I am Arteman DeAndre Jackson, the 7th district.

To my right, I'm joined by Otterman Bob, downtown.

Our Ottawa Artman Westmoreland, can I join us today?

So my far left, we are with Perez, President of the Council, and Audible woman, Andrea Pratt.

And none of this is possible with our staff assistant, Miss Ortiz.

Right.

All right, let's get started.

Item one 26006 substitute resolution relating to the arrest and detention of Elvira Benitez.

Yeah, thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Um I introduced this file.

This is a really important issue.

This is while not while this resolution is not an official part of our ICE out package.

Um it is related to it.

Um yeah, so Elvira Benitez was detained uh as a resident of Shiboygan has been detained by ICE um since March 10th of this year.

And we believe unlawfully, this is an individual who has done nothing but follow the laws of this country and contribute.

And so we're here today to pass a resolution um calling for um Elvira's immediate release from ICE detention and to support her and other immigrant communities who need our support here on the council and to call on our federal government to stop these illegal detentions and and stop uh the deportations.

Now you said they're from Sheboygan, she's from Sheboyga.

She's a supporting president, that's correct.

Okay.

Sheboyga Falls.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Alright, introduce yourself and uh speak on the uh good morning.

You pull the microphone.

Good morning, please.

Yeah.

I'm gonna translate for Julio.

Good morning.

My name is Julio Basurto.

I am the owner the business in in Milwaukee.

I think it uh you pens algo ilegal to tener una persona cabinera luchando por tiempo con mucho tiempo.

I don't think it's something um legal that someone who has come to this country and has uh struggled to to build a a better life.

And has complied with all of the steps in the law under this system.

So, yeah, portando is beneficial para la comunidad.

Uh this needs to stop because it's not just limited to her, but this spreads fear throughout the community, and people need to live and work without fear.

And this is something that affects everybody, not just the immigrant community as well.

Thank you.

And I just want to say that Julio Surto is part of a larger um network of small businesses that have been coming together to prepare for the possibility of uh ice surge, similar to what we've witnessed in other cities.

Well, yeah, it affects the business community, most of people are scared to go shopping and things like that.

I know um my Southside friends said business went down thirty to sixty percent.

Yes, that's absolutely true.

There's been a decline in people purchasing and just uh overall decline.

Um has the South Side Businesses um went into like the delivery model, something like that.

Um I uh in suicide, I negotios que on ahora uh si sabes uh repartiendo and this and this desperate venga because that's llevando productos a sus cases.

Yes, there are some that have uh turned to that model.

Alright, thank you.

Yeah, it's a property time I want to be at it as a co-sponsor.

Um, and I just want to uh so my name is should I start then?

Wait, okay.

So my name is Christine Newman Ortiz, and I I did want to say that um so Mark Christopher, who's the attorney, is um I was hoping to possibly join um but is at a bond hearing and waiting for that to start.

Also, Elvira Benitez's husband is um on his way here uh to speak as well.

But I just wanted to thank you all for taking up uh this resolution.

Um, and you know, it requires leadership and it's uh a very strong message of solidarity with uh fellow Wisconsinite, um, Elvira Benitez.

ICE uh continues to prolong her rightful release, and it's important in my view as the city with the highest number of immigrants and refugees in the state of Wisconsin that we send a clear message of solidarity with Elvira Benitez and others like her to demand that she be released and reunited with her family and with her community.

Elvira came to this country when she was 15 years old, escaping violence, and she has built a very good life here.

She's loving sister, mother, wife, she's a beloved member of the community, she's active in her church, um, and she has had her uh own small business for many years.

And as her attorney, Mark Christopher has described, her record is so good she doesn't even have a driving ticket in all these decades of years.

Um her case, I believe, is important to elevate because it represents uh the reality of so many of our fellow community members that have been a part of our community for many for many years, having children, grandchildren here.

Uh, and she is being unjustly incarcerated in Kentucky away from her family and as a very intentional strategy to limit her access to legal counsel.

Despite the courts granting her cancellation of removal, granting her a path to legal permanent residency, and most recently eligibility for a bond.

Every step of the way, ICE is challenging her release and has fought to keep her incarcerated.

Her incarceration and that of others, like the highly public case of Kilmar Obrego Garcia, are unethical government actions that fly in the face of the justification that's being used to jail them.

Elvira, like fellow Wisconsinite Sara Sarasur and Kilmar Obrego Garcia, are not a threat to society.

They're hardworking immigrant men and women who have committed no crimes and are being held in jails that threaten their well-being and are causing great trauma to their families and the community.

By ISIS's own records, over 70% of the people that are being held in detention right now have no criminal record.

This persecution and incarceration of hardworking emigrants by ICE exemplifies the ongoing violations of due process with baseless accusations, limiting access to legal counsel by moving people quickly out of state, and efforts to prolong their incarceration to wear them down and force them to self-deport and cruelty for cruelty's sake.

Like Elvira, there are already tens of thousands of people that are being held in ICE detention facilities and have committed no crime.

But often we do not know their faces or their personal stories.

Elvira and her family are speaking out for themselves and for others.

They're very clear about this.

Authoritarianism and the rise of fascism relies on good people who consent to the inhumane treatment of others.

We have a duty to not look away.

We have a duty to support them and help raise awareness of the plight and reality that so many immigrant workers and their families are facing.

Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to persecute our neighbors, co-workers, and small business owners who are making our communities a better place to live.

Fri Elvira now.

And I know Ricardo Benitez is on his way, but um in the uh Mark Christopher's absence, um, the next speaker is uh Laisha Ibara.

Hi, good morning.

Uh, my name is Laisha Ibarra.

I am a DACA recipient, but I also have two undocumented parents who have no pathway to citizenship, right?

