Before Council

Jim Drees and Brian Sampson join Tony Ayala for a conversation about Pathways Home, the coordinated City of La Crosse and La Crosse County plan for addressing homelessness in the community.

Drees serves as La Crosse County’s Homelessness Response System Manager, leading implementation of Pathways Home. Sampson serves as the City of La Crosse’s Homeless Services Coordinator.

This interview is part of Before Council Presents: One Question, a series created to give La Crosse residents more time to hear directly from the people working on consequential issues facing the community.

The central question:

Is La Crosse actually making progress on homelessness, and if so, what is working?

The conversation examines the progress being reported through Pathways Home, how the City and County measure results, which coordinated approaches are showing promise, and what obstacles remain.

Pathways Home has established the goal of reaching Functional Zero homelessness by 2029—a point at which homelessness is prevented whenever possible and, when it occurs, is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

This conversation is not a debate, endorsement, or campaign event. It is an opportunity to better understand the work already underway, the evidence behind reported progress, and what it will take to sustain that progress.

Learn more about Pathways Home.

Additional civic resources: justgoodfight.com/city-resources

Before Council: justgoodfight.com/before-council

Know Before the Vote.

This Meeting Companion contains the October 12, 2026 Board of Estimates meeting from the City of La Crosse and an important step in developing the City’s 2027 Operating Budget.

The Board continued its review of the proposed operating budget, considered alternative approaches to balancing City finances, and discussed whether to request a budget scenario in which the City would opt out of the Expenditure Restraint Program. That request did not pass.

The meeting also included a public hearing on the proposed budget. Following the hearing, the Board approved amendments addressing proposed revenue and expenses.

The Board voted to continue its budget deliberations at a second meeting scheduled for October 13.

To make the meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and other dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited, shortened, rearranged, or summarized.

This is not the final 2027 Operating Budget. It is part of the public budget process leading to a recommended budget and subsequent consideration by the Common Council.

If you’re interested in understanding the financial decisions facing the City of La Crosse, this is a meeting worth putting in your ears.

For official budget documents, agendas, minutes, supporting materials, and the original City recording, visit cityoflacrosse.org.

Know Before the Vote.

The Before Council Meeting Companion makes it easier to follow La Crosse city government on your own time.

This episode features the La Crosse Common Council meeting held Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at La Crosse City Hall. The Council met from 6:00 p.m. until 7:17 p.m.

This Meeting Companion has been condensed by removing extended silence, recesses, delays, and other dead air to make the meeting easier to consume on streaming platforms.

No substantive discussion has been removed, rearranged, or editorially altered. The meeting remains in its original order.

The Common Council is where legislation that has moved through the City’s committee process comes before the full Council for consideration and action.

During this meeting, the Council adopted a charter ordinance concerning the appointment of City department heads; approved funding and equipment measures for the Water Utility; authorized an agreement with the Department of the Army for the La Crosse Flood Risk Management Project; approved contracts for the wastewater treatment plant office remodel and Northside Floodplain Development project; and adopted measures involving sewer utility rates, sanitary sewer easements, capital financing, licenses, and the rezoning of 1552 Kane Street for use as a community center.

The Council did not adopt a proposed resolution concerning Council member expense accounts and reimbursement procedures.

For agendas, minutes, meeting videos, legislation, voting records, and supporting documents, visit the City of La Crosse’s official website.

City resources: justgoodfight.com/city-resources

Before Council is hosted by Tony Ayala and former La Crosse Common Council member Mac Kiel and produced by Just Good Fight Media in collaboration with Open Session.

Know Before the Vote.

This Meeting Companion contains the October 1, 2026 Finance & Personnel Committee meeting from the City of La Crosse. The committee met at City Hall beginning at 6:01 p.m.

To make the meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and other dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited, shortened, rearranged, or summarized.

Meeting Companions are intended to make local government more accessible for residents who prefer listening while driving, walking, working, exercising, or going about their day.

This meeting includes consideration of the City’s 2025 financial statements and independent auditor’s report, proposed changes to Common Council member expense accounts and reimbursement procedures, several Water Utility funding and equipment requests, an amendment related to General Obligation Promissory Notes, an agreement with the Department of the Army for the La Crosse Flood Risk Management Project, a proposed CPI-based adjustment to sewer utility rates for 2027, and a collective bargaining update.  Agenda-3.pdfPDF

This meeting is part of the October Common Council cycle, leading up to the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Coming next:
• Before Council with Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala, looking at what happened in committee and what residents should know before the October Common Council meeting

Know Before the Vote.

Additional civic resources: justgoodfight.com/city-resources
Before Council: justgoodfight.com/before-council
For official agendas, minutes, meeting recordings, and other City of La Crosse information: cityoflacrosse.org

In Episode 5 of Before Council, Tony Ayala and former La Crosse Common Council member Mac Kiel work through the October cycle of Judiciary & Administration and Finance & Personnel Committee meetings, going agenda item by agenda item to provide additional context on what is heading to the full Council.

Before Council is designed to help residents better understand what’s happening at City Hall before decisions are made, giving you time to learn more, ask questions, review the original materials, and connect with your Council representative to share your perspective.

Among the items moving through this cycle are a charter ordinance concerning the appointment of various City department heads, a rezoning request for a community center at 1552 Kane Street, City financial and audit matters, Council expense and reimbursement procedures, infrastructure and utility projects, and other items moving through the City’s legislative process.

The October J&A Committee unanimously recommended the department-head charter ordinance and several other items to the Council. The committee also considered a River City Youth Hockey alcohol-license expansion and the final plat for Featherstone Rise.

