“Keep A Top Eye Open” (Abolitionist to Harriet Tubman):

A Watch on the Stimulus Watch

by George F. Sanders

On this page…

  1. A Letter to Steven Mahan - July 10, 2009
    1. 1.1  by George F. Sanders
  2. Steven L. Mahans Response - June 23, 2009
    1. 2.1  by Steven L. Mahan
  3. A Letter to Tom Barrett about the Community Development Block Grant - April 20, 2009
    1. 3.1  by George F. Sanders
  4. A Letter to Joe Biden about Stimulus Assistance - April 07, 2009
    1. 4.1  by George F. Sanders
  5. Stimulus Watch - July 19, 2009
    1. 5.1  Projects in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A Letter to Steven Mahan - July 10, 2009

by George F. Sanders

July 10, 2009

To: City of Milwaukee, Department of Administration

200 East Wells Street, Room 606, City Hall
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Steven L. Mahan, Director, Community Development Grants Administration

RE: Process of CDBG Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Dear Mr. Mahan,

Thank you for your response regarding our growing concerns about how Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funds are administered here in the City of Milwaukee as it pertains to how upcoming Stimulus Assistance funds will be dispersed. Let us state for the record that we bring attention to these issues as result of our growing concerns of the continued deterioration of Milwaukee’s inner-city and heavily populated minority communities. Federal funds continue to be spent to eradicate the issues that plague these communities with no visible improvements in sight.

In response to your letter we have the following questions:

1) You wrote that, “HUD stated that with 93.16% of CDBG expenditures budgeted for activities benefiting low and moderate income persons, the City exceeds the 70% Federal minimum program requirement.”

  • Could you please cite the HUD results for the past 5 years?
  • Can you please explain how the 50% of CDBG funds that went to General Services directly benefits low and moderate income persons?

2) You state that, “The City does not use any federal HUD CDBG entitlement dollars for capital improvements.”

  • Does the City use these funds to guarantee bonds issued by DCD, its subcomponents, or the city in general, thereby putting these funds at risk?

You also stated that, “the City uses HUD dollars for general services such as the Milwaukee Fire Departments fire prevention program, the Health Department’s Communicable Disease Reduction Initiative and the library’s Community Outreach and Technology Center”

  • These are all programs that benefit the city as a whole; not specifically, low and moderate income persons. Can you explain how these programs directly benefit the low and moderate income persons of Milwaukee and not the city as a whole?

3) You state, “the City of Milwaukee has utilized its’ Resident’s Preference Program (RPP) in public works contracts which has a 25% requirement. The City has been in compliance with this program.”

  • Is public works the only department that receives CDBG funds that has to meet the RPP requirements? What about the other departments that receive CDBG funds? What about the real estate development projects that use CDBG funds to guarantee bonds issued by DCD and its subcomponents?
  • Why is there is no mention as to whether or not the City of Milwaukee is or was in compliance with the federal provision Section 3 in relation to other departments/organizations using CDBG funds or their use of RPP? The provision is as follows:

‘Section 3’ is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968 that promotes local economic development, neighborhood economic improvement, and individual self-sufficiency. The Section 3 program requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.

  • Has there been an independent audit that Public Works or any department using CDBG to confirm that the City has met the current requirements for the application of Section 3? If so, can we please be provided a copy of that audit?

4) Thank you for your detailed account of how the City communicates to the community regarding the awareness of upcoming CDBG and Stimulus Assistance funds. However, as you correctly quoted us in your response regarding input on how stimulus dollars are spent, we also hereby request assurances that we, as well as those qualified to receive such funds, will all have sufficient input regarding how the funds will be spent. We also addressed the greater need for oversight and reporting “of contracts that are awarded to companies not located in the City and which employ no Milwaukee citizens.”

  • Is there a mechanism in place that will track and report to the community how Stimulus Assistance funds will be used to contract with and employ citizens of Milwaukee?
  • Will RPP requirements be enforced on the Stimulus Assistance funds and if so who will monitor this and report to the community?
  • Who is held responsible if the Stimulus Assistance funds are not used to contract and employ citizens of Milwaukee?

