[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6537831,"mediaKeyId","3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533","parentId",3426522,"title","Votes at a glance: Wauwatosa council approves minutes, appointments, zoning permits, events and multiple committee resolutions","audioSeconds",946,"startMs",392000,"endMs",1338000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533&start=392&end=1338","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533/thumbnail_392000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6537831/Wauwatosa-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Wauwatosa-council-approves-minutes-appointments-zoning-permits-events-and-multiple-committee-resolutions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537831-3e7af8e073df0764dee369d1757f0e31/orig.mp4?Expires=1776193167&Signature=Ml7t~OFrGa4H3DRiyHE2sCH2KgKBahvVsW8nx70tKMM~h-dRRSeN0bI2Szunt7uSz8AEKXq2JBqms4cD2DJnHZ7HPu5ACqqmNC8ghSFcF6A0WY9Gsn~lPaj1deadFANBMJ6eHYBnSriM-3nHu0suSy~OSIsFTCj5VWDgVMxXKnnmQZNGHbr56r0ju4EsHaK1-htaIDE9mjUrpgHXqPToLskauKcv0s4ao1hhClMZW2PNyoWTpCNWasm8Lpg87jNN0LE-0i8MGxq8UXyVKcsqy1RAo7Y~DHe6VE6XoIjffRijTO~iOAX~9xVQPU~w7Dbrb~SPN3P3n8iF6CnU1GP3WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wauwatosa","date","2025-05-20T21:17:00Z","article","The City of Wauwatosa Common Council acted on a series of routine and committee-recommended items across planning, events, transportation, finance and public works.

Key outcomes
- Minutes: The council accepted the minutes of the April 22, 2025 regular meeting by voice vote with no opposition.
- Appointments: The council approved a slate of mayoral reappointments and new appointments to boards and commissions. Items 1\u0000through 9 and 11\u0000through 13 were approved on a single vote \"unanimously\"; item 10 (appointment of Alderman McClough to a listed post including himself) passed on a 13-0-0 vote; one appointment (item 14, Jennifer Tate) was taken and voted separately (see separate article).
- Plan Commission items: The council approved three conditional use permits recommended by the Plan Commission: expansion of an eating-and-drinking establishment at 6519 W. North Ave. (Crafty Cow Tosa LLC), a general warehousing and storage use at 11800 W. Burleigh St. (Harley-Davidson applicant), and an outdoor seating area for a wine shop at 6410 W. North Ave. (Pipsqueak Wine). The commission recommended approval 4-0 on each; the council approved all three items unanimously.
- Community Affairs and events: In addition to the solar items covered separately, the council approved special event permits (Art 64; Village Classic/Tour of America's Dairyland), temporary extension of licensed premises for local restaurants/supper clubs (Bucket Tavern, Cafe Hollander) and fireworks user permits for Wauwatosa West and East high-school graduation salutes; these items were approved on committee recommendation.
- Government Affairs: The council approved items including temporary extensions of licensed premises, renewal lists for alcohol licenses and amusement arcades, designation of the official newspaper for statutory notices, and ratified a one-year extension to the Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association collective-bargaining agreement as noted in the Government Affairs Committee items. Committee recommendation across these items was 5-0 and council approval was recorded in roll call votes.
- Transportation codes: The council adopted ordinances modifying parking restrictions on specified streets and adopting a 25 mph posted speed limit on Ludington Avenue between Milwaukee Avenue and North Avenue; committee recommended adoption and the council passed those items unanimously.
- Financial and public-works contracts: The council approved a three-year uniform and mat rental contract with Vestas Uniforms and Workplace Supplies ($15,000) and approved 2024 capital project carryover budget amendments; Board of Public Works contract awards included a $361,030 contract for the Ellis Street water-reservoir rehabilitation (L & T Painting Inc.) and a $462,071.46 award for the Burleigh Street multi-use path and asphalt pavement repair program (Lalonde Contractors). The board recommended approval for public-works items and council ratified those recommendations.

Votes and roll calls: Where recorded in the transcript, the clerk announced approvals as unanimous or provided counts (for example, the solar permit fee waiver passed 12-2; the city attorney appointment passed 12-1-1). Most committee items were recorded as passing on unanimous roll-call or voice votes.

