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SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 1 Meeting Minutes June 17, 2026 MISSION: “To assure the common good through services essential for a safe, sustainable, engaged and healthy community.” DATE: June 17, 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, Gail Halmstad, Mary Hedenstrom, Lindsey Hillesheim, Jennifer Peck, Lily Strehlow, Janis Tyler, Andrew Werthmann Absent: Jackson Schmidtke 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 May 20, 2026 Meeting Minutes Member Werthmann moved to approve the meeting minutes, seconded by Vice Chairperson Baumann. The motion carried passed with only Member Tyler abstaining. AGENDA ITEM #5a: Compost Ordinance Updates Committee Member Werthmann introduced the proposed compost ordinance changes and explained the anticipated schedule for adoption. Chairperson Strehlow opened the item to public discussion. Mark Vinall, Landfill Manager for GFL Environmental, noted his company’s prior experience with composting organics and spoke favorably of the proposed compost ordinance’s Tiers 1 and 2. He raised concerns about the size limit of 50 cu. ft. in Tier 3 as it would prohibit GFL from moving a composting operation into the city limits in the future. He expressed concern about waste haulers’ abilities to estimate costs for a composting program if residents are able to opt in or out of the program. Sarah Titera, District Manager II at Waste Management (WM), stated WM shares the same sustainability goals as the city, but they are also concerned with the cost of a composting program to WM. She raised concerns about the proposed ordinance’s mandate to average rates amongst customers that opt in to the program making it tricky for haulers to estimate costs. She said the composting program could be easier to get started if the ordinance passed without the Tier 3 section. She also noted that WM has created similar composting programs in the Twin Cities area and they are willing to help and partner to create a program that would best fit the City of Eau Claire. Kathy Campbell, JONAH Environmental Task Force (ETF), raised the following points about the section pertaining to public education on composting within the proposed ordinance: 1) education on composting needs to be clear and consistent, 2) the creation and sharing of educational materials should involve city officials and experts, rather than relying on haulers to share the materials and 3) educational materials on SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 2 composting should be provided to everyone in the city, not just upon request. She stated that the Committee should consider alternative waste management solutions for organics, such as anerobic digesters and land spreading. She also urged the Committee to bring more stakeholders, such as the various waste haulers, into conversations surrounding composting. Jamie Pappas, Earthbound Environmental Solutions, shared that waste haulers are in limbo right now with the City’s ongoing waste study, and she recommended taking more time to finalize the ordinance. No additional public comment was heard, and the Committee began its discussion. Member Tyler asked how the proposed composting ordinance would benefit those who live in apartments. She raised concerns that property owners would be responsible for opting in to the composting program, and they may not choose to do so even if their tenants would like to opt in. Member Werthmann noted he is unsure if apartment landlords having to opt in to the composting program is something that could be mandated in an ordinance by the City. Member Hillesheim noted that groups in Tier 2 may not have the resources and people necessary to manage their compost. She urged the Committee to consider how SAC can support Tier 2 sites with composting in the future, should the ordinance pass. Member Werthmann stated the following in response to the concerns expressed: 1) provisions on educational materials would not normally be part of an ordinance and educational materials would likely be shared with those within Tier 2 when they register with the City, 2) the size limit of 50 cu. ft. within Tier 3 came from the fact that compost piles larger than 50 cu. ft. must be regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 3) the market has had the opportunity to respond to the desire that City of Eau Claire residents have for a residential composting program and the waste haulers have not done so, 4) he is unsure how to address rental properties in the ordinance, but is open to suggestions; as the proposed ordinance stands, it would be the responsibility of tenants to ask their landlord to opt into the compost program, 5) regardless of the results of the City’s waste study, he believes composting should be part of the way trash is managed in the City of Eau Claire, and 6) the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Renewable Energy Action Plan (REAP) both encourage a city-wide composting program. Member Peck advised the Committee to not not “let the perfect get in the way of the good,” and suggested adopting the proposed ordinance as it stands. She noted that SAC could work on educating various tiers on composting in the future. Member Tyler stated the current proposed ordinance is workable and suggested there are ways haulers can estimate the costs of a composting program even if residents are able to opt in or out of the program. Chairperson Strehlow suggested the creation of a Tier 4 for facilities with compost piles larger than 50 cubic ft. and noted that SAC can play an important role in educating the public on composting. Member Werthmann moved to approve the compost ordinance, seconded by Vice Chairperson Baumann. The motion carried with only Member Brown abstaining. AGENDA ITEM #5b: Policy Considerations for Data Center Development Chairperson Strehlow reiterated the role of SAC as making recommendations on policy and noted the proposed moratorium recommendation would be for one year despite the error in the document stating “a six-month moratorium.” Chairperson Strehlow opened the agenda item for public discussion. SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 3 Joanne Haflenbock, United Western Wisconsin, shared the organization is in favor of a one-year moratorium to allow the City time to find out more about data centers. She encouraged the City to look into how they can partner with other