Um I am here.

I don't know if you guys know what DACA is.

DACA is deferred action for childhood arrivals, meaning that I was under the age of 12 coming into this country.

Um, and I'm here to ask you to vote in favor of this resolution.

I share the sentiment of fear of with Elvira and her family, and every undocumented person in the US and in Wisconsin, right?

As a doctor recipient, I have to file for my work permit uh every two years, but now with the USCIS uh uh what is the back the backlog?

Um it's taking six to eight months to uh reapply, meaning that a lot of DACA recipients have been left without work permits, have been left without status um and are in danger of being deported uh and detained as of right now.

There's eighty eighty plus DACA recipients that have been deported and over a hundred DACA recipients uh that are currently in detention.

Um so Elvira's detainment was unjust and we demand for her release.

Um and we'll continue to organize some work until everybody uh can live free from this fear.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Introduce yourself as a starter.

Introduce yourself and get started.

You can pull a microphone off.

Yeah, this is cool.

Yeah, this is a Ricardo Chavez.

My wife, husband, uh, just you can share your story.

Just share your story.

So I'm I'm a kid, I mean, just to get help for you guys in.

I need to say, uh, uh serious.

We are seeking your help.

We are seeking your help so that my wife can be um freed.

Um, uh in this lug uh, uh, she it's been two months that she's been most recently um jailed and she is battling with health issues.

And she's told me by phone that they are denying her health care health treatment that she needs.

And so, let's complicate much uh detainer.

So her situation is becoming more complicated as she's being uh held in detention.

She has shared with me that she can no longer stand to be there with the treatment that she is facing.

Um, uh suffering.

My children are also suffering.

Uh, no, you're still saying, but every day they are at my children are asking me uh when is mom coming home, and I tell them soon, um, and I keep hoping that soon.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any closing closing out?

Uh Bravo or Jokas.

I'd like to give remarks, Mr.

Chair.

Um I want to thank um everyone for being here today um and offering their testimony in support of Elvira Benitas and our resolution.

Um thank you, the Vosos de la Frontera for bringing this to us and uh Alderman Brower for putting it forward, and Mr.

Chair for your willingness to schedule this.

I heard you ask earlier, is she from Sheboygan and and she is in fact from Sheboygan Falls.

Um this woman is a Wisconsinite, and um she is a mother and a wife and a worker and an entrepreneur.

Um and so it it seems only right that we take it up, even though I know we are city of Milwaukee.

Um our governmental body has not hesitated to call out the Trump administration um for these unjust and criminal acts against Milwaukeeans and Wisconsinites, um, our immigrant constituents have um contributed so much as we all know um to our city and to our state and to our country, and so we have to call out these um awful unjust acts um at every turn.

We have to make sure that Alvira is released to her family, so she can continue to prosper and give back to the state as she's already done, um and wants to continue to do.

So I just again want to thank you all for being here today.

What we send you, senor, all of our love and support.

And we are going to keep fighting and keep pushing until she is released, and every single immigrant that continues to be detained under this unjust Trump administration.

Gracias.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Okay, Mr.

Chair, thank you so much.

Just want to also echo everything colleagues have said and thank every member of the public who's shown up today.

I'm really glad that we're making room here at the council for public participation and the public to join some of these meetings.

Even though they're at 9 a.m.

on a work day, like this is it's it's so great to see people taking time out of their schedules to come out here and support this and support our city standing up because you know the the old adage in the union world is that an injury to one is an injury to all.

And so when a fellow Wisconsinite is detained by ICE unlawfully, I am injured as well, along with everybody I know here on the council feels the same way.

So I am so glad and so proud of the leadership that we've been taking here, and I'm really glad that you know this is another resolution related to detention, and if we need to continue to raise up the voices by having more resolutions, I'm in favor of it.

We need to be raising this up every single time somebody is illegally detained and bringing the voice here, and I hope that members of the media who are watching will cover this as well so this story can get out and be raised up, and that this and that Elvira can be released.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

So Automan Prayers moves the adoption of the resolution.

Here, no objections to order.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's see about some other thing.

Um but it's a two-year-old.

It passed, okay.

So, Mark, um, good news it passed, but thank you all very much.

Appreciate it.

I know.

Thank you.

Thanks for coming out.

Thank you.

So I am a little rusty, I didn't properly notice the meeting.

So, Judiciary Legislation Committee, we started at 9 11 a.m.

in room 301B, City Hall.

That's all.

All right, item two, two five, two, one six two, appointment of Madeline, Miranda, Navarro to the Equal Rights Commission by the mayor, and she's joining us virtually.

Thank you.

Uh Ramona Ramos here on behalf of the ERC just to support.

But Madeline is online.

Hello, yeah, I am right here.

Good morning.

My name is Madeline.

Hi, good morning.

So give us a little bit of your willingness to serve.

Yeah, um, so like I said, my name is Mattel Miranda Navarro.

I am a I think 17-year native to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Um I came here when I was in my teens, and I have just um kind of had my career transformed and been back to um Wisconsin in the last two years.

I have a master's in public health, and I've been just wanting to plug in myself into my city in order to serve in different ways.

Um currently I am the community engagement coordinator at uh the Benedict Center, and when I just saw the opportunity to join the um equal rights commission, I just wanted to take the time to fill in the application.

I didn't know if it was going to be something that I could do, uh, but um the application said it was for any person that was a citizen of Milwaukee, and so I just jumped on the opportunity to do so.

Um I've been really uh wanting to serve back to my community, and I felt like this was an opportunity for me to do that, and um, so here I am.

Alright, thank you.

Any questions about committee?

All right, autumn and print moves approval.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alright, item three, two five one nine five six.

