To the Thursday, May 21st meeting of the Public Safety and Health Committee.

It is 906.

I'm Alderman Scott Spiker, Chair of the Committee, joined to my right by Vice Chair Alderman Bergelis, to his right by Alder Taylor.

We'll be joined shortly by Alders Moore and Chambers.

Also joined by Staff Assistant Joanna Ortiz.

Item one file number 260036, an ordinance relating to parking controls.

Good morning, Mr.

Chair, members of the committee.

Scott Reinbacher with the Department of Public Works.

Today we have a few changes to the city's parking regulations.

First, we are proposing to remove the no-parking any time restrictions on a few segments of West State Street, Kilborne, and Wells near North 27th Street to free up parking for residents and businesses.

Second, we are proposing to implement a two-hour parking zone from 7 a.m.

to 7 p.m.

Except Sundays on East Corcoran Avenue from Jackson Street to Harbor Drive.

New street that was recently built.

Finally, we are proposing to extend the 25 minute meter parking zone on Sundays from 8 a.m.

to 9 p.m.

Uh on North Prospect Avenue, just south of East North Avenue.

So all of these changes were coordinated with the local Alders.

Happy to answer any questions.

Any questions?

If not, Alder Bergelis would move to recommend passage and hearing no objections so ordered.

Item two, file number two six zero zero three seven, an ordinance relating to traffic controls.

Yes, we are proposing a few changes to the city's regulatory traffic controls.

First, we are proposing to install all way stop signs at the intersections of Orchard and 32nd, Chambers and Fratney, Burleigh and Fratney, and Auer and Fratney.

And also we are proposing to remove the one-way traffic flow uh condition on North 22nd Street between Highland and Juneau to support the Milwaukee High School of the Arts uh dismissal plan.

So all of these have been coordinated with the local Alders.

Happy to answer any questions.

Questions from committee members?

If not, Alder Taylor would move to recommend passage and hearing no objections to order.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Item three, file number two six zero zero seven one, substitute resolution relative to acceptance and funding of 2026 women infants and children.

Breastfeeding peer counseling grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Good morning.

My name is Laurie Palmer, Deputy Commissioner of Family and Community Services at the Health Department.

This is an annual grant award for breastfeeding peer console for our WIC program.

Okay.

110,000.

110.

Okay.

There's more details in the file.

Anyone have any questions?

No.

If not, Alder Moore is joined us to Alder Moore would recommend uh move that we recommend adoption.

Um any objection?

Then so ordered.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Moore.

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

Okay.

And two.

And two.

I think I was here.

I was here for two.

Okay.

I saw it in.

So with that, that's so ordered.

Uh item four.

File number two five one eight five five, substitute resolution relative to acceptance and funding of the twenty-five through twenty nine lead hazard reduction and healthy homes grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Hi everyone, Tyler Webber, Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Health.

This is a four-year HUD grant funded at 7.7 million dollars.

And it will cover uh lead hazard reduction in about 300 units.

Uh 160 will be handled by uh Habitat Free Mandity and the remainder will be handled by uh the City of Milwaukee Health Department, but all referrals will come from the health department for the 300 units.

So uh we're excited about this, and it's the first time we've had two HUD grants running at the same time.

So this is a new one that's starting.

We're already two years into another one, and hopefully every two years we get a new HUD grant.

We get into that process.

And when did the other one start?

Uh two, three years ago.

Okay.

So we'll be coming up for another application on that one.

Yep.

Okay.

Yeah, no, this is good news.

So 300 units you said could be of a baby with this money.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

And it covers staffing.

Uh it also has healthy homes fund tied into it so we can do more work per unit.

Everything from smoke alarms to potential asthma prevention and additional work tied in.

Very good.

Alder Brighells.

David, this is for lead hazard.

Yes, lead paint hazard.

Lead paint has a reduction.

Correct.

This is a and the HUD grant specifies that.

In rare cases, we could use it for lead pipes, but it has to be uh a lot of evidence has to be piled up for that specific case.

So this is by and large a lead paint lead paint has a reduction grant.

Uh further questions.

Um I saw in the file you're going to work with coal to do outreach to test.

Outreach and education.

Um it used to be SDC and coal is more taking taken on that role on the north side.

Uh and uh we work on the other HUD grant.

We work with 16th Street Community Health Center on the south side, okay, 16th Street, which is in my district.

Okay, very good.

Uh any questions?

Additional questions.

If not, Alder Taylor would move to recommend adoption or referral to finance and personnel and hearing no objections, so ordered very good news.

Thank you.

All right, now we begin our series of communication files this morning.

We have quite a few.

Um item five is file number two five one five eight three communication from DPW providing a status update on implementation of the habitual parking violator ordinance.

So uh this is sponsored by me.

Um so folks will remember this is an ordinance that got passed last year, went into effect at the beginning of this year.

Um for folks with I believe five or more tickets over 60 days past due.

Um we had towed them if they were parking illegally before, but let them out of the lot with just paying their um their tow fee and storage fee um with the new ordinance, they are required to either pay up um their outstanding tickets or set up a date with municipal court.

Um we had an update on this very early on in January, I believe.

Um so this is just an update um more into the quarter.

Uh so with that uh uh kick it over to Mr.

Knox from DPW.

Good morning, everyone.

This is Peter Knox, Parking Service Manager City Milwaukee.

Um I did include a one-page data sheet because there's a lot of numbers on here.

Um if you don't have it, I do have some hard copies.

Hard copies.

With people like hard copies.

And I get one.

Yes, we're in here.

Never mind.

We always look at that.

It's this one, right?

That is that one, that is correct.

Okay, there's two in the file, but this is the most current.

Um, so I'm excited to be here um to kind of talk about this.

Um being five months in, we were able to take kind of a deeper dive into things than what we what I presented in January, where we kind of just kind of reflected on the toes, but now we kind of see some patterns pertains to people being proactive to not get towed.

At the end of the day, our goal is to reduce the numbers of individual parking violator toes and just have people just to address their citations.

That's the ultimate goal.

Um, and I think we are starting to see some benefits of this ordinance in regards to that.

Um, I am gonna refer first off to this sheet here.

Just to go over some numbers.

Okay.

Um, just to remind everybody, um, the ordinance in effect November 1st of 2025.

We did a six-day moratorium, so we did collect money, so we had um 450 45 people that paid their citations ahead of time to prevent being towed.

Um, in 2026, um, from January 1st, uh most of that's through May 15th or May 20th, because we have multiple um platforms that um that um hold this data.

Um this is a breakdown of the payments that have been made.

So at the toll lots uh from January 1st to May 15th.

Um, these are more people that have been towed for HPV, but we've collected over 426,000 dollars, 917 people, a little over 8,000 citations.

The rest of this from trip to online, over the counter, kiosk, these are gonna be individuals who made arrangements to pay citations.

Not all of them, that's not not the um yeah, most of them they made arrangements to pay the citations, they weren't towed.

So we can just see tax intercept.

We have about close to 700 people, a little over 3,000 citations, um, 180,000.

Online payments is our biggest platform.

Um nine hundred and seventy two people paid online, um 40 about forty five hundred citations, lower 200, a little over two hundred thousand dollars over the counter, four hundred and sixty five people, um, close to 1,500 citations, close to sixty thousand dollars, kiosk and mail, um, about $20,000.

So overall, since from November 1st through January, we're looking at about a million dollars of citations that were paid, and that's equals about 20,000 citations.

So that is a pretty significant dent in the initial number of citations.

Quick clarificatory question.

So the first line for TOLAT, you said are people who were towed and then are settling up at the tow lot?

Yes, the rest are folks who pay either through trip, have their taxes intercepted, pay online over the counter kiosk mail.

Do we have any idea how those numbers relate to a similar period last year?

Because what we want to know is has this increased the number of folks who decide to settle up.

Yeah, so one of the things that you know, and I could take a deeper dive into that.

What's we weren't tracking before like with payment plans and stuff over the five or more, it was just a general number.

Um, but now we are because we actually have this ordinance in effect.

I can take a deep dive to see if I can able to get that.

Um, I but I do know that all everybody on these payments have been identified as official parking violators.

Um, they've you know received the letter notification.

So that's what the status sets off of, but I can I can take a look into that for you.

Yeah, just to get a picture because you uh kind of asserted that one of the goals is to get people to pay up and not get towed because that's the worst way to find out about the ordinance is getting towed.

Um, so it would be helpful to know.

Well, have we seen an uptake in people being proactive now that this is out there?

No, definitely.

I can definitely look at that.

Okay.

Um, if you look over at to actual physical uh vehicles towed, um, so basically uh we go to the second box there.

Um we've totaled 2,190 toes that's of May 15th.

This changes daily, hourly, you know, all these all the status sets.

Um, and so out of that number on the individuals that elected to pay citations, um, was one thousand thirty-three.

Um setting up a court date was nine hundred and sixteen.

Um that's pretty much been consistent all the way through.

So I think we have a very solid understanding of when individuals towed, it's gonna be close to 5050.

Um so we weren't quite sure, but I think this far in, I'm comfortable with continuing to report out of that, it's just a touch more pay at the tollats.

Um, so that's gonna break down the toes.

Um, I do want to jump back to the box above.

Um, so when we look at um when we look at um, you know, number of court cases.

So when we go back to total of revenue, um we have you know nine hundred and sixteen uh individuals um went to court with a total of ten thousand citations, and that's the value of the citations that get referred to court.

That's not necessarily money collected.

You obviously the courts could just decide what they would do with that.

Um I do want to highlight, and all the end um to your your request as well, is we look at non non non-towed HP pro active payment plans.

Those are individuals that are active on the HPV eligible list that have set up payment plans to remove themselves from that.

Um so I will take a deep dive too to see if there's any way to compare that into previous years of anybody five or more.

But these would be individuals that had received that notification.

Uh they know they could get towed and they are being proactive in that.

So I I think that number is a very healthy number, and I like to see that.

I hope that keeps going up as we continue to communicate with messaging.

Finally, just you know, if I know people ask the breakdown, this is um the tows by automatic districts, you can kind of see where that stands.

Um that also has been very consistent um across each um each month, so it's pretty stable.

And that just to remind everybody, we take a passive approach, meaning that we are not targeting HPV um vehicles.

We basically, if we are doing our patrols, we come across your card, it's legally parked, and if it has five or more citations, then it's eligible, we won't tow the vehicle.

So that is the approach that we take, and we continue to do that as we said we would from the very beginning.

Um, so those are that's pretty much the numbers.

Um from uh quick question there.

So I know you you said our our standard approach, which we're keeping now, is to not proactively tow people who are H who are habitual parking violators.

Um if we see them parked illegally, then we'll tell them that changes though if they miss a court date or go back on a deal they made with us.

Yeah, so if they if there's a court date they default, then we we know this they they can be with us and then we could go on to the Pico, yes.

And so it's too early to tell, but you say forty seven percent set up a court date.

So I imagine this is something you'll work with me and e court to track to see how many of them honor that date.

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

Okay, um, yeah, and then and then just the I think the last thing I just want to touch on is we continue to kind of communicate this.

I I think all the alders I see in emails, I see even constituents.

Um I know the media's been a big part of this.

Um we do uh we did coordinate with the D V centers.

There's flyers posted, it's online, social media, and I think the more that we continue to do that and with everybody engaged in that, I think it does meet our goal where people are being held accountable, paying their citations, and then you know, only being told if they've choose not to do so.

But I I do feel that um look at the numbers, we're heading the right direction with it.

Okay, very good.

Um I have some questions, but we'll s spread it around.

Uh questions from committee members, Alder more.

And we're also joined by Alder Chambers.

Yes.

Um, thank you so much and thank you so much for um this updated uh report.

I just want to make sure that um our audience, um, our um constituents, our community get the correct information.

So we have the um habitual parking violators, those are individuals that have um outstanding tickets that are five or more.

Sixty days past due.

And sixty days past due.

Okay.

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

Okay, for towing for citations, we used to back in the in front of the day we used to.

Yeah, but no, for towing for citations, it's gonna be under this ordinance five or more sixty days past two.

Got it.

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

You'd have like loading zones, loading zone.

But if you're unregistered, that's it.

That's a total of you'll be towed for that.

Um, you know.

So we don't just cite um for unregistered vehicles, we will tow on site for unregistered vehicles.

Got it.

Yeah, um loading zones, you could have, you know, uh blocking, you know, blocking driveways, sure.

A lot of like uh life safety things.

Life safety.

Yeah.

So um we do have the authority to tell any vehicle that's illegally parked, but um, that's pretty much our protocol.

Thank you.

Thank you for that update.

Uh any other questions?

Mr.

Alder Brigals.

Thank you.

Um and we sent out the the warning letters there were 30,000 letters that went out.

About 28,000.

28,000 warning letters went out.

4400 people, 445 people set up payment arrangements proactively.

Um, so about a fifth of that.

Um, which I think is great success.

It's 247,000 dollars worth of citations that we don't have to hunt for or tow.

Yeah.

Uh so I think that that mailer was a uh a great step forward to making sure people know they're on the list and uh apparently 4,455 people did not want to stay on that list.

Yeah.

Or I'm sorry, uh uh five hundred and thirty-one people did not want to stay on that list.

Yeah, that's 44,000.

The one thing I want to add that we did just internally, um, so we had the initial mailing, and what we did is moving forward since then, the minute you get that fifth citation that uh is eligible to 60 days.

We don't we don't tow your car.

What we do is we send out a letter, the letter saying, Hey, you are identified at this.

We put in the system a hold for 10 days.

So essentially you have the letter, you've got about a week before we'll put you on the active toll list.

So we try once again to give everybody the benefit of the doubt.

So I don't want people to think that the minute that hits 60 days we grab that car, we give one more effort to say, Hey, take care of this.

Uh over tiller.

I guess I have a quick question because I noticed that most of the tolls by district we're done.

Uh, sorry.

Closer to the downtown area.

Um, do you know what time of day you guys are telling?

