Racine Common Council Meeting: July 15, 2025
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Racine Common Council Meeting: July 15, 2025
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM, the Racine Common Council met at the Racine Public Library Community Room. The meeting was called to order by Alder Malik Frazier. 14 Alders were present, with Alder Grace Allen excused. Mayor Mason led the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM. The next scheduled meeting is August 6, 2025.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from July 1, 2025, were approved by a vote of 14-0.
- Proclamations were issued for National Night Out on August 5, 2025.
- Numerous communications were referred to committees, including items related to claims, contracts, street closures, and licenses. All referrals passed on voice votes.
- Finance and Personnel Committee Report: Several items were approved on consent, including authorizing collective bargaining with public safety unions, accepting grants (including a $275,000 FEMA grant for a diesel exhaust capture system and a Wisconsin Fast Forward grant for Fire Cadet and CDL trainee programs), approving lead service line and water main replacement project reimbursements (up to $40,000,000 and $10,000,000 respectively), establishing a Sister City relationship with Brantford, ON, and approving CDBG home repair loans for multiple properties.
- Public Works and Services Committee Report: Approved a change order for the West Lawn Avenue Reconstruction project and a change order for Greencrest Park Fence Replacement, and final payment for the Chavez Small Gym Floor Replacement contract.
- Public Safety and Licensing Committee Report: Approved a new operator's license for Marie Anne Reagles and a licenses premise report.
- Transit Commission Report: Approved communication 0649-25, repealing Resolution 0067-23 and authorizing the purchase of three Gillig 35-foot EV fixed-route transit buses for approximately $4,500,000. The vote was 14-0.
- Planning, Heritage and Design Report: Approved the adoption of "A Comprehensive Plan for the City of Racine: 2050."
- Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board Report: Approved CDBG home repair loans for 1520 Lincoln St, 1733 Erie St, 2022 Saint Clair St, and 1310 Layard Avenue.
- Consent Agenda Vote: The entire consent agenda was approved by a vote of 14-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Diane Kanecki: Raised concerns about traffic safety near a school, suggesting a camera to improve driver behavior. Also discussed the challenge of accessing the new Social Security Office via public transit, noting the bus only runs on a limited schedule to the Renaissance Center, and that medical guides, taxis, or Uber cost $25 per trip, which is 5% of a budget for those on Social Security disability.
- Michael Nikolai (Secretary/Treasurer of Racine Firefighters Local 321): Expressed deep concerns about the proposed switch to Centivo as a health care provider, citing gaps in information, lack of pediatric doctors under Ascension in the network, and uncertainty about specialist coverage. He also stated the city is failing to adhere to a Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission ruling to complete the unsigned 2021-2024 contract with Local 321, complicating future negotiations. He requested a pause to gather more information.
- Xiwang Weiwen Zhu (applicant for Lucky Weiwen Zhu Therapy): Appealed for council support for her massage establishment license, stating she would not engage in any bad behavior or commercial activity.
- Mark Balwinski: Accused the council of hypocrisy for rejecting a previous development project for a gas station while considering Woodmans' application, which also requests a geographical exemption. He argued the council should not pick winners and losers, especially for those already invested in the community.
- Joey Layeth: Advocated for changing Highway 32 to make downtown safer and more pedestrian-friendly. He expressed a willingness to pay $18,000 for off-duty police officers. He also criticized the mayor for attending a 4th of July event with his family, which he felt was not appropriate.
- Bruce Carter: Stated he has been working with young men from the community, some of whom cannot read or write, and that 60% of the prison population is young Black men, while the population is 6%. He argued for hope and courage to change what is not working.
Discussion Items
- Employee Health Care Plan Design: Alder Land introduced communication 0543-25, requesting approval of a new health insurance plan design to move from UnitedHealthcare to Centivo as the third-party administrator for the city's self-funded health plan. HR Benefits Manager Amelia presented the proposal, which aims to offer three plan options: a High Performance Co-pay Plan (WI-2 network, excluding Aurora), a High Performance High Deductible Health Plan (WI-1 or WI-2 network), and a Standard High Deductible Health Plan (broad network). Presentations were made on the network, costs, and member experience. City Administrator Kathleen Fischer stated the change would reduce the projected cost increase from $2-2.5 million (staying with UHC) to about $200,000, while not generating overall savings. After extensive discussion and a motion to defer by Alder Turquoise-Davis, seconded by Alder Weidner, the council voted 9-5 to defer the item to the August 6, 2025 meeting.
