City committee considering expansion to climate, arts panels; beer gardens could get taller fences

Residents of La Crosse may get more chances to serve on City Hall committees, without having to run for office. 

The city council is considering plans to expand the Climate Action steering committee and the La Crosse arts board. 

The climate panel now has five members but hopes to add two more. New members would probably be chosen from a team of about 50 citizens, who worked on the climate plan passed by the city council back in January. 

The arts board wants to return to its original size of nine members, to allow representation from more segments of the community. Three years ago, the board was reduced to seven members.

The Judiciary and Administrative Committee considers those actions at 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.

Beer gardens in La Crosse could get taller fences soon, under a plan being presented to a city committee Tuesday.

The idea is to increase the height of the fences at gardens where there are courts for volleyball and pickleball, so balls don’t leave the playing area.

The current zoning for beer gardens was designed to regulate other outdoor sports, such as baseball and tennis.

Both the Judiciary and Administrative Committee and the City Plan Commission consider the plan, which will then go to next week’s monthly city council meeting.