Why it matters: The actions implement land-use approvals, event permissions, traffic and parking policy, and capital work that affect city operations, residents and local businesses. Several routine approvals advance capital and maintenance projects in neighborhoods.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wauwatosa - CC 5.21.25 - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting the common council approved routine minutes, a slate of mayoral appointments, three Plan Commission conditional use permits, multiple special-event and licensing items, transportation code changes and several public-works contracts; many measures passed unanimously or by large margins.","taxTitle","Wauwatosa City, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",77269,"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},6537836,"Wauwatosa police report: staffing gaps, new response teams, drone and armored rescue vehicle among 2024-25 initiatives",866,3759000,4625000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533&start=3759&end=4625","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533/thumbnail_3759000.jpg","/articles/6537836/Wauwatosa-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Wauwatosa-police-report-staffing-gaps-new-response-teams-drone-and-armored-rescue-vehicle-among-2024-25-initiatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537836-3458ee6c21e3b0ce22c7781db25ba829/orig.mp4?Expires=1776193167&Signature=L3BGXHO3-qkOxn1odpK4cP-4Bblx209-9BCWmYwF9CTSqeyVYNKc8uf7e8YowUpQhklz78l1trG6RQmeCwQ15QyIj-IO1Ol1bToUNpF6muRR1gid1JqWtOiSQwC6QW7vXaP1nCKrSQGiYe0Sngz5bIH7eM3AitrTTWII9AYMJvEQs4vFkKJ70G3fgzhPpBjki0Uq9fGqGpMQNTAJ0qAZU3y5-y8IM46tu2g7bXEN3OSNcIuJ1YFfVTnhy8xMBcOj534AIQaHIW2oeE0D~JK-f0TxxHszRJrC54RLstlEzM7WNPYxNBdPKK3w5c73yzbE~7SfQfKTKqYe5dcFhf4ooA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wauwatosa Police Department presented its annual report to the common council and outlined initiatives to address staffing, public-safety workload and emerging response needs.

Chief (name not specified) said the department's authorized sworn strength at year-end 2024 was 104 personnel, with an actual sworn strength of 97 and a deployable strength of about 90 after accounting for academy, field training and military leave. The department hired 10 officers in 2024 and recorded nine separations (five resignations and four retirements).

New and ongoing initiatives highlighted in the presentation include:
- A scribe-and-assessment response team (SART): a two-person team pairing a police officer with a licensed professional counselor. The team was approved in fall 2024 and began deployments in January 2025 to respond to incidents involving mental-health needs.
- An armored rescue vehicle (BearCat) delivered in May 2024 and used for high-risk search-warrant service, regional mutual-aid requests and other tasks that provide officer and public protection. The chief said the vehicle has been used for search warrants and regional support and described tactical and rescue capabilities such as a front winch and high-axle clearance for water rescues.
- A standalone patrol drone intended as an air asset for searches and for event monitoring in the village; the chief said the drone is meant for surveillance/patrol applications and is not integrated with other city mapping systems.
- Hot-spot policing and a harm-reduction initiative, developed with a patrol lieutenant, a crime analyst, a detective and input from Dr. Eric Pisa of Northeastern University, to assign a harm index to incidents and focus resources where harm is greatest.

Chief's remarks also addressed data trends: Group A crimes (more serious offenses reported in federal Group A) were down year-over-year, while Group B offenses such as disorderly conduct and OWI were up; fatal crashes and hit-and-run incidents were down; personal-injury crashes were slightly up; and retail thefts increased while motor-vehicle thefts declined.

The chief said the department had paused its direct ER contract with Froedtert (Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin) because of staffing constraints; that pause was mutually agreed and the department will seek further discussion with Froedtert about future arrangements.

Council action earlier in the meeting ratified a one-year extension to the Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association collective-bargaining agreement for 2025 (that collective-bargaining extension was part of the Government Affairs Committee items the council acted on). The chief said negotiated steps to retain personnel contributed to some officers indicating they intend to delay retirement.

On privacy and oversight: the chief said facial-recognition tools are used only as investigative leads and require human verification. When asked whether the city shares facial-recognition data with federal agencies, department officials said the city does not have a direct relationship for that purpose; the technology is contracted through a third party and internal audits are required for any use.

Why it matters: The department's initiatives reflect efforts to shift toward more data-driven and specialized responses for mental-health incidents and to retain personnel amid regional recruiting challenges.","The police chief reported staffing and workload figures, new programs including a scribe-and-assessment response team deployed in January 2025, a patrol drone, and the May 2024 delivery of an armored rescue vehicle (BearCat). The council previously ratified a one-year extension to the Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association contract.",{"_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},6537841,"Wauwatosa Public Library reports record circulation, expands \"library of things\" and outreach",700,2116000,2816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533&start=2116&end=2816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533/thumbnail_2116000.jpg","/articles/6537841/Wauwatosa-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Wauwatosa-Public-Library-reports-record-circulation-expands-library-of-things-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537841-fe909332a0d69f7967e3cff2b778a68d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776193167&Signature=Bq7mIw-KIdOGglvUKA1fYpceS8Wz6s-KOOyyRYAyUWJEnjbNHoLvKuRUlgd8~ApncXJD95XOUTYl5G01FQFujoqFjsW2luSW7ugkhX7DbDmrWoQn8boW~QtNjN-BcIZkdkiWUf2SE5cJb1Ir5KZvCOyohcBQCOFEaona0TgW4uqjzeAy6XZes99R8aNRk3jon9fl4fLHx52vwDvVS36YT2Y8zbIg6b6~lCbREmEOgJ7wSZfUEr1hPlhhm5YIl632fq~bATyFtODfuLV9RiEItemyLnYoebGslja8vE21J7C8KbTa6~NL-LsdVq9ZHNpCleBNctt8TL~YCEm4RXX7SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wauwatosa Public Library told the common council it recorded its highest circulation in 13 years and the fifth-highest total in the library's history during 2024, and it is expanding services and outreach.

