Public Works Committee - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call this Public Works Committee meeting to order. I am Chairwoman Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs. We are joined on the board by Alderman Lamont Westmoreland, the Vice Chair. We are joined here at the table to my right by Alderman Robert Ballman, as well as DPW Infrastructure. To my left, we are joined by Staff Assistant Carmen Roman, To her left, we are joined by Alderman Alex Brower, and we will soon be joined by Alderwoman Larissa Taylor. Item number one, file number 250187, resolution relating to approving the levying of assessments and construction of accessible public improvement projects at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes.

Good morning, Holly Ruttenbeck with DPW. I will be describing the special assessment process and project details. For those projects approved this morning, it will be sent to each property owner sometime after completion of the work. Within 45 days upon receipt of the bill, the full amount may be paid without interest. If the bill is not paid within the 45-day grace period, a charge of 8.5% simple interest per year will be added. If the assessment is at least $125, the assessment can be paid over a period of 10 years on the tax roll at the 8.5% interest. For those projects approved with late billing, a bill will not be sent before January 1st, 2028. In connection with this public hearing, an official notice was sent to all impacted property owners. I will read off the projects in the order in which they were presented in the official notice. In the third aldermanic district, the alley between East Bradford Avenue, North Prospect Avenue, North Stowell Avenue, and East Webster Place, concrete alley pavement reconstruction, replace some abutting walk and driveway approaches, grating, storm drainage facilities, and permeable pavement as necessary. Is anyone here to provide testimony on this item?

This is in a third automatic district, Alderman Brown?

Yeah, thank you so much, Madam Chair. Yeah, I just want to say I'm really grateful to engineering and to have this ready to go for us to be able to do this. I believe if we approve this today, we can get this out for bidding and potentially get this done this year. Am I correct, Holly?

That is correct.

That is really good to hear. We're excited to get a new alley in the third automatic district. Madam Chair, if it's appropriate, I move approval.

The motion by Alderman Brower is for adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. That's the only one today, huh? Item number two, file number 260. Okay. Alderman Bauman will move approval of the entire file. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Item number two, file number 260188, resolution determining it necessary to make various accessible public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for those purposes with the city engineering cost estimated to be $25,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $200,000.

Good morning. This is setting up engineering on future accessible paving projects.

Any questions from committee? Hearing none, are the woman and Taylor would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so order item number three, file number 260189, resolution determining it necessary to make various non-accessible public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the city engineering cost estimated to be $150,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $150,000.

Good morning, this is setting up engineering on future non-accessible paving projects.

Any questions from committee? Hearing none, Alderman Bauman will move adoption. Hearing no objections, so order item number four, file number 260190, resolution approving construction of non-accessible public improvements at various locations and appropriating funds for these purposes with the city construction cost estimated to be $982,000 for a total estimated cost of these projects being $1,216,000. I believe we have a substitute. Members should have one of them. Alderman Brower would move to have the proposed substitute in front of us. So, A, I believe. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so order.

Good morning, this is for setting up construction funding on non-accessible various projects. The change between the sub and the original are just the amounts? We are setting up some additional funding for street maintenance projects.

Okay. Are there any questions from council, members of committee? Hearing none, Alderman Brower will move approval. I mean, move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Item number five, file number 251256, substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name Carl E. Hunt to North 47th Street between West Burleigh Street and West Roosevelt Drive in the 7th Automatic District.

Hi, my name is Cara Hunt. I'm attending virtually. Should I speak now? I know I was supposed to give a statement.

You're the one who nominated?

Correct, yes, I was the applicant.

Yeah, you can go ahead, Cara.

Okay, thank you everyone for having me. I appreciate it. I'm speaking on behalf of my father, Carl E. Hunt. My dad has been a long time upstanding member of the Milwaukee community. He's served the community in several different ways. He was a firefighter for 13 years where he delivered multiple babies um saved lives until he was injured and then he actually pursued his graduate degree at uwm where he actually ended up teaching as an adjunct professor for nearly two decades and afterwards he coached volleyball at rufus king for 17 years during that time rufus king's volleyball program wasn't really one that many people had invested into, but during his time as a coach, he helped multiple students achieve full ride scholarships on athletic scholarships. And we all know that King is already a prestigious school, but he's made significant contributions to the Milwaukee community. And I think that naming these, the 47th street from Burleigh to Roosevelt would be a great way to honor his contributions. A lot of people in the community have been impacted by him and he's always made an effort to reach out and uplift the Milwaukee youth.

What's the significance of the street?

We live on 47th Street. We are the longest standing residents there. I checked actually the records and we've lived there longer than anyone, including the people who built the home. So I think that it would be a huge source of pride for him. My dad is a very humble man. So he's not really one to advocate for himself or seek accolades. But I think that there would be a lot of pride and honor in him being able to drive down a street that has his name on it.

Thank you. Any questions from committee?

Public works Good morning. This is despacala from DPW. We reviewed the application and meets the ordinance If passed the honorees did name will have nine signs along 47th Street They will be between West Roosevelt and West Burleigh

Any questions on committee? All right. Anything you have to add?

No. John Bryan with DPW also.

Okay. Do we have a motion?

Move approval.

The motion by Alderman Brower is adoption.

Sorry, Madam Chair.

Is adoption. No problem. We all do. Is adoption. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Congratulations, Ms. Hunt, for your dad. That's great. Right in time for Father's Day.

