Okay.

Vice President Allen.

Are there any excused absences for tonight?

Vice President Allen.

I would intend it.

April twentieth, twenty twenty six, and April twenty first, twenty twenty six.

We just want to Pledge of Allegiance.

All righty.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

The Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice crawl.

Thank you.

Uh now, Vice President Allen.

I would be looking for a motion to approve the meeting minutes from March 17th, 2026, April 20th, 2026, and April 21st, 2026.

April 21st, 2026.

All right, we have a motion and multiple seconds with no objection.

Um those in favor say aye.

Opposed, motion carries.

We do have a proclamation tonight.

Uh it is military appreciation month.

So I'll read the proclamation.

Uh, whereas we recognize the men and women of the United States Armed Forces for their honor, courage, devotion to duty, and the personal sacrifices they make in defense of our freedom.

And whereas we hold deep respect for all veterans and active duty personnel of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard who have served and continue to serve with distinction, protecting and defending our constitution, our flag, and the liberties we cherish.

And whereas Armed Forces Week provides an opportunity to honor and express gratitude to all active duty service members, reservists, veterans, and their families for the immeasurable contributions to our nation and its future.

And whereas we owe a profound debt of gratitude to all who safeguard our freedoms and defend our country, and we especially recognize the City of Racine residents and employees, both active duty, military, and veterans, whose service reflects courage, commitment, and sacrifice.

Now, therefore, I, Corey Mason, mayor of the City of Racine, Wisconsin, do hereby call upon all residents to observe May 11th through the 16th, 2026 as Armed Forces Week, and May 16th, 2026 as Armed Forces Day in the City of Racine and encourage participation in events and activities that honor and thank members of our armed forces for their service and contributions.

In witness thereof, I have herein too set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Racine to be affixed.

All right, and with that, we'll go directly into public comments.

I'll have the clerk read the intro.

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 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.

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.

There will be seven speakers this evening.

The first is Carrie Ryan, 1243, Spring Valley Drive.

My name is Carrie.

I live in Country Club Acres, and I'm here to respectfully ask that you could reconsider and reverse the approval of the new parking lot entrance planned for our neighborhood.

This is simply not a matter of inconvenience.

It's a matter of safety.

Children playing, families walking, residents going about their daily routines, all share the same space as moving vehicles.

This makes any increase in traffic especially concerning because there is simply no safer alternative route for pedestrians.

In addition, a new parking lot entrance will inevitably increase traffic volume and change traffic patterns in ways that put our safety at risk.

The more cars entering and exiting means more points of conflict, especially in an area where visibility is already limited and where drivers may not expect such activity.

Even cautious drivers make mistakes, and it only takes one moment for a preventable accident to occur.

Beyond immediate safety concerns, there's also the broader impact on the character of our neighborhood.

Increased traffic often brings higher speeds, more noise, and a reduced sense of comfort for residents.

Over time, that erodes the very qualities that make our community a safe and welcoming place to live.

We are not here to oppose development or progress.

We understand the needs for accessibility.

However, we believe there are safer alternatives that can meet those needs without compromising the well-being of our neighborhood.

At the very least, this decision deserves a more thorough review with direct input from the residents who are most affected.

I urge you to reconsider this approval and prioritize the safety of families who call this neighborhood home.

Once a change like this is implemented, it's difficult to undo, but the consequences, if something goes wrong, are permanent.

Please take this opportunity to act with caution and put community safety first.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

The next speaker is Erica Pearson, 1235 Spring Valley Drive.

Good evening, Council members.

First off, I want to take a moment to thank the city employees, Chad and Misty, for taking the time to listen to my concerns and help direct me to the right people.

I also appreciate Steven for returning my calls and sharing as much information with me as he possibly could.

That communication has met a lot as we try to understand what's happening.

I am here to speak on behalf of our neighborhood regarding the proposed driveway for a business within our residential area.

This isn't about inconvenience, it's about safety, quality of life, and preserving the character of a place that we all call home.

First and most importantly, safety is a major concern.

Our neighborhood is full of young families, children, and elderly residents who regularly walk along these streets, pushing strollers, walking dogs, riding bikes, and simply enjoying a space that we all that always felt residential and safe.

Right now it is relatively calm in a predictable environment.

Adding a business driveway in this specific location creates a new cut through opportunity for drivers looking to avoid traffic are saved time.

That means more cars, more unpredictability, and more risk.

Drivers are trying to get around congestion and construction.

They don't always slow down or pay attention to the way they should in a residential setting.

This puts our neighborhoods at real risk.

It only takes a moment for distractions to happen.

Second, the condition of construction and traffic planning in the surrounding area has already been raised.

We've seen how poorly managed traffic can flow, can create confusion, backups, and unsafe driving patterns.

Introducing another access point, especially one that invites non-residential traffic, will only add to these problems.

This location specifically becomes a perfect shortcut.

Once drivers discover an easy route, it spreads quickly, and what starts as an occasional traffic can very quickly turn into a steady stream.

That kind of change fundamentally alters how our neighborhood functions day to day.

There are also direct and very personal impacts on homeowners.

This proposed driveway would be directly across from my home.

When we made the decision to decision to purchase, we did so based on understanding that this was a residential environment, and that mattered to us.

If this driveway had existed at the time, it absolutely would have influenced our decision to purchase our home.

Instead of looking out into a quiet residential street, I'm now looking into a parking lot that beyond and beyond that, another parking lot connected to a nearby business.

That tattoo business already brings late-night activity, including increased traffic, noise, and general disruptions.

This proposal doesn't just add a driveway, it expands the commercial presence deeper into our space that has always been residential.

It changes what we see every day and here at night and how we experience our homes.

I also want to point out that this business owner already operates two other chiropractic locations, one in Milwaukee and one in Gurney, Illinois.

This is not their only opportunity for business access, which makes the impact on our neighborhood feel even more unnecessary.

In addition, our concerns are not coming from just a few individuals.

We have a petition by 70 members of our neighborhood in different homes last summer.

When we reached out for guidance when we first heard about this as a possibility.

At the time, we were told there was no permanent on file, and we were not given any directions on how to proceed.

We held on to that petition in good faith, hoping the issue would not move forward.

However, with the recent construction activity, it now feels me.

That would be time I would ask you to wrap up your comments.

Okay, one more paragraph.

Thank you so much.

At this point, we are asking the city to take action.

Please respectfully request that you put a pause on this project right away so that our concerns can be more thoroughly reviewed.

The business owner has already removed a fence.

Yep, thank you.

Okay.

The next speaker is Terry Tessman at 1329 Spring Valley Drive.

Good evening and thank you.

My husband and I moved into our neighborhood in the 1980s, and we are enamored with the family family and neighborly environment of our street and subdivision.

When we moved in, we were the youngsters.

I was pregnant with our second child, and we eventually added another.

Our neighbors were amazing.

The street is safe place for growing families and the older walking adults.

We love love that people felt safe walking the streets and stopping and talking with us.

We are now the old people on the block, and we welcome the changes of the neighborhood and meeting the new families and their children as they ride in past our house and walk and on their bikes.

In the 80s to 90s time period of 1980s and 90s, we were invited to a meeting regarding a zoning change for a residents on Spring Street.

We asked to go along with it being rezoned for a business.

It held a dentist's office, a hospice, an insurance agency, and very others, various other businesses.

They had added on to that house and put an addition on.

Then they added a parking lot.

When meetings were called about these prospective changes, we were always included, and we were always promised that there would not be any change to the entrance of the business with this which now has a Spring Street address, and that our residential neighborhood would be maintained, and that the safety of families was important.

Then poop chiropractic moved in.

