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SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 1 Meeting Minutes July 15, 2026 MISSION: “To assure the common good through services essential for a safe, sustainable, engaged and healthy community.” DATE: July 15, 2026 TIME: 3:30 p.m. LOCATION: City Hall, North Conf. Rm. CHAIR: Lily Strehlow RECORDER: Ruth Hollander, Planning & Sustainability Intern Members Present: Nicholas Baumann, Bryan Brown, Felix Cisneros Caballero, Mary Hedenstrom, Lindsey Hillesheim, Jackson Schmidtke, Lily Strehlow, Janis Tyler, Andrew Werthmann Absent: Gail Halmstad, Jennifer Peck Staff in attendance: Blake Herbison, Ruth Hollander, Ned Noel Public in attendance: Yes AGENDA ITEM #1: Call to Order Chairperson Strehlow called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. AGENDA ITEM #2: Roll Call Chairperson Strehlow called for the roll, and a quorum was met. AGENDA ITEM #3: Open Public Comment Period Chairperson Strehlow opened the public comment period. No public comment was heard. AGENDA ITEM #4: Approval of June 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes Chairperson Strehlow noted that the June 17th meeting minutes did not include the conversation the Committee had about the connection between economic policy/development and sustainability. Chairperson Strehlow moved to amend the June 17th meeting minutes to include the Committee’s discussion about economic policy’s connection to sustainability, seconded by Member Brown. The motion carried with only Member Schmidtke abstaining. Council Member Werthmann moved to approve the June 17th meeting minutes as amended, seconded by Vice Chairperson Baumann. The motion carried with only Member Schmidtke abstaining. AGENDA ITEM #5a: New Xcel Energy Large Load Tariff Tyrel Zich, Regional Vice President of Regulatory Policy for Xcel Energy, explained the new large load tariff that Xcel Energy proposed to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) and gave context about why Xcel has proposed this new tariff now. Throughout the presentation, Committee Members engaged in a Question-and-Answer session with Mr. Zich. AGENDA ITEM #5b: Policy Considerations for Data Center Development Chairperson Strehlow opened the agenda item for public discussion. There was no public discussion heard and the Committee began its discussion. Member Tyler shared that she sees the document as a brainstorming exercise and suggested that the timing may work to include something about data centers within the City’s comprehensive plan. SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 2 Ned Noel, City of Eau Claire Planning Manager, clarified to the Committee that data centers would be allowed in light and heavy industrial zoning districts under the current comprehensive plan. He noted that the recommendations within the document are more connected to City zoning. Member Tyler shared that she disagrees with the initial premise of the document, which says that data center development in Western Wisconsin is inevitable in some fashion. She suggested that the wording could be changed to reflect that SAC wants to make data center recommendations so the City is prepared for data center development, given the widespread development of data centers across the county. Member Tyler said she would like to see more supplemental standards related to public health included. Vice Chairperson Baumann asked for clarification on the definitions of “sensitive receptors” and “sensitive ecosystems”. He also noted inconsistencies in whether data centers would be permitted near sensitive ecosystems under certain conditions or if they would be prohibited near sensitive ecosystems altogether. Member Schmidtke asked if the City can regulate/require points b., c., and d. under Supplemental Standards. Blake Herbison, City of Eau Claire Assistant City Attorney, noted that, under a development agreement, points b., c., and d. under Supplemental Standards could be required, but a challenge would be determining how those requirements are enforced. He also shared that development agreements would ultimately be approved by City Council. Member Schmidtke proposed the idea of removing point i. under section c. in Supplemental Standards because it would make the data center development larger. He also asked for clarification about the purpose of section i. in Supplemental Standards. Chairperson Strehlow shared the intended purpose of section i. was to require that developers show that their building could be redeveloped into a different use that could serve the City. Member Schmidtke shared concern about section b under Good Neighbor Pledge as it seems contradictory to the goal of the document. He asked for clarification on why section d. under Good Neighbor Pledge, requires escrow funding and not just a direct payment to the city. Member Schmidtke noted that residents of bordering municipalities typically cannot serve on City boards/committees. Member Hillesheim shared that she thinks there