Common Council - Regular Meeting

This meeting of the Common Council will come to order. Will the city clerk please call the roll?

Alderman Pratt. Present. Chambers. Here. Brower. Present. Bauman. Here. Westmoreland. Here. Cox. Here. Jackson. Here. Samaripa. Here. Taylor.

Excused.

Moore.

Present.

Bergelis. Present. Spiker. Here. Dimitrievich.

Here.

Stamper. Mr. President. Present. 14 members are present, one is excused.

14 present, one excused. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to be followed by a moment of silent meditation.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible,

Are there any corrections to the Common Council journal proceedings from the meeting of July 31st, 2026?

There are no corrections to the journal.

There being no corrections, the minutes of this meeting stand approved. Will the city clerk please inform the Common Council of any commendations or condolences to be acknowledged at this time?

Item one, communication from the city clerk relating to various commendatory and condolatory resolutions to be acknowledged and affirmed by the Common Council. One, resolution congratulating the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce on receiving the 2026 NGLCC Affiliate Chamber of the Year Award. Two, resolution recognizing Greater Bethlehem Temple World Ministries on the occasion of its 80th anniversary. Three, resolution recognizing the Saturday Softball League on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Four, resolution recognizing JK Lee City Youth Martial Arts on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Five, resolution recognizing the career and influence of Elmer Cheyenne Figueroa Arce. Six, resolution recognizing Ana Rosa Quiles Martinez on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Seven, resolution expressing condolences to the family and friends of Dennis Klein. Eight, resolution expressing condolences to the family and friends of Efren Mansarnet. Nine, resolution expressing condolences to the family and friends of Robert French. 10, resolution expressing condolences to the family and friends of Ida Ramisar Lucas. 11, resolution congratulating Kenneth Barbeau on his retirement from the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee. 12, resolution congratulating Dennis Calrude on his retirement from the Department of Public Works. 13, resolution congratulating Gloria Smith on her retirement from the Employees Retirement System. 14, resolution congratulating Lafayette Turman on his retirement from the Milwaukee Police Department. 15, resolutions congratulating the following on their retirements from the Milwaukee Public Schools. Sherry Green, Ann Runnels, Ramundo Guardiola, Teresa Kennan, Flamond Hightower, Mary Bowles, Stephanie Strong, Darlene Lucas.

Are there any objections to the foregoing commendations and condolences? If anyone wishes to be added as a sponsor to any of the commendations or condolences, please fill out the form on your desk and submit it to the city clerk before the close of the workday. We will now take up reports of standing committees. Alderperson Jocasta-Samaripa will now present the report of the License Committee.

The Licenses Committee recommends adoption of 260609, motion relating to the recommendations of the Licenses Committee relating to licenses.

Are there any motions with respect to these matters? Hearing no further discussion, I would ask for a vote of the common council members to adopt the recommendations of the license committee in file number 260609. Will the clerk please call the roll?

Alderman Pratt? Aye. Chambers? Aye. Brower? Aye. Bowman? Aye. Westmoreland? Aye. Coggs?

Aye.

Jackson? Aye. Samaripa? Moore? Aye. Regalas? Aye. Spiker? Aye. Dimitrievich? Aye. Stamper? Aye. Mr. President?

Aye.

14 ayes, 1 excuse.

14 ayes, 1 excuse. We will now take up communications from city officers.

260 575 communication from the city clerk relating to the service of papers order file 260 576 communication from the city clerk relating to various commendatory and condolatory resolutions to be acknowledged and affirmed by the Common Council order on file communication from the city clerk relating to official notices and reports

Order on file.

Appointment of Judge Anna Berrius as designee of the Milwaukee County District Court Chief Judge to the Milwaukee County Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Order on file.

Communication from the Employees Retirement System relating to the January 1st, 2026 Actuarial Valuation Report.

Order on file.

Appointment of Ramona Ramos to serve as Deputy Director of the Department of Compliance and Engagement. Order on file.

Are there any items for immediate adoption?

There are four items for immediate adoption. File number 260648, resolution approving final certified survey maps. 260649, resolution approving a data sharing agreement between the Milwaukee Fire Department and the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management through December 31st, 2036. 260673, resolution amending common council file number 221872 relating to the sister city relationship between the city of Milwaukee and urban Ukraine. 260645, motion approving the schedule of regular meetings of the common council and its standing committees for the year 2027.

Chair recognizes Alderman Bergelis. Thank you, Mr. President. Please add me as a co-sponsor to item five, file 260673.

Let the record reflect co-sponsorship Alderman Bergelis for file number 260673. Any further discussion on these items? Hearing none, Alderwoman Pratt moves for approval. Will the clerk please call the roll?

Alderwoman Pratt? Aye. Chambers? Aye. Brower? Aye. Bowman?

Aye.

Westmoreland? Aye. Cox?

Aye.

Jackson? Aye. Zamarripa?

