Public Input City Budget

But first, please read this Guardian (UK) article about the latest leaked draft IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report. Read it and understand it.

”According to AFP, the IPCC draft details at least 12 potential tipping points. 'The worst is yet to come, affecting our children’s and grandchildren’s lives much more than our own,' the report says.”

Consider that the City of La Crosse pledged TWO YEARS AGO to reduce its carbon footprint to zero and increase its renewable energy use (community-wide in both cases) to 100%, and they are just now planning to hire a planner to plan for a plan that will be ready in about another year or so, give or take.

In the meantime, what's in our budget right now that recognizes the TERRIFYING climate catastrophe we've bumbled our way into? What's in there right now to stop further unnecessary carbon emissions from DEMOLISHING BUILDINGS, building new things that are NOT ZERO-CARBON, and encouraging more people to drive and park more fossil-fueled vehicles wherever they want. For example.

Is there money to vastly improve the routes and schedules of our public transportation service? Is there anything in the budget to build a grid of PROTECTED BIKE LANES for residents of all ages and abilities so they can safely and easily use bicycles for everyday transportation? Is there a budget to install EV charging stations around the city? A mandate and budget to get businesses and residences off of fossil gas? A program to weatherize all of the city's rental properties? Money to gather the top employers, schools, colleges and universities, and non profits to work out how they will be leaders not laggers in reaching carbon zero goals?

If you find there's no or not enough attention paid to the climate action commitment, please mention this is your remarks.

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This email is to notify you of the Public Hearing on the 2022-2026 Capital Budget Process, which will be held at 

the City Plan Commission’s Meeting on July 12, 2021 at 6PM at the South Side Neighborhood Center, located at 1300 6^th Street South in La Crosse.

 

Attached is the draft Capital Budget Summary: https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/home/showpublisheddocument/5261/637586563335400000

Here is the link for the detailed report:

https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/finance/budget/capital-improvement/2022-capital-budget

 

Members of the public will be able to provide comments on the 2022-2026 Capital Budget via video conferencing, in person, or written statement. Please include the item number and description with your comments.

 

The City Plan Commission Meeting’s Public Hearing will be held on July 12, 2021 at 6PM, located at the South Side Neighborhood Center, 1300 6^th Street South in La Crosse. Social distancing policies will be in effect.

 

The meeting will also be conducted through video conferencing and may be viewed and accessed with the following link:

https://stream.lifesizecloud.com/extension/9794361/0d016062-5436-4221-a814-2adab70cb22e

 

Or, comments via written statement can be sent ahead of the meeting in an email sent to Tim Acklin, acklint@cityofalcrosse.org , (608) 789-7391, or dropped off to Planning Department at City Hall, located at 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, WI 54601.

 

If you have any questions, please contact either Tim Acklin, AICP, Planning Administrator, (608)-789-7391 acklint@cityoflacrosse.org

or Erin Duffer, Planning & Development Assistant, (608)-789-8311 duffere@cityoflacrosse.org .