Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting - July 1, 2026
Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting - July 1, 2026
At a meeting convened at 1:35 PM and adjourned at 1:58 PM, the Community & Economic Development Committee (all five members present) considered five agenda items, including three appointments to Business Improvement Districts, a funding resolution for a back-to-school festival, and a resolution establishing the 2027 federal grant Funding Allocation Plan. The meeting opened with a welcome to ten Common Council youth interns.
Youth Intern Introduction
- Alderwoman Moore introduced ten youth interns participating in a restructured program that sends interns to every aldermanic district to experience community work beyond office tasks. Interns introduced themselves and shared their goals of learning about city government.
Appointments to Business Improvement Districts (Items 1–3)
- 260341 – Kristin Kurzka to BID #26: Kurzka, with 22 years of Menomonee Valley redevelopment experience, was recommended for confirmation (5-0).
- 260342 – Sandra Armstrong to BID #26: Armstrong, owner of Citywide Facility Solutions, stated her passion for strengthening the commercial district and creating a safer, more vibrant community. Recommended for confirmation (5-0).
- 260343 – Deantrium King to BID #37: King, a 14-year Milwaukee resident originally from Chicago, expressed a desire to build connectivity between businesses and residents. Recommended for confirmation (5-0).
Resolution – Second District Back to School Festival (Item 4)
- 260335 – Resolution appropriating up to $10,000 from the Economic Development Committee Fund: The sponsor was corrected to Ald. Stamper. Ald. Chambers reported the festival will be held Sunday, August 30th, 12:00–4:00 PM at Indigenous People Park (7301 West Courtland Avenue). Last year’s event served over 2,000 families with stuffed book bags, laptops, and calculators; this year will include additional partnerships and bike giveaways. Recommended for adoption (5-0).
Resolution – Year 2027 Funding Allocation Plan (Item 5)
- 260352 – Resolution relating to the establishment of the Year 2027 Funding Allocation Plan: Vanesa Carmona-Lewis (Associate Director, DOA) presented projected funding: $14.8 million for CDBG, $4.3 million for HOME, $1.3 million for ESG, and $1.5 million for HOPWA, representing a slight decrease from prior years. Two public hearings are scheduled: July 15th at St. Augustine's Preparatory Academy and July 16th at the DPW facility on 35th Street. Ald. Stamper encouraged colleagues to coordinate neighborhood outreach. Recommended for adoption (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- All three BID appointments were recommended for confirmation by the Common Council.
- Both resolutions (Back to School Festival and 2027 Funding Allocation Plan) were recommended for adoption.
- All votes were unanimous (5-0).
Meeting Transcript
Um, uh, um, uh, I think that's what I'm doing. If we don't know what we can do, then we'll see. I don't know what we're gonna do. I don't know how much I'm uh, you can do it. Everyone. Welcome to the community and Economic development committee. I am the chairman Alderman Russell Stanford the second to my furthest right, as Alderman Mark Chambers. To his left is older woman. Well we're gonna do Dmitrievich. To my immediate left is our staff assistant, Miss Carmen Roman. And to her left is Older Woman Moore, and to her left is Alderman Jackson. Welcome. So I am delighted to see this many young people here. I understand that you're a guest of Alder Woman Moore. Please raise your hand if you are a leader. No leaders. That should be everybody. Okay, leaders, all the leaders come on up. Leaders come on up. Only leaders. If you're a leader, come on up. I'm only calling up leaders. Everybody else can sit back and follow. But let me see some leaders. All right, leaders. Yeah, you look like a leader. And chair. This is the this is the common council youth intern. So these are all of our interns. Awesome. Awesome. So young people, thank you for coming down to witness aldermen at work. The city of government. This is how the city of Milwaukee does business. We're more than welcome and happy and more than happy to have you. Order one more, these are your guests. I would like for you to introduce them and let us know what's going on. Unless we have a leader that would like to introduce and let us know uh why you guys are here today. Where's the leader? Can I get a leader? My man, look, you got the goal of chain. Let's do it. You got the gold chain on like me, man. You could be just right here just like me one day since you got the goal changing. Please introduce yourself and let us know who you guys are. I'm the Andrew at Riverside University. A little closer to you. Okay. I'm D'Angelo. I go to Riverside.
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