OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Public Works Committee Meeting Summary – May 20, 2026

City Plan Commission — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
BodyMilwaukee, Wisconsin
SessionCity Plan Commission
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:22:41
Transcript — Verbatim
1:41

Welcome to the public works committee.

1:46

I am Vice Chair Alderman Lama Westmoreland.

1:49

Joined to my right by Alderman Robert Bauman.

1:52

We are joined virtually by all Alder Woman Larissa Taylor and Alderman Alex Brower, Chairwoman, Alder Woman Malele Cox, will join us uh momentarily.

2:05

Um per Alder Woman Cox, uh, we would not be taking any public testimony for the MMSD appointments if anybody is here for that.

2:15

Uh item one, two six zero zero six nine resolution relating to the approving to approving the levying of assessments and construction of accessible public improvement projects at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes.

2:32

Good morning, Holly Rutten back with DPW.

2:35

I will be advising on the special assessment process and project details.

2:39

For those projects approved this morning, a bill will be sent to each property owner sometime after completion of the work.

2:45

Within 45 days upon receipt of the bill, the full amount may be paid without interest.

2:49

If the bill is not paid within the 45-day grace period, a charge of 8.5% simple interest per year will be added.

2:56

If the assessment is at least $125, the assessment can be paid over a period of ten years on the tax roll at that 8.5% interest.

3:06

For those projects approved with late billing, a bill will not be sent before January first, 2028.

3:30

If anyone is here to provide testimony, please feel free to come forward.

3:40

If you could just give us both your um both of your names and addresses.

4:30

just re help regulate traffic in front of St.

4:33

Francis of Assisi in front of the Howard Fuller School in front of the Black Holocaust Museum at the very north end of North Avenue.

4:42

So we uh we are very much the my my entire building there's ten of us Caitlin being one of them that are very much in favor of um this this action by the city I'll just echo what Gary had stated.

4:57

We had been talking about this for a couple of years now as a condo building that we believe that it needed to happen.

5:03

A lot of people have pets in the buildings they're going out walking their dogs and they're almost getting hit by a car because somebody takes Valor Phillips's throughput to avoid um MLK.

5:15

So they're going probably 60 miles an hour.

5:17

I continue I'm on the corner of the building that I watch a lot of traffic accidents happen.

5:22

And I believe that this will slow everybody down and it's just for the safety of the neighborhood.

5:27

Cool cool thank you.

5:29

Thanks for coming down guys appreciate it.

5:32

Motion by Alderman Bauman is approval uh any objections hearing non so order.

5:39

In the seventh Aldermanic district the alley between West Keith Avenue West Townsend Street North 46th Street North 47th Street.

5:48

Concrete alley pavement reconstruction replace some abutting walk or driveway approaches grading storm drainage facilities and permeable pavement as necessary.

5:57

Is there anyone here to testify to this item out of twenty one impacted properties the majority were in support and the alderman supports the project.

6:10

Most of Alderman Bauman is approval any objections hearing on the order in the 10th Aldermanic district the alley between West Appleton Avenue, West Chapman Place, West Nash Street, and West Potomac Avenue, concrete alley pavement reconstruction, replace some abutting walker and driveway approaches grading storm drainage facilities and permeable pavement as necessary all those who are here to provide testimony on this item please come forward out of 40 impacted properties the majority were in support and the alder woman does support the project is it how many property are in fact 40 40 and what was the count I was not provided the count the older woman said the majority were in support.

6:57

Okay, like a two to one vote.

7:08

Good morning, if everybody could just uh one at a time um give your name and address and testimony uh the address of the your house your house where you live yeah okay uh Gloria Ellen 4851 North 67th Street Milwaukee Wisconsin by 3218 but the property is at 7283 West Appleton Avenue.

7:36

Uh my name is Oscar Ellen uh my I says it's 4851 no six seven in the city of Milwaukee Wisconsin zip code five three two one eight yes Charles Ellum 4739 North 53rd Street Milwaukee Wisconsin City of Milwaukee zip uh zip 53218 and I'm here with uh Robert Stetson uh 7274 West Potomac Avenue Milwaukee Wisconsin five three two one six Teresa Borough 7234 West Potomac Avenue Terry Robey uh 722 Potomac Avenue.

8:27

Arthur will be 722 West on the capital.

8:31

Okay and uh we start with your testimony and then we'll work our way that way.

8:36

Okay well I'm protesting the pavement of the alley that's costing us eight thousand six hundred dollars to the microphone please I'm sorry.

8:52

Microphone pull the microphone closer thank you so much I'm protesting that amount of money I mean we are church um we don't even have our own parking lot paid because we can't afford it.

