Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We will call the April 28th meeting of the common council to order. I will ask uh the clerk to call the role. Other person Turner here. Wigel here. here. Here.

We're good. H here. Herson here. Thank you. Um Keane here. Novak. She is excused. Nolan here. Roach here. Nine present, one excused.

We have a quorum. Please rise if you are able and join us for the pledge which will be led this evening by Alderman Turner. Thank you. We have uh no public hearings this evening under item D. So we will go right to part E, which is public participation. This is where the council can receive information from members of the public during this 30-minut period. We ask that each speaker give us their name and address for our official record and realize that we cannot take action on the topics raised by the speakers and we cannot um enter into debate or discussion with the topics on the topics with the speakers. Is there anybody that wishes to address the council under public participation? Please turn on the microphone before you speak and then give us your name and address. Thank you.

My name is Angelo Tenorio. I live at 1555 South 74th Street, West Alice. Good evening, Mayor Divine, President, members of the common council, members of the public. I am the state representative for the 14th Assembly District, which covers majority of West Dallas, parts of Milwaukee and Tossa, and I'm deeply grateful and honored to represent our home community in the state legislature. I come with just a few updates and I come to offer myself as a resource and support system for the city of West Dallas and our residents as I know we all share constituencies work that I've been doing in the legislature. I proposed legislation to lower costs to increase access to housing. I've proposed legislation to increase access to health care. I've been knocking on doors talking to constituents and affordability and cost of living is the top issue that I hear from our constituents and I look forward to continuing to partner with our city because the work at the legislature is so important to make our community safer, healthier, more affordable for all of us. The city, the state of Wisconsin is currently sitting on a multi-billion dollar surplus and there's so much work that we can do with this with these dollars. the people's dollars when it comes to increasing shared revenue, making sure that the city of West Dallas that the county of Milwaukee and the West Dallas West Milwaukee School District has access to state dollars. This is a way to support our infrastructure and our programming here in the city and to buy down and lower our property taxes. So, I'm committed to working with members of the common council, the mayor, members of our community to use our state dollars, the people's dollars to make our community more affordable while also increasing the quality of our services.

My contact information, please feel free to reach out to me anytime. My number is 608237-9114 and my email is rep.tenorioledgis tenorio at leis.wisconsin.gov. And for more information, my website's reptenorio.com. I'm deeply grateful and honored to be your voice in the state capital. I love representing our community. I love working alongside you. So, if there's anything you ever need from me or my office, I'm your representative. I'm your voice in the capital. And I'm really honored to do the people's work in Madison. And I do have blue books for members of the public. This has these are published every two years, every session, and has all the information you need about state government and the state of Wisconsin. Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Tenoro. Is there anybody else that wishes to address the council under public participation? Oh, can you turn your microphone on too, Ron? Thank you. Is that on? Everybody can hear me.

I'm not much of a talker, but I'll do my best I can. I'll sign my name first. Okay. Uh, first of all, with this property tax uh, referendum going up, I I I think it's really wrong because there there a lot of old people that are not making the same amount of money as some of the other people are. Like I'm making 2.8% 8% of my social security and that's even gone before I even made it and it's very hard to pay any more taxes. I've lived here since 196 uh71. I enjoy the city but I think it's getting out of hand. Too many things. They want people I don't know if the people is just you guys want too much. You want increases in everything here. Another thing I don't like is they're they're painting the streets for bicycles. That is ridiculous. I live on Cleveland Avenue and I don't see anybody ride that street. If they do, they ride on the sidewalk and they ro they ride motorcycles with motors inside the the bikes and nobody enforces that. I've been fighting three years. I've been I haven't been here all the time, but for three years on 99th in Cleveland, it's a goddamn mess. And no one said a damn thing about it. Cars last week, last year before

