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

Good afternoon, everyone.

Good afternoon.

Is anyone here? Hi. Good afternoon, everyone.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Hey.

Thank you for coming. I am the chairman, Alderman Russell Stanford the second. Welcome to the community economic development committee. To my right is our vice chairwoman, Alderman Joe Costa Zammaripa. We are joined by Alderman Deandre Jackson of the 7th District and two other Alderman will be joining us shortly. Order woman Demetrivich and Chambers. We're gonna get started with number 1250303. Reappointment of Shane McAdams to the Business Improvement District Number 4 by the mayor. Shane McAdams, are you available? Shane McAdams, are you available? They are not. Alderman Zammaripa moved all to set the call. Are you there?

Alderman Stamper?

Yes, ma'am.

Can you

hear me?

I can.

I'm hi.

Hi.

Hi. I'm I'm Nancy. I oversee the Mitchell Street bid number 4.

Okay.

I have tried to confirm with mister McAdams who's on our board if he is was going to be able to appear today. Mhmm. And he did have the link if he couldn't make it on-site. Mhmm. I'm so sorry. I apologize for his non appearance.

Okay. He have does he? How's his attendance?

His attendance had been very good. This is would be his third term, but the most recent three year term he has of the 30 meetings. Mhmm. Our meetings in the last three years, he has attended more than 50% of them, and his other absences have been excused. He is property owner here on Mitchell as well as a business owner.

Okay.

And he has two properties, and he has been a a very good board member and very involved in the community. Okay.

You wanna move approval? Okay. You have an alderman that's gonna support his approval. It is Alderman Jackson. You wanna wanna let mister McAdams know that Alderman Jackson has moved for his confirmation and supporting him. Please let us know his status and if he can give us, I guess, some information on his attendance. It's a it's a little bit to be desired. So, with that, because he has support, Alderman Jackson moves for reappointment. Hearing no objection so ordered. Alright?

Alright. Thanks. Thank you so much, Alderman Stamper and Alderman Jackson.

Oh, I think that's him. Mister Mc

Is it? Oh, there

he is.

There he is.

Perfect. Mister McAdam, did you catch that? I'm sorry.

I did. I was having some technical difficulties. How are you?

Let Let me reverse this appointment. And since you're here, please tell us a little bit about your position on the bid and what successes you have to to glow.

Oh, god. Gloating is tough. So I have a couple buildings on Mitchell Street, one in art gallery, the houses in art gallery called Real Tinsel. I've served on the bid, what, for about six, seven years now, Nancy.

Oh, good.

Yes. Pile up, don't they?

Yeah.

And I'm just interested in kind of being a cheerleader for Mitchell Street, really. I mean, it's abstract stuff, but I love the street, its activity, and I'm committed to stay there and kind of run the art gallery and do events there for the long term. And I'm just always, you know, on board to make it awesome.

Excellent. Well, that sounds good to me. Do we have any questions by the committee? Hearing none, Alderman Jackson moves for your appointment again. Hearing no objection, so ordered. Thank you, and have

a great day. Congratulations. Thank you, everyone. I appreciate it.

Alright. Alright. Number 225

you again.

No. Thank you, miss Bush. Number 2250305. Appointment of Clarice Allen to the business improvement district number sixteen by the mayor. Clarice Allen, are you available?

Yes. I am. Can you hear me?

I can. How are you today? Hello? Yes. Yes. We can hear you. Good. Alright. Thank you. Great. Alright. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Please let us know why you would like to serve.

Okay. I am a resident. I bought my first home in the area right off of 56 in Locust and I've been managing the Town Bank located on 47th And Lisbon since they opened in 2017. And so this area is my passion dealing with business owners and community residents. So I just thought that this would be a win win situation for me to become part of the Uptown Crossing bid sixteen to kind of help with making the area thrive.

Mister chairman. Mister Allen, that sounds wonderful. Yes. Alderman Chambers.

Thank you, mister chair and with miss Allen being a former colleague of mine prior to me, know, running, you know, I I know her passion for the community and the neighborhood that she represents and at the appropriate time, I'll move confirmation. Miss Allen, did

you hear that?

I did. Yeah. I'm excited.

Alderman Chambers is an advocate for you, and he also informed me of your service. So we're happy to have you in the 15th District, and we welcome you. And with that, Alderman Chambers move Alderman Chambers moves for your confirmation of your appointment. Hearing no objections to the order. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Alright. Number 324. We have been joined by Alderman Chambers and Alderman Dimitrevich. Number 3250429, reappointment of Peter Pesetti to the business improvement edition number 15 by the mayor. Mister Pesetti, are you available?

Yes, sir.

Good afternoon, mister Pesetti. How are you?

Same to you. I am fantastic.

Alright. This is a reappointment for you. Do you like serving on the bid?

Yes. I do.

Please tell us

why. Well, I own a couple of properties on the Riverwalk. Mhmm. I have very vested interest in the way the Riverwalk looks. Okay.

We have overseen the kind of the facelift that we have just put on the by the the I'm sorry. By the rail painting, fixing the concrete, making sure all the harp lights look right. You know, we've been involved with the Highland project, which is really neat. And I just like a lot of the activities and things that are going on down on the Riverwalk. It's just bringing a lot of foot traffic.

You know, we oversaw all new lifts put in on the River Walk. So with all the cameras, it's just a safer situation down there for people to enjoy. I just really enjoy being a part of it.

That sounds good to me,

mister Poselli. Let me see

if my colleagues have any questions or comments for you. Any questions, anybody? With that, Alderman Jackson moves for your confirmation. Hearing no objections to order. Thank you, and have a good day, mister Poselli. Alright. Number 425 you. Yes. Yes. You as well. Number 4250510, reappointment of Kendall Brewing to the business improvement edition number two by the mayor. Mister Brewing? Thank you. How are you today? Good. Thank you for coming. Thank you. Alright. This is a reappointment of you. Wanna tell us why you would like to be reappointed?

Okay. I'm a business owner in the 3rd Ward. Back in, like, 2000, I started getting involved in the 3rd Ward. I developed the commission house condominiums. After that, I redeveloped the Pritzloft Building, which was pretty much derelict 265,000 square foot building with most of the windows broken out of which I seem to have a tendency of buying buildings like that lately.

I operate or I'm a partner in two restaurants that I developed there. When we first started it to get the property started, I actually started the events business and we grew that to at that time, I called it a chicken or egg problem because I couldn't get financing because I didn't have tenants and I didn't have tenants because I couldn't get the building refurbished. So I started the business myself. We grew it to three event halls. After COVID, Zilly's took over that.

But we still have three restaurants and two event spaces in the building. We have about 60,000 square feet of offices there, and I have 100 apartments there. Excellent. I've been a treasurer for the 3rd Ward for Bid Number 2 for about eight years and on the board for about fifteen years. As the treasurer, I'm very busy, like pretty much every day with all the payments that have to be approved and keeping track of all the accounting and everything.

In addition to that, I'm a professional engineer. So I've designed all new lighting for the Riverwalk system in the 3rd Ward. That's a $200,000 project we're working on right now. We're also sealing all the beams on the Riverwalk. It's twenty years old right now.

The dog park, I have some involvement, but not that much. I'm working on I'm doing all the design work myself right now for the improved parking lot under the freeway at 2nd Street, which will support the dog park and Foxtown Brewing and the neighborhood. And also, I'm very active with our maintenance crews there because of my experience with buildings and we have all of our buildings to maintain. So I spent a lot of time on third ward business. And actually, my record might not be perfect, but for the record, I have a legitimate I should be at a third Ward meeting right now, but I decided to come here instead.

Well, we appreciate it, and thank you for all the work that you're doing. I know we just saw you at zoning for another project. So we know you're pretty influential in the war down there and all the work that you're doing in Milwaukee. So we thank you as a council. Do we have any questions or comments about the committee?

No. I mister chair?

Absolutely.

Good to see you again, mister Brunig, and thank you for your commitment to our city of Milwaukee, and I'd like to move confirmation.

Awesome. Orderwoman Zamarepa moves for your confirmation. Hearing no objection so ordered. Thank you so much, mister Brunig. Have a good day. Alright. Number 5250591A substitute ordinance relating to the membership of the Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council sponsored by Alderman Perez. I believe this is a technical change, but Alderman Perez, you have the floor.

Thank you, mister Chair and committee members. Yes, this is a very simple technical change. It's changing the membership from being a representative of an institution of higher learning to a member with a background in higher learning. And the reason is that we have Doctor. Harness now who's on the committee and she holds a position currently and at her job that may change. And because of that, we wanted the flexibility with the definition of the membership and we don't want to lose her because of her position changing there.

And she's been doing a good job especially with her comments and her insights.

Thank She's committed and her expertise and data is going to be critical to us moving forward.

