OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Milwaukee City Council Study Session: Annual Committee Updates - March 11, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, March 11, 2026
BodyMilwaukie, Oregon
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, March 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:52:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:17

Hopefully Ed will join us shortly, but we have our arts committee team ready to get started.

0:30

So we have uh seed succession.

0:34

Okay.

0:35

I saw the terrority of Cherokee.

0:42

Okay, so we're on the record.

0:44

Okay.

0:45

It's our March 10th, uh 2026 uh study session, and it's our annual update where we go meet with a bunch of our committees to hear what they've been doing and what they're planning for the year ahead.

0:59

And uh nicely arranged alphabetically.

1:02

So we're gonna start with the arts committee.

1:05

Thanks.

1:05

Thanks for having us.

1:06

And he is Jeanette Owen, but the arts committee.

1:10

Um so I'll just go through uh some of the recent work the committee's done, uh talk about the goals that were recently set by the committee and we'll preview what's what's the um next year.

1:23

Uh so first off, uh we have two new sculptures in the sculpture garden.

1:27

Um we only have two this rotation because the big cherry is permanent.

1:31

So usually it's three off.

1:33

We don't have every year, but um the three.

1:36

Uh this block was by an artist that's uh shown in the garden several times before, but um the other one Buffalo by Crabice on that's a new artist, and um we were happy to have some new entries.

1:49

We actually had several entries this round, but uh this is selected.

1:53

Um, I guess we have a lot of passive sculptures like this too, but that one fits in the card at least.

1:58

So uh maybe was also instrumental in getting a couple sculptures installed recently, uh a couple committee members, uh Samantha Swinder, who was a former chair and then Amy were on the selection committee for uh I have those popcords, sorry.

2:16

The other one is the peculiar pod, the other one is the art sphere.

2:19

Sorry, I don't know how I switched up.

2:20

But um year pod is in Scott Park, they run the selection committee for that, and then that was recently installed a few months ago.

2:26

Uh with the the trail and all the things were finished up.

2:29

And a sign that says don't climb on it, but obviously it's quite because it looks like um and then yeah, the arts committee made the decision to purchase uh sphere of spheres, which is also by Tyler for Claw Creations.

2:41

Um that has shown in the sculpture garden.

2:43

And like last time we were here, we mentioned that he was interested in purchasing it.

2:47

And um, yeah, we did it this year.

2:48

So it's great.

2:50

Um we also had another successful year of Porch Fest.

2:56

Uh and that's one of the committee members actually right there, Ben Dewey, um at his house.

3:01

Uh yeah, like like it's up.

3:03

There are 115 performances across every neighborhood in Milwaukee.

3:08

Um we had six meeting sponsors, and we had a new kind sponsor too.

3:12

That's made in Milwaukee.

3:13

They helped with the printing and offset all the costs for that.

3:16

So um, yeah, it's great to find these partnerships.

3:19

And it's a make it's a really good model, I think, for sponsorships, like especially for these events because it's a low entry point, it's only $300 to get in, but you know, really help us businesses and really helps the people their work too.

3:33

Uh new this year was uh library art shows.

3:36

The the Friends of the Library installed uh art rails in the community room and um Sarah McCoy on the arts committee has been uh leading the effort to get new art shows in every couple months, and along with that we've had some artist receptions.

3:49

Uh a couple of them have been along with First Friday, and then um we also had an artist panel, and that was featuring some of the arts committee members, which was a really big success.

3:57

Um really great attendance.

3:59

Um, there was a QA which was hosted by the Clackamas County Arts Alliance uh representative.

4:05

And from that, we actually had a lot of interest, like renewed interest in things the arts committees doing and a lot of people wanting to get involved and see what other things the arts committee is doing.

4:13

It was also just a really nice time to talk about art and how it's made and like different ways of getting involved and you know what is art and how can you participate and contribute.

4:29

Uh and the committee was helping being in the new year again.

4:32

Um keeps getting bigger and better, and you know, more people we had great weather this year, which also helped.

4:38

Uh yeah, more than 30 vendors, then includes food and drink, um, and 800 wishing tag wishing tree tags, and they went through 600 alcohol bracelets, which is also a good like measure of like attendance too.

4:50

So um, all in all, great success.

4:52

Uh there was also collaboration between like migration and free.

4:55

Um so you know, there wasn't like uh any sort of exclusivity that was wanted by either of them.

