[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6668965,"mediaKeyId","2215972-63d759ecf9b3dfddc26b41a0c895e9f2","parentId",2215972,"title","Committee authorizes multiple claims payments and legal actions after closed session","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3277000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215972-63d759ecf9b3dfddc26b41a0c895e9f2&start=3277&end=3277","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215972-63d759ecf9b3dfddc26b41a0c895e9f2/thumbnail_3277000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668965/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Committee-authorizes-multiple-claims-payments-and-legal-actions-after-closed-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668965-5b32222deb40027aeab196fcb3b11d79/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497453&Signature=hQhvhzHORxnCIfnRTcGh5lswUMLDS1Z28eeY4fqPHBQBEQZ1NKmMDDozd9Vfsh4DPe1IVJZdpKAKcEWBNFxncTwkRP4nqmVE55q3UVeCdcS8RDnKEMC1TXEbsk1eu85RyKS-HI0vGcWskNvBlvrQ-dg4FVZ6cUUo9ZyWv4fC7lFNZMTfNLfCaSWg1rva7h8AlpmKiQmjn6eMsGQkdJyyUTlBY1wZOMV~LdFkiVDteG3XWLkr71T9wp~VyNQGwGdK3EOrIC2tR34Qz9GDfbxbNMs6rFSmtGsX0fVJC00qcEJEIHXq6V4kHA1GZ16at5i5oTuC7qeg8JoTl~HcRQWOXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee","date","2025-02-03T09:06:00Z","article","After convening in closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(g) to confer with the city attorney about litigation, the Judiciary and Legislation Committee returned to open session and ordered several claims payments, settlements and legal-authority actions discussed in closed session.

The committee recorded the following final actions on the Feb. 3 agenda (items are listed by committee file number and outcome recorded on the committee floor):

- File 241-455: Resolution authorizing payment of the claim of Robert Kohloff (file 1030-2023-1274). Committee ordered the payment as discussed in closed session; mover recorded on the floor as Alderwoman Andrea Pratt.

- File 241-456: Resolution authorizing payment of claims of Dennis Dagger, Renita Hunt and Victor Dagger (file 1030-2024-511). Committee ordered the payment; mover recorded on the floor was Alderman Chambers.

- File 241-508: Resolution authorizing settlement of claim and lawsuit Daniel Seager v. City of Milwaukee (Circuit Court case 24-CV-9423). Committee ordered settlement authorization; mover recorded on the floor was Alderman Burgess.

- File 241-545 (substitute): Resolution authorizing acceptance of funds from the Jewel Lab Inc. lawsuit. Committee ordered adoption as moved on the record.

- File 241-535 (substitute): Resolution authorizing the City Attorney's Office to contract with Nathaniel Kaminsky, LLP for legal services in Wilbur v. City of Milwaukee (case 23-223-CV-00915, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin). Committee ordered the contract authorization as discussed in closed session.

Committee members moved each item for adoption on the record after closed-session discussion; the transcript records no objections to the actions as read on the floor and each item was \"so ordered.\" The city attorney's office indicated these items were discussed in closed session because they involve litigation or potential litigation, consistent with the statutory basis the committee announced when it went into closed session.

