Tuesday, March 31, 2026
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Saturday, September 13, 2025
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Council members override mayor's veto
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — The City of Racine Common Council on Wednesday voted to override Mayor Cory Mason's veto of an ordinance changing the council's structure.
The vote was 10-4, with Alders Terry McCarthy, Henry Perez, Renee Kelly, Jeff Coe, Olivia Turquoise-Davis, David Maack, Melissa Kaprelian, Sandy Weidner, Cinthia Esqueda and newly-appointed District 2 Alder Tyler Townsend supporting the override.
Alders Samuel Peete, Mary Land, Marlo Harmon and Maurice Horton voted against the motion.
Alder Cory Sebastian abstained, saying she did not want to make the decision for the members of the new Common Council, which will have its first meeting April 15.
Four districts will have new alders in the next council, as Sebastian, Kaprelian and Coe lost their districts' races, and McCarthy did not run for reelection.
"I'm finding it very challenging for me to make a decision for those who are going to be operating in these seats moving forward," Sebastian said.
Prior to the vote, Sebastian offered a motion to defer action until the next meeting, which failed.
"We can say all we want, but we're gone in two weeks, so I think that we should allow them to make this decision," Sebastian said.
With the mayor's veto overridden, the following ordinance changes, approved by the Common Council on March 4, will go into effect:
• The council president, rather than the mayor, will appoint members to standing committees.
• Standing committee members will elect that committee's chair, and the committee chair will appoint a vice-chair.
• All alders will become ex-officio members of the standing committees.
• The role of council vice president will be created and will be elected by alders at the council's annual organizational meeting.
• The council president and vice-president will have a term length of two years.
• The vice-president can preside over Common Council meetings if neither the president nor the mayor are present.
• The Committee of the Whole will be added as a standing committee.
• Alders will no longer be able to serve more than two years as a chair or vice-chair of a standing committee.
The council also approved the appointment of Tyler Townsend as District 2 alder, filling the vacancy left by Alder Mollie Jones' death. Townsend was immediately sworn into office following the council's approval.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a development incentive agreement between the city and Dominion 12, Dominion 14 and AOA Racine for the Dominion Downtown Phase 2 project, for which the city will give developers a $9.7 million loan to redevelop multiple storefronts and buildings in Downtown Racine as part of the Hotel Verdant project in Tax Increment District No. 26.
• Approved an amendment to the project plan for Tax Increment District No. 9 allowing for excess revenue to be transferred to TID No. 26, including the transfer of $5.7 million for the loan for the Dominion Downtown Phase 2 project.
• Approved an amendment to the project plan and boundaries of Tax Increment District No. 26.
• Approved a major amendment to the Planned Development for Regency Mall to allow for a new use for a multi-family residential development at 5326 Durand Ave.
• Awarded a $14 million contract to KGI Construction Group for the construction of 33 townhomes for the Lincoln King Development Project.
• Approved a state/municipal agreement for a design and construction project on State Street Bridge over Root River. The city’s share of the project cost will be $640,000 and the state’s will be $14,375,000.
• Approved a three-party consulting engineering services agreement between the city, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and EMCS Inc., for a road construction project on Spring Street from Fairway Drive to State Trunk Highway 38, not-to-exceed amount of $391,862. The city will pay $78,372 and WisDOT will pay $313,490.
• Referred back to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee an application from Adream Social Lounge, 1518 Washington Ave., for a "Class B" Intoxicating Beverage and Fermented Malt Beverage license.
• Granted permission for the City Development Department to apply for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s $250,000 Community Development Investment grant for Hop Heads Hospitality & Events to build a restaurant and taproom at the Legion building at Belle City Square, 1907 St. Patrick St.
• Approved and ratified the formation of the Lincoln King Community Center and Clinic QALICB Inc., for the purposes of the New Market Tax Credit transaction associated with the construction of the King Center and allowed the city to execute all necessary documents associated with the project.
• Granted permission to the Racine Human Resources Department to apply for a workforce development fast forward grant at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development in relation to the public safety cadet and youth employment program. If awarded, the Fire Cadet Program would receive up to $176,000, and the Commercial Driver's License Program would receive up to $225,000.
• Approved the creation of a new part-time position to implement the outreach/education component of the DNR/IRA Urban Forestry grant that was awarded to the city's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department in 2024.
• Approved the application and acceptance of a $500,000 from the Daybreak Fund for energy efficiency and/or nature-based solutions to stormwater retention.
