NUMB:
951121
VERS:
SUBSTITUTE 1
REF:
951117
XXBY:
ALD. JOHNSON, HENNINGSEN, FRANK, RICHARDS AND E. F.
ANDERSON
TITL:
Substitute resolution authorizing and directing a
public hearing on the location of a new stadium and
authorizing and directing the appropriation of
$200,000 from the Common Council Contingent Fund for
environmental contamination studies of both the
Milwaukee Brewers' preferred stadium site and the
potential stadium site at the east end of the Park
Freeway in downtown Milwaukee.
ANLS:
- Analysis -
This resolution:
1. Authorizes and directs the appropriation of
$200,000 from the Common Council Contingent Fund
for environmental contamination studies of both
the Milwaukee Brewers' preferred stadium site
(the grounds of the current stadium) and the
potential stadium site at the east end of the
Park Freeway.
2. Authorizes the Department of Public Works to
expend the appropriated funds on said studies.
3. Authorizes and directs the Zoning, Neighborhoods
and Development Committee and the Public
Improvements Committee to hold a joint public
hearing on the subject of the location of a new
professional baseball stadium in Milwaukee.
BODY:
Whereas, The Milwaukee County Board has approved the
transfer of land necessary for development of a new
Milwaukee Brewers stadium on the grounds of the
existing Milwaukee County Stadium, the Brewers'
preferred site for a new stadium; and
Whereas, A memorandum of understanding negotiated by
representatives of the Brewers, Mayor John Norquist,
Milwaukee County Executive Thomas Ament and Governor
Tommy Thompson called for the City of Milwaukee and
Milwaukee County to each contribute $18 million
towards infrastructure costs relating to development
of a new stadium at the Brewers' preferred site, with
the State of Wisconsin contributing an additional $36
million; and
Whereas, The adopted 1996 City Budget includes $18
million in cash revenue funding for stadium-related
infrastructure improvements, with a footnote that no
funds are to be expended unless corresponding funding
is received from the State of Wisconsin or other non-
property-tax revenue source, or in the form of an in-
kind contribution; and
Whereas, Common Council Resolution File 951117,
adopted November 10, 1995, further restricts
expenditures from the stadium-related improvements
special capital account such that no funds may be
expended until non-property-tax revenue sources have
been identified and approved by the Common Council;
and
Whereas, The Milwaukee County Board did not include,
in the adopted 1996 County Budget, the $4 million
first installment on the County's infrastructure
contribution recommended by County Executive Ament;
and
Whereas, It is unlikely that the State of Wisconsin
will make a $36 million contribution to stadium-
related infrastructure costs in lieu of City and
County contributions; and
Whereas, A report prepared by the Milwaukee County
Board's environmental analyst in October, 1995,
estimated the total cost of environmental remediation
of the Brewers' preferred stadium site to be in the
range of $6 million to $12 million, meaning that the
State's current projection of $7 million for
environmental clean-up (out of the total $72 million
budgeted for infrastructure-related costs) is
probably too low; and
Whereas, A memorandum prepared by the Department of
City Development in October, 1995, stated that the
consulting firm which had prepared a report on
environmental clean-up costs drastically
underestimated the extent of contamination of the
Brewers' preferred site and the costs of remediating
that site; and
Whereas, Neither the State, the County nor any other
entity has indicated a willingness to pay for excess
environmental remediation costs that may be incurred
in the development of a new stadium at the Brewers'
preferred site; and
Whereas, The federal government may be willing to pay
for demolition of a portion of the Park Freeway in
downtown Milwaukee, thereby creating another
potential site for a new professional baseball
stadium; and
Whereas, A downtown stadium could have dramatic
economic development impacts on the city of Milwaukee
because such a stadium would be located in close
proximity to existing restaurants, entertainment,
retail activity and housing, and could stimulate
additional developments of these types in downtown
Milwaukee; and
Whereas, Construction of a new stadium at the
Brewers' preferred site would have a far smaller
impact on nearby businesses and would have much more
limited potential to stimulate new development in the
surrounding area; and
Whereas, A downtown stadium would be more accessible
to baseball fans and stadium employes, particularly
those who live in the city of Milwaukee or use public
transportation, than a stadium built at the Brewers'
preferred site; and
Whereas, A September, 1995, staff memorandum of the
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
prepared at the request of the City Engineer states
that "the central business district can accommodate a
new baseball stadium without a significant increase
in traffic congestion"; and
Whereas, It is likely that the cost of environmental
remediation of the site at the east end of the Park
Freeway would be far less than the cost of
environmental remediation of the Brewers' preferred
site; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee desires to retain a
professional baseball stadium and professional
baseball team in the Milwaukee metropolitan area; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee desires to insure that
development of a new professional baseball stadium
proceeds in a timely manner; and
Whereas, One way the City can support timely
development of a new stadium is by being able to
offer a plan for an alternative stadium site which is
less costly to develop than the Brewers' preferred
site, particularly in terms of environmental
remediation costs; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee desires to be prepared
to offer an alternative site for development of a new
professional baseball stadium in the event that
development of a new stadium at the Brewers'
preferred site does not occur because of lack of
available funding for public infrastructure costs or
excess environmental remediation costs; and
Whereas, The Common Council has not yet taken an
official position regarding a preferred site for a
new stadium and needs public input in order to make
an informed decision about such position; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of
Milwaukee, that the City Comptroller is authorized
and directed to transfer $200,000 from the Common
Council Contingent Fund (Account Number 09-910-8000)
to a special account (Account Number 09-910-8XXX)
within the Contingent Fund for the purpose of funding
environmental contamination studies of both the
Milwaukee Brewers' preferred stadium site and the
potential stadium site at the east end of the Park
Freeway; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Public
Works is authorized and directed to expend up to the
amount transferred for said studies; and, be it
Further Resolved, By the Common Council of the City
of Milwaukee, that the Zoning, Neighborhoods and
Development Committee and the Public Improvements
Committee are authorized and directed to hold a joint
meeting and public hearing at which citizens of
Milwaukee may voice their opinions on the location of
a new professional baseball stadium in Milwaukee.
ZDPT:
DFTR:
LRB95477.1
/jdo
11/29/95
CATT: