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MINUTES EAU CLAIRE CITY COUNCIL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 City Council Chamber 4:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL City Clerk Nicholas Koerner called the meeting to order. The following Council Members were present: Council Members Aaron Brewster, Charlie Johnson, Larry Mboga, Joshua Miller, Ethan Reed, Jessica Schoen, Clara Serrano, and Andrew Werthmann. The following Council Member was absent: Nate Otto SWEARING-IN CEREMONY The Honorable Judge Douglas Hoffer administered the Oath of Office to City Council President Gragert. PROCLAMATION Council Member Andrew Werthmann read a proclamation in honor of the service of former Council Member Dr. Emily Anderson. Council Member Otto joined the meeting. MESSAGES City Manager Stephanie Hirsch delivered a welcome message to the council followed by City Council President Gragert’s message to the council. ELECTION OF COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT Council President Gragert stated that Council Members Miller, Schoen, Serrano, and Werthmann had expressed interest in serving as City Council Vice President. Interest was expressed on a form which Council Members submitted prior to the Organizational Meeting. Council Members Miller, Schoen, Serrano, and Werthmann delivered speeches promoting their selection. Upon conclusion, the Council voted for Council Vice President via secret ballot with six votes being required to win. In the first round of voting, Council Member Miller received one vote, Council Member Schoen received four votes, Council Serrano received zero votes, and Council Member Werthmann received five votes. Council Members Serrano and Miller withdrew their names for consideration. City Council Minutes Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Page 2 In the second round of voting, Council Member Schoen received five votes and Council Member Werthmann received five votes. Council Member Werthmann then withdrew his name for consideration. In the third round of voting, Council Member Jessica Schoen was elected Vice President by unanimous consent. SEATING ARRANGEMENT The Council drew for their Chamber seating arrangement. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES Council Members had previously submitted their committee preferences, and a chart had been prepared. Council President Gragert said in cases where more Council Members had expressed interest in a particular committee than there are positions available, the Council would vote on the membership. There was one position on the Housing Authority Board. Council Member Brewster had expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Board. There were two positions on the Waterways, Parks, and Urban Forestry Commission. Council Members Otto and Werthmann had expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Sustainability Advisory Committee. Council Member Werthmann had expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Housing Opportunities Commission. Council Member Schoen had expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Council Member Miller expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission. Council Member Mboga had expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Transit Commission. Council Member Gragert had expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There were three positions on the Advisory Committee on Appointments. According to City Code, the Council President serves on the committee by virtue of the office. Council Members Brewster, Reed, Schoen, and Werthmann had expressed interest in serving on the Committee. Council Members Schoen and Werthmann withdrew their names for consideration. By unanimous consent, Council Members Brewster and Reed will serve on the Committee along with Council President Gragert. City Council Minutes Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Page 3 There were three positions on the Ad Hoc Committee on Strategic Planning and Community Engagement. According to City Code, the Council President Gragert and President Gragert will serve on the committee by virtue of the office. Council Members Brewster and Werthmann had expressed interest in serving on the Commission. Council Member Brewster withdrew his name for consideration. By unanimous consent, Council Member Werthmann will serve on the Committee. There were five positions on the Fiscal Stability Committee. Council Members Brewster, Serrano, Reed and Gragert expressed interest in and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Committee. No Council Members expressed interest in the remaining position, so the position was left for the new Council Member once one is appointed. There were three positions on the City Manager Evaluation Committee. According to City Code, the Council President Gragert and Vice President Schoen will serve on the committee by virtue of the office. Council Members Brewster, Miller, Serrano, Werthmann expressed interest in serving on the Committee. Council Members Miller, Serrano, and Werthmann withdrew their names for consideration. By unanimous consent, Council Member Brewster will serve on the Committee. There was one position on the Chippewa St. Croix Rail Commission. Council Member Serrano had expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Chippewa-Eau Claire Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). According to City Code, the Council President serves on the MPO by virtue