last, out of 65 cars, 59 of the people didn't stop because everybody's following everybody else in life. They think they can get away with it. I think it's time that we make the laws strict and really come down on these people. Make them pay. And when you make them pay, it'll help pay for our taxes. Uh what else? Another thing, I do not have internet service. And everybody everybody thinks everybody has to have internet service in a smartphone. I don't have it and I don't want it, but they're pushing it on us and that is wrong. I don't feel like I'm an American. Everything is There was a time we used to get a newsletter. We don't get that. Nobody knows what's going on around here anymore because you got to go online to find out. What about the people that don't have internet service? What about it? I don't have and I don't intend to have it. I'm falling behind because I don't know what's going on anymore and I think it's wrong. Uh, and another thing on these bicycles. When I was a kid, we had to pay for a license plate. Now these kids don't have to pay for a license plate. And you ride wherever they want. And we used to get we used to get fined for having not having a license plate. These kids ride all over the place. And and the way they paint the streets with green, black. You guys are wasting all that money on what? These people don't even use their bikes anymore. They use the the uh smartphone. They don't do bike anymore like they used to. And even the other thing I'm against is Lincoln Avenue, what you guys just finished. It's a waste of money. I was out there a couple hours. Nobody ever makes a left-hand turn. What do you

guys are thinking all wrong? I watch that stream and nonmates are left hardly when you did all their reconstruction for what? What reason really have you got? Okay, I'm not trying to be mad, but I'm trying to wake people up in this world. The world is going downhill and nobody does anything about it. I go to stores, people I talk to people and they say we can't afford it, but nobody does anything about it. You just keep on going. Who are you going to talk to about it? Nobody uh and you know our laws have to be in strict forcer because we're letting people go at the police. You know, they come once a while in our block. They come once a week maybe if I call them to check all the speeding that you should see the speeding at nighttime especially motorcycles the cops I mean it's not their fault but they don't come around nobody cares what we have to do is in increase the penalty the punishment of a fine for these people so they so other people know what's going on in this world one follows the other one today nobody follows nobody anybody they do what they want in this world. I see it all the time. It's so sad what's happening in this world, but nobody does anything about it. And another thing, you're putting up all these new apartments. All these new apartments. Where's the money for? Where's the tax? Shouldn't we get tax money for that? Shouldn't that go for the property taxes? And why don't all this money and these and these people who rent, they should be charged taxes because they're using our streets and they're using our facilities.

That's all I have to say. I hope I wasn't trying to be overwhelming. I'm sorry if I was. I'm just stating the fact I've seen so much is going on in this world. It's going downhill and everybody agrees, but nobody does anything about it. We just sit around, look around. You guys are probably thinking I'm crazy, but that's okay. I know how I feel. Thanks for your comments, Mr. Kubc. Okay. Thank you. All right. Is there anybody else that wishes to address the council under public participation?

Hello. And if you please give us your name and address as well.

Oh, um, yeah, I'll write that down. My name is Barbara. I meant to speak here. um a couple weeks ago, but there was a tornado warning, so sorry I'm a little bit late. Um I have a lot of things on my mind as I usually do, but today I really just want to talk about something that's extremely positive. It costs nothing from the city and uh it's a it's a way that we can bring our neighbors together and do something great for the environment. The East Dallas Neighborhood Association is working on a pocket prairie project. Um, I've heard I know many of you have heard about this and I applaud um those of you in the council who are working to try to make this happen. Um, but pretty much all of us get together, we tear out the grass that is there um right by the the bridge where all the butterfly um the butterfly art is. Uh we already have permission from the artist that he thinks it's a great idea too. And um we put up a pollinator garden over there and it'll have beautiful flowers much of the year. It'll help our pollinators. Um and we the neighbors get together and we upkeep it. Nothing to the city and no mowing for the city. So, u this is a win for everybody and uh I really hope that you guys can support it and get that pass pretty soon as we do have um summer coming up and the the longer we wait to put up our first round of of crops, um the more watering we're going to have to do if we can get it done this spring. So, um thank you for hearing me. Um, I did want to mention that you probably knew I was going to come here because

your flock cameras followed me all the way. So, um, I'd really appreciate that being addressed to at some point, but thank you so much for your time. Uh, and I'll just write my name here. I think we have your address, too, Barbara. I'm sorry. Can we have your address as well, Barbara? Oh, for the um just verbally.