With the millions of dollars coming into the city of Milwaukee through CDBG, why have we not seen some improvement in these targeted areas? This approach is not working. After 30 years of averaging nearly $25 million annually, conditions are worse for low-income, inner-city residents, and people of color, to whom the CDBG funds are intended to help. This outcome, if true, creates questions about how tax dollars are being spent, and more importantly, brings urgent attention to ensuring that the Stimulus Assistance funds will not be dispersed in a similar manner – thus, getting the same failed results.

We, as well as many who have been included in this discussion, are looking forward to receiving a response as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

George F. Sanders, coordinator,
Milwaukee Area Taxpayers Group (MATG)
Elmer Anderson, Joe Bova, Robert Durrah, Sue Frank, Eddie Jackson

cc: The Honorable Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States

Governor Jim Doyle
Senator Russ Feingold
Senator Herb Kohl
Congresswoman Gwendolyn Moore
Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
Mayor Tom Barrett
Judge Russell W. Stamper, Sr.
Delbert Reynolds, local HUD office
Sernorma Mitchell, local HUD office

Back to Keep A Top Eye Open
Back to top

Steven L. Mahans Response - June 23, 2009

by Steven L. Mahan

June 23, 2009

Milwaukee Taxpayers Group
P.O Box .71094
Milwaukee, WI. 53211
Attention: George Sanders
RE: Process of CDBG Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Dear Mr. Sanders:
This is in response to your letter regarding the use of Federal funds by the City of Milwaukee.
Note that CDGA’s response pertains only to those sections of your letter that are under CDGA’s purview.

In your letter you state the following:

1)The City uses “50% of CDBG funds for purposes not intended by HUD regulations and which do not benefit low and moderate incomer people, nor provide decent housing and economic opportunities.”

Response: The Federal HUD CDBG funds that the City of Milwaukee receives are utilized specifically for low and moderate income households as statutorily required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. The local HUD office verifies this information each year as part of their annual review of the City of Milwaukee’s activities in its latest review, for Year 2007, HUD stated that “with 93.16% of CDBG expenditures budgeted for activities benefiting low and moderate income persons, the City exceeds the 70% Federal minimum program requirement.” HUD further states that all of our activities were eligible and met the HUD National Objective of the CDBG program of benefiting low and moderate income persons.”

1)You state in your letter that “the City uses over 50% of CDBG funds for general services and capital improvements which benefit powerful builders of almost empty condominiums.”

Response: The City does not use any federal HUD CDBG entitlement dollars for capital improvements. In addition, all funded activities are geared to benefit low and moderate income persons, whether they are implemented by a non-profit agency or a City department. As it regards your statement that the City uses HUD dollars for general services such as the Milwaukee Fire Department’s fire

Room 606, City Hall, 200 East Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Phone (414) 286–3647 • Fax (414) 286–5003 • TDD (414) 286–8047

prevention program, the Health Department’s Communicable Disease Reduction Initiative and the library’s Community Outreach and Technology Center, these are all HUD eligible activities which benefit low and moderate income citizens of the City of Milwaukee. Prior to funding these activities, the City received approval from HUD that these were eligible activities.

3)You state in your letter that “the City has ignored over 10 years of residency hiring and subcontracting requirements related to Black and White residents who live in CDBG targeted areas.”

Response: For years, the City of Milwaukee has utilized its’ Resident’s Preference Program in public works contracts which has a 25% requirement. The City has been in compliance with this program. In addition, the Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett recently approved legislation to expand the MORE Program (Milwaukee Opportunities for Restoring Employment) and in March 2009 approved the requirement that 40% of public works contracts that meet the threshold requirements utilize City of Milwaukee residents. The City’s Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) program will administer the program and ensure that these requirements are met.

4)You state in your letter that “efforts be used to ensure that Milwaukee community stakeholders are active participants in discussing how stimulus dollars are spent and that the Stimulus granting staff should investigate the level of City of Milwaukee contracts that are awarded to companies not located in the City and which employ no Milwaukee citizens.”