• Approved a request from Katherine Rayner of Crew Carwash for a major amendment to the Planned Development for Regency Mall to add a new use of a carwash at 2521 S. Green Bay Road
• Approved a request from the Wisconsin Humane Society to host a large-scale pet vaccination event for cats and dogs that reside in the 53404 ZIP code, at Lincoln Park from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
• Authorized the Racine Public Health Department to enter into an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and accept funding of $227,357 for syphilis case management and partner services within Racine County.
• Approved the proposed settlement of $50,000 in the case of Shannon Hollimon, et al., v. City of Racine, et al, Racine County Circuit Court Case No. 23CV1428.
• Authorized a change order to a contract for downtown street lighting, increasing the amount by $297 to $98,415, and authorized the final payment to contractor WIL-Surge Electric Inc.
• Awarded a contract to A.W. Oakes & Son Inc. of $1,159,020 for concrete street construction.
• Approved a change order to a contract with Musson Bros for sanitary sewer repairs, increasing the contract by $247,699 to $1.6 million.
• Authorized a final payment of $1.6 million to Musson Bros Inc., for sanitary sewer repairs.
• Authorized the city to enter into a consent and novation agreement with Coach USA Wisconsin for the assigning rights and obligations under the existing Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter bus purchased transportation agreement, because of a change in ownership. No interruption in purchased transportation services is anticipated, as two option years are included in the existing contract.
• Approved closing the following streets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 for the Third Annual Racine Juneteenth Day Parade: Lake Avenue from Fourth Street to Sixth Street; Fourth Street from Lake Avenue to Main Street; Main Street from Fourth Street to 14th Street; 14th Street from Main Street to Grand Avenue; and Grand Avenue from 14th Street to Caron Butler Drive.
• Submitted the alley from 20th Street to Dekoven Avenue and Case Avenue to Jay Eye See Avenue, running east to west, to be included in the 2025 public hearing for 2026 construction.
• Awarded a contract for a tree purchase to Chestnut Ridge Nursery for $36,182, and to Schichtel's Nursery for $64,526.
• Awarded a contract for tree and stump removal to Busch Tree Expert for $46,500 and to Homer Tree Service for $32,780.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Common Council to consider expanding Downtown TID project
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — City of Racine Common Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on enhancing the Hotel Verdant project downtown and providing a $9.7 million loan to developers to do so.
If approved, Developers Dominion 12 LLC, Dominion 14 LLC and AOA Racine LLC would redevelop multiple storefronts and buildings in Downtown Racine in Tax Increment District No. 26, which houses the Hotel Verdant project.
According to city documents, the developers want to create a full-service spa at 512 Main St. and a mixed-use property with one retail and four residential units at 222 Fifth St. They also want to demolish the structure at 401 Wisconsin Ave. to construct a parking lot, with a future phase to include the construction of a four-story, 40-unit, market-rate apartment building at 426 Wisconsin Ave.
In return, the city would provide a $9.7 million loan from TID 26 with an annual interest rate of 3%.
If the developer proceeds with constructing the 40-unit apartment building at 426 Wisconsin Ave. within five years, at close of construction financing of the building, the principal on the loan will be forgiven, city documents say.
The city would transfer $5.7 million from TID 9 (the Johnson Building) and borrow $4 million from from the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands for the loan.
Dominion and AOA Racine agreed to the minimum valuation of $4 million for the apartment buildings if the plan transpires, according to city documents.
If the developer does not begin construction on the building at 426 Wisconsin Ave. prior to the end of the interest-only period on the loan, the loan will be re-amortized and bear an interest rate of 5% due in 2040.
More development on the agenda
The Common Council agenda also includes a request to amend the Regency Mall development plan to allow for a multi-family development and a resolution to reward a construction contract for townhomes for the Lincoln King Development Project.
The council approving the Regency Mall amendment would allow for potential apartment buildings at 5326 Durand Ave.
Hull Property Group LLC has proposed five three-story apartment buildings, including about 266 units, according to city documents.
The resolution involving the Lincoln King Development Project includes awarding a $14 million contract to KGI Construction Group LLC for the construction of 33 townhomes.
Developers would build the townhomes on properties acquired by the Racine Community Development Authority on Wilson, West, Prospect, Frederick and Hamilton streets, according to city documents. Each townhome would include multiple units.
Mayor’s veto
Mayor Cory Mason on March 7 vetoed legislation approved by Common Council at its March 4 meeting that would change the structure of council proceedings.
The veto is on Wednesday’s agenda for the council to either approve or override.
Agenda rescheduled from prior meeting date
All the agenda items involving major development plans and the mayor’s ordinance veto were originally scheduled for the March 18 meeting, but the council failed to reach a quorum and the meeting could not proceed.
