Number
140081
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. WITKOWSKI, MURPHY AND WADE
Title
Substitute resolution creating a Local Business Action Team.
Analysis
This resolution creates a Local Business Action Team to evaluate and make recommendations to the Common Council concerning the following issues that impact the interaction between local business and City government:
1. Milwaukee's regulatory environment for business, including zoning, permits, inspections, business licenses and fees.
2. Delivery of services to business, including strategies to make City services and assistance more accessible to businesses through digital tools, improved ways of organizing service delivery, and best practices from other cities.
3. Systems that ensure the voice of the business customer is heard by all City agencies.
The local Business Action Team shall be composed of the following 13 members:
1. The Chair of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee.
2. Two Common Council members appointed by the President of the Common Council.
3. The Commissioner of Neighborhood Services or designee.
4. The Commissioner of Health or designee.
5. The Commissioner of City Development or designee.
6. The Commissioner of Public Works or designee.
7. The Chief Information Officer or designee.
8. The City Clerk or designee.
9. A representative of the Office of the Mayor appointed by the Mayor.
10. A representative of a Business Improvement District appointed by the Mayor.
11. A representative of a Milwaukee entrepreneurship support organization appointed by the Mayor.
12. A representative of the small business community appointed by the Common Council President.
The Mayor and Common Council shall each appoint one member to serve as co-chair.
The Local Business Action Team shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Common Council within 180 days of the adoption of this resolution, and upon submission of the report, be automatically dissolved.
Body
Whereas, Thriving local businesses create jobs, employ residents, create a sense of place and provide goods and services to Milwaukee's population; and
Whereas, The creation and successful operation of local businesses depend on a variety of factors, including their ability to navigate local government regulations and receive excellent customer service from local government agencies; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee has undertaken several major efforts to improve service delivery to businesses, including the creation of the Development Center in 1999 and the adoption of a new zoning ordinance in 2002; and
Whereas, The proposed 2014 Milwaukee Economic Growth Action Agenda includes several recommendations intended to further improve the interaction City agencies with local businesses, including the development of local regulation roadmaps for common business types, out-stationing City staff with local entrepreneurship development organizations to provide direct assistance to new businesses, and improving communication between City agencies and intermediaries, such as Business Improvement Districts, that provide technical assistance to local businesses; and
Whereas, These recommendations can form the foundation of a broader effort to ensure that business owners and individuals planning to start businesses have confidence in the City's support for their efforts; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that a Local Business Action Team is hereby created to recommend strategies to ensure that City regulations and service delivery support the development and growth of local business in Milwaukee; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Local Business Action Team shall be composed of the following 13 members:
1. The Chair of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee.
2. Two Common Council members appointed by the President of the Common Council.
3. The Commissioner of Neighborhood Services or designee.
4. The Commissioner of Health or designee.
5. The Commissioner of City Development or designee.
6. The Commissioner of Public Works or designee.
7. The Chief Information Officer or designee.
8. The City Clerk or designee.
9. A representative of the Office of the Mayor appointed by the Mayor.
10. A representative of a Business Improvement District appointed by the Mayor.
11. A representative of a Milwaukee entrepreneurship support organization appointed by the Mayor.
12. A representative of the small business community appointed by the President of the Common Council President.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Mayor and Common Council President shall each appoint one member to serve as co-chair of the Local Business Action Team; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Local Business Action Team is charged with evaluating and making recommendations concerning the following issues that impact the interaction between local business and City government:
1. Milwaukee's regulatory environment for business, including zoning, permits, inspections, business licenses and fees.
2. Delivery of services to business, including strategies to make City services and assistance more accessible to businesses through digital tools, improved ways of organizing service delivery, and best practices from other cities.
3. Systems that ensure the voice of the business customer is heard by all City agencies.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Neighborhood Services, Department of City Development and the City Clerk's Office shall provide staff assistance to the Local Business Action Team as needed; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Action Team shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Common Council within 180 days of the adoption of this resolution, and upon submission of the report, be automatically dissolved.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB152910-3
Teodros W. Medhin:lp
6/17/2014