Rick Lemke
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 2
- Total speaking time
- 0:44
- Avg per meeting
- 0:22
- Segments
- 10
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Top issues during term (20)
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.
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.
WEDC Small Business Development Grant application
Costs for glass and hinge work were shared between the tenant and the building owner.
Raised bike and pedestrian bridges
City share of design is about $279,200; construction could cost $18-19 million total.
City Hall monument sign rehabilitation
Cost covered by the city's insurance rather than the general budget.
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.
Neighborhood traffic and safety referrals
Sign and study costs not stated.
Zoning Code Rewrite
No direct cost to taxpayers, but the rules shape future development across the city.
Sale of city-owned Big Bend Road property
Selling the parcel could return land to the tax roll or generate revenue for the city.
Prairie Home Cemetery operations and services
Levy support is $88,661, unchanged for over a decade; costs covered largely by sales and services.
2027-2031 Community Investment Program
The plan shapes future utility infrastructure spending that eventually factors into water rates.
E-bikes and e-cycles damaging parks and streets
Repairing torn-up diamonds costs park staff time and money; no dollar figure given.
Employee PTO, holiday, and retiree insurance policy changes
Vacation leave policies affect the library's personnel costs, though specific figures weren't discussed.
Multi-family development at Elkhart Drive terminus
No cost or tax-base figures are available at this conceptual stage.
Snow and ice removal ordinance update
Higher fines ($50 plus admin fees) for repeat sidewalk non-clearance.
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).
TIF assistance for Les Paul Parkway housing development
Housing shortages raise costs for both renters and homeowners, per the city's housing study.
Library Facility Investments
The rejected bids exceeded the budgeted amount; a lower-cost restoration kit is being pursued.
2027 water rate increase
A pause could delay higher water bills for customers pending the Milwaukee rate outcome.
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 Lemke was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of Minutes — September 23, 2026
Land Use Plan Amendment — 222 Maple Avenue
Rezoning Petition — Elkhart Drive (Pvt), Horizon Development Group
Minor Site Plan & Architectural Review — Winterberry Reserve Phase 2
Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture agreement
TIF term sheet for 84-unit development at Les Paul Parkway and Genesee Road
2027 executive operating budget recommendation
Approval of September meeting minutes
Change Order No. 1 — abandonment of Wells 5 and 6
Approval of general fund and improvement fund payments
Hire Two Men and a Truck for office move
Approval of October 13, 2026 meeting minutes
Approval of Minutes
Approval of September 29, 2026 minutes
Approval of September 17 minutes
Payment approvals (six invoices, two final)
Change order — North Moreland/Michigan Ave traffic signal project
Settlement agreement — Clean Water Plant sand filter #8
Change order #3 — JF Ahern, Clean Water Plant Phase 3
AECOM contract — raised bike/pedestrian bridge design
Voting record (129)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Approval of September 15, 2026 meeting minutes
Police range facility use contract with Waukesha County Sheriff's Department
Resolution authorizing WEDC Small Business Development Grant application
Club 400 extension of premises for 10/10/26
Invited bartender application — Ashley Rodriguez
The recency of the violations overrides her doing a good job.
Motion to enter closed session — Big Bend Road property sale
Reconvene in open session
Direction to staff to pursue offers for Big Bend Road property
amend this item to have a maximum charge of $250
this item be approved
this item be approved
Failed amendment to cap EMS charges at $250
EMS balance billing policy (ID#26-04332)
Resolution Setting 2027 Fees for Residential Garbage and Recyclables Collection Services (ID#26-04346)
Amendment to increase 2028 sidewalk replacement funding by $700,000
Adoption of 2027-2031 Community Investment Program
approve the 2027 CIP Budget of $40,669,107 and the 2027 to 2031 CIP Budget of $179,297,873
amend the five year plan to remove PRF #10, PRF #74, and PRF #26 and increase Sidewalk Replacement by $175,000
Remove Frame Park baseball renovation; add $200,000 to sidewalks
Remove three parks vehicles; transfer $175,000 to sidewalks
Vehicles average eleven years old; sidewalk safety is more urgent.
Remove library self-vending lockers ($50,000)
Opposed to self-service lockers and spending taxpayer funds for limited users.