2025 City Council Candidate Jennifer Trost
District 10
LA CROSSE CITY COUNCIL
Jennifer Trost
email: [email protected]
About You:
I moved to La Crosse in 2013 for my teaching job at UWL. I helped start a neighborhood association soon after that in order to save the South Community Library and then Mayor Kabat appointed me to the City’s Neighborhood Revitalization Commission (NRC) in 2015. I was elected in 2021 to represent District 11.
Why did you decide to run for City Council, and what experiences or skills do you bring that will help you represent your district and the city effectively?
Council members have two equally important and satisfying jobs: serving their constituents and setting policy for the city. I’ve helped the residents and business owners in my district get stormwater upgrades, street safety improvements, enhanced lighting, necessary parking for their businesses, re-zoning, and accurate information from city staff. Regarding city policy, I’ve sponsored legislation to increase the affordability, availability and variety of housing, so that current and future residents can live in La Crosse. As I finish my first term representing District 11, I now have first-hand experience with the process and challenges of city government and know there is much more to be done. I am running for re-election in District 10 due to redrawn district maps after the 2020 census.
How would you ensure residents in your district are actively involved in city planning and decision-making processes?
I will attend neighborhood association meetings and continue to educate anyone who asks about how to use the city’s Legistar website to follow along the legislative process. Legistar is a powerful tool to see when city meetings are happening, along with their agendas and actions, but it’s not really intuitive. I will also continue the practice of listening sessions. Public engagement will be essential as we spend the next year updating the zoning code. And I’m always happy to get phone calls from constituents; constituent service is my favorite part of the job as it’s often a specific project or problem that I can immediately go to work to solve
The City Council delayed a vote on hiring a City Administrator until after the election. Do you support the creation of this position? How do you see this role working in collaboration with the City Council and the mayor’s office?
I support creating a City Administrator position because we need professional continuity in day-to-day operations. The City Council and the Mayor can then focus on policy-making and constituent service.
What role do you see the City Council playing in addressing homelessness in La Crosse? Do you support the Pathways Home initiative? What aspects of the plan do you find most effective? Or what alternative solutions would you propose?
I support the Pathways Home collaboration because it has successfully placed individuals in housing and provides caseworkers to coordinate services. City Council can approve changes to zoning that make it possible to build more housing and a greater variety of housing. The City has recently used federal pandemic money to fund two specialized housing proposals, and the County has funded six additional support services personnel for 2025. Homelessness is partly a symptom of the housing shortage; more housing means more available and affordable housing. This critical need is why I vote in favor of the housing proposals that come before me.
What steps would you take to increase the availability of affordable housing, particularly for working-class residents and vulnerable populations?
To bring down home prices and rent, to make housing both affordable and available, we need more supply and the variety that makes up the so-called missing middle. Our recent housing study calculated that we need 200-230 new housing units per year for the next decade. We need to change our regulations to allow for a greater variety of housing to suit the population we have: smaller households of both younger and older family units are now more common. We’ve approved Accessory Dwelling Units and given property owners flexibility on off-street parking. We are starting the process of a major update of our zoning code and want public engagement so we can build the housing we need for the future.
How would you balance supporting new business development and sustaining existing businesses while preserving the unique character of La Crosse’s downtown and neighborhoods? Are there specific projects or ideas you would advocate for?
The City promotes economic development with Tax Increment Financing (TIF), facade improvement grants, upper floor renovation loans, small business grants, and the Redevelopment Authority (RDA). River Point District, with both residential units and commercial spaces, is one initiative of the RDA. Repurposing the former South Community Library, former K-Mart site, and former Trane headquarters are other development projects that either are or could be supported by public funds.
Recent reports show a decline in La Crosse’s population. What strategies would you support to attract and retain residents, particularly younger people and families?
To bring down home prices and rent, to make housing both affordable and available, we need more supply and the variety that makes up the so-called missing middle. Our recent housing study calculated that we need 200-230 new housing units per year for the next decade. We need to change our regulations to allow for a greater variety of housing to suit the population we have: smaller households of both younger and older family units are now more common. We’ve approved Accessory Dwelling Units and given property owners flexibility on off-street parking. We are starting the process of a major update of our zoning code and want public engagement so we can build the housing we need for the future.
What is your approach to improving and maintaining the city’s infrastructure, including roads, public transportation and utilities? How would you ensure equitable access across the city?
In both our capital and operating budgets, street construction projects have become so expensive that they crowd out other uses such as parks and libraries. I support prioritizing what is under the streets rather than the streets themselves. This approach means that street repairs happen when they are part of storm water upgrades, and we need these storm water upgrades to withstand extreme weather events.
How would you advocate for improvements to transportation options in your district and the city? What ideas do you have for public transportation, bike lanes or pedestrian-friendly pathways?
Density of housing and accessibility of public spaces, such as sidewalk infill, would improve the options for alternative modes of transportation. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, adherence to our Green Complete Streets ordinance, and implementation of the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan will make La Crosse more accessible for all users.
What strategies would you support to ensure that La Crosse remains a safe community for residents and visitors? What plans do you have to address issues such as police-community relations, crime prevention and emergency response preparedness?
The City’s public safety departments are fully funded according to their bargaining agreements and state statute.
What climate action policies or sustainability initiatives would you champion in your district and citywide? How would you address renewable energy, waste reduction, and the protection of green spaces?
We have a city-wide climate action plan that we have been implementing and need to continue following.
How can the City Council collaborate with the school district and community organizations to ensure educational opportunities and services for young people? Are there district-specific needs you would focus on?
Our Engineering and Streets Departments have enhanced traffic safety around several schools with raised intersections and sidewalk infill projects prioritized in the Safe Routes to School plan. The City has also partnered with Habitat for Humanity on “ReNew the Block,” a sustainability project that combines home repair, urban agriculture, and stormwater mitigation in the neighborhood around Logan Middle School.
What role do you see for the City Council in fostering tech innovation and improving digital infrastructure? How could your district benefit from smart city initiatives or local tech industry development?
Our wastewater treatment plant already uses Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) in its operations, but otherwise this question seems better directed towards city staff.
