Well, good evening, everyone.

The hour of six o'clock having arrived on the sixth of May 2025.

It's my privilege to call to order the City of Racine Common Council.

First order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

So if you could please rise as you are able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

No, not at this time.

I see that Otta Frazier seems to be on zoned air.

Okay.

And then just as a point of uh information, we do have two elders who are participating virtually, which means that we will be doing roll call votes uh or voting uh verbally tonight to accommodate that participation.

Um also Alder uh Kelly.

Alder Kelly.

Yes, she's on uh virtual job.

Yes, so we have two elders uh appearing virtually uh and then um the remainder are uh uh here.

Um and then President Horton uh his time would entertain a motion to approve the council minutes from April 14th and April 15th.

Move to approve.

There's a motion and a second from Alder Mack to approve the council uh minutes or journal of council proceedings for April 14th and April 15th, 2025.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

That motion carries.

We now move on to uh recognition of public employees uh that are being recognized this week.

It is that time of year to be able to do that.

Uh and so I want to begin with the first proclamation, which is for public service recognition week, and it reads, whereas public service recognition week PR PSRW pays tribute to those who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees, dedicated individuals who keep our communities and country running smoothly, whereas many public servants such as police officers, firefighters, transportation workers, safety inspectors, health care professionals, and others risk their safety daily to serve the public.

And whereas the tireless efforts of public servants at every level of government ensure stability and continuity of our in our democracy, even as elected leaders change, whereas the employees of the city of Racine are devoted individuals who work behind the scenes to protect and enhance the quality of life for our residents, businesses, investors.

Whereas since 1985, the first week of May has been set aside annually to celebrate public service recognition week, an opportunity to honor public servants from federal, state, county, city, and tribal governments across the nation.

Now, therefore, I, Corey Mason, the mayor of the City of Racine, Wisconsin, proclaim the week of May 4th through 10th, 2025 as public service recognition week, and encourage all residents to join in acknowledging the individual contributions, dedication, and service of our city employees.

The other proclamation we have is specifically for National Police Week and the proclamation of Peace Officers uh Memorial Day.

So the it reads, whereas in 1962, President John F.

Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week, and whereas the members of the Racine Police Department are vital to protecting the rights and freedoms of the residents within our community, and whereas it is essential that all citizens understand and appreciate the duties, responsibilities, and sacrifices of their law enforcement agencies, and that officers of the city of Racine uphold their commitment to serving the community by safeguarding lives and property, maintaining order, protecting the innocent from deception, and from shielding the vulnerable from oppression.

Whereas the dedicated men and women in law enforcement within the city of Racine provide important public service, demonstrating unwavering devotion to their responsibilities and establishing a reputation for preserving the rights and security of all citizens.

Now, therefore, I, Corey Mason, the mayor of the city of Racine, Wisconsin, proclaimed the week of May 11th through 17th, 2025 as National Police Week and encourage all residents to honor and commemorate police officers, past and present, for their faithful and loyal service to our community in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the city of Racine to be affixed this sixth day of May 2025.

We'll move on now to the public comments.

I will ask the clerk to please uh read the the rules and procedures before we begin, and then we will uh call up our um members of the community wishing to speak.

The public comment segment is an opportunity for citizens to speak directly to the common council.

Speakers will limit their remarks to three minutes.

There shall be no dialogue or interaction between the speaker and elected officials or staff.

This time is not intended to be a debate or discussion.

The common council shall not hear personal complaints or attacks against any city employee or elected official or any matter to an individual claim, citation, appeal, or lawsuit.

Profane, disruptive, threatening, or conduct that or conduct that otherwise impedes the safe, orderly, and effective conduct of the common council meeting is equally unacceptable during the public comment period as it is during all portions of city meetings.

When a group of people representing one viewpoint wishes to address the council, one person should be appointed to designate a speaker for the group.

Candidates for public office may not use this opportunity to come pay campaign for office.

Speakers during the public comment period shall follow all rules of the common council and rulings of the chair, including a decision to terminate the remarks if the speaker does not adhere to these rules.

Public comment shall be limited to ideas or concerns regarding the city of Racine, and there will be 12 speakers this evening.

Just know after three minutes, the microphone is turned off.

Please limit your comments to three minutes.

If your microphone is turned off, it is not a reaction to your commentary or what you're saying, but rather treating everyone separate uh equally and giving everybody three minutes to speak.

So with that, I'll ask the clerk to call the first person.

First speaker, Anthony Boney of 349 Sixth Place.

Good evening, everyone.

My name's Pastor Anthony Boney.

I live in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Uh when I first moved here in 2013.

And now I currently live in Racine, Wisconsin for the last five years.

For the last 26 years, I've done uh mission work in Peru and Amazon Jungle.

And so we've done uh a lot of work with Franklin Graham there with the Samaritans Purse.

And um so we feed a lot of children, we do a lot of medical clinics.

And so uh we've uh adopted quite a few children there.

Um seen quite a bit of violence there as well in Peru and the Quitos, um, Baileen.

Well, years ago, we just worked about a machete or a knife.