The Racine Common Council met on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Racine Public Library Community Room. Fourteen of fifteen aldermen were present (Jorgensen excused). The meeting included a public hearing, debate on multiple agenda items, and a consent agenda. Key actions included approval of a Woodman's liquor license, approval of a new healthcare plan, and a directive for a closed-session briefing on gun violence.
The first order of business and order is the first weekend of the rise as you were able to do it. All right, we will proceed. Then President Horton at this time and entertainment a motion to approve the council proceedings or minutes from July 15th, 2025. Move to approve. There's a motion and second from Alder Balogue. Any discussion on said minutes. Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed. The motion carries. We'll now move on to public hearings. I will ask the city clerk to read the procedure for public hearings. 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 their 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 did not adhere to these rules. Public comment shall be limited to ideas or concerns regarding the city of Racine. There will be five speakers this evening. The first is Brandon Campbell from 1600 Albert Street. Thanks before the first speaker begins. I just want to remind her you get three minutes when your three minutes are up. The conversation ends. That's not a critique of what you're saying. It's just to keep everybody to three minute rule. So please proceed. Good evening. I am the most concerned about the lack of communications with resources and health services for the received town residents. Because of this, there's probably gonna be a lot more people needing more help when given what's going on in the federal level with people losing SNAP benefits. When they help the communication of local leaders, they should be able to give out resources to food pantries, green clinics, and help in onto marketplace or any other health and food services. We need to have open communications. We've gotten help and safety for the residents. Thank you. The next speaker is Jeff Coe, 1044 Villa Street. Evening everybody, I'm here to talk about something we all should be concerned about. Our water and wastewater utility bills. Public fire, 10.20 cents. Sewer usage, 11 dollars and 56 cents. City sewer charge 30. Household hazardous waste 75 cents. Stormwater's charge 46 and 67. 46.86 cents. The total of fees for my water usage of 12.44 cents comes to 121 dollars and 67 cents. This is getting out of hand. How is it fair that the actual water usage is the smallest part of the bill? I'm trying to be mindful and conserved.