Milwaukee committee approves alley repaving projects after public hearing on assessments, safety and billing terms

The Milwaukee Public Works Committee on a motion adopted resolutions to reconstruct several alleys across multiple aldermanic districts and to levy assessments on adjacent property owners, after a public hearing in which nearby residents urged traffic-calming measures and questioned assessment terms.

Alderwoman Lele Coggs, chairwoman of the Public Works Committee, opened the hearing on File 241881, a resolution authorizing the levying of assessments and construction of public improvements at various locations. Holly Rutenbeck of the Department of Public Works advised the committee on the assessment process and payment options. "For those projects approved this morning, a bill will be sent to each property owner sometime after completion of the work. Within 45 days upon receipt of the bill, the full amount may be paid without interest," Rutenbeck said. She added that if a bill is not paid within the 45-day period, a 9.5% simple interest per year will be added and that assessments of at least $125 may be placed on the tax roll and paid over 10 years at the same interest rate. The aldermanic office indicated it would request late billing so that bills would not be sent before Jan. 1, 2027.

Why it matters: The alley projects will reconstruct aging pavement and address drainage in places residents said have been neglected for decades. But neighbors said the assessment terms and local safety conditions — including speeding and repeated injuries — weighed heavily in public testimony during the hearing.

Several specific alley projects were discussed in detail at the hearing, including:

- Second Aldermanic District: alley between West Congress Street and West Marion Street (North 70th/76th area). Property owner Adrian Stewart (4336 North 70 Sixth Street) and other neighbors said the alley functions as a high-speed cut-through and urged consideration of traffic calming such as speed bumps. Stewart said the alley is "used mostly by renters" and told the committee, "my son got hit... it's a speedway." Another neighbor, Mary Forlenza (4345 North 70 Fifth Street), described chronic flooding and long delay since the alley's last reconstruction in 1960, calling repaving "a long time in coming." The committee heard that the alderman supports the project based on a postcard survey and in-person testimony.

- Thirteenth Aldermanic District (South Honey Creek/Lorraine/Melinda/West Wanda area): multiple residents including Carl Pesher (5638 South Honey Creek Drive), Shannon Bowman (5674 South Honey Creek Drive) and Don Berno (5651 South Melinda Street) testified. Bowman described two injuries she tied to alley potholes — a fractured ankle in October 2023 and a subsequent sprain in March 2025 — and said television coverage prompted earlier patching. She asked whether the alley sits over a creek; DPW staff said no creek is known to run under the homes. Bowman also presented photographs of the alley condition; Alderman Brower moved to make those photos part of the record and the motion carried.

- Fifth Aldermanic District and others: committee members moved adoption of other alley projects in the packet with relatively limited public testimony. For one Fifth District alley, staff reported 20 impacted properties with 11 in support, one opposed, and aldermanic support.

Technical and financial details discussed by DPW staff include that alley recovery ratios are set at 50% of construction cost to be assessed to adjacent property owners, and that the city generally fronts construction costs and then bills property owners. Rutenbeck said where permeable pavement will be used, it will be limited to a center 4-foot strip in reconstructed concrete alleys to accommodate truck tires and preserve durability. She also said full reconstructions carry a five-year warranty for defects tied to construction; high-impact paving projects have a three-year guarantee. On the choice of permeable pavement, DPW staff said the design includes a drainage layer and that the approach is intended to reduce surface runoff impacts and help stormwater facilities.

Residents voiced doubts about long-term durability and equity of assessments. Bowman and others asked why the assessment interest rate is as high as 9.5% and whether rates could drop if costs decline before billing; Rutenbeck said assessed amounts are "locked in with the amount that is stated today" and emphasized that late billing would delay when interest could begin to accrue. Several residents also asked about continued garbage collection, heavy truck traffic and whether concrete would withstand garbage truck weight; DPW said the reconstruction and curing process would allow garbage collection to continue and that the permeable center strip design is intended to accommodate truck tires.

Committee action and next steps: Committee members moved adoption of the alley projects after public testimony. Several committee members noted resident concerns about the interest rate and encouraged continued advocacy with the Common Council on assessment rules. The aldermanic office said it would request delayed billing so that property owners would not receive bills before Jan. 1, 2027. If the projects proceed as approved, construction would be scheduled in 2025 and affected property owners would receive construction notices with parking and collection guidance shortly before work.

Ending note: While the committee approved the projects on the agenda, residents pressed for traffic-calming measures, clearer communication about warranty and billing, and attention to localized drainage issues. Committee members recorded support for the repaving while noting opposition to the current assessment interest structure that governs billing.