Like, is it during the work day?

Is it in the evening?

Downtown, just because we have well, we have the meters, we have a lot to enforce.

There's a lot of high density towing.

Downtown is patrolled twenty four seven.

Um just because of we need people to move, we have loading zones, we meter violations.

So that's why you're gonna see uh more tows in that area for that.

Um you know, so did that answer your question.

So it's I mean I I can break down my it's uh habitual parking violence can tell happen anytime, you know.

So it's anytime we uh we we uh uh parking force office just a car that's legally parked.

If it is eligible, it will be towed.

So it's kind of all over the map.

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

So uh knowing the time of day, I think it would be.

I I will say this.

Um I don't want to kind of reveal all of our patrol how we do that for safety reasons.

You know, obviously we do a bank park in the city of Milwaukee, so there are more PEOs at out at night.

However, we do staff POs during the day, you know, and you know, the downtown area it it does.

We have to enforce that because you know we have a lot of things we have to corrupt, you know, and so I guess I just you know my my advice would be we communicate it, you know.

If you if you people individuals know they're on the list, please take care of some of them.

You know, so you're not over that five.

Yeah, that would just be my advice.

I mean, I I you know I feel it's the department of cities to do a job communicating it, and um, you know, we're just trying to do as many options we can to be to be supportive of the citizens and their needs as well.

But we, you know, we do we do have to address it.

Yeah, Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, uh, we're joined at the table by Alderman Bauman.

Uh would you like to add your insight?

Yeah, I would say there's very little towing for pitchable violators downtown.

It's the west side neighborhoods, where the massive towing takes.

There's a lot of habitual violators, and I can attach to personally based on the parking patterns that are currently in place.

They're not only habitual violators, but no overnight permits, uh people parking for days, weeks on end in the same spot without vehicles moving.

Um so that's where the problem lies.

It's really not technically downtown, although it's fourth district, yes.

Yeah, yeah.

Is that you?

That match your experience.

No, yeah.

Okay.

Alder Moore?

Um, thank you so much.

Well, well, I have a question.

Is is that's a bad thing, a good thing?

Alderman Bauman.

Um is it that it should be concentrated?

I'm it's squirely in favor of this program.

Yeah, right.

Thank you.

Um, really quick question.

Um, um, so we have some constituents that you know think that our um excuse me, um our parking enforcement um staff roam the city, right?

Looking for vehicles.

Um can you clarify that?

And then I have a quick follow-up.

Yeah.

So I will clarify that.

Um we do not target vehicles.

Um and I think there's some assumptions that we we know every vehicle's at.

We do not.

Um so um we don't know where the virtual parking values are, we don't know where the unregistered vehicles are at.

Um, what we do is we have our patrols, um, and we you know we we do put up a set of high densities where there's needs, but every every there's always a PEO in a district, so we don't we try to we we do spread it out.

Um, but no, it's every um tow, every citation is happening, you know, via just normal patrols.

Um so that's so that's pretty much we come across a car that's unregistered, we'll tow it.

If we come across the vehicle that's is eligible for you know HPV, we will tow it.

Um, you know, if it's a meter violation, we'll cite it.

We're not going to those locations, you know, unless it's a complaint.

So we get over 50,000 complaints a year, but citizens saying, Hey, this vehicle's blocking my driveway, we will respond.

Um so that'd be the one one point where yes.

If your neighbors saying, Hey, you know, my neighbors parked illegally, we're gonna go there.

But when we are doing our normal patrols, you know, throughout the night and day, you know, we have different areas and um that is just happening just kind of randomly.

Yeah, and so we also rely heavily on our constituents to support us by hauling things in.

Yeah, and I will say this, and just you know, I know we do a lot of conversations of exception streets, which that's part of you know, you know, the city, which we understand.

More so with the exception streets, especially because we can't tell when vehicles move, and I you know, we work a lot with uh Alder Bowman's office and his constituents are great.

You know, they say hey, car is a move, we'll send somebody there because when you have alternates side parking, they're moving every night.

Um so what we're trying to prevent is we don't want the city to become a big parking lot where you have vehicles just not moving because it's forty eight hours.

Um, so you know, because we're not gonna know unless we're you know towing them for unregistered or said for unregistered or a different violation, but if there's nothing wrong, they can just leave the car vehicle there.

So we do rely on the constituents a lot, we encourage that.

Um we do have uh you can file a uh complaint online, you can call two eight six eighty three fifty as well.

Um, but you want to do it when the vehicles illegally parked.

So if we send a PEO there, they could address it.

Got it.

And then uh again, um, if you all if our you know our constituents have issues with vehicles that are consistently um not parking where they're supposed to, right?

Um you all will go out site.

Um, obviously you're not gonna tow right away.

It depends.

I mean, if the the vehicle we could go out to uh somebody's parked illegally, right?

They're blocking my driveway in order to say just they're parked illegally.

Yeah, yeah, but say we're gonna decide it.

But oh, now this vehicle's unregistered, we'll tow it.

Or if this vehicle is a habitual parking value, we'll tow it.

So it kind of depends case by case.

Got it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Alder Taylor, and then we'll move towards the just to finish up what I was.

Um, so I want to um say yeah, thank you to um Alder Bauman.

Because I that that's exactly what I was looking at, not necessarily downtown, or I said downtown because that's where um district four does cover part of that.

But when you look at your chart, it is all those west side um locations.

So we got district fifteen, district six, you know, where they have uh highest number of tows.

So I don't want to be mistaken either that I do recognize the effectiveness and impact that this is having and so I it looks like it's the data looks good, right?

Um so but I just noticed that that's where the majority of the tolls were taking place.

So that is just something to just look at, um, and not you necessarily, but just for us to think about why that's happening and you know, if there's anything that can be done outside of what we're already doing.

Yeah, and if anybody wants, um I can give you the addresses, like you know, if you did a specific district where the tolls occurred to definitely provide that that's very easy.

I didn't want to give you a big document, but that's very easy to do.

We can map it out that way as well if you want more detail.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

And I notice on the list uh the east side of the third district is is number two on the list, and then uh President Prez's district twelve is also on the list, and those are some of the most densely parked areas as well.

Um, so uh I guess in summation, would you say so far so good?

It looks like this is a successful program.

People are paying um their overdue tickets, uh, whether they're towed in or proactively so that they don't get towed in.

Um and so um the goal of this wasn't just to uh collect outstanding tickets, although that's a worthy goal in itself, it was to make sure people don't let things get that far, don't let things get to the point where they're towed because that is far more costly in terms of both money and time than just getting on a payment plan.

So would you say that so far things are looking good that things are uh shaking out kind of the way um it was intended?

I definitely I actually exceeded my expectation in regards to how the communication's gotten out there, and I think I've seen people kind of uh take uh proactive approach.

Um so I think it is being very beneficial, and I think it can continue to go that direction as well, you know.

So my my goal is we say you know, a couple years from now they have the number of vehicles are being towed, and then that would be because you guys have some that don't, you know, and don't follow up, but I think that'd be a good goal to have.

So we're kind of watching that.

Okay.

So uh with that, I guess.

Yeah, Alder Bauman.

Uh it looks like we have collected a million dollars worth of very old accounts receivable.

How is that money accounted for?

Is that new money?

Is that already it was already already anticipated in the budget?

It goes as new money.

It is new money.

Okay.

So in other words, revenue over and above what was anticipated from the park for the transportation funds and we're taking our work.

Okay, and as was revealed at public works yesterday, this money goes into the transportation fund.

Transportation fund has been in a bad way.

That's why there was no transfer from the transportation fund.

It's been at a cash deficit for a while.

Um, so this can help um to balance the books, even though that's not the primary intent.

If not, um Alder uh Moore would move that we hold this to the call of the chair so we can provide an update uh later in the year on how things continue to progress.

So thank you very much for the informative presentation.

Uh items moving on then.

Uh so held to the call of the chair, no objections.

So that's what's happened.

Uh item six, file number two three zero six seven six.

This is a communication from the Safety and Civic Commission relating to a report of its recent activities.

Um, uh so the safety and civic commission uh was started uh I want to say at least seven years ago, maybe more, by Alders Witkowski and at the time President Hamilton.

Um we have not received communications about what's going on um for a long while.

Uh Alder Bell Bergellis sponsored a budget amendment that um provided some funds for the safety and civic commission.

So I thought it would be timely to provide an update on what's been going on and what the plans are for the future.

So with that, kick it over to the safety division, can introduce the chair and go from there.

Good morning, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Byron Marshall.

I serve as the uh chair of the Safety and Civic Commission.

Uh I'll cherry pick a few of our activities for last year.

Uh we distributed 5,000 uh postcards, uh voter engagement to uh Milwaukee residents informing them where their uh polling location is for the upcoming elections.

We also uh distributed backpacks, 500 backpacks for our annual back to school event, and uh we also uh gave away free Narcan and uh free gun locks, and we had some Milwaukee, City of Milwaukee uh partners table that event and distributed some resources as well.

Uh done a lot around traffic uh safety.

Uh we gave away some child safety seats, we did a distribution event for that.

Um, yeah.

So we've been pretty visible in the community.

So what are the so you look at the um ordinance that created this and then the code, it seems like the scope of the Safety and Civic Commission is very broad.

Um so if you try to do everything, then it's kind of hard to accomplish anything.

So what have been uh I guess the core areas that you've you've focused on?

And then in addition, is the funds um that Alder Bergellis' amendment provided.

Uh what are the plans for using those?

But first of all, what areas do you try to focus on?

Thank you.

So we have four subcommittees uh that we focus on squarely around those issues.

We have a civic and uh voter engagement subcommittee, a traffic sanitation and litter subcommittee educational achievement, subcommittee, and a reducing the demand for drugs and mental health subcommittee.

So that's really the gist of what we uh base a lot of our outreach, a lot of our activities around.

So given that you do a lot of outreach, what's your method of tracking the results of that outreach?

Um, so there's two buckets here, one tracking your activities, what your engagement is, but two, and this is always the tougher part, what the impact of that outreach is to the method.

Sure.

So um some of the ways, introduce yourself in the scatter center.

My name is LaShonda Patterson from the Milwaukee Police Department Safety Division, and here also too with the Safety and Civic Commission.

Um, so some of the ways that we try, for example, we had a pretty much a listening session um last year in November, uh, where we had um um the director of um city uh vision zero to come in and talk about the pilot program that Milwaukee is proposing as far as a red light money program.

So there were 51 attendees there, and so they were able to provide not only ask questions and things such as that, but also provide us with feedback.

Um we had a list of um some of the participants that came who provided like their email address so we were able to send information back to them to find out what um were any more questions that they may have or or did they were they able to find out the information that they needed.

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

So that's just one example.

Okay.

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

Correct, and so um it was just discussion on um would um residents be interested in having a red light program.

Senator Drake there, yes, right.

So Senator Drake offered that uh proposal that uh had a hearing here in Milwaukee with a lot of attention, yes, and never came to a vote in the legislature.

No, it has not, but it was just information um letting residents know what um traffic safety initiatives that people are trying to do.

So that was one of the ways.

So yes, it was just a informational what the city is looking or would like to do.

But yes, you're correct, that would have to be you know legislative.

And I see we have another commissioner on the board, uh, Commissioner Cavasos uh who represents uh the district on the south side.

Um would you mind saying anything, Ms.

Cavasos, about uh kind of the future activities and uh process for deciding how the newly created funds might be used to uh further your commission's outreach efforts?

Yes, can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Okay.

So we had um several discussions.

We do have those um subcommittees that um the chair mentioned.

We also have a steering committee.

Um I know something that I've been working on is um a community firearm safety and um you know getting families um in the door to have discussions to hopefully have a positive impact on bug deaths from vehicles, accidental shootings, um securing their firearms for mental health issues or domestic situation and promoting better options for securing firearms, um, and just operating more safely in a family atmosphere with teens, children, things like that.

Um when you talk about looking if you have impact in the community, kind of I have you know, I'm just on the verge of submitting this um for funding um to our budget committee on the commission, but um when you look at safety and tracking if you're making an impact, you know, we know if you go to your prime analysis meetings you know how many you know those were stolen from that, you can get that information from your Kathy, which I did, um, just you know, seeing if that number goes down and what kind of impact you're having, getting the information out.

So I'm just ready to submit that for funding.

I know for traffic also, um, this past uh Saturday and an event in district eleven.

Um, I had we have slowdown signs that I hand out um and just knowing you know, seeing those pop up in um in front of residences and on the park neighborhood or park neighborhoods where children play.

Um, I saw that's something that I'd look at after I hand those out.

And then we did have um one of our organizations go out with our community liaison officers um in our category for lowering demand for drugs, and um go out to the encampments um around our district, around our hospital and um in the back behind our business line on 27th Street, which is um in District 11.

And try to offer um help and resources um to them instead of officers just going out alone talking to them.

We actually had a regional co-out and talk to them who has joined our committee for lowering the man the demand for drugs, their organization in Bond Chase Avenue.

Um and then our commission overall has discussed social media campaigns on safety, um, focusing around you know, categories um, you know, during domestic violence month or you know, traffic safety or things like that, and trying to grow our social media presence.

Um I know during my event I'm going to be you know letting people sign in and then when we have future events start building databases for ourselves, um, so we'll be able to track attendance, um, see if our impact goes down in the crime analysis numbers.

So um, so yeah, we we do have those four committees, but we also have a steering committee so we can look at what's what's happening in areas around safety too, because our scope is so broad that you know if we can have a more immediate impact on something that's happening right now, um, but that that's something that I I look at from my district as well.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

Uh questions from committee members, chair.

Alder Chambers.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, I'm just I so I knew about this commission, but I don't know nothing about this commission.

I don't even know who's my commission member on this commission.

And I'm looking on um on legislature, and I see a lot of y'all are your terms are expired, except for I think Miss the Casables, the how you put it on the basos, cabasos.

Um, I think this question is more for I think she's out there the mayor of liaison officer.

