Public Works Committee - Regular Meeting

Juana Ortiz. To her left, we are joined by alderman Alex Brower, and we are joined to his left by alderwoman Larissa Taylor. Item number one, one, file number 251146. Resolution determining it necessary to make various accessible public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the city engineering cost to be $25,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $550,000.

Good morning. Holly Rutenberg with DPW. This is for setting up engineering for future future assessable projects.

Any questions from committee? Hearing none, alderman Baumann will move adoption. Hearing no objection, so order. Item number two, file number two five one one four seven, resolution determining a necessary to make various nonaccessible public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the city engineering cost estimated to be $247,000 for total estimated cost of these projects being $3,517,000.

Good morning.

Good morning. This is

for setting up engineering on future nonaccessible projects.

Any questions from committee? Hearing none, alderman will move adoption. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Item number three, file number two five one one four eight, resolution approving construction of nonaccessible public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the city construction cost estimated to be $473,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $512,000. And we do have a proposed substitute? Yes. It's in the file. It's in the file.

Could you

tell us the difference with the substitute?

Yes. So one project was added into this resolution in order to finish up construction this construction season. Some additional funding was needed.

Thank you. And it's already in the record. We don't have to make a motion. You you have to make the motion to accept the proposal and then adopt it. Okay. Alderman Bauer will move to have substitute a in front of us. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing nonsole order. Are there any questions? Hearing none, alderwoman Taylor would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Mhmm. Item number four on file number 251149. Communication from the Department of Public Works Infrastructure Services Division transmitting the 2026 assessment rates report.

Good morning. Holly Rutten with DPW. The assessment rates, the proposed assessment rates for 2026 have changed a little bit from 2025. We had noticed a increase in the cost of sidewalk and driveway replacement costs. The adjacent property owners are assessed 50% of the cost of sidewalk reconstruction adjacent to their property and 90% for their driveway.

So in using the average cost of the last three years, we saw that there was a small increase and so are proposing a 6% increase in the assessment rates for sidewalk and driveway in 2026. The cost of concrete alleys, we actually received very competitive bids this year and so the proposed rate for the alley reconstruction cost will decrease by about 10%. The other rates are based off of city ordinance. So we are with all of the traffic calming going to be maintaining a 33% recovery ratio but it does vary depending upon the type of traffic calming that is proposed. The assessment rate for speed humps is a fixed rate since we have so many speed humps that are constructed each year.

That is staying the same. There is 0% change in that assessment rate and will remain at $2.75 per linear frontage foot.

How many alleys are we planning to reconstruct this Nine twenty six.

Somewhere around six or seven alleys. We'll have to see how the bids come in, but that is the proposed based off

of the budget that was approved this past Friday.

Any questions from committee? Hearing none, Alderman Bahama will move to place on file. Hearing objection, so ordered. Thank you. Item number five.

File number 251086. Resolution authorizing city execution of an intergovernmental cooperation agreement between the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District for the purposes of establishing maintenance responsibilities for the North 35th Street and West Roosevelt Drive sewer improvements. Is there somebody from DPW here to speak on this item? If not, we ottoman.

Here's the sewer man. Hey.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Yeah. Robert Slade, environmental engineering section. So.

Alright. Can you tell us about this?

This is the MMSD sewer improvement project in Roosevelt from 35th to about fiftieth. They improved their sewer system and as part of that, they built some small pieces of sanitary sewer for us. So, this is just transferring ownership back to the city.

So who will have the responsibility of maintenance based upon this agreement? City of Milwaukee, DPW. I hear no other questions. Alderman Westmoreland would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Item number six, file number 251153, resolution relating to the application acceptance of funding of private property inflow and infiltration grant from Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District for a project at various locations throughout the city of Milwaukee.

Yep. This is for our 2026 sanitary lateral rehabilitation program. So it's rehabbing private property sanitary laterals that we found to be leaking. In this case, they were detected discharging sanitary sewage into the city's storm sewer. So preventing discharge of sanitary sewage into the storm sewer and preventing ground water from getting into the sanitary system.

Madam chair?

Yeah. Yes. I don't know about

Where do we stand on this program citywide? I mean, I we're we're doing it in little bites and little pieces or

Yes. Yeah. So, in the past, we kind of did these broad area bounded And by as MMSD budget has gotten smaller, we are trying to be more focused on locations where we have determined the laterals are leaking. So this case it's we've determined they're leaking into the storm sewer which signifies.

How do we how do we get how do we find that out? I mean do we it's complaint base from homeowners? I it's through. We're running around. They're looking at everybody's sewer. What what how is that? Kind of. Through our. Kind of. Okay.

Yeah. Through our permit with the the DNR, we're required to to to detect and eliminate illicit discharges to the storm sewer.

Really?

So, we're sampling the storm sewers where they discharge into the river. Doing some very simple chemistry that identifies ammonia which is an indicator of sanitary sewage in a storm sewer. And then our staff kind of follows that upstream until they can isolate where it's coming from.

And how many properties would this particular grant cover?

This one is about a 120 and we've been doing it in groups for the past three years between sixty and seventy five a year. This next year, we're doing for two years just because they they come in as we And

then we we contract for crews to come in and repair basically replace the sanitary sewers Yep. And dig up everybody's front yard in the process.

There's been

just goes up to the property line.

No. It goes into the basement. It does. Yeah. The if the method is up to the contractor, they can do one of two things. They can do open cut, which would be digging up, which you're picturing. Or similar to the lead service replacement, they do a trenchless method. It's called pipe bursting. So they dig a hole in the street above the sewer main and then dig a hole in the basement, feed a cable through the existing sanitary sewer, and then pull it in. It's a trenchless method.

And where someone has a sewer line that runs under their basement floor. Yep. What happens there? Do they have to dig up the entire basement or is that when they use the trenchless?

They use the trenchless and to date and every house is unique, all of the clean outs or access points have been at the front wall of the house.

Have been?

Yeah. So now I probably just set myself up for problems next year with that but yes, to date they have all been.

And what is the average cost of a sewer lateral replacement? Do you have a sense for that?

Yeah. It varies but it's about $2,225,000 dollars. Really? Yeah. Wow. And that's something that's just, it's like all costs. It's cropped up in the last five, ten years.

And this is primarily in the separate sewer areas? Yep. Okay. Very good.

Thank you. Thank you.

Any other questions from committee? Hearing none, Alderman Broward move adoption. And objection, so order. Thank you. You. Item number seven. File number 251127. Resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for a change to be connecting highway highway designation on East Michigan Street between North Milwaukee Street and North Lincoln Memorial Drive.

Good morning, Chad. Chris Vaughn from the Department of Public Works. This resolution basically removes the US Highway 18 shield from Michigan Street between Milwaukee and the riverfront. This piece of street really didn't operate as a state trunk highway anyway. We have a lot of development going on along this particular segment.

And in particular, as you get closer to the lake, we want to prioritize areas on the street for peds and bikes, which really is not conducive with how the state views the street. And it's and their idea of how their U. S. Highways should operate. And so it was just easier to remove the shield from this segment and make it a local street. And you can see from the mapping that it really does not affect the circulation of the state trunk highway and connecting highway routing through the city.

Any questions from committee?

Madam Chair.

Alderman Westmore.

I just, if you have

any extra folders like that, you could please give me one.

Yeah. This is what you should have. I'm sorry.

Alright. I'll I'll see what I can do. When you're done with it, maybe. Okay.

Don't throw it out. Alright.

I'm hearing none. Audra Woman Taylor will move adoption. Hearing an objection. So order item number eight, file number 251137. Resolution authorizing the commissioner of public works to execute an amendment to the existing memorandum of understanding by and between the Forest County Potawatomi community and the city of Milwaukee for the 16th Street Viaduct Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Project and the 4th And 8th Automatic Districts.

Good morning. Jonathan Thomas with DPW. This is an amendment to an agreement that we signed in July with Forest County Potawatomi that just establishes additional procedures for the accounting and invoicing between the city and Forest County Pottawatomie.

Madam Chair. Alderman Bahama.

Why is the Forest County Pottawatomie involved in a infrastructure project on our bridge?

Yes. So just item number eight and number nine are basically tied together today. Forest County and Pottawatomie through the federal infrastructure bill that passed a few years ago was able to access funding from the tribal transportation plan for projects that are on certain designated roads that direct traffic to their property. So because 16th Street is adjacent to their own land, they were able to apply for a grant through that tribal transportation is basically reimbursing the city for our share of the Wisconsin DOT project.

Is that only for capital projects or can that be for operating costs as well?

I'm not sure of all the limitations. I could look into that and we can get back to you. I believe from the conversations I had, it was only for capital projects, but I'm not not sure.

Order of magnitude funding is available for this.

So our agreement with Forest County currently is for up to $11,000,000 so it's fairly significant for us. I think tribal transportation program was awarded $400,000,000 total. I'm not sure exactly how that was. Nationwide? Yes. So I'm not sure how that's coordinated or broken up if there's any you know additional restrictions on them.

Are there any restrictions on the type of capital projects as long as they're transportation related?

I'm not aware. I mean,

could this be used to cover the local share of the streetcar expansion?

I believe it has to be on roads that direct certain types of traffic to tribal owned properties.

So if the Potawatomi own a little vacant lot and somewhere on the line between Saint Paul and Highland along Will Phillips Avenue, if that would count?

I'm not sure but I'm happy to ask questions for you.

We're looking for ways to expand and fund the streetcar has anyone even explored some of these creative financing

I question. That's I think that was a called good an a par that they set up. That's Okay.

Very good.

Madam Chair. Yes. Audeman Brower.

Yeah. No. That's a this so this sounds like a great partnership that's gonna save the city some money.

And Yes.

You know, but I'll just say we appreciate our our friends in the Forest County Potawatomi. Mean, 400,000,000 though nationwide is a paltry sum when you look at what our what the United States government did to the American Indian nations. So I mean, yeah, just to state that there, but this I really appreciate what Alderman Blumman said. We I and I know the administration is also in favor of expanding non car transit as well. So let's I'll just underline what he said that we should look for all kinds of options to fund, you know, non car transit anyway we can. Thank you, madam chair.

