Number
230675
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. PRATT
Title
Resolution approving a no-cost lease agreement with Wisconsin Electric Power Company for a shared use trail parallel to North 20 Street between West Olive Street and West Villard Avenue.
Analysis
This resolution approves a no-cost lease agreement between Wisconsin Electric Power Company and the City of Milwaukee to build and maintain a shared use trail for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and similar non-motorized recreational uses on property owned by Wisconsin Electric Power Company parallel to North 20th Street between West Olive Street and West Villard Avenue.
Body
Whereas, Wisconsin Electric Power Company owns multiple parcels of real property along North 20 Street between West Olive Street and West Villard Avenue, more commonly known as the North 20 Street Corridor; and
Whereas, The North 20 Street Corridor appears as a proposed bike lane in the 2010 City of Milwaukee Bicycle Plan, as a potential trail corridor on the Milwaukee County Trails Network Plan, and as a recommended trail in the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s Vision 2050 regional land use and transportation plan; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee received a Transportation Alternatives (TAP) grant award 2984-22-05/75 to plan, design, and construct a shared use trail along the North 20 Street corridor and Common Council File # 201243 authorized the grant agreement; and
Whereas, The North 20 Street Corridor is part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Route of the Badger initiative; and
Whereas, The North 20 Street Power Line project described in the lease will construct a 12-foot wide, shared use trail for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and other non-motorized recreational uses in the 1.3-mile-long corridor; and
Whereas, The proposed trail is surrounded by dense residential neighborhoods, with 10,600 people living in the three Census tracts adjacent to the project area; and
Whereas, Approximately 725 people are employed in the 1/4-mile area surrounding the proposed trail; and
Whereas, The proposed trail will directly connect to the Oak Leaf Trail, a 130-mile trail system that runs throughout Milwaukee County; and
Whereas, Staff from the Department of Public Works and the City Attorney’s Office met with representatives of the Wisconsin Electric Power Company and negotiated the terms of a long-term, no-cost lease for the North 20 Street Power Line project; and
Whereas, The lease grants license and permission to the City of Milwaukee to occupy a portion of the Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s land to develop, use and maintain a recreational trail; and
Whereas, The lease allows the City two full years to begin construction of the trail, and one full year after the start of construction to complete the trail; and
Whereas, A copy of the lease is attached to this file; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the lease agreement with Wisconsin Electric Power Company for the properties known as the North 20 Street Corridor is approved; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of Public Works, or his designee, is authorized to execute the lease with Wisconsin Electric Power Company, and any other necessary documents, upon final approval of the lease by the Common Council; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Attorney’s Office, in cooperation with the Commissioner of Public Works, is authorized to make such further minor modifications to said lease that are consistent with the intent and purpose of this resolution.
Requestor
Department of Public Works
Drafter
Kathleen Brengosz
8/23/2023
LRB 179344-1