of the office. Council President Gragert will serve on the MPO. There was one position on the Downtown Eau Claire Inc (DECI) Board. Council Member Brewster expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Board There was one position on the Eau Claire Confluence Arts Inc. Board of Directors. Council Member Johnson expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Board There were two positions on the Putnam Parks Commission. Council Members Reed and Otto expressed interest in serving and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission There were two positions on the Visit Eau Claire Board. Council Members Johnson and Mboga, Serrano had expressed interest in serving on the Board. Council Member Johnson withdrew his name for consideration. By unanimous consent Council Members Mboga and Serrano will serve on the Board. There were two positions on the Visit Eau Claire Tourism & Cultural Arts Grant Program Committee. Council Member Mboga expressed interest in serving on the Committee. Council Member Mboga will serve on the Board. No Council Members expressed interest in the remaining position, so the position was left for the new Council Member once one is appointed. City Council Minutes Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Page 4 There was one position on the Visit Eau Claire Destination Master Plan Steering Committee. Council members Johnson, Mboga and Serrano expressed interest. Council Members Mboga and Serrano withdrew. By unanimous consent, Council Member Johnson will serve on the Committee. There was one position on the City / County Board of Health. Council Member Miller had expressed interest in serving on the board and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Board There was one position on the Library Board. Council Members Otto and Miller had expressed interest in serving on the Board. Council Member Miller withdrew his name for consideration. By unanimous consent, Council Member Otto will serve on the Board. There was one position on the Redevelopment Authority (RDA). According to City Ordinance, Council Members appointed to the Redevelopment Authority are to be elected by a four-fifths vote, meaning nine affirmative votes of the Common Council. Council Member Brewster expressed interest in serving on the RDA. By unanimous consent, Council Member Brewster will serve on the Authority. There were two positions on the Board of Review and one alternate. Council Member Reed and Brewster expressed interest in serving on the Board. By unanimous consent, Council Members Brewster and Reed will serve on the Board. No Council Members expressed interest in the remaining alternate position, so the position was left for the new Council Member once one is appointed. There was one position on the Landmarks Commission. Council Member Brewster expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Loan Administration Board. Council Member Mboga expressed interest and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Board. There were two positions on the Plan Commission. According to City Ordinance, Council Mem- bers appointed to the Plan Commission are to be elected by a two-thirds vote, meaning eight affirmative votes of the Common Council. Council Members Brewster, Miller, Otto, and Reed had expressed interest in serving on the Commission. Council Member Otto and Miller withdrew their names for consideration. By unanimous consent, Council Members Brewster and Reed will serve on the Commission. There was one position on the Utility Appeals Board. No council members expressed interest in the position. Council Member Werthmann nominated Council Member Reed. Council Member Reed accepted the nomination and by unanimous consent, will serve on the Board. MUNICIPAL AND LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIAL LEGAL MATTERS City Council Minutes Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Page 5 City Attorney Stephen Nick gave introduction to municipal and local public official legal matters. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned without objection. Adjournment: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Time: 6:04 p.m. ATTEST: /s/ Jeremy E. Gragert /s/ Nicholas L. Koerner Council President City Clerk BOARD, COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Council Vice President Schoen Advisory Committee on Appointments Gragert, Schoen, Werthmann Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Miller Board of Review Brewster, Reed Chippewa-Eau Claire MPO Gragert Chippewa St. Croix Rail Commission Serrano City / County Board of Health Miller City Manager Evaluation Committee Gragert, Schoen, Brewster Downtown Eau Claire Inc (DECI) Board Brewster Eau Claire Confluence Arts Board Johnson Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee Mboga Fiscal Stability Committee Brewster, Gragert, Serrano, Reed Housing Authority Board Brewster Housing Opportunities Commission Schoen Landmarks Commission Brewster Library Board Otto Loan Administration Board Mboga Plan Commission Brewster, Reed Putnam Parks Commission Otto, Reed Redevelopment Authority Board Brewster Strat. Planning & Community Engagement Gragert, Schoen, Werthmann Sustainability Advisory Committee Werthmann Transit Commission Gragert Utility Appeals Board Reed Visit Eau Claire Board Mboga, Serrano Visit Eau Claire Tourism and Arts Mboga Visit Eau Claire Destination Master Plan Johnson Steering Committee Waterways, Parks, and Urban Forestry Otto, Werthmann Commission