BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular MeetingMilwaukee, WI · July 18, 2018
Minutes
200 E. Wells Street
City of Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202
Meeting Minutes
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CLIFTON CRUMP, CHAIR
Vacant, Vice-Chair
Eve Hall, LaShawndra Vernon, Rayhainio Boynes, Rhonda
Manuel, and Theresa Garrison
Staff Assistant, Chris Lee, 286-2232, Fax: 286-3456,
clee@milwaukee.gov
Legislative Liaison, Tea Norfolk, 286-8012,
tea.norfolk@milwaukee.gov
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 9:00 AM Room 301-A, Third Floor, City Hall
1. Call to order.
Meeting called to order at 9:10 a.m.
2. Roll call.
Member Hall joined the committee at 9:30 a.m. during item 5.
Present 5 - Manuel, Crump, Garrison, Hall and Boynes
Absent 1 - Vernon
3. Review and approval of the previous meeting minutes from May 31, 2018.
Member Manuel moved approval, seconded by member Garrison, of the meeting
minutes from May 31, 2018. There was no objection.
4. Bronzeville RFPs, listings, projects, programs, initiatives, events, activities, or updates.
a. Review of North Ave. and 7th St. billboard site RFP
Individuals appearing:
Amy Turim, Dept. of City Development Real Estate
Matt Haessly, Dept. of City Development Real Estate
Ms. Turim gave an overview. The committee should review the draft RFP before them
for a redevelopment opportunity at 7th Street, Highway I-43, and North Avenue. The
Redevelopment Authority for the City of Milwaukee (RACM) owns the northern parcel
(2237-2243 N. 7th St.) and southern parcel (2225 N. 7th St.) but does not own the
small central strip parcel (2233 N. 7th St.). That strip is owned by PMG Holdings, Inc.
with a billboard on it that is operated by Clear Channel. Clear Channel is interested to
apply for a variance to have its billboard changed to become digital. The RFP draft
outlines two options. Option A entails development around the billboard site and does
not include development of the billboard property. Option B includes the billboard
City of Milwaukee Page 1
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY Meeting Minutes July 18, 2018
COMMITTEE
property, negotiation with PMG on incorporating a billboard into the proposed
development, and possible relocation of the billboard within the site or making it a
feature. Clear Channel is open to moving the billboard within the site, including the
edge, but had rejected a move to a neighboring site to the north of North Avenue. The
pricing is the same for either option. The site is a gateway to Bronzeville. For option
A, there would be concerns on how the billboard would affect a proposed development
around it and how a proposed development would obstruct the billboard’s view. These
issues would have to be resolved on the front end.
Mr. Haessly commented. Staff had met with Ald. Milele Coggs and DCD Planning to
establish goals, obligations, acceptable uses, and restricted uses as contained in the
draft RFP. Acceptable uses include a boutique hotel, conference center with banquet
hall and/or catering component, mixed-use development with first floor retail, theater
with open plaza, or uses that contribute to or exemplify the Bronzeville Cultural and
Entertainment District. The draft RFP was shared with Clear Channel, who is in
agreement.
Members inquired about residential housing use preferences for Ald. Coggs, housing
unit pricing, the variance being sought, the RFP submittal deadline, an extension for
submittals, purchasing the billboard property, installing a billboard on top of a
development, and property rights for the billboard site.
Ms. Turim replied. Ald. Coggs had expressed interest for mixed-use residential use
with first floor commercial use and not for apartment buildings. The submittal timeline
is tight, but was set as such to be considerate of Clear Channel’s interest to convert
its billboard. Staff is open to an extension if appropriate to Clear Channel.
Member Manuel added that the pricing of housing units would be considered at the
time of proposal submittals.
Mr. Haessly replied. August 23, 2018 is the submittal deadline date.
Mike D’Amato, Clear Channel representative, appeared and commented. The variance
being sought is for a dimensional variance to convert the billboard to digital and
increase the billboard’s height 20 feet higher from its current 35 feet height. Moving
the billboard would not be a problem so as long as height is not a problem. If
relocated to be closer to the bordering bridges, then the billboard would have to be
significantly taller to clear the sight line. If there are no submittals by the deadline, the
desire is to pursue the variance. Clear Channel does not desire to sell its property and
wants to keep it. Putting a billboard on top of a development is possible if clearance
can be obtained for increased height.
