Latest news with #PublicWorksCommittee
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$5 million riverfront public plaza planned near Deer District. A Milwaukee panel approves
A $5 million plan to create a riverfront public plaza near downtown Milwaukee's Deer District has received an initial city approval. The Gary P. Grunau Memorial Plaza would be built on what's now a half-block of West Highland Avenue, between North King Drive and the Milwaukee River. That street would be replaced by a pedestrian plaza featuring places to sit, greenery and a walkway/ramp connecting to the pedestrian bridge and RiverWalk. The city would pay for 78% of the project's costs, or $3.9 million, under a development agreement being recommended for approval by the Common Council's Public Works Committee. That city funding is to come from a tax incremental financing district that uses property tax revenue generated by newer commercial developments near Fiserv Forum. The plaza's remaining $1.1 million costs are to be paid by the Downtown Riverwalk Business Improvement District No. 15, according to the agreement. That improvement district is funded through special assessments on downtown riverfront commercial properties. That agreement needs full council approval, which could come at its June 3 meeting. The Public Works Committee endorsed the agreement at its May 21 meeting. Work is to begin on the plaza in October. Its namesake, Gary Grunau, was a developer who died in 2019. He helped lead several large Milwaukee projects − including the RiverWalk. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@ and followed on Instagram, Bluesky, X and article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: $5 million public plaza on Milwaukee River wins first city approval Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Danville Public Works Committee votes to recommend changing voting rules
Danville's City Council is made up of 14 alderpersons, two from each ward. But according to Alderwoman Sherry Pickering, only five City Council meetings in 2024 were attended by all 14 members. To combat this attendance issue, members of the Public Works Committee debated Tuesday about making a change to Chapter 31 of Danville's City Code, which would make it easier for the council to pass proposals regardless how many members are in attendance. As it stands now, eight votes are required to pass a proposal. The Public Works Committee voted in favor of recommending the City Council change Chapter 31, making it so that only seven votes are required. Alderman-elect Doug Ahrens — who will be sworn in alongside other new members May 6 — spoke during the Public Comment section, saying that making such a change would 'diminish the role and the authority of aldermen that are the closest representatives to the people.' 'For the past 35 to 37 years, that's how it's worked. Everybody's known that it takes eight to get the job done, and sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. But that is the standards that were established, and I would hate to see the standards lowered,' Ahrens said. 'If aldermen can't get to the meetings, they shouldn't get paid. 'These meetings are when aldermen serve their role to represent their constituents and make votes that matter... Sometimes, if we have elected officials who aren't able to serve the role, it's time to step down.' Half of the council makes $225 a month, regardless how many meetings they attend, while the other half, who were more recently elected, make $350 a month, according to Public Works Committee Chairman Mike Puhr. In order to withhold pay for lack of attendance or change the pay system so that alderpersons are paid per meeting, the full council would have to vote on making such a change to the city's code, according to Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. Puhr spoke about the history of the issue, saying it had been discussed several times in the past few years, in part because the council was misinformed, he said, by previous Corporate Counsel. 'We were informed by the previous corporate counsel that we could operate on a majority of a quorum of aldermen present. We found out later that wasn't true, and since we don't have our own rules in place, it causes us then to have to go by the dictate of the state,' Puhr said. Alderman Mike O'Kane was opposed to making the change. 'I think this is a knee-jerk reaction to somebody not having a vote going their way on occasion,' O'Kane said. 'I still believe in the eighth vote. It makes us work harder … It helps the majority of our members ensure decisions reflect the view of the broader body of the whole Council, not just a handful that show up, not a small minority.' O'Kane was also against a portion of the proposed change which would have given the mayor a vote in certain circumstances. 'If less than the full City Council are present, a measure, ordinance, or resolution will pass with seven affirmative votes. The mayor may cast an eighth or seventh vote to pass a measure, ordinance, or resolution, whether or not the vote of the aldermen has resulted in a tie; or when a vote greater than a majority of the City Council is required by state statute or City ordinance to adopt an ordinance, resolution, or measure. The mayor shall not cast a vote if such vote would result in a tie,' the proposed change read. 'The people of the City of Danville did not vote for a mayor who could vote. They voted for him to run the city and the councilmen run the meetings and do the legislation, not him doing both. That'd be like if the president was going to the Congress and voting. It's just not right,' O'Kane said. Williams asserted that the change was not his idea, but one brought to him by Puhr and other council members. 'I was not a part of this committee. After they came to their conclusions, they did show it to me, but I was not a part of this committee,' Williams said, adding that he 'does not care either way.' Alderwoman Carolyn Wands supported the change, saying the Council was 'here to do business.' 