OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Milwaukee Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting Summary - September 10, 2026

Common Council — Thursday, September 10, 2026
BodyMilwaukee, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council
DateThursday, September 10, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:07:55

Transcript — Verbatim
2:25

Afternoon, everyone.

2:26

Well, good afternoon.

2:28

Welcome to the community and economic development committee.

2:30

I'm the chairman Alderman Russell Stanford.

2:32

The second to my right is my vice chair, Alder Woman Marina Demetrivich.

2:36

To my furthest left is Alderman DeAndre Jackson, and to his right is Alder Woman Charlotte Moore.

2:43

We are joined today by the president.

2:45

I think we're joining in and out, but that's the president of the common council, Jose Perez, who'll be joining us today, and Alderman Chambers is excused.

2:56

We're gonna skip the first one.

2:58

Okay.

2:58

Uh Alderman Jackson moves to hold this at the call of the chair.

3:01

He ain't no objections, so ordered.

3:04

Moving to number two, item two six zero five six nine.

3:08

This is the appointment of Dr.

3:09

Monique Liston to the emerging youth achievement advisory council.

3:14

Dr.

3:15

Monique Liston, are you here today?

3:17

She's online.

3:19

Hey, how are you?

3:21

Doing well, good to see everyone.

3:23

Good to see you, and thank you for your interest in joining our emerging youth achievement council.

3:28

Let us know why you would like to serve and how you're gonna help us engage and uh help our youth be successful.

3:35

Well, I am just excited for the invitation to join the council.

3:40

I've been actively working on one of the subcommittees related to data and evaluation over the last few months.

3:47

Um, because of my research on what does it mean to protect the dignity of our most vulnerable populations in our city?

3:54

Yes.

4:05

Um lens.

4:11

Let me see if we had any questions by the committee.

4:13

Anybody have any questions?

4:15

Or any comments?

4:16

Older woman more.

4:22

Um is using her talents and her skills and her time.

4:26

We appreciate you for just providing that expertise to the um to the in um council.

4:33

So thank you so much.

4:38

So moved.

4:38

Yes, all the woman Charlotte Moore moves for your confirmation, hearing no objections, so ordered.

4:44

Thank you, and I'll see you at the meeting.

4:46

Thank you, Dr.

4:46

Lizard.

4:47

All right, all right.

4:48

Next, we have number three two six zero five nine three, appointment of Dr.

4:52

Richard Legman to the business improvement district, number thirteen by the mayor.

4:57

Dr.

4:58

Richard Lagerman, are you available?

5:02

Are you available, Mr.

5:03

Dr.

5:04

Uh Legerman?

5:05

He's not here.

5:06

City Clerk, any information?

5:08

I send him the information.

5:09

All right, we're going to hold this at the call of the chair.

5:12

Alder Woman Dimitrivich moves the holders at the call of the chair.

5:14

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

5:16

Number four, two six zero five nine four appointment of Dean Rain to the business improvement number thirteen.

5:23

Mr.

5:23

Dean Rain, are you available?

5:25

Please come up, Mr.

5:26

Rain.

5:30

How are you today?

5:31

I'm doing very well.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████████████████████████35%
Youth Programs█████████████████████21%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Public Housing████████8%
Business Licensing███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Business Improvement District██████6%
Arts And Culture███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Milwaukee Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting Summary - September 10, 2026

The Community & Economic Development Committee met on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 1:30 PM in City Hall, Room 301-B. The meeting was chaired by Ald. Russell W. Stamper, II, with Vice-Chair Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic, Ald. DiAndre Jackson, and Ald. Sharlen Moore present. Ald. Mark Chambers, Jr. was excused. The committee considered 21 agenda items, including appointments, reappointments, youth council nominations, and resolutions creating new Business Improvement District (BID) No. 57 and Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) No. 13. All votes were unanimous (4-0) with Chambers excused. The meeting adjourned at 2:39 PM.

Appointments & Reappointments (Consent)

  • Maritza Ugarte (Item 1) was appointed to the Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council by the Mayor. She expressed passion for youth development and her history with the Milwaukee Christian Center. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Jackson)
  • Dr. Monique Liston (Item 2) was appointed to the Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council by the Common Council President. She highlighted her work on a subcommittee focused on data and evaluation and research on protecting vulnerable populations. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Moore)
  • Dr. Richard Lagerman (Item 3) to BID #13 was held to the call of the chair as the appointee was not present.
  • Dean Rein (Item 4) was reappointed to BID #13. He owns Lisa's Pizza on Oakland Avenue and previously hosted the Oak and Love Pickup for street trash management. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Dimitrijevic)
  • Safiyah Osman (Item 5) was appointed to the Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer Award Selection Committee. Ald. Moore spoke on her behalf, noting Osman's role as vice chair of the youth council and past participation in a trip to Washington D.C. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Moore)
  • Steve Mech (Item 6) was reappointed to BID #2, with perfect attendance noted. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Moore)
  • John Hennessy (Item 7) was reappointed to BID #5, noted for good attendance. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Jackson)
  • Lisa Kurszewski (Item 8) was reappointed to BID #5, noting her 10-year tenure on the board. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Dimitrijevic)
  • Melissa Lukic (Item 9) was reappointed to BID #5. She discussed the $43 million renovation at the Hilton Milwaukee where she serves as Director of Rooms. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Dimitrijevic)
  • Tracey Heber (Item 10) was reappointed to BID #26, entering her 10th year and having served as chair for the last three years. (Recommended for confirmation, moved by Ald. Jackson)
  • Larry Stern (Item 11) was held to the call of the chair as the appointee was not present.