Chair Crump commented. Billboards come with tremendous property rights and are
grandfathered. The billboard board site is zoned for Local Business and is not zoned
for Residential; therefore, a property can be developed there differently from one in a
residential site. The draft RFP is appropriate due to allowing flexibility for a
development with cooperation from PMG and Clear Channel.
Member Manuel moved to approve the draft RFP, as proposed. Seconded by member
Garrison. There was no objection.
b. Historic King Drive BID Main Street Program update
City of Milwaukee Page 2
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY Meeting Minutes July 18, 2018
COMMITTEE
This item was held.
c. Other
There was no other discussion.
5. Discussion on increasing awareness and exposure relative to Bronzeville events, activities,
and projects by the City.
Chair Crump commented. The committee, members, and the City should do all that
they can to promote Bronzeville events, activities, and projects. An example would be
to promote the Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and its upcoming play productions. Some
upcoming plays include “The Black Nativity” and other higher themed ones. He was
interested to have this discussion after seeing an inadequate amount of attendees at a
Bronzeville Arts Ensemble play “Flying West”. Tools for promotion should include
utilizing the E-Notification system. E-Notification can also be used, when needed, to
promote and inform about the meetings of the advisory committee. Members should
engage in distributing to their networks physical or electronic promotional materials
regarding upcoming ensemble productions and other events. He or other members
can participate in other committee meetings, such as the Black Male Advisory
Committee and the Youth Council, to share upcoming events.
Member Hall joined the committee at 9:30 a.m.
Member Hall commented. The committee should be a partner to the Bronzeville Arts
Ensemble. The Milwaukee Urban League plans to do a series of presentations
involving the ensemble and depicting the Bronzeville community during its past
lucrative days.
Member Boynes commented. Strategic marketing, instead of broad marketing, to
targeted communities for particular events or activities should be done. Youth and
teens should be utilized and empowered to attract their age demographic.
Member Manuel commented. Perhaps a working group, which can communicate
electronically to one another, should be formed to coordinate different partnerships and
networks. The Bronzeville website is being reorganized in partnership with the City
Clerk’s Office. Social media should be utilized. For projects that come to DCD, she
makes sure that those projects are included in DCD’s budget. Also, she tries to
allocate matching TID money.
Chair Crump said to keep this item as an ongoing agenda item going forward as
additional ideas may surface.
6. Announcements.
Member Hall made announcements. There was a successful Urban League Black and
White Ball. Next year’s event will be June 8, 2019. Upcoming Urban League activities
will highlight Urban League historical contributions, African American leadership, and
community collaboration. There will be a community leadership meeting on October
13, 2018 with the national Urban League president attending. There will be a brown
bag lunch tomorrow with discussion on bridging job connections.
Chair Crump announced that the Fire and Police Commission is hiring for 9-1-1
City of Milwaukee Page 3
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY Meeting Minutes July 18, 2018
COMMITTEE
operators at a minimum of $43,000 and then $46,000 after six months. Qualifications
include a minimum of a G.E.D. or high school diploma and two years of experience in a
call center or with phone calls. The job posting is available at www.milwaukee.gov/fpc.
Ald. Milele Coggs, 6th Ald. Dist., appeared and made the following announcements:
Bronzeville Week will start on Sunday, August 5th with the festival. The schedule is
being finalized. More information will be forthcoming. The bulk of the activities during
the week are similar to previous years. The last day is on Saturday, August 11th with
an art walk. A new event will be a street renaming event for Vel Phillips on Tuesday,
August 7th at 4th Street and North Avenue outside the holocaust museum. The event
will be further finalized. Promotional materials will be forthcoming to members to
share with their networks.
Legislation to extend the boundaries of the Bronzeville redevelopment plan is moving
forward and will require Common Council approval. DCD will require two to three
months to complete the legally required mailing notification to affected property
owners. The requested new boundaries are from 7th Street to MLK Drive and Walnut
Street to Burleigh Street. The northeast portion of the plan will be asked to be more
robust and reflective of the present changes and future expectations.
There are still legislative plans to expand the role and responsibilities of the advisory
committee.
More RFPs are expected to come before the advisory committee for review over the
next few months in an effort to build upon the synergy from the Griot and America’s
Black Holocaust Museum development.
Summer job fairs are being held in areas of challenge within the City for the people
who need it the most. The job fairs serve to target residents of those areas in an
outdoor block party atmosphere. There were recent outdoor job fairs at 6th Street and
Meinecke Avenue and at Palmer Street and Chambers Street. A third fair may occur
at 35th Street and Capitol Drive during Hip Hop Week.