1928 South 56th Street. Thank you so much. Thank you. Anybody else wish to address the council under public participation? Hello everybody. My name is Neil Stefik. Uh, I don't know if I'm allowed to ask this, but I'm asking for two minutes of various time after the common council meeting tonight. Um, I possibly have a common council meeting coming up in a few weeks. I just want to make sure that when that does happen, everything goes smoothly and is there anything I have to do to make it go right, I want to make sure I do that. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, can we have your address, too, Mr. Stefick?

6552 River Place. Thank you. Does anybody else um have anything for public participation?

You know where to find us. Uh good evening everybody. My name is Timothy Riby uh 1607 South 64th Street. Uh some of you might know me uh through some of my works in the community with Miracle on 64th Street. Uh the also we do the 60 uh 60th and burn planters um and the Christmas and July event that we hold. So try to be pretty active in the community. Um my newest project that I just came across came about when I was talking to some of the wrestlers at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Um my daughter is uh one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Um it's four-time medalist. Uh she's been wrestling and absolutely killing it. The reason being is that I take my daughter all over the country. So, uh, my daughter wrestles every from Virginia Beach to Fargo, uh, which is one of the, uh, quintessential best, uh, events you can possibly go to. Only 2% of wrestlers ever go. So, through speaking to her fellow teammates, they said, "Well, it must really be nice to be able to do that." The cost associated with something like that is insane. Um I could I know you your son uh is a is a baseball player and that he does a lot of traveling so

volleyball it's not cheap but you can see the difference in his playing had he just been sitting still on the sidelines as opposed to playing baseball here you my daughter wrestling uh it makes a huge difference uh she's a gold medalist uh she took state this year uh she's going again to take state for freestyle she's a gold medalist from last year when talking to the kids a lot of them can't afford what we do. And I thought to myself, the privilege that she gets, it must be nice, what can we do about that to help them kids out? So, I created Wisconsin words wrestling. Uh not for-profit organization that helps out children who are underprivileged and in need to wrestle. Uh we take care of their training costs, shoes, equipment, uh travel fees, uh fees, anything that they need, we're going to handle. uh working with uh things like Adidas, Nike, uh there's a lot of grant programs out there for 501c3s like myself. So, I brought this before several of the coaches in the community, uh AJ Auto, uh over at Central, uh Edvis at or sorry, AJ Auto at Hail, Edvis at Central. Um and they're all on board. The ads are on board with it as well. They absolutely love the idea and they want to have it at their schools. It went before the recck department and they shut it down. uh completely. Uh there's after we're done wrestling, they said that we have to have a professional cleaning crew come out and clean the mats. Um I've studied many different martial arts. Starting as a white belt, you mop up the floors. That's the extent of the of the cleaning. You don't do anything other than a mop, a bucket, and cleaning solution, which cost $60 for a gallon. I told them I paid for the the uh cleaning solution, and we'd mop up. Then they went on to we don't want other individuals from other schools using our facilities. Um I spoke to Ray Turner earlier. We rent out our facilities to anybody from the community. If they want

to use them, we rent them. And then they went on to say, well, it's never been done before. No one's ever rented a wrestling room. Well, just because it's never been done before, doesn't mean we shouldn't explore it. Um, we kind of sit here and we go, you know, back in our day the kids played and they did this and they did that and now our kids just sit inside and play video games. Well, these kids are sitting inside playing video games. People like my daughter are traveling. They're getting better. They're winning uh awards. Uh they're they're killing it in the field. Meanwhile, our kids who can't afford to do all that are never going to make state. They're never going to place at state. and they're never going to do anything. My daughter got a full ride to Luther College, uh, where she's committed to. It was an insane thing when we opened up our scholarship portfolio and it was it's there. I I cried to be honest with you. Um, it was an insane thing. Four years of her hard work, there it is. How many of the kids in our community are going to have the same opportunity to open up their acceptance letters and go, "Oh, I've got a scholarship." Not many. So that's where I come in. I help out. I bring them up. I get them off the streets. I give them something to do. I give them confidence. I keep them motivated to do well in their sport. Um, and at the end of the day, it's better for everybody because kids with idle hands, we know they tend to get in trouble. So, uh, I thank you for your time. Thank you for hearing, uh, what I have to say. Um, I appreciate you guys and I look forward to working everybody in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Revy. Any other uh participants under public participation this evening?

