Public Safety and Health Committee Meeting: July 2, 2026 – Milwaukee City Hall
Public Safety and Health Committee Meeting: July 2, 2026 – Milwaukee City Hall
The Public Safety and Health Committee of the City of Milwaukee convened on July 2, 2026, at 9:07 AM in Room 301-B of City Hall, chaired by Ald. Scott P. Spiker. All five committee members were present: Ald. Peter Burgelis, Ald. Larresa Taylor, Ald. Sharlen P. Moore, and Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. The meeting covered 17 agenda items, including routine approvals, appointments to the Safety and Civic Commission and Fire and Police Commission, grants for public health, electric scooter safety regulations, dangerous animal ordinances, and emergency preparedness. The meeting adjourned at 12:13 PM.
Consent Calendar
- File 260279 – Ordinance relating to parking controls. Recommended for passage unanimously (5-0).
- File 260280 – Ordinance relating to traffic controls. Recommended for passage unanimously (5-0).
- File 252141 – Appointment of John Fletcher to the Safety and Civic Commission. Recommended for confirmation unanimously (5-0) after brief testimony from the appointee.
- File 260246 – Resolution authorizing lead hazard abatement agreements. Recommended for adoption unanimously (5-0).
- File 260256 – Resolution accepting the 2026-2027 Evaluation of Molecular Detection Methods for Genital Ulcer Disease Grant ($40,000 from APHL). Recommended for adoption unanimously (5-0).
- File 260284 – Resolution accepting the 2026-2027 Wisconsin Well Woman Program grant. Recommended for adoption and referral to Finance & Personnel Committee unanimously (5-0).
- File 260367 – Ordinance relating to exception street parking (removing alternate side parking in a dense neighborhood). Recommended for passage unanimously (5-0).
- File 260369 – Substitute ordinance relating to dangerous and exotic animals. Recommended for passage unanimously (5-0) after discussion with DNS. The ordinance removes breed-specific language, defines exotic animals, and focuses on behavior-based dangerous animal criteria.
- File 250758 – Communication on 2025/26 activities of City Hall Campus Emergency Preparedness Committee. Recommended for placing on file unanimously (5-0) after a presentation by Fire Chief Aaron Lipski and City Clerk Jim Owczarski detailing 26 completed tasks out of 32, with ongoing work.
Discussion Items
- Reappointment of Byron Marshall Jr. to Safety and Civic Commission (File 251353): Held to the call of the chair (5-0) as the appointee was not present.
- Reappointment of Dana World-Patterson to Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (File 260232): Extensive discussion on her five-year term, challenges with Act 12 changes (shifting FPC from policymaking to advisory), community engagement, police pursuit policy, and the balance of independence. The motion to recommend confirmation passed 4-0-1 (Ald. Taylor abstained).
- Reappointment of LaNelle Ramey to Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (File 260233): Similar discussion on independence, community listening, and the role of FPC post-Act 12. Recommended for confirmation 4-0-1 (Ald. Taylor abstained).
- Electric Scooter Safety (Files 260340, 260349, 260365): A series of items following a serious scooter accident on MLK Drive. Discussion included rampant sidewalk riding, geofencing limitations, enforcement challenges, and the need for operator accountability. The communication from DPW was held; an ordinance to increase penalties for sidewalk riding (from $10-20 to $100-200) was recommended for passage after Ald. Burgelis withdrew a substitute that would have added penalties up to $1,000 for riders and $10,000 for the company. A resolution to establish a 5 mph speed limit in Zone 1 of the 4th Aldermanic District was held for further fine-tuning. The committee also learned that the contract with Lime was extended to 2027 without committee review, prompting Ald. Bauman to announce a future file to terminate and renegotiate.
- Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Fast Forward Grant (File 260351): Held to the call of the chair (5-0) for more time.