There is a Direct Connect MKE social media job app that is youth centered. She
wants to do an app launch party in August to energize young people to use the app to
connect to jobs.
A lunch and learn workshop series was created with the Dept. of Neighborhood
Services. They are catered to further assist ACRE students and developers. The
workshops are open free to the public, offers further information and insight about City
development processes and requirements, and are occurring now until October. The
hope is that these workshops would help spark development in communities, like
Bronzeville, by community residents, who typically show the most interest to develop
those communities.
Chair Crump said that the redevelopment plan should require a periodic cursory review
to ensure that the plan still reflects the area as time goes on.
Member Hall said that the Urban League would like to assist and be a partner with the
app launch.
Member Boynes announced that there are efforts to bring back former Milwaukee
City of Milwaukee Page 4
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY Meeting Minutes July 18, 2018
COMMITTEE
Bucks player, Larry Sanders, to speak during Hip Hop week about mental illness and
his past experiences.
Arlisia McHenry, City Clerk’s Office, appeared and said that she is coordinating Hip
Hop Week. She should be contacted about coordinating activities for that event,
including bringing in Larry Sanders.
7. Next meeting date and time.
8. Agenda items for the next meeting.
Agenda items to include discussion on increasing awareness for Bronzeville activities
and an update on the Main Street Program.
Mr. Lee said that another agenda item should be the selection of a new vice chair due
to vice-chair Perceptions’ upcoming resignation, as notified previously, from the
committee after Bronzeville Week.
9. Adjournment.
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
Chris Lee, Staff Assistant
Council Records Section
City Clerk's Office
City of Milwaukee Page 5
Agenda
200 E. Wells Street
City of Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202
Meeting Agenda
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CLIFTON CRUMP, CHAIR
Christopher Perceptions, Vice-Chair
Eve Hall, LaShawndra Vernon, Rayhainio Boynes, Rhonda
Manuel, and Theresa Garrison
Staff Assistant, Chris Lee, 286-2232, Fax: 286-3456,
clee@milwaukee.gov
Legislative Liaison, Tea Norfolk, 286-8012,
tea.norfolk@milwaukee.gov
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 9:00 AM Room 301-A, Third Floor, City Hall
1. Call to order.
2. Roll call.
3. Review and approval of the previous meeting minutes from May 31, 2018.
4. Bronzeville RFPs, listings, projects, programs, initiatives, events, activities, or updates.
a. Review of North Ave. and 7th St. billboard site RFP
b. Historic King Drive BID Main Street Program update
c. Other
5. Discussion on increasing awareness and exposure relative to Bronzeville events, activities,
and projects by the City.
6. Announcements.
7. Next meeting date and time.
a. No meeting in August
b. Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 9 a.m.
8. Agenda items for the next meeting.
9. Adjournment.
City of Milwaukee Page 1 Printed on 7/11/2018
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY Meeting Agenda July 18, 2018
COMMITTEE
In the event that Common Council members who are not members of this committee attend this
meeting, this meeting may also simultaneously constitute a meeting of the Common Council or any
of the following committees: Community and Economic Development, Finance and Personnel,
Judiciary and Legislation, Licenses, Public Safety, Public Works, Zoning, Neighborhoods &
Development, and/or Steering and Rules. Whether a simultaneous meeting is occurring depends on
whether the presence of one or more of the Common Council member results in a quorum of the
Common Council or any of the above committees, and, if there is a quorum of another committee,
whether any agenda items listed above involve matters within that committee’s realm of authority.
In the event that a simultaneous meeting is occurring, no action other than information gathering will
be taken at the simultaneous meeting.
Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities
through sign language interpreters or auxiliary aids. For additional information or to request this
service, contact the City Clerk's Office ADA Coordinator at 286-2998, (FAX)286-3456,
(TDD)286-2025 or by writing to the Coordinator at Room 205, City Hall, 200 E. Wells Street,
Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Limited parking for persons attending meetings in City Hall is available at reduced rates (5 hour
limit) at the Milwaukee Center on the southwest corner of East Kilbourn and North Water Street.
Parking tickets must be validated in the first floor Information Booth in City Hall.
Persons engaged in lobbying as defined in s. 305-43-4 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances are
required to register with the City Clerk's Office License Division. Registered lobbyists appearing
before a Common Council committee are required to identify themselves as such. More information
is available at http://city.milwaukee.gov/Lobbying.
City of Milwaukee Page 2 Printed on 7/11/2018