If Alders and members of the public could please take their seats, we're gonna begin momentarily.

If Alders and members of the public could please take their seats, we are going to begin momentarily.

Uh if I could ask IT in the back room to turn up the audio on the microphone, just a smidge.

That would be great.

I just want to make sure everyone can hear us.

Again, I'd like to ask Alders to please take their seats.

We're about to begin the meeting.

If Alders could please take their seats, we'd like to begin the meeting.

Good evening, everyone.

The hour of six o'clock having arrived on the 7th of July 2026 is my honor to call to order the City of Racine Common Council.

The first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

If you could please join as you are able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

And welcome him home.

Alder Jorgensen, do we have any excused absences for this evening?

We do.

We have two this evening.

Alder Davis and Alder Horton are both excused.

Duly noted.

We'll now move on to the approval of minutes for June 16th, 2026.

Alder Jorgensen, would you like to make a motion?

I would.

I move to approve the minutes for the June 16th, 2026 meeting.

Um discussion on said minutes.

Seeing none, all those in favor of the minutes, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

That motion carries.

We will now move on to the public comment of the evening's presentation.

I'll call upon the city clerk to read the rules procedure before we begin.

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 any detailed concerns in writing to the city clerk's office or your aldermen, for they can be properly documented and directed for response.

There will be nine speakers this evening.

The first is Wendy Sarenson at 1301 Romain.

Just before the first speaker comes up, I just want to let everyone know everyone gets three minutes.

After three minutes, your microphone is turned off.

That's not a reflection of any of the commentary, but an effort to treat everybody fairly.

Everyone gets up to three minutes.

You may begin.

I am also concerned about a private developer who is asking for a multi-decade lease to take over a beloved public park left to the people of Recene in 1917 by Dr.

Clarendon Shoop and his wife Ida, with an explicit instructions in the deed they signed that it should be at public park.

The deed states it is understood between the parties that the here and before described property shall forever be held, maintained, and approved by the city of Racine for public park purposes and shall perpetually bear the name Shoe Park.

The Dune developers have not received their DNR or U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers permits yet, and I'm hoping that the common council will hold off their vote until the developers are granted permits for their plan.

I'm also hoping that you remember that Wisconsin is known for protecting the environment.

Our own former governor and United States Senator, Gailard Nelson is the founder of the first Earth Day in 1970.

It is still celebrated all over the world every every April 22nd.

He also oversaw what's known as the environmental decade of the 1970s, when Congress passed, among other things, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and created the Environmental Protection Agency.

I'd like you to leave you with a quote from Alvin Leopold, another Wisconsin environmental hero.

He wrote the San County Alman Act, which was published in 1948, and also created UWA Madison's wildlife management program.

He is known for coining the phrase the land ethic.

The Elder Leopol Foundation in Barrabu, Wisconsin, is world-renowned for their leadership in advocating and teaching responsible stewardship of the land for future generations.

Aldo says we have used land because we regard it as a commodity, belonging to us.

When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

The land belongs to all living things, to all.

Ma'am, your time has expired.

The next speaker is Michael Burke, 1232 of Lawrence Av.

Michael Burke.

Didn't expect to be up next.

Okay.

I'm going to try to read fast.

Hi, I'm president of Hoy Audubon Society.

You are all well aware that the redevelopment proposal for Shoop Park Golf Course has sparked very mixed reactions.

On the one hand, are golfers who welcome the prospect of a novel golfing challenge.

On the other side, have been those who think the proposal is much too severe for a piece of land that is a haven for wildlife, especially migratory and nesting birds.

We at Hoy Hoy Audubon share those concerns.

Because of its location on a primary migratory bird route, its rich vegetative habitat and effect that Wind Point is a promontory into Lake Michigan along the flyway.

Shoot Park has drawn more than 280 different bird species, including at least three that are state-threatened or endangered.

The redevelopment proposal includes the clearing of most of the trees and shrubs east of Lighthouse Drive and a remaking of the bluff with a rock revetment.

Both of these actions would drastically slash the amount of bird and wildlife habitat in order to create a Dune-style golf course with continuous lake views for golfers.

We find that to be a very, very extreme way to pump new life into a golf course.

However, the developers' plans do have some merit.

As examples, the Saber Scene would gain a new golf club house, and the developers were promised to use native plants in their new landscaping.

There's evidently a pending agreement between city officials and the developers that could be ratified very soon.

