Racine Common Council Meeting - September 1, 2026: Debt Authorizations and Veto Override
Racine Common Council Meeting - September 1, 2026: Debt Authorizations and Veto Override
The Racine Common Council met on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Room 205. Fourteen of fifteen alderpersons were present; Vice Chair Allen was excused. Mayor Cory Mason presided. The Council approved the previous meeting minutes, referred numerous communications to committees, authorized $22.7 million in general obligation promissory notes and $15.61 million in refunding bonds, and voted to override Mayor Mason's veto of a conditional Class B liquor license for Dixit Patel. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.; the next regular meeting was scheduled for September 15, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the August 5, 2026, meeting minutes by voice vote.
- Referred to Committee of the Whole by voice vote: item 0772-26, authorizing review of Flock camera-related ordinances, contracts, guidance, or policies; and item 0789-26, requesting a presentation on Flock Camera/Automated License Plate Readers.
- Referred to Finance and Personnel by voice vote: the 2025 BJA Edward Byrne JAG grant ($34,782 total, RPD share $17,391); a $1,000 Woodman's donation to RPD; Ascension Employee Health and Wellness Center extension and sixth amendment (city shares of $23,354 and $403,678); 2nd Quarter 2026 fiscal results; seven claims recommended for disallowance; Polimorphic software renewal ($661,435.98 over three years); a department P-card monthly reporting request (estimated $30,000/year); an E-Cycle Wisconsin grant application ($1,000-$20,000); a Habitat for Humanity home-building agreement; a U.S.-Canada trade resolution; a Bishop Lawrence Kirby memorial plaque; Flock camera renegotiation/termination; and TID 25/J. Jeffers TIF amendments.
- Referred to Public Works and Services by voice vote: a Passport Labs parking meter upgrade presentation; stop-sign and 25 MPH speed-sign requests on Eisenhauer Drive; the Rupert Boulevard sidewalk closure; the Mt. Pleasant Street AECOM engineering amendment; the Chicago Street/Golf Avenue local roads improvement SMA ($600,000 total, $150,000 state share); a revocable occupancy permit for 1045 Washington Avenue; the Monument Mash Halloween street closure; 2026-27 road salt purchase (7,000 tons at $98.72/ton); final payments for tuckpointing and sanitary sewer contracts; and a 12th Street speed-limit amendment.
- Referred to Public Safety and Licensing by voice vote: the license premises report, the police report for possible action or expression of concern, and proposed curfew ordinance 0793-26.
- Approved the consent agenda by voice vote, including remaining Finance and Personnel items such as the $150,000 Adam Locke settlement, Tyler Technologies ERP/Utility Billing upgrade (about $450,000), Kohl Philanthropies donation (up to $500,000), Downtown BID amended operating plan, DNR/Wastewater/Waterworks loan applications, revenue bond resolutions, and the Light Nuisance ordinance.
- Approved the consent Public Works and Services items, including 2026 Sidewalk Replacement to Beardsley Concrete ($337,898.31), CCTV sewer inspection final payment ($581,003.51), Racine Works penalties ($13,995.71 for Kaschak Roofing and $25,226.63 for Berglund Construction), CIPP lining change order deduction ($175,665.25) and final payment ($1,031,652.25).
- Approved consent Planning, Heritage and Design items: rezones at 1025 Marquette Street, 234 Wisconsin Avenue with historic overlay/local landmark designation, and 4515/4525 Washington Avenue; the CDA acquisition authorization for 5120 Byrd Avenue; and Transit Commission authorization for Cummins overhauls of up to 9 Gillig buses (about $1,035,000).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Diana Kanecki requested an educational campaign, policy, or law addressing social media stalking, describing personal harassment and employment concerns for transgender and asexual people.
- Ron Pearson objected to a two-week community room closure due to pest-control vendor issues at his affordable housing property and called for city scrutiny of Wisconsin Preservation Corp.
- Chavandalyn Jackson supported Danny Patel's Class B license for a vacant Taylor Avenue property, saying he would follow city policies and bring nearby jobs.
- Madeline Thompson opposed continued Flock ALPR use, citing privacy, the company's development of face-recording "Nova," media exclusion from Flock's conference, two RPD officers investigated for misuse, lack of independent audit, wrongful stops, and a camera near Erie and English streets that appeared to point into a multifamily building.
- Debra Swenson supported Patel, citing his 26-year record and the neighborhood need for a grocery store.
- Belinda Lawrence, who said she works with over 700 security cameras, urged "someone watching the watchers," chain-of-custody vigilance, and limits on Flock footage storage.
- John Christensen opposed Flock, noting 37 cameras in Racine's roughly 15.5 square miles, an estimated minimum cost of $95,000 per year, and national statistics including 100+ license plate reader abuse cases, 50 officers charged or convicted, and 27 wrongful motorist stops since 2018.
