Number
161073
Version
Original
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BOHL
Title
Resolution directing the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division and the Common Council's Legislative Coordinator to seek introduction and passage of state legislation relating to Wisconsin’s expenditure restraint program.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division and the Common Council's Legislative Coordinator to seek introduction and passage of state legislation exempting City of Milwaukee expenditures associated with replacing the City’s 70,000 lead water service lines from calculations used for Wisconsin’s expenditure restraint program.
Body
Whereas, An estimated 70,000 properties in the City of Milwaukee are believed to have lead water service lines; and
Whereas, Lead water service lines pose some level of health risk to City residents; and
Whereas, The National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) recommended in August, 2015, that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revise the Lead and Copper Rule to require water utilities to proactively locate and replace all lead water service lines; and
Whereas, The NDWAC further recommended water utilities be required under the Lead and Copper Rule to increase public education and outreach efforts to consumers with lead service lines and other vulnerable populations (pregnant women and families with infants and young children), and increase the information available to the public; and
Whereas, The Board of the American Water Works Association voted unanimously in March, 2016, to support recommendations of the NDWAC to strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule, and ultimately remove all lead water service lines; and
Whereas, An ad hoc work group consisting of the Milwaukee Water Works, the Milwaukee Health Department, the Wisconsin Health Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources unanimously concluded the best, most responsible way to eliminate the health risk of lead in drinking water is the complete elimination of all lead water service lines; and
Whereas, The costs of replacing the City’s 70,000 lead water service lines and maintaining a robust public education and outreach program for vulnerable residents have been estimated between $350 and $750 million; and
Whereas, The costs associated with replacing the City’s 70,000 lead water service lines are extraordinary expenditures beyond the City’s usual and customary costs for providing services to residents; and
Whereas, The expenditures to replace the City’s 70,000 lead water service lines are made to promote for the public good, and are beyond the City’s usual and customary costs for providing services to residents; and
Whereas, Extraordinary expenditures incurred by the City during declared emergencies as well as public-good expenditures incurred for recycling, are currently exempted from calculations used for Wisconsin’s expenditure restraint program; and
Whereas, Changes in Wisconsin law are necessary to give the City of Milwaukee the latitude to incur the extraordinary and public good expenditures associated with replacing the City’s lead water service lines without being penalized under the provisions of Wisconsin’s expenditure restraint program; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division and the Common Council's Legislative Coordinator are directed to seek introduction and passage of state legislation exempting City of Milwaukee expenditures associated with replacing the City’s lead water service lines from calculations used for Wisconsin’s expenditure restraint program; and be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to all members of Milwaukee's delegation to the State Legislature.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB #167004-1
Aaron Cadle
November 21, 2016