Um, so at the appropriate time when she get in um to have her come in here.

Um but um I guess a more direct question is I hear a lot of the things that you're doing um is kind of parallel to what MPD's doing, what DPW is doing, and what these other organizations, um, including my office honestly is doing.

Um why there were no engagement to these have there been, I guess have there been engagement with these other um, you know, MPD or anything like that, far as to work in collaboration as opposed to doing the same thing because I know the election commission does a lot of um voter turnout far as, you know, passing out postcards.

I know back to school festival, obviously myself, I know all the persons on a reboot have sponsored some um, you know, some back to school festivals also know about the Vision Zero.

Y'all had a meeting with um Senator Drake, um, but I I guess what type of engagement we're doing with other I don't know nothing about this commission.

All I know is about the file that Automember Gail was put out within the budget.

I don't know Jack Squad about y'all, to be honest with you.

Um, so I I guess my my question is what type of engagement with us and what's outside the community have y'all been doing in addition to what you're what you're saying right now.

And Alder Chambers, so those are excellent questions, and just so folks know it is in the code that there be a regular report, and that has not been honored over the years.

Um, so that's one of the reasons for scheduling it.

But uh can you speak to Alder Chambers?

Excellent questions about coordination with other folks so that we're not just all doing stuff the same stuff inside us.

Well, I think the Safety and Civic Commission looks at it um a collaborative approach, working with the city departments and stakeholders.

Um everyone has their expertise, for example, uh, when it comes to some of the traffic calming um situations here in the city of Milwaukee as far as streets.

Um be traffic engineering has the technical part of it.

You know, they're able to look at intersections such as that.

I think where the safety and civic commission comes in as far as getting the residents involved, the schools involved, for example, on South 36th and Mitchell.

I think it was about two years ago.

Um, traffic engineering was looking at a traffic calming um uh situation on 36th and Mitchell.

They put in a roundabout, but before they did that, they consulted um the safety division of the Milwaukee Police Department, the Safety and Civic Commission, and the schools.

And so uh we were able to work as far as with that roundabout, as far as educating the community, how just now um educating the community on how to use a roundabout, how to work with the school crossing guard who was you know, that is there, and so things such as that.

And so I think that's what the Safety and Civic Commission does.

So and you're right, with the postcards as far as um with uh helping um the elections commission.

But I think the um departments such as the City of Milwaukee Elections Commission depend on other boards or commissions and other nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders to get them uh the message out.

A lot of times when spring elections, I mean, if you I was just looking at the their website, looking at the percentage of people who voted in the city of Milwaukee.

Now it probably could have been less.

Not saying that the Safety and Civic Commission probably made a 100% impact or but I think it was a significant impact where the numbers could have been lower as far as getting residents to come out and vote.

Um 2024 and 2025, obviously 2025 wasn't that many elections here in the city of Milwaukee.

Um, but there were quite a few in 2024.

Um I know the chair had mentioned regarding the postcards, but we um the safety and civic commission also did as far as um with the city of Milwaukee elections commission.

Um providing people with information how to take um, you know, employment opportunities.

If people didn't want to be employed by the city, volunteer opportunities, those polling signs, those boat signs out there, um, getting volunteers to help, because there is many um pollingations here in the city of Milwaukee and getting volunteers to put those out, and then once it's over, you know, pick them back up the following day and then bring them back down to the City of Milwaukee Elections Commission.

Also to letting other residents notify um like who is gonna be on the ballot and then where are these people um, you know, um holding meetings where it can or people can come in and hear about what are they looking to do for the city of Milwaukee or even the state of um of Wisconsin because um in 2024 obviously we had um to vote on not just municipal um candidates but also for state, local, and even federal.

So I think that's how the safety and civic commission is looking to do it.

Um, you know, work with other departments who have the expertise.

For example, um the legislative body here, the common council, when uh when it comes to sometimes you get the calls before we do as far as residents who um Commissioner Cabos had mentioned about the traffic slowdown signs.

There are many residents who want to be a part of the traffic safety initiative, but obviously they can't go out there and uh do speed enforcement, but they can help within their community.

By putting a traffic slowdown signs, we have some neighborhoods, some block watch organizations, the whole block has traffic slowdown signs.

So I'm sure that when drivers come through those neighborshoods, you know, they decrease their speeds.

So I think that's how the safety and civic commission is looking at it.

Working with stakeholders, um, and then working with city departments and legislative.

Um I hear that and I and I and I appreciate the the context.

Um I still am just trying to find a parallel because right now um I know we have the with the community collaborative uh commission and and I know they don't meet I I just feel like this is something where we could go.

They also have funding as well.

So I'm just looking I'm looking more futuristic, but also just because um, you know, I have the highest traffic harming measures in the city.

And we worked on something huge on Villard.

And I could tell you one time we did not uh I can assure you we and it's not like to put you down or anything like that.

Traffic safety and civic commission was never brought up in a conversation when we were talking about far as doing that.

So I I just feel that, you know, I'd like to thank the chair for for bringing it follow up.

Could it kinda open my eyes um a little bit 'cause again I just don't know.

You know, I I I honestly don't know.

And um that will impact my decision moving forward as far as any future funding or anything of that nature as well because I don't know what you're doing.

I looked at my member Miss Davis.

I've never met this woman or gentleman whoever this person of the day in my life.

Um and I see that the term was expired in twenty twenty.

I'm probably gonna try to if we're gonna continue with this commission, I'm probably gonna put someone new in there.

Um, you know, uh far as and this goes to the question to the liaison officer.

Why are there so many members have not been brought back up for reappointment?

Or even sought out to be on the commission.

I will say as chair, I Mr.

Marshall was eligible.

He's the chair of the commission.

We had not had a report, I don't think ever.

So I wanted to make sure we had the report before we would confirm the chair.

Okay.

That's fine.

No, uh Amber Danius, council ladies and premier Johnson um chairs that the same thing I was gonna say.

Um Byron's appointment was up uh chair and made us aware that you'd like to see this done today before he considered the appointment.

And so um that's the process we're following.

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

Oh no, I'm sorry, I was talking about Alderman Spikers.

No, I know I got that, but he's the chair of the commission.

So we hearing this file right now, and then we're gonna hear his reappointment, which I have a problem with Mr.

Marshall getting reappointed.

But what I was saying is after that, are we gonna see the rest of the members?

'Cause there's nine members of the ten that are expired.

Um, you know what?

I'm looking at legislature.

I'll have to we would have to double check and make sure that all of those are um uh one mayoral appointees.

I know Byron is our appointee.

Um, but there are other automatic, I think, appointees.

A lot of them are automatic appointees.

We get to a point, yeah.

Yeah, we get to the point.

I think Alder Member Gelles was the one who just recently appointed Yeah.

We each member can name their specific commission.

Uh Alder Bergelson.

Yes.

Um the remaining members are aldermatic appointments.

You know, the the mayor's office is not consistent.

But again, uh it goes back to what I was saying.

I didn't, you know, I know you made an appointment, but I didn't know.

Yeah, nobody knows.

And I just think that's nobody knows the connection.

So that's why I wanted to kind of bring it to the forefront.

Um um Yeah, because it it I think it's just been forgotten about largely by members.

Uh not someone.

Yeah, no, no one you knew.

Um Alder More.

Um, thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

So with that though, is the commission currently meeting?

Yeah.

Um, so how often do you all meet?

Uh we meet at least yes, quarterly.

And um special meetings too.

Quarterly, and then how many folks um how many commission members are currently uh meeting with you all?

Ten.

And that's oh that's out of fifteen.

Okay.

Um and then um just in regards to just some of the materials that we saw, I would love that, you know, the next time um we do a report that we it's r a little bit more refreshed.

I see a lot of stuff from that you all did in 2023 and just a lot of photos that have been incorporated into the um I think it was the 2024, 2025 sort of um I I don't even I don't even know if if that was a report or just a a slide deck.

Um, but I would just be more interested in some fresh things that you you know, some current things that you all are doing.

And then my last question is is civic gate engagement is that year round or only during the election cycles.

No, it's year round.

Yeah.

Cause we're already looking at um for for August.

Yeah, so it's year round.

Okay.

Yes.

Okay.

So um I I think I you know, I um some of my colleagues' sentiments that, you know, I heard about the about this uh the safety and civic commission before, but I just never knew what they did.

Um again, my representative, unfortunately.

She was amazing, Ms.

Vi Hawkins.

Um, she unfortunately passed away, and so um I would love to just learn more about how I can be in, you know, as an alder.

How I I like I'm highly into like civic engagement, young people, uh, making sure that neighbors know, you know, how to use um or how I can tell them to use um the safety and civic commission.

So if there are ways to do some one-on-ones with us to just you know bring us up to speed on how we can just just get engaged, um, if we want this to be successful, um, because you know, again, I I'm still new, still new here, uh, but um I'm learning, you know, all the things that are out there and would you know love to um hear more, know more, and figure out how I can support.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

You're very welcome.

Uh moving on to Alder Woman Taylor.

So I'm just gonna um because I was just looking there and saw that my space for district nine is empty, but I know I made a recommendation.

So it just wanted to make sure that you guys got that recommendation because he is anxious to get started.

Um so if we could just go ahead and get him confirmed too, that'd be great, so we can fill at least district nine spot.

Yes, all right.

Yeah, Mr.

Chairman.

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

Alder Woman more.

Thank you.

Just along that point, um that Alder Woman um Taylor uh just recently recently shared.

What is the process?

Is there a timeline seeing that most of the commission members' um appointments have expired?

Um, are there some that want to be reappointed?

Are there like how do we know that oh this this individual um isn't you know um coming back or want to come back?

Is that the mayor's office?

Is that the chair is like what is the process for that just so that we know and then the timeline?

Yes, so um we can definitely make contact uh with all the alder people.

I do believe that there were emails that were sent out um just to let um alder people know regarding um you know if someone needed to be reappointed, if the position was vacant, I can now sent out when was that email sent out?

No, no.

Or you said I'm just saying um, you know, when like when you had mentioned Mrs.

Hawkins has passed away, so I can double check, but normally there is an email that's just sent to the alder person to um let the person know that um their particular commissioner in their district, um the position is vacant now, or um or they're looking for a reappointment.

But I can double check that, but we will definitely make sure um that we may contact.

I know that you're that will that would be amazing, particularly with the 10.

Um, if the the um, you know, some people may not want to be reappointed, so it would be fantastic.

Um, you know, just based on the folks that you already have, um, that we know, yes, this person wants to stay, or your um your uh um district is vacant and um and you have the authority to appoint someone, you know, please do so by and uh and provide us with a deadline just so that we can get things moving and that we're back to having a commission with members that you know have an appointed time and you know everything is just you know on the up and up.

So uh if if I can make that recommendation to you all, um I would love to see that um see that happen.

Sure.

Um uh hold just a quick moment.

I will uh reading off of legislator Alderman Zelensky's appointment expired in 2022, Alderman Kovacs in 2020, uh Alderman Hamilton's in 2020, Alderman Johnson's in 2020, Alderman Bowles in 2019, Alderman Rainey's in 2024, Alderman Cogs in 2024.

So there are a number of old appointments, and I think uh this is uh uh warrants uh some attention from the members of our from our body.

Alderman Chambers.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, so I'm looking at past meetings in 2025, and I know y'all have the subcommittees.

Um how often do the subcommittees meet?

Sometimes those can be monthly.

It depends on the activity or program that they're working on.

For example, Commissioner Cabos mentioned um some of the things that um they're looking at doing in June.

So that she's part of the steering committee.

So they would be meeting.

Sometimes they can meet like um monthly or sometimes a couple times a month, depending on the activity or program that they're doing, but I would say they at least meet at least once a month for those subcommittees.

Okay, and then who tracks the attendance on this?

I'm sorry.

Who tracks the attendance for the subcommittees?

Or both for the committees and the commissioner.

Yeah, the safety division office.

Who was that?

Oh, I'm part of the thing.

Oh camel, who is that?

Um, yeah.

If I can get uh if I guess I need a a layout of the past three years of attendance records, that would help me out, pay a narrative.

Um I know a lot of these meetings have been virtual, so I would assume that everyone probably been there.

Um I'm just trying to educate myself and trying to speed myself up because I don't know what I don't know.

So I need the the things in front of me, so thank you.

All right.

Any other discussion on this item?

Mr.

Chair.

Um Alderman Spiker.

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

Alderman Spyker moves to hold item six, well, two three zero six seven six call of the chair.

Any objection on that motion?

Hearing none, so ordered.

Moving on.

Yeah, we can't move in on that number.

Do I have to do it?

Moving back to Chair Spiker.

Items, uh, thank you very much for the report.

Item seven, file number two six zero zero eight one communication from Milwaukee Police Department, Department of Public Works, and Department of Community Wellness and Safety relating to the Fourth of July Safety Plan for the entire city.

This is sponsored by Alderman Bauman, so we will open with the Alderman.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chair, members of the committee appreciate this being scheduled.

Uh about four weeks ago or so I I heard some information about Fourth of July events in connection with the Susquel Centennial, and there was reference to some national feed, some national uh link between this event and some other national events going on countrywide.

Uh and I heard some concerns expressed about potential safety and security issues involving these events, and it turns out the fourth is on a regular Summerfest previously scheduled dates.

So apparently Summerfest is going to be operating that day normally, paid admission, but all their security protocols in place, and there may even be large acts playing at the amphitheater and other such places, and then apparently a fireworks display, which I've been it's been described to me, and they're here and they can describe exactly what this all is, and I and I'd appreciate them doing so.

I'm just relying on hearsay at this point, and then there will be a fireworks display sponsored by Harley Davidson, which I am informed will be of standard duration.

I don't know what that means, but 30 minutes, 20 minutes, and and that's all fine.

Uh my concern is what happens in the rest of the city of Milwaukee on the Fourth of July.

In my experience, uh the fourth of July is one of the most violent nights in the city all year.

