Common Council Meeting - May 20, 2025

The Common Council of Racine met on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Room 205. Fifteen members were present (Alder Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Maack, Jorgensen, Weidner, Horton, Esqueda, Allen, Peete, Land, Perez, Kelly, Harmon, Pabon, and Mayor Mason), with one excused (Alder Frazier). The meeting included a proclamation, public comments, numerous referrals to committees, committee reports with multiple votes, and a consent agenda. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 PM.

Proclamations

• 0552-25 Gun Violence Awareness Day – Proclaimed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The following individuals appeared to speak before the Council (no transcripts available): Michael Schrader, Jeanette Brown, Van Carson, Joann Hattix, Suzanne Swiderski, Joni Chambers, Jeff Peterson, Jason Meekma, Greta Neubauer, Denis Navratil, Bruce Carter, Chris Steenrod, Robin Smerchek, Rachel Harrison.

Communications (Referrals)

• 0516-25 (Alder Perez – $50,000 donation to My Backyard crime prevention): Withdrawn by sponsor.
• 0523-25 (Financial Empowerment Center contract with Housing Resources Inc., $200,000): Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.
• 0540-25 (1st Quarter 2025 Fiscal Results): Referred to Finance and Personnel Committee.
• 0508-25 (Uptown Green Infrastructure Project, $589,660): Referred to Public Works and Services Committee.
• 0509-25 (Road salt purchase, 7,000 tons at $88.75/ton): Referred to Public Works and Services Committee.
• 0510-25 (Rhino Bar street closure for fundraiser, June 21, 2025): Referred to Public Works and Services Committee.
• 0539-25 (Racine Pride Day sponsorship, June 29, 2025): Referred to Public Works and Services Committee.
• 0446-25 (Renaming Carrol Street to Bishop Kirby Lane): Referred to Public Works and Services Committee.
• 0493-25, 0494-25, 0495-25 (Liquor license applications for The New Cafe and Fuel & Save): Referred to Public Safety and Licensing Committee.
• 0514-25 (Ordinance 0004-25 – Amended Public Comment Procedure) and 0515-25 (Ordinance 0003-25 – Proposed Amended Ordinance Procedure): Referred to Executive Committee by a vote of 8-7 (AYES: Jorgensen, Horton, Allen, Peete, Land, Harmon, Pabon, Mason; NOES: Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Maack, Weidner, Esqueda, Perez, Kelly).
• 0524-25 through 0531-25 (Various police reports, license reports, and ordinances): Referred to Public Safety and Licensing Committee.

Committee Reports

Finance and Personnel Committee (Ald. Land)

• 0233-25 (Ordinance 0006-25 – Parking citation debt certification): Approved on voice vote.
• 0341-25 (Update on Ackley et al. litigation): Received and filed on voice vote.
• 0343-25 (Modify Charter Ordinances sections 2-2 and 2-206): FAILED (5-9; AYES: Maack, Jorgensen, Esqueda, Land, Perez; NOES: Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Weidner, Horton, Allen, Peete, Kelly, Harmon, Pabon).
• 0343-25 (Modify Code sections 2-361, 42-185, 46-26, 46-27): PASSED (10-4; AYES: Turquoise-Davis, Maack, Jorgensen, Horton, Esqueda, Allen, Peete, Land, Harmon, Pabon; NOES: Townsend, Weidner, Perez, Kelly).
• 0347-25 (Purchasing Agent position posting): Received and filed on voice vote.
• 0447-25 (Laurel Clark Memorial Fountain maintenance, $24,000/yr): Approved on voice vote.
• 0449-25 (Carry forward $16,500 for assessment software): Approved on voice vote.
• 0450-25 (Beer Garden services to Naus Brewing): Approved on voice vote.
• 0451-25 (Festival Hall parking lot closure for Harbor Fest, June 13-14, 2025): Approved on voice vote.
• 0452-25 (Settlement for Cassidy Nicolazzo, $15,658.70): PASSED (14-0).
• 0454-25 (Employee retention discussion): Received and filed on voice vote.
• 0457-25 (Community Violence Prevention Providers – RFP#6-2025): Multiple votes on individual providers:
  • Safe Haven ($43,269): PASSED (13-0, 1 abstention).
  • Focus on Community ($50,000): PASSED (11-2, 1 abstention).
  • Neighborhood Watch ($25,000): PASSED (12-0, 1 abstention).
  • Awesome Young Authors ($30,000): PASSED (10-4).
  • Remaining four providers (Fight to End Exploitation, Racine Vocational Ministries, Women's Resource Center, 1000 Generations): PASSED (13-1).
• 0459-25, 0460-25, 0461-25 (Claims disallowances): Approved on voice vote.
• 0465-25 (Weights & Measures agreement with WI DATCP, $14,250): Approved on voice vote.
• 0466-25 (ARPA COVID Recovery Fund extension, $245,286): Approved on voice vote.
• 0473-25 (Payroll Manager grade change from J to K): PASSED (10-4; AYES: Turquoise-Davis, Maack, Jorgensen, Horton, Esqueda, Allen, Peete, Land, Harmon, Pabon; NOES: Townsend, Weidner, Perez, Kelly).
• 0475-25 (Ord 0002-25 – Board and Commission Appointments): Received and filed (8-6; AYES: Maack, Jorgensen, Horton, Allen, Peete, Land, Harmon, Pabon; NOES: Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Weidner, Esqueda, Perez, Kelly).
• 0477-25 (Ackley et al. litigation response): Motion to strike the recommendation to request reconsideration and stay of back payment PASSED (8-7; AYES: Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Weidner, Esqueda, Perez, Kelly, Pabon, Mason; NOES: Maack, Jorgensen, Horton, Allen, Peete, Land, Harmon). Then the communication as amended PASSED (12-2; AYES: Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Maack, Jorgensen, Weidner, Horton, Esqueda, Land, Perez, Kelly, Harmon, Pabon; NOES: Allen, Peete). Fiscal note: over $1 million in back pay, up to $500,000 annual cost.

