Housing projects move forward with recent
Altoona, Eau Claire Council actions
Whitetail Woods in Altoona and Gateway West apartments in EC
City Council actions in both Altoona and Eau Claire in recent weeks advanced two housing projects that will contribute to expansion of needed housing availability in the community.
At its July 9 Legislative Session, the Eau Claire City Council approved a rezoning and general development plan for a 40-unit apartment development at 4808 Hamilton Ave. The Gateway West site plan from Wurzer Builders calls for five 8-unit buildings on two acres, with a total of 40 units and 60 bedrooms. At its meeting on July 1, the Plan Commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval after the developer met with neighbors and revised the plan to include a larger buffer between the site and existing single-family homes to the west. (See pages 4-31 of the Monday, July 8, EC City Council Agenda Packet).
In Altoona, the City Council on July 11 unanimously approved the preliminary plat for the Whitetail Woods project at the City's northeast corner. It encompasses 64 recently-annexed acres for a 172-lot subdivision that will include lots for 114 twin homes, 54 single-family homes, and four multifamily lots. The project was opposed by a number of nearby Town of Washington residents.
More information:
July 11 Altoona City Council agenda and recorded video (City of Altoona)
Altoona City Council approves plan for controversial housing development (Leader-Telegram $)
Altoona City Council approves plat for Whitetail Woods development (WEAU 13 News)

EC City Council to consider Five-year Capital Improvement Plan
The Eau Claire City Council meets on Monday and Tuesday this week, with the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) a key item on its agenda.
Action on the plan was postponed from the July 9 meeting. Council Member Andrew Werthmann plans to propose an amendment that would change the CIP plan proposed by City Staff to transfer $1 million per year for five years from parking to affordable housing. The postponement was to give Council Members more time to consider the request, and potentially to get feedback from the consultant currently conducting a parking study for the city. The Council's vote on the CIP will commit funds for the 2025 budget, and provide a plans for the following four years that could be changed for subsequent budget years.
More explanation on the overall CIP, according to the City Manager's message at the beginning of the document (which is linked below):
"The 2025-2029 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan contains projects totaling $258 million. The majority of capital projects focus on maintaining, repairing, and renovating existing City assets such as roads, parks, trails, wastewater, stormwater, and water infrastructure. Some of the largest planned infrastructure projects in the five year plan include the demolition and construction of new parking in the downtown area, as the Gibson Parking Ramp and the Graham Riverside Parking Deck are both nearing the end of their useful life."
"For 2025 the proposed capital budget is $50 million. The largest share of 2025 capital funding is dedicated to transportation improvements, totaling about 25% of the 2025 capital budget. These transportation projects are largely focused on city-wide reconstruction of streets and repair of sidewalks, curbs, and gutters."
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
• Monday, July 22, 6 p.m. Public Hearing Agenda Packet (32 pages)
• Tuesday, July 23, 4 p.m. Legislative Session Agenda Packet (124 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)
Proposed 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (178 pages)
City of Eau Claire News Updates (including weekly City Manager's Update)

Eau Claire City Council considering paid parking for Menomonie Street lot across from Sonnentag Center (WQOW News 18)
Road improvement projects running ahead of schedule to on time, say city officials (Leader-Telegram $)

Also meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule

Eau Claire Board of Education
The Board is expected to officially approve the fall referendum question
• Monday, July 22, 7 p.m. Meeting information

Eau Claire Waterways & Parks Commission
• Wednesday, July 24, 5:30 p.m. Meeting information

Altoona City Council
• Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m. Meeting information

More local stories...

Eggs & Issues panel discuss downtown homelessness issue, what is being done to address it (Leader-Telegram $)

Marshfield Clinic files suit against City of Eau Claire for unlawful taxes (Leader-Telegram $)

Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission Supports SkyWest Airlines Essential Air Service Proposal (Chippewa Valley Regional Airport news release)
DOT Community Preference Letter (Chippewa Valley Airport Commission)
Essential Air Service Frequently Asked Questions (Chippewa Valley Regional Airport)
SkyWest Will Return to E.C. Airport With Chicago Flights (Volume One)

Successful first month for the new Amtrak Borealis bodes well for future service to Eau Claire (Leader-Telegram $)
New Borealis Train through WI draws 18,500+ in first month; bodes well for future Chippewa Valley, St. Croix service (West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition)

JONAH plans "Rally for Transit" on July 25 (JONAH)

Local students present business plans at JA's Food Truck Camp (Leader-Telegram $)
Junior Achievement camp teaches area middle schoolers all about owning and operating food trucks (WQOW News 18)

Crews begin teardown of Zorn Arena (WEAU 13 News)
'Ken Anderson Court' sign removed from Zorn, heading to The Sonnentag (WQOW News 18)

It's official: Eau Claire Jammers chosen as name of new Arena League football franchise (Leader-Telegram $)

Olson's Ice Cream celebrates 80th birthday (WQOW News 18)