Right. His birthday is on the 13th. Thank you so much.

You're welcome. Next item, number six. File number 251556, substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name Jose A. Olivieri to South 9th Street between West Mineral Street and West Washington Street in the 12th Automatic District. Have we dealt with this before without anybody being here?

Maybe you want to hold it and we can put it in the next agenda.

Since there is no nominator here, I think I'll ask Alderman Taylor if you'd be willing to make the motion to hold it until our next meeting. Okay. The motion by Alderwoman Taylor would be to hold to the call of the chair. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Item number seven, file number 251688, substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name Shirley Smith to North 111th Street from West Green Tree Road to West Daphne Street in the 5th Automatic District. Go ahead and introduce yourself.

Yes. My name is Ray Banks. And I'm from the Heritage Subdivision. And I was the one that initially made the request to make the honorary street name for Shirley Smith. We live in the Heritage Subdivision. And in my opinion, it's the greatest subdivision in the city of Milwaukee. It's one of the best kept secrets on the far northwest side of Milwaukee. we're in one of the i feel one of the safest areas in the city there's only one way in and one way out if you've been there long enough you can find a second secret rear entrance one of the reasons that our neighborhood is the way that it is is because of shirley smith i want to talk about the logistics first before i get into what a wonderful woman shirley smith was shirley died in september of last year 111th Street runs one block. There's absolutely no houses on 111th Street. There's no displacement of anyone. There's no changes that anyone would have to make and there's only two street signs. Shirley Smith, we refer to her as the matriarch of our subdivision. We are still suffering because Shirley is gone. I've been there 26 years, Shirley came a few years after I did and you can tell the difference in the neighborhood when she arrived and she hasn't been there a year and it's nowhere near the same. Now I did make some notes about Shirley because there's so many things about Shirley that I wanna make sure that you guys are aware of what a wonderful woman she is. She's that person that the first time you meet her, she's gonna automatically remind you of someone. My grandmother, my sister, somebody in your family she's gonna remind you of. Now she served for years as the president of our neighborhood association. She served as the chair of the architecture review committee. She serves as the president of the Granville Heights neighborhood association. She served on the NID number five board, including participation with the board of directors and other board members. She helped enforce bylaws, rules, regulations required by the Heritage Heights neighborhood to maintain its natural integrity. Our neighborhood watch, she acted as a tireless neighborhood watch leader. Surely we get into her vehicle. And she would drive through the neighborhood. And there were often times, now I served on the Milwaukee Police Department for 28 and a half years. I retired as the assistant chief of police. I ran our community outreach program and our citizen academy. And I can tell you she was the poster child for everything I said. She certainly exemplified what we want as a nosy neighbor in a good way, not a bad way. She protected neighbors' packages, kept watch over the subdivision daily. She openly communicated concerns when something was amiss, ensuring safety and awareness. She was known for her care and compassion toward neighbors. She bought flowers to neighbors experiencing loss, celebrated neighbors' achievements and milestones, maintained a consistent, caring presence, and believed deeply in the people who lived in the community. She gave generously of her time and energy with the goal of making the neighborhood a better place for everyone. She decorated the neighborhood entrance for various holidays, enhancing community pride. She helped maintain Beautify Heritage Heights through hands-on work and leadership. She maintained one of the best yards in the neighborhood, setting the standards for excellence. She practiced what she preached by modeling pride in home and property upkeep, enjoyed gardening with her husband. Together, they earned recognition for having the best yard and lawn in the subdivision, which, by the way, there's well over 200 homes in our subdivision. She championed projects that enhanced the appearance and value of the neighborhood, encouraged neighbors to take pride in their surroundings. She worked diligently to bring people together and to strengthen community bonds. She fostered a sense of connection through community gatherings, new green spaces, everyday conversations that built trust and understanding. She helped shape the character and identity of Heritage Heights, leaving the lasting imprint on the community. Her reputation was impeccable. Neighbors emphasized the scope of her services was so broad that it would take two people to replace her. Described as a model community member, tireless, fearless, relentless, and universally respected. That's not all Shirley did. She was also a longtime member of the St. Mark's AME Church on 16th and Atkinson. She's a voting member and secretary for St. Mark's AMN Church. She organized a satellite food pantry through interchange, feeding approximately 400 families each month, donated pantry supplies to nearby schools, extended outreach beyond the church walls, recognized for extensive involvement in serving elders and supporting congressional initiatives, supported several elected officials through church-based community efforts, widely described by church members as irreplaceable. She was appointed to the steward board under Reverend Dr. Williams, served faithfully until her passing. Active member of multiple ministries, including pastor's aid, culinary ministry, wedding ministry, women's ministry, society, praise team. Continuing her ministry in retirement as the servant director of St. Mark's Food Pantry, donated her time to serve the community through food distribution and outreach, found joy in meeting people from all walks of life, became a listening ear and praying voice to many who came through the pantry. Her love for the church was evident in her dedicated service across many ministries. She earned deep appreciation from both her church family and broader community. She was remembered as a woman whose service, compassion, and leadership were simply irreplaceable. Following her passing in September of 25, both the neighborhood and St. Mark's AMA Church held large memorials in her honor. I'm sorry to take up so much time, but Shirley was such a wonderful woman. She deserves this moment.