Common Council on Wednesday is scheduled to consider all items originally on the March 18 agenda.
The council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Room 205 of Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Ave. A livestream of the meeting will be available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@cityofracine.
I lived in downtown and near it for nearly twenty years. Yes, downtown is nice, but so are hundreds of other downtowns in Wisconsin and thousands in the USA. DRC has drained our takes to the tune of millions of dollars that benefit only DRC members. Fuck downtown. Let the stores there experience the real market, not one subsidized by our tax dollars.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Racine Common Council fails to reach quorum Tuesday
RACINE — The Common Council could not proceed with its meeting Tuesday because it did not have a quorum.
Only six alders, along with Mayor Cory Mason, were present Tuesday: Marlo Harmon, Maurice Horton, Melissa Kaprelian, Mary Land, David Maack and Samuel Peete. State law requires that two-thirds of the council (10 alders) must be present for a quorum.
Alders Jeff Coe, Olivia Turquoise Davis, Sandy Weidner, Cinthia Esqueda, Terry McCarthy, Henry Perez, Renee Kelly and Cory Sebastian were absent.
It was not immediately clear Tuesday whose absences were excused or what alders’ reasons were for missing the meeting.
The council was scheduled to take action Tuesday on Mason’s veto of an ordinance that would change the structure of council proceedings, including removing the mayor’s ability to appoint committee members. Alders on March 4 approved the final ordinance with a 10-0 vote.
Tuesday’s agenda items will be rescheduled for the next Common Council meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 2.
Monday, March 10, 2025
Mason vetoes Racine Common Council structure changes
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Mayor Cory Mason has vetoed an ordinance that would change the structure of Common Council proceedings, including stripping the mayor's ability to appoint members to standing committees.
Mason on March 7 vetoed Ordinance 0001-25, which Common Council approved on March 4. Mason was not present for the March 4 Common Council meeting.
Alders Melissa Kaprelian and Sandy Weidner introduced the ordinance. With amendments added by council members March 4, the ordinance would: give authority to the Common Council president, rather than the mayor, to appoint members to standing committees; establish a council vice president and give them the authority to preside over Common Council meetings when neither the president nor the mayor are present; allow committee members to elect their committee's chair, and the chair to select a vice-chair; establish term limits for committee chairs and vice-chairs; appoint all alders as ex-officio members of all standing committees; and establish the Committee of the Whole as a standing committee.
In a statement from Mason on Monday, he said he has "serious concerns about the impact these changes would have on the effective governance of our city."
"I have urged the members of the Common Council to sustain this veto. I remain fully committed to working collaboratively with the Council on meaningful reforms that will improve our processes and serve the best interests of Racine’s residents," he said.
Mason said that as the only elected official chosen by the entire city, the mayor plays a crucial role in ensuring that committee assignments are "balanced, representative, and functional."
"Stripping this authority diminishes the role of the mayor in shaping an effective legislative process," he said.
Establishing the Committee of the Whole as a standing committee would further complicate committees' structure and jurisdiction, according to Mason.
"Given the recent adjustments to our committee system, adding further layers of complexity at this time could hinder — not improve — our ability to govern efficiently," he said.
Kaprelian also released a statement Monday, in which she said Mason's veto "represents nothing less than an assault on the democratic principles upon which our government was founded."
"When the mayor controls both who serves on committees and what items those committees can consider, our citizens lose their ability to have their concerns meaningfully addressed," Kaprelian said. "This level of control means that community priorities can be sidelined or ignored, effectively silencing the voices of Racine residents who expect their local government to be responsive and accountable."
Common Council will vote on whether to override Mason's veto at its next meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. March 18, in Room 205 of Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.
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Thursday, October 10, 2024
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Gov. Tony Evers vetoes bill that would end extra unemployment benefits
MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers late Tuesday vetoed a bill Republicans and the state's largest business lobby have pushed for weeks that would eliminate additional unemployment benefits for Wisconsinites who lost work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Republican lawmakers who authored the bill said it would reduce worker shortages, arguing the additional benefits have kept workers home.
Evers in his veto message said he did not trust their argument and that the state's labor force participation has returned to nearly pre-pandemic levels with the benefits in place.
"There is a lack of evidence to support the notion that eliminating supplemental unemployment insurance benefits would bring more individuals into the workforce," Evers wrote. "Many of the most hard-hit areas are located in both rural parts of the state that had slower pre-pandemic changes in business operations."
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Contact tracing contract vetoed, residency requirement reduced to 40%
Christina Lieffring
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