Milwaukee Common Council Meeting – June 2, 2026

The Milwaukee Common Council convened on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 9:22 AM in the Common Council Chamber at City Hall. All 15 members were present. The meeting included a Pride Month presentation, approval of numerous committee recommendations, a resolution regarding the arrest of Elvira Benitez, and several property and infrastructure authorizations. The meeting adjourned at 10:51 AM.

Presentations & Recognitions

• Pride Month Honorees: Ald. Zamarripa and Ald. Burgelis led a Committee of the Whole presentation recognizing five individuals and organizations for their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community: the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Pride Fest (30th anniversary), Lieutenant Guadalupe Velasquez (Milwaukee Police Department), Aaron Rice (Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin), and Courage+ (LGBTQ+ youth housing and support).

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved without objection from the May 12, 2026 meeting.
• Commendatory/Condolatory Resolutions: Placed on file (14 resolutions and a late addition honoring David Francis Martin).
• Licenses Committee:
  • File 260003 (ordinance relating to Department of Neighborhood Services investigation of license applications) – passed 15-0.
  • File 260107 (license recommendations including a 10-day suspension for El Paraiso and nonrenewal of a Class D operator’s license) – approved 15-0.
  • File 160847 (municipal identification card ordinance) and File 250378 (Vibe Lounge license revocation) – placed on file 15-0.
• Public Works Committee:
  • File 260132 (state recycling requirements ordinance) – returned to committee unanimously.
  • All other public works items (files 8–22, 28–31) – adopted unanimously (15-0) including: honorary street naming, street maintenance partnerships, leaf collection, assessable and nonassessable improvements, green infrastructure agreements with MMSD, driveway approvals, and several funding resolutions (e.g., $5.85 million for local roads, $2 million for West Keefe Avenue).
  • MMSD reappointments (files 23–27) – confirmed with Ald. Chambers abstaining on his own reappointment (14-0-1) and Ald. Coggs abstaining on hers (14-0-1).
• Finance & Personnel Committee:
  • Pay and positions ordinances (files 32, 33) – passed 15-0.
  • Lead Hazard Reduction grant (file 251855) – adopted 15-0.
  • EAP/Mental Health expansion (file 252188) – adopted 15-0 after unanimous consent for co-sponsorship.
  • All placement-on-file items (files 36–42) – adopted 15-0.
• Judiciary & Legislation Committee:
  • Settlement and claim resolutions (files 44–46, 49) – adopted with some dissenting votes: file 44 (Niki Robinson lawsuit) passed 12-2-1 (Ald. Burgelis and Perez no, Westmoreland abstain); file 45 (John Ambeau) passed 14-0-1 (Westmoreland abstain); file 46 (Estate of Hayley Linville) passed 12-0-3 (Westmoreland, Perez, Dimitrijevic abstain); file 49 (Equal Rights Commission appointment) confirmed 15-0.
  • Absentee voting and outside counsel resolutions (files 47, 48) – adopted 15-0.
  • Tax foreclosure and election commission communications (files 50–52) – placed on file 15-0.
  • Claim disallowances (files 53–58) – disallowed and indefinitely postponed 15-0.
• Public Safety & Health Committee:
  • Parking and traffic control ordinances (files 59, 60) – passed 15-0.
  • WIC breastfeeding grant (file 260071) – adopted 15-0.
  • Various old ordinances placed on file (files 62–65, 67–70) – adopted 15-0.
  • Item 66 (police use-of-force SOP modification) – returned to committee by a 14-1 vote (Chambers no).
• Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee:
  • All adopted items (files 71–79) – adopted 15-0, including creation of TID No. 133 (2711 West Wells), surplus parking lot sale, signage modification for Riverwest Apartments, amendment to TID No. 67 (Pabst Brewery), conveyance of 13 vacant lots in King Park, and four property sales/sale-backs.
  • Placed on file items (files 80–84) – adopted 15-0.
• Community & Economic Development Committee:
  • Residential preference program ordinance (file 252102) – passed 15-0.
  • MKELove Summer Kickback event (file 260121) – adopted 15-0.
  • Youth advisory council and Arts Board reports (files 87, 88) – placed on file 15-0.

Discussion Items

• File 260006 – Substitute resolution relating to the arrest and detention of Elvira Benitez: Ald. Brower introduced a substitute resolution updating facts after Benitez’s release from ICE detention. The resolution condemns her detention as a “profound and absurd waste of taxpayer dollars.” Multiple aldermen (Zamarripa, Dimitrijevic, Taylor, Moore) spoke in support, praising Benitez’s courage and the council’s anti-ICE stance. The resolution was substituted and adopted 15-0.
• File 252188 – Mental Health Benefits Program: Ald. Burgelis highlighted that the program “essentially double[s] the availability of mental health services for city employees.” The file received unanimous consent for full council co-sponsorship.
• File 260132 (recycling ordinance): Ald. Spiker moved to return to committee for language tweaks; no objection.
• File 251663 (police use-of-force SOP): Ald. Burgelis moved to return to committee; passed with one objection (Chambers).

Key Outcomes

• Votes on Notable Items:
  • Elvira Benitez resolution (file 260006): adopted 15-0.
  • Settlement in Niki Robinson lawsuit (file 260088): adopted 12-2-1.
  • Estate of Hayley Linville claim (file 260091): adopted 12-0-3.
  • Police SOP modification (file 251663): returned to committee 14-1.
• Funding Approvals:
  • Infrastructure projects totaling over $11 million (files 11, 16–20).
  • Green infrastructure grants and agreements with MMSD (files 12–15, 21).
  • Lead hazard reduction and WIC grants (files 34, 61).
• Property Transactions:
  • Creation of Tax Incremental District No. 133 (2711 West Wells).
  • Sale of city-owned lots and tax‑deeded properties in the 1st, 4th, and 6th districts.
  • Conveyance of 13 vacant lots to the city in King Park.
• Appointments:
  • Reappointments to MMSD for Ald. Chambers, Ald. Coggs, Rep. Haywood, Julia Taylor, and Corey Zetts (all confirmed, with abstentions as noted).
  • Madeline Miranda-Navarro to the Equal Rights Commission (confirmed 15-0).
• Next Steps: The zoning map amendment for 1993 S. Muskego Avenue (file 260208) was approved for immediate adoption 15-0. The meeting concluded with announcements of upcoming community events (Juneteenth, Pride Fest, farmers markets, block parties).