Public Works Committee Meeting

Public Works Committee Meeting Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 W. Whitewater St. Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - 5:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The Public Works Committee Meeting was called to order by Smith at 5:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Smith, Majkrzak Absent: Hicks Others: Marquardt APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion made to approve the agenda by Majkrzak and seconded by Smith. AYES: All by via voice vote (2). NOES: None. ABSENT: Hicks. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from July 9, 2024 It was moved by Majkrzak and seconded by Smith to approve the Public Works Committee minutes from July 9, 2024. AYES: All by via voice vote (2). NOES: None. ABSENT: Hicks. *Due to technical difficulties, Hicks joined the meeting virtually at 5:04 p.m. HEARING OF CITIZEN COMMENTS None NEW BUSINESS 2. Discussion and Possible Action regarding appointment of committee member to Whitewater Unified School District Transportation Committee. The Whitewater Unified School District is resurrecting their Transportation Committee. They would like a representative from the City’s Public Works Committee to represent the City. At their first meeting held on August 2, 2024, they discussed overall busing for the five schools and the number of students at each elementary school. The Committee also reviewed the previous Hazardous Areas Report. Ongoing areas of concern include: Main Street, Tratt Street, shifting of bus routes to increase at Lincoln Elementary, Elizabeth Street in front of the Middle School, the lack of crossing guards, and the pedestrian bridge, over the railroad tracks, leading to Washington Elementary from Main Street. At the July 9, 2024, Public Works Committee Meeting, Neil Hicks and Greg Majkrzak both indicated they would be interested in serving on the Transportation Committee. A decision was not made due to Hicks not being able to attend this meeting. Public Works Committee Meeting Agenda August 13, 2024 Page 2 At this time, Majkrzak stated he would like to pass on the opportunity. Hicks asked if Marquardt would be participating in the meetings since he knows much more about the City. Marquardt stated he would attend the next meeting as a participant, but not as a committee member. He would be there to at least answer questions as they arise. The next meeting of the Transportation Committee is scheduled for September 12, at 5:00 p.m., at the High School. Staff recommended the Public Works Committee select a representative to attend. Hicks was okay with that arrangement. It was moved by Majkrzak and seconded by Smith to have Hicks represent the City of Whitewater on the Whitewater Unified School District Transportation Committee. AYES: Smith, Majkrzak, Hicks. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. 3. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the turning movement at the southeast corner of Franklin Street and W. Main Street. This item was requested to be reviewed by Alderperson Dawsey-Smith. The southeast quadrant of the intersection of Franklin Street and W. Main Street is at an acute angle, making it difficult for a north bound semi to turn east on W. Main Street. Due to this angle, the traffic signal has been knocked down numerous times. To help prevent the traffic signal from being hit, concrete bollards have been placed in the terrace to protect the traffic signal. If a semi turns too sharply, the bollards are hit before the traffic signal. Street Department crews have routinely replaced one or both of these bollards throughout the years. Ideas discussed include: 1. Create a right turn lane to accommodate the turning movement of a semi. 2. Move the traffic signal behind the existing sidewalk. 3. Eliminate the right turn lane on Franklin Street. Hicks asked about having a green arrow to turn left in conjunction with removing the right turn lane. Marquardt will take this information back to Strand to see if this has ever been investigated. In addition, Marquardt will find out if this is a designated truck route through the City and see if Strand has any other thoughts on this item as well. Marquardt will bring this item back at the September 10, 2024, Public Works Meeting for further discussion. 4. Discussion and Possible Action regarding mandatory lead service line replacement ordinance. The Environmental Protection Agency is mandating all lead service lines (LSL) for water be replaced. To comply with this, Water Department staff inventoried the water lateral material both on the public and private side. Staff is looking at replacing these LSL in 2025 and has submitted a Safe Drinking Water Loan application to receive below market interest rate funds to help pay for the project. On the private side, staff is anticipating receiving up to 100% principal forgiveness, meaning the property owners will not have to pay for their private side LSL replacement. One of the categories in the application that is Public Works Committee Meeting Agenda August 13, 2024 Page 3 helping the City receive up to 100% principal forgiveness is the project is replacing all the LSL as part of one project. To help comply with this initiative, it is imperative that all property owners work with the City to replace their