I'm not here to ask you, Council members, to reject the entire development proposal, but I am asking the city council to press pause and consider another alternative for the bluff, which is so critical to migrating birds.

Rather than a continuous revetment and complete reshaping to stabilize the bluff, a living shoreline.

This approach, which uses vegetation and careful shaping of the blush bluff, has been used elsewhere, including at Water Beach in Shorewood.

The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with Stevens Institute of Technology, has done case studies and found the approach can be successful while providing food and cover from predation that birds need.

The cost of a living shoreline appears to be comparable, if not a little cheaper, than using rock revetment to stabilize a shoreline.

Where necessary, it could be combined with boulders to aid in stabilization.

The result would be a place that would continue to host migrating birds and also be more pleasing for future beach walkers than a 3,000-foot row of very large rocks.

It would make great a great number of nature lovers and bird watchers happy and still give the golfers the dunes course that many of them seem to want.

It might even avoid regulatory or legal problems involving a plan that interrupts the migration of threatened bird species.

Admittedly, if the council does direct the developers to investigate this alternative to a pure revetment, it could stall the onset of construction.

But what is more important?

A quicker start on a plan that will only benefit a relatively low number of golfers for a few months of the year, or a result that will benefit both people and birds year-round.

Whichever path is chosen will be with us for a very, very long time.

I made it.

And also the birds you go out and see all kinds of different birds.

So I urge you to save the older trees, the older trees have energies in them and moisture.

So I heard you to look into that.

And also I heard you not to change the name to Dunes Park and keep it Shoop Park in honor of Mr.

Shoop.

So could Mr.

Shoop lived here in Racine, so I think it should be called Shoop Park, not Dunes.

The next speaker is Karen Johnson at 5062 Hunklub Road and Wind Point.

Oops.

Honorable Mayor and members of the Common Council.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight regarding the future of our lakefront.

We are at a crucial crossroads with the Kaiser Plan for Shoop Park.

While presented at a world, while presented as a world-class dune style golf course and premier destination, this proposal threatens our natural heritage, our migratory bird population, and Dr.

Shoop's 109-year-old gift deeded to the residents of a scene for a public park.

First, let's look at the environmental impact.

The Kaiser Plans calls for an extensive bluff remediation that would remove all trees along the shoreline and relocate foraging habitat across the street that would devastate the delicate, well-documented habit.

One currently supporting our 270 species of federally protected migratory birds.

One only needs to turn to Kohler's plants to build a premier golf course at Kohler Andre State Park, also a protected route.

After much litigation, revoked wetland permits and pushback from environmental groups, it's still in limbo after 12 years.

Instead of destroying this irreplaceable ecology, we must adopt a living shoreline approach endorsed by NOAA fisheries.

Living shorelines use trees, native vegetation, and stone.

This natural stabilization protects against erosion while sustaining coastal resilience and preserving our local biodiversity.

We have prepared documents for the members and mayor discussing this plan in further detail.

Second, we must address the legal deed governing this land.

In 1917, Shu donated these 52 acres along Lake Michigan explicitly for the people of Racine to use as a public park in perpetuity.

Dr.

Shu passed away in 1924, and the city decided to build a golf course in 1926.

This is not what Dr.

Shoop intended for the park, but it worked well because it still served the people as a municipal course with reasonable fees.

Today that mandate is being tested by the privatization by a for-profit entity.

The Shoop deed is illegally binding and must be honored.

The community is increasingly concerned that it is being bypassed to cater to a limited exclusive golfing interest rather than enriching all residents.

Residents who would be priced out of the park when the initial $24 fee expires.

Also, as part of the plan, the parking lot will be relocated to the sacred green space in front of the lighthouse.

I urge you to immediately pause this project until these conditions are met and built into the plan, a living shoreline with trees, protections from migratory birds, future resident golfe fees codified into the agreement.

Otherwise, they'll skyrocket and return to the park parking lot to where it belongs, not on the lighthouse grounds.

In closing, we need to take time and thoughtfully finalize a plan.

The next speaker, and I'm sorry, I'm having trouble reading it.

It starts with an R, and I think the last name is Heltman.

If you could please state your name and address, I would appreciate it.

Sorry about that.

Rosalinda Salinas Hultman.

And I am here for uh coming together Racine.

Am I speaking clearly enough?

Yeah, great.

So coming together Racine is recognizing the 250 year what you want to call anniversary with the untold stories.

And they are about the people and the life events that have changed and given the rights that we now have.

And so we had our first program on June 27th with the indigenous about the indigenous people in this part of Racine and Wisconsin, and of course that kind of connects us with what is happening here.