Excellent. Anybody have any questions for the president? Hearing none, alderwoman Demetrijevic moves for adoption. Hearing no objections are ordered. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Number six two five zero six one one, resolution authorizing the exponential of up to $10,000 for the community from the Community Economic Development Committee Fund for Bronzeville Week. This is sponsored by me. I spoke with the auto woman. Bronzeville is going on its tenth.

Autumn, you wanna come up for I'll say something that I don't know what I'm talking about. But Alderman Connors and I work closely on this. This is something that we support the last couple of years just to shore up some funds. So individuals can have jobs. We can build up the area and do some more promotion on economic development regarding Bronzeville. So, Alderman, guys, you wanna talk about Bronzeville this year and what year it actually is?

So it's a special year in many ways. In 2005 is when the council decided to legislatively create the Brownsville District. Mhmm. So this is the twentieth year of the Brownsville Cultural And Entertainment District for the city of Milwaukee. Mhmm. Our African American cultural Entertainment District. Right. Fifteen years ago, some friends and I got into a battle of our grocery store.

Pete. Right.

Yeah. I remember that.

And and we they were promised a grocery store, a full service grocery store, and a big box retailer was coming in and I stood with residents to fight against that. We won and now on the corner of King Drive and North Avenue, you see Pete's grocery store, full service grocery store.

Mhmm.

It's been going strong for several years now. After that, some friends and I got together and said, you know, we can't keep fighting against what we don't want. And to see in Brownsville, we have to fight for what we do want. Mhmm. So we thought how can we spotlight the great stores, businesses, and people that are already over here. Mhmm. And how can we attract more of the cultural and entertainment based stuff that we want over here? And we started thinking, oh, let's do a day, a Bronzeville Day. Then, you know, let's do a weekend. Let's do a Bronzeville days.

And then, ultimately, by the time we were done, we created what is now Bronzeville week, which is eight days full of art, culture, and commerce in the Bronzeville District. So this is our fifteenth year of doing a bronze week. After the fifth year, it got kind of bigger than we had thought. Mhmm. So we made it an official city of Milwaukee event. And so for ten years, it has been a city of Milwaukee official event. So, yeah, we're celebrating a lot. Okay. This this time and it'll be August. We kick off with the Haram Bay Walk Run.

This is our tenth year of partnering with Tom Thompson for the walk run on the second. I think registration begins at 06:30 in the morning right down King Drive and North Avenue. Mhmm. The race starts at 07:30. Yeah. Immediately following that, we have brunch in Bronzeville and then the next day is, of course, the festival. Mhmm. The Culture and the Arts Festival right on North Avenue between King Drive and 7th Street. We are partnering again with DPW for the big trucks to come out for the kids zone and there's three other stages. It'll be artists performing artists all day and over 100 vendors as well.

So we encourage families to come out and to celebrate. And I think many of you have been to the festival or other days throughout Basel week. Mhmm. And we invite you again this this year. So, yeah, it but we don't we offer almost all of it free to the public. Mhmm. So it costs a little bit. So we go out and get a whole lot of sponsorship, but we always need a little bit of little bit of help. So I'm here today to ask for your approval for this file so that we can have another successful bronzer weekend celebrating this fifteenth anniversary.

Congratulations. That's a huge milestone. Thank I'm very proud of you and the progress over the years. Do you have any questions or comments by the committee? We're all familiar with Bronzeville Week. We always do our best of support. Now, Alderman, are you going to walk with me this year?

Yes. You

challenged me last year, and I fulfilled the challenge.

Yes. I didn't wanna can I make a

comment, mister Chish? Absolutely, Alderman.

I I just wanted to, commend Alderman Cox for all the great work with Brownsville week. I know I've she knows I've had the pleasure of attending the festival and mister chair and myself did join you for the Harambee Walk Run and Town to Thompson as well. So, I'm looking forward to doing it again this year, I hope.

Yes. Yes. Oh

and I'm sorry. Mister chair, permission to be added as a co sponsor.

Absolutely. Absolutely. You got the

other one there?

Thank you. Yeah. Are you Are you gonna gonna walk walk this this year? Year? I I will will not. Not. I I'm will. Not.

Is yeah. I was just messing with y'all. Okay.

Alright. With that, order woman, Zamriba moves for adoption. Hearing no objections to order. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

You can have me as a cosponsor as well, please. I'm

I'm a

sponsor then.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Number 7250433, communication from the Kroger company relating to its decision to close certain grocery stores, particularly those in the city of Milwaukee. Do we have a representative from Corbett here? Auto one Moore. Is Auto one Moore available? She she is not. Alderman Jackson moves to hold us at the call of the chair. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Let's see number 8250539 substitute resolution relating to the renewal of the sister city relationship between the city of Milwaukee and Zadara, Croatia. Do we have representatives? Yes. Yes. How are you guys doing?

Good to see you.

I saw you out there. I saw you out there. Thank you so much for coming. The relationship so far has been great. Looking forward to another full year with your leadership and and the musician that we have.

Ivan. Yes.

Ivan. Ivan. He was here last sister cities committee. Yes. He did a he did a good job representing. So I'm gonna turn this over to Chris. I am the sponsor. I'm looking forward to this renewal, but I'm gonna let Chris give some introduction that you guys will be able to speak and talk about our relationship. Thank you. Alright.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Chris.

My name is Chris Lee, staff assistant city clerk's office. I also am a staffing clerk to the sister cities committee. What you have before you is a resolution to renew the sister city relationship with Zadar, Croatia for another five years. Our sister city relationship is an international diplomatic relationship between two cities seeking mutual exchange in culture, education, economy, health, or other interests. So the relationship with Zadar was first officially established back in 2015 and it is locally sponsored

by the

nonprofit organization Federation of Croatian Societies Incorporated. So this would be their second renewal. Their previous renewal was back in 2020. So this did go before the Sister Cities Committee meeting on July 10, and they recommended to approve the renewal, and it is before the common council for recommendation. Alderman Stamper, he also chairs the sister cities committee. And so I will turn it over to the Federation to introduce themselves and to talk about the relationship and to answer any questions.

Excellent. Thank you. Thank you.

Alderman, I'm Tom Kuzmanovich. With me is Thomas Krenz. We're both board members. I'm the president. Thomas is the vice president of our Federation of Croatian Societies. First of all, we'd like to thank you for all your support and, of course, Chris Lee

Yes. For all of his work. For sure.

We are happy to be involved in the Sister Cities relationship along with many other fine places around the world, of course, the city of Milwaukee. Our main goal will be to establish a water study relationship between the University of Zadar and our own water institute here in Milwaukee. We had tried in the past to do it on a younger level between high schools, but that didn't seem to take with school district here. And we have a new relationship. There's a new mayor in the city of Zadar and a new international liaison who we have excellent contact with.

And I'm actually going to be visiting with them in a week and a half when I'm in Croatia. So that's going to be the main focus. That and the University of Zadar and UWM, their water studies facilities because Zadar is a very big agricultural hub for Croatia as well as a fishing hub and clean water is a necessity just like it is here in Milwaukee.

And Krosh is aware that Milwaukee is a water hub and we have a water council.

Absolutely. And that's why we want to the those two connected.

Have you have you mentioned any of the meetings yet? I used to attend them when I was more of a not a board member for sale. Just an invitee. So I don't know if have you

I have now. Guys get

your update on that? Okay. Okay. I'd love to connect you on that.

That would be great.

We'd love to

do that.

Sure, sure.

But Thomas and I are on the board and we oversee our young Ivan who's going to be our main contact point. But our board is going to be very involved and we're really looking forward to this renewal.

We are too. We are too. Tom Vilskumas?

I'll just reiterate everything that I refer to Tom as Kuz just because of his last name. When we first got on the board, there were three Toms. So we went Thomas, Tom, and Kuz. That's that's how it worked. So But we're very excited. And Ivan Young, we are his mentors. We are also standing up, we're gonna be supporting him. So we feel very comfortable with him.

Well, he's turning into a great leader. He's also a great musician. You guys are doing a good job and we're looking forward to the to the relationship. It's it's it's much more robust this year.

And and one other thing is I think I read in the minutes or something that you were going to help us connect with the water. Yeah. So, I'll I'll reach and that was one of the reasons I wanted to be down here is I wanted to meet you face to face so that we could talk about that.

Yeah. Just shoot me an email. I'll connect us all through email.

That sounds very good. Thank you.

Thank you, guys. Do have any questions or comments by the committee? Move adoption. Alright. Alderman Chambers moves for adoption hearing. No objection to order. Thank you, guys. Congratulations. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Alright. Y'all take care. Number 9250533, substitute resolution relating to the acceptance and funding of a building resilient infrastructure and communities grant. Commissioner, how are you today? Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Alright. Alright. Tell us about this grant and you have the floor, please.

