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Volume 7, Issue 19, Sep 23, 2024
 Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire, Wis. 
Published the first business day of each week
Business Advocate Past Issues
Public Meetings Calendar
Chamber Events Calendar
The Chamber's Advocacy Principles
The Chamber's 2024 Business Issues Agenda
"Talking Po!nt" Podcast
How to become a Chamber investor
Contact: Scott Rogers, VP Governmental Affairs
rogers@eauclairechamber.org
Chamber Business Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30a-4:30p, Friday 9 a.m.-Noon

In this issue:
 • Addressing homelessness: Housing First documentary shown, Western
   Dairyland to concentrate on existing building for day resource center
 • EC-sponsored study looks at trash-hauling alternatives
 • EC City Council: Orchard Hills rezoning
 • Chamber candidate information: Local State Assembly races
 • Vance visits Eau Claire
 • Area UW Schools see steady enrollment, Discover Wisconsin highlights UWEC
 • Federal Reserve makes half-point rate cut
 • Food for thought
 • Mark your calendar
Note on article links: A subscription is required for those marked with "$"
Publications known to have article limits or other access restrictions for non-subscribers are marked with "+"

Last chance to register...
Eggs & Issues: Fall Election Outlook with Bill McCoshen
   Get a "tell it like it is" analysis from Bill McCoshen of Michael Best Strategies, one of the state's top political experts. He will assess Wisconsin's statewide and legislative contests to provide us with clues to watch for in the final weeks of the campaign. Bill is a former Wisconsin Commerce Secretary, and served as Chief of Staff and campaign manager for former Governor Tommy Thompson. For the past two election cycles, he's joined us for our September Eggs & Issues to look ahead to November, and has proven to be remarkably prescient in his interpretation of the unfolding campaigns. Registration includes a hot breakfast buffet.
 • Friday, Sep 27, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register

3rd District Congress: Events with Van Orden, Cooke
   Join us for two valuable opportunities to discuss federal issues of importance to the business community with Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who is finishing his first term and running for reelection to Congress as the Republican candidate, and Rebecca Cooke, the 3rd District Democratic Candidate. (Note: The Chamber does not endorse candidates but provides investors with opportunities to learn about their views on issues of importance to the business community.) These events are open to individuals with Chamber member organizations only.
Business Breakfast with Derrick Van Orden, 3rd District Congressman
•  Tuesday, October 1, 8:00-9:00 a.m. (Continental breakfast provided)
    Chamber offices, WNB Conference Room 101 N. Farwell St., Eau Claire
    Click here for details and to register
Business Lunch with Rebecca Cooke, 3rd District Congressional Candidate
•  Friday, October 11, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (Light lunch provided)
    Chamber offices, WNB Conference Room 101 N. Farwell St., Eau Claire
    Click here for details and to register 

Also for your calendar...
• Local Candidate Training Workshop - Thursday, Oct 3
• Candidates Energy Forum - Monday, Oct 7
• Business After Hours - Monday, Oct 7
• Legislative Candidates Meet-and-Greet - Thursday, Oct 10
• "Bravo to Business" Awards - Wednesday, Oct 23

Addressing Homelessness: 
Documentary shows "Housing First" results in Milwaukee
   Over 500 community members last Wednesday attended a showing of the documentary "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness" at the RCU Theatre at the Pablo Center. The film highlighted the successful "Housing First" approach used in Milwaukee and Houston, which encompasses critical support services as a key part of successful housing placement, and a community consensus and collaboration to concentrate on reducing chronic homelessness. The local showing was sponsored by Eau Claire Community Foundation, Home for Good of Eau Claire, the Pablo Foundation, Pablo Center at the Confluence, and the Center for Racial & Restorative Justice at UWEC.
   James Mathy, Milwaukee County Housing Administrator, also spoke to a luncheon group of business people and local elected officials, about the strategies and results of Milwaukee's program. Filmmakers Don Sawyer and Tim Hashko joined the evening event in person at the Theatre. Sawyer and Mathy participated in a post-showing panel that also included Roderick Jones, City Council member and professor of special education at UW-Eau Claire; Alisa Diaz, a C.C. We Adapt peer support mentor; and Laura Lash, co-owner of Shift Coffee and board member for Community Haven House.
Western Dairyland to seek an existing building for day resource center
   After receiving a report from a Campaign Readiness Study conducted by its consultant, Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council now "will focus on finding an existing building in downtown Eau Claire for the Community Resource Center." In seeking to create a center in downtown Eau Claire to bring together a variety of services to assist unhoused and housing insecure members of the community, Western Dairyland hired Crescendo Fundraising to determine the feasibility of raising sufficient funds to implement the idea.
   "It was determined that enough philanthropic support exists to raise $4.5 to $5 million dollars. This amount should be enough to purchase and renovate a building, and also fund operations for three years," according to an update on Western Dairyland's website.
   The resource center would be operated in conjunction with Hope Gospel Mission with assistance from the City of Eau Claire. 
More information:
A documentary about changing the national discourse on homelessness shown at the Pablo Center (The Spectator)
Film About ‘Housing First’ Approach to Homelessness to Be Screened in E.C. (Volume One)
New Documentary Highlights Milwaukee’s ‘Housing First’ Homelessness Strategy (Urban Milwaukee)
Community Resource Center updates (Western Dairyland)
Latest “Point In Time Homeless Count” survey shows significant jump in homelessness (WEAU 13 News)
Our View: Homeless count is concerning (Leader-Telegram editorial $)