Uh there's massive amounts of illegal fireworks uh lit off, and that's in a normal year, not a centennial year with a lot of hype and a lot of publicity and a lot of gunfire.

A lot of it is gunfire, celebratory gunfire.

I get that, but gunfire nevertheless and bullets that go up have to come down somewhere, yeah.

And if they're on top of somebody's roof or on top of somebody's head, obviously that can cause injury.

And then we have had actual violent incidents, people against people, uh involving previous fireworks displays.

I believe several years ago when the Lakefront Fest fireworks were on the July 3rd, never on the fourth, always on the third, with the with the county parks fireworks, typically on the fourth.

Uh there were there have been incidents.

Incidents on North Avenue, incidents involving some of the congregations in the parks and people coming and going to the lakefront, uh, incidents at North and Humboldt.

I remember there was a major incident at a gas station at that location.

There have been homicides in connection with Fourth of July crowds.

So I I guess uh I wanted to hear what is the plan to keep not only firework attendees safe, but the rest of the city safe when two-thirds of the police department are down on the lakefront, or or three quarters of the police department around the lakefront.

Because they're trying to police two or three hundred thousand people and all the motor vehicles and all the bars and restaurants to which these people will will dispel, presumably when the fireworks are over at 10 30 at night, 10 15 at night.

What are the plans?

And what are the plans about potential I mean, real terrorism type of issues.

I mean, we are technically at war with the the world's largest sponsor of state terrorism.

Yeah, I assume that's in somebody's radar sc on somebody's radar screen.

That would seem to be an extraordinary factor that's not typically present for previous Fourth of July's.

I think Summerfest runs a tight ship.

Checks, back checks, screening.

Uh nobody gets into Summer Fest with a gun, nobody gets in the Summer Fest with a bomb, nobody gets a summer fest with a knife.

But that's not true on the Hill and North Avenue or in Veterans Park or in any one of other innumerable locations where people will congregate free outside of the Summerfest ground, which is a again a paid event.

So please, floor is yours.

All right.

So with that, thank you for the context.

We'll open it up uh MPD, you want to start and then we can involve partners DPW uh DCWS um as we need.

Sure.

Uh Heather Huff, Chief of Staff, Milwaukee Police Department.

I'm joined with assistant chief of our patrol bureau, Steve Johnson.

I do want to start by saying uh Chief Norman appreciates this file and recognize its importance as a citywide concern.

He wishes he could be here.

This would be one of those opportunities where he wanted to participate, but he is at the breaking down bullets panel discussion at Sherman Park right now, and so unfortunately was a conflict, but he did ask that I acknowledge um that this is a file he would like to speak to because it is a citywide concern.

Um and then I'm going to start with a question because I know intertwined with all of this is the event at Summerfest, and I'm just wanting to know if this body would prefer a brief overview from Summerfest of that event, and then we could talk about our involvement with that and then citywide, or would you like us to go citywide and then Summerfest?

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

Okay.

So let's get a baseline of what exactly is happening.

I mean, Jelly Row, Tyler Hubbard, and three six months only.

You know more than I even have a boss in that.

All right.

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

So good morning, Alan Sikker.

Thank you, Alderman Bauman.

Sarah Payne Carey, president and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, the organization that produces Summerfest.

Uh Alderman Bauman is correct.

The Summerfest July 4th.

Um that was a regularly scheduled day of the festival.

So the festival will operate as we normally would anticipate from noon to midnight, given um the special day and of the fourth of July and um the fact that we are a community event, fireworks were were uh uh part of our plan and we did uh work closely with MPD and um the DNR whom we we light fireworks off from the um the uh Lake Shore State Park and so that was uh traditional we we work with the DNR and we we did both of those we took both of those steps in advance of making this announcement.

But in terms of um the way the fireworks will work, it's a if you're familiar with our big bang fireworks on the opening day, it's a 20-minute show that takes place around 9 15, 9 30.

Um and the the music programming tends to stop depending on what's happening in the amphitheater.

Um I believe the amphitheater artists will who is Jelly Roll.

Thank you, Walterman Chambers, uh with Three Six Mafia and Tyler Hubbard.

Um, uh that that show is likely to be complete by the time the fireworks are are um on and then as soon as the fireworks are over, headliners throughout the festival park will continue as normal.

So um if you're familiar with the big bang, that is the most likely example that we could we could offer.

Um in terms of the rest of the events at the festival park that day, we have been named um in association with the nonpartisan commission that is representing plans across America for the Cesco centennial 250th birthday.

We have been named what they're calling a block party.

Block parties are encouraged.

Um there's events of all scale.

Again, this is this nonpartisan national uh commission that will be um celebrating and uh and have been celebrating the commission was formed in 2016, so they've been around for quite some time.

Um they uh are representing five events throughout the country, one at Fort Campbell, one in Charleston, South Carolina, Los Angeles, and New York City.

We as Summerfest are the Midwest uh 250 block party, but that is leveraging what's already happening.

There's no new um programming that at this point has been confirmed as part of the 250.

So um there's no additional um programming that I can point to with certainty today.

Our hope is as uh as we continue to promote Milwaukee as a destination is that we're able to attract national media that would not necessarily bring people to Summerfest in 2026, but promote the festival to drive new attendance in future years.

And so um beyond that, I will share that Harley Davidson, in addition to supporting the fireworks, will also promote a um food donation collection.

So the first five thousand patrons that come with a food donation to benefit Feeding America will receive free admission um that morning or that that early afternoon.

We don't anticipate that 5,000 um limit to go to go too far beyond maybe 2 30 or 3 p.m.

Very good.

Is there anything else I can offer?

Any questions?

Yeah, the question I think the question I had what I I that's kind of what I heard before that we're one of five national designated sites, and that kind of raised a thought in my mind.

Well, does that make us a target?

As opposed to just an ordinary fireworks display that in hundreds of cities will no doubt be performing, but we're one of five national TV, national tie-ins, Trump parading around promoting all this as part of his grand is a does that make us a target beyond what would normally be the case in terms of potential disorder violence, etc.

Anybody any thoughts on that?

I mean, it's anytime we have a high profile, you can introduce yourself assistant chief.

Okay.

Assistant chief Steve Johnson, more of the police department.

Anytime you have a uh high profile uh uh event, uh why can um, you know, that's uh uh uh a concern that may be expressed, but I think with us we're gonna be scouring our uh vision division to ensure that they're you know what are what is that threat landscape uh when it comes down to um what it is that we may be potentially seeing and implementing those plans because right now uh meeting with the Summerfest personnel, meeting uh we have another meeting next week, uh, ensuring that all of our state, federal, county partners are on board and implementing mitigation mitigation uh strategies to ensure that you know whether it's a nationally televised event and and that's what this is, is normally locally televised.

But this event it will be nationally televised.

So what we plan on doing and and what we've uh since this event is taking place on Summerfest Browns, that plan has already been in place of what we were already planning on doing, and so now meeting with our other partners uh and seeing what is at landscape uh and implementing other mitigation mitigating strategies uh if we see any threat uh out there.

Because this is a nationally sponsored suggested event of one of five cities, are we gonna be tied in with the Department of Homeland Security with FBI with all the threat assessment agencies out there that do counterintelligence type of work because we're one of five that that is a target so uh I can look at I'm sorry good morning my name is we Sam Yeah I'm part of summer fest security yes I'm sorry say your name again please sure we Sam yeah okay uh yeah absolutely so we we work with the uh local state and federal partners every year okay not not just this year specifically we work with the uh federal government to include FBI and Department of Homeland Security in regards to all of our events so when it comes to I'm so apologies uh Alder Burgoth quick interruption um so will federal and state partners be on the ground on July 4th at Summerfest helping MPD federal and state um we're still in that planning as to where uh we may uh position uh individuals it's one thing to have a conversation hey we're gonna have a party right this is a a nationally televised party but will we have real boots on the ground will we have real assistance from federal and state partners for this national I wouldn't I would anticipate um us having that conversation far as what assets um they can help bring to the table and some of that uh technology um you know I want to get into specific details but the thing is um having that conversation I don't anticipate us having boots on the ground but tapping into their um vast resource of uh of uh uh information and and and technology they can try to help assist us.

I don't know if you have any I have not heard of that.

I I just want to point out quickly um I can't confirm today that this will be nationally televised.

So I just I want to make sure that we're not we're not jumping through on that.

I even get that I mean if if it's nothing special then why is it special?

I mean I was just in DC uh last week and they were uh I saw them in preparation um and you saw the two fifty all over DC uh round about the national mall um but why Milwaukee I don't know.

Mr.

Chairmore thank you so much so just in regards to that it's just as far as um bodies right um we've talked about prior that um you know particularly even down here on Water Street that uh you know are cold red I think that's what we're from remembering correct correctly um it's uh uh overtime for particular officers uh again this is a special event or a special time right time of year um do we anticipate having because again it's not just downtown we still got to cover the rest of the rest of the city uh so is it um um customary that we'll have volunteer overtime hours for multiple officers to be able to um support the large number of crowds because a lot of folks come in um from out of town for summerfest I do tell people all the time hey come during the summer look come come to summerfest come to our festivals we are city of festivals so you know come in the summer um but uh is it again just customary because again special occasion a lot more people in town that's what we want come to Milwaukee people um do we during that time are we having more bodies to be able to support these sort of initiatives answer to that is yes so um each one of our district commanders submitted their plans not only just for Summerfest but what's happening in their district as well so they all submitted plans as to how they're gonna address the issues and concerns that um that we know are the potential that may pop up in their areas when it comes down to as far as the overtime aspect July 4th is a premium holiday day for us so um officers working a day is already time and a half for them uh but having uh enhanced officers um and knowing that you know every year I put out a memo to identify these extended holiday weekends to ensure that we have that extra staffing and all of them uh have done that and and implemented uh their plans for not only the 4th of July but all the other um uh those times where we anticipate uh more people so this isn't just a summer fest downtown thing this we we're anticipating the crowds at some of our county parks yeah and where we are partnering with our our our partners with the sheriff department um to ensure that not only those fireworks incident takes place um at some of the uh county parks that may be displaying uh fireworks that day so thank you and I see you know my captain shout out Captain Gratchett in the room um I'm sure that I can connect with our um um our department captains to because for me I just want to know how to prepare our residents because again everybody's not going you know some people will have some festivities at their home in their neighborhoods etc right so I want to make sure that we're just communicating out to constituents hey this is how you address situations this is who you would call if it's an emergency you still call 911 etc etc so you know that's something that we can do just reach out to our captains just to uh reach out to our captains to kind of figure out you know how we go about addressing that correct uh and in the rooms some of my district commanders are here um who as you all know they can be you're direct liaison to your office and any issue concerns that you may have uh when it comes down to um uh those type of issues um they're readily accessible so thank you yes my listen I love my captain yes listen don't you know you know this before I mean I said my captain is amazing anyway we digress uh older yeah then so you have roughly eleven hundred officers in the patrol division is that still correct did I hear that some some months ago at one of these meetings um in the patrol yeah somewhere around there which and patrol would be the first line of defense shall we say to deal with these issues not only patrol but uh our uh all of our we we activate all aspects of our agency not only the patrol division but our my commander for our specialized patrol division and detectives too um and then we have our other um you know our the commander of the CIB, SID so what I encourage about we had the R and C here and there was an influx of people granted with security issues and this could involve a lot more people than the R and C brought to Milwaukee.

And we had officers from all over the country to supplement MPD so MPD could continue to patrol the rest of the city and have all these other officers supposedly downtown although they seem to migrate a little west over to King Park and there was an incident that's neither here nor there they basically focused on downtown because that was the where the influx was going to be have we looked at it since this is a national event have we looked at anything of that sort to request assistance from other police departments local jurisdictions, suburban jurisdictions, the state patrol, the National Guard to assist in crowd control crowd control, traffic control so that MPD can focus on those things where their sworn powers are most effective.

So when it comes down to the those partnerships uh we we will be collaborating with our county state um uh counterparts so share uh state patrol um so when we are putting pieces together we're identifying where there may be a gap somewhere else, and where can that agency assist us and and plug in that gap if we're gonna utilize these these partnerships so um I think that the key is um the fourth of July and this uh this is four to five years I've been living in the city and twenty-nine years uh on this agency, we've um um put plans together um um uh without you know, as you mentioned, like the national guards and to that level far as whether or not we will scale it up to the uh RNC DNC.

Uh we've we've we've yet to have done that far as for the 4th of July.

But the thing is this is something that we plan and prepare for every year.

This isn't uh, you know, you just happen to be our 250th, but we implement plans as to uh this Fourth of July event every year.

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

So there are additional questions, Alder Taylor.

Oh yes, I was just listening to you about the partnerships, and so I just wanted to know the partnership with uh OCWS there at the table.

Good morning.

Um Julian Pfeiffer, program manager with Department of Community Wellness and Safety.

Um DCWS July 4th uh safety plan will include identifying and uh prioritizing locations uh that we anticipate will see the biggest crowds.

Um obviously that will include um uh the parks with fireworks this year.

Um is gonna have some the Summerfest uh fireworks finale, but uh there are a number of Milwaukee uh county parks that will have the fireworks.

Um Washington Park, Lincoln Park, Humboldt Park, there'll be fireworks there.

Uh the orange shirts will be out, they will be circulating um uh between parks, um, tracking crowd activity, um communicating situational awareness uh between partners, those partners will include MPD, uh Sheriff's Office, and our other uh street outreach teams.

Uh teams will also monitor social media chatter to uh with the goal of keeping ahead of planned disruptions and uh uh conflict.

Yep.

Uh and yes, when Martin with Department of Community Owners of Safety, uh currently serving as the interim operations manager.

Um we also I know Alder Woman Moore spoke about um public education to um all of the constituents and residents of the city of Milwaukee.

Um we do plan to run social media campaigning around how to stay safe um around the holiday season, particularly the 4th of July.

