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

The chairman, alderman Russell Stanford. The second to my right is the vice chairwoman, Joe Costa Zamorripa. To my father's left is alderwoman Marina Dimitrovich, and to her right is alderman Deandre Jackson. Jackson. And my to my left is our staff assistant, miss Linda Elmer. We're gonna get started right away. But to all who are here, unfortunately, and I apologize for this, we will be holding the community block grant funding file for one more cycle. We have to do that based on some concerns regarding some funding. So I ask you all to be patient. We do expect to fully fund everyone in the category section, but we have to figure some things out.

And that's what the holdup was, and that's what the meetings have been today. So that will be held today. So everybody here for item number 10. 10, which is substitute resolution relative to the reestablishment of the year 2026 funding allocation plan. That will be held today. Do we have any questions? Because I did am horn. I will accept or listen to any questions. Anybody wanna ask any questions on that? Yes. Please come up.

Mister chair, while while you're coming up, can I just make put the motion to properly on the table to hold?

Yes. Please do the motion.

Boardwoman?

I make the motion to hold.

Motion has been made. We're open for some public testimony. Thank you. Hey.

Good to see all

guys coming down. I appreciate your patience. You have the floor.

You bet. Tim Bach, president and CEO of Pathfinder. Just to clarify a question, you mentioned CDBG. Does this include a hold on the entire funding allocation plan It does. Including ESG? Yes, sir. Okay. Yes, Just wanted to clarify that.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Alright. Anybody else have any questions? Anybody have any concerns? Lanier, you don't have no concerns? Okay. We do plan on continuing funding. If any questions, please reach out, Britney.

It's more so will we be notified? Absolutely.

Is Mario still here? You will be notified right away. I plan on doing it next cycle. We just need some more time. Okay? Should we announce the date? Should we announce the date? Let me take it. Yeah. You

got

got

the date? What's the

date, Jim? You're a date? Thank you guys for coming down. Bernie, I'll be in me and you gotta meet anyway. I'll be in contact with you. Okay.

December 3.

December 3, everyone. December 3. Alright? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Alright. Alderwoman Demetribe moves the hold. Hearing no objection, so order. Yes. And also while we're in the holding mood, number 7251181, resolution approving year 2026. Operating plan for business improvement district twenty eight located in the city of Milwaukee. All the members and Maripa moves to hold that of the call of the chair. He no objection so ordered. Alright. Let's get on to the agenda. Number one, nomination of Savannah Her as a as an at large member of the Milwaukee youth council. Mister Ozark, thank you, Jim O, for coming down. Do we have another dynamic youth?

We do. This is actually a a coming back dynamic youth. Remember the terms of Milwaukee youth council are one year. Yes. And so this is the return of Svetlana Her or as I ought to call her, president.

Oh, excellent.

At the youth council's last meeting which was held in the Common Council Chamber, she was elected as president of the youth council which is very exciting. Awesome. She's been joined by member Osman as the vice president. They've also selected an executive committee. She is a student at the Hmong American Peace Academy along with the other member we're gonna see here. I'll tell you only one brief story about her before I'm happy to recommend her. As I always do, I went to her, you're the president now, would you be able to give me an agenda item or two that we could have in our meeting which happens to be this afternoon. She sent me back 12 agenda items. So

So you gotta pick one.

Yeah. She I I said we're gonna have to narrow that down a little bit, but I her enthusiasm is greatly appreciated, I'm happy to recommend her to you.

Excellent. What time? I may wanna stop in.

Please do. It begins at 05:00, and we even have a little bit of pizza for them that we'd be happy to share.

Oh, awesome. Awesome. Alright. Alright. With with that, vice chair, autowoman Zamboriba moves for confirmation hearing. No objections are ordered. Thanks, Jim O. Next, we have number 2251091. Nomination of Serena Tile as the at large member of the Milwaukee Youth Council. Jim O?

And again, mister chair, it's actually and I I love the youth council for a lot

of reasons.

One of them is I learned things. It's actually toe, pronounced toe.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No. I didn't know either. And I did and I was No h. It was actually miss her that corrected me. So but in any event, she is a brand new member. She's one of our large members. She is a highly motivated young lady including participation in forensics. She is a robotics champion. So she's probably going to build the machines that will shape our future. And she is also highly engaged in the community among other services which is all on her resume serving on the Milwaukee Public Library's Youth Advisory Board.