All right. Thank you. Any questions from committee? This is in the 5th Automatic District, Autumn and Westmoreland.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Banks, for that. I couldn't have said it any better. And at the appropriate time, I'd like to move adoption. Thank you.

All right. Did you want to add anything?

Well, I'm sorry. I'm Eva Toews Roberson, and Shirley was my direct neighbor. I can't say everything that he said because everything is true, but I can say that she also served under several pastors at St. Mark in the community, and as he said, she's worked on a food pantry. She was a secretary. She even worked at their polling place. She prayed for all of you when you were running, including Alderman Westmoreland, And she prayed for the police chiefs when they had Difficult situations in our subdivision. I did talk to Chief Norman and he supports this as well Like I said, I just went to a flower shop the other day that her and I went to together 82 year old man said where is Miss Shirley? I've missed her and I am the one that had to tell him that she had passed away. So again I don't know what else I can say because I'm still mourning her, but I appreciate the fact that you as a city would consider naming it in her honor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair.

Alderman Westmoreland.

I just want to thank you for coming down as well.

Any questions from committee? The motion has been made by Alderman Westmoreland for adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Good luck. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Tell your sister I said hey. Next up, we have file number 251689, substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name Mary L. McCormick to North Prospect Avenue from East 8th Street to East Mason Street in the 4th Automatic District.

BARBARA PERLEZ. Speaking about this nomination, Mary McCormick is retiring after 25 years of service as the executive director for the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. And under her leadership, the Rotary Club of Milwaukee has contributed to the fabric of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and the state of Wisconsin. Under her leadership, we built and created the Milwaukee Rotary Amphitheater at Discovery World. We started the Live at the Lakefront series that attracts over a thousand people every Wednesday in the summer. We helped with Mary's direction. We renovated the Brown Street Academy and Johnson's Park Playground and created Alice's Garden. We also, under her direction and help, created the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum at the Urban Ecology Center. We also helped to build the Milwaukee Urban Stables. One of the situations most or contributions dearest to her heart is she helped to create the Rotary Club of Milwaukee Scholarship Program, which gives a full four year scholarship with mentoring to those students who are the first in their family to attend college. So far we have had 50 graduates from that program and currently we are supporting 27 scholars. But in addition to her contributions as the leader of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, which consists of nearly 400 Milwaukee area business leaders, She has also served on the board of the Friends of the Shorewood Nature Preserve, the Guest House of Milwaukee, Milwaukee's Children's Village, Milwaukee Women, Inc., St. Anne, St. A's, excuse me, which is now known as Well Point, St. Robert's School, and she was named the Mentor of the Year by Tempo, an organization of women business leaders. Mary McCormick is also a very humble leader. She does not look for attention, but we believe at the Rotary Club of Milwaukee that we want people forever more, her family, her children, her grandchildren, and their children, and all citizens of Milwaukee to recognize her contributions to the betterment of our city.

Thank you. Any questions from committee? Alderwoman Taylor would move approval or move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered.

Thank you. Madam Chairman.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. This is in the Fourth Automatic District. Did you have anything? Yes, I'm sorry, Ms. Velez, you had something to say?

Did we pass the Mary McCormack? Okay.

It still has to go through the full council, but it's just that committee.

Yes, I realize that. I don't know if this is appropriate or not, but I knew Jose Oliveri, whose street name application came a few people ago. Am I able, even though I didn't nominate him, am I able to give you some background on him? Or is that not appropriate?

It's not before us at the moment. I guess it's to the committee if you want to reconsider it. So I think we're just going to keep it held and put it on the agenda for next time.

okay thank you thank you thank you we appreciate your support and this is a tremendous honor for mary and uh we're very grateful for your positive reaction all right thank you thank you um

Next up, we have item number 9, file number 252149, substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name Mrs. Cheryl J. Trotman to West Roosevelt Drive from North 20th Street to North Titania Avenue in the first automatic district. And we do have Audre Women Pratt on virtually as well.

Good morning. I am Alex Erdman, pastor of Founder Hope Church. I want to say good morning to our Madam Chair, Malayle Coggs, Vice Chair with Alderman Westmoreland, to Alderman Taylor, Alderman Brower, Alderman Baumann, and Alderman Pratt. It's a joy to be here today to speak on behalf of Mrs. Cherry J. Trotman, As I was preparing to come here today, and just the memories were flooding through my mind, I just don't know an area within this city that Mrs. Cherry Jeanette Trotman did not reach an impact. In fact, even many of you on the board today are here because of her support, her getting on the phone, encouraging people in your districts to consider you, and I am so glad. I am a direct product of her life, of her connectivity, As a 10 year old attending Garden Homes Elementary in the neighborhood where she lives and was the second black in the early 50s to move into that neighborhood and was the longest living resident and the family continues to own that home and still is the longest owning home by her and her family on that street that we're asking to be named in her honor. She had retired and thought it not robbery but to volunteer in her neighborhood school, and there I was a direct recipient of her connectivity. In fact, my call to ministry has everything to do with her seeing God in me and inspiring me and pushing me to pursue those things. She literally walked with giants, was a personal friend and a congregant, of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Montgomery, Alabama, but she is one that did not lose the common touch. No matter who you were in this community, she would support countless young people, pushing them to go to college, buying them their first suit, putting them in boatillions and cotillions, starting Girl Scout troops, the Dr. Martin Luther King Club, so many things this wonderful woman has done to make such a positive difference in our community. And I just think it is so appropriate that this street be named in her honor to celebrate and appreciate her legacy and the countless individuals that she has impacted, and we are literally standing today, so many ministers, pastors that she invested in. She was one of the longest serving members of St. Mark Church, and I am just grateful for her difference that she has made in the community, and I strongly support this street being recognized as such. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Any questions from committee?