Good evening. Uh, my name is Brett Kulie. Uh, 2048 South 74th Street. Um, I was just curious or wanted to speak my kind of piggyback off the uh gentleman before. Um, I noticed there is a uh furniture cost for the new uh DPW engineering and IT building. Um, I saw that it is $537,000 or in excess of that amount. And I was just curious if that is a no bid contract. Um, I was al also curious if the uh previous buildings since you're consolidating all these uh departments together, if those previous buildings were sold and if they were sold at a uh market rate just not like given to someone for a dollar. And uh lastly, uh you guys are all stewards of of the taxpayers's money and the $537,000. How is that not an excessive and irresponsible expenditure? I can't imagine you couldn't get that for half. And if the furniture if the furniture is brand new, what what did you do with all the furniture that was at the previous buildings?

That's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Culie. And like I said earlier, we can't we can't debate with you, but if you can stick around till recess, I'm sure we can get you some answers on your questions. Thank you. Thank you. Yep. You're welcome. Thanks. Anybody else wish to address the council under public participation? All right, seeing none, we will close public participation and we will go on to item F. We have one presentation this evening and I'll ask the clerk to introduce that item, 2025, city of West Dallas achievements. Thanks very much. And then I'll turn it over to our city administrator, Aaron Hearn.

Thank you so much, mayor. Uh, thank you, council, for giving me some of your time. I I won't go through this in all of the depth that is in this PowerPoint. Um but I do want to represent our departments and show what amazing things they did in this past year. Um I did say at the last budget session that um I would be bringing this forward and so this is what I have for you. So we're going to go department by department. I'm not going to read all of it but I will be read some of the highlights. Um so we're going to start with our economic development. So, in 2025, we had over $160 million worth of development. Uh we had the Rev and the Apiary and Union Green uh that just clo that just finished as well as um the F Street Apartments that just started. So, those will be coming online um by the end of the year. Um we also w were recognized by Biz Times ranked um southern Wisconsin as the most development friendly community. Uh we won the thrive award from the commercial real estate development association and were finalists for Wisconsin economic development association award for talent attraction development and retention. Uh we also hosted uh the empowering women in business conference which welcomed about 150 attendants. Um, we celebrated the opening of Slingshot Bar, Planet Fitness, and Pan Asia. And we also added two new shared kitchens, Sugar Studio and Orchard Brook. Going over to the police department. Um, so between 2024 and 2025, we had a 13.9% reduction in crime. Uh, since 2020, that's a 39.9 overall reduction. Uh we also have been focusing more on reckless driving enforcement. Um so we have

safety enforcement initiatives that have been um focusing on reckless driving and pedestrian safety. And we've also had approximately 8,900 traffic stops that were conducted, which is a 50% increase from 2024. Um, in our police department as well for community outreach, uh, we had West Alice National Night Out, uh, which was on July 21st of 2025 and attended by more than a thousand people. Uh, we also have our quarterly neighborhood partnership meetings. Um and then for recruitment and retention uh we welcome 16 police officers and 12 civilian members to the department and 7 or 7% seven employees uh retired last year. Um so for our treasurer and customer service uh center we processed over 35,000 payments. Um and then uh when collecting property taxes, we collected $230,000 more than we did last year that did not go to Milwaukee County. Um so we also have let us help us tickets which uh 66 were entered in last year um which uh creates a faster response time. So this the open gov um product was created before I started but uh it seems to be very user friendly and we're this year we're going to work on it more to make sure uh that it's doing everything that it's we created it for. So uh they also took over the convergent door scheduling um and completed 32 door requests and did a lot of document scanning uh which is uh very beneficial especially in the open gov records uh in our city attorney's office. Our

