Council approves UW Eau Claire parade permit and several routine items; budget and transit measures pass

The Eau Claire City Council on June 10 approved a set of routine and programmatic items, including a permit for UW Eau Claire's homecoming parade on Water Street, final allocations for the city's 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) awards, a three-year transit agreement with the University of Wisconsin'Eau Claire, and receipt of the wastewater utility's 2024 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR).

Why it matters: The votes finalize funding decisions that the city will submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for CDBG and HOME and maintain multi-year service arrangements that affect students and campus-area transportation. The CMAR acknowledgement is an annual compliance action that also generated discussion about PFAS testing and biosolids management at the city wastewater plant.

What the council approved and how the council voted

- Consent agenda: The council moved and approved the consent agenda at the start of the meeting; the motion passed by roll call (9-1). (See provenance lines below.)

- UW Eau Claire Homecoming (parade permit): Council approved a resolution authorizing the UW Eau Claire Alumni Association to hold Homecoming activities — including a proposed return of the parade to Water Street — on Oct. 4, 2025 in Carson Park and on city streets. The item was moved by Council Member Serrano and seconded by Council Member Brewster. City staff described outreach to businesses, neighborhood associations and the university; bars along the route have agreed to not open early on parade day, a condition staff said reduces prior problems. The motion passed 9-1; Council Member Bogo cast the lone no vote.

- 2025 CDBG and HOME allocations: The council approved a resolution adopting the city's final 2025 allocations for CDBG and HOME funding after a 30-day public comment period and two public hearings. Staff reported slight reductions from HUD in both program allocations (a less-than-1% reduction in CDBG and about a 4% decrease in HOME funds) and said the proposed allocations were adjusted proportionally. Because the change amends the city budget, the resolution required eight affirmative votes; the council approved the item unanimously.

- Transit service agreement with UW Eau Claire: The council approved a three-year contract between Eau Claire Transit and UW Eau Claire. The contract continues a long-standing arrangement (in place since 1997) that lets students and faculty ride city routes without paying per-trip fares and provides the university with input on two routes. The new contract adds increased evening service Monday'Thursday on Routes 9 and 19. The motion passed unanimously.

- CMAR: The council received and acknowledged the 2024 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report for the wastewater treatment plant and collection system. Staff described the CMAR as a "report card" on plant performance and noted ongoing capital projects and staffing stability at the plant. The item passed unanimously.

What the votes mean next: Staff said the CDBG/HOME approvals let the city finalize and submit the action plan to HUD; the transit contract will be implemented with additional evening buses; and the CMAR discussion will inform forthcoming capital improvement program work sessions and permitting discussions at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources level.

Ending: Council members and staff framed the actions as technical, program-level approvals needed to keep ongoing services and funding on schedule. The meeting then moved to three work sessions on trash and recycling, downtown parking and the CIP.