Response:

CDGA welcomes the views and input of citizens and other stakeholders as it pertains to the any reports disseminated to the public. Any comments, letters or other correspondence received are considered and are included in reports submitted to HUD.

To ensure adequate and accessible citizen participation, the City of Milwaukee a prepared a “draft” of the Substantial Amendment to the City’s 2008 Action Plan for the for the Community Development Block Grant Recovery Program (CDBG-R) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The public comment period for review of the draft amendment was May 19, 2009 through May 26, 2009 as required by the HUD Federal regulations. CDGA notified non profit community agencies, businesses, elected officials and other interested stakeholders through mailings and phone calls. In anticipation of the CDBG-R funds, Mayor Tom Barrett and Congresswoman Gwen Moore sponsored two community town hall meetings on Aril 20, 2009 to solicit input on the use of these funds. The following comments were expressed at the meetings: (1) the need for expanded job creation and economic opportunities, and; 2) the need for stronger Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) participations in large scale projects and the use of EBE’s as prime general contractors versus small subcontractors.

2

CDGA also posted the notice at City Hall, on the City’s website on May 19, 2009 and published a notice of availability in the following publications on the dates listed below. Copies of the proposed amendment were also made available to the public at the CDGA offices, the City Clerk’s office and the City’s Legislative Reference Bureau.

  1. Milwaukee Community Journal, May 15, 2009
  2. El Conquistador, May 15, 2009 (Spanish publication)

The City’s Community & Economic Development Committee, which is the official oversight body for the use of Federal funds, held a public hearing on May 26, 2009. The full Milwaukee Common Council adopted the amendment on May 27, 2009 with approval by the Mayor.

Comments on the Proposed Amendment

In addition, the following written requests for funding were received:

  1. Energy efficiencies and safety enhancements for the Next Door Foundation
  2. Construction and expansion of the Isaac Coggs Heritage Health Center, to include a new dental department department
  3. Additional funds for Safe and Sound Community Organizers

For each of the proposed projects, the increased involvement of City of Milwaukee Subcontractors, city residents and Emerging Business Enterprises(EBE’s) is strongly Encouraged and project operators will be required to follow the recently passed MORE ordinance, which is described above.

In addition, all of the proposed projects benefit low and moderate income persons, as required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The target population for all of the activities is extremely low, low moderate and unemployed persons in the target area. The support activities beyond the housing are numerous and will also include skilled job training.
Further, as it regards the City’s overall process to allocate funds, the uses the following:

Citizen Participation Process: In accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and in an effort to ensure adequate and accessible citizen participation, the City of Milwaukee adopted a Citizen Participation Plan, which was reviewed and approved by the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee on April 23, 1991. The plan outlines the procedures and processes used by the City to solicit citizen input and has since been updated and revised. The document was subsequently submitted to HUD and approved by HUD.

The City’s Citizen Participation Plan requires public hearings to obtain citizen input on funding proposals and inquiries at all stages of the community development program, including the Consolidated Plan and Annual Funding Allocation Plan (FAP) and review of proposed activities and program performance. The FAP is

3

meant to define the City’s community development needs and funding priorities as it relates to the use of Federal funds. Essentially, the FAP is the basis for the Request for Proposals process. The FAP is reviewed annually through public hearings and amended where appropriate, as needs within the community change. Citizen and community input by stakeholders is strongly encouraged and solicited.

Lead Agency: The agency responsible for oversight and monitoring of these Federal funds and ensuring that these activities are implemented is the Community Development Grants Administration. The oversight body for CDGA is the City of Milwaukee Community and Economic Development Committee (CED) of the Milwaukee Common Council. All actions taken by the Committee are ratified by the Milwaukee Common Council and the Mayor. CDGA annually solicits and evaluates applications from all interested parties through an open and competitive Request For Proposal (RFP) process. The funding categories for the RFP process receive input from the community at large and are finalized by the CED Committee and Mayor. Recommendations for funding are made to the Community and Economic Development Committee for approval with final ratification by the Milwaukee Common Council and Mayor.