Aye.

Moore. Aye. Bergalis.

Aye.

Spiker. Aye. Dimitrievich.

Aye.

Stamper. Aye. Mr. President. Aye. 14 ayes, 1 excused.

14 ayes, 1 excused. Are there any announcements? Chair recognizes Alderman Chambers.

Thank you, Mr. President. Sunday, we held our fourth annual Back to School Festival. We had nearly 3,000 people attend. We gave away over 1,000 fully stuffed book bags, both from ACI and also with Eric Shake James and Adidas. I just want to thank the residents of the 2nd District and the City of Milwaukee for coming and having a successful event. THANKS FOR JOINING US. It's not easy planning such a robust event, but seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids and getting them ready for back to school makes it that much greater. I do want to give some special shout outs. This is going to be a minute, so just bear with me. To some of the city staff that came as early as 7 o'clock in the morning and stayed until 7 o'clock in the evening to ensure that the park was just as clean as we left it. I want to start off by thanking a partner in crime, Alderman DeAndre Jackson. He's been with me since day one. Before being elected, you know, as early as 6.30, me and him got in and started doing it and stayed until the last ones to leave. I want to give a special shout out to Calvin Lee for announcing the bikes. That's his thing and keeping the crowd engaged and youthful, as I say. I want to thank Angel Young from the press office, Amanda Grice from Alderman Moore, Leah Broadnecks from Alderman Taylor, Glenda McMiller from Alderman Cox's office, Kim Berry from the city clerk's office, Rhonda Cohine, Barbara Jones from People's State Bank. And these 2 in particular has been with me this year from the start and that is Latasha Williamson in my office and Deborah Moore. They are the brains behind the operation of this back to school festival. They put up with a lot from not only myself, but from residents from. vendors and partners and, you know, and they did it with a smile on their face the entire time. And I am so grateful to have those two ladies to help, you know, especially, you know, with Latasha being new to the office and Deborah just being the steady force of making sure that all of our events across the city clerk's office is being ran as smooth and seamless. for years and i just want to give them their flowers because it's not easy but um you know they did it they did a damn good job um i want to thank some sponsors um i want to thank district 7 police captain anderson officer alicia walker and dominique thompson they've been with me since day one We put this event together to just spread joy across just the city and for it to grow as much as it's grown from the first year having about 1,500 to having as many as 4,000 people attend a park and with no incidents for four years straight. That is pretty successful. I want to thank Lieutenant Shannon Thompson from the County Sheriff, Gabe Illman from the County Sheriff Department and the Sheriff Department essentially, Eric Dawn and Local 215, Jared Triplett from the Brotherhood of Firefighters. They cooked over 1,300 items, burgers, hot dogs, and they did it over an eight-hour span, and I really am truly appreciative of them. Forrest County Potawatomi, Northwestern Mutual. Sheik James at Jay Academy. Man, he is a guy sent for the city of Milwaukee, and he should be protected for the work that he's done in the community. And he's going to continue to do that. And I am so honored and grateful that my colleague, Alderman Pratt, allowed me to share with her Mr. James and his philanthropic work within the city. So thank you, Alderman Pratt, and thanks. eric shake james at j academy just a couple more house corn beef professional cdl training kids win wisconsin restaurant depot gray lakes biz hub the firm consulting city for collective visit milwaukee and milwaukee airwaves the milwaukee bucks beak management rj harris photography the milwaukee county parks thank you again for the park and their staff People's State Bank, M&R Petroleum, Hampton Mobile, Easy Rentals, and Travis Banks who brought the MAS football team out there to help make things a little easier as far as lifting and also ensuring that the vendors were fed throughout the event. Jackson sold Food Divine with her contributions towards paying for the six barbers that we had there and the corn man who'd been there and cooked over 600 ears of corn. in four hours and they was gone in four hours so um and also lastly want to recognize my my colleagues that came and other partners um in collaboration uh auto woman cox thank you for stopping by auto woman moore again ottoman jackson ottoman stanford thank you again for your contribution with the ced fund it went to great use I want to recognize former Alderman Khalif Rainey stopping by and giving support, State Representative Sequanna Taylor, both State Senators Dora Drake and Latonya Johnson. Thank you all so much for stopping by the event. Looking forward to the fifth annual. It will be coming next year. It will be much earlier in August next year, so just stay tuned for the next one. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. President.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderman Spiker.

Thank you, Mr. President. A few different events happening in the Garden District next couple weeks. So on Friday, September 11th at dusk, there'll be the free movie in the garden over at the community space at 6th and Howard. They'll be showing hoppers, so come out with the kids starting around 7.30. It's a great, great time. The next day, September 12th, Saturday, from 9 till 3, will be the Garden District Rummage Sale. That will be happening at the 6th and Howard space as well. So you can still reserve a place for you to get rid of some stuff. And on the following week, September 19th on Saturday from noon to 3, will be MPD's District 6 pop-up community cookout. That's always a good time. Come on down for that, starting at noon at 6th and Norwich. And then finally, on Sunday, September 20th, will be Fiesta Selena down at the Farmhouse Paint and Sip on 6th Street, a little bit north of Layton. Great celebration there every year. That will start at 11, so please come on by for music, culture, food, and other good stuff. Thank you.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderperson Samaripo.

