Number
161598
Version
Original
Reference
Sponsor
Ald. Witkowski
Title
Resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County relating to the design, construction, and maintenance of storm water facilities and park improvements and amenities in Copernicus Park.
Analysis
This resolution approves a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County for the purpose of delegating the City’s and County’s responsibilities and specifying conditions relating to the design, construction, and maintenance of storm water facilities and park improvements and amenities to be undertaken by the City of Milwaukee in Copernicus Park in the City of Milwaukee. The storm water facilities are anticipated to help reduce property damage, economic losses, and unsafe conditions caused by historic and repeated flooding within the park and the surrounding neighborhood areas. The park improvements are anticipated to enhance use, circulation, and safety of existing park areas, while providing additional new amenities to improve the quality of the park.
Body
Whereas, Copernicus Park is a Milwaukee county Park located at 2150 West Klein Avenue in the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The properties in the vicinity of the intersection of South 20th Street and West Klein Avenue in the City of Milwaukee have experienced repeated surface flooding and basement back-ups during heavy storm events; and
Whereas, Heavy rain events overwhelm the City of Milwaukee storm sewer system causing surface flooding on City street and nearby properties, resulting in water entering basements by way of basement window wells and foundations drains causing property damage; and
Whereas, Said water in basements empties via basement floor drains, contributing excessive amounts of clearwater in local City sanitary sewers and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) sewers, causing additional basement back-ups in surrounding properties; and
Whereas, The City prepared a “Storm Water Management Plan”, and said plan recommended the construction of a storm water detention facility in Copernicus Park to mitigate the aforementioned flooding; and
Whereas, The City selected and funded a consultant to prepare the “Copernicus Park Master Plan”, hereinafter referred to as “Master Plan” and attached to this resolution by reference, that comprehensively incorporated the recommendations of the Storm Water Management Plan, and a variety of park amenities and recreation elements identified by key stakeholders that included City and County officials and the Copernicus Park Neighborhood Association; and
Whereas, The City and County entered into negotiations to create an MOU that establishes the scope of a “Storm Water Project” that includes several elements of the Master Plan, and also establishes the City’s and County’s responsibilities regarding the design, construction, and maintenance of the Storm Water Project; and
Whereas, The County has previously set forth a policy regarding the use of park land in cooperation with other governmental units by which the MOU is governed; and
Whereas, Milwaukee County File 16-702 authorizing the County to enter into the MOU was approved by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on February 2, 2017; and
Whereas, The City agrees to pay for the design, construction, and maintenance of the items detailed in the MOU, subject to available funding; now, therefore be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Commissioner of Public Works and the Comptroller are hereby authorized to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Milwaukee, the MOU being attached to this Common Council Resolution File Number 161598 and incorporated into this resolution by reference as though set forth in full, for the design, construction, and maintenance of park improvements and amenities and storm water facilities in vicinity of Copernicus Park is approved; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City is authorized to make minor changes to the MOU which do not change the intent of the agreement prior to the execution.
Further Resolved, That any of the potential future agreements which may be necessary as a result of execution of the MOU that may require financial consideration will be brought forth for Common Council consideration and approval.
Requestor
Department of Public Works
Infrastructure Services Division
Drafter
Environmental Engineering Section
NMJ/adj
February 22, 2017