Resolution related to the claim of Julius Adway.

All right, good morning.

Yes.

For this claim, Mr.

Addaway claims that uh his vehicle sustained damage on April 2nd, 2025, when a branch from the city tree fell on his vehicle parked at 3856 North 36th Street.

He seeks 21,572.62 cents in repair cost based on the repair estimates submitted.

A uh representative from Forestry can go into it more.

Um but that is uh the basic effects of this case.

Of course, uh Frank Salomer's central forestry district manager uh has stated those are correct on uh April 2nd.

We were notified that a tree split has fallen across the road.

It was a 26 inch Linden tree.

Uh the weather on that date uh was uh a thunderstorm with the event of 1.1 inches of rain with peak wind gusts of over 50 miles an hour with substained wind gusts of 33 miles an hour.

Uh overall uh central forest responded to 25 calls that day for down trees and branches across the city.

Uh at the time of inspection, um where is it right?

The branch that failed it uh did not show any signs of decay and was alive at that time.

But that way, you could you could adjust the mic.

I'm really just having a loss.

I don't I don't know what to do about this.

I was still open with that.

Can't even tow the car away.

So I mean, I you know, still not a thousand hoe for this car.

Alright.

Okay, sure.

Did I mean you have a shorts on a car?

I didn't.

I had just received the car and I had just I had the car sites it was in the back of my house, and um today I have a huge tree in the back of my bar yard, so I put it in the front because I'm thinking of the branches from the tree in the back of the wrong and the tree from across the street fell across the buttons they told me that the tree was was due to be cut and that it was a rotten tree or something like that.

Of course, we have records of it.

Um we have no records of complaints of this tree until the date of failure.

When the last time the tree was serviced.

Uh it was uh part of our pruning inspection and it fell that is in quarter section six forty-eight for our management unit, it was completed in 2015, which is relatively consistent with our our 10 year cycle, so speak six-year cycle of inspection.

Oh, anything from me?

All right, motion on the floor is denial.

Anything so motion passes 3-0 denial, city attorney.

All right, uh yes, Mr.

Adouway.

This is not the last step.

Uh what happens now is that the um motion for denial goes to the full common council, which meets on June 2nd, 2026.

If the full council adopts the committee's recommendation, then you will receive a formal notice of denial by mail.

And once you have received that formal notice of denial, you can uh pursue the matter further in litigation in the circuit court.

All right, all right, item four two five one five one four resolution related to the claim of Barbara Robertson.

Good morning.

Good morning.

City attorney.

Yes, uh, Ms.

Robinson brings us claim alleging that roots of a city tree uh cause property damage to the retaining wall and sidewalk of her property located at 8535 West Capitol Drive.

Uh she submitted a repair estimate of the amount of sixteen thousand five hundred dollars.

Uh the city attorney's office has recommended denial because there's no evidence to support the claim that the roots from the city keep from the city tree caused the alleged damage.

Uh municipalities are generally not liable for damages caused by natural growth of tree roots unless there is evidence of negligence.

And a representative from the forestry department can speak to the facts in this case.

It was for on Capitol Drive.

And that was in 20.

Excuse me.

24.

And we took no action because we did not find any need to prune that tree out of cycle.

The last time that all the trees in that quarter section were pruned were in 2019.

And we've received no other requests for tree inspection or anything else related to the tree on the 86th Street side, sorry.

And they ramped it.

Also, they like to shaved it down a little bit?

They actually put asphalt ramps on it, and then we'll take care of it later, whenever it fits into their schedule.

Okay, my name is Barbara Robinson, and I purchased this building in 2018, nearly seven and a half years ago.

I retired from the Milwaukee Police Department, the city of Milwaukee.

My property tax when I bought this building was eleven thousand dollars.

I have one tenant in there that had been paying me nine hundred and fifty dollars a month.

My property tax went up to twenty thousand dollars, twenty thousand plus.

That tree is on the east side of eighty-sixth street, and I do have the pictures.

It has pushed up the sidewalk so high, and I have called and complained about that.

Even when I shovel the snow in the winter, you have to go, it's a hump.

And you can see where they came out and they put asphalt.

The sidewalk is that far.

I have no control over that tree, but the tree is real big, and you can see where it's coming up in the ground, and it pushed the retaining wall, and I have all the pictures, and I had contractors come in and tear that down and fix that wall for me.

I've never asked the city for anything.

I'm paying my property tax as I as they are due.

But I have a complaint.

This is out of my control, but I fixed it, and now I'm asking for a claim to help me with my expense.

And so if you would like to look at the pictures of the wall and the tree and the sidewalk, I do have those.

No, just the estimate.

Just the estimate.

In the letter.

Is it in the in the letter that I stated that I had pictures?

Because I spoke with someone and they I did not have to send them, but I do still have them on my phone.

And I'd be more than willing to print those or to email them to you or to show them to you at the present time.

Whichever way you want me to do it.

We'll go to next call the chair.

You can submit her pictures.

Okay.

It's right on your own.

It's on here.

Okay.

I remain on to me, and then I'll make sure to put it in the file.

Sure.

Okay.

That way we'll get to look at it.

Okay.

Alright, so move to hold by over bombing.

Hearing no objections to order.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item five, two five one six two one resolution relates to the claim of Mary Johnson.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Alright, Miss Johnson uh brings this claim alleging that a broken branch from a city tree fell and damaged her vehicle.

Uh while it was parked at or near her home located at 3148 North 41st Street on April 21st, 2025.

Uh, she submitted two repair estimates of $7,000 six hundred and seventy-nine dollars and ninety-six cents and six thousand uh six thousand and seven and fifty-two cents.

Uh the city attorney's office has recommended denial because the damage was unforeseeable and the city had no prior notice that the tree was failing.