Alright, any other questions or comments from committee? Hearing none, Audience Member Bauer will move adoption. Hearing no objection, so ordered. Item number nine, file number two five one one four zero, substitute resolution authorizing the city controller to transfer funds to the previously established project for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in the city of Milwaukee for cost participation for the construction of the 16th Street Bridge over the Menomonee River with a total estimated cost increase for the project of $3,059,779.55 with an estimated share of $11,097,209.78 and an estimated Citi share of $8,037,430.23.

Yes. Good morning. With DPW again. This is the follow-up to the previous communication that changes the accounting that we had set up to be the proper balance of grantor and city funds for the project.

Any questions from committee?

Yeah, mister. So we are in essence backing out $8,000,000 that were previously budgeted for this project?

Correct. Yes.

We are

able back in our pocket, basically.

Yes. We are able to use that to fund other projects.

And has that been determined? What projects is that gonna be?

I believe the plan is to use that funding for some of the twenty twenty six bridge projects but I would have to check with Kevin and on how that decision was finalized as the budget process move forward.

Okay. Very good. That's a big savings.

Yeah. That is

a big savings.

We're talking real money here.

Mhmm. Alright.

That's a very unique opportunity.

Yeah. Other questions from committee? Orderwoman Taylor will move adoption. Hearing objections to order.

Thank you.

Item number 10, you're welcome. File number 251145. Resolution authorizing the commissioner of public works and controller to enter into an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the development, implementation, and funding of traffic control improvements and other safety measures necessary to mitigate traffic diversion on city streets due to construction activity on the I 94 East West project in 2025 and 2026 with the total estimated cost being $576,984.83 of which 100% is grantor funded.

Good morning, madam chair, members of the committee. Scott Rheinbacher with the Department of Public Works. So this file before you today sets up a mitigation contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to make changes to signal timing along the local roadway network, install signal infrastructure equipment, all associated with the recent long term changes along I-ninety 4 East West corridors. So the state essentially is going to pay us almost $577,000 to make improvements on the local roads. So happy to answer any other questions you may have. Yes, Madam Chair.

Alderman Baumann. What improvements exactly?

So this will largely be traffic signal timing improvements. So change the green times around key intersections on diversion routes, maybe add left turn arrows, also install emergency vehicle preemption equipment to improve response times for the fire department. Also, this will cover the installation of beacons at a couple of nearby schools that will be drastically impacted due to changes in traffic patterns.

How do you know there's even going to be impacts? I mean, it's not started yet. So, I mean, aren't aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves planning for mitigation measures which may not even be necessary?

Well, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation through the design process for the I-ninety 4 project, they have had a team that has studied extensively and made traffic forecasts where drivers may see. In the last week, the state has closed one eastbound lane along I-ninety 4 between 70th Street and General Mitchell Boulevard. And then actually last night, they closed westbound lane as well between

Yeah. Understand all that. Yeah. We we do not yet know empirically what impact that is having. They do all these studies and of course they're all auto centric and they all assume everybody will drive the maximum amount of time possible. But that isn't always the case in reality.

Yeah, and that's correct. They try, well we as traffic engineers try our best to just estimate where we think people will go, certain streets such as Blue Mound, Greenfield Avenue, Canal Street. I believe last week, the state saw as much as 30% diversion in the eastbound direction onto local streets. But to add your point, Alderman, traffic will find a way based on the origin and destination of their trip. So we're just trying to do the

to we'll that. That.

And

we are going to install physical infrastructure primarily for communications equipment, emergency vehicle preemption. We're going to try to stick to those routes. But that's not say there won't be other diversion as you noted of course too. Very good. Thank you.

Are we getting any questions from

One more question.

Go ahead.

By the way, along the lines of traffic mitigation, anybody anybody at the state providing funds for improved bus service in this corridor on on the assumption that maybe one or two people out of the tens of thousands that use I 94 may park at a parking ride and take bus?

Honestly, Alderman, I don't know the answer to that. I have heard talks through the media over the years about possible, I think, for MCTS to increase service. I honestly don't know if that ever went through or not. We in in the city of Milwaukee, we coordinate with MCTS a lot but I I guess I don't know the state if they're providing assistance.

Their BRT system largely parallels this work area. Correct?

Correct. Yep. Yep. I imagine we all would love to see people utilizing BRT, of course.

And a little extra operating funds and they could considerably increase frequencies to actually make it far more user friendly, right?

Yes. That's a great point. Any of that I

think that's

great question. I think was implemented in 2023 timeframe, I believe. We at the city, we have made a number of improvements to provide priority for MCTS BRT buses. So the ConnectOne route, they do communicate with our signals at a number of key intersections just to provide more green time at the start and end of green to get that bus through and reduce travel route times for the the buses.

So. You're going

to keep the bus only lanes intact on Wisconsin Avenue?

As far

as I know, yes.

Very good. Thank you.

Any other questions from committee?

Madam

chair. Alderman Brown.

Yeah, thank you so much and you know, I know this is of the some of the stuff that Alderman Bowman is alluding to is outside of the purview of what we're dealing with in city government but I think we can all appreciate the point that he's making that and I would make the same point as well that looks like what's coming out of the state DOT is just cars, cars, cars, and more cars and that is not a sustainable way for humanity to transport itself. We need mass transit. I mean, here's a question for, I mean, how many billions of dollars or hundreds of millions are going into this redo of of I-ninety 4?

Last I heard, I believe it's about a $2,000,000,000 project.

Yeah. Dollars 2,000,000,000 that is that could be used for mean, a whole host of other things, not including schools, not including repairing our own roads that are already existing here in the city of Milwaukee and not including, you know, the the public transit. I mean, they're cutting bus routes at the county right now and as part of this budget, I mean, that's unacceptable. People need to be able to get places without having to own their own car, pay car insurance, pay for gas, pay for all the repairs that are going on. And as the government, we should be collectively providing a means by which people and I know I know a lot of folks over in the administration agree with this too.

We should be collectively providing a means by which for people to get around. I mean, that's the job of government, right? And so, it's just really, I mean, overall, this is just, it's just really disappointing that this project is going through. Behind all of this is the road builders lobby that's interested in just pouring more and more and more concrete. And behind that is the danger that's existing with when we do that.

I mean, the the creation of Portland cement is what counts for what 20%? Something in that neighborhood of of global greenhouse gas emissions. So, we're literally in the name of profit cooking ourselves on this planet. Just so we can have a larger highway and you get behind you shave seven minutes off the drive to Madison. All for that and also the road builders can continue to get checks from the state government.

I mean, this is, you know, this we're getting 567,000, you know, and all, but I mean, that's a paltry sum compared to what the profits that the road builders are gonna be making on this. And I have a lot of brothers and sisters in the building trades that benefit as workers from these projects. But we have so much work to do in this world that we can achieve the goals of employing people in the building trades without having to destroy the environment or build more highways. You know, so

I think

that I just want to piggyback of what Alderman Baumann is saying that there there is a better way. And a lot of this is out of the decision of this of this committee, but I think it should just be noted here that this is this is a completely backwards way of running this world right now that that may this should be we should make things easier for people and that means that you should just be able to hop on a bus without having to pay for it and go wherever you need to go easily and quickly and not having to own a car in this city. So, there's my rant. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments from committee? Hearing none, Ardeau Woman Tyler would move adoption. Hearing no objection, sole order. Item number 11, file number 251171. Resolution authorizing an easement with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District on city of Milwaukee property at 1225 South Carr Ferry Drive in the 14th Automatic District.

Morning. Brian Kasrzak, Port Milwaukee Engineering.

Good morning. Maria Cartier, Market Development Manager for Port Milwaukee.

So we have six files for you that related to Port Milwaukee. And I'd like to acknowledge and thank Aldwoman Pratt for sponsoring these which is tradition as the committee member on the Board of Harbor Commissioners. So she has seen these files and all of these files were approved by the Board of Harbor Commissioners at their last meeting. The first item here is an easement for permanent access and infrastructure Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District's combined sewer overflow number one 95. So this was relocated due to the construction of the dredge material management facility associated with the area of concern.

So basically, it's still outfalling into Lake Michigan. It's just moved about 1,500 feet north. Any questions or concerns on this one?

No. Under embalming will move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing now, so order item 12, file number 251172. Resolution authorizing easement with Wisconsin Electric Power Company on City Of Milwaukee property at 1225 South Carr Ferry Drive in the 14th Automatic District.

This file is requesting a easement for permanent underground electrical service that services our shore power facility basically where vessels dock and they can use the power, basically electrical power when they're docked. This is related to DeLong, who has agricultural export facility at the port. They're doing a phase two, adding more silos to handle more quantity and types of commodities and this was a conflict here. So this line need to be removed. It moved basically

WeEnergy paying a fee for this easement?

They are not paying a fee for this. We're not requiring it due to the fact that basically this service we get wharfage, any vessel that's docked there and it's typically for vessels that are docked long term. So they take the service in their name basically and pay for the service. So we were not requesting or requiring it a cost. Okay.

Mentor. Armour Brower. Yeah. I see an economic development argument being made here for this But when it comes to the utilities, I mean, every single turn, the utilities, not just We Energies, although they're a major culprit. I mean, Spectrum, Sprint, AT and T, all of them are nickel and diming customers at every mean, nickel and diming regular people at every single term turn. Excuse me. So these companies deserve a taste of their own medicine. We should be nickeling and diming them at every single term until until the public owns that infrastructure. Right? And then we can, you know, have agreements like this where there's easements for days that are free and we can just make them happen.

But as long as we enter I mean, my opinion, madam chair, is that as long as We Energies is continuing to gouge the people of the city every single day, We should not give them a break whatsoever. I mean, every single time that we meet with We Energies, our city employees should be saying, you guys are gouging Milwaukee. Okay. Now, let's start this meeting. And it should be known every single day that what they're doing to the the citizens of this city. I mean, frankly. So, you know, I don't I mean, I think this needs to happen. I mean, we need electrical infrastructure. It sounds like this is a necessary thing and that like will be benefited economically from this but I just want on record that we energy should pay at every single turn if only because that's what they're doing to the citizens of this city. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments on committee? I'm hearing none. Ardent Westmoreland will move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Next item 13, file number two five one one seven three, resolution authorizing the first amendment two and third extension of the lease agreement with South Harbor Milwaukee LLC.

