WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:03.600 Having arrived on this 15th of September, 2026, 00:03.600 --> 00:05.720 it is my honor to call to order the city 00:05.720 --> 00:07.560 of Racine Common Council. 00:07.560 --> 00:09.040 Our first order of business, as always, 00:09.040 --> 00:10.080 is the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:10.080 --> 00:11.880 If you could please rise as you are able 00:11.880 --> 00:13.720 and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:15.400 --> 00:17.520 I pledge allegiance to the flag 00:17.520 --> 00:19.720 of the United States of America 00:19.720 --> 00:22.480 and to the Republic for which it stands, 00:22.480 --> 00:25.840 one nation, under God, indivisible, 00:25.840 --> 00:27.840 with liberty and justice for all. 00:30.000 --> 00:30.840 Thank you. 00:46.040 --> 00:49.360 President Jorgensen, were there any absences for this evening? 00:49.360 --> 00:51.960 Yes, Alderman has asked to be excused. 00:51.960 --> 00:52.800 Alderman? 00:52.800 --> 00:53.620 Yes. 00:53.620 --> 00:54.460 Thank you. 00:57.280 --> 00:58.800 And Alderman Jorgensen, would you like to make a motion 00:58.800 --> 01:01.520 regarding the minutes of the September 1st, 2026 meeting? 01:01.520 --> 01:03.080 I would, I'd move to approve the minutes 01:03.080 --> 01:05.320 for the September 1st, 2026 meeting 01:05.320 --> 01:08.040 and September 9th, 2026 meeting. 01:08.040 --> 01:09.280 Has been moved and seconded. 01:09.280 --> 01:12.880 Any discussion on the minutes of September 1st, 2026? 01:12.880 --> 01:14.720 And, oh, I'm sorry, there's two of them there, actually. 01:14.720 --> 01:18.560 For September 1st and September 9th, 2026. 01:22.360 --> 01:25.320 President Jorgensen, would you restate your motion? 01:25.320 --> 01:27.280 Yes, move to approve the minutes 01:27.360 --> 01:29.200 for the September 1st, 2026 meeting 01:29.200 --> 01:31.320 and September 9th, 2026 meeting. 01:32.200 --> 01:33.880 So motion and the second on that item, 01:33.880 --> 01:36.280 any discussion on either of those minutes? 01:37.400 --> 01:40.000 Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. 01:40.000 --> 01:40.840 Aye. 01:40.840 --> 01:42.040 Opposed? 01:42.040 --> 01:43.360 That motion carries. 01:45.560 --> 01:47.680 We will then move on to the proclamations 01:47.680 --> 01:49.920 that we have for this meeting. 01:57.280 --> 02:13.200 The first proclamation we have is regarding suicide prevention month, 02:13.200 --> 02:16.360 and it reads, a proclamation is the city of Racine, 02:16.360 --> 02:19.600 whereas September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month 02:19.600 --> 02:22.560 to raise awareness, reduce stigma surrounding mental health 02:22.560 --> 02:25.000 and promote life-saving resources and support, 02:25.080 --> 02:27.960 whereas suicide prevention month encourages open conversation 02:27.960 --> 02:29.320 about mental health, 02:29.320 --> 02:32.880 educates the public on warning signs and prevention strategies 02:32.880 --> 02:35.320 and connects individuals to evidence-based treatment 02:35.320 --> 02:36.920 and support services, 02:36.920 --> 02:39.840 whereas suicide impacts individuals, families, friends, 02:39.840 --> 02:41.960 co-workers and entire communities, 02:41.960 --> 02:45.440 making awareness and early intervention essential to life, 02:45.440 --> 02:47.200 essential to saving lives, 02:47.200 --> 02:49.880 whereas the city of Racine supports the dedicated efforts 02:49.880 --> 02:52.200 of mental health professionals, educators, 02:52.200 --> 02:54.400 first responders, community organizations, 02:54.400 --> 02:57.200 and the city's youth and family in promoting mental wellness 02:57.200 --> 03:01.000 and suicide prevention and encouraging open, honest conversation 03:01.000 --> 03:03.560 that make it easier for people to ask for help. 03:03.560 --> 03:05.360 Now, therefore, I, Corey Mason, Mayor of the city, 03:05.360 --> 03:08.440 were seen to hereby proclaim September 2026 03:08.440 --> 03:10.400 is National Suicide Prevention Month, 03:10.400 --> 03:14.280 and September 10th, 2026 is National Suicide Prevention Day. 03:14.280 --> 03:17.320 We encourage all residents to promote mental wellness 03:17.320 --> 03:19.840 and help build a community where every individual knows 03:19.840 --> 03:22.640 that hope and support are available this ninth day 03:22.680 --> 03:24.520 of September 2026. 03:27.960 --> 03:32.360 Our next proclamation is regarding Hispanic Heritage Month, 03:32.360 --> 03:35.000 and it reads as a proclamation from the city of Racine, 03:35.000 --> 03:37.920 whereas the Hispanic and Latino presence 03:37.920 --> 03:40.120 in America spans centuries, 03:40.120 --> 03:41.720 long-predating Spain's colonization 03:41.720 --> 03:43.240 of what is now the United States, 03:43.240 --> 03:46.120 and has remained integral to the building, defense, 03:46.120 --> 03:47.880 and cultural revolution of our nation 03:47.880 --> 03:49.520 since the Revolutionary War. 03:49.520 --> 03:51.920 And whereas Hispanic Heritage Month was first established 03:51.920 --> 03:55.000 in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week 03:55.000 --> 03:57.480 and expanded to a month-long observance in 1988 03:57.480 --> 04:00.160 by President Ronald Reagan to honor the rich histories, 04:00.160 --> 04:02.440 cultures, and contributions of Hispanic 04:02.440 --> 04:04.840 and Latino-Americans toward democracy. 04:04.840 --> 04:07.560 And whereas the celebration begins on September 15th, 04:07.560 --> 04:10.320 marking the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, 04:10.320 --> 04:12.960 El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, 04:12.960 --> 04:15.840 followed by Mexico's Independence Day on September 16th, 04:15.840 --> 04:18.080 and Chile's on September 18th, 04:18.080 --> 04:20.400 reflecting a shared legacy of resilience, freedom, 04:20.440 --> 04:22.960 and collective determination across Latin America. 04:22.960 --> 04:25.200 And whereas the 2026 national theme, 04:25.200 --> 04:28.160 pioneers of change, shaping the future together, 04:28.160 --> 04:31.360 recognizes the innovators, leaders, and visionaries 04:31.360 --> 04:33.480 within Hispanic and Latino communities 04:33.480 --> 04:35.800 whose courage, creativity, and advocacy 04:35.800 --> 04:37.720 continue to shape a more just, 04:37.720 --> 04:40.320 supportable, and inclusive future for all. 04:40.320 --> 04:42.360 And whereas Hispanic and Latino-Americans 04:42.360 --> 04:45.800 enrich Racine through their roles in business, 04:45.800 --> 04:48.960 education, art, public service, faith, 04:49.000 --> 04:51.920 and community advocates from serving in the U.S. military 04:51.920 --> 04:54.640 to advancing movements for equity and justice, 04:54.640 --> 04:57.640 they remain powerful changemakers and social stewards 04:57.640 --> 04:59.640 whose contributions strengthen the economic 04:59.640 --> 05:01.440 and public fabric of our city. 05:01.440 --> 05:04.280 Now, therefore, I, Cory Mason, Mayor of the city of Racine, 05:04.280 --> 05:07.680 do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15th, 05:07.680 --> 05:11.280 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month in the city of Racine, 05:11.280 --> 05:13.160 and encourage all residents to celebrate 05:13.160 --> 05:16.600 the vibrant contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities, 05:16.600 --> 05:19.000 foster equity, and building lasting alliances 05:19.000 --> 05:21.800 that shape a shared and promising future. 05:21.800 --> 05:24.280 In witness here of, I have here in two set my hand 05:24.280 --> 05:26.880 and caused the seal of the city to be affixed 05:26.880 --> 05:31.380 on this day, beginning on the 15th of September. 05:34.680 --> 05:39.680 We also have a resolution regarding digital equity week. 05:40.080 --> 05:42.000 It reads, whereas broadband services 05:42.000 --> 05:44.480 are essential infrastructure for the 21st century 05:44.480 --> 05:47.480 and play an important role in providing access 05:47.480 --> 05:50.600 to knowledge and opportunities from communities locally 05:50.600 --> 05:52.000 and around the world. 05:52.000 --> 05:55.200 And whereas digital equity ensures all individuals 05:55.200 --> 05:57.080 and communities have the information technology 05:57.080 --> 06:00.400 capacity needed for full participation in our society, 06:00.400 --> 06:02.640 democracy, and is necessary for civic 06:02.640 --> 06:05.240 and cultural participation, lifelong learning, 06:05.240 --> 06:07.280 and access to essential services. 06:08.280 --> 06:11.240 And whereas the COVID-19 pandemic underscored 06:11.240 --> 06:14.280 the critical need for reliable broadband infrastructure 06:14.280 --> 06:16.160 and digital equity across the city, 06:16.160 --> 06:18.040 and while nearly 100% of residents 06:18.040 --> 06:19.880 have access to internet service, 06:19.880 --> 06:23.320 an affordability gap of nearly $6 per month continues 06:23.320 --> 06:25.400 to prevent some residents from connecting, 06:25.400 --> 06:28.760 leaving approximately 30% of residents without internet. 06:28.760 --> 06:30.320 Whereas the city of Racine remains committed 06:30.320 --> 06:32.640 to advancing digital inclusion and equity 06:32.640 --> 06:34.440 by ensuring that all individuals and communities, 06:34.440 --> 06:36.640 particularly those who are most disadvantaged, 06:36.640 --> 06:39.240 have meaningful access to and the ability 06:39.240 --> 06:41.400 to effectively use information 06:41.400 --> 06:43.480 and communication technologies. 06:43.560 --> 06:45.880 And whereas the digital divide round table established 06:45.880 --> 06:48.400 in 2023 became the digital coalition 06:48.400 --> 06:50.840 of Southeast Wisconsin in late 2025 06:50.840 --> 06:53.120 to ensure digital equity and opportunity for all 06:53.120 --> 06:55.680 in the city of Racine and Southeast Wisconsin 06:55.680 --> 06:57.400 through a community-centered collaborative effort 06:57.400 --> 06:59.400 that adopts to ongoing needs, 06:59.400 --> 07:01.320 build a strong resilient ecosystem, 07:01.320 --> 07:04.200 and establishes Racine and now Southeast Wisconsin 07:04.200 --> 07:06.600 as a digital equity leader in the state. 07:06.600 --> 07:07.960 Now, therefore, I, Corey Mason, 07:07.960 --> 07:09.240 mayor of the city of Racine, 07:09.240 --> 07:11.560 do hereby proclaim October 4th through 10th 07:11.560 --> 07:14.000 as digital inclusion week in the city of Racine 07:14.000 --> 07:15.920 and ask the people of Racine to join me 07:15.920 --> 07:17.680 in raising awareness of digital equity 07:17.680 --> 07:19.640 and broadband access issues 07:19.640 --> 07:22.040 and do all we can to close the digital divide 07:22.040 --> 07:24.640 and witness where I appear and to set my hand 07:24.640 --> 07:27.400 and cause the seal of the city of Racine to be affixed. 07:28.600 --> 07:30.640 We are missing the coastal awareness one, 07:30.640 --> 07:34.080 so look for that online on the city's Facebook page 07:34.080 --> 07:37.400 and we will move on to a very special presentation 07:37.400 --> 07:38.720 that we wanted to do tonight. 07:38.720 --> 07:42.600 If I could ask Mr. Turner, both chiefs, Chief Hanson 07:42.600 --> 07:45.000 and Chief Ramirez and Representative Cruz 07:45.000 --> 07:47.120 to please come up to the front here. 08:08.720 --> 08:11.720 So tonight, we are going to honor a very special public servant 08:11.720 --> 08:14.720 that I've had the pleasure of working with for two decades now. 08:14.720 --> 08:16.720 And I have a proclamation that I will read here, 08:16.720 --> 08:18.720 and I'm joined by Representative Cruz 08:18.720 --> 08:22.720 and both both the chiefs that have worked with him as well. 08:22.720 --> 08:24.720 We were not about 20 years old, 08:24.720 --> 08:26.720 but we were not about 20 years old, 08:26.720 --> 08:28.720 but we were not about 20 years old, 08:28.720 --> 08:30.720 but we were not about 20 years old, 08:30.720 --> 08:32.720 but we were not about 20 years old, 08:32.720 --> 08:34.720 but we were not about 20 years old, 08:34.720 --> 08:36.720 but we were not about 20 years old, 08:36.720 --> 08:38.720 but we were not about 20 years ago. 08:38.720 --> 08:42.720 I was a youngish newly elected state representative, 08:42.720 --> 08:44.720 excited to be in this state assembly, 08:44.720 --> 08:47.720 but realizing that I had a lot to learn, 08:47.720 --> 08:51.720 and I had the good fortune when I was seated in my seat 08:51.720 --> 08:55.720 on the state assembly in 2007 to be seated next to Bob Turner. 08:55.720 --> 08:58.720 And it was a real relief and a pleasure to sit next to Bob. 08:58.720 --> 09:00.720 I can't tell you how many times I need to lean over 09:00.720 --> 09:02.720 and say, Bob, what are we doing on this one? 09:02.720 --> 09:04.720 Or how does this one affect Racine? 09:04.720 --> 09:07.720 And so I had the pleasure of serving with him 09:07.720 --> 09:11.720 for a good chunk of my tenure as a state legislator. 09:11.720 --> 09:13.720 And then once I became mayor, 09:13.720 --> 09:16.720 we needed to look for people that we could really trust 09:16.720 --> 09:19.720 to serve on the police and fire commission. 09:19.720 --> 09:21.720 And for those of you who don't know, 09:21.720 --> 09:26.720 Bob has extraordinary service as a former military police officer 09:26.720 --> 09:29.720 during his time in the service during the Vietnam War 09:29.720 --> 09:33.720 and brings years of experience having served on the city council 09:33.720 --> 09:37.720 while simultaneously while he was in the state legislature at times. 09:37.720 --> 09:40.720 And so he's just been a tremendous colleague and friend 09:40.720 --> 09:44.720 when I needed to think of who we could tap to trust to serve 09:44.720 --> 09:46.720 on the police and fire commission. 09:46.720 --> 09:48.720 It was an easy, easy decision. 09:48.720 --> 09:53.720 So we are here to honor Bob and his service with several proclamations 09:53.720 --> 09:55.720 and adorations. 09:55.720 --> 09:58.720 And so I will read ours and then I'll hand it over to Representative Cruz 09:58.720 --> 10:00.720 and then to the chiefs and then Bob, 10:00.720 --> 10:02.720 if you'd honor us with a few words, that would be great. 10:02.720 --> 10:04.720 But the proclamation reads, 10:04.720 --> 10:08.720 whereas Robert Turner has devoted more than five decades 10:08.720 --> 10:11.720 to public service in the city of Racine and the state of Wisconsin, 10:11.720 --> 10:15.720 beginning with his military service in the United States Air Force security police 10:15.720 --> 10:20.720 during the Vietnam War, including during the 1968 Tetotents offensive. 10:20.720 --> 10:22.720 And whereas upon returning home, 10:22.720 --> 10:25.720 Bob Turner continued his dedication to public service 10:25.720 --> 10:27.720 through his work at J.I.K.'s Company 10:27.720 --> 10:31.720 and his election to the Racine Common Council in 1976. 10:31.720 --> 10:34.720 Where he served with distinction for 28 years. 10:34.720 --> 10:37.720 During this time, he also served concurrently as a representative 10:37.720 --> 10:41.720 in the state assembly for 14 years, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment 10:41.720 --> 10:44.720 to Racine by holding both roles simultaneously, 10:44.720 --> 10:47.720 including the pleasure that I had to serve alongside him 10:47.720 --> 10:50.720 between 2006 and 2012. 10:50.720 --> 10:53.720 In 1990, Turner was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, 10:53.720 --> 10:57.720 becoming the first African-American elected to the assembly from outside Milwaukee 10:57.720 --> 11:01.720 and went on to represent Racine for 11 consecutive terms, 11:01.720 --> 11:05.720 championing policies that strengthen representation, accountability, 11:05.720 --> 11:08.720 and opportunity for residents across the city and state. 11:08.720 --> 11:11.720 And whereas Turner's leadership extended beyond elected office, 11:11.720 --> 11:15.720 including his candidacy for mayor in the 2009 special election, 11:15.720 --> 11:20.720 and continued engagement in civic affairs following his retirement 11:20.720 --> 11:22.720 from the assembly in 2013. 11:22.720 --> 11:26.720 In 2018, I had the honor of appointing representative Turner 11:26.720 --> 11:28.720 who has received police and fire commission, 11:28.720 --> 11:30.720 where he served with integrity, fairness, 11:30.720 --> 11:34.720 and a steadfast commitment to public safety and community trust. 11:34.720 --> 11:37.720 And whereas throughout Black History Month, the city of Racine 11:37.720 --> 11:41.720 recognizes individuals whose leadership has shaped our community, 11:41.720 --> 11:44.720 and Robert Turner stands as an historic figure whose contributions 11:44.720 --> 11:46.720 continue to move Racine forward. 11:46.720 --> 11:50.720 Now, therefore, I, Corey Mason, mayor of the city of Racine, 11:50.720 --> 11:54.720 do hereby recognize Robert L. Turner for his outstanding service 11:54.720 --> 11:56.720 to the Racine Police Fire Commission, 11:56.720 --> 11:58.720 his historic achievements in public office, 11:58.720 --> 12:01.720 and his enduring commitment to the people Racine in witness 12:01.720 --> 12:04.720 where of this resolution is presented with gratitude 12:04.720 --> 12:07.720 and deep respect at the common council meeting tonight, 12:07.720 --> 12:11.720 and set here in my hand and has caused the seal of the city 12:11.720 --> 12:13.720 of Racine to be affixed. 12:13.720 --> 12:14.720 Wow. 12:14.720 --> 12:20.720 CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 12:20.720 --> 12:23.720 I'm going to ask Representative Cruz to come out for the safety words. 12:23.720 --> 12:29.720 CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 12:29.720 --> 12:31.720 Thank you. 12:31.720 --> 12:32.720 Hi, everyone. 12:32.720 --> 12:33.720 I'm Representative Cruz. 12:33.720 --> 12:35.720 I represent Assembly District 62. 12:35.720 --> 12:39.720 I had the honor and privilege to serve on the Police and Fire 12:39.720 --> 12:43.720 Commission with Bob Turner. 12:43.720 --> 12:49.720 And I would like to think that we challenged one another in many ways, 12:49.720 --> 12:54.720 but I was truly, and I am truly grateful for the ways in which he challenged me 12:54.720 --> 12:59.720 and helped me to grow and be ready for my position in the Assembly. 12:59.720 --> 13:02.720 So I'm really proud to present this to you, 13:02.720 --> 13:07.720 whereas Robert Bob Turner was elected to represent District 61 13:07.720 --> 13:11.720 in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1990, 13:11.720 --> 13:15.720 making history as the first black member of the legislature 13:15.720 --> 13:18.720 elected from Racine and from outside Milwaukee 13:18.720 --> 13:23.720 and serve the people of Racine and of the state and the Wisconsin State Assembly 13:23.720 --> 13:28.720 for more than two decades from 1991 to 2013 13:28.720 --> 13:32.720 during this time holding significant leadership roles, including 13:32.720 --> 13:37.720 Minority Caucus Chairperson, Minority Caucus Vice Chairperson, 13:37.720 --> 13:40.720 and Minority Caucus Sergeant at Arms, 13:40.720 --> 13:45.720 and whereas Representative Turner's service on Assembly Committee reflects 13:45.720 --> 13:50.720 a far-reaching knowledge of and contribution to state government, 13:50.720 --> 13:54.720 including serving on ways and means throughout his tenure in the Assembly, 13:54.720 --> 13:58.720 as Chairperson of Criminal Justice in 2009, 13:58.720 --> 14:01.720 and of Transportation in 1993, 14:01.720 --> 14:06.720 Vice Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Council Special Committee 14:06.720 --> 14:10.720 for Criminal Justice Funding and Strategies in 2011, 14:10.720 --> 14:14.720 and of the Joint Legislative Council Special Committee on Justice, 14:14.720 --> 14:18.720 Reinvestment Initiative, Oversight in 2009, 14:18.720 --> 14:22.720 and his record as a legislator demonstrates attention 14:22.720 --> 14:27.720 to a wide range of issues and unfailing attention to issues of concerns 14:27.720 --> 14:29.720 with Veterans Affairs, 14:29.720 --> 14:34.720 and whereas upon his first election to the Wisconsin State Assembly, 14:34.720 --> 14:39.720 Robert L. Turner had already compiled an extensive record of public service 14:39.720 --> 14:43.720 including on the Racine City Council beginning in 1976 14:43.720 --> 14:49.720 and continuing to 2004 as a member of the State Elections Board 14:49.720 --> 14:55.720 from 1987 to 1990, which he chaired in 1990, 14:55.720 --> 14:59.720 and as a United States Air Force veteran with service in Vietnam. 14:59.720 --> 15:04.720 Now therefore be it resolved that Representative Angelina Cruz, 15:04.720 --> 15:08.720 Representative Greta Newbauer, and Senator Robert Wurch, 15:08.720 --> 15:12.720 together with the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus, 15:12.720 --> 15:17.720 recognized the exemplary public service of Representative Robert L. Turner 15:17.720 --> 15:21.720 and extend deep gratitude for his many contributions, 15:21.720 --> 15:25.720 dated this 15th day of September 2026. 15:25.720 --> 15:27.720 Thank you so much, Bob. 15:27.720 --> 15:31.720 APPLAUSE 15:35.720 --> 15:39.720 Now I'd like to ask the Chiefs to come up and say a few words. 15:45.720 --> 15:47.720 Good evening. 15:47.720 --> 15:52.720 I met Commissioner Robert Turner back sometime around January of 2021. 15:52.720 --> 15:55.720 He was the President and it was instrumental 15:55.720 --> 15:59.720 and for me to become Assistant Chief and eventually Chief of Police, 15:59.720 --> 16:01.720 and I'm very grateful for that. 16:01.720 --> 16:06.720 He's always been a supporter of the Police Department. 16:06.720 --> 16:08.720 We have many, many conversations. 16:08.720 --> 16:11.720 The Racine Police Department has a little plaque for you, 16:11.720 --> 16:14.720 Robert, for your service on the commission. 16:14.720 --> 16:17.720 And it's a certificate appreciation. 16:17.720 --> 16:20.720 And it's a City of Police Department, 16:20.720 --> 16:23.720 City of Racine Police Department hereby presents 16:23.720 --> 16:26.720 this certificate appreciation to Robert Turner. 16:26.720 --> 16:28.720 For your dedication, commitment, 16:28.720 --> 16:33.720 and service to the Racine community by your service on the Police and Fire Commission. 16:33.720 --> 16:37.720 Data Today's date September 15th, 2026. 16:37.720 --> 16:39.720 So congratulations. 16:47.720 --> 16:50.720 I have just a couple of other things that we want to give him. 16:51.720 --> 16:55.720 Each Commissioner also gets a badge for serving on the commission 16:55.720 --> 16:58.720 on the Fire and Police and Fire Commission. 16:58.720 --> 17:01.720 Here we have one in Lucite for him. 17:01.720 --> 17:02.720 So here you go, Robert. 17:02.720 --> 17:04.720 We put your badge on Lucite. 17:09.720 --> 17:12.720 In just a couple of tokens of appreciation, 17:12.720 --> 17:16.720 I still consider you a police officer because you always come into scenes 17:16.720 --> 17:18.720 or you come into the Police Department 17:18.720 --> 17:20.720 and you probably wore that badge. 17:20.720 --> 17:23.720 So with a little appreciation here, 17:23.720 --> 17:26.720 we're going to give you a police patch. 17:26.720 --> 17:29.720 So you can wear on your shoulder if you wish. 17:29.720 --> 17:33.720 And also it's something that I always give out to people who do excellent work 17:33.720 --> 17:35.720 as a Chief's Coin. 17:35.720 --> 17:38.720 In this case, Robert Turner is the well-deserving of that coin. 17:38.720 --> 17:40.720 So congratulations. 17:41.720 --> 17:52.720 I've known Robert Turner for virtually my entire career on the Fire Department. 17:52.720 --> 17:54.720 And that goes back a long, long ways. 17:54.720 --> 18:00.720 Over the years, he has been a mentor and helpful in everything that we have done 18:00.720 --> 18:01.720 on the Fire Department. 18:01.720 --> 18:06.720 And we appreciate his support of the community through his legislative activities 18:07.720 --> 18:11.720 and his wisdom and insight on the Police and Fire Commission. 18:11.720 --> 18:15.720 With that, on behalf of the Racine Fire Department and of all public safety, 18:15.720 --> 18:20.720 folks in the city here, thank you for your many years of service to this community. 18:20.720 --> 18:23.720 And we appreciate you deeply for what you have given us 18:23.720 --> 18:26.720 and hopefully we can make you proud in the future. 18:26.720 --> 18:27.720 Congratulations. 18:28.720 --> 18:29.720 Thank you. 18:29.720 --> 18:30.720 Thank you. 18:30.720 --> 18:31.720 Thank you. 18:31.720 --> 18:32.720 Thank you. 18:32.720 --> 18:33.720 Thank you. 18:33.720 --> 18:36.720 Now, I realize that I'm just getting old. 18:36.720 --> 18:39.720 All things I've been doing over the years. 18:39.720 --> 18:43.720 But again, it couldn't be done without the help of my fellow commission members 18:43.720 --> 18:46.720 and the support of the city attorney's office, the mayor, 18:46.720 --> 18:49.720 have the confidence in the mean head of the Police Department and Fire Commission. 18:49.720 --> 18:51.720 And all the members of the council, who I serve with, 18:51.720 --> 18:55.720 my friends and the audience and my women's family. 18:55.720 --> 18:57.720 I know it's my friend, Tertala, and his wife, 18:57.720 --> 19:00.720 and Carl Hopper, who's a member of the Police and Fire Commission. 19:00.720 --> 19:05.720 And I talk to you, my friend, 19:05.720 --> 19:08.720 who's from Chicago for me, Mike Seale, 19:08.720 --> 19:11.720 and I see our good friend, 19:11.720 --> 19:13.720 who also served with me, 19:13.720 --> 19:14.720 who felt a veteran. 19:14.720 --> 19:18.720 I think it's not like I see he's... 19:19.720 --> 19:21.720 Hold on a minute, think that... 19:21.720 --> 19:24.720 Hold on. 19:24.720 --> 19:25.720 I didn't get there. 19:25.720 --> 19:26.720 Keyfare, right, yeah. 19:26.720 --> 19:27.720 Keyfare, 19:27.720 --> 19:28.720 who's a fellow veteran? 19:28.720 --> 19:29.720 He then serves Marine Corps, 19:29.720 --> 19:30.720 who was an efforts. 19:30.720 --> 19:33.720 I said, well, I did build you guys out of Vietnam, 19:33.720 --> 19:35.720 and we got over-ran in Saigon. 19:35.720 --> 19:36.720 He, also, my good friend, 19:36.720 --> 19:41.720 and my fine brother I drink beer. 19:41.720 --> 19:43.720 Oh, can see to pass this... 19:43.720 --> 19:46.480 I'm still in there for sarcastically, 19:46.480 --> 19:57.200 I know I'm a pastor, I know I'm a real pastor, I'm a real pastor, and in his son, and he's 19:57.200 --> 20:03.080 lovely wife, I'm a son of your wife, I'm a son of your brother, Terry. 20:03.080 --> 20:07.920 So again, I'll be brief, at first I thought this was my celebration of my birthday, when 20:07.920 --> 20:13.120 I served my birthday was on the 14th of September, so I have to work with my birthday, I must 20:13.120 --> 20:14.120 do something right. 20:14.120 --> 20:17.360 And the second I thought I saw the police chief, and in fact, she asked me, maybe it would 20:17.360 --> 20:20.560 be an arrest for something I did, and if we had a call. 20:20.560 --> 20:23.880 But none of it would be impossible without the help of people who I've been around on 20:23.880 --> 20:28.680 my career, and my son's here tonight, for I'll return to my sister's hand. 20:28.680 --> 20:37.640 That's a stand, Robert, that's my oldest son, and he used to be a deputy chef in Las 20:37.640 --> 20:41.640 Vegas, and I was supposed to be here tonight, and my husband had a big family, I had a 20:41.640 --> 20:46.280 friend of mine, and I had them all who had to use the feel of the help of everybody. 20:46.280 --> 20:50.080 All the hard roads we've seen, I won't call the name, because I may miss someone, if I 20:50.080 --> 20:54.920 do miss someone, it's not from the head, it's not from the head, and I said, again, it's 20:54.920 --> 20:59.600 just all your pleasure to come here and see Sandra White, who I served on the City Council 20:59.600 --> 21:06.960 many years, and I noticed that, all I see was I served on the City Council, but anyway, 21:06.960 --> 21:12.120 I want to thank the Mayor for the honor, it has a coach of me, and I know the Mayor 21:12.120 --> 21:17.320 mother, if I knew the Mayor, a rich school at Parkside, I'm not until the age, but so 21:17.320 --> 21:22.920 the Parkside, I knew it was there, too, and I got to thank the City Trustees, and for 21:22.920 --> 21:29.320 his suggestions, and also the Koreans, obviously the Koreans are dumb, and she was the Secretary 21:29.320 --> 21:33.440 who made sure that everybody built time for all the meetings that they needed, and kept 21:33.440 --> 21:38.240 it in minutes, although Carl was our official Secretary of Carl Hobart, but she made sure 21:38.240 --> 21:41.840 everything was done right, and again, it's the place of the honor to be recognized by 21:41.840 --> 21:45.480 the city we've seen, but things have done, I will do it again in a heartbeat, although 21:45.480 --> 21:48.720 we should have got some money for this, but I will do it again tomorrow, thank you for 21:48.720 --> 21:51.120 showing up, all the afternoon, I'll see you in the wedding. 22:03.440 --> 22:13.840 We're gonna stand in formal for just a couple minutes, and then we'll resume the meeting. 22:33.440 --> 23:00.160 Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 23:00.160 --> 23:03.160 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 23:03.160 --> 23:17.040 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 23:17.040 --> 23:42.800 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 23:42.800 --> 23:46.800 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 23:46.800 --> 24:12.560 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 24:12.560 --> 24:16.560 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 24:16.560 --> 24:31.200 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you so much, thank you so much, thank you, thank you, 24:31.200 --> 24:38.720 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 24:38.720 --> 24:42.480 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 24:42.480 --> 24:46.400 thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, 24:46.400 --> 24:48.320 elected officials or staff. 24:48.320 --> 24:51.440 This time is not intended to be a debate or discussion. 24:51.440 --> 24:54.000 The Common Council shall not hear personal complaints 24:54.000 --> 24:57.640 or attacks against any city employee or elected official 24:57.640 --> 25:00.280 or any matter related to an individual claim, 25:00.280 --> 25:02.760 citation, appeal, or lawsuit. 25:02.760 --> 25:05.720 Profane, disruptive, threatening, or conduct 25:05.720 --> 25:08.200 that otherwise impedes the safe, orderly, 25:08.200 --> 25:11.360 and effective conduct of the Common Council meeting 25:11.360 --> 25:14.360 is equally unacceptable during the public comment period 25:14.400 --> 25:17.280 as it is during all of their portions of city meetings. 25:17.280 --> 25:20.080 Candidates for public office may not use this opportunity 25:20.080 --> 25:21.840 to campaign for office. 25:21.840 --> 25:23.800 Speakers during the public comment period 25:23.800 --> 25:25.960 shall follow all rules of the Common Council 25:25.960 --> 25:27.520 and rulings of the chair, 25:27.520 --> 25:29.600 including a decision to terminate the remarks 25:29.600 --> 25:32.000 if the speaker does not adhere to these rules. 25:32.000 --> 25:34.720 Public comments shall be limited to ideas or concerns 25:34.720 --> 25:36.480 regarding the city of Racine. 25:36.480 --> 25:38.880 We encourage you to submit any detailed concerns 25:38.880 --> 25:40.680 in writing to the city clerk's office 25:40.680 --> 25:41.960 or your aldermen, 25:42.000 --> 25:43.600 where they can be properly documented 25:43.600 --> 25:45.400 and directed for response. 25:45.400 --> 25:47.400 There will be three speakers this evening. 25:47.400 --> 25:52.400 The first one is Diane Kaneki, excuse me, 5101, right AV. 25:54.440 --> 25:55.600 And as you approach the DSC, 25:55.600 --> 25:57.600 I just want to let you know there's a three minute clock 25:57.600 --> 25:58.600 that we'll turn on. 25:58.600 --> 26:00.000 One of the three minutes are up, 26:00.000 --> 26:01.240 the microphone gets turned off, 26:01.240 --> 26:03.840 that's not a reflection on what anybody's saying. 26:03.840 --> 26:05.400 It is just a three minute limit that we have 26:05.400 --> 26:07.440 and an effort to treat everybody equally. 26:08.560 --> 26:09.840 You may begin. 26:09.840 --> 26:13.800 Hello, I like to speak about homelessness 26:13.800 --> 26:16.280 to marginalized communities. 26:16.280 --> 26:18.760 A few years ago when I first transitioned 26:18.760 --> 26:20.960 and even before I transitioned, 26:20.960 --> 26:24.960 I was homeless because also due to domestic abuse 26:24.960 --> 26:27.840 from a boyfriend and also from a girlfriend 26:27.840 --> 26:29.360 because I'm bi. 26:29.360 --> 26:33.000 But when I did stay in a homeless shelter as trans, 26:33.000 --> 26:36.000 part of the problem that I had was basically, 26:36.000 --> 26:37.920 I always went here, well, you're not storming, 26:38.240 --> 26:39.720 you're not storming, you're not storming. 26:39.720 --> 26:41.840 And this is part of the reason today why 26:41.840 --> 26:43.400 I appear without wearing my wig, 26:43.400 --> 26:45.280 because some days I don't wear my wig. 26:45.280 --> 26:49.520 And for many people who are trans, they have hair loss, 26:49.520 --> 26:51.120 but sometimes when they're in the shelter, 26:51.120 --> 26:52.640 if they're in the bed shelter, 26:52.640 --> 26:56.000 they're expected to wear the wig 24-7. 