city attorney's office uh helped uh create develop and and uh administer the innovation grant. We have not on that yet, but um that was a lot of time uh going into that last year. Um also debt debt collection efforts um real estate transactions and many litigations. Um code enforcement. Uh so many of our departments helped in the post flood recovery. Uh code enforcement being one of them. Uh there was about 552 permits issued and 17 uh homeowners who suffered from structural foundation damage. Um and so we also uh paid back uh so contractors paid their their fees and then 168 permit fees were returned to those home owners to help them in the recovery efforts. Um there was also so I have a lot of numbers here. I'm not going to read through all of them, but our our code enforcement team does a lot a lot of things. And um just to briefly go over, so about 41 uh 64,162 permits um were granted in 2025 as well as 15,419 inspections. Um our inspectors were really doing a lot of work last year, so I just wanted to um make sure to go over that, but there are a lot of numbers here. So if anybody wants to look or ask questions about these later, please let me know. Um so with our health department, so Southwest Suburban Health Department, we um a lot of numbers again, but but very very important. So for harm reduction, we distributed over 45,572

boxes of NA nail sorry. Um also 5,022 of fentanyl and um Exxalisign testing strips were distributed. Um they also collaborated collaborated with three radio groups to raise awareness about opioid and overdose prevention reaching over 3.13 million listeners uh through many commercials. Um so they also achieved their p public health board accredit accreditation um and this was uh 10 categories and 93 measures that they had to go through. It is a very lengthy process uh but they were awarded that back in 2025. And then a lot of car seat checks, um, tests, um, as you see under the access and linkage to care, there are a lot of things we do and process and licenses and, um, people we talk to and complaints that are made. So, I just wanted to make sure that all of this was recognized. And then down at the bottom, we also issued three 38,745 food pack food packages to those in need. So marketing and engagement also, you know, had a large hand in flood communications. Um so this shows the number of flood communications. So we had over 13,000 views um of our information that was going out related to flood issue, the flood issue. Um we also ha have been increasing our social social media engagement uh including the city Facebook page and the farmers market Facebook page. Uh as well as all

the community engagements that we offer. So, um I'm not going to read through them, but you know, the farmers market, the food trucks, Chris Kindle market, uh honey haunted Honey Creek, Independence Day parade, Christmas parade, um and community conversations, um and also what the community conversations have been producing. So, we have the West Alice Arts Collective, Community Impact Partnership and Foundation, and the West Alice Homeless Collition Planning Committee. So all of these are community groups that were created out of these community conversations. We also launched the vis visit status campaign. Um so here are also numbers um of how many individuals that we're connecting with due to this campaign. Uh we also have the West Alisa Senior Center. So, um, in 2024, the membership dues were eliminated from the senior center welcoming, uh, a greater population of seniors to our community. Um, it doesn't look like it raised that much, but I do hear I have sat over there and talked to some of the seniors and it does seem like it's very appreciated and the seniors feel very welcomed to um, the senior center. But in 2025 it rose to 809 individuals. Um what we offer these individuals is programs and activities. We have about 102 different programs. Um and these are all different kinds of classes. Uh social support uh craft classes, fitness programs um and the like. We also um so we only have two full-time employees at the senior center. Um and so many of their classes and and things that services that they provide um are from volunteers. So we had about 95 volunteers last year.

Um they're also working with the marketing or started working marketing department um about an age friendly West Alice changing their brand logo. Uh so that is still being worked on today but um but yes so that's when they started and then the clerk's office we have a a ton of achievements obviously you know elections are a huge thing um last year alone they had uh over 3,000 ballots in February and 12,000 in April that they had to manage. Um as well as all the volunteers that help out during th those elections. Um, so I can't say enough how wonderful, you know, we the people who run the elections are because it's it's really an important municipalities. Um, and then they did a lot of licensing. I'm not going to go through each and every one of these, but obviously that's a huge portion of the clerk's office job. Um, so I just want to give credit to how many licenses that they give out annually. And then they also uh administered the or they also manage the appeals review board. And last year they had a total of 10 hearings. So dur in our engineering department just some achievements that they had last year. So they had about two bumpouts. Um uh they they had some traffic calming items that they put in uh for visibility. Uh also two high visibility crosswalks were installed um and flashing beacons installed to raise awareness. Um they are also working right now on the private side leadwater service lateral replacements. Um they had about 113 private side. Um over 7 hundred um were have been