So that is one of the things.

But if you have questions about this and what we are doing to recognize our heritage, our history, you are all welcome to the library.

Thank you.

It appears they have a flyer they wanted to leave.

I'll send the clerk out to receive the flyer from the next speaker is Harry Schultz at 539 Newman Road.

Building a sand dunes golf course is not restoring the land to what it was.

I brought this up last time I spoke here.

And the DNR website shows that the area by Wind Point was forested prior to settlement.

I I have an addition of since then I found a map dated 1800 to 1840, showing a forest at wind point.

So I mean, if you if you have something from 1850, 1860, it may show no trees there, but that would be because they cut them down.

Okay.

The shoreline protection plan has not been approved by the DNR or Army Corps Engineers.

It seems premature to approve contracts when you don't know what the plan is for the uh shoreline.

There's only about 20 million golfers, regular golfers in the United States.

And they they uh golf 95% of all rounds played and spend 90% 95% of the money for golfing.

Uh 20 million golfers represents only 5.9% of the United States population.

Uh high-end golf course, such as they're proposing, it would be expected to serve about 15,000 rounds of golf per season.

In order to get if the 5.9% serious golfers applies to Racine and Kenosha, 69% of the golfers in Racine and Kenosha would have to play around at shoops to get 15,000 rounds.

There's I believe there's 16 other golf courses in Racine and Kenosha right now.

So there's quite a bit of opportunities to golf, and there's lots of competition for any new improved golf course.

World-class golf course is likely to price out many local golfers.

Um my research, it seems like the high class world class nine-hole golf course would cost about a hundred one point five million dollars per year to uh to run.

And uh the investors would probably want a return, and uh I figured a return of 8% on uh 11 million dollars would be uh and then 15,000 rounds.

Oh, anyway, it ends up uh you would the price would likely have to be around 128 dollars per round to uh pay the expenses.

The assumption is that the golf course will be a success.

Um that's not sir, your time has expired.

The next speaker is Bill Coach, and the address just says Franksville.

Okay.

The next speaker was the next speaker is Jerry Frankie at 6342 Berkshire in Mount Pleasant Good evening.

Um I'm gonna tag team if if this is all right.

Wasn't sure Helen would be able to get here in time to sign up, so I'll yield my time to Helen Johnson.

Good afternoon, thank you for this opportunity.

Um I'm Helen Johnson Leopold.

My husband is Craig Leopold, he's the one pushing for this um project.

Uh he is not able to be here, so I'm his pinch hitter tonight.

Um first of all, I just like to say I'm part of this community.

I've lived here forever.

Uh we're generations in Racine.

I run a company downtown, and the family, my family cares a lot about this community and has done so much for everyone and for the city itself, and that's not changing.

Um there is no developer, it's us, we have a consultant that's helping us, and I will tell you that it is a golf course right now, it's not gonna change, so that's a done deal, but it is an asset, it's a beautiful place, it's on the lake.

The waterfront needs to be fixed, it will be in the lake, and I witnessed that because I live on the lake and lost many feet of land before deciding that I had to shore it up.

Now there may be many ways to shore it up, and my husband is very willing to listen to options.

Um we love this community, we love Shoe Park.

We lived there.

My you know, I still have my mother's house, it is right next door, and we would do nothing to do, you know, to make it less than it is today.

We I'm a tree person, I will be, and Craig, you know, he's leading the project, but he still has to I'm helping to pay for it.

So I'm gonna watch out for those trees, and they are beautiful.

Some are not some are buckthorn and and need to be taken down, but we will plant trees where they're needed to help short the the lake front.

But we are my family's environment, my mom's a birder.

I know at least I knew every bird that was in this community from the day I was born because she had us learning that, but we would do nothing to hurt the wildlife.

My mother would turn over in her grave if we ever did something like that.

We are not out to make money.

I'm worried we're gonna lose our shirt on this because it's not a for-profit, and there's no way in I see this working to be a profit, but we care, we'll do it right.

And I appreciate we will listen to people and I'm not happy.

The next speaker is Diana Valencia at 3919 Ruby Street.

Uh good evening.

Um, I gave you the invitations before.

Um, I would like to personally invite you all to attend our 250 Wall of History celebration.

It's uh it's a recognition of the untold stories, and if you see there's different dates, tomorrow's accessibility.

Um, at one time we couldn't, they would be outside in our front front um uh of um city hall, and a wheelchair couldn't even come up.