26:56.000 --> 26:59.360 As many people know that it's extremely hard to do. 26:59.360 --> 27:02.160 It's very hot and also I have syncopies 27:02.160 --> 27:05.440 so on hot days, there are many days I do go with my wig 27:05.520 --> 27:08.600 or even when I meet friends sometimes I go with my wig. 27:08.600 --> 27:10.200 The reason I have my Barbies with me 27:10.200 --> 27:12.680 is also to demonstrate my models 27:12.680 --> 27:17.680 that also trans, trans people are F to M as Randy 27:17.800 --> 27:20.360 or M to F as Sandy. 27:20.360 --> 27:22.640 But what happens in shelter sometimes Sandy 27:22.640 --> 27:24.840 will be put on the men's side 27:24.840 --> 27:27.160 while Randy will be put on the women's side. 27:27.160 --> 27:29.400 But as Sandy has put on the men's side, 27:29.400 --> 27:33.120 she could experience great abuse, great trauma 27:33.160 --> 27:35.680 and may even have to be rescued. 27:35.680 --> 27:40.120 So what I'm trying to say though is basically, 27:40.120 --> 27:44.120 we've seen it has a good history of managing shelters, 27:44.120 --> 27:47.160 but you still have to be watchful 27:47.160 --> 27:50.760 because there are many times that people 27:50.760 --> 27:53.280 who are trans sometimes are afraid to go 27:53.280 --> 27:57.160 or sometimes even afraid to talk with certain social groups 27:57.160 --> 27:59.320 because they're afraid of bias, 27:59.320 --> 28:01.880 whether it's different types of social aspects, 28:01.880 --> 28:05.120 whether they're an all group based upon 28:05.120 --> 28:08.360 what they think of society, how they believe in society, 28:08.360 --> 28:10.040 what they actually believe. 28:10.040 --> 28:12.280 So the person has to be open-minded 28:12.280 --> 28:13.920 and has to be accepting. 28:13.920 --> 28:16.040 It's right the book, Humans of New York. 28:16.040 --> 28:17.800 We've seen it as a multicultural city, 28:17.800 --> 28:19.720 multi-generational city. 28:19.720 --> 28:21.200 Not everyone dresses the same, 28:21.200 --> 28:23.120 not everyone lives the same. 28:23.120 --> 28:28.160 So what happens and regards to homelessness 28:28.160 --> 28:31.680 and even domestic abuse, it has to be open-minded 28:31.680 --> 28:33.160 and I'd like to mention that we've seen it. 28:33.160 --> 28:34.800 Kenosha actually is only two communities 28:34.800 --> 28:37.000 that have a domestic abuse shelter 28:37.000 --> 28:38.960 in all of Southeast Wisconsin 28:38.960 --> 28:41.360 and even considering all of the Chicago area. 28:41.360 --> 28:45.480 So I speak to speak on a forward basis 28:45.480 --> 28:47.480 rather than as a reactionary 28:47.480 --> 28:50.320 or on a tombstone basis when something has happened. 28:50.320 --> 28:51.160 Thank you. 28:52.200 --> 28:56.840 The next speaker is Madeline Thompson at 1906 Erie Street. 28:58.480 --> 28:59.880 Hello. 28:59.920 --> 29:03.680 Sorry, well nervous I don't public speak often. 29:03.680 --> 29:05.600 Sometimes you just wake up and gotta remind somebody 29:05.600 --> 29:07.320 that they're an elected official. 29:08.280 --> 29:10.000 Hello, I'm here to speak again 29:10.000 --> 29:11.880 against the Flock Surveillance Company. 29:11.880 --> 29:13.360 I know we're seeing police department 29:13.360 --> 29:14.720 feels very strongly pro 29:14.720 --> 29:17.640 about the crime-fighting aspect of this tool, 29:17.640 --> 29:19.640 but I would also hope they feel just as strongly 29:19.640 --> 29:21.240 about public trust. 29:21.240 --> 29:23.120 The cameras only further dig out the canyon 29:23.120 --> 29:25.320 of distrust the public has with the police. 29:25.320 --> 29:28.720 We already have two officers that we are aware of 29:28.720 --> 29:30.920 that have been investigated for misusing 29:30.920 --> 29:32.960 their access to the Flock data. 29:32.960 --> 29:35.000 Since we're in the police department 29:35.000 --> 29:37.480 is allowed to audit that access internally, 29:37.480 --> 29:38.880 we don't know how many more there could be 29:38.880 --> 29:40.480 or what punishment they faced 29:40.480 --> 29:41.720 if there even was a punishment. 29:41.720 --> 29:42.600 We don't even know where they are. 29:42.600 --> 29:43.960 They don't have to tell us though. 29:43.960 --> 29:46.360 We just got trust that everything's working out. 29:48.160 --> 29:51.760 Furthermore, Flock is building onto a project called Nova. 29:51.760 --> 29:54.480 Nova is an AI searchable database of people. 29:54.480 --> 29:56.760 You're clothing, your face, your tattoos. 29:56.760 --> 29:58.680 We're seeing that turn the service down 29:58.680 --> 30:00.760 when it's signed up but we still sign the contract 30:00.760 --> 30:02.880 so we still install the infrastructure. 30:02.880 --> 30:04.160 It's a little camera swaparoo 30:04.160 --> 30:06.680 and the next thing you know, you're all in a database. 30:09.880 --> 30:11.640 You may think to yourself, 30:11.640 --> 30:13.640 why don't commit crimes, so no worries. 30:13.640 --> 30:16.720 But uh-oh, worries, very much worries. 30:16.720 --> 30:19.600 There are document incidences of this Flock system 30:19.600 --> 30:21.320 flagging the wrong vehicle 30:21.320 --> 30:22.440 and then innocent people 30:22.440 --> 30:24.240 are having their civil liberties taken away. 30:24.240 --> 30:26.400 They're being pulled out of vehicles at gunpoint, 30:26.400 --> 30:29.800 been arrested and held for crimes they didn't even commit 30:29.800 --> 30:32.840 because the cop is working off bad intel. 30:32.840 --> 30:34.640 I know our police need tools. 30:34.640 --> 30:36.800 I want them to have tools. 30:36.800 --> 30:39.800 But I need tools that also don't harm the community 30:39.800 --> 30:42.880 and make the public just trust in them even worse. 30:44.480 --> 30:46.520 I also just wanna say I think it's crazy 30:46.520 --> 30:49.800 that Florida State Highway removed all the cameras 30:49.800 --> 30:51.520 and we haven't. 30:51.520 --> 30:53.800 In a what world is Florida more progressive than us? 30:53.840 --> 30:55.640 Their state bird is bath salts. 30:58.440 --> 30:59.480 I sometimes are just so mad. 30:59.480 --> 31:01.080 I just can't stop myself from saying expletors 31:01.080 --> 31:02.520 and I have so much more to say. 31:02.520 --> 31:05.520 But the biggest thing that I want to say 31:05.520 --> 31:07.240 is that we have an obligation 31:07.240 --> 31:08.680 and I'm speaking to the white people in this room, 31:08.680 --> 31:11.480 we have an obligation to use our privilege for good. 31:11.480 --> 31:13.920 We have an obligation to stand up for injustice. 31:13.920 --> 31:16.320 We have an obligation to dismantle systems 31:16.320 --> 31:18.240 that oppress minority people. 31:18.240 --> 31:19.600 So that's why I'm here today 31:19.600 --> 31:21.440 because this is just a tipping point. 31:21.440 --> 31:24.680 The ICE agents, ICE goons are already using the system 31:24.680 --> 31:27.760 to track down and terrorize immigrants. 31:27.760 --> 31:29.480 Is that acceptable to us? 31:29.480 --> 31:30.880 Are we better than Florida or not? 31:30.880 --> 31:33.160 Should we get our state bird to be the bath salts? 31:33.160 --> 31:36.280 I don't know, but I think receding deserves better 31:36.280 --> 31:38.200 and I think you guys can make a better decision 31:38.200 --> 31:40.640 and all the remark I really wish you'd pay attention to me. 31:40.640 --> 31:41.480 Thank you. 31:42.400 --> 31:45.960 The last speaker is Josh Jeffers from Wawa Tosa. 31:52.280 --> 31:54.440 Good evening everyone. 31:54.440 --> 31:55.840 My name is Joshua Jeffers. 31:55.840 --> 31:59.240 I'm the president and CEO of J. Jeffers & Company. 31:59.240 --> 32:01.640 We're a real estate development firm 32:01.640 --> 32:04.560 that owns the properties at the former 32:04.560 --> 32:06.120 Horlick Multimilk factory, 32:06.120 --> 32:08.800 now known as Bell City Square. 32:08.800 --> 32:11.640 And one of the topics that will be heard tonight 32:11.640 --> 32:16.640 is a proposed loan modification for the avenues property. 32:17.720 --> 32:20.680 So for anyone who's a little bit unfamiliar with this, 32:20.720 --> 32:24.440 we've completed now four phases of development 32:24.440 --> 32:28.040 at the former Horlick Multimilk complex. 32:28.040 --> 32:30.560 The first phase was the Arabella Apartments, 32:30.560 --> 32:34.040 which is 60 affordable housing units 32:34.040 --> 32:36.680 that was completed in 2021. 32:36.680 --> 32:39.120 Then in 2022, we completed the second phase, 32:39.120 --> 32:42.600 which is 86 market rate apartment units 32:42.600 --> 32:45.640 in a building now known as the William Apartments. 32:46.560 --> 32:48.600 Phase three is called the avenues. 32:48.640 --> 32:53.000 This was 167 units of new construction market rate housing, 32:53.000 --> 32:54.920 one of the first market rate housing developments 32:54.920 --> 32:57.720 built and were seen in a very long time. 32:57.720 --> 32:59.520 We're very proud of that project 32:59.520 --> 33:01.480 and that is actually the subject 33:01.480 --> 33:03.040 that you'll be hearing about a little bit later. 33:03.040 --> 33:05.600 We have a $5 million loan 33:05.600 --> 33:07.440 from the city of Racine on this property 33:07.440 --> 33:11.040 that we're seeking some modifications to. 33:11.040 --> 33:15.320 And then I also wanted to mention last year in 2025, 33:15.360 --> 33:18.760 we completed our fourth phase of development here, 33:18.760 --> 33:21.480 which is a commercial phase of development 33:21.480 --> 33:25.960 that resulted in 95,000 square feet of commercial space. 33:25.960 --> 33:27.160 Some of our anchor tenants there 33:27.160 --> 33:30.960 are the inclusive bean coffee shop and Lee's deli, 33:30.960 --> 33:33.440 which just recently opened up there. 33:33.440 --> 33:35.880 So in total, over the last five or six years 33:35.880 --> 33:38.160 that we've been working on this site, 33:38.160 --> 33:41.120 we've completed 313 apartment units, 33:41.120 --> 33:44.800 about 95,000 square feet of commercial space. 33:44.800 --> 33:48.440 And we've invested over $110 million 33:48.440 --> 33:51.320 into transforming what was once a blighted, 33:51.320 --> 33:53.200 brown field factory complex 33:53.200 --> 33:57.440 into what is now a vibrant, safe neighborhood 33:57.440 --> 33:59.400 with all lead certified buildings 33:59.400 --> 34:02.360 and has had a little bit for everyone there 34:02.360 --> 34:05.280 just in terms of housing inclusiveness and jobs creation. 34:05.280 --> 34:07.520 So I just wanna say again, 34:07.520 --> 34:10.760 I appreciate you hearing our matter 34:10.760 --> 34:13.920 and I can be available for any questions 34:13.920 --> 34:14.960 that might come up. 34:14.960 --> 34:15.800 Thank you. 34:16.880 --> 34:19.080 This concludes the public comment segment. 34:21.480 --> 34:23.840 We now move on to the public hearing 34:23.840 --> 34:25.520 on the zoning code rewrite. 34:25.520 --> 34:27.920 The planning commission had two meetings 34:27.920 --> 34:30.640 in the last month regarding the public 34:30.640 --> 34:33.760 and had a public hearing there on the zoning code rewrite. 34:33.760 --> 34:34.600 Under state statute, 34:34.600 --> 34:36.280 we are required to do a public hearing 34:36.280 --> 34:38.760 on any changing to zoning code. 34:39.600 --> 34:42.520 We have no speakers currently signed up to speak 34:42.520 --> 34:45.160 to the zoning code rewrite on that item. 34:45.160 --> 34:49.040 So we'll then move on to communications introduced to council. 34:50.480 --> 34:53.840 The first one would be items referred 34:53.840 --> 34:55.480 to public works and services. 34:55.480 --> 34:58.160 Alderman, would you like to make a motion 34:58.160 --> 35:00.160 regarding the items to be referred 35:00.160 --> 35:02.720 to public works and services? 35:02.720 --> 35:03.560 Yes, I would. 35:03.560 --> 35:05.040 Thank you, Mayor. 35:05.040 --> 35:07.440 I move to have the following items referred 35:07.440 --> 35:10.200 to the public works and services committee. 35:11.880 --> 35:15.720 Item 081326, communication sponsor by myself, 35:15.720 --> 35:18.560 requesting use of city right of way 35:18.560 --> 35:20.960 for the annual holiday parade on Saturday, 35:20.960 --> 35:24.680 November 14th, 2026. 35:24.680 --> 35:28.680 Item 081626, communication sponsor by myself, 35:28.680 --> 35:32.840 submitting bid results for contract 2026, 413, 35:32.840 --> 35:37.640 lateral lining 2026, greater north Bay phase one. 35:37.640 --> 35:42.280 Item 081726, communication sponsor by myself, 35:42.280 --> 35:45.760 submitting amendment 13 party contract 35:45.760 --> 35:50.760 for state project ID 22901002, city of Racine, 35:51.760 --> 35:56.160 state street and main street bridges over route river. 35:57.240 --> 36:02.240 And item 0827-26, communication sponsor by myself, 36:02.560 --> 36:07.440 submitting bid results for contract 2026, 412, 36:07.440 --> 36:11.720 CCTV 2026, televising, city wide. 36:12.720 --> 36:15.000 So second on the referral of these items, 36:15.000 --> 36:16.480 all those in favor of referring these items 36:16.480 --> 36:18.680 to public working services, please say aye. 36:18.680 --> 36:19.280 Aye. 36:19.280 --> 36:21.320 Opposed, that motion carries. 36:21.320 --> 36:26.040 We now look for a referral motion, Alderman, Pete. 36:26.040 --> 36:27.720 Would you like to make a motion regarding the items 36:27.720 --> 36:30.480 to be referred to public safety and licensing? 36:30.480 --> 36:32.760 I would like to refer to the following items, 36:32.760 --> 36:35.360 the public safety and licensing committee. 36:35.360 --> 36:40.360 Item number 081026, communications sponsor by myself, 36:41.200 --> 36:44.800 submitting a new application for a class B retail 36:44.800 --> 36:48.400 fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license 36:48.400 --> 36:53.400 for B-A-A-4, LLC, DBA, Old English Pub, 36:55.000 --> 36:58.760 which is located at 2416 Lakeville Avenue, 36:58.800 --> 37:02.040 Brandon Thomas, agent 14th district. 37:02.040 --> 37:06.920 Item number 081126, communications sponsor by myself 37:06.920 --> 37:09.960 for the license premises report 37:09.960 --> 37:11.840 that the public safety and licensing committee 37:11.840 --> 37:14.400 review the police department report. 37:14.400 --> 37:18.000 Item number 81226, communications, 37:18.000 --> 37:19.760 which is sponsored by myself, 37:19.760 --> 37:24.760 requesting any consideration and any formal expression 37:24.800 --> 37:28.720 of concern or other actions pursuant to the police report. 37:28.760 --> 37:33.760 Item 081426, communications sponsor by myself, 37:35.280 --> 37:38.520 submitting a new application for a class B retail 37:38.520 --> 37:42.760 fermented malt beverage and intoxicating liquor license 37:42.760 --> 37:47.760 for Sarah Ventura, LLC, DBA, La Quince, Del Barro, 37:48.720 --> 37:53.800 restaurante, Salon, Fiesta, located at 1518 37:53.840 --> 37:58.040 Washington Avenue, Sarah Guzman, Alberts, 37:58.040 --> 37:59.480 agent third district. 38:00.560 --> 38:02.680 So motion and a second to refer these items 38:02.680 --> 38:06.040 to public safety and licensing. 38:06.040 --> 38:08.640 All those in favor, please say aye. 38:08.640 --> 38:10.440 Opposed, that motion carries. 38:10.440 --> 38:12.200 We now move on to committee reports. 38:12.200 --> 38:13.560 Elder land is not here. 38:13.560 --> 38:15.520 So the vice chair, Elder Horton, 38:15.520 --> 38:17.440 will be handling this report. 38:17.440 --> 38:19.120 Elder Horton, do you have any items 38:19.120 --> 38:20.200 for separate consideration? 38:20.200 --> 38:22.440 Yes, I do, yes, I have five. 38:22.440 --> 38:23.600 Please read the first one. 38:24.480 --> 38:28.920 0795-26, communications sponsor by Mayor Mason 38:28.920 --> 38:31.560 regarding their renegotiation or termination 38:31.560 --> 38:33.720 of the flock camera system in the city 38:33.720 --> 38:35.800 of racing, recommendation from the finance 38:35.800 --> 38:38.880 and personnel committee on 9882026 38:38.880 --> 38:42.880 to maintain the contract through 123126. 38:42.880 --> 38:44.880 Physical note funds are appropriated 38:44.880 --> 38:47.640 in the 2026 budget, much approved. 38:48.920 --> 38:50.640 There's a motion and a second to approve, 38:50.640 --> 38:55.360 item 0795-26, Elder Jorgensen. 38:56.440 --> 38:57.280 Thank you. 38:58.400 --> 39:00.520 I would move to make an amendment 39:00.520 --> 39:02.760 that would direct the city attorney 39:02.760 --> 39:05.440 to terminate the contract with flock safety, 39:05.440 --> 39:07.800 effective immediately with the intention 39:07.800 --> 39:10.520 that all flock equipment will be covered 39:10.520 --> 39:13.040 in a way to disable them without damage 39:13.040 --> 39:15.200 until they can be physically removed. 39:15.200 --> 39:18.360 With a 30 day grace period to be provided 39:18.360 --> 39:20.200 to the police department so that they can retain 39:20.200 --> 39:23.200 any data for ongoing investigations 39:23.200 --> 39:25.640 with the cameras disabled during that time period. 39:26.800 --> 39:29.040 There's a motion to amend the item 39:29.040 --> 39:33.280 to terminate the contract, cover the cameras safely 39:33.280 --> 39:35.560 without damaging them and giving the police 39:35.560 --> 39:37.120 department a 30 day grace period 39:37.120 --> 39:40.320 to acquire additional information. 39:40.320 --> 39:42.560 Elder Jorgensen, would you like to speak to your amendment? 39:42.560 --> 39:43.400 Thank you. 39:44.240 --> 39:46.440 So we discussed this at length 39:46.440 --> 39:49.240 at the finance and personnel committee. 39:49.280 --> 39:52.680 We had flock representatives in attendance. 39:52.680 --> 39:56.600 They came to supposedly answer questions 39:56.600 --> 39:58.680 all the walking away from that meeting. 39:58.680 --> 40:00.080 I didn't really feel like there were a lot 40:00.080 --> 40:02.440 of questions answered through me. 40:02.440 --> 40:05.320 There were numerous questions posed 40:05.320 --> 40:07.080 and I think the most crucial, 40:07.080 --> 40:09.960 which is really what's different here. 40:09.960 --> 40:12.680 What have other communities gotten wrong? 40:12.680 --> 40:16.720 There's a few dozen communities in the state 40:16.720 --> 40:18.840 that have taken this same issue up 40:18.880 --> 40:21.440 and looked at it and looked at I think most importantly 40:21.440 --> 40:23.680 what the public wants. 40:23.680 --> 40:25.560 And it made the decision that they wanted 40:25.560 --> 40:26.760 to terminate the contract. 40:26.760 --> 40:27.920 It's what their residents wanted. 40:27.920 --> 40:30.120 It's what they felt was right. 40:30.120 --> 40:32.440 And so here we have the opportunity in the city 40:32.440 --> 40:34.160 to do the same thing, 40:34.160 --> 40:36.960 to look at what flock is and what it represents 40:36.960 --> 40:41.680 and what it does and look at what our constituents, 40:41.680 --> 40:44.400 the folks that we're supposed to be representing 40:44.400 --> 40:46.200 overwhelmingly want, 40:46.200 --> 40:48.480 which is this contract to be terminated. 40:49.680 --> 40:51.320 I don't know if you've seen me polling on it. 40:51.320 --> 40:54.200 I know an alder put up a post on Facebook 40:54.200 --> 40:57.360 and I read through the vast majority of the comments 40:57.360 --> 41:01.880 and it was overwhelming that the general population 41:01.880 --> 41:03.320 does not want these cameras. 41:04.360 --> 41:07.520 One of the comments that I think really stuck with me 41:07.520 --> 41:09.680 from that meeting is an alder made the comment 41:09.680 --> 41:14.040 that well everyone has the drive safe and save discount. 41:14.040 --> 41:15.440 They sign up on their phones 41:15.440 --> 41:17.560 and their phones collect more data 41:17.600 --> 41:19.560 than what flock would do. 41:19.560 --> 41:22.400 But you're missing a really important nuance 41:22.400 --> 41:24.200 with that statement. 41:24.200 --> 41:25.680 And that's that, 41:25.680 --> 41:29.440 that discount is a choice that a person has. 41:29.440 --> 41:32.000 They can choose to enroll in that program or not. 41:32.000 --> 41:36.400 They can choose to have their phone on them 41:36.400 --> 41:38.760 and to do that and participate in the program or not. 41:38.760 --> 41:41.200 There is no way to opt out of flock cameras 41:41.200 --> 41:42.320 to be tracked and monitored. 41:42.320 --> 41:43.960 There's no opt in, opt out. 41:44.840 --> 41:46.520 That would be our decision 41:46.520 --> 41:49.560 on if we want to have the city participate in that or not. 41:50.920 --> 41:52.920 There's numerous other comments around of, 41:52.920 --> 41:56.040 well, if you use social media, 41:56.040 --> 41:58.280 that has more data that gets tracked on you 41:58.280 --> 42:00.040 than what flock would have. 42:00.040 --> 42:03.120 Once again, that is a choice that somebody gets to make. 42:04.200 --> 42:06.600 If we continue this contract with flock, 42:06.600 --> 42:09.480 we aren't giving residents in the city of Racina choice 42:09.480 --> 42:10.960 whether or not they're going to be monitored 42:10.960 --> 42:12.560 with this camera system. 42:12.560 --> 42:14.600 We're making the choice for them. 42:14.640 --> 42:16.800 And as we've seen from the public coming out 42:16.800 --> 42:18.760 and speaking on this issue numerous times, 42:18.760 --> 42:21.320 I've received received a number of phone calls 42:21.320 --> 42:23.960 and emails on this of residents asking 42:23.960 --> 42:28.960 that we do not continue this contract and we end it now. 42:29.360 --> 42:31.360 So that's, that's why I made that motion tonight. 42:31.360 --> 42:33.760 I truly believe that the will of the people 42:33.760 --> 42:35.120 should be the law of the land. 42:35.120 --> 42:37.720 And that's the opportunity before us this evening. 42:40.200 --> 42:42.040 Alderman Pervone. 42:42.040 --> 42:42.880 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 42:42.880 --> 42:45.720 I'm in support of Alderman Pervone since motion. 42:45.720 --> 42:48.440 I've spoken a lot on this since it's come up, 42:48.440 --> 42:49.760 had a lot of constituents reach out, 42:49.760 --> 42:51.720 people reach out the community 42:51.720 --> 42:52.880 and just trying to listen. 42:52.880 --> 42:56.640 And we heard, you know, there are some of my colleagues 42:56.640 --> 43:00.160 that are afraid of making a knee jerk reaction 43:00.160 --> 43:03.120 to a particular item like this. 43:03.120 --> 43:06.120 But in a lot of the ways, public sentiment 43:06.120 --> 43:09.440 is public perception is reality. 43:09.440 --> 43:12.440 When we are in an environment like this, 43:12.440 --> 43:14.600 it's different than when you're using your phone 43:14.600 --> 43:16.680 or when you're signing up for apps 43:16.680 --> 43:19.640 and you're allowing that and you're consenting to that 43:19.640 --> 43:21.760 versus when you're giving the government money 43:22.800 --> 43:23.720 to then use these tools. 43:23.720 --> 43:25.080 It's not like the tool isn't useful, 43:25.080 --> 43:26.600 especially for our police department 43:26.600 --> 43:27.920 and a lot of the crimes that they do. 43:27.920 --> 43:30.240 This gives them the opportunity to download any data 43:30.240 --> 43:31.640 that might be there. 43:31.640 --> 43:34.320 But at the same time, bags up these cameras 43:34.320 --> 43:36.160 so they cannot collect more data. 43:36.160 --> 43:38.440 When I was at the finance and personnel committee, 43:38.520 --> 43:40.040 when I've seen everything else happening 43:40.040 --> 43:42.480 in the surrounding municipalities and communities, 43:42.480 --> 43:44.560 regardless if their crime rate was the same 43:44.560 --> 43:45.720 or wasn't the same as us, 43:45.720 --> 43:47.680 if we're comparing apples to oranges, 43:47.680 --> 43:52.000 it didn't really matter in the sense that 43:54.440 --> 43:57.480 the answers that we're getting from the flock representatives 43:57.480 --> 44:00.320 just did not hold. 44:00.320 --> 44:03.000 They did not meet the expectations 44:03.000 --> 44:04.760 to where I would be able to then go 44:04.760 --> 44:07.240 and reiterate that to my constituency, 44:07.480 --> 44:09.200 to the residents, to my friends and family, 44:09.200 --> 44:10.320 they reach out. 44:10.320 --> 44:13.320 People from both sides of the ideological aisle 44:13.320 --> 44:15.600 are against this and I think we would be 44:18.400 --> 44:23.400 in deep, deep waters if we decided to ignore a directive 44:23.760 --> 44:27.080 like this, especially when it's not about following 44:27.080 --> 44:28.160 what's the latest trend, 44:28.160 --> 44:30.240 it's about these are serious grievances 44:30.240 --> 44:32.640 that our chief has even acknowledged 44:32.640 --> 44:34.080 that he understands both sides. 44:34.080 --> 44:37.000 He defends the usefulness of the tool, 44:37.000 --> 44:38.560 not the company itself. 44:38.560 --> 44:43.320 And what the representatives told us was not sufficient. 44:43.320 --> 44:47.480 And in fact, a surgeon had emailed us earlier today 44:47.480 --> 44:49.280 that what he was told by a flock representative 44:49.280 --> 44:51.760 was not correct and he had to go back and correct 44:51.760 --> 44:52.760 that not his fault, 44:52.760 --> 44:54.280 he's just doing what he's trying to do 44:54.280 --> 44:57.640 to make sure we're making the best informed decision. 44:57.640 --> 45:00.880 But when we're flip-flopping like that 45:00.880 --> 45:02.680 and if the city attorney's confused 45:02.680 --> 45:04.120 or the mayor's confused or I'm confused 45:04.120 --> 45:06.280 and all of us are wondering what's going on, 45:06.280 --> 45:09.120 there's obviously an error in the messaging 45:09.120 --> 45:12.480 and it wasn't a misstatement or misrepresentation by flock, 45:12.480 --> 45:14.560 he was just flat out negligence. 45:14.560 --> 45:18.040 So that is my view and this is why I'm supporting 45:18.040 --> 45:20.680 all the Dergensen's motion to do this, 45:20.680 --> 45:22.960 effective immediately with bagging the camera 45:22.960 --> 45:25.600 so no more further data can be collected 45:25.600 --> 45:29.040 and then giving our police department the opportunity 45:29.040 --> 45:33.600 to download any data they need for ongoing investigations 45:33.600 --> 45:35.000 and if something like this 45:35.040 --> 45:38.120 for a tool like this where to come before council again 45:38.120 --> 45:41.240 at that time is when it's gonna face the scrutiny it deserves 45:41.240 --> 45:43.560 but right now we need to address what's at hand 45:43.560 --> 45:46.320 and I am in support of the motion, thank you. 45:46.320 --> 45:47.320 Thank you. 45:47.320 --> 45:49.760 Aldo Horton, I realize you made the initial motion 45:49.760 --> 45:50.640 for the committee report. 45:50.640 --> 45:52.720 I didn't ask if you wanted to speak to your original motion, 45:52.720 --> 45:54.640 do you want to speak on the amendment or the amendment? 45:54.640 --> 45:56.640 Of course, please proceed. 45:56.640 --> 45:59.040 Yeah, so first of all I understand 45:59.040 --> 46:02.080 what President Dergensen is saying 46:02.080 --> 46:03.720 and all the people on the saying. 46:03.760 --> 46:05.480 And like I said and I said again, 46:05.480 --> 46:08.480 unless you're on the other side of the aisle 46:08.480 --> 46:11.920 of losing the loved one and homicide rate 46:11.920 --> 46:15.000 and received is down 22%. 46:15.000 --> 46:17.680 It's a difference when you're saying to solve this case, 46:17.680 --> 46:21.320 to solve this murder if you're on the other side of it. 46:21.320 --> 46:24.080 And so for the public safety part of it, 46:24.080 --> 46:27.920 as far as the contract ended on the 31st of this year, 46:27.920 --> 46:30.280 it was already said that it was not gonna be in a budget 46:30.280 --> 46:33.280 for next year so that's no fight on that. 46:33.280 --> 46:35.880 But the fact of what do we replace it with? 46:36.920 --> 46:40.760 The last meeting we had on finance and personnel, 46:40.760 --> 46:44.600 it went from 30 days to 45 days 46:44.600 --> 46:46.400 and it actually reached 90 days, 46:46.400 --> 46:48.320 which would be the end of the year. 46:48.320 --> 46:51.880 And so I agree that the flock represent 46:51.880 --> 46:53.160 the people that came from flock 46:53.160 --> 46:55.560 probably didn't answer all the questions, 46:55.560 --> 46:59.400 but also really would like to know how many orders went 46:59.400 --> 47:02.000 and seeing how flock really worked. 47:02.040 --> 47:03.760 And so I asked the PD, how many people? 47:03.760 --> 47:06.920 I think it was four or five, but it's 15 of us. 47:06.920 --> 47:09.240 I'm not law enforcement. 47:09.240 --> 47:10.560 I don't work for law enforcement, 47:10.560 --> 47:13.560 but we're taking away a tool 47:13.560 --> 47:17.000 and the question tonight is what do we replace it with? 47:17.000 --> 47:20.640 So do we go without from here until the end of the year? 47:20.640 --> 47:23.600 It's not in the budget for 27. 47:23.600 --> 47:25.480 There was some financial things in there 47:25.480 --> 47:28.760 in the actual, some financial obligations. 47:28.760 --> 47:31.920 We asked the city attorney, like, okay, 47:31.920 --> 47:35.320 if the flock cameras are removed, who pays for them? 47:35.320 --> 47:40.320 We were directed that we are not to touch any other equipment. 47:40.560 --> 47:42.120 So there's still some things there 47:42.120 --> 47:45.440 that's gonna be some type of financial obligation. 47:45.440 --> 47:49.080 And then it was said that we've already paid them for 2026. 47:49.080 --> 47:51.480 So if we didn't pay them already for 2026, 47:51.480 --> 47:54.400 so that's just like free money or taxpayers money, 47:54.400 --> 47:57.120 that we say, hey, you paid already, we good. 47:57.120 --> 47:58.760 Make sure you're gone, 47:58.760 --> 48:02.080 but we're gonna let you go for the rest of the three months. 48:02.080 --> 48:05.840 I am open to whatever, but I just don't leave 48:05.840 --> 48:09.640 the police department at a disadvantage. 48:09.640 --> 48:14.360 They also said, hey, we're in the midst of investigation 48:14.360 --> 48:18.320 of sobbing a crime. 48:18.320 --> 48:21.560 And so if you guys feel that 30 days is enough, 48:21.560 --> 48:24.480 and that the police department can do this in 30 days 48:24.520 --> 48:27.440 because I was told today it would take six months 48:27.440 --> 48:28.960 to put some in place. 48:28.960 --> 48:31.240 So it's our city, it's our responsibility 48:31.240 --> 48:33.520 to make sure that public safety 48:33.520 --> 48:36.200 and also our constituents are being taken care of. 48:36.200 --> 48:39.440 So public safety, no one's gonna come here 48:39.440 --> 48:41.960 if the city has a high crime rate. 48:41.960 --> 48:44.480 Everything that we build and everything that we have, 48:44.480 --> 48:47.920 there's no need to come in here because I wouldn't. 48:47.920 --> 48:51.200 So if this is what the body would like to do, 48:51.200 --> 48:52.800 then I'm open to it. 48:52.800 --> 48:53.640 Thank you. 48:55.320 --> 48:56.880 I'll be back. 48:58.680 --> 48:59.520 Thank you. 49:01.720 --> 49:04.280 Having been someone who's had a car stolen, 49:07.760 --> 49:12.080 I know what a useful tool that this can be. 49:12.080 --> 49:16.240 I can't describe the feeling to you waking up, 49:16.240 --> 49:20.440 walking out my door and seeing my car missing 49:20.440 --> 49:21.600 from my driveway. 49:22.600 --> 49:26.360 The pit of my stomach that I experienced. 49:28.000 --> 49:31.160 For a moment thinking maybe I parked it in our other driveway 49:31.160 --> 49:35.520 and going over there and there was no car over there either. 49:37.440 --> 49:39.240 Fortunately it was recovered. 49:40.080 --> 49:45.080 Prior to flock, my daughter was hit just on our same block 49:45.080 --> 49:47.320 by a hit and run driver. 49:47.320 --> 49:48.800 Driver took off. 49:52.440 --> 49:56.360 Fortunately she wasn't hurt but the car was badly damaged. 49:57.320 --> 50:00.800 Just two weeks ago her car was sitting out on the street. 50:01.800 --> 50:05.600 The car side swiped it at 12.30 in the morning. 50:05.600 --> 50:07.720 Never stopped, never left a note. 50:09.320 --> 50:13.520 Hopefully they'll find that car due to the technology 50:13.520 --> 50:14.680 that's out there. 50:16.080 --> 50:18.720 There were a lot of objections brought up the other night 50:18.720 --> 50:20.280 at the finance committee. 50:21.600 --> 50:26.320 But there were no facts or figures that were tied 50:26.320 --> 50:28.600 to those objections. 50:28.600 --> 50:33.600 They were generalizations that flock is selling our data 50:34.880 --> 50:38.400 and we found out flock wasn't selling our data. 50:38.400 --> 50:43.160 That this is being anybody that's part of flock 50:43.160 --> 50:44.880 can grab our data. 50:44.880 --> 50:47.000 No, that wasn't the truth. 50:47.000 --> 50:49.720 The police department would share it 50:49.720 --> 50:53.360 and they have shared it just like other departments around us 50:53.360 --> 50:56.160 have also shared that data. 50:57.960 --> 51:00.800 We were told that someone was pulled out of their car 51:00.800 --> 51:02.880 because of flock. 51:02.880 --> 51:06.880 I looked into it and it was the investigator error 51:06.880 --> 51:08.640 that caused that to happen. 51:08.640 --> 51:10.960 And regardless if you had flock or not, 51:10.960 --> 51:15.360 if a license plate was tagged, they're gonna get stopped. 