Public Safety Committee - Regular Meeting

To the Thursday, May 21 meeting of the public safety and health committee. It is 09:06. I'm Alderman Scott Spiker, chair of the committee, joined to my right by vice chair Alderman Bergelis. To his right by Alder Taylor, will be joined shortly by Alders Moore and Chambers, also joined by staff assistant Joanna Ortiz. Item one, file number 260,036, an ordinance relating to parking controls.

Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Scott Reimbacher with the Department of Public Works. Today, we have a few changes to the city's parking regulations. First, we are proposing to remove the no parking anytime restrictions on a few segments of West State Street, Kilbourne, and Wells near North 27th Street to free up parking for residents and businesses.

Second, we are proposing to implement a two hour parking zone from 7AM to 7PM except Sundays on East Corcoran Avenue from Jackson Street to Harbor Drive, a new street that was recently built. Finally, we are proposing to extend the twenty five minute meter parking zone, on Sundays from 8AM to 9PM, on North Prospect Avenue just south of East North Avenue. So all of these changes were coordinated with the local alders. Happy to answer any questions.

Any

questions? If not, Alder Bergales would move to recommend passage and hearing no objections so ordered. Item two, file number two six zero zero three seven, an ordinance relating to traffic controls.

Yes. We are proposing a few changes to the city's regulatory traffic controls. First, we are proposing to install always stop signs at the intersections of Orchard And 32nd, Chambers and Fratney, Burleigh and Fratney, and Auer And Fratney. And also, we are proposing to remove the one way traffic flow, condition on North 22nd Street between Highland and Juneau to support the Milwaukee High School of the Arts' dismissal plan. So all of these have been coordinated with the local alders. Happy to answer any questions.

Questions from committee members? If not, Alder Taylor would move to recommend passage. And hearing no objections, so ordered. Thank you very much. Thank you. Item three, file number 260,071, substitute resolution relative to acceptance and funding of 2026 women, infants and children breastfeeding peer counseling grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Good morning. My name is Lori Plummer, Deputy Commissioner of Family and Community Services at the Health Department. This is an annual grant award for breastfeeding peer counsel, for our WIC program. Okay. $110,000

$110,000 Okay. There's more details in the file. Anybody have any questions? No. If not, Alder Moore, has joined us. Alder Moore would recommend move that we recommend adoption. Any objection? Then so ordered.

You. Mr. Chair?

Thank you. Alder Moore?

I just wanted to make sure I'm marked in the affirmative for, item number one.

Okay. And two. And two.

I think I was here. I was here for two.

Okay. I saw it in. With that, that's sorted. Item four, file number 251,855, substitute resolution relative to acceptance and funding of the '25 through '29 lead hazard reduction and healthy homes grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Hi, everyone. Tyler Weber, deputy commissioner of environmental health. This is a four year HUD grant funded at $7,700,000 and it will cover a lead hazard reduction in about 300 units. 160 will be handled by Habitat for Humanity. The remainder will be handled by the City of Milwaukee Health Department but all referrals will come from the health department for the 300 units. So, we're excited about this since the first time we've had two HUD grants running at the same time. So, this is a new one that's starting. We're already two years into another one and hopefully every two years we get a new HUD grant. We get into that process.

And when did the other one start?

Two, three years ago. Okay. So we'll be coming up for another application on that

one. Yep. Okay. Yeah. No, this is good news. So 300 units you said could be a baby with Yes. This Okay.

And it covers staffing. It also has healthy homes fund tied into it so we can do more work per unit. Everything from smoke alarms to additional asthma prevention and additional work tied in.

Very good. Alder Burgales.

David, this is for lead hazard. Yes. Lead paint hazard reduction.

Correct. This is a and the HUD grant specifies that. In rare cases, we could use it for lead pipes but it has to be a lot of evidence has to be piled up for that specific case. So, it says by and large, a lead paint lead paint hazard reduction grant.

Thank you.

Further questions, I saw in the file you're going to work with Cole to do outreach to Tiga

Outreach and education, it used to be SDC and Cole is more taking on that role on the North Side. And we work on the other HUD grant. We've worked with sixteenth Street Community Health Center on the South Side.

Okay. 16th Street which is in my district. Okay. Very good. Any questions? Additional questions? If not, Alder Taylor would move to recommend adoption or referral to finance and personnel. And hearing no objections, so ordered. Very good news. Thank you. All right. Now we begin our series of communication files this morning. We have quite a few. Item five is file number 251583 communication from DPW providing a status update on implementation of the habitual parking violator ordinance. So, this is sponsored by me.

So folks will remember this is an ordinance got passed last year, went into effect the beginning of this year, for folks with, I believe, five or more tickets over sixty days past due. We had told them if they were parking illegally before, but let them out of the lot with just paying their, their tow fee and storage fee. With the new ordinance, they are required to either pay up, their outstanding tickets or set up a date with municipal court. We had an update on this very early on in in January, I believe. So this is just an update, more into the quarter.

So with that, I'd kick it over to Mr. Knox from DPW.

Good morning, everyone. This is Peter Knox, parking service manager, City of Milwaukee. I did include a one page data sheet because there's a lot of numbers on here. If you don't have it, I do have some hard copies.

Hard copies.

Yep. Yep. Would people

like hard copies? Can I get one?

Hard copies. Oh, never mind.

You don't? Okay.

Got it.

It's this one, right?

That is correct. There's two in the file, but this is the most current. So I'm excited to be here to kind of talk about this. Being five months in, we were able to take kind of a deeper dive into things than what I

presented in January where we kind of just kind

of reflected on the toes, but now we kind of see some patterns as it pertains to people being proactive to not get towed. At the end of the day, our goal is to reduce the numbers of habitual parking by their toes and just have people just to address their citations. That's the ultimate goal and I think we are starting to see some benefits of this ordinance in regards to that. I am going to refer first off to the street here just heading over some numbers, okay? Just to remind everybody, the order to defect 11/01/2025, We did a sixty day moratorium.

So, we did collect money. So, we had four hundred fifty four fifty five people that paid their citations ahead of time to prevent being towed. In 2026 from January 1, most of the status through May 15 or May 20 because we have multiple platforms that hold this data. This is a breakdown of the payments that have been made. So at the toll lot from January 1 to May 15, these are more people that have been towed for HPB, but we've collected over $426,000 nine seventeen people, a little over 8,000 citations.

The rest of this from trip to online, over the counter, kiosk, these are going to be individuals who made arrangements to pay citations, not all of them, not not not the yeah, most of them. They made arrangements to pay the citations they weren't towed. So, we can just see tax intercepts. We have about close to 700 people, a little over 3,000 citations, 180,000. Online payments is our biggest platform.

Nine seventy two people paid online. 500 citations, a little over $200,000 Over the counter, four sixty five people, close to 1,500 citations, close to $60,000 Kiosk and mail, about 20,000 So overall, since from November 1 through January, we're looking at about a million dollars of citations that were paid and that's equals about 20,000 citations. So that is a pretty significant dent in the initial number of citations.

Quick, clarification question. So the first line for tow lot you said are people who were towed and then are settling up at the tow lot. Yes. The rest are folks who pay either through trip, have their taxes intercepted, pay online over the counter kiosk mail. Do we have any idea how those numbers relate to a similar period last year? Because what we wanna know is, has this increased the number of folks who decide to settle

up? Yeah. So one of the things what, you know, and I could take a deeper dive into that. What's we weren't tracking before like with payment plans and stuff over the five or more. It was just a general number because but now we are because we actually have this order to effect. I can take a deep dive to see if I can able to get that. Do know that all everybody on these payments have been identified as potential parking violators. They've received a letter notification. So that's what this data sets off of. But I can take a look into that for you.

Yeah, just to get a picture because you kind of asserted one of the goals is to get people to pay up and not get towed because that's the worst way to find out about the ordinance is getting towed. So, it would be helpful to know, well, have we seen an uptake in people being proactive now that this is out there.

Definitely. I can definitely look at that. Okay. Thanks. If you look over at to actual physical vehicles towed, so basically we go to the second box there. We've totaled 2,190 tows as of May 15. This changes daily, hourly, all these data sets. And so out of that number, the individuals that elected to pay citations was ten thirty three. Setting up a court date was 09/16. That's pretty much been consistent all the way through.

So I think we have a very solid understanding of when an individual's towed. It's going to be close to fifty fifty. So we weren't quite sure, but I think this far in, I'm comfortable as to continuing to report out of that. It's just a touch more pay at the toll lot. So that's going to break down the toes.

I do want to jump back to the box above. So when we look at number of court cases, so when we go back to total of revenue, we have nine sixteen individuals went to court with a total of 10,000 citations, and that's the value of the citations that can refer to court. That's not necessarily money collected. Obviously, the court is going decide what do with that. I do want to highlight Alderman to your requests as well as we look at non total HPV proactive payment plans.

Those are individuals that are active on the HPV eligible list that have set up payment plans to remove themselves from that. So, I will take a deep dive too to see if there's any way to compare that into previous years of anybody five or more but these would be individuals that had received that notification. They know they could get towed and they're being proactive in that. So, I think that number is a very healthy number and I like to see that and I hope that keeps going up as we continue to communicate with messaging. Finally, just you know, I know people ask the breakdown.

This is the tows by Aldermanic District. So, you can kind of see where that stands. That also has been very consistent across each month. So it's pretty stable. And that's just to remind everybody, we take a passive approach, meaning that we are not targeting HPV vehicles. We basically, if we are doing our patrols, we come across your car, it's legally parked. And if it has five or more citations that if it's eligible, we won't tow the vehicle. So that is the approach that we take and we continue to do that as we said we would from the very beginning. So those are that's pretty much the numbers. From a Quick question there.

So I know you said our standard approach which we're keeping now is to not proactively tow people who are h who are habitual parking violators. If we see them parked illegally, then we'll tell them that changes though if they miss a court date or go back on a deal they made with us?

Yes. So if they if there's a court date, default, then we we know this they they can meet with us and then we can go, tell the people yes.

And so it's too early to tell, but you say 47% set up a court date. So I imagine this is something you'll work with Muni Court to track to see how many of them honor that date.

If I come back in the fall, I'm sure we'll have more information on that as we get farther down the road on this.

Okay.

Yeah and then and then just though I think lastly just want to touch on is we continue to kind of communicate this. I I thank all the elders. I see in emails. I see constituents. I know the media has been a big part of this. We do we did coordinate with the DMV centers. There's flyers posted. It's online, social media, and I think the more that we continue to do that and with everybody engaged in that, I think it does meet our goal where people are being held accountable, paying their citations, and then, you know, only being told if they've choose not to do so. But I do feel that looking at numbers, we're headed in the right direction with it.

Okay. Very good. I have some questions, but we'll spread it around. Questions from committee members, Alder Moore. We're also joined by Alder Chambers.

Yes. Thank you so much, and thank you so much for, this updated, report. I just wanna make sure that, our audience, our, constituents, our community get the correct information. So we have the, habitual parking violators. Those are individuals that have, outstanding tickets that are five or more.

Sixty days past due. Yeah.

And sixty days past due. Correct. Okay. And then there's also we also regularly tow if is it if you have just three or more or are is it just is it all we only tow if you fall if you fall into this category of five or more sixty days past

due.