Uh and therefore the city was not negligent in this matter.

Uh representative from Forestry is here to speak on the facts.

Uh morning again, Frank Salmer, uh, urban forestry district manager for central district.

Uh April 21st, 2025.

Forestry was notified of a branch down at fall on the vehicle at the address mentioned.

Uh the 24-inch honey locusts at that time appeared to be in good health.

Uh on the 21st of April in 2025, we had peak wind gusts of over 40 miles an hour with sustained wind speeds of 26 mile an hour is reported from Internet uh General Mitchell International Airport.

On that day, the Central Forestry section responded to 17 calls for down trees and branches across this across our district.

Um the last pruning cycle was in quarter section 287, was completed in March 2022, but at that time the tree was deemed not to need um pruning done.

It was outside the diameter limits of how we work, so large tree was inspected, and at that time no damn uh no foreseeable uh failures were evident.

Uh field report from staff that we have uh responded to the call.

Uh the tree branch that fell was not alive at that time, but there was no point or evident point of decay of where the limb fell failed at that time, and there was no visibility of any rot or failure from the ground of where that land fell failed.

All right.

So Ms.

Johnson.

Let Ms.

Jones start back from this year.

First the city had people job changing the pipes in the homes.

They had people's working.

One of the trucks hit my car, and it was from seven star or whatever.

That was five thousand and seven dollars worth of damage done.

Uh in order for me to drive the car, I had to take it so somebody could pull out that side so I could open the door and get in the car.

The city denied that.

They didn't pay for it, they just sent me a letter and said there's not enough information and nobody made it.

He said that the wind was high.

I was in the house and this was like seven o'clock in the morning, and the guy, I went out, uh, because I'm usually up at five o'clock.

So I go outside and the guy across the street is working on his boat, getting ready to go do whatever he's gonna do, and we were talking and he said, Well, would you like to go with me?

I'm like, no, I don't want to go in the water and no boat, you know, not me.

Um I walked back in the house and he comes across the street and Raymond Doveville and said that car you got must be jinxed because a tree limb just fell out the tree and messed it up, and that's what happened.

So I don't know where the wind came from that fast, but there were no wind blowing.

There was no nothing that morning.

And so now I got six thousand dollars worth of damage done to my car.

And if I turn it, I had to pay the thousand dollars to get the car rentable, waiting to see what your decision was gonna be, and it came back denied.

So then I turned it into the insurance company, and then I still had to pay money out of pocket.

Now I got another six thousand dollar damage done to that very same car.

And I turned that into the insurance company.

My insurance went sky high.

So I can't do anything to the car because of my fixed income.

So what am I supposed to do?

I haven't had this car two years and it's messed up.

Alright.

Any question ready?

No, I'm here at the mercy of this, whatever the outcome is, but somebody needs to do something.

So these are just estimates you didn't get a fixed yet?

Pardon me?

These are just estimates you didn't get a fixed yet?

Yeah.

Okay.

Oh, no, I didn't get it fixed yet.

Okay.

No, I'm not I don't have any money to put in it to get it fixed.

I just had to get it fixed on day four so I could drive it.

Get in and out the car.

Wheels of was scrubbing until now.

I'm back to square one where the light is messed up.

And deductibles uh thousand dollars?

Uh five hundred.

Five hundred dollars for the chair.

Honor forest?

So I just want to be clear the damages you're seeking from the city from the branch or to the roof of the vehicle from the pictures I'm seeing here.

Yes.

You have to see it.

The the light up there is just and they and all the what they say they gotta go in there to do it don't make sense to me, but um I don't work on cars.

So, you know, I have to go by what they say.

And I'll call the city about the tree in front of my house that the roots is up out of the ground.

They've been out there three times, and they said there's nothing wrong with it.

Well, when I moved there and planted flowers around the tree, the flowers was in the ground.

Now they're growing up on the roots out of the ground, and eventually a wind gonna come and blow that over.

Then what's gonna happen?

Nobody's gonna do anything, Mr.

Chair.

Forestry, she's saying that they reported the trees being unsafe.

You're saying no one's ever reported the tree.

Um, the only two service requests for that address were um on the date of the incident.

Oh no, I apologize.

We had one on 6 uh 14, 2024.

Uh root surface and tree lawn.

Roots are growing over sidewalk.

Um, it was inspected and determined that the tree was still in good health at that time, and that the displacement of the sidewalk was not negatively affecting the tree.

Okay.

We we normally don't settle claims like this here.

You get the night here in order for you to go to municipal court.

Sorry to attend the motion.

I'll move them out.

All right.

Um, I'll obstacle.

So three-one.

Motion passed.

All right.

Uh as Alderman will or Alderman Perez uh just said, uh, this is not the last step.

Uh what happens now is that the uh motion for denial gets referred over to the full common council, which meets on June 2nd, 2026.

If the full council adopts this committee's recommendation, then you'll receive a formal notice of denial by mail.

And then once you receive that formal notice of denial by mail, uh you have satisfied all the prerequisites to file suit in circuit court.

Thank you.

On June 18th, 2025.

Uh the city attorney's office has recommended denial because there is no evidence that the city was negligent, uh, and that forestry could not have foreseen or prevented the damage from occurring in this case.

A representative from Forestry is here to speak on the porch at the address mentioned in the claim.

The tree in question is a 24 inch ash tree that appeared to be a good health at the time.

The branch that failed was alive, and there's no evidence of decay at the failure point.

Uh on that day, we experienced a severe thunderstorm with one and a quarter inches of rain with peak wind gusts of 17 miles an hour.

Uh on that day.

The forestry section as a whole received 58 calls and complaints for down trees and branches across the city.

