City administrator study and ramp restrictions approved by La Crosse judiciary committee

Members of a La Crosse city council committee have not been able to agree on a plan to study the possible need for a city administrator.

A resolution to establish a working group to consider the administrator plan has failed on a 3-3 tie vote by the council judiciary committee on Wednesday. The study proposal will go to the full city council next week, with a recommendation to not adopt.

The idea of hiring an administrator to manage city business alongside the mayor has been debated for a few months by council members. At their October meeting, the council voted to postpone any decision on appointing an administrator until at least May, after the spring elections for mayor and council.

The committee also approved an ordinance to restrict unnecessary activities at city-owned parking ramps. The proposal says a person would be trespassing in a ramp by doing things not directly related to parking a car, such as drinking, using drugs, camping, or skateboarding. That measure also goes to the full council at its November meeting.