Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee Meeting - July 9, 2026
Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026
The Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee met on July 9, 2026, at 3:33 p.m. to consider two board bills for speed humps and to hear a presentation on volunteer-led litter cleanup efforts. The committee approved minutes from the June 24, 2026 meeting, passed both board bills with do-pass recommendations, and discussed a proposal by Aaron Dehone, founder of Trash Retrees, to expand paid litter pickup in city wards.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the June 24, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously (5 ayes).
Board Bills for Review
- Board Bill 13 – Speed Humps in the 14th Ward: Introduced by Alderman Aldridge. A committee substitute was adopted, and an amendment was added to include two additional speed hump locations in the St. Louis Place neighborhood (North 21st Street and Rosh and Bach). The committee noted typographical errors (e.g., "speed bumps" instead of "speed humps") and a duplicate subsection numbering, which the sponsor agreed to correct. The bill was passed with a do-pass recommendation (5 ayes, no opposition).
- Board Bill 58 – Speed Hump on Pennsylvania Avenue: Introduced by Alderwoman Schweitzer for the 401 block of Pennsylvania in the Crownette neighborhood. The bill was passed with a do-pass recommendation (5 ayes, no opposition).
Committee Discussion – Litter Cleanup Proposal
- Presentation by Aaron Dehone, Founder of Trash Retrees: Mr. Dehone presented data on the organization’s volunteer litter cleanup efforts since 2022. Key statistics: over 500,000 pieces of litter collected, 1,700 bags, 850 volunteers, 1,400 volunteer hours, and 300 native trees planted. In the 2025-2026 season, the group worked 480 hours, engaged 214 volunteers, and collected 176,000 pieces of litter (560 bags). He estimated that a dedicated paid crew of three workers (3 hours/week for 50 weeks) in one ward would cost $7,200 and yield 560 bags. He proposed a pilot program using ward capital funds or a $1-per-household optional city beautification fund. He also highlighted partnerships with the Bounce Back Project (employing unhoused individuals) and Anna Garcia Properties (real estate sponsor).
- Committee Responses: Members expressed strong support. Alderman Browning noted the psychological benefits of visible cleanup. Alderwoman Boyd praised the work and noted the value of consistent presence. Alderman Clark Hubbard asked about costs (U-Haul rentals, dump fees) and suggested city partnership opportunities (e.g., using dump trucks). Alderwoman Schweitzer thanked Mr. Dehone and offered to host the program in her ward. Alderman Cox Antwee (presumably) also commended the presentation and offered support. Alderman Clark Hubbard and others noted the added value of employing unhoused individuals. Mr. Dehone confirmed that the $7,200 figure is a baseline, actual costs may be higher, and that city resources could reduce logistical expenses. He also mentioned a pop quiz (95% of Americans think litter is a problem) and gave a prize to the chair.
Key Outcomes
- Board Bill 13 (committee substitute as amended) and Board Bill 58 were passed out of committee with do-pass recommendations.
- No formal action was taken on the litter cleanup proposal, but committee members expressed interest and offered to support future pilot efforts or grant applications.
- The committee adjourned after announcements about an East-West Gateway event.
Meeting Transcript
Calling to order the public infrastructure and utilities committee meeting for Wednesday, July 8th, 2026. It is 3:33 p.m. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Present. Present. What's that? Thank you. Present. Thank you. With that, um, well, I believe Alderman Cox Antwee texted me. She should be on. So I called it by the board and not the board or not. Uh with that, we'll keep moving. Uh and go ahead and approve the minutes. Uh so I'll take a motion to approve the minutes from Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026. June 24th. I move to approve the minutes from June 24th, 2026. Second. Madam Clerk, please call roll. I meant the I meant the minutes from the twenty-fourth, and the Alderman from the first corrected and made the right motion. Audible woman Boyd. Aye. Audible McClark Hubbard. Aye. Five stress white sir. Aye. Audible in the vote. Audible McCock Santui. Aye. Chair Browning. Aye. We have five eye votes. Thank you. With that, uh, we will move on to board bills for review. We have two board bills for review today, and then we have a committee discussion, which will include a uh presentation by Aaron Dehone uh on trash pickup and volunteer efforts that uh he's been heading up, and we're really excited to hear about that because we really appreciate all of our citizen volunteers in our city. Uh so we'll start with uh Alderman Aldridge, your board bill, uh board bill number thirteen. Uh you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the uh public infrastructure committee. Uh Board Bill 14 is various speed humps and the 14th ward. I do have a committee sub in front of us as well as an amendment. Um we haven't done any, we didn't do any speed humps last session. Um, so it is a lot in this one because I've been compiling streets working with uh residents to try to get uh a large list of speed humps instead of kind of doing them uh here and there. So um uh would entertain uh maybe a member adopting the committee sub for board bill thirteen. Thank you. I'll accept a motion to accept the committee sub for board bill thirteen. Second. It's moved by the alder woman from the tenth, seconded by the autumn from the first. Um Madam Cork, please call roll. Audible boy.
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