So uh they would crawl up the stairs.

So come and listen to the stories of reality and what actually had to happen to make the changes.

Um because I've attended some of the programs, especially the indigenous one.

I've uh done a lot of history here in racing and uh working with the heritage museum and the racing public library, open my heart up to many of the things that are happening, especially our parks, and uh we've done so many great things with our parks, so I hope that we can work together to save Shoe Park.

And we've done so many great things with our parks.

So I hope that we can work together to save Shoe Park.

Thank you.

Okay.

This concludes the public comment segment.

Okay, we'll move on to items for referral.

Umgenson, do you have an item to refer?

To the executive committee.

I do.

It's item number 609-26.

Uh communication sponsored by Mayor Mason requesting to authorize the mayor and city clerk to enter into an agreement with Leopold Johnson Golf Group for shoreline stabilization, habitat restoration, clubhouse construction, and a long-term lease for the operation and maintenance of shoot park.

I move to refer to the executive committee.

Aye.

Opposed.

The motion carries just for information here.

The intention is to have that executive committee after the finance committee this coming Monday at approximately six o'clock, just so the public knows.

If that moves forward from there, the council could consider it as soon as it's meeting on the 21st.

So just wanted to let people know that.

We'll move on now to referrals to the finance and personnel committee.

Uh Alder Land, would you like to make a motion for referral?

I'd like to make a motion to refer the following item to the finance and personnel committee.

Item 0610-26 communication on behalf of the chief of police to seek approval to enter into an agreement with Passport Inc.

I'll entertain a second.

The second to refer this item.

All those in favor of referring this item to finance and personnel, please say aye.

Opposed, that motion carries.

We then move on to referrals to public works and services.

Alder Harman, would you like to make a motion on referral?

Yes, Mayor.

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

Item 0536-2 communication sponsored by Alder Kelly to discuss current alley pavement and patching ordinance discussion and possible action.

Item 059426 communication sponsored by Alder Wagner for update on shoot park golf course prior to current contract expiration.

Item 0596-26 communications sponsored by Alder Harmon.

Submitting change order number two, contract 2025 seven for five Bryant Parking Lot Edition staff recommendation to be approved in the amount of $8,012 and 39 cent.

Communications sponsored by myself, submitting amendment one to contract 2023 142, three-party professional engineering services contract between the city of Racine, Wisconsin DOT and Stand Association for State Project ID 2703006, Ohio Street.

Recommendation is that the mayor and city clerk be authorized and directed to sign amendment one to contract 2023 142.

Item 0600-26 communication sponsored by myself submitting final payment for contract 2025 745 Bryant Center Parking Lot Edition.

Recommendation that the work completed by Wazenick Corporation contracts be accepted and final payment authorized for the total contract amount of 209,554 and 39 cent.

Item 0601-26 communication sponsored by myself submitting bid results for contract 2026-169, humble park baseball lighting upgrade.

Staff recommendation the contract be received and filed.

Staff recommendation is that contract 2026-168, Horlick Park Building Lighting Upgrades be received and filed.

Oaks and Sun recommendation is that the resolution 048826 reflects the corrected contract award amount of 209,298 dollars and 25 centem 0604-26 communications sponsored by myself submitting a professional services agreement between the City of Racing and Strand Associations for Frederick's street reconstruction in and not to exceed the amount of 70 76,000 recommendation and that the public works and services committee approve the professional services agreement and for it to not exceed the amount of 76,000 dollars.

Alder Jorgensen, did you have a motion on the item or an amendment to the item?

Yeah, I'd like to move to refer or to uh receive and file item 594-26, seeing that we've already uh sent this same item uh to the executive committee um with an actual proposal attached to it that would be handled there.

Uh I don't see the need for a a separate update for it.

Um everyone's able to go to the executive committee, and I think it also may be even confusing the members of the public of which one is actually doing what, um, seeing that there is uh an official proposal coming through.

So I would move to receive and file.

There's a second to receive and file item 0594-26.

Alder Widener, would you like to speak to that?

Did the maker of the motion wish to speak first?

I believe he did.

You have the floor if you have to speak to it.

I'm good, thank you.

So I'm gonna speak against the motion uh against not uh receiving and filing this item.

The reason that I sent this item to public works and services is Alderman can only send items to standing committees.

I would have sent it to the park and rec board, but I don't have the authority to do that.

We've had a contract with a contractor for operating and maintaining the three uh golf courses since 2018.

Uh that's quite a lengthy contract.