Public Works and Services Committee (Ald. Maack)

• 0435-25 (Johnson Financial Group food truck event, July 22, 2025): Approved on voice vote.
• 0436-25 (Street paving final resolution): Amended to remove Jonathon Drive from Cul-de-sac to N. Main St. (14-0), then approved as amended (14-1, Mayor Mason dissenting).
• 0443-25 (Multi-Site Roof Project, $553,300 to Kaschak Roofing): Approved on voice vote.
• 0444-25 (Multi-Site Exterior Restoration Improvements, $1,000,000 to Berglund Construction): Approved on voice vote.
• 0456-25 (Wustum Museum Renovation, $258,895 to Rasch Construction): Approved on voice vote.

Public Safety and Licensing Committee (Ald. Weidner)

• 0421-25 (La Esquina liquor license agent change): Approved on voice vote.
• 0438-25 (Marshall on 6th change of ownership): Approved on voice vote.
• 0439-25 (Liquor license renewals, except Honors Racine): Approved on voice vote.
• 0440-25 (List of licenses not submitted renewal): Received and filed.
• 0441-25 (Police license premise report): Approved.
• 0442-25 (Formal expression of concern for Select 627 Bar): Approved.
• 0464-25 (Appearance of Andrew Wensing, Pub on Wisconsin): Received and filed.

Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board (Ald. Horton)

• 0496-25 (CDBG home repair loan/grant for 1449 Douglas Avenue): Approved on voice vote.
• 0497-25 (CDBG home repair loan/grant for 2309 Coolidge Avenue): Approved on voice vote.

Office of the Mayor (Ald. Horton)

• 0511-25 (Veto of claim by Margaret Morgenson, $20,644.56): Motion to override veto FAILED (6-8; AYES: Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Weidner, Esqueda, Perez, Kelly; NOES: Maack, Jorgensen, Horton, Allen, Peete, Land, Harmon, Pabon).

Key Outcomes

• Veto sustained: Mayor's veto of claim 0339-25 (Margaret Morgenson) was upheld (6-8).
• Charter ordinance changes: Sections 2-2 and 2-206 failed; other sections passed.
• Violence prevention grants: Awarded to seven providers totaling $309,477.50, with an additional $30,000 to Awesome Young Authors.
• Litigation response: Council struck the request for reconsideration and stay in the Ackley case, and approved the amended communication directing the City Attorney not to appeal and to rescind a portion of Resolution 1025-19.
• Street paving: Approved for four streets, with Jonathon Drive removed.
• Consent Agenda: All items from committee reports as approved were considered adopted by a vote of 14-0.

The next scheduled meeting of the Council is Tuesday, June 3, 2025.