So

I'm someone who very much wants to be involved in part of the process. So as with the former applicant, I am happy to recommend her to you.

Excellent. Excellent, man. We really have some dynamic youth doing excellent things in the community. Any any questions by the committee? Hearing none, Alderman Jackson moves for confirmation hearing no objections to order. Excellent work, Jumbo.

Thank you.

Number 325116O, appointment of Craig Berry to the business improvement edition number 48 by the mayor. Mister Berry, please come up. Mister Berry, surprised I'm this is your first time serving on the board. This is an appointment for you. Is this your first time serving?

Yeah. I got older now, so I

got more time.

You got time? Well, we appreciate it. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Please let us know why you accepted this position.

Well, Brownville bid business improvement district or the neighborhood itself. I have a couple of investments in the area, properties I own in that area. And I'm quite interested in what direction it's going. Excellent. Including North Ridge.

Excellent. Excellent. We you for hosting all of the support for the community events at your at your current location on you wanna give us that address? Mister Bees is Mister Bees.

617 West Brown Deer And Legends at 7330 North 76.

Excellent. Do we have any questions by the committee? Hearing none, order woman moves for your confirmation hearing no objections to order. Thank you for coming down. Have a great day. Number 4251161, appointment of Paris Hibbler to the business of Puma edition number 48 by the mayor, mister Hibbler.

Hey. What's going on with you, man?

Hey. I'm doing well, man. What about you?

I'm doing well today. How y'all doing?

Good to see you in the community. As always, let us know why you would like to serve on this board.

Sort of like Craig spoke about, I have interest in the 48th District bid. I currently serve and also have property, commercial lease property at 9155 North 76th Street. Mhmm. We've done a ton of community work in that particular area. We have a food pantry that we just invested in our building that once left when SDC was in that particular space. Yeah. Yeah. He was able to work with the hunger task force in bringing that food pantry back along with some other resources for tutoring after school and some other things that we're doing.

Excellent. Excellent. Do have any questions by the committee? Hearing none, orderwoman Zambripa moves for your confirmation. Hearing no objections to the order. Thank you for your willingness to serve. No problem. Have a good day. Alright. Number 5251162, appointment of Odin Taylor to the bids and improvement edition number 48. This is going to be a happening to get work done bid. Alright. Odin Taylor, please let us know why you would like to serve on this committee.

Well, I'm vested in that area. I have a business building. I should say commercial building at over 1,500,000.0. And I'm actually I went to school at Vincent, so that's my area.

Awesome. Awesome. Now how do we get glasses like that? They're so right. Well, thank you for your willingness. I'm sorry. Keep up the great work in the community. And with that, alderman Jackson moves for your confirmation here, and no objections to order. Thank you, man. Have a great day. Number 625113.

Thank you. I just wanted to say thank you. I've got lot of let me wait. We got the order of One

minute. Order of them, you have the floor. Oh, this is your view.

I was just saying thank you. I just wanted to say thank you. I just heard that the last two that you got through, and all of them were approved and confirmed. So thank you. Have a good day.

Well, you actually had three. You had mister Berry, mister Hibbler, and mister Taylor.

Yes. Thank you so much.

Thank you, guys. Alright. Alright. Number 6251135. Substitute resolution relating to the application for acceptance and exponential of Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, community development investment grant on behalf of Four Generations Holdings LLC. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

How are you today?

I'm good.

Thank you. Thank you. This is a sponsorship by Auto Woman Pratt, but you also have the floor. How you doing?

Good morning.

Alright. Alright. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Alright. Wanna let us know about this grant?

I know you're moving fast, so I'll move fast along with you. My name is Jeronda McCray. I am an event planner of thirty years. We acquired 4926 at the time. Now it's 4930 North 32nd Street. We're right on the spine between

Jonathan, I'm sorry. Just trying to get the Oh. We have this up yet?

Can you minimize it?

No. We're not. We're not

in a hurry.

Oh, okay.

I'm just moving right along. Okay. Okay. Alright.

Let me

Alright. You wanna wait? You got a presentation?