Wisconsin Policy Forum Report: Are changes
warranted to trash services in Eau Claire?
• Public Input Session Thursday evening
   The Wisconsin Policy Forum has released a report commissioned by the City of Eau Claire comparing trash hauling and recycling services and costs with other cities around Wisconsin. Currently, Eau Claire allows trash haulers to compete for business under certain ordinances governing their services. City officials say they sought the study after a significant number of complaints in 2022. The report did not provide a recommendation, but several alternatives for future service, from the city taking over the service, to contracting with an exclusive private hauler, to reforms to the city's ordinances governing garbage and recycling. It found that most other cities had lower garbage collection costs than Eau Claire.
  The reported noted that, among the downsides of a city-owned or exclusive hauler, is the impact on the two locally owned companies providing services, including Trash on Trucks and Earthbound Environmental: "Shifting away from the open market also would have massive impacts on the two local haulers, potentially driving them out of business," it said.
   The City is conducting a public input meeting this coming Thursday evening to share results of the study and receive input:
 • Trash Study Public Input Meeting (City of Eau Claire)
    Thursday, September 26, 6:00 p.m. City Council Chambers, City Hall
More information:
Sorting through the options: Are changes warranted to garbage and recycling services in Eau Claire? (Wisconsin Policy Forum)
Full Report (Wisconsin Policy Forum, 25 pages)
Study by Wis. Policy Forum suggests possible changes to city’s trash collection system (Volume One)
Trash hauling report outlines Eau Claire's unique situation, higher customer costs (WQOW News 18)
Our View: Trashy analysis is worth considering (Leader-Telegram editorial $)

Meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule

Eau Claire City Council: Orchard Hills rezoning
   Among the agenda items for the Eau Claire City Council's agenda this week is the rezoning, general development agreement, and preliminary plat for the Orchard Hills development, 238 acres recently annexed to the city's south side (see pages 34-59 of the Monday Agenda Packet linked below). There will be a public hearing on Monday evening, with Council action on Tuesday.
   Also scheduled are public hearings on an update to City Council member salaries, a rezoning at 2507 Sessions St., an amendment to allow gas pumps at the Kwik Trip on Water St., and a public discussion of a proposed EDI Commission.
Eau Claire City Council
 • Monday, Sep 23, 6 p.m. Public Hearing Agenda Packet (87 pages)
 • Tuesday, Sep 24, 4 p.m. Legislative Session Agenda Packet (201 pages)
    Link to videos of city meetings (City of Eau Claire)
    City Council Online Comment Form (City of Eau Claire)
    Contact information: City Council members (City of Eau Claire)
City Budget: Budget Process and Current Documents (City of Eau Claire)
Adopted 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (City of Eau Claire)
City of Eau Claire News Updates (including weekly City Manager's Update)

Getting ready for the November 5 election
   Local voters in Wisconsin have outsized influence with the upcoming November 5 election. It's a critical state in the race for President, control of Congress and the US Senate, and a potential shake up of the state legislature.
   The Chamber does not endorse candidates, but provides resources and information to help investors and the public learn about candidates and their positions on issues.
State Assembly - all new districts
   The 2024 Election features all new districts for the Wisconsin State Legislature, with all 99 Assembly Districts and even-number Senate Districts on the ballot this fall. The two Senate Districts most closely associated with the Chippewa Valley, District 23, represented by Jesse James (R-Altoona), and District 31, represented by Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire) are not up for reelection until 2026.
   The Chamber has assembled candidate information for six local Assembly Districts - 67, 68, 69, 91, 92, and 93 - including brief sit-down video interviews, a candidate questionnaire on business issues, and an in-person meet-and-greet opportunity.
Has your district changed?
   To check to see which is your Assembly District for this fall's election, click this link for map, and enter your voting address:
Who are my legislators? (Wisconsin Legislature map)
  To register to vote, find your polling place, request an absentee ballot, or see what's on your ballot, click on the following link: 
MyVoteWI (MyVoteWI)

