We often hear about the lack of “transparency” or that “the process wasn’t followed,” and it is actually my belief that often enough this isn’t true. Most of the time public meetings go fine, input is taken, and decisions are made respectfully and properly. That said what I have recently experienced were a couple of poorly run, if not rude, unprofessional public hearings on high profile issues. Hearings like these give the public pause, divide communities, and do a disservice to the process.

The Milwaukee Opportunities for Restoring Employment ordinance was the primary reason behind this special meeting of the Community & Economic Development Committee.  The ordinance intends to increase the required percentage of City of Milwaukee residents hired to work on city projects and development projects receiving more than $1 million in TIF assistance.  Additionally it mandated [...]

In what appears to be a rush to significantly alter development efforts within the City of Milwaukee, Alderman Hamilton is proposing additional requirements for development projects that accept more than $1 million in Tax Incremental Financing. The changes include requirements that developers pay construction workers prevailing wages, hire a significantly higher percentage of City of Milwaukee residents, and hire a higher percentage of emerging businesses as subcontractors. Although it sounds great to have developers pay higher rates to construction workers, and have them hire more City of Milwaukee residents, as with most things it brings with it unintended consequences.

File number 081431 would allow the library to apply for a Public Library Innovation Grant which would be used to extend the summer reading program in to a year round program.  Alderman Davis pointed out that he brought the grant to the library staff’s attention and said “they have a great success rate, that if [...]

Soloman Chris Johnson, Welford Sanders, LaMar Franklin, Jo Spear Jr., Carla Cross, President and CEO of Cross Management Services, Inc., and Luc Monsanto, were appointed to Historic King Drive Business Improvement District.  When asked about his interest in serving on the board, Jo Spear Jr. responded saying “instead of putting all my back into the [...]

Resolution, 081079, proposed the authorization of a $200,000 forgivable loan from the 2008 Development Fund to support expanded production capacity for two Super Steel Products Corp locations in Milwaukee. Although Super Steel Products Corp is in the process of closing a factory in Glenville, N.Y, it is positioned to benefit by expanded rail service in [...]

At the June 23rd, 2008 meeting of the Community & Economic Development Committee Alderman Bauman brought forward resolution 080293 which cut off funding to the West End Development Corporation.  This was done because of the groups inability to complete the redevelopment of WestPointe Commons despite nearly 7 years of efforts.  Following that resolution the West [...]

The final two appointees to Business Improvement District #41 (Downer Ave.) were approved by committee today. Andie Zacher and Brett Grass were added to the newly expanded board bring the total to seven members. Brett Grass from Lighthouse Development expressed that he has a “vested interest in the shopping district staying vibrant” and [...]

Dick Lincoln from the Mandel Group presented resolution 071618 which is the job training program portion of The North End development that receives funding from TIF No. 48. He explained that it would be “a little bit different than traditional workforce development” in that in focuses more on mentoring and coaching of emerging businesses [...]

The items that stood out the most on the agenda were resolution 071355 and 071358. These resolutions would appoint Joel Lee and Boris Gokhman respectively to the Business Improvement District Board #41. This BID represents Downer Avenue which has been at the center of a continuous development project by New Land Enterprises. [...]