5:01

Um, so it's nice to have that like as a community partner, like no one's like competing necessarily, like they're all trying to just come together for these types of things.

5:11

And uh one of the things the committee is really proud of is like stepped up some of their graphic design and uh marketing materials, and thanks uh in large part to Ben Dewey, who we showed a picture of.

5:20

He's uh great illustrator, he used to actually work for Marvel and DC.

5:24

He worked for Dark Horse and now he works for Steam that's the Q platform.

5:28

But um, yeah, he's been gracious enough to just basically donate designs that they've been fantastic, and uh I think they've really elevated like uh how our events get promoted and like and who was getting attracted to come see them, and obviously they get turned into stickers and we can um and so the big in the new year now, and uh some of the other fundraising arms of the committee are done by the arts foundation.

5:54

Um there is a foundation.

5:56

There is one of the deal.

5:59

And Jeanette is one of the people on it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation████████████████████20%
Transportation Safety███████████████15%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Arts And Culture██████████10%
Library Services████████8%
Public Safety███████7%
Public Engagement█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Milwaukee City Council Study Session: Annual Committee Updates - March 11, 2026

This study session featured annual updates from six city boards and committees: the Arts Committee, Equity Steering Committee, Library Board, Parks and Recreation Board, Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC)/SPOT program, and Tree Board. The council asked clarifying questions and provided direction on several items. Note: The transcript begins by stating "March 10th, 2026 study session," but the official timestamp indicates the meeting took place on March 11, 2026.

Arts Committee Update

  • Sculpture Garden: Two new sculptures ("Buffalo" by new artist Crabice, and a second piece) were installed; the "Sphere of Spheres" was purchased. Committee members also assisted in selecting art for Scott Park ("Peculiar Pod") and the "Art Sphere".
  • Porch Fest 2025: 115 performances across all Milwaukee neighborhoods, six meeting sponsors (including new sponsor Made in Milwaukee), over 30 vendors, 800 wishing tags, 600 alcohol bracelets (a proxy for attendance).
  • Library Art Shows: New quarterly art shows in the library community room, curated with the Friends of the Library; artist receptions held in conjunction with First Friday and an artist panel co-hosted by the Clackamas County Arts Alliance.
  • Arts Foundation: Formed with three members, allowing tax-deductible donations. Received a $5,000 grant; fundraising has been building a reserve (previously raised $10–15,000 with $2,000 leftover).
  • Goals for Coming Year: Cultivate community engagement (building on existing opportunities), promote Milwaukee as a regional arts center, expand funding streams (e.g., curation fees), and recruit non‑committee volunteers to reduce burnout.
  • Upcoming Projects: Porch Fest 2026 (21st year, more artists signed up than venues), a student-led mural at Milwaukee High School (youth member Adair working with mentor Chris Haberman, pending intergovernmental agreement), a mini Comic‑Con style event at the library, continued library art shows, and regular contests (scarecrow, umbrella).
  • Council Q&A: Council asked about the youth ambassador’s experience, the need for additional volunteers, and how extra funding might be used (e.g., hiring a part‑time Porch Fest coordinator). The committee expressed interest in eventually hiring staff to manage large events.

Equity Steering Committee (ESC) Update

  • Background: ESC is an advisory body to the mayor, city manager, and council; 10 community members; one vacancy opening in July 2026.
  • 2025 Activities: Reviewed city website user‑friendliness (demo before July launch), drafted community outreach materials (stickers, postcards), held biannual review of the Milwaukee Community Events Fund (four rounds completed), organized Juneteenth celebration when previous organizer dropped out, and co‑developed the city’s naming and memorial/donation policies (adopted January 6, 2026). Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde gave a placekeeping presentation (recording pending).
  • Community Events Fund: Awards have supported events like Chinese New Year and cross‑cultural meals; eight applications pending for spring 2026. Council noted challenges with event reporting and accessibility of application materials.
  • 2026 Priorities: Continue staff engagement on accessibility, meet with Urban Renewal Authority (URA) on five‑year action plan, build partnerships with local organizations, finalize outreach materials, resume equity performance metrics, and plan Juneteenth. They also seek greater collaboration with other boards/committees and plan to table at city events.

