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.