Over the years, the City of Milwaukee has used its Federal entitlement funds to creatively respond to community needs and to enable neighborhood residents, businesses and other community stakeholders to achieve the highest possible quality of life. Community-based organizations are essential for responding to community needs and for strengthening the social and economic infrastructure of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods and their efforts are also. coordinated with City agencies which have the same mission.

Relative to the allocation of funds, the City of Milwaukee places the highest priority on those programs which directly serve low and moderate income persons (defined as those with incomes of 80% or less of Milwaukee’s median income). Priority is also given to those projects which serve residents of the target area (of which at least 70% of all residents are considered low income).

In addition, the City of Milwaukee continues to facilitate partnerships between City Departments and community-based organizations, neighborhood residents, businesses, faith-based entities and others in the private sector to efficiently link resources and carry out joint planning and program activities.

City’s Notification Requirement Regarding Draft Plan Availability
A notification will be advertised in a minimum of two local newspapers of general circulation to inform the public that a draft Consolidated Plan, or draft Annual Action Plan is available for public review and subject to public comment. The notification will provide a summary of the proposed Consolidated Plan, or annual Action Plan, and describe the contents and purpose of the particular plan. The notice will also be posted on the City’s website (www.milwaukee.gov/cdbg). The public notice will state that copies of the particular Plan will be available for review on the City’s website, City libraries, the City’s Legislative Bureau and the offices of CDGA. Hard copies will also be available upon request.

4

The City will make the Plan public, and upon request in a format accessible to persons with disabilities. The City will provide citizens a reasonable opportunity to comment on the Plan, and on any amendments to the Plan as defined by this Citizen Participation Plan. The City will consider any comments or views of citizens received in writing, or orally, at any of the public hearings, or during the 30-day public review.

In preparation of the final Consolidated Plan or Annual Action Plan, the City will include any written or oral comments on the plans in the final submission to HUD.

Performance Reports,
As required by HUD, a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) will be submitted to HUD by March 31″ following the end of each program year which ends on December 31 “. The CAPER provides an actual account of activities, accomplishments and expenditures, which occurred during the previous program year.

Upon completion of the CAPER, prior to its submission to HUD, the City will make the Report available to the general public for a (30) day review and comment period. Any comments received from the general public will be included in Final CAPER.

The City will publish a notice in at least two local newspapers regarding the availability of the CAPER, which will begin the 30-day review and comment period. The notice and the draft CAPER will also be made available to the public via the City’s website, City libraries, Legislative Reference Bureau, CDGA offices and to interested persons who request a copy of the report.

The Community & Economic Development Committee will hold a hearing on the CAPER. Each public hearing notice will include the availability of an interpreter if requested by non-English speaking or hearing- impaired persons that expected to participate at the hearing.

Thank you for your comments on the City’s use - of Federal funds.

Sincerely,
Steven L. Mahan,
Director

Cc: The Honorable Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States

Senator Russ Feingold
Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
Governor Jim Doyle
Mayor Tom Barrett
Delbert Reynolds, local HUD office
Sernorma Mitchell, local HUD office

Back to Keep A Top Eye Open
Back to top

A Letter to Tom Barrett about the Community Development Block Grant - April 20, 2009

by George F. Sanders

The Honorable Tom Barrett
Mayor of the City of Milwaukee
600 East Wells St
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Dear Mayor Barrett:
SUBJECT: Use of Community Development Block Grant

Enclosed is a copy of a letter our office received from the Milwaukee Area Taxpayers Group regarding the City of Milwaukee’s use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. We arc transmitting the correspondence to you so that your staff may respond directly to the Mil­waukee Area Taxpayers Group and provide a copy to our office

We remind you that your letter should address the process the City of Milwaukee uses to allocate CDBG funds and how that process is in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations 24 CFR 570. In addition, this letter should address the process the City of Milwaukee will be using to award finds allocated trough the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and CDBG funds awarded under Recovery and Reinvestment Act If you have questions, please contact me at 297–3214 extension 8000 or Sernorma Mitchell, Community Planning and Development Director at 297–3214 extension 8100.

