PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

City Hall City of Milwaukee 200 East Wells Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 Meeting Minutes PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE ALD. ROBERT J. BAUMAN, CHAIR Ald. Russell W. Stamper, II, Vice-Chair Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa, Ald. Jonathan Brostoff and Ald. Lamont Westmoreland Staff Assistant, Yadira Melendez, 414-286-2775 Fax: 414-286-3456, Yadira.Melendez@milwaukee.gov Legislative Liaison, Jeffrey Osterman, 414-286-2262, joster@milwaukee.gov Monday, December 11, 2023 9:00 AM Room 301-B, City Hall Special The meeting was called to order at 9:05 am 1. 231290 Communication from the Department of Public Works relating to its new policy on the collection of Christmas trees. Sponsors: Ald. Bauman Rick Meyers - Sanitation Services Manager Council Members present: Ald. Perez, Ald. Spiker, Ald. Borkowski and Ald. Coggs. Mr. Meyers said the City of Milwaukee has collected Christmas trees for 30 years and that last January they received a "non-compliance" letter from the DNR. He added that the definition of yard waste was not sufficient enough or detailed enough and that is the reason why the City was dumping Christmas trees in the landfill. The DNR acknowledged that it was a fair question, reviewed the language and that the communication came out saying that Christmas trees have been banned from the landfills. Ald. Bauman said to Mr. Meyers that this committee has a communication file every cycle for DPW Operations and that this matter was not brought to this committee's attention. He added that they were informed the same way as the residents until the communication was released. Mr. Meyers said that they informed the Mayor's Office and the OCA's office. Ald. Brostoff said that the Council Members do not have the regular communications mechanisms to communicate with the constituents due the elections coming up and that DPW Operations have put them in a place where they are receiving the calls for something that the members did not even know about. Ald. Coggs asked who made the decision of not bringing this matter before the committee. Mr. Meyers said that it was him. Ald. Coggs said that he made a decision that affected the residents and that they did not have a chance to make a choice prior that communication release. She added that a public conversation was needed and that it was not up to him to make the call. City of Milwaukee Page 1 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes December 11, 2023 Ald. Perez asked if he shared his decision with the Commissioner. Mr. Meyers said that he did. Ald. Perez said that he wants to get it on the record that this decision is unacceptable because they received the information back in January and they did not informed this committee. Ald. Westmoreland said that people has been failed and that there must be a compromise now. He added that he mailed a 20,000 newsletters to residents back in November and that this information could have been included easily. Mr. Meyers said that they are reevaluating right now the strategy to follow. Ald. Bauman asked Mr. Meyers if it helps that the Common Council adopts an immediate resolution tomorrow directing DPW to pick the Christmas trees up. Ald. Borkowski said that this is a basic function of a city government which is customer service and that he has not heard any solution. Ald. Stamper asked what happens if we continue doing what we have done for 30 years. Mr. Meyers said that they want to comply with the state law and that they can schedule overtime when there is no snow and ice operations to take care of this. Ald. Bauman said that he suggests to pass an immediate resolution to pick up the Christmas trees for this year and let DPW to figure out the money and operation plan. Ald. Spiker said that the F&P Committee discussed the mulching program and that he is amazed about why this information was not shared with that committee either. He added that the time was wrong and that what the DNR wants the City of Milwaukee to do is fine but that it cannot been done this time because like Ald. Westmoreland said, the residents have been failed and we cannot let them down just to follow up a recommendation that was not handle in a timely manner. Ald. Brostoff asked to involve the DNR to have a discussion and to work together in a policy. Ald. Westmoreland said that he is also concerned about the dried tress starting fire which has to be considered too. Ald. Bauman said that a resolution will adopted tomorrow to handle this matter. A motion was made by ALD. STAMPER that this Communication be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote: Aye 5 - Bauman, Stamper, Zamarripa, Brostoff, and Westmoreland Aye 5- Bauman, Stamper, Zamarripa, Brostoff, and Westmoreland No 0 No 0 2. 231302 Communication relating to the status of the leaf collection. Sponsors: Ald. Bauman Rick Meyers - Sanitation Services Manager He said that the original rake to the curb deadline was on Nov. 16 and that it was extended to Nov. 26 when the collection period starts. He added that it is a work in progress, that they are about at 50% done and that they will continue working as long as the weather holds. Ald. Westmoreland said that this person received the letter (attached to the file) when the pile of leaves was on the curb before the deadline. He added that this notice is alarming people. Mr. Meyers said that the letter is an educational piece. Ald. Bauman asked if that letter was mailed out to residents. City of Milwaukee Page 2 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes December 11, 2023 Mr. Meyers said that it was not. Ald. Westmoreland said that he wants to acknowledge that the DPW always takes care of his requests in a timely manner. A motion was made by ALD. STAMPER that this Communication be HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. This motion PREVAILED by the following vote: Aye 5- Bauman, Stamper, Zamarripa, Brostoff, and Westmoreland No 0 The meeting adjourned at 10:01 am Yadira Melendez Staff Assistant This meeting can be viewed in its entirety through the City's Legislative Research Center at http://milwaukee.legistar.com/calendar. City of Milwaukee Page 3