Thank you so much. Good afternoon. He's Amila Rojovega, commissioner with the Department of Neighborhood Services. I'm joining with Jeremy McNover. He's the one for coordination and marketing for our department.

We're super excited late twenty twenty three right before the transition and leadership in the department. We received a notification through the International Code Council about open for request of grants through this program from Fema. We venture and we took the staff and we got really, really creative in doing an application. Our project is called City of Milwaukee Building Code plus Up Project. This category focusing capacity building for the department saying tools like outreach studio.

We need cameras for doing videos for the community to understand how to maintain the built environment and where we live. The other part was mobile workstations. As you all know, most of our, if not, all of our inspectors use iPads on the field. Very outdated over ten years. Devices that were definitely in need to renovate.

So this is another opportunity to change that as well. The other part is trainings. I think we've been talking a lot about the need of new trainings, especially in fire codes, building codes, and you name it. So this is another opportunity for us to really tiger that part as well and the last and not least, we are all aware that we will be going through the transition on IBC International Building Code of 2021, which mean we need to buy new books, right? And we need to buy new new tools for us to keep updated and continue our mission of building safety out there in Milwaukee.

This is the first time that the department actually go and pursue a grant and we were able to be awarded. This was right to the transition of administration as well on a federal level. It was on hold for a while but the good news was like this was awarded in 2023 right before the transition of administration. And not until very very recently, we were given the heads up that yes, indeed will be awarded and we indeed can actually take advantage of the funding. So, now, this is just more a protocol.

We're learning new things, right? We were not aware we needed to go through this process. There is no impact in regards staff. This is all for tools and resources for the department rather of like new positions. I just wanted to clarify that side and for that, we're excited and we're here to answer any questions.

All right. All right. Did you have some comments to add?

Jeremy McGovern, Marketing Communications Officer for D and S. No, the commissioner is very accurate on summarizing In the case with the more recent delay was the state fought hard on our behalf to make sure these funds from FEMA could stay within the state and the city of Milwaukee.

Excellent. What do you think got us the award? Are our buildings outdated or we just need to upgrade or is this an opportunity?

I think we made a good argument on how everything within this contributes to a safer Milwaukee. The thrust of this grant is building safety and of course code training, something as simple as hard hats all contribute to a safer Milwaukee. Excellent.

Excellent. Alright. Questions about the committee. Over Jackson.

When is appropriate time, I'd

like to move approval. Okay.

But just wanna say I like that comment that this is all going towards funding. So many times we sit up here and the money comes in and it's like, oh, new new positions, new this, know that. I'm glad this money is just getting to work and getting the work done. So, thank you for your leadership.

Thank

you. Thank you. Comments? Alright. Alderman Jackson moves for adoption. Hearing no objections or order. Good work though.

Thank you.

Alright. Alright. Thank you. You have a great day. Number ten, two five zero five six nine. Resolution appropriating appropriating up to $10,000 for the Community Economic Development Fund. For the second district back to school festival, there's a slight discrepancy. The sponsor was supposed to be Alderman Stamper. However, Alderman Chambers is fairly new to the

I thought they put it

on you. I thought they Counsel. But no nevertheless, nevertheless, that's What is the chair? It has good intent. Maybe I

don't Chair. Yeah. Yeah. I think you someone

anyway, go. I'm happy to support the second annual sacred district back to school festival. It's been successful. It's getting bigger and bigger every year. So this particular year, again, he needs some money to show up what we have for the youth and for the district. So, hold on, Chairman, you want to tell us about the Yeah. Big back to school program, mister?

Thank you, mister chair, and sorry about the this typo. I I I'll I'll fall in the for this one but no but yeah. So, we're celebrating our third annual back to school festival.

It will be held. Third. I'm sorry.

No. No. The third is second district but the third annual. Sunday, August 24 from twelve to four at Indigenous People Park 7301 West Cortland. Last year, we were able to give out 2,000 book bags and service 4,000 people.

We are still looking for vendors and those who want to you know, focus on school related investment towards the community. In addition to giving away the book bags and with fully stuffing it, we also had the services. We're going to continue with that. We have you know, the health department and children's hospital and Walmart and Kroger doing various you know, immunization, vision, checkups, and we're just getting the kids geared up back to school. In addition to you know, having barbers and hair braiders for the young men and women and having food available for em.

So, I'm really excited through this. You are correct. We are growing. You know, I I I do see this probably getting relocated to a different park due to the the magnitude of the amount of people that showed up. Alderman Jackson could attest to that. He'd been there both years. And I'm just excited and thank you for your support, your continued support for this.

Well, excellent leadership on this, getting the youth involved right before school. Do we have any questions or comments for Alderman Chambers?

I have a question.

Yes, Alderman Zamripo.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Of

course. I just wanted to ask for clarification. Is there also an allocation in the excellence fund?

There is.

For the, okay.

Yep, there is.

But this is coming out of the CED.

Yes. Correct.

Committee committee fund that's

off chair.

So, we hire we had over 30 students, 30 kids, you know, cleaning up far as around the park. We want to pick, we want to leave the area where we leave it up to. So we pay them stipends. Florida don't equate to 10,000 but in addition to the other activity, we do pay for other functions. You know, for people to come and do that. So, that's why the the necessary appropriation is needed for the session. Yeah. It.

Thank you. Yeah. Alright. But again, more questions or comments? Oh. Alderman Jackson. Thank you, mister chair.

Of course. Like we had as a co sponsor and I like to have been

interception. Mhmm.

Power armor chambers for throwing a huge event. Mhmm. Anything of magnitude? Look forward to hanging out with the kids and riding around the golf course cleaning up afterwards.

Hopefully, it's cooler this year. Oh, yeah.

Ardent chairman, why don't you give that address again?

7301 West Cortland Avenue, Indigenous People Park, formerly known as Columbus Park.

Gotcha. Gotcha. Alright. So with that, Alderman Chambers moves I mean, Alderman Jackson moves for confirmation hearing. No objections are ordered. Thank you so much. Alright. Number 11. 250458, communication from the Department of Administration. Community Development Grants Administration providing a status update of the 2025 block grant process, reprogramming process, and the community based organizations that have received block grant funding for 2025.

So what I've asked director Higgins to do is explain program reprogramming from the beginning to the end, where it comes from, how it's established, and the allocation amounts that the city receives on an annual basis. I understand it. I know it well, but I get tons of questions and emails about reprogrammable. I think everybody on the committee does. So I'm giving everyone an opportunity to hear straight from the director one good time.

We'll always be available for questions, But this is the understanding of the process and how it works and then where this money how this money is derived and where it comes from. So I appreciate you wanting to do this, director Higgins. I think it's important as we get ready for next year when to apply. If you don't get funded, there's another opportunity to apply. But if you don't mind,

would

you you have the floor. So you can put it any which way you want. But also, another part of this was we were a small amount of people are making a big impact with violence in the city, and, I wanted to challenge the community based organizations to bring ideas. Firstly, what are you doing to prevent crime or organize in the neighborhood, but also bring ideas on preparing us for category allocations for 2026, focusing on violence prevention, job creation, youth, engagement, and really economic development. So the community based organizations have been doing a lot of work.

I want us to share ideas but I wanted to invite them with this opportunity to to present where they think funding should be targeted and I'm happy to see the ones that are coming. It is it is going to be noted when it's time to allocate funds and work with organizations to improve our city particularly around prevention and youth opportunity. So that is the gist and basis of this file but I'm gonna let Mario take the lead and direct the conversation based on he has a presentation but we will we will get into conversation about organizations and their ability to prevent crime. So, that's that's come from. Any questions before we get started?

Alright, Mario. Thank you. You have the floor. Good

afternoon, chairman, members of the committee. Sure. Thank you so much. It's been a long interesting year. Lots of microaggressions from our federal agencies. But so the changing the landscape of of federal funding is is everywhere. I mean, it's every five minutes, every week, every hour sometimes. We're just getting crazy updates. Sometimes it's just rumors. Sometimes it's conjecture or just banter.

So we've been dealing with a lot and trying to keep up with what's going on at the federal level all year long. I don't think I have any terrible news today, but at the same time, I want to provide you with an update on sort of, like, where we've been so far this year and the process. I'm not sure

everybody knows, but block grant funding is straight from the federal government. You wanna explain that? Yep. This money is from federal government. You see every city around the country gets it. This is our our amount. But you want to explain that process?

Correct. And I'm sorry. I don't think I introduced myself. Mario Higgins, community development grants administration director. Mhmm.

