The Milwaukee Common Council voted to adopt the License Committee's recommendation to revoke the Class B tavern, public entertainment premise, food dealer and sidewalk dining licenses for A1 Water Street LLC (Element Lounge), located at 6618 N. Water St., after a multi-hour hearing and debate over repeated disturbances and two fatal shootings near the venue.

The vote to adopt the committee report (file 250913) was recorded as eleven ayes and four noes. Earlier substitute motions to impose a 60-day suspension and a 90-day suspension instead of revocation failed on roll call votes (4-11 and 3-12, respectively).

The license action followed testimony from law enforcement and the licensing staff presented in committee and extended remarks by attorneys for the current operator and owner. Attorney Mike Maestleman, representing the owner, acknowledged the recent shooting and said the new owner has invested in safety and amended the plan of operation to remove DJs, dancing and outside promoters and to operate as a sports bar: "He's already invested significant capital to improve the safety and operations of the facility," Maestleman said, adding that the operator has filed an amended plan removing nightclub elements.

Several aldermen who supported revocation cited a long record of discipline at that address. Ald. Bauman noted prior suspensions dating back years, saying, "In almost all those instances, they did involve shootings. Absolutely," and argued the pattern of incidents on Water Street warranted the committee's recommendation. Members who opposed immediate revocation argued that some shootings occurred off-premises and that a managed sports-bar model with stricter conditions could improve neighborhood safety.

Ald. Chambers moved to send the matter back to committee for further review; that motion failed after the council voted down the suspension alternatives and then adopted the committee recommendation. The license committee had already voted unanimously to recommend revocation and the council's final adoption effectuated that recommendation.

The council record shows the committee and council considered evidence including police reports, testimony from licensing staff, and the operator's amended plan of operation. The council did not specify further administrative steps or an effective date for the revocation during the meeting; the transcript records adoption of the committee recommendation as the final action taken in open session.

Council members repeatedly emphasized public-safety concerns, the history of enforcement at the Water Street location and the limitations of licensing action to prevent off-site criminal acts. Supporters of revocation argued that the pattern of incidents and repeated discipline indicated the location presented an ongoing threat to public welfare; opponents urged conditional suspension and monitoring but were outvoted.

The action does not record any appeal filed during the meeting. The city attorney had presented the findings of fact and conclusions of law to the council prior to deliberations.