Afternoon, everyone.

I'd like to call to order the steering rules committee.

I am Alderman Joseph that is chair.

I am joined virtually by Alderwoman Malele Coggs.

Joining us shortly will be Alder Woman Marina Dmitrievich.

I'm joined by Alderman Robert Bauman, Alderman Russell Stamper the second, Alderperson Jocasa Samaripa, Alderman Scott Spiker, and Alderman DeAndre Jackson.

We're also joined at the table by Alderman Bergellis and Alderman Brower.

Did I miss anyone?

And just want to thank our uh staff assistant that Yadita Melinda is it is approximately 137 on Monday, March 9th, 2026.

We'll begin with item one, file two five zero seven nine eight.

The substitute ordinance creating a department of equity and inclusion, and that is Scott Spiker, the uh sponsor.

Would you like to proceed?

Alder Ms.

Spiker.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh just briefly, this is um motivated by the changes taking place at budget.

Um taking the former uh Office of Equity and Inclusion, bringing it out and forming its own department.

Um did some cleanup with respect to name changes and some of the code to add some clarity as to the work of the office, and appreciate the help of Ms.

Reid and the City Attorney's Office on getting that done and on the LRB for drafting.

So with that, kick it off to the real experts.

Thank you.

Okay.

The floor is yours.

Would you like to identify yourself for the record, please?

Absolutely.

Mary Reed, I am the director of the soon to shortly be uh Department of Compliance and Engagement.

Andrea Fowler, Assistant City Attorney.

Assistant City Attorney Catherine Block.

Okay.

Any testimony you want to provide to the file at all?

Or we're just gonna go right into questions.

You're the chair, uh you're the sponsor.

Well, Ms.

Spiker, anything particular you want to point out?

Nope.

Had all my questions answered productive meetings in advance.

Thank you.

Okay.

Alder Ms.

Stamper.

Well then uh Spike, are you gonna discuss them today?

Or I don't want to repeat anything.

No, go ahead.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Okay, well, uh, when was when will the new title take place?

Well, uh, we're hoping that this committee here uh enacts or creates the Department of Compliance and Engagement, and then uh file will be soon scheduled for uh confirmation.

Okay.

And the biggest rationale behind the change.

The biggest rationale behind a change is assessing the work that we do.

And after looking at every function in uh of work that we do in the ordinances that govern our work, we feel strongly that uh the terms compliance and engagement more closely align with the work we do.

Okay.

In the work that you do, can we still set the same goals as the former name office?

Absolutely.

What'd you say?

Use the mic?

Oh.

Uh did you have a yes?

I heard you're gonna be on the mic.

Yeah, I heard you, yes, sir.

They calling that.

Uh the work will not change.

Uh what's built in is compliance and engagement.

We engage with the community at multiple levels, and we hold uh stakeholders accountable, that being that compliance piece to the ordinances that will not change.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

Any other questions?

There I'm sorry.

Oh, Alder Member Gellis.

Thank you.

Uh for the sponsor.

When was the draft uh developed?

Who were the stakeholders included in discussions?

Uh when was the draft circulated?

So we had a discussion.

What was our meeting with?

I'll get to it.

Um, so we had a discussion um uh what was it two weeks ago?

Was that two and a half?

Three weeks ago.

Um, so the plan coming out of budget was to move the office into a department.

That was relatively cure clear from the get-go.

Had a discussion with Ms.

Reed, the LRB in the form of Chris Hillard, who um drafted working with Ms.

Reed and of course the city attorney's office, attorney Fowler and Attorney Block.

Um so that took place, yeah.

I want to say about two and a half weeks ago thereabouts.

Um I stated at the time if we touch anything related to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, now the Department of Compliance and Engagement.

If we touch anything related to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, now the Department of Compliance and Engagement, that was an office that was created through the sponsorship of Alder Cogs, and so I wanted to ensure that she was brought in from the get-go.

I personally reached out to her, um, gave her a heads up about it, have talked to her as recently today is about it.

Um she also had indicated, but Ms.