The last time that this tree was uh part of our normal management was in quarter section 401 and was completed in March of 2019.

Uh service request history was reviewed for this address, went back to June of 2018 with two other forest-related surf requests were placed for the street.

One was on September was uh from September 2021, and an older one from June of 22, both were regarding roots surfacing and sidewalk damage, requesting that the tree be cut down.

The tree was inspected both times and fell and found to be in good health and referred to streets for sidewalk repairs.

Yes, I have called in and made uh several complaints about the tree is growing onto the sidewalk.

I mean, like literally like she was saying when you shamble in the winter time, it's I have pictures also.

It's just horrible, the sidewalk is just ruined.

And you know, we trip over it all the time, and this tree is still causing damage.

It ruined my neighbor's car, and it caused damage to my son's car.

Um I tried to get a printout of the uh complaints that I made in regards to the tree, it destroyed my whole gate.

It knocked the whole front part of my gate off and my banister to the rail going up to the porch.

Um it needs to be gone.

I mean, I understand nobody can predict the weather or whatever, but that's just like if I leave here right now and I run into a stop sign, uh uh destroy a city sign or something.

I'm gonna be liable to you guys are gonna hold me responsible to pay for that sign, so I don't feel like I should have to pay for something that, you know, this city, I mean the tree belongs to the city.

It doesn't belong to me.

It's not on my property, and I have requested to have it removed.

I tried to get a printout, but I still have not received the printout of the complaint that I filed about this tree.

And like I said, it's still causing damage to other people's property.

I guess, you know, you guys won't be happy until destroying my home completely.

Are you thinking for committee?

I mean, I guess I wonder, and for forestry, what's the protocol?

Because earlier you said that the roots weren't causing an issue for the tree.

Um, so I'm just wondering about when the roots are causing an issue for the people.

Um what's the problem call around that?

I mean, if we have a situation where there's infrastructure damage related to the tree, then that is then referred to that department of infrastructure of what part is being damaged, and then it kind of falls back into the repair cycle and what their priorities are.

Um removing the tree doesn't fix the sidewalk.

It's still going to be that way until it's addressed that way.

So we don't preemptively remove things until construction is pending of the work to be done.

As long as the tree is in good health and isn't displaying any signs of dying or or or whatever.

We don't preemptively do that until the infrastructure will be repaired to where it's supposed to be.

Thank you.

So this may here is 2285 for everything.

This estimate, or you have the word done.

No, it's just the estimate.

I still haven't got it completed.

Any other questions?

No question.

Move denial.

Move denials on the floor.

Any other questions?

Hearing no objections?

So ordered.

So, alright, Miss Williams.

Uh this is not the last step.

Uh what happens now is that the decision of the committee would be referred to the full common council on June 2nd, 2026.

Uh the full council uh adopts this committee's recommendation of denial, then you will receive a formal notice of denial by mail.

Once you receive that formal notice of denial, you'll satisfy the statutory prerequisites to file suit in circuit court if you wish to pursue this matter for the litigation.

So y'all just deny everybody.

Y'all don't pay for nobody.

This is the first step.

So you just get it done out from us.

Now you can sue the city properly.

That's not legal advice, though.

Alright, item seven, two five one six three one resolution related to the claim of Julian Woodruff.

Julian Woodruff.

This is a second on appearance.

I'll answer the motion.

Move denial for second appearance by all woman preparing no objections to order.

Item eight, two five one six two seven.

Resolution related to the claim of Steven.

Brandenburg.

Stephen Brandenburg.

Mr.

Chair.

Um for further investigation.

We hope for further investigation.

This is the second out of parents.

Oh, is it?

Oh, I will draw the motion.

Second on appearance, I will entertain a motion.

Move denial.

Move denial for second, well, third nine appearance.

Hearing no objections, so ordered by Auto Woman Pratt.

Item nine, two five one five one six.

Resolution related to the claim of unique law.

They likely this is uh from a law firm, the claim, so they likely just want a denial.

All right.

Army Obama moves denial for item nine, hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item 10, 251734, communication from the election committee related to its plans for using operational funds made available by canceling cancellation of the February 2026 primary election.

You're up.

Okay.

Yeah, we tell them.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm assuming this is to be referred to finance and personnel or that was the plan.

I'm happy to speak on it though, of course.

You haven't been interested.

I guess what why don't you give us a background on this?

What are we being asked to do here?

I'm not certain.

This was uh uh file put forward by Alderman Vergalis.

Um so as you all may be aware we didn't know what this file entails.

Uh uh so we did not have a primary um in February, uh, which is very unique.

Um and as a result, uh it impacts our budget, of course.

Um, but as you know the Milwaukee Election Commission is a very small department, very small staff, and as you recall in 2024, we ended up having six elections for citywide, one being a citywide recall, um, and so funding is an issue that we always have, and we have many needs for it.

Um we are investing a lot in um equipment and other uh operating needs uh that will assist us in preparing for the November election, which um based upon what we're seeing uh the large number of people running currently in the primary.

We are expecting presidential level turnouts.

Historically, governors' races are about sixty percent turnout, and so with that uh the funding from not having the primary will prepare us for that.

Cool.

Okay, well, move to receive and place on file.

Oh, you have a question.

Yes, sir.

Why did we destroy ballots when we were allowed to?

Uh that was not my call.

So uh was it uh the county?

So state law says I think about 48 hours after every election, we shall transfer the ballots and poll books over to the county.

So the county has possession of those materials, and then the statute for uh all federal elections is 22 months if I'm not mistaken.

So 22 months we're allowed to destroy ballots.

Correct.

A little under two years, correct.

This is the 2020 election.

Correct.

That is now six years, five and a half years in.

Correct.

And the ballots are still sitting over there.

