Number
210512
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. PEREZ
Title
Substitute resolution relating to expanding the City of Milwaukee’s programs to reduce childhood lead poisoning and appropriating funds for this purpose.
Analysis
This resolution appropriates not more than $97,724,000 from funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act between 2021 and 2024 to be used by the Health Department for programs to reduce lead-poisoning among the children of Milwaukee. The appropriation shall be allocated in the following programs and amounts:
1. $50,000,000 for lead abatement of residential properties subject to lead-abatement orders.
2. $5,000,000 for low-income homeowners to make critical property maintenance repairs.
3. $6,000,000 to temporarily house families displaced during lead abatement of their dwellings.
4. $5,000,000 for community-based organizations to recruit, train, certify and place 200 lead-abatement workers and 50 lead-abatement supervisors from neighborhoods highly impacted by the COVID pandemic to work in new teams with local lead-abatement contractors.
5. $17,000,000 to fund the costs of reducing the threshold for ordering and abating lead-poisoning hazards from cases of lead-poisoning of 20 mcg/dL to cases of 5 mcg/dL.
6. $5,000,000 to fund 32 lead outreach and education workers to staff clinics and go door-to-door in neighborhoods with high concentrations of blood-lead poisoning.
7. $1,000,000 to purchase and distribute 7,200 Healthy Home Kits containing water filters and replacement filters, and educational materials on lead-poisoning risks in the home to mothers in the Birthing Moms Pilot Project.
8. $3,500,000 to purchase 30,000 Healthy Home Kits and to fund the recruitment, training and supervision of 3 water filter technicians by community partners to distribute the kits in the broader community and install water filters.
9. $4,000,000 to hire 18 Licensed Practical Nurses to conduct 18,000 onsite, blood-lead level tests per year of children between age 3 and 5 attending Milwaukee Public Schools.
10. $224,000 to create and staff a “hotline” to provide information on the risks of lead-poisoning.
11. $1,000,000 to develop and staff a media campaign, including traditional and social media outlets, to increase awareness of the risks of lead-poisoning.
The resolution also directs the Milwaukee Water Works to collaborate with the Water Equity Task Force to develop a plan to replace 5,000 to 15,000 lead service lines each year for 10 years using federal infrastructure funding, and to ensure that the contracts to replace these lead service lines are awarded to local contractors, and the jobs for these replacements go to local workers struggling with employment.
Body
Whereas, Lead-poisoning of children in Milwaukee continues to be a public health concern; and
Whereas, Stay-at-home orders during the COVID pandemic likely increased the risks of lead poisoning and exacerbated blood-lead-poisoning among children, although it is believed lead-poisoning of children has been underreported due to the pandemic; and
Whereas, American Rescue Plan Act funding presents an opportunity to systemically and extensively address the root causes of lead-poisoning among children in Milwaukee; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that an appropriation of not more than $97,724,000 from funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act between 2021 and 2024 is authorized for use by the Health Department for programs to reduce lead-poisoning among the children of Milwaukee; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this appropriation shall be allocated to the following programs and expended in the amounts listed:
1. $50,000,000 for lead abatement of residential properties subject to lead-abatement orders.
2. $5,000,000 to fund a Deferred Repair Fund for low-income homeowners to make critical property maintenance repairs, including weatherization, roof and plumbing repairs, the elimination of electrical hazards and gas leaks.
3. $6,000,000 to temporarily house families displaced during lead abatement of their dwellings.
4. $5,000,000 allocated by the Health Department to community-based organizations to recruit, train, certify and place 200 lead-abatement workers and 50 lead-abatement supervisors from neighborhoods highly impacted by the COVID pandemic to work in new teams with local contractors. These shall be family-supporting jobs. Specialty training shall be provided in carpentry, aluminum wrapping, window installation and safe lead remediation.
5. $17,000,000 to fund the costs of reducing the threshold for ordering and abating lead-poisoning hazards in dwellings where a child with a blood-lead level of 20 mcg/dL or greater resides, to ordering and abating lead-poisoning hazards in any dwelling where a child with an blood-lead level of 5 mcg/dL or greater resides.
6. $5,000,000 to fund 32 lead outreach and education workers to staff clinics and go door-to-door in neighborhoods with high concentrations of blood-lead poisoning. Workers shall encourage families with children under the age of 6 and women of childbearing age to be tested for blood-lead poisoning, provide education and explain available services.
7. $1,000,000 to purchase and distribute 7,200 Healthy Home Kits containing water filters and replacement filters, and educational materials on lead-poisoning risks in the home to mothers in the Birthing Moms Pilot Project.
8. $3,500,000 to purchase 30,000 Healthy Home Kits and to fund the recruitment, training and supervision of 3 water filter technicians by community partners to distribute the kits in the broader community and install water filters.
9. $4,000,000 to hire 18 Licensed Practical Nurses to conduct 18,000 onsite, blood-lead level tests per year of children between age 3 and 5 attending Milwaukee Public Schools.
10. $224,000 to create and staff a “hotline” to provide information on the risks of lead-poisoning.
11. $1,000,000 to develop and staff a media campaign, including traditional and social media outlets, to increase awareness of the risks of lead-poisoning.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That $97,724,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act grant funds are appropriated to the Health Department which is authorized to:
1. Expend from the amount appropriated sums for programs to reduce lead-poisoning among the children of Milwaukee and incur costs consistent with the award date.
2. Expend from the grant budget funds for specific items of equipment.
3. Expend from the grant budget funds for training and out-of-town travel by departmental staff.
4. Enter into leases and subcontracts as needed to fulfill the purposes of the grant.
Further Resolved, That the Milwaukee Water Works shall collaborate with the Water Equity Task Force and report to the Common Council recommendations on the estimated costs of, and how to, replace 5,000 to 15,000 lead service water lines each year for the next 10 years using funds from the infrastructure portion of President Biden’s proposed American Jobs Plan; and, be it
Further Resolved, The Milwaukee Water Works shall collaborate with the Water Equity Task Force and report to the Common Council recommendations on ways to increase local contractor and subcontractor capacity to perform the increased number of lead-service-line replacements, and ensure a local workforce is trained and positioned to take advantage of the job opportunities created by the expected increase in lead-service-line replacements; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Comptroller is authorized and directed to establish the necessary accounts and accounting procedures to carry out the intent of this resolution.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 176813 – 2
Aaron Cadle
July 9, 2021