[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6646936,"mediaKeyId","2525855-3acc97c807ec9db7f0d39833a93a9aac","parentId",2525855,"title","Council debates and amends ordinance changing common council committee structure","audioSeconds",5221,"startMs",7649000,"endMs",12870000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525855-3acc97c807ec9db7f0d39833a93a9aac&start=7649&end=12870","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525855-3acc97c807ec9db7f0d39833a93a9aac/thumbnail_7649000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6646936/Racine/Racine-County/Wisconsin/Council-debates-and-amends-ordinance-changing-common-council-committee-structure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646936-06eb2f6d52f5df12a3aa709cf4296ff4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442804&Signature=ldYikkbDQln8X52m9xk86ST4B3ZJ14WlldiR3f5LzPpOuJz~RDtudan6khhg9FsWxHBjDB1MYT3CxjpugfCUtETH86iDfZrolnv06v14TlJYUtdUGcmazTJlS8JKOUZUsFLolG0OIqcaUeXYdAumrU4WB7b7ATYMxYKWI23KausBFmfeLV0EkSGYimy~s265l1brcmeRityME5JDqnK8zrUhz-UZcaCIC~ph~uQYcuxix1lRoZ0-zUjyj45~ahbghvsGdP0yRsQN1B6dQa5FQPG2mAzU4ITK6buIGK-Leia8PJ5C9qD73mj4xLPcXqpYVv3die23QZ-6aCFKGy~Nxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Racine","date","2025-03-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Racine Common Council spent substantial time on March 4 debating an ordinance (filed as ordinance 0001-25) that would change the council’s committee structure, including who appoints members to standing committees and how committee chairs are chosen.

Key changes and votes: Councilors debated whether the mayor or the council president should appoint members to the standing committees. A motion to restore the mayor’s appointment power was defeated. Councilors then approved amendments that (1) established a two-consecutive-year limit for service as council president and as vice president, (2) directed that the chair and vice chair of the three principal standing committees be selected by the members of each standing committee (to be chosen at that committee’s first meeting following the organizational meeting), and (3) designated all aldermen as ex officio members of standing committees with participation privileges but without a committee vote. The city attorney explained those changes and how they interact with the municipal code’s organizational-meeting and committee provisions.

Debate highlights: Supporters of the changes argued they strengthen the legislative branch’s internal leadership and allow more aldermen to gain committee leadership experience. Opponents argued the mayor’s traditional appointment authority preserves separation between executive and legislative functions and cautioned that transferring appointment powers could politicize committee assignments.

Procedure and next steps: Several specific red-line amendments to the code were considered point-by-point at the meeting; councilors offered and voted on friendly amendments and procedural clarifications. Council members who proposed changes said some further cleanup language may be necessary to reconcile references in the code; staff and the city attorney said final drafting and ordinance language cleanup would be prepared after the council’s policy decisions.

Why it matters: The ordinance alters routine internal governance of the city’s legislative body — changing how committee leadership and membership are assigned, how long leadership terms can run, and who may officially participate in committee discussions. Those ground-level governance rules shape how council business is considered before it reaches the full body.

Ending: Councilors approved the recorded amendments and directed city staff to prepare final ordinance text reflecting the votes and any necessary technical edits for a subsequent formal adoption or final reading.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Racine - Common Council 03.04.25 - Mar 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After extended debate March 4, the council considered an ordinance to change who appoints aldermen to standing committees and how committee chairs are selected; members approved several amendments affecting term limits, committee chair selection and ex-officio membership.","taxTitle","Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin","taxId",2856,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646940,"Council upholds Planning, Heritage & Design denial for 801 Wisconsin Ave development",1842,6688000,8530000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525855-3acc97c807ec9db7f0d39833a93a9aac&start=6688&end=8530","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525855-3acc97c807ec9db7f0d39833a93a9aac/thumbnail_6688000.jpg","/articles/6646940/Racine/Racine-County/Wisconsin/Council-upholds-Planning-Heritage-Design-denial-for-801-Wisconsin-Ave-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646940-83b303d99957b37b17f4db3d8275f7e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442804&Signature=VgOSBVEgZObEAAR~qmCxD7xN1OKz8aSNTYraxIftJhxNblbWj2pH3TksjgHxoY13JJnLph2cBkXGOoMBoTmlt-QJXJGFaZtihWGn5G95cj4zDKZn4Vfq4xPIGZ9Nb8FeT656L5AhAj~qHjH3ssqBQNukmBh-XfLNGGlFpDC6L~VJibibYdI-6nW4Vbe0UufnrMq~Gk9vPyXneCuVZFu-dMoaSRMrQZQi9l0kLRY35JKcYyY0AUC4Nn9zEVzdM4Pw~KYLMgfqyYvfv8iwlJ7xmJg67rNpVLaqQCs43o5f9Yorw20~Psl5O3joozSshbnHKYVCSaXm9fpE7idJCsUSOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Racine Common Council on March 4 denied an appeal of the Planning, Heritage and Design Commission’s (PHDC) December 2 decision and left intact PHDC’s denial of a conditional-use permit for a proposed multifamily residence at 801 Wisconsin Avenue.

City Development staff summarized PHDC’s findings to the council, explaining the commission must find seven statutory criteria in order to approve a conditional-use permit. Jeff Hintz of City Development said PHDC concluded the application did not meet all required standards and explained two principal concerns: parking adequacy for the total parcel and compatibility with design guidelines for contributing historic structures.

Hintz said the applicant’s plan would add several stories to the existing structure and that the property includes an unprogrammed historic church structure (referred to in testimony as Gorton Hall). “The unprogrammed space as part of this use would require 40 or 60 more parking spaces,” Hintz told council, noting PHDC’s concern was the totality of parking needs for the entire parcel rather than a shortfall solely for the proposed apartments.

