La Crosse’s city council, tonight, looks at police in schools, a Riverside Park building plan, PFAs and more

La Crosse’s monthly city council meeting tonight will look at PFAS testing on French Island, the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, as well as a future landmark building in Riverside Park, among other things.

The council is being asked to accept a memorandum between La Crosse police and the school district for the SRO program, which allows officers to be assigned to school buildings for the next year.

Many critics of the SRO system want it to be ended, arguing that some students are fearful of being targeted by police officers.

As for the Riverside Park building, that former fish hatchery, which used to be the home of the La Crosse convention bureau, is being renovated now.

Developers want to convert it to an Air BNB and a beer garden, where wedding parties might be held.

Residents of a nearby apartment complex, however, are objecting to the plan.

The city council also may increase spending for testing French Island wells, in search of hazardous PFAS chemicals in the water, and it could hire a homeless services coordinator for the city.

The city council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the southside neighborhood center on 6th Street.