OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Waukesha City Council Meeting – February 19, 2026

Public Meetings — Thursday, February 19, 2026
BodyWaukesha, Wisconsin
SessionPublic Meetings
DateThursday, February 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 59:03

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Okay, we'll call the common council meeting to order.

0:06

For Thursday, February 19th, 2026.

0:09

Um Anderson is unable to attend tonight.

0:13

Um please do oh we'll uh do the roll call.

0:17

Christine here, Payne, Wigderson Piper Bantrieste Wells Absent.

0:26

Manion Moldsen here, Wateska Anderson's absent, Helvin Slavin.

0:32

Here, Matthews, here Dean Lemke, here, Rick Lemke, here Camacho.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Okay, we do have a quorum.

0:39

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:50

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:59

Next item is uh public comment.

1:01

Uh I did check a while ago.

1:03

There was no one signed up for public comment.

1:05

Uh is there anyone here for public comment?

1:09

Okay, we'll move on.

1:11

Next item is approval of the minutes for January 15, 2026.

1:16

Albert Dean Lemke.

1:18

Make a motion for the minutes to go through.

1:22

Okay.

1:24

Second.

1:25

All the manion.

1:27

I'll second.

1:28

Any discussion.

1:31

Okay, please vote.

1:33

To approve the minutes.

1:34

Come on, to I.

1:36

Piper I.

1:37

Katie.

1:42

It's not working again.

1:44

Christina.

1:47

There was uh uh reboot um, I think today.

1:52

Uh all right, so the motion passes unanimously.

1:56

Next item.

1:58

Oh, I'm looking at uh the water utility.

2:00

I'm glad I caught that.

2:06

Yeah, all of a sudden I'm like going uh action items approved payments from the general fund.

2:11

So um public comment presentation.

2:14

The next item we have is uh presentation from revitalized um Milwaukee.

2:20

Um anyone going to should I just turn it over to you guys?

2:25

I think that'd be great.

2:26

That sounds good.

2:26

That's Melody, please introduce yourself and everyone else.

2:29

I will.

2:30

Um my name is Melanie Roach, and I'm the CEO of Revitalize Milwaukee.

2:35

And I would like to introduce my team, um Fran, she is our marketing and development director, and Ricardo, um, who is our outreach person.

2:45

So it is an honor and a privilege to be here tonight.

2:49

So I want to thank you for inviting us and um giving us the opportunity to share who we are and what we do and how that relates to Walkershaw.

3:00

Um couple of things.

3:02

Um Waukeshaw, our first big event in Waka Shaw was last June.

3:07

And I will tell you that Waukeshaw has stolen our heart.

3:12

Um, it's a hard nut to crack originally.

3:14

I always say that.

3:16

Um, but we were able to come into the strand thanks to some people that are here, and thanks to some overall support.

3:24

Mayor Riley was a huge advocate in saying, let's get you into Walkershaw, let's see what you can do.

3:31

We need you.

3:33

Um, we met with a Jennifer.

3:35

Um, but the biggest influence in making the strand happen was by with without a doubt Doreen, who went door to door with us, who who said that this is gonna be so amazing for my neighborhood, and I want to do this with you.

3:51

And when I say do it with us, she was with us every single step of the way.

3:56

So, Doreen, thank you for believing in us, and um, I'm so happy for your neighborhood and the homeowners.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Community Engagement████████████████████20%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Property Tax Assessment██████████10%
Arts And Culture█████████9%
Pending Litigation███████7%
Public Works███████7%
Public Engagement█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Waukesha City Council Meeting – February 19, 2026

The Waukesha City Council met on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 6:03 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. Thirteen aldermen were present, with Jack Wells and Mike Anderson absent. The meeting adjourned at 7:02 PM. Key actions included approving the consent agenda, deciding two claims, settling a property assessment lawsuit, and receiving presentations from Revitalize Milwaukee and the Don Alexa Art Center.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from February 3, 2026.
  • Transit Commission: Approved the proposed 2026 FlexRide Contract with MobilSE, Inc., and bus stop changes.
  • Information Technology Board: Approved the contract with MaintStar for a new permitting, code enforcement, and inspection system; approved additions to the Acceptable Use Policy.
  • Plan Commission: Approved two Certified Survey Maps: 1901 S. Prairie Avenue (combining 34.817 acres for Weldall Manufacturing) and 400 Wilmont Drive (combining 2.2292 acres for Superior Crane).
  • Ordinance & License Committee: Approved invited bartender applications and other license applications (one bartender application held).
  • Board of Public Works: Approved Contract Change Order No. 2 with Edgerton Contractors for flood mitigation; Change Order No. 2 with Sure-Fire for Municipal Garage HVAC; agreement with Strongbox for 2026 paper shredding events; contract renewal with Legacy Recycling for e-waste and appliance drop-off events.