Reed can verify that she had the opportunity to talk to Ms.

Reed, and I believe she also talked to Mary Shinning from the City Attorney's Office.

So then um, what other stakeholders uh on the council were included in discussions preparing the draft stakeholders from the council?

I sponsored Stakeholders that are concerned about diversity and inclusion.

Uh I contacted Alder Cogs as I stated before, and I was the sponsor, and the file has been circulated.

So anybody with a Syrian rules agenda who has interest in it can weigh in.

But I guess that's your answer.

That is an answer.

Thank you.

Um I just wanted to ask Alderman Spiker.

So this is uh kind of finishing up the work that was before council last week where you created a department of or you you changed the Office of Equity and Inclusion to a department.

That was a file that was passed in budget to actually create the department.

My understanding in the city attorney's office can weigh in on it is we needed this to actually make that real, so we moved the money and positions over, but this was required to put um a ribbon on the bow as far as moving it.

As far as the changes to the language in the code, um that was recommended by the city attorney's office, and um my understanding from speaking with Ms.

Reed it more closely reflects the work of the office and in her response to Alder Stamper's question.

Um the work of the office is not changed by this.

Okay.

So yes, you started it in the budget, I recall when you made the Office of Community Wellness and Safety, you turned it into a department.

And then and then you also started at that time the process to turn the Office of Equity and Inclusion into a department.

And I'm just looking for the file.

Recall that what we voted on last week, Alderman Speicher and Council that was around go ahead.

So that was um relating to the now department of um community wellness and safety.

So both of those, so if we really want to go back to history here, we can.

Um so both of those were born out of a similar urge, which is uh nonsense that happened that we would like to prevent from happening in the future.

So one bit of nonsense was Ms.

Caranja left the office of equity and inclusion in a way that made some of us very uncomfortable, and there was nothing we could do about what happened next.

Um now by having a department, we will have confirmation uh power.

Um and should Ms.

Reed come forward for confirmation, obviously she has my full-throated support.

Um has been excellent in the role.

Um and similarly with the Office of Community Wellness and Safety.

Members will recall the fiasco of trying to name ahead of that uh, you know, last August-ish, um, and how there was a public process to find a national expert in that.

Um there were three candidates named, two of whom either turned it down or we turned them down, and then the third that was left, uh Ms.

Tyler, who's uh gonna be before us again at some point, uh mayor passed over her and chose an entirely new candidate without any additional public engagement.

So we want to ensure that couldn't happen again, um, make sure there is a public process and make sure the council has a role in the naming uh or the confirmation of the head of that office.

So um it won't be a unilateral thing, it's the division of power, which in general is a good thing, um, to make sure the council has a role in um who heads these important um departments slash offices, slash agencies slash public entities.

Mr.

Chair.

Yes.

Thank you.

Uh um, yes, Alderman Specker.

I am referring to your substitute ordinance relating to the creation of a department of community wellness and safety.

I was mistaken.

That was what we voted on last week in council, which I did vote.

Um, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

Before we go into further, there is a proposed substitute.

That's number 250798.

The motion by Alderman Bauman is to move with the substitute.

Are there any objections to that?

Hearing none, so the substitute is before us.

And I would note, Mr.

President, that 15 members of the council uh voted to override the mayor's veto on all this stuff.

So we are um doubling down on what we did last fall.

Thanks.

Any further comments or questions?

Mr.

Chair Mr.

Chair.

I do have thank you for reminding me.

I do have great regret.

Um we did because of that motion because of that action ultimately lose Director Adam Prosell.

Thank you.

That was a different veto or part of the same package.

Different department.

But another office that we changed to a department and thus losing Adam Purcell's leadership.

All right.

Um further discussion?

Any further comment?

Move adoption.

The uh motion by other embowman is to move adoption.

Are there any objections to that to that motion?

I'll object.

Hearing one objection, uh so move.

Item number two, file 251 634 resolution prohibiting the use of city property for civil immigration enforcement activities.

All the person, you are the sponsor.

Would you like to uh begin with that?

