Number
101338
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN
Title
Resolution relating to the removal of fencing around City Hall and the installation of scaffolding over the sidewalks abutting City Hall.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Commissioner of Public Works to, when practical and to the extent that pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety can be maintained, remove the fencing that has been placed along the west, south and east sides of City Hall and take appropriate safety measures that maximize pedestrian and vehicular access to, and movement around, City Hall. It further directs the Commissioner to require J.P. Cullen and Sons, Inc., the contractor that will be inspecting and repairing City Hall, to install and maintain pedestrian-protecting scaffolding over the sidewalks along the west, south and east sides of City Hall for the duration of the inspection and repair project.
Body
Whereas, On February 17, 2011, a piece of terra cotta fell from the east side of City Hall's south tower, damaging a car parked on N. Market Street; and
Whereas, Subsequently, City forces cordoned off sidewalks along the west, south and east sides of City Hall, as well as portions of N. Water Street and N. Market Street, with temporary chain-link fencing, thereby forcing pedestrians to walk in the street; and
Whereas, In conjunction with the placement of the fencing, two of the three public entrances to City Hall -- Water Street and Wells Street -- were also closed; and
Whereas, One of the closed entrances -- Wells Street -- is the only handicapped-accessible street-level entrance to City Hall; and
Whereas, The chain-link fencing and closed City Hall entrances create both inconvenience and potential safety hazards for pedestrians on Market, Wells and Water streets, as well as for City Hall employees and visitors; and
Whereas, These problems are compounded by the fact that the sidewalk on the west side of Water Street directly across from City Hall is also closed for repairs; and
Whereas, The placement of the fencing has also caused the loss of parking spaces on Water and Market streets, the loss of vehicular traffic lanes on Water Street and the relocation of a heavily-used bus stop on Water Street; and
Whereas, The Common Council finds that this situation is unacceptable and that, when practical and to the extent that pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety can be maintained, the fencing should be removed and pedestrian-protecting scaffolding should be installed on the sidewalks surrounding City Hall; and,
Whereas, The Common Council further finds that J.P. Cullen and Sons, Inc., the contractor for the City Hall restoration project and also responsible for inspecting and repairing any defective components of the structure, should be required to install the necessary scaffolding over the sidewalks surrounding City Hall; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that, when practical and to the extent that pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety can be maintained, the Commissioner of Public Works is directed to remove the fencing that has been placed along the west, south and east sides of City Hall and to take appropriate safety measures that maximize pedestrian and vehicular access to, and movement around, City Hall; and, be it
Further Resolved, That, as part of these actions, the Commissioner of Public Works shall require J.P. Cullen and Sons, Inc., to install and maintain pedestrian-protecting scaffolding over the sidewalks along the west, south and east sides of City Hall for the duration of the inspection and repair project.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB125741-2
Jeff Osterman
02/28/2011