Racine Common Council Meeting - February 19, 2025

The Racine Common Council met on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Room 205. The meeting included a presentation on Memorial and Festival Hall, public comments, referral of multiple communications to committees, and a vote on a community development project. The council also observed a moment of silence for Alder Mollie Jones. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the February 4, 2025 meeting minutes passed unanimously (12-0-3).
• Multiple communications were referred to the Finance and Personnel Committee on consent voice votes, including:
  • Professional services agreement with Baker Tilly Advisory Group for IRA 22 tax credits related to the Lincoln King Community Center Clinic project ($146,500 contract, estimated $1.3M-$2.0M in energy credits).
  • Acceptance of various Wisconsin Department of Health Services grants: Well Woman Program ($135,251), Preventive Health Block Grant ($11,855), Maternal Child Health Block Grant ($53,680 with $40,260 city match), Lead Contract ($25,456), HIV Prevention/Partner Services ($21,000), Immunization Contract ($34,040), HIV CTR Testing Fee ($6,390).
  • Disallowance of claims from Earl Tucker, Patricia Peksa, Alex Madisen, and Adam A. Locke.
  • Parking fee waiver for the September 13, 2025 Veterans Stand Down event at Festival Hall (cost not to exceed $1,500).
  • Status update on collective bargaining with General Teamsters Local Union No. 200.
  • Resolution authorizing up to $17,000,000 in general obligation promissory notes for Lincoln King Community Center Clinic construction (bridge loan, estimated 4.21% interest).
• Communications referred to Public Works and Services Committee on consent:
  • Encroachment report for Ohio Street project.
  • Professional services agreement with AECOM for pavement inspection ($113,400).
  • Waiver of formal bidding for Safety Building elevator jack repair.
  • Bid award for 2025 Sanitary Sewer Main CIPP Lining to Visu-Sewer ($839,608.25).
  • Request to revise plowing policy for priority plowing around schools.
• Communications referred to Public Safety and Licensing Committee on consent:
  • Change of hours application for Harold's Chicken and Ice Bar (later denied by committee).
  • Request for appearance of Select 627 Bar.
  • Licenses premise report.
  • Large-scale pet vaccination event at Lincoln Park on May 3, 2025 (rain date May 10) with temporary suspension of ordinance 70-90.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Four members of the public appeared to speak before the Common Council: Deb Munch, Michael Schrader, Todd Lauer, and Ken Brown. The minutes do not record the content of their comments.

Presentation

• Patrick Flynn from 5K Events presented on Memorial and Festival Hall. No further details provided in the minutes.

Discussion Items

• Communication 0164-25 (Police Contract Update): Sponsored by Alders Weidner and Kelly, requesting an update from the City Administrator on the status of the police contract. A motion to amend the referral to send it jointly to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee and the Finance and Personnel Committee passed 8-4 (Maack, Horton, McCarthy, Peete, Land, Kelly, Harmon, Sebastian in favor; Coe, Turquoise-Davis, Weidner, Perez opposed). The amended communication then passed unanimously (12-0-3).
• Communication 0166-25 (Committee Structure Ordinance): Sponsored by Alders Kaprelian and Weidner, presenting Ordinance 0001-25 to change the Common Council committee structure. A motion to refer to the Executive Committee failed 4-8 (Horton, Peete, Harmon, Sebastian in favor; Coe, Turquoise-Davis, Maack, Weidner, McCarthy, Land, Perez, Kelly opposed). A subsequent motion to refer to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee passed 10-1 (Sebastian opposed; Horton, Jones, Kaprelian, Esqueda absent).
• Committee Reports:
  • Public Works and Services Committee: Final payment for downtown street lighting ($98,415.40) and a change order ($297.00) approved on consent.
  • Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board: Allocation of up to $359,263 in HOME funds and $14,337 in non-federal revolving loan funds for new construction at 1644 S. Memorial Drive. A motion to approve passed 10-2 (Weidner and Perez opposed; Esqueda absent; Jones and Kaprelian excused).
  • Office of the Mayor: Announcement of reorganization of the Public Works and Services Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Police contract update: Referred jointly to Public Safety and Licensing and Finance and Personnel committees after a successful amendment (8-4).
• Committee structure ordinance: Referred to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee after a failed attempt to send it to the Executive Committee.
• 1644 S. Memorial Drive development: Approved by a vote of 10-2, allocating $359,263 in HOME funds and $14,337 in non-federal revolving loan funds for new construction, with the completed property to be sold to a HOME-eligible homeowner.
• Consent agenda: All referrals and committee reports were approved as presented on a voice vote.
• Moment of silence: The council observed a moment of silence and remembrance for Alder Mollie Jones.
• Next meeting: Scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, 2025.