I would just like to say that um I'd like to thank the council and to the extent council um future files uh the work that we continue to do with MPD as well as uh the re like the recent masking updates to effectuate changes and updates being requested by our residents.

Um every time where it's applicable needed um that we would include uh some advice from the city attorney's office and other departments as we act.

So as we continue to push the envelope and assuring that we protect our residents as best we can.

We also have responsibility to make sure that what we adopt is uh both legally sound and uh operationally achievable.

So I want to thank everyone for their continued work with all the departments and uh doing that as we move uh other pieces of uh uh that legislative package forward.

So with that, Alder Person Samariba.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair, Mr.

Chair, can I just Alderwoman Dmitrievich can you hear me?

I can hear you.

Oh, I just want to make sure I'm present.

I had a technical difficulty getting in.

Sorry about that, thank you.

All right, let the record reflect uh we've been joined by Alder Woman Dmitrievich.

Alder Person Samaripa.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Chairman Perez, and members of the Stering and Rules Committee and colleagues, and to the public who have joined us here today.

I'm Alderprison Joe Castus Amaripa, and today I bring forward file number 251634 for your consideration.

This resolution prohibits the use of our city properties for civil immigration enforcement activities.

As you know, Milwaukee is the largest city in the great state of Wisconsin.

It is also the most diverse city in the state.

Milwaukeeans, regardless of their national origin, preferred language or immigration status, contribute to the city's economic strength and cultural vibrancy.

Like so many Americans across the country, our city was dismayed and heartbroken to hear of the aggressive actions taken by federal immigration enforcement agencies in other cities like Minneapolis and Chicago, just right next door to us.

U.S.

citizens were gunned down in the streets of our neighboring state Minnesota.

These folks were simply invoking their First Amendment right to protest peacefully, expressing their views in public space and expressing their views in public spaces.

It is clear that these ice surges that have happened in American cities have hindered the public safety of all people, whether they are fifth generation U.S.

citizens, legal permanent residents, or undocumented immigrants.

My colleagues and I have been implored by our constituents to prepare and do everything that we can to keep our constituents safe.

And so we have put together multiple pieces of legislation that we refer to as the ISO MKE legislative package.

This resolution that's before you today prohibits the use of city properties, as I said, for immigration enforcement activities.

It is the first file to come before committee.

I want to thank our LRB staff, our legislative reference bureau staff, um, Kathy Brangos for her drafting expertise in helping me to write this legislation.

I want to thank my co-sponsors, of course.

Some of them are here on the committee, and some of them are colleagues that are in the room with us today.

Thank you so much.

And I want to especially thank City Attorney Evan Goikey and Assistant City Attorney Tom Miller and their team for carefully reviewing this legislation.

I did indeed make a number of changes based on their keen insight, and I am confident that this file is good, ready, and able to withstand any legal scrutiny.

As ACA Tom Miller conveyed to me, several other jurisdictions around the country have adopted similar legislation to what is before you here today.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair.

One minute all the women Dimitri.

I do want to recognize other woman more who's joined us here at committee.

Alder Woman Dmitrevich.

Thank you so much, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Alderperson Samarita for your leadership, co-sponsors on this matter.

Great speech given by Alderperson Samaripa.

We are as promised going as much as we can piece by piece into the community and into discussions with our colleagues.

And I'll just say this, because there's a lot more that needs to be heard on this.

This was something that they were asking for.

They do not want their taxpayer money to go to support what they see as harsh and at times not even legal and questionable activity.

Look, the DHS secretary was just fired by President Trump.

So things are changing.

We are on the right side of this, and we want to make sure that there's safe places for everybody in the city of Milwaukee.

And while we cannot do everything, I've been asked, you know, what is it that local government can do to stop the federal government?

We're gonna find out everything that we can do.

We cannot do everything, um, but we're gonna do all that we can, and this is another step in that direction, and for that I move adoption.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh Chair recognizes all the member Gellis.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I just asked to be added as a co-sponsor.

Let the record reflect co-sponsorship of Alder Member Gellis.