I do.

Okay. Okay. Well, you can continue to tell us about it.

Okay. Mhmm. So the building itself was acquired in June, and it was a single use building. At the time, there was a house sitting on the lot. You guys had taken the lot matter what. In 2018. He used to make signs, and so it had been sitting there for a while. The building sits on the spine of what Valerie Daniels just did on Hampton Avenue and the Villa Corridor. So I'm right in the middle, right So we bought the building. The idea was turned into an advanced space. We are

So is this different than the one we did at zoned? No.

This exact same one. The difference is is we did some work. Okay. We worked with this gentleman here, Gregory Martin, and we worked with Willie Smith. Okay. And I did a lot of work myself, and we were able to get the building bridges grant.

Okay.

WEDC would like to give us a $250,000 reimbursable grant.

Okay.

And we are here to basically ask for a development agreement between

us and the city.

That's pretty much the there's some bells and whistles here, my resume, and it talks about what we can do with a space. Sure. You can take one space and one planner and make it look three different ways. The slide should be up there.

Alright.

The idea and concept there is that that was just one planner of thirty years with three three different events. Mhmm. But our space is going to be a staple in the city. And so it brings upscale events right right into the middle of the city. We're still doing that courtyard. The only thing that we're considering now is going up instead of back.

Understood. What's the address again?

I'm sorry?

What is the address again?

49 Uh-huh. 30 North 32nd Street.

Okay. And, mister Martin, would you like to speak on behalf of this project?

Yes. Definitely. Alright. Missus McCray is a client of the the Small Business Development Center here

in Milwaukee. Favor. I know I know you, but you gotta tell the world who you are. Please introduce yourself for the record.

My name is Gregory Martin. I am the center director for the Small Business Development Center in Milwaukee. And Ms. McCray is one of our clients, and we have worked with her in providing her financial guidance for the planning of this project, and we're very proud supporter of the project and believe in it.

It's excellent.

We want the accountability. We want we want the oversight. We wanna make sure that every single dollar is accounted for, that we are doing exactly what we say we're doing because it's important to me that it looks a certain way, that it has a certain vibe, that it's it has a certain aesthetic to it. So that building there is the way that it looks now.

Enlarger for us, man.

I'll try.

If you can. Yeah. The new PowerPoints are so different. You have to do some a lot different.

They are, man. You know, you gotta

You know what? This is we're snacking on that. Yeah.

Yeah. Was going to but the next slide also will show you the corridor as it sits. Right now, what you have is there is a garage that's there. It really is for a biker club. They work on their bikes, and then there is nothing else over there except for a garage, which he's trying to rent.

Across the street is a foundry of some sort. It's dead. What I did not anticipate was right after we we sat and we did some surveys, the traffic that comes across have we couldn't even get across the street. And so to be able to capture all that traffic and put monetary dollars to that and put some tax dollars into this into the our role here is gonna be amazing. Mhmm.

We're gonna take that courtyard that's sitting next to that building, and we're going to make it a courtyard. The only thing we're gonna do is we're gonna add in a glass greenhouse so that we could take advantage all year round. At first, it was just like, no, we're just we don't want it just to be sitting. And so the next slide there, if we can go to the next one. So we've sat through meetings with Matthew Tracy Lauber.

We've gone through the criteria that's necessary, the hours that was necessary, the numbers, the number crunching, and we've done our due diligence. We've proven that we deserve the grant. It's not just me. It's me and my three sons. Just as a refresher for those that don't know, it is a family owned business. We do live in that area. I live on 36th Street. My youngest son is an audio tech with exciting events. My middle son, I can say, is going to be on Broadway with a very large production that I can't say what it is, but Disney has it. Mhmm. And so I'm very excited about that.

Right.

Right. Yes. That's a huge one. And then the older son does rehab. So he worked for Kellerman.

So You put that together like that?

No. If it was up to me, they'd all be doctors in Princeton somewhere. I'm no. And so support. We're looking for your help. We have the support of the community, the city, and I also believe I said that we got the building the bridges grant as well Sure. For $10,000. So that's what we're here for. We're asking for your support for that resolution.