'I've been at some [meetings] where where it's been very hard to to pass something … and I feel like we need to make some changes,' Wands said. 'I'm for this, basically because we've got to do business. We're put here to do business, not put it off. And I think too many times, things have been tabled and sent back.' A far as the possibility of sick alderpersons attending meetings virtually, via video call or conference call, Williams said the current city hall building is not equipped for such technology. 'It's not a lack of desire, it's a lack of not having it. And given that we're gonna move within a year, we don't want to invest in the new technology to make it better,' Williams said. Aside from ensuring working technology, the City Council would also have to apply to the Attorney General's office for permission to allow alderpersons to attend virtually, and each physical absence would have to be approved. Moreover, there are some stipulations that require a quorum of physical attendees in order to pass proposals, Williams said. The decision of changing Chapter 31 will be left up to the City Council to decide at their next meeting Tuesday, April 15.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Approval recommended to create district for water main replacement project in Jamestown
Mar. 28—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Public Works Committee recommended approval in a 4-0 vote to create a district for the 2025 water main project. Councilman David Schloegel was not present at the meeting on Thursday, March 27. The project will replace deteriorated water mains and associated infrastructure. Those replacements are planned for the following areas: * between the 1100 and 1300 blocks of 4th Avenue Southwest * between the 400 block Southwest and 200 block Southeast of 10th Street/U.S. Highway 52 * between the 800 and 1000 blocks of 1st Avenue South * 400 block of 7th Street Southwest * between the 1100 and 1600 blocks of 4th Avenue Northwest In related business, the Public Works Committee unanimously recommended approval of the engineer's report and cost estimate for the 2025 water main improvement district for the project. The estimated cost of the project is more than $4.5 million. The Jamestown Police and Fire Committee unanimously approved without recommendation a bid for firefighting gear in the amount of $125,000. Jamestown Fire Chief Jim Reuther said he received three quotes with the low bid going to Grand Forks Fire Equipment for $125,000 for 26 sets of pants and coats, 26 helmets, 52 hoods and 52 pairs of structural firefighting gloves. Dinges Fire Co.'s quote was over $150,000 and Clarey's Safety Equipment's quote came in at more than $126,000. Reuther said the quotes did not include a cost estimate to ship the gear to Jamestown. He said he will try to get a quote for shipping by April 7 when the Jamestown City Council meets. "It's hard to determine that at this time," he said, referring to the quote for shipping the gear. He said the gear for firefighters comes in different sizes, making it difficult to get an exact quote for shipping. In related business, Reuther told the Police and Fire Committee that equipment was ordered to wash and dry the gear. He said the cost for the equipment was over $24,000. He said about $36,000 is left from Clarice Liechty's donation of $185,000 to the Jamestown Fire Department for new turnout gear and equipment to care for it. He said there will be additional costs to install the equipment to care for the turnout gear. Reuther applied for a $185,000 federal grant through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program in December for 26 sets of turnout gear, The Jamestown Sun reported in February. When Liechty learned Reuther was working on a grant application, she felt it was important to provide the money when she learned about the Jamestown Fire Department's need. Citywide curbside cleanup week in Jamestown will be held May 12-17. Shawn O'Neill, sanitation foreman, said cleanup week is mostly for construction and demolition debris and household items like a couch, chair or mattress. He said clothing and shoes can be donated. He said residents need to remember to pound nails down or remove them from any wood. Anything left behind by city workers during cleanup week is the resident's responsibility to dispose of the items. O'Neill also said the sanitation department has a program where people can call the department to pick up items. He said the department will tell residents what it costs to pick the items up and a time will be scheduled for curbside pickup. He said residents then pay the department for the service.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Orleans sanitation contractors hope to take back French Quarter
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Two New Orleans sanitation contractors are ready to get back to work in the French Quarter, but some people, including some city council members, would rather keep the company that's doing the job now. IV Waste was hired under an emergency contract in December of 2024 to take over the job for one year. 'I know y'all declared an emergency because we hadn't resolved our differences,' said Troy Henry, the managing partner for Henry Consulting. 'Those differences are no more.' Henry appeared before the council's Public Works Committee while seated next to Alvin Richard, the owner of Richard's Disposal, Henry's subcontractor. Louisiana attorney general to file motion on sentencing in Colbert case The two business owners asked that the New Orleans City Council sign the contract that would once again allow them to pick up trash and clean the French Quarter. 'And so, the bottom line is, we're just asking for an opportunity to give the second string, an opportunity to come in and show you that we can perform as well as the one you have now,' Richard. Per the emergency contract, IV Waste began servicing the French Quarter on Dec. 23, 2024, working through the Sugar Bowl, the terror attack, the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. 