Alder Persons Samaripa, did you want to say something?

I just wanted to um ask um if we could hear some public testimony.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Anyone else?

Any other questions or concerns by our committee?

If not, I I'd ask uh Miss Newman Ortiz to come up.

I know you've asked me about public testimony, so the floor is yours.

You want to join the table when she's done, you could just introduce yourself for the record and Christine Numen Ortiz, um, voces de la frontera.

Uh I'm here to formally uh present this statement that Vozes de la Frontera first and foremost applauds the leadership of the Milwaukee Common Council members, Mayor Johnson, who just recently uh stood in solidarity with immigrant families, communities of color, and civil society that have been targeted by ICE and CBP through their unconstitutional, aggressive and lethal enforcement tactics.

Milwaukee has taken a very important step by formally condemning the federal government's policy of mass deportation, calling for an end to ICE as an institution, and urging Congress to create humane legal pathways for immigrants.

Today, Vozes de la Frontera is here to ask committee members to stand with our community once again and support the resolution that would prohibit city-owned or controlled parking lots, ramps, vacant lots, parks, garages from being used as staging grounds, processing sites or operational basis for civil immigration enforcement.

It also establishes that non-public areas of city-owned or controlled buildings cannot be used for civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant or when otherwise required by law.

This policy is about defending constitutional rights and protecting our community.

Across the country, we have all witnessed enforcement tactics that rely on racial profiling, warrantless arrests based on administrative immigration paperwork rather than judicial warrants, denial of due process and enforcement strategies that are designed to instill fear rather than to promote safety.

These tactics undermine trust, break up loving families, and make entire communities afraid to interact with public institutions.

This resolution sends a clear message.

Milwaukee will not allow its public property to be used as a platform for intimidation, racial profiling, or violations of our constitutional rights.

Immigrants are not outsiders in the city.

They are essential to its strength, vitality, growth, and prosperity.

They are consumers, taxpayers, small business owners, homeowners, renters, workers, students, parishioners, and community leaders.

Every summer as a city we celebrate the cultural traditions that immigrants have brought to the city, traditions that have flourished on indigenous good land.

Um because this is not just symbolic, it's a real exercise of local leadership.

Um and the moment is urgent.

Just yesterday, uh you all may have seen that media outlets reported that a 28-year-old U.S.

citizen, Sunny Nakfi, was arrested at the Chicago O'Hare Airport and detained for 43 hours before being released from the Dodge County detention facility.

Five of her co-workers, all individuals with legal status, were detained as well, and their status remains uncertain.

If you all recur recall, um early on under the Trump administration, Telemunda reported that uh grandmother, mother, and grandchild were arrested for speaking Spanish by ICE.

Um, and then uh when they realized that they're U.S.

citizens release them.

In Minnesota, uh it's not just immigrants that have been violently attacked, but people of color with legal status.

Latinos, Somalians, Hmong, and Native Americans.

And obviously the death of those people who are standing in solidarity with them against these abuses.

Um this is exactly why cities need to be prepared.

So I commend you for stepping forward and doing getting ahead of this situation.

It's something that we don't hope for.

Um and we stand with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Maybe would you like to introduce yourself for the record?

Okay.

My name is Ann Ritchie, and um I work with indivisible, uh, immigrant solidarity and action committee at first Unitarian as well as Comite de las Fonteras.

Um there are a lot of people in those groups who I think probably would have been here, except there was such short short notice that this meeting was happening.

But there are a lot of really strong feelings um about what's been happening in our country, and I feel super, super proud of the common council, the the um resolutions that were passed last week, I think really kind of um show the way forward.

We need to have actual laws that we we need to have something legal in place.

And I think that's what the resolution today does.

Um, so that you know we do protect the all the people in Milwaukee.

Thank you.

Sir?

My name my name is Michael Pointer Mace.

I'm um the co-chair of the immigrant solidarity and action committee with Anne from the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, and I just like to say um a little bit about um places of worship and sensitive locations.

