Business Improvement District Board #5 (westown Area) - Regular Meeting

To nobody that's here, welcome.

They're watching.

They're watching. Welcome to the community and economic development committee. I'm your chairman, Alderman Stanford. To my right is our vice chair, Joe Costa Zamoripa, and to the furthest left is older woman Marina Dimitrivich and Alderman Deandre Jackson. On the board, we have Alderman Mark Chambers and our staff assistant, miss Carmen Roman. Let's get started with number one, two five one six one eight. This is an ordinance relating to the project guidelines of the art board. This says chair. Does anybody here to discuss the guidelines of the art board? Audra McCaughey, you're on the art board. Right? Is this is this related to you?

No. I don't believe so.

Okay. The government.

This is Chris Hillard with the legislative reference bureau. Hey, Chris.

What's going on with Yeah, this absolutely.

So, basically, these are changes that were requested by the Arts Board. Really, all this does is it updates the ordinance to better reflect what they've been doing anyways. And the main thing that it does is it now allows them to to essentially fund specific organizations on an indefinite basis instead of specific projects for only five years. This is sort of what they've been doing anyways. And it's the direction that the art sport is sort of heading in. So that is why they requested it.

So once you're funded, you're funded indefinitely? Right.

Well, until the art sport decides otherwise.

No. I don't know. I I we we would need that explained because what about new RFPs? What about new projects? What about new arts events or art activities? How would that affect that? You wanna get a certain amount of money?

I believe the intention is that they still do the same thing they do every year where they take proposals in and then sort of decide how they're going to allocate things out. But this gives them the flexibility to continue funding things that they think they're doing well.

Yeah, they can do that anyway. Please have them come talk if they want this changed. They have to come. Any questions? Anybody?

Here as staff of the arts board. Excuse me. Sorry for interrupting, and sorry for the confusion. Is it alright if I address the the questions?

Yes. Are you over are you introduce yourself.

I'd be happy to. Good afternoon. My name is Sally Sedik, and I am staff of the Milwaukee Arts Board with the Department

of State of Nevada. The vice chair had something to say. What'd you say, old woman?

I was just wondering if you were you slated to speak, or how come you didn't speak up when we first started the the dialogue on this file?

Chris Chris was gonna explain it, and I think he did a good job, but I'm happy to add some additional context. No.

No. What she meant was when I asked if anybody's here for this file, that's what

she meant. Chris was Chris was planning always planning on speaking to the file. Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Alright. Would you like to explain? Would you like to

explain what she explained, mister chair, my apologies. I misunderstood what you asked. This is something that the arts board discussed, and I do chair the arts board. I wasn't prepared to speak on it today, but but I am familiar with it. I was there when we discussed it and all of that. So I just wanna be clear about that. My apologies.

Would you like to provide your position on it?

I forgot it.

Okay. Alright. Miss Chris, would you like to explain?

Sally. Sally.

Sally. I'm sorry. Sally, would you like to explain? Yes.

So as Chris mentioned, this is officially codifying the sustaining grant program that is operated by the Milwaukee Arts Board. I'll be back in April for the annual report with the Arts Board that I provide every year to give you the statistics of that program. But the way that that's currently running and applications are now open for anyone watching at home, you can go to milwaukee.gov/mab and find that information. So the applications are open for Milwaukee based arts focused nonprofits to apply for operating costs.

Yes, sorry. But can you address what we're concerned about real quick?

Yeah, I'm just giving an overview of the program because I think it was slightly misrepresented that organizations can be funded indefinitely. So the sustaining grant program is being added to the code of ordinance. Right now, the code of ordinance is only reflecting the program that the Arts Board used to operate, which is the project grants that has the five year limit. So now organizations will still apply. They will still have to go through a rigorous review process, be eligible, and speak to how they are achieving the goals of the Arts Board.

But there's now not a limit on the number of years in a row they can be funded. Way that the code of ordinance reads now, there's a limit of five years in a row that they can receive funding. They still have to go through the application. This is just removing that limit because it is operating funds. The Arts Board wants to support organizations that are having longevity and existing for many more than five years in a row.

Okay. So if I apply for a grant and I've gotten it for five years, do I have to apply the sixth year? Are you saying I'm automatically renewed based on the indefinite word that you used?

So app applicants have to apply every single year, and they have to be they have to score high enough to receive funding every year no matter how many years they've been applying for. They will always have to apply to receive funding under the sustaining grant. But we won't limit the number of years in a row that they can receive that.

I see. So you can basically now you can apply every year. And before you could stop at you had to stop at five. Is that what I'm hearing?

So this is this is the fifth year that the sustaining grant program program is operating. Actually, technically, this is the sixth year. So that's why we're changing it now. Before that, it was the project grant program. And those had a limit for projects of five years. But the organizations could still receive funding every year in a row. It was just changing the projects. But now that it is an operating cost grant for the organizational sustaining funds, they can continue to apply every year. But there is no automatic funding. I apologize if if I was misleading you.

So the the funding source changed and the guidelines changed?

