Number
091138
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
090239
Sponsor
Ald. Hines, Murphy, Bauman, Wade and Puente
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Superintendent of the Milwaukee Water Works to request that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin establish a reduced water rate for water-intensive businesses that relocate to or expand within the city of Milwaukee and meet specific job creation and water use criteria.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Milwaukee Water Works to request that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin establish a reduced water rate for water-intensive businesses that relocate to or expand within the City of Milwaukee and meet specific job creation and water use criteria.
Body
Whereas, Under Common Council File Number 090239 the Superintendent of the Milwaukee Water Works submitted an application for a water rate increase to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin; and
Whereas, The Common Council and Mayor desire to have in place a reduced water rate that would attract water-intensive businesses bringing new jobs to the City of Milwaukee, and that would encourage existing water-intensive businesses to expand water use and add new jobs within the City of Milwaukee, provided such jobs meet the “living wage” standard as defined by Section 310-13, Milwaukee Code of Ordinances; and
Whereas, The City encourages economic development and job creation through various incentives and programs, including Tax Incremental Districts and the Development Fund, and now desires to expand potential incentives to include reduced water rates; and
Whereas, Reduced water rates have been informally referred to as a “Water Attracting Valued Employers” rates, or a “WAVE” rates; and
Whereas, A WAVE rate could result in long-term benefit to the taxpayers of the City of Milwaukee by adding tax base and creating jobs and to the ratepayers of the Milwaukee Water Works by absorbing some of the available excess capacity and mitigating costs related to that excess capacity; and
Whereas, Specific criteria which a business would need to meet to qualify for a WAVE rate would have to be proposed to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of The City of Milwaukee that the Superintendent of the Milwaukee Water Works is directed to petition the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to establish a WAVE rate for water intensive businesses - the term and other considerations of which are described in Exhibit 1 as attached to this resolution; and, be it
Further Resolved, That, if granted by the Public Service Commission, businesses relocating to the City of Milwaukee that meet all the criteria set forth in this same Exhibit 1 shall qualify for the WAVE rate; and, be it
Further Resolved, That, if granted by the Public Service Commission, existing businesses located in the City of Milwaukee that are expanding and meet all the criteria set forth in this same Exhibit 1 shall also qualify for the WAVE rate; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Milwaukee Water Works will report to the Common Council not later than December 31, 2012, on the role WAVE rates, if granted by the Public Service Commission, have played and are playing in attracting new businesses to Milwaukee or encouraging expansion of business already located in Milwaukee.
Requestor:
Department of Public Works
Milwaukee Water Works
Drafter:
Water Administration
CML:ps
December 16, 2009
LRB #10006-2
ANC
01/20/10