For towing for citations, we used to back

in the back

of the

day we used to. Yep. But now for towing for citations, it's gonna be under this ordinance five or more sixty days past due.

Got it. And then we also I mean, obviously, we also tow if tow immediately if an individual, you know, is in a in a parking location where it's like no parking.

Yeah. You'd have like loading zones.

Loading zone. Right.

If you're unregistered, that is a that's a toll. You'll be told for that. You know.

So, we don't just site for unregistered vehicles. We will tow on-site for unregistered vehicles.

Correct. Yes.

Got

it. Yeah. Loading zones. You could have, you know, a blocking, you know, blocking driveways. Sure. Lot lot of like life safety things.

Life safety.

Yeah. So, we do have authority to any vehicle that's legally parked but that's pretty much our protocol.

Thank you. Thank you for that update.

Any other questions? Mr. Trick. Alder Bergales.

Thank you. And we sent out the the warning letters. There were 30,000 letters that went out.

About 28,000. 28,000

warning letters went out. 4,400 people, 4,455 people set up payment arrangements proactively. So about a fifth of that, which I think is great success. It's $247,000 worth of citations that we don't have to hunt for

or tell.

Yep. So I think that that mailer was a great step forward to making sure people know they're on the list. And apparently, 4,455 people did not wanna stay on that list.

Yeah.

Or I'm sorry. 531 people did not wanna stay on that list. Yeah. 44,000.

The one thing I want to add that we did just internally. So we had the initial mailing. And what we did is moving forward since then, the minute you get that fifth citation that is eligible at sixty days, we don't we don't tow your car. What we do is we send out a letter, the letter saying, hey, you are identified at this. We put in the system a hold for ten days. So, essentially, you had the letter. You bought about a week before we'll put you on the active tow list. So, we try once again to give everybody the benefit of doubt. So I don't want people to think that the minute that hits sixty days, we grab that car. We give one more effort to say, hey, take care of this.

Elder Taylor.

I I just had a quick question because I noticed that most of these codes by district were done

according to your mic. Micros.

Sorry. Closer to the downtown area. Do you know what time of day you guys are towing? Like, is it during the workday? Is it in the evening?

Downtown just because we have often we have the meters. We have a lot to enforce. There's a lot of high density towing. Downtown is patrolled twenty four seven. Just because of we need people to move. We have loading zones. We meter violations. So, that's why you're going to see more toes in that area for that. You know, so did that answer your question? So, it's I mean, I I can break down but it's a habitual parking lot can happen anytime. You know. So it's anytime we we we parking for us to address the car that's legally parked. If it is eligible, it will be towed. So it's kind of all over the map.

I think people might just be interested because if they're going to work and they have the risk of their car being towed or if they're going out for an evening and they have the risk of their car being towed, that they would probably think about it. So knowing the time of day,

I think would be I I will say this. I don't wanna kind of reveal all of our patrol. How we do that for safety reasons.

Sure.

You know, obviously, we do have Night Park in the city of Milwaukee, so there are more POs at out at night. However, we do staff PEOs during the day, you know, and you know, the downtown area, it it does. We have to enforce that because you know, we have a lot of things we have to correct, you know, and so, I guess I just, you know, my my advice would be, we communicate it, you know, if you if you people, individuals know they're on the list, at least take care of some of Take care

of it.

You know, so you're not over that five. Yeah. That would just be my advice. I mean, I I, you know, I feel it's the Department of Cities to do a job communicating it and you know, we're just trying to use many options we can to be be supportive of the citizens and their needs as well. But we do have to address

it. Chairman?

On that point, I might have some personal knowledge to

Yes.

We're joined at the table by Alderman Baumann. Would you like to add your insight?

Yes. I would say there is very little towing for habitual violators downtown.

It is

the West Side neighborhoods where the massive towing takes place because there is a lot of habitual violators. And I can attest to personally based on the parking patterns that are currently in place. Are not only habitual violators, but no overnight permits. People parking for days, weeks on end in the same spot without vehicles moving. So that is where the problem lies. It is really not technically downtown. Although it is 4th District, yes. Does that match your Yes.

Elder Moore.

Thank you so much.

Well, well,

I have a question. Is is that's a bad thing, a good thing, Alderman Baumann? Is it that it should be concentrated?

It's a good thing. I'm squarely in favor of

this program.

Yeah. Right. Thank you. Really quick question. So we have some constituents that, you know, think that our, excuse me, our parking enforcement staff roam the city, right, looking for vehicles. Can you clarify that? And then I have a quick follow-up.

Yeah. So I will clarify that. We do not target vehicles, and I think there's some assumptions that we we we know every at. We do not. So, we don't know where the Mitchell Park values are. We don't know where the unregistered vehicles are at. Yeah. What we do is we have our patrols and we, you know, we we do put out the sense of high density areas where there's needs but every every there's always a PEO in a district. So, don't we try to we we do spread it out but no, it's every tow, every citation is happening, you know, via just normal patrols. So, that's so that's pretty much we come across a car that's unregistered.

We'll tow it. If we come across the vehicle that's is eligible for, you know, HPV, we will tow it. You know, if it's a meter violation, we'll sign it. We're not going to those locations. You know, unless it's a complaint. So, we get over fifty, zero complaints a year for citizens saying, hey, this vehicle is blocking my driveway. We will respond. Sure. So, that'd be the one one point where yes. If your neighbors saying, hey, you know, my neighbors parked illegally. We're gonna go there. But when we are doing our normal patrols, you know, throughout the night and day, you know, we have different areas and that is just happening just kinda randomly. Yeah. And so we

also rely heavily on our constituents to support us by Yeah. Calling things in.

Yeah. And I will say this and just, you know, I know we've got a lot of conversation exception streets which is part of, you know, you know, the city which we understand. More so with the exception streets especially because we can't tell when vehicles move and I, you know, we work a lot with the office and his constituents are great. You know, they say, hey, cars are moving. We'll send somebody there because when you have alternate side parking, they're moving every night. Sure. So, what we're trying to prevent is we don't want the city to become a big parking lot where you have vehicles just not moving since forty eight hours. So, you know, because we're not gonna know unless we're, you towing them for unregistered or sent for unregistered or a different violation. But if there's nothing wrong, they can just leave the car vehicle there. So we do rely on the constituents a lot.

We encourage that. We do have you can file a complaint online. You can call 286-8350 as well, but you want to do it when the vehicle is illegally parked. So if we send the PO there, they can address it.

Got it. And then again, if you all, if our, you know, our constituents have issues with vehicles that are consistently not parking where they're supposed to, right? You all will go out site. Obviously, you're not gonna tow right away.

Correct? It depends. I mean, if the the vehicle, we could go out to somebody's parked illegally, right? They're blocking my driveway or say just they're they're parked illegally.

Just parked illegally.

Yeah. But say, we're decided but oh, now this vehicle's unregistered. We'll tow it. Or if this vehicle is a potential parking barrier, we'll tow it.

Got it.

So it kinda depends case by case.

Got it. Thank you. Thank you, mister chair.

Thank you. Alder Taylor. I'm gonna move towards

the conclusion.

Just to to finish up what I was so I wanna say, yeah, thank you to the because I that's exactly what I was looking at, not necessarily downtown. I know I said downtown because that's where District 4 does cover part of that. But when you look at your chart, it is all those West Side locations. So we got District 15, District 6, District, you know, where they have the highest number of tolls. So I don't want to be mistaken either that I do recognize the effectiveness and impact that this is having. And so I it looks like it's the data looks good.

Yeah.

Right? So but I just noticed that that's where the majority of the tolls were taking place. So that is just something to just look at, and not you necessarily, but just for us to think about why that's happening and, you know, if there's anything that can be done outside of what we're already doing.

Yeah. And if anybody wants, I can give you the addresses like, you know, if you need a specific district where the tows occurred. I can definitely provide that. That's very easy. I didn't want to give you a big document, but that's very easy to do. We can map it out that way as well if you want more detail.

Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you. I noticed on the list that East Side, the 3rd District is two on the list and then, President Perez's District 12 is also on the list and those are some of the most densely parked areas as well. So, I guess in summation, would you say so far so good? It looks like this is a successful program. People are paying their overdue tickets, whether they're towed in or proactively so that they don't get towed in.

And so the goal of this wasn't just to, collect outstanding tickets, although that's a worthy goal in itself. It was to make sure people don't let things get that far. Don't let things get to the point where they're towed because that is far more costly in terms of both money and time than just getting on a payment plan. So would you say that so far things are looking good, that things are, shaking out kind of the way, it was intended?

I definitely exceeded my expectation in regards to how the communication has gotten out there and I think I've seen people kind of take the proactive approach. So I think it has been very beneficial and I think it can continue to go that direction as well. So goal is we say a couple of years now only half the number of vehicles are being towed and then that would be because you guys have some that don't follow-up, but I think that'd be a good goal to have. So we're kind of watching that.

With that, guess Some other questions? Alder Baumann.

It looks like we have collected $1,000,000 worth of very old accounts receivable. How is that money accounted for? Is that new money? Is that already was already anticipated in the budget?

It goes as new money.

It is new money. Okay. So in other words, revenue over and above what was anticipated from the parking for the transportation funds.

Correct. Okay.

And as it was revealed Public Works yesterday, this money goes into the transportation fund. Transportation fund has been in a bad way. That's why there was no transfer from the transportation fund. It's been at a cash deficit for a while. So this can help, to balance the books even though that's not the primary intent. Any other comments from committee members? If not, Alder Moore would move that we hold this to the call of the chair so he can provide an update later in the year on how things continue to progress. So thank you very much for the informative Thank you. Items moving on then, so held to the call of the chair. No objections.

So that's what's happened. Item six, file number 230676. This is a communication from the Safety and Civic Commission relating to a report of its recent activities.

Welcome.

So the Safety and Civic Commission, was started, I wanna say

at

least seven years ago, maybe more, by Alders Witkowski and, at the time, President Hamilton. We have not received communications about what's going on, for a long while. Alder Burgall sponsored a budget amendment that, provided some funds for the Safety and Civic Commission, so I thought it would be timely to provide an update on what's been going on and what the plans are for the future. So with that, kick it over to the Safety Division, who can introduce the chair and go from there.

Good morning, Mr. Chair. Byron Marshall. I serve as the chair of the Safety and Assembly Commission. I'll cherry pick a few of our activities for last year.

We distributed 5,000 postcards, voter engagement to Milwaukee residents, informing them where their, polling location is for the upcoming elections. We also distributed backpacks, 500 backpacks for our annual back to school event. And, we also, gave away free Narcan and, free gun locks. And we had some Milwaukee city of Milwaukee, partners table that event and distributed some resources as well. Done a lot around traffic, safety.

We gave away some child safety seats. We did a distribution event for that. Yeah. So we've been pretty visible in the community.

So what are the so if you look at the, ordinance that created this and and the code, it seems like the scope of the Safety and Civic Commission is very broad. So if you try to do everything, then it's kinda hard to accomplish anything. So what have been, I guess, the core areas that you've you've focused And then in addition is the funds that Alder Berglis' amendment provided, what are the plans for using those? But first of all, what areas do you try to focus on?

