BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular MeetingMilwaukee, WI · November 16, 2020
Minutes
200 E. Wells Street
City of Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202
Meeting Minutes
BRONZEVILLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
LASHAWNDRA VERNON, CHAIR
Deshea Agee, Vice-Chair
Theresa Garrison, Anthony Smith, Baboonie Tatum, and
Rayhainio Boynes
Staff Assistant, Chris Lee, 286-2232, Fax: 286-3456,
clee@milwaukee.gov
Legislative Liaison, Tea Norfolk, 286-8012,
tea.norfolk@milwaukee.gov
Monday, November 16, 2020 9:00 AM Virtual Meeting
This will be a virtual meeting conducted via GoToMeeting. Should you wish to join this
meeting from your phone, tablet, or computer you may go to
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/860169165. You can also dial in using your phone United
States: +1 (872) 240-3412 and Access Code: 860-169-165.
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 9:11 a.m.
2. Roll call.
Present 5 - Vernon, Agee, Smith, Tatum, Boynes
Excused 1 - Garrison
Also present:
Kenneth Little, DCD Commercial Corridor
Amy Turim, DCD Real Estate
Ald. Milele Coggs, 6th Ald. Dist.
3. Review and approval of the previous meeting minutes from October 19, 2020.
The meeting minutes from October 19, 2020 were approved without objection.
4. Update on committee membership.
Mr. Lee said Terence Acquah had recently left his post in the City, resigned from the
committee, is no longer a member, and that no new appointment in his place has been
made yet.
Members spoke highly of Mr. Acquah for his DCD liaison role to the committee, being
a resource, providing grant information, his overall efforts, and his involvement with the
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Bronzeville Collective and entrepreneur summit.
Chair Vernon said that members could assist with finding a replacement for Mr.
Acquah's post in the City.
Mr. Little said that Mr. Acquah's departure was a big loss, his office is experiencing
some short staffing issues, he will stay connected to the committee in the interim, and
application information for Mr. Acquah's position in the City will be forwarded to
members.
5. Bronzeville RFPs, listings, projects, programs, initiatives, events, grants, activities, or
updates.
A. DCD Commercial Corridor grants
Mr. Little said that his office continues to work with the 3 grant applicants mentioned at
the last meeting and that there were no new grant updates.
B. Other
Ms. Turim said that there would be a possible presentation to bring to the committee
in the near future regarding a project near Bronzeville.
6. Presentation from the Office of Small Business Development on RPP and SBE.
Appearing:
Nikki Purvis, Office of Small Business Development
Angelique Pettigrew, Office of Small Business Development
Ms. Purvis and Pettigrew gave an overview of OSBD, SBE, RPP, policy, monitoring
and compliance, active projects, and things on the horizon.
Her office currently administers the City's Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and
Resident Preference Participation (RPP) programs and requirements. SBE and RPP
are governed by Ch. 355 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances. Private developers
who receive $1M or more in city financial assistance are required to award 25%
construction and 18% professional service contracts to SBE firms as well as to utilize
unemployed or underemployed city residents for at least 40% of the total worker hours
for construction of the project under RPP requirements.
OBSD monitoring and compliance essential functions includes: Administration: Monitor
contract compliance for city-funded development projects to ensure requirements are
met for Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program, Residence Preference Program
(RPP), First-Source Employment Program and Apprentices; Technical Assistance:
Respond to inquiries or complaints from external and internal stakeholders pertaining
to participation utilization, compliance matters, certified payroll systems, and RPP
worker verification; and Compliance Auditing: Verify quarterly/final project reports to
ensure data is in alignment with certified payroll system and payment certification for
amount subject to inclusion.
Active projects include 37th Street School, The Avenue, Grand Theater (MSO) –
Public Infrastructure, Ikon, Komatsu, Phillis Wheatley, Reed Street Yards – RACM,
River – RACM, and Villard Commons. Information on current SBE and RPP
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percentages for these projects are available, varies, and will be posted online for
access. Some projects are just beginning and their percentages are low but will
increase as time develops. There is periodic reporting to the Common Council on
these projects and their percentages.
On the horizon, OSBD will transition into the Office of Equity and Inclusion. SBE and
RPP will continue to be mainstays. New in the office will be the advancement of equal
rights, racial equity, and inclusion within the City.
Members inquired about the SBE and RPP benchmarks of Bronzeville projects, how
the community can get registered to receive technical assistance and opportunities
related to small business contracting, Ms. Purvis' new role, and further elaboration on
the new Office of Equity and Inclusion.
Ms. Purvis replied. Bronzeville projects in the past have met their percentages such
as the Griot, and percentages for future projects, such as MSOE, will be shared.
Those interested in the SBE and RPP programs should be referred to her office by
phone, email, or via their website. They have information sessions, work with
departments on contract opportunities, send out information via the City's e-notification
system, send information directly to a list of partners, and can add the advisory
committee to that list. The SBE process is a 90-day application process and requires
firms to meet 51% of disadvantaged criteria. She will head the new office. The new
office was a product of adhering to the Government Alliance on Race and Equity
(GARE), GARE city equity plan, and GARE tools. All City departments would be
looked at to follow race and equity plans. The new office would look at best practices,
have audits of programs, advocate equitable employment and promotions, look at
barriers, have outreach and community engagement, have anti-racism training, be both
proactive and responsive, and do a disparity study in City contracting for minority
businesses. Real changes take time and efforts would be long term processes.
