Milwaukee Common Council Meeting - May 12, 2026

The Common Council of Milwaukee met on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 9:15 AM in the Common Council Chamber. All 15 aldermen were present. The meeting was called to order at 9:24 AM and adjourned at 11:56 AM. Key actions included a contentious debate on the reallocation of $617,215 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the adoption of several resolutions opposing the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act and We Energies' rate increase request, and numerous routine approvals.

Consent Calendar

• Commendations and Condolences: A communication listing 20 commendatory/condolatory resolutions was placed on file unanimously.
• Licenses Committee: An ordinance relating to intoxicating liquor sales (File 201619) was placed on file. A motion approving license recommendations (File 252234) was adopted 15-0, including a 20-day suspension for Lush Social Lounge and nonrenewal of a Class D operator's license.
• Public Works Committee: Items 4-14 and 16 (sidewalk dining fees, walk replacement crew study, wireless antenna leases, public improvement projects, easements, grants, etc.) were adopted unanimously. Item 15 (security zones in entertainment districts) was referred back to committee. Items 17-21 (water works department, weekend road repairs, dockless mobility systems, pothole data) were placed on file unanimously.
• Finance & Personnel Committee: Items 22-26, 28-36, 37-40 (ordinances on city information management, pay rates, positions; resolutions on fund carryovers, travel, bonds, grants; and board appointments) were adopted unanimously. Items 41-43 (ARPA task force, fraud hotline report, classification studies) were placed on file.
• Judiciary & Legislation Committee: Items 44-46 (lawsuit settlement, speed-limiting device support, municipal court deposit schedule) were adopted 14-0 (Ald. Dimitrijevic excused). Item 47 (assessments) placed on file. Claims 48-50 were disallowed and indefinitely postponed.
• Public Safety & Health Committee: Items 51-61 (parking/traffic controls, health department strategies, pedestrian safety grant, justice assistance grant, beach monitoring, healthy food fund, WIC grant, fire department agreement, EMS intergovernmental agreement, opioid settlement funds) were adopted unanimously. Items 62-64 (trauma care, intervention task force, standard operating procedures) placed on file.
• Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee: Items 65-82 (zoning changes, sign modifications, sale-backs of tax-deeded properties, TID amendments, school playfield expansion, lease) were adopted unanimously. Item 70 (TID No. 133) was referred back to committee. Item 83 (revenue bonds for Arbor Ridge and St. James Place) was placed on file 14-1 (Ald. Brower opposed, expressing support for affordable housing).
• Community & Economic Development Committee: Item 84 (youth advisory council membership) passed with an amendment to increase members from 11 to 13. Items 85-92 (food system grant, board appointments) were adopted unanimously.
• Immediate Adoption: Items 93-95 (certified survey maps, meeting schedule amendment) adopted unanimously. Items 96 and 97 (see Discussion Items) were adopted unanimously.

Discussion Items

• ARPA Fund Reallocation (File 252047): The original resolution reallocated up to $617,215 in ARPA funds. Ald. Dimitrijevic proposed Substitute A, which would allocate $300,000 to the Zilber Foundation's Bridge Project (cash transfers to pregnant women) and $317,214.37 to the Legal Aid Society for Eviction Free MKE. After debate—where some aldermen (Chambers, Coggs, Moore) argued for youth employment programs and criticized the rushed process—the motion was divided. First, the $300,000 for the Bridge Project passed 9-6 (Ald. Pratt, Chambers, Coggs, Jackson, Moore, Burgelis voting no). Second, the $317,214.37 for Eviction Free MKE passed 15-0. Ald. Stamper then moved to reconsider to allow amendments adding youth programs, but later withdrew. Final adoption of the amended resolution (Substitute 3) passed 10-5 (Ald. Pratt, Chambers, Coggs, Moore, Burgelis voting no). The final package directed funds solely to the two programs in Substitute A.
• Voting Rights Act Resolution (File 260104): A resolution expressing opposition to the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act was introduced for immediate adoption. Several aldermen (Stamper, Chambers, Burgelis) spoke in support, emphasizing the need to protect minority voting rights. Adopted unanimously 15-0.
• We Energies Rate Increase (File 260106): A resolution opposing We Energies' request for a rate increase (10.28% in 2027 and 5.52% in 2028) and authorizing the City Attorney to intervene in the rate case was introduced. Ald. Dimitrijevic highlighted a cumulative 32% increase from 2022-2026. Adopted unanimously 15-0.
• Item 83 – Affordable Housing Revenue Bonds: Ald. Brower spoke against placing on file, arguing for approval to create affordable housing. Ald. Bauman and Ald. Taylor (district alderman) opposed, citing lack of community input and concerns about the out-of-state entity. The motion to place on file passed 14-1 (Brower no).

Key Outcomes

• ARPA Funds (10-5 final adoption): Approved $300,000 for Zilber Foundation's Bridge Project and $317,214.37 for Legal Aid Society's Eviction Free MKE. Vote: 10 ayes (Brower, Bauman, Westmoreland, Jackson, Zamarripa, Taylor, Perez, Spiker, Dimitrijevic, Stamper) and 5 nays (Pratt, Chambers, Coggs, Moore, Burgelis).
• Voting Rights Act Resolution (15-0): Adopted unanimously.
• We Energies Rate Intervention (15-0): Adopted unanimously.
• Routine Items: All remaining committee recommendations and immediate adoption items passed with unanimous or near-unanimous votes (one vote recorded against placing file 83 on file).