Before Council

Just Good Fight
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  • Politics
  • Updated Monthly

A podcast that helps La Crosse residents prepare for Common Council meetings. Before Council helps residents understand what’s coming before the La Crosse Common Council before votes are cast and decisions are made. Each episode follows the Judiciary & Administration Committee and Finance & Personnel Committee, breaking down agenda items, development proposals, budget decisions, and other local government issues in plain language. Hosted by Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala. Before Council is a project of Open Session, produced by Good Fight.

Episodes

  1. Aug 14 ·  Bonus

    Common Council Meeting Companion | August 13, 2026

    The Before Council Meeting Companion makes it easier to follow La Crosse city government on your own time. This episode features the La Crosse Common Council meeting held Thursday, August 13, 2026, at La Crosse City Hall. The original City recording runs approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes. This Meeting Companion has been condensed to approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes by removing extended silence, recesses, delays, and other dead air to make the meeting easier to consume on streaming platforms. No substantive discussion has been removed, rearranged, or editorially altered. The meeting remains in its original order. The Common Council is where legislation that has moved through the City’s committee process comes before the full Council for consideration and action. This meeting includes discussion and votes on a number of issues facing the City of La Crosse. For agendas, minutes, meeting videos, legislation, voting records, and supporting documents, visit the City of La Crosse’s official website www.cityoflacrosse.org City resources:justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council is hosted by Tony Ayala and former La Crosse Common Council member Mac Kiel and produced by Just Good Fight Media in collaboration with Open Session. Know Before the Vote.

    Common Council Meeting Companion | August 13, 2026

  2. Aug 7

    S01E03: August 2026 Common Council Preview

    In Episode 3 of Before Council, Tony Ayala and former Common Council member Mac Kiel discuss the August Judiciary & Administration and Finance & Personnel Committee meetings, walking through the agenda items, questions, and committee discussions expected to come before the August Common Council meeting. Before Council is designed to help residents understand what’s happening at City Hall before votes are cast, giving you time to learn more, ask questions, and connect with your Common Council representative before decisions are made. This episode follows the August Meeting Companions for both J&A and F&P and provides additional context on what happened in committee, why it matters, and what residents should know heading into Common Council. Additional civic resources, including meeting agendas, livestreams, minutes, Common Council contact information, and more:
www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Learn more about Before Council:
www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official City of La Crosse meeting information, agendas, minutes, and livestreams:
www.cityoflacrosse.org Know Before the Vote.

  3. Aug 7 ·  Bonus

    August 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Finance & Personnel Committee

    This Meeting Companion contains the August 6, 2026 Finance & Personnel Committee meeting from the City of La Crosse. To make the meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and other dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited, shortened, or summarized, and no commentary has been added. Listener note: Early in the meeting, an individual entered the meeting’s video stream and used profanity and engaged in lewd behavior. The committee continued its business and completed the meeting. Because this occurred as part of the original public meeting recording, listeners should be aware that this episode may contain explicit material. Meeting Companions are intended to make local government more accessible for residents who prefer listening while driving, walking, working, exercising, or going about their day. Also available: the Judiciary & Administration Committee Meeting Companion from the August Common Council cycle. Coming next: the August edition of Before Council, where former Common Council Member Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala walk through the J&A and F&P agenda items, discuss what happened in committee, and highlight what residents should know ahead of the August Common Council meeting. Know Before the Vote. Civic resources:
www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council:
www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official City of La Crosse agendas, minutes, livestreams, and meeting information:
www.cityoflacrosse.org

    August 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Finance & Personnel Committee

  4. Aug 6

    Erin Goggin | Before Council Presents: One Question | 24 JUL 2026

    La Crosse Common Council Member Erin Goggin joins Tony Ayala for a one-on-one conversation about the proposed city administrator charter ordinance. Rather than focusing only on how she may ultimately vote, the conversation explores how she approaches a significant decision facing the city, including the information she considers, the questions she asks, and the responsibilities she weighs as a council member. This interview is part of Before Council Presents: One Question, a series created to give La Crosse residents more time to hear directly from the people elected to represent them. Each participating council member was invited separately, given the same conversation framework, and asked the same central question: How is my Common Council member approaching this decision? This conversation was recorded before the August 5 Judiciary and Administration Committee meeting and reflects Erin Goggin’s perspective at the time of the interview. These conversations are not debates, endorsements, or campaign events. They are an opportunity to better understand the people behind the decisions before votes are cast. Know Before the Vote. Additional civic resources: www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council: www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official City of La Crosse information: www.cityoflacrosse.org

    Erin Goggin | Before Council Presents: One Question | 24 JUL 2026

  5. Aug 6

    Gary Padesky | Before Council Presents: One Question | 21 JUL 2026

    La Crosse Common Council Member Gary Padesky joins Tony Ayala for a one-on-one conversation about the proposed city administrator charter ordinance. Rather than focusing only on how he may ultimately vote, the conversation explores how he approaches a significant decision facing the city, including the information he considers, the questions he asks, and the responsibilities he weighs as a council member. This interview is part of Before Council Presents: One Question, a series created to give La Crosse residents more time to hear directly from the people elected to represent them. Each participating council member was invited separately, given the same conversation framework, and asked the same central question: How is my Common Council member approaching this decision? This conversation was recorded before the August 5 Judiciary and Administration Committee meeting and reflects Gary Padesky’s perspective at the time of the interview. These conversations are not debates, endorsements, or campaign events. They are an opportunity to better understand the people behind the decisions before votes are cast. Know Before the Vote. Additional civic resources:www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council:www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official City of La Crosse information:www.cityoflacrosse.org