Because the actions were authorized after closed-session deliberations, the committee record contains only limited public discussion of the facts behind the payments and settlements; the committee transcript records movers and the committee's order to adopt, but not detailed factual debate in open session. The city clerk and city attorney will complete required administrative steps after the committee's action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Milwaukee - JUDICIARY & LEGISLATION COMMITTEE on 2025-02-03 9:00 AM - Feb 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following a closed session, the committee ordered payment and settlement resolutions on several claims and authorized legal services and acceptance of funds tied to pending cases.","taxTitle","Milwaukee , Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2851,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6668967,"Comptroller: $132.5 million in city receivables; $41 million in unpaid parking citations draws questions on collections",992,856000,1848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215972-63d759ecf9b3dfddc26b41a0c895e9f2&start=856&end=1848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215972-63d759ecf9b3dfddc26b41a0c895e9f2/thumbnail_856000.jpg","/articles/6668967/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Comptroller-1325-million-in-city-receivables-41-million-in-unpaid-parking-citations-draws-questions-on-collections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668967-d6e0457b8f80991439e933700b2a244d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497453&Signature=oLqSvah1oNxTQAGDzEzI7DytwP-Xww7GOMyWwpK7Q39F8VEYmLQQtVxioLq4ZTYf2Mp7dSBAOMyBjCN102aUgYUOSoz54bOAr4aEQLWo~uobEC2snT03dyXofIIZg-fOhUvt7s-s8A0w9~nCNmD0NavguiVFNjkvVo-DOyaYda4KVAvXjDkRUvR52qCwbj4nWb7HVzupJPGyK1kPHqtq-L4lURxJ34zu4n1OL-2NiZxHVYzJMga8FYh2eDPOowA1w9DcJVMtVMxKpoTJFQxn3-oV0n~TOnxxs~uVBs6L21oZH4h6vY03lJ8xKAwoU9G9MNs6eQA9teJB6ULA0hsBDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Judiciary and Legislation Committee reviewed the City of Milwaukee annual outstanding receivables report on Feb. 3, hearing from the comptroller's office and collection contractors about collections, parking citation backlogs and potential policy changes.

\"Outstanding accounts receivable was $132,500,000 for year end December 31, 2023 — an increase of $4,700,000 when compared to 2022,\" Gloria Lucas of the comptroller's office told the committee while summarizing the report. The report includes a department-level breakdown of miscellaneous accounts receivable and cancellations and adjustments required by city ordinance.

Committee members focused much of the discussion on parking citations. The committee record shows the comptroller and collection experts described a cumulative balance of approximately $41,000,000 in unpaid parking citations spanning as many as seven years. City staff said the seven-year period reflects statute-of-limitations and collection practice for citations and that the $41 million is a cumulative balance of unresolved citations over several years rather than a single-year shortfall.

Officials described collection and enforcement practices: the city uses a private collections contractor (Duncan Solutions), an income-tax intercept program that yields about $2,000,000 annually, and daily towing of vehicles that meet recurring-violator criteria. Staff said towing activity can total about 25,000 vehicles annually, with roughly 10,000 police tows and 15,000 to 16,000 administrative/contract tows.

Bill Christianson, the city comptroller, clarified how citation revenue is recognized for budget purposes. \"With parking, it's different. So those are only recognized when the cash is actually\" collected, he said, explaining why outstanding citation balances are not counted as budgeted revenues until collected.

Committee members also asked about using registration holds via the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and other tools used by peer cities. Staff said the city used such a registration-suspension referral in prior years and that, in one full year in 2016, referring delinquent citations for registration action generated about $700,000 in revenue. Staff said changes in DOT submission rules and per-citation fees mean the cost and logistics of reintroducing registration holds would differ now.

Other receivable categories discussed included conduit-rental debts owed by communications firms that use city conduit infrastructure; staff said some conduit occupants lacked executed leases historically and that DPW and the city attorney are pursuing remedies, including draft revisions to Chapter 98 governing conduit use.

Committee action on the communication was to place the report on file for the record, allowing departments and administration to continue work on collection and legal remedies and to return with implementation options.

Committee members asked the administration to evaluate collection tools, including reconsidering DOT registration holds, expanded referrals to legal counsel for large commercial debts and potential public reporting of significant debtors to encourage compliance. Staff said some of those steps are already in progress, including updated Chapter 98 language and targeted enforcement of tow-operator accounts.