Um we'll also do uh community canvassing to ensure that we're also handing out that pub ed to those residents who are not particularly online or uh they're missing that information online.

Um so we'll do a lot of work around informing them of who to call when something goes wrong, um, and how to stay safe and how how to be a responsible neighbor as well.

Mr.

Chair, Alder Moore.

Can I just ask um Yasmin that you all just communicate with the respective alders um just to say, hey, we'll be in your district on this day doing this.

Um that would be extremely um, I believe that would be extremely helpful for us, and again, uh just know what work is being done and again how we can highlight and share um that information to our constituents as well.

Yes, absolutely.

Thank you.

Is the home bridge gonna be shut down?

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

Alder Teller is still the floor.

Oh um I was just gonna piggyback off our Alder Woman more that could you share out those publications as well, then we can help distribute some of those too or somehow disseminate that information.

Yes, we would love the additional support in the area.

Thank you.

Um Alder Bellman, any concluding what are you doing about traffic?

I mean, are we gonna shut the freeway system down at the 16th Street and uh National Avenue and North Avenue?

I mean it's I I I envision gridlock because there really is no transit system left of any consequence, and I I remember these July 3rd, where there was a period of traffic gridlock pretty much, and now you have an enhanced event on July 4th with all the other park activity going on.

I mean who's in charge of the traffic plan?

And I I'm surprised it's not an absolute, of course.

The home bridge is gonna be shut down.

I'm fairly surprised I didn't hear that answer, but why that would even still be considered an option is beyond me.

I'm not it's when it comes down to specifics we we don't get into operational details not in this setting um because then if we start letting people know this is what we're going to be doing then people start countering that and start moving the other pieces.

So in this setting I won't get into operational details the thing is um when it comes down to the traffic influx and to either downtown not only are our units that's capable of handling those issues will be at the ready and implementing those plans but getting into specifics that's this is not the the place here.

Okay.

Um any other questions comments quick no follow um if not then Alder Chambers would move that this item be placed on file and hearing no objections sorted.

Thank you very much.

Thank you thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

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

Good morning Mr.

Chair Committee members Lee Todd FPC executive director joined to my right by uh MPD chief of staff Heather Huff so I placed a number of documents in the file for this matter one of which is our updated recruitment uh and hiring plan for the excuse me police officer position um as reflected uh we've been doing a number of uh initiatives efforts to expand not only our our recruitment the number of applicants that we get but also uh improve our and streamline our testing process to ensure that those applicants that we're getting as many as reasonably possible into the training academy and hired as new officers uh you know because of efforts like our outreach and advertising and social media outreach as well as continuous recruitment and our new uh partnership or newish partnership with safeguard recruiting we've been continually increasing the number of applications we've been receiving uh in 2024 we had around twelve hundred applications or applicants that met the minimum qualifications that increase increased to approximately eighteen hundred last year uh do you have uh documents in the file with regard to this yes it's in the recruitment uh and hiring plan okay we're in we're in there just so I can chat check those numbers with the long plan it's the you're looking at items or no it's around page 20 and 21 okay and then we're going to there you go um correct is there an attachment from the bottom okay yeah it's just with these numbers it's helpful to could you read them back one more time I know there's been a a great increase in the number of uh um applicants yes so for a moment to get you the exact numbers uh in 2024 we had a total of one thousand two hundred and ninety one uh police officer applicants who met the minimum qualifications in twenty twenty five uh that figure increased to one thousand eight hundred and four applicants that met the uh minimum qualifications.

So an increase of uh approximately five hundred uh uh applicants year over year.

This year the the pace of applications has continued to increase.

As of Tuesday this week, we were at 964 applicants.

If you project that out, we would expect to be over 2,000 applicants this year.

So we are certainly seeing success in the number of applicants.

That does take some time to uh filter through and show up in terms of new hiring.

Uh classes um you know up to now have continued to be short.

We want three classes of 65, each with 65 uh new officers every year.

Classes have been, you know, they typically have ranged from around 30 to 45 applicants uh given the class over the last uh two years or so.

So approximate the current one.

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

Okay.

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

I'd say that's true that's fair.

So we've seen some upticks, slight upticks in individual classes, but then it has fluctuated somewhere from in class to class between you know 30 and 45.

Um, so we are already doing a number of things to make sure that we're getting as many people as possible through the testing process and into the academy.

Uh, you know, and these are outlaid here outlined in the report.

We have previously updated our background standards as well as the background process by uh getting a private vendor to do the background investigations, which has significantly decreased the time frame that that uh requires.

We've rolled out online testing uh and also hired a new testing vendor to uh uh streamline the process uh as well as a number of other initiatives.

Uh I think there is still room for improvement in that area, and a number of new things that we're gonna be rolling out very soon.

Uh, I'm excited about.

So starting in June, uh we're gonna move from our initial uh uh written test, uh the standard uh test that we have to a new express test, that's just something brand new that's offered by our vendor.

Uh I know that uh Colorado, I believe, uh or Denver has recently started using this and they experienced some increases in their classes.

Uh they were seeing classes in the 30s, and that increased to classes in the 50s after they implemented this new express uh written test.

So, what's the difference between the express test and the original ones?

It's just shorter.

It is shorter, but it covers the same subject matter.

It also can be done uh virtually any time, any place.

They don't have to schedule a time to have it proctored online or in person.

Uh it takes the uh the total uh exam time down from three hours to about an hour and a half uh give or take, depending on how fast a person completes it.

Again, Denver had uh had implemented that with uh at least some uh some correlated success.

Uh so I think that that could be uh uh a big help because if you look at uh and there is a document in the file about the express test, you know, another document that's in the file is uh a PowerPoint that talks about the progression of the 2024 candidates through the application process and into the classes, and you can see that the biggest drop-off points we're seeing are first no shows for written tests.

Uh so this is hopefully gonna address uh uh one of those key drop-off points by making it easier for candidates to just go online, they can even do it on their phone if they want to, and just take the initial written test and get started in the process.

Another big area where we see drop-offs are with the PRT and also with the the uh the psychological evaluation.

The I'm sorry, the uh physical readiness test.

This is a test that's mandated by the state uh law enforcement standards board.

So traditionally we have not had any control over uh uh the components of that test or what the standards are, and you can see in the document, especially for female candidates, there is a huge drop-off.

Um the pass rate for uh for women applicants is usually somewhere between only 15 and 30 percent, as opposed to men who are seeing uh uh pass rates in the you know around 85%.

So that is just uh a really striking difference in terms of the pass rates for men and women.

Mr.

Chair.

Yes, Mr.

Chair, yeah.

Just just really quick um Lee, um, in reference to that.

So if um an applicant fails a portion, right, whether it's the physical, whether it's um the test, um, are they provided another opportunity the next cycle?

How does that how does that work?

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

Got it.

Um we are we are looking at some potential changes to that um uh which are still under consideration, but uh even if we do change it, worst case scenario, they would just need to reapply and go to the next testing cycle.

Um, you know, we're we're just looking at making some some tweaks to increase the uh the demand and the efficiency of the testing, but it's largely going to remain a continuous recruitment model and people are gonna have opportunities to uh uh to move forward uh or to reapply or retest.

So would it be a special designation for those individuals that yes, you had already applied, you know, you were invited in to you know take the test or the you know for me, particularly in the physical exam that you failed.

Um so for example, let's say you pass the test but fail the physical exam.

Yes, would the next cycle when you reapply, do you have to take the test again?

Or do you just take the physical exam?

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

Got it.

With subject to some exceptions, uh the the test results are good usually for a year, and things of that nature.

So at some point, if you wait too long, you may need to start over.

But if you you know re-up in the next testing cycle, you're probably gonna pick up right where you left off.

And will the background check have to be done again?

Background checks, uh, if you fail background examination.

No, no, not to fail it, but to um uh if you pass it, the background portion of it during the next cycle.

Do you have to do the background check again?

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

Okay, so if I haven't even gotten there.

If they've already passed it, they may need to do an updated one.

Um, usually when you're getting to that phase, I see what you're saying.

You're getting close.

Yes.

Um so subject to some exceptions.

Yes, you're automatically reinvited to uh to take uh the next uh to participate in the next testing cycle and you pick up where you left off again.

We are looking at some potential tweaks, so I don't want to say that everything is going to continue as is, but it will be our goal to make keep the process candidate friendly, applicant-friendly, um, but also uh increase the efficiency of it.

And lastly, I would love to hear more.

I mean, the the um data points for women passing the physical exam.

I would love to hear more about um what proactive measures um we're taking to be able to support those individuals, like before you even think about it here, you know, come to our boot camp or whatever, right?

Um to be able to support um particularly women, making sure that they're able to know what know what is expected and be able to train and be able to pass that physical exam.

Absolutely.

And MPD, I think it's at least twice a week they're running fit camps that anyone in the application process can come and and work out with them.

We do I mean, I just need to come just to work out, but we would love it.

We would love it.

Another thing that we're looking at is uh we have uh sent a letter requesting uh the state law enforcement standard board to consider granting us uh a waiver from the traditional PRT uh exam, and we have a uh modified alternative test that we'd like to try out that we think would be effective in getting more applicants into the uh passing the the physical readiness test, getting into the academy, but still making sure that they're fit enough that they're gonna be successful uh going forward, and I think uh the academy perhaps can offer some additional training and focus on on that, but I I think that uh there's no guarantee that the uh law enforcement standards board is going to grant that.

I think it uh uh it remains to be seen.

Uh, I don't want to offer a prediction on that, but I am uh optimistic about that that that possibility.

And just to clarify, it is the standards for acceptance into the academy, not the end results.

So uh it is um not asking the LESB to change what is required of any officer in the state, it is asking will you allow us these exceptions for allowing people to come to the academy because we believe we have the staff that can get people up to that LESB standard at the end, yeah.

And I had read the letter and that that that is an important point.

So coming out you would still need to meet the same standards, but instead of a fit camp and advanced, the academy would be the fit campus to improve the ability to pass the test.

That's good.

Alder Taylor.

Thank you very much.

Um so I think you may have answered it, but you said that um so for female candidates, um there is, well, no, I was gonna ask you, is there a difference in the numbers?

So I think I mean after the test, but it was not that hard, but um but are there differences in the numbers?

Like so for males they have to do so much, and then for females the numbers are less and is there a difference?

There's no difference.

No, they're just gonna take the same exact same test and have to be the same.

Because it if you're saying that um the number of females is a lot less and passing in that maybe.

I don't know.

I mean, we might be able to pass it, but if we just lessened it, um and you said that when they come back, are they retaking all or just the part of the test?

You may have answered that, but I think that's so if you're looking at the specifically the physical readiness test, you have to take all the components again if you're if you failed.

Uh, or more.

What's that?

If you said if you fail one or more or the whole thing.

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

For the for the physical readiness test.

Okay.

Because they they they have different modules or components within the physical readiness test itself, and that's mandated by state regulation.

Um for the different uh for other testing components within the testing process like the written test, the oral test, um, you know, let's say you pass the the written test and the oral test uh and then you move on to the physical readiness test and you fail that you don't have to retake the oral and written test again with FPC, but you start.

Okay, all right.

Uh and then um you said for the psychological evaluation.

Um I don't know if you can disclose that, but what are you who is the maker of that?

What about the thing?

Um who is the maker of that and have you considered uh using a different one?

Uh is it just if that's uh one of the factors that is um uh preventing people from going forward.

Yes, and so that is another uh significant drop-off point.

Uh we have a a current vendor who I would characterize as more of a they have more of a screen in philosophy, so they're rather than a screen out philosophy, so they're a little bit more uh uh stringent and and I I would say uh I'm trying to think of the right term.

Uh I think some of the stuff that they occasionally focus on is a little nitpicky.

Um but it it's it's not to the point where I'm concerned that it is uh creating a disparate impact or something like that.

But to answer your question directly, yes, we did do a new uh RFP for uh both our our psychological evaluation and our psychological appeals, uh starting either in June or July, we will have a new psychological vendor, which is actually the same vendor that does our written and oral tests and our background tests, which is National Testing Network or NTN.

And one of the things that uh was particularly uh attractive to us, or at least a significant factor was uh in their request for uh or their their proposal, they noted that they had done the first and only uh large scale uh adverse impact analysis uh for psychological uh testing for uh public safety, and the their evaluation did confirm that they their tests do not have an adverse impact uh in terms of race or ethnicity.

Uh so that's obviously a positive thing, and uh I I believe that they will have a more screen out philosophy uh so that we're not screening out people uh who could potentially make a good candidates.

So I think that that will be another uh hopeful improvement going forward uh within our testing process.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, one question.

So uh again, maintenance of effort uh has a fairly severe penalty if it's not met and in terms of the percentage share of our total shared revenue that is lost.

Um 30 million dollars and up.

Um so what right now, given our class sizes and who we're getting through the academy compared to attrition um people leaving service, either retiring or or moving on to something else.

Where are we at?

Are we treading water at this point?

Are we losing uh folks?

Um, and even if we're treading water, that's not on a path to meet our maintenance of effort um for when we need to in the future.

So we have met our year to year maintenance of effort requirements for 23, 24, well, 24, 20 and 25.

For 2025, it was uh close.

I would characterize, I would use your term treading water.

It was slightly above where we were in 2024.

Uh there's no concern that we did not make that.

Uh I have no concern that we are not going to make that requirement this year as well in 2026.

My projections show that we will be uh above water.

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

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

Yes.

Uh that's why we wanna I'm I'm very encouraged about the increased number of applicants, and that's why we're also very focused on turning those more of those applicants into new hires.

Uh I think with the express test, with the uh possibility of uh changing the PRT entrance uh examination requirements, our new testing vendor.

Uh we're also uh doing some increased candidate engagement to uh encourage them throughout the process and get them to commit to MPD.

Uh I think with all those things, that will hopefully raise our our hiring rate uh to a level where uh with that and the increased number of applicants where we can start seeing significant increases year over year in the number of sworn officers.

And and just to type on it, um we've for a couple years now we've been talking about changes of more than a couple of years.

