Milwaukee City Council Meeting - August 20, 2025

The two thousand four hundred and thirty-first meeting of the Milwaukee City Council was held in person at City Hall and via video conference. The meeting included an update on the Clackamas County Stabilization Center, community comments, approval of the consent agenda, a public hearing on affordable housing code incentives, and a public hearing on a new public safety fee. Key decisions included unanimous approval of the public safety fee and a split vote on the affordable housing incentives ordinance, which will proceed to a second reading.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the July 15, 2025 regular session and July 16, 2025 site visit unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Community Comments: Dylan Cruz (Milwaukee resident) spoke about a middle housing town hall, tree code enforcement, and advocated for a waterfront amphitheater and entertainment district. No other general comments were received.
• Affordable Housing Incentives Public Hearing: Testimony was provided by Dylan Cruz, Allison Cruise, and Heather Buchanan (all Milwaukee residents). They expressed concerns about potential exploitation of variances, lack of enforcement mechanisms, reduced setbacks, increased height, and the need for explicit language prohibiting height increases on middle housing. They urged caution and clearer protections.
• Public Safety Fee Public Hearing: No oral testimony was provided, but written correspondence was noted, including one comment that was more about street maintenance than the fee.

Discussion Items

• Clackamas County Stabilization Center Update: Mary Rumba, Director of Health, Housing and Human Services, presented an update. The stabilization center has two components: a 23-hour crisis stabilization center (run by Claire Vita) and a housing/case management program (run by Father's Heart). The 23-hour center is for law enforcement and mobile crisis referrals (no walk-ups), with an average stay of 10–11 hours. Construction is on track for completion in October 2025, with a December 2025 opening and a ribbon cutting in early November. A “good partner framework” agreement is being finalized. Discussion included transportation for discharged individuals, integration with Milwaukee’s behavioral health unit, and information sharing under HIPAA. A separate Recovery Campus was also discussed: a two-building campus (withdrawal management/residential treatment and outpatient/transitional housing) on 6.6 acres near the former Clackamas Heights school. Cost estimated at $40 million, half funded; groundbreaking expected summer 2026. The county is working on a universal release of information to coordinate between programs.
• Affordable Housing Code Incentives Ordinance: Planning Manager Laura Wingle and Senior Planner Vera Coleus presented the proposed code amendments (new section 19.511). The incentives are for qualifying affordable housing developments (middle housing, mixed-use, multi-unit) with tiered affordability: e.g., 50% of units at 60–80% AMI, or 20% at <30% AMI. Up to 10 variances are packaged, including reduced setbacks (side yard 40%, front/rear 25%), reduced open space (25%), increased lot coverage, building height increase (one story or 20 ft, only in mixed-use and high-density residential zones, not middle housing), reduced bike parking, reduced facade articulation requirements, and reduced window glazing (minimum 12%). Continued affordability: 99 years for rental, 60 years for ownership (staff recommendation; planning commission recommended uniform 60 years). Townhouses: planning commission recommended a 200-foot linear length limit instead of a unit count. The review process is expedited (100 days). Council discussion focused on concerns about detached units, enforcement, tree canopy, and the pace of changes. A motion to adopt the ordinance passed 3-2 (not unanimous), so it will have a second reading on September 2, 2025. Council upheld the 99-year rental requirement and the 200-foot townhouse limit.
• Public Safety Fee Adoption: City Manager Emma Sagor presented the rationale for a new public safety fee to address growing demand for services. Since 2020, police calls increased 21% to over 21,000 per year, while staffing has not increased. Behavioral health crises, substance abuse (Milwaukee had the most overdose 911 calls in Clackamas County in 2024), library incidents (327 logged, 35% requiring police), and court dockets at pre-COVID levels all strain resources. The proposed fee: $7/residential, $5/multifamily unit, commercial tiered $5–$50 based on trip data, with a low-income exemption through the utility assistance program. Revenue estimate $900,000–$1 million annually to fund additional FTE (behavioral health specialist, training officer, two patrol officers, two library staff, one court staff). Council discussed transparency, performance metrics, and baselines. The motion to adopt the resolution passed unanimously. Implementation will begin on November or December 2025 utility bills, with ongoing reporting.

Key Outcomes

• Affordable Housing Incentives Ordinance (ZA-2025-003): Motion to adopt passed 3-2, but not unanimous, requiring a second reading on September 2, 2025. The ordinance was read once in full. Council adopted planning commission recommendations for 60-year affordability (both rental and ownership) and 200-foot townhouse limit.
• Public Safety Fee: Resolution adopting the fee passed unanimously. Staff committed to transparent reporting on expenditures and outcomes, and to establishing baselines.
• Stabilization Center Update: Noted progress and upcoming ribbon cutting. Council directed staff to continue coordination with the county.
• Transportation Bill Letter: Council agreed to send a letter to state legislators regarding the transportation bill, with minor edits.