- Amanda Paffrath, chair of the Downtown Racine Business Improvement District, reported BID budget changes, the DRC Executive Committee's termination notice to the BID, and the organizations' separation effort.
- Bobby Ayala opposed Flock and asked for review and safeguards, saying communities do not want it and referencing recent Wisconsin community actions against Flock.
- Dixit Patel asked the Council to allow him to finish his project under the conditions already approved, noting his family's investment and more than 80 signatures of community support.
- Chris Flynn requested support for the official historic landmark designation of the D.P. Wigley Building at 234 Wisconsin Avenue, which he and Mark own.
- Neha Patel supported her husband's business and asked for an opportunity to prove compliance.
- Andrew Arena supported the Patel license, argued a supervised on-premise lounge is safer than alternatives, and said small-business dollars stay in the community.
Discussion Items
- Item 0689-26: The Council debated the $22.7 million 2026 general obligation promissory note issuance dated October 28, 2026, for capital improvements, vehicles, and equipment. Alder Weidner questioned the impact of adding $15.61 million in long-term debt for the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center and called for a full-council discussion about delaying a future fire station project. The Finance Director said the MLK refinancing had been anticipated and that the 2027 debt-service levy was not expected to increase. Brad Vigo of Baird Public Finance said Standard & Poor's assigned the city an AA- general obligation rating with a stable outlook. The anticipated interest cost was about $5 million on the $22.7 million borrowing and about $7.3 million on the MLK Center borrowing, with rates of about 3.72% and 3.83%. The motion passed 14-0.
- Item 0691-26: The Council approved up to $15.61 million in 2026 general obligation refunding bonds to refinance the March 17, 2025 promissory notes for the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center. Alder Weidner asked whether pending donations, including $500,000 from Kohl Philanthropies and $1.9 million from the Johnson family, would reduce the borrowing; the Finance Director said restrictions had not yet been received. The motion passed 13-1, with Alder Weidner voting no. Note: the communication amount was $15,610,000, while the Finance and Personnel Committee recommendation in the minutes references up to $16,000,000.
- Item 0720-26: The Council considered overriding Mayor Mason's veto of the Council's earlier action on item 0660-26, which granted Dixit Patel a conditional Class B license. The City Attorney explained that a two-thirds vote of all members, or ten votes, was required. Supporters cited the conditional grocery-store requirement, Patel's business record, community support, and the ability to review compliance later. Opponents said there was no public benefit to another alcohol-serving business in that area. Alder Davis cautioned against treating people receiving behavioral health or homeless services as lacking agency. The roll-call vote to override the veto passed 13-1, with Alder Harmon voting no.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the August 5, 2026, minutes by voice vote.
- Approved all committee referrals by voice vote.
- Passed item 0689-26, the $22.7 million GO promissory note issuance, 14-0.
- Passed item 0691-26, the $15.61 million refunding bond authorization, 13-1.
- Overrode the Mayor's veto on item 0720-26 by a 13-1 roll-call vote, allowing the conditional Class B license to proceed.
- Approved the consent agenda and remaining committee reports by voice vote.
- Adjourned at 8:00 p.m.; the next Common Council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. The hour of six o'clock. Having arrived on this first of September 2026, it is my pleasure to call to order the city of Racine Common Council. Our first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. If you could please rise as you are able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under dialogue, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Note that in the minutes. Yes, I would move to approve the minutes. So motion uh to approve the minutes, seconded by Alder Mack. Any discussion on said minutes. Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed. That motion carries. Uh we don't have proclamations for this meeting, so we will move on to public comments. If the clerk could please read the procedure on public comments. 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 speakers 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. The 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, where they can be properly documented and directed for response. There will be 13 speakers this evening. The first is Diana Connects at 5101 right Av. As the first speaker is coming up, uh, as I say at every meeting, uh, every speaker is entitled to three minutes. There's a clock uh that has a countdown on those three minutes. After three minutes, the microphone is turned off. That is not a reflection or a commentary on what you're saying, but an effort rather to treat everybody equally. Oh, hello. Um, I like to speak of a concern of social media stalking. Um, a few weeks ago at a fast food restaurant that I normally go to and have gone to for many years. I was social media stalked, and I didn't realize until I went shopping later after one person said, Well, your Facebook famous. I didn't understand what that meant, and she showed me where someone um took a picture. Why is that wow? Is that one fast food restaurant of my Barbies? Um, I I take my Barbie's with me because I have social anxiety, and it helps me to so that I don't have to live as a racuse. Because sometimes they get very strange looks, very strange comments. It's nice to see a smiling face. But um, the person showed me the the couple that did this, and I talked with the manager. However, I I the what followed was the caption was a capital letters. What the and the letter starting with F, and then 200 comments about 100 negative, 100 positive. Those that were positive um were from medical professionals or people that understood about people that have social anxiety or that carry doubt that carry either Dow or Klingy thing on their purse or something else. And also those of us who are transgender, because sometimes also what people went into. This is the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, DSM 4, the current versus DSM 5.
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