51:16.360 --> 51:21.360 Are we gonna remove license plate readers from squad cars too? 51:22.360 --> 51:24.440 Is the next step getting rid of the cameras 51:24.440 --> 51:27.120 that are on our intersections? 51:27.120 --> 51:29.800 Or what about the camera system DOT operates 51:29.800 --> 51:31.240 along the interstate? 51:31.240 --> 51:33.560 I feel like my privacy is violated 51:33.560 --> 51:36.280 because I don't know what data they're collecting. 51:36.280 --> 51:37.320 Oh, that was another thing. 51:37.320 --> 51:39.680 They're collecting all this data on us. 51:39.680 --> 51:42.360 Our traffic routes and everything else. 51:42.360 --> 51:44.720 Then appear that was the case. 51:45.520 --> 51:48.160 There was a traffic study component 51:48.160 --> 51:50.640 that could be bought by DPW 51:50.640 --> 51:55.640 that basically does very similar to what we already do. 51:56.200 --> 51:59.960 But they don't have all that data five years back. 51:59.960 --> 52:02.360 It would start the day of the contract. 52:03.840 --> 52:06.760 We were told the data gets retained indefinitely 52:06.760 --> 52:08.000 and that's not the case. 52:08.000 --> 52:10.600 I don't know if they even have a server big enough 52:10.600 --> 52:13.600 to retain all the data that's out there 52:13.600 --> 52:14.880 that would need to be. 52:17.800 --> 52:21.000 As Alderman Horda mentioned, 52:21.000 --> 52:23.480 we've paid for this until the end of the year. 52:23.480 --> 52:26.200 The police department, I think, has demonstrated 52:26.200 --> 52:28.200 that this is a very useful tool. 52:28.200 --> 52:30.400 They offer to show it to everyone. 52:30.400 --> 52:34.120 They explain in nauseum how they utilize it. 52:36.040 --> 52:37.560 And I think we're handcuffing them 52:37.560 --> 52:40.240 if we take a valuable tool like this away. 52:41.160 --> 52:43.360 I'm gonna be voting against the amendment. 52:43.360 --> 52:46.520 I think it was a reasonable accommodation 52:46.520 --> 52:49.800 to extend it until the end of the year. 52:49.800 --> 52:52.280 The mayor's already said whether it's right or wrong 52:52.280 --> 52:54.680 that he's not funding it in the budget. 52:54.680 --> 52:58.240 And unless I can come up or Alderman Hordin can come up 52:58.240 --> 53:01.360 or somebody else that might support this type of technology 53:01.360 --> 53:03.520 can come up with the money, 53:03.520 --> 53:08.520 it looks like it's not gonna be a part of the 2027 budget. 53:08.520 --> 53:10.680 I can deal with that. 53:10.720 --> 53:13.680 Just like Alderman Hordin stated that, 53:13.680 --> 53:16.320 you know, if that's what's gonna happen. 53:16.320 --> 53:19.080 Yes, I put a Facebook poll out there. 53:19.080 --> 53:23.760 I've only got a handful of people contacting me. 53:23.760 --> 53:26.880 And it was about 50-50, actually. 53:26.880 --> 53:29.480 People that supported it and people that didn't. 53:30.440 --> 53:33.040 We had a couple people show up at the last meeting 53:33.040 --> 53:35.400 when it was referred as a communication. 53:35.400 --> 53:37.320 We had one person show up tonight. 53:38.320 --> 53:42.960 That's not a groundswell of support against this. 53:42.960 --> 53:45.240 And then we were told that all these communities 53:45.240 --> 53:48.280 are getting rid of it and, you know, 53:48.280 --> 53:50.120 somehow we should do the same thing 53:50.120 --> 53:52.520 because they've done all the research. 53:53.480 --> 53:56.160 Nobody's explained to me why those other communities 53:56.160 --> 53:57.440 have got rid of it. 53:59.920 --> 54:01.440 And what about the hundreds of communities 54:01.440 --> 54:03.400 that have kept it? 54:03.400 --> 54:04.840 Nobody's talking about that 54:04.840 --> 54:07.720 because we're gonna talk about the handful of communities 54:07.720 --> 54:09.240 and we're gonna join them 54:10.920 --> 54:14.120 because somehow they must be smarter than us. 54:14.120 --> 54:17.120 And therefore, we have to jump on the bandwagon into it. 54:18.160 --> 54:20.320 I'm not defending Flock. 54:20.320 --> 54:23.840 I don't know if it's the right technology out there. 54:23.840 --> 54:26.480 A lot of these communities are going to ax on 54:26.480 --> 54:29.800 or whatever that other alternative is. 54:29.800 --> 54:32.000 And it's still the same kind of technology. 54:33.000 --> 54:36.760 What's different about that than Flock? 54:36.760 --> 54:41.240 Well, I know the Trump family has bought into axon 54:41.240 --> 54:43.920 or bought a lot of stock in it. 54:43.920 --> 54:45.720 Kind of interesting that right after that, 54:45.720 --> 54:49.240 all of the anti-flock stuff started coming out. 54:49.240 --> 54:51.480 But I'm not into conspiracy theories. 54:54.080 --> 54:55.900 So I'm not implying anything. 54:58.680 --> 55:01.000 But that seems to be the argument about Flock. 55:02.040 --> 55:04.160 A lot of conspiracy theories out there 55:04.160 --> 55:09.160 about why it's not good for a community. 55:11.360 --> 55:12.720 Every time I walk down the street, 55:12.720 --> 55:16.360 how many families or households 55:16.360 --> 55:20.000 are recording me on their doorbells? 55:21.240 --> 55:22.440 Probably quite a bit. 55:24.360 --> 55:26.360 When I walk into a restaurant, 55:27.640 --> 55:30.920 am I being recorded as I'm eating my dinner? 55:33.000 --> 55:35.160 When I walk into a store, 55:36.640 --> 55:40.120 are they tracking my movements in that store, 55:40.120 --> 55:41.560 watching what I'm buying? 55:43.240 --> 55:44.080 I don't know. 55:45.200 --> 55:47.320 I didn't consent to that. 55:47.320 --> 55:50.440 Oh, maybe I did because I walked inside of it. 55:50.440 --> 55:52.920 But I sure didn't consent to the ring doorbells 55:52.920 --> 55:54.960 recording my every movement 55:54.960 --> 55:57.560 as I walk down Main Street taking my walk. 55:58.640 --> 56:00.040 But there it is. 56:00.040 --> 56:01.400 What happens to that? 56:02.320 --> 56:06.120 This Amazon or whoever sponsors ring doorbell 56:06.120 --> 56:09.640 have all that data out there that they're keeping. 56:11.400 --> 56:13.440 See, we can go down this slippery slope 56:13.440 --> 56:16.480 and come up with all these alternatives 56:16.480 --> 56:19.640 and things that might be happening. 56:22.000 --> 56:25.840 But nobody has been able 56:25.840 --> 56:30.440 to give me a verified documented case 56:30.480 --> 56:32.120 of all these things that were brought up 56:32.120 --> 56:33.560 why we should get rid of it. 56:35.720 --> 56:37.000 It's all hearsay. 56:38.160 --> 56:41.520 In the flock company told us, 56:41.520 --> 56:42.480 no, that's not the case. 56:42.480 --> 56:43.280 That's not the case. 56:43.280 --> 56:44.960 That's not the case. 56:44.960 --> 56:47.320 I don't know how much clearer that could be. 56:47.320 --> 56:49.960 The police department has assured us 56:49.960 --> 56:51.360 that safeguards are in place. 56:51.360 --> 56:52.960 This is how they use it. 56:55.960 --> 56:58.720 That they don't retain the data. 56:58.720 --> 57:00.600 That after 30 days, it goes away. 57:00.600 --> 57:03.560 Flock acknowledged that after 30 days, it goes away. 57:06.920 --> 57:10.680 And unfortunately, it would have compromised investigations 57:10.680 --> 57:14.880 so they weren't able and open session to go into detail 57:14.880 --> 57:18.720 about how it has been utilized 57:18.720 --> 57:22.160 in some of their maybe higher profile cases. 57:22.160 --> 57:23.920 But it's a tool that's had result. 57:23.920 --> 57:25.720 And as Alderman Horton said, 57:25.800 --> 57:28.920 violent crime is down 22%. 57:28.920 --> 57:33.920 Our clearance rate, I believe, has been on the rise 57:34.440 --> 57:39.440 as a result of them utilizing the various tools that they have. 57:40.200 --> 57:43.360 Once again, I'll be voting against the amendment. 57:43.360 --> 57:48.360 I believe that the compromise was extending it 57:49.160 --> 57:50.800 to the end of the year. 57:50.800 --> 57:54.400 And then the mayor will not fund it. 57:54.400 --> 57:55.880 It goes away. 57:55.880 --> 57:58.520 And the police department has their tool and it gives them 57:58.520 --> 58:01.520 some time to come up with some alternatives in the meantime. 58:01.520 --> 58:02.360 Thank you. 58:04.240 --> 58:05.760 Other Pete. 58:05.760 --> 58:07.280 Thank you, Your Honor. 58:07.280 --> 58:11.120 I'm gonna take us, try to keep it short to the point. 58:11.120 --> 58:14.000 Our neighboring communities, 58:14.000 --> 58:17.120 as well as our own county sheriff department, 58:17.120 --> 58:20.000 have presented both the pros and cons. 58:20.000 --> 58:23.080 I won't mention the municipality, 58:23.080 --> 58:27.920 but the company itself tried to sell the same data 58:27.920 --> 58:32.800 that we're talking about back to their own public works department, 58:32.800 --> 58:36.840 which implies that they're monetizing the data. 58:36.840 --> 58:41.840 Many comments have been made tonight about AI and its ability. 58:41.840 --> 58:44.440 I even think about my own ring camera 58:44.440 --> 58:48.200 and how frequently I delete the information. 58:48.200 --> 58:51.480 That information is stored in databases. 58:51.560 --> 58:54.200 When I sit here listening and I'm thinking, 58:54.200 --> 58:57.280 are you familiar with a data center? 58:57.280 --> 58:59.600 That's what they do. 58:59.600 --> 59:03.360 The other point is it's not the technology. 59:03.360 --> 59:06.320 And I agree that we should the police departments 59:06.320 --> 59:10.240 as the other municipalities in our own sheriff department 59:10.240 --> 59:13.240 pointed out they need the technology. 59:13.240 --> 59:17.440 And so my colleagues have already stated they're invaluable. 59:17.440 --> 59:22.520 However, it's the company that is putting us, 59:22.520 --> 59:27.840 taking up public trust, violating public trust. 59:27.840 --> 59:30.120 We talk about accountability. 59:30.120 --> 59:35.600 How can our citizens have trust our accountability 59:35.600 --> 59:38.960 if they can't trust our judgment with the companies 59:38.960 --> 59:40.720 that we do business with? 59:40.720 --> 59:44.960 I think I understand about the budget issue and not funding, 59:45.000 --> 59:49.280 but I think as the other municipalities already pointed out, 59:49.280 --> 59:52.640 it is necessary technology, 59:52.640 --> 59:55.600 but we need to find another source. 59:55.600 --> 59:56.600 Thank you. 59:59.240 --> 01:00:00.240 Other Frazier? 01:00:01.880 --> 01:00:04.840 I'm gonna reserve my comments to the end. 01:00:04.840 --> 01:00:08.080 I'm gonna ask the police chief if he can come up here. 01:00:08.080 --> 01:00:10.480 I have some questions for him. 01:00:10.480 --> 01:00:12.080 The chief would approach the DS. 01:00:15.840 --> 01:00:18.600 Stay your question on the freezer. 01:00:18.600 --> 01:00:24.600 Chief, can you talk about how your agency has used a flock? 01:00:24.600 --> 01:00:25.960 How long have you been able to flock? 01:00:25.960 --> 01:00:26.960 How have you used it? 01:00:26.960 --> 01:00:28.520 How has it been helpful? 01:00:28.520 --> 01:00:31.760 Just to build some context. 01:00:31.760 --> 01:00:32.960 Good evening. 01:00:32.960 --> 01:00:34.480 Thank you for the opportunity to speak. 01:00:34.480 --> 01:00:37.960 Flock or the automated license plate reader 01:00:37.960 --> 01:00:39.960 has been very valuable to the city of Racine 01:00:39.960 --> 01:00:43.560 and certainly in catching the bad folks. 01:00:43.960 --> 01:00:46.960 People who commit crimes that includes homicides, 01:00:46.960 --> 01:00:49.360 shootings, stolen autos, hit and runs, 01:00:49.360 --> 01:00:51.360 missings and the like. 01:00:51.360 --> 01:00:52.720 It's available too. 01:00:52.720 --> 01:00:55.320 We've had it since 2022, 01:00:55.320 --> 01:00:57.400 and the contract currently would run out. 01:00:57.400 --> 01:01:01.000 It's, we signed the contract through 2027, 01:01:01.000 --> 01:01:04.000 through that of 2027. 01:01:04.000 --> 01:01:07.400 Public safety is my number one priority. 01:01:08.880 --> 01:01:11.000 Having tools do our job, 01:01:11.000 --> 01:01:13.640 having tools that keep the city of Racine safe 01:01:13.640 --> 01:01:16.200 is my number one priority, 01:01:16.200 --> 01:01:18.800 along with you guys, I would imagine. 01:01:20.200 --> 01:01:22.520 The tools available to protect our residents. 01:01:24.560 --> 01:01:27.040 Whether it's flock, whether it's axon, 01:01:27.040 --> 01:01:30.160 we have a lot of tools and they don't aren't cheap. 01:01:31.200 --> 01:01:33.960 I'm not gonna go into the narrative of what's going on, 01:01:33.960 --> 01:01:37.320 but I'll just tell you how it's helped us. 01:01:37.320 --> 01:01:38.960 And I've got a statement here, 01:01:38.960 --> 01:01:40.720 if I'm allowed and go ahead. 01:01:42.840 --> 01:01:46.080 As please see, my responsibility is to use the tools 01:01:46.080 --> 01:01:48.840 available to protect our residents. 01:01:48.840 --> 01:01:51.560 I'll also respect in their rights, 01:01:51.560 --> 01:01:54.160 maintaining public trust as it was brought up here tonight 01:01:54.160 --> 01:01:56.520 and ensuring that law enforcement operates responsibly 01:01:56.520 --> 01:01:58.240 and transparently. 01:01:58.240 --> 01:02:00.800 I think we do a pretty good job of that. 01:02:00.800 --> 01:02:03.480 I support continuing the automated license plate reader 01:02:04.760 --> 01:02:07.560 system because it has the potential to provide investigators 01:02:07.560 --> 01:02:09.440 with valuable leads. 01:02:09.440 --> 01:02:12.440 I can assure that up until yesterday, 01:02:12.440 --> 01:02:15.320 we use that tool to arrest a homicide suspect 01:02:16.440 --> 01:02:18.480 that occurred in Mount Pleasant 01:02:18.480 --> 01:02:20.000 and it had never been received. 01:02:21.520 --> 01:02:23.880 Fortunately, that person was taken into custody. 01:02:26.040 --> 01:02:28.400 As I said, that available in homicide shootings, 01:02:28.400 --> 01:02:31.240 so in vehicles, burglaries, hit runs and the like. 01:02:33.120 --> 01:02:37.200 At the same time, I understand and respect the concerns 01:02:37.520 --> 01:02:39.760 surrounding privacy and the possibility 01:02:41.560 --> 01:02:44.280 that technology could be misused. 01:02:44.280 --> 01:02:45.480 I understand that. 01:02:45.480 --> 01:02:46.960 We're not a perfect society. 01:02:48.800 --> 01:02:50.800 Those concerns should not be dismissed. 01:02:52.560 --> 01:02:54.400 Any law enforcement tool that collects 01:02:54.400 --> 01:02:55.920 provides access to information 01:02:55.920 --> 01:02:58.040 about our community must have clear rules. 01:02:58.920 --> 01:03:02.480 Appropriate safeguards, accountability and oversight. 01:03:02.480 --> 01:03:05.280 We have that here in the City of Racine Police Department. 01:03:08.040 --> 01:03:11.080 Currently, I've implemented strict actist controls, 01:03:11.080 --> 01:03:14.160 legitimate law enforcement use requirements, 01:03:14.160 --> 01:03:18.520 auditing of searches, appropriate data retention limits, 01:03:18.520 --> 01:03:21.920 employee training and transparency with the public 01:03:21.920 --> 01:03:24.160 about how the system is being used. 01:03:26.360 --> 01:03:29.120 The system is also achieving the public safety goals 01:03:29.120 --> 01:03:30.480 for which it was implemented. 01:03:31.560 --> 01:03:32.400 We got it. 01:03:32.400 --> 01:03:34.960 This was what we were gonna use it for. 01:03:34.960 --> 01:03:37.080 To help solve crime, to help reduce crime. 01:03:37.080 --> 01:03:42.080 We have reduced shootings and shots fired 01:03:42.080 --> 01:03:44.960 by 57% since 2022. 01:03:44.960 --> 01:03:48.840 If that's not an accomplishment, I don't know what is. 01:03:48.840 --> 01:03:49.680 We're gonna continue that 01:03:49.680 --> 01:03:52.760 because we want people to come and live and receive. 01:03:52.760 --> 01:03:54.000 Racine needs to thrive. 01:03:54.000 --> 01:03:54.840 We need jobs. 01:03:54.840 --> 01:03:55.880 We need schooling. 01:03:55.880 --> 01:03:56.760 We need education. 01:03:56.760 --> 01:03:59.880 We need people to get to the thrive in the city. 01:03:59.880 --> 01:04:01.440 We need businesses to come downtown. 01:04:01.440 --> 01:04:04.200 I live downtown and I hear it all. 01:04:04.200 --> 01:04:05.280 Trust me, I hear it all. 01:04:05.320 --> 01:04:06.480 I hear it from everybody. 01:04:10.600 --> 01:04:12.440 The most important questions should not be simply 01:04:12.440 --> 01:04:14.280 to be whether we have cameras. 01:04:14.280 --> 01:04:15.560 Questions should be whether those cameras 01:04:15.560 --> 01:04:17.560 are helping us solve crimes. 01:04:17.560 --> 01:04:19.200 Recover stolen property. 01:04:19.200 --> 01:04:20.840 Identify dangerous offenders. 01:04:20.840 --> 01:04:23.480 And believe me, we all have dangerous offenders 01:04:23.480 --> 01:04:25.040 and make our community safer. 01:04:27.320 --> 01:04:30.000 And whether they're doing it so in a responsible 01:04:32.080 --> 01:04:33.720 and accountable manner. 01:04:34.720 --> 01:04:38.480 I'm not asking the council to choose between 01:04:38.480 --> 01:04:40.480 public safety and privacy. 01:04:40.480 --> 01:04:42.840 I believe we can protect both. 01:04:43.800 --> 01:04:46.760 It's extremely important to protect both. 01:04:46.760 --> 01:04:49.720 I also believe that whether whatever the decision 01:04:49.720 --> 01:04:52.840 the council ultimately makes regarding flock 01:04:52.840 --> 01:04:55.600 or the automated license plate reader system, 01:04:55.600 --> 01:04:58.280 there must be a clear strategy in place 01:04:58.280 --> 01:05:01.320 to ensure that public safety is not compromised 01:05:01.320 --> 01:05:02.680 during any transition. 01:05:04.720 --> 01:05:06.960 If the decision is made to discontinue the system 01:05:06.960 --> 01:05:09.640 at the end of the year, we should not simply turn it off 01:05:09.640 --> 01:05:12.440 without having another effective system in place. 01:05:13.880 --> 01:05:17.400 Developing, procuring, implementing and training personnel 01:05:17.400 --> 01:05:20.880 on an alternative system does take several months. 01:05:22.040 --> 01:05:23.720 We need to account for the timeline now 01:05:23.720 --> 01:05:27.640 rather than create a gap in our investigative capabilities. 01:05:29.200 --> 01:05:31.160 Removing the current system without a replacement 01:05:31.200 --> 01:05:36.200 or transition a plan could put the community 01:05:36.560 --> 01:05:38.400 unnecessary risk. 01:05:38.400 --> 01:05:41.800 Conversely, the council decides to continue the program. 01:05:41.800 --> 01:05:44.680 We should establish clear benchmarks, safeguards 01:05:44.680 --> 01:05:47.200 and regular reviews so that its continued use 01:05:47.200 --> 01:05:49.600 is based on demonstrated value and responsible 01:05:49.600 --> 01:05:51.760 and implementation. 01:05:51.760 --> 01:05:54.160 Everyone here at the council was afforded the opportunity 01:05:54.160 --> 01:05:55.320 to see how the system worked. 01:05:55.320 --> 01:05:56.920 And some of you took advantage of it, 01:05:56.920 --> 01:05:58.240 understand that some couldn't make it 01:05:58.240 --> 01:06:00.400 because of scheduling things of that nature. 01:06:01.800 --> 01:06:03.600 My recommendation is that if we continue 01:06:03.600 --> 01:06:07.160 and automate a license plate reader system 01:06:07.160 --> 01:06:08.880 with strong safeguards, regular review 01:06:08.880 --> 01:06:13.520 and transparent reporting to this council in our community, 01:06:13.520 --> 01:06:17.400 if the council ultimately chooses a different approach, 01:06:17.400 --> 01:06:20.280 I respectfully ask that we develop and implement 01:06:20.280 --> 01:06:23.280 an alternative before eliminating a tool 01:06:23.280 --> 01:06:25.360 that investigators currently rely on. 01:06:26.360 --> 01:06:28.360 A goal should be straightforward. 01:06:28.360 --> 01:06:30.360 Use technology responsibly. 01:06:31.360 --> 01:06:33.360 Protect our residents. 01:06:33.360 --> 01:06:35.360 Respect their rights or privacy rights 01:06:35.360 --> 01:06:38.360 and remain accountable to the community we serve. 01:06:38.360 --> 01:06:41.360 Whatever decision is made, 01:06:41.360 --> 01:06:44.360 that decision should be implemented thoughtfully 01:06:44.360 --> 01:06:48.360 with a clear plan that protects both public trust 01:06:48.360 --> 01:06:50.360 and public safety. 01:06:51.360 --> 01:06:53.360 So can you talk about, 01:06:54.360 --> 01:06:58.360 because there's a lot that we have to uncover. 01:06:59.360 --> 01:07:01.360 There's frustration with flock itself 01:07:01.360 --> 01:07:02.360 and what they're doing. 01:07:02.360 --> 01:07:06.360 There's frustration with how officers 01:07:06.360 --> 01:07:08.360 are using the equipment. 01:07:08.360 --> 01:07:11.360 So can you talk about in your role 01:07:11.360 --> 01:07:14.360 how have you, what safeguards and left and right limits 01:07:14.360 --> 01:07:17.360 have you implemented for the police department? 01:07:17.360 --> 01:07:20.360 We restricted the use of the flock 01:07:21.360 --> 01:07:23.360 to certain individuals, 01:07:23.360 --> 01:07:25.360 mainly our investigators and supervisors. 01:07:25.360 --> 01:07:29.360 In order to use that system, you have to have a case number. 01:07:29.360 --> 01:07:32.360 Who's using it and the reason why you're using it 01:07:32.360 --> 01:07:34.360 and it's got to get approved. 01:07:35.360 --> 01:07:37.360 That system's in place. 01:07:37.360 --> 01:07:40.360 We audit every single day. 01:07:41.360 --> 01:07:47.360 Every single day we've been auditing for quite some time. 01:07:48.360 --> 01:07:52.360 During an audit, we were able to find two individuals 01:07:52.360 --> 01:07:55.360 that have allegedly misused it. 01:07:56.360 --> 01:07:59.360 That's because of the auditing system we have in place. 01:08:00.360 --> 01:08:03.360 The system has been valuable in it. 01:08:03.360 --> 01:08:05.360 It's a license plate. 01:08:05.360 --> 01:08:07.360 You read it, you're out in public. 01:08:07.360 --> 01:08:08.360 It's a tip. 01:08:08.360 --> 01:08:09.360 You still have to verify it. 01:08:09.360 --> 01:08:11.360 You've got to verify who's driving the vehicle. 01:08:11.360 --> 01:08:12.360 There's a lot of things that go, 01:08:12.360 --> 01:08:14.360 it's just like someone would call in. 01:08:14.360 --> 01:08:16.360 You still have to verify it. 01:08:17.360 --> 01:08:20.360 It's a useful tool and it's been extremely useful 01:08:20.360 --> 01:08:22.360 and certainly in our violent crime. 01:08:23.360 --> 01:08:24.360 Thanks. 01:08:25.360 --> 01:08:27.360 I just wanted to add, 01:08:27.360 --> 01:08:29.360 I'm the only person on this console 01:08:29.360 --> 01:08:31.360 that is active law enforcement. 01:08:33.360 --> 01:08:35.360 Pretty much everyone knows that. 01:08:35.360 --> 01:08:37.360 Here's what I'll say. 01:08:37.360 --> 01:08:39.360 For me, this is kind of difficult 01:08:39.360 --> 01:08:41.360 because I have to separate between law enforcement 01:08:41.360 --> 01:08:43.360 and elected official. 01:08:44.360 --> 01:08:47.360 It's very, very difficult considering 01:08:47.360 --> 01:08:50.360 I use this stuff every day with the sheriff's office. 01:08:51.360 --> 01:08:53.360 With that being said, 01:08:53.360 --> 01:08:55.360 to order Jorgensen's point, 01:08:55.360 --> 01:08:56.360 or to Pabon's point, 01:08:56.360 --> 01:09:00.360 Flock did not give us any type of comfort 01:09:01.360 --> 01:09:05.360 that they are not about how they're handling 01:09:05.360 --> 01:09:08.360 the information that's being used at the same time. 01:09:08.360 --> 01:09:12.360 I also understand active investigations 01:09:12.360 --> 01:09:14.360 are very, very important. 01:09:14.360 --> 01:09:17.360 I need the community to really understand this. 01:09:18.360 --> 01:09:20.360 There are investigations that are happening 01:09:20.360 --> 01:09:22.360 that have been ongoing for months 01:09:22.360 --> 01:09:25.360 and we use this tool to help us. 01:09:26.360 --> 01:09:29.360 Getting rid of the tool eliminates 01:09:29.360 --> 01:09:31.360 the police department's ability 01:09:31.360 --> 01:09:34.360 to get leads on investigations. 01:09:37.360 --> 01:09:39.360 I am not an advocate of Flock. 01:09:39.360 --> 01:09:42.360 I look forward to us transitioning away from Flock 01:09:42.360 --> 01:09:44.360 and going to another alternative, 01:09:44.360 --> 01:09:46.360 but at the same time, 01:09:46.360 --> 01:09:49.360 and I don't know who can answer my secondary question, 01:09:49.360 --> 01:09:51.360 but to order Jorgensen's point, 01:09:51.360 --> 01:09:53.360 to his motion, 01:09:53.360 --> 01:09:56.360 if we say that Flock has 30 days 01:09:56.360 --> 01:09:58.360 to remove the cameras, 01:09:58.360 --> 01:10:00.360 does that allow the police department, 01:10:00.360 --> 01:10:01.360 within those 30 days, 01:10:01.360 --> 01:10:04.360 to actively use the information, 01:10:04.360 --> 01:10:07.360 or to actively access information, 01:10:08.360 --> 01:10:11.360 or is it just, you know, 01:10:11.360 --> 01:10:13.360 Wednesday, September 16th, 01:10:13.360 --> 01:10:16.360 30 day notice has been inputted 01:10:16.360 --> 01:10:20.360 and Flock's systems are no longer valid, 01:10:20.360 --> 01:10:23.360 and we have 30 days to use the information 01:10:23.360 --> 01:10:25.360 that we currently have. 01:10:25.360 --> 01:10:29.360 So I think that there needs to be clarification on that 01:10:29.360 --> 01:10:31.360 because- 01:10:31.360 --> 01:10:33.360 So the other feature is that a question you're posing to 01:10:33.360 --> 01:10:34.360 all the Jorgensen or- 01:10:34.360 --> 01:10:35.360 Yes, yeah, if you were- 01:10:35.360 --> 01:10:36.360 If you were Jorgensen would- 01:10:36.360 --> 01:10:37.360 If you were to- 01:10:37.360 --> 01:10:38.360 To heal to that question? 01:10:38.360 --> 01:10:39.360 I would. 01:10:39.360 --> 01:10:42.360 So the way the motion is intended to work 01:10:42.360 --> 01:10:45.360 is that the cameras would be covered 01:10:45.360 --> 01:10:47.360 effective immediately, 01:10:47.360 --> 01:10:48.360 so I'm guessing tomorrow, 01:10:48.360 --> 01:10:49.360 the next day. 01:10:49.360 --> 01:10:51.360 However, we did hear from the police department, 01:10:51.360 --> 01:10:54.360 there are concerns around, you know, 01:10:54.360 --> 01:10:56.360 there's data that's currently there 01:10:56.360 --> 01:10:57.360 that they're planning on using. 01:10:57.360 --> 01:11:00.360 So I did actually pose this question in committee 01:11:00.360 --> 01:11:02.360 to the Flock representatives, 01:11:02.360 --> 01:11:04.360 and they said that they would be able to do it. 01:11:04.360 --> 01:11:06.360 So the plan would be the cameras would be covered 01:11:06.360 --> 01:11:08.360 and disabled right away, 01:11:08.360 --> 01:11:11.360 so there'd be no new data being generated, 01:11:11.360 --> 01:11:13.360 but the data that's currently in it 01:11:13.360 --> 01:11:15.360 with the police department would have 30 days 01:11:15.360 --> 01:11:16.360 to access and retain it, 01:11:16.360 --> 01:11:19.360 so that it wouldn't disrupt any current investigations 01:11:19.360 --> 01:11:21.360 that they were planning to use it for. 01:11:21.360 --> 01:11:23.360 Okay, so then going back to the chief, 01:11:23.360 --> 01:11:26.360 how does that help you if the cameras are covered 01:11:26.360 --> 01:11:30.360 and no new information is being provided? 01:11:30.360 --> 01:11:32.360 Okay, I have a team with me here 01:11:32.360 --> 01:11:34.360 that will be able to more get into the details 01:11:34.360 --> 01:11:37.360 on that specific question here. 01:11:37.360 --> 01:11:39.360 D.C. Matoria, 01:11:39.360 --> 01:11:43.360 or Jason Smith, 01:11:43.360 --> 01:11:44.360 these are the folks that, 01:11:44.360 --> 01:11:46.360 my team here are the folks that look at this 01:11:46.360 --> 01:11:50.360 every single day that oversee it every single day 01:11:50.360 --> 01:11:53.360 and understand it much better than I do in detail 01:11:53.360 --> 01:11:56.360 and are able to provide those details. 01:11:56.360 --> 01:11:58.360 Okay, and before she speaks to it, 01:11:58.360 --> 01:12:02.360 you know, I understand, you know, press her time, 01:12:02.360 --> 01:12:06.360 and I want to honor everyone's time, 01:12:06.360 --> 01:12:07.360 but I think that this is important, 01:12:07.360 --> 01:12:09.360 because we're talking about public safety, 01:12:09.360 --> 01:12:11.360 so if you can speak to that chief 01:12:11.360 --> 01:12:13.360 about how that will impact you, 01:12:13.360 --> 01:12:16.360 because I know that you're the commander of investigations. 01:12:16.360 --> 01:12:19.360 Yeah, yeah, if you could just speak to that, 01:12:19.360 --> 01:12:20.360 because I think that it's important 01:12:20.360 --> 01:12:23.360 so that we all have a full picture. 01:12:23.360 --> 01:12:27.360 Certainly, so covering the cameras 01:12:27.360 --> 01:12:31.360 and not allowing any more data to come in 01:12:31.360 --> 01:12:34.360 would absolutely 100% interfere 01:12:34.360 --> 01:12:37.360 with some of our investigations and hamper them. 01:12:37.360 --> 01:12:38.360 The information being, 01:12:38.360 --> 01:12:40.360 what the information we have in there now 01:12:40.360 --> 01:12:42.360 and having access to that is great, 01:12:42.360 --> 01:12:48.360 but I'm more concerned about not having a tool 01:12:48.360 --> 01:12:51.360 until without a replacement in place of it. 01:12:51.360 --> 01:12:55.360 I deal directly with victims of crimes on a daily basis. 01:12:55.360 --> 01:12:57.360 My people do that as well. 01:12:57.360 --> 01:13:01.360 And for us to have the equipment there with bags over them 01:13:01.360 --> 01:13:04.360 and say, I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to help you with that, 01:13:04.360 --> 01:13:07.360 because, you know, that tool is covered 01:13:07.360 --> 01:13:09.360 even though the equipment's there, 01:13:09.360 --> 01:13:10.360 and we can't access that, 01:13:10.360 --> 01:13:14.360 and we have nothing in place to replace it with. 01:13:14.360 --> 01:13:16.360 It could take up to nine months 01:13:16.360 --> 01:13:19.360 at least to get a new system into place. 01:13:19.360 --> 01:13:22.360 The longer we leave, 01:13:22.360 --> 01:13:29.360 the longer we leave ourselves without this very important tool, 01:13:29.360 --> 01:13:32.360 it will affect our people and our investigations, 01:13:32.360 --> 01:13:37.360 and we're very disappointing to my people and myself. 01:13:37.360 --> 01:13:39.360 All right. 01:13:39.360 --> 01:13:40.360 I think I'm done. 01:13:40.360 --> 01:13:41.360 Thank you. 01:13:41.360 --> 01:13:43.360 Okay. Thank you. 01:13:43.360 --> 01:13:50.360 Dr. Davis. 01:13:50.360 --> 01:13:55.360 Thank you, Mayor. 01:13:55.360 --> 01:14:04.360 Dr. Mack, 01:14:04.360 --> 01:14:12.360 Institute of Justice has a list of individuals 01:14:12.360 --> 01:14:24.360 who were followed by their abuse of partner 01:14:24.360 --> 01:14:28.360 by using the FLOC system. 01:14:28.360 --> 01:14:30.360 So if you take a look at that, 01:14:30.360 --> 01:14:32.360 that can give you some of that information. 01:14:32.360 --> 01:14:37.360 San Jose, California, an unnamed officer 01:14:37.360 --> 01:14:42.360 access FLOC data from his personal phone to locate a woman. 01:14:42.360 --> 01:14:44.360 Prairie Grove, Illinois. 01:14:44.360 --> 01:14:48.360 Part-time Prairie Grove police officer. 01:14:48.360 --> 01:14:51.360 Trax former partners and others. 01:14:51.360 --> 01:14:55.360 There's a Wisconsin unnamed. 01:14:55.360 --> 01:14:59.360 Has a restraining order petition 01:14:59.360 --> 01:15:05.360 and the ex-boyfriend used FLOC. 01:15:05.360 --> 01:15:07.360 And there's another San Jose. 01:15:07.360 --> 01:15:10.360 But if you take a look at the Institute for Justice, 01:15:10.360 --> 01:15:15.360 there's an ongoing list that talks about individuals 01:15:15.360 --> 01:15:18.360 where the FLOC was used, 01:15:18.360 --> 01:15:21.360 and they were seeking, 01:15:21.360 --> 01:15:23.360 these individuals were looking for safety. 01:15:23.360 --> 01:15:27.360 They were trying to remove themselves from harmful places. 01:15:27.360 --> 01:15:32.360 And the folks who were the officers 01:15:32.360 --> 01:15:37.360 that were in positions utilize the FLOC. 01:15:37.360 --> 01:15:42.360 So that's just wanted to give you some information on how it's been utilized by 01:15:42.360 --> 01:15:47.360 domestic individuals who have been in domestic violence situations. 01:15:47.360 --> 01:15:51.360 And the abusers have utilized the FLOC. 01:15:51.360 --> 01:15:56.360 That's all. 01:15:56.360 --> 01:15:58.360 Order hatches. 01:15:58.360 --> 01:16:00.360 Thank you. 01:16:00.360 --> 01:16:04.360 So I too am in favor of 01:16:04.360 --> 01:16:07.360 Alder Jorgensen's motion. 01:16:07.360 --> 01:16:11.360 I understand that mass surveillance is a real thing, 01:16:11.360 --> 01:16:15.360 and if we as elected officials have a say so 01:16:15.360 --> 01:16:19.360 in how our taxpayers dollars are being used, 01:16:19.360 --> 01:16:23.360 I'd rather not use our funding towards mass 01:16:23.360 --> 01:16:29.360 or a mass surveillance array. 01:16:29.360 --> 01:16:33.360 In the finance and personnel committee meeting, 01:16:33.360 --> 01:16:35.360 the FLOC representatives were there, 01:16:35.360 --> 01:16:39.360 but I don't believe that they had any answers 01:16:39.360 --> 01:16:43.360 from their position of the controversy. 01:16:43.360 --> 01:16:48.360 And I did mention as well that this is a two-parted problem. 01:16:48.360 --> 01:16:52.360 Misuse number one, but as well as privacy protection 01:16:52.360 --> 01:16:55.360 for our community. 01:16:55.360 --> 01:17:01.360 So I will be in support of Alder Jorgensen's motion. 