Funding source did not change, but the entire program was pivoted from the project based grants in 2020. And it became the sustaining grant program, which the arts board feels is a better fit for the funding source and a better fit for the organizations being funded.

Are you guys comfortable with that? Let me let me let me talk to the committee. Committee, what what what's the pleasure of the committee? What do you guys do you guys understand everything? You got any questions?

That added clarity to me.

Okay. What about you?

Now still the word indefinite just sound crazy.

Is the word indefinite in there? Or is it just, look, you can apply every year?

The word indefinite is in the ordinance as proposed, but all it really means is that there is not a set end date, but it doesn't impact the ability of the Arts Board to require you to reapply every year.

Do me a favor, Chris. Just read the sentence for me one more time.

Sure. Just give me one moment. Let me bring

it up. Thank you.

Sustaining grants funded from the Milwaukee Arts Board shall be made to specific organizations and may be granted on an indefinite basis at the discretion of the board.

Okay. That's fine.

Yeah.

You got it?

Mister Chen? Yes.

Yeah. That's fine. Old woman.

Thank you. One other question on that is I think it seems what I'm hearing is sometimes the arts organizations may need extra time to allocate the funds. Is that the intent of that, Sally?

I think it's so that far. It sounds like it's the five year mark, but yeah.

Yeah, it is not. It's not to allocate the funds. The grants are relatively small, either 3,000 or $6,000 per organization. So we do find that they can expend those funds within the one year grant term. This is really to just remove that restriction just for the sustaining grant program that organizations can receive funding for more than five years in a row. Still have to apply, still have to merit funding. We are finding that it is a relatively competitive application process, and we're only able to fund about two thirds of applicants.

I think we got it. Any questions or concerns? Okay. Alright. Order on miss Amaripa moves for passage. Hearing no objections, so order. Thank you. Appreciate your patience. Number two two five one six seven seven. Substitute resolution appropriating up to $5,000 from the community and economic development fund for the February. Order woman, this should have my sponsorship on there. Do you mind if I have that added?

I requested that multiple ways.

Okay. Carmen, would you please put that on? It's coming from the fund that I have to sponsor, and I do support this. Auto Mkai and I discussed this multiple times as a every year economic development opportunity for business businesses to get information on how to be a business, existing business, and how to do business with the city is awesome. Summit. And I'm all about entrepreneurship. Auto woman.

Thank you, mister chair. And forgive me. I normally would be there in person, but I'm actually going to a business walk to help get the businesses and promotion of the summit, which is this Saturday. This is our 42 annual. This is my entrepreneurship summit. We are having, like, about vendors, everything from banks to city departments, like licensing, planning, that kind of thing, DCD. And we also are having workshops on everything from how to finance your business Mhmm. To how to use technology to promote your business. Mhmm. And then we also have a panel discussion of some local small successful small business owners.

Mhmm. And we also have a keynote address being given as well. This year's keynote is is Robert McPyle. Pyle is from, you know, who also

Pastor Pyle.

Yeah. Pastor Pyle is going to be our keynote speaker.

Excellent.

And and so yeah. So this just helps us to be able to, you know, help small business owners get more information to help sustain and grow their businesses.

Awesome. Awesome. Anybody have any questions regarding MKE Business Summit? Four Fourteen years congratulations. Pastor Pauls is a huge economic generator for the city but he'll teach you how to do it. Yeah, yeah. And that's the greatest thing about entrepreneur that gives back teaching. If you wanna know, he will teach you how to become wealthy. Excellent pick. Alderman, I'd like to support this. Alderman Jackson moves for adoption. Hearing no objection, so ordered. Thank you. Next, we're going two five one six seven nine resolution designating August the eighth as Brunswick. We're gonna hold that to get the language correct.

Hold on. Alderman Jackson moves to hold. Hearing no objection, so ordered. Number 4251596, resolution authorizing 75,000 service contract between the state of Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources, and the city of Milwaukee Environmental Collaboration Office through the program, Feed MKE program to provide non regulatory technical assistance to Wisconsin food waste generators and entities on projects to prevent and divert food waste from landfills. Okay? Order one chair? You got a yes.

This is Andy Sciacca with the FeedMKE program. I'm here to answer any questions or provide any context.

Yeah. What's going on? What you are you gonna do some research?

So we actually already have underway the food saver challenge food waste audits for the city of Milwaukee and that runs through the feed MKE program which terminates 05/31/2026. This $75,000 funding comes from the Department of Natural Resources. It's part of the EPA's program to expand research into how restaurants, caterers and food based organizations can mitigate food waste and provide better resources to food recovery agencies, increase composting and keep edible food out of landfills. So the $75,000 will extend the program through September 2026.

And give me a call. Is great. I wanna see if I could take advantage of this. Can you give me a call? I wanna see

I'd happy to.

Leftovers can be used for the community, like the Yes. Refrigerators we have, the mobile markets we have. Can we develop a relationship where they don't throw it away and somebody can pick it up or they can drop it off to the community members?

Yes, mister chair. We are doing that to a limited degree and I'd be happy to work with you in your district to increase that. I'm always happy to expand it. Thank you so much. Yeah.

I'd Oh, thank you.