When they bought into that building, they had a choice of coming there.

They picked the location and they knew the entrance was on Spring Street.

So imagine our astonishment when they pulled a permit and cut a driveway for a business onto our residential street because they did not do their due diligence about the answer and should be owned by them.

They now say that people have problems exiting their business.

Funny, none of the other previous businesses in our neighborhood over the past 30 years had those issues.

And we always knew in our neighborhood, we were assured and promised that that resident street would always be a residential street with no business entrance or exit.

My husband and I have paid for two street redoes.

For that, that class was cost was close to 20,000.

We did that for the safety of our neighbors.

I broke a foot in a pothole on that street.

So we'd paid it for the safety.

We are asking you now to maintain our safe environment.

Pope cut a permit to cut a driveway there.

Who approved that?

And who on the planning committee decided that what we were promised no longer mattered?

Who changed the ordinance or permission that ignored that provision that we were promised?

The fact that Pope wants a different entrance exit does not mean that the city should allow business entrance onto our residential street.

The safety of our children should come before business being allowed to impact their well-being by putting their entrance onto our road.

That corner is already tenuous.

Now there'll be close to four entrances into a space controlled by a yield sign that many people do not see.

How about the school bus stops on that corner?

This is an accident waiting to happen.

Please investigate what happened to allow this and let us know.

Please think of our residents.

All of us are living in that subdivision, and we are concerned.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Josh Ryan, 1243 Spring Valley Drive.

Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

My name is Joshua Ryan, and I live at 1243 Spring Valley Drive.

I'm speaking tonight about the potential driveway being added off the 4000 Spring Street business lot into our neighborhood.

As homeowners, we are never approached for our thoughts or concerns on this potential change, nor notified of the attempted change.

As of a few years ago, Spring Valley Drive Street was redone, which left us as homeowners having to bear a cost to improve the street.

So I asked you here out our concerns regarding the street we all paid for.

Almost six years ago when we purchased the home on Spring Valley, we were immediately attracted to the safety and quietness of the neighborhood.

A safe neighborhood that wasn't a cut through to the busyness of life.

A safe neighborhood where kids could ride bikes and families could go on walks without the worry of traffic.

By adding this driveway, it compromises that safety for the neighborhood and would create a hazard.

It only takes one second to change a life forever.

Please think of the small children playing in the front yards or the blind spot this driveway creates.

Please reconsider adding this access driveway into our neighborhood.

Please think of not only the dangers it could cause in the near future, but the effects it could have on the neighborhood long term, even when the current businesses are long gone.

Thank you for your time and your consideration.

The next speaker is Dan Dumont, 2406 North Maine.

All right, I'm here tonight to talk about the uh hospitality center.

Um, for 13 years, that hospitality center has been looking to move out of downtown.

How many more years are we going to allow this to decimate our downtown?

I know every one of you here drive by there and see what goes on.

I drove down Main Street from State Street to 6th Street yesterday and counted every empty storefront.

There are 18 on Main Street and 22 on 6th Street.

And from talking to business owners, more are to come.

The hospitality center has looked at other places to move, like across the street at the Dialus Center, and we're told it wasn't zoned for them.

However, its current location, they weren't zoned for it either.

They have violated every term on their conditional use permit, but we continue to allow them to operate.

I went to the police and fire departments today and asked how many calls have they responded to there in the last year?

Police calls were 17, fire calls were 60.

Now look at listen to this trickle effect.

I asked how many fire and police calls were at the library.

There were 96 police calls and 37 fire and rescue calls at the library.

This is what's happening to our downtown, and you all see it.

Any other businesses would have had their license revoked and the business would have been closed.

Now let's talk about tearing down the McGwinn parking ramp because it doesn't fit in Racine's 50-year plan.

I think we should build new ramps.

So when the next administration comes in and this city gets in the direction it should be, and downtown thrives again, we have parking for these people.

If you tear it down, where are they gonna go party and go to the bathroom?

I drove through last Friday night for first Friday, and I came through at six six o'clock, counted maybe 20 people walking the streets.

All the events downtown have seen dramatic attendance drops.

All the things I just talked about would improve with the relocation of the hospitality center.

We cannot await another day for the center to move it.

13 years is long enough to find a home.

How would the neighbors of 3907 Sheffield Court like living next to this for 13 years?

That's Corey's address.

One last thing.

These banks told them they were not interested in financing a building next to the hospitality center.

This is the reputation of our downtown, and it's affected our whole city.

And you guys continue to allow this to operate.

13 years.

Figure it out, guys.

The next speaker is Corey Prince, 1921 Center Street.

Good evening.

My name is Corey Prince, founder and principal strategist with community consulting, and also the founder and program director of the Racine Juneteenth Parade.

I'm here today to speak on fairness, consistency, and the treatment that the Racine Juneteenth Parade has received to other co-sponsored city events.

This body passed to amend resolution 030824 that formerly recognized the Juneteenth Parade as a co-sponsored city event alongside the Memorial Day Parade and the Fourth Fest.

That means that we're not asking for special treatment, we're asking for the same treatment.

No other parade has had the chief police come to every common council and public works meeting and recommend multiple alternate routes once it's already been established.

No other parade has had their staging area revamped and revitalized to account for a new event such as Harbor Fest.

For the past three years, we've successfully staged on Lake Avenue, but now, because of Harbor Fest, not based on failure, we're being deplaced, displaced, excuse me.

Even in that process, we're presented with multiple alternate routes for the Racine Juneteenth Parade, which creates uncertainty for an event that's been established and is supposed to be co-sponsored by the city.

At the same time, um we see the Juneteenth Parade has been charged $3,150 in order to operate as a fee.

Uh and as a part of the amended resolution, certain blocks are waived to include the Racing Juneteenth Parade, Memorial Day Parade, and the Fourth of July parade.

It should be noted, however, that amendment 0308-24 has been in existence since 1994, which means that the Fourth of July parade and the Memorial Day Parade have gone without those fees for 32 years.

The Racine Juneteenth Parade, two.

Now we're required to pay the same amount as the Fourth of July parade, $3,150.

So we're just here to say that since we're all under the same ordinance, and if we're all co-sponsored events, we would hope that you all would do your best to ensure that in the future we're all treated the same.

We want to provide a safe, secure, and entertaining event for the city of Racine that had thousands of people participate and attend last year, and we'll have thousands more again.

So we ask for your help in assisting to promote, and we hope to see all of you with your families there celebrating freedom.

June 13th.

Thank you.

The last speaker is Khalid Asad at 3611 Monica Drive in Franksville.

Good evening.

Thank you for the uh taking the time to listen to me today.

My name is Khalida Sad.

Uh, I'm here because my license was denied that last week's meeting.

Uh, this is my fifth meeting I've been to.

I was deferred to three meetings, and I was at the last uh prior meeting that I was vetoed 14 to zero to come back in front of the city council.

I went last week and was denied.

Um I've been a resident of Racine for the last 34 years.

Uh, my family has owned multiple businesses and curl currently own multiple businesses here in Racine.

I applied for a tobacco and vape license last year in good faith of what zone ordinances were already in place.

By that good faith, I wanted to open a new business on Douglas Avenue, uh, being a heavy business oriented street.

I invested a lot of money into renovating this business as an abandoned old building to create a new local business for Douglas Avenue.

If you lived here in Racine and drive down Douglas between High and St.

Patrick, you would see that it looks like a ghost town, old buildings and no life.

I understand there are businesses in that area that have tobacco and cigarette license, but my store isn't solely focusing on those items.

My vision is to open a specialty tobacco store with specialty cigars, pipe tobacco, and unique items.

You can't find at many of those stores nearby.