Thank you, Alderman Coggs, Alderman Committee. I'm Dr. Enid Trotman, and I'm just honored to talk briefly about Mrs. Trotman. She was educated in Montgomery, Alabama, Alabama State University, same university her late mother attended, and our family founded Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in the late 1800s. They hired... young pastor dr martin luther king to be their pastor in the nineteen fifties is when she formed a close bond with him and his wife and miss rosa parks was down the street neighbor so they're their close friends and whenever they would visit milwaukee back in the sixties they would come by our house and the journal would interview them especially miss parks on the piano still in our living room feeling about community and civil rights is strong in our family, especially with our our late Mrs. Trotman. She started to be the playground superintendent at Seaford Street School in the 1950s for Milwaukee. And back in those days, they had organized activities for the children in the summer on the playgrounds. They could check out games and toys. And she spent a lot of time mentoring the youth at that time. She went on to start teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools in the early 1960s. And she taught public schools until 1993. And as Reverend Erdman said, then she continued to volunteer over 20 years at Milwaukee Public Schools. Even though she wasn't on the payroll, she would show up every day. She started the Martin Luther King Club in honor of her late friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, when he was assassinated in 1968, and what she wanted to do with Milwaukee children. Mind you, the organization is made up of a diverse group of children of all races. She wanted to instill in the children unity and community service, and they also appeared in the Christmas parade every year, the Fourth of July parade every year, and the Juneteenth Day parade every year. And their big month is February for the Black History Month. And they would do programs. Gentlemen such as Reverend Alex Erdman portrayed Dr. King in one of her programs as a little boy. And teachers saw leadership in him at that age. And it's evident today. Some bishops in town were mentored by her, several pastors. Individuals here were mentored by her as well. then she would also outside of the mps she became was recognized by her work with the mps and was uh... voted Teacher of the Year for Milwaukee Public Schools in 1976. And she had her children do a really big celebration at Palmer School for the bicentennial of the country. And it made the press and it was a really wonderful time. She also was the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Milwaukee area. And she served on the board of directors for several years and the nominated committee for several years. She also had two Girl Scout troops in Milwaukee for over two decades and was the cookie chairman for over two decades, which provided thousands of girls with full two-week camperships to go to stay-away, or we call it sleep-away Girl Scout camp. The camp is expensive and they would not have had the opportunity without the cookie sales and the funds that were raised. She was also the charter member of Roosevelt Area Action Group, which is our neighborhood watch group and beautification committee for the Roosevelt area. Every year they decorate very nicely for the holidays. They have block party. And they also like to invite the alderman and the mayor annually to the block party. And you all show up, at least when she was alive and was greatly appreciated. She is also the charter member of the cradle business and professional woman chapter milwaukee wisconsin also chart member of the alabama state alumni association milwaukee chapter which provide annually scholarship for milwaukee area student to attend alabama state University in Montgomery, Alabama, with their fundraising efforts. She also provided thousands of dollars, raising money for, as a charter member of our links organization, Cream City Links, she raised thousands of dollars that provide scholarship for Milwaukee area students as well. She also provided funding worked closely with the ELCA in August, Santa Lutheran Church, providing food baskets for needy people in the community, which she would deliver herself, because she identified need and she knew families, for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and when the farmers had to co-op with the ELCA to provide harvest in August. So she would deliver bushels of corn. I'd go with her squash, cabbage to needy families. And if she felt that the food basket was scrawny, Even she would deliver food baskets sometime with St. Mark's AME Church for decades. She would embellish the basket. She would add her touch to it, like an extra turkey or a ham or cake. And back to service, she didn't want to have students that didn't have proper clothing or shoes. So she... would just do it, get permission from parents. In those days, you could take children with permission from parents and just take them shopping. She wanted all the children to be proud of their appearance, and she did that my entire life. And there was always pets in her classroom, guinea pigs, squirrels, not squirrels, guinea pigs, hamsters. rabbits, fish, turtles. She had a geology section in her classroom with her rock collection, a reading area for the children with rugs so they could feel comfortable, feel that that was a safe place away from home. And she didn't leave the school at 3 p.m. Mrs. Trotman would usually leave the school around 7 p.m. because she'd write her brand new lesson plan every day that night before, old school teacher. And old school teachers, there's always food in the room as well. So if no child was hungry, she would have extra milks and sandwiches, because she knew who didn't have, food at home and they could take the food home and To go on and on I have so many people here who can speak on her Look, she was nominated by the Common Council February 28 2017 as a living legend and was bestowed on here here at the City Hall during the black history celebration, so thank you all so much for that recognition and but her contributions go on and on, and I'll let some other people speak, because I could just, this just could go all night long. Okay, I'll step back and let you all speak. Attorney Sheila?