01:17:01.360 --> 01:17:07.360 And also if this is the only tool that our police department has 01:17:07.360 --> 01:17:11.360 to use to solve crimes, I think that's a problem as well. 01:17:11.360 --> 01:17:13.360 I understand that it is a tool. 01:17:13.360 --> 01:17:19.360 However, this tool has an opposing side of it as well 01:17:19.360 --> 01:17:21.360 that impacts our communities. 01:17:21.360 --> 01:17:25.360 So that's all. 01:17:25.360 --> 01:17:28.360 Otherwise. 01:17:28.360 --> 01:17:31.360 So first I just wanted to thank you guys for reaching out 01:17:31.360 --> 01:17:33.360 and giving us the opportunity to come in 01:17:33.360 --> 01:17:37.360 and see how the technology is used. 01:17:37.360 --> 01:17:39.360 I didn't know a lot about FLOC. 01:17:39.360 --> 01:17:41.360 Like a lot of people just saw things on the news, 01:17:41.360 --> 01:17:44.360 but of all the things I saw in the news, 01:17:44.360 --> 01:17:47.360 it became clear that once again, this is not necessarily 01:17:47.360 --> 01:17:49.360 the technology that's bad. 01:17:49.360 --> 01:17:51.360 It is people that are using it in the wrong way. 01:17:51.360 --> 01:17:55.360 So listening to the chief and going to that meeting this week 01:17:55.360 --> 01:17:58.360 to see the audits that they have to go through, 01:17:58.360 --> 01:18:01.360 I mean, they give a demonstration and they had to put in 01:18:01.360 --> 01:18:03.360 Alder demo because they were going to get audited. 01:18:03.360 --> 01:18:06.360 So they had to make sure that that was clear, 01:18:06.360 --> 01:18:09.360 that it was for me getting this demonstration. 01:18:09.360 --> 01:18:12.360 So, and we would go to a new tool. 01:18:12.360 --> 01:18:16.360 So do we know enough about a new tool to ensure it's not going to 01:18:16.360 --> 01:18:19.360 cause the same problem or explode in the same way? 01:18:19.360 --> 01:18:23.360 Versus trusting our department to put safeguards in place 01:18:23.360 --> 01:18:26.360 to use the tool in an appropriate way. 01:18:26.360 --> 01:18:30.360 In a 20 minute meeting, there were so many misconceptions 01:18:30.360 --> 01:18:33.360 that I was able to learn about the number of cameras. 01:18:33.360 --> 01:18:35.360 Who owns them? 01:18:35.360 --> 01:18:37.360 Do they record people? 01:18:37.360 --> 01:18:40.360 All these things that people have asked me that I didn't know 01:18:40.360 --> 01:18:43.360 the answers to, and yes, perception is reality, 01:18:43.360 --> 01:18:47.360 so it's our job to educate, to change that perception, 01:18:47.360 --> 01:18:50.360 and to let people know how these are actually used. 01:18:50.360 --> 01:18:53.360 There are so many people that think there are so many more cameras 01:18:53.360 --> 01:18:55.360 and I learned that some of those aren't even cameras, 01:18:55.360 --> 01:18:57.360 they're just the noise detection. 01:18:57.360 --> 01:19:00.360 So you've got people walking around neighborhoods thinking 01:19:00.360 --> 01:19:03.360 they're being watched at every corner, not accurate. 01:19:03.360 --> 01:19:08.360 So I think that we should, the contract goes to the end of the year, 01:19:08.360 --> 01:19:12.360 take that time to figure out are the other systems better? 01:19:12.360 --> 01:19:15.360 How can we work at the police department to make sure those guardrails 01:19:15.360 --> 01:19:17.360 are in place so that we feel good about it? 01:19:17.360 --> 01:19:22.360 Educate the community on how they're used and where they are, 01:19:22.360 --> 01:19:24.360 and like how many there actually are. 01:19:24.360 --> 01:19:27.360 I think there's a huge opportunity to learn here 01:19:27.360 --> 01:19:31.360 and not just see, there were some bad actors, right? 01:19:31.360 --> 01:19:33.360 They use the technology in a bad way. 01:19:33.360 --> 01:19:36.360 That happens unfortunately with a lot of things, 01:19:36.360 --> 01:19:40.360 but some of these communities that change to a different system, 01:19:40.360 --> 01:19:42.360 I asked that question too, why did they change? 01:19:42.360 --> 01:19:46.360 Well, they were getting body cameras and drones 01:19:46.360 --> 01:19:49.360 and all these other things, and that company happened to bundle. 01:19:49.360 --> 01:19:52.360 So we're assuming that these communities are making a change 01:19:52.360 --> 01:19:54.360 because it's an outrage against flock, 01:19:54.360 --> 01:19:56.360 and we don't even know if that's the actual truth. 01:19:56.360 --> 01:19:58.360 So I just think this gives us time. 01:19:58.360 --> 01:20:01.360 We've got the contract anyway, so that end of the year. 01:20:01.360 --> 01:20:03.360 Let them finish their investigations, 01:20:03.360 --> 01:20:06.360 let them not have a gap in the service, 01:20:06.360 --> 01:20:09.360 and then like go into, if we do something different, 01:20:09.360 --> 01:20:12.360 do it with our eyes wide open so we know we're making a better decision. 01:20:12.360 --> 01:20:17.360 Father Herman. 01:20:17.360 --> 01:20:19.360 Thank you, Mayor. 01:20:19.360 --> 01:20:22.360 I have a question for the Chief. 01:20:22.360 --> 01:20:24.360 State your question. 01:20:24.360 --> 01:20:25.360 Thank you. 01:20:26.360 --> 01:20:29.360 I believe that to make an informed decision, 01:20:29.360 --> 01:20:34.360 there needs to be answers to both sides of the question, 01:20:34.360 --> 01:20:39.360 and you were asked in the just moments ago, 01:20:39.360 --> 01:20:43.360 how does flock help the police department? 01:20:43.360 --> 01:20:47.360 But my question is, how has flock cameras been problematic 01:20:47.360 --> 01:20:49.360 to the police department? 01:20:49.360 --> 01:20:52.360 Because there are residents that do have concerns, 01:20:52.360 --> 01:20:58.360 and I would like to know how has flock been problematic? 01:20:58.360 --> 01:21:01.360 The problematic part just came in not so long ago 01:21:01.360 --> 01:21:04.360 when we found two individuals, two officers, 01:21:04.360 --> 01:21:07.360 that were allegedly misused in it. 01:21:07.360 --> 01:21:10.360 State guards were put in and auditing. 01:21:10.360 --> 01:21:12.360 The auditing trail got a lot better, 01:21:12.360 --> 01:21:14.360 so it's much easier to audit it. 01:21:14.360 --> 01:21:17.360 The other problems that I'm hearing is just the noise 01:21:17.360 --> 01:21:20.360 and narrative that I hear outside that's being done. 01:21:21.360 --> 01:21:25.360 I read the newspapers, I read the social media, 01:21:25.360 --> 01:21:28.360 I read what other communities are doing, 01:21:28.360 --> 01:21:32.360 and hear what some of the problems about monetizing the data 01:21:32.360 --> 01:21:35.360 or collecting the data, I hear all that. 01:21:35.360 --> 01:21:38.360 But when you start taking deeper dives into this, 01:21:38.360 --> 01:21:40.360 a lot of it's a lot of noise. 01:21:40.360 --> 01:21:41.360 Okay. 01:21:41.360 --> 01:21:42.360 Thank you. 01:21:42.360 --> 01:21:45.360 Thank you for that. 01:21:45.360 --> 01:21:50.360 I believe that the overall crime rate in race scene 01:21:50.360 --> 01:21:55.360 has decreased not because there is one specific tool 01:21:55.360 --> 01:21:59.360 that assists in decreasing the crime rate. 01:21:59.360 --> 01:22:04.360 I actually like to stress that there are multiple ways 01:22:04.360 --> 01:22:07.360 in which the crime in race scene has decreased. 01:22:07.360 --> 01:22:10.360 There has been community-centered partnerships, 01:22:10.360 --> 01:22:13.360 there has been data-driven social programs, 01:22:13.360 --> 01:22:16.360 there has been federal public safety grants, 01:22:16.360 --> 01:22:22.360 there are programs like race scene violence, crime reduction 01:22:22.360 --> 01:22:27.360 initiatives, group violence initiatives, 01:22:27.360 --> 01:22:33.360 as well as better reporting in our police department. 01:22:33.360 --> 01:22:38.360 Multitask forces working together to decrease our crime. 01:22:38.360 --> 01:22:42.360 I also believe that there are grassroots community 01:22:42.360 --> 01:22:47.360 programs like Voices for Black Mothers Against Crime. 01:22:47.360 --> 01:22:52.360 I also believe programs and initiatives 01:22:52.360 --> 01:22:55.360 like free firearms, safety gun locks, 01:22:55.360 --> 01:22:58.360 and other things like that. 01:22:58.360 --> 01:23:02.360 I believe that there are multiple ways 01:23:02.360 --> 01:23:05.360 in which we can work together as a community 01:23:05.360 --> 01:23:11.360 to decrease crime and to continue its progress 01:23:11.360 --> 01:23:21.360 in that decrease other than one tool that can be problematic, 01:23:21.360 --> 01:23:27.360 that can be used in a way to target people 01:23:27.360 --> 01:23:30.360 that don't want to be targeted. 01:23:30.360 --> 01:23:38.360 I think that we can support other programs 01:23:38.360 --> 01:23:42.360 and initiatives in race scene that are doing just as well 01:23:42.360 --> 01:23:48.360 in the efforts to decrease crime and deleting one of them 01:23:48.360 --> 01:23:53.360 is not going to make the entire box of cards fall. 01:23:53.360 --> 01:23:58.360 I believe that we can work with all of the other initiatives 01:23:58.360 --> 01:24:05.360 to assist in decreasing crime and with as much money as we each year 01:24:05.360 --> 01:24:11.360 put into our police department and our police officers. 01:24:11.360 --> 01:24:14.360 I think that I am confident that the chief 01:24:14.360 --> 01:24:19.360 and our police can work together with all of the other programs 01:24:19.360 --> 01:24:23.360 to continue to do a great job in making our city safe. 01:24:23.360 --> 01:24:25.360 Thank you, Chief. 01:24:25.360 --> 01:24:33.360 I have a couple of random questions just to clarify things. 01:24:33.360 --> 01:24:39.360 I was at the finance committee meeting when this was initially discussed. 01:24:39.360 --> 01:24:42.360 Is there a difference, Chief, between what you call 01:24:42.360 --> 01:24:45.360 the license plate readers and the flock cameras 01:24:45.360 --> 01:24:49.360 or are the flock cameras simply license plate readers? 01:24:49.360 --> 01:24:51.360 The flock has a number of systems. 01:24:51.360 --> 01:24:55.360 We also have a flocked sound detection within our city. 01:24:55.360 --> 01:24:59.360 And flock has an automated license plate reader 01:24:59.360 --> 01:25:01.360 just like other companies do as well. 01:25:01.360 --> 01:25:06.360 So if I remember correctly, also the contract that the city has 01:25:06.360 --> 01:25:12.360 with the flock camera system is for license plate reading only. 01:25:12.360 --> 01:25:13.360 Is that correct? 01:25:13.360 --> 01:25:16.360 We have that flock has for the automated license plate reader. 01:25:16.360 --> 01:25:19.360 We also have them in our squads, 01:25:19.360 --> 01:25:21.360 but they operate a little differently. 01:25:21.360 --> 01:25:23.360 I'm very familiar with those. 01:25:23.360 --> 01:25:24.360 Okay. 01:25:24.360 --> 01:25:32.360 So does the contract as it currently exists end in 2026? 01:25:32.360 --> 01:25:36.360 Does it end December 31st of 2027? 01:25:36.360 --> 01:25:37.360 It ends in 2027. 01:25:37.360 --> 01:25:40.360 I don't have the exact date in front of me. 01:25:40.360 --> 01:25:45.360 So the current contract that we have actually ends at some point in 2027. 01:25:45.360 --> 01:25:46.360 That's correct. 01:25:47.360 --> 01:25:49.360 2026 at this year. 01:25:49.360 --> 01:25:50.360 Okay. 01:25:50.360 --> 01:25:53.360 So if the cameras are removed by flock, 01:25:53.360 --> 01:25:56.360 and they're the only ones that can remove the cameras, 01:25:56.360 --> 01:26:01.360 is there an additional cost to the city for early removal 01:26:01.360 --> 01:26:06.360 or removal of those cameras prior to if those cameras get removed 01:26:06.360 --> 01:26:09.360 before the contract expires? 01:26:09.360 --> 01:26:12.360 Question for the attorney that if he has a contract in front of him. 01:26:12.360 --> 01:26:13.360 I don't mind if you're all right. 01:26:13.360 --> 01:26:16.360 I'll direct your latest question to the city attorney. 01:26:16.360 --> 01:26:18.360 I don't see that. 01:26:18.360 --> 01:26:21.360 That exists in the contract that way. 01:26:21.360 --> 01:26:23.360 So that's an unknown then? 01:26:23.360 --> 01:26:24.360 No. 01:26:24.360 --> 01:26:25.360 Okay. 01:26:25.360 --> 01:26:30.360 So I know the mayor said in the finance committee that he did not intend 01:26:30.360 --> 01:26:35.360 to fund flock cameras for 2027. 01:26:35.360 --> 01:26:40.360 Does that mean there will be no axon or whatever it was called? 01:26:40.360 --> 01:26:45.360 Any other kind of license plate reader cameras throughout the city? 01:26:45.360 --> 01:26:46.360 No. 01:26:46.360 --> 01:26:50.360 My mistake is for the flock product of their automated less plate readers. 01:26:50.360 --> 01:26:53.360 We're talking about today. 01:26:53.360 --> 01:26:54.360 Okay. 01:26:54.360 --> 01:26:57.360 Well, thank you chief. 01:26:57.360 --> 01:27:00.360 So I just comment to make. 01:27:00.360 --> 01:27:05.360 The idea of the flock cameras became a big issue over the last couple of months 01:27:05.360 --> 01:27:11.360 because there has been some officers in different jurisdictions that have 01:27:11.360 --> 01:27:17.360 misused those that the camera system or the data that comes from those camera 01:27:17.360 --> 01:27:19.360 systems. 01:27:19.360 --> 01:27:22.360 I also know that flock cameras do do good. 01:27:22.360 --> 01:27:26.360 The first time I was introduced with the notion of flock cameras when there was 01:27:26.360 --> 01:27:31.360 a lot of discussion regarding the young woman in Milwaukee that had a blind date. 01:27:31.360 --> 01:27:38.360 The date that she had killed her and dismembered her and I remember the police 01:27:38.360 --> 01:27:43.360 and the investigators talking about it was the flock cameras that was able to 01:27:43.360 --> 01:27:48.360 track her vehicle and then from that vehicle, the tracking the vehicle, 01:27:48.360 --> 01:27:55.360 if they could find the pings from the cell towers to find the person that 01:27:55.360 --> 01:27:59.360 murdered her and did those horrible things to her. 01:27:59.360 --> 01:28:06.360 My other introduction to flock cameras was in December of 2023 when I was hit and 01:28:06.360 --> 01:28:12.360 run at the intersection of Rapids drive in Northwestern Avenue. 01:28:12.360 --> 01:28:18.360 There were three different eyewitnesses to that hit and run that were able to 01:28:18.360 --> 01:28:25.360 provide the police officer that came to this accident and provide information, 01:28:25.360 --> 01:28:30.360 and license plate, the vehicle description, the driver's description, the 01:28:30.360 --> 01:28:35.360 description of the passenger was able to provide all that information. 01:28:35.360 --> 01:28:40.360 It was not enough information though because there was no evidence other than 01:28:40.360 --> 01:28:45.360 their testimony so the person that hit and ran got away with it. 01:28:45.360 --> 01:28:48.360 So 30 days later I get a new vehicle. 01:28:48.360 --> 01:28:53.360 We transfer my plates from my total vehicle to my new vehicle on a Friday 01:28:53.360 --> 01:29:01.360 afternoon on Saturday I was pulled over by an officer in wind point that said 01:29:01.360 --> 01:29:06.360 that the vehicle that I was driving the plates were not registered to that vehicle. 01:29:06.360 --> 01:29:09.360 So I had to explain the whole thing, you know, that just transfer my plates, 01:29:09.360 --> 01:29:12.360 blah, blah, blah, and then of course you let me go. 01:29:12.360 --> 01:29:15.360 I offered him a granola bar and he wasn't interested. 01:29:15.360 --> 01:29:21.360 The next day I'm on Brown Road and I got pulled over again for the very same reason. 01:29:21.360 --> 01:29:27.360 So even though we won't have cameras on light poles or wherever the flight 01:29:27.360 --> 01:29:33.360 cameras are located, we will still be monitored by some kind of camera system 01:29:33.360 --> 01:29:39.360 from our squad cars and we want to have that because it is a tool. 01:29:39.360 --> 01:29:44.360 And I appreciate the comments that were made by Elder Davis and Elder Weiss about 01:29:44.360 --> 01:29:48.360 it's important to understand how these things work. 01:29:48.360 --> 01:29:55.360 And it is true that like any technology it can be abused by some individuals, 01:29:55.360 --> 01:29:59.360 whether on purpose or by accident. 01:29:59.360 --> 01:30:05.360 I don't think we have to throw out the whole system because a few individuals 01:30:05.360 --> 01:30:08.360 abuse the system. 01:30:08.360 --> 01:30:13.360 I am concerned that the only discussion that we had in finance and here tonight 01:30:13.360 --> 01:30:20.360 is about ending the contract or covering up those cameras whether it's tomorrow or 01:30:20.360 --> 01:30:21.360 at the end of this year. 01:30:21.360 --> 01:30:25.360 We have not had any discussion about what are we going to do going forward when 01:30:25.360 --> 01:30:28.360 2027 rolls are all along. 01:30:28.360 --> 01:30:32.360 And I don't think that's a conversation that should wait until we vote on a 01:30:32.360 --> 01:30:39.360 budget in November because like the chief said, these programs take months not only to 01:30:39.360 --> 01:30:42.360 install but also to train his staff on. 01:30:42.360 --> 01:30:49.360 So I am not going to support the motion to end, you know, cover up the cameras. 01:30:49.360 --> 01:30:56.360 I think the least we can do is extended until the end of 2026 to give the chief at 01:30:56.360 --> 01:31:01.360 least something to work with going forward. 01:31:01.360 --> 01:31:05.360 So thank you. 01:31:05.360 --> 01:31:07.360 Alderman. 01:31:07.360 --> 01:31:09.360 Thank you. 01:31:09.360 --> 01:31:14.360 In a moment, I'm going to ask if I can direct a question to the chief. 01:31:14.360 --> 01:31:16.360 You may state your question. 01:31:16.360 --> 01:31:17.360 Thank you. 01:31:17.360 --> 01:31:21.360 But I am going to make a couple of comments first. 01:31:21.360 --> 01:31:28.360 I am not a person who jumps and makes a decision based off of emotion. 01:31:28.360 --> 01:31:38.360 And when I do make a vote or align with a decision, it is after a lot of research. 01:31:38.360 --> 01:31:47.360 And if possible, by inserting myself into that space and have a living experience in 01:31:47.360 --> 01:31:48.360 that space. 01:31:48.360 --> 01:31:54.360 And I'll give an example about, oh, it's been a long journey. 01:31:54.360 --> 01:32:01.360 I began my journey to become an attorney following in my father's footsteps, who is also a 01:32:01.360 --> 01:32:08.360 retired police officer and a retired attorney. 01:32:08.360 --> 01:32:13.360 And I didn't just wake up one day and say, oh, then I'm going to do that. 01:32:13.360 --> 01:32:19.360 I intentionally took a job at the racing county jail. 01:32:19.360 --> 01:32:29.360 And I also interned at the DA's office in the juvenile court department. 01:32:29.360 --> 01:32:36.360 Then I said, oh, well, I got to know something else about what actually happens with our 01:32:36.360 --> 01:32:38.360 juveniles in the court system. 01:32:38.360 --> 01:32:42.360 And I'm not going to listen to people who are just on the outside and they're not involved. 01:32:42.360 --> 01:32:45.360 I'm going to do something else. 01:32:45.360 --> 01:32:50.360 And I started substitute teaching at RUSD. 01:32:50.360 --> 01:33:01.360 Those two experiences, along with law school, allow me to make decisions in both of my elected 01:33:01.360 --> 01:33:08.360 positions from experience and research, not an emotional decision. 01:33:09.360 --> 01:33:13.360 Because believe me, there are opportunities that come along. 01:33:13.360 --> 01:33:22.360 Every time I am involved in a legislative decision, that if my emotions were allowed to take over, 01:33:22.360 --> 01:33:28.360 I may not vote in a way that was in the best way of centering and focusing in on the communities 01:33:28.360 --> 01:33:31.360 and constituency that I serve. 01:33:31.360 --> 01:33:37.360 So it doesn't matter what I believe, what I think or what I like. 01:33:37.360 --> 01:33:39.360 So I'll put that there. 01:33:39.360 --> 01:33:47.360 Our conversation, whether it is justified or not, and whether it was initiated because of 01:33:47.360 --> 01:33:55.360 some big corporate scheme and starting what we know they do start fires to get their way, 01:33:55.360 --> 01:34:00.360 whether that's the case or not, yes, is an emotional way of going throughout the country 01:34:00.360 --> 01:34:03.360 regarding the flock company. 01:34:03.360 --> 01:34:10.360 However, the tool, the forensic tool that is used by the police across this country, 01:34:10.360 --> 01:34:14.360 across this community and across our state is essential. 01:34:14.360 --> 01:34:23.360 Whether you want to assign a large percentage of the 22% of reduced crime in the city of Racine, 01:34:23.360 --> 01:34:31.360 whatever role that forensic tool has played in solving a crime is what we have to look at. 01:34:31.360 --> 01:34:39.360 And so we're not going to just say we're vacating the tool, the forensic tool that the police, 01:34:39.360 --> 01:34:45.360 and we're not going to insert ourselves into the role of deciding how the importance of that 01:34:45.360 --> 01:34:52.360 also attached to all of the community initiatives that are necessary in rolling back and repositioning 01:34:52.360 --> 01:35:00.360 our community when it comes to how we attack crime because crime happens for all sorts of reasons, 01:35:00.360 --> 01:35:06.360 especially in a community that is in our position as we are financially. 01:35:06.360 --> 01:35:17.360 We all know that finances, lack of employment and other variables play into why crime escalates or de-escalates. 01:35:17.360 --> 01:35:22.360 So there are a lot of moving parts to fighting crime, absolutely. 01:35:22.360 --> 01:35:29.360 However, my first question to the chief is going to be what percentage would you assign 01:35:29.360 --> 01:35:38.360 if you had to of the 22% that you say and you have proven that crime has been reduced in the city of Racine, 01:35:38.360 --> 01:35:41.360 because I am going to say what all the Horton said. 01:35:41.360 --> 01:35:51.360 And what we all know as council members, the city of Racine has been flooded with the opinion that this is a community 01:35:51.360 --> 01:36:00.360 that is anti new business, new revenue building opportunity because people see that we have a high crime rate. 01:36:00.360 --> 01:36:08.360 We can't afford to have a narrative out there that we are not addressing the safety of our community, 01:36:08.360 --> 01:36:20.360 and that has many facets to it, the personal and the tangible realities of what safety looks like 01:36:20.360 --> 01:36:26.360 and what it looks like in 2026 and going forward 50 years when it comes to technology. 01:36:26.360 --> 01:36:33.360 So the first question, sir, and thank you for your service and those that work with you, 01:36:33.360 --> 01:36:40.360 what percentage of the 22% would you assign to the reduction of crime, 01:36:40.360 --> 01:36:47.360 and how does that forensic tool actually benefit, and while we transition to another tool, 01:36:47.360 --> 01:36:53.360 whether we have taken your contract or the working cameras to the end of the year, 01:36:53.360 --> 01:37:02.360 to keep in mind that we have been given a timeframe of three, six or nine months in order to put in place another forensic tool, 01:37:02.360 --> 01:37:11.360 what would you be doing between the time that we bagged the cameras and the time that we would be able to fully have installed 01:37:11.360 --> 01:37:15.360 another forensic tool to help you with your duties? 01:37:16.360 --> 01:37:20.360 I appreciate the question, and let me ask my team here. 01:37:20.360 --> 01:37:22.360 I don't have that in front of me. 01:37:22.360 --> 01:37:24.360 How does it contribute to the reduction of it? 01:37:24.360 --> 01:37:28.360 I know it's been a useful tool to us in a number of cases, 01:37:28.360 --> 01:37:33.360 as a number of crimes that I said, whether it's burglaries, shootings, 01:37:33.360 --> 01:37:38.360 or shots fired, non-fatal shootings, certainly homicides and the like. 01:37:38.360 --> 01:37:40.360 I have to look at my team. 01:37:40.360 --> 01:37:42.360 Does anyone's got that data? 01:37:46.360 --> 01:37:50.360 Thank you for your question, and thank you for bringing back up here. 01:37:50.360 --> 01:37:59.360 I don't think that we can give you an exact percentage, but I can give you some real-world examples that just over this summer. 01:37:59.360 --> 01:38:07.360 We've received tips about armed individuals looking to retaliate against another opposing side of town, 01:38:07.360 --> 01:38:13.360 and we had a description of a vehicle in the place we were able to intercept that vehicle and arrest some known shooters 01:38:13.360 --> 01:38:22.360 and known gang members who were supposedly in the process of going to do a shooting, 01:38:22.360 --> 01:38:27.360 and we recovered crime guns from that vehicle that have been tied to other crimes. 01:38:27.360 --> 01:38:35.360 That's sort of a regular occurrence for us, where we're able to stop things kind of before they happen. 01:38:35.360 --> 01:38:49.360 By no means is ALPR technology or FLOC, the only reason or the singular reason that we are crime rate is down 22% are violent crime. 01:38:49.360 --> 01:38:51.360 Where does she go? 01:38:51.360 --> 01:38:59.360 The elder that listed all of our community partners and other things, all of those are very valuable, all the Herman, sorry. 01:39:00.360 --> 01:39:07.360 All valid, all very important tools that we use together, and I would say our partnership with the county 01:39:07.360 --> 01:39:12.360 and with the Department of Public Safety, and the tools that we have, and Voices of Black Mothers, 01:39:12.360 --> 01:39:17.360 and multiple different community organizations out there that we work with are very important. 01:39:17.360 --> 01:39:23.360 None of them are something that can replace this particular tool, but I can tell you that it's a regular occurrence 01:39:23.360 --> 01:39:30.360 where we're able to stop violence and recover guns before the actual shooting happens. 01:39:33.360 --> 01:39:35.360 Elder Allen, do you have the floor? 01:39:38.360 --> 01:39:40.360 Am I alive? Okay. 01:39:40.360 --> 01:39:45.360 And so the second part of my question of what would you be doing between a time? 01:39:45.360 --> 01:39:48.360 The cameras were inoperable. 01:39:48.360 --> 01:39:57.360 Until the time we are able to install another forensic tool, how would you navigate that timeframe with the training and et cetera? 01:39:57.360 --> 01:40:04.360 And can you start that now, you know, before the end of the year, how does that work? 01:40:04.360 --> 01:40:05.360 Yeah. 01:40:05.360 --> 01:40:10.360 So, I mean, this is one tool of many tools and skills that we have that we utilize. 01:40:10.360 --> 01:40:18.360 It does provide a huge resource that all of our other investigative tools and resources cannot do. 01:40:18.360 --> 01:40:28.360 I think my investigators and officers are fully capable of, will be investigating the same way that we always have, 01:40:28.360 --> 01:40:36.360 and would, but solving crimes and stopping things before they happen without that resource would not be possible. 01:40:40.360 --> 01:40:46.360 I'll do the mark. 01:40:46.360 --> 01:40:51.360 So, I know that there's been a lot of controversy with the FLOC system. 01:40:51.360 --> 01:40:59.360 When I was at the committee meeting, I asked the FLOC representative if there's any ways that we can take that data 01:40:59.360 --> 01:41:05.360 instead of putting it into a server outside of foreseen in their hands. 01:41:05.360 --> 01:41:09.360 If we can have it here localized so we have control over it. 01:41:09.360 --> 01:41:22.360 They said that their servers are more secure, but to me that was another way of dodging the question. 01:41:22.360 --> 01:41:27.360 The thing is, this has been a thing for about two years. 01:41:27.360 --> 01:41:38.360 Early 2025, civil liberty groups have shared issues with the data being shared. 01:41:38.360 --> 01:41:47.360 I know that there's other tech companies that said that we are not selling your data. 01:41:47.360 --> 01:41:56.360 We're not listening to you, but Apple, Amazon, and Google both were caught in lies when that happened. 01:41:56.360 --> 01:42:05.360 I'm not in favor of FLOC at all, but I'm also not in favor of taking away tools from the police officers. 01:42:05.360 --> 01:42:15.360 I know that City of Kenosha transferred over to Exxon, but from my understanding, with me and I had, 01:42:15.360 --> 01:42:20.360 they were already in the process of changing over about a year ago. 01:42:20.360 --> 01:42:31.360 I think that we should have a very good transition from FLOC to another system. 01:42:31.360 --> 01:42:41.360 Again, I'm not for FLOC, and I'm not, but I can't fault for this because the safety of our system matters way more. 01:42:45.360 --> 01:42:47.360 I'll repeat for a second time. 01:42:47.360 --> 01:42:49.360 Thank you. 01:42:50.360 --> 01:42:52.360 What's that? 01:42:53.360 --> 01:42:56.360 Come me off your back. 01:42:56.360 --> 01:42:57.360 Thanks. 01:42:57.360 --> 01:42:58.360 Sorry. 01:42:58.360 --> 01:43:00.360 Anyway, just a quick question for the police department. 01:43:00.360 --> 01:43:10.360 How long does it take to transition from FLOC to a different system, and how would that affect your ongoing investigations? 01:43:12.360 --> 01:43:14.360 It takes several months. 01:43:14.360 --> 01:43:19.360 I could be anywhere from three plus up, but there's a process, obviously, because of the cost, 01:43:19.360 --> 01:43:24.360 we'd have to bring it to a committee, then to the common council for approval and not approval. 01:43:24.360 --> 01:43:29.360 There's a cost behind it to procure it. 01:43:29.360 --> 01:43:35.360 Then you have to, once you procure it, you have to train individuals on it. 01:43:35.360 --> 01:43:37.360 We ask all the same questions. 01:43:37.360 --> 01:43:39.360 Who keeps the data? 01:43:39.360 --> 01:43:41.360 How long is the data stored for it? 01:43:41.360 --> 01:43:43.360 Very similar questions like that. 01:43:43.360 --> 01:43:45.360 It'll take several months. 01:43:45.360 --> 01:43:50.360 Right now we're going to go through budget season, so if we were to start it from 27, 01:43:50.360 --> 01:43:56.360 we'd have to introduce it to the budget here in a month or two, and then you have to make a decision. 01:43:56.360 --> 01:43:57.360 But it all depends. 01:43:57.360 --> 01:43:58.360 You have to put RFP. 01:43:58.360 --> 01:44:01.360 I'm not sure exactly just because of the cost. 01:44:01.360 --> 01:44:04.360 Sometimes you have to put all those out there. 01:44:05.360 --> 01:44:06.360 Thank you. 01:44:07.360 --> 01:44:08.360 There could be other. 01:44:08.360 --> 01:44:11.360 There are other vendors as well, besides Axon. 01:44:11.360 --> 01:44:12.360 I'll do Kelly. 01:44:12.360 --> 01:44:13.360 You have the floor. 01:44:17.360 --> 01:44:18.360 Thank you. 01:44:18.360 --> 01:44:22.360 I have a question or two for the police chief. 01:44:22.360 --> 01:44:24.360 Please state your question. 01:44:24.360 --> 01:44:25.360 Okay. 01:44:25.360 --> 01:44:35.360 So how would you say that these cameras assist when we have stolen vehicles that come in and out of the city? 01:44:36.360 --> 01:44:44.360 As soon as a vehicle is reported, so on goes a dispatch dispatch will put it out there over the dispatch over there. 01:44:44.360 --> 01:44:48.360 And it goes out immediately where an officer can come across that vehicle right away. 01:44:48.360 --> 01:44:51.360 It can also track it to where it's going to or the plate where it's going to. 01:44:51.360 --> 01:44:54.360 And then the officers will descend onto that area. 01:44:54.360 --> 01:44:55.360 Okay. 01:44:55.360 --> 01:44:56.360 Thank you. 01:44:56.360 --> 01:45:00.360 I also want to thank officers. 01:45:00.360 --> 01:45:09.360 Mattana for the offer for, you know, getting a briefing on the flock system. 01:45:09.360 --> 01:45:21.360 I am not saying I'm in favor of the brand flock, but I also know how absolutely important it is that we have this tool. 01:45:22.360 --> 01:45:38.360 I sat through several meetings out at the county when they made the expansion to put cameras out by the highway because we do have an extreme amount of vehicles that come in and out of the city, whether it's Milwaukee, Chicago, whatever they're stolen vehicles. 01:45:39.360 --> 01:45:52.360 And it's a tool that they could use when these vehicles come in, whether they're trafficking drugs, humans or whatever is going on, or it's just a stolen vehicle. 01:45:52.360 --> 01:46:07.360 You know, I'd say I wouldn't know what the percentage of the crime reduction is, but I know that in my district, we all have our own districts. 01:46:07.360 --> 01:46:10.360 We all made up differently. 01:46:10.360 --> 01:46:13.360 Mine seems to be a hot spot for some reason. 01:46:13.360 --> 01:46:18.360 Unfortunately, a month ago, I had a man that was shot and killed across the street from my house. 01:46:18.360 --> 01:46:29.360 The gentleman got into a vehicle and I assume that these cameras probably pick them up and is probably part of the active investigation. 01:46:29.360 --> 01:46:45.360 I would hate to have to go back to those family members that came to my home to talk to me and have to tell them that, you know, sorry, we can't grab this dad anymore or, you know, the car is still out there or whatever it is. 01:46:45.360 --> 01:46:47.360 Now we can't do that. 01:46:47.360 --> 01:46:50.360 We have to have some sort of a tool in place. 