- Massage Establishment License Denial: Alder Weidner brought communication 0620-25 for a new massage establishment license for Weiwen Zhu DBA Lucky Weiwen Zhu Therapy for separate consideration. The Public Safety Licencing Committee's recommendation was to deny, based on information provided. The council voted 14-0 to deny the license.
- Tobacco/Vape Retail License: Alder Weidner brought communication 0663-25 for a new tobacco/vape retail license for Sabah Inc DBA Fast Link for separate consideration. The committee recommended approval. Alder Davis expressed opposition. The City Attorney clarified that state law preempts local discretion to deny such licenses, except for specific criteria like misrepresentation, unpaid fees, or related convictions. The council voted to approve the license (vote count not specified but motion carried).
Key Outcomes
- Health Insurance Deferred: The motion to approve the Centivo health insurance plan was deferred to the August 6, 2025 meeting. The deferral vote was 9-5.
- Massage License Denied: Communication 0620-25 for Weiwen Zhu's massage establishment license was denied by a vote of 14-0.
- CDBG Home Repair Loans Approved: Loans for 1520 Lincoln St, 1733 Erie St, 2022 Saint Clair St, and 1310 Layard Avenue were approved.
- Transit Bus Purchase Approved: Communication 0649-25 for purchasing three Gillig 35-foot EV fixed-route transit buses for approximately $4,500,000 was approved by a vote of 14-0.
Meeting Transcript
I thought it's a download. I'll turn it in. I think we have a both of the things. Well, it's a thing. Okay. Okay. Yes, that's and then the first thing. So we've started in just one moment. Good evening, everyone. The hour of six o'clock having arrived on this fifteenth of July twenty twenty-five. The city received common council. First order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you could please rise as you are able to join me in the presentations. None of this time. Okay. We do know Alder Fraser is appearing remotely, and the expectation was that all there Allen may be appearing shortly remotely, and Alderweiner may be late. So do we know it? Moving on then to the approval of the council proceedings or minutes from July first of all the winners arrived. Welcome. Is there a motion to approve? Is there a motion to approve from the courting second by Alder Matt? Any discussion of said minutes. See none, all those in favor, please say aye. Opposed. That motion carries. So do have one proclamation and a bit of a reminder. So next, yeah, two weeks from now, when would usually be council night is actually national night out. So we are meeting Wednesday of that week, just to remind the people. So this is the last opportunity for a speech proclamations ahead of that event. Therefore, it was important to read the proclamations that we do join every year with the county executive. It's an official proclamation of the county executive and the mayor of the city. And it reads whereas the National Association of Town Watch is sponsoring a unique nationwide community building campaign that promotes police community partnerships in crime, drug and violence prevention programs on August 5th, 2025, entitled National Night Act. And whereas the 42nd Annual National Night Out provides a unique opportunity for the Racine community to join forces with thousands of other communities across the country in promoting cooperative police community crime prevention efforts and positive police community relationships. And whereas Racine Neighborhood Watch Incorporated plays a vital role in assisting Racine Area Law Enforcement through joint crime, drug and violence prevention efforts in neighborhoods and in the Racine community and is supporting National Light Out 2025 in the Racine community for the 42nd consecutive year. It is essential that all citizens living in Racine and the broader community be aware of the importance of crime prevention programs and the impact that their participation can have on reducing crime, drugs, and violence in neighborhoods and our community. And whereas police community partnerships, neighborhood safety, awareness and cooperation are important themes of National Night Out and Racine Neighborhood Watch. And whereas National Night Out is designated an official county event by Racine County and the city event or the city racine. Now therefore the county executive and the mayor of the city reclaimed Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, National Night Out. Encourage everybody if they have an opportunity. We usually have dozens of National Night events throughout the city. Please find one in your neighborhood and attend. We'll now move on to public comments. I will ask the clerk to uh read the procedure and uh call those here to testify. 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 speakers 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 indicates the safe, orderly, and effective conduct of a common council meeting is equally unacceptable during the public comment period, as it is during all other portions of city meetings. When one group of people representing one viewpoint wishes to address the council, one point of the person should be designated speaker for the group.
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