Thank you. I wanted to express my gratitude to the Jackson Park Farmers Market and Milwaukee County Parks and County Supervisor Skye Capriolo, who helped to facilitate last week's Pickleball with a Politician at Jackson Park. I was joined by a couple of our colleagues, Alderman Peter Bergelis and Alderman Scott Spiker, and a number of other elected officials and constituents from across Milwaukee. And I wanted to take a moment to recognize, acknowledge, and congratulate two of our winners, who are our colleagues. Alderman Peter Bergelis won the bronze, and Alderman Scott Spiker took home the gold medal for pickleball as a politician. So congratulations. Thank you.

Chair recognizes Alderwoman Coggs.

Thank you, Mr. President. Tuesday, September 8th, for residents living near 510 West Vine, the penny saver that has a new applicant, for their license. We will be having a neighborhood meeting at 5.30 p.m. at Thrive On. Thrive On is at Garfield and King Drive, 2153 North Dr. Martin Luther King. Again, that is Tuesday, September 8th at 5.30 p.m. A meeting for the neighbors near Penny Sabre, 510 West Vine. Thank you.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderman Chambers again.

Yeah, thank you. Sorry about that. I'll be remiss if I forget something. Thank you to Bill and his team and PID, most in particular, David Kuda for taking fantastic pictures. And I'll be remiss if I don't give Brittany Thompson her flowers. We ran her up against a tight timeline and she created not only a pre-registration link, a pre-registrant website that had over 360 pre-registrants in a four-day span and did that so quick and I just want to really say we really appreciate your department and um for everything you do for us and um you know looking forward to next year and if y'all see my colleague ottoman spiker you know when he plays a mean pickleball with the wristbands and the elbow bands man i can imagine him getting that gold medal so congrats good sir

chair recognizes uh alderman pratt thank you i just want to uh give a thank you to all the neighbors who have joined us for the neighborhood walks we still have two left one is a makeup from 39th and silver spring we have another with residents for change at 24th and hampton coming up next week but also to remind residents in the first district that i have office hours coming up through september starting tomorrow at Joe's Cafe at 12 p.m. Also on the 17th and the 30th at Villar Library. Working on other dates throughout September as well, but looking forward to seeing residents and having some one-on-one time to discuss what's going on in their neighborhood. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. Recognize Alderman Moore? Thank you, Mr. President. Just a few things going on in the 10th and beyond. On September 5th from 11 to 3 p.m. at Dineen Park, there will be Sickle Cell Warriors of Wisconsin is doing a 2026 walk to break the cycle of sickle cell and provide awareness. Really great opportunity to support that great cause. Also, we're starting back fresh with Youth Council. We are hoping to have... full membership this year. That is our goal. My colleagues, please, if you have any openings, make sure you connect with Jim or myself so that we can get you, make sure that you are, your youth member is represented for your district. Our first meeting is going to be September 9th. at 4 p.m. Check the website. Our community can also check the website. We'll get some updated information on there, but our goal this year is, and we're very close, is to have 15 members, and oh, two. Members at large, so I'm really excited about this coming school year. Another event in the district Washington Heights is continuing their night market. Our next 1 is going to be on September 10th from 4 to 8 PM again, live music vendors, food trucks and opportunities for kids zone for the children. And lastly, I wanna honor a really good friend of mine, Dr. Claiborne Benson, who will be inducted to the MPS Alumni Hall of Fame. And so he will be having a ceremony, or they will be having a ceremony for him on September 11th at 4.30 at Milwaukee High School of the Arts. Dr. Claiborne Benson is the founding member of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum. And so we're just honored at all of his accomplishments and what he has done for the city of Milwaukee. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderman Dimitrievich.

All right, good morning. Welcome back to all my wonderful colleagues. Hope you had a restful August there. I would like to invite anyone and everyone to one of our favorite events of the year, the Bayview Bash. It is free, and it's from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on September 19th. We have multiple music stages sponsored by WMSC, Milwaukee Record, Food, Art, Crafts, books it's a hundred percent volunteer run we're still looking for some volunteers and i will have a table to be able to hear all the concerns and feedback from neighborhood residents so please come on down we love seeing everybody from across the city and even throughout the region it's really a fun event thank you

Thank you. I will remind members that our next public, I remind members and the public that our next public meeting will be on Tuesday, September 22nd in this chamber, at which time the mayor will present his proposed executive budget for 2027. So I remind everyone to please put that in your calendars. Look forward to seeing you and there being no further business, this meeting stands adjourned.