La Crosse City Council Votes Down City Administrator Proposal

The La Crosse City Council voted on February 12, 2023, to establish a city administrator position, a proposal designed to streamline local governance. The council required a two-thirds majority for passage but fell short, with only seven of the thirteen members supporting the initiative.

Sam Scinta, CEO of the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, expressed disappointment over the decision, stating that the addition of a city administrator would enhance efficiency for both businesses and residents. “It also promotes efficiency throughout the entire government because it really does streamline processes. Instead of having to go through all of these different department heads, you can work one place, and that person as a civil servant is working across all of the local government,” Scinta noted.

Concerns were raised during the council meeting by Rebecca Frenzen, the city’s director of human resources. She cautioned that a city administrator could undermine the authority of existing department heads. “It’s potentially taking that ability away from the department head to make those decisions for their department by having a city administrator that could come in and supersede that vision, culture, and the department that the department head has built,” Frenzen explained.

Despite the setback, supporters of the city administrator role are looking to reintroduce the proposal in upcoming council meetings. Council member Aron Newberry, who sponsored the ordinance, released a statement emphasizing the need for change. “The current governance structure isn’t working for La Crosse residents. Right now, everyone’s responsible for operations, which means no one is truly accountable,” Newberry stated. He added that he respects colleagues who need more time to consider the details but remains committed to moving forward with the proposal.

Scinta highlighted the urgency of the matter, describing it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to address governance issues in La Crosse. “I think there are members of the city council, from what we understand, that do understand the importance of moving ahead as efficiently and, hopefully, as soon as possible,” he remarked.

As the city navigates its budget process, the debate over the city administrator position is likely to continue. The council’s decision reflects the complexities of local governance and the differing opinions on how best to serve La Crosse’s residents.