Sincerely,
Delbert F.Reynolds
Director51M
Enclosure
cc: Steven Mahan, Director City of Milwaukee-CDGA:

Back to Keep A Top Eye Open
Back to top

A Letter to Joe Biden about Stimulus Assistance - April 07, 2009

by George F. Sanders

To: The Hon. Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States

The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500, FAX: 202–456–2461

From: Milwaukee Area Taxpayers Group: Joe Bova, Robert Durrah, Sue Frank, Elmer

C. Anderson, George F. Sanders
PO Box 71094 , Milwaukee, WI 53211, Tele. 414–372–4934, Fax: 414–755–1791, Email: GSanders1@WI.RR.COM

Dear Sir:

We respectfully submit our concerns about any upcoming Stimulus Assistance, targeted for the City of Milwaukee, and that its record of handling and dispersing federal and state funds ought to be closely examined.

Under the administration of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Common Council President Willie Hines, and the Commissioner of the Department of City Development (DCD), Rocky Marcoux, Milwaukee’s quality of life has been crippled by the conditions of its deteriorated Inner City. Therefore, we call your attention to the likelihood that the city will treat any such Stimulus Assistance in the same manner used in administering the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Barrett’s administration uses over 50% of CDBG funds for purposes not intended by HUD regulations, and which do not benefit low and moderate income people, nor provide decent housing or expand economic opportunities.

Instead, the funds pay for general services and capital improvements, which benefit powerful builders of almost empty condominiums. The condo boom represents the most massive construction program in the city’s history, yet employs few Blacks who have unemployment rates over 50%. (The Crisis Continues: Black Male Joblessness in Milwaukee 2007 by: Marc V. Levine University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development −10/08) - http://www4.uwm.edu/ced/

In addition, the city has ignored over 10 years of residency hiring and subcontracting requirements related to unemployed Black and white residents who live within CDBG targeted areas.

In spite of complaints filed by Milwaukee Legal Services, in 9/2003, to HUD concerning Milwaukee’s non-compliance with CDBG regulations, the city continued to use HUD funds to pay for general services. This violates HUD’s 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5301©, in addition, 24 CFR SEC. 570.201(e). CDBG funds were used to pay firefighter salaries, and finance existing services, such as the Milwaukee Health Department’s “Communicable Disease Reduction Initiative,” and finance library positions. http://archive.wispolitics.com/freeser/pr/pr0211/nov13/pr02111301.html

If Milwaukee is allowed to continue with these policies, poverty and crime will escalate, no matter any Stimulus Assistance, including unnecessarily driving out people to the suburbs because of an unsafe central city.

We strongly recommend that the Stimulus granting staff investigate the level of the City of Milwaukee contracts that are awarded to companies not located in the city, and which employ no Milwaukee citizens.

We urge that efforts be used to ensure that the Milwaukee community stakeholders are active participants in discussing how the stimulus dollars will be managed. This should include members of Milwaukee’s wide diversity of community organization that actually reside in the very neighborhoods that are in need.

Mayor Tom Barrett’s claim about a national need for “policies to bring about equity in jobs, housing, contracting procedures, lending practices and education” flies in the face of an atrocious record that while under his watch increased the city’s poverty rate in spite of millions of state and federal dollars. “Poverty, inequality still pervade after 40 years, U.S. report says.” According to U.S. Census figures, Milwaukee’s poverty rate now ranks in the top 10 cities, and 1 out of 3 children in Milwaukee Public Schools is living in poverty.

Barrett has referred to Blacks as having no “moral compass,” and has impeded legislation to improve hiring parity and has publically stated his opposition against the mandatory sick pay leave ordinance for the City.