Good. Thank you. So we have four subcommittees that we focus on squarely around those issues. We have a civic and voter engagement subcommittee, a traffic sanitation and litter subcommittee, educational achievement subcommittee, and a reducing the demand for drugs and mental health, a subcommittee. So, that's really the gist of what we base a lot of our outreach, a lot of our activities around.

So, given that you do a lot of outreach, what's your method of tracking the results of that outreach? So there's two buckets here. One, tracking your activities, what your engagement is. But two, and this is always the tougher part, what the impact of that outreach is? Method? Some of the Introduce ways yourself. This is Paterson.

Name is Lashonda Patterson from the Milwaukee Police Department Safety Division here too with the Safety and Civic Commission. So some of the ways that we track, for example, we had a pretty much a listening session last year in November where we had the director of city of Vision Zero to come in and talk about the pilot program that Milwaukee is proposing as far as the red light running program. So there were 51 attendees there and so they were able to provide not only ask questions and things such as that, but also provide us with feedback. We had a list of some of the participants that came who provided, like, their email address. So we were able to send information back to them to find out what were any more questions that they may have or or did they were they able to find out the information that they needed.

For example, one of the questions was that that they had heard that initially that there were only supposed to be like five red light running cameras for this pilot program through Jessica Weinberg presentation. She was able to say that they're looking at having five pilot. I mean, red light cameras and within each of the automatic districts and so that was one of the ways that we were able to find out and track information as far as people retaining information being able to get their questions answered. So that's just one example. Example.

For the red light running cameras, of course, that would require a legislative change because right now the city.

Correct. And so, it was just discussion on, with, residents be interested in having a red light program.

Was Senator Drake there?

Yes.

Right. So senator Drake authored that Yes. Proposal that had a hearing here in Milwaukee

Yes.

With a lot of attention

Yes.

And never came to a vote in No. The

It has not. But it was just information letting residents know what traffic safety initiatives that people are trying to do. So that was one of the ways. So yes, it was just informational what the city is looking or would like to do. But yes, you're correct. That would have to be legislative.

And and I see we have another commissioner on the board, commissioner Cavazos, who represents, the 11th District on the South Side. Would you mind saying anything, miss Cavazos, about, kind of the future activities and and process for deciding how the newly created funds might be used to, further your commission's outreach efforts.

Yes. Can you hear me?

Yes. We can.

Okay. So we had several discussions. We do have those subcommittees that the chair mentioned. We also have a steering committee. I know something that I've been working on is a community firearm safety and, you know, getting families in the door to have discussions to hopefully have a positive impact on gun thefts from vehicles, accidental shootings, securing a firearms for mental health issues or domestic situation, and promoting better options for securing firearms, and just operating more safely in a family atmosphere with teens, children, things like that.

So when you talk about looking if you have impact in the community, kind of I have you know, I'm just on the verge of submitting this for funding to our budget committee on the commission. But when you look at safety and and tracking if you're making an impact, you know, we know if you go to your crime analysis meetings, you know how many, you know, guns were stolen from theft. You can get that information from your CAT review, which I did. Just, you know, seeing if that number goes down and what kind of impact you're having getting the information out. So I'm just ready to submit that for funding.

I know for traffic also this past Saturday at an event in District 11. I had we have slowdown signs that I hand out. And just knowing, you know, seeing those pop up in in front of residences around the park neighborhood or the park neighborhoods where children play. I so that's something that I'd look at after I hand those out. Okay.

And then we did have one of our organizations go out with our community liaison officers in our category for lowering demand for drugs and go out to the encampments around our district, around our hospital, and in the back behind our business line on 27th Street, is in District 11. And try to offer help and resources to them instead of officers just going out alone talking to them. We actually had a regional co op and talked to them who has joined our committee for lowering demand the demand for drugs. Their organization is on Chase Avenue. And then our commission overall has discussed social media campaigns on safety, focusing around, you know, categories, you know, during domestic violence month or, you know, traffic safety or things like that and trying to grow our social media presence.

I know during my event, I'm going to be, you know, letting people sign in, and then when we have future events, start building databases for ourselves. So we'll be able to track attendance, see if our impact goes down in the crime analysis numbers. So so, yeah, we we do have those four committees, but we also have a steering committee so we can look at what's what's happening in areas around safety too because our scope is so broad that, you know, if we can have a more immediate impact on something that's happening right now, that's something that I look at from my district as well.

Okay. Very good. Thank you. Questions from committee members?

Mister chair.

Alder Chambers.

Thank you, mister chair. I'm I'm just I so I knew about this commission but I don't know nothing about this commission. I don't even know who's my commission member on this commission and I'm looking on on on Legislar and I see a lot of y'all are y'all terms are expired except for I think miss the the Permanent?

Kavasos. Kavasos?

I think this question is more for and I think she's out there. The mayor liaison officer. So, at the appropriate time when she get in to have her come in here but I guess a more direct question is, I hear a lot of the things that you're doing is kind of parallel to what MPD is doing, what DPW is doing, and what these other organizations including my office, honestly, is doing. Why there were no engagement to these have there been, I guess, have there been engagement with these other you know, like MPD or anything like that far as to working in collaboration as opposed of doing the same thing because I know the election commission does a lot of voter turnout far as, you know, passing out postcards. I know back to school festival, obviously, myself, I know all the persons at Maripa have sponsored some you know, some back to school festivals.

Also know about the Vision Zero. I had a meeting with Senator Drake. But I I guess what type of engagement have you doing with other? Because I don't know nothing about this commission. All I know is about the file that Alderman Burgellis put out within the budget. I don't know Jack Squad about y'all. To be honest with you. So, I guess my my question is, what type of engagement with us and with outside of the community have y'all been doing in addition to what you're what you're seeing right now?

And Alder Chambers, so those are excellent questions and just so folks know, it is in the code that there be a regular report and that has not been honored over the years. So, that's one of the reasons for scheduling it but can you speak to Alder Chambers' excellent questions about coordination with other folks so that we're not just all doing stuff, the same stuff in silos?

Well, I think the Safety and Civic Commission looks at it, a collaborative approach, working with the city departments and stakeholders. Everyone has their expertise. For example, when it comes to some of the traffic calming situations here in the city of Milwaukee as far as streets, the Traffic engineering has the technical part of it. You know, they're able to look at intersections such as that. I think where the safety and civic commission comes in as far as getting the residents involved, the schools involved.

For example, on South 36th And Mitchell, I think it was about two years ago, traffic engineering was looking at a traffic calming situation on 36th And Mitchell. They put in a round about. But before they did that, they consulted the safety division of the Milwaukee Police Department, the safety and civic commission, and the schools. And so we were able to work as far as with that round about as far as educating the community how just about educating the community on how to use a roundabout, how to work with the school crossing guard who was, you know, that is there. And so things such as that.

And so I think that's what the Safety and Civic Commission does. So in your right with the postcards as far as with helping the Elections Commission. But I think this departments such as the City of Milwaukee Elections Commission depend on other boards or commissions and other nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders to get the message out. A lot of times when spring elections, I mean, you I was just looking at the their website, looking at the percentage of people who voted in the City Of Milwaukee. Now, it probably could have been less.

Not saying that the safety and civic commission probably made a 100% impact or but I think it was a significant impact where the numbers could have been lower as far as getting residents to come out and to vote. 2024 and 2025, obviously, 2025 wasn't that many elections here in the city Of Milwaukee but there were quite a few in 2024. I know the chair had mentioned regarding the postcards, but we the safety and civic commission also did as far as with the city of Milwaukee elections commissions. It providing people with information how to take, you know, employment opportunities. If people didn't want to be employed by the city, volunteer opportunities, those polling signs, those vote signs out there, getting volunteers to help because there are as many publications here in the city Of Milwaukee and getting volunteers to put those out.

Then once it's over, you know, pick them back up the following day and then bring them back down to see in Milwaukee Elections Commission. Also to letting other residents notify, like who is gonna be on the ballot and then where are these people, you know, holding meetings where it can where people can come in and hear about what are they looking to do for the city of Milwaukee or even the state of of Wisconsin because in 2024, obviously, we had to vote on not just municipal candidates but also for state, local, and even federal. So so I think that's how the safety and civic Commission is looking to do it. You know, work with other departments who have the expertise. For example, the legislative body here at the common council, when it comes to sometimes you get the calls before we do as far as residents who Commissioner Cabos had mentioned about the traffic slowdown signs.

There are many residents who want to be a part of the traffic safety initiative. But obviously they can't go out and do speed enforcement, but they can help within their community by putting a traffic slowdown signs. We have some neighborhoods, some block watch organizations, the whole block has traffic slowdown signs. So I'm sure that when drivers come through those neighborhoods, you know, they decrease their speeds. So I think that's how the safety and civic commission is looking at it, working with stakeholders, and then working with city departments and legislative.

I just, you know, I I hear that and I and I and I appreciate the the context. I I still am just trying to find a parallel because right now, you know, I know we have the people with the community collaborative commission and and I know they don't meet. I I just feel like this is somewhere we can parallel because they also have funding as well. So, I'm just looking, I'm looking more futuristic but also just doing because you know, I have the highest traffic common measures in the city and we worked on something huge on Villard and I can tell you one time, we did not I can assure you, we and it's not like to put you down or anything like that. Traffic, safety, and civic commission was never brought up in a conversation when we was talking about fires doing that.

So, I just feel that, you know, I like to thank the chair for for bringing this follow-up because it kind of open my eyes a little bit because again, I just don't know. You know, I I I honestly don't know and that will impact my decision moving forward far as any future funding or anything of that nature as well because I don't know what you're doing. I I looked at my member miss Davis. I've never met this woman or gentleman, whoever this person a day in my life and I see that the term was expired in 2020. I'm probably going to try to if we're going to continue with this commission, I'm probably going to put someone new in there.

You know, far this and this goes to the question to liaison officer. Why are there so many members have not been brought back up for reappointment or even sought out to be on the commission.

And I will say as chair, I Mr. Marshall was eligible. He's the chair of the commission. We had not had a report, I don't think, ever. So I wanted to make sure we had the report before we would confirm the chair. Okay. No. Go

Amber Daniels, council liaison for Mayor Johnson, chair said the same thing. Was gonna say, Byron's appointment was up. Chair had made us aware that he'd like to see this done today before he considered the appointment. And so, that's the process we're following.

So, we're gonna go to the chair and then the members moving forward and so we're gonna do the chair first and then the remaining.

Oh, sorry. I was talking about Alderman Spiker.

No. I I know. I got that but he's the chair of the commission. So. Sure. We hearing this file right now and then we're gonna hear his reappointment which I have a problem with mister Marshall getting reappointed but what I'm saying is is after that, are we gonna see the rest of the members? Because there's nine members of the 10 that are expired.

And you know what? I'm looking at Legislature. I'll have to we would have to double check and make sure that all of those are one, mayoral appointees. I know Byron is our appointee. But there are other.

Automatic. Those are automatic appointees. Right. A lot of them are automatic appointees. Right.

Get to a point.

Yeah.

When we get to.

Yeah, we get to appoint. I think Alder Member Gellis was the one who just recently appointed.

Yeah. Each member can name their member to the Civic Commission. Alder Member Gellis?

Yes. The remaining members are automatic appointments. The the mayor's office is not considered.