I understand the city's concerns on underage sales to minors, but I can strictly ensure we are big on making sure miners aren't even allowed on the premises.

Me being the father of twin fifteen-year-old athletes, I am very big on minors not being around or in those types of environments.

Um I am big on making our city a bigger place, a better place.

I spent a lot of time and money to make the building better on the outside, not just the inside.

I have renovated the windows in the front of the building, uh, installed new lighting and security cameras that will help with the security of Douglas Avenue.

Um I have invested tons of money and many a lot of time and many months on this project.

This would be my first business, and the denial of this license would be detrimental to my life.

I'm here to ask the council to please reconsider the denial.

Thank you for your time.

This concludes the public comment segment.

Thank you.

Uh moving on, we do have a couple public hearings tonight.

Uh, the first public hearing uh is to exceed geographical restriction and quota restriction for a Class A retail fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license for SNS Racine Business Enterprises, DBA Spring Street Mobile, located at 3700 Spring Street.

We do have one speaker signed up.

I apologize because I can't read the last name, but I believe the first name is Shandri at 2610.

Thank you.

Good evening, uh the members of Common Council.

Again, my name is Chandra Shekhar Reddy.

Thank you for spelling out that.

And I'm the one of SNS Racine Business Enterprise.

Um, I would like to take this moment first thank the city um the safety and licensing committee for a thoughtful discussion last week and supporting our request.

I truly appreciate the time and consideration given to our application.

For the past 22 years, our business has been more than just a store in the neighborhood.

It has been a consistent and trusted part of this neighborhood.

We serve local families every day, and we have been we have built long-term relationships with both our customers and our employees.

In fact, two of our managers have been with us for over 12 years.

That level of stability reflects the kind of business we run.

We also understand the concerns behind alcohol licensing, especially related to public safety and neighborhood impact.

This is why that is why we have always operated with strict standards.

We maintain a clean and well presented property, enforce a zero tolerance policy for loitering or gatherings in our parking lot.

During the safety and licensing committee meeting, the police department was asked to verify our record, and they confirmed that we we have had zero incidents of crime and loitering.

And just before I heard one of the residents were telling there are 50 calls from some uh about the police and also fire, and that is a significant better we never had in our location.

That is uh we're very proud of that.

And we take it very seriously in our parking lot or in our premises.

I believe that directly addresses the concerns outlined in the ordinance regarding safety and community impact.

We have also completed all required inspections, building fire plumbing and electrical, and are fully compliant with all city requirements.

And I don't know, some of you might have visited our place, and there's a lot of credits for our you know, our uh toilets and everything.

We keep it so clean, the people and the hospital staff comes to our place, everybody appreciates.

In terms of community support, we have collected over 100 signatures from customers and neighbors who support our application.

And again, everybody that we asked to support, they all supported, and I have all the signatures with me here, and we are very happy for that.

Many of them expressed that they value our business and would benefit from the added convenience this license would provide.

We're also proud to be recognized as a number one lottery retailer for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025.

It's a proud moment for me, it's also a proud moment for the city of Racine.

Being a small location, we are number one in state in lottery sales, comparing all the locations that we are they sell lottery.

And uh during these three years, our location has generated over one million dollars in cumulative winnings for all three years.

Every year we had a million dollar winnings.

This reflects the customer base we serve and the trust the community places on us.

And the people come every day, and we keep it very safe.

This request is not about adding another typical liquor store.

It is about enhancing an already established, well-managed business that has proven its responsibility over more than two decades.

Granting this license would provide greater convenience to residents while strengthening a business that is already contributing positively to the neighborhood.

Based on our track record, community support and verified compliance, we respectfully believe this request meets the intent of the ordinance to allow exceptions when there is a clear benefit to the community and the city of Racine.

We are asking for a fair opportunity to continue serving our neighbors with the same responsibility and commitment we have demonstrated.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Just want to add one little thing before I close.

So many of you know there were two businesses opened a few years ago on 31 and Spring Street, and one of them is a mobile gas station.

The owner serviced my mobile gas station for 15 years.

He supplied the gas for us.

And he opened the gas station.

I had to go to Mount Pleasant and explain to them.

Okay, look, you're opening a big gas station, which is like like six dispensers, that means 12 pumps, and you know, you're going to what is the plan?

Are you going to run away our business?

That's a comment I made to them.

Because it was really impactful because when the big business comes like that, and it's going to affect us.

Luckily, the neighborhood supported us.

Even today, with a lot of construction down there, people find ways to come to our place to support us.

That is, we are very fortunate for that.

And I'm just asking the city members here to support me in the same way.

And some of you might be asking, why didn't you come for this license a few years ago?

And I never wanted to have this license in our place from the beginning because I was traveling globally for my job.

Now I'm retired.

I'm locally based here, so I can take care of the place even more attentively.

So I'm I'm just living in Mount Pleasant.

I also pay taxes here in City.

And I was telling them if you run up run me out, okay.

You're not losing taxpay dollars, but City of Racine is going to lose the taxpay dollars that I paid all these 22 years.

But if you notice it, the business that they opened, the same competition came across the street, quick trip, they had to close down the business within one year.

I don't know some of you noticed.

The mobile was closed for almost two years.

And these things will happen.

And again, people didn't realize at the time.

And I knew this Jerry Wilcom for 12 years.

I was very friend.

And in fact, one of my neighbors it's here.

He was he also joined me that day.

He lives walkable distance to the gas station.

I told Jerry, look, you have some neighbors that walk come to my place, then walk to your place.

This is my comment that time, and they still do that today.

So again, we we take it pride in servicing our people, and I request you to consider whatever way you can.

Uh, like I said, uh public safety committee, they reviewed uh the situation, all the records and everything.

So that's what I want to present to you, and please do the best, whatever you can do for our business.

Thank you.

There is no one signed else signed up for the public hearing.

Thank you.

So I'd ask, is there anyone else who'd like to speak on the public hearing on this item?

First call, second call, last call.

That item is closed for public hearing.

We're on to our second public hearing tonight, which is public clearing to exceed the geographical restriction and quota restriction for a class A retail fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license for neighborhood pantry inc, DBA neighborhood pantry located at 1511 West Sixth Street.

There was no one from the public signed up to speak on behalf of the public hearing.

Is there anyone who would like to speak on this topic tonight for this public hearing?

Sir, please come up to the podium.

Please state your name and address for the record.

Uh John Yonan, uh 720 South Marquette Street, Racine, Wisconsin.

Um I have lived uh in the area around uh that um gas station, convenience store for the last five years, uh moving here from Illinois, and uh my experiences have been very good up to now.

Uh but uh in the last year, uh the large school that is west of the gas station uh closed, and uh now I see a liquor license for this uh gas station.

Uh that gas station is on the corner of Memorial and Sixth Street.

On the other corner is a church, and another corner are a bunch of homes, and another quarter uh on the fourth corner of that intersection is a uh large apartment building.

Uh, I think that uh it's sending a wrong message uh to everybody living in a neighborhood and considering to live in a neighborhood to have a liquor license tech on top of a large school closing in the area signals the neighborhood is going down, not up.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak on this topic?

Yep, absolutely.

Please come up to the podium.

Corey Purse 1921 Center Street.

Uh, I just wanted to say real quick, speaking in the vein of equity and fairness.

Uh, I would just like to ask my order um and all of the orders, if you can, to please continue to exercise fairness in all of your decisions because exceeding liquor license has been denied for some with the exact same reason that it's been approved for others.

And so just because you know, some person presents more letters of recommendation or less letters of recommendation or whatever the standard may be, please make it consistent across the board so that all of your city residents know exactly what's going on here in the city of Racine.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak on this topic?