Ald. Coggs commented. The new office was an initiative of the mayor, the City's 2021
budget, part of the social justice movement, and was advocated by her and other
alders. Equity would be at the forefront of the new office. Goals would include
requiring City departments to consider equity in their processes and be more
intentional about City resources and the allocation of those resources to improve
outcomes and equity.
7. Review of CCFN 100626, Resolution creating a Bronzeville Advisory Committee.
A. Committee membership structure, process, and authority
B. Committee roles and responsibilities
C. Other
Chair Vernon said that the committee should review the original legislation creating the
committee, review past committee recommendations, and discuss making further
recommendations.
Members said that they supported all committee recommendations made thus far
especially on expanding the boundaries of the district under the purview of the
committee to reflect the Bronzeville Tax Incremental District boundaries; utilizing two
neighborhood ambassadors from the City’s Transitional Jobs Program or other
summer employment programs to be placed in Bronzeville for maintaining streetscape
and landscape, addressing aesthetic issues such as graffiti, and giving information to
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residents; and adding an emerging creative or artistic high school student youth as a
member to the advisory board.
Ald. Coggs commented. She has two legislative files opened, one on expanding the
district boundaries and the second on making changes to the committee. She is
aware of the committee recommendations but has had the challenge to adequately
translate those recommendations to written legislative form accordingly. Her intention
is to legislate the committee to be more reflective of reality since the committee has
reviewed RFPs outside of the district boundaries. The advisory committee was
originally created to offer a different, community perspective on City redevelopment
RFPs and projects that could not be achieved by the City itself. The committee was
to offer a community buffer and advocate culture, soul, and spirit on projects.
Chair Vernon commended Ms. Turim and her DCD team on their participation,
assistance, and changes made over the years in response to the advisory committee.
Ald. Coggs said that she will send the committee's recommendations to the City's
Legislative Reference Bureau staff to produce written legislative drafts, that further
recommendations are to be sent to her no later than December 11, 2020, and that the
legislative drafts would be forwarded in advance to the committee of its review at its
next meeting.
8. Review and approval of 2021 meeting schedule.
Members approved the proposed 2021 committee meeting schedule with a change to
the first meeting as follows:
Monday, January 25, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Monday, March 15, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Monday, May 17, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Monday, July 19, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Monday, September 20, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Monday, November 15, 2021 at 9 a.m.
9. Next steps.
A. Agenda items
DCD Commercial Corridor grants, review of legislative drafts to amend CCFN 100626,
and potentially a DCD real estate project item.
B. Meeting date(s) and time(s).
2021 meeting dates and times referenced under item 8. Next meeting is Monday,
January 25, 2021 at 9 a.m.
10. Announcements.
Ald. Coggs announced a Virtual & Drive - Up Housing Resource Fair featuring key
agencies, workshops on Saturday, November 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the
Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th St., with live Q&A and free turkey
giveaways.
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Vice-Chair Agee announced he will be possibly performing at MPAC and embracing
his artistic talents, something that he has done but sparingly.
Chair Vernon announced that her organization, Artists Working in Education (AWE),
won the Nonprofit Excellence Award; her organization had done some youth
programming with the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC); she would be making a
future announcement as more things become official; and shared a link
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVnNbvrtWyg) about a AWE virtual annual
fundraiser and Burnham Park Neighborhood resident led murals.
Member Smith announced a MPAC ArtsConnect Virtual Learning Program and classes
giving various virtual free lessons via Zoom on professional performing arts for high
school students with two remaining classes for 2020 and 2021 classes to feature
Broadway artists; MPAC's 37th year Martin L. King Jr. Day celebration on Sunday,
January 17, 2021 to feature a proposed mural, in lieu of local newspaper
advertisement, on King's Hall building to promote the event with art from a student
contest; and MPAC had worked with AWE to have over 50,000 people to participate
virtually in a Kid's Day in the City program.
11. Adjournment.
Meeting adjourned at 10:54 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
LASHAWNDRA VERNON, CHAIR
Deshea Agee, Vice-Chair
Theresa Garrison, Anthony Smith, Baboonie Tatum, and
Rayhainio Boynes
Staff Assistant, Chris Lee, 286-2232, Fax: 286-3456,
clee@milwaukee.gov
Legislative Liaison, Tea Norfolk, 286-8012,
tea.norfolk@milwaukee.gov
Monday, November 16, 2020 9:00 AM Virtual Meeting
This will be a virtual meeting conducted via GoToMeeting. Should you wish to join this meeting
from your phone, tablet, or computer you may go to https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/860169165.
You can also dial in using your phone United States: +1 (872) 240-3412 and Access Code:
860-169-165.
1. Call to order.
2. Roll call.
3. Review and approval of the previous meeting minutes from October 19, 2020.
4. Update on committee membership.
5. Bronzeville RFPs, listings, projects, programs, initiatives, events, grants, activities, or
updates.
A. DCD Commercial Corridor grants
B. Other
6. Presentation from the Office of Small Business Development on RPP and SBE.
7. Review of CCFN 100626, Resolution creating a Bronzeville Advisory Committee.
A. Committee membership structure, process, and authority
B. Committee roles and responsibilities
C. Other
8. Review and approval of 2021 meeting schedule.
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9. Next steps.
A. Agenda items
B. Meeting date(s) and time(s).
10. Announcements.
11. Adjournment.
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