Department of Public Works

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Enriching Lives Community Involvement 2011 Message from the Commissioner t is an honor ing with my fellow DPW employees, always welcome. Let me know your Ito serve as the side by side every day, we will do thoughts on how to improve the way Commissioner of whatever is necessary to keep enrich- we serve the public – the best ideas the City of Milwau- ing the lives of residents, help busi- come from those who actually do the kee’s Department nesses thrive, and welcome visitors job on a daily basis. Thanks to each of Public Works, to our beautiful City. I am proud of hard working DPW employee for your this is an awesome the way we, as DPW employees, ap- valuable contribution, I look forward responsibility. Be- proach each challenge that comes our to receiving your input on how we can ing a public servant way, with diligence and an apprecia- make the City of Milwaukee’s Depart- is a privilege for me, and I have en- tion for public service. ment of Public Works one of the best joyed such a privilege in Public Works I think it is essential that we continue in the country. for the past twenty-four years. to be innovative in creating new ef- As Commissioner, I feel that by work- fective and efficient ways to serve the public. New and innovative ideas are Ghassan Korban, Commissioner Historic Mitchell Street Completes Streetscaping Project that Continues the Renaissance hen Nancy Bush first started of City Development’s her job as Executive Direc- Community Economic Wtor at the Historic Mitchell Development fund. Street Association, her first order of business was to research the files. These two entrance She discovered that there had been areas were located at TIF monies set aside for streetscaping 5th and Mitchell and activities. Her first contact was Ghas- 13th and Mitchell. san Korban, who at the time, was the At 13th and Mitchell Department of Public Works Coordina- there stood an old fir tion Manager. tree and brick paving. The tree and brick The number one item the Association paving was removed wanted to address was the replace- and replaced with ment of trees on the street and on the another tree with a medians. Many of the trees had been beautiful flower bed either knocked by cars, illegally re- and gateway signage moved or were dying. Baran provided that welcomes pedes- photos of how trees are now planted trians and motorists in the sidewalk areas in order to get to Historic Mitchell The Renaissance Continues water and provide a more aesthetic Street. The same on Historic Mitchell Street! look. Next Ms. Bush investigated get- flower bed treat- ting money for the installation of harp ment and signage -Nancy Bush lights along the corridor and eventu- was applied to 5th ally gateway signage for the two main and Mitchell. A boulevard“ located in mental in the installation of the irriga entrance ways to the businesses’ the area was planted with trees and tion system and the South Side shopping district. The money for the plants as well. Continues on Back Page signage came from the Department Forestry’s Andy Witczak was instru- ” face-to-face, through tion & SOHI BID, and Preparing a “Recycle for Good” our door-to-door ef- tote box for Menomonee Valley forts” said Rick Meyers, deliery Partners. Works with Local Recycling Specialist for Agencies to Promote DPW. During the sum- In 2009, the inner mers of 2009 and 2010, city experienced an Recycling volunteers and staff increase in recycling distributed recycling lit- while total waste Community involvement plays a erature and information generation declined, vital role in DPW’s Recycle For Good to thousands of inner which resulted in a (RFG) campaign which was launched in city households. 9.7% positive change September of 2008. Based upon social in the percent of total waste recycled marketing research involving Milwau- 2009 campaigns were carried out when compared with the same period kee residents, the campaign is designed through the Southside Organizing during the previous year. After the to break down barriers to recycling. Committee and Sherman Park Commu- 2010 neighborhood campaigns, a Re- Partnerships with community groups nity Association. In 2010, non-profit cycle For Good campaign goal of in- help to accomplish this by strengthen- environmental group Keep Greater creasing recycling by 30% in this same ing education and outreach efforts on Milwaukee Beautiful (KGMB) facilitated area was achieved. various fronts including neighborhood partnerships with several community canvassing and educational programs. groups to coordinate outreach efforts. Partnerships also provide a valuable “A premise of social marketing suggests “Our one-to-one community outreach avenue for partners to strengthen their that personal contact largely influences activities directly affect the behavior of ties to the community. “It’s great to how a message is received and the re- the citizens through local interaction. have