01:46:50.360 --> 01:46:52.360 We can't just cut it off. 01:46:52.360 --> 01:47:02.360 So I am not in favor of taking any sort of tools away from our police department. We have to have a better plan. We have to have something in place. 01:47:02.360 --> 01:47:13.360 We have to be able to have a smooth transition as someone has already stated. So I will not be in favor of voting for this. 01:47:14.360 --> 01:47:20.360 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to direct the question to Chief Ramirez here regarding this. 01:47:20.360 --> 01:47:29.360 So you said it could take several months to institute another potential, another program like this, correct? Up to nine months. Let's just throw that out there. Is that correct? 01:47:29.360 --> 01:47:31.360 It would take several months. 01:47:31.360 --> 01:47:41.360 Okay. So in the proposed three month time period that we would have between now and December, what would you see your department's role as just going out and trying to source another vendor? 01:47:41.360 --> 01:47:49.360 What would you say? That would be certainly that's the first thing we would do. Okay. But that doesn't help you with the timeline implementation, training, so on and so forth. 01:47:49.360 --> 01:47:53.360 Is that correct? That's correct. And how long would that normally take? If you had to estimate. 01:47:53.360 --> 01:47:58.360 I would say anywhere from six to nine months. Okay. Six to nine months. 01:47:58.360 --> 01:48:04.360 So we would still have to hard stop at the end of December when the funding runs out for this program. 01:48:05.360 --> 01:48:19.360 If the council chooses. If the council chooses. And then you would still have another several months after that that you wouldn't have a tool in place because you're trying to acquire, go through all the necessary steps and then also train your employees, your officers. Is that correct? 01:48:19.360 --> 01:48:22.360 That's correct. Yes. Okay. So the same thing. 01:48:22.360 --> 01:48:24.360 I'm not willing. 01:48:24.360 --> 01:48:36.360 To vote tonight to allow it to go another few months with potential risk that we if this is very I'm not willing to find out if there's more that can happen safeguards in place or not. 01:48:36.360 --> 01:48:47.360 We we can take the knowledge we've learned from this and apply it to any potential future vendor we may use and scrutinize them as they so just they deserve to be scrutinized. 01:48:47.360 --> 01:48:55.360 But to have it out here for another few months when the outcome again of still having to go out and still having to do those things is still going to be there. 01:48:55.360 --> 01:49:06.360 Now, if you have to go out and you know within 30 days that you're going to have to utilize, you know, your resources to go out and look for these people, you could potentially start that process of training. 01:49:06.360 --> 01:49:12.360 If you find and go to the proper committees sooner. If this were to end sooner. Is that correct? 01:49:12.360 --> 01:49:26.360 Theoretically, as to purchasing their procuring a new system. That would take some time. It would take some time, but it takes a lot of time. Right. But if you're doing it in 30 days versus 90 days that you know you're going to be going out there and looking for this. 01:49:26.360 --> 01:49:29.360 Is it going to be more beneficial for you. 01:49:29.360 --> 01:49:40.360 As to what having the automated license plate reader system would be beneficial to the to the police department ultimate to the city. Correct. The procurement would take some time. 01:49:40.360 --> 01:49:53.360 It takes time. It just it has to go to the committees. It has to go to come. And it's got to be since the request was to ended at the 2026. If the request was to end the 26, you'd have to get her go to the budget. The budget's got to get approved. 01:49:53.360 --> 01:50:07.360 Usually done sometime November. And then once it's approved to be able to use. I can probably have to direct some of those questions to the to the finance director as far as exactly how the procurement, how the money to spend them, how to spend that money. 01:50:07.360 --> 01:50:19.360 But if you know that let's say in 30 days, this is going to end instead of at the end of the year, you're able to get more of a jumpstart on that process and potentially find someone maybe in November, December to start training. 01:50:19.360 --> 01:50:27.360 So now you're in June for having officers fully trained how to use it versus you stop in December. Now you're in September. Does that make sense? 01:50:28.360 --> 01:50:38.360 We're already looking at other systems right now. Okay. Right. So if the city attorney could, if I could direct a question to the city attorney, Mr. Mayor, please take your question. 01:50:38.360 --> 01:50:50.360 Would are the bargaining processes for any potential contract? Are those, would those be able to start sooner than the end of what we have with Flock? So Flock ended in 30 days. 01:50:50.360 --> 01:51:02.360 Please get their data and they find somebody. Are we able to start those conversations sooner than if they were to end December 31st? Are those conversations allowed to happen before a contract technically ends? 01:51:02.360 --> 01:51:09.360 The discussions with the successor vendor could take place, yes, without waiting for the contract to be end. 01:51:10.360 --> 01:51:23.360 Okay. So we have the opportunity to still do that and be proactive knowing that I don't think that, again, extending it out is going to be that much more beneficial. 01:51:23.360 --> 01:51:29.360 So I'm still in favor of the original, of the motion by Elder Dorgensen. Thank you. 01:51:30.360 --> 01:51:32.360 Elder Mack for a second time. 01:51:32.360 --> 01:51:39.360 A little confused by the conversation I just heard. The handwriting is on the wall. Flock is gone. 01:51:39.360 --> 01:51:46.360 Whether it's gone 30 days or 90 days is what's being disputed tonight. 01:51:47.360 --> 01:52:00.360 So with the handwriting on the wall, the police department, I'm assuming, and I think the chief alluded to the fact that they are looking at alternatives to Flock. 01:52:01.360 --> 01:52:13.360 By getting rid of it, now does not put the police department at an advantage in finding a new vendor. 01:52:13.360 --> 01:52:23.360 And I think the city attorney stated that very clearly that we can negotiate with someone else. 01:52:24.360 --> 01:52:31.360 It's done all the time when you have a contract with someone and, you know, there's an alternative out there. 01:52:31.360 --> 01:52:38.360 What we are doing is taking away a valuable tool immediately. 01:52:38.360 --> 01:52:43.360 Yeah, they have some data that they can look back on from the past 30 days. 01:52:44.360 --> 01:52:52.360 But if we pass this tonight, it takes away that tool tomorrow. 01:52:56.360 --> 01:52:58.360 I don't think that's a good thing. 01:52:58.360 --> 01:53:02.360 They've stated it's not a good thing. 01:53:02.360 --> 01:53:07.360 That there's active investigations and it's been a tool that's been used. 01:53:08.360 --> 01:53:17.360 I appreciate the fact that there's a list of victims out there that was abused by police officers who abused the system. 01:53:20.360 --> 01:53:35.360 I was probably where Alderman Jorgensen is sitting tonight, a month ago, until I met with one of the vendors that some of us have met up at the League of Municipalities Conference. 01:53:37.360 --> 01:53:40.360 He made a social call. 01:53:40.360 --> 01:53:42.360 We got to talking. 01:53:42.360 --> 01:53:45.360 I said, you know, I don't understand Flock. 01:53:45.360 --> 01:53:48.360 Could you help me understand it? 01:53:48.360 --> 01:53:51.360 He is a vendor for an alternative. 01:53:51.360 --> 01:53:53.360 We weren't talking about the alternative. 01:53:53.360 --> 01:53:57.360 We weren't talking about the advantages of what he's selling. 01:53:58.360 --> 01:54:09.360 He very clearly laid out what Flock is, and he said the most important part about Flock is that there is that audit capability in there. 01:54:09.360 --> 01:54:14.360 Cops that are misusing it are getting caught now. 01:54:14.360 --> 01:54:17.360 He said that wasn't happening before. 01:54:18.360 --> 01:54:32.360 I'm sure the chief can tell you any cop can use tools out there that aren't being audited to do the same nefarious activities. 01:54:32.360 --> 01:54:35.360 Here again, it's one or two. 01:54:35.360 --> 01:54:41.360 It's not the majority of them, but this system they're getting caught. 01:54:42.360 --> 01:54:45.360 When they were using some of the other tools, they weren't getting caught. 01:54:45.360 --> 01:54:47.360 They were flying under the radar. 01:54:47.360 --> 01:54:56.360 So I'm still sticking by my position that I'm voting against the amendment. 01:54:56.360 --> 01:54:59.360 I think we should let it play out until the end of the year. 01:54:59.360 --> 01:55:06.360 The mayor has made it very clear that we are not going to contract with Flock in 2027, 01:55:06.360 --> 01:55:17.360 and it gives the police department time to utilize this to hopefully transition to something else and come January 1st. 01:55:17.360 --> 01:55:21.360 Hopefully, we'll be close to having something in place. 01:55:21.360 --> 01:55:22.360 Thank you. 01:55:24.360 --> 01:55:25.360 I'll do a phrase here for a second time. 01:55:25.360 --> 01:55:26.360 Okay. 01:55:26.360 --> 01:55:33.360 So my only hesitation with this motion is that if we bag the cameras, the tools can't be used. 01:55:34.360 --> 01:55:38.360 In my mind, I'm thinking I don't really care to see Flock go to the end of the year, 01:55:38.360 --> 01:55:46.360 but at least give the police department more time to actually utilize the tool so that they can handle their investigations. 01:55:46.360 --> 01:55:48.360 Well, at the same time, we can walk through them. 01:55:48.360 --> 01:55:52.360 They can look out other alternatives to it. 01:55:52.360 --> 01:55:59.360 The problem with the motion, like I said, is the motion passes to now tonight. 01:55:59.360 --> 01:56:10.360 We bagged the cameras tomorrow, and then the belief is the police department has the ability to use the data from the last 30 days. 01:56:10.360 --> 01:56:17.360 My issue with that is that it does not help the police department with what they're currently doing. 01:56:17.360 --> 01:56:23.360 The thing about Flock is it is a tool that can also do live tracking. 01:56:23.360 --> 01:56:38.360 So when we as law enforcement are sitting in our cars, we get Flock alerts in our car and on our computers that tell us that this car wanted for whatever it is, is at this place. 01:56:38.360 --> 01:56:40.360 And it helps us in real time. 01:56:40.360 --> 01:56:48.360 Now, I understand the hesitation with LPRs, but again, I have to kind of play devil's advocate. 01:56:48.360 --> 01:56:50.360 What are we going to do? 01:56:50.360 --> 01:57:01.360 When we go to an alternative organization and potentially face these problems. LPRs are not going away. 01:57:01.360 --> 01:57:05.360 I just want to let that be known. LPRs are not going away. 01:57:05.360 --> 01:57:13.360 So whether it's Flock, whether it's Axon, or whether it's some other agency or organization, it's not going away. 01:57:13.360 --> 01:57:17.360 So I understand the frustration. I have the frustration. I have the same frustrations. 01:57:17.360 --> 01:57:30.360 I have the same hesitations, but my mind right now is on enabling the police department to do the best that they can and move with their best foot forward. 01:57:30.360 --> 01:57:35.360 And right now, as this motion currently stands, it handicaps them tomorrow. 01:57:35.360 --> 01:57:41.360 They can't use the cameras. They can't use the information again. 01:57:41.360 --> 01:57:47.360 And I'm saying it for a third time. The information that they're going to have access to will be old information. 01:57:47.360 --> 01:57:54.360 And in today's climate, we know that news expires and gets old very quick. 01:57:54.360 --> 01:58:07.360 And we're trying to track whomever for whatever, whether it's a homicide suspect, a robbery suspect, a silver alert, because people do go missing, you know, dementia cases or whatever. 01:58:08.360 --> 01:58:12.360 That's valuable time that the police department won't have. 01:58:12.360 --> 01:58:17.360 So I know it's not appropriate to amend the motion. 01:58:17.360 --> 01:58:21.360 Actually, a motion to amend the amendment would be in order at this time. 01:58:21.360 --> 01:58:22.360 Okay. 01:58:22.360 --> 01:58:28.360 So I'm not saying you have to. I'm just saying if you're wondering if it's in order to amend, to offer an amendment to an amendment. 01:58:28.360 --> 01:58:35.360 So I'm not going to move prematurely. I think we should take this vote. And then if it fails, then we'll deal with that. 01:58:38.360 --> 01:58:43.360 Other Jorgensen for a second time. Thank you. So it's been brought up tonight. 01:58:43.360 --> 01:58:48.360 You know, if we don't have the flock cameras, whatever will we do to solve crime? 01:58:48.360 --> 01:58:55.360 I would like to kind of bounce around to some of the other communities that have had this same thing come up. 01:58:55.360 --> 01:59:02.360 Because I don't believe that other communities experience with this as just noise. 01:59:02.360 --> 01:59:08.360 I think it's important to try to learn from what other communities have shared publicly about this. 01:59:08.360 --> 01:59:13.360 And so we'll start right here at home, Racine County. 01:59:13.360 --> 01:59:16.360 This is a quote from the Sheriff's Office. 01:59:16.360 --> 01:59:23.360 The Sheriff's Office has since learned that flock generates a separate data set from information collected by its cameras 01:59:23.360 --> 01:59:29.360 and markets that data set to other government and private customers through its traffic analytics product. 01:59:29.360 --> 01:59:37.360 The Sheriff's Office statement reads, flock has confirmed that this aggregated data set has retained for up to five years, 01:59:37.360 --> 01:59:41.360 separate from and in addition to the 30 day retention period. 01:59:41.360 --> 01:59:49.360 The Sheriff's Office understood to apply to all information generated by its cameras for public safety and crime solving purposes. 01:59:49.360 --> 01:59:55.360 So they removed their cameras. I guess I don't feel any left safe in Racine County. 01:59:55.360 --> 02:00:01.360 They removed them and there was quite a few news stories of them going out and removing them right away. 02:00:01.360 --> 02:00:06.360 So they were able to do it. And somehow the Earth kept turning. 02:00:06.360 --> 02:00:10.360 We'll go to Oshkosh. 02:00:10.360 --> 02:00:13.360 So here I think was very interesting. 02:00:13.360 --> 02:00:17.360 They had moved forward to extend a flock contract. 02:00:17.360 --> 02:00:23.360 Their police chief had learned some more information about flock and actually raised a caution flag and said, 02:00:23.360 --> 02:00:29.360 I think we need to go back. This isn't what we thought it was going to be. 02:00:29.360 --> 02:00:36.360 So to quote from here, 02:00:36.360 --> 02:00:40.360 the police chief had actually raised that flag and said, look, 02:00:40.360 --> 02:00:51.360 there is a mapping tool that lets you see what license plates pass by specific cameras at that point in time during the 30 day window of the data retention. 02:00:51.360 --> 02:00:56.360 They went to remove their contract and ended with a flock immediately. 02:00:56.360 --> 02:01:00.360 Oshkosh is still there last time I checked. 02:01:00.360 --> 02:01:04.360 I actually went out and contacted the Mayor of Shabogan. 02:01:04.360 --> 02:01:14.360 The Mayor of Shabogan had another one. They covered up their cameras right away because they believed that it was wrong. 02:01:14.360 --> 02:01:21.360 And actually I obtained an email from flock to the city of Shabogan offering to sell them their data. 02:01:21.360 --> 02:01:23.360 Here's a quote from that sales email. 02:01:23.360 --> 02:01:29.360 Public Works gets its own login to a live dashboard showing traffic volume, 02:01:29.360 --> 02:01:32.360 vehicle types, speed data and long-term trends. 02:01:32.360 --> 02:01:35.360 Five years of data updated every 30 minutes. 02:01:35.360 --> 02:01:38.360 They chose to end it in Shabogan unanimously. 02:01:38.360 --> 02:01:41.360 Once again, Shabogan is still there. 02:01:41.360 --> 02:01:48.360 And what was unique about Shabogan as well is this was a joint effort. 02:01:48.360 --> 02:01:52.360 And so this is their police chief. Shabogan police chief, Kurt Zemple, 02:01:52.360 --> 02:02:04.360 quote, we believe it's in the best interest of our city and particularly the trusting relationship between our police department and community to discontinue usage of flock services immediately. 02:02:05.360 --> 02:02:12.360 I think a good way to sum this up. I'll use a kind of abstract analogy here. 02:02:12.360 --> 02:02:17.360 But if you have flesh eating bacteria, eating your arm, you don't tell the doctors, 02:02:17.360 --> 02:02:22.360 hey, I know this thing might kill me. It's really bad. There's nothing good about flesh eating bacteria. 02:02:22.360 --> 02:02:29.360 However, I want to go do a few months of research into what arms, what robotic arms I could replace it with. 02:02:29.360 --> 02:02:32.360 I want to see what the alternatives are. 02:02:33.360 --> 02:02:40.360 That is against the advisement of any doctor would say, you have to get it removed now. 02:02:40.360 --> 02:02:45.360 You can't continue to let the infection grow and fester. 02:02:45.360 --> 02:02:55.360 And here we have another police chief of a city in our state saying that he believes that it's in the public's best interest to remove them immediately. 02:02:55.360 --> 02:03:00.360 So I don't believe the statement of, well, I don't like flock. I'm still going to vote to keep them for now. 02:03:00.360 --> 02:03:04.360 Those are incongruent with each other. We've heard over and over and over it. 02:03:04.360 --> 02:03:11.360 Multiple dozens of times across the state that organizations and municipalities have taken this up, looked at it, 02:03:11.360 --> 02:03:17.360 and said, you know what? There's too many concerns. We owe it to the public to stop this immediately. 02:03:17.360 --> 02:03:20.360 Now, there's other things that can be investigated. That could be done in the future. 02:03:20.360 --> 02:03:27.360 But to say that we're going to continue to let the flesh eating bacteria gnaw away at us while we investigate other things in the future. 02:03:28.360 --> 02:03:37.360 It's just not safe for the public. When we talk about, you know, we have all of these safeguards in place. We locally have that. 02:03:37.360 --> 02:03:43.360 We did learn that we share with other municipalities. They're not beholden to our police and fire commission. 02:03:43.360 --> 02:03:48.360 They don't follow our same rules. This our city council doesn't oversee how other organizations are doing. 02:03:48.360 --> 02:03:55.360 So we're sharing that data today. At this point, I feel like the best path forward for us, the most prudent, 02:03:55.360 --> 02:04:02.360 is to join other organizations, much like Shabogan Police Chief Kurt Zemple. 02:04:02.360 --> 02:04:09.360 And in the best interest of our city, and particularly the trusting relationship between our police department and community, 02:04:09.360 --> 02:04:13.360 to discontinue the usage of flock services immediately. 02:04:16.360 --> 02:04:22.360 There is no one left in the queue. Everybody in attendance is spoken on this matter at least once. 02:04:22.360 --> 02:04:29.360 Again, what is before us is an amendment to the main motion that would terminate the contract, cover the cameras, 02:04:29.360 --> 02:04:37.360 and give a 30-day grace period for the police to use flock camera data for ongoing investigations. 02:04:37.360 --> 02:04:41.360 We do have somebody participating remotely, so the electronic voting does not work. 02:04:41.360 --> 02:04:46.360 When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish. 02:04:46.360 --> 02:05:09.360 Alder Pabone, Alder Frazier, Alder Weiss, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jurgensen, Alderman Weidner, Alder Horton, Alder Hodges, Alder Allen. 02:05:16.360 --> 02:05:34.360 Alder Pete, Alder DeMark, Alder Kelly, No. Alder Harmon. 02:05:35.360 --> 02:05:43.360 Six eyes, eight nose. 02:05:43.360 --> 02:05:50.360 That amendment fails. Alder Frazier, did you want to make a different amendment to the motion? 02:05:50.360 --> 02:05:58.360 Yeah, so I think that instead of, I think we allow the police department, 02:05:58.360 --> 02:06:06.360 so it's kind of in line with what Alder Jurgensen is saying, but instead of bagging the cameras tomorrow, 02:06:06.360 --> 02:06:14.360 we can bag them 30 days from now, so it allows them 30 days to use the information current, 02:06:14.360 --> 02:06:26.360 the current information in real time, and then simultaneously they can look to vendors for, you know, replacement options. 02:06:27.360 --> 02:06:28.360 So that would be my motion. 02:06:28.360 --> 02:06:33.360 So, Alder Frazier, I just want to make sure of stating what your intention is. 02:06:33.360 --> 02:06:41.360 Then your amendment would be to terminate the contract, not cover the cameras for the next 30 days, 02:06:41.360 --> 02:06:46.360 and allow the police to use that data for ongoing investigations. 02:06:46.360 --> 02:06:48.360 Is that a fair description of your amendment? 02:06:48.360 --> 02:06:49.360 Yes, sir. 02:06:50.360 --> 02:06:52.360 Alder Frazier has made that amendment. 02:06:52.360 --> 02:06:55.360 Alder Papone has seconded that motion. 02:06:55.360 --> 02:06:57.360 Alder Frazier, would you like to speak to your motion? 02:06:57.360 --> 02:06:59.360 Yeah, so here's my thing. 02:06:59.360 --> 02:07:02.360 Policing is not a one-size-fits-all. 02:07:02.360 --> 02:07:08.360 What happens in Racine County cannot be compared to the city of Racine. 02:07:08.360 --> 02:07:13.360 I'll tell you right now, the issues in Racine County are not the same as the city of Racine. 02:07:13.360 --> 02:07:17.360 Racine County is not as dense as the city is. 02:07:17.360 --> 02:07:23.360 And so the things that we do and the tactics that we use are not the same as the city. 02:07:23.360 --> 02:07:26.360 Oshkosh Shabogan, the same thing. 02:07:26.360 --> 02:07:34.360 The leaders in those municipalities felt it necessary that they could lead their municipality without this tool. 02:07:34.360 --> 02:07:42.360 Here we have our police chief in the leadership of our police department who are subject matter experts of our community 02:07:42.360 --> 02:07:48.360 saying that this tool is too valuable to just let go within a blink of an eye. 02:07:48.360 --> 02:07:55.360 And so for me, if they are subject matter experts and they do the job day in, day out far better than any one of us can, 02:07:55.360 --> 02:07:59.360 I think we should take heed to what they're saying. 02:07:59.360 --> 02:08:04.360 Still taking into consideration what the community is saying because I don't want to discredit them. 02:08:04.360 --> 02:08:10.360 I think it's important that we allow the police department to do their job. 02:08:10.360 --> 02:08:18.360 And so if we allow them for the next 30 days to have this tool and use it and then at the end of the 30 days, 02:08:18.360 --> 02:08:26.360 which would be what, October 15th, then from there, then we have to figure it out. 02:08:26.360 --> 02:08:31.360 And I know the chief has already talked about looking to different vendors. 02:08:31.360 --> 02:08:39.360 So hopefully there will be some progress there and he'll be able to come back to us to say, you know, what his findings are. 02:08:40.360 --> 02:08:41.360 Thank you. 02:08:43.360 --> 02:08:44.360 Alder Mack. 02:08:45.360 --> 02:08:48.360 Thank you. I'm going to vote against this. 02:08:48.360 --> 02:08:53.360 I think the original motion from the committee was pragmatic and practical. 02:08:53.360 --> 02:08:56.360 We paid for the system through the end of the year. 02:08:56.360 --> 02:09:00.360 The police departments acknowledge that it is a tool that they actively use. 02:09:00.360 --> 02:09:02.360 That they put safeguards in place. 02:09:02.360 --> 02:09:08.360 That there are parameters around how they use it. 02:09:08.360 --> 02:09:13.360 And I think it addresses a number of the concerns that have been raised. 02:09:13.360 --> 02:09:19.360 This would allow the PD to continue using this until the end of the year. 02:09:19.360 --> 02:09:21.360 As I mentioned, we've already paid for it. 02:09:21.360 --> 02:09:29.360 And even if a vendor was found tomorrow, we'd have to go through the process of bringing it through the finance committee, 02:09:29.360 --> 02:09:32.360 bringing it to the council. 02:09:32.360 --> 02:09:40.360 In addition, we'd have to find money within this year's budget in order to pay for it. 02:09:40.360 --> 02:09:55.360 And so it would be much cleaner to, if they found someone tomorrow, to work within the budget process and be able to hit the ground running the first of the year. Thank you. 02:09:56.360 --> 02:09:58.360 Alder Provone. 02:09:58.360 --> 02:09:59.360 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 02:09:59.360 --> 02:10:02.360 I'll speak obviously in support of Alder Fraser's motion. 02:10:02.360 --> 02:10:05.360 I would prefer it to be more expedited. 02:10:05.360 --> 02:10:10.360 But given what we've all hashed out already, we've all spoken on already. 02:10:10.360 --> 02:10:14.360 This is, I still am not in favor of giving it through the end of the year. 02:10:14.360 --> 02:10:18.360 So I will be voting yes for this amendment. Thank you. 02:10:18.360 --> 02:10:20.360 Alder Allen. 02:10:20.360 --> 02:10:21.360 Thank you. 02:10:21.360 --> 02:10:27.360 And thank you, Alder Fraser, for introducing the new motion. 02:10:27.360 --> 02:10:33.360 Again, it would be wonderful if this was 19, anything. 02:10:33.360 --> 02:10:40.360 And we were not looking at technology and how it is just part of our everyday infrastructure. 02:10:40.360 --> 02:10:48.360 And no, I do not like the idea of invasive tools in my daily life. 02:10:48.360 --> 02:10:51.360 And to speak to President Georgensen, yes. 02:10:51.360 --> 02:10:53.360 We all signed up for social media. 02:10:53.360 --> 02:10:58.360 We've all signed up for insurance discounts, et cetera, et cetera. 02:10:58.360 --> 02:11:01.360 And all of that data has been sold everywhere. 02:11:01.360 --> 02:11:02.360 Yes. 02:11:02.360 --> 02:11:04.360 And it was my choice. 02:11:04.360 --> 02:11:08.360 However, this is 2020. 02:11:08.360 --> 02:11:16.360 And we are going forward into an era that the 1900s and anything before that. 02:11:16.360 --> 02:11:19.360 It's not going to mirror at all. 02:11:19.360 --> 02:11:21.360 So these tools are going to be with us. 02:11:21.360 --> 02:11:32.360 And how we are going to be able to make everyone comfortable and make it palatable to us probably 02:11:32.360 --> 02:11:40.360 is with the exercise that we will go through with our police and our leadership to make 02:11:40.360 --> 02:11:49.360 sure that we next introduce a vendor of services that we are able to control more. 02:11:49.360 --> 02:11:56.360 That doesn't have a data center states a way that's collecting and holding on to this data. 02:11:56.360 --> 02:12:03.360 We have time to learn what that language is and how to handle that and what audit tools are put into place. 02:12:03.360 --> 02:12:09.360 But it is not something that we can just say we're not going to use or can use. 02:12:09.360 --> 02:12:17.360 Because the crimes are too intricate and our safety on that level, it matters. 02:12:17.360 --> 02:12:24.360 You don't want to be the person who wakes up and finds out that someone you know was kidnapped. 02:12:24.360 --> 02:12:30.360 You don't want to have to know that someone is being trafficked. 02:12:31.360 --> 02:12:39.360 The stories and the things that I know of that are real time, real happening and not on your TV. 02:12:39.360 --> 02:12:47.360 And what I know is in, I'm sorry, the city already seen as far as crime is concerned. 02:12:47.360 --> 02:12:51.360 And what that looks like and what it looks like with children. 02:12:51.360 --> 02:12:57.360 We can't afford to let go of the forensic tools that are available to us. 02:12:57.360 --> 02:13:00.360 I know we look around and go, oh no, that doesn't happen here. 02:13:00.360 --> 02:13:02.360 I can tell you things happen here. 02:13:02.360 --> 02:13:07.360 And it's frightening and it's happening to our children. 02:13:07.360 --> 02:13:14.360 So while I wish we were living in Wonderland and didn't need a tool like this, 02:13:14.360 --> 02:13:19.360 I'm going to vote in support of at least this modification. 02:13:19.360 --> 02:13:26.360 It gives us something and it gives us closer to finding the forensic tool that we can all like. 02:13:26.360 --> 02:13:28.360 But no one's going to like it. 02:13:28.360 --> 02:13:32.360 Not everybody likes peace soup, not everybody likes tomato soup, but people like soup. 02:13:32.360 --> 02:13:39.360 So we're going to find some sort of recipe that works and we're going to put it into play. 02:13:39.360 --> 02:13:41.360 Oh, there's your answer. 02:13:41.360 --> 02:13:44.360 Yeah, I have a question for the police department. 02:13:44.360 --> 02:13:48.360 Could direct your question to the chief of police. 02:13:48.360 --> 02:13:53.360 So we've heard, you know, from across the state, you know, 02:13:53.360 --> 02:13:55.360 Shibuya again, Steven's point. 02:13:55.360 --> 02:13:58.360 Find a lot of county, Winnebago county, Racine county, Canola Shukkana, 02:13:58.360 --> 02:14:02.360 Appleton, Ashash, Dane county, Verona, Monona, Fitchburg, Sturgeon Bay. 02:14:02.360 --> 02:14:08.360 They moved to get rid of their equipment expeditiously, shall we say. 02:14:08.360 --> 02:14:12.360 I feel like it really is summed up with the police chief of Shibuya. 02:14:12.360 --> 02:14:16.360 And so I would ask what makes you feel like Racine is different, 02:14:16.360 --> 02:14:20.360 that we're okay with the risks that have been called out by other departments 02:14:20.360 --> 02:14:22.360 and they chose to end it. 02:14:22.360 --> 02:14:25.360 In a lot of cases, they actually led the charge to end their relationship. 02:14:25.360 --> 02:14:28.360 So what's different here that we're okay with block? 02:14:28.360 --> 02:14:31.360 Well, tell you, green baits keep in their flock system. 02:14:31.360 --> 02:14:36.360 We're closer to the size of green bait than we are any of those other communities that you mentioned. 02:14:36.360 --> 02:14:39.360 We are an urban-like city. 02:14:39.360 --> 02:14:45.360 We have real crime here and we have a lot of crime. 02:14:46.360 --> 02:14:48.360 The other communities, they choose whatever they want to. 02:14:48.360 --> 02:14:50.360 I mean, I can't control what they do. 02:14:50.360 --> 02:14:54.360 I understand that the way they found out was through DP, 02:14:54.360 --> 02:14:57.360 and Shibuya again was through DPW selling analytics. 02:14:57.360 --> 02:15:00.360 There's companies that do this all the time, traffic analytics. 02:15:00.360 --> 02:15:01.360 They get it from satellites. 02:15:01.360 --> 02:15:06.360 They get it from other types of data that are being sold through Google, 02:15:06.360 --> 02:15:07.360 all those types of things. 02:15:07.360 --> 02:15:10.360 That's all out there right now. 02:15:10.360 --> 02:15:11.360 Why they choose that? 02:15:11.360 --> 02:15:12.360 That's up to them. 02:15:13.360 --> 02:15:18.360 I think we chose not to use the traffic analytics. 02:15:18.360 --> 02:15:21.360 We chose that in the city here. 02:15:21.360 --> 02:15:24.360 But there are other departments that still have it. 02:15:24.360 --> 02:15:29.360 I didn't hear those being mentioned, but there are a number of departments that still use this. 02:15:29.360 --> 02:15:32.360 We are closer to more of a green bait, conosa size. 02:15:32.360 --> 02:15:33.360 Canosas going with the accent. 02:15:33.360 --> 02:15:36.360 They haven't been working with accent for quite some time now. 02:15:36.360 --> 02:15:40.360 It just happened to be good time for conosa to say what they had to say. 02:15:41.360 --> 02:15:42.360 I think it sounded good for them. 02:15:42.360 --> 02:15:46.360 Of course, it got that, and they ran with it. 02:15:46.360 --> 02:15:47.360 We are here. 02:15:47.360 --> 02:15:49.360 You guys are the voices of people. 02:15:49.360 --> 02:15:54.360 We're going to adjust our ways to however you guys desire to do that. 02:15:54.360 --> 02:15:55.360 That's what we do. 02:15:55.360 --> 02:15:57.360 We're down the middle on all this. 02:15:57.360 --> 02:15:59.360 You heard me speak about this. 02:15:59.360 --> 02:16:09.360 It's a valuable tool to us, along with other things that we do here. 02:16:09.360 --> 02:16:12.360 I think we've made great progress in the city. 02:16:12.360 --> 02:16:16.360 I think the focus should be more how do we sell this city for people to come in. 02:16:16.360 --> 02:16:20.360 One of the things we can say is our crime rate has gone down. 02:16:20.360 --> 02:16:23.360 We need to sell the city in different ways. 02:16:23.360 --> 02:16:31.360 This is a narrative that I think has caught on quite a bit that people have really not done their research and learned about this tool. 02:16:31.360 --> 02:16:37.360 This tool is available to whether it's flock, accent, or whatever other vendor there is out there. 02:16:37.360 --> 02:16:43.360 You don't feel like Shabwigan, you felt like Shabwigan got caught up in a false narrative. 