The city attorney explained the council’s scope on appeal is narrow: the council must decide whether the PHDC abused its discretion under the ordinance’s seven conjunctive criteria. If the council finds no abuse of discretion, the PHDC denial stands. If the council allows the appeal, the matter returns to PHDC for further consideration; the council cannot itself grant the conditional-use permit.

After discussion, a motion to allow the appeal failed; the council then voted to deny the appeal and uphold PHDC’s December denial. The clerk recorded the vote on denying the appeal as 11 ayes and 1 no.

Why it matters: The decision leaves the PHDC denial in effect; the applicant may not submit a substantially similar conditional-use application for one year unless PHDC finds valid new evidence or a change in conditions.

Speakers quoted in this story are taken from the March 4 meeting record; Jeff Hintz represented City Development and the city attorney summarized statutory standards for appeal.","The council voted to deny an appeal of the Planning, Heritage and Design Commission’s decision and left the commission’s denial of a conditional-use permit for a proposed multifamily project at 801 Wisconsin Avenue in place.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646945,"Council advances financing and land steps for Lincoln King Community Center and clinic",6890,2669000,9559000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2525855-3acc97c807ec9db7f0d39833a93a9aac&start=2669&end=9559","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2525855-3acc97c807ec9db7f0d39833a93a9aac/thumbnail_2669000.jpg","/articles/6646945/Racine/Racine-County/Wisconsin/Council-advances-financing-and-land-steps-for-Lincoln-King-Community-Center-and-clinic","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646945-3d997c0760ada4b419e9c52217900927/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442804&Signature=c63diiRdOrF6PJkqpL2D4ONrHzPXaUroic8R8xaO9zXSirzDTWfOa1YR4wVNAQxjmTRu4knmbFslGAuDGOYEFujplz-3Hsn06LzKZwLjUYa6sX-S6FKO3qCfTht18L7KCujk9lf7ferszEHpRH5hxZAq5sE~btAKJ5xMILit7V2yuF-0DOAc~66UvY6JlTCLLwdynFmuaTPnp6eMCbWu~L7AnjG1WyZUjvTAXfTjVRZ0zDzzmD1uRyANQFhaE-sKcnHpIFA8liWU~JFATwvGNCzOkWSO4MKX-la2rmR3VfzGVAHYwdY4Cr3lqpNPalFzOfXGYJkXu-3zFwOJ5daPiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Racine Common Council on March 4 approved several financing and property actions to advance the Lincoln King Community Center and Clinic, authorizing consultants and short-term borrowing as the project proceeds through new market tax credit financing.

Councilors approved entering into professional services agreements with Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP to identify and claim tax credits related to the project. Doug Baldserra of Baker Tilly told council the company would “help maximize the credits” and said historically projects that meet IRS beginning-construction requirements can lock in tax credits even if future tax law changes occur. Baldserra said, “The tax credits are actually changed by an act of Congress,” and described protections and contract termination provisions if federal law changed.

The council also approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation promissory notes to raise up to $17 million as short-term bridge financing for construction costs on the Lincoln King project. City staff said the borrowing is intended to be prepaid or refinanced as grant and tax-credit proceeds arrive. The council voted to approve the borrowing; the chair later reported the motion carried 8 to 4.

Councilors debated the level of grant reliance behind the plan and asked about contingency if expected grants do not materialize. A finance advisor told council the $17 million could be amortized over a longer term and repaid from the debt service tax levy if necessary.

Separately, the council approved several property-related steps tied to the project: a transfer of a subdivided parcel (referred to as “Lot 1”) to the nonprofit entity that will hold the project’s New Markets Tax Credit financing vehicle; the formal initiation of discontinuing a portion of West Street (a resolution to start the public-notice/public-hearing process); and a street-privilege/encroachment authorization to allow planned plaza and building elements to occupy the right-of-way while the discontinuance process proceeds. City staff explained the street discontinuance requires a public hearing 40 days after the council’s initiating resolution and notice to nearby property owners.

Why it matters: The Lincoln King Community Center and Clinic is a multi-million-dollar community facility. Council approvals of consultants, short-term borrowing and property transfers were described by staff as necessary steps to satisfy New Markets Tax Credit investors and keep the construction schedule on track.

Council action and next steps: Baker Tilly’s contract and the promissory-note authorization were approved at the March 4 meeting. The West Street discontinuance resolution starts a 40-day public-notice period and triggers a public hearing before final action. The street-privilege authorization was adopted to prevent construction delay while the formal discontinuance proceeds. City staff said the New Markets Tax Credit investors require those ownership and right-of-way steps before closing.

Speakers quoted in this story spoke at the March 4 meeting. Doug Baldserra is listed on the agenda as representing Baker Tilly; Brad (a financial advisor from Baird) provided updated bond pricing; and the city’s finance director and development staff presented the project materials. The council’s vote counts on the borrowing and other items were recorded in the meeting minutes or announced from the dais.

Ending: The project remains contingent on the timely arrival of grants and tax-credit financing; city staff said the short-term borrowing can be prepaid if those funds come through and otherwise would be refinanced into longer-term debt.","The Racine Common Council approved professional services and financing steps on March 4 as the city moves forward with the Lincoln King Community Center and Clinic project, including a contract with Baker Tilly and a short-term $17 million promissory note sale to bridge construction costs.","actionData","errors"]

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Council debates and amends ordinance changing common council committee structure

Council upholds Planning, Heritage & Design denial for 801 Wisconsin Ave development

Council advances financing and land steps for Lincoln King Community Center and clinic