Public Meetings - Racine, Wisconsin

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No agenda, minutes, or transcript were available for this meeting date. Therefore, a summary cannot be generated.

The Racine Common Council met on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall, Room 205. A total of 14 aldermen were present, with Alder Weidner excused. The meeting included public comments, referral of several communications to committees, committee reports, approval of a consent agenda, and council announcements. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 PM. Consent Calendar - Minutes from September 2 and September 8, 2025, were approved (13-0). - All communications listed under "Communications Introduced to Council" and "Committee Reports" were referred to the appropriate committees on voice votes, except where separate votes were taken (see Key Outcomes). Items included grant applications for police enforcement ($15,000 alcohol enforcement, $8,500 seatbelt, $4,000 speed), infrastructure grants (Spring Street Bridge, 16th Street Reconstruction, West 6th Street Bridge Polymer Overlay), a $400,000 budget amendment for sewer repairs, a $2 million grant application for the Lincoln King Community Center, an agreement with Hyfi for flood monitoring, a stop sign change at Monroe and Victory Avenues, change orders for cemetery paving and sewer contracts, amendments to parking service contracts, and various license applications. - Committee reports from Finance and Personnel, Public Works and Services, Public Safety and Licensing, and the Executive Committee were approved as part of the consent agenda (13-0). Public Comments & Testimony - Lisa Beaudoin (23 Olive Street) spoke about water safety following the drowning of two young children at the lakefront in August 2025. She reiterated four suggestions: 1) install no-swim zone signs with motion sensors (noting a sign is going up at Carrie Hogel Park but questioning if it has a sensor and if other areas are covered); 2) create an interactive toggle map of all Racine waterways with age-appropriate tutorials and homework slips for students; 3) build a Racine Water Safety two-story facility near the Yacht Club housing a dispatch center and an injury clinic; and 4) form a Racine Volunteer Water Safety Coalition to monitor no‑swim zones, conduct fundraisers, and provide safety classes. She expressed gratitude for city action but urged multiple coordinated efforts. Discussion Items - Resolution 0875-25: Authorizing the issuance of up to $18,835,000 in 2025 general obligation promissory notes for capital improvement projects and equipment. Finance Director Kathleen answered questions: $14.7 million of the borrowing is for long-term capital (paving, sidewalks, street lighting, parks, building improvements such as tuckpointing) and $4.1 million is short-term borrowing for vehicles and equipment paid back in the first year. The resolution passed 12‑0 (Weidner excused, Pabon excused). - Resolution 0876-25: Authorizing the issuance of up to $4,085,000 in taxable general obligation promissory notes for the TID 26 developer incentive previously approved (Dominion Downtown Phase II). Finance Director explained the incentive was approved in April 2025 for $9.7 million total – $5.7 million from TID 9 and $4 million borrowed. This resolution covers the borrowing portion. Approved on a voice vote. - Amended Public Comment Procedure (Ordinance 0004-25): The Executive Committee recommended deleting the line requiring a single designated speaker for groups sharing a viewpoint and adding language encouraging submission of detailed concerns in writing. The council approved the recommendation as part of the consent agenda. Key Outcomes - Vote on 0875-25: 12 ayes (Frazier, Townsend, Turquoise-Davis, Maack, Jorgensen, Esqueda, Allen, Peete, Land, Perez, Kelly, Harmon); 0 nays; 2 excused (Weidner, Pabon). Passed. - Consent Agenda Approval: The motion to approve the consent agenda was approved 13‑0 (1 excused). - Next Meeting: Scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

The Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, to receive presentations on the city's comprehensive safety plan, gun violence analysis, and intervention strategies. Community Safety Director Tate and Police Chief Ramirez presented updates, answered questions, and discussed the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategy. The meeting also approved previous minutes and filed the item. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were recorded. Discussion Items - Community Safety Director Tate's Presentation: Director Tate presented the draft 2025 Comprehensive Safety Plan, funded by a state Blueprint for Peace grant. He outlined five priority areas: stopping the shooting, safe and connected neighborhoods, healthy social development, infrastructure and environmental design, and building trust between law enforcement and the community. He highlighted that 84% of survey respondents identified violence as a top problem, and over 80% reported experiencing some form of trauma. The plan is intended to guide policy and practice for 3–5 years. - Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Strategy: Director Tate and Chief Ramirez explained the GVI model, a focused deterrence strategy targeting a small, high-risk population (groups, chronic shooters). The process includes biweekly shooting reviews, custom notifications to at-risk individuals offering support and legal consequences, intensive case management, and focused enforcement. Chief Ramirez emphasized the importance of swift, certain, and severe legal consequences as a deterrent. - Police Chief Ramirez's Public Safety Report: Chief Ramirez provided statistics through August 31, 2025: Calls for service increased 9% year-over-year (39,845). Homicides were up 25% (5 vs. 4 in 2024), but shots-fired incidents decreased 12% and non-fatal shootings fell 42% compared to the previous year. Gun recoveries through July were down 50% (134 vs. 269 in 2024). Domestic violence incidents remained a concern, with 356 cases reported year-to-date. The chief noted that 40% of homicides this year are related to domestic or interpersonal relationships. - Alder Questions and Answers: - Alder Wagner asked about future funding for the department after the ARPA grant expires in 2025. Director Tate deferred to the mayor's budget presentation but confirmed the department will seek additional grants. - Alder Frazier questioned the sourcing of demographic statistics on violence and trauma. Director Tate clarified that data came from community surveys (June–October 2024, 900 respondents) and self-identification by participants. Frazier noted the report did not include percentages for LGBTQIA or Caucasian communities; Tate explained the report highlights disparities among groups reporting disproportionately high trauma. - Alder Perez asked about neighborhood-level tracking and targeted interventions. Director Tate described targeted outreach to the Bird Avenue area after prior gun violence and emphasized that the plan addresses both sense of safety and actual crime data. - Alder Harmon asked about the correlation between gun sales/CCW permits and violence. Chief Ramirez stated he does not track CCW permit data but noted a correlation between recovered guns and violence levels. He stressed responsible gun ownership and the distribution of gun locks. - Alder Papon asked about contributing factors to the 25% rise in homicides. Chief Ramirez cited domestic and interpersonal relationships as the primary factor, noting that suspects and victims knew each other in most cases. Key Outcomes - The Committee approved minutes from previous meetings (motion passed unanimously). - The Committee received and filed the item on the comprehensive safety plan, gunfire analysis, and intervention strategies (motion passed unanimously). - No formal votes on policy changes or funding were taken. The presentations served as informational updates ahead of budget discussions. Next Steps - Director Tate indicated the department will produce an annual report and refresh the comprehensive plan by 2028. - Chief Ramirez announced that a deeper dive into domestic violence prevention will be a strategic initiative for 2026. - The mayor's budget proposal will address the department's long-term funding after the ARPA grant concludes in 2025.

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, no summary of discussions, votes, or outcomes can be generated.

This meeting took place on August 19, 2025, but no agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided. As a result, no summary of the proceedings can be generated.