First call, second call, last call.

Okay, that public hearing is closed.

We now go into the communications introduced to council.

Uh, I would go to Vice President Allen for uh referrals to the committee of the whole.

If you can press your button, please okay.

Refer to the committee of the whole by all the Georginson 036326, subject communications sponsored by Mayor Mason to give a presentation on redevelopment strategy and upcoming TID plans.

All right, we have a motion and a second.

Uh all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carries, that's referred to the committee of the whole.

We now go to referred to finance and personnel with Alder Land.

I'd like to refer the following um following communications to the finance and personnel committee.

Item 0332-26 communication requesting commission to accept donation from the Racine Q Community Foundation for the K9 unit.

Item 0339-26 communication submitting the claim of Shakima Williams for consideration for disallowance.

Item 0340-26 communications submitting the claim of state farm insurance company for consideration for disallowance.

Communication requesting the city attorney present a proposed settlement for the workers' compensation and duty disability claims of Horace Ponder.

Item 0360-26 communication requesting permission to apply for and accept a DNR recreational voting facilities grant to purchase six replacement fears for the fifth street boat launch.

Item 0364-26 communication requesting to accept and donation of 100,000 from CNH for the Lincoln King Community Center Project.

We have a motion by Alder Land, a second by Alder Bone.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carries.

We now go to uh referrals to public works by Alder Harman.

If you could push your button.

Thank you, Chair.

I would like to refer the following communications to public works and services.

Item 0333-26 communications sponsored by Alder Widener, Alder Harmon, Alder DeMark.

Regarding concerns of reduction in services and services hours at the Pearl Street facility.

Communications sponsored by Alder Harman submitting change order number two to contract 2024 066-24 2024.

Sanitary Sewer Repairs Genesis Excavators Incorporated.

Item 0337-26 communications sponsored by Alder Harmon submitting final payment for contract 2024 066-2024.

Submitting bid results for contract 10141535.

Submitting bid results for contract 2026 012.

Item 0356-26 communications sponsored by Alder Harman submitting bid results for contract 2026-044-2026.

Communication sponsored by Alder Harmon.

Requesting approval of parking management contract with ABM Industry Group for Managing City Erasine Parking Services, including metering services, ramp, and service lot management.

Thank you.

We have a motion from Alder Harman.

Second from Alder Pabone.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carries.

And with that, we'll go to public safety and licensing with Alder Pete.

I'd like to brief the following items of the public safety and license committee.

Item number zero three one five twenty-six.

Communications sponsored by myself requesting to appoint two city receiving humane officers.

Item number 034426.

Communications sponsored by myself, submitting a renewal application for a 2026 through 2027.

Quad cycle business ATM Financial Services LLC DBA Carriage House Peddle Tours located at 220 State Street.

Item number 034426 communication sponsored by myself, submitting a renewal application for a 2026 through 2027 quadcycle business ATM Financial Services LLC DBA Carriage House Pedal Tours located at 220 State Street following item 034526 communications sponsored by myself submitting a new application for a secondhand jury dealer's license for NER Solutions LLC DBA one stop exchange located at 2000 Lake Trip Avenue Robbie Keith Agent Item 034626 Communication sponsored by myself submitting a renewal application for a 2026 through 2027 motor vehicle towing license gens and towing DBA Jensen Towing.

The following item sponsored by myself submitting a new application for a Class B retail fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license for six taverns JCA LLC DBA Sixth Tavern, which is located at 600 High Street.

Item 034826, sponsored by myself presenting the license premise report.

Item 03926 communication sponsored by myself requesting any consideration and formal expression of concern or other actions pursuant to the police report.

Item 35826 communications sponsored by Alder Kelly to have the quarterly presentation from the police chief to be presented to the public safety and license committee within 30 days after the end of each quarter.

Item 35926 communication sponsored by myself, submitting a new application for 2026 through 2027 motor vehicle touring license, Floyd and Sons Touring and Recovery Inc.

DBA Floyd and Sons Inc.

Item 35426, sponsored by Alder White Widener submitting a change of agent application for a Class A retail permitted malt beverage license for Target Corporation DBA target store T hyphen 0512 located at 5300 Durand Avenue.

Jerren Hickson agent move to refer to the follow-up items to the PSNL committee.

Thank you.

We had a motion from Alder Pete, second from Alder Pavone.

All in favor, please say aye.

All opposed.

Motion carries.

With that, we'll go to committee report.

So we'll start with finance and personnel committee report by Alder Land.

Alder Land, did you have any items for separate consideration?

No, I have not.

With that, those without objection will be placed on the can on the consent agenda.

We'll now go to the public works and services committee report by Alder Harman.

Did you have anything for separate consideration?

I do not, Chair.

Thank you.

Without objection.

Those will be placed on the consent agenda.

And then the next one would be the public safety and licensing committee report by Alder Pete.

Did you have any items for separate consideration?

Yes, I do.

I have three, even though two of them are kind of combined together.

I'll start with the first, obviously, item zero double double zero double eight hyphen 26.

Communications sponsored by Alder Widener, submitting a new application for cigarette tobacco electronic fake device retail license for Douglas Defoe LLC DBA Douglas Tobacco, which is located at 1615 Douglas Avenue.

Kelly Aside agent.

Because I'm the chair, I would move to approve.

However, I do have some concerns and I'd like to speak to the matter.

Thank you.

We have a motion.

Is there a second?

Second.

I believe your rec your recommendation would be to approve based on the or approve of the committee's recommendation, correct?

Base, yes, to approve the committee's recommendation.

Thank you for the clarification.

So we have a motion from Alder Pete, second from Alder Allen.

Uh Alder Pete, you have the floor if you'd like to state your concerns.

Yes.

Even though tobacco license is somewhat different from alcohol license.

Nope.

Okay, so has put in considerable uh personal resources into the establishment.

I think uh it would enhance the economic viability of the area.

That is not a requirement for uh tobacco or vape license unlike it is for alcohol license, but he has showed good faith to the community and he has put in a lot of effort, so I would recommend approval of the license.

Secondly, the other side of that is as the applicant stated it did go back and forth between PSNL and full committee uh council uh and he had applied prior to the zoning change, uh, which make brings up some considerations and be based on the fact that he has put in substantial resources and that he has which will help tax base, it'll probably improve the tax uh taxing value of that uh property.

I think it's in the best interest of the city and for the uh applicant to approve the license.

Thank you.

I'd make a motion to approve.

So we have got a with we have a point of clarification from Alder Popone.

Uh if you want to push your button.

There we go.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh, just would like a clarification because the Alder from the 10th district had stated he was in favor of approving the denial and then just said that he was in favor of approving the license.

Can we just clarify which one that would be?

Yeah, but I believe it was as the committee chair has an original motion is to uphold the committee recommendation, and then he's subsequently done a second motion.

Although I would recognize the so would we have to vote on the first motion first, correct?

Yeah, and I think at this point, too.

I would uh we would need to handle the original motion first, but I'm gonna defer to the city attorney to kind of give some background on this because there's a bit of nuance to this item as well.

Thank you.

So I would uh defer to the city attorney here.

So committee chairs are required to move approval of the committee report.

So the committee recommended denial of the tobacco license, so Alder Pete as the chair is recommending approval.

Uh and as I understand it, Alder Pete, although he is recommending approval of the committee report for himself, uh, he would recommend that the common council vote no on the committee report, and then prospectively there could be another motion following, which could then be to approve.

So a motion respectfully alder Pete the motion to approve after the motion, motion to approve the license after the motion the committee reports out of order.