Additional civic resources, including meeting agendas, livestreams, minutes, Council contact information, and more:
www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources

Learn more about Before Council:
www.justgoodfight.com/before-council

For official City of La Crosse meeting information, agendas, minutes, recordings, and supporting documents:
www.cityoflacrosse.org

Stay curious. Stay informed. Stay involved.

Know Before the Vote.

This Meeting Companion contains the September 29, 2026 Judiciary & Administration Committee meeting from the City of La Crosse. The committee met at City Hall beginning at 6:01 p.m. and adjourned at 6:34 p.m.

To make the meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and other dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited, shortened, rearranged, or summarized.

Meeting Companions are intended to make local government more accessible for residents who prefer listening while driving, walking, working, exercising, or going about their day.

This meeting includes consideration of a proposed charter ordinance concerning the appointment of various City department heads, October license applications, a rezoning request that would allow the property at 1552 Kane Street to be used as a community center, an alcohol beverage license expansion for a River City Youth Hockey special event, and the final plat for Featherstone Rise in the Town of Shelby. 

This meeting is part of the October Common Council cycle, leading up to the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. document.pdf

Coming next:

• Meeting Companion: Finance & Personnel Committee, meeting October 1

• Before Council with Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala, looking at what happened in committee and what residents should know before the October Common Council meeting

Know Before the Vote.

Additional civic resources: justgoodfight.com/city-resources⁠

Before Council: justgoodfight.com/before-council⁠

For official agendas, minutes, meeting recordings, and other City of La Crosse information: cityoflacrosse.org

The Before Council Meeting Companion makes it easier to follow La Crosse city government on your own time.

This episode features the La Crosse Common Council meeting held Thursday, September 10, 2026, at La Crosse City Hall. The Council met from 6:00 p.m. until approximately 7:35 p.m. 

This Meeting Companion has been condensed by removing extended silence, recesses, delays, and other dead air to make the meeting easier to consume on streaming platforms.

No substantive discussion has been removed, rearranged, or editorially altered. The meeting remains in its original order.

The Common Council is where legislation that has moved through the City’s committee process comes before the full Council for consideration and action. This meeting includes discussion and votes on a number of issues facing the City of La Crosse, including a proposed charter ordinance concerning the appointment of department heads, alcohol licensing matters, Civic Center Park funding and construction, development agreements, and financing for City capital projects and equipment.  

For agendas, minutes, meeting videos, legislation, voting records, and supporting documents, visit the City of La Crosse’s official website www.cityoflacrosse.org

City resources: justgoodfight.com/city-resources

Before Council is hosted by Tony Ayala and former La Crosse Common Council member Mac Kiel and produced by Just Good Fight Media in collaboration with Open Session.

Know Before the Vote.

In Episode 4 of Before Council, Tony Ayala and former Common Council member Mac Kiel discuss the September Judiciary & Administration and Finance & Personnel Committee meetings, walking through the agenda items, questions, and committee discussions expected to come before the September Common Council meeting.

Before Council is designed to help residents understand what’s happening at City Hall before votes are cast, giving you time to learn more, ask questions, and connect with your Common Council representative before decisions are made.

This episode follows the September Meeting Companions for J&A and F&P and provides additional context on what happened in committee, why it matters, and what residents should know heading into Common Council.

Also available in the Before Council feed is a Meeting Companion for the September 1 Board of Estimates meeting, an important early look at the work underway to develop the City of La Crosse’s 2027 Operating Budget. If you want to better understand some of the financial challenges and decisions facing the City in the months ahead, we strongly recommend giving that meeting a listen.

Additional civic resources, including meeting agendas, livestreams, minutes, Common Council contact information, and more:
www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources

Learn more about Before Council:
www.justgoodfight.com/before-council

For official City of La Crosse meeting information, agendas, minutes, and livestreams:
www.cityoflacrosse.org

Stay curious. Stay informed. Stay involved.

Know Before the Vote.

This Meeting Companion contains the September 3, 2026 Finance & Personnel Committee meeting from the City of La Crosse.

To make the meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and other dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited, shortened, rearranged, or summarized.

Meeting Companions are intended to make local government more accessible for residents who prefer listening while driving, walking, working, exercising, or going about their day.

This meeting is part of the September Common Council cycle, leading up to the Common Council meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

On the agenda are a number of financial, infrastructure, and development items, including additional funding for the Civic Center Park project, City borrowing for capital projects, downtown infrastructure, emergency response services, and development agreements involving the River Point District and the former Kmart site on State Road. 

Know Before the Vote.

Additional civic resources:
www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources

Before Council:
www.justgoodfight.com/before-council

For official agendas, minutes, meeting recordings, and other City of La Crosse information:
www.cityoflacrosse.org

This Meeting Companion contains the September 1, 2026 Board of Estimates meeting from the City of La Crosse and an important early step in developing the City's 2027 Operating Budget.

The meeting begins with an overview of the financial constraints facing the City and three preliminary approaches to balancing the 2027 budget, including different levels of property tax levy and use of the City's fund balance.

From there, the discussion turns to proposed department reductions, staffing and potential layoffs, public safety, City services, health insurance costs, and some of the difficult decisions facing the Mayor and Common Council as the budget process continues.

The Board also requested additional financial details surrounding the proposed department reductions, with the budget process continuing at future Board of Estimates meetings.

To make the meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and other dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited, shortened, rearranged, or summarized.

This is not the final 2027 Operating Budget. It is part of the public process that will continue over the coming months before a final budget is adopted later this year.

If you're interested in understanding the financial decisions facing the City of La Crosse, this is a meeting worth putting in your ears.

For official budget documents, agendas, minutes, supporting materials, and the original City recording, visit cityoflacrosse.org.

Know Before the Vote.