That is my understanding.

Whose decision is there for the county election commission?

That was their two.

You have the county clerk, yes.

Okay, all right.

Any questions about one?

So, what are the preparations for this big election coming up?

Uh, like I said, uh presidential election, uh, the file that's coming up.

We have the uh early voting centers in the next item, if I'm not mistaken.

Um and then, of course, we are going to be kicking off in the next two weeks, and you should expect emails from us for poll workers.

You know, obviously, we about double our poll workers for the November election.

August, we expect to be uh pretty exciting.

Obviously, I think it's now 17,000 people running for uh democratic primary.

Um, so that likely given the size of our city and um the number of people, we likely will be one of the one of two cities that will define who will be on the democratic primary uh I'm sorry, the democratic seat for governor, and so we have to be prepared for that.

Uh central count in November will be held at the Italian community center.

Um, it is a much smaller venue than we had at the Baird.

However, it has a 600 person parking lot right outside of the building.

As you may recall, the Baird Center was very large, but many of our poll workers in the middle of the night had to walk several blocks.

That doesn't feel right.

Additionally, the Baird Center, obviously, was much more expensive, and at the Italian community center, we are able to feed our poll workers three meals, which I think is very important.

It's a long 15-hour day.

Um, so we have to make some operational adjustments in order to adjust for the size, but you know, at our operation center currently, we do split operations already to do two different rooms, um, so that will be a big adjustment as well.

Um, so like I said, this is a president we expect we are planning for presidential level turnout um for November, and then August uh usually matches about an April election.

Um, and so April we we piloted many many different changes operationally that many people did not see, but that had a pretty significant impact we think operationally and overall uh operation went smoothly with a little bit of you know adjustments here and there.

So we are looking forward to April and November.

Um, as I recall, I did uh election protection last election.

And um, so how can we counteract schools opening later than scheduled things like that?

Yeah, so uh we have 178 polling locations, 95 which are Milwaukee public schools.

They are a critical partner of ours and typically great partner.

You know, they came out immediately when we found this out.

So we I met with Dr.

Casalius uh one-on-one uh for a brief period, and we are planning some some big meetings um before and after multiple to make sure that we have the team ready to make sure that they have a team that can answer the phone immediately.

I had a great meeting with um Commissioner Um, oh god, I need more coffee, and I apologize.

Commissioner uh Kretzky who walked me through how they handle their EOC, talk to um director Todd to ensure that we have an emergency operation center ready so that we can plan the day before and in the morning.

Um, one of our uh after action reviews we discovered was that we need to be escalating much faster, time moves a lot faster, apparently, in that hour before election.

Um, so I think when we can get the team committed from MPS, uh, we will be ready.

All right, I guess one last thing on this what is contingency plans for the school closures.

Uh so that's the part that's the plan, right?

Is that MPS needs to have a larger team and ready to answer the phone?

I think people underestimate what it means to be answering the phone exactly at 6 a.m.

So that's the time that we open polling locations for our poll workers.

That means our co-workers only have one hour to get ready.

So we spend a lot of time, about five day five to six days before election day transporting materials over to our sites, secure securing them in those areas.

In some of the sites we get as much of it ready as we can, and then in the morning we deploy about 15 to 25 people to send out morning of materials.

Um so it is a large operation.

We made significant changes to our operations in the morning in an attempt to assist us there.

And after every election, as I said, we now do after action reviews to assist us in getting better every election.

So that's the plan.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Am I next again?

Okay.

Item eleven, 260099.

Resolution related to locations for in-person absentee voting in the city of Milwaukee for the April 20 for for 2026, August, partisan primary and November and November of general election.

Okay, uh good morning again.

Paulina Gutierrez, Milwaukee election commission executive director.

Tim Lundberg, uh elections commission, early voting coordinator.

So as state law requires, we must present to the governing body our list of early voting locations for the uh November election cycle.

So state law reviews all elections as a cycle, so the primary and the election.

Um so we are presenting you that cycle.

You want to talk a little bit about the sites?

Yeah, so we have seven sites that we had in this previous election in the spring, and we're gonna be continuing that in August.

And then in the November election, in the general, we're expecting a lot higher turnout as Paulina mentioned.

Um and so we're gonna be adding three additional sites to go up to twelve.

The ones we're adding are Mitchell Street Library, Clinton Rose Senior Center, and the Marquette Memorial Union.

Do you have the list with you?

Can you read it off?

Yeah, the all for August we would like to do first or just the dogs.

That'd be fun.

August is gonna be Zeitler, midtown, Zablocky Library, Washington Park Senior Center, Tippi Canoe Library, Good Hope Library, and the UWM Zelazo Center.

And then in November for the general, it's gonna be Zeidler again, midtown again.

Uh the Zablocky Library is going to be removed, but it's going to be replaced with Serb Hall, which is much larger facility for us.

Then we're gonna have uh Washington Park Senior Center again, T B Community Library, Good Hope Library, um we're gonna add the Clinton Rose, uh that was one of the other ones the Mitchell's Street Library, and then uh the Marquette Memorial Union will be added to the UWM Salazo Center.

Alright, sounds good.

Um Chris, can I get better signage for the midtown location?

I don't know.

Yeah.

Yeah, you know, it's uh we I think have about a few days after when we received it, we is it doubled or almost triple the number of signage that we put out there.

So yeah.

We dedicate just because it's location.

It's like took in the bag.

So yeah, it's not our favorite location.

I think we're very excited to see um, you know, as the library moves forward in that other location, it'll be permanent.

Um and we we will become a staple in the community and not have to be stuck under the whims of a landlord.

So alright, sounds good.

I have a file later, I can move it up.

Yeah, one or two days.

You want to sit in November?

