Milwaukee City Council Meeting Summary - December 17, 2025

The 2439th regular meeting of the Milwaukee City Council convened to address community announcements, recognize a student of the month, provide a staff response regarding the state's Middle-Income Revolving Loan (MURAL) program, and deliberate on a long-standing intergovernmental agreement (IGA) regarding Milwaukee Bay Park. The council also held a public hearing and voted on a right-of-way vacation for the Hillside Park development. The session concluded with administrative updates and an executive session scheduled for real property negotiations.

Consent Calendar

• Actions Approved: The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:
  • Minutes from the October 21, 2025, group and regular sessions.
  • A resolution removing Lee Garnett and appointing Linda Callahan to the Tree Board.
  • A resolution defining certain benefits as official compensation.
  • A resolution reinstating a banking services agreement with Columbia Bank.
  • A resolution authorizing the award of the Sparrow Site Design and Development Project to Dev Northwest and granting the City Manager authority to enter an exclusive negotiating agreement.
  • A resolution authorizing a partnership between the city and Related Northwest to apply for an Infrastructure Finance Authority grant for Hillside Park.
  • Approval of an Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission application for Bigfoot Cider Company.
• Minor Correction: Mayor Beatty noted a factual error in the minutes regarding her arrival time (noted as late, though she arrived before the start time), which the council accepted with good humor.

Public Comments & Testimony

• City Manager's Response on MURAL: The City Manager provided a detailed rebuttal to testimony given at the December 2nd meeting regarding the MURAL program.
  • Position: The City Manager clarified that the Council did not intend to permanently reject MURAL but rather directed staff to further explore the program as of November 18. She expressed concern that immediate adoption would impose significant operational burdens (requiring approximately 2 Full-Time Equivalents) without clear guidance or funding from the state, and noted that other cities are proceeding slowly while awaiting state clarification.
  • Defense: She defended the city's existing housing tools, citing 243 affordable units added since 2019 and the use of the Construction Excise Tax fund.
• Councilor Cross Body's Clarification: Councilor Cross Body addressed a press release that inaccurately quoted him as being "in no support of the ordinance." He clarified to the record that he was not in support of an ordinance at this point, distinguishing his position from a final rejection of the program, noting the Council's directive was to seek further clarification.
• No Public Testimony: No members of the public or Zoom attendees appeared to speak during the designated public comment period.

Discussion Items

• MURAL Program Review: Staff and the Council discussed the feasibility of adopting a MURAL ordinance. Staff emphasized that while community support exists, the administrative capacity, state rule changes (anticipated in 2026), and lack of immediate urgency regarding fund exhaustion (vs. other cities like Coos Bay) warrant a cautious approach until a follow-up conversation in March.

• Historic Resources Inventory Pilot: Mayor Beatty and Council President introduced a concept for a volunteer-led historic resources inventory pilot.

  • Proposal: A $5,000 investment to hire a University of Oregon graduate student to manage a pilot involving the photo-documentation of 500 houses using iPads, with oversight from a community committee including the Milwaukee Museum and Planning Commission.
  • Positions: The Council expressed strong support for a volunteer-led approach to avoid straining current staffing. Questions were raised regarding data collection protocols, bilingual accessibility, and the future regulatory use of the inventory. Staff indicated this pilot could inform a larger project once the planning department is fully staffed in 2026.
• Milwaukee Bay Park IGA Negotiations: Council members deliberated on the status of the 12-month-long negotiations with the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) regarding the Milwaukee Bay Park IGA.
  • Staff Analysis: The City Manager presented a "gives and gains" analysis, noting the City stands to assume $11 million in maintenance and fundraising responsibilities to gain control of Phase 3, while the district receives $5.1 million in contributions and relief from maintenance.
  • Positions:
    • Councilor Scavenger and others expressed pessimism, noting that the district has rejected every city counter-proposal since November, including requests for full Zone 1 STC balances, fee waivers for city events, and control over project management.
    • Several Council members discussed the possibility of a "last and final" proposal that might concede specific non-financial terms (e.g., depreciation standards, fee waivers) while holding firm on financial terms (STCs and Metro Local Share) to force a decision.
    • Consensus: The Council generally agreed to prepare a refined response that highlights the economic benefits and clarity of their position, set a timeline for a response by January 6th, and prepared the Council for a "Plan B" discussion regarding independent funding if negotiations fail.
• Hillside Park Right-of-Way Vacation: The Council held a public hearing on an ordinance to vacate portions of Southeast Hillside Court and Streets A, B, and C to facilitate Phase 2 of the Hillside Park affordable housing development.
  • Outcome: No written objections were received (one comment regarding Canada geese was addressed by confirming compliance with federal environmental reviews). The Council voted to close the hearing and adopt the ordinance.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Vote: The Hillside Park right-of-way vacation ordinance was adopted unanimously (5-0) on its first and second reading by title only.
• Consent Agenda: Adopted unanimously (5-0).
• Student of the Month: Isaiah Flores, a senior at Milwaukee Academy of the Arts, was recognized for his academic achievements (3.9 GPA, six AP courses), leadership as ASB President, and extracurricular involvement. He plans to pursue environmental law.
• Action on Bay Park IGA: The Council directed staff to prepare a response proposal to NCPRD by January 6th, which will reiterate the City's financial terms (full Zone 1 STCs and Metro Local Share) while potentially deferring to staff on non-financial compromises to see if an agreement can still be reached. The Council agreed to discuss "Plan B" (independent development) if the district does not respond favorably by the January 6th meeting.
• Housing Initiatives: Council acknowledged the need for further work on the historic resources inventory pilot and continued the timeline for MURAL program exploration to March 2026.
• Executive Session: The regular meeting adjourned to conduct an executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660 for real property transaction negotiations.