LSL. To help ensure this, the City should adopt, as many communities across the state are doing, or have done, a mandatory LSL replacement ordinance. At the July 13, 2024, Public Works Committee Meeting, the Committee directed staff to draft a Mandatory Lead Service Line Replacement Ordinance and bring it back to the Committee for review. The financial impact is tied to the principal forgiveness the City will be receiving with compliance of all LSL being replaced as part of the project. The estimated principal forgiveness is $1,350,000. In order to ensure all LSL are replaced as part of the project, staff believes that a mandatory replacement ordinance is needed. Property owners who are reluctant to allow City staff, contractors and/or inspectors into their building, as part of the LSL replacement project, would be responsible for 100% of the replacement costs and possible additional penalties. Staff recommended a motion to approve the attached Mandatory Replacement Ordinance and send to Council for adoption. Committee members discussed the proposed ordinance Requiring Lead Service Line Replacements: The only significant change suggested was the following: (e)Cost of Inspection and Replacement. (1) The Utility shall request bid prices to calculate the cost for each private lead water service lateral replacement. The unit bid price shall include removing the entire lateral from the curb stop box to the water meter inside of the house, replacing all lead piping with suitable material from the curb stop box to the water meter inside of the house, and appropriate restoration. (2) If funding is available to the Utility, the replacement of lead water service from the curb stop box to the water meter inside the property will be done at no cost to the property owner, [including the inspection cost]. (3) If funding for this Program does not cover inspection costs, the Utility will provide funding for all costs up to the last $500 for replacing private water service lines containing lead, with the property owner responsible for the last $500 to offset the inspection costs. It was moved by Majkrzak and seconded by Smith to add the inspection cost to paragraph (2) and remove the language under paragraph (3). Marquardt stated this will be added to the Common Council meeting agenda on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Public Works Committee Meeting Agenda August 13, 2024 Page 4 AYES: Majkrzak, Hicks, Smith. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. 5. Discussion and Possible Action regarding changing downtown parking from 2-hour parking to 4-hour parking after 4:00 pm. Marquardt stated Economic Development Director, Taylor Zeinert, heard from some downtown businesses regarding the 2-Hour Parking. They would like it changed to 2-Hour Parking from 7 am. to 4 pm. and 4-Hour Parking after 4 pm. Zeinert asked Marquardt for his thoughts and also asked that it be brought to the Public Works Committee for discussion. Committee members were given a copy of Marquardt’s comment that he sent to Zeinert. Smith liked the idea of just having the specific downtown area on Main Street having the 4-Hour parking, but leaving the rest the way it is to encourage foot traffic and therefore using the parking lots. Hicks stated personally he liked Marquardt’s response. We have those public parking lots all within one or two blocks. He would like to see people using those lots and maybe just leave the parking downtown the way it is. With that said he doesn’t have a strong opinion either way. Majkrzak stated he didn’t have a strong opinion as well. He does like to support our staff and it came from business owners downtown. He thinks we owe it to at least bring it to Council for their input. Marquardt will take these comments back to Zeinert and he’ll see what she wants to do with them and how she wants to proceed. It can always go to Council if Zeinert wants to proceed. 6. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Strand Task Order 24-07, 2024 Southwest Tower Verizon Cellular Review. Verizon submitted a building permit for the installation of their antennae on the Southwest Water Tower. To ensure everything proposed does not interfere with the performance of the Water Tower, Strand Associates will review Verizon’s proposed additions, prepare comments and provide site visits to observe construction work. The estimated cost based on an hourly rate is estimated at $12,500. Per the Lease Agreement with Verizon, Verizon will reimburse the City up to $7,500 for Engineering review costs. It was moved by Majkrzak and seconded by Smith to approve Strand Task Order 24-07, 2024 Southwest Tower Verizon Cellular Review. AYES: Hicks, Smith, Majkrzak. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None at this time. Public Works Committee Meeting Agenda August 13, 2024 Page 5 Marquardt stated UW-Whitewater will be at the next Public Works meeting in September to talk about a Starin Road closure. Therefore, it will be on the Public Works Committee Meeting agenda for September 10, 2024. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Majkrzak and seconded by Smith to adjourn the Public Works Committee Meeting at 6:44 p.m. AYES: All by via voice vote (3). NOES: None. ABSENT: None. Respectfully Submitted, Alison Stoll Alison Stoll, Administrative Assistant Department of Public Works