Changes we've tried, and so far it hasn't been getting us to where we need to be.

So I appreciate the optimism, but I did want to kind of sound an alarm again that um we aren't even though we're seeing an increase in applicants, we're not seeing an increase in who we're getting through the academy, and ultimately the number of sworn officers is is the metric that matters here.

So we are in a danger zone, even if from year to year we're holding steady and meeting the requirement of the MOE.

MOE requires growth, and we're not obtaining that right now.

So I understand we're trying a bunch of different things.

We have optimism that'll grow, but so far that optimism has not been worn out.

Yeah, I mean, just the numbers haven't gone up.

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

They don't have MOEs that result in losing so we I I'm not saying it to row beat the departments here, it's just that um unless we grow, we will suffer a consequence that these other departments that we're uh keeping up with.

That is correct, and uh that's why we're doing everything we can to meet the MOE standards, and we're doing everything we can to uh put the city and the department in a position where we can increase year over year.

It's our number one priority, and uh we will find a way to get it done.

Okay, um MPDs at the table too, and I know there was a position that you recently were looking to hire for.

Um, if you want to say a little bit about it and how it would factor into the recruiting effort, because recruiting is an MPD job as well.

Sure.

Uh so just so this body is aware, recruiting is a large priority of the department.

Um we have dedicated personnel, F sworn personnel, uh, for recruitment efforts.

We have two officers housed at the academy that go to events that talk with those who are on boarding in the process to talk about you know what it means to be an MPD officer, answer questions.

They do recruitment fairs and things like that, and uh we supplement them with other individuals from the districts as needed.

We have a newly hired community engagement manager, and when she was brought on board uh was told that a big part of her job was that recruitment engagement effort um to obtain more individuals who become sworn members of our department.

She is out uh on maternity leave right now.

She had a beautiful baby boy two weeks ago, um, but she is committed to that role.

Yeah.

Right, right.

He's joining.

He's joining so um, um, so she is a welcome edition.

She has great energy.

We meet regularly and talk about innovative ways, um, to engage individuals um who are in the applicant pool and who are at the academy.

Um Alderman Moore is part of a committee uh that meets regularly to just generate new and innovative ways to keep people engaged in the process.

One thing we're working on, um Alderman Moore had a cleanup at uh a property recently in your district where an elderly resident, um that wasn't all the change.

Oh, I'm sorry, I apologize.

Uh no, no, not changes.

Oh, snapper.

Snappers, uh, cleanup, and we would like to engage those individuals in the recruitment process into those community activities, working alongside the council and figuring out what are great projects and how do we get our recruits, how do we get our recruits in the process engaged in the community because then they're committed to Milwaukee and they'll want to stay in the process and be a part of that.

Um so we're trying to generate um innovative ideas, not just for those, but also how do we retain our officers, and that's our biggest piece.

Recruitment really is a joint effort here, but how do we keep our officers um satisfied enough in their roles?

Uh, so we focus on things like officer well-being.

We really want and and have and continue to grow a robust uh officer wellness program within the department to provide officers with the resources they need to stay healthy in the roles that they're in.

Um we look for uh additional ways that as a department we um you know can just keep people engaged in these roles.

One of the things we've discussed in this committee is doing a survey of our officers to really find out and get at the heart of why do you leave, what are issues, what are problems, to see if there's anything that we can address.

We try to provide different training and professional growth opportunities for officers, highlighting the different specialty units, um, and um different things that Milwaukee said other places don't.

So all of these things are important, and then that's a lot of words, but also I want to highlight one of the other pieces that we do is assist in the marketing and communication efforts for recruiting, and the FBC has a team of individuals focused on uh marketing and communications.

There's a consultant, but we know there's more to grow there, and I so we had a vacant media producer position.

I want to share with you who are the amount of people in our marketing and communications team is three.

We have a PIO who is currently Lieutenant Cornejo, but he uh was recently promoted, so he'll be replaced next week.

Uh, in fact, with somebody who'll transition to that role.

We have a marketing and communications uh manager, and she is responsible for creating websites, uh, like a street takeover website or other types of websites we have available to the public, and also maintaining and managing our social media sites, which include Facebook, um, Instagram, uh, LinkedIn, Twitter, um, and we have one media producer who does signage, graphics.

Um, she works with the FPC on things like bus uh posters and billboards and and different um types of projects and assignments like that, and with a team of three, I just to give you a flavor, um, that's really small for a city our size when we're looking at really messaging out for recruitment efforts for public information, public safety.

Um, Milwaukee is about 556,000 people.

Louisville is well, 645,000, so a little bit bigger.

They have six people in their marketing department.

Um Colorado Springs has about 495,000 people.

They have five people in their marketing communications team, and so what I wanted to see is growth.

How do we reach younger populations?

It isn't about Facebook anymore, it's about TikTok and reels, keep it at reels.

I sent the council and others, um, some of the reels we began creating just to really engage younger individuals to learn more about the department, get enthused about the department, and maybe prompt them to want to come join us, and so with that, we had a vacancy for another media producer, very important position.

We have a lot of things, not just this stuff, but you know, when we have officer involved incidents, somebody has to manually redact those videos.

And if there are 20 license plates in a video, every single frame has to be individually redacted to get out that license plate information before we push it out.

And these are in tight timelines because sometimes we have to produce it within 48 hours, sometimes 15 days.

So lots of different media production stuff and supplementing what the FPD or FPC does in videos and pushing it out to all these different places spaces, so all of that to say there is a retired officer who worked in forensics taking photos of crime scenes and investigations that came uh to us as a PSSI doing PSSI functions, but who also has this beautiful creative mind and does amazing work.

When I sent out the keep it real stuff to you, uh it showcased some of that work.

He recently did one about street takeover arrests that we made that was really kind of fun.

Um, and it over a hundred and twenty thousand people like reacted and interacted with this video.

Um, it was short, it's the way to grab attention.

He's savvy in technology and um, you know, these newer platforms, and so at finance and Personnel, as we Sean Ku Mays, who's sitting behind me, uh, was recommended for promotion into this position.

And I really believe that Sean Ku has that talent that he's shown us already um to take what we're capable of doing to the next level.

He's already producing stuff that we're distributing in spaces like the third street Market and their videos, and we're trying to find other venues where we can get the interest of young adults in our community to sign on board.

So I'm hopeful that that file is revisited uh at committee, and I truly believe that will assist us in spreading the messaging and the marketing of our recruitment in hopes of generating more interest and applicants.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um other questions from community members?

Alder Taylor.

Yes, thank you.

Um, so while you were talking, you mentioned a couple of times of uh attracting younger people.

I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that you guys have so many applicants, and we're still having a hard time finding qualified individuals.

So I guess I'm wondering like the average age of an applicant, and is that the question?

And is you know, I mean, I was very young when I applied, so I was physically fixed, you know.

But are the applicants getting older?

Is that something that is we're attracting both, and I think we are actively recruiting for not just young adults, right, but individuals who are further along and may be looking for a long-term career in their 30s.

We do have a number of recent graduates who fit the bill for that.

Um, so our messaging is targeted on, you know, on different social media platforms, but we're still on the other traditional places and spaces as well.

Oftentimes, too, uh we're seeing a lot of people, um dropping out even after they've passed all of the requirements, so that is a challenge for us as well, be it this isn't really for me, or um, so we're trying to figure out strategies to assist because that's a really important pool, not just the applicant pool, which is also important, but those who meet all the criteria and how can we um ensure they don't drop out of the process.

So we get a lot of feedback from them.

We ask them, like, you know, what happened, you know, can you tell us more?

We compare it when people apply, they're asked why do you want to become a Milwaukee police officer?

And they give us reasons.

We kind of compare why they dropped off with those reasons and really study and try to figure out ways to ensure that doesn't happen.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Other questions from committee members.

If not, uh, uh Alder um Moore would move that this be held to the call of the chair so we can revisit it.

Probably at budget time.

Um, and hearing no objection sorted.

Thank you for the reports.

Um moving on to item nine on the agenda, file number 25163, substitute motion modifying Milwaukee Police Department standard operating procedure uh for 60 use of force.

This is sponsored by Alder Burgelis.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

This file came through a reading of SOP changes.

Uh, I believe you might have been absent that day.

Um, but we did have Alderman Jackson sitting in uh filling in on the committee as well.

And it was like oh, you were here, you were here.

Um someone wasn't here.

Uh Alderman Jackson was filling in, and we as the SOPs were being read in, we kind of looked at each other and said, hmm, that's unusual that we're going to no longer need to document why we pull a gun on a citizen.

And um conversations, meetings, emails were exchanged afterwards.

Uh we proposed uh reversing that decision uh that was originally from the Sterling Brown settlement, um, and continuing that use of force requirement to document why uh a weapon is pulled on a citizen to eventuate an arrest.

Uh the fi the fire and police commission has also uh weighed in on this.

There was a um an opportunity for public comment, and then they're following meeting.

Most recently they also uh unanimously recomm recommended adoption of this file.

I see this more as a common sense, protect the public, uh, and ensure that uh everyone is accountable for their actions, resolution.

So um uh this process uh certainly is new um post Act 12.

Uh the council has the ability to modify SOPs uh outside of the fire and police commission's previous role um with a two-thirds vote on the floor.

This uh is I won't say it's uncharted water, but this was the first introduction of a modification to an SOP.

We've uh passed a couple ICE-related things since then, uh on a uh more expedited schedule, uh, but we also do not have a roadmap or an ordinance that would dictate how we would effectuate our new responsibility to modify SOPs.

Um I think we've set a very uh intentional standard to ensure that we hear from the fire and police commission um so that we hear from the fire and police commission while we deliberate these potential changes.

Um I will note that this file uh was drafted uh back in March 75 days ago.

Um, and it has been circulated, it has gotten um some uh attention uh uh in the community and the fire and police commission and the administration on the council, and I am ready to recommend passage.

Okay, so uh just so folks know, so approval of a motion.

Yeah, um, so uh Alder Burgelis brought this motion forward as the chair said, hey, it would be a good idea if we sent this to FPC to get their opinion on the matter.

Um of course they can just recommend things, they can't actually change things.

Um so director Todd, can you say what transpired um when uh when the item was sent to FPC?

And I don't see FPC's recommendation in the file.

I don't know.

We will uh we will get that added.

Okay.

Um so Director Todd, do you want to just uh say what the process was here and then we can get into the content?

Yes.

So the FPC, once it received uh the referral for the file, uh heard a uh a communication file before uh the regular board uh at its meeting on April 16th.

I believe that will be the practice going forward that the FPC will first start by hearing a communication file uh and and deliberating on it, and then that will give the uh the commissioners a chance to to consider, reflect without the pressure of having to make to pull the trigger in a one-meeting fashion.

Uh and then it can be brought back uh as a resolution at a subsequent meeting in this case that happened at the FPC's regular meeting on May 7th.

Uh as Alder Member Gallus noted, it was a uh unanimous uh recommendation that the council pass this motion.

Uh I think that uh the reasoning uh was largely uh the same as uh the sponsor's uh reasoning for introduction that uh uh this increases transparency, accountability, it allows uh uh the commission and the public to track the number of uh use of force incidents, and uh with that incidents involving the uh uh unholstering or displaying of a firearm to effect an arrest, which is uh uh you know a significant event uh with that someone's having with a uh law enforcement personnel.

Um, this will allow for that.

And uh we'll have the department say something in a moment.

Um, but I did want to give an opportunity if any FPC commissioners would like to speak on the issue as well, if that's desired.

Speaking for the body, Commissioner Fung, if you might introduce yourself.

Hi, uh I'm Commissioner Fung.

Thank you for hearing from me.

Um I'll just speak briefly because I think um Alderman Bergellis and Director Todd covered most of the substantive discussion that um I believe that the board had when we discussed this item.

Um I will just add, I know that there was some conversation around um the sort of administrative burden of tracking, um, of tracking the um draw and display, and I do believe that in this case the costs outweigh the benefits in my personal calculation.

It is a relatively smaller proportion of uses of force that this would apply to.

However, I do think it's important for accountability and transparency, um, that we continue to or that we go back to tracking this metric for the sake of the public.

Um, and I do think that uh the the board unanimously supported this, and I'm in support of this as well.

Okay, thank you for your testimony.

Any questions first of all for the commissioner before we move on?

I have a question for uh MPD.

Okay, we'll wait till we get to that.

We'll let the commissioner go then.

Thank you very much for your testimony.

Thank you.

Um so MPD uh obviously, if this is being brought forward, the chief, unlike some of the ICE related matters, hasn't decided to adopt it himself.

So could you speak to uh MPD's concerns and then um if anybody else in the audience I see um MPA is here if they'd like to provide testimony if that wasn't provided at FPC, that would be acceptable as well.

So MPD.

Yes, thank you.

So first of all, I think we're all navigating these new waters post-act 12, including the department.

Um, this was a uh so this reporting requirement for the display of firearms in these circumstances was actually sunsetted and taken out of our policy in two 2024.

Um so it went away a while ago.

Um, and uh it was presented to the FPC with no issue.

Our reason for sunsetting it was it was part of the Sterling Brown agreement, but more importantly, uh, and that's unsetted, nationwide, there is no reporting requirement for other jurisdictions to have this.

We recognize, you know, we talk about retention and the balance between everybody's interests that our officers have a huge lift with reporting.

Collins requirements are very stringent, not that we would ever take away the the requirement to report on all field interviews, but the manner in which they are required to report it for Collins is very tedious.

They have to submit the reports before the end of their tour of duty.

So oftentimes at the end of their day, if they make a stop, they have to stay extra to do that report and meet all of those very strict requirements of the Collins reporting.

That's just one example.

There's reports for all kinds of things, and this was one where nationwide, no other jurisdiction does it.

We had it for this other agreement, it's unsetted.

If somebody felt a certain way or fear or felt our officer was in the wrong for doing that, we have body warrant cam, which would reflect that if somebody made a complaint.

