Meeting Details

Meeting Name: EQUAL RIGHTS COMMISSION Agenda status: Final
Meeting date/time: 2/25/2026 4:00 PM Minutes status: Final  
Meeting location: Room 301-A, City Hall
Published agenda: Agenda Agenda Published minutes: Minutes Minutes  
Meeting video: eComment: Not available  
Attachments:
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   1. Call to Order

Minutes note: This meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Snell Rodriguez at 4:03 PM
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   2. Roll Call    Roll call Not available
   3. Welcome from Chair

Minutes note: Thanks to community Recognition of Black History Month
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   4. Public Testimony – Hearing on Housing Discrimination

Minutes note:  Presentation – Milwaukee Metropolitan Fair Housing Council Presenters: Megan Wanke – Senior Administrator, Program Services Stephanie Ebbens – Senior Administrator, Inclusive Communities Program Highlights: 64% of voucher holders concentrated in a few North Side ZIP codes Only 17% of voucher holders in low-poverty areas Patterns driven primarily by landlord acceptance, not housing supply Map data: each dot represents 50 families Key Points: Historic policies combined with current rental practices continue to produce inequities Voucher discrimination heavily concentrated in North Side ZIP codes Tenants report poor housing conditions and fear retaliation Complaint system is unclear and difficult to navigate Enforcement capacity is limited; legal uncertainty persists
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   5. Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB)

Minutes note:  Presented by David Getling Legislative Reference Bureau analysis Comparison with other cities Overview of source of income protections
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   6. Approval of Previous Minutes

Minutes note:  Motion: Commissioner Staubach Second: Commissioner Crowley January minutes approved
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   7. Public Speakers (In Person)

Minutes note:  1. Katravia Lee • Joined by Stephanie Ebbens (Fair Housing Council) 2. Attorney Nick Toman (Legal Aid Society) • Joined by Alderwoman; Megan Wanke (Fair Housing Council); Sharlen Moore (District 10) 3. Charity Allenwalton • Joined by Stephanie Ebbens (Fair Housing Council) 4. Brittany Schoenick (Legal Action) 5. Niyim Bona (Wisconsin Community Services) 6. Cornelius Sawyer (HACM – RAD Board, Housing Choice Voucher Program)
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   8. LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee Charge

Minutes note:  Tabled until next 2026 meeting (March) No objections
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   9. ERC 2025 Annual Report

Minutes note:  Commission reviewed and approved
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   10. Committee Communications

Minutes note:  Tabled until March 2026 meeting
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   11. Staff Communications

Minutes note:  Tabled until March 2026 meeting
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   12. Community Announcements

Minutes note:  Tabled until March 2026 meeting
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   13. Closing Discussion & Next Steps

Minutes note: Next Steps: Prepare for Common Council engagement Use hearing data and examples from other cities Integrate LRB findings into advocacy Follow-Up Actions: Compile questions for LRB Share detailed report with commissioners Small group assigned to continue follow-up work
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   14. Adjournment

Minutes note:  Meeting adjourned at 6:03 PM
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