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) at multiple MPS properties.

- Alley vacation (file 241,029): The committee recommended adoption of a resolution to vacate a remnant dead-end alley in the block bounded by East Mineral Street, East Washington Street, South Barclay Street and the railway at the East Side; the applicant, Mill Valley Recycling, said it will continue to use the vacated alley as private access.

- Honorary street namings (files 241,568 and 241,719): The committee recommended adoption of honorary street-name resolutions to name a stretch of North 50 Sixth Street for Pastor Botha Howard (first district) and to name a stretch of West Hampton Avenue for Bishop Sedgwick Daniel (Fifth Aldermanic District); DPW staff said signs will be paid by applicants.

- Telecommunications lease amendments (files 241,658 and 241,659): Proposed amendments to lease agreements with T-Mobile Central LLC for antenna placement at the Zeiler Municipal Building (841 N. Broadway) and the South Side Health Center (1640 S. 20th St.) were held to the call of the chair. Committee members asked staff to confirm whether the carrier is current on other city lease obligations before the committee acts.

Items held to the call of the chair for later consideration included the substitute resolution on the average private-side cost (item 8, later addressed during the meeting), two T‑Mobile lease amendments (items 13 and 14), and other operational-status items (item 21). The committee also pulled the dockless scooter / Hop status update to the call of the chair for subsequent follow-up.

Committee procedure followed the council custom of voice motions; many approvals were recorded as "hearing no objection, so ordered" rather than an individually recorded roll-call tally.

Speakers

- Alderman Jose G. Bauman — Chair, Public Works Committee (government). First referenced at 0.40. - Alderman Andreada Pratt — Member (government). First referenced at 11.68. - Alderman Lamont Westmoreland — Vice chair (government). First referenced at 11.68. - Alderman Wilent Taylor — Member (government). First referenced at 29.80. - Jeff Polinski — Nominee for Capital Improvements Committee; former DPW commissioner/city engineer (citizen). First referenced at 70.91. - Holly Rittenbach — Department of Public Works (staff) (government). First referenced at 219.62. - Scott Reimbach — Department of Public Works (staff) (government). First referenced at 681.48.

Authorities

- other: City resolutions and agenda files referenced by number (e.g., files 02/1735, 241,715, 241,716, 241,717, 241,703, 241,705, 241,702, 241,713, 241,751, 241,029, 241,568, 241,719, 241,658, 241,659). These were referenced directly in committee discussion.

Actions (selected individual items)

- kind: appointment identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"02/1735"} motion: "Recommend confirmation of Jeff Polinski to the Capital Improvements Committee." mover: "Alderman Jose G. Bauman" outcome: "approved"

- kind: other identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241715"} motion: "Consider notice-listed assessable public-improvement projects; approve some projects, delete one project by motion." mover: "Alderman Andreada Pratt" outcome: "approved as amended (one project deleted)" notes: "A resurfacing project on North 30 Seventh Street approved; an alley project between West Florence Avenue and related streets was deleted after 7 resident responses opposed and 2 in favor; other listed projects were approved or recommended as shown on the public-hearing notice."

- kind: ordinance (exchange of jurisdiction) identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241713"} motion: "Authorize Commissioner to execute agreements with Wisconsin DOT for exchange of jurisdiction for six signalized intersections adjacent to I-94 (city to state)." mover: "Alderman Wilent Taylor" outcome: "approved" notes: "City will operate during construction; the state will operate after reconstruction."

- kind: ordinance (exchange of jurisdiction) identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241751"} motion: "Authorize Commissioner to execute agreements with Wisconsin DOT for exchange of jurisdiction for two signalized intersections adjacent to I-43/94." mover: "Alderman Andreada Pratt" outcome: "approved"

- kind: contract_award identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241705"} motion: "Authorize Commissioner to execute $87,000 change order to private-property inflow/infiltration funding agreement with Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District for lateral grouting work in specified area." mover: "Alderman Lamont Westmoreland" outcome: "approved"

- kind: other identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241702"} motion: "Authorize city to enter green solutions funding agreements and conservation easements with MMSD and Milwaukee Public Schools for MPS green-schools projects." mover: "Alderman Lamont Westmoreland" outcome: "approved"

- kind: vacation identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241029"} motion: "Recommend adoption of resolution to vacate a remnant east-west alley bounded by East Mineral, East Washington, South Barclay and the railway; applicant Mill Valley Recycling to retain private access." mover: "Alderman Wilent Taylor" outcome: "approved"

- kind: resolution identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241568"} motion: "Recommend adoption of honorary street name Pastor Botha Howard for a section of North 50 Sixth Street." mover: "Alderman Andreada Pratt" outcome: "approved"

- kind: resolution identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241719"} motion: "Recommend adoption of honorary street name Bishop Sedgwick Daniel for a section of West Hampton Avenue." mover: "Alderman Andreada Pratt" outcome: "approved"

- kind: other identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241658"} motion: "Amend lease agreement with T-Mobile Central LLC for antenna placement at Zeiler Municipal Building — held to call of the chair pending collection of carrier payment status." mover: "not specified" outcome: "held"

- kind: other identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"241659"} motion: "Amend lease agreement with T-Mobile Central LLC for antenna placement at South Side Health Center — held to call of the chair pending collection of carrier payment status." mover: "not specified" outcome: "held"

Other procedural actions: multiple routine reappointments and housekeeping items were recommended for confirmation by voice vote; several agenda items (including item 8 originally and later addressed, item 21 operations status and item 23 dockless scooter/HOP status) were held to the call of the chair for later follow-up.

Speakers (additional)

- Jeff Polinski — Nominee, Capital Improvements Committee; former City Engineer and former Commissioner of Public Works (citizen). First referenced at 70.91. - Holly Rittenbach — DPW staff (government). First referenced at 219.62. - Scott Reimbach — DPW staff (government). First referenced at 681.48.

Proper_names

[{"name":"Jeff Polinski","type":"person"},{"name":"Mill Valley Recycling","type":"business"},{"name":"Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District","type":"agency"},{"name":"Milwaukee Public Schools","type":"organization"},{"name":"T-Mobile Central LLC","type":"business"},{"name":"Divine Temple Church","type":"organization"},{"name":"Pastor Botha Howard","type":"person"},{"name":"Bishop Sedgwick Daniel","type":"person"}]

Clarifying_details

[{"category":"assessments","detail":"Notice-listed projects called in public hearing; property owner billing: full amount due within 45 days or may be paid on tax roll over 10 years at 9.5% interest if assessment is at least $125","value":45,"units":"days","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Holly Rittenbach"},{"category":"change_order","detail":"Inflow/infiltration change order amount","value":87000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Department of Public Works"},{"category":"green_solutions","detail":"MMSD annual grant funding supports MPS green-schools program typically for five schools each year","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Tony Jazak"}]

Meeting_context

{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":20,"duration_minutes":255,"items_count":23},"implementation_risk":"low","history":[{"date":"2025-03-20","note":"Committee considered items including assessments, signal jurisdiction transfers, green solutions agreements, and audit report."}]}

searchable_tags

["appointments","assessments","signal transfers","green infrastructure","honorary street name","T-Mobile","parking audit","lead service line"]

provenance

{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"00.40","local_start":0,"local_end":140,"evidence_excerpt":"Okay. Good morning everybody. We will call to order the regular meeting of the Public Works Committee for Thursday, 03/20/2025 at 09:03 a. M. I'm Alderman Bauman, Chair of the Committee.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"7615.46","local_start":0,"local_end":80,"evidence_excerpt":"And hearing no objections, so ordered. That concludes our agenda, we're adjourned.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}