Uh that contract is due to expire at the end of this year.

So I don't want to see the same kind of calamity happen with the golf courses that has happened with the Civic Center Commission, and I can't understand why any member of this body would not want to have a discussion prior to a contract expiration about that contract.

So that's the purpose of this uh communication.

Whether we have two golf courses or three golf courses on that contract, it still needs to be discussed, and I think it should be taken up in before the end of the year.

So I'm speaking against the motion to receive and file motion to receive and file item 0594-26.

Any further discussion on receiving and filing this item.

I will go to a roll call vote on this.

Are we voting electronically today?

We can vote electronically today.

Um Alder Widener, did you want to add something else?

I do.

Uh, this will be my second time to speak to this.

I don't know why anyone in this room would want to silence anyone.

So I'm hoping that my colleagues will vote against receiving and filing a conversation that needs to take place amongst this body, or at least amongst the committee.

Thank you.

Alder Jorgensen.

Yeah, to clarify, I don't think the intention is to silence anybody.

We have already enough, uh, it seems misinformation around this topic.

Um I have received emails of people asking why we're attempting to tear down the lighthouse and win point.

Uh, and so my fear is that by adding on another layer to this, there's gonna be even more confusion.

In fact, just before this meeting started, folks were under the impression that this was the final vote to approve the whole thing that we just referred to a committee.

And so if this wants to come back later, maybe not the same week that we're discussing uh a brand new contract, that would make much more sense than putting them back to back because it really seems like it's it's going to cause confusion to members of the public, as well as that very golf course contract may look very different if the council decides to go a different direction with uh with the proposal that would be discussed at the executive committee.

So, really just a pitch to everyone of let's try to stay on focus here to not have what happened last time with the um festival hall commission or festival hall um contract where we kind of got in, we had an agreement on the table, we threw it off, and so I just want to make sure that we're very clear with the public on what is and is not being discussed.

Um seems like there's a uh the opportunity here to really make sure everyone's on the same page to cut through a bit of the noise, and this doesn't seem to be doing that.

Alder Harmon.

Thank you, me.

I appreciate it.

I um I support receiving and filing this.

I understand the sentiment and the um purpose behind it.

It's to decrease any confusion.

The mayor has already made an announcement that we will be discussing this and that the public is open to participate or sit in on the discussion that's going to be happening next week.

Um I think that too many forms of different communications and um belaboring an issue with regards to something that is going to be discussed in full is um kind of deletes the um defeats the purpose.

I do think that receiving and filing at this time would be necessarily, especially since um we heard an announcement just today that we are going to be discussing this next week.

Um, and I believe that we can have all answers um all questions answered at that time, and to do some to just go back to back on the exact same issue, I think would um not benefit anyone.

So I also agree with this being received and filed at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Alder Allen.

Thank you.

I agree with receiving and filing.

However, if we are going to have a conversation about uh contracts that will be ending, and that's this contract or other contracts, I believe, instead of that conversation being segregated to one particular committee.

That's a conversation and a presentation that should be in front of the committee of the whole.

So when we think about that in the future, that I believe would be the correct way to handle that.

So we're not doubling back.

Everyone has the opportunity to receive and ask questions all at one time.

So I again I support receiving and filing this agenda item.

Alder Pavone.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I just want to uh clarify if the Alder from the 6th district would yield to a question.

Would the Alder from the 6th yield to a question?

Thank you.

Is your intention with this to get an update on the existing contract we have with who maintains shoot park now?

That is correct.

And a conversation with our new director of parks, recreation, cultural services.

That contract now falls under his auspices because the contract was originally uh negotiated back in 2018 and is uh due to expire.

There's been many, many changes that has taken place at the golf course.

So just basically on the contract we have now, correct?

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

Is it possible to for the council to get an email with the existing contract that we have?

Yes.

Okay, because I think that would simplify a lot of things because then if there are questions, those can be asked to the appropriate people via email and doesn't have to go to a committee.

Thank you.

I'll be happy to share that contract.

Alder Widener, you've spoken on the item twice already.

Um Alder, any other discussion?

Uh we've had two elders speak twice.

Anybody who's not spoken to this once or twice uh at all or once wanting to speak on this item again.

See none, we are voting electronically today.

We have everybody in the chamber.

Uh the motion is to receive and file this item.

Uh if you are in favor of voting, uh receiving and filing this item, vote yes.

If you are opposed to such uh a motion, vote no slider.