Presentations

  • Revitalize Milwaukee Presentation (6:18 PM): CEO Melanie Roach described the nonprofit’s free critical home repair program for low-income seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. The group completed work in the Strand neighborhood in June 2025 and has seven homes ready for sponsorship in Waukesha. Ald. Doreen Wigderson vouched for the program’s credibility and urged council members to help connect eligible residents. Several aldermen expressed support and discussed collaboration with city departments.
  • Gallery Art Presentation (6:34 PM): Staff presented artwork from the Don Alexa Art Center, highlighting textured pieces and winter-themed paintings currently displayed at City Hall.

Discussion Items

  • Disallowance of Claim – Tyler Montney (Property Damage): City Attorney Brian explained that a sewer backup on Greenfield Avenue occurred without prior notice to the city. He recommended disallowance because the city was not clearly negligent. After discussion about pre‑emptive inspections and the timeline (three weeks from odor to city jetting), the council voted 11 to 2 to disallow the claim. (Ayes: Chrisien, Payne, Wigderson, Pieper, Manion, Moltzan, Wuteska, Halvensleben, D. Lemke, R. Lemke, Camacho; Nays: Van Trieste, Matthews)
  • Allowance of Claim – George Hardy (Vehicle Damage): A city skid‑steer operator backed into Hardy’s car during leaf collection. The city acknowledged negligence and recommended paying the $2,033.87 estimate. Ald. Rick Lemke questioned contributory negligence but supported the motion after explanation. The council unanimously approved the allowance.
  • Settlement – 177 Kensington LLC v. City of Waukesha: The city agreed to settle an excessive‑assessment lawsuit by setting the property value at $11,337,200 (midpoint between the city’s $12,735,500 and the owner’s $10,554,300). The settlement will result in a tax refund of approximately $18,766, partially reimbursed from other taxing entities. Ald. Rick Lemke clarified the property was not one that received an RDA loan. The council unanimously approved the settlement.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda and Minutes approved unanimously.
  • Bid Award: Approved the low concrete bid from Wandel Contractors, Inc. for Bidwell Avenue and Prospect Avenue utility and street improvements in the amount of $1,646,591.35 (unanimous).
  • Reappointment: Unanimously approved the reappointment of Ryan Corcoran to the Information Technology Board.
  • Proclamation: Recognized February 20 as Government Communicators Day.
  • Referrals: Ald. Rick Lemke referred removal of a streetlight on Windsor Street to the Building & Grounds Committee; Ald. Van Trieste referred consideration of expanded towing authority for reckless driving offenses to the Ordinance & License Committee.

Reports

  • Water Utility Commission: Update on new operations center, progress on schedule.
  • Parks, Recreation & Forestry Board: Tree planting prices, pool schedule changes.
  • Library Board: Passed 2025 annual report, explored children’s expansion, approved county library services plan.
  • Cemetery Commission: Veteran area restoration funded by Friends, successful Tombstone Trot, upcoming Waukesha Unlocked event.
  • Human Resources Committee: Received 14 performance surveys for City Administrator, approved policy changes.
  • Board of Public Works: Reported leaf pickup in remaining areas, seed repair for damaged terraces.
  • City Administrator: Encouraged residents to complete the National Community Survey by the following Wednesday.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, we'll call the common council meeting to order. For Thursday, February 19th, 2026. Um Anderson is unable to attend tonight. Um please do oh we'll uh do the roll call. Christine here, Payne, Wigderson Piper Bantrieste Wells Absent. Manion Moldsen here, Wateska Anderson's absent, Helvin Slavin. Here, Matthews, here Dean Lemke, here, Rick Lemke, here Camacho. Here. Okay, we do have a quorum. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Next item is uh public comment. Uh I did check a while ago. There was no one signed up for public comment. Uh is there anyone here for public comment? Okay, we'll move on. Next item is approval of the minutes for January 15, 2026. Albert Dean Lemke. Make a motion for the minutes to go through. Okay. Second. All the manion. I'll second. Any discussion. Okay, please vote. To approve the minutes. Come on, to I. Piper I. Katie. It's not working again. Christina. There was uh uh reboot um, I think today. Uh all right, so the motion passes unanimously. Next item. Oh, I'm looking at uh the water utility. I'm glad I caught that. Yeah, all of a sudden I'm like going uh action items approved payments from the general fund. So um public comment presentation. The next item we have is uh presentation from revitalized um Milwaukee. Um anyone going to should I just turn it over to you guys? I think that'd be great. That sounds good. That's Melody, please introduce yourself and everyone else. I will. Um my name is Melanie Roach, and I'm the CEO of Revitalize Milwaukee. And I would like to introduce my team, um Fran, she is our marketing and development director, and Ricardo, um, who is our outreach person. So it is an honor and a privilege to be here tonight. So I want to thank you for inviting us and um giving us the opportunity to share who we are and what we do and how that relates to Walkershaw. Um couple of things. Um Waukeshaw, our first big event in Waka Shaw was last June.

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