Um the city attorney's file.

Yeah, that is the plan.

Alright, sounds good then.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can I just add out to see Miller added back to this list?

I just think it's kind of a hole in the city with this list with the middle of the city kind of missing.

Okay.

Um because I don't know if in at my house or would I go?

Where's my closest place and there isn't a place here that would be convenient for me?

So that's the case for a lot of people in my district as well.

We are happy to add, um, I think that would require a motion.

Okay, thank you.

To uh, I think.

Yeah, it or the police academy, something, you know.

That's already available in place, but yeah.

Ms something you want to know?

Yes, you would do it now.

Oh.

Oh, I was I make a motion to add another as an early or in absentee in-person voting site.

Yeah, I do have a question.

Yes, sir.

I see some of these locations are publicly owned, city owned properties, so we presumably control the entirety of the property.

And MPD, DPW have access, can basically serve as referees if there's any kinds of disturbances or disorder.

But some of these are privately owned properties.

Serve Hall, Marquette.

Who controls space?

Well so Marquette has a police department and I know they work closely with MPD.

So we would coordinate with them.

We do work closely with the police department.

So yeah the Fusion Center has a team dedicated for election protection.

So we work with them.

So they do extra patrols um at the midtown location and serve hall.

In locations where we can like the uh public libraries we also coordinate with them to increase they increase their own security as well.

So we actually do planning with the police department at those private locations as well but it is true that the private locations are they own the property they control that property.

We do agreements with all private locations though so that we can coordinate I mean you know uh we have elections two to four times a year you know six times in an 18 month period but all other times is all planning we plan for contingencies of course as you can see we can't you know there's always something different every election despite our ask for boring elections um but that's what we do to plan for our team authorities have the right to access these locations armed federal authorities are not allowed at any locations at all typically if a federal authority wants to come to a location they must abide by the observer rules the unique nature of the state of Wisconsin is we um the state of Wisconsin our poll workers both early voting and at polls have an obligation a state obligation to ensure um that voting is not disrupted or in interrupted um or interfered with if they find that that is happening they have an obligation uh to ensure order otherwise they shall be removing um those individuals from the location removing if uh if half a dozen border patrol officers show up in full battle dressing rifles according to state law the Milwaukee police department the Monkey DA's office and their investigators um if the poll if the polling poll workers say they shall they must remove people in order not to disrupt polling locations that they would have that authority to do so now of course many of our locations and our poll workers we trained them in security we trained them in de-escalation we are still reviewing all of our options you know we have opportunities to move polling locations if we need to if we need to extend voting hours we will um at this point I don't want to discuss all of the details of our security as elections are important but at the end of the day we are reviewing all of our options what I can tell you is the Mwaki election commission is dedicated to ensuring that democracy is not interrupted.

So we have a motion on the floor that's for Moderwoman Pret to add Villa Street Library as an early voting site.

Okay is this impossible this is feasible yeah all right here no objections order thank you and the motion overall move by Ottawa to adopt the resolution so hearing no objections order thank you and uh stick around like I said I'll adjust everything.

Okay.

Item 12 241692 communication from the intergovernmental relations division and legislative affairs division relating to legislative updates.

Good morning Jordan Primoco director in a government relations division Justin Morales legislative affairs division uh don't have much for you this morning uh obviously I think we did want to provide a quick update on what we all saw happen at the state a couple weeks back ago now obviously there's been a lot written about it but there was a um tax deal uh that was on the table and an agreement between governor evers uh speaker voss and majority leader lemonhew that would have increased uh special education funding around the state, provided some uh property tax relief and um a tax cut for many members of the state of Wisconsin.

Uh that deal did uh fail to pass in the state senate, it did pass through the assembly, uh, but it failed to pass through the state senate, where all Senate Democrats along with three Republicans voted against the deal, so it did not have the requisite votes to pass uh and become law.

Uh since then we've seen um a lot of stories on each side, including a story around uh it would have left the state potentially billions in the red for an upcoming uh budget.

Um the city of Milwaukee uh lad and IRD did not advocate in that deal, nor were we asked to come to the table, but wanted to provide an update on that uh piece of legislation.

Since that time, uh the the legislature has gaveled out of formally out of session uh closing this biennial session.

Uh and there have not been any word at this point in time of a renewed negotiations uh between any of the branches of government out in Madison to try and revive that deal.

Yeah, I'll just point out one additional factor, which is front page of the Journal Sentinel today that Mark Hen University poll has a shocking 80% approval of that deal.

Uh so uh numbers such as that can be a bit startling, and although they are gaveled out of session, they're very focused on November elections.

Um I could see at some point a revised version of this might resurface sometime.

I would say late summer after August primaries.

Mr.

Chair, I don't know.

Is it true that the surplus was a projected surplus in subsequent budget years and not a current surplus?

That is true.

There was somewhat some of the money was uh current surplus sitting out at the state, but much many and multiple billions of dollars were a projected surplus that the legislative fiscal bureau was anticip anticipated tax revenue to come in.

So, yes, there was some degree of trusting accurate projections uh of economic output uh and spending that money down.

Yeah, that issue has not been well communicated.

Uh that I would say that is accurate, yes.

And again, I think there's in any major deal like this, there are intricacies that were uh have come out over time.

Again, I think um the budget projected uh deficit numbers at the state had this deal gone through uh were something that were not broadly known at the time, but had been whispered and um the state had put out those numbers.

I think the day of the deal.

So uh again, anything uh a deal of this size and magnitude, I think we find out more details uh as time moves along.

Okay.

What kind of poison pills were in the do that you just off bat?

I don't think there were any poison pills in this deal.

It was more of uh, you know, the governor wanted to make more investments in education, specifically special education.