local groups on this issue. Garrett Martin, Business Agent for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 953, recommended the Committee consider the pros and cons of data centers in relation to local labor unions. Martin raised the following questions: 1) why is a moratorium being considered now? 2) has a development been proposed in the City? 3) what types of data centers would be covered by the data center moratorium? and 4) does the moratorium extend to other developments related to data center development, like the expansion of transmission lines? Martin stated, while a moratorium provides more time, it is not useful if the additional time isn’t used to better understand the issue. Dr. Alex Craker, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, noted that a recent Wisconsin Public Health Association resolution describes unregulated hyperscale data centers as a public health concern in Wisconsin and also calls for a pause in the development of hyperscale data centers. No additional public comment was heard, and the Committee began its discussion. Chair Strehlow explained that the original moratorium document got split into two documents: 1) the one- year moratorium recommendation, and 2) the additional data center recommendations document. Strehlow also shared that the one-year moratorium is designed to allow City staff time to create supplemental zoning standards, and those standards can’t be codeveloped while any data center applications are being processed. Blake Herbison, Assistant City Attorney, highlighted state statutes have stringent requirements that need to be met for a moratorium to be put in place. Member Tyler supported the moratorium and suggested creating a “floating zone” for data centers. She also advocated for the proposed moratorium recommendation to include a larger focus on the health concerns related to data centers. Member Cisneros suggested that a one-year moratorium isn’t enough and expressed concern about the impact of data centers on the City’s water and energy resources. Mr. Herbison advised that Wisconsin statute limits the duration of a moratorium to 12 months, with the option to amend to extend the moratorium by 6 months if the time is needed to resolve remaining issues. Member Halmstead supported the moratorium and shared that a data center would threaten the air and water, which are things that bring people to the City of Eau Claire community. She suggested that more time is needed to investigate the impact of data centers on wildlife and light pollution. Member Peck stated data centers are a new and emerging thing, so the City needs more time to understand what benefits they may have. Peck suggested that data center development isn’t inevitable and supported the one-year moratorium. Member Hillesheim gave a brief overview of her presentations on data centers. She suggested adding more language about engaging with regional stakeholders and establishing a common goal around data centers. She also noted that a Google data center in Hermantown, Minnesota, is bringing in money for the community’s school, and she suggested that it is the responsibility of the City and region to work to negotiate deals with data centers that will benefit the community. SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 4 Member Hedenstrom supported the moratorium, and agreed that people are attracted to the City of Eau Claire because of the natural resources, which data centers can impact. Member Werthmann shared that there are different data center investigations taking place in the Chippewa Valley. Werthmann expressed concern about transparency between data center developers and the City of Eau Claire community. He supported the proposed one-year moratorium. Member Tyler expressed worry that the issue of data centers would become a question of economic development versus public health, and stated that she doesn’t want the City to make decisions solely based on economic development. Chair Strehlow expressed concern about how a data center being built in the City could impact the levy limit /net new construction taxing limits in future years. She noted the connection between economic policy and City’s sustainability plans. Member Werthmann motioned to amend “six-months” to “one year” in the proposed moratorium recommendation, seconded by Member Hillesheim. The motion passed unanimously. Blake Herbison, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Eau Claire, clarified that the proposed one-year moratorium recommendation voted on by SAC would be purely advisory, recommending the City Council consider a moratorium on data centers. Chairperson Strehlow clarified that SAC would approve the recommendation and then the City of Eau Claire City Council and City staff would work to fully formulate a moratorium to present before City Council. Member Hillesheim suggested amending the proposed moratorium recommendation to add engaging other regional stakeholders as appropriate. Member Peck moved to amend the proposed moratorium recommendation to say, “This will allow the City of Eau Claire time to fully analyze and research the economic, environmental, and health impacts of potential development, as well as the ability to develop zoning regulation that provides a reasonable response to the request and engage other regional stakeholders as appropriate.” The amendment was seconded by Vice Chairperson Baumann. The amendment carried with only Member Tyler abstaining. Vice Chairperson Baumann moved to approve the proposed one-year moratorium recommendation document as amended, seconded by Member Peck. The motion passed unanimously. AGENDA ITEM #6a: Definition of Sustainability Presentation Vice Chairperson Baumann moved to postpone the Definition of Sustainability presentation to the July 15th meeting, seconded by Member Hillesheim. The motion passed unanimously. AGENDA ITEM #7: Future Agenda Items & Announcements Ned Noel, Planning Manager for the City of Eau Claire, provided an update on the City’s waste study that began in June. Committee Members noted the following future agenda items:  Further discussion on the data center supplemental standards recommendation document  Possible presentation on intact forest stands  Energy efficiency of municipal buildings SAC 6-17-26 Mtg. Minutes – Page 5 AGENDA ITEM #8: Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:06 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Jennifer Peck, Secretary