32] then they then the police chief

[35:33] determines a rotation in that specific

[35:35] example,

[35:38] » But that's not required. The placement

[35:40] of speed carts is a is a operational

[35:43] decision by the police chief. It's not

[35:44] something that's law or has to be

[35:46] approved by the council.

[35:48] » All right. Thank you,

[35:49] » Council Member Abdush. on item number

[35:52] five for Balmoral Place stop sign. So

[35:55] that is in Sterling Ponds where I live.

[36:00] And so I've had a number of people

[36:01] contact me directly on this and I've

[36:03] worked with Jennifer a little bit.

[36:07] Is Balmoral Place currently a two-way

[36:13] even without that stop sign

[36:16] in place?

[36:18] Uh the my understanding of the

[36:20] restriction is it's it's not a two-way

[36:24] in its entirety.

[36:25] » Well, like they cannot enter from Casey,

[36:28] but they can enter from the exit of the

[36:32] daycare,

[36:34] but can they legally turn right

[36:38] and go towards Newcastle? So, is it a

[36:41] two-way if they're entering from the

[36:44] daycare? I think both of the the two

[36:48] essentially the two intersections are

[36:49] different under our current official

[36:51] map. So we're making a change to one of

[36:54] the intersections which is the one um

[36:57] there's Balmoral and Casey. Is it Casey

[37:00] or Southerntherland there? Trying to

[37:01] » I think that's where it changes. It's

[37:03] both.

[37:04] » Yeah. So that is essentially one

[37:07] intersection.

[37:08] And I believe this change is changing

[37:11] only the other intersection by putting a

[37:13] stop sign for people that happen to go

[37:16] out of the daycare. So essentially it's

[37:18] I think it can be operated two-way for

[37:20] part of the street in certain

[37:22] circumstances.

[37:24] » So

[37:25] » But you're still not it's still there's

[37:27] still turns prohibited from the Casey

[37:30] Southerntherland

[37:30] » Right.

[37:32] You cannot if you're driving on Casey or

[37:35] Southerntherland you cannot turn onto

[37:37] Bmore. There's that bump there currently

[37:41] which is under review if it'll be

[37:44] removed.

[37:46] » But even without that stop sign in place

[37:51] from the exit of the

[37:55] daycare up to Newcastle

[37:58] Baltimore is a two-way street. Correct.

[38:03] » You're I don't know that you're stumping

[38:05] me, but I feel like it.

[38:07] » [laughter]

[38:07] » So I didn't like

[38:08] » So I think we're going to have to go to

[38:10] the to the city engineer.

[38:12] » The man who knows the answer is

[38:14] » Like our residents waiting for the stop

[38:16] sign to be in place for it to be two-way

[38:20] street from the exit of that daycare

[38:24] » Boral Drive was never designated as a

[38:26] two-way street. I I'm sorry. It was

[38:28] never designated as a one-way street.

[38:31] It was designated that you couldn't

[38:34] enter Balmoral from Casey

[38:35] Southerntherland.

[38:36] » Okay. So what we're doing is not

[38:39] changing anything about how you can

[38:41] access B moral from KCR

[38:43] Southerntherland. We're just doing this

[38:46] um for the basically for the convenience

[38:49] of the residents who may be picking up

[38:51] their kids from daycare so they can

[38:54] safely get um from Belmoral into the

[38:57] Sterling Ponds residential neighborhood.

[38:59] And um

[39:01] » So Bmoral is not a one-way street.

[39:04] » Correct. Belmore is not a one-way

[39:06] street.

[39:06] » So, um,

[39:08] » Scott said and he mentioned that we're

[39:10] assessing the removal of the the speed

[39:12] bump um or whatever we want to call it.

[39:15] Yeah.

[39:15] » Um, when when we complete that that the

[39:18] next step for council will be for us to

[39:22] officially remove that do not enter sign

[39:24] from Belmoral at Casey Southerntherland.

[39:27] And then that along with removing the co

[39:31] uh removing the concrete and putting new

[39:33] asphalt in, maybe some striping, I can't

[39:35] remember. Um that's the the council's

[39:38] next step to actually open that up to

[39:40] two-way traffic,

[39:41] » Right? And I Yeah, and I appreciate all

[39:43] I and all the residents there appreciate

[39:45] all the work. you should see the string

[39:47] of comments and whatnot on the multiple

[39:52] um chains of public um post out there.