Good morning. Thank you for having us here today and to hear what we have to say about this wonderful person. I'm attorney Sheila Parish Spence. And I can't get it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. I'm attorney Sheila and there's so much that I could say about dear Mrs. Trotman. I would like to start with when we moved here from Brooklyn, New York. She's one of the first people we met. And I remember she would say, baby, now I know that your mom didn't have you wear those shoes. You can't wear tennis shoes. You have to have pretty shoes. Well, I went by her house. She had all these shoes. Do you know that up into her 90s, she would call people from her door and say, it's cold outside. You don't have a scarf. I don't see your gloves. And she'd give them some gloves as they're on their way to school or whatever. And while we were together, we enjoyed being at St. Mark AME Church on 16th and Atkinson. And the thing is, she was on the Missionary Society. We all were because Mrs. Trotman would say, I'm encouraging you all to help me as I help the community. We would have all kinds of cakes that we would bring, and again, clothing, books. We would bring shopping lists of what she thought they should at least have in the house. And it was always a joy. People would be lined up saying, I want that pie. I want that cake. Can we trade? I had pancreatic cancer surgery in 2017. One day she called and says, Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine. Do you have your medication? No. Someone will bring it tomorrow. Do you know? She was probably 89. Doorbell rings. Mrs. Chapman drove all the way out there to Wauwatosa and said, here's your medication, baby. And went back home. I said, okay, thank you. Also, I think it's important that she was into music. We would have all these concerts with the young people, especially the Christmas one. And everyone would have a part, even if all they had to do was put on some sheep clothing and just stand there for the Christmas pageant. When it came to the picnics and things that we'd have for the church, she'd always say, bring someone with you. And I could go on and on. My dad, Judge Parrish, she says, oh, so you're going to run for judge? He says, well, who's going to make the food? And he says, well, my wife, she's going to make chili for everybody. And Mrs. Trotman said, oh, no, we've got to have something else for this. You see? But I think one thing, like, The importance, she was a living history book. I went to North Carolina Central University, which is one of the black law schools down in North Carolina. She and I would go back and forth. Well, did you learn this? Did you learn that? Because I hadn't been anywhere but New York and Wisconsin. So she says, you're going to learn a whole new culture. And she had me write a little pamphlet about what I learned. And I have passed that on to my son so that he would know things that I had not heard of until Ms. Troutman brought them up. But I think more than that, she loved people. Didn't matter race, creed, color, nothing. She loved people. And I think all of us have been touched. All of us have been blessed. And we were always thanking her. And I'm not going to hope. I am saying I. It's just too good. I lose words sometimes. Please find it that you can vote on her behalf. I think it would be great, especially for the young people in the neighborhood who are still not over the fact that she's no longer with us. She meant something, and they knew it, and they'd be hanging out, you know, on the corner or at the gas station where you get candy and stuff, but they would always say if they saw her, hey, Ms. Trotman, thank you very much.

All right.

Thank you. Give me a minute because it's hard to get with just our face. I'm sorry. Take your time. Oh, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Good morning, council members. My name is Tammy Banks-Martin, and I was one of Mrs. Trotman's fourth grade students. In 1967, I was in her class at Henry L. Palmer School. Now, Mrs. Trotman was very particular about her students. We were like her family, because when Enid and I was out of school at the university school up in Mequon, they came in our class, so she's like one of my students. I mean, one of my co-students. in class, and she was also my Girl Scout leader, and Ena was in the Girl Scouts with us as well. But to break it down and summarize Ms. Trotman, She took a group of young girls out to the Jolly Rogers restaurant. It was like a smorgasbord back then, like South 27th and Port Loomis. And so she taught us etiquette, what fork to use, what spoon to use. And a lot of us didn't have clothes, you know, because a lot of us were, you know, low income, where maybe, or in my situation, my father passed away, so we became low income with a single mom, you know. And so she would, you know, individually work on each student. So she said, do you have any gloves or a dress? I said, I got to see if my mom can afford it. She said, my mom said, well, you know, we're on a budget since your dad died. So she said, Tammy, come here. I want to show you, see if this will fit you. So she had a dress for me. She had some shoes for me. She had some gloves for me. And I'll never forget that. That was one of the, the only teacher that I can remember forever, you know. And like I said, she loved her family, because we were a part of her family. She loved her community. She had the Cream City links, and if anything that the kids needed in class, she had them come and support us. And then as I got older, I was able to support her. She'd call me and say, we're having a battalion for the kids and stuff, and here's some tickets. So if anybody deserves an honorary name, is Ms. Troutman, because she's still here in all of us, as you can see how we express our feelings. And it would be wonderful if that honorary sign could go up on that street. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Any questions from any?

I have a comment I'll make. So I'm Alderwoman Taylor, and just thank you for coming. I guess as listening to you guys and just seeing 94 years old, that's to be recognized in itself because many people don't live till 94. But it's also encouraging to know that all that you can do in a lifetime. And when you give back to people and they can say good things about you at the end of your life, it really is very meaningful. And so I appreciate all that you guys are bringing to the forefront, to the knowledge of people. And I appreciate her being that living legend, being the history maker that she was. trusted teacher that impact and so we see how teachers uh impact goes a long way and it lives on years and years one of the reasons why i had decided to be a teacher to be able to do just that so um so i didn't get to know her but i feel like i do now from all that you guys have said and so just thank you for being here thank you thank you