Okay. So this lease is for basically extending the term of the lease as well as an amendment with slight changes to the lease language. The original lease was adopted or executed in 2010. So they have been a long term tenant in good standing. And this company, they specialize in liquid bulk material transfer basically.

So this is about 4.6 acres located in the basically the heart central of Jones Island there. And the adjustments here would be that I guess the amendment to the lease is to allow them to install operate equipment systems to process fats, oils and greases to attract new revenue basically. So they have pledged to make a commitment of building infrastructure, putting an investment in this to attract this. So along with this lease there are some changes. There's adjustment to the base of the lease rate.

It's about a $10,000 or 13% increase from the previous. And of course there's the PPI yearly annual day. We're also adding a tonnage assessment and a minimal tonnage guarantee. So they need to meet certain tonnage in order to comply with the lease.

Any questions from committee?

Madam Chair.

I'm Member Hour. Yeah. So

just so I can get this. I mean this is the mountains of salt that we see when we drive on the home bridge. Right? No. This is different Different.

Okay. This is different.

Yes. Okay. Diversify our commodities.

Yeah. Yes.

Yeah. Okay. So well, this is this is related to that. Okay. I just want to make sure that I understand what I'm voting on here. Okay. 10 acres on Jones Island. You know, imagine if imagine if that was developed, how many, you know, millions of dollars that'd be worth? Are we are we charging them somewhat close to a commercial rate? I mean, is this, are they paying appropriately for all this land?

Yes. So again, there is an increase from where it was before and then we do have annual increases think first couple quarter

twenty ability 19. For either party. Is that correct? Did I read that right in the resolution? Was That every every five years, a thirty year, twenty five or thirty year term for this, right? And then every five years we can withdraw or not from this?

It is for an extension for fifth for five years.

So, this is, yeah, the the South Harbor lease. So, it they're executing third the third extension within their lease.

Okay, correct. Thank thank you. Thanks for clarifying that.

Okay. Thank you so much.

Any other questions from committee? Alderman Broward will move adoption. Any objections from committee? Here are nine. So ordered. Item number 14. File number 251174. Resolution approving a lease agreement with Compass Minerals America Inc. Oh. So

this lease is similar. So this is a brand new lease, not an extension or amendment. Basically, restating the lease. And this is for the 10 acres. Correct.

Thank you. Thanks for the clarification. Great.

Which comprises of seven separate parcels on Jones Island on our South Harbor which again it does include receiving, handling, storing, salt and other bulk products as well as office space and public truck scales basically. So this is a very long term good standing tenant here. It is formerly North American Salt Company and they originally started their lease here with us in 1985 and the most previous iteration of this was in 2005 when common counsel approved the previous lease. So now we're basically just restating the lease. And to Alderman Brower's point there, this new lease is for thirty years, thirty year term with termination provisions every five year increment.

Any other questions from committee? Hearing none, Alderman Taylor will move adoption. Hearing no objection, so ordered. Next item 15, final two five one one seven five, resolution approving a lease agreement with Cargill Incorporated for parcel for parcel parcel a.

Correct. So this this this and the next file are related. So, again, Cargill is a long term, long standing, good good term leaseholder here at the port and this is basically splitting their existing leasehold into two parcels due to operational capacities and changes in their corporate structure. So again, parcel A would be basically their office and bagging facility and this is similar. It's a five year term with automatic extensions for five years after that unless it's terminated by either party.

Again, long term Cargill, this actually goes way back to as code noble salt back in 1968 were on the port bringing salt and then that was assigned to Cargill in 1997. So there's again a rental increase here of 15, almost $16,000 or 15% increase.

Any questions from committee? Now, Alderman Baumann will move adoption. Here in objection, so ordered. Item number 16, file number 251176. Resolution approving a lease agreement with Cargill Incorporated for parcel B.

So this, as I stated, this is related to the previous file and this is basically the smaller parcel that they have leased and this is where they receive salt and do temporary storage of salt. So receive typically by vessel, it's basically a receiving salt pad.

Any questions from committee? I'm hearing none. Alderman Westmore will move adoption. Having no objection, so ordered. Item number 17, file number two five zero one zero three, substitute resolution granting a special privilege to JT Wells Milwaukee LLC to install and maintain 14 gas plug deck boxes and one trench drain in the public right of way for the premise of 419 East Wells Street in the 4th Automatic District.

Good morning, madam chair, Alders. James Washington, Public Works Coordination Manager. So this file is specifically for a special privilege for JT Wells Milwaukee LLC, better known as Taylor's on the corner of Jefferson And Wells. The purpose of this is to install gas boxes in the sidewalk for the purposes of their sidewalk dining cafe. So what they want to do is they want to place tables on the cafe and have heaters that are powered out of the gas from the building.

So obviously, that's not something that we typically do here. So alarm bells went up. So we worked with our partners in the Department of Neighborhood Services. We worked with Me Energies and said how common is this? Apparently, it's done relatively often in Chicago.

So, obviously, with liability issues because it's not uncommon to have gas lines in the public right of way, but it is uncommon to have the actual fixtures that the gas lines are serving in the public right of way. So the first thing we made sure they did is they had to have a a professional engineer provide stamp drawings, which they did to service this. In addition to providing product data for these gas boxes, which are designed to fail I'm sorry. Not to fail. They're fail safe.

There's they're designed cut off the gas. Should there be an accident or something happens, if the tables are knocked over, you know, obviously, concerned with reckless driving, someone happens to run up onto the sidewalk and hit it. We wanna make sure that that is still safe. If those gas lines cut off, they cut off the gas at the boxes. So in a future council cycle, we'll also be presenting a file for a maintenance agreement for having these these gas boxes because we also wanna make sure that in addition to providing those drawings, they have to also register with Diggers hotline.

We don't we wanna make sure there isn't an incident that if someone comes through, the telecom, whoever who excavates out there that they're aware that these gas signs are here. They're served out of the building. And again, the special privilege is the typical vehicle that we use for providing private items in the public right of way. So special privileges are a liability document which puts liability on on the applicant. If there's any other any questions, answer any questions you have.

Any questions from committee?

I'm just curious, madam chair. I'm just curious. Why did this come to us? Because we haven't been seeing special privileges in years.

Yes. So

How did this seep through the cracks and

So this came through because this is a relative this is a new one. So you will be seeing those special privilege files again. People being completely candid, it was a staffing issue. So those issues has been resolved. So you'll be seeing those special privilege files soon.

Alright. Very good.

How are we deciding which ones to grant or not?

I'm sorry.

For example, this is for Taylor's. Right?

Correct.

Let's say a bar on King Drive wants to do the same thing. How are we I'm sure it may be a case where it might not be wise for us to do it. How are we differentiating between requests?

So I guess I would need a little specificity, but technically speaking, anyone can apply for a special privilege. It's pretty common. Mhmm. If DPW encountered a situation where we think that it is a hazard to public safety, something like that, I mean, we obviously have the volition to say, you know, we can't allow this. But if someone on King Drive was willing to do this, they pay for the infrastructure they put into place. There wouldn't be a reason for us to deny it. The only reason we would do so if there is some sort of safety risk that we think that wouldn't be allowable.

Is the

is JT Wells the owner of the building or the business or both?

I believe it's the business. It's Jim Taylor who owns Taylor's.

Okay. So what happens if Taylor's calls us tomorrow after this is is built?

There is a clause in this special privilege that says that they have to restore the right of way. I believe it's under item three. I'm just scanning real quickly. It said items shall be maintained or removed from the public right of way at future time as they are no longer needed to the satisfaction of the commissioners of public works and department of neighborhood services.

It says to the satisfaction.

So

So, yes, the the gas boxes would have to be removed. The sidewalk would have to be restored per BPW standards.

Because it's attached to a license, are y'all gonna be paying attention to the license?

Yes. So the sidewalk cafes are done through the licensing division as all of our our our sidewalk dining will be in the future. So, yes, we will be paying attention if there's concerns. It'll be similar to any other licensing, you know, licensing concern that someone will bring up in front of the licensing division.

Thank you.

Madam chair.

On my brow.

Yeah. Or multiple. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. No. Oh, yeah. So this is this is this is cool, I think. It'll be a nice feature for customers. I appreciate seeing that there's a fee attached to this because they should be paying for it.

Think to even elaborate on the question that the chairwoman had around, you know, we know how this stuff works sometimes with companies like this. I can't speak to JT Wells or anything about that as a corporate entity, but, you know, they have all kinds of shell corporations to avoid liability. So if they go belly up I mean, one thing I just wanna flag, mean, you know, they've agreed made a contractual agreement here, but, you know, if they decide to if they go belly up and how, you know, it might just be worth considering at some point how we can recoup these costs from this corporation and where we end up if they go bankrupt, where we end up in the line of, you know, being able to recoup these costs if we have to end up doing this ourself to remove this to remove this right away. Now, I mean, this could be attractive if

they do go out

of business. This could be attractive to a new tenant. I don't know if it should be immediately done because this could be an attractive feature to a new tenant in that location. So, I mean, there's should be discretion involved in that with the building owner. But I just, you know, wanna point that out. That's the question that came to my mind when the chairman, you know, brought this up as if they poof and gone and, oh, well, it was an LLC, so I'm not personally liable for anything here. Whoever JT whatever is whoever that is, you know, right? Like, we just wanna make sure this is airtight enough.

I don't know I don't

know if this or not, I can't speak to that, but we just do something for the future to make sure that we can recoup these costs from the corporation if they somehow vaporize like some of these corporations do. So I appreciate that. I think this could be a very cool feature and maybe there's as far as license is concerned, maybe there's a way that we can communicate this, the license division so that it ends up as a permanent piece of the file for that business. So at least when license committee considers this, this could be a part of what we consider and the fact that it's there. Just some food for thought. Thanks.

Okay. Thanks.

Yeah. I I would just also say part of the reason I asked if it's the building or the business, and maybe I'm wrong at how I'm viewing it, but or maybe as you do this more, you all will learn as you go. It would make more sense to me to attach it to the building Mhmm. Than the business to make the responsibility be of the adjacent owner of that building. Let me ask you this. When you guys grant this, do you talk to the property owner who was in front of?

