Common Council Meeting — Minutes

Common Council MEETING MINUTES August 25, 2026 - 6:15 PM City Hall Council Chambers MINUTES 1. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes. The Privilege of the Floor session shall not exceed a total of thirty (30) minutes, unless extended by the Common Council. The Council President read the rules governing Privilege of the Floor and invited any members of the public wishing to speak to come forward. Several members of the public addressed the Common Council regarding Mayor Ament's recent posts on his personal Facebook account. The majority of speakers expressed concerns and opposition to the posts, while one individual spoke in support of the Mayor's right to freedom of speech. The public comments can be viewed in their entirety through the meeting video available on the City's CivicClerk portal. Privilege of the Floor was extended by 15 minutes to provide all individuals wishing to speak an opportunity to address the Common Council. 2. CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council President Harenda called the meeting to order at 7:21 PM and led the Pledge of Allegiance. The Council took a brief intermission. The meeting was resumed at 7:31 PM. 3. ROLL CALL; DECLARATION OF QUORUM; PUBLIC NOTICE City Clerk Rubina R. Medina conducted roll call as follows: Present: Alderpersons Hopkins, Gardner, Maxey, Harenda, Stribl, Horbinski, and Kroupa Excused: Mayor Ament Staff Present: City Attorney Mark Blum and City Clerk Rubina R. Medina. The City Clerk confirmed that a quorum was present and that the meeting had been properly noticed in accordance with Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. July 28, 2026, Common Council Meeting Minutes MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Alderperson Horbinski Second by: Alderperson Stribl VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 B. August 13, 2026, Common Council Meeting Minutes MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Alderperson Stribl Second by: Commissioner Gardner VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 5. REPORTS A. City Clerk None B. Council President None C. Mayor None 6. COMMUNICATIONS 7. PARKS, BUILDINGS & GROUNDS COMMISSION A. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council to approve a donation agreement between ABB, Inc. and the City of New Berlin for a butterfly garden, bench, and sign to be constructed at ProHealth Care Park at the location specified in the donation agreement. Suggested Motion: “I move to approve this item as outlined in the agenda packet and approved unanimously by the Parks, Buildings & Grounds Commission on August 10, 2026, subject to review and approval by the City Attorney.” MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Alderperson Kroupa Second by: Alderperson Horbinski VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 8. MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS A. Discussion and Possible Action to approve the Mayoral Appointments per the list as presented MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Alderperson Stribl Second by: Alderperson Kroupa VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 9. DEFERRED, REFERRED & TABLED ITEMS 10. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA, if any Removing Item 16A which was tabled at the Committee of the Whole. MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Alderperson Stribl Second by: Commissioner Gardner VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 11. CONSENT AGENDA------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Items under the Consent Agenda have passed unanimously by the Committee of the Whole. Items not passed by a unanimous vote will be removed from consent agenda and will be considered separately. 12. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council to adopt Resolution No. 2026-17, a Resolution Affirming the City of New Berlin's Commitment to Religious Freedom and the Community 13. MINUTES A. July 28, 2026, Committee of the Whole 14. UTILITY & FINANCE A. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council to approve the August 26, 2026, Water Utility claims in the amount of $19,997.23, Sewer Utility claims in the amount of $501,824.55, and General City claims in the amount of $640,481.20. Tax overpayment checks totaling $1,245.99 were also generated, along with a U.S. Bank VISA EFT in the amount of $27,029.90 and a We Energies EFT in the amount of $63,842.92. 15. LICENSES & PERMITS A. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council to approve the Extension of Premise for The Varsity Club, located at 12400 W. Beloit Road, for the Fall Fest event to be held in the establishment's parking lot on September 25th & 26th, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM, contingent upon the satisfaction of all City requirements 16. MISCELLANEOUS A. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council to approve the Badura donation agreement. B. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council to approve Resolution 2026-16, a Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $10,130,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2026A. C. Fire Department Update D. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Common Council to approve Resolution No. 2026-15, a Resolution of Eligibility for Exemption from the 2026 County Library Tax Levy for 2027 Purposes. E. Recommend to Common Council that a joint public hearing be set for October 5, 2026 at 6:01 p.m. to be held before the Plan Commission to amend the Future Land Use Map within the City’s Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 16 - Neighborhood “F” Urban Neighborhood South and Chapter 10 - Land Use) for the property located at 4675 S. Moorland Road (Tax Key #: 1240.987.001) from Urban Residential to Institutional and to rezone the property at 4675 S. Moorland Road (Tax Key #: 1240.987.001) from R-3 to I- 1. 17. END CONSENT AGENDA----------------------------------------------------------------------- 18. CLOSED SESSION A. The Common Council may convene into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted with respect to litigation or potential litigation in which the City is or is likely to become involved, specifically regarding: City Clerk Medina read the statutory basis for entering into closed session. A Roll Call Vote was taken: MOTION: Motion to Enter Closed Session 7:34 PM. VOTE: Motion by: Alderperson Maxey Second by: Alderperson Stribl Motion Passed 7-0 B. O'Connor Claim C. Velazquez Claim 19. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION MOTION: Motion to Return to open session 7:49 PM Motion by: Alderperson Maxey Second by: Alderperson Stribl VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 A. Discussion and possible action re: O'Connor Claim MOTION: Motion to Approve the O'Connor & Velazquez Claim as outlined by the City Attorney Motion by: Alderperson Maxey Second by: Alderperson Kroupa VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 B. Discussion and possible action re: Velazquez Claim 20. ADJOURN MOTION: Motion to Adjourn at 7:50 PM Motion by: Alderperson Stribl Second by: Alderperson Kroupa VOTE: Motion Passed 7-0 Respectfully Submitted, Rubina R. Medina, City Clerk