02:16:43.360 --> 02:16:45.360 We looked into Shabwigan. 02:16:45.360 --> 02:16:50.360 We looked into Shabwigan, and then people just catch on, just like any other thing. 02:16:50.360 --> 02:16:53.360 It's up to the people they speak. 02:16:53.360 --> 02:17:00.360 It got approved by the council just last week by them to terminate their contract. 02:17:00.360 --> 02:17:03.360 You mentioned that what sets us apart is our size. 02:17:04.360 --> 02:17:07.360 We're not similar to like an Appleton or an Oshkosh at all. 02:17:07.360 --> 02:17:09.360 We're not similar to them at all. 02:17:09.360 --> 02:17:12.360 The fox cities may have something else with the axon out there. 02:17:12.360 --> 02:17:15.360 They may have something, you know, we're a much bigger city. 02:17:15.360 --> 02:17:18.360 We believe the fifth largest city in the state. 02:17:18.360 --> 02:17:25.360 I mean, Milwaukee also kept there with different limitations about sharing their data. 02:17:25.360 --> 02:17:31.360 And so when to Bagel County, the fox city is all along and they're also removing their cameras. 02:17:32.360 --> 02:17:33.360 And so it's another population. 02:17:33.360 --> 02:17:37.360 Instead of you're looking by Metro, that's very similar in size to where we are. 02:17:37.360 --> 02:17:43.360 We also have a Caledonia that has us currently as of today as well as Mount Pleasant. 02:17:43.360 --> 02:17:45.360 They have theirs. 02:17:45.360 --> 02:17:51.360 And I guess I wish I would like to see Racine step forward and look at all of the concerns 02:17:51.360 --> 02:17:54.360 with it that other law enforcement agencies have raised. 02:17:54.360 --> 02:18:00.360 If I can just back back in, not so long in the distance, we had body cameras that were 02:18:00.360 --> 02:18:03.360 introduced to this city. 02:18:03.360 --> 02:18:07.360 It was because bad police, bad police, bad police. 02:18:07.360 --> 02:18:12.360 Okay, body cameras are more intrusive than any automatic license plate reader. 02:18:12.360 --> 02:18:14.360 I can assure you of that. 02:18:14.360 --> 02:18:15.360 We go into homes. 02:18:15.360 --> 02:18:19.360 We see the worst of any human being there is. 02:18:19.360 --> 02:18:22.360 We see the worst in what they say, what people say. 02:18:22.360 --> 02:18:28.360 Do body cameras have a searchable heat map of? 02:18:28.360 --> 02:18:31.360 There's a retention period of body cameras. 02:18:31.360 --> 02:18:34.360 But is it a searchable heat map where vehicles are? 02:18:34.360 --> 02:18:37.360 That is more intrusive than an automatic license plate reader. 02:18:37.360 --> 02:18:38.360 I can assure you of that. 02:18:38.360 --> 02:18:43.360 I guess the answer to the question is no, there's not a searchable heat map with body cameras. 02:18:43.360 --> 02:18:44.360 A searchable heat van with body? 02:18:44.360 --> 02:18:46.360 Yeah, where people are. 02:18:46.360 --> 02:18:49.360 So I guess I thank you for answering my questions. 02:18:49.360 --> 02:18:55.360 But that to me is a big difference between a body camera recording a police interaction 02:18:55.360 --> 02:19:03.360 and being an unwilling participant in a searchable heat map of your location and where you go and where you currently are. 02:19:03.360 --> 02:19:07.360 I'll be voting in support of this because the faster that we're able to remove flock, 02:19:07.360 --> 02:19:12.360 I believe the faster that we will to make it safer for citizens here. 02:19:12.360 --> 02:19:18.360 I wish it was much more expedient than it would be, but it's better than nothing. 02:19:18.360 --> 02:19:23.360 So 30 days is much better than until the end of the year. 02:19:24.360 --> 02:19:26.360 Thank you. 02:19:26.360 --> 02:19:31.360 Well, I appreciate and respect the amendment made by the Alderman from the First District. 02:19:31.360 --> 02:19:38.360 I want to articulate that I would be voting against his amendment because I don't think the 30 days until October 15th. 02:19:38.360 --> 02:19:44.360 This is a substitute enough time for the police chief to do what we're asking him to do tonight. 02:19:44.360 --> 02:19:52.360 And that is to find a replacement for the flock cameras and get that up and running and ready to train his officers 02:19:52.360 --> 02:19:54.360 in this short of a period of time. 02:19:54.360 --> 02:20:05.360 I think that the motion that ultimately was made at the finance committee last week is the appropriate motion for this body to support. 02:20:05.360 --> 02:20:11.360 So I'll be voting against that, but I do appreciate the sentiment trying to find a compromise. 02:20:11.360 --> 02:20:13.360 I understand that. 02:20:13.360 --> 02:20:16.360 So thank you. 02:20:16.360 --> 02:20:18.360 Otherwise. 02:20:19.360 --> 02:20:24.360 I just wanted to ask the chief. 02:20:24.360 --> 02:20:32.360 How much so everything that you talked about gap in services if we are to end in early active cases. 02:20:32.360 --> 02:20:36.360 How much benefit is an additional 30 days to those concerns? 02:20:36.360 --> 02:20:42.360 It's still certainly it impedes in doing in our progress on these cases. 02:20:43.360 --> 02:20:48.360 The procurement procurement for the new vendor would all I mean it takes time. 02:20:48.360 --> 02:20:53.360 It's certainly minimum three months, but it's still got to go through the council. 02:20:53.360 --> 02:21:00.360 It's the committees and eventually approved in the budget process to move forward because you have to sign contracts 02:21:00.360 --> 02:21:02.360 and they go through the city attorney's review. 02:21:02.360 --> 02:21:04.360 There's a lot of stuff that go to it. 02:21:04.360 --> 02:21:06.360 A lot of layers have to go through it. 02:21:06.360 --> 02:21:11.360 So it would help with some of the active things, but there'd still be that extreme gap. 02:21:12.360 --> 02:21:17.360 There's still be a gap in this for sure. 02:21:17.360 --> 02:21:20.360 Any other discussion on. 02:21:20.360 --> 02:21:23.360 Alder Frazier's amendment. 02:21:23.360 --> 02:21:34.360 Okay, just to restate the amendment would be to terminate the contract in 30 days and to give police ongoing use of that data in that 30 day period. 02:21:34.360 --> 02:21:37.360 But that after 30 days, the contract will be terminated. 02:21:37.360 --> 02:21:39.360 Is that an accurate reflection of your amendment? 02:21:39.360 --> 02:21:40.360 Alder Frazier. 02:21:40.360 --> 02:21:45.360 Okay, when the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish. 02:21:45.360 --> 02:21:48.360 Alder Pabone. 02:21:48.360 --> 02:21:50.360 Alder Frazier. 02:21:50.360 --> 02:21:52.360 Alder Weiss. 02:21:52.360 --> 02:21:54.360 Alder Davis. 02:21:54.360 --> 02:21:56.360 Alder Mack. 02:21:56.360 --> 02:21:58.360 Alder Jorgensen. 02:21:58.360 --> 02:22:01.360 Alderman Weidner. 02:22:01.360 --> 02:22:03.360 Alder Horton. 02:22:03.360 --> 02:22:05.360 Alder Hodges. 02:22:05.360 --> 02:22:07.360 Alder Allen. 02:22:07.360 --> 02:22:09.360 Alder Pete. 02:22:09.360 --> 02:22:12.360 Alder DeMar. 02:22:12.360 --> 02:22:14.360 Alder Kelly. 02:22:14.360 --> 02:22:15.360 No. 02:22:15.360 --> 02:22:24.360 Alder Harmon. 02:22:24.360 --> 02:22:28.360 Seven to seven. 02:22:28.360 --> 02:22:30.360 So there's a, well, okay. 02:22:30.360 --> 02:22:37.360 So there's certainly been a long and broad discussion around the tension between security and liberty here tonight. 02:22:37.360 --> 02:22:43.360 I think it's the only item I can think of that everybody spoke to at least once. 02:22:43.360 --> 02:22:56.360 You know, there's long been a debate in this country about what reasonable expectation of privacy our citizens should have from their government that was extended to people's homes in the 60s. 02:22:56.360 --> 02:23:00.360 And more recently in 2018, it was extended to people's cell phones. 02:23:00.360 --> 02:23:10.360 I think we have an emerging technology here that does raise questions about what expectations of privacy people should have when they move around the community. 02:23:10.360 --> 02:23:16.360 And if it were just correcting some of the behavior of some of our officers, I might feel differently about it. 02:23:16.360 --> 02:23:25.360 But I am deeply troubled by all this data being given to a private third party company that is doing things with us that to me is not transparent. 02:23:25.360 --> 02:23:30.360 So as I stated in my state of the city address earlier, I am. 02:23:30.360 --> 02:23:33.360 I'm glad that we are going to terminate this contract. 02:23:33.360 --> 02:23:39.360 My vote on all the Frazier's amendment is to vote yes. 02:23:39.360 --> 02:23:44.360 Eight eyes, seven nose. 02:23:44.360 --> 02:23:47.360 So we're back to the main motion then as amended. 02:23:47.360 --> 02:23:53.360 So this might feel redundant, but we just passed was an amendment to the, to the main motion. 02:23:53.360 --> 02:23:58.360 So we need to vote on the motion as amended by older Frazier. 02:23:58.360 --> 02:24:00.360 It has an identical effect. 02:24:00.360 --> 02:24:04.360 When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish. 02:24:04.360 --> 02:24:06.360 Alder Pabone. 02:24:06.360 --> 02:24:08.360 Alder Frazier. 02:24:08.360 --> 02:24:13.360 Alder Weiss. 02:24:13.360 --> 02:24:19.360 It's, it seems like a redundancy, but it's, it's the same voted as the one we just took. 02:24:19.360 --> 02:24:20.360 Yes. 02:24:21.360 --> 02:24:23.360 Alder Davis. 02:24:23.360 --> 02:24:25.360 Alder Mack. 02:24:25.360 --> 02:24:27.360 Alder Jorgensen. 02:24:27.360 --> 02:24:29.360 Alderman Weidner. 02:24:29.360 --> 02:24:31.360 Alder Horton. 02:24:31.360 --> 02:24:33.360 Alder Hodges. 02:24:33.360 --> 02:24:35.360 Alder Allen. 02:24:35.360 --> 02:24:37.360 Alder Pete. 02:24:37.360 --> 02:24:39.360 Alder DeMarck. 02:24:39.360 --> 02:24:41.360 No. 02:24:41.360 --> 02:24:43.360 Alder Kelly. 02:24:43.360 --> 02:24:44.360 No. 02:24:44.360 --> 02:24:46.360 Alder Harmon. 02:24:47.360 --> 02:24:52.360 Eight eyes, six nose. 02:24:52.360 --> 02:24:53.360 Okay. 02:24:53.360 --> 02:24:56.360 The motion as amended passes. 02:24:56.360 --> 02:24:57.360 Alder Horton. 02:24:57.360 --> 02:25:04.360 Were there any other items for separate consideration? 02:25:04.360 --> 02:25:05.360 Yes, Sharna. 02:25:05.360 --> 02:25:07.360 Please state the next item. 02:25:07.360 --> 02:25:17.360 Zero, seven, nine, one dash, two, six, communication sponsored by Mayor Mason requesting to enter into an agreement with Habitat for Humanity to build four homes. 02:25:17.360 --> 02:25:30.360 Recommendation from the Finance and Personnel Committee on nine, eight to approve the city of racing to enter into agreement with the city of racing community development authority and Habitat for Humanity to build four homes. 02:25:30.360 --> 02:25:35.360 Move to approve. 02:25:36.360 --> 02:25:38.360 Do you want to speak to your motion? 02:25:38.360 --> 02:25:44.360 No, this is Alder from the sixth one in separate consideration on this item. 02:25:44.360 --> 02:25:46.360 Alder Weidner, you have the floor. 02:25:46.360 --> 02:25:47.360 Thank you. 02:25:47.360 --> 02:25:52.360 I just had a question on this item in regards to the fiscal note. 02:25:52.360 --> 02:26:01.360 I believe the question would be for the assistant director of city development. 02:26:01.360 --> 02:26:03.360 Mr. 02:26:03.360 --> 02:26:18.360 Williams. 02:26:18.360 --> 02:26:22.360 Sorry, didn't prep you on this before the meeting, Jeff. 02:26:22.360 --> 02:26:23.360 It's just a simple question. 02:26:23.360 --> 02:26:24.360 You didn't need your laptop. 02:26:24.360 --> 02:26:26.360 It's in regards to the fiscal note. 02:26:26.360 --> 02:26:43.360 The two million dollars that in previously authorized home investment partnership program funds plus another $237,572 from two other programs for four homes. 02:26:43.360 --> 02:26:47.360 And that comes out to about $560,000 per home. 02:26:47.360 --> 02:26:52.360 That is going to be built on 16th and on homes, I believe it was. 02:26:52.360 --> 02:26:55.360 And this is being done by Habitat for Humanity. 02:26:55.360 --> 02:26:58.360 I'm wondering why the cost per home is so high. 02:26:58.360 --> 02:26:59.360 So that was done. 02:26:59.360 --> 02:27:00.360 It's over. 02:27:00.360 --> 02:27:02.360 It's more than we think it's actually going to be. 02:27:02.360 --> 02:27:07.360 It was done in an effort to make sure we allocated enough funding to it to not have to revisit this council. 02:27:07.360 --> 02:27:09.360 So we don't expect it to be that high actually. 02:27:09.360 --> 02:27:12.360 But there was demolition in some environmental remediation costs. 02:27:12.360 --> 02:27:15.360 There was a church that was standing on that property as well. 02:27:15.360 --> 02:27:16.360 So some of the cost is for that. 02:27:16.360 --> 02:27:20.360 It's not as simple as the total dollars divided by the four homes. 02:27:20.360 --> 02:27:22.360 So there's no other costs that are embedded in there as well. 02:27:23.360 --> 02:27:26.360 I thought we had already demolished and did the remediation. 02:27:26.360 --> 02:27:28.360 We'd already paid for that. 02:27:28.360 --> 02:27:29.360 Oops. 02:27:29.360 --> 02:27:30.360 Without our funding. 02:27:30.360 --> 02:27:31.360 Correct. 02:27:31.360 --> 02:27:32.360 It was with this pot of money. 02:27:32.360 --> 02:27:33.360 So it was an over the home fund. 02:27:33.360 --> 02:27:38.360 The home fund allows for from start inception all the way to completion of the project. 02:27:38.360 --> 02:27:41.360 So we paid for demolition with the home funding as well as part of that. 02:27:41.360 --> 02:27:45.360 So this total of $2.237 million. 02:27:45.360 --> 02:27:47.360 It includes the demolition. 02:27:47.360 --> 02:27:48.360 Yeah. 02:27:48.360 --> 02:27:49.360 And all that. 02:27:49.360 --> 02:27:51.360 Yeah, that's why it seems so high. 02:27:51.360 --> 02:27:55.360 It includes demolition site prep, land cell division, environmental remediation and all that. 02:27:55.360 --> 02:27:56.360 Okay. 02:27:56.360 --> 02:27:57.360 Okay. 02:27:57.360 --> 02:27:58.360 Thank you. 02:27:58.360 --> 02:27:59.360 You're welcome. 02:27:59.360 --> 02:28:01.360 We don't need to vote on this separate. 02:28:01.360 --> 02:28:03.360 Mr. Mayor, if you just want to incorporate in. 02:28:03.360 --> 02:28:07.360 And I just had that question on this item. 02:28:07.360 --> 02:28:09.360 We do have a motion on the floor. 02:28:09.360 --> 02:28:12.360 So we do have to take a vote on it. 02:28:12.360 --> 02:28:16.360 Any other discussion on this item? 02:28:16.360 --> 02:28:20.360 Seeing none when the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish. 02:28:20.360 --> 02:28:22.360 Alder Pabone. 02:28:22.360 --> 02:28:25.360 Alder Frazier. 02:28:25.360 --> 02:28:28.360 Alder Weiss. 02:28:28.360 --> 02:28:31.360 Alder Davis. 02:28:31.360 --> 02:28:32.360 I'm sorry. 02:28:32.360 --> 02:28:33.360 Thank you. 02:28:33.360 --> 02:28:34.360 Alder Mack. 02:28:34.360 --> 02:28:36.360 Alder Jorgensen. 02:28:36.360 --> 02:28:38.360 Alderman Weidner. 02:28:38.360 --> 02:28:40.360 Alder Horton. 02:28:40.360 --> 02:28:43.360 Alder Hodges. 02:28:43.360 --> 02:28:45.360 Alder Allen. 02:28:45.360 --> 02:28:48.360 Alder Pete. 02:28:49.360 --> 02:29:01.360 If I could ask the council president to ask the alders in the hallway to let them know that we're in the middle of a vote. 02:29:01.360 --> 02:29:03.360 Alder Kelly. 02:29:03.360 --> 02:29:06.360 Alder Harmon. 02:29:06.360 --> 02:29:10.360 We're in the middle of a vote. 02:29:10.360 --> 02:29:13.360 And I believe. 02:29:13.360 --> 02:29:14.360 Okay. 02:29:14.360 --> 02:29:16.360 Alder Frazier. 02:29:16.360 --> 02:29:17.360 Since he votes aye. 02:29:17.360 --> 02:29:19.360 Alder DeMarque. 02:29:19.360 --> 02:29:23.360 12 ayes. 02:29:23.360 --> 02:29:27.360 There are 12 ayes, and zero noes. 02:29:27.360 --> 02:29:29.360 The motion carries. 02:29:29.360 --> 02:29:33.360 Alder Horton, did you have any other items for separate consideration? 02:29:33.360 --> 02:29:34.360 I do. 02:29:34.360 --> 02:29:39.360 0792-26, Communications Sponsored by Mayor Mason. 02:29:39.360 --> 02:29:42.160 requesting to adopt the attached resolution 02:29:42.160 --> 02:29:43.840 regarding the trade negotiations 02:29:43.840 --> 02:29:47.200 underway between the U.S. and Canada. 02:29:47.200 --> 02:29:49.560 Recommendation from the Finance and Personnel Committee 02:29:49.560 --> 02:29:51.560 O9-8, MOOCs approval. 02:29:52.560 --> 02:29:55.520 So a motion and a second to approve the resolution. 02:29:55.520 --> 02:29:57.600 Discussion, Alderman Wider. 02:29:57.600 --> 02:29:58.720 Thank you. 02:29:58.720 --> 02:30:00.720 I have no quarrel with Canada. 02:30:00.720 --> 02:30:02.440 We've seen businesses sell there 02:30:02.440 --> 02:30:05.440 and Brandford is our sister city. 02:30:05.440 --> 02:30:08.000 If this stopped at being a resolution 02:30:08.000 --> 02:30:10.760 and supporting a fair trade, I would vote for it. 02:30:10.760 --> 02:30:13.320 However, it does not stop there. 02:30:13.320 --> 02:30:15.040 If you read the last page, 02:30:15.040 --> 02:30:17.160 it ends with I, Corey Mason, Mayor, 02:30:17.160 --> 02:30:20.800 do hereby proclaim blank as blank 02:30:20.800 --> 02:30:24.800 with the blank still in it over the Mayor's signature line. 02:30:24.800 --> 02:30:27.000 This is the Mayor's proclamation 02:30:27.000 --> 02:30:29.520 with a council resolution in front of it. 02:30:29.520 --> 02:30:32.440 And we're being asked to direct the Racine City Clerk 02:30:32.440 --> 02:30:33.760 to mail it to the White House, 02:30:33.760 --> 02:30:37.320 the Trade Representative, our Congressional delegation 02:30:37.360 --> 02:30:39.200 and a foreign government. 02:30:39.200 --> 02:30:41.960 That is not what this body is for. 02:30:41.960 --> 02:30:45.240 And let's be practical about who it's addressed to. 02:30:45.240 --> 02:30:48.440 The current administration has shown it keeps score 02:30:48.440 --> 02:30:50.520 with cities that insulted. 02:30:50.520 --> 02:30:51.520 Just two weeks ago, 02:30:51.520 --> 02:30:54.680 this council approved borrowing $15.5 million 02:30:54.680 --> 02:30:57.680 for the Lincoln Clinic 02:30:57.680 --> 02:31:01.560 because we did not receive the $17 million in federal grants 02:31:01.560 --> 02:31:04.720 back in 2025 that our finance director 02:31:04.720 --> 02:31:05.960 had assured this council 02:31:05.960 --> 02:31:08.080 that the city would be receiving. 02:31:08.080 --> 02:31:10.640 Those assurances are documented. 02:31:10.640 --> 02:31:15.080 Racine's housing and neighborhood program runs on HUD money. 02:31:15.080 --> 02:31:17.600 Money Washington is already cutting 02:31:17.600 --> 02:31:20.840 and every dollar of it has discretionary pieces 02:31:20.840 --> 02:31:23.120 that can be delayed, can be denied 02:31:23.120 --> 02:31:26.520 or can be audited without anyone ever having to tell us 02:31:26.520 --> 02:31:29.320 why we would be getting audited. 02:31:29.320 --> 02:31:31.040 Do we want that scrutiny? 02:31:31.040 --> 02:31:33.280 Our own house is not in order. 02:31:33.280 --> 02:31:37.440 This city has allocated 290,000 in federal funds 02:31:37.440 --> 02:31:39.760 to renovate one home on Franklin Street 02:31:39.760 --> 02:31:44.240 whose assessed value was one quarter of that amount, one home. 02:31:44.240 --> 02:31:46.920 When that was questioned, the mayor stated that 02:31:46.920 --> 02:31:49.440 we were creating generational wealth 02:31:49.440 --> 02:31:52.360 and noted that the homeowner is a poll worker, 02:31:52.360 --> 02:31:54.520 generational wealth for one family, 02:31:54.520 --> 02:31:57.120 290,000 of federal money 02:31:57.120 --> 02:32:00.840 and the qualification we were given was that she works the polls. 02:32:00.880 --> 02:32:03.640 If we invite Washington to look closely 02:32:03.640 --> 02:32:06.760 at how Racine spends HUD dollars, 02:32:06.760 --> 02:32:08.600 that is the first thing they'll find 02:32:08.600 --> 02:32:11.240 and I don't know how we would explain it. 02:32:11.240 --> 02:32:15.280 Dear, I mentioned the 160,000 additional no bid contract 02:32:15.280 --> 02:32:18.040 given to a politically connected G strategies 02:32:18.040 --> 02:32:20.840 for questionable objectives and measures. 02:32:20.840 --> 02:32:22.480 Otherwise, you're getting a bit of field 02:32:22.480 --> 02:32:25.200 from the resolution regarding it. 02:32:25.200 --> 02:32:27.280 Then I'm gonna make a motion. 02:32:27.280 --> 02:32:29.960 I've moved to amend by striking the final, 02:32:29.960 --> 02:32:32.240 be it further resolved clause 02:32:32.240 --> 02:32:36.160 and the where as referencing threats and insults 02:32:36.160 --> 02:32:39.080 and the now therefore do hereby proclaim 02:32:39.080 --> 02:32:41.520 on the last page of the mayor's proclamation. 02:32:42.880 --> 02:32:45.680 It's a motion to strike the last bit of the resolution. 02:32:45.680 --> 02:32:46.680 Is there a second? 02:32:47.600 --> 02:32:49.200 It fails for lack of a second. 02:32:52.280 --> 02:32:53.920 I've been seconded by Aldermank. 02:32:56.280 --> 02:32:57.680 Alderman Pavone. 02:32:57.720 --> 02:32:58.960 Did I finish my remarks? 02:32:58.960 --> 02:33:01.000 I was a maker of the motion. 02:33:01.000 --> 02:33:04.960 If you keep it to the remainness of the motion before us, 02:33:04.960 --> 02:33:05.800 yes you may. 02:33:07.720 --> 02:33:12.720 I'll finish my comments by saying not one Wisconsin export 02:33:12.960 --> 02:33:15.320 will go up because of this resolution. 02:33:15.320 --> 02:33:17.920 The only thing that changes is that Racine's name 02:33:17.920 --> 02:33:22.560 will go on a list and with a 2027 deficit coming, 02:33:22.560 --> 02:33:25.440 we cannot afford to be on anyone's list. 02:33:25.440 --> 02:33:27.160 The mayor can say whatever he wants 02:33:27.160 --> 02:33:29.480 in his own name on his own time. 02:33:29.480 --> 02:33:32.480 This council should not be poking this bear, 02:33:32.480 --> 02:33:34.320 especially not poking this bear 02:33:34.320 --> 02:33:37.840 with the city of Racine's taxpayer's hand. 02:33:39.440 --> 02:33:41.280 That is the reason for my motion, 02:33:41.280 --> 02:33:46.000 that this resolution be just a resolution 02:33:46.000 --> 02:33:49.320 and not include the attached proclamation. 02:33:50.520 --> 02:33:52.280 Alderman Pavone, you have the floor. 02:33:53.280 --> 02:33:56.280 Thank you, I'm going to speak against the amendment. 02:33:56.280 --> 02:33:59.280 I'm sorry, the chair's ruling is fine. 02:33:59.280 --> 02:34:01.280 Also, we're going to move on here, if that's okay. 02:34:01.280 --> 02:34:03.280 Yes, he can. 02:34:03.280 --> 02:34:05.280 He's the chair of the meeting. 02:34:05.280 --> 02:34:06.280 So the relevance. 02:34:06.280 --> 02:34:09.280 The point of order was not formally made. 02:34:09.280 --> 02:34:11.280 The mayor Pavone has the floor. 02:34:11.280 --> 02:34:13.280 He is allowed to speak at this time. 02:34:13.280 --> 02:34:14.280 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 02:34:14.280 --> 02:34:18.280 Good to speak against the amendment to the resolution. 02:34:18.280 --> 02:34:21.280 We don't sit idly by when we just had 02:34:21.280 --> 02:34:23.280 the 250th celebration. 02:34:23.280 --> 02:34:25.280 We had the mayor come over from Canada. 02:34:25.280 --> 02:34:27.280 We have ties as stated by the alder 02:34:27.280 --> 02:34:30.280 from the 6th District to Canada. 02:34:30.280 --> 02:34:33.280 And so I think having a proclamation 02:34:33.280 --> 02:34:37.280 that we are in support of our Canadian allies 02:34:37.280 --> 02:34:40.280 that have been our allies since the foundation of our country 02:34:40.280 --> 02:34:43.280 and continue to be, again, we just hosted their mayor. 02:34:43.280 --> 02:34:47.280 I think we don't want to say something 02:34:47.280 --> 02:34:49.280 because we're going to provoke a bully 02:34:49.280 --> 02:34:51.280 is an invalid argument. 02:34:51.280 --> 02:34:55.280 I think we have an obligation to do that in favor of the case. 02:34:55.280 --> 02:34:57.280 The mayor shouldn't have somebody 02:34:57.280 --> 02:34:59.280 what he said in the state of the city address 02:34:59.280 --> 02:35:01.280 when he called out what the administration is doing either. 02:35:01.280 --> 02:35:03.280 Is that already a poked bear at that point? 02:35:03.280 --> 02:35:07.280 Relevant to the comments she just made 02:35:07.280 --> 02:35:09.280 so that it's still relevant. 02:35:09.280 --> 02:35:11.280 Alder Pavone, you have the floor. 02:35:11.280 --> 02:35:12.280 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 02:35:12.280 --> 02:35:14.280 So I will be voting against this amendment. 02:35:14.280 --> 02:35:17.280 I think it's absolutely asinine just to say, 02:35:17.280 --> 02:35:19.280 well, do we really want to provoke the bear? 02:35:19.280 --> 02:35:21.280 Do we really want to let the bear continue 02:35:21.280 --> 02:35:23.280 to destroy the cottage? 02:35:23.280 --> 02:35:24.280 Do we want to stand? 02:35:24.280 --> 02:35:26.280 We're worrying about what's in our own house right now. 02:35:26.280 --> 02:35:30.280 We just took care of a four-hour conversation. 02:35:30.280 --> 02:35:32.280 That's an exaggeration regarding other things 02:35:32.280 --> 02:35:33.280 that we have before us, 02:35:33.280 --> 02:35:35.280 and we still have more things to take care of, 02:35:35.280 --> 02:35:36.280 but it doesn't hurt to let people know 02:35:36.280 --> 02:35:38.280 that we're on our on their side. 02:35:38.280 --> 02:35:41.280 Thank you. 02:35:41.280 --> 02:35:45.280 Any other discussion on this item? 02:35:45.280 --> 02:35:47.280 So again, what is before us is an amendment 02:35:47.280 --> 02:35:52.280 to strike the last resolving phrases of the resolution, 02:35:52.280 --> 02:35:55.280 all the white motion for a second time. 02:35:55.280 --> 02:35:57.280 So as I said at the beginning, 02:35:57.280 --> 02:36:00.280 I could support this if it was simply a resolution. 02:36:00.280 --> 02:36:04.280 If the language in here would be removed 02:36:04.280 --> 02:36:12.280 where we are being critical of administration, 02:36:12.280 --> 02:36:15.280 I would be in support of the resolution 02:36:15.280 --> 02:36:17.280 if it was just a resolution. 02:36:17.280 --> 02:36:20.280 This is not just a resolution, it's a proclamation. 02:36:20.280 --> 02:36:22.280 Not only that, but I remember very vividly 02:36:22.280 --> 02:36:25.280 the former Ultimate of the Knight's District 02:36:25.280 --> 02:36:29.280 was always very cautious and always voted against resolutions 02:36:29.280 --> 02:36:33.280 that are outside of the purview of this body. 02:36:33.280 --> 02:36:36.280 We take care of city business. 02:36:36.280 --> 02:36:38.280 We care about our policing, 02:36:38.280 --> 02:36:40.280 we care about picking up our garbage, 02:36:40.280 --> 02:36:42.280 we care about plowing our streets. 02:36:42.280 --> 02:36:47.280 What happens in Washington happens in Washington. 02:36:47.280 --> 02:36:50.280 And I don't think there's anyone on this council 02:36:50.280 --> 02:36:52.280 that understands enough about tariffs 02:36:52.280 --> 02:36:57.280 to be able to vote on this resolution. 02:36:57.280 --> 02:36:59.280 So. 02:36:59.280 --> 02:37:04.280 Alderman. 02:37:04.280 --> 02:37:06.280 Alderman. 02:37:06.280 --> 02:37:08.280 Okay, so I'm going to go with, 02:37:08.280 --> 02:37:10.280 I absolutely do understand tariffs. 02:37:10.280 --> 02:37:12.280 I literally just took a test on it. 02:37:12.280 --> 02:37:14.280 And passed it, by the way. 02:37:14.280 --> 02:37:16.280 And yes, I see your expression. 02:37:16.280 --> 02:37:21.280 But if I am not mistaken, because I've read through this resolution, 02:37:21.280 --> 02:37:29.280 and if I think, what I think is what the point of contention is, 02:37:29.280 --> 02:37:32.280 would be now therefore be a result of the common council, 02:37:32.280 --> 02:37:35.280 the city of Racine calls upon President Donald J. Trump 02:37:35.280 --> 02:37:38.280 and his administration to engage the government of Canada 02:37:38.280 --> 02:37:41.280 in fair, constructive and respectful trade negotiations, 02:37:41.280 --> 02:37:44.280 intended to strengthen the economic relationship 02:37:44.280 --> 02:37:47.280 between our two nations and protect workers, 02:37:47.280 --> 02:37:49.280 businesses, consumers, and communities 02:37:49.280 --> 02:37:52.280 on both sides of the border. 02:37:52.280 --> 02:37:54.280 Okay. 02:37:54.280 --> 02:37:56.280 Since we're going to go into history, 02:37:56.280 --> 02:37:58.280 a couple of months ago we had a presentation 02:37:58.280 --> 02:38:03.280 that talked about our economic and employment status here in Racine. 02:38:04.280 --> 02:38:07.280 And it was dismal. 02:38:07.280 --> 02:38:12.280 And since then, you know, tariffs have gone into effect, 02:38:12.280 --> 02:38:15.280 and it cannot be denied that our businesses and our, 02:38:15.280 --> 02:38:19.280 the consumer pockets and our constituency community 02:38:19.280 --> 02:38:21.280 have been affected. 02:38:21.280 --> 02:38:24.280 I had an interesting conversation with a business owner 02:38:24.280 --> 02:38:28.280 a couple of months ago, and I broke it down to him. 02:38:28.280 --> 02:38:30.280 Just a really simple question, and one was, 02:38:30.280 --> 02:38:34.280 so do you make those in your lab, 02:38:34.280 --> 02:38:37.280 or are they shipped over here? 02:38:37.280 --> 02:38:39.280 And it made him pause, 02:38:39.280 --> 02:38:41.280 because first he was only thinking, 02:38:41.280 --> 02:38:43.280 well, I can buy my socks here. 02:38:43.280 --> 02:38:46.280 You know, and then when he thought about it, he goes, 02:38:46.280 --> 02:38:49.280 oh, wow, yeah, that's really affecting me. 02:38:49.280 --> 02:38:52.280 So the tariffs do affect, 02:38:52.280 --> 02:38:54.280 it affects all of us. 02:38:54.280 --> 02:38:57.280 It's only getting worse. 02:38:57.280 --> 02:39:00.280 And if we are doing our fiduciary 02:39:00.280 --> 02:39:03.280 and following our fiduciary responsibility to our community, 02:39:03.280 --> 02:39:07.280 then, yes, we can, we can put on our big boy pants, 02:39:07.280 --> 02:39:08.280 and our big boy boy pants, 02:39:08.280 --> 02:39:11.280 and we can talk to without fear, 02:39:11.280 --> 02:39:13.280 under our protection from the Constitution, 02:39:13.280 --> 02:39:17.280 that says that we can call on our federal government 02:39:17.280 --> 02:39:21.280 to act on behalf of our community. 02:39:21.280 --> 02:39:22.280 We can do that. 02:39:22.280 --> 02:39:24.280 And we should not be afraid to do that. 02:39:24.280 --> 02:39:26.280 We were elected to do that. 02:39:26.280 --> 02:39:28.280 If you don't know what tariffs are and how they're affecting, 02:39:28.280 --> 02:39:30.280 then you can go take a class. 02:39:30.280 --> 02:39:34.280 But they are affecting everyone here in the city of Racine, 02:39:34.280 --> 02:39:35.280 in the state of Wisconsin. 02:39:35.280 --> 02:39:38.280 And if we are going to follow our responsibility, 02:39:38.280 --> 02:39:47.280 it is to say something about it. 02:39:47.280 --> 02:39:48.280 Currently, no one in the queue. 02:39:48.280 --> 02:39:50.280 The amendment is to strike the final language 02:39:50.280 --> 02:39:53.280 or the resolution when the clerk calls your name. 02:39:53.280 --> 02:39:56.280 Again, this is the amendment to remove the language. 02:39:56.280 --> 02:39:57.280 At the end of the resolution, 02:39:57.280 --> 02:39:58.280 when the clerk calls your name, 02:39:58.280 --> 02:40:00.280 please vote as you wish. 02:40:00.280 --> 02:40:01.280 Alder Pabone. 02:40:01.280 --> 02:40:03.280 Alder Frazier. 02:40:03.280 --> 02:40:05.280 Alder Weiss. 02:40:05.280 --> 02:40:07.280 Alder Davis. 02:40:07.280 --> 02:40:09.280 Sorry, what was that? 02:40:09.280 --> 02:40:11.280 Abstain. 02:40:11.280 --> 02:40:13.280 Thank you. 02:40:13.280 --> 02:40:15.280 Alder Mack. 02:40:15.280 --> 02:40:20.280 Alder Jorgensen. 02:40:21.280 --> 02:40:23.280 Alderman Widener. 02:40:23.280 --> 02:40:25.280 Alder Horton. 02:40:25.280 --> 02:40:27.280 Alder Hodges. 02:40:27.280 --> 02:40:29.280 Alder Allen. 02:40:29.280 --> 02:40:31.280 Alder Pete. 02:40:31.280 --> 02:40:33.280 Alder Demark. 02:40:33.280 --> 02:40:35.280 Alder Kelly. 02:40:35.280 --> 02:40:37.280 Aye. 02:40:37.280 --> 02:40:47.280 Alder Harmon. 02:40:47.280 --> 02:40:52.280 Two ayes, two abstains. 02:40:52.280 --> 02:40:54.280 Ten nos. 02:40:54.280 --> 02:40:55.280 Motion fails. 02:40:55.280 --> 02:40:57.280 We're back to the main motion. 02:40:57.280 --> 02:41:00.280 Any further discussion on the main motion? 02:41:00.280 --> 02:41:02.280 Seeing none, when the clerk calls your name, 02:41:02.280 --> 02:41:04.280 please vote as you wish. 02:41:04.280 --> 02:41:05.280 Alder Pabone. 02:41:05.280 --> 02:41:07.280 Alder Frazier. 02:41:07.280 --> 02:41:08.280 Alder Weiss. 02:41:08.280 --> 02:41:10.280 Alder Davis. 02:41:10.280 --> 02:41:13.280 Alder Mack. 02:41:13.280 --> 02:41:16.280 Alder Jorgensen. 02:41:16.280 --> 02:41:18.280 Alderman Widener. 02:41:18.280 --> 02:41:20.280 Alder Horton. 02:41:20.280 --> 02:41:22.280 Alder Hodges. 02:41:22.280 --> 02:41:24.280 Alder Allen. 02:41:24.280 --> 02:41:25.280 Alder Pete. 02:41:25.280 --> 02:41:27.280 Alder Demark. 02:41:27.280 --> 02:41:29.280 Alder Kelly. 02:41:29.280 --> 02:41:31.280 Abstain. 02:41:31.280 --> 02:41:34.280 Alder Harmon. 02:41:38.280 --> 02:41:42.280 Ten ayes, three abstains, one no. 02:41:42.280 --> 02:41:45.280 Item carries. 02:41:45.280 --> 02:41:46.280 Alder Horton. 02:41:46.280 --> 02:41:48.280 Did you have other items for separate consideration? 02:41:48.280 --> 02:41:49.280 Yes, I do. 02:41:49.280 --> 02:41:51.280 Please state the next item. 02:41:51.280 --> 02:41:53.280 0798-26. 