Waukesha council approves $319,000 budget amendment for City Hall security upgrades

Alderman Lemke introduced a budget amendment to increase capital spending by about $319,000 for City Hall security upgrades, saying the main items are ballistic glass installation at the main clerk’s office and upstairs planning/public works windows, bollards around utility connections, and door numbering tied to the building’s panic system.

Lemke said the proposal passed finance 4–0 and urged council support; staff noted the work would be paid from interest on city funds and would not increase taxes but required a capital improvement amendment because the expense was not in the current CIP.

Several council members spoke in favor. Alderperson Wiggerson said comparable municipal projects showed much higher costs in other cities and supported the $319,000 figure as reasonable while emphasizing employee safety. Alderperson Christine said her background in building management led her to ask whether alternatives had been explored; she said testimony from Rebecca Peterson (city staff) about employee retention persuaded her to support the project. Alderperson Matthews urged integrating future security planning into new building projects to reduce incremental costs.

The council voted to approve the budget amendment; the motion passed 13–1.

Next steps: staff will proceed with procurement and installation; funding is drawn from interest on city funds per staff remarks, and the item will be reflected in the CIP as amended.