Um I just want to remind the common council that the state of Wisconsin uh severely limits municipalities' ability to deny tobacco licenses, tobacco vape, those kind of licenses.

Um the common council did recently pass a zoning ordinance that would prevent tobacco businesses in a number of places in the city, and this location is one of those.

However, the application was filed, and the processing began when the zoning ordinance would have permitted this business, and the common council is bound therefore to consider this application based upon the zoning that was in place at the time the application was submitted.

And I remind the common council also that tobacco licenses, assuming zoning is allowed.

Tobacco licenses may only be denied under these circumstances that um the applicant has uh a substantially related criminal activity, that's what the state calls it, some criminal history that somehow is related to a tobacco sales business.

Um, that the applicant had failed to appropriately complete the application, and that the applicant um uh was not eligible uh for the license due to violating some other ordinance or statute, such as not having a seller's permit, failing to keep appropriately keep business records.

I'm not aware that any of those three exist in this case.

Um, and my office has followed it, so uh I just would remind the council that denial can only be a license can only be denied if one of those if those three categories exist the city attorney for providing that and so to kind of regroup here uh the discussion right now is on uh approving the committee's recommendation, which is to deny.

Uh with that we'll go to the next in the queue, which is Alder Widener.

Okay.

Thank you.

I'm gonna speak against the motion, the recommendation from the committee to deny the license, much for the same reason I had asked two weeks ago to send this back to the uh back to committee for further review based on more information that the applicant had that evidently was not able to provide to the committee.

Um I would hope that the council would vote down the recommendation from the committee and entertain a new motion to uh approve the license as applied for.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We'll go to uh Alder Davis.

Thank you.

Thank you, Attorney Litney, for clarifying that information.

Um I'm speaking against the motion to deny, as I was one of the only and the committee that um went against that motion at that time, uh, knowing with the no with the knowledge of the state statute and the ordinance.

That's all I need to say.

Thank you, Alder Davis.

We'll go to uh Alder Pavone.

Thank you, Chair.

I was on the public safety and licensing committee when this first came to us, and given the um circumstances that had come up when we had previously discussed this here at council, I was in favor of deferring because the way in which the attorney Letney had clarified, which I understood already, I just wanted to make sure anyone that was newer understood was that this is technically one of those situations where the zoning ordinance took effect after the application was already put in, and none of the criteria met to deny is there.

So I would be uh not in favor of denying the license, but in favor of approving it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And with that, the queue is empty.

And so just uh before we go into uh vote here, want to be really clear the motion on the floor uh is to approve the committee's recommendation, which is to deny the license.

What an I vote means and what a no vote means.

Yes, so if you vote yes, uh you are voting to uphold the recommendation, which is to deny.

So if your goal is to uh deny, you would be voting yes.

If your goal is to vote no, so that another motion could be made, uh, you would be voting uh no.

Thank you.

Alder Allen, Alder Pete, Alder Land, Alder DeMarc, Alder Kelly, no, Alder Harman.

Alder Paboon, Alder Frazier, Alder Frazier, Alder Weiss, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alderman Weidener, Alder Horton, Alder Hodges, 12 No's, one abstain, one aye.

All right, with that, the motion fails.

So we would be looking for uh a new motion then.

Alder Weidener.

Thank you.

I would make a motion to grant the license.

We have a motion from Alder Weidner.

I'm gonna say a second from Alder Pavone on that one.

Uh that motion would be to approve the license.

Uh Alder Weidener, would you like to speak to your motion?

No, I think we've covered it.

Alrighty.

Alder Mack is in the queue.

Thank you.

As the Alderman of the district, I voted with the committee's recommendation because of a number of calls related to this particular license, the number of businesses already in the area of the high concentration uh offering the same type of products.

However, um, I understand the predicament that was uh outlined by the city attorney, and I will be voting to support the recommendation to grant the license, and I wish the applicant well in his endeavors as um he sets up business on uh Douglas Avenue and as pointed out an area that unfortunately has been neglected over the years.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Horton.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I also will uh support uh the motion to approve uh the license, but also I have a comment.

Uh over and over we get to this again where we allow businesses to uh put in their hard-earned money.

Uh they start off uh they invest 20, 30,000 dollars, and then we start to deny them.

I've asked this over and over in the time I've been here that the city come up with some way that uh we can allow businesses to know beforehand before they invest their money that whether this is gonna be a business that's gonna be able to open or this is gonna be money that you put in that you get nothing out of.

So uh I'm glad that um the motion uh to uh support this have come to the floor, and I'll be supporting the motion.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And with that, the queue is empty, so I'd ask the clerk to open the rolls.

Alder Allen, Alder Pete, Alder Land, Alder DeMarc, Alder Kelly, Alder Harman, Alder Pabone, Alder Frazier is having spotty Wi-Fi, but he did text in that he would be voting yes to approving the license.

Alder Frazier, can you confirm if you can connect via Wi-Fi?

Okay.

I will record it as so in hopes that he unmutes himself if at all possible.

Alder Weiss, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alderman Widener, Alder Horton, Alder Hodges.

14 ayes, zero no's.

Thank you.

And with that, the motion carries.

Umder Wider.

Thank you.

Generally, when a committee recommends approval of a license, the clerk's office explains to the applicant what would happen once the council approves.

Being that the recommendation on the council floor was to approve, I would like the clerk's office to explain to the applicant what he can expect now that the council has approved his application for the license.

Thank you.

I'd defer to the clerk's office.

Sure, that's typically something we do at committee and not at common council.

However, if you'd like to give a call tomorrow, we'll have to check what sign-offs you still need in order to receive your license.

So we have to make sure that all the departments have signed off.

After which point, as long as everything is on the up and up, we will issue the license.

So give a call to that 262-636-917-1 number, and we'll take a look into what you still need.

So with that, we're back to Alder Pete.

Did you have any other items for separate consideration?

Is the mic on okay?

Item number 028526, which goes with item 028626.

There you go.

Okay.

Item 28526 communications possible Alder Widener submitting a new application for a class A retail fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license for SS receiving business enterprise LLC, DBA Spring Street Mobile located 370 Spring Street.

Chandra Sicar Paula Agent recommendation of the public safety and license committee on 429 26.

That's communication responsible by Alder Widener submitting a new application for a class A retail fermented malt beverage and intoxicating license for SNS receiving business enterprise LLC DBA Spring Street Mobile located 37 Minutes Spring Street, Chandra Sicar Paula be approved.

However, I'd like to speak against on this motion also, even though I the committee approved it, I have to recommend approval, but I disagree.

All right.

So there is a motion from Alder Pete, second from Alder Pavone.

Uh is the the maker of the motion.

Alder Pete, you have the floor.

Uh thank you.

Uh one point of order.

I'm sorry.

I'm not sure that we're clear what the motion is.

If you want to push Alder Pavone made a motion, but that was before Alder Pete was actually finished saying that he was going to speak against it.

So what is the could you what is the exact motion that's on the floor?

Yeah, so the motion would be to uphold the committee's recommendation.

Uh and I believe that's what Alder Pete wants to speak against, but he he has to make the motion to approve the committee's um recommendation as the committee chair.

But then as the maker of the motion, he gets to uh have the floor now, or I believe he's gonna tell us why he maybe disagrees with that.

Okay, it's my understanding.

It's my understanding this first of all, I think highly of the owner, the applicant, he's done a great job uh historically, but it does this does not meet the criteria exceeding the quota.

And as the one of the speakers in the front of the public pointed out earlier, we need to be consistent to as we make decisions on exceeding the quota and their rules and regulations that the state has provided us and the city has provided us that we're not following uh if we approve this.

Uh we can't say, well, we like this person, et cetera, et cetera.

