Ordinance & License Committee Meeting – July 13, 2026

The Waukesha Ordinance & License Committee met on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. All five committee members were present: Doreen Wigderson, Daniel Manion, Jim Evert, Paul Wuteska, and Erik Helgestad. The meeting lasted 49 minutes and focused on routine license approvals and a major proposal to streamline the license issuance process. No public comments were offered.

Consent Calendar

• The committee voted to hold the minutes from the June 22, 2026 meeting pending a correction regarding a voting record error.

Licenses (Approved Unanimously)

• Invited Bartender Licenses: Approved individually by 5-0 votes: Jennifer Begrin (renewal, 5 years experience, late application), Kelly Previte (renewal, 10 years experience), Andrew Edward Redmon (first-time applicant, age 20 with underage drinking ticket), and Parwinder Singh (training with agent, recent single violation). Chair Wuteska noted the Redmon and Singh applications might be questioned by the full council.
• Other Bartender Licenses: Approved en masse (5-0) for Van M. Haddon, Brianna M. Jauregui, Timothy Kittirath, Jenna R. Morris, and Christie L. Preuss.
• Other Applications: Approved en masse (5-0) including: Hop N Shop #19 (Class B Beer & Liquor), Puff & Pump (Class A Beer & Cider), Club 400 (Extension of Premises), Interface Security Systems LLC (Private Alarm System), St. Mary Catholic Parish (Special Class B Retail License), Dolgencorp (Successor/Change of Agent), and Best Cab (Taxicab Company).

Discussion Items

• Streamlining License Issuance: Chair Wuteska and Clerk staff presented a memo proposing two major changes: reducing O&L meetings to once per month (except May and June, which would keep two meetings) and codifying criteria for when the clerk’s office can issue licenses without committee review. The discussion focused on three areas:
  1. Meeting Schedule: Members supported cutting meetings to one per month for efficiency, with the ability to call special meetings as needed.
  2. License Issuance Criteria: The memo outlined a tiered system: applicants with multiple alcohol-related offenses or violent crimes within five years would be invited to committee; those with single alcohol offenses would be reviewed without being invited; less strongly related offenses (e.g., drug possession, theft) with no repeats would be issued directly. Renewals followed a similar pattern. Chair Wuteska noted the city attorney prefers a “black and white” rule, but the committee favored retaining some discretion. Members expressed empathy for applicants with minor or old offenses.
  3. Amendments: Alderperson Manion requested that new extension of premises applications (not renewals) continue to come to the committee for full review. Chair Wuteska also noted that alcohol-related traffic offenses (e.g., OWI) must be explicitly classified as alcohol-related, not simply traffic violations.
• E-bike Ordinance Update: Alderperson Manion asked for an update. Chair Wuteska and staff reported that the city attorney and police department are working together on recommendations before bringing the item to committee. No timeline was provided.

Key Outcomes

• Motion (5-0): Directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance incorporating the memo’s proposal with two amendments:
  • New extension of premises applications must still go before the O&L Committee.
  • Clarify that alcohol-related traffic offenses are considered alcohol-related for license review purposes.
• All license applications approved will be placed on the consent agenda for the Common Council meeting on July 21, 2026. The chair advised applicants with recent offenses (Redmon and Singh) to attend the council meeting in case their licenses are pulled from consent.