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CITY OF RIVER FALLS, WISCONSIN COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS May 12 , 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 ; Utility Director Kevin Westhuis; Assistant Director of Community Development Emily Shively ; City Engineer Todd Nickleski ; Senior Planner Harley Mehlhorn; IT Technician Jonathan Thoen The pledge of allegiance was said. APPROVAL OF MINUTES : April 28 , 202 6 meeting minutes and April 21, 2026 organization al retreat minutes MS C Odeen /Carow to approve the minutes. Unanimous. A PPROVAL OF BILLS: M S C Odeen /Bjerstedt moved to approve the bills. Unanimous. PUBLIC COMMENT, PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Councilmember Abdouch asked whether emailed public comments submitted prior to a council meeting are read aloud during meetings. Administrator Simpson clarified that current council bylaws do not require emailed comments to be read into the record and that this has not been standard practice. It was explained that all emailed or mailed communications addressed to the mayor and council are distributed to council members and are considered public records. Discussion centered on a late-submitted email regarding a rezoning public hearing item and whether it should be incorporated into the public meeting record. Councilmember Abdouch explained that the email had been forwarded shortly before the meeting and asked for clarification on existing procedures. Administrator Simpson responded that council members have options available, including continuing the current practice of distributing comments only to council members, formally recording emailed comments in meeting minutes, or allowing council members to summarize or read comments during discussion of the related agenda item. Administrator Simpson explained that there is no single established “best practice ” for handling emailed public comments but emphasized the importance of consistency and clarity in council procedures. He noted that some residents may submit written comments specifically to ensure their views become part of the searchable public record. It was also clarified that meeting minutes are intended to summarize proceedings rather than serve as verbatim transcripts . The discussion concluded with general agreement that, for the current meeting, council members could individually reference or summarize the emailed rezoning comment during discussion of the public hearing item. City Council Minutes for May 12 , 202 6 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Page opened the public hearing at 6: 4 1 p .m . for the second reading of Ordinance 2026-11 Rezoning property in the Sterling Ponds Corporate park from Conservancy (C) to Industrial (I-1). No questions or comments from attendees. Councilmember Walker read an emailed comment from a resident who is opposed to the rezoning. Mayor Page closed the public hearing and reopened the council meeting at 6 :43 p .m. MS Odeen /Page to approve the Ordinance . Councilmember Abdouch asked when the property had originally been zoned as conservancy. Administrator Simpson responded that the zoning change occurred in 2014 and explained that the parcel had previously contained buildings and at one time was outside city limits. H e noted that when the property was incorporated into the city, conservancy zoning was used largely because the parcel lacked legal access and development needed to be restricted until a future planning solution could be identified. Questions were raised about whether denial of the rezoning request would prevent development of the larger adjoining lots. Administrator Simpson explained that the property has long been contemplated as part of the broader Sterling Ponds Corporate Park plan and that rezoning would align the parcel with surrounding industrial uses. He further stated that maintaining the conservancy designation no longer made practical sense because the parcel is not intended for parkland or stormwater management and was originally zoned conservancy primarily due to access limitations and outdated floodplain mapping. Councilmember Odeen offered historical context regarding the parcel, noting that deteriorating buildings had occupied the site in the past and recalling that the property had effectively become landlocked after earlier industrial development occurred nearby. She stated that the parcel is physically separated from residential portions of Sterling Ponds and remains surrounded by industrial uses and conservancy buffers. Councilm ember Carow asked where the city ranks statewide in terms of economic development and new construction activity. Administrator Simpson responded that the city likely ranks among the top municipalities in Wisconsin and stated that this growth is the result of long-term strategic planning adopted by prior councils. Councilmember Carow emphasized that while concerns from nearby residents are understood and respected, the city has intentionally pursued economic development to maintain a strong tax base and support long-term community goals . He reiterated that the proposed rezoning aligns with longstanding city planning efforts and stated that development of the parcel would not significantly impact habitat or natural areas. Councilmember Downing re ferenced language contained in the rezoning analysis included in the meeting packet, noting that the parcel had originally been rezoned conservancy specifically to limit development until it could later be incorporated into a larger industrial development plan. Motion carried 6-1 with Abdouch voting against. CONSENT AGENDA: Resolution No. 7082 Approving Amended Municipal Court Bond Schedule Resolution Approving a Public Access Easement on Out lot 3 of the Mann Valley Corporate Park to Allow for Emergency Access to the Valley View Apartment Development →→ pulled by Downing MS C Odeen /Bjerstedt to approve the remaining Consent Agenda. Unanimous. City Council Minutes for May 12 , 202 6 Page 3 Resolution No. 7083 Approving a Public Access Easement on Out lot 3 of the Mann Valley Corporate Park to Allow for Emergency Access to the Valley View Apartment Development Councilmember Downing asked for a clearer visual explanation of how the access area would function within the development and benefit the surrounding community. Administrator Simpson explained the easement would provide secondary emergency vehicle access using an area already associated with a sanitary sewer lift station, minimizing additional paving and impacts to nearby stormwater and conservancy areas. Councilmember Abdouch asked about the purpose of the easement, future development plans, and whether the arrangement created additional city costs. Administrator Simpson stated the access route is primarily intended for emergency vehicles if the main entrance becomes blocked and noted that future phases of development may include additional housing and access connections. He also explained that the developer would bear project costs and that granting the easement aligned with council goals supporting affordable housing. MSC Downing/ Odeen to pass the resolution . Unanimous ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Resolution No. 7084 Approving the City of River Falls Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan Mitch Kaufman from Toole Design provided a presentation highlighting the plan. Councilmember Walker expressed concern about children operating motorized scooters and bicycles at high speeds near vehicle traffic and asked whether the proposed transportation or safety plan included educational efforts focused on safe riding behavior. Kaufman responded that the plan supports general safety education initiatives and noted that public feedback identified rider safety as a community concern. MSC Downing/Abdouch to approve the resolution. Unanimous. ANNOUNCEMENTS : P ublic Works Week Proclamation - Mayor Page read the proclamation World Bee Day Proclamation - Councilmember Downing read the p roclamation REPORTS : Administrator ’s Report No comments or questions Comptroller Report General Fund revenues through the end of April were $4,510,763 or 31% of total budgeted revenues for the year. Revenues in April included $24,200 in building permits, $15,000 in recreation program fees and $13,700 in parking violations. Expenditures through the end of April were $4,421,977, or 30.7% of total budget expenditure for the year. As of April 30, 2026, net revenues over expenditures were $88,786. Mayor ’s Good News Mayor Page talked about the employee appreciation event earlier in the day and expressed her gratitude for city staff. CLOSED SESSION At 7:28 p.m., the mayor asked for a motion to recess into Closed Session per Wisconsin Statute. §19.85(1)(g) for the following purposes Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to City Council Minutes for May 12 , 202 6 Page 4 litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved.to wit: denying the claim against the city and approval of the letter to the claimant under Wis. Stat. sec. 893.80(1g). MS Odeen/Carow. Mayor asked for a roll call vote which passed 7-0. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION: At 7:41 p.m., MSC Bjerstedt / to move back into Open Session. Unanimous. During closed session, City Attorney Gierhart provided an overview of the claim against the City, which alleged a piece of ice was thrown while a public works staff member was removing snow, causing damage to a vehicle. MSC Odeen/Carow to approve Resolution No. 7085 Approving Disallowing Claim. Unanimous. MSC Bjerstedt/ Carow to adjourn at 7: 42 p.m. Re spectfully submitted , Amy White, Community Services Director/City Clerk