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City-county briefing outlines proposal to add six EV charging banks on county property; committee raised safety, speed and siting questions
Summary
County and city staff briefed the Parks and Culture Committee about a city grant-backed plan to install six EV charging sites on Milwaukee County properties; the concept proposes converting four parking stalls at each site to chargers under a five-year vendor contract.
County sustainability and parks planners presented an informational report on a city-led proposal to install six electric vehicle (EV) charging sites on Milwaukee County properties, including park lots and the zoo. The briefing was informational only; no committee action was requested.
Sarah Toomsen, Milwaukee County Parks planning director, and Grant Helly, county director of sustainability, said the city of Milwaukee received federal discretionary grant funding for charging and fueling infrastructure and identified 53 priority sites across the city. Six priority sites fall on county-owned land; staff presented conceptual layouts that would convert four existing parking stalls at each site to charging stalls (including one ADA-accessible stall per location). The county's role would focus on right-of-entry, pavement maintenance, and coordination; the city and a contracted vendor would install and maintain the equipment under a proposed five-year vendor contract.
County and city staff said vendors would be expected to cover 20% of upfront costs and to assume utility costs for the chargers during the vendor term; the vendor procurement process will consider revenue-sharing proposals. Staff also noted We Energies easement needs for some sites and said any necessary easement or right-of-entry transactions would come to the committee for approval.
Supervisors raised several concerns: whether sites would use Level 2 or faster Level 3 chargers, overnight or multi-hour parking use at parks, lighting and safety at dimly lit lots, and whether parks are the appropriate locations for chargers that often are sited at commercial centers. Staff and a city representative said final technology choices remain under review and that the city's grant and vendor process will shape charger speed and related requirements; staff also said lighting may be included in project budgets for safety at selected sites.
This item was an informational presentation; county staff said they would continue negotiation around technology, siting, vendor terms and any required easements and would return with specific proposals if committee action is needed.