Lastly, Milwaukee’s environment causes young Black professionals to leave the city. Therefore, minority leadership is bypassed, even when new demands require the self-help approaches to new challenges. In a Milwaukee Sentinel Journal, article, “Up and coming – Just not here.” Milwaukee ranked well behind Washington, the No. 1 city for African-Americans, and Atlanta, the No. 2 pick. Both can claim higher-than-average annual earnings for African-Americans, a higher percentage of black college graduates and a solid base of black-owned businesses. Also, “Racial divide hurts Milwaukee.” Appeared in the The Business Journal

We are in desperate need of change, thus feel it imperative that efforts to provide Stimulus assistance be done to assure proper placement in a manner that benefits all Milwaukee citizens. Thank you for reading this.

cc: Gov. Jim Doyle, Sen. Russ Feingold, Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.

Back to Keep A Top Eye Open
Back to top

Stimulus Watch - July 19, 2009

Projects in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Below are the “shovel-ready” projects for which this city submitted in the 2008 U.S. Conference of Mayors report. You can click on a project to read (and add to) its description. You can also discuss the project and vote on whether you believe it is critical or not.

The total cost of all the projects submitted by Milwaukee is $599,062,000

Description City State Jobs Cost Program Type Vote Ratio
Street Construction — Increase construction to improve street condition based on audit of the residential street program. Milwaukee WI 0 $41,600,000 Streets/Roads 53
Redevelopment of former Tower Automotive site — Create business park at the site of the former Tower Automotive auto parts plant. Project includes demolition, environmental investigation and remediation, and design and installation of infrastructure (st Milwaukee WI 700 $25,645,000 Streets/Roads −59
Alleys — Complete 100+ deferred alley construction and maintenance projects. Milwaukee WI 0 $15,000,000 Streets/Roads −12
Bridges — Maintenance on six vertical lift bridges. Milwaukee WI 0 $13,090,000 Streets/Roads 31
Street Construction — Complete 2003–2008 deferred street project list. Milwaukee WI 0 $10,000,000 Streets/Roads 10
Street Lighting — Replace series circuitry to improve energy efficiency. Milwaukee WI 0 $8,000,000 Streets/Roads 19
Street Lighting — Accelerate control circuitry replacement. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,000,000 Streets/Roads −8
Street Maintenance — Pavement joint repair, asphalt sealing, asphalt overlay, pavement crackfilling and sidewalk improvement. Milwaukee WI 30 $5,000,000 Streets/Roads 35
440th Air Force Reserve Base redevelopment — To accommodate redevelopment of the property previously occupied by the 440th Air Force Reserve Base, closed February 2, 2008 under the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005, provide funds to separate prope Milwaukee WI 0 $4,000,000 Streets/Roads −71
Brewery Project — Build new street system to support the redevelopment of the former Pabst Brewery as housing, office and retail uses. Streets are designed to incorporate bioswales and an innovative storm water management system. First phase of street Milwaukee WI 1500 $3,005,000 Streets/Roads 27
Facility grounds — Slope stabilization, regrading, sidewalks, railings, lighting, road repair/replacement. Milwaukee WI 0 $3,000,000 Streets/Roads −11
Street Construction — Resurface deteriorating Port roads. Milwaukee WI 116 $3,000,000 Streets/Roads 18
Buildings — Salt Dome at Ruby Garage. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,200,000 Streets/Roads −26
Residential redevelopment at 31st/Galena — Remediate parcels and design and install infrastructure for residential development. Milwaukee WI 0 $550,000 Streets/Roads −16
Sewer — Complete 76 sewer projects that reduce sewer overflow. Milwaukee WI 37 $31,430,000 Water 60
Sewer — Complete sanitary sewer rehab, including laterals, for three systems as stipulated by DOJ. Milwaukee WI 27 $23,000,000 Water 17
Water Business Park — Develop a 200-acre business park and incubator space that serves the growing freshwater research and business sectors in metropolitan Milwaukee. Assemble and remediate land, design and install infrastructure. This project supports Milwaukee WI 150 $15,000,000 Water 53