I note in the resolution that um whereas um cities have documented aggressive actions where federal agents and agencies near schools, workplaces, and places of worship have created fear and trauma among residents.

Before Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, I believe that the clarity of the Bill of Rights did not require specific city legislation.

I believe that the rejection of masked federal agents and the decent treatment of children were American values and were self-evident.

The resolution that the Common Council has put together addresses the needs to protect Milwaukeeans against the surge of massed federal ICE agents.

As a long time Milwaukee Bayview neighborhood um homeowner, I'd like to thank Alderperson Dmitrievich for being a co-sponsor of this uh resolution.

And I would like to just say that there's just some common sense parts to a civil society.

There's certain locations that need to be places that anyone, residents in our neighbors have access to, and these are places like places of worship, schools, and courthouses.

And when people don't feel like they can use these um institutions, it breaks down our civil society.

So I want to thank um the sponsors and for um the leadership that the common council is showing.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, all of you for being here to testify today.

Um any further questions?

Chair.

Uh Alderman Brower.

Yeah, thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

I just wanted to express my support for this.

I'm so proud to be a co-sponsor.

Thank you for leading on this alder person, Jocasta.

Um, just want to say that you know we should pass this today.

We should get this in front of the council as soon as possible.

Um, the time is urgent as uh Christine said from Vosace that we that we take as much action as we possibly can and do everything that we can uh to support our immigrant friends and neighbors and constituents.

Uh thank you all.

Okay, thank you.

Last call, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Alderman Coggs.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um is somebody from the city attorney's office president?

Yes, they are.

So I I have a question.

Um a couple of months ago, I saw a news story about ICE or some other federal agency, and they were um, I guess planning or whatever, and they were at the training facility for the horses for MPD, and uh uh a volunteer asked them to leave.

Um, and that volunteer was later let go.

That's what the story was about the volunteer.

But it but as we talk about this legislation, it makes me think, and I asked for a city attorney because I was wondering is the facility where they have the horses for MPD, is that considered a city facility?

Would that count under this legislation to not be a place where um ICE or agencies like that could um do their business?

Um, I don't know what the status of the facility is.

Um it applies, but the resolution applies to city-owned um or controlled facilities, uh, but I can't speak to the particular facility.

If we wanted to go any further too, uh we did notice this for closed session, Mr.

Chair, yes.

I believe that facility is privately owned and leased to the city.

Yep, it is that was a big dispute actually.

Yeah, that's what I knew was something extra with that particular facility, and since it has been used by some federal agencies because of that news story, I just want to so would a lease uh would a lease cover this or no, it has to be ownership.

Leased property is excluded.

Oh I'm not gonna make us go into closed session for that, but uh it is something I would love to discuss further with the um with the city attorney's office.

Thank you.

Okay, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Alderman Brower.

Yeah, thank you so much.

And let's just let's I do have the article here uh from WISN 12.

Um the individual who courageously brought that forward is Heather Sinabi, I believe is how you say their last name.

So thank you to Heather for bringing this forward.

Unfortunately, that nonprofit uh let her go, so shame on them.

Um and I I'm disappointed.

I guess I you know it is there a way that we can amend this file right here to include places that we lease or have control over as well, or maybe that's a potential for future action.

I'd be curious what uh we're able to do um as soon as possible here.

And I hope that anybody you know from Milwaukee police who's listening is hearing that the members of the common council leadership in this city, the mayor just signed our resolutions that we passed on Tuesday, the mayor signed those on Friday.

Um, is is hearing us loud and clear that this kind of behavior, um, whether from this nonprofit um or anybody with an MPD is is condemned uh within the city of Milwaukee.

Okay, thank you.

Any further discussion?

No, not in public.

Okay.

All right, the motion by Alderwoman um Dmitrievich.

Well, she's not there now on the board, so um the motion by Alderman Samaripa is to move adoption of item two, file two five one six three four.

Are there any objections to that?

Motion Hearing none, so ordered.

Thank you so much.

Uh and there being no further business before this committee, we are adjourned.

Thank you.