The committee's questions and staff answers did not include a decision to reinstate statewide registration suspensions, and staff cautioned that each tool carries costs and operational trade-offs.","The committee reviewed the annual outstanding receivables report. The comptroller's office reported $132.5 million in outstanding receivables at year-end 2023 and discussed parking citation collections, towing practices and collection tools such as income tax intercepts and vehicle-registration holds.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6668972,"Committee advances Equal Rights Commission appointments, adopts ordinance giving commission formal adjudication process",725,111000,836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215972-63d759ecf9b3dfddc26b41a0c895e9f2&start=111&end=836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215972-63d759ecf9b3dfddc26b41a0c895e9f2/thumbnail_111000.jpg","/articles/6668972/Milwaukee/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Committee-advances-Equal-Rights-Commission-appointments-adopts-ordinance-giving-commission-formal-adjudication-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668972-8cfc392cafff989f4ab1fe7a1b5cfca3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497453&Signature=Nkvotoe4KXdGMxsRZGGqreHma5oLwF0vo608QNLGRSnCedSjWBSIjbdnkAJ7AeE3Zwk~zCMd0RVaD0Zr2aAiYk~eLBKT-j5ZIjghDaJ-xvAUIFA~w81BfRYTTjLF4F6sZaiBYsZkqaz-ZZhoAUhabuOEFE4I9OLLxm0G9QbLMhvvS7GvDzdVrqzbYUq176WuJcXvv47p1DTe4hX0pkEJqgoIFjJsvie0Z04ZAAl6~yEdgimwx2Ez~WvZ3ZTdt0lDHjYawn4rTLRIdSqk3hvkqnmmwtocx1c2NfCbb~BjWhoVu~kkt5etMlUSqKCSC9-mM-iA4K2rHeDcW-C7xUNwWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milwaukee Judiciary and Legislation Committee on Feb. 3 confirmed mayoral appointments to the City Equal Rights Commission and adopted an ordinance (file 241-499) establishing formal procedures for investigations, probable-cause panels and administrative hearings under Chapter 109.

The ordinance and appointments were taken up in committee after Tony Snell Rodriguez, chair of the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission, described gaps in the commission's ability to accept and adjudicate discrimination complaints. \"This is a toolkit that we have,\" Snell Rodriguez told the committee, saying the measure creates a three-member panel to oversee investigations, probable-cause determinations and hearings while preserving a full hearing record for administrative or judicial review.

The measure implements procedures the commission and city attorney's office drafted to give the commission authority to take certain complaints that are not covered by federal or state statutes. Snell Rodriguez cited the Crown Act — local protections for hairstyle discrimination — as an example of grounds that can fall under the city's Chapter 109 when state or federal law does not provide a remedy.

Committee members asked how the three-member panels will be composed and trained. Snell Rodriguez clarified that the panelists will be commissioners from the Equal Rights Commission and said training for investigations is a planned next step. He also said the commission is adding staff, including an equal rights specialist and a compliance liaison, so it can begin taking complaints locally rather than only referring them to state or federal agencies.

The committee also considered three mayoral appointments to the Equal Rights Commission. Ray (Rae) Johnson, who introduced themself to the committee as an advocate with prior Milwaukee County communications experience and current work for a geospatial software company, was presented for confirmation. \"I bought a house in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood with the support of PAX Housing five years ago,\" Johnson said, adding they identify as a \"queer, proud Black woman.\" The committee moved to confirm Johnson; no objection was recorded in the committee transcript.

The committee also confirmed Paul Smith, described in committee as vice president of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce and active with Native business communities. A separate mayoral nomination for Virginia Zerpa was withdrawn and the item was placed on file.

Passage of ordinance 241-499 was moved on the record and the committee ordered its adoption. Proponents said the procedure will allow the commission to collect consistent data, educate businesses on best practices and, where appropriate, notify licensing bodies when rules or laws appear to have been violated. Opponents did not register formal objections during the committee discussion recorded in the transcript.

The ordinance will allow the commission to collect data about complaints in roughly 11 categories the commission uses, including employment, housing and public accommodations, and to bring remedies locally when state or federal options are not available. The committee record notes the commission will preserve full hearing records to support administrative or judicial review in contested cases.

The committee took the measures during its regular agenda and ordered the appointments and ordinance actions for final processing at the council level.","The Judiciary and Legislation Committee heard nominations to the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission and voted to adopt ordinance 241-499, adding procedures for investigations, probable-cause panels and hearings under Chapter 109.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee authorizes multiple claims payments and legal actions after closed session

Comptroller: $132.5 million in city receivables; $41 million in unpaid parking citations draws questions on collections

Committee advances Equal Rights Commission appointments, adopts ordinance giving commission formal adjudication process