9:06

Pave our own parking lot in the pavement alley behind us.

9:11

That's too much money.

9:14

Uh it's too much money.

9:17

We have too many things we have to do and speak that we have like a roof repair, parking lot repair.

9:25

And then you want us to do an alley that we can't afford.

9:28

So no, we don't.

9:31

How many of you are connected with the church?

9:33

Oh three.

9:33

Oh, three of us.

9:37

Uh and m most of the that then uh w w who think about how and I was talking to him a few minutes ago that uh we don't necessarily have to use the attic because we got inches from the street.

9:51

But I I understand it's a cat twenty two regards whether we use that or not, we're gonna be charged with it.

9:57

And then uh we know that uh and membership has decreased since the COVID nineteen and we don't have a few members and most of it we've been paying the bill, was just a dollar level.

10:09

But uh it would be called it'd be a kind of strain or nothing.

10:13

And most of it we trying to do some things to make me walk a uh better place and I am the pastor, uh and most of it we kinda do do things.

10:23

I'm the police department, trying to make this world a little better place.

10:26

And that's what we're doing too.

10:28

But most of it we print it didn't uh that we won't have to pay take care of that, also.

10:34

I could because right now we we will put a strain on it.

10:37

Well we just bear the paying the beer now and with additional money there.

10:42

I'm saying we we're gonna uh we still have it right now.

10:46

But but I understand too, I see how that uh you put uh a ten year period to my understanding to pay it all.

10:54

Am I correct?

10:56

That is correct.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████████████████36%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Miscellaneous█████████████13%
Economic Development██████6%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Fiscal Sustainability███3%
Historic Preservation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Public Works Committee Meeting Summary – May 20, 2026

The Public Works Committee of the Milwaukee Common Council convened at 9:11 AM on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in City Hall Room 301-B, and adjourned at 12:32 PM. All five members were present: Chair Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Vice-Chair Alderman Lamont Westmoreland, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, and Alderman Alex Brower. The committee considered 28 agenda items, including assessable and nonassessable public improvements, reappointments to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), parklet permitting, infrastructure funding, leaf collection policy, and license applications.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1 (260069): Substitute resolution approving levying of assessments for assessable public improvement projects at various locations, with a city cost of $873,880 and total estimated cost of $1,196,800. Projects included traffic calming speed humps in the 6th and 14th Aldermanic Districts, alley reconstruction in the 7th and 10th, and resurfacing in the 11th. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 2 (260076): Resolution determining necessity of assessable public improvements, city engineering cost $425,000, total $2,550,000. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 3 (260077): Resolution for nonassessable public improvements, city engineering cost $240,000, total $3,500,000. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 4 (260078): Resolution approving construction of nonassessable improvements, city construction cost $1,758,000, total $1,820,000. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 5 (260079): Resolution to transfer funds for local street improvements under the Local Roads Improvement Program, city cost $4,852,185.20, grantor’s cost $1,005,864.80, total $5,858,050. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 6 (260080): Resolution for West Keefe Avenue improvements (6th Aldermanic District), city cost $1,100,000, grantor’s cost $900,000, total $2,000,000. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 14 (250086): Substitute resolution assigning honorary street name “John J. Williams” to North 14th Street from West Capitol Drive to West Olive Street (1st Aldermanic District). Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 16 (260033): Substitute resolution directing DPW to explore external partnerships for street maintenance. Recommended for adoption 5-0. (Co-sponsors added: Ald. Taylor, Ald. Coggs.)
  • Item 17 (260070): Resolution accepting a Green Solutions grant from MMSD for permeable pavers on South 18th Street (12th Aldermanic District). Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 18 (260073): Resolution authorizing Green Schoolyards Redevelopment Program agreements with MMSD and MPS. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 19 (260074): Resolution authorizing green infrastructure credit purchase at Lincoln and Modrzejewski Playfields (12th Aldermanic District). Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 20 (260075): Resolution authorizing Green Solutions agreements for MPS properties in 3rd, 5th, 6th, 14th, and 15th Aldermanic Districts. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 21 (260094): Resolution authorizing a reimbursement agreement with MMSD for storm sewer work along the Menomonee River. Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 22 (260108): Communication from DPW submitting its 2025 residential recycling annual report. Recommended for placing on file 5-0.
  • Item 24 (260132): Ordinance updating recycling requirements to align with state DNR code revisions. Recommended for passage 5-0.
  • Item 25 (260133): Resolution approving three driveway approaches (width >30 feet) at 2005 West Oklahoma Avenue (13th Aldermanic District). Recommended for adoption 5-0.
  • Item 27 (251863): Motion approving two public passenger vehicle driver’s license applications (Andrew R. Rousey and Sheldon R. Rousey). Recommended for approval 5-0.
  • Item 28 (252139): Substitute resolution regarding a Wisconsin Coastal Management Program grant. Recommended for placing on file 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 1 (Speed humps on N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., 6th District): Gerrett Kelly and Caitlin Forsythe testified in favor, citing safety concerns near St. Francis of Assisi, Howard Fuller School, and the Black Holocaust Museum. They reported speeding vehicles up to 60 mph and frequent accidents.
  • Item 1 (Alley reconstruction in 10th District): Gloria Ellum, Oscar Ellum, and Charles Ellum (representing a church at the location) opposed due to the $8,600 assessment, citing financial strain and declining membership. Robert Stetson requested more information about permeable paver maintenance. Teresa Brown, Terry Roby, and Arthur Roby supported the project, noting the alley’s poor condition.
  • Item 14 (Honorary street name): Joann Williams, daughter of John J. Williams, spoke about her father’s decades of community service as a teacher, cab driver, postal worker, and Urban League director.
  • Item 23 (Leaf collection): Alderman Spiker reported receiving dozens of constituent complaints, particularly from seniors and those with limited mobility, about proposed changes to leaf collection.