I need to verify that. I know we did speak to Taylor's. I'm not sure if Jim Taylor's owns it owns it. The the the owner. Okay. I I I wasn't a 100 I

would think you would wanna make it a part of your process that because if if it is the process that you were doing business with the business, I would say, at the very least, y'all talks to whoever building is in front of too. And in this case, it may be the same person, but in some applications, it might not be. Does does that make

sense? Yes.

Yeah. Audubon,

Oh, so I guess I was just looking at the drawing. How many of those boxes are they putting in front of this?

There's a 14.

14 of them? Yes. And so because you guys have the engineers input that there is minimal risk, did we learn that from the engineer that there's minimal risk to the patrons of

the Well, we did. I mean, we required them to put their engineering stamp of the drawings. Now the engineer is basically saying that based on my engineering degree, I'm putting my stamp on it. So this is official. Obviously, we don't want to just listen to to the engineer, which is why we also work with We Energies and ask them how common something like this is because it obviously, we haven't done that in Milwaukee. But they said that it's not it's not uncommon. So it has been done before successfully. We haven't heard of any issues that came from having these type of devices installed. So with that and the stamped engineering drawings, we were comfortable to move ahead.

Well, good. Because you just answered my last question. So because you said it is kinda coming in Chicago, but not coming here, but then I just wanna repeat it just so I make sure you said that there hasn't been any issues with those that have been in in place in Chicago.

Not that we've heard of. The energies definitely would have let us know if there was some issue that they needed to respond to.

Alright. Great.

I'm sure. Okay.

I have a Alderman Brown.

Yeah. No. I'll I'll just further comment here. I mean, I think like, this this is this is great. This is really cool. If a business, I appreciate the, you know, the administration on this. If a business has a cool idea that could have a fun experience for customers or or residents in Milwaukee, like, I'm I'm just gonna I think you said this beginning. This is to basically so they can put a little heated something outside. Use them and be heated by gas at the outside of their on the outside dining that they have. Right?

Yes. Is that okay. That's okay.

I think you had said that earlier. I just wanna make sure that we're that we're clear on that. So so, you know, like, this is this is good. They approach us with a cool idea. We make sure it's all good and not going to interfere with something. They pay for it. I'm assuming they are paying for this entire installation in addition to the fee that they're paying us for using our collectively owned right of way. So that's good. Mean, they I mean, wow, okay. So we can assume here that JT Wells is a better corporate citizen than we energies.

Right now because they apparently they want something for nothing and actually speaking of that, I'm sure if it's all right, I've think about this second here. I'd like to be change my vote here on item 12 and be registered as objection to item 12 to their easement. If that's an order, ma'am. Okay. But otherwise, like, you know, please, I I would say if if a business approaches us with cool things like this, like, let's let's seriously explore it and as long as they're footing the bill.

Alright. Your objection for the reenergies item, it was item 12.

Yeah. That was m 12. Yeah. That's correct. Yeah.

Mhmm. Brower should be duly noted. And and I'm just thinking as this grows, as you get more requests in areas like where Taylor's is or or areas like Brady or East North Avenue or whatever, that also might be wise. I don't know if it's any of scales that could be got if you do multiple at a time, but it might be worth in certain areas where it's concentrated restaurants or outside stuff to have a broader conversation because you might do a whole bunch at once. Just a thought. Sure. Because my guess is once people see Taylor getting this, Taylor's getting this, you're see some of those other places requesting it too on the same block.

Sure. And the purpose of us doing this is we're trying to, you know, reimagine how we use the public right of way and do different features if we believe it could be safely be done. And as Alderman Brower mentioned, you know, the special privilege, it does come with a fee because you are using space that is outside of your parcel. They paid for all the infrastructure. They did it when the Wall Street reconstruction was in place. They put in all their underground piping. It was just a matter of coming before this body and having this officially passed for this, I'm sorry, for this special privilege. Is this the first

one of these we've done or doing? This kind of with the gas thing?

Yes. This this has not been done before in Milwaukee. Yeah.

Y'all gonna get a rush. Watch. Oh, we're on 3rd Street. All of

that lunch.

Yes. I I will say that Matt Dorno with business improvement twenty one is very supportive of this idea.

Alright. Thank you. Auditor Mbama will move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Ordered. Item 18, file number two 41963 substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name Cecilia Laqueen Gilbert to East Wells Street from North Jackson Street to North Jackson Street in the 4th Automatic District.

I'm Davery, president of Cathedral Square Friends. Thanks for considering our application for Cecilia today. We're here to hopefully honor Cecilia Gilbert, known to many as the Queen of Downtown Milwaukee. In fact, I brought some copies of info when she was memorialized as such in 2010 if anybody wants a copy. But she spent forty years serving the city of Milwaukee in the community starting back in 1976 as an analyst at the Milwaukee Commission on Community Relations.

And in my opinion, she sort of never stopped that role, always was working on community relations. She worked a couple of years for the County Board, at the city, at TPW, at DCD for the common council and other city jobs. Her longest stint was at DPW for seventeen years. I remember running into Cecilia one night when she was running to work with the press when it was a bad storm night. So she had helped inform the public that night.

But she also worked on things like coordinating with DPW with the Steel Days, like City Christmas Tree, Saint Patty's Parade and then more sort of nitty gritty things like when there was street construction, helping work with local businesses to get through that process. I just have a couple of quotes. She was a wonderful behind the scenes liaison between the various city departments and the community even when it wasn't the department she worked for. This is from a former CEO of Milwaukee Downtown Beth Weirich. She knew how the city hall operated.

It can always get things done because she worked well with so many people, former mayor Barrett. But beyond her government work, Cecilia was a valued volunteer board member for so many groups. You couldn't name them all. But just a couple were Visit Milwaukee, the Repertory Theater, Lakefront Festival of Arts, Papp's Mansion, Our Little Board, Cathedral Square Friends, the Black Public Relations Society, YMC Circle of Women, the One Accord Foundation, just to name a few. And even things like she worked on the music community for Jazz in the Park and helped on the board that started out Radio Milwaukee.

And after retirement, she continued her service to the city sitting on the administrative review board of appeals. As mayor Barrett, she just was someone who loved the city. And was a neighborhood resident, a friend of mine. She lived in Easttown for a long time. One of the reasons that's why we wanted sign where we're proposing it, that sort of between where she lived and on the way to city hall and right right where she went to spend a lot

of her

time outside of work. So that's what I wanted to say today for Cecilia.

Thank you. Do you have something to add?

DTW doesn't oppose this. We would not incur any costs and it will require two signs on Wall Street between Jefferson and Jackson.

And can you say who

you are for the record?

Sorry. Yeah. Dessalon Bakela, DPW Central Drafting Records.

Okay. So

let's see. Can we the can we get those bullets?

Sure. Send

them out.

I'd like one.

Any questions from committee? Send them out. Is there anyone else here to testify on this item? Though she started working at the city the year before I was even born, when I came here in 2008, Cecilia was a we my staff and I quickly learned that she was a great resource. At the time, I believe she was the person we would call for block party permits and stuff of that nature.

And she would always help us make it happen for the people that we serve as construction over bridges, the Humboldt Street Bridge and other stuff in my district happened, and we dealt with the challenges for businesses as that occurred. Myself and alderman called back at the time, and I will share with her the challenges in her role with DPW. She would she found a way to have some standard communication with the businesses, help keep them informed, and help to address their needs. In the neighborhoods when we had construction and the neighbors were so upset about different things that were going, she made it a point to contact them weekly with updates about what was going on with the construction and to make sure that the neighbors were in contact with whoever was the site manager of the construction to take care of any daily concerns that they have. So your point about her desire in whatever position she was in to attempt to find solutions and make sure that people were served.

I have a million stories and a million testaments to her willingness and ability to do that because of the relationships that she has. And I think this is a tremendous honor, a well deserved honor for miss Gilbert, and I'm glad that you all have come before us today for it. Let me ask you this. Will there be a assuming this passes here today and it passes the full council, which I'm certain that it will will there be a a ceremony or something for the signs

going? Certainly.

Yes. Alright.

We'll have an event.

Yes. Please please make sure that

we're in front. Probably at the previously mentioned business but yes.

Madam chair? Auditor Baumann. Could you make me the sponsor of this file, please?

Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Okay. All right. Well, Auditor Baumann

would a couple of others coming down the line here. The one involving Elsa's as well. I forget where that is,

but it's Okay.

Auditor involvement will move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion?

Next file.

I'm hearing none. So ordered. Thank you. Next number, 19. File number 241964. Substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name Carl Kop to North Jefferson Street from East Wells Street to East Kilborn Avenue in the 4th Automatic District. And please Mark Alderman Ballroom as one sec. Okay.

Good morning, everyone. My name is Mary Freeman and I'm Carl Kopp's partner.

I'm Chris Collins, nephew and longtime employee of Carl Kopp.

Alright. And I just have a letter. It's just a two minute letter that I'd like to read. It's Carl's story. I think, he's been such a private man all these years. I don't think many people know his story. So here it is. Elsa and Carl Kopp, both German immigrants, met in Milwaukee in the 1930s. They soon married and had three children, Friedy, Carl, and Elizabeth. Carl, the father, worked as a tool and die maker until one day the doctors informed him that he was suffering from Parkinson's disease, leaving him unable to perform his job.

It forced Elsa to leave her job as a full time homemaker and find work to support the family. Her friend Leon from Leon's Frozen Custard offered to help. In 1950, Kopp's Frozen Custard opened its doors. Carl, the son, was 11 years old when he began working at Kopp's after school. CAPS became his lifeblood for the next seventy years and he also became the owner.

During this time, Carl provided thousands of career opportunities. Many of the employees worked with Carl for over thirty years because of the safety structure and stability he provided for them and their families. They learned from his work ethic, his firm but fair style, and his quality hospitality. Some branched out into even having their own successful businesses. Capps Frozen Custard is legendary because rather than franchising what he helped create, Carr remained firm on staying in the Milwaukee area only.

In return, he offered millions of customers the highest quality food at affordable prices. In the 1970s, Carl bought the building at 833 North Jefferson Street and on New Year's Eve nineteen seventy nine Elsa's on the Park opened. For over forty five years, generations of families have been dining at Elsa's since the opening because of Carl's commitment to providing excellent food and service to everyone. Carl's appreciation for artists is iconic, but rather than keeping a private collection, he shared his art with his customers at Elsa's allowing people to wonder in amazement and expectation with the ever evolving collection. We will remember Carl for his accomplishments, his grace, and his style.