Library Board Update

  • Usage & Resources: 700,000 checkouts in 2025 (highest since 2015). E‑books/audiobooks, Library of Things (canning kits, sewing machines, musical instruments), seed library, food pantry, and community/study rooms are heavily used.
  • Strategic Plan (2024–2027): Focus on connecting with Milwaukee Momentum, improving services at point of need, and organizational health. Initiatives include installing library lockers for after‑hours pickup (three sets planned, with URA and city budget support) and implementing student library cards for K‑12 students in the North Clackamas school district (data‐sharing privacy concerns being addressed; superintendent meeting scheduled). Council expressed strong interest in the student card program.
  • Friends of the Library: Provided 4,242 hours of volunteer service, raised $46,000+ from bookstore and plant sales. Seeking new storage/workspace (900–1,000 sq. ft., near library) due to current space being torn down.
  • Library Foundation: Being built to provide long‑term support; seeking additional board members. Upcoming events: two screenings of the documentary “The Librarians” (April 18 and 26).
  • Board Recruitment: Two openings (one youth) due to term limits; council noted that library board typically receives many applicants.

Parks and Recreation Board Update

  • Membership: 9 members (including 2 youth); two youth positions opening in July 2026; one alternate and one permanent position also open.
  • 2025 Accomplishments: Advocated for Milwaukee Park, partnered with Milwaukie City USA, reviewed naming/memorial policies, completed board bylaws revision, supported Earth Day event and Metro Community Choice Grant outreach, and co‑hosted a successful Metro project presentation (Metro praised board members’ preparation).
  • Goals for 2026–2027: Engage community to learn what they want for Milwaukee Parks (e.g., surveys beyond satisfaction), collaborate with public/community groups to leverage resources, strengthen inclusive recreation programming (both culturally and disability inclusive), and create a task force to research additional funding sources. Council encouraged exploring corporate and foundation support, and mentioned adaptive recreation equipment (e.g., all‑terrain wheelchairs) as a potential rental through the library.

Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) & SPOT Program Update

  • SPOT Program: Funded initially with $350,000 (slated to expire end of fiscal year; funds can roll over). City budget includes another $200,000 for next biennium. PSAC reviews community proposals (up to $25,000 cap) for transportation safety projects. Two‑phase process: initial review, then detailed engineering estimate.
  • Project Status: Many projects approved and in progress; 10 speed feedback signs on order. Some proposals denied due to maintenance constraints or scope (e.g., stormwater issues, CERT funding).
  • Parking and Visibility Concerns: PSAC identified systemic problems with large vehicles parking too close to crosswalks, creating blind spots. They proposed an education campaign, thermoplastic pavement markings, and possible height restrictions (citing Florence, Oregon, as an example). Council asked PSAC to bring specific policy recommendations for council consideration.
  • Data Needs: PSAC lacks official pedestrian/bicycle traffic counters; they requested funding for such equipment to better evaluate safety projects. Council acknowledged the value but noted budget constraints.
  • Council Feedback: Council praised the SPOT program’s responsiveness but cautioned against over‑obligating staff. They recommended PSAC bring themes to council during budget/CIP cycles, and that projects with broader impact may need to move through the normal CIP process. Council also asked for clearer timelines and status definitions on the SPOT website.
  • Broader Role of PSAC: PSAC asked for guidance on whether to remain focused on transportation safety or expand to other public safety issues (e.g., CERT). Council suggested that policy recommendations are welcome, and that separate processes could be created if needed.

Tree Board Update

  • Membership: 9 members; one ISA‑certified arborist (John Brown); outgoing chair Kathleen completing tenure; several positions opening (including youth alternate).
  • 2025 Accomplishments: Tree City USA designation (10th consecutive year), Arbor Day event (100+ volunteers planted 50 trees), tree maintenance walk, contributed to natural resources and tree code updates (including mitigation fee structure), approved consolidated tree list (expanded invasive species list), and a programmatic tree permit for utilities/agencies.
  • 2026 Goals: Increase tree planting (understand funding, expand Arbor Day, equitable replanting for ash loss), improve tree preservation during development (track code changes, higher fees effectiveness, developer outreach), update urban forest management plan with community engagement, assess feasibility of a heritage tree program and commercial tree code, and explore making trees more affordable. Staff noted capacity limits; regulatory work currently dominates, leaving less room for planting and stewardship.
  • Data Tracking: Staff are compiling multiple data sources to report on canopy goals (40% by 2040) and permit trends; council encouraged sharing this data soon.
  • Council Q&A: Council asked about split opinions on a commercial tree code (some board members prefer focusing on community stewardship over new regulations). Council supported balancing regulation with tree‑planting incentives. They also thanked Kathleen for her service.

