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Meeting Name: PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Agenda status: Final
Meeting date/time: 6/28/2023 9:00 AM Minutes status: Final  
Meeting location: City Hall, Room 301-B
Amended June 27, 2023. Item #10 added.
Published agenda: Agenda Agenda Published minutes: Minutes Minutes  
Meeting video: eComment: Not available  
Attachments:
File #Ver.Agenda #TypeTitleActionResultTallyAction DetailsVideo
230310 01.ResolutionResolution determining it necessary to make various assessable public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the City engineering cost estimated to be $15,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $100,000.

Minutes note: Holly Rutenbeck - DPW
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass3:0 Action details Video Video
230311 02.ResolutionResolution determining it necessary to make various nonassessable public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the City engineering cost estimated to be $75,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $1,000,000.

Minutes note: Holly Rutenbeck - DPW
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass3:0 Action details Video Video
230312 03.ResolutionSubstitute resolution approving construction of nonassessable public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the City construction cost estimated to be $1,780,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $1,916,000.

Minutes note: Holly Rutenbeck - DPW
SUBSTITUTEDPass3:0 Action details Video Video
230312 1 ResolutionSubstitute resolution approving construction of nonassessable public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the City construction cost estimated to be $1,780,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $1,916,000.RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass3:0 Action details Not available
230328 04.ResolutionResolution directing the Department of City Development to prepare a resolution to vacate a portion of the east-west alley in the block bound by West Burnham Street, West Rogers Street, South 23rd Street, and South 24th Street, in the 8th Aldermanic District.

Minutes note: Ald. Zamarripa said that she had a robust meeting and that it seems that there are no objections.
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass3:0 Action details Video Video
230198 05.ResolutionResolution to inform the Common Council of the City’s Compliance Maintenance Annual Report for the year 2022.

Minutes note: Kurt Sprangers - DPW
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass3:0 Action details Video Video
230242 06.ResolutionResolution directing the Commissioner of Public Works to execute a document titled “Master Contract Work Order” with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the design of temporary and permanent street lighting and underground conduit plan sheets, quantities, miscellaneous quantity sheets, construction details and special provisions due to the impacts on City of Milwaukee street lighting facilities as part of the WisDOT project that proposes the resurfacing of West Forest Home Avenue roadway and reconstruction of pedestrian curb ramps between USH 45 to 45th Street, and to set up funds for design engineering at an estimated total cost of $27,573.43 with 100% grantor share.

Minutes note: David Tapia - DPW
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass3:0 Action details Video Video
230303 07.ResolutionResolution directing the Commissioner of Public Works to execute a document titled “1st Revision State/Municipal Agreement for a State-Let Highway Project” with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the programming, design, and construction of North Lake Drive (STH 32) from Newberry Blvd. to Edgewood Blvd.

Minutes note: David Tapia - DPW
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass4:0 Action details Video Video
230254 08.ResolutionResolution directing the Department of Public Works to develop plans for the use of the City’s “urban wood”.

Minutes note: Ald. Coggs, Chuck Schumacher and Jeff Kluslow from DPW
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass4:0 Action details Video Video
230290 09.ResolutionResolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to execute Project Agreements titled “State Municipal Agreement for a Transportation Alternatives Program Project” with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and to set up design engineering at a total estimated cost of $458,296 with an estimated City of Milwaukee share of $91,659 and a grantor share of $366,637 for two projects.

Minutes note: Mike Amsden - DPW
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass5:0 Action details Video Video
230046 110.ResolutionSubstitute resolution to vacate North Cass Street between East Mason Street north to East Wells Street, in the 4th Aldermanic District.

Minutes note: Amy Oeth, Dan Casanova and Lafayette Crump from the Department of City Development were present along with Steve Radke, Rebecca Villegas, Robert Greenstreet and Rodney Nelson presenting the "North Office Building Modernization". Neighbors in support: Mr. and Mrs. Buckley - 809 N Cass St. Beth Weirick, CEO of Downtown BID #21
SUBSTITUTEDPass5:0 Action details Video Video
230046 1 ResolutionSubstitute resolution to vacate North Cass Street between East Mason Street north to East Wells Street, in the 4th Aldermanic District.RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTIONPass5:0 Action details Video Video
191930 011.CommunicationCommunication from the Department of Public Works relating to the status of current and future operations.

Minutes note: Danielle Rodriguez - DPW - said there was a quick 15 minute storm Sat - Sun and that they received about 300 calls for service from trees and branches that were down. Ald. Stamper asked is she knows anything about the air quality. Ms. Rodriguez said that the DPW Commissioner has been in contact with the Health Department, that masks are available to the employees working outdoors and that they have offered accommodations if they feel adverse reactions. She added that if the index hit a certain number, DPW would have to bring the staff indoors.
HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIRPass5:0 Action details Video Video
211119 012.CommunicationCommunication from the Department of Public Works relating to the status of Traffic-Calming and Complete Streets projects to address reckless driving and to provide a safer infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Minutes note: Kevin Muhs - DPW gave the following report: -The contract is in the process of being executed for the Rapid Implementation Projects for this year (pinned posts projects) on the Sherman Park area, around UWM and protecting bike lanes on North Av. (east of the river). -The work have started on the last portion of the ARPA traffic calming projects (there are 8 projects and work have started on the first one which is on North Av from 20th to 34th). -TID Projects: engaging a consultant to start with the design phase around the Stadium Business District and slightly western-south part of the city. -Finalize contract and kick off for the Speed Reduction Initiative this weekend.
HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIRPass5:0 Action details Video Video
230289 013.CommunicationCommunication from the Milwaukee Department of Public Works - Parking Enforcement relating to a recent incident in which the body of a deceased individual was found in a towed vehicle.

