Racine Common Council Meeting Summary: December 2, 2025
Racine Common Council Meeting Summary: December 2, 2025
The Racine Common Council convened on December 2, 2025, primarily addressing severe public dissatisfaction with residential snow removal services, detailed allegations of harassment and safety hazards at Mahoffers Bar, and the scheduling of 2026 council meetings. While the majority of the public comment period and subsequent announcements focused on community safety and winter storm response, the council also navigated procedural disputes regarding committee referrals for new ordinances and approved a revised meeting calendar for the upcoming election year.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the Journal of Council proceedings from November 18, 2025, unanimously.
- Approved referrals to the Finance and Personnel Committee regarding firefighter equipment, lifeguard bonuses, grants, property purchases, and insurance claims without objection.
- Approved referrals to the Public Works and Services Committee regarding no parking zones, green infrastructure contracts, parking lot bid results, and leaf pile discussions without objection.
- Approved committee reports for Finance, Public Works, and Public Safety without separate consideration, placing them on the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Residents (First Avenue, Chatham St, Apple Tree Ctr, N. Wisconsin, Erie St): Expressions of extreme dissatisfaction and safety concerns regarding snow removal. Speakers noted that residential streets were ignored for up to two days after heavy snow, leaving frozen "boulders" that damaged vehicles and blocked elderly neighbors. Speakers called for DPW accountability and a new system prioritizing side streets over main thoroughfares.
- Jalen Riviera & Marisella Rios (Former Mahoffers Bartenders): Speakers expressed fear of retaliation while reporting serious safety violations. Riviera stated a position of concern regarding unmanaged firearms, harassment, threats, and the owner's use of profanity. Rios expressed a position of urgent need for a full investigation into Mahoffers, citing specific threats of physical harm against staff and a pattern of violence, requesting the suspension of the liquor license.
- Former Employee (Unnamed): Expressed a position of support for investigating the owner, Bobby Brooke, citing witnessed incidents of drinking on duty, sexual misconduct, and retaliation against staff who reported inappropriate conduct.
- Heather Weiss: Expressed a position of skepticism regarding the former employees, suggesting they were motivated by revenge or financial gain and had contributed to tensions by posting videos of the owner while he was intoxicated.
- Lisa Stacey (Bar Manager): Expressed full support for the establishment and its owners. Stacey stated a position that the accusers were disgruntled ex-employees fired for theft and misconduct, characterizing them as sabotaging the business. Stacey expressed a position of confidence that criminal charges (felonious theft, trespassing, harassment) against the accusers will proceed.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 0029-25 Referral Dispute: Alder Winer expressed opposition to the Mayor's recommendation to refer the ordinance to the Executive Committee, arguing this creates a conflict of interest and prevents legislative review. Winer expressed a position that the ordinance must go to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee to address the 90-day deferral rule. The Council voted 8-5 to refer the item to the Executive Committee as recommended by the Mayor.
- Suspension of Rules for Public Safety Referrals: Alders attempted to refer license premise reports to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee despite late notice, arguing public safety urgency. The City Attorney stated that state law (Open Meetings Law) prohibits adding agenda items outside the 24-hour notice window, even by suspending rules, as it is a statute, not a procedural rule. The Council proceeded to refer the items based on the belief that the process had been changed previously, though the City Attorney noted the inflexibility of the current rules.
- 2026 Council Calendar: Alder Pavone moved to amend the 2026 meeting calendar. Pavone expressed a position that the condensed schedule (skipping meetings in February, April, August, and November) was insufficient for the heavy election year. The amendment proposed adding meetings on January 6th and July 7th to accommodate backlog processing. Alder Kelly expressed support for the amendment citing past licensing deadlines issues, and Alder Jorgensen expressed support to balance legislative duties with poll worker election stress. The amendment to add January 6th and July 7th passed 11-1.
- Announcements: Alder Mack detailed a civics lesson with a 5th-grade class. Alders Jorgensen, Pabone, Allen, and Townsend thanked volunteers for the Festival Hall Thanksgiving feast and Halo for food donations. Alder Press and Pabone offered a nuanced position on DPW's snow removal, acknowledging shortcomings but expressing gratitude for covering 300 miles. Alder Horton shared a farewell message regarding his upcoming leave.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Approve Journal: Carried unanimously.
- Referral of Ordinance 0029-25: Passed 8-5; referred to the Executive Committee despite opposition from Alder Winer.
- Referral of Public Safety Items: Motion to suspend rules to refer license items was ruled out of order due to state law; items were referred based on a procedural interpretation, though the City Attorney noted the rule regarding 24-hour notice remains strict.
- 2026 Meeting Calendar: Adopted unanimously as amended, including additional meetings on January 6, 2026, and July 7, 2026.
- Adjournment: Council adjourned unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. The hour of six o'clock, having arrived on the second of December 2025. It is my honor to call to order the city of Racine Common Council. Our first order of business, as always, is the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. If you could 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 on your God. Okay. And then uh President Horton, I would also ask for an approval of the Journal of Council proceedings or minutes from November 18th, 2025. Who's approved? There's a motion to approve the item seconded by Alder Frazier. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed. The motion carries. The first item before us is communications introduced to council. The first item is an item to be referred to the executive committee. Alder Horton, would you please? My apologies. City clerk? 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 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. Candidates for public office may not use this opportunity to campaign for office. Speakers during the public comment period shall follow all rulings 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 comments shall be limited to ideas or concerns regarding the city of Racine. We encourage you to submit a detailed concerns in writing to the city clerk's office or your aldermen, where they can be properly documented and directed for response. Sir, hello everyone. I've been in the Racine about 10 years, and about five years ago, I've seen kind of at least my area on First Avenue. Like, you know, kind of just get neglected on the plowing. It's it's it's really bad. And it goes to the point where um like this last time they got to the plowing about nine or nine o'clock at night, um, which while that time was frozen snow, which created massive boulders, right? I live in a community that has a lot of um elderly people, and I'll be honest with you. Um I mean, I'm not a spring tricker myself, but I'm 48 and like and picking those boulders up slot. And I have a tiny little Chevy bolt, and I was like, there's no way I'm gonna be driving over these things without destroying something. Now I know the media and everything on uh has been going on and really talked about some people damaging their cars and stuff like that. I know nothing's gonna be solved today. But I guess what I'm asking is that like can we look at like what maybe the problem is there is a way to change it and make it better? Um, you know, uh let's like rattle some cages of the DPW and and like just hold people accountable. I understand that it was within the 24 hours. I'd like to see a little bit better than that. I mean, 24 hours, like it's it is what it is. Uh but I can't I guess the last thing I was gonna mention is that I don't I I know it's probably some social media thing, and someone posted from the city or seeing that remind everybody make sure you know uh shovel your sidewalks, otherwise you're gonna get fine, right? Just like you know, can you read the room a little bit and feel like what the people are feeling here, like without kind of like antagonizing them, I guess uh as it's still like it. So all I'm asking is please like think about like you know what's going on. You're probably gonna hear a lot more of what I'm saying.
openpublica.com