Additional Items

  • Council Reports: One council member (Robert) raised that NBA (Neighborhood Business Association) event funding has become restricted due to policy changes on sponsorship criteria; they asked to discuss this in the budget cycle. Council agreed to follow up.

Key Outcomes

  • PSAC will develop specific policy recommendations (e.g., parking restrictions near crosswalks) for council consideration.
  • Council encouraged PSAC to bring systemic themes to budget/CIP discussions and to clearly communicate project phases and timelines on the website.
  • The library will continue working toward student cards and library lockers; council expressed support and will raise the student card topic with the school superintendent.
  • The library and parks boards will coordinate on possible adaptive equipment rentals.
  • Tree board will focus on data compilation and a future urban forest plan update, with potential policy discussions on commercial tree code and heritage trees.
  • The city will revisit event funding eligibility rules to address NBA concerns.
  • Several board and committee openings were noted (arts, equity, library, parks, PSAC, tree board); council emphasized recruiting youth members.

Meeting Transcript

Hopefully Ed will join us shortly, but we have our arts committee team ready to get started. So we have uh seed succession. Okay. I saw the terrority of Cherokee. Okay, so we're on the record. Okay. It's our March 10th, uh 2026 uh study session, and it's our annual update where we go meet with a bunch of our committees to hear what they've been doing and what they're planning for the year ahead. And uh nicely arranged alphabetically. So we're gonna start with the arts committee. Thanks. Thanks for having us. And he is Jeanette Owen, but the arts committee. Um so I'll just go through uh some of the recent work the committee's done, uh talk about the goals that were recently set by the committee and we'll preview what's what's the um next year. Uh so first off, uh we have two new sculptures in the sculpture garden. Um we only have two this rotation because the big cherry is permanent. So usually it's three off. We don't have every year, but um the three. Uh this block was by an artist that's uh shown in the garden several times before, but um the other one Buffalo by Crabice on that's a new artist, and um we were happy to have some new entries. We actually had several entries this round, but uh this is selected. Um, I guess we have a lot of passive sculptures like this too, but that one fits in the card at least. So uh maybe was also instrumental in getting a couple sculptures installed recently, uh a couple committee members, uh Samantha Swinder, who was a former chair and then Amy were on the selection committee for uh I have those popcords, sorry. The other one is the peculiar pod, the other one is the art sphere. Sorry, I don't know how I switched up. But um year pod is in Scott Park, they run the selection committee for that, and then that was recently installed a few months ago. Uh with the the trail and all the things were finished up. And a sign that says don't climb on it, but obviously it's quite because it looks like um and then yeah, the arts committee made the decision to purchase uh sphere of spheres, which is also by Tyler for Claw Creations. Um that has shown in the sculpture garden. And like last time we were here, we mentioned that he was interested in purchasing it. And um, yeah, we did it this year. So it's great. Um we also had another successful year of Porch Fest. Uh and that's one of the committee members actually right there, Ben Dewey, um at his house. Uh yeah, like like it's up. There are 115 performances across every neighborhood in Milwaukee. Um we had six meeting sponsors, and we had a new kind sponsor too. That's made in Milwaukee. They helped with the printing and offset all the costs for that. So um, yeah, it's great to find these partnerships. And it's a make it's a really good model, I think, for sponsorships, like especially for these events because it's a low entry point, it's only $300 to get in, but you know, really help us businesses and really helps the people their work too. Uh new this year was uh library art shows. The the Friends of the Library installed uh art rails in the community room and um Sarah McCoy on the arts committee has been uh leading the effort to get new art shows in every couple months, and along with that we've had some artist receptions. Uh a couple of them have been along with First Friday, and then um we also had an artist panel, and that was featuring some of the arts committee members, which was a really big success. Um really great attendance. Um, there was a QA which was hosted by the Clackamas County Arts Alliance uh representative. And from that, we actually had a lot of interest, like renewed interest in things the arts committees doing and a lot of people wanting to get involved and see what other things the arts committee is doing. It was also just a really nice time to talk about art and how it's made and like different ways of getting involved and you know what is art and how can you participate and contribute. Uh and the committee was helping being in the new year again. Um keeps getting bigger and better, and you know, more people we had great weather this year, which also helped. Uh yeah, more than 30 vendors, then includes food and drink, um, and 800 wishing tag wishing tree tags, and they went through 600 alcohol bracelets, which is also a good like measure of like attendance too. So um, all in all, great success.

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