Excited to speak with you.

Yeah. Please come. Please reach out when you get a chance. Alderman Jackson.

Thank you, mister chair. I'd to go a step farther, Andy. Please call off my office as well. I met a young lady that does the last steps as far as canning and preserving foods and things like that.

So

once it ended the cycle, as it went to the it goes to the churches, comes from stores, goes to the churches, to the food pantries, there's a next level of preservation for food. And I would like to introduce you to this young lady.

Happy to.

Thank you. Thank you all. May I attend? Absolutely. Alright. So, Andy, I'm just gonna join you and Alderman Jackson.

Sounds great.

Alright. You're welcome, man.

Now let me know. Alright?

Will do.

Alright. Alderman Jackson moves for adoption. Hearing no objections, so order. Number five two five one six nineteen, resolution authorizing the city of Milwaukee environmental collaboration office through the FEED MKE program to receive a $25,000 grant from Share Our Strengths No Kid Hungry Campaign as part of the Mayor's Alliance to End Childhood Hunger. Same situation, Andy, or is it something different?

It is slightly different, Mr. Chair. This is a program that was a competitive award. It's been awarded to eight different municipalities, ours being one. The program is intended to pick up where SNAP Ed funding and summer program cuts would leave off. So we would be targeting four individual food recovery organizations, two that have an existing SNAP Ed or summer meals program, two that want to start one. And the 25,000 would be to those four organizations. However, as was the case with the FeedMKE mini grants, anyone who applies will get support from the program.

Awesome. Realistically, how many families is it? Was 25 thousand or is this supposed to be a match?

There is no match. It is a straight grant of 7,500 to two organizations, thousand to another two.

Okay.

Much of that work involves sort of concierge services, you know, contacting people, making sure that food recovery agencies know where they can get surplus. A great example of that is rooted in rising through our programming was able to partner with Baird and Levy and recover in October and November enough food to feed 3,000 families that were surplus from catered events. And that's just one of the four organizations that we have in place. So this would allow us to amplify that and get even more food out to kids in the summer.

That's magnificent. Please add this to the meeting agenda between you, Alderman Jackson, I.

Happy to. Thank you so much.

Yes. Alderman Dmitryovich. Thank you. This sounds like wonderful work.

Yes. It do.

Where can I read more about the mayor's alliance to end Childhood Hunger? Is that a written plan?

It is a written plan. It's sponsored by No Kid Hungry. Their announcement of the municipalities came out just today and I'm happy to send that to you for your review.

Okay. And as a follow-up, many of my colleagues and that are here are actively working on the incredible divestment from corporations in the city of Milwaukee creating and really adding to the food deserts and a part of childhood hunger

is

the fact that we have more and more food deserts than we've ever had before. Yes. Can that be considered as part of this plan as well?

Yes, is. We've embedded a partnership with 1MKE. We're working with Metcalf Bridges and other community areas to get more of those fridges in place and to make sure that there's food recovery efforts that extend to every single district. If there's anyone that you talk to who would like to get more involved, would be honored and delighted to speak with them. Happy to make those connections at any time. But absolutely, that's a key factor in this is the amount of organizations that have been shutting down often with no notice and the impact and stress that that's placed on our existing recovery groups.

So you'd have the ability that if families were in an immediate need for food to leverage this already prepared. I know that's part of the eco work catered food like in real time. Obviously, has like a shorter shelf

life. Yes.

Part of this program is getting that to neighbors in need.

Would be. It would be part of the program. We would provide those resources independent of the grant funding that would go to these organizations because we're already doing that now as part of CMKE. I

want make sure my colleague, Alderperson Samaripa heard that. So we're going to want to connect with you. Can you email Alderperson Samaripa and I about it's the food recovery with people are in an urgent need of food. Could they have food delivered to like their neighborhood or their homes?

We are working on that. We've been speaking with representatives of the community like Mo Wins at Sherman Park Grocery. He's very eager to launch something with these senior citizen community. But I am more than happy to talk about offline many organizations that do direct delivery to home so that that's sauce, Milwaukee and bicycles or independent food recovery organizations that are already including home delivery as part of their plan.

Are you connected with some of the mutual mutual aid going on at Metcalf. We have similar in Vosas De La Frontera. Is a mutual aid connection there. Can you do you have that connection or can I help make that for you?

I would be delighted to speak with anyone. I've been partnering with Mia Rudolf Shulta who does the eco neighborhoods on some of that work and one MKE, but always eager to formalize that relationship. Yes.

Okay. I'll look just for an email from you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, we like to be included as well. That's awesome. You please just send it to the committee? Absolutely.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. Thank you. Good work. With that, of them in chambers moves for adoption, hearing no objections. So, order number six, to be placed on file as no longer needed. Two four one one two four resolution relating to the city support for the Walkers Point Youth and Family Center and appropriating funds for that purpose. This is to be placed on file. Order of Ms. Ambaripa moves to place it on file. Hearing no objections to order. You all thank you so much for your time today. I didn't beat a record, but it was a short committee. You guys have a wonderful rest of your day, and enjoy the cold weather.

Same to you. Thank you.