Racine · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Racine public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Alley considered for 2027 construction
Alders Kelly and Pabon want to revisit the city's alley paving and patching ordinance; the topic was referred to Public Works and Services.
2027 Office Space Lease Agreements
The city's 2027 leases for office space at City Hall, the City Hall Annex and the Safety Building were up for approval. The leases bring in roughly $260,000 a year in rental revenue. Action was postponed when the meeting was cancelled.
Lathrop Avenue street project contract amendment
Amendment 1 to Contract 2025259 for the Lathrop Avenue project was up for committee action. Because the meeting was cancelled, the project amendment remains pending.
5120 Byrd Avenue surveying and engineering work
Mayor Mason asked that yield signs at Byrd Ave/Oregon St and Byrd Ave/Illinois St be replaced with stop signs via an attached ordinance; it was referred to Public Works after Weidner noted the ordinance attachment was missing.
Neighborhood TID Program application window in TID No. 27
Alder Weidner says the CDA changed neighborhood TID grant rules — like focus areas and code-violation requirements — without the council ever approving those changes, and the amended plans would let the CDA keep changing policy on its own. She wants the council, not the CDA, to control those changes.
Receivership of 2321 Prospect Street
The CDA was asked to authorize itself as receiver for a property on Prospect Street — a tool for taking control of problem properties and getting them rehabilitated.
2027 Proposed City Budget
City departments laid out their 2027 goals, funding needs, operational changes and capital projects for the council. These presentations set the stage for next year's budget decisions that will shape city services and taxes.
2027 Sewer and Water Rates
Sewer rates stay flat for Racine residents but jump 12.5% for Caledonia and Mount Pleasant customers, and household hazardous waste fees rise $1 to $4 a year.
Public Health Grant Funding Package
The city's health department relies on a bundle of state grants to fund HIV services, infant mortality reduction, lead testing, immunizations, women's health clinics, and emergency preparedness. The committee recommended accepting about $1.16 million, most with no local match required.
Business Improvement District 2027 Operating Plans
Operating plans for the Downtown, Douglas Avenue and Uptown BIDs were scheduled, with special charges placed on commercial property tax bills to fund district improvements.
Settlement discussions in lawsuits against the city
Two active lawsuits against the city — the Bennie Nunn case in county court and the Kimberlyn Stafford federal case — are headed to closed-door settlement presentations at the Finance Committee.
Liquor and Business Licensing Docket
New Class B liquor licenses for Old English Pub and La Esquina del Barrio were referred to committee, and Doobies Beer Joint was called in for a formal expression of concern over a police report.
Flock camera system future
The committee split 3-2 on whether to keep or terminate the Flock camera contract, ultimately keeping it through the end of 2026. The full council will now weigh in on a surveillance system that has divided city leaders.
Early Voting
Early voting starts Tuesday across Racine County, giving Racine voters a chance to cast ballots before Election Day and skip the lines. The county is pointing residents to local early-voting sites, so if your schedule is packed on Election Day, this is your window.
Proposed 2027 City of Racine Budget
Mayor Mason submitted the city's full 2027 budget — general fund, debt, capital projects, enterprise funds and fee schedules. It now goes to Committee of the Whole, where the spending and tax decisions will be debated before final adoption.
City Sump Pump Program
A new committee — with realtors, plumbers, city staff, a council member, and a citizen — gets six months to find a better way to cut clearwater flows, with its recommendations coming back for a Council vote.
Racine Zoo Funding
The council approved roughly $6.4 million in federal and state transit grants plus student transit contracts with Gateway Technical College and Racine Unified, keeping bus service funded for the year.
Kohl Philanthropies Donation for King Community Center
Full fee elimination at the King Center failed 4-9, and the narrower youth non-resident fee cut survived only after being amended to ask neighboring municipalities to chip in funding for reduced rates.
Formal expression of concern for Doobies Beer Joint
Based on the police report, the council accepted the licensing committee's recommendation to call Doobies Beer Joint in for a formal expression of concern — an official warning step short of license revocation.
Public hearing speaker time limit
The chair had capped budget hearing speakers at 3 minutes, but aldermen voted 12-2 to appeal that ruling, giving residents more time to testify on the budget.
2027 Special Assessment Rates for 2028 Paving Projects
Residents on Layard Avenue presented a near-unanimous block petition opposing roughly $6,500-per-property assessments to rebuild their alley, warning the 6% interest over ten years turns the bill into $9,000 for those who can't pay upfront. Marina owner Dan Kaiser opposed a Raker Court assessment of nearly $350,000. The council approved street paving 9-2 but sent the alley item through with the consent agenda after adding a notice requirement for deleted streets.
Washington Avenue corridor traffic study
A request for a traffic study and traffic-calming options on Washington Avenue from Lathrop through Uptown was received and filed, while one commenter urged a moratorium on traffic changes, citing the Weston-Taylor roundabout as a cautionary tale.
Annual Holiday Parade street closures
Downtown Racine Corporation got committee approval to close Ontario, Main and 6th Streets for the Holiday Parade on November 14, 2026.
School crossing improvements near Racine Christian School
Alder DeMark asked the Department of Public Works to paint crossing lines near Racine Christian School at Kinzie and Virginia Street — a small but direct pedestrian safety fix. It went to the Public Works Committee.