02:41:53.280 --> 02:41:55.280 Communication sponsored by Mayor Mason. 02:41:55.280 --> 02:41:59.280 Seeking the modification of the assignment of tax increment. 02:41:59.280 --> 02:42:00.280 Financing payments. 02:42:00.280 --> 02:42:01.280 Rights. 02:42:01.280 --> 02:42:06.280 As to Jay Jeffers and company LLC 2100 Northwestern Avenue. 02:42:06.280 --> 02:42:08.280 LLC and 2200. 02:42:08.280 --> 02:42:10.280 Holdings, LLC. 02:42:10.280 --> 02:42:13.280 Recommendation of the Financing Personnel Committee. 02:42:14.280 --> 02:42:17.280 On 9082026 to approve. 02:42:17.280 --> 02:42:19.280 Motion to approve. 02:42:19.280 --> 02:42:21.280 Item 0798-26. 02:42:21.280 --> 02:42:24.280 May by Alder Horton, seconded by Alder Pabone. 02:42:24.280 --> 02:42:26.280 Alder Horton, did you want to speak to your motion? 02:42:26.280 --> 02:42:30.280 No, this was called out for separate consideration from Alder White. 02:42:30.280 --> 02:42:32.280 Alder Whiteener, you have the floor. 02:42:32.280 --> 02:42:33.280 Thank you. 02:42:33.280 --> 02:42:37.280 I'm kind of confused about this particular legislative report. 02:42:37.280 --> 02:42:41.280 Maybe the city attorney can enlighten me. 02:42:41.280 --> 02:42:48.280 There's this legislative report and the next one which has to do with 2020 Northwestern 02:42:48.280 --> 02:42:49.280 Avenue. 02:42:49.280 --> 02:42:54.280 This one is for 2100 Northwestern Avenue. 02:42:54.280 --> 02:42:57.280 And I think there's some confusion. 02:42:57.280 --> 02:43:04.280 There's 2220 and then there's 2222 Northwestern Avenue. 02:43:04.280 --> 02:43:10.280 I don't know that there's a 2100. 02:43:10.280 --> 02:43:21.280 So this item relates to the TIFF loan that is not a loan from the city. 02:43:21.280 --> 02:43:26.280 It's a loan that the Jeffers company received from a private lender. 02:43:26.280 --> 02:43:29.280 They are refinancing that loan. 02:43:29.280 --> 02:43:32.280 It doesn't change anything for the city. 02:43:33.280 --> 02:43:43.280 And that loan is for 2100 Northwestern Avenue LLC and 2200 Horlick Holdings LLC. 02:43:43.280 --> 02:43:49.280 This property is divided up into several different LLCs. 02:43:49.280 --> 02:43:55.280 Basically each building, maybe not each building, but each building is a separate LLC. 02:43:55.280 --> 02:43:56.280 Alder Whiteener? 02:43:57.280 --> 02:44:06.280 So this file number 079826, that talks about the pilot program. 02:44:06.280 --> 02:44:11.280 If I'm not, am I correct in that? 02:44:11.280 --> 02:44:17.280 The first item is in regards specifically just to the pilot program? 02:44:17.280 --> 02:44:18.280 No. 02:44:19.280 --> 02:44:27.280 This, when a lender takes a TIFF loan, it's common for the TIFF payments that would be 02:44:27.280 --> 02:44:32.280 made to a property owner be assigned to the lender. 02:44:32.280 --> 02:44:34.280 So this would do several things. 02:44:34.280 --> 02:44:39.280 It would recognize that there's a new TIFF loan. 02:44:39.280 --> 02:44:44.280 The payments that are currently assigned to the current TIFF lender would now be assigned 02:44:44.280 --> 02:44:49.280 to the new TIFF lender and there would also be a pilot agreement in place. 02:44:49.280 --> 02:44:52.280 Pilot meaning payment in new taxes. 02:44:52.280 --> 02:44:57.280 That's an agreement that essentially says that this becomes a non-profit entity as opposed 02:44:57.280 --> 02:45:03.280 to a for-profit entity that they would continue to make payments to the city in an amount 02:45:03.280 --> 02:45:06.280 equal to whatever the property taxes would be. 02:45:06.280 --> 02:45:07.280 Okay. 02:45:07.280 --> 02:45:10.280 So I just want to be absolutely clear. 02:45:11.280 --> 02:45:14.280 This whole property is in a TIFF district. 02:45:14.280 --> 02:45:20.280 It does pay property tax, but it goes into the TIFF to pay back whatever debt is there. 02:45:20.280 --> 02:45:21.280 Is that correct? 02:45:21.280 --> 02:45:27.280 Or it goes back to the developer for incentives for the development itself? 02:45:27.280 --> 02:45:33.280 We're probably about to stray into finance director questions, but TIFF payments that 02:45:33.280 --> 02:45:38.280 would be made to the property owner under other circumstances here have been assigned 02:45:38.280 --> 02:45:40.280 to the TIFF lender. 02:45:40.280 --> 02:45:41.280 Okay. 02:45:41.280 --> 02:45:48.280 So for 27 years, there will be no property tax that will go into the general funds of any 02:45:48.280 --> 02:45:55.280 of the taxing bodies, but after the TIFF is retired, whether it's 27 years from now or 02:45:55.280 --> 02:46:04.280 35 years from now, like we've done with other TIFFs, then the tax collected would go into 02:46:04.280 --> 02:46:08.280 all the taxing bodies, general funds. 02:46:08.280 --> 02:46:17.280 But if they would sell their property to another non-profit, that non-profit then would not 02:46:17.280 --> 02:46:24.280 have to pay taxes at all, correct, like what happened with the wagon wheel? 02:46:24.280 --> 02:46:27.280 Mitchell wagon? 02:46:27.280 --> 02:46:31.280 Generally non-profits don't pay taxes. 02:46:31.280 --> 02:46:37.280 This would require the payment in lieu of taxes to be made. 02:46:37.280 --> 02:46:39.280 Were that to happen? 02:46:39.280 --> 02:46:40.280 Okay. 02:46:40.280 --> 02:46:47.280 So that's a good thing that there will be that protection either 27 or 35 years from now 02:46:47.280 --> 02:46:54.280 for the property taxpayers should that development get sold to a non-profit. 02:46:54.280 --> 02:46:58.280 So I just wanted to be clear on that because I called you to get some clarification about 02:46:58.280 --> 02:47:03.280 the pilot, and then I do believe that there are some council members that don't understand 02:47:03.280 --> 02:47:07.280 why we would have even negotiated a pilot for that development. 02:47:07.280 --> 02:47:10.280 So I wanted to make that clear. 02:47:10.280 --> 02:47:14.280 So I don't have any other questions. 02:47:14.280 --> 02:47:15.280 Elder Jürgenson. 02:47:15.280 --> 02:47:17.280 A question for the finance director. 02:47:17.280 --> 02:47:23.280 The finance director could approach the DS. 02:47:23.280 --> 02:47:26.280 Do you want to state your question while she's watching that? 02:47:26.280 --> 02:47:31.280 I guess there was a statement made about no property taxes going into the general fund 02:47:31.280 --> 02:47:32.280 because it's in a TIF. 02:47:32.280 --> 02:47:37.280 I think I know the answer on this, but I think at this point maybe we can get a tape recorder 02:47:37.280 --> 02:47:43.280 every time this comes up, but I just want to make sure that the record is clear on that. 02:47:43.280 --> 02:47:46.280 TIFs don't pay anything towards the general fund? 02:47:46.280 --> 02:47:48.280 So I don't want to stray too much. 02:47:48.280 --> 02:47:50.280 It's been a very, very long night. 02:47:50.280 --> 02:47:51.280 My computer is dead. 02:47:51.280 --> 02:47:55.280 I have no information anymore, so I don't want to stray too much. 02:47:55.280 --> 02:47:59.280 But what we're talking about here is the incremental growth in the district 02:47:59.280 --> 02:48:03.280 and the tax that is generated by the incremental growth in the district. 02:48:03.280 --> 02:48:08.280 That piece of the incremental growth, the tax increment, if you will, 02:48:08.280 --> 02:48:13.280 is paid into that district, is received by that district, 02:48:13.280 --> 02:48:19.280 and then 90% of it per the TIF incentive agreement that was approved by the common council 02:48:19.280 --> 02:48:24.280 would be assigned to, in this particular case, untamed up equity. 02:48:24.280 --> 02:48:27.280 So Scott said it exactly right. 02:48:27.280 --> 02:48:28.280 Thank you so much. 02:48:28.280 --> 02:48:30.280 I really appreciate setting the record straight. 02:48:30.280 --> 02:48:31.280 Now we've all heard it. 02:48:31.280 --> 02:48:34.280 So next time this comes up again, hopefully we can save a bit of time, 02:48:34.280 --> 02:48:36.280 but that's just not true. 02:48:36.280 --> 02:48:41.280 So in this case, I mean, we spent quite a bit of time talking about addresses. 02:48:41.280 --> 02:48:47.280 It felt like it was a Better Call Saul episode with 1240, a Royal Vista. 02:48:47.280 --> 02:48:49.280 I think it's pretty clear what's going on. 02:48:49.280 --> 02:48:53.280 This was discussed at the Finance and Personnel Committee 02:48:53.280 --> 02:48:57.280 with many of the alders that are in this room for that as well. 02:48:57.280 --> 02:49:04.280 And so this is something that does make sense, so I'll be in support of it. 02:49:04.280 --> 02:49:09.280 Seeing no further discussion on the item, when the clerk calls your name, 02:49:09.280 --> 02:49:12.280 please vote as you wish. 02:49:12.280 --> 02:49:14.280 Alder Pabone. 02:49:14.280 --> 02:49:16.280 Alder Frazier. 02:49:16.280 --> 02:49:18.280 Alder Weiss. 02:49:18.280 --> 02:49:20.280 Alder Davis. 02:49:20.280 --> 02:49:21.280 Alder Mack. 02:49:21.280 --> 02:49:23.280 Alder Jorgensen. 02:49:23.280 --> 02:49:25.280 Alderman Weidner. 02:49:25.280 --> 02:49:27.280 Alder Horton. 02:49:27.280 --> 02:49:40.280 Yeah, this is the motion that you made Alder Horton to approve item 0798-26. 02:49:41.280 --> 02:49:48.280 I'm sorry, what was it? 02:49:48.280 --> 02:49:49.280 He said aye. 02:49:49.280 --> 02:49:50.280 Thank you. 02:49:50.280 --> 02:49:51.280 Alder Hodges. 02:49:51.280 --> 02:49:52.280 Alder Allen. 02:49:52.280 --> 02:49:53.280 Alder Pete. 02:49:53.280 --> 02:49:54.280 Alder DeMar. 02:49:54.280 --> 02:49:55.280 Alder Kelly. 02:49:55.280 --> 02:49:56.280 Aye. 02:49:56.280 --> 02:49:57.280 Alder Harmon. 02:49:57.280 --> 02:49:58.280 Aye. 02:49:58.280 --> 02:49:59.280 13. 02:49:59.280 --> 02:50:00.280 Aye is 1. 02:50:00.280 --> 02:50:07.280 Alder Horton, did you have any other items for suffering consideration? 02:50:08.280 --> 02:50:09.280 Yeah. 02:50:09.280 --> 02:50:10.280 Yes. 02:50:10.280 --> 02:50:12.280 I have a new one here. 02:50:12.280 --> 02:50:16.280 So, since we own this, we'll go back to that one. 02:50:16.280 --> 02:50:20.280 So, the next item is 0799-26. 02:50:20.280 --> 02:50:26.280 Communication sponsored by Mayor Mason seeking an amendment to the tax increment district 02:50:26.280 --> 02:50:33.280 25 tax increment finance agreement with Jay Jeffers as to 2220 northwestern avenue, 02:50:34.280 --> 02:50:35.280 LLC. 02:50:35.280 --> 02:50:40.280 Recommendation from the Finance and Personnel Committee on 982026 to approve as discussed 02:50:40.280 --> 02:50:41.280 in closed session. 02:50:41.280 --> 02:50:43.280 Move to approve. 02:50:43.280 --> 02:50:48.280 So, motion and a second to approve item 0799-26. 02:50:48.280 --> 02:50:50.280 Alder Horton, did you want to speak to your motion? 02:50:50.280 --> 02:50:51.280 No. 02:50:51.280 --> 02:50:53.280 This is from Alder the 6. 02:50:53.280 --> 02:50:55.280 Alder Weidner, you have the floor. 02:50:55.280 --> 02:50:56.280 Thank you. 02:50:56.280 --> 02:51:01.280 I'm going to speak against this one, even though I know that the council is between a rock and 02:51:01.280 --> 02:51:09.280 a hard place as far as extending the $5 million loan that we gave to Jeffers for this 02:51:09.280 --> 02:51:10.280 development. 02:51:10.280 --> 02:51:17.280 The $5 million is outside of the TIFF that we are providing to that developer. 02:51:17.280 --> 02:51:26.280 So, back in 2021 when this development was negotiated, we allowed for all this TIFF money to go to 02:51:26.280 --> 02:51:27.280 the developer. 02:51:27.280 --> 02:51:35.280 And on top of that, we loaned to the developer a million dollars out of the shared revenue 02:51:35.280 --> 02:51:42.280 fund and we took out a loan from, it's called the pass through loan from the commission 02:51:42.280 --> 02:51:45.280 of public lands for $4 million. 02:51:45.280 --> 02:51:54.280 So, our first payment that was made to the commission of public lands was $517,806. 02:51:55.280 --> 02:52:00.280 That is what we will be paying every year until that loan is paid off. 02:52:00.280 --> 02:52:03.280 That loan is coming off the levy. 02:52:03.280 --> 02:52:14.280 So, that's $517,000 that we are taxing our property taxpayers every year until this loan 02:52:14.280 --> 02:52:23.280 is paid off, outside of the loss of revenue from this development being in a TIFF district. 02:52:24.280 --> 02:52:26.280 So, I wanted the council to be aware of that. 02:52:26.280 --> 02:52:33.280 This agreement says that the developer, if we extend for seven and a half years, will make 02:52:33.280 --> 02:52:41.280 a payment to the city that should have been made going back to 2022 on this $5 billion loan 02:52:41.280 --> 02:52:42.280 that has not been made. 02:52:42.280 --> 02:52:48.280 Instead, we're going to get an interest payment of around $350,000, which is not even equal 02:52:48.280 --> 02:52:54.280 to one of the payments that we have made to the commission of public lands. 02:52:54.280 --> 02:53:03.280 So, I understand that the development did not come to the fruition that was originally 02:53:03.280 --> 02:53:09.280 anticipated, but I've been down this road several times with developments, including with 02:53:09.280 --> 02:53:15.280 the machinery row, the walker site. 02:53:15.280 --> 02:53:23.280 And I'm not asking anyone else, but I just can't support this extension because I don't 02:53:23.280 --> 02:53:27.280 think any effort has been made in good faith to make payments to the city as had been 02:53:27.280 --> 02:53:32.280 originally agreed when we took out this loan for this developer. 02:53:32.280 --> 02:53:33.280 Thank you. 02:53:34.280 --> 02:53:35.280 Alder Praboon. 02:53:37.280 --> 02:53:39.280 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 02:53:39.280 --> 02:53:46.280 If the finance director would like to talk to questions, Director Fisher, if she could, 02:53:46.280 --> 02:53:52.280 if we were, let's say, not to approve this, with the payments that the Alder from the 02:53:52.280 --> 02:53:59.280 sixth district had mentioned of $517,000, would we still have to pay those? 02:53:59.280 --> 02:54:00.280 Yes. 02:54:01.280 --> 02:54:02.280 Okay. 02:54:02.280 --> 02:54:05.280 But then we would have no development. 02:54:05.280 --> 02:54:06.280 Correct. 02:54:06.280 --> 02:54:10.280 We would have no development, nor would we receive the $340,000. 02:54:10.280 --> 02:54:11.280 Okay. 02:54:11.280 --> 02:54:18.280 So then we would have no development, no $340,000, but still be paying $517,000 until when? 02:54:18.280 --> 02:54:23.280 I think it goes through 2032, but I don't have it off. 02:54:24.280 --> 02:54:25.280 2031. 02:54:25.280 --> 02:54:26.280 2031. 02:54:26.280 --> 02:54:27.280 Okay. 02:54:27.280 --> 02:54:32.280 So not to mention potentially having the development fall through people that are currently occupying 02:54:32.280 --> 02:54:36.280 these spaces, not having a home, businesses that have currently set up shop. 02:54:36.280 --> 02:54:42.280 They're also not having a place to conduct the businesses there so they can go find housing 02:54:42.280 --> 02:54:43.280 elsewhere. 02:54:43.280 --> 02:54:48.280 These business owners can go find places elsewhere to conduct their business instead of stimulating 02:54:48.280 --> 02:54:55.280 our local economy here, instead of living here in the city, just because of a perceived 02:54:55.280 --> 02:54:56.280 lack of good faith. 02:54:56.280 --> 02:54:58.280 In my opinion, that's my question. 02:54:58.280 --> 02:54:59.280 You can sit down. 02:54:59.280 --> 02:55:00.280 Thank you. 02:55:00.280 --> 02:55:06.280 In my opinion, I think that this particular developer has done almost everything that they 02:55:06.280 --> 02:55:12.280 can, and an extremely good faith that's reached out to the Alders, has offered tours of the 02:55:12.280 --> 02:55:17.280 facilities, has laid out very clearly in face, and has taken self-accountability for dropping 02:55:17.280 --> 02:55:22.680 the ball at certain points, but is still willing to do this with our, we have to be, 02:55:22.680 --> 02:55:25.800 we have to give them this approval in order for this to continue. 02:55:25.800 --> 02:55:31.040 I am not willing to let this development fall through for who knows how long that land 02:55:31.040 --> 02:55:33.480 was vacant before this came through. 02:55:33.480 --> 02:55:38.360 I am not willing to let people not have a home or businesses not have a place to conduct 02:55:38.360 --> 02:55:43.080 their business and have these people wondering what's going to happen within the next few 02:55:43.080 --> 02:55:47.080 months or years because this is all in shambles now. 02:55:47.080 --> 02:55:52.640 So I am in support of approving this because I do believe that the developer in good faith 02:55:52.640 --> 02:55:57.720 has done everything that they can and taken accountability, which is rare because developers 02:55:57.720 --> 02:55:59.200 can normally just move on. 02:55:59.200 --> 02:56:05.720 They don't want to lose the money, but sometimes they're just too big, they can just keep going. 02:56:05.720 --> 02:56:13.160 So the amount of investment into this community, the amount of loops and hoops that had to 02:56:13.160 --> 02:56:18.080 have been jumped through over the past year or probably even longer than that, and the 02:56:18.080 --> 02:56:21.520 willingness to reach out and say, hey, this is what I'm doing, being fully transparent 02:56:21.520 --> 02:56:26.240 by that and giving things that I can't talk about because they were in closed session 02:56:26.240 --> 02:56:28.000 almost looked up there. 02:56:28.000 --> 02:56:32.400 But I do think that it has been done in good faith and I am in support of this, so thank 02:56:32.400 --> 02:56:33.400 you. 02:56:34.400 --> 02:56:36.400 All the pressure. 02:56:36.400 --> 02:56:40.400 Yeah, I just want to echo what Mr. Jeffers said. 02:56:40.400 --> 02:56:48.240 He said that they have over 313 apartments there currently, 95,000 square foot of commercial 02:56:48.240 --> 02:56:57.160 space and overall accumulated over $110 million worth of development in a time where this city 02:56:57.160 --> 02:57:00.280 desperately needs development. 02:57:00.280 --> 02:57:09.240 I think that this is an opportunity to order Pabong's point that we can't waste, especially 02:57:09.240 --> 02:57:16.240 in this legislative report, this developer to take Pabong's point a little bit further 02:57:16.240 --> 02:57:23.440 has personally guaranteed and taken financial responsibility for this. 02:57:23.440 --> 02:57:32.480 So I think we really have to think about that and it shows his commitment to this city. 02:57:32.480 --> 02:57:39.680 So I will support this again one more time for the numbers, 313 apartments, 95,000 square 02:57:39.680 --> 02:57:47.160 foot of commercial space, $110 million worth of development in the 8th district. 02:57:47.160 --> 02:57:51.600 So I think keep those numbers in your mind when you vote. 02:57:52.600 --> 02:57:55.600 I'll go round. 02:57:55.600 --> 02:57:56.600 Thank you. 02:57:56.600 --> 02:57:57.600 Okay. 02:57:57.600 --> 02:58:06.600 Well, once again, we're hearing comments about thoughts and without being able to look at 02:58:06.600 --> 02:58:14.880 actual ledger sheets and saying, well, essentially you don't believe what he came in front of 02:58:14.880 --> 02:58:19.640 the council and said and he doesn't have this money or why he didn't pay this payment. 02:58:19.640 --> 02:58:26.320 What we do have, though, is his agreement that he is going to give a personal guarantee 02:58:26.320 --> 02:58:30.800 for repayment of the loan and the required monthly payments going forward. 02:58:30.800 --> 02:58:39.880 He did come forward and say that through the process, as been stated, he did not check 02:58:39.880 --> 02:58:44.080 his eyes and his teas and something slipped through the cracks. 02:58:44.080 --> 02:58:46.160 One probably would have been the marketing. 02:58:46.160 --> 02:58:52.720 But when I look at that area over there, and by the way, my son lives there, it's beautiful. 02:58:52.720 --> 02:58:59.520 What comes to mind is there is a community in Illinois and it's right outside of Park 02:58:59.520 --> 02:59:00.520 City. 02:59:00.520 --> 02:59:07.120 So if you're familiar with Lake County area at all, and I watched this little area develop 02:59:07.120 --> 02:59:13.520 over maybe two, three years, and it was in stages just as we were doing here. 02:59:13.520 --> 02:59:20.120 And one day I went and I had to drive over there and I was going to the bank and in 02:59:20.120 --> 02:59:21.120 that area. 02:59:21.120 --> 02:59:25.760 And there is an entire community there now. 02:59:25.760 --> 02:59:34.160 And when I see this space here in Racine, where we have not been able to until recently 02:59:34.160 --> 02:59:42.400 begin working on your communities, new neighborhoods in our city, really bring some fresh air and 02:59:42.400 --> 02:59:49.040 energy into our city, I see that community growing into that kind of a space. 02:59:49.040 --> 02:59:51.520 We have the commercial businesses over there. 02:59:51.520 --> 02:59:53.520 We have the homes over there. 02:59:53.520 --> 03:00:00.960 And the way those apartment complexes are that community is built with the amenities, all 03:00:00.960 --> 03:00:07.480 the things that you would want, especially if you are young or unencumbered with young 03:00:07.480 --> 03:00:09.920 children so much. 03:00:09.920 --> 03:00:13.480 But there are families over there with young children, so they see it differently than 03:00:13.480 --> 03:00:14.480 I do. 03:00:14.480 --> 03:00:21.280 But it's a wonderful opportunity for us to continue moving forward with this development. 03:00:21.280 --> 03:00:27.960 And as has been stated, we either continue down on this journey and meet it at its end 03:00:27.960 --> 03:00:37.160 and that rainbow experience or we stop it right now and it'll just be the unfinished 03:00:37.160 --> 03:00:42.160 vision and we will have to relocate people. 03:00:42.160 --> 03:00:49.240 The commercial properties will eventually leave because they don't have that captive 03:00:49.240 --> 03:00:51.800 consumer base anymore. 03:00:51.800 --> 03:00:57.080 And we will just have another area in Racine that starts to look like the rest of Racine. 03:00:57.080 --> 03:00:59.760 And that is not what we're supposed to be about. 03:00:59.760 --> 03:01:05.600 When I first got elected to the council, I said that there were two sides to this coin. 03:01:05.600 --> 03:01:11.040 Yes, one, you watch your pennies and who's robbing Peter to pay Paul, et cetera, because 03:01:11.040 --> 03:01:15.600 we are very, very challenged when it comes to finance. 03:01:15.600 --> 03:01:20.160 But the other side to any revenue ledger is the revenue side. 03:01:20.160 --> 03:01:28.400 And we have not been able to do anything on that side until recently. 03:01:28.400 --> 03:01:33.280 And what is required for us to bring revenue in and attract new people are these kinds 03:01:33.280 --> 03:01:35.400 of developments, are these kinds of initiatives. 03:01:35.400 --> 03:01:40.200 And we have to be willing to engage in this process. 03:01:40.200 --> 03:01:46.120 So I am going to support this, one, because I don't like to have another property. 03:01:46.120 --> 03:01:48.080 And we keep talking when everything else comes out. 03:01:48.080 --> 03:01:52.000 All this person wants to put extra amount of dollars into this space and that's why we 03:01:52.000 --> 03:01:57.840 should support it regardless of what the other concerns may be. 03:01:57.840 --> 03:02:02.080 So in this particular case, we are building a community there. 03:02:02.080 --> 03:02:06.000 We are revitalizing buildings and properties over there. 03:02:06.000 --> 03:02:11.600 And it is a collaborative partnership at the end, the city of Racine, 03:02:11.600 --> 03:02:15.480 who is the gateway into the county, will benefit. 03:02:15.480 --> 03:02:20.120 And so we're going to vote to go forward with this, or I am rather. 03:02:22.120 --> 03:02:23.680 Other drug incident? 03:02:23.680 --> 03:02:28.800 Yeah, due to the, it's my understanding of the nature of the complexity of this issue. 03:02:28.800 --> 03:02:31.320 We did retain a consultant that looked into this. 03:02:31.320 --> 03:02:32.760 I see they're here tonight. 03:02:32.760 --> 03:02:37.680 Are they able to answer a question related to, there was some, it was brought up tonight 03:02:37.680 --> 03:02:43.840 of the developer wasn't upfront about certain things, or are they able to kind of explain 03:02:43.840 --> 03:02:47.000 the background of what was reviewed and what they went into this? 03:02:47.000 --> 03:02:51.960 I think you could refer your question to the director of finance and if she wanted to ask 03:02:51.960 --> 03:02:56.680 them to assist her in her answer, that would be appropriate at this time. 03:02:56.680 --> 03:02:57.680 I would do that. 03:02:57.680 --> 03:02:59.800 Sure, absolutely. 03:02:59.800 --> 03:03:03.600 And so for those that maybe weren't at finance and personnel, when we talked through this, 03:03:03.600 --> 03:03:09.280 we did retain a consultant, a couple of different consultants, both an attorney and then a fiscal 03:03:09.280 --> 03:03:16.640 consultant that did go through deep, deep, deep, deep dive into rec rolls and occupancy 03:03:16.640 --> 03:03:18.280 rolls and all of those things. 03:03:18.280 --> 03:03:24.840 So Russ is certainly here if Russ could give just a little bit of detail of the detailed 03:03:24.840 --> 03:03:30.120 records that you did go through and the deep dive that you went into both Mr. Jeffers 03:03:30.120 --> 03:03:37.200 personal finances as well as the finances of the development itself. 03:03:37.200 --> 03:03:48.160 Okay, we, I reviewed the rent rolls and the budgets for this project from its inception 03:03:48.160 --> 03:03:51.480 to current date. 03:03:51.480 --> 03:03:56.040 The Jeffers company was more than willing to provide us all of that information and 03:03:56.040 --> 03:04:04.000 they provided us the personal tax return of, of Josh, the 2024 personal tax return 2025 03:04:04.000 --> 03:04:05.000 is on extension. 03:04:05.000 --> 03:04:07.600 That'll be due sometime here in October. 03:04:07.600 --> 03:04:12.640 We've reviewed all of that in great, in great detail and as part of this agreement going 03:04:12.640 --> 03:04:20.640 forward, we will get monthly reporting on occupancy, police up tenants and how the project is 03:04:20.680 --> 03:04:23.880 doing on a, on a go forward basis. 03:04:23.880 --> 03:04:29.200 Um, can't go back his history about the fact that the payments weren't made. 03:04:29.200 --> 03:04:31.880 Project was not cash flowing at that point in time. 03:04:31.880 --> 03:04:36.600 Uh, it is presently and will cash flow as part of this refinance. 03:04:36.600 --> 03:04:37.600 Thank you. 03:04:37.600 --> 03:04:42.600 So to say that the, the developer wasn't upfront on the finances is just a gross miscategorization 03:04:42.600 --> 03:04:44.800 of the payments weren't made. 03:04:44.800 --> 03:04:45.800 Okay. 03:04:45.800 --> 03:04:50.840 So over this period of time, we were, we were behind, uh, in getting receiving payments 03:04:50.840 --> 03:04:52.200 from the city. 03:04:52.200 --> 03:04:57.120 When we asked for updated financial information, we were given that in a timely basis. 03:04:57.120 --> 03:04:58.120 And thank you. 03:04:58.120 --> 03:05:02.080 And that was really what I'm getting at here is he's not withholding information. 03:05:02.080 --> 03:05:03.720 We've been presented the whole piece. 03:05:03.720 --> 03:05:09.320 We actually to Elder Frazier's point and have a personal guarantee, uh, on the project for 03:05:09.320 --> 03:05:10.320 this. 03:05:10.320 --> 03:05:15.480 Um, so to say that, that, you know, they're not being upfront about this, they're being 03:05:15.480 --> 03:05:21.800 absolutely upfront, uh, to give you some history on why this is so important here and 03:05:21.800 --> 03:05:27.960 why we, we really need this to succeed, uh, a while ago back in the early 2000s, the city 03:05:27.960 --> 03:05:29.160 became landlocked. 03:05:29.160 --> 03:05:33.440 We gave away our water and sewer rights and we made it so we can't expand anymore. 03:05:33.440 --> 03:05:39.720 So we have a lot of properties that we have to redevelop just like what happened here. 03:05:39.720 --> 03:05:44.960 So we have a developer here that's basically coming forward with, uh, refinancing, uh, 03:05:44.960 --> 03:05:47.400 extending much like you would do on your house. 03:05:47.400 --> 03:05:52.240 Anyone who's gotten a lower interest rate, uh, that they've refinanced with their house. 03:05:52.240 --> 03:05:53.640 Very similar situation here. 03:05:53.640 --> 03:05:57.400 Again, I mean, there's people who have gotten into the issues with their own payments on 03:05:57.400 --> 03:06:01.600 their mortgage and if they had to refinance later, we don't somehow deem them not trustworthy 03:06:01.600 --> 03:06:03.000 and a failure. 03:06:03.000 --> 03:06:04.160 They're trying to make good on it. 03:06:04.160 --> 03:06:08.240 I think we should allow them to do that and not turn our nose at a developer that's trying 03:06:08.240 --> 03:06:13.640 to help make Racine a better place and actively participate in Racine's turnaround. 03:06:13.640 --> 03:06:19.960 So I find it extremely disrespectful to, um, to make those comments toward a developer 03:06:19.960 --> 03:06:22.560 that is trying to do everything right right now. 03:06:22.560 --> 03:06:23.560 Thank you. 03:06:23.560 --> 03:06:25.920 I'll be voting in favor of this. 03:06:25.920 --> 03:06:26.920 All right. 03:06:26.920 --> 03:06:29.000 I just want to make a comment. 03:06:29.000 --> 03:06:34.400 Um, I have spoken with the developer as well, um, as this is actually my home that we're 03:06:34.400 --> 03:06:35.560 talking about. 03:06:35.640 --> 03:06:41.960 So obviously I want to see, um, this project, you know, continue forward. 03:06:41.960 --> 03:06:45.880 Um, I believe the accountability is there. 03:06:45.880 --> 03:06:50.960 Um, I'm honestly not sure why this came up because I believe the alder from the sixth 03:06:50.960 --> 03:06:55.760 district was there, um, during the presentation, um, at the finance committee. 03:06:55.760 --> 03:06:58.320 Um, so I will be voting in favor. 03:06:58.320 --> 03:07:00.640 Um, I love everything you've done. 03:07:00.640 --> 03:07:04.400 Um, and yeah, I think that's it. 03:07:04.400 --> 03:07:05.400 Thank you. 03:07:06.000 --> 03:07:09.440 Under whiter for a second time, I just have a question. 03:07:09.440 --> 03:07:15.200 I'm not sure who would answer it, whether it be Kathleen Fisher or the attorney or, um, 03:07:15.200 --> 03:07:17.360 who, but we were given two options. 03:07:17.360 --> 03:07:22.640 We either go along with the extension or what was the other option that we had. 03:07:22.640 --> 03:07:25.080 I don't know who would like to answer that question. 03:07:25.080 --> 03:07:27.600 I'll refer your question to the finance director. 03:07:27.600 --> 03:07:28.600 Yeah. 03:07:31.960 --> 03:07:33.840 I'm going to have Seth come up the attorney. 03:07:33.840 --> 03:07:36.440 He is more versed on the other option. 03:07:40.120 --> 03:07:40.640 Good evening. 03:07:40.640 --> 03:07:42.480 My name is Seth Desard. 03:07:42.480 --> 03:07:49.120 I am a, uh, 1997 graduate of market university law school. 03:07:49.960 --> 03:07:58.160 I have a statewide practice based in Milwaukee, which is entirely dedicated to commercial 03:07:58.160 --> 03:08:00.400 and real estate financing and restructuring. 03:08:00.400 --> 03:08:13.280 Uh, in the event that a subordinated lender like the city of Racine is unwilling to participate 03:08:13.280 --> 03:08:21.600 in a restructuring of the primary lenders loan, in other words, tries to assert a blocking 03:08:21.600 --> 03:08:28.880 position, that lead lender would not refinance under those circumstances. 03:08:28.880 --> 03:08:36.040 It would be forced to either commence a foreclosure action rather than refinance or 03:08:36.040 --> 03:08:39.600 put the property into receivership. 03:08:39.600 --> 03:08:47.000 That's really the only other option if the city was to not cooperate and go along with 03:08:47.000 --> 03:08:53.160 the refinance that's, uh, Mr. Jeffers is negotiating with his lead lender. 03:08:53.160 --> 03:08:55.160 Thank you. 03:08:56.160 --> 03:08:58.160 So I'm going to make a comment. 03:08:58.160 --> 03:09:04.320 Like I said, I'm not asking anybody to support my position, but I look at what the taxpayers 03:09:04.320 --> 03:09:11.320 are paying every year and that is over $500,000 and we have not had any payments from Mr. 03:09:11.320 --> 03:09:17.760 Jeffers or any communication regarding the lack of, of nonpayment over the last few years 03:09:17.760 --> 03:09:22.560 when we've been making those payments that he should, we should have been reimbursed 03:09:22.560 --> 03:09:23.560 for. 03:09:24.560 --> 03:09:33.960 So I understand the position that he's in, but I also think that we have to look out 03:09:33.960 --> 03:09:40.400 for the taxpayers of the city of Racine and I understand we're building a community. 03:09:40.400 --> 03:09:46.360 If we did not agree to this, people are not going to be relocated, businesses are not 03:09:46.360 --> 03:09:53.240 going to go out of business, like what's being proposed here tonight. 03:09:53.240 --> 03:09:59.640 I never said anything about the, uh, developer not being forthcoming with us. 03:09:59.640 --> 03:10:02.440 Um, I don't like it when people put words in my mouth. 