Public Works Committee recommends a slate of projects, transfers and namings; several items held for follow-up

The Public Works Committee on March 20 considered a broad set of agenda items and made recommendations on appointments, public-improvement assessments, jurisdiction exchanges for signalized intersections, green infrastructure grants and honorary street namings. Several items were held for later review.

Key outcomes (motions adopted or actions taken by the committee):

- Appointment and reappointments: The committee recommended confirmation of Jeff Polinski to the Capital Improvements Committee (file 02/1735). Reappointments of Carrie Fix (file 241736), Matt O'Neil (file 241737) and Karl Baer (file 50241771) to the Citizens Advisory Committee on naming public buildings and facilities were also recommended.

- Special assessments and non-assessable improvements (file 241,715 and related files): Committee members called listed projects from the public-hearing notice. A resurfacing project on North 30 Seventh Street (First Aldermanic District) was recommended for approval after no public testimony. A concrete-alley reconstruction listed for a block between West Florence Avenue and related streets showed seven resident responses opposed and two in favor; Alderman Andreada Pratt moved to delete that project and the committee ordered deletion. Other projects (including alleys in the Sixth and Fifteenth Aldermanic Districts) were recommended for approval. Alderman Westmoreland moved to recommend adoption of the overall package as amended and the committee approved.

- Non-assessable public improvements (files 241,716 and 241,717): Substitutes were introduced and the committee recommended adoption of both substitute resolutions as amended.

- Signal-jurisdiction exchanges with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (files 241,713 and 241,751): The committee recommended resolutions that authorize the Commissioner of Public Works to execute agreements transferring operation and maintenance responsibility for signalized intersections adjacent to Interstate 94 (six intersections) and Interstate 43/94 (two intersections) to the Wisconsin DOT, to coincide with reconstruction tied to state freeway projects. DPW staff said the city will operate signals during construction and the state will assume operations afterward.

- Inflow/infiltration change order with Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District (file 241,705): The committee recommended authorization for a $87,000 change order to the private-property inflow and infiltration funding agreement for lateral grouting work in a bounded area that includes West Capitol Drive to West Concordia Avenue and North Sherman Boulevard to North 30 Eighth Street.

- Green solutions agreements with MMSD and Milwaukee Public Schools (file 241,702): The committee recommended authorizing the city to enter green solutions funding agreements and conservation easements with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Milwaukee Public Schools to support green-school projects (depaving, green infrastructure)…