5th Street Boat Launch pier replacement
Parks officials want a Wisconsin Coastal Management Program grant to replace the piers at the 5th Street Boat Launch. The city's share is roughly $99,000, already penciled into the 2027 capital plan.
Election workers and election administration resolution
The committee advanced a resolution affirming support for election workers and free, fair, secure elections, and opposing unlawful interference in election administration.
Transit funding and regional RYDE service
The council locked in 2027 state transit operating aid applications, accepted a $1.25 million state grant for bus capital projects, and renewed the contract to run RYDE Racine buses into the Village of Yorkville.
Election workers and election administration resolution
Mayor Mason proposed a resolution affirming support for election workers and free, fair, secure elections while opposing unlawful interference. It was referred to committee rather than adopted.
Election workers and election administration resolution
Mayor Mason proposed a resolution affirming support for election workers and free, fair, secure elections while opposing unlawful interference. It was referred to committee rather than adopted.
Late-night bar operations and police concerns
The committee used its police report to flag Doobies Beer Joint for a formal expression of concern, and trimmed La Esquina del Barrio's proposed closing time from 2 a.m. to midnight. These decisions shape neighborhood late-night activity and police workload.
2026 Holiday Parade street closures
The Downtown Racine Corporation wants to close several downtown streets for the Holiday Parade on November 14, 2026, but the committee put off the decision. Residents should watch for whether the closures come back for approval.
Citywide CCTV sewer televising bids
Bid results for the 2026 citywide CCTV televising contract were received and filed — this work inspects the city's sewer pipes with cameras.
Sewer ordinance amendments
Sewer ordinance changes recommended by the Wastewater Commission were adopted by the council.
State Street and Main Street bridges over Root River — contract amendment
The committee endorsed signing Amendment 1 to the three-party contract for the State Street and Main Street bridge work over the Root River, with costs covered by the Capital Improvement Plan.
Habitat for Humanity homes
The city is moving forward on a deal with Habitat for Humanity and the CDA to build four homes, using up to $2 million in previously authorized HOME funding plus about $237,573 in NSP program income.
Zoning code rewrite (Chapter 114)
The city adopted its full zoning code rewrite, replacing Chapter 114, with last-minute additions covering tuckpointing design review and resident mail notices. No one spoke at the public hearing.
Curfew and loitering ordinances
The curfew ordinance discussion was received and filed, and the loitering ordinance item was received and filed after committee review.
TID 25 developer loan extension — J. Jeffers & Co.
The city's $5 million loan to developer J. Jeffers & Co. gets extended to 2033 at 3.25% interest — no new dollars, but the developer must personally guarantee repayment and pay $338,541.67 in delinquent interest from escrow.
Loitering ordinance, fee schedule and signage
Alders Kelly and Pabon wanted the committee to work through the city's loitering ordinance, its related fee schedule and possible signage with police and the city attorney. After prior deferral, the committee closed the item out by recommending it be received and filed.
Vacant home renovation ('Racine: Rehabbed and Ready')
$1.077 million from an expired TID will fund roughly $25,000 renovations on vacant, abandoned homes — about 40 properties — with strict owner-occupancy requirements to return blighted houses to the tax roll.
Lead service lateral replacement outreach funding
An extra $178,571 from the Wisconsin DNR will fund outreach and education about replacing lead water service lines, on top of the original $150,000 grant. This helps residents understand risks and programs connected to getting lead pipes out of the ground.
How alders handle constituent complaints about bars
Alders got legal guidance on what to do when constituents send videos or complaints about bars: forward it to police, don't investigate on your own. Because liquor licenses are constitutional property interests, alders acting as quasi-judicial decision-makers must stay impartial.
FY 2026 HUD Annual Action Plan
The mayor defended the city's HUD-funded home programs as income-based, not frozen, after Alder Weidner relayed a constituent who missed the TID grant window and was told CDBG low-income help was 'being reimagined.' Staff offered to help individual constituents directly.
Passenger rail (MKE Rail Commission)
Racine joined Kenosha, Cudahy(?), and Milwaukee in a rail commission to compete for federal infrastructure dollars for a passenger line connecting downtown Racine to the airport, Kenosha, and Chicago. If built, it could spark over a billion dollars in investment.
Federal policy impacts on Racine
The mayor raised concerns about ICE enforcement creating fear in the immigrant community, tariffs raising prices, cuts to food assistance and healthcare, and interference with mail-in ballots. He urged residents to hold onto democratic principles and vote.
State funding shortfall and local control
Mayor Mason said state aid to Racine fell more than $300 million short of inflation over two decades, pushing costs onto property taxpayers. He also criticized the state for passing over a hundred laws stripping cities' authority on issues from minimum wage to rental inspections.
Winter road salt supply
The city will buy about 7,000 tons of road salt from Cargill at $98.72 per ton delivered to keep streets clear next winter.
Employee health and wellness center agreements
The committee extended the Ascension wellness center agreement through 2026 and advanced the 2027 amendment, costing the city about $23,354 this year and roughly $403,678 next year including variable costs.
Eisenhauer Drive traffic safety requests
Neighbors asked for stop signs at Eisenhauer Drive's intersections with Belmont Avenue and Graham, plus 25 MPH speed signs on the street. The requests were received and filed without action this meeting.
Rupert Boulevard winter sidewalk closure
The school district will close the south sidewalk of Rupert Boulevard near the cemetery from December through April, taking on snow responsibility and liability for that stretch.