So there were ways in which to get the information.

That's why we got rid of it back in 2024.

Um, when it was revisited recently, I think there was an administrative error in our policy or some administrative change to clean up the language that was the 75-day prior to that timeline, which there was a communication file for this SOP at that time, in which case this um body felt, hey, you know what, this is important, and let's uh see if we could modify it back.

The department's position at that time was the same.

Like historically, we took it out here, the reasons why.

Um, and then we've kind of created this process with pulling in the FPC and getting that input, and the chief listens to everybody's voice.

And so I I want everyone to know and recognize it's not like he's dismissing anybody's position on any of these things, but they're often different.

Um, and the FPC said loud and clear, unanimously we agree with this change, and so in trying to figure out a process for how do we navigate this, how do we also include the meet and conferral requirements for stuff.

We, Lee and I said, okay, well, you formally send us your recommendation in writing, and then give us time to like craft our response back.

Maybe 15 days, and then it'll go and fill the council file just as a way to like figure out a process.

And so the FPC meeting happened and they voted unanimously that this is what they wanted and we were trying to figure out, okay, let's put in writing how we feel about this.

And honestly the chief's position is this.

This is a matter that isn't um, you know, he doesn't want to fight anyone.

He recognizes that there is the balance between what we're requiring our members to do and and what this body and the FPC and anybody in the public wants.

So for this one we were going to request uh give us some time to meet and confer with the unions, see how that conversation goes and report back to the body.

Um it's murky waters and so I know uh that it is here for a vote today and so we're here to say we would requ like to request an additional thirty days to meet that meet and confer requirement uh with the union to say okay here are the changes that are proposed and and provide that feedback to this body however um you know defer to this body to decide as you wish okay um let's have brief questions for MPD because we want to hear from other members of the public and then we'll have the the big discussion but Alder Chambers.

Um what I what I'm hearing honestly is sunset because it was part of Sterling the Brown agreement however Collins kind of the col the current Collins agreement is kind of um I won't say supersedes but it kinds of um it you know puts it in place where we gotta also do the report in any ways about whether a weapon was drawn or no the Collins is different types of reports so we're in our in the department's mindset we've got all these reporting requirements we're gonna reduce that universe here.

But if our officers already wearing body worn cameras and they want to be on it every stop anyways and the weapon is drawn you have to already put it in your report anyways.

No.

You don't no you would not have to put that particular there's no requirement that they add that you know I drew my weapon to effectuate this arrest.

We would have the arrest non body worn cam and if an individual made a complaint and said uh they pulled their weapon on me and they shouldn't have um we would be able to prove or disprove that by virtue of the investigation into that complaint.

So when I think about this so when I think about this and I'll let you go directly just a second when I think about it let's think about the the man the manpower hours um that will be used on this that would further essentially the cost on this by making this change and I know you also have to do the meet and confer but um I don't know I guess I'll just hear a little bit more before I make my decision.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Thank you.

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

Uh thank you for uh letting me speak on this uh I wasn't able to make the uh fire police commission uh meeting for that day um the MBA uh we strongly this could you introduce yourself sorry uh Alexander Ayala I'm the president of the Monkey Police Association uh we strongly disagree with with this uh change in SOPs um we didn't have it before I understand this came about the an agreement um that we have and it sunset already um one of the reasons that I can explain to you guys would be um in the city of Milwaukee, as as when I was a police officer and even as a detective, a police officer can display their firearm multiple times a day uh for any any call.

Um if you get sent to a domestic violence call, somebody with a weapon, somebody with a gun, somebody with a knife, a active bank robbery, doing a high-risk traffic stop of a uh homicide suspect.

So your gun is being drawn multiple times a day, um and no shots are being fired.

So I understand when the firearm gets um, you know, when you fire a you know your your firearm, there has to be a reporting and things like that.

Um displaying a firearm for a market police officer, it's a tool that is used on a daily basis, and having a fusel force uh attached to the record, um, you are some active police officer that's doing a lot of you know active work, might have a hundred, two hundred, three hundred users of forces that never led anywhere, but withdrawing your firearm to have somebody comply that's gonna get arrested.

They're not pointing their guns at citizens just willing-nilly.

This is some people that are getting arrested.

This is to have somebody comply to be arrested.

Um I mean, officers could include it in their reports is not required, but the fact that 300, 400 uses of forces can be in somebody's record, I think that's detrimental for the member when it even comes for promotions.

Cause we've seen it at the fire and police commission where if somebody has too many uses of forces on their record, they don't get promoted.

They cannot get promoted.

It can interfere with, you know, maybe going through different units or different divisions.

So this SOP change for us is detrimental for our officers.

Uh we don't see the need of having it reported.

Um, you know, if you take out your pepper spray, there's no reporting there.

If you take out your baton, there's no reporting there.

It's unless you use them.

So the same thing goes with your firearm.

If you use your firearm um as it's intended to stop a threat, I we understand that there's a critical incident, there's a lot of moving parts that happen when that happens.

Um the department can attest to that.

Um, and we're involved in those incidents when an officer uh fires their firearm.

But the simple fact of having your firearm be displayed to having somebody comply, um, I think that's cumbersome on the department.

They already have to use or file useful force, um, lots of uses of forces throughout their day for officers that actually are using force, but the bog down the supervisors now with an extra report every time an officer uh withdraws their firearm, I think that's uh detrimental not only to my members, but it also takes the time away from supervisors to keep supervising to now address an issue where you know you have multiple officers at a scene uh that display their firearms and now they all have to get users of forces.

And again, the impact on my members I think is very significant um to have multiple uses of forces when nothing really happened um on the record.

Okay, so with that, um we'll open it for committee members for questions for Mr.

And then um then we'll thank him for his testimony.

Uh Alder Burgos.

Thank you.

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

Um, what do you mean?

Is there a difference?

Does a police officer need to, as the policy currently stands, uh you you mentioned if you use your weapon, there's a critical incident.

Not talking about that.

If you pull your weapon out and point it at a citizen, is that defined as a critical incident?

No.

It'd be a question for FPC on the SOP.

Well, I mean, President O'Le can answer it too.

Um, but if you pull your weapon out and point it at a citizen, is that a is that a use of force that would be currently reportable?

Or is it just if it's discharged?

Yeah, they keep your it is a separate use of force category.

Pointing a pointing a uh a firearm at a citizen is a separate use of force.

Yeah.

Yes.

Um unholstering it and holding it at your side.

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

You can have your holster uh it's called a low ready position.

So you can have your your firearm out, point it at in the direction of a subject, but not point it at the subject.

So you're not pointing the gun at the person, you're pointing it at the ground that's right below them.

Because any second for an officer to to get back, it's detrimental.

I mean, you you can have a a gun fight in less than a second.

So if I'm if I'm ready, if I you would pull over a vehicle and it's somebody's wanting for for homicide and you pull out your weapon, you don't necessarily have to point that that that weapon at the person's, you know, like you know, body mass, you can be pointed off to the side, it's called a low already position.

So that happens all the time.

So pulling out your weapon, um, it saves you time for a police officer, and also again, nothing's happening.

Uh the arm is not getting pointed at the person, and you're not this you're not firing the uh the weapon.

So those are the instances where if you start adding another use of force to that officer, um, I said it again, it's my opinion that is detrimental for that officer's career.

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

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

Chair, uh, chambers on that point.

This is where I wrestle with, and this is kind of, you know, just hearing what we just heard.

Um, I can see it from both sides because I don't want our officers pointing their guns at individuals like just for nothing by walking up to it, you know.

I also want them to be ready and be ready to be you know, to defend themselves at at all times because they are putting the last one to risk every single call, every single day.

Um, so I guess the technical question I have is within this procedure with this SOP for sixty, does it regulate that every time an officer drawing a weapon for anything, they have to file a report.

I wanna make a distinction here.

So we already have the requirement that if we point an aim at somebody, there is the reporting requirement.

But if we point an aim to effectuate an arrest, we took that out.

And if we display to effectuate arrests, we took that out.

And we also took out when we point it uh during warrants.

So you know, oftentimes during warrants you have a number of officers going into a location uh right, correct.

And we took out the reporting requirement for that when in 2024.

It was that and then the display of the firearm.

So it you know, if but but going back to going back and I'm sorry to cut you off, but this is what we're discussing.

So basically if we're going to the server warrant with our guns drawn or a display of warrant according to this what we're speaking about right now, if I'm not mistaken, we would have they would have to do a report.

I'm just I'm just trying to get clarification.

So th there's a number th there's a distinction here.

When they execute a warrant, they they would still do a police report that would have the that would have a narrative that would discuss the different things.

Yeah.

Um even if there was pointing and aiming during a warrant execution because of that exception, they would not do a separate use of force report.

Similarly for uh the report would be done and just and the the the extension of the use of force would not have to be required is what we're saying.

So they they would likely still do an incident report, but they would not have to do a separate use of force report which requires a sergeant to go and conduct the interviews with all the members who were involved and the witnesses and review all the body cam and then do a separate use of force report.

Which means more manpower, with more manpower hours, more more time for them to do it in order to have the even though we already doing the instant report that can that would create the narrative that is what transpired from the jump.

It's a more detailed report.

Um, you know, I would also anticipate that if a member uh drew their firearm to effectuate an arrest, i i it would likely be included in the incident report, it would be my expectation.

Um, but then having the a separate use of force report provides more detail.

And I I did just want to clarify a a couple things.

So in uh 2023 there were two hundred and twenty uh displaying a uh a firearm to effectuate an arrest only.

Now there was uh there were some more that uh were also uh coupled with other uses of force, like pointing and aiming or other like physical uses of force, but for those uh that were only displaying a firearm to effectuate an arrest, it was two hundred and twenty, which I believe was about nine percent of the use of force universe.

Twenty twenty four it was a hundred and eighty-two, which was eight point three percent of the use of force incident.

So it is not an insignificant number, but it's not thousands.

Um also and just a point of clarification, the FPC would not and and has not, uh during my tenure dinged officers for uses of force that are in compliance with the policy in terms of promotion.

That's just not true.

Okay.

Um this is taking back to what I was speaking about in the previo in a previous file with the s the the safety and civic commission.

Um you know I just feel uh to me it seems like it's double work.

Um you know again I don't want I don't want officer point good individuals just for the sake of point good individuals like just try to show if you're you know just doing that superior and um yeah um I'll leave that there for right now and pass it over to other members.

Okay, thank you.

Are there any other questions for Mr.

IO we kind of got back into MPD and F P C if there aren't then we can thank him for his testimony.

Thank you.

Mr Chair uh Alder Burgelis thank you.

Um so a a hundred and eighty or two hundred ish reports per year one two every three days or so.

So it's not so with a thousand members on patrol this isn't there may be more of them but uh those are those that are only only that only it could be they did that with some other type of use of force paperwork burden that Alderman Chambers is worried about would only uh this would be included in a report that's already otherwise filed except for a hundred and eighty or two hundred and twenty times per year.

Correct.

And there is a supervisory review process to all uses of force.

So if you classify something as use of for and first of all I just want to remember here the department is not you know if if this is the will of the body we get it so we're not here to say we wholeheartedly object we're trying to balance the interest of all this stuff.

But if it's classified as a use of force, it's not only the report requirement it's a review requirement up the entire chain of command.

I think is a really important step to make sure officers are doing the right thing.

Um my question for the department though is this is a burdensome process to to review a hundred and eighty pieces of paper a year.

If there's a a more efficient or s more streamlined method to collect this data and ensure that it's still available I'm all for it.

I'm not asking for a 500 word essay.

Right?

And if it can come down to like our conversation the other day about a check box uh within a reporting system fine if the I I'm not concerned about the how I'm a concern about the what and frankly the why and if the if technology can allow us to be more efficient with that I think that's a great idea.

Then if I could respectfully request so I spoke with Alderman Burgelis about this and I get it.

Like this has been a long timeline.

But we really didn't know where we were gonna go until the FPC voted on it and we did not know how they were going to turn out.

Um we do have some challenges with figuring out a check box right now I believe the only place to do it is through the CAD system which may be problematic for us but we're trying to figure out something if I could ask for a thirty day window to try to identify a solution that can um you know meet the desire of the Alderman Bergelis and others um to document this somewhere and our desire to reduce the universe of reporting requirements and supervisory oversight stuff.

Um could we come back in thirty days?

And I know that's adding more to what is already a long timeline, but um I I believe we could figure out a solution I I I this is this has been drafted seventy six days ago um the department, the union, everyone had this available.

Um if there is a I don't I don't think the method is uh specified in the SOP, and that's up to the direction of the department on how to implement uh SOPs that we are now charged with amending.

Um, but so the how I think is up to the department.

The uh the motion and frankly, uh to be clear, this is uh a motion of the legislative branch of government.

This is not a resolution or an ordinance, so this does not go to the mayor's office for approval or veto.

This is a uh instrument of the body.

Uh so once the body votes on this, that is the policy per Act 12.

This is not uh something subject to mayoral um uh congruence or not.

Um so I I would be inclined to uh ensure that you have enough time to uh implement the policy, but that I don't think changes the timeline for the body uh to entertain the motion.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

Chair, Alder Chambers.

Um I I really appreciate it, Mr.

Chair.

I think where I'm at right now is I I don't want to hold this any longer um far as this.

Um I also don't think, you know, while we have the dubious pleasures, dubious to me, um, that we have to make decisions um that you know should stay in FBC.

Um, you know, that was pulled within Act 12.

Um, you know, I I think that you know the powers are with Chief Norman and his administration, and I think, you know, just during my observation of the chief and how he operates, I think he has a pretty good grasp on what he can do, what he can't do, what he need to confer, where you can do anything of that nature um far as this and I don't think this is an opportunity, I don't think this is the the file or the time for us to infer um our influence um in regards to um Act 12.

So me personally, I'm gonna be voting against this.

Um I know there's a motion on the table, and I just hope that we could just get to say that motion.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um a couple of clarificatory questions.

