Milwaukee Common Council Meeting - June 23, 2026

The Milwaukee Common Council met on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 9:19 AM in the Common Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order by Acting President Marina Dimitrijevic (14th District) in the absence of President Jose G. Perez. Fourteen aldermen were present, with one excused. The meeting included a presentation of the 2026 Juneteenth pageant winners, a contested license suspension for a Denny's restaurant, the adoption of a historic police standard operating procedure (SOP) modification regarding duty to intervene, and extensive debate over the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) reprogramming funds. The meeting recessed at 11:15 AM and reconvened at 11:42 AM, adjourning at 12:05 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Commendatory and Condolatory Resolutions (Item 1): Placed on file unanimously (14-0-1).
• License Division Communication (Item 2): Placed on file unanimously regarding parklet and sidewalk dining permit processes.
• Public Works Committee Items (Items 4-23): All passed or adopted unanimously, including:
  • Substitute ordinance on state recycling requirements (Item 4, passed 14-0-1).
  • Five honorary street name resolutions (Items 5-8, adopted 14-0-1).
  • Easements with Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Items 9 and 13, adopted 14-0-1, with Ald. Burgelis voting no on Item 9).
  • Multiple state/municipal agreements for highway and bridge projects (Items 10-12, 18-22, adopted with Ald. Burgelis voting no on Items 11 and 12).
  • Assessable and nonassessable public improvement projects (Items 14-17, adopted 14-0-1).
  • Green Solutions grant for eight green alleys (Item 20, adopted 14-0-1).
  • Safe Streets and Roads for All grant for pedestrian safety improvements at up to 26 intersections (Item 21, adopted 14-0-1).
  • Placing on file a prior resolution (Item 23, adopted 14-0-1).
• Finance and Personnel Committee Items (Items 24-32): All passed or adopted unanimously except Item 26 (reimbursement for Granville-Havenwoods Advisory Council) which passed 13-1 (Ald. Chambers Jr. voting no).
• Judiciary and Legislation Committee Items (Items 33-37): Adopted or disallowed as recommended, with Ald. Brower voting no on Item 37 (claim of Violet Kryshak).
• Public Safety and Health Committee Items (Items 38-44, 46-50): All passed or adopted unanimously, including parking and traffic control ordinances, multiple health grants, a $3,500 contribution to the Milwaukee Fire Department, and the Survive Alive House agreement.
• Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee Items (Items 51-54): Adopted unanimously (13-0-2, with Ald. Brower and Ald. Perez excused).
• Community and Economic Development Committee Items (Items 55-57, 59-68): All passed or adopted unanimously except Item 63 (Ald. Coggs abstained).
• Steering and Rules Committee Items (Items 69-71): Placed on file unanimously.
• Matters for Immediate Adoption (Items 72-75): Adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made by non-council members. The only testimony came from Attorney Zach Wrobleski, representing Mukesh S. Dharod (Denny's licensee), who spoke in favor of reducing the recommended 30-day suspension to 10 days, citing new security measures and community partnerships.

Discussion Items

• Denny's License Suspension (Item 3): The Licenses Committee recommended a 30-day suspension for the Extended Hours Establishment license of Mukesh S. Dharod at 3801 S. 27th St. (Denny's #8092) based on police reports and aldermanic testimony. Attorney Wrobleski detailed new measures: increased security to seven nights/week, updated security policies, shared contact info with MPD and BID, immediate video surveillance sharing, and no-loitering signs. Ald. Spiker moved to reduce the suspension to 10 days, citing a productive meeting with MPD, the BID, and the DA's office. The motion passed unanimously (14-0-1).
• Police SOP Modification – Duty to Intervene (Item 45): A substitute motion modifying MPD Standard Operating Procedures regarding the duty to intervene and report unreasonable uses of force was approved. Ald. Zamarripa and Ald. Brower spoke passionately in support, framing it as a response to federal immigration enforcement actions and a historic use of the council's new authority under Wisconsin Act 12. Ald. Brower called it "one of the most consequential votes" of his tenure. The motion passed 14-0-1 and does not require mayoral signature.
• CDBG Reprogramming Funds (Item 58): This item sparked the most debate. Ald. Stamper initially moved to amend Attachment A by removing $250,000 from Employ Milwaukee: Earn & Learn and reallocating it to 11 youth programs (e.g., Missing Piece, CAGE, True Skool, etc.). That amendment passed unanimously. A second amendment by Ald. Stamper to remove $500,000 from Safe & Sound (intended as a hold pending partnership commitments) passed 8-6 after a roll call vote. Ald. Burgelis then moved to send the entire item back to committee, but later withdrew. Ald. Chambers then moved to restore the $500,000 to Safe & Sound contingent on adding Missing Piece Collective as a Safe Summer site and Comforce MKE as a named partner. That amendment passed unanimously (14-0-1). The final amended item was adopted as part of the committee report.

Key Outcomes

• Denny's License Suspension Reduced: The council voted 14-0-1 to reduce the suspension from 30 days to 10 days, effective immediately.
• Police SOP Modification Approved: The council voted 14-0-1 to adopt the substitute motion modifying MPD's duty-to-intervene SOP, marking the first use of this authority under Act 12.
• CDBG Reprogramming Finalized: After multiple amendments, the council approved $3 million in CDBG reprogramming funds, including $500,000 for Safe & Sound (contingent on partnerships with Missing Piece and Comforce MKE) and $250,000 for 11 other youth programs.
• All Other Items Passed Unanimously: Routine approvals, grants, easements, honorary street names, and appointments were adopted without objection.