We're apparently appearing some technical difficulties and will in fact do a roll call vote.

Our apologies when the clerk calls your name again.

An I vote would be to receive and file the item, a no vote would to be not to receive and file the item.

When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish.

Alder Jorgensen.

Alder Widener, Alder Hodges, Alder Allen, Alder Pete, Alder Land, Alder Demark, Alder Kelly, Alder Harmon, Alder Pabone, Alder Frazier, Alder Weiss, Alder Mack.

Alder Kelly.

Alder Harman.

Alder Pabone.

Alder Fraser.

Alder Weiss.

Alder Mack.

No.

11 ayes.

Two no's.

The motion to receive and file that item has passed.

Moving on to the remainder of Alder Harman's referrals.

Is there a second on her motion?

Is that a motion to refer the remainder of the items?

Any discussion on referrals of the remaining items to public work and services see none.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Those referrals carry.

We will now move on.

I apologize.

To referrals to public safety and licensing.

Uh Alder Pete, would you like to make a motion regarding a referral?

Make a motion to refer the following items to the public safety and licensing committee.

First item is item number 058526.

Communication sponsored by myself, submitting a new application for a Class B retail permitted malt beverage license for a sausage kitchen Inc.

DBA Sausage Kitchen, which is located at 1706 Rapids Drive.

Dr.

Christopher Miller Agent, 7th District.

Staff recommendation that the committee review the application.

Next item 058626.

Communication sponsored by myself for submitting a new application for a cigarette tobacco and electronic vape device retail license for Butler Candyland and more.

LLC DBA Butler Candy Land and Moore.

LLC, which is located in 1900 Mead Street.

Regina Butler Agent Second District.

Next item 058726.

Communications sponsored by myself, submitting a new application for a Class Betail fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license for long story short DBA.

Uncorked located at 240 Main Street.

Next item is item 0590 26.

Communications followed by myself on behalf of the city clerk's office.

Submitting a new application for a massage establishment license, massage therapy by Anthony Mullarkey, quit the DBA massage therapy by Anthony Mullarkey, located at 801 South Street.

Anthony Mullarkey, owner, 5th district.

Next item 059126 communication sponsored by myself, submitting a list of liquor license which have applied for renewal late or have not submitted renewal paperwork for intoxicating liquor and fermented malt beverages for the 2026 through 2027 year.

Next item 058826 communications sponsored by myself for the license permission premises report.

Next item item 058926 communication sponsored by Alder Widener requesting any consideration and formal expression of concern or other actions pursuant to the police report.

Next item 060526 communications sponsored by myself requesting the appearance of Kevin Dubaki, agent for dubies located at 3701 Durand Avenue.

Pursuant to a formal expression of concern.

Also requesting consideration of rescinding the formal expression of concern.

Item number 060626 communications sponsored by myself requesting the appearance of Natasha Evans.

Agent select 627, which is located at 1111 Washington Avenue, pursuant to a formal expression of concern and also requesting consideration of rescinding the formal expression of concern.

Next item 060726 communication sponsored by myself requesting the appearance of Rebecca McCray, agent for Taste of Soul.

Located at 5016th Street, pursuant to a formal expression of concern and also requesting consideration of rescinding the formal expression of concern.

So motion to approve.

Oh I'm sorry, I was premature.

Okay.

All those in favor of these referrals, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

That motion carries.

We then move on to committee reports.

Uh public safety and licensing is the first report today.

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

No, sir.

I do not.

Alder Widener, did you have an item?

The unleashed animals and dog parks ordinance.

I'd like that for separate consideration.

Could could you rate the legislature item, please?

The unleashed animal and dog parks ordinance change.

This is 0535-26.

There's the request for separate consideration.

On this item, is there discussion?

Uh can we read the item?

Alder Pete, would you please read item 0535?

Okay.

Oh of your agenda.

If it doesn't bother anyone, I'll read it.

It's item 0535-26.

This is a communication sponsored by Alder Davis proposing ordinance 0003-26 on leashed animals and dog parks.

Recommendation from me was to approve.

There was some communication from staff about this at the end of last week.

Umder Widener, would you like to speak further on the item?

I just have some questions for the city attorney.

Please take it.

As this looks like it's a dramatic uh ordinance change, a late uh explanation on what has been removed from the original ordinance and what has been added.

Um generally this ordinance change would do two things.

It would clarify what an animal to be running at large means.

As uh the ordinance currently exists, um there frankly is a question as to whether um an animal has to be on leash when they're off the owner's property, as opposed to just be under the control voice control of somebody when they're uh uh around the city.