But again, it goes back to what I was saying. I didn't, you know, I know you made an appointment but I didn't know.

Yeah. Nobody knows.

No. No. We, no one knew nothing.

We have.

And I just think

that's Nobody knows the. Yeah. So that's why I

wanted to

kind of bring it to the forefront. But, yeah, because it it I think it's just been forgotten about largely by members.

Elder Not No one.

Not no one.

Not no one.

You knew. Elder Moore.

Thank you so much, mister chair. So with that though, is the commission currently meeting? So how often do you all meet?

We meet at least,

yes, And, special meetings too. Quarterly. And then how many folks how many commission members are currently meeting with you all? 10. And that's oh, that's out of 15? Okay. And then just in regards to just some of the materials that we saw, I would love that, you know, the next time we do a report that we it's a little bit more refreshed. I see a lot of stuff from that you all did in 2023 and just a lot of photos that have been incorporated into the I think it was a 2024, 2025 sort of I

I don't even I don't even know

if that was a report or just a a slide deck. But I would just be more interested in some fresh things that you you know, some current things that you all are doing. And then my last question is is civic engagement, is that year round or only during the election cycles?

No. It's year round. Yeah. Because we're already looking at for for August. Yeah. So it's year round.

Okay.

Yes. Okay. So I I think I, you know, I some of my colleagues sentiments that, you know, I heard about the about this the safety and civic commission before, but I just never knew what they did. Again, my representative, unfortunately, she was amazing, miss Vi Hawkins. She unfortunately passed away.

And so I would love to just learn more about how I can be, you know, as an elder, how I I like, I'm highly into, like, civic engagement, young people, making sure that neighbors know, you know, how to use or how I can tell them to use the safety and civic commission. So if there are ways to do some one on ones with us to just, you know, bring us up to speed on how we can just just get engaged if we want this to be successful. Because, you know, again, I I I'm still new. I'm still new here. But I'm I'm learning, you know, all the things that are out there and would, you know, love to hear more, know more, and I'm

because I was just looking there and saw that my space for District 9 is empty, but I know I made a recommendation. So I just wanted to make sure that you guys got that recommendation Mhmm. Because he is anxious to get started. So if we could just go ahead and get him confirmed too, that'd be great. So we can fill at least District 9 spot. Yes.

Alright. Yeah. Mister chairman.

What I what I would say to that is, make sure our city clerk knows that appointment is is valid so that it can get settled for this committee and then we'll

finish that.

Alderman Moore.

Thank you. Just along that point, that Alderman, Taylor, just recently shared, what is the process? Is there a timeline seeing that most of the commission members, appointments have expired? Are there some that want to be reappointed? Are there like, how do we know that, oh, this this individual, isn't, you know, coming back or want to come back? Is that the mayor's office? Is that the chair? Is like, what is the process for that just so that we know and then the timeline? Yes.

So we can definitely make contact with all the older people. I do believe that there were emails that were sent out just to let older people know regarding, you know, if someone needed to be reappointed, if the position was vacant. Can now send

out when was that email sent out?

No, no. I'm just saying, you know, when like when you had mentioned Mrs. Hawkins has passed away. Yes, ma'am. So I can double check, but normally there is an email that's just sent to the older person to let the person know that their particular commissioner in their district, the position is vacant now or are they looking for reappointment? But I can double check that. But we will definitely make sure that we make contact.

I know that you know. Yeah. That would be amazing. It's particularly with the 10. If the the you know, some people may not want to be reappointed.

So it would be fantastic, you know, just based on the folks that you already have, that we know, yes, this person wants to stay or your, your, district is vacant and, and you have the authority to appoint someone, you know, please do so by Sure. And and provide us with a deadline just so that we can get things moving and that we're back to having a commission with members that, you know, have an appointed time and, you know, everything is just, you know, on the up and up. So, if if I can make that recommendation to you all, I would love to see that, see that happen.

Mister chair.

Hold just a quick moment. I will, reading off of Legislature Alderman Zelensky's appointment expired in 2022, Alderman Kovacs in 2020, Alderman Hamilton's in 2020, Alderman Johnson's in 2020, Alderman Bowles in 2019, Alderman Rainey's in 2024, Alderman Cogs in 2024. So, there are a number of old appointments and I think this is warrants some attention from the members of our from our body.

Alderman Chambers. Thank you, mister Chair. So I'm looking at past meetings in 2025, and I know you have the subcommittees. How often do the subcommittees meet?

Sometimes those can be monthly. It depends on the activity or program that they're working on. For example, Commissioner Cabos mentioned some of the things that they are looking at doing in June. So that she is part of the steering committee. So they would be meeting. Sometimes they can meet like monthly or sometimes a couple times a month depending on the activity or program that they're doing. But I would say they at least meet at least once a month for those subcommittees.

Okay. And then who tracks the attendance on this?

I'm sorry?

Who tracks the attendance?

For the subcommittees? I.

For both. For the committee and the commission. Yep,

the safety division office.

Who was that? Oh. Oh.

I'm part of the same.

Oh, okay. I'm like, who is that? Yeah. If I can get if I I guess I need a a layout of the past three years of attendance records, that will help me out pay a narrative. And I know a lot of these meetings have been virtual, so I would assume that everyone probably been there. I'm just trying to educate myself. I'm trying to speed myself up because I don't know what I don't know. So I need the the things in front of me. So thank you.

Alright. Any other discussion on this item? Mister chair, Alderman Spiker.

I would just ask that this item be held to the call of the chair and I would make that motion so we can revisit this for

an update. Alderman Spiker moves to hold item six, file two three zero six seven six with the call of the chair. Any objection on that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Moving on.

Moving back to chair Spiker.

You. Thank you very much for the report. Item seven, file number two six zero zero eight one, communication from Milwaukee Police Department, Department of Public Works, and Department of Community Wellness and Safety relating to the July 4 safety plan for the entire city. This is sponsored by Alderman Baumann. So we will open with the Alderman.

Yeah. Thank you, mister chair and members of the committee. I appreciate this being scheduled. About four weeks ago or so, I heard some information about fourth of July events in connection with the sesquicentennial. And there was reference to some national feed, some national link between this event and some other national events going on countrywide.

And I heard some concerns expressed about potential safety and security issues involving these events. And it turns out the fourth is on a regular Summerfest previously scheduled date. So apparently Summerfest is going to be operating that day normally, paid admission with all their security protocols in place and there may even be large acts playing at the amphitheater and other such places. And then apparently a fireworks display, which I have been it's been described to me. And they are here and they can describe exactly what this all is.

And I would appreciate them doing so. Am just relying on hearsay at this point. And then there will be a fireworks display sponsored by Harley Davidson, which I am informed will be of standard duration. I don't know what that means, but thirty minutes, twenty minutes. And that's all fine. My concern is what happens in the rest of the city of Milwaukee on the July 4. In my experience, the July 4 is one of the most violent nights the city all year. There's massive amounts of illegal fireworks lit off. And that's in a normal year, not a sesquicentennial year with a lot of hype and a lot of publicity and a lot of gunfire. A lot of it is gunfire, celebratory gunfire, I get that.

But gunfire nevertheless and bullets that go up have to come down somewhere. And if they are on top of somebody's roof or on top of somebody's head, obviously that can cause injury. And then we have had actual violent incidents, people against people, involving previous fireworks displays. I believe several years ago when the Lakefront Fest fireworks were on July 3, never on the fourth, always on the third with the county parks fireworks typically on the fourth. There were there have been incidents, incidents on North Avenue, incidents involving some of the congregations in the parks and people coming and going to the Lakefront, incidents at North and Humboldt.

I remember there was a major incident at a gas station at that location. There have been homicides in connection with fourth of July crowds. So I just I wanted to hear what is the plan to keep not only firework attendees safe, but the rest of the city safe when two thirds of the police department are down on the lakefront or three quarters of the police department around the lakefront because they are trying to police 200 or 300,000 people and all the motor vehicles and all the bars and restaurants to which these people will dispel presumably when the fireworks are over at 10:30 at night, 10:15 at night. What are the plans? And what are the plans about potential real terrorism type of issues?

We are technically at war with the world's largest sponsor of state terrorism. I I assume that's in somebody's screen. That would seem to be an extraordinary factor that's not typically present for previous fourth of July's. But what is the plan and is there a plan? And so I am all ears. I am mainly interested in what's going happen in the rest of I think Summerfest runs a tight ship. They have very strict security checks, bag checks, screening. Nobody gets into Somerfest with a gun. Nobody gets into Somerfest with a bomb. Nobody gets into Somerfest with a knife.

But that's not true on the hill at North Avenue or in Veterans Park or in any one of other renewable locations where people will congregate free outside of the Summerfest ground, which is, again, a paid event. So please, floor is yours.

All right. So with that, thank you for the context. Will open it up. MPD, you want to start and then we can involve partners DPW, DCWS as we need.

Sure. Heather Huff, chief of staff, Milwaukee Police Department. I'm joined with assistant chief of our patrol bureau, Steve Johnson. I do wanna start by saying, chief Norman appreciates this file and recognize its importance as a citywide concern. He wishes he could be here.

This would be one of those opportunities where he wanted to participate, but he is at the breaking down bullets panel discussion at Sherman Park right now. And so, unfortunately, it was a conflict, but he did ask that I acknowledge, that this is a file he would like to speak to because it is a citywide concern. And then I'm going to start with a question because I know intertwined with all of this is the event at Summerfest. And I'm just wanting to know if this body would prefer a brief overview from Summerfest of that event, and then we could talk about our involvement with that and then citywide, or would you like us to go citywide and then summer fest?

At the risk of invading the province of the chair, I think that's a very good suggestion.

Okay.

So let's get a baseline of what exactly is happening. I mean, Jelly Rowe, Tyler Hubbard,

and three six You know more than happy, man.

Alright. Tyler Well, if we could have a brief summation of what's going on since the the main thrust of the file is what happens in the rest of the city when folks are Hubbard down at Summerfest.

Morning, Alderman Thank you, Alderman Baumann. Sarah Payne Carey, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, the organization that produces Summerfest. Alderman Baumann is correct. The Summerfest July 4, that was a regularly scheduled day of the festival. So the festival will operate as we normally would anticipate from noon to midnight.

Given, the special day of the fourth of July and, the fact that we are a community event, fireworks were a part of our plan. And we did, work closely with MPD and, the DNR whom we we light fireworks off from Lakeshore State Park. And so that was traditional. We work with the DNR and we did both of those. We took both of those steps in advance of making this announcement.

But in terms of the way the fireworks will work, it's a if you're familiar with our Big Bang fireworks on opening day, it's a twenty minute show that takes place around 09:15, 09:30, and the music programming tends to stop depending on what's happening in the amphitheater. I believe the amphitheater artist will, who is Jelly Roll, thank you, Walden Chambers, with Three Six Mafia and Tyler Harvard. That show is likely to be complete by the time the fireworks are on. And then as soon as the fireworks are over, headliners throughout the Festival Park will continue as normal. So if you're familiar with the Big Bang, is the most likely example that we could offer.

In terms of the rest of the events at the Festival Park that day, we have been named in association with the nonpartisan commission that is representing plans across America for the sescocentennial two hundred and fiftieth birthday. We have been named what they're calling a block party. Block parties are encouraged. There's events of all scale. Again, this is this nonpartisan national commission that will be celebrating and have been celebrating.

