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CITY OF RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS June 9 , 202 6 Mayor Page called the meeting to order at 6: 3 0 p.m. City Council Members Present : Mei Mei Abdouch, Todd Bjerstedt , Nick Carow, S ean Downing , Diane Odeen, Michael Page, Rose Walker Staff Present : City Administrator Scot Simpson; Community Services Director/City Clerk Amy White ; City Attorney Chris Gierhart; Police Chief Gordon Young ; Chief of Staff Jennifer Smith ; C ommunity Development Director Amy Peterson ; Assistant Director of Community Development Emily Shively ; City Engineer Todd Nickleski ; Senior Planner Harley Mehlhorn; Utility Director Kevin Westhuis; IT Technician Lead Jon Smits The pledge of allegiance was said. APPROVAL OF MINUTES : May 26 , 2026 meeting minutes MS C Abdouch /Downing to approve the minutes. Unanimous. A PPROVAL OF BILLS: M S C Page /Carow moved to approve the bills. Unanimous. PUBLIC HEARING: Annual Liquor License and Beer License Renewals – Hearing and Disposition by Motion for each License Class Mayor Page changed the order of the agenda and moved first to the public hearing for the liquor licenses. Clerk White took a roll call of the current agents in attendance. Clerk White called the one new agent to the podium. Councilmember Walker asked agent , Pat Ptacek, if he understood the role of an agent, if he possessed a responsible server ’s certificate, and if he understood that if an alcohol related violation occurs even if they were not there, they are responsible. He answered yes to the questions. At 6:34 p.m. , the mayor recessed into a Public Hearing asking if anyone had comments about the license renewal s . As there were no questions or comments, the mayor moved back into Open Session at 6:35 p.m. The renewal applications were reviewed by City staff and law enforcement, with no concerns identified. The Police Chief confirmed that he had reviewed the applications and had no objections to their approval. During the discussion, officials also noted that there were no known incidents associated with any of the license holders during either the current year or the previous year. Based on these findings, support was expressed for moving forward with the renewals. MSC Bjerstedt /Page move to grant renewals for the Combination “ Class A ” Class Beer Licenses and Class “ A ” Cider Licenses contingent that all licensing requirements are met at the time of issuance for Bo b & Steve ’s Stores #4 and #6. Unanimous. MS Odeen /Walker move to g rant renewals for the Combination “ Class A ” Liquor and Class “ A ” Beer Licenses contingent that all licensing requirements are met at the time of issuance for Aldi, City Council Minutes for June 9 , 202 6 Page 2 Devine Liquors , Family Fresh, Circle K, Kwik Trip Stores #301 and #1104, Ptacek ’s Family Liquor, Walgreens, and WE Market Co-op. The vote carried 6-0 with all voting in favor except for Carow who abstained. MSC Downing/Abdouch move to g rant renewals for the Class “ B ” Beer Licenses contingent that all licensing requirements are met at the time of issuance for Luigi ’s Pizza and River Falls Baseball Council . Unanimous. MSC Downing/Abdouch move to g rant renewals for the “ Class C ” Wine Licenses contingent that all licensing requirements are met at the time of issuance for River Falls Baseball Council . Unanimous. MS C Page /Odeen move to grant renewals for the Combination “ Class B ” Liquor and Class “ B ” Beer Licenses contingent on all licensing requirements being met at the time of issuance for American Legion Post 121, Broz Sports Bar & Grill, Burrito X, Emma ’s Bar, Falls Theatre, Johnnies Bar, Junior ’s Restaurant and Tap House, Lazy River Bar & Grill, Mariachi Loco, Mel ’s Midtowner , Nutty Squirrel, River Falls Golf Club, River Falls Moose Lodge, Shooters Pub, St. Croix Lanes, Streeters Bar & Grill, Swinging Bridge Brewery, Tarnation Tavern and Westwind Supper Club. Unanimous. PUBLIC COMMENT, PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: No public comments. PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Page opened the public hearing at 6:40 p .m . for the second reading and disposition of Ordinance 2026-12 regarding the annexation petition from Delbert F. Johnson and Elaine H. Johnson revokable trusts for the property at the southeast corner of County Highway M and 1060th Street (PID 002010010200 & and a portion of 002010010600); application of a Future Land Use Classification of Mixed Use and Medium Density Residential; and application of a Zoning classification of R-2 Multiple Family (Medium Density) Residence District and B-3 Highway Commercial District to portions of the subject properties . Senior Planner Harley Mehlhorn presented an overview of a proposed annexation of approximately 55 acres requested by Delvert F. Johnson and Elaine H. Johnson Revocable Trusts in collaboration with EW Homes. He confirmed the property is contiguous with city boundaries and consistent with the City ’s Comprehensive Plan. The site is currently in agricultural use and is surrounded by a mix of residential and agricultural uses. Christine Witt raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed annexation on nearby township roads and questioned responsibility for future maintenance and improvement costs resulting from increased traffic. Krista Cl ea ry expressed concerns that the views of neighboring township residents are not sufficiently considered in annexation and development decisions and requested greater community involvement in future growth planning. John Wood questioned whether the proposed development is compatible with the surrounding rural character of the area. Mayor Page closed the public hearing and reopened the council meeting at 6 :50 p .m. MS Odeen/Page to approve the Ordinance. City Council Minutes for June 9 , 202 6 Page 3 Council m ember Abdouch asked for clarification regarding the temporary zoning that would be applied if the annexation were approved, specifically whether there is a timeframe for development to occur or for agricultural use to cease. Administrator Simpson explained that agricultural use may continue after annexation and temporary zoning, as Wisconsin law generally permits agricultural activities regardless of zoning classification. Senior Planner Mehlhorn explained that state law requires a temporary zoning designation upon annexation, while the City's ordinance requires permanent zoning to be established within 90 days. He noted that temporary zoning does not automatically revert and serves as an interim designation until formal rezoning is completed. Council m ember Walker sought clarification regarding a discrepancy in the zoning designation shown in the packet and asked whether any portion of the proposed development would include R-3 residential zoning. Senior Planner Me h lhorn explained that R-2 and R-3 zoning districts cannot be changed administratively between one another. However, the B-3 commercial area allows for certain R-3 residential uses as part of a mixed-use designation. He noted that any potential R-3 use would be limited to the commercial corner area, while the remainder of the site would be restricted to R-2 residential zoning in accordance with the City's future land use plan. Motion carried unanimously. REPORTS : 2025 Annual Co n sumer Confiden ce Report No comments or questions Administrator ’s Report No questions for Admin istrator Simpson Comptroller Report General Fund revenues through the end of May were $5,458,854 or 37.9% of total budgeted revenues for the year. Revenues in May included $148,671 from cops in schools ’ program, $49,044 in building permits, and $9,500 in parking violations. Expenditures through the end of May were $5,986,204, or 41.6% of total budget expenditures for the year. As of May 31, 2026, net expenditures over revenues were $527,350. Mayor ’s Good News Mayor Page congratulated the recent graduates of River Falls High School and wished them success in their future endeavors. Special recognition was given to Blake Schneider for winning the WIAA State Track and Field Championship in pole vaulting. She also announced the first Cookout Conversation event of the summer, inviting residents to attend, connect with City officials and staff, and celebrate the community's neighborhood parks. MSC Bjerstedt/ Walker to adjourn at 6 :59 p.m. Unanimous. Re spectfully submitted , Amy White, Community Services Director/City Clerk