03:10:02.440 --> 03:10:07.720 It's bad enough that every time I post a question or make a comment, I get attacked from the 03:10:07.720 --> 03:10:08.720 rear. 03:10:08.720 --> 03:10:13.180 I get attacked from the side for asking those questions, which I have every right, right 03:10:13.180 --> 03:10:14.580 to ask. 03:10:14.580 --> 03:10:20.360 We are a comprised, a body comprised of 15 alderman because we have 15 different perspectives 03:10:20.360 --> 03:10:26.080 and 15 different ways of looking at things and everybody's opinion and position should 03:10:26.080 --> 03:10:27.080 be respected. 03:10:27.080 --> 03:10:32.760 I don't disparage anybody for their questions or their lengthy comments, any of that. 03:10:32.760 --> 03:10:36.800 But as I've always said, if I'm going to vote against something, I'm going to give the 03:10:36.800 --> 03:10:41.280 courtesy of articulating why I'm not trying to convince anybody. 03:10:41.280 --> 03:10:47.600 I'm just stating my position and I look at the debt that we have been paying back. 03:10:47.680 --> 03:10:52.320 It's gone from 18 million a year to 22 and a half million. 03:10:52.320 --> 03:10:56.840 That's levy that we've added to our property taxpayers every year. 03:10:56.840 --> 03:11:01.880 And I was elected by the taxpayers, so I try to be their voice here. 03:11:01.880 --> 03:11:07.120 I understand that perspective, but I also have a different perspective and I would ask 03:11:07.120 --> 03:11:12.680 this body to respect that and not attack every time I ask a question or have a different 03:11:12.720 --> 03:11:17.560 opinion than the rest of everyone. 03:11:17.560 --> 03:11:18.560 Thank you. 03:11:18.560 --> 03:11:22.560 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 03:11:22.560 --> 03:11:28.840 I have my own opinions too and I do think it's fair to address certain points made throughout 03:11:28.840 --> 03:11:31.440 the process of a council meeting. 03:11:31.440 --> 03:11:37.280 But I would like to, again, ask Director Fisher if she would entertain me again. 03:11:37.280 --> 03:11:43.800 So the point was made that there's the ask of the taxpayer to pay the additional amount 03:11:43.800 --> 03:11:47.440 of money, $517,000. 03:11:47.440 --> 03:11:53.560 Would that payment be made whether or whether or not this is restructured or foreclosed upon? 03:11:53.560 --> 03:11:56.120 Yes, that payment would be made regardless. 03:11:56.120 --> 03:11:59.120 Okay, so it would still be made regardless. 03:11:59.120 --> 03:12:04.920 Now, if this development, if we decide as a council that we're okay with the restructuring 03:12:04.960 --> 03:12:10.600 of this, is that how and what way financially for the city does that benefit us? 03:12:10.600 --> 03:12:17.840 So the restructure benefits us in that it gives us the opportunity to get our $5 million 03:12:17.840 --> 03:12:20.600 repaid. 03:12:20.600 --> 03:12:27.920 If you would go the other option, as Seth referred to, the property would likely go into 03:12:27.920 --> 03:12:33.760 foreclosure and we would get none of that $5 million back. 03:12:33.760 --> 03:12:37.280 This is by far the best of the two options. 03:12:37.280 --> 03:12:39.480 And we also wouldn't get paid for the interest that's all about. 03:12:39.480 --> 03:12:41.040 And correct, and we also wouldn't get the interest. 03:12:41.040 --> 03:12:43.920 But then we would still have to pay the $517,000. 03:12:43.920 --> 03:12:44.920 Correct. 03:12:44.920 --> 03:12:48.200 Okay, so I just wanted to make sure that was clear. 03:12:48.200 --> 03:12:53.600 And being in foreclosure, does that mean that, what does that mean? 03:12:53.600 --> 03:12:54.600 Are we just putting it out? 03:12:54.600 --> 03:12:58.720 Are people still going to be able to live there? 03:12:58.720 --> 03:13:02.720 That's more of an attorney question and how that would all play out. 03:13:02.720 --> 03:13:11.920 But certainly foreclosure or being in a foreclosure or receivership situation can cause problems 03:13:11.920 --> 03:13:13.440 for the people that live there. 03:13:13.440 --> 03:13:14.440 Right. 03:13:14.440 --> 03:13:17.400 That wouldn't give me confidence as a tenant or a business owner to have something. 03:13:17.400 --> 03:13:19.640 I know that's in potential foreclosure. 03:13:19.640 --> 03:13:24.000 And I just wanted to thank you for clarifying that point that we still have to make that 03:13:24.000 --> 03:13:25.000 payment. 03:13:25.080 --> 03:13:28.760 If this goes through and is restructured, it is more beneficial because we have an avenue 03:13:28.760 --> 03:13:30.160 to get that money back. 03:13:30.160 --> 03:13:32.360 Plus we're getting the money from the interest that we're owed. 03:13:32.360 --> 03:13:33.360 Correct. 03:13:33.360 --> 03:13:34.360 All right, thank you. 03:13:34.360 --> 03:13:35.360 Oh, Jordan. 03:13:35.360 --> 03:13:42.040 Yeah, that was really going to be my line of questioning here that somehow by it going 03:13:42.040 --> 03:13:47.240 into foreclosure, we'll get taxpayers more money, just does not make any sense. 03:13:47.240 --> 03:13:50.600 And so anyone here is able to make an opinion and put something forward. 03:13:50.600 --> 03:13:56.520 But then when facts disprove that and show that it's a mis-categorization or false, 03:13:56.520 --> 03:13:57.520 that's not an attack. 03:13:57.520 --> 03:13:59.640 That's just you said something that was wrong. 03:13:59.640 --> 03:14:03.480 And so in this case, somehow sending this to foreclosure does not mean that we would 03:14:03.480 --> 03:14:05.800 do right by the taxpayers. 03:14:05.800 --> 03:14:08.160 It would be worse for the taxpayers. 03:14:08.160 --> 03:14:12.360 So I'm failing to see the logic behind that. 03:14:12.360 --> 03:14:14.200 I'm in support of this. 03:14:14.200 --> 03:14:19.440 I want to make sure that this doesn't go to foreclosure, that those businesses and residents 03:14:19.440 --> 03:14:22.240 know that they have a place to live. 03:14:22.240 --> 03:14:25.720 And most importantly in this, I want to make sure that the taxpayer gets paid back their 03:14:25.720 --> 03:14:26.720 money. 03:14:26.720 --> 03:14:29.080 I guess it doesn't sound like everyone in this body wants to make sure the city gets 03:14:29.080 --> 03:14:30.640 paid back. 03:14:30.640 --> 03:14:32.840 But I do. 03:14:32.840 --> 03:14:37.000 All right, and you've spoken to the item twice. 03:14:37.000 --> 03:14:38.760 I have a question. 03:14:38.760 --> 03:14:39.760 For whom? 03:14:39.760 --> 03:14:41.720 For the finance director. 03:14:41.720 --> 03:14:45.520 That would be speaking to the item for a third time. 03:14:45.520 --> 03:14:47.080 I have a question. 03:14:47.080 --> 03:14:48.880 You can have to do a procedural question at this point. 03:14:48.880 --> 03:14:54.080 If you have a point of order or a point of comment, but you've spoken to the item twice. 03:14:54.080 --> 03:14:55.960 So we can ask questions. 03:14:55.960 --> 03:14:57.320 You can do a procedural question. 03:14:57.320 --> 03:14:58.320 You can do a point of order. 03:14:58.320 --> 03:14:59.920 A procedural question. 03:14:59.920 --> 03:15:01.280 What state you're pursuing. 03:15:01.280 --> 03:15:04.640 That's not an assumption to question all the winders, that is a. 03:15:04.640 --> 03:15:10.000 So this must be a new rule that the council are limited to asking questions to only two 03:15:10.000 --> 03:15:11.000 times. 03:15:11.000 --> 03:15:15.600 So if the discussion that takes place on the council floor gives rise to an additional 03:15:15.600 --> 03:15:20.200 question, then that means that they cannot ask the question. 03:15:20.200 --> 03:15:24.000 Is that what you're saying, Mayor, that this means that everybody can speak to an individual 03:15:24.000 --> 03:15:25.200 motion twice. 03:15:25.200 --> 03:15:26.200 You've spoken twice. 03:15:26.200 --> 03:15:27.760 I'm not speaking to a motion. 03:15:27.760 --> 03:15:29.840 I'm asking a question of the finance director. 03:15:29.840 --> 03:15:32.840 It seems as though you're speaking right now. 03:15:32.840 --> 03:15:34.200 I'm not speaking. 03:15:34.200 --> 03:15:38.480 I'm speaking with you because you're not allowing me to speak. 03:15:38.480 --> 03:15:40.240 I'll defer bones to your point of order. 03:15:40.240 --> 03:15:44.240 Could the city attorney enlighten us please on that? 03:15:44.240 --> 03:15:54.440 The way I understand it, the rule of the way that we follow Robert's rules is no person 03:15:54.440 --> 03:15:59.200 of the council may speak more than twice on an item except by leave of the council. 03:15:59.200 --> 03:16:06.640 Is that our questions not part of that? 03:16:06.640 --> 03:16:10.440 Or would it require a vote of all of us to allow more conversation from someone that's 03:16:10.440 --> 03:16:17.440 already spoken twice? 03:16:17.440 --> 03:16:30.800 Well, I'm sorry, I'm having trouble finding the exact provision in Robert's law. 03:16:30.800 --> 03:16:35.720 In our municipal code, I know that we have it under limitation of debate is where it 03:16:35.720 --> 03:16:38.640 states that that particular part. 03:16:38.640 --> 03:16:44.920 So I would think that that would be an interpretation by the city attorney. 03:16:44.920 --> 03:16:48.560 Well, the chair is the one that makes the ruling. 03:16:48.560 --> 03:16:49.560 Correct. 03:16:49.560 --> 03:16:54.120 But if the rule is that I am member of the council may speak on an item more than twice 03:16:54.120 --> 03:17:01.520 except by leave of the council, does that include questions or does it not? 03:17:01.520 --> 03:17:08.520 Up on top tonight. 03:17:08.520 --> 03:17:29.720 Well, no member shall speak more than twice. 03:17:29.720 --> 03:17:33.320 I realize this is what you just said at the same meeting on any question except by leave 03:17:33.320 --> 03:17:35.120 of the council. 03:17:35.120 --> 03:17:37.360 So that would be at chair discretion. 03:17:37.360 --> 03:17:41.320 So would that mean that by leave of the council, we would have to make an exception for that 03:17:41.320 --> 03:17:43.160 as a body? 03:17:43.160 --> 03:17:44.240 Would there be a motion? 03:17:44.240 --> 03:17:45.600 How would that work? 03:17:45.600 --> 03:17:53.400 The chair makes rulings a member of the body could ask for an appeal of the chair's ruling. 03:17:53.400 --> 03:18:01.400 Okay, thank you. 03:18:01.400 --> 03:18:07.040 There's no one in the queue to speak on. 03:18:07.040 --> 03:18:11.200 What's your, you want to make a, you want to challenge the ruling of the chair? 03:18:11.200 --> 03:18:12.200 Correct. 03:18:12.200 --> 03:18:15.040 There's a motion to challenge the ruling of the chair or to appeal the ruling of the chair. 03:18:15.040 --> 03:18:17.680 Is there a second? 03:18:17.680 --> 03:18:22.840 The motion fails for lack of a second. 03:18:22.840 --> 03:18:27.000 When the clerk calls your name, please vote as you wish. 03:18:27.000 --> 03:18:33.360 Alder Pabon, Alder Frazier. 03:18:33.360 --> 03:18:34.680 On the motion. 03:18:34.680 --> 03:18:38.000 There was no second on Alder Widener's motion, not appealing the chair, so we're actually 03:18:38.000 --> 03:18:49.280 voting on the item itself, item 07, sorry, 0799-26, thank you Alder Harmon. 03:18:49.280 --> 03:19:02.640 Alder Weiss, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jorgensen, Alderman Widener, Alder Horton, 03:19:02.640 --> 03:19:16.600 Alder Hodges, Alder Allen, Alder Pete, Alder DeMar, Alder Kelly, Alder Harmon, 13, Ayes 1, 03:19:16.600 --> 03:19:17.600 No. 03:19:17.600 --> 03:19:20.600 Alder Horton, did you have any other items for separate consideration? 03:19:20.600 --> 03:19:21.600 One more. 03:19:21.600 --> 03:19:22.600 One more. 03:19:22.600 --> 03:19:23.600 All right. 03:19:23.600 --> 03:19:24.600 Please. 03:19:24.600 --> 03:19:31.320 0794-26, communications sponsored by Alder Allen, Alder Frazier, Alder Weiss, requesting 03:19:31.320 --> 03:19:38.600 to commission a commemorable plait in memorial of Bishop Lawrence Currie, recommendation 03:19:38.600 --> 03:19:42.680 of the Finance and Personnel Committee on 9-8 is to approve the purchase of the commemorable 03:19:42.680 --> 03:19:47.520 plait in memorial of Bishop Lawrence Currie, moved to approve. 03:19:47.520 --> 03:19:50.160 It's a motion and a second to approve the item. 03:19:50.160 --> 03:19:52.520 Did you want to speak to the item Alder? 03:19:52.520 --> 03:20:00.080 Yes, just briefly I also like to be a sponsor of this item, and this was called by separate 03:20:00.080 --> 03:20:03.080 consideration by the Alder, the 14th. 03:20:03.080 --> 03:20:04.080 All right. 03:20:04.080 --> 03:20:09.480 Alder, without objection, Alder Horton would like to be added as a co-sponsor of the motion 03:20:09.480 --> 03:20:12.200 just by a show of hands, I'm just going to anticipate it as somebody else who would 03:20:12.200 --> 03:20:20.200 like to be added as a co-sponsor. 03:20:20.200 --> 03:20:29.880 Alder's Horton, Mack, Pabone, Harmon, Davis, who would like to be added, did I miss anybody? 03:20:29.880 --> 03:20:30.880 Okay. 03:20:30.880 --> 03:20:31.880 All right. 03:20:31.880 --> 03:20:34.080 And would you like to speak further to the motion? 03:20:34.080 --> 03:20:36.680 Alder Pabone, would you like to speak to it? 03:20:36.680 --> 03:20:40.960 I mean, nobody in the queue to speak on the item when the clerk calls your name, please 03:20:40.960 --> 03:20:43.720 vote as you wish. 03:20:43.720 --> 03:20:51.440 Alder Pabone, Alder Frazier, Alder Weiss, Alder Davis, Alder Mack, Alder Jorgensen, 03:20:51.440 --> 03:21:00.760 Alderman Widener, Alder Horton, Alder Hodges, Alder Allen, Alder Pete, Alder Demar, Alder 03:21:00.760 --> 03:21:06.520 Kelly, Alder Harmon, 14 I's, zero no. 03:21:06.520 --> 03:21:10.120 Alder Horton, are there any items that we didn't do for separate considerations? 03:21:10.120 --> 03:21:11.120 No, yeah, no. 03:21:11.120 --> 03:21:14.320 Then that completes the report. 03:21:14.320 --> 03:21:17.680 And we will go to, oh, no, actually that's not true, there are a couple items that were 03:21:17.680 --> 03:21:19.000 not pulled for separate considerations. 03:21:19.000 --> 03:21:24.080 So without objection, I will move the remainder of this report to the consent agenda and then 03:21:24.080 --> 03:21:29.920 move on to Public Works and Services report and ask Alder Harmon if she'd had any requests 03:21:29.920 --> 03:21:31.480 for separate considerations. 03:21:31.480 --> 03:21:33.000 No, you're out. 03:21:33.000 --> 03:21:36.440 And without objection, this report will be placed on the consent agenda. 03:21:36.440 --> 03:21:40.040 We'll then move on to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee. 03:21:40.040 --> 03:21:47.280 Alder Pete, did you have any items for separate considerations? 03:21:47.280 --> 03:21:53.440 My apologies that's happened yesterday, the microphone program has frozen up, so I don't 03:21:53.440 --> 03:22:02.000 know that I'm going to be able to turn microphones on at this time. 03:22:02.000 --> 03:22:07.800 Something from IT is still here or listening, the microphones are no longer working, so 03:22:07.800 --> 03:22:13.040 I can't turn them on or off. 03:22:13.040 --> 03:22:17.880 But Alder Pete has said he had no items for separate considerations, so we will move 03:22:17.880 --> 03:22:22.120 that on to the consent agenda without objections. 03:22:22.120 --> 03:22:26.160 And then one final item for the Planning Here Design Committee report. 03:22:26.160 --> 03:22:29.440 Alder Pete, did you get any requests for separate considerations on the second? 03:22:29.440 --> 03:22:32.560 And without objection, this will be placed on the consent agenda and we will move to 03:22:32.560 --> 03:22:34.440 the consent agenda. 03:22:34.440 --> 03:22:36.480 Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? 03:22:36.480 --> 03:22:37.480 Second. 03:22:37.480 --> 03:22:39.680 A motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. 03:22:39.680 --> 03:22:42.560 All those in favor of the consent agenda, please say aye. 03:22:42.560 --> 03:22:43.560 Opposed? 03:22:43.560 --> 03:22:44.560 That motion carries. 03:22:44.560 --> 03:22:48.720 I believe the microphones may be working again, thank you to IT for helping us with 03:22:48.720 --> 03:22:49.720 that. 03:22:49.720 --> 03:22:53.480 I'm going to turn all of them off in the hopes that we do this again. 03:22:53.480 --> 03:22:56.120 We are on to Common Council announcements. 03:22:56.120 --> 03:23:00.840 Our limited to recognition of city residents and employees, memorials and non-political 03:23:00.840 --> 03:23:05.880 community events discussion matters related to governmental business is prohibited. 03:23:05.880 --> 03:23:10.680 The first announcement for us is Alder Pabone. 03:23:10.680 --> 03:23:12.640 I would just say again, it's happened again. 03:23:12.640 --> 03:23:16.080 I would ask all of you to have respect for your colleagues when we get to announcements 03:23:16.080 --> 03:23:20.400 and stay until the completion of the meeting. 03:23:20.400 --> 03:23:22.240 We've all been here for a while. 03:23:22.240 --> 03:23:24.200 Everybody's announcement is equally important. 03:23:24.200 --> 03:23:27.080 Please give your colleagues the courtesy of staying through the end of the announcements. 03:23:27.080 --> 03:23:29.080 Alder Pabone. 03:23:29.080 --> 03:23:30.080 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 03:23:30.080 --> 03:23:35.240 I'm going to sound really bad here because I'm blanking on the name, but a very special 03:23:35.240 --> 03:23:37.080 birthday here from the clerk's office. 03:23:37.080 --> 03:23:38.720 So happy birthday. 03:23:38.720 --> 03:23:42.360 Could someone please give me the name of that? 03:23:42.360 --> 03:23:43.920 Happy birthday, eventually sat through the whole thing. 03:23:43.920 --> 03:23:44.920 It's her birthday. 03:23:44.920 --> 03:23:48.640 I couldn't think of a more thrilling way to spend my birthday than me here, but thank 03:23:48.640 --> 03:23:53.360 you for the clerk's office and all that they do to the chief and the finance director, 03:23:53.360 --> 03:23:56.400 and all the other departments that kind of help us get through these really, really 03:23:56.400 --> 03:23:59.400 long meetings. 03:23:59.400 --> 03:24:03.800 I just want to say a special thanks to Racine Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police, 03:24:03.800 --> 03:24:05.240 the U.S. marshals. 03:24:05.240 --> 03:24:12.240 They have apprehended the murder suspect for my cousin's son's murder, so that's fantastic 03:24:12.240 --> 03:24:13.240 news. 03:24:13.240 --> 03:24:16.600 So thank you to everyone who worked on that, shared, commented, supported, all that fun 03:24:16.600 --> 03:24:17.600 stuff. 03:24:17.600 --> 03:24:22.440 Also, on a lighter note, I want to wish my niece Autumn a happy birthday or it'll be 03:24:22.440 --> 03:24:26.760 on the 17th, and then my cousin, Yula, as well, a happy birthday. 03:24:26.760 --> 03:24:27.960 There are a lot of great things. 03:24:27.960 --> 03:24:29.160 We're going into fall here. 03:24:29.160 --> 03:24:34.040 The bird months is what I like to call, and they get very expensive, but I just hope everyone 03:24:34.040 --> 03:24:36.440 has a good time in between the next council meeting. 03:24:36.440 --> 03:24:42.080 We're approaching budget, so take a rest where you can, and let's get to it. 03:24:42.440 --> 03:24:45.680 All good to mark. 03:24:45.680 --> 03:24:49.960 All good to mark. 03:24:49.960 --> 03:24:52.600 Sorry about that. 03:24:52.600 --> 03:24:59.280 I just want to congratulate Alder Harbin on her recent appointment to the school board. 03:24:59.280 --> 03:25:03.600 It was great. 03:25:03.600 --> 03:25:11.000 It was great being there, seeing them vote for her, so I'm excited to work with her on 03:25:11.000 --> 03:25:15.520 that side of the aisle. 03:25:15.520 --> 03:25:22.360 I also want to say happy birthday to my sister, which is going to be tomorrow, and for her 03:25:22.360 --> 03:25:36.160 business that will be at, I hate to say this, Kenosha, Talia Fuss, and I just wanted to 03:25:36.160 --> 03:25:40.400 give my condolences to the Winegarde family. 03:25:40.840 --> 03:25:46.040 Van Winegarde recently lost his daughter, who I know personally. 03:25:46.040 --> 03:25:49.560 She was my fifth-grade teacher. 03:25:49.560 --> 03:25:55.960 She was a really great teacher to have. 03:25:55.960 --> 03:26:04.200 She really helped us out during 9-11, and kept us calm, and kept us cool during that 03:26:04.280 --> 03:26:14.000 day when we found out through her, we had a really good discussion, and plus before being 03:26:14.000 --> 03:26:17.400 in that class, I didn't really care about school. 03:26:17.400 --> 03:26:25.640 She actually made school actually fun, so rest in peace. 03:26:25.640 --> 03:26:27.360 Thank you for that remembrance. 03:26:27.360 --> 03:26:40.400 I'd like to congratulate Bob Turner on his recognition tonight. 03:26:40.400 --> 03:26:45.440 I had the privilege of serving with Bob on the council, and it was a different time, 03:26:45.440 --> 03:26:46.440 a more civil time. 03:26:46.440 --> 03:26:53.440 Not her a Bob on standing this evening, because every time Bob addressed his council, he 03:26:53.440 --> 03:26:56.400 stood up from his chair over there. 03:26:56.400 --> 03:27:02.520 Everything he learned in the state assembly, I was told, and never failed. 03:27:02.520 --> 03:27:08.120 Bob was a gentleman, he was respectful, he was an elder statesman, and he served this 03:27:08.120 --> 03:27:10.640 body with distinction. 03:27:10.640 --> 03:27:15.880 What I really took away from my time serving with Bob was that you could disagree without 03:27:15.880 --> 03:27:18.880 being disagreeable. 03:27:18.880 --> 03:27:25.720 There was no pettiness, there was no potshots, there was no one-upmanship, it was just dealing 03:27:25.720 --> 03:27:32.760 with issues, and you walked away afterwards, and you went out, and you had a roof beer, 03:27:32.760 --> 03:27:36.320 and there were no hard feelings. 03:27:36.320 --> 03:27:41.360 It'd be nice if we could get back to that at some point, because there's something to 03:27:41.360 --> 03:27:47.120 be said about civility, and bringing it back to the public square. 03:27:47.120 --> 03:27:54.840 I am the son-in-law of a migrant worker, and so Hispanic Heritage Month is very important 03:27:54.840 --> 03:28:01.720 to our family as I head up a household that's recorded as Hispanic, and so for those that 03:28:01.720 --> 03:28:07.360 are observing, I hope it's going to be a good month. 03:28:07.360 --> 03:28:15.160 I am teaching a class that's primarily Hispanic now, so we'll be recognizing that throughout 03:28:15.160 --> 03:28:20.520 the month, and then see a party on the pavement. 03:28:20.520 --> 03:28:24.000 Thank you for the reminder. 03:28:24.000 --> 03:28:28.120 Just as an aside, it is true when you're in this state assembly to speak in this state 03:28:28.120 --> 03:28:31.400 assembly, you do have to be standing when you're recognized. 03:28:31.400 --> 03:28:36.160 We don't have that tradition here, but it does change the tenor of the debate a little 03:28:36.160 --> 03:28:37.160 bit. 03:28:37.160 --> 03:28:40.160 Alder Herman. 03:28:40.160 --> 03:28:41.960 Thank you, Mayor. 03:28:41.960 --> 03:28:52.120 Over the weekend, I spent time with my granddaughter, Nora, and her cousin, Aston Martin. 03:28:52.120 --> 03:29:00.120 One of the activities that we did was to go to the Racine Historical Museum and do a scavenger 03:29:00.120 --> 03:29:03.120 hunt, and look at different things. 03:29:03.120 --> 03:29:10.680 They have a worksheet there where you find little ducks throughout the different exhibits 03:29:10.680 --> 03:29:11.680 and stuff. 03:29:11.680 --> 03:29:20.040 They just loved it, and I went with my Aunt Rose Martin Stinson, who is an educator, and 03:29:20.040 --> 03:29:26.640 any time we do an activity, there's something educational at the end of it, so we had them 03:29:26.640 --> 03:29:36.440 create a paragraph of what they loved about the museum, and what they loved was the mummy. 03:29:36.440 --> 03:29:45.760 So there is a mummy at the Racine Historical Museum that was purchased for $500 from Egypt, 03:29:45.760 --> 03:29:54.360 and they also enjoyed the Underground Railroad exhibit, where there's a simulation of different 03:29:54.360 --> 03:30:02.200 questions that you answer, and based off of your answer, you either got caught by the 03:30:02.200 --> 03:30:11.680 bounty hunters, or you ended up free in Canada, and Nora died in the river, and my 03:30:11.680 --> 03:30:14.800 little cousin, he got free. 03:30:14.800 --> 03:30:21.960 But I just want to commend Racine Historical Museum for their additional exhibits, making 03:30:21.960 --> 03:30:29.520 it more interactive, and I encourage other Racine residents to go out to the Racine Museum. 03:30:29.520 --> 03:30:31.520 It's free. 03:30:31.520 --> 03:30:37.760 It is actually on Main Street. 03:30:37.760 --> 03:30:46.960 So, yes, so I encourage everyone to go out, check it out, and the staff was very friendly. 03:30:46.960 --> 03:30:47.960 So. 03:30:47.960 --> 03:30:48.960 Great. 03:30:48.960 --> 03:30:50.760 More specifically on the corner of Main and Seventh. 03:30:50.760 --> 03:30:51.760 Yeah. 03:30:51.760 --> 03:30:55.760 All through Davis. 03:30:55.760 --> 03:30:58.240 Thank you. 03:30:58.240 --> 03:31:05.040 Today is my parents celebrate their 25th anniversary. 03:31:05.040 --> 03:31:09.920 Shout out to Linda and Andrew. 03:31:09.920 --> 03:31:23.720 With that also, this, I believe it was September 4th, my cousin, Alice Johnson, known as Faye 03:31:23.720 --> 03:31:32.360 passed away, so rest her soul. 03:31:32.360 --> 03:31:41.400 We, her service is this Friday, and family's here, so just shout out to her as we were. 03:31:41.400 --> 03:31:48.480 We were Leo's together, so I have to shout out my fellow Leo, okay. 03:31:48.480 --> 03:31:55.680 The other piece is Bob Turner was here, and we honored him. 03:31:55.680 --> 03:32:02.680 And if you did not know, now you would know, he's a district three, constituent, yeah, district 03:32:02.680 --> 03:32:07.680 three strong, but that's all. 03:32:07.680 --> 03:32:09.360 Other for them. 03:32:09.360 --> 03:32:13.120 Labs in memory here, so just my condolences to all of the Davis and her family on the 03:32:13.120 --> 03:32:18.460 passing there, and also I'm very excited for the Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation, and 03:32:18.460 --> 03:32:22.300 probably part Puerto Rican on my father's side, so it's really great to see those things, 03:32:22.300 --> 03:32:23.300 and enjoy. 03:32:23.300 --> 03:32:28.940 I've also been to the Racine Historic Museum downtown for a district. 03:32:28.940 --> 03:32:36.140 I've also been there, fantastic, great, but I would also like to just re-congratulate 03:32:36.140 --> 03:32:41.900 Alder Kelly on being able to ring the bell, and then also send, you know, positive wishes 03:32:41.900 --> 03:32:45.500 in a speedy recovery to Alderland, so that's what I forgot. 03:32:45.500 --> 03:32:46.660 Thank you. 03:32:46.660 --> 03:32:47.660 Thank you. 03:32:47.660 --> 03:32:50.780 Alder Kelly, you have the floor. 03:32:50.780 --> 03:32:51.780 Thank you. 03:32:51.780 --> 03:32:54.340 Thank you very much, those kind words. 03:32:54.340 --> 03:32:59.900 I just wanted to say a happy early birthday to my daughter, Cara. 03:32:59.900 --> 03:33:07.220 She will be 18 on Friday the 18th, so it's her golden birthday. 03:33:07.220 --> 03:33:13.820 Also I wanted to thank Alder DeMark for the kind words. 03:33:13.820 --> 03:33:23.020 I want to send out any good thoughts and prayers to the Wongard family. 03:33:23.020 --> 03:33:25.540 I was friends with Katie. 03:33:25.540 --> 03:33:33.020 Katie sent me a lot of prayer cards during my recovery journey. 03:33:33.020 --> 03:33:42.140 I was able to walk with her during the relay for life in June, and she's, you know, was 03:33:42.140 --> 03:33:47.940 there with me when I got my hair cut off, and so she was a wonderful, amazing person, 03:33:47.940 --> 03:33:58.740 so I just want to say, you know, something to her family, I'm sorry, and that's it. 03:33:58.740 --> 03:33:59.740 Thank you. 03:33:59.740 --> 03:34:00.740 Alder Allen. 03:34:00.740 --> 03:34:01.740 Thank you. 03:34:01.740 --> 03:34:10.580 So first I'm going to say I'm excited to celebrate his Spanish Heritage Month for those 03:34:10.580 --> 03:34:12.060 that you do not know. 03:34:12.060 --> 03:34:13.780 My father is Hispanic. 03:34:13.780 --> 03:34:22.620 My mom is indigenous and Caucasian, so it is a well-celebrated month in my house, and 03:34:22.620 --> 03:34:24.020 so I'm looking forward to that. 03:34:24.020 --> 03:34:27.860 Happy Hispanic Heritage Month to everyone who also is going to celebrate. 03:34:27.860 --> 03:34:35.660 I also want to thank everyone, and I do meet everyone that celebrated with me, supported 03:34:35.660 --> 03:34:42.740 me during my journey to participate for Mrs. America. 03:34:42.740 --> 03:34:48.180 For those who do not know who are listening, I am the current reigning Mrs. Wisconsin America, 03:34:48.180 --> 03:34:53.140 and I just returned from competing at the nationals, and I want to tell you, it was 03:34:53.140 --> 03:34:59.220 the best experience meeting the other queens from the other states. 03:34:59.220 --> 03:35:06.260 It is going to live forever in my mind the two weeks that I spent hearing your stories, 03:35:06.260 --> 03:35:07.820 learning about their journey. 03:35:07.820 --> 03:35:15.980 It was the celebration of the 50th year for Mrs. America, and those women aren't just 03:35:15.980 --> 03:35:17.220 beautiful. 03:35:17.220 --> 03:35:24.860 They are accomplished strong women with stories and journeys that deserve to be celebrated, 03:35:24.860 --> 03:35:27.060 so I had a wonderful time. 03:35:27.060 --> 03:35:28.900 And thank you again. 03:35:28.900 --> 03:35:35.900 And also, I think Racine has finished the third week of school, and Kenosha has finished 03:35:35.900 --> 03:35:39.500 this, well, I have finished this six week, I'm in my six week of school. 03:35:39.500 --> 03:35:45.500 So for all the families who are still just getting adjusted to being back to school, 03:35:45.500 --> 03:35:50.100 we're all going over the hump, but congratulations, we've made it this far, and holidays are 03:35:50.100 --> 03:35:51.660 right around the corner. 03:35:51.660 --> 03:36:00.780 And as everyone also mentioned, we celebrated the wonderful Mr. Turner, and I did not have 03:36:00.780 --> 03:36:07.580 an opportunity to work directly with him, but I have come familiar with his legacy, 03:36:07.580 --> 03:36:11.620 and I'm excited that we were able to recognize him this evening. 03:36:11.620 --> 03:36:13.620 All the working. 03:36:13.620 --> 03:36:19.180 Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I'll be very short since I helped up all the night with all 03:36:19.180 --> 03:36:21.180 those items, so I'll be short. 03:36:21.180 --> 03:36:26.740 So first of all, I'd just like to, just to Mr. Turner, you know, just thank him for 03:36:26.740 --> 03:36:31.300 service, and it's also a service, you know, as a veteran. 03:36:31.300 --> 03:36:38.660 Eight years ago, when I first decided, besides my predecessor, Aldra DeHaan, the second 03:36:38.660 --> 03:36:43.340 call I got was from Bob Turner. 03:36:43.340 --> 03:36:47.900 And I knew he had been in the seat for a while, you know, over 18 years, and he was 03:36:47.900 --> 03:36:50.540 just giving me pointers of being an alder. 03:36:50.540 --> 03:36:55.220 One of the things he told me, you know, just listen first, you know, the first, first, 03:36:55.220 --> 03:36:59.580 you know, for at least a year, six months to a year, just listening here, how things 03:36:59.580 --> 03:37:03.380 are panning out and what you're going to be effective in doing. 03:37:03.380 --> 03:37:07.540 I want to thank him for that, and also paving the way for some of the seats that are filled 03:37:07.540 --> 03:37:14.660 by us tonight, because there was a time, years back, you would only have one alder, a color, 03:37:14.660 --> 03:37:16.100 maybe two. 03:37:16.100 --> 03:37:21.580 And now we're probably at six or seven, and especially the African American females that's 03:37:21.580 --> 03:37:27.860 on here also, it, you know, the council have come a long way with diversity, and I think 03:37:27.860 --> 03:37:33.220 that moving forward, it was, you know, following his footsteps. 03:37:33.220 --> 03:37:38.180 Might not last 18 to 20 years like he have and been in the state legislator, but thank 03:37:38.180 --> 03:37:42.740 him for everything that he done for the city we see. 03:37:42.740 --> 03:37:45.460 Thank you, alder Horton. 03:37:45.460 --> 03:37:49.420 I too want to thank Bob for being here tonight, and all of you being a part of honoring with 03:37:49.420 --> 03:37:50.420 him. 03:37:50.420 --> 03:37:55.340 He's been a mentor and a friend to me my entire career, and is just a really decent human 03:37:55.340 --> 03:38:01.220 being and good advisor, so I'm really glad we got to honor his public service tonight. 03:38:01.220 --> 03:38:05.660 I also wanted to express my deepest sympathies to the Wongard family, particularly to Van 03:38:05.660 --> 03:38:09.820 Wongard, who, you know, probably not a lot we agree on politically, but I certainly have 03:38:09.820 --> 03:38:15.020 always admired how much he loves his family and his commitment to family, and so my heart 03:38:15.020 --> 03:38:20.660 aches for him and his entire family right now, so our deepest condolences. 03:38:20.660 --> 03:38:25.620 I want to adjourn, however, in honor of my daughter, Amelia, who's having a 16th birthday 03:38:25.620 --> 03:38:27.120 also on Friday. 03:38:27.120 --> 03:38:33.020 She's taking her driver's test, so pray for her. 03:38:33.020 --> 03:38:37.900 Hopefully she passes, but really excited to celebrate her 16th birthday on the 18th