They've done a great job, so we can approve them and deny the next person that comes in the door when we're supposed to be using the same criteria, and in this case, we're not the main issue is the economic improvement to the city development putting money into the building, the establishment, none of those items were met in this case.

It's unfortunate, it's a great one run business.

I'm sure a lot of people would envy the caliber of the business.

However, it simply doesn't meet the guidelines that we should be following.

If we were, it would be clear to the public as to how we make the decisions when it comes to uh exceeding geographical restrictions.

So I'd like to look at that first.

That's why I wouldn't will not be supporting this motion.

I would hope that the council would reconsider and vote for a new motion.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alder Pete.

And one clarification here, too, is that this one is the 0285-26.

So this is for the actual class A license.

The next one is the geographical restriction.

I know that they go together, but just for all a lot of the new members here, they may get caught up in the nuance here.

So we'll be pulling them both out separately, as Alder Pete said.

But this one is the um actual class A retail from fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license.

So with that, we'll go to the next in the queue, which is Alder Allen.

Okay, thank you so much.

So I'm looking at our ordinance, and I'm going to read from chapter six of our audience.

Okay, the applicant shall supply proof of ownership or lease of options to purchase or lease of land or a building that is properly zoned for the proposed venture.

The applicant shall show that the proposed establishment will have a greater economic impact upon the community than simply the addition of another tavern, liquor store, convenience store, or restaurant, and the applicant shall show that the proposed establishment will benefit the community by substantially improving the tax base, will extensively habilitate or blighted area or deteriorate a building, construct a new building or on vacant land, or benefit the community by conferring some other tangible and substantial improvement for the area.

So I'm going to just put this all into a context here.

We have the mobile station is located on the corner of Spring and Osborne.

And as we've heard, it has been there for over two decades.

Now, with conversations that we have been having that I've had with the owner, and what are the financial challenges that uh his business is facing right now.

What we are really looking at, and if you were listening to what he said while he was uh speaking earlier, is that the very real possibility of him having to close that station if he is not able to add other products and services in his establishment that the community has already said that they would support.

Now that would be the reverse of what we are looking for here is when it says how it will affect our uh economic status in that district, and how it will affect our tax space for the city.

So we would no longer get those tax dollars, and we would now have this closed uh gas station on the corner of uh spring in Osborne.

Uh it is serving a large community there, not just the people who live there, but the persons that come into that area that work at our hospital.

So it would be very impactful in a negative way to that district.

And then we would also look at how uh right now, which is the c economic climate that we are experiencing, particularly with gas, the idea and the hope that someone else would be able to come into that space and open another gas station that would offer the same kind of services and community um impact that we currently have there would probably not happen in it in the near future.

So that would be the reverse of what we are trying to make sure that we have as ongoing for our city and for our area.

So I am asking the the uh council to go ahead and approve uh this license and its geographic uh this uh extension.

I will go to Alder Weidner.

Thank you.

I understand the arguments that are being made from the Alderman from the Ninth District.

Um but I would remind the council that it was not that long ago that we denied a beer and wine license to an applicant who was going to make a two million dollar investment at 9 30 Washington Avenue, and we heard one of the speakers speak during the public comment period that we have to be consistent.

As much as I would like to uh approve the license for uh three 3700 Spring Street in the name of consistency and fairness and equity, I I would have to vote against that um recommendation from the committee.

Thank you.

Uh we'll go to Alder Allen for a second time.

Thank you.

Okay, so I I'm hearing that we want to be consistent and we want to be fair.

We also want to recognize that there are different areas in the city.

So the reason why we would not consider a license in one area and can consider in another are different.

When that proposed uh license was presented to the council, people from that community came into our council and said that they did not want, and it was because of the crime that already exists in that area, and the the perceived uh knowledge and thought that it would only increase by adding that uh that license to that area.

Whereas on this uh license, we don't have any existing crime that has been noted by our uh uh law enforcement, and so we are not in danger of seeing an escalation of crime.

So, where we want to be uh consistent, we also want to be logical because we are not going to be able to keep using uh one and say, well, we denied this over here, as if the entire uh landscape of our city is the same and experiences the same challenges.

Thank you.

We'll go to uh Alder Pavone next.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

So I hear both sides, I understand.

Um, when the particular item referenced last year came before I was in support because I try to be as in support as I can of people trying to make improvements in this particular case.

This business has been here.

It has proved its loyalty to Racine, it has proved that it's here for the long haul, and we don't want yet another closed and shuttered business.

And I think if it's something that where we're gonna provide a liquor license, which generally doesn't account for a lot of their sales, but if it's something that could potentially advertise to help people to help keep them in business, I don't see why not.

I would not vote no on something just because the majority of the council decided to vote no on something last year.

This is an case by case, individual by individual basis.

I also think that we have to consider when you're talking about consistency and fairness, that what consistency and fairness looks like to each person to each alder is a different thing, and we also have new alders that are on board with the council.

So it's important that while we want to remain consistent historically, we also have to take into account not everybody thinks the same.

The consistency and fairness is not the same from everybody's perception.

And this particular case, I am in favor of approving this license because of what the gentleman said, and also we can clearly see this is not someone that's been in the the business for a year.

This is a seasoned person that knows what they're doing and they're here for the community.

They retired, they decided to stay here after traveling the world.

They decided to stay here.

So I think if this is their ask, especially after they've already provided this background and proof that they are here for us, then we should support them in that.

And that is my opinion.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And so there's some nuance here as well.

So I'm gonna uh defer to the city attorney to let him share some legal implications with this.

So the reason this is a discussion is the common council passed an ordinance some years ago, some years ago that established liquor license quotas and geographical restrictions.

And as confusing as this is, there are two relevant kind of liquor licenses here that are both called class A.

One's a little class A, which is class quote A, and one's a big class A, which is quote class A, unquote.

Uh the little Class A is a beer license, uh fermented malt beverage license, and the big class A license uh would apply to other liquors and wines and things like that.

Terrible, tell me if I got that wrong.

Um, and an A license is to sell beer and liquor to go off premises as opposed to consuming them on premises.

So the common council by ordinance established a quota of um 36 small class A licenses and 24 large class A licenses and impose geographic restrictions that no new large class A or small class A liquor license would be issued for any establishment located within a radius of a thousand feet from any other license establishment or within 300 feet of any place of worship license daycare school community center or other facility predominantly attended by individuals under the age of 21.

The ordinance requires there to be a public hearing uh in order to exceed the quota or the geographic restrictions.

That's why we had the public hearing, and in this case, if this license is granted, it would both exceed the existing quota and exceed the geographic concentration restriction.

So notwithstanding those um facts in the ordinances, the common council may by two-thirds vote of all the members present, so everybody's present.

That would mean two-thirds ten, right?

Uh ten would have to vote in favor of exceeding the quota uh or the geographic concentration, and there are standards, and I'm gonna repeat them.

Alder Allen read them, but I'm gonna repeat them.

Um the first is that uh there has to be an application or a petition to exceed the quota.

Uh the applicant has to provide proof of ownership or lease of options to purchase.

That's more likely for a new owner.

That the applicant has to show that the proposed establishment will have a greater economic impact upon the community than simply the addition of another tavern, liquor store, convenience store, or restaurant, and that the applicant shall show that the proposed establishment will benefit the community by substantially improving the tax base, and the examples are the establishment will extensively rehabilitate a blighted or deteriorated building, will construct a new building on vacant land, or benefit the community by conferring some other tangible and substantial improvement for the area.

And I will just say again, in order to exceed the quota or the geographic restriction, ten alders would have to vote in favor of uh of item zero two eight six-26 and zero two a five-2.

