Finance Committee - Regular Meeting

Alright. Good evening, everyone. We'll call the Tuesday, 03/10/2026 meeting of the finance committee to order. We have a quorum this evening, full committee. Next on the agenda is the pledge of allegiance. Please rise.

Of allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Excuse me. Alright. Next item on the agenda is public comments. Is there any members of the public that wish to address the finance committee? Mister Riley? Well, thank you for the slip. If you would come to the center microphone, sir, give us your name and address, and you have two minutes.

Thank you. I'm, Kevin Riley, 430 Prospect Avenue, Waukesha, Wisconsin. I'm here to speak in support of the crisis response unit and how valuable they are. On a personal level, I worked at Waukesha County Mental Health for many, many years, got to know the population of Waukesha City and the counties chronically mentally ill very well, and also worked with the sheriffs and the Waukesha Police Department very, very often. And I gotta say, the crisis response unit, the crisis workers that have been trained and helped the sheriffs and the police department are amazing.

They save money. They're a huge asset to families when they're in crisis, and they know that they can get a crisis worker to come. Our Waukesha Police Department is amazing, but they don't necessarily have the same skills and experience with mental health, developmental disabilities, people in emotional crisis. They save us so much money. So many less people get sent to Mendota or Waukesha County Mental Health because of the crisis workers intervene, find them resources, and get the officers back out on the road.

So I'm just in support of all that for all those reasons and hope that we can find ways to keep that program funded.

Great.

Thank you, mister Riley. Any other members of the public wish to address the committee this evening? Alright. Seeing no other public comment, we'll move on to item number four a, which is an approval of the minutes for the January 27. Any changes to the minutes from the committee? Alright. Seeing none, those minutes are approved to unanimous consent. We have three business items this evening. Item number five a is review and possible action on a contract for technical rescue services with the village of Lisbon. Chief Kaplan.

Good evening. This is the very similar to the contract that I last brought to you for Watertown. In fact, it's exactly the same just with the village of Lisbon. It's our standard technical services contract. This really results from the fact that Pewaukee is now contracted to provide services to Lisbon. Lisbon has a contract with us for technical services and this is tech technical rescue. There is a revenue stream of this of about $4,200 to to into the city. And this contract has already been approved by the village of Lisbon and it is our has been reviewed by attorney running as well.

Great. Chief, one question I have with these that I didn't think about with Watertown is, so say we're in Watertown and then Lisbon needs us, Who's our how does Mavis work or who's our backup for something like this if we get two calls at the same time?

Sure. So ultimately, depends on are they the are they the exact same type of calls for this type of same type of resources. So as maybe one hazmat and one would be technical rescue. Those are different types. We might be able to free up resources and respond to both of those. We'd have to call more people in and so on. But if we were not available and we couldn't cover that response, then it would be a mutual aid request through Mavis likely going to Milwaukee County. Okay.

Any other questions for the chief? Alright. I'll make a motion to approve the contract for technical rescue services with the village of Lisbon. Is there a second? Second by alder person Helman Slabin. We have a motion and a second. Discussion? Alright. I think we're gonna do a voice vote, Maria, if that's okay. So all those in favor sign aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? That item passes. Thank you. Thank you, chief. Item number five b is review and possible action on funding to raise the property at 137 And 139 East Park Avenue. Maria? Thank you.

So yes, this is a request for funding to raise the property at 137139 East Park. Brief history in 2023, our code enforcement officers and trade inspectors conducted a thorough inspection of the home and the property. The property was determined at that time to be unsafe for human habitation. Orders were written to raise and repair raise or repair the building. The owner took no action and so the city then through the process did seek a raise order through the circuit court and the judge just issued that order in February.

The building continues to be unsafe. There were some additional excerpts from our building and building inspection reports and photographs in the cover sheet, But it continues to be unsafe. It's structurally, it's severely compromised. There's been have been squatters from time to time in this property and it continues to be a blight on the rest of the neighborhood. So we're requesting funds this evening to raise raise the building and remove the asbestos and remove the blight this blighted property from the neighborhood.

The estimated cost is $45,000 and it would be invoiced to the owner and if the owner doesn't pay then it would be, if it remains unpaid it would roll to the tax bill.

