Wisconsin Record
Waukesha
DM

Dale Matthews

Alderperson District 122025-04-02 to 2028-04-30 (start 2025-04-02 per Legistar OfficeRecord; end 2028-04-30 per Legistar OfficeRecord)

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Apr 30, 2028.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
15
Total speaking time
25:58
Avg per meeting
1:44
Segments
499

Want every word Matthews has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Matthews said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

critical↑Jul 2026[57]

2027 operating budget review begins

This is where next year's property tax-backed spending and city service levels get decided — the full dollar impact wasn't broken out at this session.

medium↑Jan 2026[33]

Historic district exterior repairs and grant funding

Only $3,222.50 remains of the $25,000 2026 grant fund; awards were cut to roughly a third of guideline amounts.

medium↑Oct 2026[20]

WEDC Small Business Development Grant application

Costs for glass and hinge work were shared between the tenant and the building owner.

high→Aug 2026[20]

Raised bike and pedestrian bridges

City share of design is about $279,200; construction could cost $18-19 million total.

low→Aug 2026[20]

City Hall monument sign rehabilitation

Cost covered by the city's insurance rather than the general budget.

high↓Sep 2026[19]

Multi-family development on School District land near Oakdale Drive

The site is currently tax-exempt school district land, so any development would add it to the tax rolls — the developer touts a roughly $60 million investment, though no tax impact estimates exist yet.

high↓May 2026[19]

Neighborhood traffic and safety referrals

Sign and study costs not stated.

high↓Apr 2026[19]

Zoning Code Rewrite

No direct cost to taxpayers, but the rules shape future development across the city.

medium↑Jul 2026[19]

Sale of city-owned Big Bend Road property

Selling the parcel could return land to the tax roll or generate revenue for the city.

medium↑Jun 2026[17]

Prairie Home Cemetery operations and services

Levy support is $88,661, unchanged for over a decade; costs covered largely by sales and services.

high↓Jul 2026[17]

2027-2031 Community Investment Program

The plan shapes future utility infrastructure spending that eventually factors into water rates.

medium↓Jul 2026[16]

E-bikes and e-cycles damaging parks and streets

Repairing torn-up diamonds costs park staff time and money; no dollar figure given.

medium↓May 2026[16]

Employee PTO, holiday, and retiree insurance policy changes

Vacation leave policies affect the library's personnel costs, though specific figures weren't discussed.

medium↑Sep 2026[15]

Multi-family development at Elkhart Drive terminus

No cost or tax-base figures are available at this conceptual stage.

medium↓Aug 2026[15]

Snow and ice removal ordinance update

Higher fines ($50 plus admin fees) for repeat sidewalk non-clearance.

medium↑Sep 2026[15]

General Manager leadership transition

GM and operations position labor is included in the 2027 budget, contributing to a 16% compensation increase (4.7% adjusted for vacancies).

medium↑Sep 2026[15]

TIF assistance for Les Paul Parkway housing development

Housing shortages raise costs for both renters and homeowners, per the city's housing study.

medium↓Apr 2026[15]

Library Facility Investments

The rejected bids exceeded the budgeted amount; a lower-cost restoration kit is being pursued.

high↑May 2026[14]

2027 water rate increase

A pause could delay higher water bills for customers pending the Milwaukee rate outcome.

high↑May 2026[14]

S.J. Louis Construction v. City of Waukesha litigation

Attorney fees for the lawsuit are budgeted in the 2027 outside services account of about $311,000.

Decisions during term (560)

Recorded while Matthews was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

Voting record (123)

101 yes10 no12 abstained

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Approval of September 15, 2026 meeting minutes

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Police range facility use contract with Waukesha County Sheriff's Department

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution authorizing WEDC Small Business Development Grant application

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Club 400 extension of premises for 10/10/26

Voted noOct 6, 2026

Invited bartender application — Ashley Rodriguez

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Motion to enter closed session — Big Bend Road property sale

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Reconvene in open session

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Direction to staff to pursue offers for Big Bend Road property

AbstainedSep 29, 2026

amend this item to have a maximum charge of $250

AbstainedSep 29, 2026

this item be approved

AbstainedSep 29, 2026

this item be approved

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Approval of Minutes 8-20-26 Meeting Minutes

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

A motion may thereafter be made to reconvene in open session pursuant to Wis. Stat. §19.85(2) whereupon action may be taken on matters discussed in closed session.

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Motion to re-appoint Cortney Nagel as Senior Manager and acting General Manager in the Interims General Manager absence.

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

A motion will be made to go into closed session pursuant to section 19.85(1)(d) of the Wisconsin Statutes to discuss strategy for crime detection and prevention of potential cyberattacks of the Water

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

A motion will be made to reconvene in open session pursuant to Wis. Stat .§19.85(2) for possible discussion and/or action on matters discussed in closed session.

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Approve Payments from the General Fund and the Improvement Fund August Voucher List

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

A motion will be made to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of the General Manager position ove

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Motion to enter closed session — cybersecurity discussion (ID#26-04313)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Motion to reconvene in open session (ID#26-04320)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Approval of August 20, 2026 meeting minutes (ID#26-04315)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Approve Payments from the General Fund and Improvement Fund (ID#26-04314)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Closed session on General Manager position (ID#25-02133)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Reconvene in open session (ID#25-02134)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Re-appointment of Cortney Nagel as Senior Manager and acting General Manager (ID#26-04327)

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Amendment to increase 2028 sidewalk replacement funding by $700,000

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

amend the five year plan to remove PRF #10, PRF #74, and PRF #26 and increase Sidewalk Replacement by $175,000

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Remove Frame Park baseball renovation; add $200,000 to sidewalks

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Remove three parks vehicles; transfer $175,000 to sidewalks

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Remove library self-vending lockers ($50,000)

Library is already open extensive hours; $50,000 serves few users.

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Reduce library staff bathroom project by $55,000

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Recommend 2027-2031 Community Investment Program to Council

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

amend the five year plan to remove the Library Self-Vending Lockers for $50,000

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

amend the five year plan to reduce the Library Administrative Area Staff Bathroom Update by $55,000

Voted noSep 1, 2026

approve the Disallowance of Claim for property damage for Renee Rossa

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Approval of minutes from August 18th meeting

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution Authorizing Issuance of Not to Exceed $20,735,000 GO Promissory Notes, Series 2026A

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Claim for property damage, Renee Rossa

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Plumbing Code Update (Sections 16.031, 19.12, 19.17)

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

that this item be approved

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

that this item be approved

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Resolution authorizing $20,735,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2026A

Voted yesAug 25, 2026

Crossing guard contract renewal

Voted noAug 18, 2026

Engineering consultant selection for RAISE grant bike and pedestrian bridges (ID#26-04087)

Believes spending $280,000 on design without secured construction funding is premature

Voted yesAug 4, 2026

Approval of July 21, 2026 meeting minutes

Voted yesAug 4, 2026

Surplus land declaration — Big Bend Road parcel

Voted yesAug 4, 2026

Sale of two unused Water Utility sites

Voted yesAug 4, 2026

Family Promise PUD rezoning — 600 Maple Avenue

Voted yesAug 4, 2026

Land use plan amendment — 223 S West Avenue Water Utility building

Voted yesAug 4, 2026

Rezoning — 223 S West Avenue Water Utility building to B-1