The commission was formed in 2016. So they've been around for quite some time. They are representing five events throughout the country, one at Fort Campbell, one in Charleston, South Carolina, Los Angeles and New York City. We, as Summerfest, are the Midwest two fifty Block Party, but that is leveraging what's already happening. There's no new programming that at this point has been confirmed as part of the two fifty.

So there's no additional programming that I can point to with certainty today. Our hope as we continue to promote Milwaukee as a destination is that we're able to attract national media that would not necessarily bring people to Summerfest in 2026, but promote the festival to drive new attendance in future years. And so beyond that, I will share that Harley Davidson, in addition to supporting the fireworks, will also promote a food donation collection. So the first 5,000 patrons that come with a food donation to benefit Feeding America will receive free admission that morning or that early afternoon. We don't anticipate that 5,000 limit to go too far beyond maybe 02:30 or 3PM.

Very good.

Is there anything else I can offer?

Any questions? The question I had, what I that's kind of what I heard before that we are one of five national designated sites. And that kind of raised a thought in my mind, what does that make us a target as opposed to just an ordinary fireworks display that in hundreds of cities will no doubt be performing. But we're one of five national TV, national tie ins, Trump parading around promoting all this as part of his grand does that make us a target beyond what would normally be the case in terms of potential disorder, violence, etcetera? Anybody had any thoughts on that?

I mean, Alex, anytime we have a high profile

Could you introduce yourself, Assistant Chief?

Okay. Assistant Chief Steve Johnston, North of the Police Department. Anytime you have a high profile event, one can can, you know, that's a a a concern that may be expressed but I think with us, we're gonna be scouring our fusion division to ensure that there, you know, what are what is that threat landscape when it comes down to what it is that we may be potentially seeing and implementing those plans because right now, meeting with the Summerfest personnel, meeting we have another meeting next week, ensuring that all of our state, federal, county partners are on board and implementing mitigation mitigation strategies to ensure that, you know, whether it's a nationally televised event and and that's what this is is normally locally televised, but this event, it will be nationally televised. So what we plan on doing and and what we've since this event is taking place place on Summerfest grounds, that plan has already been in place of what we were already planning on doing. And so now meeting with our other partners and seeing what is that landscape and implementing other mitigates mitigating strategies if we see any threat out there.

Well, because this is a nationally sponsored suggested event of one of five cities, are we gonna be tied in with the Department of Homeland Security, with FBI, with all the threat assessment agencies out there that do counterintelligence type of work? Because we are one of five. That is a target.

So I can go I'm

sorry.

Good morning. My name is We Sam Yagnum. I'm part of Summerfest

Security. Sorry. Say your name again, please.

Sure. We Sam. Okay.

Yeah, absolutely. So we work with local, state and federal partners every year, not just this year specifically. We work with the federal government to include FBI and Department of Public Land Security in regards to all of our events. K.

So when it comes out

of I'm so apologies.

Elder Burgauss?

Quick interruption. So will federal and state partners be on the ground on July 4 at Summerfest helping MPD?

Federal and state, we're still in that planning as to where we may position individuals.

It's one thing to have a conversation. Hey. We're gonna have a party. Right? This is a a nationally televised party, but will we have real boots on the ground? Will we have real assistance from federal and state partners for this national

I would I would anticipate, us having that conversation far as what assets, they can help bring to the table and some of that, technology. You know, I don't wanna get into specific details, but the thing is having that conversation. I don't anticipate us having boots on the ground, but tapping into their vast resource of of information and technology that can try to help assist us. I don't know if you

have any.

I have nothing further. Thank you.

I just want to point out quickly, I can't confirm today that this will be nationally televised. So I just I want to make sure that we are not jumping to the

gun there. What's significance of it being one or five? I even get that. Mean if it's nothing special, then why is it special?

I mean, I was just in DC last week and they were I saw them in preparation. I think you saw the two fifty all over DC Roundabout in National Mall. But wide Milwaukee. Yeah. I don't know.

Mister chair?

Alder Moore.

Thank you so much. So just in regards to that, it's just as far as bodies. Right? We've talked about prior that, you know, particularly even down here on Water Street that, you know, are cold red.

I think that's what we were

if I'm remembering correctly. It's a overtime for particular officers. Again, this is a special event or a special time, right, time of year. Do we anticipate having because, again, it's not just downtown. We still gotta cover the rest of the rest of the city. So is it customary that we'll have volunteer overtime hours for multiple officers to be able to, support the large number of crowds because a lot of folks come in, from out of town for summer fest. I do tell people all the time, hey, come during the summer. Look. Come come to summer fest. Come to our festival.

We are city of festivals. So, you know, come in

the summer.

But is it again just customary because, again, special occasion, lot more people in town. That's what we want. Come to Milwaukee people. Do we during that time, are we having more bodies to be able to support these sort of initiatives?

Answer to that is yes. Okay. So each one of my district commanders submitted their plans, not only just for Summerfest, but what's happening in their district as well.

Okay.

So they all submitted plans as to how they're gonna address the issues or concerns that that we know or the potential that may pop up in their areas. It comes down to as far as the overtime aspect, July 4 is a premium holiday day for us. So, officers working a day is already time and a half for them. But having, enhanced officers

I see.

And knowing that, you know, every year I put out a memo to identify these extended holiday weekends to ensure that we have that extra staffing. And all of them have done that and and implemented, their plans for not only the July 4, but all the other, those times where we anticipate more people. So this isn't just a summer fest downtown thing. This we're anticipating the crowds at some of our county parks Yeah. And where we are partnering with our our our partners with the sheriff department, to ensure that not only those fireworks incident takes place, at some of the, county parks that may be displaying, fireworks that day.

So

Thank you. And I see, you know, my captain. Shout out Captain Bratchett in the room. I'm sure that I can connect with our, our department captains to because for me, I just wanna know how to prepare

Mhmm.

Our resident. Because again, everybody's not going. You know, some people will have some festivities at their home, in their neighborhoods, etcetera. Right? So I wanna make sure that we're just communicating out to constituents. Hey. This is how you address situations. This is who you would call. If it's an emergency, you still call 911, etcetera, etcetera. So, you know, that that's something that we can do. Just reach out to our captains. Yes. To, reach out to our captains to kind of figure out, you know, how we go about addressing that.

Correct. In the rooms, some of my district commanders are here, who, as you all know, they can be your direct liaison to your office. And any issue concerns that you may have when it comes down to those type of issues, they're readily accessible.

Thank you. Yes. My listen. I love my captain. Yes.

My captain is amazing. Anyways, we digress.

And he was never been through, but

I don't

know too. Let me

Alder Doherty, did you have any

So you have roughly 1,100 officers in the patrol division. Is that still correct? Did I hear that some months ago at one of these meetings?

In the patrol? Yeah. Somewhere around there.

Which and patrol would be the first line of defense, shall we say, to deal with these issues?

Not only patrol, but ours all of our we we activate all aspects of our agency, not only the patrol division, but our like, my commander for our special ops patrol division.

And detectives too. And

then we have our other, you know, our the commander of the CIB, SID.

See, what I'm curious about, we had the RNC here. And there was an influx of people granted with security issues. And this could involve a lot more people than the RNC brought to Milwaukee. And we had officers from all over the country to supplement MPD so MPD could continue to patrol the rest of the city and have all the other officers supposedly downtown, although they seem to migrate a little west over to King Park and there was an incident, but that's neither here nor there. They basically focused on downtown because that was the where the influx was going to be.

Have we looked at it since this is a national event, have we looked at anything of that sort to request assistance from other police departments, local jurisdictions, suburban jurisdictions, the State Patrol, the National Guard to assist in crowd control, traffic control, so that MPD can focus on those things where their sworn powers are most effective.

So when it comes down to those partnerships, we will be collaborating with our county state counterparts, so chair, state patrol. So when we are putting pieces together, we are identifying where there may be a gap somewhere else and where can that agency assist us and and plug in that gap if we're gonna utilize these these partnerships. So, I think the the key is, the July 4 and this this is forty five years I've been living in the city and twenty nine years, on this agency, we've, put plans together without, you know, as you mentioned, like the National Guards and to that level far as whether or not we will scale it up to the RNC, DNC. We've we've we've yet to have done that far as for the July 4, but the thing is this is something that we plan and prepare for every year. This isn't, you know, it just happened to be our two hundred and fiftieth, but we implement plans as to this fourth of July event every year.

Just wanna make that clear. And and and and when it comes down to where we may have gaps, that's why we implement things to ensure that we have enhanced staffing to ensure that all areas of the city is protected.

Are there additional questions? Alder Taylor?

Oh, yes. I was just listening to you about the partnerships and so I just wanted to know the partnership with OCWS since they're at the table.

Good morning. Julian Pfeifer, program manager with Department of Community Wellness and Safety. DCWS July 4 safety plan will include identifying and prioritizing locations that we anticipate will see the biggest crowds. Obviously, that will include the parks with fireworks this year. Summerfest is gonna have some the the Summerfest fireworks finale, but there are a number of Milwaukee County parks that will have the fireworks.

Washington Park, Lincoln Park, Humboldt Park. There'll be fireworks there. The orange shirts will be out. They will be circulating between parks, tracking crowd activity, communicating situational awareness between partners. Those partners will include MPD, sheriff's office, and our other street outreach teams. Teams will also monitor social media chatter to with the goal of keeping ahead of planned disruptions and conflict.

Yep. And, Yasmin Martin with Department of Community Wellness and Safety, currently serving as the interim operations manager. We also I know alderwoman Moore spoke about public education to, all of the constituents and residents of the city of Milwaukee. We do plan to run social media campaigning around how to stay safe, around the holiday season, particularly the fourth of July. We'll also do, community canvassing to ensure that we're also handing out that Pub Ed to those residents who are not particularly online or, they're missing that information online. So we'll do a lot of

work

around informing them of who to call when something goes wrong, and how to stay safe and how how to be a responsible neighbor as well.

Mister chair. Alder Moore.

Can I just ask, Yasmin, that you all just communicate with the respective alders just to say, hey, we'll be in your district on this day doing this? That would be extremely I believe that would be extremely helpful for us.

And

again, just know what work is being done and again how we can highlight and share that information to our constituents as well.

Yes, absolutely.

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, specific question, is the Holm Bridge going be shut down?

We won't get into specific details but that's something that we may look into.

Alder Taylor, you still have the floor.

Okay. I was just going to piggyback off of Alderwoman more that could you share out those publications as well? Then we can help distribute some of those too or somehow disseminate that information.

Yes. We would love the additional support in the area.

Thank you. Okay.

Alder Baumann, any concluding What are

doing about traffic? I mean, we going to shut the freeway system down at 16th Street and National Avenue and North Avenue? I envision gridlock because there really is no transit system left of any consequence. And remember these July 3s where there was a period of traffic gridlock pretty much. And now you have an enhanced event on July 4 with all the other park activity going on. I mean, who is in charge of the traffic plan? And I am surprised it is not an absolute of course, Holm Bridge is going be shut down. I am frankly surprised I did not hear that answer, but why that would even still be considered an option is beyond me. Uh-huh. Yeah.

