Milwaukee Public Works Committee Meeting – July 22, 2026

The Public Works Committee convened on July 22, 2026, at 9:22 AM in City Hall Room 301-B, chaired by Ald. Milele A. Coggs. The committee considered 20 agenda items, including public improvement projects, traffic calming measures, a native plants ordinance, electric vehicle charging stations, a port parcel negotiation, an internship program, a sewer fund review, a rate case discussion with We Energies, urban wood management, and a taxi license renewal. All votes were 5-0 unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–4 (Assessable & Nonassessable Public Improvements): Approved substitute resolutions for levying assessments, determining necessity, and authorizing construction of various assessable and nonassessable public improvements across multiple aldermanic districts. Specific projects included traffic calming speed humps, concrete pavement reconstruction, and green infrastructure. Total estimated costs ranged from $470,000 to $7,007,000. All items passed unanimously.
• Item 5 (Brady Street BID Traffic Calming Cost Sharing): Authorized the Commissioner of Public Works to execute a cost-sharing memo with the Brady Street Business Improvement District for traffic calming on E. Brady Street (N. Farwell Ave. to N. Van Buren St.). The BID will cover special assessments. Approved unanimously.
• Item 6 (West National Avenue Agreement): Approved a 7th revision state/municipal agreement with WisDOT for West National Avenue from 39th Street to 1st Street, with a net cost decrease of $203,700, a decrease in grantor share of $2,678,850, and an increase in city share of $2,475,150. Ald. Zamarripa expressed support. Approved unanimously.
• Item 7 (West Lisbon Street Agreement): Approved a 2nd revision state/municipal agreement for West Lisbon Street (N. 100th St. to W. Burleigh St.). Approved unanimously.
• Item 9 (Vacation of 12th Lane): Approved vacating eastern 4.98 feet of 12th Lane between W. Cherry St. and the northern alley to correct historical recording inaccuracies for a mixed-use development. Approved unanimously.
• Item 10 (Vacation of Alley): Approved vacating an east-west alley north of W. Cherry St. between N. 12th St. and N. 12th Lane. Approved unanimously.
• Item 11 (Easements for I-43 Project): Initially held, then reconsidered, substituted, and approved. Authorized fee title and temporary limited easements with WisDOT for properties at 2237 N. 7th St. and 3463 N. 8th St. for the I-43 project. Approved unanimously.
• Item 14 (EV Charging Station Sites): Approved 26 sites for a federally funded $15 million electric vehicle charging network. The committee discussed the grant status, private vendor RFP, and state funding opportunities. Ald. Coggs requested to review the future contract. Approved unanimously.
• Item 15 (Exclusive Right to Negotiate with U.S. Venture): Authorized a two-year exclusive right to negotiate with U.S. Venture, Inc. for the 3.5-acre Parcel F at Port Milwaukee (1776 S. Harbor Dr.). U.S. Venture will pay $5,000 per year. Approved unanimously.
• Item 16 (Panther Edge Internship Program): Authorized the city to sign a participation agreement with the UW System for the rebranded Panther Edge Internship Program (formerly CLIP). Milwaukee Water Works noted a recent intern hired as a full-time water chemist. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joette Rockow (11th Aldermanic District): Testified in favor of speed humps on S. 37th St. and W. Lakefield Dr., citing frequent speeding (40–45 mph in a 25 mph zone) and a past accident involving a child on a bicycle. Supported the project.
• Anna Antoine (Executive Director, Brady Street BID): Supported the traffic calming project on E. Brady Street, noting years of discussion with residents and businesses. The BID is covering the cost of special assessments.
• We Energies Representatives (Bert Garvin, Michelle Banaszek, Jennifer Buchanan): Presented on the 2027-2028 rate case, data center tariffs, reliability investments, tree trimming, and the Careers in Energy program. They emphasized that data center customers will pay for their own infrastructure, protecting non-data-center customers. The Careers in Energy program has hired 40 full-time employees from Milwaukee schools since 2019.

Discussion Items

• Item 8 (Honorary Street Name Denial – F.M. Eason): Held to call of the chair. Ald. Coggs requested to communicate with the applicant first, as the nomination is in her district.
• Item 13 (Native Plants Ordinance): Sponsored by Ald. Brower. Erin Stoekl (Forestry Services Manager) supported the ordinance but noted the need to distinguish intentional native gardens from neglected lawns. The committee discussed a registry requirement. Ald. Brower moved to amend to require an annual registry for native plant gardens; no objections. The amended ordinance was recommended for passage unanimously.
• Item 17 (Sewer Maintenance Fund Midyear Review): Kurt Sprangers (DPW) and Jesse Hagen (Comptroller) presented the midyear review. Current ratios are healthy, but accounting changes in 2027 may require a revenue increase to meet DNR loan terms. Ald. Bauman questioned whether the 7–11 miles of sewer relay per year is adequate for a 2,500-mile system, citing recent flooding and backup issues. The communication was placed on file.
• Item 18 (We Energies Rate Case and Data Centers): Sponsored by Ald. Brower. We Energies representatives presented their rate filing, data center tariff, and reliability investments. Ald. Bauman challenged the utility's profit motive, arguing the primary directive is shareholder return. Ald. Brower compared rates to municipal utilities, noting Wisconsin Electric Power Company's rate of 19.342 cents/kWh is the highest among 81 municipal utilities. Ald. Taylor asked about MPS student participation in the Careers in Energy program. Several follow-up data requests were made. The communication was placed on file.
• Item 19 (Urban Wood Uses): Presented by Erin Stoekl. DPW plans to issue a new RFI for smaller-scale operations to manage the 2,000+ tons of logs produced annually. Current arrangement with Kettle Moraine Hardwoods costs $72,000–$90,000 annually to ship; only 20–30% of logs are used for high-value products. A 2025 feasibility study estimated a city-run operation would cost $3.3 million. The communication was placed on file.

Key Outcomes

• Item 20 (Taxi License Renewal): Applicant Nachhetter Singh admitted to charging a flat rate for a multi-stop trip instead of using the meter, violating city ordinance. The committee initially voted 3–2 to deny the license (Ald. Bauman motion). A subsequent motion by Ald. Brower to approve renewal with a warning letter passed 4–1 (Ald. Bauman opposed). The license was renewed with a warning letter.
• All other items were recommended for adoption/passage or placed on file with unanimous votes (5-0) unless specified.
• The meeting adjourned at 11:13 AM.