Working group presents survey and timeline for proposed La Crosse city administrator; costs and accountability top concerns

The City Administrator Working Group presented its findings to the council on Dec. 11, summarizing eight engagement sessions and an online survey that drew 328 responses and highlighted cost and accountability as the leading public concerns.

The working group’s presentation reviewed options for creating a city administrator role through a charter ordinance scheduled for the Feb. 12 council meeting. “Altogether, we received 328 responses,” the meeting chair said, noting that respondents who self‑identified as 65 and older were the largest demographic group represented in the survey.

Why it matters: the ordinance under consideration would transfer some duties from the mayor’s office to an appointed city administrator. That change could trigger a binding referendum process because it is a charter ordinance; Attorney Matty told members the council would need to allow 60 days for any valid petition to qualify a referendum, which could push implementation timelines into 2027.

Hiring timeline and recruitment: Rebecca Franzen,…