Peter Loeffel, director of the Wauwatosa Public Library, said the library added about 250 new items to its \"library of things\" collection\u0000\u0000nontraditional items like tools, games, museum passes and STEM kits\u0000\u0000and is renovating an art-display area to accommodate the collection. Loeffel said the children's self-check station, moved into the children's library a few months earlier, handled more than 3,000 checkouts in its first full month, freeing up staff time at the main desk.

Loeffel provided circulation numbers: about 850,000 total checkouts in 2024 when digital platforms are included. He said the children's collection circulated about 397,000 physical items and about 14,000 digital items for roughly 410,000 children's checkouts; he told aldermen that total circulation ranks Wauwatosa fifth in the state and ahead of other suburban libraries in Milwaukee County.

Other service changes include adding study pods (the library foundation funded two more), installing a new automatic materials handler that speeds check-in for more than 700,000 physical items annually, and workforce-development programs that include monthly job coaching and an annual job fair in partnership with agencies such as Goodwill. Loeffel also described plans for intergenerational story times and outreach (for example, at Ronald McDonald House and Trinity Woods on the Mount Mary campus), new feedback systems for programming, and work on self-registration and automatic card renewal to reduce staff workload.

Loeffel said library and foundation leaders are prepared for a future capital campaign but are waiting for a defined project before launching broad fundraising; any campaign funds would be held by the library foundation and transferred to a city-held fund per a memorandum of understanding.

Why it matters: The library's circulation and program expansion show demand for public-library services and inform future planning, maintenance and possible renovation priorities.","Library director Peter Loeffel presented the annual report showing the library's highest circulation in 13 years, growth of a \"library of things,\" added study pods and new self-check in the children's library that logged more than 3,000 checkouts in its first full month.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537846,"Council OKs permit-fee waiver to incentivize solar; logo use agreement with Grow Solar program approved",155,1351000,1506000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533&start=1351&end=1506","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533/thumbnail_1351000.jpg","/articles/6537846/Wauwatosa-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Council-OKs-permit-fee-waiver-to-incentivize-solar-logo-use-agreement-with-Grow-Solar-program-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537846-3b7968205015763d3a0dc77e0c5296b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776193167&Signature=MNXThGAjTiIDZeLKoiVOFzs8qLodbuNf7Li86NTR7~KLqq53mEjA48yq7qB4kwiHzSRWNlp-tVzShjHvHt-lHer7EENT9kYubMwIHZ2tHKUhF0mmhXmA5CUzaQtvDrI86jWY~nZ666V5ji9ovxj5C8PyXtvCnU5n59lLXLX~85ni-LF8edgZQe5EgWqxW01ACZWaKAVAs51ZaYSl31v~DaTYfbf11BvzRgf11kkKeoJxkJqGWn2czAWoTFlKQdRoYr9KoymFwkvnKIdrG2nfndwXSoLpEHaPmWD-EM3~9a-sbq7r~3Oyl~3Muf3Q6JodQ9F6D0CmnWiz7Ilr5eLPrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Wauwatosa Common Council approved two Community Affairs Committee items to promote residential and commercial solar installation: a new annual permit-fee waiver program and an agreement letting Grow Solar Milwaukee Waukesha use the City of Wauwatosa logo for its 2025 group purchasing program.

Alder Lowe moved approval of both items; Alder Franzen seconded. Alder Morgan asked for a separate vote on the fee-waiver resolution, saying the city should be cautious about waiving a revenue source while budget pressures remain. \"It just kind of seems that [waiving fees is] not the best message to send be waiving fees at a time when we're facing tough fiscal issues,\" Morgan said. He said he might support a tiered approach that favors smaller residential properties but opposed the blanket waiver as presented.

The permit-fee waiver passed 12-2; aldermen Mindel and Morgan voted no. The separate agreement allowing Grow Solar Milwaukee Waukesha to use the city logo for promotion of a 2025 solar group-buy program passed unanimously; Alder Mindel asked staff to provide yearly return-on-investment data for the program and noted the city has a sustainability coordinator who can help compile results.

