Number
251496
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
141123
Sponsor
THE CHAIR
Title
Resolution approving an Operating Agreement with Ventures Endurance Events, LLC for the staging of the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon and half marathon in the City of Milwaukee on April 11, 2026, and a 5K run in the City of Milwaukee on April 12, 2026.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes an Operating Agreement with Ventures Endurance Events, LLC for the staging of the 2026 Milwaukee Marathon and half marathon in the City of Milwaukee on April 11, 2026, and a 5K run in the City of Milwaukee on April 12, 2026.
Body
Whereas, Ventures Endurance Events, LLC, whose address is 6129 Airways Blvd., Ste 1, Chattanooga, TN 37421, desires to stage on April 11, 2026, a marathon and half-marathon, and on April 12, 2026, a 5K distance walk and running event, named the Milwaukee Marathon (“the Event”); and
Whereas, The City has entered into operating agreements with previous organizers for the staging of the previous versions of the Event; and
Whereas, As with the previous Milwaukee Marathons, the Event’s route is proposed to be entirely within the geographic boundaries of the City; and
Whereas, The staging of the Event requires significant City resources, particularly Milwaukee Police Department and Department of Public Works resources relating to traffic control before, during and after the Event; and
Whereas, The Department of Public Works does not have sufficient traffic control equipment for the Event; and
Whereas, By Resolution 141123, adopted on November 25, 2014, the Common Council found that City taxpayers should not bear the costs of City services provided to support the Event, but, rather, that the City should fully recover those costs from the Event organizer; and
Whereas, The Commissioner of Public Works is authorized to approve or deny special event permit applications according to the criteria set forth in s.105-55.5-2-c-1 to c-11 of the Code of Ordinances; and
Whereas, The Commissioner has determined that in the absence of an operating agreement, a special event permit would not meet the criteria in s.105-55.5-2-c-1 because the Event is of such a size or nature requiring the diversion of so great a number of police officers, ambulances or other emergency services as to deny reasonable emergency services to the city as a whole; and
Whereas, The Commissioner has determined that in the absence of an operating agreement, a special event permit would not meet the criteria in s.105-55.5-2-c-2 because the time, route, size and nature of the Event will unreasonably disrupt the safe and orderly use of any street or any public place, or material portion thereof, which is ordinarily subject to great congestion or traffic at the proposed time, or substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other traffic; and
Whereas, The Common Council reaffirms its finding that City of Milwaukee taxpayers should not be required to bear the costs of City services provided to support the Event, but, rather, that the City should fully recover those costs from Ventures Endurance, LLC; and
Whereas, The City Attorney’s Office has prepared the attached operating agreement for the Common Council’s review and approval; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the attached Operating Agreement between the City of Milwaukee and Ventures Endurance, LLC for Staging of the 2025 Milwaukee Marathon is approved; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the proper City officials are authorized to execute an Operating Agreement with Ventures Endurance, LLC that is substantially the same as the draft Operating Agreement attached to this file.
Requestor
Department of Public Works
Drafter
James Washington
December 10, 2025