So, yeah, the what we generally do what what happens is our office is a primary receiver of all of our larger block grant funds, so CDB Community Development Block Grant, home opportunities for persons with AIDS, home funds, which are housing strictly for housing dollars, and emergency solutions grant. So all of those are black grant formula based allocations that come to the city based on population, poverty, and and a host of other characters that goes into a formula to decide what we receive. What we do every year is we try to we do a funding allocation plan, and that plan outlines sort of what we're going to be proposing in large, broad categories of funding, so youth services, job programs, specialty housing programs and all those things. We sort of make that proposal and the first thing we have to do is create that funding allocation plan. Generally, we would start that process in sort of June and get that going, establishing those broad funding categories.

Once we propose those categories, CDGA is required to solicit public comment. So through the public comment of those proposed funding categories, the plan includes the grants that we just talked about. We make the funding recommendations to the CD, to the Community Economic Development Committee. We host those series of public hearings where we're required to do at least one public hearing every year. However, we do three of those.

We do two in the community and then one right here at CED. And after that, we get the input from the community on all those broad plans and then we decide through this committee which activities are going be funded or not just funded, but RFP. And so we send an RFP out generally in August to try to beat you guys' deadline for starting budget. I know you guys are going to be all into that in the fall, so we try to get ahead of that. This year with the uncertainty around funding, I did request through the chair to push our process back to September because at this moment in time, I'll give you a sort of briefing on that.

The president's budget this year did not include funding for block It actually eliminated funding for the block grant programs. That happened sometime in early May, late April, and generally put on an attack of public service saying that those types of activities we shouldn't be doing. They use the same rhetoric they use around everything, woke, etcetera. So Recently, though, the House of Representatives restored funding in the budget for CDBG, ESG, and HOPWA. They did not include funding for the HOME program yet.

Right now, so that did pass out of the House of Representatives with those inclusions, funded at pretty much the same levels that they have been in the past years. And then so right now, the this all goes under the senate subcommittee or subcommittees of T HUD, which stands for transportation, housing, urban development. So we're sort of lumped in there with with all the transportation black grants. And so right now that's in with the senate. The senate is doing their markup subcommittee at level, doing their markup of the program of the block grant program.

And so they could either reduce funding for any of those programs. Hopefully, we're trying to get them and lobby for them to put funding in for HOME because right now HOME hasn't been funded, which would be a dramatic shift for us in that it takes away our ability to create new affordable housing, whether it's single family, rental, or even owner occupied programs. They'll all get affected if we don't get home funds. So that's pretty much where we are. Right now, our ability to sort of come up with a 2026 plan does hinge on funding for 2026 in the president's budget or in the budget.

If if we didn't, we'd have to drastically sort of look at how we use other funding sources, whether it's CDBG differently than we have been in the past. So right now, we're trying to give a little more time for senate and federal government to come up with that so we can move forward with our funding plan as well. Alright.

Let me see if anybody got any has any questions. Anybody have any questions so far? Alright.

Reprogramming. Yes, sir. Reprogramming is essentially a process of reconciling prior awards and closed out projects. So that way, we get to determine what funding we have available. So we typically finish the sort of financial reconciliation around April, May.

We pushed back a little bit this year, but from prior years, we don't generally know how much we're going have available until we get to about the May. The amount over the last few years continues to get a little smaller. We were operating a lot in the pandemic era funding, so we had so much ARPA and a lot of other funds that came directly to us, CVBG CV, ESG CV. We had a lot of funds that our partners were pretty much tapping all of these different sources of funds. And so being able for them to scale up and use all these different sources, a lot of times the CDBG or our current funding didn't get went unused a little more.

So we were carrying over more funds. I mean, I think a few years ago, we probably had almost 4,000,000 or $5,000,000 in repro. But now we're down to 2,000,000 I would say probably the average number of that in normal times is somewhere around 700 or $800,000 as long as groups are performing and spending. I think the reason why it's still been pretty high is staffing is because organizations have struggled with staffing, city departments have struggled with staffing, so the funds have went a little unspent just because of that. So as people have caught up to staffing, those numbers should also the reprogramming down.

Real quick, anybody have any questions? Anybody else in the process?

Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Absolutely.

So for clarification, this is more than usual for reprogramming?

It's definitely more than traditional. It's less than usual. Most of you are pretty new on the councils, on the committee. So it's unusual for you because it's actually going down back to normal levels than what it was prior years.

Okay.

And I can say I'm a old head on the committee. I was at one point in your position, and we were getting 4 to 5,000,000 a year. So it's hard to distinguish and explain previous to now. So it's kinda I wanted you to tell them about the process of applying. When should they apply? Should they have a formal proposal? Is there an actual timeline or deadline? Is it first come, first served? Sure. Could you explain that process and how we come up with the decision on who to fund?

Sure. So we haven't had a formal process. It's generally pretty difficult to actively solicit when we don't know, like, how much funds or, like, what type of activity. Generally, we're gonna sell an RP. It's gonna be very specific to a certain activity and a certain amount.

So what we have done is when we receive inquiries, we've asked people to send letters and detail the activity, tell us give us some outcomes and then tell us about and give us a funding request. So with that, that's how we've done that in the past. It has allowed us to be more flexible a little bit in, like, what programs we consider and be able to try new things. I think what I've heard, though, from members is that they want something more concise. And I think what we've been so we started a new software program a few years ago that we use for our regular funding allocation called Neighborly.

I was pretty hesitant in using Neighborly for reprogramming requests. Everything gets jumbled here. Right now, if I leave the portal open, we'll get requests from people from out of state to fix their house and just all types of stuff. So it gets really muddy in there if I don't. But what I think what we just recently did is went through with the youth council is setting up RFPs for them in the system, and that's outside of our normal too, but it seemed to work.

We had to give a few more instructions on headers and stuff so we can make sure we can sift through some of the weirder requests we get. Otherwise, they'll sort of get lost in the sauce. But I we have a process and a way to be able to take those requests into Neighborly and then they're in that one spot. I don't you you don't have to worry about me missing them, Alderman Chambers, or anything like that. Because my my email box gets a little crazy. Yeah. And so I try to make sure I respond and make sure I capture everything. If it doesn't say if it doesn't say reprogramming or something similar to that, then I may then I've missed it.

So that's the issue I'm having. I wanted to see if we could have a separate email for reprogramming. Yeah. And when that they should start applying for that because the process is just email your particular alderman. We'll review it and send it to you.

Yeah. So as far as time, I mean, I need them as early as October the current of this year for next year, if there's a specific timeline members are interested in. Otherwise, I don't have a problem with it being open outside of our regular funding process. So once we're done with our funding process, just so we don't get, you know, information confused, then we can open it up and they can sit there until or they can submit them until up in time up until the time we are about to actually do the recommendation. I want some cut off just so we have the chance to to review everything, but we can we can do it that way, and I think it'll work in in our in our system.

Okay. Well, we'll have it ready by this time next year, especially with the new software. So I just wanted everybody to get a guess of what was going on. So we have 2,050,000 this year, and we have some great organizations that are gonna do some continued work in the community. So if you have come, please be prepared to give us a brief overview of your service and how you're gonna help the city of Milwaukee this year, particularly around your specialty. So, Martin, did you wanna explain this or can we call them up? Do we close out this file or

I'll do Yes.

I think this is the same.

This is one file, isn't

it? It's not.

No. Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. I'll move I'll move for adoption or they put this place on file. Communication.

That place is a suggestion. Well, did anybody have any questions? Everybody understand reprogrammable? All the women.

I I think it'll be a quick one. Thank you. We're still on eleven, right? Okay. Alright, Chairman. Yes, yes. Yes. One thing that might be helpful in the future, because like I know we're going to talk about reprogramming on '13 and we have a list that's in the file, is I guess I'm interested to know like what groups didn't use the money that we allocated and why. Uh-huh. And just to like, it's no big thing. I just kind of want to know and like diagnose that as a macro. Is that a group? I'm not an issue with a group but like, you know, I've often wondered that about this type of file. This is my first time on CED, but I think that would be helpful in the future.

Sure. Just for the general comment is it's not just like one organization. So if we do an allocation of $50,000 for example, you might have someone not spend down $5,000 of it. So you're going to get that accumulation. But you also, again, just the staff shortages that people have been experiencing over the years makes that number even higher.

City departments were particularly affected by that because of staff shortages because grants do cover a lot of their staff for the activity that they support around our housing and everything else that we have in the city. And so generally, when those come to the end of the year, instead of carrying them over, we do because they get a new allocation, we take those funds back in.

Okay. I think, again, in the future, I'm just looking for, trends because it's like if the council, along with community block grant, you know, sought to invest half a million housing and then now we don't get half a million housing, like I just kind of want to know and see what's going on because the need is still there and like what we can do. So I'm just trying to, you know, look at the system and understand that because it is a bit of an awkward process. But trying to also I love some of the reinvestments. So, you know, one door might kind of close, but then we have an opportunity for another. I just want to understand that exchange.