The Common Council of Racine, Wisconsin, held its regular meeting on August 19, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Racine Public Library Community Room. The meeting was called to order with 14 aldermen present (Alder Turquoise-Davis excused) and was adjourned at 6:47 PM. Mayor Mason led the Pledge of Allegiance. Proclamations - The council proclaimed August 26, 2025, as Woman's Equality Day in Racine. Public Comments & Testimony - Seven residents spoke: Kristin Nagao, Darlean Parhan, Tamara Patton, Joey Lagath, Sara Wroblewsk, Colin Mckenna, and Oscar Salas. The minutes did not record the content of their remarks. Communications Introduced to Council (Referrals) - A large number of communications were introduced and referred to appropriate committees. Key referrals included: - A communication from Alder Allen to discuss the definition of ex-officio committee member rights (referred to Finance and Personnel and Committee of a Whole). - A request for a mid-year review presentation from the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) (referred to Finance and Personnel). - Presentation of the Network Health Medicare Advantage plan renewal (referred to Finance and Personnel; monthly premium remains $163 per member). - A request for an update on Police and Fire contracts (referred to Finance and Personnel and Committee of a Whole). - A proposed settlement of $50,000 in the case of McMillian v. City of Racine (referred to Finance and Personnel). - Disallowance of a claim by Kelly Rainey (referred to Finance and Personnel). - Authorization to enter into an intergovernmental agreement establishing the Milwaukee-Area-Racine-Kenosha Passenger Rail Commission (referred to Finance and Personnel). - A contract award of $150,000 to Wil-Surge Electric for low voltage contracting services (referred to Finance and Personnel). - Several street closure and public works requests referred to Public Works and Services, including the Rhino Bar SafeRide fundraiser (September 6, 12:00 PM–9:00 PM), Walden III sidewalk closure (December 1, 2025–April 1, 2026), Jesus Alive Ministries community outreach (September 13, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM), and the Monument Mash Halloween event (October 25, 6:00 AM–4:00 PM). - Various public works contracts and change orders: Mount Pleasant Dry Retention Basin change order ($6,992.50), sanitary sewer repair contract award ($424,599 to Wanasek Corp), sanitary sewer lateral lining contract award ($1,576,650 to Musson Bros) with a deduct change order ($280,900), Graceland Cemetery paving change order ($24,850.94) and final payment ($61,559.56), Greencrest Park fence final payment ($75,050), Island Park shelter staircase removal final payment ($51,753.17). - Licensing items referred to Public Safety and Licensing: Speedway change of agent, Floyd & Sons towing license, B&B Cabs license and driver's license, new operator's licenses for Kimberly Binder and Juan Ortega, a review of the public dance hall license ordinance, and a presentation by Attorney Ian Pomplin on cigarette/tobacco/vape license ordinances. - The police department's license premise report and consideration of formal expressions of concern were also referred. Committee Reports - Finance and Personnel Committee (Ald. Land, Chair): The council approved the committee's recommendations on the following: - Disallowance of claims by Bennie Nunn, SubroIQ/Auto-Owners/Scott Olsen, and the State of Wisconsin/Darlene Bard. - Approval of the 2nd Quarter 2025 Fiscal Results and investment summaries. - Authorization to apply for a Washington Avenue HISP Grant (estimated $675,000 grant, $75,000 local match). - Authorization to enter into the Purdue Pharma settlement agreement (no cost to city, prospective recovery). - Authorization to enter into an agreement with the Racine Zoological Society for a Conservation Education Center site and a ground lease for a Maintenance Center and Veterinary Hospital on city-owned land within the zoo. - Public Safety and Licensing Committee (Ald. Weidner, Chair): The council approved the committee's recommendations: - Denial of a new operator's license for Jesus Cortez. - Approval of a cigarette/tobacco/vape license for Zaks Vape & Smoke (1743 State St). - Receipt of a presentation from Attorney Pomplin regarding other municipalities' ordinances on cigarette/tobacco/vape licenses. - Approval of the police license premise report. - Approval of a settlement agreement for Select 627 LLC (1111 Washington Ave) consisting of a 30-day suspension, with the City Attorney's Office directed to pursue revocation if violated. - Receive and file the appearance of Natasha Evans (Select 627) and the formal expression of concern. - Approval of renewal cigarette/tobacco/vape licenses for three Dollar General stores (4111 Durand Ave, 4901 Washington Ave, 3440 Douglas Ave). - Receive and file the appearance of Marko Lazarevic (Marko's Neighborhood Bar) with a recommendation to attend a Good Neighbor's Meeting. - Receive and file communication 0774-25 regarding police report actions. - Transit Commission (Ald. Horton, Chair): The council approved: - A contract with Racine Unified School District for student transit passes ($115,000 revenue). - Acceptance of $1,680,076 in Wisconsin DOT Public Transit Assistance Program (PTAP) capital funds, with a $420,019 local match ($2,100,095 total). - Acceptance of a $4,355,980 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5307 operating grant. - Acceptance of a $105,709 WisDOT paratransit assistance contract. - Acceptance of a $1,979,698 WisDOT 85.20 operating grant. - Planning, Heritage and Design Commission (Ald. Peete, Chair): The council approved the rezoning of 1121 Lake Avenue from O-I Office/Institutional to R-2 Single-Family Residence District (ZOrd. 0003-25), consistent with the original neighborhood zoning. Office of the Mayor Report - The council approved a street closure request from Better Ways Deliverance Ministries for a back-to-school give away and cookout on August 30, 2025, amended to the hours of 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the location to 1100 Haze to Linderman Avenue (original request was Hayes from Washington to Lindermann, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM). The amendment was passed by a 14-0 vote. - The council approved the Transportation Project Plat for S. Memorial Drive (Durand Ave to 17th St) as part of a state project. - The council approved a parking request from St. George Serbian Orthodox Church for their festival on August 30–31, 2025 (noon to 10:00 PM) on State Street and Superior Street. - The council approved the discontinuance of a portion of Freeman Court. Consent Agenda - The council voted to approve the consent agenda, encompassing all communications, committee reports, and resolutions that were not separately voted on. The motion (by Ald. Horton, seconded by Ald. Peete) passed 14-0 (Alder Turquoise-Davis excused). Key Outcomes - Meeting adjourned at 6:47 PM. The next regular council meeting is scheduled for September 2, 2025. - All votes on the consent agenda and individual items were unanimous (14-0, with one excused absence). - Notable financial approvals include the $50,000 McMillian settlement, $150,000 low voltage contract, $1.58 million sanitary sewer lining contract, and over $10 million in transit grants accepted. - The rezoning of 1121 Lake Avenue to R-2 was adopted. - Street closure and parking permits were granted for upcoming community events.