The Common Council of Racine, Wisconsin, met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Racine Public Library Community Room. The meeting was called to order by Alder Malik Frazier, with 14 members present and one excused. Key actions included approval of the 2026 budget calendar (with a 11-3 vote after debate), several direct referrals for grants and contracts, a public hearing on a liquor license for Fuel & Save, and public comments addressing the repair of the Mound Cemetery fountain and police contract negotiations. The meeting adjourned at 6:51 PM.
2026 Budget Calendar and Process Resolution (Item 0567-25): The Finance and Personnel Committee recommended approval. Alder Weidner called out the item for separate discussion, raising concerns about a new attached resolution that codifies budget amendment deadlines and restrictions. Specific points: amendments must be submitted in writing by close of business on Friday, October 31 (the day after the public hearing); late amendments will not be considered; amendments must identify cuts of equal or greater amount; and amendments for capital projects can only come from capital sources, operations from operations sources. Alder Weidner worried this would limit the Council’s ability to amend the budget during floor debate. The City Attorney explained that the resolution is a rule of procedure for this year’s budget only and can be suspended by a supermajority. Finance Director Fisher confirmed the city faces a structural deficit. Alder Pete and others argued the resolution provides necessary focus. After debate, the motion to approve passed 11-3 (Weidner, Perez, Kelly voting no).
Direct Referral – Wisconsin Emergency Management Hazardous Materials Response Team Contract (Item 0584-25): Mayor Mason requested authorization to sign a contract for July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027, with the city receiving $98,190.25 per year. Alder Weidner asked why it was a direct referral; answer: timeliness. Passed 14-0.
Direct Referral – State Street Bridge Engineering Agreement (Item 0607-25): Three-party agreement between City, WisDOT, and Hardesty & Hanover LLC for structural rehabilitation of the State Street Bridge over Root River, not-to-exceed $1,241,240.58 (city share $310,310.15, state share $930,930.43). Passed 14-0.
Direct Referral – Law Enforcement Accreditation Grant (Item 0615-25): Application for 2025 Community Development Grant Supporting Law Enforcement Accreditation, up to $300,000 with no city match. Passed 14-0.
The meeting adjourned at 6:51 PM.
All right, Mayor, you are live. People can please take their seats will be started to hear up there, okay? Yes. Good. Okay, great. Good evening, everyone. The hour of six o'clock having arrived on the seventeenth of June twenty twenty-five. My honor to call to order the city of receiving common counsel. First order of business is the pledge of weaknesses. The motion is second. Any discussion of the minutes. See no discussion. All those in favor, please say I oppose. We'll now move on to public comments, and we'll call upon the clerk to read the procedures before we begin public comments. Profane, disruptive, threatening, or conduct our conduct that otherwise at least safe, orderly, and effective conduct of the common council meeting is equally unacceptable during the public comment period, and it is as it is during all other courses of city meetings. When a group of people representing one inquiry wishes to address the council, one person should be appointed the designated speaker or the group. Candidates for public office may not use this opportunity to campaign for office. Speakers during the public comment period should follow all rules of the common counselor and rulings of the chair, including a decision, a decision to terminate the remarks if the speaker does not adhere to these rules. Public comments should be limited to ideas or concerns regarding the city of Racine. There will be two speakers this evening. First speaker of Mike Langendorf, uh Women's Way, Missing, Wisconsin. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and uh members to the council. Thank you for your dedication to our community. I would conservatively guess that you are addressed with complaints 95% of the time versus compliments. I'm Michael Langendorf, Dragger Langendorf Funeral Home 4600 County Line Road in Mount Pleasant. And I'm here this evening just to say a few words regarding the fountain at Mound Cemetery, as I find myself being a voice of those who are no longer with us. On September 11th, 2001, the violent attack with the Twin Towers in New York City killed thousands of people in a matter of minutes. It was then that the phrase, we will never forget, began to be used quite frequently. To remember the thousands of lives from that day, an eternal permanent, peaceful monument was built so that we could always remember. Exactly six years ago today, June 17, 2019, we're seeing police officer John Heppling was killed in the line of duty. We will never forget. Early this morning, just today, June 17th, 2025. The patriarch of our funeral home, Jerome H. Traeger, passed away at the age of 93. During his career, he helped thousands of families through the most difficult times in their lives. We will never forget. Mound Cemetery is a permanent, sacred land to honor those who were an important part of Racine's history. From the Indian burial mounds to a young man passing through Racine in the early 1900s with the circus that was accidentally trampled by one of the circus elephants, but there was no way to send him home. He's at Mount. S. C. Johnson, William H. Horlick, J.I. Case, W. P. Wigley, a special section for Racine Fire Department, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Slauson, Mr. Lathrop, and many other four founders that are laid to rest at Mound Cemetery.