Milwaukee Common Council Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Common Council of the City of Milwaukee met on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 9:13 AM in the Common Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order at 9:13 AM and adjourned at 10:53 AM. Fourteen of fifteen aldermen were present; Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic (14th District) was excused. The meeting included a Teacher Appreciation Day presentation, approval of numerous committee reports, and three matters for immediate adoption. Key outcomes included a $2.8 million investment in food access, passage of an ordinance requiring law enforcement officers to identify themselves, and a resolution calling for the release of detained community leader Salah Sarsour.

Consent Calendar

• Commendatory and Condolatory Resolutions: Placed on file (14-0).
• Licenses Committee: Approved renewals with suspensions for Parminder Kaur (20-day suspension) and Lucia Antonio Perez (10-day suspension); one item (Kitchen 11 Eleven) was sent back to committee at the request of Ald. Taylor.
• Public Works Committee: All 13 items passed unanimously, including: renaming South Cesar Chavez Drive, acceptance of lead service line replacement costs, bike share expansion ($2,074,695), traffic signal improvements at 62 intersections ($2,150,400, with $1,720,320 grant share), various nonassessable public improvements ($18.4 million total), and easements for sidewalk construction.
• Finance & Personnel Committee: All 10 items passed, including optional holidays, 2026 pay rates, quarterly expenditure reports, travel authorization, and appropriation of $1,600,000 from the Common Council Contingent Fund to the Damages and Claims Fund and $250,000 to the Outside Counsel/Expert Witness Fund. The transfer of funds from the MPD Federal Forfeiture Revenue Contribution Account to the Police Department budget passed 12-2 (Ald. Chambers and Brower opposed).
• Judiciary & Legislation Committee: All 16 items passed, including settlements, claims appeals, legal contracts, and tax cancellations. An amendment to correct the funding source for a visa legal services contract was adopted without objection.
• Public Safety & Health Committee: Approved parking and traffic controls, time-limited food truck zones (4-1 in committee), and expenditure of opioid settlement funds. The appointment of Karin Tyler as Community Wellness and Safety Director passed 9-3 (Ald. Bauman, Moore, Spiker opposed; Ald. Coggs and Perez abstained).
• Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee: All 15 items passed, including an amendment to increase the fee for posting an emergency order from $180 to $360 (Ald. Moore's amendment). Multiple property sale-backs and TID amendments were approved.
• Community & Economic Development Committee: All 14 items passed, including strategies for grocery store and pharmacy retention, allocation from the Large Impact Development Fund, a Wisconsin Arts Board grant, designation of Youth Victory Over Violence Week (April 26–May 2, 2026), reallocation of funds for Girls’ Day at City Hall, and a partnership with Milwaukee Succeeds.
• Steering & Rules Committee: All 3 items passed, including a substitute ordinance on notice of closure for food establishments, designation of Milwaukee as a Certified Sensory Inclusive City, and a resolution declaring food apartheid a public health emergency.

Discussion Items

• Law Enforcement Identification Ordinance (File 251797): Ald. Brower moved to take the file from the Public Safety & Health Committee and substitute a new version. After debate, the ordinance was passed 13-0 (Ald. Chambers abstained). The ordinance requires law enforcement officers of any agency, including ICE, to identify themselves by badge number and agency when asked, and prohibits wearing face coverings to conceal identity. Supporters (Ald. Brower, Burgelis, Zamarripa) argued it would protect residents and allow differentiation between local and federal officers. Ald. Chambers expressed concern about the ordinance's implications for masking in general community safety but stated he fully supports efforts to protect the public from federal tyranny.
• Resolution on the Arrest and Detention of Salah Sarsour (File 252229): Passed as a matter for immediate adoption 12-3 (Ald. Westmoreland and Jackson excused; all others aye). The resolution calls for the release of Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, who was detained by ICE on March 30, 2026, and is held in Indiana. Ald. Brower, Chambers, Zamarripa, and Moore spoke in support, citing Sarsour's contributions to the community and condemning the use of a confession allegedly extracted under torture. Ald. Chambers shared a personal story of Sarsour's kindness.

Key Outcomes

• Food Access Package: The Council approved a series of resolutions totaling $2.8 million to stabilize and expand grocery store and pharmacy access, including strategies for retention and attraction, allocation from the Large Impact Development Fund, expenditure from the Grocery Store Retention Fund, and a declaration of food apartheid as a public health emergency. All measures passed unanimously.
• Bike Share Expansion: Authorized the Comptroller to fund the procurement and construction phase of the Bike Share Expansion project, total estimated cost $2,074,695.
• Traffic Signal Improvements: Authorized a State Municipal Agreement for traffic signal improvements at 62 intersections, total estimated cost $2,150,400 (city share $430,080).
• Public Works Improvements: Approved nonassessable public improvements totaling $18.4 million (engineering $1,635,000) and construction projects totaling $2,043,000.
• Contingent Fund Appropriations: Reserved $1,600,000 for the Damages and Claims Fund and $250,000 for the Outside Counsel/Expert Witness Fund.
• Appointments: Confirmed Linda Elmer and Esperanza Gutierrez to the Citizen Advisory Committee on Naming; Karin Tyler as Community Wellness and Safety Director; Michael Behrens, Thomas Irgens, and Josh Weber to Business Improvement Districts; Mary Reed as Director of the Department of Compliance and Engagement; and reappointments to the Bronzeville Advisory Committee.
• Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Designated as an annual official city event (passed 14-0).
• Certified Sensory Inclusive City: Designation approved; the mayor's signing ceremony was scheduled for noon.

Announcements included remembrance of journalist Dan Bice, community cleanups, and the Big Clean MKE kickoff on Earth Day (April 22).