- Light Duty Vehicles for Medical Runs (File 260381): Held to the call of the chair (5-0) as the fire department needed extra time.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments confirmed: John Fletcher (Safety and Civic Commission) by unanimous vote. Dana World-Patterson and LaNelle Ramey (Fire and Police Commission) each confirmed 4-0-1 (Ald. Taylor abstaining on both).
- Scooter penalty ordinance: Recommended for passage (5-0) with fines increased to $100-$200 for sidewalk riding. The substitute adding operator penalties was withdrawn.
- Scooter communication and speed zone: Held for further discussion. The committee expressed intent to bring Lime representatives to a future meeting and to consider renegotiating the contract.
- Dangerous animals ordinance: Recommended for passage (5-0) with updated definitions and behavior-based criteria.
- Emergency preparedness communication: Placed on file (5-0) after presentation; 26 of 32 tasks completed, with a final report due September 30, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
To the Thursday, July 2nd meeting of the public safety and health committee. It is 9 07, so we'll get started. Um Alderman Scott Spiker, Chair of the Committee, joined to my right by Alderman Peter Burgelis, Vice Chair, joined to join to his right by Alder uh Larissa Taylor, uh, and joined uh two folks to my left by Alder Charlin Moore, also joined by our staff assistant, Ms. Joanna Ortiz. We'll be joined momentarily by Alderman Chambers. Um we have a pretty full agenda, so we'll get going. Item one is file number two six zero two seven nine and ordinance relating to parking controls. Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the committee, Scott Reinbacher with the Department of Public Works. Uh, we do have a few changes to the city's parking regulations today. Uh, first is to install a no-stopping any time regulation on West Pottawatomi Circle uh from canal to a point south of there. Uh second, we recommend installing a two-hour parking zone from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Um Monday through Saturday on the south side of Corcoran Avenue from Mocky to Jefferson, and then it would go to um regular meter parking from four to nine on those days. Um I should also note that there will be another change uh to the alternate side parking regulations coming in uh agenda item number 10. And I just wanted to let you know that the department uh supports that change as well. So all of these changes were coordinated with the local alders and happy to answer any questions. Okay, questions from committee members. If not, Alder Burgells would move to recommend passage and hearing no objections so ordered. Item number two, file number two six zero two eight zero, an ordinance relating to traffic controls. Uh yes, today we have several changes relating to intersection and trucking regulations in the city. Uh first is to install east and westbound stop signs at the intersection of Euclid and Griffin. Uh second, we are proposing to install stop signs in the northbound and southbound directions at the intersection of Barnard Avenue and South 22nd place. Uh third, we are proposing to install stop signs in the east and westbound directions at Clayton Crest and 24th Street. Uh fourth, we're proposing to install stop signs in the north and southbound directions on South 20th place at uh Wilbur Street. And finally, we are proposing to implement a no-trucking three tons or over restriction in an alleyway uh bounded by Mangold, Elvina, um, the Interstate 94, and South 20th Street due to um trucks using it as a cut-through street. So all of these have been coordinated with the local Alders and happy to answer any questions. Okay. Questions, comments, committee members. If not, Alder Taylor would move to recommend passage and hearing no objections so ordered. Thank you. Um taking item 15 out of order. Uh this is item 260351, substitute resolution relating to acceptance and funding of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Fast Forward Grant. Um, they need a little more time on this one, so Alder Moore would move to hold this to the call to the chair. We'll uh address it at a future meeting. Um, and hearing no objections so ordered. Um, and item 16 is file number 260381, uh sponsored by Alder Bergellis communication from fire department relating to feasibility of using light duty vehicles for medical runs. I'm told this one will also need to be held to the call of the chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, just briefly, the fire department has had a very busy week. They asked for extra time to have that report ready. Uh, we will not need to, we will not need to hear from the fire department today. We'll just hold that until the next cycle. It's Christmas. We're all finding. All right. So given that, Alder Bergales would move to hold this to the call of the chair and hearing no objections so ordered. Um okay, back to item three on the agenda. This is file number two five one five.
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