Common Council
Regular MeetingSouth Milwaukee, WI · November 4, 2025
Minutes
CITY OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 4, 2025
The regular meeting of the Common Council was called to order at 7:01 p.m. on November 4, 2025, by
Mayor Jim Shelenske in the Common Council Chambers at South Milwaukee City Hall, 2424 15th
Avenue, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On roll call, Ald. Michal Olechowski, Ald. Tim Backes, Ald. Lisa
Pieper, Ald. Peggy Clark, Ald. Brett Briesemeister, and Ald. Craig Maass were present. Ald. Joe
Bukowski and Ald. David Bartoshevich were excused.
The meeting was prefaced with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Under President of the Council, Briesemeister/Maass moved to adopt the following items in the consent
agenda: a) Approval of minutes from the October 21, 2025, Common Council meeting, b) Acceptance
of resignation letter by City Administrator/Economic Development Director Patrick Brever effective
January 30, 2026, c) Acceptance of resignation notice by Water Utility Temporary Office Assistant Julie
Rekowski, effective November 7, 2025, and d) Approval of successor Agent appointment to Shihai
Wang for the retail Class “B” beer and “Class C” wine licenses for Haiwang Inc., dba China Chef, 1224
Milwaukee Avenue. Motion carried 6-0.
Citizen comment period was opened at 7:03 p.m. and closed at 7:03 p.m.
Under Human Resources Committee, Briesemeister/Maass moved to adopt the recommended updates
to the Professional, Executive, and Confidential Employee Handbook, with an effective date of January
1, 2026. Motion carried 6-0.
Briesemeister/Maass moved to adopt the recommended updates to the General Employee Handbook,
with an effective date of January 1, 2026. Motion carried 6-0.
Briesemeister/Maass moved to direct the proper city officials to negotiate a contract with Innovative
Public Advisors for interim City Administrator services and to recommend a recruitment firm to manage
the hiring process to permanently fill the City Administrator role and to bring both contracts back to a
Common Council meeting for approval. Motion carried 6-0.
Under Public Works and Public Property Committee, Backes/Olechowski moved to approve a lease
agreement between the City of South Milwaukee and MARM Farm Education and Conservation Center
to utilize an area in the South Milwaukee City Hall northern parking area, beginning January 1, 2026.
Motion carried 6-0.
Under Miscellaneous Business – City Administrator, Briesemeister/Maass moved to direct the proper city
officials to explore the creation of a combined or contracted municipal court with the City of Cudahy.
Motion carried 6-0.
Under Miscellaneous Business – City Clerk, Briesemeister/Maass moved to approve the election process
of the Temporary Municipal Judge as presented by the City Clerk. Motion carried 6-0. After one round
of voting, Margaret (Megan) M. Zienkiewicz has been appointed as Temporary Municipal Judge for a
term ending April 30, 2026.
There being no further business to discuss, Backes/Olechowski moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:25
p.m. Motion carried 6-0.
APPROVED: 11-18-25
Agenda
Visit our website at smwi.org Common Council Chambers
2424 15th Avenue
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
(414) 762-2222
“Our mission is to deliver exceptional city services to ensure a high quality of life and enable growth.”
COMMON COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA – FINAL
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Call to Order / Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda Deletions
Citizen Comments and Suggestions
CONSENT AGENDA
a) Approval of minutes from the October 21, 2025, Common Council meeting.
b) Acceptance of resignation letter by City Administrator/Economic Development Director Patrick
Brever effective January 30, 2026.
c) Acceptance of resignation notice by Water Utility Temporary Office Assistant Julie Rekowski,
effective November 7, 2025.
d) Approval of successor Agent appointment to Shihai Wang for the retail Class “B” beer and “Class C”
wine licenses for Haiwang Inc., dba China Chef, 1224 Milwaukee Avenue.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL – Ald. Briesemeister
1) Motion to adopt items in the consent agenda.
Reports of Standing Committees
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE – Ald. Briesemeister
2) Discussion/possible motion to amend the Professional, Executive and Confidential Handbook.
3) Discussion/possible motion to amend the General Employee Handbook.
4) Discussion/possible motion to authorize the proper city officials to negotiate contracts to appoint an
interim City Administrator and manage the City Administrator recruitment process.
PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Ald. Backes
5) Discussion/possible motion regarding a lease agreement with MARM Farm Education and
Conversation Center, Inc. for use of the City Administration building north parking lot for the
placement of a self-contained urban growing unit.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS – City Clerk
6) Appointment of a Temporary Municipal Judge through April 30, 2026.
Council Agenda – November 4, 2025 1
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS – City Administrator
7) Discussion/possible motion regarding a potential consolidated or contracted municipal court with the
City of Cudahy.
Adjourn
JAMES SHELENSKE, Mayor
STEVEN A. BRAATZ, JR., City Clerk
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTE: Upon reasonable notice, a good faith effort will be made to accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through appropriate aids and services. Requests should be made as far in
advance as possible, preferably a minimum of 48 hours. For additional information contact the City Clerk’s office at 414-762-2222.
Council Agenda – November 4, 2025 2
Get email alerts for South Milwaukee
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.