is value in laying down general guidelines for data centers with this document. She also shared that she thinks some of the Supplementary Standards are applicable to any large industrial user. She proposed that it may be useful to note where the recommendations are specific to data centers. Member Werthmann noted that the things pointed out by Member Schmidtke have been added into development agreements approved by the City Council in the past. He agreed with Member Schmidtke that the TIF/TID recommendations within the document need more work. He also agreed with Member Baumann that language should be added about principal use because he thinks the Council will land on the question, “Is this a principle use that we want in the City?” Mr. Herbison clarified that City Council can make Supplemental Standards via an amendment to the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) without needing a moratorium to be in place. He also clarified that SAC cannot make recommendations to City Staff, they can only make recommendations to City Council. SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 3 Member Tyler shared that she thinks the document needs more work and she wouldn’t want to support sending the recommendation to City Council unfinished. Chairperson Strehlow shared that she believes that City Staff is the appropriate group to write up the polished policy and clarified that the goal of the document was to initiate the conversation about data center development in the City. She asked the Committee Members if they would like to wait a month to see a more revised version of the document. Member Hillesheim shared that she thinks the document captures most of the key points. She also noted the importance of allowing developers to design the system while having some high-level requirements they are beholden to. She believes another round of revisions to the document would be good, but spending 18 months on it wouldn’t make sense. Member Schmidtke agreed that the Committee’s feedback should be applied to another revision of the document to be reviewed at next month’s meeting. Member Cisneros Caballero shared that he considers the document a living document that doesn’t have to be perfect. He supported approving the document as-is. Member Werthmann shared that he imagines that City Council would do a number of work sessions, which are available to the public, where City Staff and Council would work on the document together. He also asked the Committee if they want to go the route of recommending additional Supplemental Standards or if they want to recommend amending something within the LDO about uses or both. Vice Chairperson Baumann moved to postpone voting on Policy Considerations for Data Center Development until the August 19th meeting, seconded by Member Brown. The motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Strehlow noted that she is available to receive specific suggestions/changes via email and reminded Committee Members to avoid copying one another on their emails in order to comply with state open meeting laws. AGENDA ITEM #6a: Definition of Sustainability Presentation Chairperson Strehlow gave a presentation on various definitions of sustainability and how they are different. The presentation also shared the City’s mission, SAC’s mission, and how they connect with the definitions of sustainability that were shared. After the presentation, Committee Members discussed their thoughts. Member Werthmann shared that he was one of the authors of the ordinance that created the Sustainability Advisory Committee, but he believes there could be an opportunity to amend the ordinance and redefine the role of the committee. Member Tyler expressed that there is now a larger focus on environment justice within sustainability. Member Hillesheim noted that she doesn’t want to duplicate the work of other committees, but there could be opportunities for more proactive collaboration with other City committees that are related to sustainability. Member Brown agreed with Member Hillesheim on the importance of not doing duplicate work. AGENDA ITEM #6b: Comprehensive Plan Update SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 4 Member Brown moved to postpone the Comprehensive Plan Update presentation to the August 19th meeting, seconded by Member Tyler. The motion passed unanimously. AGENDA ITEM #7: Future Agenda Items & Announcements Ruth Hollander, City of Eau Claire Planning & Sustainability Intern, shared updates on the Navigator Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy program and energy benchmarking for the City. Member Tyler shared that JONAH is doing a presentation on air quality at the library on the 2nd Tuesday of August at 6 PM. Members briefly discussed a recent irrigation ban put in place in Menomonie, WI. AGENDA ITEM #8: Adjournment Member Werthmann moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Member Hillesheim. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Jennifer Peck, Secretary