YOUTH COUNCIL

200 E. Wells Street City of Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 Meeting Minutes YOUTH COUNCIL Wednesday, August 23, 2017 4:30 PM Room 301-B, City Hall 1. Call to Order at 4:52PM 2. Roll Call Present 10 - Haywood II, Hoeschen, Lofton, McDade, Gloria Gonzales, Brown, Gambrell-Toliver, Truss, Alcantara and Dunn 3. Youth Council Priority - Bus Driver Safety Appearing: David Solik-Fifarek - MPS Director of Business & Transportation Services Ryan Elbert - Transportation Manager President Haywood, II said that one of the priorities of the Youth Council has been bus driver safety; he asked how the transportation division of MPS is ensuring the safety of bus drivers and students riding and crossing streets among the buses. Mr. Solik-Fifarek started by saying that MPS has nine bus companies servicing about 50,000 students ranging from Kindergarten through 12th grades. There are about 2000 bus routes regulated by a set criteria set by MPS to work in conjunction with state and federal guidelines. In regards to the Stop Arm, the Milwaukee Common Council proposed change to the ordinance that regulates the Stop Arm that would require Milwaukee to utilize the Stop Arm. Mr. Solik further said that Milwaukee is exempt from using the Stop Arm; one of the reason for this exclusion is the existence of multiple lane roads, making it difficult to ensure two or more lanes of traffic will stop. In rural sectors there is different application to this ordinance. Another part of safety will be driving habits exhibit by bus drivers and the safeties of the trajectory from the house to the bus stop. Mr. Hoeschen asked about a past year incident were a student was hit by a bus driver while in the cross walk the street that resulted in a fatality. In terms of ensuring that drivers are watching for the pedestrian’s safety Mr. Solik said that although drivers have to adhere to specific standards before they are hire, it does not preclude them from not being attentive, although MPS encourages its user to communicate ways for better service students and pedestrians that may not be necessarily MPS students. He did point out that the bus drivers’ accident rate is exceptionally low. Members Dunn said that the issue appears to be more of an enforcement nature of the rules for drivers to exercise cautions when transporting passengers and watching out for pedestrians as well. Mr. Solik encouraged the council members to express their concerns directly to his City of Milwaukee Page 1 YOUTH COUNCIL Meeting Minutes August 23, 2017 office which is a good idea will be gather with the MPS administration, bus drivers and those schools that present issues to come up with a compromise for safety. Members Alcantara asked if censored detector have been considered to be install on the buses. Mr. Solik responded that there are no fleets with this feature installed. He would guestimate that cost, number of instances where negligence has been a factor, in order to determine the need for this type of feature on the fleet. President Haywood asked how the companies communicate among themselves, if they do so. Mr. Solik encouraged council to reach out to them for future concerns and or possibility of coming together to improve the service MPS gives to its customers, the students. 4. Community Accountability Panels program Appearing: Milwaukee County Community Accountability Panels Program Professional Services Group: Scott Carroll John Cliff Mr. Carroll described the Milwaukee County community Accountability Panels Program, through Professional Services Group, is a first time juvenile offender’s restorative justice program, with headquarters in Racine Wisconsin that, gives first time minor offenders apprehended for a misdemeanor the option of appearing before a panel of community volunteers rather than entering the juvenile court system. The Community Accountability Panel draws the youth's family and community into the contracting process. A West Allis office opened in 2014. Company has been in business for over 25 years. President Haywood, II invited Mr. Carroll and Mr. Cliff to attend the Milwaukee Youth Council’s Restorative Justice Initiative Advisory Board where this program would fit best for the discussion. 5. Youth Council Apparel Appearing: Jim Owczarski - City Clerk Arlisia McHenry - Community Outreach Liaison Discussion regarding details for the apparel. 6. Youth Council Newsletter Appearing: Jim Owczarski - City Clerk Brittany Thompson - Graphic Designer - Public Information Division Mr. Owczarski asked members to send via email, to what media format they want to post content to send email to Mr. Owczarski cc Ms. Polanco. City of Milwaukee Page 2 YOUTH COUNCIL Meeting Minutes August 23, 2017 7. Meeting adjourned at 5:58 PM Joanna Polanco Staff Assistant In the event that Common Council members who are not members of this committee attend this meeting, this meeting may also simultaneously constitute a meeting of the Common Council or any of the following committees: Community and Economic Development, Finance and Personnel, Judiciary and Legislation, Licenses, Public Safety, Public Works, Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development, and/or Steering and Rules. Whether a simultaneous meeting is occurring depends on whether the presence of one or more of the Common Council member results in a quorum of the Common Council or any of the above committees, and, if there is a quorum of another committee, whether any agenda items listed above involve matters within that committee’s realm of authority. In the event that a simultaneous meeting is occurring, no action other than information gathering will be taken at the simultaneous meeting. Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities through sign language interpreters or auxiliary aids. For additional information or to request this service, contact the City Clerk's Office ADA Coordinator at 286-2998, (FAX)286-3456, (TDD)286-2025 or by writing to the Coordinator at Room 205, City Hall, 200 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Limited parking for persons attending meetings in City Hall is available at reduced rates (5 hour limit) at the Milwaukee Center on the southwest corner of East Kilbourn and North Water Street. Parking tickets must be validated in the first floor Information Booth in City Hall. Persons engaged in lobbying as defined in s. 305-43-4 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances are required to register with the City Clerk's Office License Division. Registered lobbyists appearing before a Common Council committee are required to identify themselves as such. More information is available at http://city.milwaukee.gov/Lobbying. City of Milwaukee Page 3