Discussion Items

  • Items 7-11 (MMSD Reappointments): The committee considered reappointments of Alderman Mark Chambers, Alderwoman Milele Coggs, Representative Kalan Haywood II, Julia Taylor, and Corey Zetts to the MMSD Commission. Alderman Bauman raised concerns about whistleblower allegations of mismanagement and sought assurance of an independent third-party performance audit. Corey Zetts (Chair) stated the commission initiated steps for an audit, to be overseen by the commission. Alderman Chambers emphasized the commission’s independent decision-making. After debate, each reappointment was recommended for confirmation on split votes (4-1, with Bauman opposing; Coggs abstained on her own reappointment).
  • Item 12 (260051): Resolution for an easement with Wisconsin Electric Power Company at 823 S. 4th Street (12th Aldermanic District). Ald. Perez requested confirmation that work would not disturb an underground pedestrian tunnel used by a school. Held to call of the chair 5-0.
  • Item 13 (260147): Communication on parklet, sidewalk dining, and Active Streets permit processes. Jim Cooney (License Division) and James Washington (DPW) outlined a proposal to treat parklets as an extension of premises and route approvals through licensing, providing clearer notice to neighbors. Current counts: 82 sidewalk cafes, ~22 parklets/Active Streets combined. Recommended for placing on file 5-0.
  • Item 15 (252170): Communication from DPW on infrastructure funding performance. City Engineer Kevin Muhs presented data showing Milwaukee contributes about 10% of state road funds but receives only 5% back. The city’s annual investment of ~$60 million is only enough to tread water, with $792 million needed to fix all roads. Discussion included coordination issues with WisDOT projects (National Ave., I-94, 16th St. Bridge) causing congestion. Recommended for placing on file 5-0.
  • Item 23 (260035): Substitute resolution on leaf collection. Ald. Spiker and Ald. Westmoreland sponsored a resolution requiring DPW to continue curbside leaf raking collection and to communicate major operational changes to the council in advance. Commissioner Kruschke acknowledged communication failures and agreed to report back after the fall season. The substitute was adopted 4-1 (Brower opposed), then the resolution was recommended for adoption 4-1 (Brower opposed).
  • Item 26 (191930): Communication from DPW on current and future operations. Held to call of the chair 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • MMSD Reappointments: All five reappointments were recommended for confirmation by the Common Council with the following votes:
    • Alderman Mark Chambers: 4-1 (Bauman no)
    • Alderwoman Milele Coggs: 3-1 (Bauman no, Coggs abstain)
    • Representative Kalan Haywood II: 4-1 (Bauman no)
    • Julia Taylor: 4-1 (Bauman no)
    • Corey Zetts: 4-1 (Bauman no)
  • Leaf Collection Resolution (260035): Substitute adopted and recommended for adoption, directing DPW to continue curbside pick-up and improve advance communication to alders. Ald. Coggs added as co-sponsor.
  • External Partnerships Resolution (260033): Adopted, directing DPW to explore partnerships for street maintenance.
  • Other items: All remaining resolutions and communications were either recommended for adoption/passage or placed on file as noted above. The committee held two items to the call of the chair (easement and DPW operations update).