replaced since 2017. So, um, we got a lot done last year. Um, and then we also received over $600,000 from the DOT uh for the I94 East West project. Um so for the traffic signals along um 59 which includes West Greenfield Avenue from 81st Street to 62nd Street and West National A from 62nd to um the traffic signals now too are AI based traffic signals um that adjust in real time. So we are one of I believe we are the first in Wisconsin to be offering those. We also finished completed the Liberty Heights Pavilion um which has now been completed. So um in it so they did a a lot of things last year as well. So they replaced uh the cable TV uh with Microsoft Teams solution uh which we have been using uh and I think that's working out really well. Uh we also eliminated the need for a dedicated video production spe specialist. So um our FTEES went down um in 2025. Um we've been working on the our cyber security solution which uh we received funding from the state of Wisconsin state local cyber security grant program. Um and that has been helping out out immensely to make sure that our uh we stay safe uh in management and detection processes. Um our GI GIS solution too has been being used more uh more often with our DBW group especially. So they use I uh iPads to uh use GIS applications to

track all of their work. So field mapping, dashboards, um city assets, um like when they do tree cutting and and and the like. So um we also so end user support too. So the uh last year alone replaced 50 COVID era laptops, uh 40 desk desktop computers, Surface Pros, um upgraded 25 iPads, and closed 1500 over 1500 service requests. Um so the assessor's office as well uh did a lot of things last year as well as this year. Um but last year alone they had 338 letter uh requesting inspections uh for flood impacted properties. um the assessment cycle. So there were um over a thousand building permits reviewed uh over a thousand property sales were reviewed um and then work for the 2026 re-evaluation started last year and then um so open book and board of review 67 open book appointments were held by staff. Uh 32 objections were heard before the board of review and 15 property tax appeals went to the circuit court. So human resources uh they had some new they implemented a new benefit employee benefit software system. Um they also uh the pay classification was changed. So they implemented restructuring of the salaries uh raising minimum pay levels and expanding step progression. Um the workforce force alignment. So they streng having

structure across city administrator, city clerk, city attorney and marketing functions. Um and then employee health access. Uh they expanded their quad nearsight clinics. uh promoted access to mental health resources. We have a lot of departments. We have the library. Uh so the library alone checked out about 370,000 items. Umundund uh over a thousand attraction passes were used at the library as well as with the laptop computers. Um about 1,500 were checked out. Um and about 36,000 people vis.

Okay. Okay, sorry about that. Okay, so anyways, here um some of the new services that were made available were the laptop computer vending machines implemented, uh the board games, uh collection purchased, and then the digital display monitors that were installed for marketing and information sharing, and then there was also um a material sorter that was purchased. So, so some exciting happened last year. Uh so in planning and zoning, so we had 25 CDBG applicants uh processed uh uh going um with $1.4 million in CDBG allocations for 2026. So safe streets and roads uh grant was awarded as well uh for $45,000. Um and also there's a multi-jurisdictional collaboration going on uh to um for a power line trail extension. Uh they also hosted a 9-week transportation academy uh and planning staff made presentations to UWM and residents through the engage program. Um and then uh last but not least, there were two plans completed. There was pedestrian, bike and mobility plan that was adopted. uh four zoning codes were amended and powerline trail feasibility report was completed and also the Wisconsin forum uh peerreview audit was completed and and many and many uh

articles in uh the League of Wisconsin Municipality magazine from multiple departments but this one was smart planning in action. So, so planning and zoning housing office. Um, so, uh, for afford a affordable housing assistance, um, for our section 8 housing vouchers, we helped 229 households. Uh, we helped 161 uh, veteran affairs supported housing households and then 104 households with our boy road. um all in housing assistant payments as well as the landlord partnering and assistance program. Um we also have our family self-sufficiency section. Um and we applied and received $95,000 for that. um that uh in that um activity we or not activity but in that program we have 30 participants right now and two graduated from there in 2025. We also uh provide seminars. Uh we offered three se seminars last year. One in home ownership, one in employee Milwaukee and big steps and then one in the FS FSS program itself. We also try to work with the schools. Um, and a successful fair housing contest was held last year and an award ceremony was held in April. So, public works, a lot again happened with the flood. Um, this this portion of it can't even say how much they helped, but but they removed 2,000 tons of debris. 108 staff members were involved and logged over