Great Lakes Research Facility — Provide Infrastructure and facilities support for the recently created School of Freshwater Science, the first and only of its kind in the U.S. Milwaukee WI 0 $10,000,000 Water 49
Business Expansion/Facility Relocation — Relocate existing solid waste transfer station and self-help recycling center at Green Tree and Industrial Road to accommodate expansion of business. Milwaukee WI 500 $7,000,000 Water 3
Water Mains — Twenty-eight water main replacement projects, ranging from $45,000 to $3.3 million. Milwaukee WI 0 $6,600,000 Water 18
Breakwater — Rehabilitate deteriorating Lake Michigan breakwater. Milwaukee WI 193 $5,000,000 Water 25
Storage Tank — Menomonee water storage tanks demolition and decommissioning. Milwaukee WI 0 $4,500,000 Water −14
Major Equipment — Replace crawler crane to improve export capacity. Milwaukee WI 278 $4,100,000 Water −3
Filtering System — Replace media filters at Linnwood and Howard water treatment plants. Milwaukee WI 0 $4,000,000 Water 11
Port Expansion — Move container yard to consolidate open space for additional Port development and improve Port operational efficiency. Milwaukee WI 0 $3,000,000 Water 1
Howard Plant — Howard water treatment plant west clear well and pump room roof replacements. Milwaukee WI 0 $2,700,000 Water 3
Storage Tank — Greenfield elevated water storage tank painting project. Milwaukee WI 0 $2,500,000 Water −14
Various O&M Projects — Various maintenance projects at all Water facilities. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,875,000 Water 0
Linnwood Plant — Linnwood water treatment plant fluoride chemical feeds system replacement. Milwaukee WI 0 $750,000 Water 2
Various Infrastructure — Terminal resurfacing, dock walls, ship aprons, dredging, phytoremediation area. Milwaukee WI 45 $685,000 Water 7
Pipeline — Reline the wash water tank pipeline at the Linnwood Plant. Milwaukee WI 0 $500,000 Water −3
Port Facilities — Terminals, demolition of old facilities, tuck pointing. Milwaukee WI 0 $475,000 Water −1
Buildings — New porous parking lots to reduce rain runoff. Milwaukee WI 0 $325,000 Water 17
Water Meter Shop — Replace acid cleaning area, valves, piping, test benches. Milwaukee WI 0 $175,000 Water 1
Job Training - Dept. of Public Works Environmental Services in partnership with the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, Inc. and BIG STEP/Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership have developed the Urban Forestry Training Pilot Program - Connecting Milwaukee WI 80 $2,000,000 CDBG −4
Customized and green collar job training in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor — Provide funds to corridor employers to provide skills-specific training to corridor residents for “traditional” corridor jobs. Develop job training program for residents i Milwaukee WI 0 $750,000 CDBG −4
Buildings — Create three Regional Libraries ($10 M each). Milwaukee WI 0 $30,000,000 Energy −58
Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) — Retrofit much of the city’s building stock by allowing property owners and renters to implement energy efficiency measures with immediate savings and no upfront costs. It saves customers money, helps reduce greenhouse Milwaukee WI 300 $20,000,000 Energy 37
Street Lighting Energy Efficiency — Retrofit 10% of existing city street lighting with emerging, energy reducing LED technology. Milwaukee WI 0 $14,000,000 Energy 15
City Building Energy Efficiency — Retrofit existing lighting, HVAC, windows, building systems, etc. that reduce energy consumption. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,000,000 Energy 6
Buildings — Central Library: Media/Technology Center. Milwaukee WI 0 $2,600,000 Energy −5
Buildings — Forestry and Sanitation Lincoln Avenue facility. Milwaukee WI 0 $2,500,000 Energy −2
Buildings — New East Library (joint use) Milwaukee WI 0 $2,500,000 Energy −7
Buildings — New Villard Library (joint use) Milwaukee WI 0 $2,500,000 Energy 31
Operating Systems — RFID & Self-Check technology (partially funded in 2009 budget, total project cost $3.5 million). Milwaukee WI 0 $1,500,000 Energy −6
Buildings — Create three Express Center libraries. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,000,000 Energy −15
