Committee approves parking and traffic controls, appointments, health and grant actions; multiple items placed on file

The Milwaukee Common Council Public Safety and Health Committee on Jan. 30 approved a series of ordinances, appointments and grant agreements and placed several communications on file. The committee handled routine traffic and parking controls, confirmed two commission nominees for further council consideration, and authorized public‑health and forensic grants and agreements.

Key votes and outcomes (at a glance)

- File 241‑448 (Parking controls ordinance): The committee approved installation of no‑parking signage on the northeast and southeast corners of the intersection of Willow Way and 43rd Street, no‑parking signage at the northwest corner of Vienna and 84th Street, and a tow‑away plaque at the southwest corner of Hayes and 8th St. (to assist access to a recently opened fire station). Motion moved by Alderman Peter Bergellis; adopted by unanimous consent (no objections).

- File 241‑449 (Traffic controls ordinance): The committee approved converting north/south yield signs to stop signs at Burrell and Van Norman, adding a stop sign for southeastbound Sharon and Congress (a T intersection), and converting Fillmore/Hayes/S 51st to an all‑way stop. Alderman Taylor moved passage; adopted by unanimous consent.

- File 241‑549 (Appointment): The committee approved the appointment of Tara Cavazos to the Safety and Civic Commission, nominated by Alderman Peter Bergellis; nominee spoke briefly about community safety work. Motion to confirm moved by Alderman Bergellis and seconded by Alderman Westmoreland; adopted by unanimous consent.

- File 241‑423 (Appointment): The committee recommended confirmation of Chrissy Fung to the Fire and Police Commission (nomination from Mayor Johnson). Fung described prior oversight work and community experience; Alder Moore moved confirmation. The committee forwarded the nomination to the full council (no objections recorded).

- File 230‑466 (Substitute ordinance): Committee approved proposed Sub A to require notification and reporting of SOPs and SOIs issued by chiefs of police and fire to the city clerk and the council, a codification of current reporting practice. Alder Moore moved passage; adopted by unanimous consent.

- File 241‑406 (DATCP local agent agreement): The committee authorized the Department of Health to renew a three‑year agent agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to perform licensing and inspections (food safety, recreational water and related inspections). Alder Taylor moved adoption; adopted by unanimous consent.

- File 241‑478 (WIC program partnership agreements): The committee authorized program partnership agreements needed for WIC service coordination. Alder Bergellis moved adoption; adopted by unanimous consent.

- File 241‑476 (NIBIN enhanced capacity initiative grant): The committee authorized acceptance of a Wisconsin DOJ grant (federal funds administered through Wisconsin DOJ) to fund overtime for National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) work for MPD forensics and fusion units; grant amount $62,420. Motion carried by unanimous consent.

- Items 11–18: Committee placed files 11 through 18 on file as no longer needed.

How the committee voted Most routine items were adopted by unanimous consent after brief presentations or staff explanation and without recorded roll‑call votes; committee chairs moved passage or placement on file and the chair announced there were no objections in each case.

Why this matters The actions make modest changes to neighborhood traffic and parking controls, advance two commission appointments for full‑council consideration, renew a public‑health inspection agreement and secure a forensic/grant funding stream for ballistic analysis. The committee also received informational material and SOP changes that it placed on file for further tracking.