That's all.

It's not like a today thing, but it's just something I've often wondered. So, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Yeah, it's no problem. And that was the point of it. Our organizations, why are they spending their money? You know, they are applying you know how you apply for a large amount in hopes of a certain amount. I don't want that to be the case. I want people to apply for what they're gonna apply for and use that money to affect change. So Sure. I wanted that distinguished and just make sure it's because, you know, like COVID was a issue or staffing, something like that. Absolutely. Not to not just applying it and and not using the funds. Okay. But it does was an opportunity for others to apply and do work. So, it's like a plus and a and a negative. So. Yeah.

That was a point of that file, guys. Any other questions? No. Alright. Thank you, director. With that, order woman Zaporubo moves to place us on file. Hearing no objections so ordered. Number twelve, two five zero five three eight, substitute resolution related to the 2025 use and allocation of community development black grant funds awarded to the city of Milwaukee Youth Council. Do we have youth council members here? We do. Alright. Alright. Alright. We are anxious to speak with you too. Whoever's here. How many youth council are here?

Currently just What about?

Just you two? That lady next that young lady next to you who's not part of the youth council?

Not yet.

Oh. How you? Are you going to be? Yeah. Well, come on up then. Let's get you started. Let's get you started. I

love it.

Alright. So young people, please introduce yourself for the record of what district you represent and what you think the youth council should be doing for the city of Milwaukee.

My name is Svetlana Hur. I am a member at large for the youth council. Do you want me to provide my address?

No. Don't have to, but you can say you at large? I thought you were the fifteenth.

No. I was placed in the wrong district.

Miss Her? Okay. Well, Jim told

me you were

It surprised me too.

15. But I was happy to have you. I saw I still need a member then.

We're working on it.

Okay. Okay. Okay. You live in the 15th, Yeah. Okay. There you go. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Go ahead. Introduce you. Okay. Keep going.

Yes. So

I'm a member at large. I'll pass it on to

Okay.

Hi. I'm Owen Driscoll. I'm in District District 10. Graduated from King's just this past year, so I'm on my way out. Congratulations. Thank you. It's been a great year and a half with the youth council. I think it's been a really amazing way to understand how the city government works and get involved and sort of sprinkle in a bit of youth voice.

Excellent. Are you going to go to college or start your

I own am going to college down in Chicago hoping to major in public policy.

Alright. What school are you going to?

The the University of Chicago.

Oh. Congratulations, young man. Alright. Hi.

Hi. I'm Adrian McGillmore. I'm representing District 15. Yes. To my junior Altus East High School.

Wow. Is your mom here? No. Okay. I thought she was gonna come. So they got ahold of

you? Yeah.

Awesome. Well, welcome. And if you're anything like your mother, I know you'd be a great, great community member. She's a leader over there on 22nd Street. So I'm happy to see you and happy to meet you. Thank you. You remember me?

Yes.

Alright. Alright. Alright. Welcome. Welcome you all. So you all have $80,000 this year. Do you know that?

Mister chair? Yes. If I if I may, Mario Higgins, community development grants administration director. The youth council has actually a $160,000 available to them. Use use, well, last year's allocation and part of this year's reprogramming will also be included in that allocation.

They will use $30,000 approximately for the two trips that they have to that the teens make to Washington, DC. I think there's about $15,000 each trip. So they set that aside for the to pay for the trips in that development going to DC. And then the rest of the $130,000, they went through the process of, getting an application out, reviewing and scoring. I mean, my department, we played a role in just helping and assisting through that process, which they're extremely bright, they're really talented, they knew exactly what they wanted.

So it was a really, really good experience. The nights were a little rough for me, but because they need an evening time. Overall, it was really good. I'll let them go through their funding allocations. They did have 11 awards I'm sorry, 11 applications, and they made four awards out of that. And they were our guinea pig on sort of trying to do something different with our system. And I hope it worked out for them. And a shout out to Audrowoman Moore. She was a champion. She was there every every meeting. So it was good to have her input in in a couple of

weeks ago. So you've been leading the youth. I saw you the other day giving some motivation and some speaking skills. So you wanna talk about your role and your leadership position you've taken with the youth council and let us know if they're spending the money properly.

Oh my goodness. Absolutely. Alderman Charlene Moore for the 10th District. Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members. If we're going to start investment in young people, it definitely has to start here. Our council members that are part of the youth council have been doing really incredible work. Our goal is to make sure that we are at full capacity. Youth council has a capacity of 17 members and I think we're, I don't know, we're probably about way there. But we had a great number of young people that were already seniors that have graduated.

So it left quite a bit of openings. And so the young people are going to be connecting with other community partners. They're going be doing a press conference that you all will be invited to. But one of the things that we absolutely want to make sure that is that this information is out there, that young people can be a part of an opportunity that they understand how youth government works. Mhmm.

We're doing a we start well, I started the interns, summer interns with which many of you have seen them around the office, but we've been all around the city. We hope to hit every single district before the summer is over. Hit every not every. We'll get a good array of city departments that we'll be able to connect with. But it's again part of that experience. And I want to say, mister chair, that we have to make this a priority to invest back into those young people. The trip that they that you all took or I think Owen Lana, weren't there yet.

I did

see what it was. Owen was Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Owen attended along with his other colleagues, attended the National League of City, and they had a youth portion, which was absolutely incredible. I wanna make sure that we're investing in more young people to be able to have that experience to go out and meet other young people in other parts of ours in other parts of the country that are doing incredible things. We walk up to the table and and and they're polished. These are amazing young people and they are going into career fields that's going to benefit our city.

Mhmm. And so, again, it's not just about a a young person going into politics. Right? There's so many facets to government, to city government, and we have to make that investment. So I'll be continuing to ask for resources and support because I want the city and our community know that we value young people because they're the ones that's going to be walking in our shoes any day.

Thank you, mister

chair. Excellent. Alright. So, you guys, you got some big topics that we have to tackle. Reckless driving, housing, violence, crime. You guys got any priorities you want to focus on?

For the CDGA funds, we were focusing on youth mental health youth homelessness.

Okay.

Youth mental health was the number one issue in Milwaukee County in 2023.

Okay.

It was identified as the number one issue. And youth homelessness is also a large issue that we see in Milwaukee City. Twenty eight percent of homeless served in emergency centers were 18. And so while homelessness has been down in Milwaukee, it's been up in Wisconsin overall. We would like to keep it down in Milwaukee.

Sure. Excellent. Excellent. Owen, you agree or you want to add to that?

Yeah, I think she covered a lot of the points. So we were focusing on mental health, primarily suicide prevention for youth, at risk youth, and then also homeless homelessness. So working with existing community partners, which is why we went through this CDGB process to identify existing partners and provide them with additional resources to help them further their work.

And what do you see our young people need in the community?

Oh, I agree with Owen and Lena, but I also think we should also focus on the violence and the gun violence.

Excellent.

Because them are two huge factors that play into teens' lives. Yeah.

Yeah. So how are young people getting these guns so easily? From what

we see, it's usually they're getting usually

I'm sorry.

They're usually getting it from their parents

Okay.

Or somehow purchasing it illegally without, like, any form of documentation.

Okay. Okay. I think another concern is people who buy guns to protect themselves and then their houses are broken into and those guns are stolen. Yeah. And I think that that has happened more than I think it's happened a lot and it's not talked about.

Right. Right. Okay. Well, you guys are bright and we look forward to working with you. We're extremely proud of you, and thank you so much for this willingness to help out your community. You're doing exactly what we do. You gotta get money and decide where it goes. Alright? Thank you. Yes.

I just can I just say say just really briefly just the importance of prevention and what, you know, these reprogramming dollars? I know they're allocated in a variety of different areas. But when we talk about community organizations that are working with young people, that's a huge part of prevention. Right? And so keeping young people active and engaged, finding opportunities for them to be involved in.

Again, that's where a lot of I see a lot of those significant investments moving into so that we can keep young people occupied. We can keep violence down. We can, you know, pair young people with mentors and just an array of organizations. There's no lack of organizations in this city. Milwaukee is an amazing place when you talk about what is it that you wanna do and you can find an organization that's doing just that. So we have the resources here and the talent here. We just wanna make sure that, you know, those that the the city is continuing to fund those agencies as best as we can and that's what's going to prevention is a huge part of intervention. Go ahead. Yes. You wanted something? Alright.

Alright, guys. Congratulations. We're extremely proud of you, and we look forward to working with you. Alright? Now don't be shy on giving us ideas and telling us what we need to do. Alright? That's why I want your responsibilities. I know Alderman Morris is our liaison with you guys. She's passionate about you guys. I see her with you guys all the time. So feel free to reach out to her if you guys can't get to us. Okay? Alright.