He is a very private man, never political, and he accepts and welcomes everyone. Carl Kopp lived the American dream from his humble beginnings to establishing thriving businesses not only in Milwaukee but all over the country. It is a testament of what one can achieve through hard work, discipline, and a dedicated spirit. Naming Jefferson Street between Wells and Kilborn after Carl will not only be an honorary name, but a way of life for people to reach for and achieve. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you. Thank you. Again,

Dessalon Bekela here from Central Drafting of Records. This honorary street name will require two signs on Wells And Kilborn alone Jefferson. And we deeply supports your request.

I I would like to ask if it could be named Carl R. Kapp because R is his middle name which was his father's middle name.

I'll move to amend the file to provide for you.

You can do that. Thank you. Carl Arthur. Yes.

Madam chair?

Yes. Adam McGahn.

New approval and as a customer of Alsos for forty five years, I'm honored to make that motion.

Alright. Were there any other questions on committee before we take up the motion?

As amended.

Alright. The motion by Alderman Baumann is to adopt as amended. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Congratulations. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Thank

you. Item 20, file under two five zero zero eight five. Substitute resolution assigned the honorary street name Riot The Reef to North Hubbard Street from East Vine Street to East Brown Street Street in the 6th Automatic District.

Good morning, madam chair and members of the committee. My name is Celia Jackson. I'm a retired attorney here in Milwaukee County. Been active for for many years, but, a graduate of UW Law School in 1980. Many of you may not have heard of attorney George DeRief.

That's because so much of our history, thank you, is not taught and becomes lost. He was actively engaged in the promotion of economic and social conditions of African Americans in Milwaukee in the early twentieth century. In 2018, I was involved with a project with some of my African American attorneys to create a directory to highlight some of our history. We did research on many of the attorneys of African descent in Wisconsin starting with William T. Green who was the first 1892 graduate of UW Madison Law School.

Many of you are probably familiar with names such as Lloyd Barbie, Mabel Ramey, Clarence Parrish, Dell and Bell Phillips. It was working on this project that I learned of attorney Derif and other African American attorneys who faced many professional and societal challenges during their time. We stand on their shoulders. It it is important for us to recognize the work that they did in this community and incumbent upon us to share their names and teach about their contributions. How much of our history has been lost because of the work of those who came before us and is not documented?

Attorney Derif moved to Milwaukee in 1913 after graduating from Howard University Law School in nineteen o five. He clerked with a municipal judge in Washington DC before relocating here to Milwaukee. While here, he opened a private practice. He was one of three African American attorneys during that time, approximately 1915. He was instrumental in working with the Milwaukee Central Council of Social Agencies and pastor Jesse Woods of Saint Mark AME Church in establishing the first chapter of the Urban League in Milwaukee in 1919.

Soon thereafter, there was chapter of the NAACP which was established in Milwaukee. Both of these agencies addressed the many inequities facing African Americans during that time. It should be noted that there are many who fought valiantly to improve the economic and social conditions of African Americans who often don't receive much of a footnote of their efforts, and they are essentially unknown. The naming of a street in honor of attorney Derif is a way for us to Urban League and president of Columbia Law Building Alone. As a newspaper editor, one of the things is he brought attention to one of our Wisconsin congressmen, W.

H. Stafford, who voted against the passage of an anti lynching bill. He was an ardent civil rights activist and businessman who utilizes legal abilities to improve the conditions of African Americans in Milwaukee and even persuaded Illinois governor Phillips to have an exhibit in Chicago at the expo to bring business to Milwaukee because there was an excellent pool of African American laborers in Milwaukee. His advocacy and business acumen helped to build an industrial workforce in black Milwaukee. I ask that you consider assigning an honorary Street after George Harriet Derif, an important legal mind and leader the

not

to police And that sure

section of Department Street versus anywhere else? Did he live on this section?

I believe that this

is an area where his office was, where he worked.

Very impressive story. Thank you. Oh, here's a historian. You ready to jump up here?

Okay.

Thank you.

Any any other questions from committee? Is there anyone else here to testify on this item? Alright.

Just one. That's Alan Bakela here from, DPW Central Drafting Records. This honorary street name requires three signs on Hubbard Street between Vine and what is that, Brown. Mhmm. And DPW is okay with that. We incur any costs. Okay.

Any other questions from committee? This is in the 6th Automatic District, and I I welcome recognition for him. And thank you for doing this. You're welcome. With that, auto woman and Tyler would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion?

Can you can you share the biography? Pardon

me?

I said can you share the biography? Because we didn't have it

in our

Oh, okay. The you mean the comments that I made or oh, I can leave I have a copy I can leave with you. Okay. I don't have copies for everybody. Okay. Alright. Thank you.

Thank you. And if there's a celebration or something, please let us know as well. Okay. I'll send it. Order of women tell me no approval. Adoption hearing objections to order. Next up, item 21, file number two five zero zero eight six. Substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name John j Williams to North 14th Street from West Capitol Drive to West Olive Street in the first automatic district.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen and alder persons. My name is Joanne Williams. I am John J. Williams' daughter. I would like to read some information about him so that you can decide whether or not you want to approve this designation.

His family moved to Milwaukee in 1923. His father, Reverend Samuel Williams, became the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. He attended Lincoln High School, now Lincoln Center for the Arts, then worked as a Pullman porter in the kitchen on the trains that came into Milwaukee. He graduated from Milwaukee Teachers College, now UWM, to be a high school teacher, but he could not get hired to teach in Milwaukee because MPS did not hire black teachers in 1923. So he found a position in Oklahoma to teach high school.

He and my mother returned to Milwaukee in 1942 because her family was all still here. They had been in Wisconsin since before the Civil War. In fact, my great great grandfather came to Wisconsin in 1864. In the 1940s, he ran his own newspaper, The Milwaukee Globe. John Williams worked at the Tannery and started the first women's softball team to build camaraderie between black and white workers.

He was the first black cab driver in Milwaukee working working for the Yellow Cab Company, then brought in black women to become drivers. He worked at the post office here in Milwaukee as a mailman downtown and on the East Side. He was promoted to a supervisor and employment officer and worked there for more than forty years. He was recognized by the Postal Service for helping implement the zip code in Wisconsin in 1963. Then he retired for the first time.

He worked for the state Higher Educational Aids Board, students find scholarships. Then he retired again. He joined the Milwaukee Urban League becoming the Manpower Director. He helped dozens of people find and keep jobs in and around Milwaukee. He believed in the power and the dignity of work. In 1959, my father helped the Milwaukee Urban League find its new Executive Director. He recommended Wesley Scott. Scott served as Executive Director until 1981. In my father's obituary in 2001, Mr. Scott said John's whole life was something that was unusual.

He was one of the soldiers, not the general, because he didn't get the credit. He said it's the general who gets written up, but it's the soldier who wins the war. John helped a lot of people. While working with the Urban League helping students find colleges and scholarships, he connected with Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana, sending Milwaukee students there for their education. He also connected with the University of Wisconsin Platteville, encouraging other students to stay in Wisconsin and come back to Milwaukee after graduation.

Then Platteville made him an offer he couldn't refuse. So he retired again and went to the campus to get his master's degree at 70 years old. After getting that degree in guidance and counseling, he was hired by the university to stay on campus and work with students struggling with their transition to college life far away from home. I sometimes run into those students who thank me for my father's guidance and wisdom. When my mother, Vita E.

Williams, passed in 1978, he retired again and came back to Milwaukee. He volunteered for committees and causes and spent some time back at the Urban League advising students. My father came back to Milwaukee because he knew there was more to be done. I hope his involvement and dedication to the city will be recognized by an honorary street name. Thank you.

Yes. Clayborne Benson from Wisconsin Black Historic Society. I knew Mr. Williams very, very well over the years. He's and I personally witnessed him as an Urban League person helping hundreds of people. I mean, he just had patience with people you would not believe. But I do realize that that comes from generations of people. As Joanne talked about, her family grew up in Waukesha and Sam Williams, member at Calvary Baptist Church, generations of men. Obviously, some of you have seen the work of Joy Williams. That family has contributed to this community, timeless and timeless.

Mister Williams will help people after people and had patience with them even when they messed up coming here looking for work. He understood the nature of people and helped them tirelessly. And so we thought a street naming would be appropriate. After talking to Alderman Pratt, there's a concern about some of the neighbors are concerning about it did not come through them. And that may be I should have probably taken that up myself by meeting with them to discuss the significance of this family's contribution to this community.

But again, we're here, and I'm just hearing about the objections now. But I want you to know that John Williams is well deserving of this street naming designation because their family their total family has contributed to this community. Joanne, obviously, we've all seen Joanne, but I can tell you, you can go through some of the history books and see many pictures of John Williams working at the Urban League as administrator organizing groups. He just looked into people to help people make a difference in their lives. And so I don't know what the what the board wants to do in this case, but know that this man is worthy of this.

And if we need to talk to the neighbors, then maybe so. But again, I, as a historian, recommend that he be considered deeply. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Smithson. Madam Chair. This isn't the first automatic district. Thank

you. So I did just share with Ms. Williams and Mr. Benson that I've been to a couple of neighborhood meetings where we've had two applications back to back for this same street. And with the first application, I did ask him to go through the petition process because I had three other families after the Williams family who also were interested in the same street.

That is a good problem to have given the storied history of Rufus King neighborhood. So I do think it's best for me to to go to speak with neighbors. They do have a regular Rufus King neighborhood Association meeting where I spoke with them, and it was not that they were opposed. They did just want more information. And all they got was an initial mailing that the meeting was happening.

I did tell them they had the option. They could go to the meeting and talk with mister Benson, talk with miss Williams and get more information or even object if that's what they wanted to do and neighbors did not come out from what I understand but I do wanna work with neighbors. I understand the how what a awesome man that mister Williams was and his history and what he contributed to the neighborhood and to the city and to our country as as well. So I do not wanna negate that. I wanna make sure that we give it the I just wanna make sure that it's equitable on the process and is not any rub against, you know, your father or or anything.