So that's that's taken away.

It adds a leash requirement.

So it continues uh the requirement that uh you know if if anybody's if they're on their own property, they don't have to be on a leash, but if they're they have to be secured with the leash when they're on any public property or on any private property without the permission of a property owner, and there are some exceptions of uh animal in a vehicle or an animal in a carrier, law enforcement um uh canine or a dog that's within the parameters of a designated dog park would not have to be on a leash.

Uh this ordinance also would add Jones Park to the list of parks where dogs may be and clarifies that it's a violation of the ordinance if anybody in a dog park violates the rules.

The rules have to be adopted by the Board of Parks Recreation and Cultural Services, approved by the common council, and then posted by an official sign.

I understand there was some confusion about whether certain rules applied in dog parks.

This would clarify that.

Thank you.

Other discussion on this item.

Um we have been asked for separate consideration on the item.

If there's no further discussion on the item, um, we'll uh vote on it separately when the clerk calls your name.

Please vote as you wish.

Alder Jorgensen.

Aye, Alder Widener, Alder Hodges, Alder Allen, Alder Pete, Alder Land, Alder Damart, Alder Kelly, Alder Harmon, Alder Pabone, Alder Frasier, Alder Weiss, Alder Mack.

Aye.

Thirteen ayes, zero no's.

Alder Pete, did you have any other items for separate requested for separate consideration?

No, sir.

I do not.

Then without objection, these items will be placed on the consent agenda.

And we will move on to the transit commission report in Alder Horton's absence.

Alder Pabone, have you had any requests for separate consideration on these items?

I have not.

Then without objections, they will be placed on the consent agenda.

And we will move to planning, heritage, and design.

Alder Pete, have you received any requests for super consideration?

No, I have not, sir.

Then without objection, these will be placed on the consent agenda.

We'll then move on to the Office of the Mayor report.

Alder Jorgensen, have you had any requests for separate consideration?

I have not.

And without objection, these will be placed on the consent agenda.

We will now move to the consent agenda.

Uh Alder Jorgensen, would you like to make a motion regarding the consent agenda?

Yes, I am approve the consent agenda.

It's a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

The motion carries.

This brings us to common council announcements.

Just as a reminder, announcements are limited to recognition of city residents and employees, memorials, and non-political community events.

Discussion of matters related to government business is prohibited.

I do want to just start with an announcement thanking uh staff and volunteers and Mother Nature for cooperating so much in the last few days with the many community events that we've had, whether it was Fourth Fest or Fireworks or the 250th celebration on Sunday.

We had three sister city uh cities mayors visiting at the same time through all that.

So none of that could happen without great volunteers on our boards, committees, and commissions, and an excellent, excellent staff uh who did amazing work to put those events together.

The fourth fest board, uh, lots of really great people doing some great things.

So kudos to everyone.

Uh the community uh showed very well this this these last few days.

Alder Mack.

Thank you.

I'd like to echo your comments and thank the community for showing up for the fourth festival racine festivities this past weekend.

It truly was a community celebration, seeing the the floats and the businesses and the community groups that uh came down that parade route along with all the uh community spectators, and those fireworks were second to none.

They were amazing.

Alder Weiss.

All right, a little redundant, but um echo the city of Racine staff.

We had First Friday, clean up.

We had Fourth of July parade, cleanup, set up for the next day, fireworks, like unbelievable.

We had a storm with trees that came down on Friday, the forestry department was down the street picking up trees.

I don't know how they did what they did, not to mention like first responders with a few fires.

I can't imagine, you know, just all the police officers.

My husband said it seems like there's a lot more police officers, and we talked to a guy, and he said, Well, you can't take off unless you have 20 years or more this weekend.

So just all the people working.

Um, we took a walk downtown Sunday morning and saw your staff out, um, setting up center pieces and doing tablecloths, and it's like nonstop.

So just a huge shout out to all the city staff because this was a crazy weekend of events.

Yeah, I don't want to repeat what's been said, but everyone uh the parade went great, everything went fantastic.

The only one that I would throw in there, call out a special thank you for is DPW.

Um that was a lot of barricades to put up, it was a lot of signs to put up, it was a lot of barricades to take down, it was a lot of signs to take down.

In amongst all of that, they also I just want to uh thank DPW for this as well.

They were able to get pedestrian crossing signs, the first two in the city were installed on Mean Street at the intersections of Maine and Augusta and Maine and uh Walton.