Did you Thank you, mister Chair.

Rolls into the record.

Yeah. Yep. Yep. Go ahead.

So I read these four or all

of them?

Just read their awardees.

Okay. For suicide

prevention, Pathfinders and Silver Spring Neighborhood Association both receiving funds. And then for homelessness intervention, Hmong American Friendship Association and then Walkers Point Youth and Family Center.

Not So these young people chose y'all. Why do y'all think they chose y'all? Who would like to go first? Hey, man. Hey. Lemang, it's good to see you. So these young people were impressed by your applications. Have you all met them?

Just today.

Just today. Okay. Well, they chose on their own. They read your proposal or whatever they did. I want them to have a chance to meet you all. I want you guys are leaders of those organizations. Why don't you Don't be shy. I know you're looking like Yeah. I want you to stand right there. Tell them exactly why they chose why they picked a good choice.

Center. And, you know, I think our organization, you know, we're a big part of collaboration and being part of UNCOM and the Office of Community Wellness and receiving that. We utilize a lot of their resources and so I think that might have pushed some of our work up to the forefront in making sure that we're using the things around us. As many of you know, we're part of Westlawn, which is often referred to as the City Of Westlawn. So we are finding that we're having to pivot to the new neighborhood, which is skewing much younger.

And so our youth work now is more critical than ever. So I do want to thank you. I know that our youth director is constantly pivoting on how she can serve best serve the youth that are walking through our door. That mental wellness has been a big part of that. So we're doing that in very small ways and that's what, you know, we're doing a lot of one on one. We're starting to address a lot of the male, the population that's coming through our doors. We've noticed a shift in that. So, I mean, I don't know. You know, I don't think our work is any different. We're just very collaborative and try to go really deep in our work instead of broad. So. Yeah, I do wanna say thank you.

Alright. You guys have any questions for the the leader? Alright. Alright. Does that sound good? Do I help you out with your decision? Alright. Alright. Lunay.

Yes. My name is Lunay Kittacasey. I'm the director for the Hmong American Friendship Association. I just wanna say, you guys are amazing. The youth council, my goodness. What an opportunity, and I'm

just Yeah.

So glad that you guys picked us. And you guys are right to pick us because we're good at what we do.

My boss for that.

To be really honest with you, homelessness is not an issue in the Hmong community for many centuries. A couple years now, it's been a community problems and we are facing homelessness. We're such a close knitted community that we will not let one of our own be homeless, but right now it's happening. We are seeing people living under bridges. We're seeing an effect.

I don't know what's happening, but in California, Minnesota, and Milwaukee here, we're seeing homelessness. And we need help, and thank you for picking us because we need to get the resources to all community leaders. We need to teach them, to educate them that if we all work together, we can get resources to our community, and thus we can help future homelessness, especially our youth up and coming. So, with this proposal, we're dealing with inter prevention, prevention as well, working with other resources out there, tap into other partnerships that we never had it before because this is a new promise, and we wanted nurture those relationships so that way we can really help our community. And I just want to say thank you so much and we are ready to work with you guys.

Thanks. Thank you. Thanks, Mr. Nay. All right. I'm in.

Hello, everyone. Tim Bach, President and CEO of Pathfinders. Before I express my appreciation on behalf of our entire organization, I just want to applaud this model of youth led decision making and youth not just being at the table but leading this discussion and making the decisions. At Pathfinders, we've been in this community for over fifty five years. We focus on youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, housing instability and the trauma that comes from those type of experiences whether it's exploitation or trafficking, whether it's significant mental wellness challenges up to and including suicide ideation and attempts and a whole host of other needs that our young people and their families are experiencing.

In partnership with my colleagues on either side of me, the city of Milwaukee and Walkers Point, we were successful in bringing to this community a HUD Youth Homeless Demonstration Project grant. It's a two year grant totaling nearly $3,000,000 and we have just begun to implement that this past March. And as you can imagine, doing the dance with HUD at the direct level has been a real challenge. That said, we're beginning to get young people off of various prioritization list and into housing with support. The reason we got that grant aside from these two strong partners is we developed a youth action board that had youth leaders not just giving us suggestions or ideas but deciding where the funds needed to go and who is best positioned to utilize those and make a difference.

And so this model of youth making these kind of critical decisions in what is most needed in this community for them and for all of us, I just think is exceptional and it's unfortunately still too unique. I know members of our Youth Action Board have engaged with the Youth Council both at the city level and the county level. Know, Alder Woman Moore has just been a champion in letting youth lead the conversation and make the big decisions and I think the fact that the city of Milwaukee has given them the resources and support to do that. Just hope to see more and more of this. So with that I just want to thank all the youth council members for trusting in us because without your trust we don't exist. So thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Hi.

Hello. My name is Callie Dougherty. I'm the Executive Director for Walkers Point Youth and Family Center. I wanted to just echo Tim's words and really thank you all so much for the work that you're doing and your leadership. And I really look forward to watching you all grow professionally in this community because you're already making such impact and such changes.

Walkers Point has been open for nearly fifty years, and we've been doing supportive housing for thirty three years. And with the support and with you choosing us for this grant, we're able to expand our housing program called Insights, which serves individuals 18 to 24 years old. We work closely with Pathfinders and other organizations in the community to make sure that we're serving the most vulnerable youth, that we're helping them to transition from young adulthood to sustainability in their adult lives so that they don't go through the youth homelessness system. And we want to make sure that we are giving them that access and that support that they need so that they can stop that trauma early in their lives and be able to sustain fruitfully. So we really appreciate your support. Awesome.

Alright. Did they fulfill your your your expectations?

I think so.

How do you see that?

I would agree.

Alright, you guys. I'm glad you guys got to meet. Thank you so much. We know these organizations while they do excellent in the community, made some good choices. On the chambers.

Thank you, mister chair. Of course. I'm going to just echo you know what everyone has been saying. Most importantly to the youth council. You know, thank you for revival and thank you for taking the opportunity and thank you for being put in the forefront to lead our individual districts.

You know, it's a lot of work to be done especially within your particular community far as the homelessness and and you know, the mental health and I I'm just really am excited and just feel with joy because honestly, it's it's it's it's individuals like you that is going to be the ones that's going to talk to your peers in order to move things forward and if you can talk about it. Yeah. You are being about it and thank you as a representative as the author person in the 2nd District for picking you know, Center for Neighborhood Center as a person who grew up in this center. I know the fantastic work that director Hudson and everyone is doing and also the monk friendship. You know, myself and mister chair has the highest among population throughout the city and know the work that they are being put you know, being put forward and also congratulations to Pathfinders and Walkers Point for being recipients of this fantastic funding from the youth council.

So, at the appropriate time, I'll move adoption. Excellent.

Excellent. I did want you guys help on something. I got a message yesterday, and I confirmed it with the captain. So Milwaukee has a curfew ordinance now. Uh-huh.

So what it is is a citywide curfew in effect from 11PM to 5PM through August 31, and it's for young people 17 and under. There's a fine. The curfew fine is $94, and the parents, their responsibility responsibility curfew ticket is $195. So spread that to the young people that need to be with them adults, and this is only going to the thirty first, but which the goal is to try to crack down on some of the violence that's happening in the community. So I don't know if everybody knew that, but I did get it confirmed with the captain this morning. Yes, ma'am.

If I could just add on, I would love to invite the youth council as well as anyone interested on August 14 from ten to 02:30. Walker's Point is going be joining an open house of our shelter. So if you'd like to come see some of the work that you decided to help us continue with, we'd love to have you join us.

That'll be excellent. Why you send who's the chairman of the youth council? Do you have a delinquent? Okay. You do that for one Would you would you please take that responsibility and get it to the young people? Alright. Thank you. So what you guys think about that curfew? You think that's that's okay?

I'm sorry. Did you say eleven p. To 5PM?

Yeah. 5AM. Oh,

AM. Okay.

Yeah. So 11PM where you have to be sleeping. Yeah.

At 5AM.

You can come back out at 5AM.

I I mean, I

think that seems

pretty reasonable. That's reasonable. Right? I mean, my bedtime is ten, which are Y'all don't like that, Oh, yeah. What you think, Owen? Well, you're 18, so you're like, I'm straight. Yeah. Miss Kerr, but what about you? Is that okay for the young people? Are they gonna be upset?

I think it really depends on each person.

Household. Yeah. 11PM is way past when

the street lights come on

also. Yeah. Yeah. So It's not received. The new ordinance. So just in case, I want people to know.

I'll say this.

I'll word out to the young people.

Alright? During the summer, kids work till past eleven or part two

of eleven. Pick them up. You know?

Okay. Yeah.

So that's that's it.

No honor.

What did you say?

I said I think that's good.

Yes. I'm gonna say all along.

I said that I'm worried that it's not on the agenda right now.