our volunteers helping with out- sults that it generates. With the help of Partnering with the City, we have been reach because it gives people a reason volunteers, we can increase the num- able to vastly improve education efforts to make human connections. By tak- ber of residents we are able to reach, with the cooperation ing the opportunity to have conversa- of the neighborhood tions with neighbors, you can really get groups”, said Joe to know the neighborhood as a place” Recycle For Good kiosk at the bustling Wilson, Executive ,said Caroline Phoenix of the Historic Westown Farmers’ Director. Represen- King Drive Business Improvement Dis- Market tatives from six dif- trict. ferent community groups attended an Other campaign activities included the outreach training collection of recycling pledges from session provided by residents, inclusion of recycling ar- KGMB - King Drive ticles in community newspapers, and BID, Merrill Park the integration of campaign materials Neighborhood As- and information into community activi- sociation, Westown ties. For example, the RFG campaign Association, Walnut enjoyed a several week run during the Way Neighborhood summer of 2010 at the Westown Farm- Association, Ave- ers’ market, where an educational ki- nues West Associa- osk was set up and staffed by KGMB. Submitted by Becky Curtis, Recycling Assistant City Hall Vegetable Gardens Continue to Flourish The City Hall vegetable gardens Forestry staff added on to existing implemented in 2009 by Mayor Tom planters located outside the Zeidler Barrett and the Department of Public Building to plant the City Hall Com- Works are still flourishing. With Grow- plex urban agricultural demonstra- ing Power as a partner in the venture, tion gardens. The planters were Mayor Barrett and DPW determined the chosen because they could be ret- gardens could serve as urban agricul- ro-fitted with chicken wire to pre- tural demonstration gardens encourag- vent animals from feasting on the ing others in the community to plant vegetables. gardens in their neighborhoods. In 2011, Growing Power is respon- When the project began, Public Works’ sible for the planting, maintenance Photos By: Becky Curits and the harvesting of these vegetables. organizations as partners. • Save on household expenses: 60% The organization prepared the soil with of family income goes to food compost then planted seeds just as The gardens have several benefits: they have in previous years. This year the harvested vegetables will • Access to fresh, local affordable be donated to Disabled Veterans orga- The City of Milwaukee supports and food nization. The organization has a new encourages urban agricultural gardens. • Positive use for vacant and under- facility located at 35th and Wisconsin Many are located in backyards, com- utilized urban land Avenue and has a commercial kitchen munity and school gardens, and on • Community building and neighbor- which is used to feed the veterans that rooftops. Some have been planted on hood beaitification live there. The gardens should yield City-owned vacant lots with community • Improve air and water quality 250 to 300 pounds of vegetables. Public Art Project “Pedestrian Drama” Entertains Pedestrians on East Wisconsin Avenue The public art project that began in Two hundred Milwaukeeans were in- suggested as an alternative means of 2009 has come to fruition and is en- volved in the project which included transportation through improvements tertaining hundreds of unsuspecting thirty contest winners. Some of the to the pedestrian right of way. Pub- pedestrians on the sidewalks in front local individuals and organizations lic art was one of the amenities sug- of Northwestern Mutual. “Pedestrian that participated included Deb Lowen, gested as part of the project. As a re- Drama” is a series of short animated Wildspace Dance Company, Rebecca sult, a Streetscape Public Art Advisory videos of Milwaukeeans that Committee was formed and a come to life when pedestri- public art consultant, Regina ans approach the 5 light poles Flanagan, was hired to create where kiosks are mounted. a Public Art and Design Study The public art project was for the City of Milwaukee. managed by the Department One of the members of the of Public Works’ Infrastruc- Streetscape Public Art Ad- ture Services Division. The visory Committee was Beth project was coordinated by Nicols, Executive Director of Bob Bryson, Chief Engineer of Milwaukee Downtown, BID Traffic and Lighting. #21. Upon completion of the The project has taken time project, Ms. Nicols stated, “It to develop because the art- has been fun to see visitors, ist, Janet Zweig, wanted to workers and students check- include local members of the ing out our latest public art theater and dance commu- “I wanted the cast to be as diverse as installation. The feedback has nity to assist with the creative possible and include both professional and been really positive.

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