Excellent. If you have any questions by the committees, I was able to experience this doing zoning, so I know the great project that's coming to the area. So you have my full support. And with that, audible sure. Audible?

Are we gonna let Matt speak at all or?

Oh, sure, Matt. If you want to.

There there isn't much that miss Matt Redick, Department of City Development. There isn't much I can add that miss McCray didn't already speak to about her passion for this project. We've as she mentioned, we've been working with her and with WEDC on vetting for this. WEDC actually originally brought this project to us as a viable option for their CDI grant. So we will be acting as the pass through entity between WEDC and Four Generations Holdings and we're excited about it.

We're excited to see the vision that Ms. McCray has brought here. We're excited to help try to make it into reality here and we especially appreciate the partnerships that she's brought with the different organizations, Milwaukee County, WEDC, Northwest Side, CDC, all of the the really, you know, good economic development partners that we have in the community coming together to turn this property into a real asset for the neighborhood.

And that will continue. That's my bachelor's degree is in community education it was in political science, but my master's is in community educations and development. So that's what I do. We bring people together. But if you could go to the one slide now in with this where there is multiple pictures of one of it just says one venue, one place.

What's the total development cost?

We started out at 250,000. We're at 500,000. It's gonna probably run around 723,000 once it's all said and done.

Did you exhaust all the city resources?

Not yet. Not yet. We're gonna work. That's in

Yeah.

In in January, we're gonna work on

that. Okay.

That's nice.

One more.

There we go. So you guys may or may not know what that site is. That actually is PACUWM's Helen Zalazzo Center. Mhmm. All three of them. All three of those are events that I did. All three of those are three different types of an event. Right. So what you're going to see is this and this is just one player one planner, one eye, one ex you know, multiple experiences. We're going to give other planners the opportunity to take our space and do like that in Milwaukee, city of Milwaukee. Inner city will get credit every time, and we will only accept really strong strong events that's gonna make us look good.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Alright. Any other questions about the committee? Alright. We all support you with the order on the Zambariba moves for your confirmation. There are no objections. So order, we're looking forward to a great event space. Another one in the committee. Excellent. Congratulations. Congratulations.

Thank Thank you, you, sir. Sir. Thank Alright. You.

Alright. Next, we have number 8250665, substitute resolution reallocating MKE community excellence funds from girls day at City Hall to Bronzeville week. Is a order woman here? Order woman?

This one.

I think you missed this one.

I don't remember. Have that one.

Oh, did you? Okay.

We will hold this at the call of the chair till we hear from the orderwoman. Hearing no objection, so ordered. What did say? Orderman Jackson moves to hold. Hearing no objection, so ordered. Number 925-0722. This is a communication file from the Department of City Development relating to the 2024 Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative accomplishments. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon,

everyone. Hey.

Angela. I'm Angela Mittery, Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation.

Okay.

Okay.

Are we we we can we we not able to expand it anymore?

I think you can close the windows up there. You know, our cameras, can you minimize that from where you're at?

Nah. You're talking about the

little circle.

Screens look different.

Yeah. Oh, and the white there does on yours? Yeah.

So Yeah.

Great. Good technology.

Uh-huh. Alright. Alright.

Well, go ahead. We'll we'll manage. Okay.

Okay. And the pardon me. This is in our file, though. I feel like I've Yeah. So okay. So we still have it. Okay. Just use it. I reviewed this. I didn't know if it was the same thing.

Yep. Yes. Okay. Mhmm. And Okay. I'm Nora Graham. I'm a UWM fellow working at NIDC with Angela.

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Thank

you everyone for having us attend. We wanted to give a brief overview or summary of our twenty twenty four healthy neighborhood initiatives and our progress and a preview of our goals for 2025. And we're kind of working off the theme of a year of engagement, partnership, and collaboration. And for some of you who are familiar with CIP, community improvement projects, it's a citywide grant program that we help fund neighborhood projects with community partners such as community groups, residents, also nonprofits and nonnonprofits. And it's just really an opportunity for us to really empower our residents to improve their neighborhoods.

It needs to be something physical and it needs to also encompass community engagement.

And when you say non non profit, you mean for profit?

We've helped some yes. If they've had a project and they need they're short they have a shortfall of funding, a small amount. Okay. This is really targeted towards nonprofits.

