The Viroqua Public Record: April 14, 2026
Short-term rental policy discussion and Tourism Commission sees a changing of the guard.
Your plain-English guide to what's happening at City Hall
The Big Takeaway
The Viroqua Tourism Commission is taking up the short-term rental ordinance again at its meeting on Wednesday, April 15 at 10 a.m. If you own a rental property — or live next door to one — this is the conversation that could shape the rules around Airbnbs and similar vacation rentals in town. The commission is also working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chamber of Commerce and the Viroqua Women's Club (VWC), which could affect how tourism dollars and promotional efforts are coordinated going forward.[2]
Money Watch
No specific dollar figures were on this week's agenda, but keep your eye on two items that will almost certainly have financial implications down the road. The short-term rental ordinance could generate licensing or permit fees (or enforcement costs) for the city, and the MOU with the Chamber and VWC will likely spell out how tourism promotion funding and responsibilities are shared among those organizations. We'll report on the details once the commission takes action.[2]
Coming Up
Tourism Commission Meeting
Meeting at City Hall Lower-Level Community Room (124 W. Decker St.). Two public comment periods are built into the agenda, so if you have thoughts on short-term rentals or tourism partnerships, this is your chance to speak up. No virtual meeting link was provided — this one's in person only.[2]
The commission will also set its next meeting date at this session, so check back for that.[2]
The city also has a Certificate of Appropriateness document posted from the Historic Preservation Commission, though the full text wasn't available for this edition. If you're planning exterior changes to a building in the historic district, it's worth checking in with City Hall.[1]
The Quick Rundown
New member welcome: The commission will officially welcome Brian Wrobel as a new member and thank Josh Brown for his years of service. A changing of the guard on the tourism front.[2]
Short-term rental ordinance: Listed for "discussion and possible action," meaning the commission could vote on something or could just keep talking. Either way, this is the hottest policy item on their plate.[2]
MOU with Chamber and VWC: Also listed for possible action. MOUs aren't legally binding contracts, but they lay out who does what — think of it as a handshake agreement in writing about how these groups will work together to promote Viroqua.[2]
Chamber Report and City Report: Standing updates from the Chamber of Commerce and city staff. Often where you hear about upcoming events, visitor numbers, or new business developments.[2]
One More Thing
Hats off to Josh Brown, who's stepping away from the Tourism Commission after what the agenda simply calls "his years of service." No fanfare, no proclamation — just a thank-you line item wedged between roll call and the approval of last month's minutes. That's small-town government for you: you volunteer your time for years, and your sendoff is agenda item number three. Thanks, Josh.[2]
Sources
[1] Historic Preservation — Certificate of Appropriateness — View Document
[2] Tourism Commission Amended Agenda — April 15, 2026 — View Document
The Viroqua Public Record is an independent community summary of public meetings. It is not affiliated with the City of Viroqua.