I'm Deidre Edwards and I had the pleasure of knowing Mrs. Trotman as long as I can remember first through my godmother Mrs. Odessa Robinson and then she took me under her wing when I returned from Spelman College came back home to Milwaukee she had a special love for HBCU graduate, so she made sure I got involved right away with things in the community. I had the sheer pleasure of working with her with Cream City, Wisconsin, Lynx, as well as Top Ladies of Distinction Milwaukee Chapter. and the teens that we mentor, top teens that we mentor. And I think she felt like her life was all about giving back, and especially to youth. That was her number one priority. All of her focus, whether it was her being the number one ticket seller for organizations we belong to, it was because she knew those dollars were going to go to support young people in the community who might not, if we were not providing scholarships, might not have been able to attend school. So that was always important to her, higher education. And it was important to her also to make sure that she encouraged others to give back to the community. She always stressed that, especially with Milwaukee natives, this is our home, we may have our flaws, we may have things we need to work on and improve, But this is where we are now and as a native Milwaukee and I always appreciated her in her really encouragement for no matter what you did that you always strive to do more whether it was working in the food pantry or working. at the clothing bank, it just, that was her whole mission in life. And then when I became president of the Girl Scouts of Milwaukee, she came back and continued to support me and I was very proud of that because I was, the first African-American to serve as Girl Scout Board President here in Milwaukee, and she wanted to make sure that I knew that she had my back throughout that process. So I know we've all been rather long-winded, so I'll end now, but I strongly support the naming of the street after Mrs. Geri Trotman. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

I must say, with top ladies of distinction, All right, thank you. Thank you. This is in the first Automatic District, Alderwoman Pratt.

Thank you, Chairwoman Coggs and committee. I also have a lot of Ms. Trotman's stories. She has been in the first district my entire life and has been a family friend. And her daughter was my doctor at one time. I joined the Links with her granddaughter, and she was my Links sister. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have been able to sell all those Denim and Diamond tickets that I was charged with selling. But just an awesome supporter and an awesome person all around. I will tell you that I intended to come here to ask the committee to hold this because as I talked before about streets and Rufus King, that there are often many people trying to name streets. In this particular street, Dr. Harold Rose also lived on this street. as well as Bobby Weber. I have several people who have reached out about the street. So neighbors did reach out to me and they were upset. A lot of elderly neighbors who didn't know and didn't know how to get in contact and express what they were feeling. But they did talk to me, so I did want to make sure I called in and let them know. I want to ask the family to reach out to their former neighbors on Roosevelt. Ms. Trotman loved Roosevelt, and she loved her neighborhood. And I know you all aren't in that area anymore, but I think it's so important that you love what she loved, and that was Roosevelt Drive. And she cared so much for it. And I ask, especially now with this street potentially being named after her, that you are everyone there who spoke so highly of her, that you pay honor and homage to the place that she loves so much, which was Roosevelt Drive. Thank you so much for putting this forward. And Mr. Benson will talk about the process in Rufus King. We go through a process where I do ask people to at least speak to the Rufus King Neighborhood Association because people are leery of when streets are named and it's so much history in this neighborhood. So many streets that could be named after so many people that it often gets contentious and it shouldn't be because it's a celebration. So I'm happy to celebrate Ms. Trotman today with this, and I'll leave it up to the committee to decide what they do, but I am supportive, and I believe Ms. Trotman was an amazing woman. Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you. Any questions from committee? All right. We have a motion.

Madam Chair.

Go ahead.

Actually, I do have a question. So the local older would like us to hold the file. Did I hear that correctly? No. Oh, never mind. Okay.

She said she intended to come here and say that, but she is opting to leave it to us.

I will say this.

This is a publicly noticed meeting. So just as people have a right to come and support, if people truly object, they also have that right. So, yeah. So members should keep that in mind as well. And I'll say this so that we can... keep this on a celebration level, not just for your district, all the women, but just period. Um, what I'll start doing as I work with, um, Carmen is, uh, make sure that, uh, the local order is aware. Um, and so that we can know ahead of time if they might want to have meetings or whatever they might want to do so that when we get here, it's all about, um, you know, celebrating the person who, um, is given the, is trying to be, um, named after. So at this point, um, I don't, I'm sorry.

I know you're a committee. I don't want to put a damper on it. I really, I want to make that clear. And just to say that, I am supportive, and I love Ms. Trotman and her family and all that she did for the area, for the district, for Roosevelt Drive, for the links, for everything she touched, you know, really. I don't want to be a damper on all that she did.

For sure.

I was just going to say that, you know, as we think about this and remember Alderwoman Pratt has a very historic neighborhood. So and there's so many people that are deserving over there that if she wants to continue to think about ways that we could, you know, be very creative and bringing recognition to all of them. I'm more than happy to help and support that.

Definitely. So do we have a motion? I'll move for adoption. The motion by Alderwoman Taylor is adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Congratulations. Next on the agenda, item number 10, file number 260132, an ordinance relating to state requirements. Does Spiker want to be here? Okay. State requirements for recycling and other purposes, and I believe we have a sub.

That's correct.

Do we have it in front of us? Is it? I move to have the sub in front of us. Are there any objections to that? Hearing none, so ordered.