I totally understand defending your daddy. If no one else does, I do. So I'm I'm gonna say what I what I'm asking the committee if they can hold this. The Rufus King Neighborhood Association is having a meeting, and I'm just gonna add or invite you to to come to the meeting to speak with them, gain a consensus, and then when those postcards go out, when we get them back, that it'll be overwhelming majority and that they know that the street they're living on is a street that they had a a voice in picking.

Thank you. Thanks.

Alright. Any questions? One.

Yeah. One. Please. Any questions?

I do think it is a great problem to have with so many folks who have contributed to the history of this city who happen to live in the same neighborhood. I think that says great things about the Rufus King neighborhood.

Madam chair, I'll speak to the Department of Public Works. I don't think our ordinance restricts one to a single honorary street name. You could hang three honorary street signs. How could you? Three honorary honorary I think.

It doesn't say specifically but it might create confusion I guess.

Well no because there's no real legal significance to it.

No. It's not. No. Right. No.

Auditor Obama raises an interesting point. So I would just say this, Auditor Women Pride, as you, talk with neighbors, there might be some creative solution.

Oh, yeah. And that's what I'm looking. I mean, when I see this is going from capital to Olive, I thought maybe we do capital to Febrance. Febrance to Olive. Olive to congress. All of 14th Street, you know, for three different families.

Is that your parents block?

My parents live on 16th Street. My father said he doesn't even think he'd be able to get his street named

after him.

Give me a second.

I mean, really, like, he said, like, someone said

it, but I

don't think it will happen if I had to get the neighbors to vote. So, yeah, I'm just trying to I'm just trying to, you know, make it as equitable as possible. It is, I'd like like I said, it's a good problem to have. I just wanna make sure that we're able to honor like the one that was one of my goals in elected to do as many street renaming as I could into these people who lived who blaze these trails that we can look up and and see where they were and what they did and that that will help us to position ourselves for the future. I often see street names.

I end up googling someone who I may not have known. So that's that's what I want too, especially in a neighborhood like Rufus King where we have the school there, and students are traversing through it all the time. It's really just added touch to to connect us throughout the neighborhood. Well,

I wish they had came to our committee so that we could have worked it out then there. And and and past, we've had streets in dispute and people go back and negotiate and it and come back with a solution. I mean, two of them that you had today. Yeah. So Yeah. So we want to continue with this to ensure that I

hope you do. I'm in, yeah, I'm in support of it and I just wanna come up with a creative solution on what we can do that throughout that neighborhood we can honor people.

Well, I'd happy to do whatever it takes to convince the neighbors that the honorary name should be on 14th Street of my father.

Many of them remembered your father when I spoke with them and spoke favorably about him. So yes, I think they'll be receptive to that.

And since I am a grad proud graduate of Rufus King High School, which is in that neighborhood, and my children are graduates of that's Director of the Urban League, lived on the same block with my father. Question.

It's See, that's my problem. It's a

very involved neighborhood. So I will come to the meeting and lobby in favor of my father's

our city. So I kind of envy her in that way. And I know that we had had myself and an older woman private conversation before about some alternative ways of, you know, making mark on her district to recognize all the wonderful people that have come over there. I would be more than happy to look at all those some suggestions because we had looked at I think I gave her one walking downtown. There was just quite an extensive mark made for the PEP's beer there and and just looking at how the sidewalks were memorializing the create the history there and just different things like that.

So there are so many other ways too of looking at it that will probably be a little more profound. And and so I think I think it's worth taking a look at because the area is so dedicated to or we could could be so dedicated to many people who have made such a mark, an incredible mark on the city.

Thank you. Thank you very much. We'll be back.

Okay. We'll be

back. Thank you.

Alright. With that, order woman Tyler will move to hold to the call of the chair. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Jeremy. You too.

Thank you. Oh, yeah. Item number 22, file number 250087.

How'd you figure it? How'd you

I was looking at the very day. Oh, this is okay.

Substitute resolution assigning the honorary name Everett Booby Moore to West Garfield Avenue

Well, as you know, I'm the chairman of the committee now and one of the people that made a difference in my life. You know, I is Willy Moore who raised me and gave me new life and from from poverty to whatever it is I am today. Community historian and I love him immensely. He has done a great deal for mentoring young people, Masonic Temple for he served on the restaurant board, the Summerfest board. And many of the city folks would go to his restaurant for lunching during the day.

He serviced the Howlett Park community in many ways, and he is one of the founders of the Ogafiel Festival that we have there. And so he has made a tremendous difference, not only in my life, but in many others' life. And so we're here to see whether or not we can get his street named in his honor. It would be an honor to me as well to recognize the good work that this man has done. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Monica Payne. I am the great niece of Booby Moore. This is my uncle. The effort was initiated. And in my cousin Kim, his son is also here. He doesn't like to talk, so he says. Something that I thought about in my short fifty seven years, the first owners, all the owners of this establishment on that corner have been African American men. The originator was my great great uncle, Ozil Howell. Then it was passed on to Everett Earl Booby Moore and now the current owners of five zero two.

So the names have been five zero two, Boobies Place, and now Garfield's five zero two. And that historic significance is not missed on my family. In our family, this is the first job that everybody had. The boys started at 16 and the girls started at 18. So in the start of what's now known as Garfield days, it started when I was 19 years old.

It was just the patio that exists now was just the blacktop in the parking parking lot and Uncle Booby opened the doors of the bar and it was open for the first three hours to the entire neighborhood. Certain businessmen came from the different boards that he was on and it was just a big party and for me as a young girl growing up and that being my first job, it was awesome to see all of the community come in and fellowship together in this establishment. And then it grew into the night and at 19 I was told to go home by 11:00. But the significance of the naming is not missed on my family and it will be a mark that is left for the in its entirety and that significance is not missed. And I just want to publicly take a moment to thank my uncle for his effort in this and also to thank my cousin Kim and Mr.

Lamar and all the supporters that are here today. It is a big it is a big place for family in the city of Milwaukee. Everyone it is as my cousin used to say, it's the black cheers even to this day, and that is very much appreciated. So if this doesn't if there's any objections to the street name, I have a second solution because mister Pratt lived this way on 16th Street. My grandparents lived three doors for mister Pratt, and uncle Booby lived up the street. We can make a combination, and we can call it Boobies And Pratt's Way. Okay? Have mister Pratt's name be this way on the sign and on the boobies that way. So there's a solution.

No. But what we have before us today.

Yes. You did,

for his street name.

Are there any questions from committee?

Madam madam chair.

Family legacy.

When you mentioned the names that it was all called, what were the names you mentioned?

502 was the original name under the ownership of my uncle my great great uncle, Ozell Howell.

1953, sir. Starting date.

Okay. Because my dad just sent me a text because he's always watching this.

And he

said that my grandfather used to hang out at Ezel's 502.

Ezel's 502.

Is that correct? That's the original.

Okay. That's the original.

That's it. Original. Okay. Then it became Booby's place when uncle Bubba his family name was Bubba.

Okay.

So when Ozel passed, it went on to uncle Booby who elevated it to Booby's place and changed the inside. And education for everyone, when a bar serves food, it's called a restaurant. Became Booby's Place and now it is Garfield's five zero two.

Got it. Okay. Thank you.

Doctor. Dasson Bakela here from Central Drafting of Records. This honorary street name requires two signs and we DPW supports it.

Are there is there anyone else here to testify on this item? I acknowledge the presence of one of the former owners, mister Lamar Franklin, here in support on the soul. Come on up. You just had a whole building named after you.

Yes.

Did you want to speak on this item?

I think it's a great idea how many my parents are in terror business from 1945 till, I think, '64, something like that. So we're very close to Poopy's and Ozell and all them. My father and Ozell are best friends. So I'm glad to see something like that happen. So it's overdue. I'm trying to work on it. I got a building.

So we

got rid the street.

Alright. Alright. If there are no further questions, I think most of us probably are familiar with Garfield's five zero two and with the festival that mister Booby started created and definitely with the history impact that mister has had on not just the Hyde Park neighborhood, but on the city. So I think this is a great way. This happens to be in the 6th Automatic District as well.

But I think this is a great way to honor his legacy and history right on, you know, the block where his business was located and where the current version of it is. So I'm in great support of this move. So with that, Alderman Westmoreland would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. And please, if there is an event or something or you wanna schedule one.

There will be.

Okay. Alright. Please invite us. Please let us. It will be. Yes. Alright. Motion. Thank you. Hearing objection, motion passes. Thank you, guys.

Thank you.

Next up, item 23, file number 250594. Substitute resolution assigned the honorary street name, bishop Betty Hayes, to West Garfield Avenue from North 21st Street to North 23rd Street in the 15th Automatic District.

Oh, yes.

Good morning. It's honored to be before you today. My name is Jared Williams, pastor at the New Direction Christian Church, bishop Betty Hayes' successor. This is my church secretary, sister Kelly Carter. She is a phenomenal woman of god.

We have my aunt here who signed the initial paperwork, my aunt Cynthia, my wife of twenty one years. We're just here to petition you all to get permission to get a street named after her. It is the street where she laid the first brick of her brick and mortar church, Holy Mount Carmel. We wouldn't be here if she hadn't been there. 1981, she established it, and she's been preaching for about fifty years.

And upon her passing, two years ago, I promised her in the church that I would do this in her honor. God honors honor. We want to honor her in that regard. She is a trailblazer and historical figure in our city as the first black woman Baptist pastor in a time where women in ministry weren't taken serious. She took her calling from god serious and established a phenomenal ministry, and so many other churches and ministries came up from under her ministry.

Again, she preached for about fifty years, and and we're here today because of her. Of course, she had so many degrees, doctorate in divinity, master's in divinity, bachelor's in divinity when women weren't welcome even in the academic sector as far as the theology is concerned. There is nothing else on that block besides our building and church, and she is certainly a trailblazer, and I believe worthy of that honor. I'll let our secretary speak.

So I can add. Again, my name is Kelly Carter. I'm a member of New Direction Church, which is in the in the church building that she built. I'm also also a community member, so I recently recently built a home there on 13th And Harmon, which is right near this church. And so having a young child, I listened to miss Pratt say, seeing honorary names on our streets are important.

