La Crosse city council group begins discussion of adding city administrator job

The idea of hiring a city administrator for La Crosse is still on the table, and a new study group of city council members is weighing that plan.

The group had its first meeting on Wednesday, with council member Larry Sleznikow chosen to chairs the study panel.

Sleznikow says city department heads will be contacted first, before public comments are gathered. He says the committee will seek out opinions on “what they think the benefit would be, perhaps some drawbacks or concerns, and it was decided to reach out to department heads, to hopefully meet with them in person.” A public survey on the administrator idea also is being planned, with a proposal likely to be brought to the full council in the spring.

The city council voted in October to put off the hiring of an administrator, until at least next May, following the election for mayor. In 2012, La Crosse voters rejected a referendum calling for the hiring of an administrator. Recent discussions have centered around having the mayor and administrator work together, rather than possibly replacing the mayor’s office.

The council holds its December monthly meeting on Thursday, with current rules for off-street parking lots in La Crosse up for discussion. On Tuesday, citizens spoke at a public hearing on how much parking space is needed in certain areas of La Crosse. Critics of the current parking regulations suggest that some of the off-street lots could be better used for new housing.