So um it was noted that in 2023 there were 223 use of force reports that were strictly use of force without the additional um uh other things going on in that incident.

Um 181 um in 2024, uh Chief of Staff Huff noted that this isn't restricted just to the officer writing the report, but there's a supervisory chain.

Um it is correct, isn't it, that when we've had files before this body regarding overtime sergeants figure prominently in that um so would this is the concern that the administrative burden is too great um given what comes out of this for not just the original officer involved but those um supervisors up the chain of command who who maybe have more um overtime demands.

Correct.

And then how long uh just so we get a ballpark, does it take to fill out a use of force report?

It depends on the incident.

Um there uh we have Inspector Lau here.

I have not done one, but would you be more familiar with the timeline for depending on the volume and how fast uh the particular supervisor works, maybe up to a half hour hour, um how detailed the narrative needs to be watching the body cam video as well to make sure uh all lines up with what is being told.

So it yes, it's uh right about that.

I mean, half hour, hour, and again, it could be subjective though.

And that's for the officer involved in the incident.

What about the supervisory?

Uh that I was referring to the sergeant, okay.

Oh, right, the supervisor right there.

And uh just for clarification though, too.

Uh our supervisors are required every time we uh we do a search warrant that was brought up.

There is a uh uniform report.

It used to be in the AIM system, now it's in the benchmark system.

So every search warrant all the members that are involved in the execution of the search work are listed in that with the other details like what the crime, the address, how many people that are in the house, uh, I believe it all the details uh who is armed with what weapon, all that.

So okay.

So right now, um with the current policy, those with um executing a search warrant aren't there isn't a requirement for a separate use of force paperwork.

Um there would be under this change.

I I believe they would have to add uh I I can we can follow up with that.

I believe they would have to add us uh an extra um like a face type report to accommodate for the display of the weapons.

Yeah, but I would have to Yep.

That that is the the two categories the displaying of the weapon and then the uh, you know, pointing the weapon during warrants that were taken out.

Right.

Um and with respect to non-search warrant situations right now the pointing of a weapon does require the generation of a report.

Correct.

But this would add the display of the weapon.

So if I, you know, it's not the old West, but if I, you know, tap my sidearm, um, that would not create a use of force correct report.

So I think the concern might have been, uh, you know, whether uh certain officers are using something as a a method of intimidation, um uh drawing a weapon and pointing would generate a report.

Um under current policy, drawing the weapon itself if you're not pointing would not generate that report.

Um and I I saw the exchange between you chief of staff huff and alderman Burgelis is wondering whether there's another way to kind of fly it 'cause I think what the concern might be if I I might speculate is somebody who's doing something very often in a way that is not what your department wants to see and would there be a mechanism in place to track that short of a robust use of force report.

So that compromise if it could be worked out I think would possibly please multiple people.

Um but what is your confidence level and then you could work out a mechanism to record that for the outliers who are uh drawing their weapons more than you all would like to see them given the circumstances?

So to be honest, I don't know what our technological capabilities are right now and they're I don't know.

Um all I know is when we had this conversation after the FPC voted and said how can we figure out this world to make everybody happy, which is what we wanted to do.

Uh it was well, the only place we could do a check box is really through this CAD system, and that's an imperfect science.

So I would have to go back and talk to our IT director and and figure out our systems.

What we would like to do is not consider these uses of force like the traditional thing and treat them a little bit differently, but we're absolutely open to figuring out is there a way that this can be just a check box, which is easy.

You know, it takes an officer two seconds to check a check box.

Um I just don't know what if if we uh ha we can add that to a system at this moment.

Could it be added to benchmark?

I I we would have to look.

Okay.

But I'm hearing from the sponsor just conferring confirming that you you don't want to wait for that.

Correct.

Right.

Okay.

Um, right there, Mr.

Chair, I don't think it's necessary.

I think that we can proceed with the policy and the department can figure out how to implement it or adjust it as they need to say CFIT.

As they see fit.

Um, maybe I'm misunderstanding, but if this if this motion goes through at the full council, then the SOP will change and so there will not be the use of force report will be required in those circumstances where it's displayed.

I believe so.

Uh there is the supervisory review requirements in the policy as it stands now, which is part of um the the process that uh would go away if we figured out a checkbox option.

Okay.

Um members have any opinions on this.

I'm ready to call for a vote.

Um all right.

I'm gonna pass the gavel then and make the motion to hold to give it that um extra cycle to work things out.

Members can vote up or down on that, but uh I'd like to reach a resolution between the sponsor and the department.

Um I he's indicated he's not willing to wait.

I was trying to be respectful in scheduling this.

I didn't want to be the cause of the waiting, but I would given um the possibility of a a happy solution here.

Make that motion to hold Mr.

I'm objected to hold.

Uh so the the hold a hold has been called.

Please call the roll.

Alderman Chambers.

No.

Alder Woman Moore?

No.

Alderman Gallet.

Taylor.

Alderman Taylor.

Uh, this is a motion to hold.

Um, I.

Alderman Spiker?

I.

And Mr.

Chair, Alderman Gallas?

No.

Motion fails in two to two.

Motion fails.

Uh remaining motion is adopted is approval of the motion.

Please call the roll.

I mean chambers.

No.

No.

Otherwise, member gallers?

Hi.

Mr.

Chair Alderman Spiker.

No.

The date of motion.

311.

Motion fails.

And I'll pass the gavel back for the next item.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

Um, with that, we move on to item 10.

File number 260038.

Communication from FPC relating to 2025 annual policy review.

And if I are saying it's not all.

Okay, that's fine.

For some reason I'm not seeing it in my moment.

I apologize.

It's okay.

It's a full agenda.

We can move on to 11 and 12 because it's gonna either be missing this or missing the call wait time one.

So we well, I do have it, so you do have it.

Yes.

Okay, can it be a brief report?

Very brief.

So um uh as required by uh uh 6250 and uh common council ordinance.

We've submitted our policy re annual policy review for the year 2025, which gives a listing of all the uh standard operating procedures uh and standard operating and uh guidelines or instruction well not instruct policies that were for police and fire that were modified in the year 2025 and attached to that report are the memos that uh summarize what those changes were.

Uh in 2025 there were no rec formal recommendations by the fire and police commission for policy changes, and the common council uh did not adopt any.

I'm happy to answer any specific questions though.

Okay, are there any specific questions?

We'll place no file.

Uh then Alderman Chambers moves that this item be placed on file.

Hearing no objections so ordered.

Item 11, file number 260134 communication from FPC relating to standard operating procedures.

There are five policies that uh uh had changes uh at the last uh FPC meeting on um May 7th.

SOP two sixty three records management for sixty seven conduct conducted energy weapon four seventy five military deployment and reintegration six seventy bomb threats, suspicious packages, improvised explosive devices, and then the uh uh standard operating instruction for police chaplaincy.

Uh these changes are routine updates and administrative changes, uh or other non-controversial changes.

I'm happy to answer any specific questions.

Uh, and I can give a summary if you like, but uh uh I don't think they are uh particularly newsworthy.

Yeah, let's just see if members have questions about any of them.

Any questions?

Yeah, we place them for all.

We can have to just be looking in here to wait us.

Um recommended uh, don't replace the file.

We can vote for it.

Um, okay.

Uh hearing no questions, uh Alder Bergellis would move that this be placed on file.

Hearing no objections so ordered, we're gonna need to uh have a motion for a reconsideration of item nine, file number two five one six six three.

This is the substitute motion regarding SOP 460 use of force.

So the motion um for passage or approval failed, but we still need to do something with the file.

Oh file.

So Alder Chambers who move that the item be placed on file.

Um are there any objections?

Mr.

Chair.

Yes.

Uh can we hold it to the call of the chair, please?

Okay, also do it.

Wait.

That motion was made before.

Don't have to do it twice.

So we reconsider.

So we can hold it to a date certain, then.

I would object to the whole.

I don't understand.

We remote the reconsider so you have that right.

Um, I guess for the parliamentarian, so uh there's been a motion uh to hold that was heard before that failed.

Um uh just because we reconsider it, that doesn't renew the ability to consider the hold, does it?

Mr.

Chair, we can also the committee can also recommend it to for council without um without without recommendation.

We'll be to council without recommendation.

I would object to that.

Right, but as far as priority goes, Alder Chambers had moved that it be placed on file.

That motion is before us, it's not superseded by I thought it did.

I thought uh of referral would refer without recommendation, thank you.

Would refer does it supersede the motion to place on file?

I don't think so.

Here comes Jim Orzarski.

Motion to hold would.

That's been heard.

Hey, why don't we go to 1200?

Hold to the call of the chair for the purpose uh in the meeting and move on to 12 while we settle this parliamentary question.

Oh, sorry, so perfect.

Thank you.

Oh, and he appears to be here.

He appears.

So again, we finally called you and you just appear.

Parliamentarian, parliamentarian, parliamentarian.

Yeah, there you go.

So a motion to reconsider, uh Alder.

And it is now before us.

Item nine, follow two five one, six six three.

So uh Mr.

Ozarski, the question was um, so there's been just two questions.

So motion to approve has failed.

Um, we have uh monopoly of options, uh, place on file, uh refer without recommendation.

There was an attempt to hold.

Um first to that question uh is the motion to hold in order given that it failed prior.

If it has all at this level or you oh, thank you.

Mr.

Chair Mazarsky City Clerk.

Um I was busy and I was busy running thoughts.

The motion having been made and put at the committee level need not be reconsidered that way because another motion has occurred since you had another motion, you can go back to it.

You certainly could, as a matter of form, reconsider if that was your wish, but I don't know what those are.

It would be considered due to just a place no file because we didn't just probably dispose of after the vote was made.

The key piece to remember, and the thing that brought me up here is that committees in our system are recommending bodies, so you have to transmit something.

Right.

It can be place on file, it can be no recommendation, but you must vote to transmit something.

And so uh merely failure of recommendation is insufficient.

Obviously, if you wish to retain it in committee, that's your liberty to do so.

You can do that.

But you must do you must vote, you must approve something.

Some motion must be approved.

So then I made the motion to place on file already, and then he tried to supersede my colleagues are superseded with a hold.

Does that supercede the place on file?

Yes, the hold motion would supersede the motion to place on file.

So my even though the hold failed previously.

Correct.

So my my hold would be to uh hold to a date certain, which is our next meeting.

Now I would object to that.

Okay.

So the motion to hold till the next meeting um is before us again.

So with that, uh we'll call the roll.

Motion to hold.

Okay.

No.

Otherwoman more.

Otherwoman Taylor?

Aye.

Aldermember Gallus?

Aye.

Mr.

Chair Alderman Spiker.

No.

Um, I'll make the motion to place on file.

Do we have to vote on that?

Okay, okay.

So we'll call the roll one more time.

Motion now is to place on file.

On the motion.

Mr.

Chair.

On the motion, place on file.

This would essentially kill the file, and allow uh the council no option and no action to uh enact what was unanimously recommended by the fire and police committee.

That was a question from the chair.

Uh it would yeah, it would kill the file for committee.

And on my motion, um the fire and police commissioner recommended to us, and we've heard talking points and we made a decision to move forward with it.

So I think it continue to do that as well.

So, all right.

Uh, motion to place on files before us.

Please call the rule.

Alliman Chambers?

Aye.

Alder woman more.

Aye.

Alder Woman Taylor.

No.

Aldermember Gallus.

No.

Mr.

Chair.

I'll show them passes on a three to two.

Motion passes on a three to two vote.

Um, last item on the agenda.

Thank you very much.

Item 12, file number 2600 two five communication from FPC relating to 911 call wait times and dispatch response times.

This is our quarterly file.

Um, could we have a brief status update?

How are we doing?

Yes.

So it's been a while since we've had one of these quarterly files.

So we have three re quarterly reports in the file.

Um, for Q1 of 26 and then Q3 and 4 of 2025.

Uh things are going well.

Uh in all quarters, uh, the call uh answer times met the uh uh the 90% threshold, and uh in fact it far exceeded that.

Uh in the latest report for Q1 of this year, uh the call answer time um or the number of calls that were answered within 15 seconds was 99.3%, and 100% were answered in, or effectively 100% were answered in within 90 seconds.

Um the number of outlier calls, those that are uh answered in more than three minutes has decreased uh substantially.

Um there was zero for nine one one calls uh in Q1.

There was ninety-one for administrative calls, which uh um those were the non-emergency calls.

Overall, things are going very well uh and improving at the DEC, and uh they are moving with their universal call taking training, and you can see in the last report that we're now combining uh what was previously the police and fire calls into uh a single call type, uh universal call taker.

And I would note that uh in previous reports for some time now, both police and fire calls uh have been at or above the uh the ninety five, the ninety percent threshold as well as the ninety five percent threshold.

Happy to answer any additional questions.

Um just very briefly on the outliers.

So uh what is the story over the course of these three reports on the outlier calls?

They've been improving uh from quarter to quarter.

In uh in Q3 of last year, we did see uh an uptick.

Uh um I I'd have to go back and look at at why that was, but it decreased in Q4 and then decreased again in Q1 to effectively zero for the nine for the emergency calls.

Okay, there's still a handful for non-emergency calls, but um that's to be expected from time to time.

So just down to a handful for the administrative non-emergency calls.

Okay, yes.

Well, members who've been with the committee for a while know that this is um stark improvements um from years past.

So appreciate that.

Any questions?

If not, then we'll try to get the quarterly reports on the quarterly timeline now.

Yes.

And um Alder Taylor would move that these this item be placed on file and hearing no objections so ordered.

Um and having no other items.

Oh yeah, yeah.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Um items 13 through 16.

Um Alder Moore would move that these be placed on file.

Are there any objection?

These are old files that Alderman Perez is retiring.

Uh enjoy your retirement.

Uh any questions?

Objections without objection then.

So ordered items 13 through 16 are placed on file.

And now that is our last item.

So we are concluded.

Thank you.