It helps our children know what's important in the community who are trailblazers. So it would be great to have that stretch of the street, which, again, outside of our church, there are vacant lots around that. It would be nice to see her name there. She cared about the community. She bought that property. Kitty Corner from where the church lands. It would be nice to see her honored because she clearly cared about that community and it's important for our for our community members to know that people still care about that community.

Thank you. Any questions for committee?

Madam chair. Oh, sorry. Can I just be signed on as a co sponsor for that particular one? Thank you.

Thank you. I remember her.

I grew up.

You remember

bishop Beta Hayes? That's awesome.

Oh, Desolate Bacalla again from central drafting of records. This honor history's name requires three sides along Garfield Avenue between 23rd and 21st, and DPW approves

it. Alright. If there are no questions, I'll is there anyone else here to testify on this item? Alright. If there are no further questions, order woman Taylor would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none. Motion passes. Good luck.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

May I ask just one question?

What are

the what's the next steps?

I'm

It will go before the full council. Okay. Whether council will hear our recommendation and decide to support it or not. Okay. And then after they support it, hopefully, how long does the science take?

You you I think before you go to council, you have to make the deposit first Mhmm. For the sign, for the cost of the signs. Okay. And once that's we accept that, then you the council accept accept it. And it's up to you the if if you want to sign and install, if you wanna have a special event, we can we can expedite it. We can set it for a certain date.

Thank you.

And the next council is the twenty fifth.

Twenty fifth. Okay. Mhmm. Thanks. Alright.

Thank you. Have a good day.

Thank you.

Thanks again. Mhmm.

Next up, item 24, file number 250821. Substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name, reverend John w McVicar senior to Westport Avenue from North 60th Street to North Edgeworth Drive in the 9th Automatic District.

Good morning. Good morning. My name is Anita Peterson. I am the controller for Christ the King Baptist Church here in Milwaukee and have worked under the leadership of the reverend John w McVicar senior for the last twenty five years in that role. I'm here with some church staff as well as a member of our deacon ministry, deacon Clifford King, wanting to show our support for the honorary renaming of Westport Avenue to reverend John w McBicker senior.

Our pastor McBicker retired in July and was bestowed the title of pastor emeritus of Christ the king. Our newly installed pastor, reverend Trayvon Sinclair, sends his regards as he unfortunately could not get out of an already planned event. So he's unable to attend this morning. However, he's the lead sponsor of this request, which is shown in the letter that he was included with the application. We thank you for allowing us just a few minutes to speak about Reverend McMickey.

You received many, many pages of detail and I know that that went to it was part of his application and I know Citizens Advisory Committee had it. And my hope is that you received it as well, where we've touched on quite a few things, many, many pages of things that he's done throughout the city. However, what it it does not touch on is some of the love and support that he's shown over the forty years of our community that is not listed there. And so that's what I wanted to share with you quickly this morning. Some of those things that are not highlighted in all the information that you've received.

First of all, our pastor, after he shortly started the church, he created and established a scholarship program, giving scholarships to high school graduates throughout the city of Milwaukee that were members of Christ the king. These scholarships consisted of book scholarships and one time scholarships and even a one year for a one four year renewable scholarship that the child could receive each of the four years that they attended college. This year in 2025, that renewable scholarship grew to $4,000 a year amounting to, $12,000 given to one child over their college education to ensure that they had funds to attend and be successful in school. In 2025, under his leadership, CTK had given out over $25,000 in scholarships. And as I was preparing to talk in front of your committee, I went back just to see since I've been here, which was 2001, what did we give out in scholarships to the children of our community?

And I learned that we had given out over $340,000 in scholarships to help our children. And we are truly grateful of his desire to want to help our children succeed. One of the other things that stood out for me as I'm thinking about my years of working with Reverend McVicar is his food voucher program that's not talked about in the work that you've received. This program not only helped our members, but they helped our community where if you were in need of food, you could come to Christ the King, share a little bit of your story, and ultimately qualify for this $50 voucher that could be used at any Pick n Save store in the city of Milwaukee. Pick n Save contracted and worked and partnered with us where they would accept the voucher and then bill Christ the king for whatever was used with that voucher.

And we, in turn, obviously, would pay the invoice. The only reason this program stopped is when the purchase was made, Kroger purchased Roundy's, and Kroger's decided that they did not want to be a part of this program any longer. And then, fortunately, that was the only reason that this program stopped. Another quick story that I wanna share with you. Pastor was at home, pastor McVicar, watching television with his wife, and a story came on the news about an organization whose boiler had stopped working, and they would have to close their doors for the winter.

This organization called the 12 step program welcomed in people that were battling with addiction. They helped them and provided them with the resources and gave them a safe place to stay. Immediately after seeing this story, pastor went to work talking to his pastorial colleagues, asking them to assist him with getting a new boiler for this facility. And a short time later, pastor McVicar along with several of the other local pastors here in the city personally went to the location I the team.

The

And stories I could continue and talk to you all day. I And had my finger put up to me at the other meeting, and so I am going to quickly share this last story with you, which is one that is so close to my heart. As the controller of the church, I oversee our finance team that handles and manages and opens the envelopes from offerings on each Sunday of the week. People often put notes in there praising god, thanking god, praising their church, thanking their church. We had, came to my attention as we opened one envelope, and this envelope said, please help me.

I need my church to pray for me. Someone's trying to take my house. I thought for a minute and read the name on the envelope, and it was the name of our 92 year old member. I gave it to pastor right away, and I said, I don't know if there's any truth to this, but it was important enough for me to give it to you so you could see it. He went to work immediately, reaching out to that seasoned member, as I will refer to her.

And she had a neighbor that worked with her, and she mentioned that neighbor's name. Pastor got them into the church, started asking questions, got our attorneys involved. And, ultimately, what we learned is that she had been scammed, and someone was able to take out a mortgage on her property, convinced her to sign some documents. And so, unfortunately, there was not anything that we could do about it. Pastor McVicar called me into his office as the controller of the church and said, I wanna help her.

What can we do? $7,000 later, we paid off that debt. And that 92 year old woman, a couple years later, at 94 years old is still living in that property. I share all these stories with you as you saw the litany of all the great things that he does that people know about. These are the stories that are behind the scenes that shows the help. And after twenty five years, I can still feel this way.

Awesome.

But it shows the help that he has given to this community. And still in his retirement as our pastor Emeritus is still helping us spread the word and help the community be the best that we can be. Thank you. So I thank you for listening. Mhmm. I apologize for my tears. No.

No apologies necessary. I'll tell you in a time that every story that we are hearing or seeing is coming with a negative tint. It was refreshing to hear you tell some extremely positive stories. And, honestly, to hear all the great stories today about about these folks that we are being asked to name streets after is really, really refreshing. We get the negative stories all the time. So it's been a really good meet, so appreciate that. Is there any questions from committee?

So as a representative of the 9th District, thank you so much, madam chair. I'm I'm very proud of the work that pastor McVicar has done. It was a pleasure to sit with him and talk with him and to learn some of those things from him. I always say the best way to learn the history is to talk to the people who make the history. And so I I just I did get a chance to sit and talk to pastor Sinclair right now too and told him I hope and expect that he will carry on the legacy.

Pastor McVicar, and I appreciate it talking to him as well. And so I also wanna make sure that I'm added on as a cosponsor for this. And so I appreciate those other stories that you shared too from behind the scenes, the things that we don't get to see. And that's when it really matters is what you can do behind the scenes because you can show people all day long. The school is beautiful.

I have a step granddaughter that goes there. She absolutely enjoys it. Her mom's appreciates it as well. And I appreciate when I go there too the the programs that you guys do with the children and and the dedication of the teachers that are there as well. So it's a great imprint that you left on that he that he is leaving on our city in that area, and I greatly appreciate that. So, I definitely am in support of doing an honorary street name.

Thank you. Have a woman.

You're welcome. DPW?

That's Alan Bacalla here. This honorary street name on Westport Avenue requires three four signs between 60th and North Edgeworth.

Yes.

And DPW supports it.

Okay. Alright.

There are any further did you wanna say a couple of words since you said

I'm Deacon Clifford King. I would only have two stories that just speak on pastor McVicar's heart and most of it, I'm sure you've gotten the information that was submitted by the church. Mhmm. A few years back, about ten years, he started a troop for our church of boy scouts. And so troop seventy seven fifty, which is our address, we have one Eagle Scout now in a short ten year period of time, and we have got several that are on their way to Star Scout. I actually happen to be the scout master along with being the deacon. Other than that, I'm also I get to work with the finance committee as far as our benevolent offerings

Yes.

Which we do get requests from the community to help people that are in need. And we've just recently helped several people with that benevolent offering. But the part that really speaks to pastor McVicker's heart is the fact that our whole church, as a church, we tithe. We tithe to our community. And so that's very important to him, and that's all I would like to say. It speaks to his heart and the character of the man.

Yeah. You. If there are no further questions, order woman Tyler will move adoption. Hearing no objection, so ordered.

Awesome. And then the next steps would be

You have to make a deposit for the signs.

And that's okay.

Yeah. And then I think you'll be scheduled for the council hearing.

Okay. Will

someone contact us regarding the cost of whatever the deposits we need to make then?

Yes. I can I can tell you that right away too?

Next up, we have item 25.

Yeah. He'll take care of that. Thank you

so much. 19.

Thank you.

50979. Substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name, Ron Sadoff, to North 36th Street from West Montague Avenue to West Wright Street in the 15th Automatic District.

Good morning, Madam Chair. My name is Brian Sadoff and I'm nominating my father, Ron Sadoff. My father is 85 years old and a lifelong Milwaukeean. He was born here in 1940, first graduating class in Nicolet High School, also graduated from Marquette Law School. He also started State Off Investment Management back in 1978, which became one of the city and state's largest investment management firms.

He's actually in the Stock Market Research Hall of Fame. He serves on or served on UW Milwaukee's Endowment Board and worked alongside Biz Starts for a little while and he mentored some inner city kids. So he has deep ties and roots to our community in Milwaukee. But the real reason I'm nominating my father for an honorary street sign is because he founded Milwaukee College Preparatory School known as MCP. MCP started in 1997.