    Gary Padesky | Before Council Presents: One Question | 21 JUL 2026

  6. Aug 6

    Lisa Weston | Before Council Presents: One Question | 16 JUL 2026

    La Crosse Common Council Member Lisa Weston joins Tony Ayala for a one-on-one conversation about the proposed city administrator charter ordinance. Rather than focusing only on how she may ultimately vote, the conversation explores how she approaches a significant decision facing the city, including the information she considers, the questions she asks, and the responsibilities she weighs as a council member. This interview is part of Before Council Presents: One Question, a series created to give La Crosse residents more time to hear directly from the people elected to represent them. Each participating council member was invited separately, given the same conversation framework, and asked the same central question: How is my Common Council member approaching this decision? This conversation was recorded before the August 5 Judiciary and Administration Committee meeting and reflects Lisa Weston’s perspective at the time of the interview. These conversations are not debates, endorsements, or campaign events. They are an opportunity to better understand the people behind the decisions before votes are cast. Know Before the Vote. Additional civic resources: www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council: www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official City of La Crosse information: www.cityoflacrosse.org

    Lisa Weston | Before Council Presents: One Question | 16 JUL 2026

  7. Aug 6 ·  Bonus

    August 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Judiciary & Administration Committee

    This Meeting Companion contains the August 5, 2026 Judiciary & Administration Committee meeting from the City of La Crosse. To make the meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and other dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited, shortened, or summarized. Please note that the original City recording contained several audio dropouts, including approximately one minute of missing audio during Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey’s public comment. Any abrupt transitions reflect audio that was already missing from the official source. Meeting Companions are intended to make local government more accessible for residents who prefer listening while driving, walking, working, exercising, or going about their day. Later this week: • Meeting Companion: Finance & Personnel Committee • Before Council with Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala, discussing what happened in committee and what residents should know before the August Common Council meeting. Know Before the Vote. Additional civic resources: www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council: www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official agendas, minutes, livestreams, and other City of La Crosse information: www.cityoflacrosse.org

    August 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Judiciary & Administration Committee

  8. Jul 3

    S01E02: July 2026 Common Council Preview

    In Episode 2 of Before Council, Tony Ayala and former Common Council member Mac Kiel discuss the July Judiciary & Administration and Finance & Personnel Committee meetings, highlighting the agenda items, questions, and discussions that will come before the July 9, 2026 Common Council meeting. Before Council is designed to help residents understand what’s happening at City Hall before votes are cast, giving you time to learn more, ask questions, and connect with your Common Council representative before decisions are made. Additional civic resources, including meeting agendas, livestreams, minutes, Common Council contact information, and more: www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Learn more about Before Council: www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official City of La Crosse meeting information, agendas, minutes, and livestreams: www.cityoflacrosse.org Know Before the Vote.

  9. Jul 3 ·  Bonus

    July 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Finance & Personnel Committee

    This Meeting Companion contains the July 2, 2026 Finance & Personnel Committee meeting from the City of La Crosse. To make this meeting easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, recesses, and dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited. Meeting Companions are intended to make local government more accessible for residents who prefer listening while driving, walking, working, or exercising. Later today: • Before Council with Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala, a discussion of what happened in this week’s committee meetings and what residents should know before the July 9 Common Council meeting. Know Before the Vote. Additional civic resources:www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council:www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official agendas, minutes, livestreams, and other City of La Crosse information:www.cityoflacrosse.org

    July 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Finance & Personnel Committee

  10. Jul 1 ·  Bonus

    July 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Judiciary & Administration Committee + Budget Parameter Committee

    This Meeting Companion contains the June 30, 2026 Judiciary & Administration Committee meeting and the Budget Parameter Committee meeting from the City of La Crosse. To make these meetings easier to listen to, periods of silence, delays, and dead air have been removed. The discussion itself has not been edited. Meeting Companions are intended to make local government more accessible for residents who prefer listening while driving, walking, working, or exercising. Later this week: • Meeting Companion: Finance & Personnel Committee • Before Council with Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala, a discussion of what happened in committee and what residents should know before the July 9 Common Council meeting. Know Before the Vote. Additional civic resources:www.justgoodfight.com/city-resources Before Council:www.justgoodfight.com/before-council For official agendas, minutes, livestreams, and other City of La Crosse information:www.cityoflacrosse.org

    July 2026 Common Council Cycle | Meeting Companion: Judiciary & Administration Committee + Budget Parameter Committee

  11. Jun 6

    S01E01: June 2026 Common Council Preview

    In the inaugural episode of Before Council, Tony Ayala and former Common Council member Mac Kiel discuss the June Judiciary & Administration and Finance & Personnel Committee meetings, highlighting development proposals, infrastructure projects, neighborhood investments, and other items likely to reach the Common Council. Learn more and access official meeting materials at: justgoodfight.com/before-council

  • 11 Episodes

About

A podcast that helps La Crosse residents prepare for Common Council meetings. Before Council helps residents understand what’s coming before the La Crosse Common Council before votes are cast and decisions are made. Each episode follows the Judiciary & Administration Committee and Finance & Personnel Committee, breaking down agenda items, development proposals, budget decisions, and other local government issues in plain language. Hosted by Mac Kiel and Tony Ayala. Before Council is a project of Open Session, produced by Good Fight.

Information

  • Creator
    Just Good Fight
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Just Good Fight
  • Show Website
    Before Council