The preparation of the Downtown Plan Update has involved various public input sessions, countless hours of community and stakeholder input, resident surveys, the involvement of the business community, and the work of city staff. The process is still ongoing and the presentation before the City Plan Commission for approval was the next step in the process.

At the May 3rd, 2010 City Plan Commission meeting the proposed Milwaukee River Greenway Overlay District was brought for the commission for approval. This overlay district would impact 370 properties, these are properties that property lines are within approximately 50 feet of the river bluff, of which 70 to 80% is existing parkland.

Any hope for a regional transit authority in southeastern Wisconsin is on hold, as the Wisconsin State Legislature adjourned without passing a transit bill of any form for southeast Wisconsin. The bill, AB282, was close to passage in the Assembly, but lacked a few key votes from Milwaukee-area Democrats, notably Representatives David Cullen, Peggy Krusick, and Anthony Staskunas.

An interesting debate was covered by the Journal-Sentinel the other day about why bus ridership in Milwaukee County was dropping.

Politics are at work, given the election season. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker blames the economy and is downplaying his decision to raise fares over the past several years, and transit advocates are saying that the drop is due to large fare increases and service cuts (fewer routes).

It seems every month there is another recall proposed. It might be lead by the Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG), because they disagree with Governor Doyle’s policies, or it could be some members of the left debating a recall of Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. But, regardless of party it seems that in Wisconsin anytime a group disagrees with a politician on a position or policy the talk of a recall pops up. The most recent example of this overzealousness is the CRG backed recall of Alderman Kovac.

The 2010 City of Milwaukee budget faces a series of hurdles. There is the $50 million pension fund contribution, brought on because of the stock market crash. There is also the $33 million decline in property tax levy due to declining home values.

Don’t forget that this Thursday is the open house for the Milwaukee Connector Downtown Streetcar plan. The open house runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Zeidler Municipal Building on the corner of Kilbourn Ave and Broadway. There will be short presentations at 3:30 and 6, come and leave a comment on the proposed system.

The Village of West Milwaukee has a population of 4,201 people according to the 2000 census, which translates into 2,059 households. From January 2006 until September 1st, 2009 the Village of West Milwaukee exported at least 1,880 guns that were used to commit crimes in the City of Milwaukee.

WisDOT and Governor Doyle announced a substantial rail investment yesterday, it wasn’t the oft-discussed KRM commuter rail line, but instead a serious upgrade to the aging railroad infrastructure that Wisconsin’s railroads and businesses depend on.

On Friday, Mayor Barrett unveiled three streetcar routes under study to the attendees of UEDA’s Community Development Summit.

The Mayor walked through the three possible routes and numerous possible future extensions. He broke down how successful systems in cities such as Seattle, Portland, and Tacoma have started with routes similar in length to the proposed for the Milwaukee Streetcar system (2 to 3 miles).