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the public works committee. I am Vice Chair Alderman Lama Westmoreland. Joined to my right by Alderman Robert Bauman. We are joined virtually by all Alder Woman Larissa Taylor and Alderman Alex Brower, Chairwoman, Alder Woman Malele Cox, will join us uh momentarily. Um per Alder Woman Cox, uh, we would not be taking any public testimony for the MMSD appointments if anybody is here for that. Uh item one, two six zero zero six nine resolution relating to the approving to approving the levying of assessments and construction of accessible public improvement projects at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes. Good morning, Holly Rutten back with DPW. I will be advising on the special assessment process and project details. For those projects approved this morning, a bill will be sent to each property owner sometime after completion of the work. Within 45 days upon receipt of the bill, the full amount may be paid without interest. If the bill is not paid within the 45-day grace period, a charge of 8.5% simple interest per year will be added. If the assessment is at least $125, the assessment can be paid over a period of ten years on the tax roll at that 8.5% interest. For those projects approved with late billing, a bill will not be sent before January first, 2028. If anyone is here to provide testimony, please feel free to come forward. If you could just give us both your um both of your names and addresses. just re help regulate traffic in front of St. Francis of Assisi in front of the Howard Fuller School in front of the Black Holocaust Museum at the very north end of North Avenue. So we uh we are very much the my my entire building there's ten of us Caitlin being one of them that are very much in favor of um this this action by the city I'll just echo what Gary had stated. We had been talking about this for a couple of years now as a condo building that we believe that it needed to happen. A lot of people have pets in the buildings they're going out walking their dogs and they're almost getting hit by a car because somebody takes Valor Phillips's throughput to avoid um MLK. So they're going probably 60 miles an hour. I continue I'm on the corner of the building that I watch a lot of traffic accidents happen. And I believe that this will slow everybody down and it's just for the safety of the neighborhood. Cool cool thank you. Thanks for coming down guys appreciate it. Motion by Alderman Bauman is approval uh any objections hearing non so order. In the seventh Aldermanic district the alley between West Keith Avenue West Townsend Street North 46th Street North 47th Street. Concrete alley pavement reconstruction replace some abutting walk or driveway approaches grading storm drainage facilities and permeable pavement as necessary. Is there anyone here to testify to this item out of twenty one impacted properties the majority were in support and the alderman supports the project. Most of Alderman Bauman is approval any objections hearing on the order in the 10th Aldermanic district the alley between West Appleton Avenue, West Chapman Place, West Nash Street, and West Potomac Avenue, concrete alley pavement reconstruction, replace some abutting walker and driveway approaches grading storm drainage facilities and permeable pavement as necessary all those who are here to provide testimony on this item please come forward out of 40 impacted properties the majority were in support and the alder woman does support the project is it how many property are in fact 40 40 and what was the count I was not provided the count the older woman said the majority were in support. Okay, like a two to one vote. Good morning, if everybody could just uh one at a time um give your name and address and testimony uh the address of the your house your house where you live yeah okay uh Gloria Ellen 4851 North 67th Street Milwaukee Wisconsin by 3218 but the property is at 7283 West Appleton Avenue. Uh my name is Oscar Ellen uh my I says it's 4851 no six seven in the city of Milwaukee Wisconsin zip code five three two one eight yes Charles Ellum 4739 North 53rd Street Milwaukee Wisconsin City of Milwaukee zip uh zip 53218 and I'm here with uh Robert Stetson uh 7274 West Potomac Avenue Milwaukee Wisconsin five three two one six Teresa Borough 7234 West Potomac Avenue Terry Robey uh 722 Potomac Avenue. Arthur will be 722 West on the capital. Okay and uh we start with your testimony and then we'll work our way that way. Okay well I'm protesting the pavement of the alley that's costing us eight thousand six hundred dollars to the microphone please I'm sorry. Microphone pull the microphone closer thank you so much I'm protesting that amount of money I mean we are church um we don't even have our own parking lot paid because we can't afford it. Pave our own parking lot in the pavement alley behind us. That's too much money. Uh it's too much money. We have too many things we have to do and speak that we have like a roof repair, parking lot repair. And then you want us to do an alley that we can't afford. So no, we don't. How many of you are connected with the church? Oh three. Oh, three of us. Uh and m most of the that then uh w w who think about how and I was talking to him a few minutes ago that uh we don't necessarily have to use the attic because we got inches from the street. But I I understand it's a cat twenty two regards whether we use that or not, we're gonna be charged with it. And then uh we know that uh and membership has decreased since the COVID nineteen and we don't have a few members and most of it we've been paying the bill, was just a dollar level. But uh it would be called it'd be a kind of strain or nothing.

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