What the resolutions do: The first resolution establishes an annual permit-fee waiver program to incentivize solar-panel installations on residential and commercial buildings. The second authorizes use of the City of Wauwatosa logo by Grow Solar Milwaukee Waukesha for its 2025 group purchasing program. Committee recommendation on both items was 6-0.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with implementation of the fee-waiver program and the logo agreement; Alder Mindel requested periodic reporting on program ROI and staff said the sustainability coordinator could provide data.","The common council approved a residential and commercial solar permit-fee waiver and a separate agreement allowing use of the city logo with Grow Solar Milwaukee Waukesha. The fee-waiver resolution passed 12-2 after a split vote over fiscal messaging; the logo agreement passed unanimously.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537850,"Wauwatosa council approves Jennifer Tate as city attorney after debate over confirmation process",592,643000,1235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533&start=643&end=1235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426522-e70a555014a45183672c02d7386f0533/thumbnail_643000.jpg","/articles/6537850/Wauwatosa-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Wauwatosa-council-approves-Jennifer-Tate-as-city-attorney-after-debate-over-confirmation-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537850-3618db15abaee1a6faf34615cd833024/orig.mp4?Expires=1776193167&Signature=QFqCbQCcv4UyjTcQtIvHxG4990gDcFkawmV8YRsBES28YzUHJ5BRgeyIakJ2HIcFgh~pq0QgPeZmG3CI4R8nfFlc1PJYvI8Qfd0XZg1zGc0LDvO5miGwdYRp1HJnh89~nXkftwbFOeoMcc34Jfp9tBuNj6bM-IGG9C18rIc4IOGhCCDkhu2L7BAUekNEM-ybdo95W~Qn0m77VeVVYOdVHPTkiOajnO3ORB0YGszmfAOzAVwZoIzobRmSM~lEg7EWp0e3e9DEpc3Ws0G0xPPf~FdZdJupm25eIkApFXf94Xy7qMEN5zWzjOQKFGE0VhjvPgWmVDRb0~O6ICi7DvWieg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Wauwatosa Common Council approved the mayor\u0000\u0000's appointment of Jennifer Tate to the position of city attorney effective June 9, 2025.

The vote followed objections from several aldermen about the speed and structure of the hiring process. Alder Meindl said he would vote no, arguing the council\u0000\u0000must be allowed meaningful time and opportunity to question finalists and exercise oversight. \"For that vote to mean anything, we must be able to ask questions of various individuals and assess whether the recommendation aligns with the city and residents' needs,\" Meindl said.

Mayor (name not specified) defended the timeline, saying the vacancy created when Attorney Kessner announced his retirement left a short window to finalize a hire. The mayor said the HR department ran a four-week application period, interview panels met quickly, and the city administrator and mayor conducted final-round interviews at the earliest possible date; the candidate then needed time to negotiate terms and notify her employer. \"Monday was as early as we could have done it,\" the mayor said.

Alder Foley said he was concerned about the short notice\u0000\u0000he said aldermen were notified \"approximately noon yesterday\"\u0000\u0000but after additional checking, he planned to vote yes because the candidate appeared to be a good fit. Alder Morgan, Alder Dolan and others voiced support for the candidate and thanked outgoing Attorney Kessner for his years of service.

The motion to confirm Tate was moved as part of the mayor's slate of appointments by Alderman Wilkie and seconded by Alder Dolan. On roll call the council recorded 12 yes votes, 1 no (Alder Meindl) and 1 present (Alder McLough). The clerk announced: \"That passes on a 12 to 1 to 1 vote.\" The council recorded the effective date given on the agenda: June 9, 2025.

Why it matters: The city attorney advises the mayor, the common council and city departments on legal matters. Several aldermen framed their objections as concerns about process and legislative oversight rather than the qualifications of the candidate.

What council members said: Alder Meindl said the council\u0000\u0000by statute and city ordinance\u0000\u0000has a duty to examine recommendations and that confirmations should not be perfunctory. \"If the executive branch no longer sees value in the council's role in confirmations, then let's be transparent about it,\" he said. The mayor said the short timeline was unavoidable after the retirement announcement and argued leaving the office vacant longer would not serve the city.

Next steps: Tate's appointment takes effect June 9, 2025, as stated on the agenda. Alder Meindl said he intends to continue pressing for procedural changes to the confirmation process if no reform is pursued by the administration.","The City of Wauwatosa Common Council approved Mayor\u0000\u0000's appointment of Jennifer Tate as city attorney effective June 9, 2025, after aldermen raised concerns about the speed and transparency of the hiring and confirmation process. The measure passed 12-1-1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Wauwatosa council approves minutes, appointments, zoning permits, events and multiple committee resolutions

Wauwatosa police report: staffing gaps, new response teams, drone and armored rescue vehicle among 2024-25 initiatives

Wauwatosa Public Library reports record circulation, expands "library of things" and outreach

Council OKs permit-fee waiver to incentivize solar; logo use agreement with Grow Solar program approved

Wauwatosa council approves Jennifer Tate as city attorney after debate over confirmation process