What's your point?

I'm worried that we'll go too deep into it. I'm worried about it.

I'm the chairman. Okay. Do have any questions?

I got questions about it,

but I'm worried about it, but I don't wanna bring it up here.

So Oh, I I that's what I wanted to do.

Okay. Okay.

With

that, Alderman Chambers moves for a confirmation hearing no objections are ordered. Thank you. Alright.

Thank you

guys so much.

Alright. Alright. Alright. Alright. Alright. Alright. Next, we have number thirteen two five zero five zero four substitute resolution relating to the use and allocation of community development 2025 reprogramming funds. Thank you, mister chair.

What we have available for reprogramming this year, obviously, going through a pretty lengthy discussion on that. We have $2,050,000 available. And if you'd like, can just sort of read down the list of what recommendations are coming from the administration. Youth Council Reserve, we just sort of discussed that already. This will be the $80,000 that's by ordinance that goes to youth council from any reprogramming dollars that we have.

Under housing, Milwaukee Princeton Center Youth Builds. This is a youth build program where young people get to learn how to do construction, job training skills in the construction trades. We have supported this program for a number of years for youth builds. The request was $200,000 The recommendation was $100,000 CDGA housing NIP pool. This is for our owner occupied program.

What we've been running to over the past few years as cost of labor and material have really skyrocketed. We have caps on the home program of how much money can go into any one unit. And so in order to make up for some of the cost overruns, and I won't say cost overruns, we've been having to deny participation in the program because the costs are too high. So with CDBG funds, don't have the same cap on that. We want to be able to supplement these projects, the home projects, with CDBG funds in order to make sure we can get some of our most vulnerable population the owner occupied rehab that they need.

Most of the people who go through the NIP program are generally elderly or older households. Everyone has to live in their house for at least five years, and then they make a commitment to stay in their house for five years after that. Otherwise, they may have to repay some of the funds. So this is the oldest program in the Black Grant office. Actually, it's been around probably ever since the inception of the Black Grant program. So it's highly successful. We avoid foreclosure, everything that a vulnerable homeowner could face when it comes to having co compliance or issues like that.

Do you think

members of the community know about this program?

About the NIP program?

Yeah. And just the opportunity to get their houses repaired.

Generally, the so we the city has a bunch of housing programs. A lot of them go through DCD. We have other community partners that do them. We used to do a lot of outreach on this program. It generally would have led to this really long waiting list. When I first started CGA, the waiting list for this program was like 800 to 1,000 people. It was unrealistic. You would never get to someone in like ten years before they would ever get service. So that was a problem. We sort of try to make sure we stop creating waiting lists.

So all the program marketing generally does go through the community based organizations out there. They always have lines. We don't have people not using the program. Certainly, we could be great if we have more funding for it so we can tackle more. We used to do about 100 units a year. We're down to about 60 or 70 for this program.

Alright. That's housing, right?

Then we have yes. And then bridge builders.

Yep.

We've heard from a few members on for things for minor home repair. We used to have a minor home repair program as well. However, it was mostly client based, meaning the homeowner would have to have a match for the money and then they would have to be responsible for the project. And it became wonky. You know, people don't have the same skill set in order to have to either do some rehab themselves or hire a contractor to do some of the rehab.

So we had pretty much gotten rid of the program, but with Alderman Jackson, Alderman Moore, really, really, really kept pushing for some type of minor repair program. So I think we selected actually two requests from bridge builders and their West Side partners in order to be able to do exterior rehab to help mostly probably seniors, and that's who generally who goes through these types of programs. It may just be getting their porch painted because they have some chipping paint or it could be a railing that's missing or something like that that can help that home particular homeowner with that some small rehab

Oh, yeah.

Without having to qualify for some of the other programs that are out there.

Okay. Leadership from the housing awardees, would you please come up? Just give us a brief introduction and what type of applicants are applying, and do you feel that the program is being promoted enough? And, thank you so much for what you do. So who would like to go first?

I can go first. I'm Karen Higgins, Executive We Director of Milwaukee Christian do oversee a KNP program. I've had many years overseeing the KNP program. We probably do between 20 to 23 houses a year. It's a complicated process because people have to own their home for a period of time and promise to keep that home for a period of time and then come up with a lot of substantiation to be able to qualify for the program.

But then their house is brought up to code. We do everything in our power to promote it in terms of getting out to community meetings. We've been on both the North Side and South side because we don't just do South side houses. And we're proud. We've gotten some new contractors so there's been a quicker turnaround in terms of finishing the work.

But one of the things that is alluded to is the cost has gone up significantly to bring the And houses up to that's why having that extra pool of money there that the houses are estimated to get a job done in a certain amount and they can't get done is to have those dollars available to be able to access so we can do the house completely so it's brought up to coal.

Sure. What population is your greatest need? Are there seniors?

It's a lot of older adults and they're the ones that don't really, what will happen is they'll finally go to the city or somebody will help them go to the city and then they come to us. And it's not a natural process, but they come to us and say, I need help. And then we start to work with them and hope they have the substantiation to be able to for us to be able to work with them.

Sure. So you have somebody on staff to help them guide them through the process.

Right. We have a woman who's been doing it for forty years, believe I it or mean, she's very good at what she does in terms of taking their initial application, helping them understand what they need to do and to get it to the process of we have to do a lot before we take it to the city and the city has to substantiate the work that we've done to say that they qualify.

All right. Excellent. Excellent. Yes, sir.

Good afternoon. William Olivier. I'm the community impact pastor at Bridge Builders. I've been with the organization for two years. Our mission is to inspire inner city innovation that will that will holistically transform neighborhoods. We applied for this funding to help support the work that we're already doing. We work at two neighborhoods. I'll try to be as brief as possible. We work at two neighborhoods, Old North Milwaukee and Thurston Woods. Our service area is founded by Congress Avenue on the South Mhmm.

Up to about Florist Avenue on the North. Floris is about two blocks north of Silver Spring. And from Tetonia on the East up to 51st Street, that's our service area. Within that service area, we have two what we call target areas where we focus more of our work. That's not really relevant to what we're talking about. Okay.

I'm just

trying to figure out where pop in. And

so we

work in these buckets. We work really in three different buckets. The one that we're talking about though is is housing is housing repairs. We do these exterior home improvement projects for residents in our in our service area and we really it's it's actually a really it's actually a really cool really cool design. Okay. What happens is residents can come to us and and get a project done and we only ask that they and they can get that project done for free. Most most of the time, it's it's done for free. We do tell people that they're able to pay for the material cost and then they will provide the labor to get that to to get a project done.

Okay.

And so if somebody wants their garage painted, you know, five gallons of paint is a little more cost effective for people. If people want a fence built, $1,600 worth of lumber may be a little more cost prohibitive. And so we tell people, hey, as long as you serve first on another neighbor's project, and then that puts them in line to get that project done. We've since added the condition to have people attend two of our neighborhood meetings that we have every month as a way to help people get engaged with each other, engage with the work that we're doing, engage with our partners who are at our neighborhood meetings, oftentimes our auditor person, Audubon Jackson is often there as well. And so that gives people an opportunity just to begin to meet each other.

I always say our service area is really big. It gets a little smaller every time somebody gets a gets gets a chance to meet somebody different. Right? And so you no longer become that person who lives a block and a half away. Now that's mister James who lives a block and a half away, and that block and a half doesn't feel like the Grand Canyon. Exactly. It doesn't feel like a block and a half anymore. Yeah. It just feels like that person who just lives down the street. And so some of the things that we've done in the past is painting people's garages.

People can get fined by the city if their garages in disrepair. So we've helped people scrape off the old paint, repaint their garage. We've built six foot privacy fences for people. We've done landscaping projects. When I say landscaping, everybody thinks that means cutting down a tree in their backyard and unfortunately, it does not mean cutting down somebody's tree. But but with this additional funding that may be able to be a an opportunity for us. We do these surveys one Saturday a month from May through October. I'm praying that it doesn't snow in October and praying that it's not still snowing in May. Right. And so we do this one Saturday a month.

We have our volunteers who we rely so heavily on because I don't know anything about lumber or painting or anything. And so we rely on the help of volunteers to get this work done. It really does work. Do about, on average, do about four projects a Saturday and with six serve days, it's about 32 projects a summer that we're able to complete every now and again. We'll do what we call a one off project for somebody.

I learned how to build a fence last summer. I don't want to do that again. But I did learn how to build a fence last summer doing something during the week for a resident. And so these resources will help us just be able to increase that impact. We hope to help people with concrete stairs in the front of their house. Concrete is something that we do not have the capacity to do or even the resources. It's so much more expensive than lumber to do a concrete step repair. And since we hope to be able to do some of those things, siding,

potentially

roofing as well, again, we don't charge residents for any of these projects. For the most part, we just ask that they come a to couple of neighborhood meetings, serve on another neighbor's project first, and then that puts them in line to get their project done. About that, if a person isn't able to serve because they have some physical limitation or what have you, they can send somebody else to serve in their place. And so we really do make it as easy as possible for a person to get a project done. And we're happy to well, not happy. We're blessed to be able to be in a position to be able to do more. Excellent.