Uh the Republicans wanted to see uh any budget surplus at the state returned to the taxpayer, uh, and I think there was a compromise on the generally speaking on those lines to try and get the deal across the finish line.

The biggest factor uh appears to be that there wasn't advanced communication with the uh minority leaders or any type of uh Democratic members uh to be uh participants in the bill, regardless of the fact that it was assumed all along that they would need some Democrats, particularly in the Senate to vote on it.

So um they were a deal was cut and handed to them and said now vote on it, and as the council is aware of, that can be a challenging thing to do at times.

Any other questions for committee?

And then I just have one other brief update.

Um Ladd and IRD have been already discussing uh putting together a new legislative package.

Um the requests to um city departments will be going out this week from IRD to ask them to update their items in the legislative package.

Uh this time around, we're gonna take and what I've asked of departments is to take a particular focus on any new items added to the package to make sure they are revenue positive for the city.

Uh, I think as we've been having some discussions uh and this council is well aware of the financial challenges that are ongoing for the city.

We want to take a particular focus on next session to ensure that we are diversifying our revenue streams and giving the city of Milwaukee uh common council and Administration, the resources they need to make our own decisions for our own community members.

Um so uh it just wanted to give you an update on that.

Uh I know we again talked with Lad Division.

We are hoping to get an itemized list to um this committee prior to your August recess.

Um, please give us grace if we're not able to accomplish that in time.

But we do want to work expedited and make sure you have a list in front of you and that we have a ledge package heading into next session that's very clear on the fiscal challenges and the need for diversifying revenues that the city has.

One of the things I'll point out is this timeline as well too regardless of who the next governor is going to be they typically start putting their budget together immediately after the election in November so the the quicker we have any fiscal ask uh the better.

So ideally um we have something um fully voted on and approved uh well in advance of that so that'll give us time to to work expeditiously on um the fiscal needs of the city all right real quick before we outta here um what happens to some of that TIFF language we were talking about so uh that bill did pass uh that was called the truth in planning bill so as we are well aware at this committee there were positive components of that bill and negative components of that bill uh the TIFF language expanding the TIFF from a one year extension which was prior law to a two year extension is now in place I know DCD is working to find out exactly what that means monetarily but uh but generally speaking we've now um doubled for expiring TIFS in the city of Milwaukee and we have some very successful TIFS in this city we've now gone from one year to two years extension um to provide a uh a set of funds um for the administration and this council to put into affordable housing which obviously we are all well aware is a significant issue throughout our community so we were very positive to get that bill over the finish line uh and I know the planning department over at DCD is uh is going to work on updates of what the truth and planning aspects of and present that to committee as well.

And without speaking for them they were here in the past and they did suggest that uh it does not look like that would be overly burdensome for them whereas that will impact um many smaller municipalities it just doesn't have the same level of resources and expertise on hand.

I know is it uh Oak Creek out of tips for like 2030 or something like that.

I think it's different you know again in our community we're we we have a different opportunity for TIFS than some smaller than some smaller communities but it also again we've had successful TIFFs that we'll be rolling off the till in the next couple of years and we'll really give again the whole body a great opportunity to invest in affordable housing throughout our community.

Alright sounds good so Audible Pratt move to hold us to the call of the chair hearing objections to order.

Thank you.

And then next one I've been asked to hold this one but I'll read it in 13260131 resolution meaning the city of Milwaukee state legislative packet to express support for legislation related to homeowners association.

I think the whole about that one thing just on the record here too just as Jordan had mentioned uh the session is done for the year.

So most of the the legislators in Madison are back in their districts.

We would encourage um all members of the council to continue continuously work with us um to make any modifications to the legislative package you know certainly if there's a timely matter um bring it forward however it it given that we're in the process of um revising the legislative package now is the the ideal time to get everything um structured and uh well planned in advance all right cool thank you has been moved by Ottawa Perez the host of the chair hearing no objections or thank you thank you all right ultimately bombing moves that we go to closed session the judiciary and legislation committee may convene it's a closed session on Tuesday May 26 2026 and room 301b City Hall 200 East Wales Street Milwaukee Wisconsin pursuant to section 19.851G Wisconsin statute for the purpose of conferring with the city attorney who will render oral or written advice which respects to litigation in which the city is or is likely to become involved and they may go an open session for regular agenda items.

Almonds, almost almost a disciplina, electoral entire loss, almost almost yes, almost a discipline, electoral almost a laptop, elevamente.

Almonds Three one.

Motion passes.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item fifteen, two six zero zero nine zero.

Resolution authorize the payment of the claim of John Amborough Junior.

Yes, for the reasons uh stated in closed session, the city attorney's office recommends approval.

All right.

So ordered.

Item sixteen, two six zero zero nine one.

Resolution authorized the payment of the claim of the estate of Haley Linville.

For the reasons uh addressed in close session, the city attorney's office recommends approval.

It was statement on the Bible moves approval.

That would be three one with an exception.

Hearing objections.

So item seventeen, two six zero one zero five resolution appealing the settlement of the complaint in title Tiffany Lewis versus City of Milwaukee.

Art Obama moves to hold this to the call of the chair.

Hearing no objections, so order.

Item eighteen two six zero one two two resolution authorizing city attorney to hire outside council for election related needs.

For the reasons uh discussed in closed session, the city attorney's office recommends approval.

So I got more resolution for this one.

Um, resolution.

All right, we are good.

Thank you.

Um, appraisal moves.

Move approval on this one, you got those?

We'll hear an objections.

So order the next files.

Item 19, 150-400, item 20, 151-477.

Autumn and practice moves these to hold to follow chair as they are no longer needed.

Hear any objections?

So I saw five.

And that concludes judiciary and legislation.

Thank you.