CBOs, right?

Yes, CBOs, exactly. And just for the sake of making sure you understand how the program works, some of the key things to mention is the first $1,000 of our CIP grant program is completely reimbursed to our applicants. So that first $1,000 we're giving them that money. So sometimes it helps, for example, small organizations like Five Points Neighborhood, which is a small organization that doesn't receive a lot of public funding or financial support. So that $1,000 helps a lot.

In addition, we go up to $4,000 We'll match up to $4,000 So for example, if you have an $8,000 project, if you have eligible expenses that we can cover, we'll cover we'll reimburse you up to $4,000 Okay? We are allocated a certain amount of money. The city allocates a certain amount of money each January for Nora and I. And also, we have an an earn and learn intern, Nazir, back there for us to work

together on Okay?

This is city hall experience, man. Thank you for joining us.

And then also another part of the CIP component that really tag teams with our healing spaces which Nora will elaborate on is our site activation grants and those are 500 up to $500 grants that help activate healing spaces to bring programming to these healing spaces so that these spaces are utilized. It helps to engage the public and also kind

of keep the spaces safe. Yeah. So like Angela mentioned, we a big programming element for our Healing Spaces initiative has been the site activation grants that we have really been pushing. They really started in 2024 with the Polonia Peace Park in Dimitrivich District really taking advantage of those, but have continued even more so in 2025. Basically, a site activation grant, the sites can apply for a $500 grant to host a subject matter expert.

So there's yoga, there's gardening, really your imagination is the limit for that funding. But they're really great ways to activate the spaces, bring people in, get people interested, see what they can do in the spaces. Additionally, we have been really focusing on strengthening our relationships with the garden leaders. We held a bunch of garden leader meetings earlier this year and really building those relationships has connected them to further funding opportunities. We are able to just invest in the spaces and build community in that way. All good.

This Which

project are you most proud of? The one in the other one is this one?

Say the right answer, Nora.

That's a hard question. We love them all. Yeah.

We love them all equally. Piece park, however.

Alright. Alright. Alright. Cool. Sorry. What was

your question? What are the other two site activation grants that were awarded? There were

so there were two in Polonia and then one at Belonging Place, which is at Solomon Community Temple off of MLK and Concordia.

Concordia. Okay.

Yes. But there have been significantly more this past year as we build relationships with the garden leaders.

Are they aware of this opportunity? Ms.

Yes. Okay. As of, yes. Ms.

All right. Ms.

And just as recap, our project recap, so we've done 14 total CAP projects. We've also done these projects over nine automatic districts and then we also mentioned the three site activations. However, this is citywide, so we continue to reinforce that we want the word spread that this funding is available to be utilized in residential areas on community projects. So we want to stress that out stress that a lot. But we've really had the opportunity to have some unique and creative collaborations over the past year.

So we're really proud of that. As far as some of our goals that we've met for 2024 that I kind of brought to you last year, there are some of our measurable success, 78,275 for approved grants or projects across Milwaukee. We've had it says 35, but I believe the number is actually 52 partnerships. So we've really broadened our reach substantially and we've increased participation over 10% over the last year. And so the projects are really become the program is really becoming more visible and we're seeing a lot more community impact.

And I say this often, yes, the amounts of money that we have to do these projects are small. However, the impact of these projects is pretty substantial, especially for those who live, work and play in those areas that we do these projects.

I know you have to reimburse, but is there a leverage component? Yes.

So we do leverage. I don't know if I had that in my spreadsheet. However, we can circle back and give you that number because we have leveraged a lot of funding from last year. 78,000 is what we've provided. Our partners come to the table with 50% as

well. Gotcha.

And I did also want to add an update for the previous slide. It said nine automatic districts. That should actually be 14. We've had projects and partnerships in all but one

district. Who's missing? Brower. Three. Okay. Okay. I guess he is the freshest autumn. You wouldn't wanna reach out to him.

For sure.

I'll definitely do that.

Alright. Any questions by the committee? Alright. Yes, sir. What's your responsibility, man? How do you feel about the program?

Man, I feel good. I just go along helping Nora, Angela, just with anything they need help with. So far, I've been just tagging along, just getting experience

Okay.