[39:57] So, thank you on behalf of all the

[39:59] residents out there. Thank you for the

[40:01] work done on that. But I did want to

[40:02] clarify because if that is a two-way,

[40:06] there has been some police activity out

[40:08] there and some tickets given to the

[40:11] residents there for turning right and

[40:15] exiting onto Balmoral to go to

[40:18] Newcastle. So, it wasn't clear. And I'm

[40:21] like, well, they're putting a stop sign

[40:22] there. What? And so then more people

[40:25] were questioning like if they're putting

[40:27] a stop sign there, that makes it a

[40:28] two-way. So that's why I'm like, are we

[40:30] waiting for the stop sign for it to be a

[40:32] two-way? That's what I was trying to

[40:34] clarify. And so, thank you. It is

[40:37] currently a two-way just from that exit

[40:40] to Newcastle. Like you cannot enter from

[40:42] Casey.

[40:43] » Yep.

[40:43] » Or Southerntherland. That's very clear.

[40:46] And um do we know the timeline of when

[40:49] like if approved tonight when the stop

[40:52] sign will be in place?

[40:54] » I I believe the stop sign would be in

[40:56] place within two weeks. Oh, wonderful.

[40:59] » Could defer to Erica, but um she's

[41:02] nodding yes. So,

[41:03] » And it's got to be because it's because

[41:06] it's a change in the ordinance, there's

[41:07] a posting and a publishing and other

[41:10] steps before it would be official. So,

[41:13] we usually time the signs about when it

[41:17] would be official. So, it's it's likely

[41:19] that public works can get the sign in

[41:22] before

[41:23] » It's announced.

[41:23] » It's it's official. So, we usually try

[41:25] to wait until it's official. And again,

[41:29] we appreciate and I think you do too as

[41:31] a resident.

[41:33] The reason it's the way it is now was

[41:36] 100%

[41:38] neighborhood request. And so, it appears

[41:41] the tide has turned. Um and there now uh

[41:48] there is now uh a desire for it to go

[41:51] back to the way that the city engineer a

[41:54] different city engineer originally

[41:56] designed that to operate which was a

[41:58] two-way

[41:59] » Street

[41:59] » Unrestricted street.

[42:01] » Well, and I think it's a beautiful

[42:03] display of how the process works, right?

[42:05] Like someone saw the bump there, they

[42:08] made a comment, then they reached out to

[42:10] me and we happened to be out on tour out

[42:14] at the innovation center. So when we

[42:16] were walking by the window, Jennifer and

[42:17] I were both standing there and I said,

[42:19] "Oh, I just got this this email." And

[42:22] she's like, "Let me look up the

[42:23] information." And then everything I

[42:25] reached out to you and it all kind of

[42:27] came into play. Um, and so even though

[42:30] it seems like it has taken forever

[42:32] because nothing really moves in one,

[42:34] two, three days, but it has definitely

[42:38] moved in a very timely fashion. And so I

[42:40] do appreciate all the work that's being

[42:42] done on it. And then the stop sign came

[42:43] up. So, thank you everyone.

[42:45] » So, would you like to make a motion to

[42:46] approve that?

[42:47] » I do make a motion to approve.

[42:52] » Ordinance 26.

[42:54] » Thank you.

[42:54] » 2026.

[42:55] » 2026-17,

[42:57] an ordinance amending the official

[42:59] traffic control map.

[43:00] » Second.

[43:01] » Right. We have a motion and a second to

[43:03] approve this ordinance. Any questions or

[43:04] comments? Hearing none. All in favor

[43:06] signify by saying I. I.

[43:09] » Oppose. Say no. Motion carries.

[43:12] Last item on our agenda are the reports.

[43:14] Uh we have any reports from the

[43:16] administrator?

[43:18] » I'd be happy to take any questions.

[43:22] » Any questions for Mr. Simpson?

[43:26] » Okay. Then we'll move on to the

[43:27] comproller report.

[43:29] » I have this month's comproller report

[43:32] for August 2026.

[43:34] General fund revenues through the end of

[43:36] August were 10,353,167

[43:41] or 72% of total budget revenues for the

[43:44] year. Revenues in August included

[43:47] 3,336582

[43:50] in property tax revenue, $33,366

[43:54] in building permit revenue, and $15,000

[43:57] in rightway excavation permit revenue.