The Chamber's Leadership 2.0 application deadline is July 26
The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for the Leadership 2.0 Class of 2025. Leadership 2.0 is the next step in developing and strengthening your leadership skills and is especially relevant for individuals who have graduated from Leadership Eau Claire or other similar programs. The sessions are tailored to elevate participants' leadership capabilities to unprecedented heights. Monthly meetings will begin in September 2024.
More information:
Leadership 2.0 (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Or contact Kaitlyn Molis at molis@eauclairechamber.org

Election updates...
Wisconsin Primary Election: Tuesday, Aug 13
Democratic National Convention - Chicago, Aug 19-22
General Election: Tuesday, Nov 5
Register to vote, find what's on your ballot: MyVoteWisconsin

2024 Wisconsin Assembly races (WisPolitics.com, with maps)
2024 Wisconsin State Senate races (WisPolitics.com, with maps)
Assembly members facing primary challenges (WisPolitics.com)
Incumbent lawmakers facing no major party opposition (WisPolitics.com)
Who’s running in Wisconsin’s 2024 legislative primaries (Wisconsin Examiner)

August Constitutional referenda to decide who spends federal funds (John Jacobson, Ruder Ware)

Democratic candidates for WI's 3rd CD visit Eau Claire to talk about upcoming election (Leader-Telegram $)
Meet the candidates: Democratic Third Congressional District candidates share platform at forum (WQOW News 18)

In battleground Wisconsin, Republicans and Democrats have both grown less moderate (Journal-Sentinel +)

Republican National Convention concludes in Milwaukee
Trump pledges to ‘make Wisconsin great again’ in RNC acceptance speech (WPR)
Video: Full Trump acceptance speech (Fox 6 Milwaukee, 1 hour 32 mins)
The Donald Trump Interview Transcript (Bloomberg Business Week +)
Five Things to Know About J.D. Vance, Trump’s VP Pick (Wall Street Journal +)
Tommy Thompson: GOP has ‘greatest opportunity I have ever seen’ for Republican sweep (WPR)
'Unbelievable, delicious': RNC visitors are discovering Spotted Cow beer (Journal-Sentinel +)

President Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race, endorses VP Kamala Harris (WPR)
What Happens Next Now That Biden Has Dropped Out? (Wall Street Journal)
Wisconsin Democrats thank Biden after suspension of campaign ‘resets’ bid for battleground state (WPR)
Kamala Harris' planned campaign visit to Milwaukee takes center stage after Joe Biden drops out of presidential race (Journal-Sentinel +)
Local and state lawmakers react to the news of President Biden dropping out of the presidential race (WEAU 13 News)
Third Congressional candidates react to Biden dropping out of race (WQOW News 18)
WEAU political analyst John Frank breaks down Biden’s decision (WEAU 13 News)

State and regional stories...

First plasma marks major milestone in UW–Madison fusion energy research (UW-Madison)

Wisconsin Innovation Awards: Announces 2024 finalists (WisBusiness.com)

Baldwin: Brings hone $7.2M to convert coal-fired power plant in Pacific, Wisconsin into cutting-edge clean energy storage (News release, WisPolitics.com)

World dairy expo showcases top farms (Wisconsin Ag Connection)

National and economic stories...

Powell indicates Fed won’t wait until inflation is down to 2% before cutting rates (CNBC)

Major Tech Outage Grounds Flights, Hits Banks and Businesses Worldwide (Wall Street Journal)
Effects of global computer outages felt across Wisconsin (WPR)
Delta cancels hundreds more flights in struggle to recover from Microsoft outage (CNBC)

Student loan payments will be paused for 8 million borrowers after appeals court temporarily halts Biden’s repayment plan (CNN)

COVID-19 Resources:
Eau Claire County COVID-19 Information Hub (Eau Claire City-County Health Department)

Mark your calendar:

Eggs & Issues: Washington Update with the US Chamber
• Friday, Aug 23
All upcoming 2024 Eggs & Issues programs

Golf Day in Eau Claire
• Monday, Aug 5

Business After Hours
• Monday, Aug 12

Partisan Primary Election
• Tuesday, Aug 13

Sonnentag Center Grand Opening
• Thursday, Sep 12

CVTC/Chamber Business Community Breakfast
• Tuesday, Sep 17

Eggs & Issues: Fall Election Outlook with Bill McCoshen
• Friday, Sep 20

Business Day in Madison
• Thursday, Oct 17

"Bravo to Business" Awards
• Wednesday, Oct 23

Eggs & Issues: Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and Transit
• Friday, Oct 25

Eggs & Issues: Election Analysis with the Marquette Poll's Charles Franklin
• Friday, Nov 15

2024 Business Solutions Summit
• Wednesday, Nov 20

31st Annual Chippewa Valley Rally
• Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025

Public Meetings Calendar
Click the link above for the our regularly updated schedule of public meetings.

Thanks for reading this issue of Business Advocate. If you have comments or questions, contact Scott Rogers, Vice President Governmental Affairs, at 715-858-0616 or rogers@eauclairechamber.org