And so that was amongst all of the other craziness, so I want to thank them for their hard work on doing that and encourage everyone when you're going to the zoo or North Beach or just enjoying the lake shore.

Um, there's uh two new safer ways to cross uh across Main Street now.

So thank you, everyone.

Alder Pete.

Uh thank you.

It's kind of difficult to be one of the last speakers and not repeat what's already been echoed in bears several times, but again, I I would feel remiss if I didn't give a shout out to the police department, fire department, all of the first responders, DPW, the city staff in general, because I know they worked very hard, and also the partners.

I won't mention any name, but the people that help uh contribute from the outside, especially for the 250 fests.

I've made all of the events, the food was outstanding, everything was orderly, and I think it's a memorable experience for the community.

Thank you.

Alder Allen.

Thank you.

Well, I am going to call out the aims.

I want to give out a huge thanks to everyone in the city that I'm repeating what everyone has already said to our police, our fire, and our city staff.

You did an awesome job.

But I am going to clap to Tara and her team.

And I'm going to clap to Corey Sebastian, who is celebrating her birthday tomorrow.

We also have Malik or Alder Frazier celebrating his birthday next week.

I also want to let people know that we will be having our first back to school event at Lockwood Park on August the 8th.

So I'll be handing out information for that.

And we will also be preparing for our first lighting of the tree event at Lockwood Park in December.

So that's something to look forward to.

Everybody, have a nice week.

Lots of notice.

Yeah, I guess following up on Alder Jorgensen's announcement of Pedice and Crossings.

You may notice now downtown if you cross uh at intersections, there's an audible uh accompaniment for anybody who may be visually impaired.

Uh and it takes about 50 to 60 seconds longer to get through the downtown in our efforts to slow down the speed uh in Main Street.

Uh we managed to do that without spending more than a million dollars relocating a state highway.

So glad to see that in one last thing.

I'll just mention there were so many great uh moments to notice, but we had three sister city mayors visiting.

They were in the parade and they were overwhelmed and so impressed with our parade, but they were a little bit nervous about what the reception would be of these uh these mayors from three different countries, uh, and they all got applauded and great response, and uh the fact that three mayors will bring that home with them to their home communities about what that experience was here, is really uh reflects very well on on the city and our sister city program, uh, but just the the innate goodness of our residents and are willing to be uh hospitable from people from different places.

So it was a great great event.

Um Alder Pavone.

Thank you, Mr.

Uh just want to echo the sentiments of my colleagues regarding all the festivities over this weekend.

Phenomenal job by the staff and just really being a part and seeing the city come out in the way that it did was just something that I think we all uh needed to see and to be a part of, especially when we have um visiting mayors from other countries.

It's really great to show the best of the best when we have it.

Shout out to again all the city staff.

I know Tara was running around crazy, Sam.

All this all the people just making things work, DPW.

Um, also there's quite a number of birthdays.

We have my mother who will be turning uh 60 on Wednesday, so that's a big birthday for her.

Uh also my brother, my brother Lupe, my other brother Irving, my niece Mariah, my uncle Daniel.

So there's a lot of July babies um in my family.

Um I debated back and forth uh about this this last one, but some of you may know that um unfortunately there was a murder in my family a couple weeks ago, and uh we are still looking for that person.

So we will be laying Giovanni to rest tomorrow, and um we would like to fully focus in on processing our grief.

So if anyone has any tips or knows the whereabouts of this person, please call the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

It's 2628840454 if you want to remain anonymous.

Crime Stoppers uh has a P3 tips app, um, or you can call 262-636-930.

Thank you.

Alder Pavone, we're very sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry, I'll keep it brief.

Um, there was one other one amongst all of the celebrations that um I wanted to thank the the fire department, the men and woman of the fire department.

Uh it was a busy uh 18 to 24 hours for them.

There were three or four structure fires, there were many, many accidents in it.

And so I I know that they worked round the clock to do that.

I'd like to thank them for their hard work.

Um, and then uh echo, please make sure that you are safe with fireworks.

It's uh a friendly reminder uh about the severity of that can have.

I know in their email they had copied um just the thousands of dollars of loss, not to mention the um the human harm that came from it.

Um so please please be careful and thank you to the men and women of the fire department for um keeping us safe.

Alder Jorgensen, could I impose upon you for a motion to adjourn?

So move.

Motion and second to adjourn.

All those in favor of adjournment, please say aye.

Aye opposed that motion carries.

We are adjourned.