Well, that would grant the license, but only if the uh quota and the geographic restrictions are exceeded.

Perhaps these two could be taken together at uh discretion of the chair.

All right, so we do have a couple in the in the queue still.

Um so I would uh recognize uh Alder Davis.

Thank you, Chair.

I've sat here today and listened to orders, speak on why they would approve this item.

And it's kind of funny, not funny, as I roll back in the back of my mind on these are some of the same things that were stated for that previous item that was denied some months back that would have helped with blight area, but there was concern about the demographic around there.

I, if it's possible for me, could someone offer me some clarity on what's the difference in these demographics of why the Spring Street location should be approved and the other was not approved.

Can someone speak on that?

Any anyone any others want to speak on what's the difference in the demographics?

Because we're not the point of order.

Should we be comparing the motion is to approve this license, not to rehash the other one?

And while I agree with Alderman Davis's direction, I don't know if this is an appropriate conversation for this time.

Yeah, the point of order is is upheld.

I would ask Alder Davis to it.

And I get that there's some relation here.

Uh just try to do your best to keep it as as much as you can on the item before us currently.

And sticking on the item before us.

Could someone tell me about the demographic of this area?

What's what whom stays in this area?

What's the economic status of the folks that stay in this area?

The Spring Street.

Looks like Alder Allen would like to respond.

And if you're willing to yield to Alder Allen.

Yes, I would like response.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So in my statement that I made a couple of minutes ago, what I what I stated and pointed out is that we had an ongoing police uh uh I don't want to say it that way.

We had documentation and we were able to look at data of the active uh crime.

Point of order that is not a relevant to this right here.

I'm not about the demographics.

Uh um no, because I'm not going to get uh baited into going whether or not this is a racial thing.

I'm gonna strictly talk about the fact that a community members came into the chamber and stated for the very reason two reasons.

One, they wanted to know that they were gonna have an actual grocery store, and two, they spoke about the crime in that area, and they said they did not want to, and I said on that particular day, when we were voting about it, for us to ignore the people that came from that area and came into the chamber and and braved coming into the chamber to state that they did not want that in their district.

We should not ignore that.

And that was my statement.

And after that, I do remember that Alder Pavone came and he made his comments, and then we all voted.

So that being said, not only did we say that, but we were able to watch for the rest of the summer.

Point of order.

Excuse me.

You asked me a question, and so I'm answering it.

No, you don't get to say that you like the answer.

That's that's yeah, so Alder Davis, please state your point of order.

My point of order is to answer the question that was put out of what is the demographics of the individuals that stay in the spring street area.

Yes, so you have the you have the the floor, it's you were the one that posed the question, so it would return back to you of Alder Allen if you'd like to speak and stay in the queue and I'll I've been like practice informed because I was speaking, and so instead of this bottom, can you mind the point with the appropriate?

So I did say that I did not want to go into whether or not this was a racial thing.

The reason why I made my vote, you wanted to know why people voted the way they voted last time, since we insist on trying to compare the two.

It was completely about the people that came in from that district saying they did not want that business in their district, and they gave the reasons why.

And for us to ignore those people coming from that district stating what they did or did not want in that district, it's the only thing that we should be considering.

We are not gonna get race baited in this chamber.

Yes, Alder Mac, please state your point of order.

I don't know if we have anyone that can speak to that particular question from a uh knowledgeable standpoint with uh rolling out census tracts and things like that.

Um I would just request that I don't believe the question can be answered tonight unless somebody pulls out census data, therefore, I don't think it's appropriate for the alderman of the ninth to be um going down the path that she did and rehashing a previous vote.

My recollection of that evening is completely different, but I'm not gonna argue that tonight.

And sadly, unfortunately, I don't think that the alderman of the third district's question will get answered at least by any of us sitting here in this chamber.

Thank you.

A point of word taken.

Uh uh Alder Davis still has the floor.

Um it was her original question, it would go back to her now.

Thank you.

Thank you, Otter Mac.

Um just speaking that I won't get an answer, which I figured I wouldn't get an answer at this time.

I just wanted to make sure that this was put out for the public to hear so that we can actually think about when we're moving forward if we decide to grant this geographical exception or not.

Just the keep keep in mind the different pieces that are played and have been played.

Take care.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Weiss.

I just wanted to share why I supported this in committee.

Um hundred signatures in support from the neighborhood, 22 years in business.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but when you explain the licensures, the different class A's.

The business that's within a thousand feet is beer only.

So from my perspective, the spirit of the of the geographic concentration is to ensure you don't have two um businesses within a thousand feet selling the the other alcohol and the wine and the liquor, and the other business within that location is a beer-only license.

Thank you.

Um thank you.

Just a question for the city attorney.

I'd like some clarification on the points that were raised as to what the business has to add to uh in order for us to surpass the geographic limitation.

Did there have to be some improvement of the building or the property or something of that nature?

Thank you.

Uh Alderman White, the uh there has to be a petition filed.

The applicant has to supply proof of ownership or lease or options to purchase or lease the land uh or that a building is properly zoned.

I think generally that assumes it's gonna be a new business as opposed to additional licensing for an existing business, but that still would have to be um provided.

And then the rest of the standards, did you want the rest of this interview?

Yes, please.

I'm sorry.

Um that the applicant has to show that the proposed establishment will have a greater economic impact upon the community than simply the addition of another tavern, liquor store, convenience store, or restaurant, and that the applicant will show that the proposed establishment will benefit the community by substantially improving the tax base.

And examples again are the establishment will extensively rehabilitate a blighted or deteriorated building, construct a new building on vacant land, or benefit the community by conferring some other tangible and substantial improvement for the area.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yep.

Perfect.

Um, so I've been listening to the um conversation going back and forth.

Reference twins.

I don't like Otter Mike, I don't want to rehash that.

Um, but to Alderman Widener's point about consistency.

Um, I was one of the one of the two um that voted against um this license.

Uh and in fairness to consistency.

Um, and in addition to my fear when it comes to gas stations and this type of licenses and this type of license.

Um, what I said at the committee, I'll I'll say it again here.

Uh my fear is that we will see an uptick of gas stations racing to um apply for this type of license.

Um, in reference to twins, because that keeps getting talked about.

Um, the reason why I voted against twins is because of the amount of people who were who came to me um about that area specifically with the oversaturation.

Um, and considering we already have enough licenses, we're voting to exceed our quota.

Um, I don't see the benefit to adding this type of license to a gas station, um, similar to uh 6th Street and Memorial, if I'm correct.

Uh so I commend on the the applicant uh for 22 years of service and commitment to the city.

Um this is not an indictment against their character or his character and his his endeavor, um, I think to be consistent on my part.

Um I'm voting no for this license.

Um mainly because you know I don't want to see more gas stations apply uh for this uh license.

Thanks.

Thank you.

So it looks like the the queue is empty.

Um in confirm with the city attorney here, these these may be a little bit out of order because the item that we're on right now does not have the the 10 Alder um threshold that we have to hit.

The next one does.

So I believe that it was Alder Pete uh and Alder Pabone, I believe, seconded it.

If you guys are are willing to take these up together and have them voted on together, I'd be willing to do that.

Otherwise, we can always flip them and discuss them separately.

But I do believe the the one that has the higher threshold should probably go first before we would um go to the licensed one.

We should so we have an amendment, uh friendly amendment here of Alder Pete willing to take them up together.

It looks like Alder Pabone is uh nodding his head.

So we are gonna take these together, which does mean that there is a threshold as the attorney had stated of 10 alders would have to be in favor.

Um I'm not seeing anybody else in the queue.

So with that, we would turn it over to the clerk to open the roll.