It's when it comes down to specifics, we we don't get into operational details, not in this setting, because then if we start letting people know this is what we're going to be doing, then people start countering that and start moving the other pieces. So Okay. In this setting, I won't get into operational details. The thing is, when it comes down to the traffic influx into neither downtown, not only our our units that's capable of of handling those issues will be at the ready and implementing those plans, but getting into specifics, that's this is not the the place here.

Okay. Any other questions, comments?

Place it on file.

If not, then Alder Chambers would move that this item be placed on file. And hearing no objections, soared. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you.

You. Thank you.

Thank eight, file number 240887, communication from FPC and MPD relating to efforts and progress with recruiting new police officers and aids. On the sponsor, this has been an item of interest, particularly during budget time. As we know, Act 12 has a maintenance of effort, requirements and we can't maintain our numbers and grow them to the state required, without successful recruiting efforts. So I know this has been an item of interest to multiple members in the past, so I thought we would revisit, the status of recruiting today, see how our classes have been doing and see what the plans are, moving ahead. So with that, I'll kick it off to FPC and MPD.

Good morning, Mr. Chair, committee members, Lee Todd, FPC executive director joined to my right by MPD chief of staff Heather Huff. So I placed a number of documents in the file for this matter one of which is our updated recruitment and hiring plan for the excuse me police officer position. As reflected we've been doing a number of initiatives efforts to expand not only our recruitment to the number of applicants that we get but also improve our and streamline our testing process to ensure that those applicants that we're getting as many as reasonably possible into the training academy and hired as new officers. Because of efforts like our outreach and advertising and social media outreach as well as continuous recruitment and our new partnership or newest partnership with Safeguard recruiting, we've been continually increasing the number of applications we've been receiving.

In 2024, we had around 1,200 applications or applicants that met the minimum qualifications that increased to approximately 1,800 last year.

And do you have documents in the file with regard to this?

Yes. It's in the recruitment and hiring plan.

Okay. We are in there just so I can check those numbers. It was a long

plan. Around

page twenty and twenty one. Okay.

If I'm correct. The third attachment from the bottom.

Okay. Yeah. And just with these numbers, it's helpful to could you read them back one more time? I know there's been a a a great increase in the number of, applicants.

Yes. So for Okay. Moment to get you the exact numbers. In 2024, we had a total of twelve ninety one police officer applicants who met the minimum qualifications. In 2025 that figure increased to eighteen oh four applicants that met the minimum qualifications.

So an increase of approximately 500 applicants year over year. This year the pace of applications has continued to increase as of Tuesday this week we were at nine sixty four applicants. If you project that out we would expect to be over 2,000 applicants this year. So we are certainly seeing success in the number of applicants that does take some time to filter through and show up in terms of new hiring. Classes

you know

up to now have continued to be short. We want three classes of 65 each with 65 new officers every year. Classes have been you know they typically have ranged from around 30 to 45 applicants given the class over the last two years or so. So, a process the

current one.

The class that started in March of this year had 40 to start with.

Okay. So we've seen an uptick in applications, a significant uptick, but so far it hasn't translated to larger classes and larger numbers of officers who graduate.

I'd say that's fair. So we've seen some upticks slight upticks in individual classes but then it has fluctuated somewhere from in class to class between you know thirty and forty five. So we are already doing a number of things to make sure that we're getting as many people as possible through the testing process into the academy and these are outlaid or outlined in the report. We have previously updated our background standards as well as the background process by getting a private vendor to do the background investigations which significantly decreased the time frame that that requires. We've rolled out online testing and also hired a new testing vendor to streamline the process as well as a number of other initiatives.

I think there is still room for improvement in that area and a number of new things that we're going to be rolling out very soon. I'm excited about so starting in June we're going to move from our initial written test the standard test that we have to a new express test that just something brand new that's offered by our vendor. I know that Colorado I believe or Denver has recently started using this and they experienced some increases in their classes. They were seeing classes in the 30s and that increased to classes in the 50s after they implemented this new express

written test. So what's the difference between the express test and the original one? Is it just shorter?

It is shorter but it covers the same subject matter. It also can be done virtually anytime any place they don't have to schedule a time to have it proctored online or in person it takes the the total exam time down from three hours to about an hour and a half give or take depending on how fast a person completes it. Again Denver had implemented that with at least some correlated success. So I think that that could be a big help because if you look at and there is a document in the file about the express test you know another document that's in the file is a PowerPoint that talks about the progression of the 2024 candidates through the application process and into the classes and you can see that the biggest drop off points we're seeing are first no shows for written tests so this is hopefully going to address one of those key drop off points by making it easier for candidates to just go online they can even do it on their phone if they want to and just take the initial written test and get started in the process. Another big area where we see drop offs are with the PRT and also with the psychological evaluation.

The PRT? I'm sorry the physical readiness test. This is a test that's mandated by the state law enforcement standards board so traditionally we have not had any control over the components of that test or what the standards are and you can see in the document especially for female candidates there is a huge drop off the pass rate for for women applicants is usually somewhere between only 1530% as opposed to men who are seeing pass rates in around 85%. So that is just a really striking difference in terms of the pass rates for men and women. Mr. Chair yes

Mr. Chair yeah just just really quick Lee in reference to that so if an applicant fails a portion, right, whether it's the physical, whether it's, the test, are they provided another opportunity the next cycle? How does that how does that work?

Yes, they're automatically reinvited under our current model to the next testing exam.

Got it.

We are looking at some potential changes to that which are still under consideration. But even if we do change it worst case scenario they would just need to reapply and go to the next testing cycle. We're just looking at making some tweaks to increase the demand and the efficiency of the testing but it's largely gonna remain a continuous recruitment model and people are gonna have opportunities to to move forward or to reapply or retest.

So would it be a a special designation for those individuals that, yes, you had already applied, you you know, you were invited in to, you know, take the test or the, you know, for me, particularly in the physical exam that you failed. Yeah. So for example, let's say you pass the test but fail the physical exam. Yes. Would the next cycle, when you reapply, do you have to take the test again or do you just take the physical exam?

You would start at the physical test where you left off the last time.

Got it.

With subject to some exceptions. Sure. The the test results are good usually for a

year and

things of that nature. So at some point if you wait too long you may need to start over but if you you know re up in the next testing cycle.

Yep.

You're probably gonna pick right where you left off.

And will the background check have to be done again?

Background checks, if you fail background examination No.

No. Not to fail it, but to, do, if you pass it, the background portion of it during the next cycle, do you have to do the background check again?

That is normally one of the last testing components that they do is the background

Okay. Examination. Okay. So if I hadn't gotten there.

If they've already passed it, they may need to do an updated one. Usually when you're getting to that phase you're 40. Yes. Subject to some exceptions yes you're automatically reinvited to take the next participate in the next testing cycle and you pick up where you left off. Again we are looking at some potential tweaks so I don't want to say that everything is going to continue as is but it will be our goal to make keep the process candidate friendly applicant friendly but also increase the efficiency of it.

And lastly I would love to hear more I mean the data points for women passing the physical exam. I would love to hear more about what proactive measures we're taking to be able to support those individuals like before you even think about it here. You know, come to our boot camp or whatever. Right? Yep. To be able to support, particularly women making sure that they're able to know what is expected and be able to train and be able to pass that physical exam.

Absolutely. An NPD, I think it's at least twice a week they're running fit camps that anyone in the application process can come and work out with them. We do I mean, just need

to come just to work out.

We would love it. We would love it.

Another thing that we're looking at is we have sent a letter requesting the state law enforcement standard board to consider granting us a waiver from the traditional PRT exam and we have a modified alternative test that we'd like to try out that we think would be effective in getting more applicants into the passing the physical readiness test getting into the academy but still making sure that they're fit enough that they're going to be successful going forward and I think the academy perhaps can offer some additional training and focus on that but I think that there's no guarantee that the law enforcement standards board is going to grant that. I think it remains to be seen. I don't want to offer a prediction on that but I am optimistic about that that that possibility.

And just to clarify, it is the standards for acceptance into the academy, not the end results. So, it is, not asking LESB to change what is required of any officer in the state. It is asking, will you allow us these exceptions for allowing people to come to the academy because we believe we have the staff that can get people up to that LESB standard at the end.

Yeah. And I had read the letter and that that is an important point. So coming out, would still need to meet the same standards, but instead of a fit camp in advance, the academy would be the fit camp

as Yeah.

Correct. Improve the ability to pass the test.

Yeah. That's good.

Alder Taylor?

Thank you very much. So I think you may have answered it, but you said that so for female candidates, there is, well, no, I was gonna ask you, is there a difference in the numbers? So I think, I mean, I took the test, but it was not that hard. But but are there differences in the numbers? Like, so for males, they have to do so much. And then for females, the numbers are lessened. Is there a difference?

There's no difference.

Nope. They're just gonna take the same

Yep.

Exact same test, and they have to just meet the standard. Because if you're saying that the number of females is a lot less in passing, then that may be, I don't know. I mean, we might be able to pass it,

but Yep.

If we just lessen it. And you said that when they come back, are they retaking all or just a part of the test? You may have answered that, but I

may have missed it.

So if you're looking at the specifically the physical readiness test, you have to take all the components again if you're if you failed because One of or more.

What's that? If you said if you failed one or more or the whole thing?

Well, you fail one, you you failed the test, so you'd have to come back and take all the components again for the for the physical readiness test.

Okay.

Because they they they have different modules or components within the physical readiness test itself and that's mandated by state regulation for the different up for other testing components within the testing process like the written test, the oral test you know let's say you passed the written test and the oral test and then you move on to the physical readiness test and you fail that you don't have to retake the oral and written test again with FPC but you'd start yes.

Okay alright And then you said for the psychological evaluation. I don't know if you can disclose that, but what are you who is the maker of that? Gosh. I'm beginning to think. Who is the maker of that? And have you considered using a different one? Is just just Yes. If that's one of the factors that is preventing people from going forward.

Yes and so that is another significant drop off point. We have a current vendor who I would characterize as more of a they have more of a screen in philosophy so they're rather than a screen out philosophy so they're a little bit more stringent and and I would say I'm trying to think of the right term. I think some of the stuff that they occasionally focus on is a little nitpicky but it's not to the point where I'm concerned that it is creating disparate impact or something like that but to answer your question directly yes we did do a new RFP for both our psychological evaluation and our psychological appeals starting either in June or July we will have a new psychological vendor which is actually the same vendor that does our written and oral tests and our background tests which is National Testing Network or NTN and one of the things that was particularly attractive to us or at least a significant factor was in their request for or their proposal they noted that they had done the first and only large scale adverse impact analysis for psychological testing for public safety and their evaluation did confirm that they are their tests do not have an adverse impact in terms of race or ethnicity.

So that's obviously a positive thing and I believe that they will have a more screen out philosophy so that we're not screening out people who could potentially make good candidates. So I think that that will be another hopeful improvement going forward within our testing process.

Thank you.

Thank you. One question. So again, maintenance of effort has a fairly severe penalty if it's not met in terms of the percent share of our total shared revenue that is lost, so $30,000,000 and up. So what right now, given our class sizes and who we're getting through the academy compared to attrition, people leaving service, either retiring or or moving on to something else, where are we at? Are we treading water at this point?