Minutes note: Ald. Coggs and Ald. Chambers appeared. Danielle Rodriguez, Peter Knox and Tom Wozniak from DPW. Ald. Coggs said that a similar situation happened few years ago and that back then, they had communication files where DPW told them about the changes that they were going to make to ensure that never occurred again. She also said that she was surprised when she saw it on the news and that she wants to hear directly from DPW how this happened again. Ald. Chambers explained that he would like to bring this item to the Public Safety committee because it involves MPD and that he knows that tow lot were the ones who discovered the body days later. He also said that he would like to know some of the context. Ald. Chambers said that this was the case of a stolen vehicle that ran into a tree (Fond du Lac Av and 91st St) and that some individuals abandoned the vehicle and that the death body was tucked in behind the seat. Peter Knox (Tow Lot Manager) said that 4 years ago, a child was discover alive in the car and that this time the body of a deceased individual was found in the back seat. He said that the tow lot was paper driven before the incident from 4 years ago and that they have embraced technology ever since. He added that we have one of the most sophisticated tow lots in the United States, that other cities have come to copy what we do. He said that after the incident from 4 years ago, they have gone paperless, that every vehicle that is towed, is on camera on real time from the minute that is picked up by the tow company to the minute that is released to the tow lot. He explained that they do Uber style dispatching to the tow companies operating zones. He said that the driver of the tow truck is required to take a video all the way around the car before doing the process of hooking it up. Mr. Knox said that when the car comes in the tow lot, the staff also film the car all the way around and they do the visual inspection, also for pets and/or people and after the intake is completed, the vehicle is taken to a parking spot where its filmed again. He explained that before a vehicle is towed, MPD has their own policies when they are on scene and to clear the vehicle before it gets towed. He added that they have limitations because vehicles are compromised specially when they are MPD tows (about 10,000 vehicles/yr) and that there are safety issues because there are cars that are totally smashed in, you can not open the doors, the windows are extremely tinted with the airbags deployed which was the case for this particular vehicle. He said that they do visual inspections inside the vehicles when they are unlocked and they seem safe enough but that the problem with accident cars is that, there are safety issues around them like car malfunctions, they start on fire, that there is a big fear for fentanyl and that they try to do their best still. He also said that they are talking to the technology provider to embrace technology to test thermal cameras or x-ray mechanisms. Mr. Knox said that he cannot guarantee Ald. Coggs that this won't happen again because they cannot break into a car and that most of the cars that come into the lot are locked. He also said that he and his staff are very sad that this happened, that they know that technology works, that there can be policies and procedures in place but that it is not guarantee that individuals by themselves, do the right thing. He added that he has been brainstorming with technology about what can be done. Mr. Knox invited the committee members to come to the tow lot to see what they do and to show them about 50 cars that are not safe to go into. The members accepted the invitation and Ald. Chambers requested that the file be referred over to the Public Safety and Health Committee.
REFERRED WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION AND ASSIGNED TOPass5:0 Action details Video Video
230294 014.CommunicationCommunication from the Department of Public Works and the Department of Employee Relations relating to the creation of positions for the improvement of road maintenance.

Minutes note: Ald. Spiker requested that this item be held.
HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIRPass5:0 Action details Not available
230363 015.CommunicationCommunication from the Department of Public Works relating to the status of the reconstruction of E. Corcoran St. and the issuance of related permits.

Minutes note: James Washington - DPW Ald. Bauman said that the issuance of the permits have been resolved and confirmed by Mr. Washington.
HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIRPass5:0 Action details Video Video
230386 016.CommunicationCommunication from the Department of Public Works relating to the feasibility of various improvements to a portion of N. Water St.

Minutes note: Kevin Muhs (DPW) and Jim Plaisted (Historic Third Ward Organization) were present. Mr. Muhs said that the DPW Commissioner had a conversation with the Third Ward Organization to gather more information from them for determining the next steps and that they are also determining alternatives followed by the design and then construction. He also said that it is a significant project because there are a lot utilities on Water St., given the scale of what the organization is interested in doing particularly with the idea to move to curbs in to create more pedestrian space. He said that construction will start on 2026 (could be 2025). Mr. Plaisted said they are motivated with the traffic calming on Water St. with the continuing success of the Milwaukee Public Market which brings 2M of visitors each year. He also said that the traffic can be minimized as it is now with the high rise building process. He added that they are ready for when DPW is ready.
HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIRPass5:0 Action details Video Video