Number
161645
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. PEREZ, BOHL, JOHNSON, HAMILTON, BAUMAN, MURPHY AND STAMPER II
Title
Resolution directing Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of State legislation requiring the Wisconsin State Legislature to require mandatory, periodic, and uniform testing for the presence of lead in the water of all State-licensed child care facilities and all schools (public, private, and charter).
Analysis
This resolution directs Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby for State law to require mandatory, periodic, and uniform testing for the presence of lead in the water of all State-licensed daycare facilities and all schools (public, private, and charter).
Body
Whereas, The State of Wisconsin licenses child care facilities; and
Whereas, The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction regulates all schools (public, private, and charter); and
Whereas, Safe drinking water for the infants and children of Wisconsin is of utmost importance; and
Whereas, The infrastructure used for delivering drinking water in many communities throughout Wisconsin includes privately-owned lead water-service lines connecting buildings to water mains, as well as interior plumbing in buildings that may leach lead into the drinking water; and
Whereas, Some buildings are at an increased risk for lead in drinking water due to characteristics of the plumbing at individual buildings; and
Whereas, Consumption of lead poses a significant risk to public health and safety, with infants, young children, and pregnant women being at the greatest risk of complications from exposure to lead; and
Whereas, Other communities, such as Flint, Michigan, and Washington, D.C., have been placed in the national spotlight for their residents being exposed to high levels of contaminants and unsafe drinking water, putting their residents at risk of public health crises; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee has taken up the issue of water safety in the form of replacing lead water-service lines and mandating testing for the presence of lead in the water of its pubic and charter schools, among other measures; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee urges the Wisconsin State Legislature to require mandatory, periodic, and uniform testing for the presence of lead in the water of all State-licensed child care facilities prior to licensure and all schools (public, private, and charter) prior to annual reporting; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the testing shall be conducted on all faucets used in food preparation, as well as all drinking fountains, at all State-licensed daycare facilities and all schools (public, private, and charter) annually; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the test results shall show that no drinking fountain and no faucet used in food preparation exceeds the lead levels set forth in the Lead and Copper Rule issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and, be it
Further Resolved, That if a child care facility or school (public, private, or charter) uses an outside vendor for food preparation, such as catering of hot lunch, the outside vendor shall conduct testing of all its food-preparation faucets and submit test results showing compliance with the EPA Lead and Copper Rule annually; and, be it
Further Resolved, That if any drinking fountain or any faucet used in food preparation produces test results not in compliance with the EPA Lead and Copper Rule, that drinking fountain or that faucet used in food preparation shall be immediately decommissioned until it is brought into compliance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That if a child care facility, a school (public, private, or charter), or an outside food vendor does not meet the required standard, it shall submit documentation of work being performed to rectify the deficiency no later than 60 days after the date of unsatisfactory test results; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby the State Legislature to require mandatory, periodic, and uniform testing for the presence of lead in the water of all State-licensed daycare facilities and all schools (public, private, and charter);
Further Resolved, That Common Council File Number 160538 is amended by inserting the following item in the document attached to the file and identified as “2017-2018 State Legislative Package Proposals”:
Health Department |
Public Health and Safety |
Seek introduction and passage of State legislation that requires mandatory, periodic, and uniform testing for the presence of lead in the water of all State-licensed child care facilities and all schools (public, private, and charter). |
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk is directed to send copies of this resolution to all members of Milwaukee’s delegation to the State Legislature.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB167457-1
Tea Norfolk
02/06/2017