Good morning Madam Chair and members of the committee. The committee may remember this file appeared before you at the last session and the recommendation was for passage of the ordinance at that time. It was requested by the city attorney's office that we hold that file and return it to committee for some technical changes to make sure that it was legal and enforceable and to the letter of the law as far as the state statutes are concerned. So I want to give a special recognition and thanks to Andrea Fowler of the city attorney's office and also Rick Myers and his colleague Laura Stevens at the Department of Public Works Sanitation for working with me right up to the wire to revise the ordinance and this proposed substitute to make sure that it is legal and enforceable. And I'm happy to take any questions on any sort of changes that we made. But again, these are highly technical changes that were requested and required by a state statute.

Any questions from committee? Hearing none, Alderman Bauman will move passage. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Thank you very much. Item number 11, file number 260051, resolution authorizing an easement with the Wisconsin Electric Power Company on City of Milwaukee property at 823 South 4th Street in the 12th Automatic District.

Good morning, committee members. Rosita Ross with Department of City Development. I'm here to authorize the resolution with the committee for the MPS building at 823 South 4th Street in the 12th Automatic District. This is a WeEnergies easement. The Wisconsin Power Company currently is doing gas relocation near that building and it's being undertaken solely because of the DOT. They are doing some work on that roadway and the gas line needs to be relocated. The Wisconsin Energy Company will be compensating MPS for the easement because it does benefit Wisconsin Electric. The alder person for the district does support this. If you guys have any other questions regarding this, I'm here to answer those. Are they paying us? Yes, they are compensating MPS. The easement, we energies is compensating for that relocation is $1,145. We did negotiate that price with them. It was lower, but we felt that that price should be a little higher. So we did agree to that current amount.

Okay, thank you. Any questions from committee? Um, Alderman Taylor would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Item number 12, file number 260174, resolution authorizing an easement with Wisconsin Electric Power Company on City of Milwaukee property at 3401 West Bodykey Avenue in the 15th Automatic District.

risita ross with the cd this is another uh... mps building uh... the center there is being redeveloped uh... we energies will be alaina new uh... electrical line uh... within the property line along uh... monique avenue uh... the older person and the fifteen district of support Price, there is no price due to this is a benefit for MPS for that power line to be relocated. So we energies will not be charging MPS to assist them with their new development at this location.

Are there any questions from committee? Hearing none, Alderman Westmoreland would move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so order. Thank you. Thank you. Item number 13, file number 260150, Resolution Directing the Commissioner of Public Works to Execute State Municipal Agreements for a State Highway Project. with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the construction of IH43 Airport Freeway, 92nd Street Bridge, and to set up funds for construction at an estimated total cost of $9,650,000, with an estimated city share of $5,500 and a grantor share of $9,645,400.

Good morning, committee members. Josh Iowan, Milwaukee Water Works Water Engineering. This is going to be the first of three resolutions, but this one is to get city signatures on a state municipal agreement in order to get 90% state funding for water alterations as part of this project.

Any questions from our committee? Hearing none, Alderman Baumann would move adoption. Any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Thank you. Next up, item 14, file number 260156, resolution authorizing the proper city officials to execute state municipal agreements with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the City of Milwaukee utility alterations in conjunction with the I-94 East-West early grading Menominee River 32nd Street reconstruction project at a total estimated cost of $45,665,200 with an estimated grantor share of $45,047,600 and an estimated city share of $17,600.

Yes, Josh Island, Milwaukee Water Works, Water Engineering again. Same agreement, this is a state municipal agreement with city signatures. This allows us to qualify for 90% state funding and 10% Water Works funding in order to do required Water Works alterations at this DOT project site.

Any questions on committee?

No.

Alderman Brower will move adoption hearing no objection. So order item 15 file number 260158 resolution authorizing the commission of public works and comptroller to execute utility agreements with the Wisconsin department of transportation. for work on city facilities in conjunction with the I-94 East-West Early Grading Menominee River 32nd Street contract work. The total estimated cost of $12,720 with the estimated grantor share of $11,448. in the estimated city share of $1,272.

Yes, Josh, Iowa Water Works. And this is the same project as file number 14, except for this one, this project also qualifies for a 10%, 90% split with, that the state will pay 90% of our staffing costs for things such as material inspection and construction inspection. So this qualifies for additional funding. and we need this utility agreement signed in order to get 90% state funding for Water Works staff costs.

Any questions from our committee? Alderman Westmoreland will move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so order item number 16. Thank you. You're welcome. File number 260191, Resolution Directing the Commission on Public Works to Execute a Document Title 2nd, Revision State Municipal Agreement. for a state-led highway project with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the programming, design, real estate acquisition, and construction of West Fond du Lac Avenue, STH 145, from North 19th Street to North 12th Street and to set up additional funds for design engineering at an estimated total cost of $620,000 with an estimated city share of $155,000 and a grantor share of $465,000.

Good morning, David Tapia, Major Projects Manager. So this file is just setting up additional design funds to move us from the final scope through preliminary and final design.

Any questions on committee? Audit Member Bauman will move adoption. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so order item 17, file 260195. resolution directing the Commissioner of Public Works to execute a document titled First Revision State Municipal Agreement for a state-led STP urban project with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the programming, design, and construction of East West Locust Street, North 7th Street, to North Halton Street.

David Tappia, Major Projects Manager. This file just allows us to use, they had some what they call legacy funds left over, so they're allowing us to use that on an already constructed project.

Are there any questions from committee? Auderman Brower will move adoption. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Item number 18, file number 260200, resolution directing the Commission of Public Works to execute a document titled Third Revision State Municipal Agreement for a State Local Bridge Project with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the Programming, Design, and Construction of West Grange Avenue B400500 over Canadian Pacific Railway.