With the programs. I've been here since August. I started with the summer youth internship program, and then I asked to extend my stay with them a little longer. So my I'm supposed to end in December, but I asked for another extension again. Sure.

You're enjoying it.

Yeah. Hope Are you getting paid?

Yes. Alright. I'm good. Alright. Alright. Well, thank you, man.

Of course.

Wanted you to come up here and say something. Alright. Do we have any yeah.

Go ahead. Ask

On the Stanford. He's also a student at MATC in the electricians program as well. Awesome.

Excellent. Well, I believe we're hiring, aren't we? The chairwoman of the Yes. Finance

think about street lights replacement. Yes. All right.

Right. Angie, Nora, do you have any more comments?

I just had two more things to add. Have been increasing our partnerships with other city offices, so we're planning a couple events with the Office of Community Wellness and Safety. Mhmm. These next two weekends, we have some flyers if you're The one this Saturday is at Polonia Peace Park, and the one next Saturday is at MLK Peace Park, which is across the street from Solomon Community Center.

One second. Wanna pass it to us? Yes. Sure. One second. Linda got you. She got you.

Thank you. And then our last piece is that we have been seeking some additional financial partnerships focused on healing spaces maintenance, and we received a great from a grant from Bader Philanthropies for $40,000 to focus on 10 of our 15 healing spaces which are located in the Harambee neighborhood. Oh, that's awesome. Awesome.

And that $40,000 will carry us through 2026 and and 2027. Yes.

Okay. Okay. Alright. Let me see if any of my colleagues have any questions. Any questions, anybody? I just Alderman.

Oh, just a suggestion in particular for for Polonia Park, which I know the Alderman represents, but it is the near South Side Of Milwaukee. I would suggest you guys try to do this bilingually. We have we have

a bilingual one. I just didn't print it. That is my bad. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Thank you, mister.

And it will be

the flyers will be on social, and we're doing immediate advisory as well. So

Okay. Thank you. Word out.

Yeah. I haven't had any hot cider this year yet.

It's supposed to be 60 on Saturday, so perfect.

Alright. Well, actually, you guys do have the great work. We're here to support you. This is a what is this? An adoption? This is oh, communication file. Okay. Thank you for the communication with that. Alderman Zammaripa moves to place us on file. Hearing no objections to order. Keep us posted on these events and invite us as as many as possible.

Of course.

Thank the good work. Thank you very much. Alright. Next, we have number 11251215, a substitute ordinance granted to the Milwaukee Arts Board. We have special guests today from the city's attorney's office. Please come on up. Hey, Travis. We held the block grant file. I know you came down here, so we'll see you December 3. Alright? Thanks, man. We're

open session for

you, and then we're going

to closed. Alright. So you got some opening comments before we're going to closed session, attorney Courtney?

No. Just to say good afternoon. City attorney Evan Gleiche joined by ACA Andrea

Alderwoman Zammaripa moves to Proposed propose substitute. Hearing no objections to order. And with that, order of objection moves that we go into closed session. You wanna take a vote, miss Elmer?

Could you read the text?

Sure. The committee economic development committee will convene into closed session pursuant to s 19.851 g, Wisconsin stats, for the purpose of conferring with the city attorney who will render oral or written advice with respect to litigation in which the city is or is likely to become involved and then may go into open session for the regular agenda. Roll call, please.

Alderman Jackson. Aye. Alderman David Drevich. Aye. Alderman Zamoripo. Aye. Alderman Stan.

Aye. Alright. Closed session, y'all. Open session. Hearing no objections to order. Order of woman Zammaripa moves for passage of this file, which is 251215. Hearing no objections to order. Thank you, guys. Alright. Excellent. Have a great day. All my conscience. Yes. Yes. Then if you give me a chance, that's what I was going to do.

Order of Jackson moves reconsideration for number 8250665 substitute resolution. Reallocating MKE community excellence fund funds from Girls Day at City Hall to Bronzeville Week. Order woman?

I would ask that you place it on file as no longer needed.

Okay. Order order woman moves to places on file. There ain't no objections to order. This concludes community economic development committee today. Everybody, thank you for coming, have a wonderful, excellent, and fabulous day. Alright.

Thank you, miss.