5600 hours. That's just the tip of the iceberg. But that they did a lot of they helped the residents immensely through the flood response. So um they also increased their GIS um like like I was saying back in it you know a lot of things so sanitation violations pavement repair valve valve turning so it's a lot more than just tree cutting there's a lot of stuff that goes into it but um they've really gone above and beyond in that area. uh inventory audit. They audited over 7,000 parts. Um and then this just goes into how much they um so they converted two high voltage circuits to low voltage 98 street lights and converted 46 high-pressure sodium fixtures to LED. Uh no parking signs throughout state fair area. resolve resolved 99 main breaks and eight water service leaks. Um um so the the fire department there was um they helped as well during the flood and emergency management. Uh they had 200 calls for service in a 12-h hour period uh just within the city and state fair. um and then supported citywide going forward with emergency management. Um they received a national Julie award for breaking new frontier and community service programming as well as a hometown hero award um recognizing service excellent in response to the 2025 flood. Um they also have had some

operational advancements. Um they have uh prehosp blood implementation deployed preh hospital blood on frontline medical units. Um s sufficiently increasing the department's ability to deliver life-saving interventions pri prior to hospital arrival. Um, so that's a new uh advancement that they've had in 2025 as well as placed a new engine into service uh replacing a 27y old apparatus. Um so in finance uh so we have two different processes that um now uh that helped during the budget process last year and that includes GMT um as well as updated tax chargebacks Uh there's been numerous payroll uh in process improvements um standardized reporting measures. Um and then and then there was a PTO conversion and a new salary schedule. We also uh one of our structures we now have a convention and visitors bureau which we did not have previously. um and new refunding new reporting funds um that help the gap compliance. So that those are the highlights for 2025. If there's any um questions, you can either ask me now or you can email

me and I will get you your response. So thank you for that. Thank you very much, Miss Hearnd. Lots to talk about, lots to be proud of. Um, I just wanted to see if there are any questions from the members of the council. Seeing none. All right. Thank you very much. We will go to item G. Uh, our standing committees will be meeting during recess. Those room numbers are listed on the bottom of page one on your agendas. If you're here for a specific item and you're not sure which room to go to and um you don't have a copy of the agenda, just stop one of us when we break for recess and we will make sure to get you into the right room. Move on to item H, the mayor's report. I just have a few quick things. Uh the last few weeks, we have had a ton of new businesses coming into the community. Uh we have had the pickler pickle ball facility opened up on the uh the highway 111 highway 100 corridor in the old Dunham space. Uh right up the street from that we had Lee Rice Design and Flower Company, a flower shop open up right next to Panera on Highway 100. We also welcomed the Emerald right across the street from City Hall. It was a new event space in our community. We uh Alderman Halverson and I attended the 40th anniversary of the center for deaf blind persons in our community and they actually had received a grant from the Lowe's Foundation to do a rehab of their facility on Lincoln Avenue. So they kind of had a postponed due to the flooding grand opening and ironically it was pouring rain that day too and almost flooded that day but but they made it and we did not flood. Uh and then lastly, Archwell Health opened up and um that was Alderman wrote and I were there 76th and Oklahoma in the shopping center and they have comprehensive senior care, primary care services and wellness programs. I also want to thank everybody

who attended the community partnership meeting at the West Police Department. And lastly, I want to remind everybody that our farmers market, our beloved farmers market opens up this Saturday, May 2nd. That concludes the mayor's report. Do we have any other person's reports? Mayor D. Alderwoman Gisham.

I just want to touch base on u a neighborhood cleanup that Conrad Gardens Neighborhood Association in collaboration with Wilson Elementary PTA had a couple weeks ago. Um it was a smaller group, chilly day, but we all got out there and cleaned up garbage. And I just wanted to give a special shout out um after Aaron speaking about how much our departments do. DPW uh collaborates with neighborhood associations and makes it possible that we have cleanup equipment and you come and pick up what uh we collect and I just want to say that the associations appreciate that very much and so do we. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have any other elder person's reports? Mayor Divine.