Alder Allen, Alder Pete, Alder Land, Alder Damark, Alder Kelly, Alder Harmon, Alder Pabone, Alder Fraser, no dice, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alderman Widener, Alder Horton, Alder Hodges.

That is eight ayes and six noes.

All right, yep.

So with that, uh the motion fails to reach the threshold required.

Um so the the motion fails.

Uh I'd be looking for uh a motion, uh second motion.

Remember the original motion was to approve.

We're good.

Okay, I take it back that we're done.

Um so with that, we'll go back to Alder Pete.

Did you anything else on your committee report to be handled separately?

No, I do not.

Without objection, the rest will be placed onto the consent agenda.

All right, so we would then go to uh vice president Allen for the Board of Ethics Report Board of Ethics Report by Alderman Georgeson.

I make a motion that we accept 036126 communication from the Board of Ethics submitting the 2025-2026 annual report as attached.

All right, we have a motion and a second.

Would anyone like to speak to this item?

So with that, we'll do a voice vote on this one without objection.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

All right, the motion carries.

So then we're going to Office of the Mayor Report uh with Alder or Vice President Allen.

All my Alder Georginson, I make a motion that we accept 032 0362-26.

Subject communication sponsored by Mayor Mason, submitting the following appointments.

Library Board Deborah Joe Chiapara as the RUSD liaison for a term ending April 30th, 2029.

Mauriza Johnson for a term ending April 30th, 2027.

Nathan Ortiz for a term ending April 30th, 2029.

Board of Harbor Commission, Alder David Mack for a term expiring April 30th, 2028.

Due process board, Alder David Mack as the automatic position for a term in expiring April 30th, 2028.

Brian O'Connell for a term expiring April 30th, 2028.

Attorney Tom Binger for a term expiring April 30th, 2028.

Community development block grant advisory board.

Alder Jordenson is the council president for a term expiring April 19th, 2027.

Alder Land as the finance and personnel chair for a term expiring April 19th, 2027.

Alder Harman as the Public Works and Services Chair for a term expiring April 19th, 2027.

Alder Pete as the public safety and licensing chair for a term expiring April 19th, 2027.

Community development authority, QA Shakor, in the position as chair for a term expiring April 30th, 2027.

Amanda Roman for a term expiring April 30th, 2029.

Board of Review, Sue Pinkzer for a term expiring April 30th, 2031, and the Planning Heritage and Design Committee, Alder Sam Pete for a term expiring April 30th, 2028.

Marco Hamiz to the realtor position for a term expiring April 30th, 2029.

All right, there is a motion uh from all our Vice President Allen, second from Aller Pavone.

Uh is there any discussion on this item?

All our Vice President Allen would go first.

No.

No comment.

All right.

Any discussion on this at all.

Seeing none, uh, we'll do this by uh voice vote without objection.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion carries.

Uh so with that, we'll go to the consent agenda.

So we've placed all the items on the consent agenda.

All in favor of the consent agenda, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The consent agenda motion carries.

Uh then we'll go to common council announcements.

We'll start with Alder Harman.

Thank you, Chair.

I appreciate it.

Um, this upcoming Sunday is Mother's Day, and so I want to say happy Mother's Day to my mom, Selena Harman, who is an awesome mother who has provided me with um the skills that I need to be the woman that I am.

So happy Mother's Day, Ma.

Thank you.

Uh, we would go to uh Alder Mack.

Thank you.

Uh this evening I'd like to honor a resident of the 4th District and a personal friend of mine, Don Rosen.

I'd like to congratulate him for receiving an award this weekend for the best morning radio show in the state in the medium uh category.

Uh and also the best interview with Bob Barry from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.

So, Don, if you're listening, congratulations.

And then uh I'd also like to remind everyone to get your tickets to see Sam and Arama at the 6th Street Theater, starring my son, David L.

Mack, the second.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Allen.

Okay, thank you.

Uh, first, I want to congratulate the theater department at Horlick High School for a remarkable performance of Frozen.

And I want to take a special shout out to Alder uh DeMark's niece who played the lead and she was fabulous.

So that was a wonderful experience.

I also like to congratulate the community women's club this past Sunday.

They celebrated 44 years of awarding scholarships to uh community students and they have in the past 44 years awarded 126 awards.

I also let people know that on May the 25th, Monday, May 25th, there will be a memorial parade.

It will begin on Washington and West Boulevard and travel into the Graystone Cemetery.

It'll start at 10 o'clock a.m.

and then the program will begin at 11.

Juneteenth parade is on 6, and of course, the we don't know the 4th of July is also coming up.

Again, for everyone, happy Mother's Day to the ladies that I serve with and to the members of In the Women in Racine.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Pabone.

Thank you, uh Chair.

I just want to say it's May, so we're getting to a lot of us for the last month of school.

So teachers and parents, keep them in your thoughts.

It's an interesting time right now.

Also, I want to say May is uh we have a lot of birthdays in my family, so happy birthday coming up to my sister Crystal, my sister Penny, and my brother Cody.

Uh, we have a um new business opening up on Three Mile, which is gonna be Sam and Will's uh great place there with the former owners have known as Pizzeria.

So that's gonna be fantastic addition to the north side, especially right there at the edge, border of Caledonia, and also happy Mother's Day uh to my mother Eula and uh to all the other mothers out there.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Land.

Yes, I just wanted to remind everybody and also invite the public to the memorial service ceremony for law enforcement officers.

I attend this every year, and it's really uh it gets to my heart.

Um, it is on May 12th, and it is at Hanschel Park, 5400 Byrd Avenue at 10 o'clock.

Thank you.

All right, Alder Davis.

Thank you.

I will say the birthday shout outs for the next common council, but I would like to take this time to express my sympathy and prayers to Avis Lambert Tyler's family.

She passed away recently, and her memorial service is this Saturday.

She is my auntie, so I'm just sending love to my family and our friends, and especially my cousins, as this will be their first memorial day without their I mean Mother's Day without their mother.

Thank you so much.

Uh seeing no one else in the queue.

Uh there we go.

Uh Alder Weiss.

Sorry, I didn't know how it worked if you just went to everybody.

So I was just waiting.

Um, echo happy Mother's Day to everybody, to my mom.

Um, and also uh, yes, it is May.

Yes, it is also teacher appreciation week.

So huge shout out to all the educators and people working in schools right now because it's a very challenging part of the year, and um we just appreciate all the work everybody does in education.

So just a thank you.

Thank you so much.

Uh Alder DeMark.

I just wanted to give a little shout out to all the mothers, um, including my mom.

Um, and I want to show my appreciation to all the teachers in uh the country and RUSD.

And um, I know that we're not gonna be me until afterwards, but to all the law enforcement for next week.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

All right.

So with that, I just have a couple quick ones.

Uh resident reached out today, they really wanted to thank uh ZP Construction uh for donating and installing a new roof down at Kids Cove.

Um that's a really great news story.

Um, really great for the community.

Um, there's a lot of revitalization going there, so I just wanted to thank them for their generosity.

Uh and I also wanted to um say thank you to my mother uh in honor of Mother's Day, but also for my wife.

Uh it's uh not an easy job.

I am away from home a lot for uh council meetings and work in general, and so uh the the way that Nadia has really stepped up to be uh a mother over the past year has been uh really an amazing transformation to watch.

So uh if you're watching at home, thank you so much.

Uh Nadia.

All right, so with nothing else in there that would go to our last uh agenda item.

I'd be looking for a motion to adjourn.

We have a motion from Alder Pabone, second from I think Alder DeMarc.

Uh, all those in favor of adjourning say aye.

Opposed?

The motion carries.

We are adjourned.