Waukesha Common Council Meeting Summary - October 6, 2026

The Common Council of Waukesha, Wisconsin, met on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM with 13 members present. The meeting addressed a police range facility contract, authorization for a small business development grant, a contested bartender license, and a closed session to discuss the sale of city-owned property on Big Bend Road.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the minutes of the previous meeting (13-0).
• The consent agenda was adopted unanimously (13-0).
• A request from Club 400 for an extended premises permit for October 10, 2026, was approved unanimously (13-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the council during the initial public comment period.
• Licensing Hearing – Ashley Rodriguez: The council heard testimony from applicant Ashley Rodriguez regarding her invited bartender license renewal. Ms. Rodriguez, a manager and bartender at Sunset Bowl, addressed the council to take full responsibility for a December 2024 incident leading to citations for underage drinking and false ID. She stated she has changed significantly since the incident, is pursuing college, and requires the license to continue her managerial role and help behind the bar. She expressed deep remorse and emphasized a clean work history of several years with no alcohol-related serving issues.

Discussion Items

• Police Range Facility Contract: The council approved a contract for the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department to use the police training facility on Sentry Drive. City Attorney Rennie explained the contract delegates responsibilities and requires insurance. Alderperson Micklitz inquired about fees, which Attorney Rennie confirmed are not detailed in the contract but kept in a separate schedule, with revenue directed to the general fund. Alderperson Vantrieste sought assurance that any future changes to contractual terms would require council approval. The council approved the specific contract and authorized its use as a template for future agencies, delegating execution authority to the Chief of Police (13-0).
• WEDC Small Business Development Grant: Staff presented a resolution to apply for the maximum amount of $250,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Small Business Development Grant, requiring no local match. The funds would expand the Central City Storefront Activation Loan Program, which has issued 16 loans using ARPA funds to businesses including North Pillar Brewing, Let It Be, and Waukesha Coffee House. Staff noted the program is highly competitive, typically receiving 70 to 80 applications for only 8 to 10 awards. The council authorized the application (13-0).
• Invited Bartender License – Ashley Rodriguez (Deliberation): Following public testimony, the council discussed the Ordinance and License Committee's recommendation to approve the license (4-1). Alderperson Manion, the dissenting committee vote, cited the recency and direct relevance of the violations to bartending duties. Alderperson Lemke agreed, stating the recency of the infractions overrides Ms. Rodriguez's otherwise good job performance. Alderperson Witeska argued there is little risk in granting the license given her clean employment record and the support of her agent. Alderperson Wigderson noted the incident did not occur during work. The council voted 7-6 to approve the license.

Reports and Updates

• City Attorney's Report: Attorney Rennie provided litigation updates, noting a petition for review had been filed with the Supreme Court in the Sols lawsuit and a motion to dismiss had been filed in the Flock camera lawsuit, requesting a stay pending a related case in the Seventh Circuit.
• Waukesha Housing Authority: Alderperson Piper reported the approval of nearly $1 million in capital expenditures and a reduction in Section 8 reimbursement rates from HUD for the first time in several years.
• Finance Committee: Alderperson Piper announced the upcoming FY 2027 operating budget review, with the full council review scheduled for November 5, 2026.
• City Administrator's Report: Tony provided the schedule for the Finance Committee budget reviews set for the following Tuesday and Thursday.
• Other Committees: Several committees reported having no meetings or reported upcoming events, including the Library Board (Waukesha Reads underway), the Cemetery Commission (Tombstone Trot fundraiser and Open House tours), and the Landmarks Commission.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Police range facility contract as a template for future agencies, with the explicit understanding that any changes to contractual terms would require council approval (13-0).
• Authorized: Staff application for the 2026 WEDC Small Business Development Grant (13-0).
• Granted: Invited bartender license to Ashley Rodriguez (7-6).
• Approved: Club 400 extended premises permit (13-0).
• Closed Session: Council voted 13-0 to enter closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) to discuss the sale of the city-owned property at Tax Key WAKT 1389901 on Big Bend Road. Upon reconvening, the council voted 10-3 to direct staff to pursue the offers discussed in closed session.
• Referred: Multiple traffic and parking regulation requests were referred to the Traffic and Parking Regulations (TARP) Committee, including a no parking zone and crosswalk requests on behalf of District 10, a parking space request on Randall Street, and signage changes on Charles Avenue.