Local Assembly Candidate Sit-Down video interviews
   The Chamber's Vice President Governmental Affairs, Scott Rogers, sat down with each candidate to learn more about their backgrounds, why they're running, and key issues they'd emphasize if elected.
Click here to see the videos

Good Government Council Candidate Questionnaire
   The Good Government Council (GGC) is a subcommittee of the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee dedicated to encouraging voter participation and providing members of the business community with non-biased information about candidates’ positions on important issues. Click the links below to see candidate answers to our Fall 2024 Legislative Questionnaire:
District 67 - Rep. Dave Armstrong (R), Jeff Foster (D)
District 68 - Rep. Rob Summerfield (R), Richard Pulcher (D)
District 69 - Rep. Karen Hurd (R), Roger Halls (D)
District 91 - Rep. Jodi Emerson (D), Michele Skinner (R)
District 92 - Rep. Clint Moses (R), Joe Plouff (D)
District 93 - Christian Phelps (D), James Rolbiecki (R)

Legislative Candidates Meet-and-Greet - October 10
   An in-person opportunity to meet the candidates. In a format similar to a parent-teacher conference or a reverse job fair, each candidate will be assigned a table where they can greet voters and answer questions. Invited: All Legislative candidates in area Assembly Districts 67, 68, 69, 91, 92, 93. This event is co-sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley, the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, the Menomonie Area Chamber and Visitors Bureau, and the League of Women Voters of the Chippewa Valley.
Legislative Candidates Meet-and-Greet
• Thursday, Oct 10, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Eau Claire Public Library
    Click here for details No charge to attend. No pre-registration required. 

More election resources...

"Talking Po!nt" Podcast
   Seasoned political observer John Frank talks with VP Governmental Affairs Scott Rogers about the key races on the ballot on November 5 and how your vote will have a big impact not only locally but nationally. Learn what's at stake statewide and in local legislative districts.
Click here to listen (32:11)

Local Candidate Training Workshop
   Although the current election focus is on political races for November 5, the timing of candidacy decisions and ballot deadlines mean that now is the time to consider candidacies for the April 2025 local elections. If you've ever considered running for a local elected office, want to help with a campaign, or just wondered what's involved, make plans now to attend this workshop. Presented by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, and Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley.
• Thursday, Oct 3, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Chippewa Valley Homebuilders Assn.
    Click here for details and to register

Candidates Energy Forum
A discussion about energy issues with the area's state legislative candidates.
 • Monday, Oct 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m., The Florian Gardens
   Click here for information

ECASD to hold referendum meetings
   In seeking a four year, $18 million annual operating referendum on the November 5 ballot, the Eau Claire Area School District (ECASD) has scheduled several public informational sessions. They include the following dates and locations:
 • Monday, Sep 30, 7 p.m. North High School
 • Thursday, Oct 3, 7 p.m. Virtual Teams Session
 • Thursday, Oct 10, 7 p.m. Memorial High School
 • Tuesday, Oct 15, 7 p.m. DeLong Middle School
More information:
See the Referendum Page below for additional resources and information about the meetings:
Referendum information page (ECASD)
ECASD talk about intention, reasons, addressing concerns with upcoming referendum vote (Leader-Telegram $)

More election stories...

VP candidate Vance campaigns in Eau Claire (Leader-Telegram $)
JD Vance makes second campaign stop in Eau Claire (WEAU 13 News)
JD Vance talks voter turnout, border security in Eau Claire rally (WQOW News 18)

DLCC spotlights 14 Democratic candidates for the Wisconsin State Legislature (Wisconsin Examiner)
Republican State Leadership Committee — seeking to protect majorities — invests and runs ads in WI (Wisconsin Examiner)
National Democrats and Republicans both targeting resources on Wisconsin legislative races (Journal-Sentinel +)

Tommy Thompson hopes to push Trump, Republicans toward unity (The Cap Times)

Dane County sheriff fires back at GOP U.S. Reps. Van Orden, Tiffany on immigration issue (Wisconsin State Journal +)

Milwaukee’s new election chief knows her office is under scrutiny, but she’s ready (AP)

RNC sues Racine, claims city didn’t hire enough Republican poll workers (WPR)