My father was looking for a way to give back to the community and thought inner city education needed help. He thought a good education was a way to break the poverty cycle and to keep young kids on a path to contribute back to Milwaukee. As we know, education is the passport to the future. For those that are not familiar with Milwaukee College Prep, it started with one school and a few grades, now it's four campuses, each of them West Of I-forty 3 off of North Avenue and one of Milwaukee's most underserved neighborhood. It works with students from K-four to eighth grade, has about 2,000 students enrolled, 91% are black, 83% are economically disadvantaged.

Today, it's a leading network of public charter schools with a theory that any Milwaukee student could attend for free and that education should be transformational. The school focuses education and character development and the results over these years have been staggering. Their campuses are consistently rated high by the state of Wisconsin as one of the better schools in Southeast Wisconsin. These four campuses are in the top 20 of the city of Milwaukee. They were a pioneer in this area as one of the first voucher charter choice schools in the Milwaukee area, which came an inspiration to several other schools that started creating more help for the students in the city of Milwaukee.

Here are a few facts about MCP schools. 90% of MCP students are outpacing the national growth rate in reading. And while the schools only go up to eighth grade, a higher percentage of MCP schools graduate high school and go on to graduate college than those students attending MPS. The four campuses employ over 300 students excuse me, over 300 people as teachers, administrators and support staff. So let's help create jobs.

The North Avenue corridor which these schools lie on West Of I-forty 3 is slowly seeing improvement over the years, new apartments and developments and I think that's in part to having strong community schools. Most importantly, about 175 to 200 students graduate from MCP school each year and the school is coming up on its thirtieth anniversary. As you know, a rising tide lifts many boats, that's a lot of lives changed, diplomas earned, careers kick started and a huge positive community impact. He's giving inner city children and their parents opportunity and hope. There's even college scholarships available for these students.

It's breaking the poverty cycle, breaking the gang cycle and it's a true Milwaukee success story. My father's vision has impacted and improved many lives in the city of Milwaukee. He was just one citizen looking to give back to his community. He donated time, sweat and money to change outcomes. His belief was a great education was the way to break this cycle. As one of Milwaukee's famous most stock picker investments, he would say that starting MCP was the best investment he's ever made. A way to pay tribute and honor him while he's still living would be to name the block of his first MPC school after him, Ron Sadoff. These kids are the future of Milwaukee and he's helping to improve our community. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you. Are there any questions from committee? Is there anyone else here to testify on this item? Public works? Hello, this

is Emmanuel Martinez from Central Drafting. This request will require two signs and it's approved by DPW.

I actually thank you for coming forward with this. I had no idea the story of your father, though I'm familiar with m p MPC. Even got some little cousins who go there and other cousins who benefited from the education there and are doing extremely well because of that foundation. I had no idea that your dad did

this stuff. It's pretty cool.

With that, if there's no questions from committee, Alderman Westmoreland would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Nope. Scaring that. So, thank you. Good luck.

Thank you, committee. Next

up, we have item 26, file number 250994, substitute resolution assigned to honorary street name, Bishop Johnny c Williams to the North Cytonia Avenue from West Center Street to West Harley Street, and the 15th Automatic District.

Good afternoon. Good morning. I'm, Lillian Williams Lawrence. I'm the daughter of, bishop JC Williams, and, I'm here to, petition to have, the street, that our church is on to have a honorary sign placed on that street on La Catonia Avenue. As a matter of fact, this week is the sixtieth sixty years ago, this week is when my dad purchased the building and and it became Williams Temple Church of God in Christ. And I have with me you wanna introduce yourself?

I am Dolores Williams, the widow wife of bishop JC Wills.

I'm Tiffany Lawrence, granddaughter of bishop JC Wills.

In the '19 well, in the early nineteen twenties, my dad told me that he read about Milwaukee in in his elementary school. He's from Huntingdon, Tennessee. And he's he said the name Milwaukee just resonated with him. And when he turned 17, he ran away from home and ran and came to Milwaukee. And at that time, he moved in with the the Wallace family.

And so he when he first came, he went to MSOE, I think it was, but it was a different name back then. And then he married and he bought a home, and he was always very religious. And he he started his church in in his home. And that that time during the forties, there was a migration from the South coming to the North. And many families came here.

They didn't have any place to go. They didn't have, you know, a home. They just came here with with the clothes on their back. So, our house became a home for families that were moving here from the South. South.

So, it was constantly being remodeled to to bring in another family. Then, the the upstairs became another family unit and then he started to buy other homes in the area And that area now is where the new North Division is, around 10th And Clark and in that area. And so for years, he these families would move up from the South and he would take them them the father around to different companies to apply for jobs until they got on their feet and were able to support themselves and then move on to build their own families. Well, it came to a point where there were 25 families that he was helping with the different houses and they became members of our church. And so he had to find a building to hold these people in.

The first building was on 6th And Vine, and then he moved in 1965 to 2753 North Titania Avenue. And that's where William Semple has been from that time up until this time. To tell you a little bit about Bishop Williams, Holy Tabernacle was dedicated to strengthening the fabric of the community. And he became an advocate of affordable housing, income development, and the stimulation of the local economy by cultivating human, social, and physical capital for families. Under his leadership, there were initiatives that were instituted, which included an outreach ministry for the relief of homeless while continuing to provide needed support for families that migrated from the South.

In 1977, he was appointed jurisdictional bishop of Wisconsin third ecclesiastical jurisdiction. And in the early nineteen nineties, bishop Williams and several COGIC bishops went to Washington DC to the White House, and they met with US President Bill Clinton at that time. In his later years, he received a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama and was mentioned many pastors and church leaders through his anointed and competent and effective leadership. Through the years, the pastors and bishops continue to call on him requesting his knowledge and interpretation of biblical scriptures. Now I remember when I was in college, I went to the University of Wisconsin in Platteville, and that was during the time of the riots in Milwaukee, the racial riots.

And my dad, he was he was close friends. It was a close knit community back at that time. He was friends with Marsha and Icahns and and Lord Barbie and and father Grapi and all of them. They it was a community that stuck together. And there were marches up and down in front of our church.

And the my father and and father Gropi and a lot of the leaders in the community, they they marched for civil rights in the community. And there was a young man, McKissick, that was shot and killed by a policeman back during that time. And his funeral was at our church. My father officiated over the funeral. So he had a close contact with the Milwaukee community as well as worldwide.

He was the oldest pastor when he passed away at 95 years old. He was the oldest pastor in the Midwest that had pastored one church for seventy years. And so that was phenomenal achievement. I'll I'll I'll just stop right now, and I'll let someone else speak if they want to speak.

And also, he served as a a jurisdictional bishop for forty years. And so and as his wife, the Lord blessed us to marry in the early two thousand nine. And, even though I was a member of his church for a lifetime, I said lifetime because I was born in the church. So, I knew of the different activities that were taking place as a young woman, and I went away to school, came back, worked in the community as a educator in Milwaukee Public School System, and then continued with the ministry, continue working, continue doing the things that one would do in the church. And the lord blessed one day, you know, and brought us together as husband and wife, which was was a miracle, you know, because I had no intentions.

I had any, you know, intentions of him or he being my husband, you know, but god bless him. That was a miracle thing, and there was so much love between us, between the the community, between the church membership, and between the jurisdictional membership. So he was a a well known man down through history. You know, he contribute many things as his daughter stated before, and she was a help in getting us together also. So, you know, you know, many things came about through the the the work of bishop JC Wills.

He was a man of character. He was a man that was unique in his own way. And many, as she said, stated, many many of the mister ministerial faculties throughout the city of Milwaukee and beyond Milwaukee called upon him, even, the bishop Cedric Daniels, that many people know of this area. That was his godson. And so he even, called upon bishop for doing his college year to give him some advice and things of that sort.

And the lord blessed him, and he became one of the one of the well known bishops in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But the the the the fact that we would like for him to have a honorary street name would be a essential part of his ministry and to let the people know that, yes, there was help during this time, and there was, you know, concern for the community. There was leadership in the community, and there was no doubt that he had a a heart for people. He want he had a heart to serve the people. And and no other no other means, you know, some people may have said, well, he did this or he did that, but his heart was for the people of the community.

He also established the JC Williams scholarship fund in the 1970s. And through the years, many, many students received a scholarship. As a matter of fact, there were two students just recently that received a scholarship to Morehouse. So it's still it's a continuous thing. You

want to see? Yes.

I is my mic on? Yes.

Okay. At the end of the day, everything they said it was you, but he was my grandfather. Grandfather. So I guess the relationship was different. He he loved animals and if you went to his house, you could see like the the TV on the animal planet.

But he was really known for his nice cars and his fine, you know, fine dressings. But the combination of those would come together when he his membership to the zoo. He would take me to the zoo in a three piece suit. So that that was interesting at at times. So really when I sat down and introduced myself, I told you my name was Tiffany Lawrence, but I feel like in church, no one knew my name.

I was just Bishop Williams' granddaughter. So that was really my first, middle, and last name was Bishop Williams' granddaughter while I grew up. But beyond that, we he and my mom used to go out to eat a lot on Saturday mornings. And people would just bombard you know, come up to us and, hey, Bishop Williams. Hi. How are you doing? You know, nice to see you. And with his million dollar smile, he would engage anybody that would come up to him.

Okay.

I'm okay.

He would engage anyone that would would come up to him and say, hey. How you doing? And have a a whole conversation with you about whatever you wanted to talk about.

Mhmm. Pass the Kleenex down to your

mom. But nine times out of 10, as soon as you walked away, the table, me and my mom, they'd be like, where no. Who was that? Where do we know them from? Trying to place place it, but you as the the person that just came up to the table would have no idea. He would make you feel like your bet he was your best friend. Like, he just knew you. He remembered you. He knew you. But, you know Yeah. He he might or might not have re recall where he knew you from, but you he wouldn't make you feel like a million bucks. Yeah.

And so many times we would go to restaurants and and he would look around to see who looked like maybe they may be in a little bit of need, and he would pay for their their food, you know, and and he would leave, and they had no idea. You know, they say, oh, it was, you know, the man over there in the three piece suit as as she said. He paid for your dinner. But he was just a just a wonderful person, and I I think Milwaukee, that name stood in his mind when he was a child for a reason because he was meant to be here to make this a better city.

Awesome. Awesome. DPW?

Here from Central Draftling and Records. This honorary street name requires two signs along Taitonia Avenue between Center and Hadley, and DPW approves it.