Same concept, legacy funds left over that we're able to utilize.

Any questions from committee? Auditwoman Taylor will move adoption. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Item 19, file number 260196, resolution relating to application, acceptance, and execution of funding of a green solution grant for MMSD for the installation of eight green alleys to be constructed as part of the city's 2026 alley reconstruction program and authorize an entry into a post-installation maintenance covenant with MMSD in the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 15th Automatic District.

Good morning. Solomon Beckler from DPW Environmental Section. This resolution allows us to accept grant funding from MMSD to install permeable pavers in alleys throughout the city.

Any questions from committee? Alderman Westmoreland will move adoption. Hearing no objections, so order Item 20, file number 260199, resolution directing the city comptroller to set up funds to a previously executed document titled Grant Agreement Under the Fiscal Year 2022, Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration for the programming, design, and construction of pedestrian accessibility and safety improvements at up to 26 intersections citywide on West Capitol Drive, West Atkinson Avenue, South 16th Street, West Greenfield Avenue, and West Forest Home Avenue for final design, right-of-way, and utility coordination at an estimated total cost of $550,000 with an estimated city share of $110,000 and a grantor share of $440,000. And we're supposed to have a proposed substitute? Alderman Brower would move to have our substitute in front of us. Hearing no objections, so ordered. On the sub, did you want to speak?

Good morning. David Tapia, Major Projects Manager. So this is to set up the second phase of that grant program. that we were awarded years ago that allow us to move from preliminary into final design and account for any real estate acquisition that's necessary. The substitute addresses, one of the paragraphs was written in such a way, it sounded like it was to also give the commissioner authority to sign the agreement, but that had already been done in the first one, so the language just was revised to indicate that.

Any questions from our committee? Alderwoman Taylor would move adoption of a substitute of the file as substituted. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so order item number 21, substitute resolution denying the honorary street name of F.M. Eason. Of F.M. Eason to North Palmer Street from West Townsend Street to West Concordia Avenue in the 7th Automatic District.

This is strange. I'm never saying that.

In the committee, the United Citizenship, they had one opportunity to state their piece, but they didn't show.

Did they show up to the committee?

No, she did it virtually because she's in Arkansas. And then after the discussion, the citizen advisory committee voted to deny it. And then it's up to you guys to set the recommendation to deny it. She was supposed to come, but she didn't. All the information is on that file, the application.

Any questions from the committee?

What, Madam Chair, what's this about? I mean, somebody, why is this even before us? If somebody wants to withdraw their nomination?

They went to the citizen advisory of the naming street committee on the first, and the committee reviewed the application and decided that they wanted to recommend to the public work committee to deny the application because they felt that the application did not meet the standards.

Okay. Any other questions from committee? All right. Well, the recommendation from the citizen committee is to not do it, deny it, and there is nobody to defend that. to argue against it. DPW, are you just here to talk about the signs and all that, or did you have something?

I'm here to answer any questions. I was assuming the applicant was gonna show up.

Right.

They didn't show up for the Citizens Advisory Committee. No.

On their defense, they are in a very brutal area of Arkansas, and she's having a lot of problems with the Internet. She's taking care of her sister who has cancer. Can we move to hold it?

Did she notify you of anything?

I did talk to her yesterday. She was going to try to log in.

You, Alderman Tyler, is that the motion you would like to make?

Yeah, I don't mind moving to hold it.

The motion by Alderman Tyler is to hold to the call of the chair. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered. Item number 22.

Before we do that last one, I had a quick question about number 16. Can I do a reconsideration of number 16?

You can make the motion. The motion by Audubon Tyler is reconsideration for item 16. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so ordered.

So I just had a quick question because I was looking at this and it looks like so that this will be a reconstruction from 19th all the way to 12th Street.

That is correct.

Yeah. And because this is such a major highway and I just didn't want. Sorry. And it's so heavily traveled. every single day if we were considering when it would be possible to do the reconstruction from, because it goes from about 60th all the way down to 12th Street. And it's just constant complaints about that road every single day. So I was just wondering if we were looking at plans for reconstruction of the entire street.

David Tapia, major project manager. So I'm working with the Department of Transportation, and currently we have two projects, one from 19th to Capitol, which will be what they call pavement replacements, and then from Capitol to 68th, which as of right now is just being programmed as a resurfacing. But We'll go through the final scoping process with the department to better determine if that needs to change depending on what years out the construction would occur.

so it may be a while but you are considering it and looking at that just because it would just you know I just think about the travel that people are doing coming from so many places but that is just one of those main roads that they are traveling and you just hear those complaints every single day so I just didn't want to have the public look and think oh they're only concerned about 19th to 12th street when I'm constantly hitting potholes after potholes or we're constantly just patching, patching, patching that when that entire reconstruction would be done. So thank you so much for hanging back and taking the time to answer that. Okay, that's all I have.

Any other questions from committee? All right. Alderman Taylor would move adoption. Hearing no objections, so order item 22, file number 240169, resolution authorizing the appropriate city officials to execute project agreements titled State Municipal Agreement for Transportation Alternatives Program Project with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for two projects. This is noticed to be placed on file. So the motion by Alderman Westmoreland will be to place it on file. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing none, so order with that. We have no further business. We are adjourned.