Are we losing, folks? And even if are treading water that's not on a path to meet our maintenance of effort for when we need to in the future?

So we have met our year to year maintenance of effort requirements for 'twenty three, '4 and '25. For 2025 it was close I would characterize I would use your term treading water it was slightly above where we were in 2024. There's no concern that we did not make that. I have no concern that we are not going to make that requirement this year as well in 2026. My projections show that we will be above water.

That said, we want to get on a path where we're increasing not just maintaining or slightly increasing but significantly increasing the number of hires we have versus resignation so that we can grow the size of MPD.

Right. And we don't just want that we need to do that as part of the maintenance of effort or we lose 30,000,000 plus.

Yes that's why we want to I'm very encouraged about the increased number of applicants and that's why we're also very focused on turning those more of those applicants into new hires. I think with the express test with the possibility of changing the PRT entrance examination requirements, our new testing vendor. We're also doing some increased candidate engagement to encourage them throughout the process and get them to commit to MPD. I think with all those things that will hopefully raise our hiring rate to a level where with that and the increased number of applicants where we can start seeing significant increases year over year in the number of sworn officers.

And just to typo on it, we've for a couple of years now, we've been talking about changes more than a couple of years. Changes we've tried. And so far, it hasn't been getting us to where we need to be. So I appreciate the optimism, but I did wanna kind of sound an alarm again that, we aren't even though we're seeing an increase in applicants, we're not seeing an increase in who we're getting through the academy. And, ultimately, the number of sworn officers is is the metric that matters here.

So we are in a danger zone even if from year to year we're holding steady and meeting the requirement of the MOE. The MOE requires growth, and we're not obtaining that right now. So, I understand we're trying a bunch of different things. We have optimism that it'll grow, but so far that optimism has not been worn out. Is that fair? I mean just the numbers haven't gone up.

The numbers haven't gone up, but I would say that if you look at the national trends, for larger departments, we are doing as well or better than many of our peers and I think that we are

But underpay that can't be the metric given the state requirement. They don't have MOEs that result in losing. So I'm not saying it to browbeat the departments here. It's just that unless we grow, we will suffer a consequence that these other departments that we're keeping up with.

Is correct. And that's why we're doing everything we can to meet the MOE standards and we're doing everything we can to put the city and the department in a position where we can increase year over year. It's our number one priority and, we will find a way to get it done.

Okay. MPD is at the table too and I know there was a position that you recently were looking to hire for, if you want to say a little bit about it and how it would factor into the recruiting effort because recruiting is an MPD job as well.

Sure. So just so this body is aware, recruiting is a large priority of the department. We have dedicated personnel, sworn personnel, for recruitment efforts. We have two officers housed at the academy that go to events that talk with those who are onboarding in the process to talk about, you know, what it means to be an MPD officer, answer questions. They do recruitment fairs and things like that.

And, we supplement them with other individuals from the districts as needed. We have a newly hired community engagement manager. And when she was brought on board, was told that a big part of her job was that recruitment engagement effort, to obtain more individuals who become sworn members of our department. She is out, on maternity leave right now. She had a beautiful baby boy two weeks ago, but she is committed to that role. Recruitment. Yeah. Right. Right. He's joining.

He's joining. So, so she is a welcome addition. She has great energy. We meet regularly and talk about innovative ways, to engage individuals, who are in the applicant pool and who are at the academy. Alderman Moore is part of a committee that meets regularly to just generate new and innovative ways to keep people engaged in the process. One thing we're working on, Alderman Moore had a cleanup at a property recently in your district where an elderly resident Stampers. You know, change

I'm sorry. I apologize. You're good. Other stampers.

No. No. Not changes.

Oh. Snapper. Snapper's District.

Clean up and we would like to engage those individuals in the recruitment process into those community activities working alongside the council and figuring out what are great projects and how do we get our recruits how do we get our recruits in the process engaged

in

the community because then they're committed to Milwaukee and they'll want to stay in the process and be a part of that. So we're trying to generate innovative ideas, just for those, but also how do we retain our officers. And that's our biggest piece. Recruitment really is a joint effort here, but how do we keep our officers satisfied enough in their roles? So we focus on things like officer well-being.

We really want and and have and continue to grow a robust, officer wellness program within the department to provide officers with the resources they need to stay healthy in the roles that they're in. We look for, additional ways that as a department, we, you know, can just keep people engaged in these roles. One of the things we've discussed in this committee is doing a survey of our officers to really find out and get at the heart of why do you leave, what are issues, what are problems, to see if there's anything that we can address. We try to provide different training and professional growth opportunities for officers, highlighting the different specialty units and different things that Milwaukee offers that other places don't. So all of these things are important, and then that's a lot of words.

But also I wanna highlight one of the other pieces that we do is assist in the marketing communication efforts for recruiting. And FBC has a team of individuals focused on, marketing and communications. There's a consultant, but we know there's more, to grow there. And I so we had a vacant media producer position. Wanna share with you who are the amount of people in our marketing communications team is three.

We have a PIO who is currently lieutenant Cornejo, but he, was recently promoted. So he will be replaced next week, in fact, with somebody who'll transition to that role. We have a marketing communications, manager, and she is responsible for creating websites, like a street takeover website or other types of websites we have available to the public and also maintaining and managing our social media sites, include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter. And we have one media producer who does signage, graphics. She works with the FPC on things like bus posters and billboards and and different types of projects and assignments like that.

And with a team of three, I just to give you a flavor, that's really small for a city our size when we're looking at really messaging out for recruitment efforts, for public information, public safety. Milwaukee is about 556,000 people. Louisville is, well, 645,000, so a little bit bigger. They have six people in their marketing department. Colorado Springs has about 495,000 people.

They have five people in their marketing communications team. And so what I wanted to see is growth. How do we reach younger populations? It isn't about Facebook anymore. It's about TikTok and reels. Keep it at reels. I sent the council and others, some of the reels we began creating just to really engage younger individuals to learn more about the department, to get enthused about the department, and maybe prompt them to want to come join us. And so with that, we had a vacancy for another media producer. Very important position. We have a lot of things, not just this stuff, but, you know, when we have officer involved incidents, somebody has to manually redact those videos.

And if there are 20 license plates in a a video, every single frame has to be individually redacted to get out that license plate information before we push it out. And these are in tight timelines because sometimes we have to produce within forty eight hours, sometimes fifteen days. So lots of different media production stuff and supplementing what the FPD or FPC does in videos and pushing it out to all these different places and spaces. So all of that to say there is a retired officer who worked in forensics taking photos of crime scenes and investigations that came to us as a PSSI doing PSSI functions, but who also has this beautiful creative mind and does amazing work. When I sent out the keep it real stuff to you, I'd showcase some of that work.

He recently did one about street takeover arrest that we made that was really kind of fun. And it over a 120,000 people, like, reacted and interacted with this video. It was short. It's the way to grab attention. He's savvy in technology and, you know, these newer platforms.

And so at finance and personnel, think Sean Koumese, who's sitting behind me, was recommended for promotion into this position. I really believe that Sean Ku has that talent that he's shown us already, to take what we're capable of doing to the next level. He's already producing stuff that we're distributing in spaces like the 3rd Street Market and their videos, and we're trying to find other venues where we can get the interest of young adults in our community to to sign on board. So I'm hopeful that that file is revisited, at committee, and I truly believe that will assist us in spreading the messaging and the marketing of our recruitment in hopes of generating more interest in applicants. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Other questions from committee members? Alder Taylor?

Yes. Thank you. So while you were talking, you mentioned a couple of times of, attracting younger people. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that you got so many applicants, and we're still having a hard time finding qualified individuals. So I guess I'm wondering, like, the average age of an applicant, and is that the question? And is, you know, I mean, was very young when I applied, so I was physically fit, you know? But are the applicants getting older? Is that something that is

We're attracting both. And I think we are actively recruiting for not just young adults, right, but individuals who are further along and may be looking for a long term career in their 30s. We do have a number of recent graduates who fit the bill for that. So our messaging is targeted you know, on different social media platforms, but we're still on the other traditional places and spaces as well. Oftentimes too, we're seeing a lot of people dropping out even after they've passed all of the requirements.

So that is a challenge for us as well, be it, this isn't really for me. Or, so we're trying to figure out strategies to assist because that's a really important pool, not just the applicant pool, which is also important, but those who meet all of the criteria and how can we ensure they don't drop out of the process. So we get a lot of feedback from them. We ask them, like, you know, what happened? You know, can you tell us more?

We compare it. When people apply, they're asked why do you wanna become a Milwaukee police officer, and they give us reasons. We kinda compare why they dropped off with those reasons and really study and try to figure out ways to ensure that doesn't happen.

Okay. Thank

you. Thank you. Other questions from committee members? If not, Alder, Moore would move that this be held to the call of the chair so we can revisit it probably at budget time. And hearing no objections sorted, thank you for the reports. Moving on to item nine on the agenda, file number two five one six six three, substitute motion modifying Milwaukee Police Department standard operating procedure, four sixty use of force. This is sponsored by Alder Bergelis.

Thank you, mister chair. This file came through a reading of SOP changes. I believe you might have been absent that day, but we did have Alderman Jackson sitting in, filling in on the committee as well. And it oh, you were here. You were here.

Someone wasn't here. Alderman Jackson was filling in, and we as the SOPs were being read in, we kinda looked at each other and said, that's unusual that we're going to no longer need to document why we pull a gun on a citizen. And, conversations, meetings, emails were exchanged afterwards. We proposed, reversing that decision, that was originally from the Sterling Brown settlement and continuing that use of force requirement to document why, a weapon is pulled on a citizen to effectuate or an arrest. The the Fire and Police Commission has also weighed in on this.

There was a, an opportunity for public comment, and then their following meeting, most recently, they also, unanimously reckon recommended adoption of this file. I see this more as a common sense, protect the public, and ensure that, everyone is accountable for their actions resolution. So, this process certainly is new. Post act 12, the council has the ability to modify SOPs, outside of the Fire and Police Commission's previous role, with a two thirds vote on the floor. This is I won't say it's unchartered water, but this was the first introduction of a modification to an SOP.

We've, passed a couple ice related things since then on a more expedited schedule. But we also do not have a road map or an ordinance that would dictate how we would effectuate our new responsibility to modify SOPs. I think we've set a very intentional standard to ensure that we hear from the Fire and Police Commission, so that we hear from the Fire and Police Commission while we deliberate these potential changes. I will note that this file, was drafted, back in March seventy five days ago, and it has been circulated. It has gotten, some, attention, in the community, in the Fire and Police Commission, in the administration, on the council, and I am ready to recommend passage.

Okay. So, just so folks know, so Approval of a motion. Yeah. So, Alder Berglis brought this motion forward as the chair said, hey, it would be a good idea if we sent this to FPC to get their opinion on the matter. Of course, they can just recommend things. They can't actually change things. So, Director Todd, can you say what transpired, when the item was sent to FPC? And I don't see FPC's recommendation in the file. I don't know

We will get that added.

Okay. So, director Todd, do you want to just say what the process was here and then we can get into the content?