'The product being presented in the French Quarter right now is top notch,' explained Councilman Freddie King. 'No one is complaining. It's an emergency contract set for a year. That year will be up in December. I have no problem moving forward after December.' The council's refusal to award Henry the contract in December stemmed from the dispute between him and Richard. However, Henry says the two reached a solution that met both of their needs and was disappointed to hear the reluctance. 'We were the successful bidder. We won,' said Henry. 'Using any excuse as an opportunity to not have the successful bidder now be able to provide the services is very disappointing and, in my opinion, unfair.' In response to the meeting, Sidney Torres, the owner of IV Waste, released the following statement: Man dies following Milan neighborhood fire We will continue to give the service that the residences and businesses have been accustomed to since December 23. As a resident and business owner in the French Quarter, it is so important that the level of service continues to the levels that IV Waste has been providing. We believe the city and council will hear the voices of the businesses and residences that are beyond pleased with the level of services we are providing. Councilmembers ended up agreeing to bring the issue to the full council for farm fixes collapsed berm that led to massive flooding in Tijuana River Valley Federal judge halts execution of Louisiana death row inmate Jessie Hoffman Woman allegedly tries to smuggle crystal meth under belly flap University of Pittsburgh student missing in Dominican Republic: What we know Plastics most prevalent in trash flows from Tijuana into US Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Almost 1 million electric Lime and Spin scooter rides were taken in Milwaukee in 2024. Here's how much cash they brought in
Since they returned to Milwaukee full-time in mid-May, electric Lime and Spin scooters have been incredibly popular. If you live in the city, you probably already know this. But, did you know that almost 1 million electric scooter trips were taken in Milwaukee between May 17 and December 31, 2024? That's according to information presented at Wednesday morning's Public Works Committee meeting by Department of Public Works senior transportation planner Zac Roder. Between mid-May and the end of the year, 971,980 scooter trips were recorded in Milwaukee, he said. A DPW report released Friday said people traveled 1,459,089 miles on the scooters last year. The median trip length was 0.9 miles. The highest-traffic areas were downtown and the east side. Roder said the scooter program netted the city more than $559,000 in revenue last year ― almost $160,000 more than DPW officials initially expected. Operators pay the city $100 for each scooter on the ground and 25 cents for each recorded trip. The revenue earned from the program goes into the city's transportation fund for things like "scooter-related activities" and "protected bikeways," DPW said last year. Between May 17 and Sept. 8, 588,294 trips on Lime and Spin scooters were recorded in the city ― an average of over 4,800 trips per day. This means that over 383,600 trips were taken in the fall and winter. That's still over 3,365 trips per day. This is the first year the scooters have operated year-round. Roder added that there have been around 13,000 trips in January, and there are currently about 550 scooters deployed in Milwaukee. More were deployed in the warmer months. To encourage proper parking, 86 new scooter parking corrals were installed throughout the city in 2024, bringing the total to 205, the DPW report said. The DPW received 172 complaints about the scooters last year, including 100 about improper parking and 52 about sidewalk riding. More than 74,500 warnings were issued to riders, 262 user fines were issued and 40 users were suspended or banned, according to the report. In mid-August, Lime hired a full-time "presentation specialist," whose responsibility it is to "patrol the city and fix improperly parked vehicles," Roder said in September. It also hired a staff member to review the end-of-trip photos users submit to the app to ensure their scooter is parked correctly after a ride. That staff member issues warnings and fines to those who park incorrectly. After an August story from the Journal Sentinel Public Investigator team highlighting how improperly parked scooters were blocking the sidewalk for disabled and elderly pedestrians, Lime launched its "Parking Blitz" plan. It introduced mandatory parking zones in high-traffic areas such as the Historic Third Ward, Brady Street, North Avenue and South Shore Park. The mandatory parking zones are highlighted for riders in the Lime app. Now, users can't end their rides outside of a mandatory parking zone in these high-traffic areas. Lime and Spin's Access Pass programs ― which offer free or discounted rides to low-income individuals ― were also highlighted in the report. DPW said 615 residents enrolled in the programs in 2024, and they took 12,348 trips. Access Pass members, who must prove their income status for approval, saved more than $37,700. The city also requires Lime and Spin to offer automatic 40% discounts for all trips starting in "Equity Zones." These are Zone 4 on Milwaukee's northwest side and Zone 5 on the near-south side. Spin also offers discounted rides in Zone 3, located on the north side, according to the DPW website. View a Zone map here. More than 234,000 automatically discounted trips were taken in Equity Zones in 2024, saving riders $440,145, DPW said. More: Milwaukee offers discounted Lime and Spin scooter rides for low-income riders. Do you qualify? This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee electric scooter rides popular, revenue surprising in 2024
