Number
180527
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
171053
Sponsor
ALD. KOVAC, JOHNSON, WITKOWSKI
Title
Substitute resolution expressing support for the City of Milwaukee’s Framework for Green Infrastructure Plan.
Analysis
This resolution expresses support for the City of Milwaukee’s Framework for Green Infrastructure Plan, including support for the adoption of higher regional thresholds for the use of green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff.
Body
Whereas, During wet-weather events, large volumes of stormwater enter the local sewerage system, increasing the volume of wastewater that the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) must convey and treat; and
Whereas, During wet-weather events, stormwater can overwhelm the local sewerage system, causing combined sanitary and stormwater flows to back up through floor drains and flood basements of homes and businesses; and
Whereas, Green infrastructure, which refers to any combination of landscaping, facilities or equipment that captures rain, at or near the site where it falls, by infiltration into the soil, evapotranspiration by plants, or storage for beneficial re-use, reduces the volume of stormwater in the sewerage system, thereby reducing water treatment needs, improving water quality, reducing grey (artificial) stormwater infrastructure needs and reducing flooding; and
Whereas, Green infrastructure may include rain gardens, constructed wetlands, green and blue roofs, bioswales, landscaping with deeply rooted plants, rain barrels and cisterns, trees, soil amendments, permeable surfacing and the removal of water-infiltration impeding structures or pavements; and
Whereas, Beyond reducing stormwater runoff, utilization of green infrastructure confers a host of co-benefits, including:
1. Increasing available water supplies.
2. Increasing groundwater recharge.
3. Reducing salt use.
4. Reducing energy use.
5. Improving air quality.
6. Reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
7. Reducing urban heat island effects.
8. Improving local wildlife habitats.
; and
Whereas, Additional co-benefits of green infrastructure may include improving community livability, cohesion and aesthetics, increasing recreational opportunities, reducing noise pollution, and increasing public education and urban agricultural opportunities; and
Whereas, MMSD is considering adopting new regional thresholds that would encourage the implementation of green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff; and
Whereas, MMSD supports the use of green infrastructure in Milwaukee through its Green Solutions grant program, which has provided funding to the City of Milwaukee to implement green infrastructure, including bioswales, green alleys and bio-retention areas; and
Whereas, To further promote the use of green infrastructure in Milwaukee, the Common Council directed the Environmental Collaboration Office to develop a comprehensive green infrastructure plan for Milwaukee’s CSA (Common Council File Number 171053); now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Framework for Green Infrastructure Plan developed by the Environmental Collaboration Office in partnership with the Department of Public Works, the Department of City Development and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, in substantially the same form as attached to this file, is approved; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council supports the City’s use of grant funding from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District to construct green streets and green schoolyards and for the construction of shared stormwater facilities, as well as to developing a policy for providing one-time grants to commercial and non-profit property owners for implementing green infrastructure; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council supports the adoption of new regional thresholds by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to encourage the use of green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff.
Requestor
Department of Administration - Environmental Collaboration Office
Drafter
LRB171545-2
Dana Zelazny
September 5, 2018