Common Council Meeting - May 20, 2025
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Common Council Meeting - May 20, 2025
The Common Council of Racine, Wisconsin, met on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall, Room 205. 15 alders were present, with one excused. The meeting included a proclamation, public comments, numerous referrals, committee reports, and votes on key items including charter ordinance changes, violence prevention grants, a retiree lawsuit settlement, street paving assessments, and a mayoral veto. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from May 6, 2025.
- Approved multiple routine items from committee reports on consent including:
- Finance and Personnel: various contracts, settlements, claims, and budget items (e.g., Housing Resources Inc. contract, maintenance bids, parking lot closure for Harbor Fest, carry-forwards, etc.).
- Public Works and Services: numerous street paving assessments (subject to separate votes), contract awards (green infrastructure, roof project, exterior restoration, Wustum Museum renovation), and a road salt purchase for 2025-2026.
- Public Safety and Licensing: several liquor license changes, renewals, and formal expression of concern actions.
- CDBG Advisory Board: home repair loans for 1449 Douglas Ave and 2309 Coolidge Ave.
- Office of the Mayor: veto override failed (see below).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Michael Schrader proposed a community flag redesign contest to boost civic pride.
- Jeanette Brown (CEO, Safe Haven of Racine) expressed full support for the youth diversion START program grant, urging approval.
- Van Carson emphasized collaboration to stop violence.
- Joann Hattix (family advocate, Focus on Community) spoke in support of Focus on Community's programs.
- Suzanne Swiderski shared personal testimony supporting Focus on Community's FAST program.
- Joni Chambers (executive director, Women's Resource Center) advocated for legal advocacy funding.
- Jeff Peterson (former alder) urged payment of back pay to retirees involved in the health insurance lawsuit and discouraged further appeals.
- Jason Meekma (executive director, Focus on Community) supported the Empowering Futures Initiative and urged collaboration.
- Greta Neubauer (state representative) gave a brief update on state budget process.
- Denis Navratil criticized the city for disparate treatment in licensing, alleging it deters investment.
- Bruce Carter argued that violence prevention funding should prioritize young black men at highest risk, criticizing proposals that did not meet RFP requirements.
- Chris Steenrod (vice president, Racine Neighborhood Watch) supported the neighborhood mediation program grant.
- Robin Smerchek (board chair, Safe Haven of Racine) requested approval of the grant as recommended.
- Rachel Harrison (program director, Fight to End Exploitation) described human trafficking prevention initiative.
Discussion Items
- Charter Ordinance Changes (Item 0343-25): Proposal to modify the purchasing agent role from a mayoral appointment to a manager under the finance department. After debate, the first part (sections 2-2 and 2-206) failed to reach the required two-thirds vote (6-8), but the remaining code changes passed (10-4).
- Community Violence Prevention Providers (Item 0457-25): Eight organizations were awarded grants totaling $309,477.50 from the Wisconsin Community Safety Fund. Separate votes were held due to potential conflicts of interest. All passed with varying tallies; the only no votes came from Alder Weidner and Alder Kelly on some items.
- Retiree Lawsuit Settlement (Item 0477-25): Motion to approve the finance committee's recommendation to request reconsideration of a court order, not appeal, and rescind a 2019 resolution. Alder Weidner successfully amended to strike the request for reconsideration (8-7). The amended motion to approve the settlement and rescind passed 12-2.
- Street Paving Assessments (Item 0436-25): Alder Perez moved to remove Jonathan Drive from the paving list after a resident petition (4 of 6 households opposed). The amendment passed unanimously (14-0). The remaining three streets (Olive St., Biscayne Ave., St. Clair St.) were approved.
- Board and Commission Appointments Ordinance (Item 0475-25): Proposal to allow council to appoint if mayor fails within 60 days. The finance committee recommended receive and file. After debate, the motion to receive and file passed 8-6.
- Mayoral Veto Override (Item 0511-25): Alder Weidner moved to override the mayor's veto of a $20,644.56 claim. After discussion, the override failed 6-8, sustaining the veto.
Key Outcomes
- Charter Ordinance: The purchasing agent remains a mayoral appointment; administrative code sections updated to reflect current operations.
- Violence Prevention Grants: All eight providers funded: Focus on Community ($50,000), Safe Haven ($43,269), Fight to End Exploitation ($45,200), Racine Vocational Ministries ($44,605), Women's Resource Center ($41,403.50), 1000 Generations ($30,000), Racine Neighborhood Watch ($25,000), and Awesome Young Authors ($30,000).
- Retiree Settlement: The city will not appeal the court's summary judgment, will rescind the 2019 resolution modifying retiree premium shares, and will not seek reconsideration of back pay for approximately 130 plaintiffs. The total back pay cost is over $1 million, with an annual ongoing cost of up to $500,000.
- Street Paving: Jonathan Drive removed; three other streets approved for Portland Cement Concrete Paving.
- Veto Override: Failed; the claim by Margaret Morgenson is denied.
- Consent Agenda: Approved as a block.
Meeting Transcript
I'm looking for IT. Are we ready? Okay. Good evening, everyone. The hour of six o'clock having arrived on this 20th of May 2025. Uh is now my honor to call to order the city of Racine Common Council. We will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. If you could please rise as you are able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of 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. Okay, the first item before us is the approval of the Journal of Council proceedings or minutes from May 6th. President Horton, at this time I'd entertain a motion to approve said minutes. Move to approve. There's a motion and a second to approve said minutes. Any discussion on the minutes see none. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed. That motion carries. Okay. Um then to proclamations. We do have one proclamation tonight, which I will read into the record. It is in regarding to national gun violence awareness today. Uh we have a proclamation that reads for the city of Racine that each year on average, 708 people die, and 1,686 are wounded by guns in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has the 27th highest rate of gun violence in the U.S., and that Americans are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high income countries, and guns are the leading cause of death amongst U.S. children and teens, with one in every 10 gun death victims aged 19 or younger. Whereas gun violence awareness day is commemorated on the first Friday in June of this year on June 6th, and kicks off where Orange Weekend, which honors the memory of a Dia Pendleton who in 2013 was 15 when she was killed by gunshot in broad daylight one week after performing at President Obama's second inauguration in the wake of her day, uh in the wake of her death, her friends asked people to wear orange, a symbol of human life in remembrance of all victims and survivors of gun violence. Whereas on this day and weekend and throughout the entire month of June, nationally recognized as gun violence month, all of us as one Racine family are asked to renew our commitment to end gun violence. And encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children, families, and community safe. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I Corri Mason declare June 6th as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Racine to be affixed on this 20th day of May 2025. We'll move on now to public comments. I will ask the clerk now to read the process before we begin uh taking comments from the public. 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 any personal complaints or attacks against any city employee or elected official or any matter related to an individual claim, citation, appeal, or lawsuit. Profane, disruptive, threatening, 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 other portions of city meetings. When a group of people representing one viewpoint wishes to address the council, one person should be appointed the designated speaker for the group. Candidates for public office may not use this opportunity to campaign for office. Speakers will speak or 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. There will be 14 speakers this evening. The first is Michael Schrader, 1636 Chatham Street. And just before uh you begin, I just want to let everyone know everyone gets three minutes. There's a clock that counts down for three minutes. After three minutes, your Microsoft f your microphone is turned off. That is not a comment on what you might be saying, but uh just treating everybody equally. So everyone gets three minutes.
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