And Maria then then the idea would be is once the property sold there'd be a lien on title on the property and the person that would buy the property in a sense would have to reimburse the city to get clear title. That's my understanding with these as well. So the city may get the money eventually when the property sells. Is there other questions for Maria on this Alright. I'll entertain a motion. Alderman Helbensland.

I will gladly make the motion, to approve funds for raising, $1.37 $1.39 East Park Avenue.

Is there a second? Second by Alderman Lemke. We have a motion and a second on this item. Any further discussion? All All those in favor sign aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Item passes unanimously. Maria, thank you. Brings us to item number five c, which is review and possible action on mental health crisis response unit agreement and contract. Chief.

Thank you. So the unit's been in existence since 2023, where we started with one clinician and one specially trained officer. Council approved in 2023 a grant that has funded a second clinician position that was staffed as of May 2024 and is going to continue through grant funding for the grant that we applied for through May 31. In collaboration with DHS, we're able to get a state grant that's going to help carry the second clinician funding through the 2026. And this request is then to sustain that unit beyond 2026 to fund one clinician.

The county has committed to continuing to fund one of the clinician positions off of their operating budget. So it would be two officers, two clinicians, which is the model that we've currently had since May '24.

Chief, this is for 2027? Correct. Okay. So from a a budgetary standpoint, I'll look towards mister Shiro and mister Brown. How do so if this contract is approved, this would be some this would be one of those items that the council would, in some respect be strongly encouraged obligated to approve as part of the 2027 operating budget. Is that correct Tony?

Correct. So if the finance committee along with the council approve this agreement, what we are in effect saying is that we are funding the second clinician, for the county to continue with the operating model for the crisis response unit that is existing right now.

And the county and Tom, I'll come back to both of you. The county is funding one and with this agreement we would fund the second one. Is that accurate? Correct. Is one of those clinicians shared with another municipality as part of this agreement or would they both be committed to the city of Waukesha?

Both committed to the city of Waukesha.

Okay. Because I had heard that the city of Brookfield also had a similar program and I was just curious if there was any sharing with the city of Brookfield as part of this agreement?

No.

Okay. Other questions for the assistant chief? Alderman Lemke.

I just wanna make a comment. I agree a 100% that we need the clinician because saving police time is important. But I we also have to keep as a council the the fact of our budgets and what the revi what the tax levy limits approach us to. So I think there may be a time where we might be coming back to the police department and saying, tighten your belts a little bit, but that's that's just my idea and opinion. Thank you.

Well, Rick, I agree. I think that I think those conversations I know those conversations are being had with every department as it relates to to belt tightening and and making sure that we're prioritizing programs that that deliver, you know, deliver a high level of return for our bosses. And in my humble opinion, this is one of them. I mean, I in some of the nonprofit work that I do, has a tendency to to touch homelessness. And I know that is just one of the segments that this particular group works with.

And I can I agree with mister Riley? I mean, results of this program have been phenomenal. I mean, I saw on the cover sheet that, you know, we've had roughly a 17% diversion away from emergency detentions compared to a 10% target. And all of us that have done police ride alongs just know that when you have an ED or emergency detention that the officer time that that takes up to make sure that that person's getting the care that they need. And if that individual ends up going to county or to the emergency room, the officer time just continues to multiply.

And if we can have if we have a way and a proven way to manage that situation to get a better outcome and get a better outcome for our you know, for that particular individual and a better outcome for our city, I'm in all favor. So I'm I've been a strong proponent of this program since the inception. I'm a strong supporter of it. I'm glad to see the contract is here tonight. And I'd ask the finance committee to support it. And I'd certainly ask council to as well. With that, I'll defer to alderperson Helbenslaven.

Yeah. I will make the motion to approve the mental health crisis response unit agreement with Waukesha County.

Is there a second? Second by alderperson Wiggerson. And we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion on the item? Alright. All those in favor sign aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Item passes unanimously. Thank you chief. Thank you. Brings us to item number six communications. Gentlemen.

I don't have anything specific outside to say that our next scheduled meeting is March 31.

Very good. Any referrals from the committee? Any objection to adjourning? Seeing none, we are adjourned. Thank you folks. Thank you.