Alderman Wagle. Um speaking of garbage cleanups, um myself and Alderman wrote participated in the kind of countywide cleanup. uh Milwaukee River keepers hosted uh a cleanup and the riverkeepers were working specifically along the river corridors in in the Milwaukee area and uh so we were part of this uh Guinness Book of World Records thing. Apparently 282 people participated. I don't imagine our names will be listed in the next book but uh I'm sure

yeah it's in very fine print. Um, and so that was at Greenfield Park that we were working. That was with the friends of Greenfield Park. And the friends of Greenfield Park are also beginning their uh weed out sessions. So that's the removal of invasive species, specifically garlic mustard in the springtime. The three scheduled so far are Thursday evening. So this coming Thursday and then the two weeks after. So it's three th Thursdays in a row from 5:30 to 7:30. If you're interested, you can just show up at uh 5:30 at the pavilion at Greenfield Park on one of those days or you can find us on Facebook, the friends of Greenfield Park. Thanks. Thank you, Alderman. Any other reports from the elder persons? Mayor Divine.

Alderman Halverson. Probably should have said this during item F, but I just wanted to give like all our departments are doing great. The past year, especially after the flood, we've had a lot of just like weather emergencies. uh a lot more police and fire and especially a lot more DPW work and the past couple weeks. How many wind storms and you know flash floods have we had? So just wanted to give a special shout out to them. I know they work hard. You don't really see them but they do a lot. So thank you. Thank you alderman. Any other person's reports? Mayor Divine

Alderman Hos. I move for approval of the minutes of our April 14th, 2026 common council meeting. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Are there any changes or corrections? Seeing none, all in favor? I. Any opposed? The minutes are approved. Standing committee reports. We have none. Mayor Divine. Alderman House. Do any council members wish for separate action on any of the items contained in item L, our consent agenda? Then seeing none, I move for approval of item L, the consent agenda. Second.

Thank you. Have a motion. We have a second. There's no discussion on the motion. Madam clerk, please call the role. Sorry. Alder person. Turner. Hi. Wigel. Hi. Gisham. Hi. Gro. Hi. H. I. Herson. Hi. Keane. Hi. Noling. Hi. Ro. I nine pre nine in favor zero opposed. They are also present. Motion carries. And Mayor Divine. Alderman Hos. I move that the council stand in recess until the conclusion of our committee meetings. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? We are in recess.

I'm giving Ray my stare. It's not working. Hey, Jean. So ineffective. I know. There he is.

I was trying to give you my stare. Didn't work. Good evening everybody. We're going to call the common council back to order and I will ask the clerk to call the role. Other person Turner here. Wigel here. Here. Gro here. H here. Halverson here. Keane here. Nolan here. Ro here. Nine present. One still excused. Thank you very much. We have a quorum. We have no administration committee report and we have no public works committee report. So we will go right to the economic development committee.

The economic development committee recommends approval of items 27 and 28 with a fee of $15 per scheduled day and adoption of item 29. Mayor Dvine, I move in accordance with the committee report. Thank you very much. Is there any discussion on the economic development committee report? If not, I'll ask clerk to call the role. Aler person Turner. Hi. Wiggle. Hi. Gisham. Hi. Grow. Hi. H. Hi. Halverson. Hi. Keane. Hi. Noline. I wrote I. Nine in favor. Zero opposed. That motion carries. Thank you. And then we'll move to the public safety committee.

The public safety committee recommends passing of item 30 and approval of items 31, 32, and 33. Mayor Divine. I move to approve the public safety committee report. Thank you. Any discussion? Hearing none. I will ask the clerk to call the role. Aler person Turner. Hi. Wigel. Hi. Gisham. Hi. Gro. Hi. H. Hi. Halverson. I. Noling. Hi. Roach. Hi. Nine in favor. Zero opposed. That motion carries. Mayor Divine. Alderman Hos. I move that the council stand adjourned until our next scheduled meeting, Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Second. There's a motion. There's a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? We are adjourned.