Milwaukee City Council Regular Meeting - August 5, 2026
Milwaukee City Council Regular Meeting - August 5, 2026
The 2,454th meeting of the Milwaukee City Council was called to order at City Hall and by video conference. Due to extreme heat and smoke, several outdoor events were postponed or rescheduled, and agenda item 7 (policy light code amendments and parks update) was deferred to a later date. The council recognized National Farmers Market Week with a proclamation and welcomed four new downtown businesses. The consent agenda was approved unanimously, and the council later adjourned to executive session regarding litigation.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of the July 7, 2026 work session and regular session
- Resolution acting as the local contract review board reinstating a personal services agreement with JLA Public Involvement for on-call public information and engagement services
- Resolution assessing abatement costs for a nuisance at 5992 SE Monroe Street and entering it on the docket of city liens
- Approval of an OLCC application for Social Poor, 10600 SE McLoughlin Blvd, new outlet
- Approval of an OLCC application for Oak Union Brewing, 10909 SE Main Street, Suite B, additional location
- Motion to approve a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME
- Motion to approve a cost-of-living adjustment for management and non-represented employees
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made in person or online.
Discussion Items
- National Farmers Market Week Proclamation: Mayor Lisa Beatty proclaimed the week of August 2–8, 2026 as Farmers Market Week. Jillian Hall, president of Celebrate Milwaukee Inc., accepted the proclamation and noted a successful season with many vendors and no early closures due to heat.
- Business Introductions (New Downtown Businesses):
- Kinder Home (Danielle Kinder): A lifestyle boutique open for three months, offering apparel, home decor, candles, gifts, and children's items. Open daily 10–5, with community events such as mahjong classes and artist features.
- Elaine's Floral (Terry): A full-service floral shop named after the owner's mother, open Wednesday–Sunday (10–6, Sunday until 4). Features a bloom bar, specialty vases, local artists, and future workshops (terrariums, centerpieces).
- Milwaukee Mini Mart (Michelle): A 400-square-foot mini market opened about a month ago on Main Street, offering chips, candy, beer, wine, soft drinks, personal care items, and fun merchandise. Owner hopes to host future events and bring more activity to that end of downtown.
- The Vital Element (Cassandra): A jewelry and home decor business with a storefront above Toolbox Gallery on Jefferson Street. In business for 10 years, she creates botanical burnout-cast jewelry and offers lapidary services. Open by appointment Tuesday–Friday and every other Sunday; also teaches workshops.
- Council Reports: Councilor noted the success of the Little Float event at Milwaukee Bay Park, with improved activities and attendance compared to the previous year.
- Facility Update (City Manager Emma Sager): Due to combined heat and poor air quality, on August 5 the library will be closed, but library staff will operate a cooling/air quality space in the Dogwood community room (first floor of City Hall). Second and third floors of City Hall will be closed to the public; court is canceled; police records department closed; public works (Johnson Creek) operating normally. Staff will telework where possible. The public is advised to monitor social media for further updates.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Agenda item 7 (policy light code amendments and parks update) deferred; parks update rescheduled to August 18 meeting.
- Facility closure plan for August 5 adopted: Dogwood community room open as cooling center; records and court closed; City Hall upper floors closed; police maintain public safety services.
- Council adjourned regular session and entered executive session to discuss current or likely litigation (ORS 192.660).
Meeting Transcript
Okay. All right. I call the two thousand four hundred and fifty-fourth meeting of the Milwaukee City Council to order. This meeting is being held in person at City Hall and by video conference. The public may participate in this meeting by coming to City Hall or joining the Zoom webinar. The meeting is being broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel and Comcast Cable Channel 30 in City Limits. If you would like to address counsel, you may come to City Hall or participate via Zoom. If you are interested in speaking, please let staff know by filling out a yellow comment card for those at City Hall or emailing OCR at Milwaukee, Oregon.gov for those on Zoom. Comments may be emailed to OCR at Milwaukee, Oregon.gov. We ask that all Zoom participants who intend to speak label their Zoom user name to show their first and last names for the record. So with that, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. The first concert, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed due to high temperatures and smoke. The first concert will now be August 12th, featuring the Clackamas Jazz Quintet. Each concert will include food for purchase from Hearth and Soul Pizza. Join the Ardenwald Johnson Creek Neighborhood District Association at their annual concert in the park each Thursday in August, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Ardenwald Park. The first concert is this Thursday's featuring blues performed by Curtis Salgado. Stop by early at 6 p.m. for the neighborhood's annual National Night Out event. Public safety representatives will be in attendance to promote safety awareness, answer questions, and provide fun activities. Food and treats will be for sale at each concert from Milwaukee Pizza Company, Free Hand Bakery, and Luna's Ice Cream. And I would just note to do watch social media as Thursday rolls around about whether that gets canceled too because of the heat and the smoke. Some predictions are the smoke will be blowing out of here on Thursday. Let's hope so. Um, but uh just watch. Keep a keep an eye out before you travel to the park for the concert. Um kids of all ages are invited to attend an outdoor comedy, magic, and juggling show this Thursday, August 6th at Scott Park Amphitheater next to Letting Library, featuring Angel and Ocasio. The show begins at 10:30 and ends at 11. And again, I would follow the library's social media page just to make sure that's um happening. Um be sure to visit downtown this Friday for the next First Friday event. The funds, the fun begins at 5 p.m. And I know part of the First Friday festivities uh feature our own counselor Stavan George's business and uh the return of their music festival, Milrocky. So um watch for look for details on that. Uh if you are looking for a way to volunteer this month and be outdoors, you can join the Wetlands Conservancy this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteer work includes trail maintenance, non-native species removal, and trash cleanup. Tools, gloves, and snacks are provided. Uh that's at the Thorn Springs Wetland, which is behind uh Milwaukee Marketplace, directly behind the Planet Fitness. Um join a fun family-friendly bike ride from Selwood Park to Milwaukee Bay Park this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of Kitticle Mass PDX. You can find a link to learn more on the city calendar at Milwaukee, Oregon.gov. Kids of all ages are invited to attend an interactive high-energy show that weaves magic and music and puppetry performed by Red Yarn on Thursday, August 13th. This event takes place at the Scott Park Amphitheater next to the Letting Library at 10:30 a.m. Stop and talk to City Manager Emma Sager at her next City Manager open door session on Friday, August 14th from 9 to 10 a.m. here at City Hall. These 15-minute sessions are a great time to ask questions, voice concerns, or just learn more about the city. No sign up is necessary, and everyone is seen on a first come, first served basis. Join the historic Milwaukee neighborhood Clackamas Water Environment Services and solve for a cleanup on Wednesday, August 19th from 10 a.m. to noon.
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