Excellent. Let me see if have any questions or comments about community. I

have a question for Mario.

Yeah.

I know we went over the reprogramming funds on Friday. Were there any changes made? Because my hard copy that you brought me indicated 532,500 for the CDGA housing net pool.

Yes. And it's reduced here. There there was a request by Alderman Chambers that he actually sent me back in December that I did miss in my email when I was looking for it. So once I talked to him after I talked to you on that missed email, and that is reflective in the Havenswoods Neighborhood Partnership program.

Yeah. This is kind of

That's no Havenwoods awarding on here.

Yeah. It's in the it's in the file. So when I when I did the file for on Friday evening, that was included. But it wasn't included when I talked to you that morning. It was or was not? It was not.

Okay. Yeah. Full disclosure. Autumn Sheriff's reached out to me months ago, and I told him you and Mario put the program together. And what are what are

we talking about?

Yeah. What are the request again? So, I think it was certainly.

I have Stephanie Arlen online as well to go a little bit more about it but it's for the streetkeeper program that encompass three districts, myself, auto woman, Taylor, and auto woman Pratt. So and Stephanie, correct me

if I'm wrong.

The streetkeepers program, they hire

excuse me. Okay.

We off topic.

No, man. This is free. Yeah. What's up? You're talking about off topic for? This is all this is topic. We could Go ahead.

Oh, okay. The streetkeeper program encompass, like I said, three districts throughout the Havenwoods, Nid where they clean up strip malls, they clean up pretty much everywhere within the neighborhood, the Havenwoods neighborhood partnership. Like I said, it encompassed three districts, myself, Autowoman Pratt, and Autowoman Taylors. This additional $50.00 which they requested more for that It allows them to hire more people in there and actually tackle on encompass more fires with our legal dumping that's going on within our neighborhoods and to provide some job training and job placement to further strengthen the streetkeepers program, which is highly successful within the program. And I do have Director Stephanie Harling from the Havenwood Neighborhood Partnership available to talk a little bit more if you like.

Okay. I do want to meet with you offline about this, Mario. As you know, and I know we talked just before committee, of my Near South Side groups who applied either got zero or got reduced awards such as Karen who asked for 200. She did receive a reduced award, grateful as she is, but nevertheless, so I didn't know that there was still this possibility. It appears there was because Alderman Chambers was able to advocate for

Well, initially, asked. Well, I'm sorry. If I may. I I won't hope you got the phone.

I'm sorry.

I I guess I'm finished. Yeah.

Go ahead. Well, you know, I initially asked we initially I initially had Havenwood request this in the initial funding for this program and I was told that we would have to wait for the reprogramming dollars in order to have an opportunity for that. So, this has been going on for at least a year, if not more. You know, far of the program and I'm very happy that we were able to do that. You know, I didn't know where the funds are coming from and honestly, I think it was fair, you know, that you know, we're at that. So, again, I have Stephanie Harlan to go a little bit more but I hope that answer your question on a

woman. Okay.

Well, I if if I can just add, for instance, I advocated quite a while ago from Juarez Compodere to receive an allocation. As you can see, they did request just under $45,000 If you see, the recommendation is zero. And this was quite a while ago as well. I was advocating for we had a meeting. I was able to get them a meeting with Mario Higgins. So I I did the same. I would argue that I also advocated for

Yeah.

Quite a while. This wasn't just yesterday.

I gotcha.

Thank you. Alright.

So the main thing is communication and sitting down at the proper time. So we can all discuss that about about the future. I understand both the where you both the guys come from. I've been doing it for a while, so I kinda know when what to do. So thank you guys for those Do we have any more questions or comments? You guys, thank you. Excellent. We look forward to working with you guys in the community. Please give the good work. Alderman Jackson. Thank you,

mister chair.

Yeah.

I just wanna say Tony's support of Bridge Builders. They're my number one advocate since the beginning. Their model in housing, which is hard to do, is fill in the gaps. The housing stuff is so strict to what they do. It's so much gap funding. So it's hard to get funding for just the porch. It's hard to get funding for just the roof. It's hard to get funding for just the fence. What their model is to fill in the gaps and that we can't cover broadly. I like the way they do a policy can get it done. I just wanna thank you for doing your work.

Thank you, sir.

And, Martin,

the the the rehab money in the these more judges have the ability to apply that to help out with gap funding for construction costs. Is that correct?

Speaking of.

The CBDGA housing net pool.

Only only the net agencies.

Just the net agencies. Right. Right. Right. And these agencies are net agencies.

Bridge Builders has that's a different funding source, but Milwaukee Commission Center is yes.

Yes, Okay. Alright. Thank you. Any more questions for the old woman?

Yes, thank you.

Of course.

Chairman Samberg. I see now what my colleague is talking about had to put out a side by side just to understand the document that I got on Friday had 532,500 and it didn't have Havenwoods. That's that that is just that we didn't have the like what is this? Which one's in the file? Is

it one

with Havenwoods in the file?

The one in in the file is with Havenwoods. Yes.

But when did we get an update that it got updated? That's what I'm trying to talk about.

Well, when I put it in the file, it was after I talked to both the sent you that and after I talked to spoke with Zamore because when I got ahold of Alderman Chambers and he discussed with me that he had sent the request and he did. I looked back and it was in December for that request and we were going to we absolutely intended supporting that program.

And just so you know, it's not about the program. I'm just, I can't, I feel like I can't keep up like, so in the file is the one that has the Havenwoods

in it? Correct.

Okay, but you never note like, was there an amended agenda?

I I never. He never filled it. He never. I never filled it. That's why. Before that.

That's why because I had gotten this on Friday. Yeah. And I had forwarded and I looked at it and I had talked to you about it. So that that's why I now understand why my colleague is asking that question.

Correct.

So, again, it's not about the content. It's just about that was a change and I didn't even ask you about the amended agenda but it wasn't on this item. So now I understand. I'm not saying I have an issue with it, but we got to figure out a little little better communication between there because I was operating. I literally have all my notes on the original Friday file. That's why my numbers were wrong. So

Correct.

Okay. Okay. Don't have an issue with it. It's just I didn't know

and. I

mean, thing.

Well, to this to this point,

mister chair, if I may, not not none on this. I mean, I got questions on the CDGA housing input anyways because I want to know where is this money encompassing, where is it getting, who who does it funds? Like, like geographically, what part of the city does this pool funds to this citywide or this is focused on other parks because I never heard of this.

It's it's it's not citywide. The program, there's there's six different providers and they're all operating in the block area. What are

the providers?

WestCare is a provider, Milwaukee Christian Center, Community North Carolina. Community First is a provider. Gibraltar Development Corporation is a provider.

Where are they located

at if you don't mind me asking? Community. I know WestCare. I know where Christian Center is located at, but we're

at DW located. First is off. They their offices are off Lisbon. Lisbon in, like, forty second. They're think they would in there with Rooted and Rising. Gibraltar, they used to operate in King Drive off in in Hope Word of Hope or Mhmm. Or the school, the Hope School. Yep. He got offices in there. Who did I miss?

Excuse me.

You can send me some And then, oh, actually, we have a new one this year and Habitat started doing owner occupied rehab for the new program as well. Habitat. Yeah. They that was an award from 2025.

So they're part of this the housing nipple?

If they They're eligible. They they would be eligible for if they had cost overruns to where their project would get denied normally because of the caps that are on the home program. So this funds allows them to be able to get funding to get over that cap so we don't have to deny the applicant.

And and I get that. So but where are these pools like block grant? I I assume like as where they're servicing. Like, where are they servicing that?

They they can service any, they can service anyone. If you. Citywide. Yeah. They they will help.

Applications from anywhere and and I like taking them from anywhere even though we're located on the near South Side. Okay. It's a matter of getting information out to people and and we and the city does refer to us from all over the city in terms of vetting people and seeing what we can do.

Okay. Alright. Yeah, I would like to get a little more information about this entire program but thank you mister chairman. Okay. We

can do that.

Sure. Thank you. Thank you, mister chairman.

Alright. Alright. I'll take responsibility on making sure the communication gets better next time. I'll reach out to all of you. I've I've met with a few of you, but I'll reach out to all of you next time and discuss what your proposals would be for for your particular organization. So other than that, Mario, do you have any more comments?

Not on that. I mean, I'll I'll definitely sit down with other one with Zamripa over the over the over the mistake for sure.