Yes. So the FPC once it received the referral for the file heard a communication file before the regular board at its meeting on April 16. I believe that will be the practice going forward that the FPC will first start by hearing a communication file and deliberating on it and then that will give the commissioners a chance to consider reflect without the pressure of having to make it to pull the trigger in a one meeting fashion and then it can be brought back as a resolution at a subsequent meeting in this case that happened at the FPC's regular meeting on May 7 as Alderman Bergalis noted it was a unanimous recommendation that the council passed this motion. I think that the reasoning was largely the same as the sponsors reasoning for introduction that this increases transparency, accountability, it allows the commission and the public to track the number of use of force incidents and with that incidents involving the unholstering or displaying of a firearm to effect an arrest which is a significant event with that someone's having with a law enforcement personnel. So this will allow for that.

And we will have the department say something in a moment. I did want to give an opportunity if any FPC commissioners would like to speak on the issue as well if that's desired.

Am I speaking for the body?

Commissioner Feng, if you might introduce yourself.

Hi. I'm Commissioner Feng. Thank you for hearing from me. I'll just speak briefly because I think Alderman Bergelis and director Todd covered most of the substantive discussion that I believe that the board had when we discussed this item. I will just add, I know that there was some conversation around the sort of administrative burden of tracking the draw and display.

And I do believe that in this case the costs outweigh the benefits in my personal calculation. It is a relatively smaller proportion, of uses of force that this would apply to. However, I do think it's important for accountability and transparency, that we continue to or that we go back to, tracking this metric, for the sake of the public. And I do think that the board unanimously supported this and I'm in support of this as well.

Okay. Thank you for your testimony. Any questions, first of all, for the commissioner before we move on?

I have a question for MPD.

Okay. We'll wait till we get to that. We'll let the commissioner go then. Thank you very much for your testimony. Thank you. So MPD, obviously, if this is being brought forward, the chief, unlike some of the ICE related matters, hasn't decided to adapt it, himself. So could you speak to Sure. MPD's concerns? And then, if anybody else in the audience, I see, MPA is here, if they'd like to provide testimony. If that wasn't provided at at FPC, that would be acceptable as well. Sure. So MPD?

Yes. Thank you. So first of all, I think we're all navigating these new waters post Act 12, including the department. This was a so this reporting requirement for the display of firearms in these circumstances was actually sunsetted and taken out of our policy in 02/2024. So it went away a while ago, and, it was presented to the FPC with no issue.

Our reason for sunsetting it was it was part of the Sterling Brown agreement. But more importantly, and that sunsetted, nationwide, there is no reporting requirement for other jurisdictions to have this. We recognize, you know, we talk about retention and the balance between everybody's interest that our officers have a huge lift with reporting. Collins requirements are very stringent. Not that we would ever take away the the requirement to report on all field interviews, but the manner in which they are required to report it for Collins is very tedious.

They have to submit their reports before the end of their tour of duty. So oftentimes at the end of their day, if they make a SAP, they have to stay extra to do that report and meet all of those very strict requirements of the Collins reporting. This is one example. There's reports for all kinds of things. And this was one where nationwide, no other jurisdiction does it.

We had it for this other agreement. It's unsaid it. If somebody felt a certain way or fear or felt our officer was in the wrong for doing that, we have body worn cam, which would reflect that if somebody made a complaint. So there were ways in which to get the information, and that's why we got rid of it back in 2024. When it was revisited recently, I think there was an administrative error in our policy or some administrative change to clean up the language that was the seventy five day prior to that timeline, which there was a communication file for this SOP at that time in which case this, body felt, hey.

You know what? This is important. And let's, see if we could modify it back. The department's position at that time was the same. Like, historically, we took it out here, the reasons why.

And then we've kind of created this process with pulling in the FPC and getting that input. And the chief listens to everybody's voice. And so I I want everyone to know and recognize it's not like he's dismissing anybody's position on any of these things, but they're often different. And the FTC said loud and clear unanimously, we agree with this change. And so in trying to figure out a process for how do we navigate this, how do we also include the meet and conferral requirements for stuff, we, Lee and I, said, okay.

Well, you formally send us your recommendation in writing and then give us time to, like, craft our response back maybe fifteen days, and then it'll go and fill the council file just as a way to, like, figure out a process. And so the FPC meeting happened, and they voted unanimously that this is what they wanted. And we were trying to figure out, okay. Let's put in writing how we feel about this. And, honestly, the chief's position is this.

This is a matter that isn't, you know, he doesn't want to fight anyone. He recognizes that there is the balance between what we're requiring our members to do and and what this body and the FTC and anybody in the public wants. So for this one, we were going to request, give us some time to meet and confer with the unions, see how that conversation goes, and report back to the body. It's murky waters. And so I know, that it is here for a vote today.

And so we're here to say we would re like to request an additional thirty days to meet that meet and conferral requirement, with the union to say, okay. Here are the changes that are proposed and and provide that feedback to this body. However, know, defer to this body to decide as you wish.

Mr. Chair. Okay. Let's have brief questions for MPD because we want to hear from other members of the public and then we'll have the big discussion. But Alder Chambers.

What I'm what I'm hearing honestly is if Sun said it because it was a part of Sterling Brown agreement. However, Collins kind of the the current Collins agreement is kind of I won't say supersedes but it kinds of it, you know, puts it in place where we gotta also do the report in any ways about whether a weapon was drawn

or. Okay. No.

Collins has different types of reports.

Yeah.

So, we're in our in the department's mindset. We've got all of these reporting requirements. We're gonna reduce that universe here.

But if our officers already wearing body worn cameras and they're to be on at every stop anyways and the weapon is drawn, you have to already put it in your report anyways. No. You don't?

No. You would not have to put that particular there's no requirement that they add that, you know, I drew my weapon to effectuate this arrest. We would have the arrest on body worn cam. And if an individual made a complaint and said, they pulled their weapon on me and they shouldn't have, We would be able to prove or disprove that by virtue of the investigation into that complaint.

So when I think about this, so when I think about this and I'll let you go, director Todd, just a second. When I think about this, I have to think about the the man the manpower hours that will be used on this, that which would further accentuate the cost on this by making this change and I know you also have to do the meet and confer but I don't know. I guess I'll just hear a little bit more before I make my decision. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Let's are there I know MPA is here. Is there anyone else that wishes MPA you can come to the table and give your testimony and see if there are any questions and we'll have the full discussion then having heard both sides.

Thank you for, letting me speak on this. I wasn't able to make the, firing police commission, meeting for that day. The MPA, we strongly Could you introduce yourself? Oh, I'm

sorry.

Alexander Ayala. I'm the president of the Milwaukee Police Association. We strongly disagree with with this change in SOPs. We didn't have it before. I understand this came about the an agreement that we have, and it sunset already.

One of the reasons that I can explain to you guys would be in the city of Milwaukee, as as when I was a police officer and even as a detective, a police officer can display their firearm multiple times a day, for any any call. If you get sent to a domestic violence call, somebody with a weapon, somebody with a gun, somebody with a knife, a active bank robbery, doing a high risk traffic stop of a homicide suspect. So your gun is being drawn multiple times a day, and no shots are being fired. So I understand when the firearm gets, you know, when you fire up, you know, your your firearm, there has to be reporting and things like that. This plane of firearm for a market police officer, it's a tool that is used on a daily basis.

And having a fuse of force, attached to their record, you as a active police officer that's doing a lot of, you know, active work might have a hundred, two hundred, 300 uses of forces that never led anywhere, but withdrawing your firearm to have somebody comply that's gonna get arrested. They're not pointing their guns at citizens just willy nilly. This is some people that are getting arrested. This is to have somebody comply to be arrested. I mean, could include it in their reports is not required, but the fact that three hundred, four hundred uses of forces can be in somebody's record, I think that's detrimental for the member, but even comes for promotions because we've seen it at the Fire and Police Commission where if somebody has too many uses of forces on the record, they don't get promoted.

They cannot get promoted. It can interfere with, you know, maybe going to different units or different divisions. So This SOP change for us is detrimental for our officers. We don't see the need of having it reported. You know, if you take out your pepper spray, there's no reporting there. If you take out your baton, there's no reporting there. It's unless you use them. So the same thing goes with your firearm. If you use your firearm as it's intended to stop a threat, I we understand that there's a critical incident. There's a lot of moving parts that happen when that happens.

The department can attest to that, and we're involved in those incidents when an officer, fires their firearm. But the simple fact of having your firearm be displayed to having somebody comply, I think that's cumbersome on the department. They already have to use or file uses of force. Lots of uses of forces throughout their day for officers that actually are using force, but the bogged down the supervisors now with an extra report every time an officer withdraws their firearm. I think that's detrimental not only to my members, but it also takes the time away from supervisors to keep supervising to now address an issue where you know you have multiple officers at a scene that display their firearms and now they all have to get uses of forces and again the impact on my members I think is very significant.

They have multiple uses of forces when nothing really happened on the record.

Okay. So with that, we'll open it for committee members for questions for Mr. Ayala, and then, then we'll thank him for his testimony. Alder Burgos.

Thank you. So is there a distinction in use of force pulling your gun out of your holster or pointing it at a citizen?

What do mean?

Is there a difference? Does a police officer need to, as the policy currently stands, you you mentioned if you use your weapon, there's a critical incident. Yeah. Not talking about that. If you pull your weapon out and point it at a citizen, is that defined as a critical incident?

No. Is that the be a question for FPC on the SOP. Well, I mean,

President Ayala can answer it too. But if you pull your weapon out and point it at a citizen, is that a is that a use of force that would be currently reportable?

Is it just if it's discharged?

Yeah, they keep your

It is a separate use of force category.

Pointing a firearm at a citizen is a separate use of force?

Yeah. Yes.

Unholstering it and holding it at your side. Why would you unholster your weapon and hold it at your side and not aim it?

You can have your holster,

let's call it a low

ready position. So you can have your your firearm out pointed at in in the direction of a subject but not pointed at the subject. So you're not pointing the gun at the person, you're pointing it at the ground that's right below them because any second for an officer to to get back is detrimental. I mean, you you can have a a gunfight in less than a second. If I'm if I'm ready, if I you pull over a vehicle and if somebody's wanting for for homicide and you pull out your weapon, you don't necessarily have to point that weapon at the person's, you know, like, you know, body mass.

You could be pointed off to the side. Let's go to the low ready position. So that happens all the time. So pulling out your weapon, it saves you time for a police officer and also again nothing's happening. The the arm is not getting pointed at the person and you're not this. You're not firing the the weapon. So those are the instances where if you start adding another use of force to that officer, I said, again, it's my opinion that is detrimental for that officer's career.

And I would argue if a police officer is pulling their weapon a dozen times a day that that officer is detrimental to the community. Thank you, mister chair.

Well, mister chair.

On that point.

Chambers on that point.

This is where I wrestle with and this is kind of, you know, just hearing what we just heard. I can see it from both sides because I don't want our officers pointing their guns individuals like just for nothing by walking up to it. You know, I also want them to be ready and be ready to be, you know, to defend themselves at at all times because they are putting their lives on the risk every single call, every single day. So I guess the technical question I have is within this procedure, with this SOP four sixties, does it regulate every time an officer draw a weapon for anything, they have to file a report?

I wanna make a distinction here. So we already have the requirement that if we point an aim at somebody, there is the reporting requirement. But if we point an aim to effectuate an arrest, we took that out.