[44:00] Expenditures through the end of August

[44:01] were 9,51,43

[44:05] or 66% of total budget expenditures. As

[44:09] of August 31st, 2026, net revenues over

[44:12] expenditures were $851,764.

[44:17] » Great. Thank you, Council Member Paige.

[44:20] Moving on to the mayor's good news. We

[44:22] got a couple items to uh this month.

[44:24] Actually, three. I want to remind

[44:26] everybody that Ardum Kenny is this

[44:28] weekend. It's a great event. starts at

[44:29] 10 o'clock on Saturday morning. They

[44:31] have more than 80 artists this year,

[44:33] lots of music, children's art tent, food

[44:36] trucks, and more. So, uh, take a stroll

[44:38] down the Kenny and, uh, meet the people

[44:41] who are showing their artware and buy

[44:43] something. It's good for good for the

[44:45] economy and good for them. We also have

[44:47] our final cookout and conversation of

[44:49] 2026 will be held on Thursday, September

[44:51] 17th. We're back at Glen Park that

[44:53] evening from 6:00 to 7:30. Hope you can

[44:56] join me. Hope council members can also

[44:58] join us that evening. Stop in for great

[45:01] hot dogs and ice cream. It's a lot of

[45:04] fun. Last item on uh the mayor's good

[45:07] news tonight is we are very very

[45:09] fortunate to live in a community that

[45:11] has a public school system that has a a

[45:15] recognized character development

[45:17] program. I don't know if everybody in

[45:18] town is aware of that, but we are

[45:20] recognized more than any other school

[45:22] district in the state of Wisconsin

[45:23] statewide and nationally for the

[45:25] character development work that is done

[45:28] um in our schools. So, for example, uh

[45:31] the school district celebrates character

[45:34] traits starting in September with

[45:36] curiosity, moving on to responsibility,

[45:39] gratitude, compassion, cooperation,

[45:42] perseverance, respect, honesty, and

[45:45] courage. And every month now this month

[45:48] it's curiosity. There's different

[45:50] activities going on in the schools, the

[45:52] grade schools, the middle schools, and

[45:54] of different activities at different

[45:56] schools that really reinforce that

[45:59] character trait. Um, for us as a

[46:02] community, I would call on members of

[46:04] the community to ask ourselves, how do

[46:06] we how do we embody that that um

[46:10] character trait and how do we

[46:12] demonstrate that in our community? So

[46:14] two things as citizens, how can we

[46:16] demonstrate that character trait of

[46:18] curiosity? We saw some of that here

[46:20] tonight. That's great. In the community,

[46:22] we see some of that in people who are

[46:24] addressing the council. That's

[46:25] wonderful. And that's what we should do

[46:27] as a community is be curious. And how do

[46:29] we model that behavior for our children?

[46:32] And then how do we also recognize it in

[46:34] others and honor other people who model

[46:37] these different character traits? So

[46:39] every month we're going to be talking

[46:40] about a different character trait this

[46:41] year and reinforcing it in our

[46:43] community. It truly truly does take a

[46:46] village to raise a child. It takes a

[46:48] community. Although um everybody knows I

[46:51] had a lot of children, but I saw a towel

[46:53] recently in a gift shop that said um I

[46:56] hear it takes a village, a community to

[46:58] raise a child. Um is there like a number

[47:02] you have to call for that or do the

[47:03] people just show up to help? And in our

[47:06] community, I think the people just show

[47:08] up to help uh and and people show up for

[47:10] children. So, let's all model these

[47:13] character traits as we go through our

[47:15] year. Thank you.

[47:17] With that, um anything else that come

[47:20] before the council?

[47:22] If not, I just ask is we have a motion

[47:24] to adjurnn.

[47:24] » Move to adjourn.

[47:26] » Second.

[47:26] » Second. We have a motion and a second.

[47:28] We are adjourned. Someone told me we do

[47:30] not have to take a vote. Is that

[47:31] correct?

[47:33] We should

[47:35] » We should Okay. All in favor say I. I.

[47:38] » I.

[47:38] » Thank you very much. We are

[47:40] » Journed.

[47:45] » Someone told me that we

[47:47] » It's not

[47:49] discuss.

[47:50] » Oh, you can't discuss it. Okay. So, I

[47:54] should ask

City of River Falls Common Council Meeting 09/08/2026

Agenda

Transcript