Youth Council Nominations

Five youth council nominations were approved together (Items 12-16):

  • Kayle Phillps (6th District): Senior at Reagan High School, politically active, aims to attend Morgan State University.
  • Jaslene Tovar (8th District): Senior at Divine Savior Holy Angels, interested in family law and experienced in mock trial.
  • Santiago Perez (13th District): Sophomore at Bradley Tech High School, involved with Raices organization at UMOS focusing on immigration rights.
  • Alan Mendoza (4th District): Sophomore at Bradley Tech High School, speaks Turkish, passionate about pollution and drug abatement.
  • Chaim Weiss (At-Large): Senior interested in creative writing and youth mental health advocacy. All nominations were recommended for confirmation (moved by Ald. Moore).

Resolutions

Item 17: Viva Nuestra Herencia Official City Event A substitute resolution declaring Viva Nuestra Herencia an official city event and authorizing acceptance and expenditure of contributions. Ald. Perez noted the event celebrates commercial vibrancy on 16th Street and is scheduled for Sunday, September 20th, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. (Recommended for adoption, moved by Ald. Dimitrijevic)

Item 18: Business Improvement District No. 57 (Lincoln Village) A substitute resolution creating BID #57 in the 8th and 12th Aldermanic Districts. Department of City Development (DCD) staff Matt Rejec and Maribel Franco from the Lincoln Village Association explained the BID will focus on safety, lighting, litter, graffiti, and reducing vacancies. Business owners and residents (Don Rambadt, Jenny Bohr, Colleen Cheney) spoke in favor, emphasizing the need for a formal structure beyond volunteer efforts. Ald. Perez noted minor tweaks may be needed for property owners with multiple parcels. The assessment is $2 per thousand dollars of property value, with a minimum of $300 and maximum of $1,200 per property, generating a projected budget of $57,424. (Recommended for adoption, moved by Ald. Moore)

Item 19: Neighborhood Improvement District No. 13 (Metcalfe Park) A substitute resolution creating NID #13 in the 15th Aldermanic District. DCD's Sally Svetic explained the difference from BIDs: NIDs can assess residential properties not tax-exempt. Residents Melody McCurtis, Danell Cross, and Karen Dennison detailed the assessment plan: approximately $50 per occupied household, $100 for vacant residential properties to encourage occupancy; multi-unit and commercial spaces capped at $500 for occupied and $1,000 for vacant, with a projected annual pool of $40,000 to $90,000 for beautification and blight prevention. The board will consist of five to nine members who must own or occupy property, serving one-year terms. Outreach included weekly meetings and door-knocking. (Recommended for adoption, moved by Ald. Moore)

Item 20: Reallocation of MKE Community Excellence Fund A substitute resolution reallocating up to $3,666 from Mi Milwaukee to Hispanic Heritage Month. Ald. Zamarripa stated the funds will support events such as the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in the Deer District. (Recommended for adoption, moved by Ald. Dimitrijevic)

Communication Held

Item 21: 2025 Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative Accomplishments A communication from DCD was held to the call of the chair (moved by Ald. Dimitrijevic).

Key Outcomes

  • All appointments, reappointments, and youth council nominations were recommended for confirmation or held as noted.
  • Resolution declaring Viva Nuestra Herencia an official city event was recommended for adoption.
  • Resolution creating BID No. 57 (Lincoln Village) was recommended for adoption.
  • Resolution creating NID No. 13 (Metcalfe Park) was recommended for adoption.
  • Resolution reallocating $3,666 to Hispanic Heritage Month was recommended for adoption.
  • Communication on Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative was held to call of the chair. All votes were unanimous (4-0) with Ald. Chambers excused.

Meeting Transcript

Afternoon, everyone. Well, good afternoon. Welcome to the community and economic development committee. I'm the chairman Alderman Russell Stanford. The second to my right is my vice chair, Alder Woman Marina Demetrivich. To my furthest left is Alderman DeAndre Jackson, and to his right is Alder Woman Charlotte Moore. We are joined today by the president. I think we're joining in and out, but that's the president of the common council, Jose Perez, who'll be joining us today, and Alderman Chambers is excused. We're gonna skip the first one. Okay. Uh Alderman Jackson moves to hold this at the call of the chair. He ain't no objections, so ordered. Moving to number two, item two six zero five six nine. This is the appointment of Dr. Monique Liston to the emerging youth achievement advisory council. Dr. Monique Liston, are you here today? She's online. Hey, how are you? Doing well, good to see everyone. Good to see you, and thank you for your interest in joining our emerging youth achievement council. Let us know why you would like to serve and how you're gonna help us engage and uh help our youth be successful. Well, I am just excited for the invitation to join the council. I've been actively working on one of the subcommittees related to data and evaluation over the last few months. Um, because of my research on what does it mean to protect the dignity of our most vulnerable populations in our city? Yes. Um lens. Let me see if we had any questions by the committee. Anybody have any questions? Or any comments? Older woman more. Um is using her talents and her skills and her time. We appreciate you for just providing that expertise to the um to the in um council. So thank you so much. So moved. Yes, all the woman Charlotte Moore moves for your confirmation, hearing no objections, so ordered. Thank you, and I'll see you at the meeting. Thank you, Dr. Lizard. All right, all right. Next, we have number three two six zero five nine three, appointment of Dr. Richard Legman to the business improvement district, number thirteen by the mayor. Dr. Richard Lagerman, are you available? Are you available, Mr. Dr. Uh Legerman? He's not here. City Clerk, any information? I send him the information.

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