Buildings — HVAC upgrades at two neighborhood libraries. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,000,000 Energy −7
Buildings — Install green roof on Central Library. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,000,000 Energy −16
Urban agriculture project — Acquire 3-story, 20,000-SF building and combine with adjacent City-owned 2-acre parcel to create a grower-to-market economic opportunity. Milwaukee WI 0 $772,000 Energy 10
Buildings — Zablocki Library: replace HVAC, carpet, tile installation. Milwaukee WI 0 $750,000 Energy −4
Develop quality, affordable rental housing — Revitalization of over 800 units of affordable housing for seniors, families, and disabled, including the acquisition and rehabilitation of foreclosed properties. Milwaukee WI 0 $56,000,000 Housing −31
Security and Energy — Provide contracting opportunities to address deferred maintenance needs, which would include painting, landscaping, modernization of elevators for seniors and disabled, enhanced security systems, etc. Milwaukee WI 0 $7,050,000 Housing 2
Conserve natural resources — Replace 15% of our fleet with energy-efficient vehicles, which will also reduce ongoing operating costs. Install passive solar systems and green roofs on high-rises for the elderly and disabled. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,400,000 Housing −11
Lead Abatement — Provide funding to abate lead in 1,000 housing units including related administrative and laboratory costs. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,000,000 Housing −15
Redevelopment of former T.C. Esser Paint factory site — Remediate and redevelop abandoned, contaminated factory complex into housing. Milwaukee WI 0 $2,595,000 Housing 12
Riverwalks — Finish court ordered ADA improvement on riverwalks. Milwaukee WI 0 $2,000,000 Housing 2
Employment and Training — Provide critical employment and training opportunities for a minimum of 70 youth, young adults and dislocated workers. Milwaukee WI 70 $1,550,000 Housing 8
Repair Shop — Replace existing inadequate Fire equipment repair facility with new facility. Milwaukee WI 0 $15,000,000 Public Safety −1
Buildings — Replace hollow walk and foundation stabilization/repair of City Hall. Milwaukee WI 0 $11,700,000 Public Safety −3
Engine House Replacement — Replace Fire Engine House #8 and #17. Milwaukee WI 0 $8,400,000 Public Safety 8
Buildings — City Hall — 8th Floor City Attorney Offices Milwaukee WI 0 $5,700,000 Public Safety −47
Buildings — Central Library: Restoration of Mosaic and Scagiola in Rotunda. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,000,000 Public Safety −8
Police Administration Building — Upgrade building systems and asbestos abatement. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,000,000 Public Safety −1
Various Police Facilities — Improvements and building system upgrades to 6 police district stations and evidence storage facility. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,000,000 Public Safety 2
Police Cars — Replace 100 police cars. Milwaukee WI 0 $3,500,000 Public Safety −37
Buildings — Central Library: Masonry repair, painting, mechanical upgrades, solar panels, interior finishes, drive-up window upgrade, Centennial Hall upgrades. Milwaukee WI 0 $2,090,000 Public Safety 13
Buildings — Lower Parking floor replacement in Zeidler Municipal Building. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,300,000 Public Safety −13
Buildings — Zeidler Municipal Building elevator modernization project. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,200,000 Public Safety −5
3rd District Police — Renovation of old 3rd District Station into neighborhood task force facility. Milwaukee WI 0 $1,000,000 Public Safety 3
UWM-Engineering School — Purchase downtown land and prepare land for the new location of the UWM-Engineering School. Milwaukee WI 0 $5,000,000 Schools 14
Mass Transit — Develop and implement a Connector system/street car system to improve access to downtown, reduce travel time and reduce vehicle emissions. Milwaukee WI 0 $100,000,000 Transit 11

www.StimulusWatch.org
Back to Keep A Top Eye Open
Back to top

Last edited by Tyler Schuster.   Page last modified on July 23, 2009

Legal Information |  Designed and built by Emergency Digital. | Hosted by Steadfast Networks