Racine Common Council Meeting - June 20, 2025: Outgoing Alders Honored, Key Votes on Car Wash and Tree Damage Claim
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Racine Common Council Meeting – June 20, 2025
The Racine Common Council met on June 20, 2025, to approve routine items, hear public comments, and vote on several referrals and resolutions. The meeting featured extensive tributes to outgoing aldermen Jeff Cole, Melissa Caprillion, Corey Sebastian, and others, and included a divisive vote on a car wash conditional use permit at the Regency Mall.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the Journal of Council proceedings from April 2, 2025 (motion by President McCarthy, seconded by Alder Mack, passed unanimously).
- All committee reports not pulled for separate consideration were approved on the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mary McElvain (1022 Villa Street) thanked outgoing Alder Jeff Cole for his years of service, specifically citing his work on neighborhood cleanups, community gardening, and the nuisance address at 1047 Villa Street.
- Michael Nikolai (2137 Neptune Circle, Secretary-Treasurer of Racine Firefighters Local 321) thanked voters for their overwhelming support of the fire department referendum, expressing gratitude for the trust placed in the department.
- Heather Coe (1044 Villa Street) praised her father, Alder Jeff Cole, for his dedication, noting his late-night patrols and responsiveness to resident concerns.
- Kaisus Prague (address not stated) spoke about the importance of community and thanked outgoing aldermen for their service, referencing the veto override that returned power to the council.
- Colin McKenna (724 Crabtree Lane) thanked Alders Melissa Caprillion, Corey Sebastian, Jeff Cole, and Terry McCarthy for their service.
- Eva McGee (Layered Avenue) expressed disappointment that her previous concerns were not addressed but thanked outgoing aldermen for their stellar work.
- Mike Wilcom (6840 Washington Avenue) spoke against the conditional use permit for a car wash at Regency Mall (item 0382-25), arguing that the parking plan was inadequate for employees and lacked handicap spaces. He requested the item be sent back to the planning commission for review.
Discussion Items
- Item 0235-25 – Investment Policy Approval: The resolution originally granted the finance director authority to approve the city investment policy. Alder Caprillion moved to amend the resolution to replace “finance director” with “common council” to align with policy language. The amendment passed 14-0, and the amended item was approved unanimously.
- Item 0288-25 – Citywise Software Agreement: The city sought to enter into a service and licensing agreement with Citywise Software for a rental property database. Alder Widener moved to suspend the rules to allow the CEO, Dominic Anslow, to speak. The rules suspension passed 11-3. Anslow explained the platform’s success in other cities. The item was then approved unanimously.
- Item 0298-25 – Legacy Planning Grant: The city requested permission to apply for and accept a $50,000 grant from Cities for Financial Empowerment to incorporate legacy planning (estate planning) services into the current Financial Empowerment Center model. Alder Caprillion asked for clarification, and Crystal Moore from HRI explained that the grant would expand estate planning services to residents. The item passed unanimously.
- Item 0339-25 – Claim of Margaret Morgan: A claim for $20,644 for vehicle damage from a fallen city tree branch. Alder Widener argued the city had prior notice of the tree’s condition (multiple inspections and pruning from 2017–2023, plus calls from the resident). He moved to refer the claim back to the Finance and Personnel Committee for further review. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 0382-25 – Car Wash Conditional Use Permit (Regency Mall): The planning commission recommended approval of the final plans for a car wash. Alder Caprillion moved to refer the item back to the commission, citing parking concerns raised in public comment. The motion to refer failed 5-9. Staff noted that the mall’s parking lot has 20 acres shared among all uses, and ADA parking would be addressed during building permitting. The main motion to approve then passed unanimously.
- Item 0413-25 – National Day of Prayer: The city sponsored the commemoration on May 1st. Alder Mack added as co-sponsor. Approved unanimously.
- Item 0418-25 – West Street Discontinuance: A public hearing was held for discontinuing a portion of West Street to allow pedestrian access between a school and new community center. No public comments were received. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Investment Policy Amendment: The council voted 14-0 to amend the resolution to require common council approval for changes to the investment policy, then approved the policy as amended.
- Rules Suspension for Citywise Speaker: Passed 11-3, allowing the CEO to address the council; the agreement was then approved unanimously.
- Legacy Planning Grant: Approved unanimously to apply for and accept the $50,000 grant.
- Tree Damage Claim: Referred back to the Finance and Personnel Committee for further review (unanimous vote).
- Car Wash Permit: Motion to refer back to planning commission failed 5-9; the permit was approved unanimously.
- National Day of Prayer and West Street Discontinuance: Both approved unanimously.
- Outgoing Alders Honored: Alder Jeff Cole, Alder Melissa Caprillion, Alder Corey Sebastian, and others gave farewell speeches. The council recognized their decades of service.
Meeting Transcript
Of six o'clock, having arrived on this 14th of April in 2025. It's my honor to call to order the city of Racine Common Council. The first order of business before us is the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. If you 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, liberty and justice for all. President McCarthy, do we have any excused absences this evening? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Alder Pete has indicated he will not be able to join us this evening. All right. Uh duly noted. The next item before us is the approval of Journal of Council proceedings or minutes from April 2nd, 2025. President McCarthy, would you like to make a motion? Yes, I have reviewed the minutes and I move for their approval. There's a motion by President McCarthy to approve the April 2nd, 2025 minutes, seconded by Alder Mack. Uh, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed. That motion carries. We'll now move on to public comments. I will ask the city clerk to please uh read the procedures before we begin. 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 should 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 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 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'll be eight speakers this evening. First will be Mary McElvain, 1022 Villa Street. Before uh the first speaker begins, I just want to point out there is a clock that's there. It's three minutes. When the three minutes are over, your microphone gets turned off. That's not a commentary on whatever you might be saying. It's just equally applying the three-minute standard to everyone. So Miss McIlvain, you have the floor. Thank you, Mayor and members of council. Mary McIlvain at 1022 Villa. I would like to take my time tonight to thank Alder Jeff Cole for his many years of service. He and I don't agree on everything, but he'll still talk to me. Even if I haven't voted for him, he'll still talk to me. I have to respect that. Um he worked hard all these many years for a strong community and a safe district. I would see him at so many downtown events I lost count. He wasn't just there for the fun. I would see him doing the cleanup too.
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