_09142026-1437

Public Works Committee Minutes Monday, September 1 4 , 2026, at 5:30 p.m. 1. Call to Order: Chairperson Serebin called the meeting to order at 5:3 0 p.m. Present: President Buckley, Trustee Haller, James Zess, Ben McGillicuddy , Chairperson Serebin Also Present: Matthew Collins – Public Works Director, Kelsey McElroy-Anderson – Village Manager, Anna Christopherson – Assistant Village Manager , Patrick Whitaker – Police Chief 2. Review and Approve Minutes of J uly 13 , 2026 Public Works Committee Meeting PRESIDENT BUCKLEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HALLER . MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3. Discussion/Recommendations regarding Craig Counsell Park Improvements Director Collins reviewed the proposed improvements at Craig Counsell Park requested and fully funded by Whitefish Bay Little League. Under the Village ’s agreement with the organization, park improvements exceeding $5,000 require Village Board approval. The proposed work includes installing donated trees, including conifers, arborvitae, and spruce, to provide wind screening, shade, and park beautification. Plantings near the Minors Field and Pee Wee Field would provide additional shade for spectators. Pee Wee Field improvements are anticipated in fall 2026 or spring 2027. Tree work included in this project will be reimbursed fully by the Little League . Village staff will oversee installation through the Village ’s tree contractor, and the Village will assume routine long-term pruning and maintenance responsibilities. Committee members expressed support for the improvements and briefly discussed whether the agreement ’s current $5,000 approval threshold should be reconsidered in the future. MR. ZESS MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE VILLAGE BOARD TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED CRAIG COUNSELL PARK IMPROVEMENTS AT NO COST TO THE VILLAGE AS DESCRIBED WITHIN THE ATTACHED AND EXHIBITS , SECONDED BY MR. MCGILLICUDDY . MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4. Discussion/Recommendations regarding e-bikes and e-scooters Chief Whitaker presented an overview of electric bicycles, electric scooters, and off- road electric motorcycles, including applicable Wisconsin law s , current Village regulations, enforcement concerns, and possible ordinance changes. The Chief explained that Wisconsin classifies Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 electric bicycles as bicycles. These classifications generally allow operation on roadways, with Class 1 and Class 2 motor assistance limited to 20 mph and Class 3 motor assistance limited to 28 mph. Class 3 riders must be at least 16 years old. Off-road electric motorcycles, sometimes called e-motos or electric dirt bikes, are not permitted on Village streets and may be enforced under state traffic laws. Electric scooters are regulated by state statute and may generally operate at up to 15 mph on roadways, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes unless locally restricted. The Chief explained that the Village may regulate sidewalk operation, restrict electric scooters on certain higher-speed roadways, and require helmets for minors. Current Village regulations generally prohibit bicycle operation on sidewalks by persons over age 12. The Village ordinance ’s single-file bicycle requirement conflicts with state law, which permits riding two abreast under specified conditions. Chief Whitaker identified ongoing concerns involving failure to stop at stop signs, distracted riding, unsafe operation, groups of riders, sidewalk conflicts with pedestrians, and the operation of off-road electric motorcycles. The Committee discussed balancing pedestrian safety, children ’s transportation needs, enforceability, and consistency with state law. Members emphasized parent education, coordination with schools, and clear communication of high-priority safety expectations. The Committee supported preparing an ordinance amendment allowing the Village to hold parents or guardians accountable for a minor ’s unsafe bicycle operation, rather than only for equipment violations. Members also reached general consensus on exploring a change to allow bicycle operation on sidewalks only by children age 10 and under. Staff will consult with the Village Attorney regarding the Village ’s authority to distinguish between conventional bicycles and electric bicycles, particularly for sidewalk regulations. Staff will also contact the League of Wisconsin Municipalities regarding legislative advocacy for greater local authority to distinguish electric bicycles from conventional bicycles. The Committee requested that staff explore additional parent education opportunities through coordination with the School District, particularly at the middle-school level. Members also discussed reviewing the feasibility, staff impact, and effectiveness of a bicycle or e-bike registration program. The Chief indicated that such programs create substantial administrative demands and may not provide an effective additional enforcement tool. A majority of members expressed support for developing a recommendation to prohibit electric scooters on sidewalks, subject to further legal and policy review. Members also discussed school-based education and voluntary safety acknowledgement or permit approaches as alternatives to prohibiting e-bike or scooter parking at schools. Proposed ordinance changes and recommendations will be brought to the Village Board for consideration. 5 . Discussion/Recommendations regarding the 2027 Street Resurfacing Program Staff Engineer , Maxine Miller , presented the proposed 2027 street resurfacing program, consisting of Marlborough Drive from Henry Clay Street to Fairmont Avenue and a short connecting segment of Lancaster Avenue. Staff Engineer Miller explained that the proposed project area was selected using roadway condition ratings, average daily traffic, constructability, and coordination with water-main work and other infrastructure needs. Core samples will be collected to evaluate pavement and subbase conditions before final design. The Village will also evaluate catch basins, valves, sanitary sewer conditions, and other infrastructure to minimize the need for utility cuts shortly after resurfacing. The Committee discussed coordinating the resurfacing program with planned 2027 water-main replacement and roadway work on Shoreland and Hollywood. Staff indicated that no known lead service lines had been identified within the Marlborough Drive resurfacing area. Staff emphasized the importance of early planning, utility coordination, and bidding to obtain competitive pricing. Members raised concerns about pavement cuts, settlement, and drivability on Santa Monica Boulevard. Staff agreed to review manhole conditions, restoration practices, and compaction requirements. The Committee also suggested considering recent utility cuts and service-line work as additional factors in roadway prioritization. Staff explained that contractors must restore disturbed pavement to an equal or better condition, including concrete restoration where concrete pavement is disturbed. TRUSTEE HALLER MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE VILLAGE BOARD APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR THE 2027 STREET RESURFACING PROGRAM PROJECT AREA , SECONDED BY PRESIDENT BUCKLEY . MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 6 . Discussion/Recommendations on Buckley Stormwater Improvements Director Collins presented a proposed ecological restoration project for the upper bluff at Buckley Park in response to resident concerns about vegetation obstructing views of Lake Michigan. Director Collins explained that the former practice of cutting vegetation on the steep slope raised concerns about employee safety, erosion, and bluff stability. The Village Engineer advised against removing vegetation without an appropriate restoration plan. The proposed project would replace sumac and other undesirable vegetation within the upper bluff project area with lower-growing native plants to improve lake views while maintaining soil stability and providing stormwater and ecological benefits. Staff described a multiyear approach involving design, vegetation removal and treatment, erosion-control measures, native seeding, and continued maintenance. The lower bluff would not be included in the proposed work. The Committee discussed the project ’s scope, cost, maintenance requirements, and potential use of goats for vegetation control. Staff indicated that goats would not eliminate regrowth and could damage native plantings after restoration. Members also requested that the Village Engineer review the proposed restoration approach and existing ecological improvements at the Village ’s other lakefront park. Director Collins clarified that the bluff was considered relatively stable under existing conditions and that the project primarily responded to requests to restore lake views while protecting bluff stability. The estimated total cost was approximately $40,000 over three years, including design and implementation, with funding from the stormwater utility reserve balance. Approval at this stage would cover only the design proposal; implementation recommendations would return for subsequent consideration. Chairperson Serebin opened the meeting for public comment . George S voboda , 4973 North Lake Drive, thanked staff for recent pathway maintenance and emphasized the importance of preserving lake views as a public park amenity. Kell e y Farnsworth , 4965 North Lake Drive, described the park ’s frequent use by residents and visitors and supported the proposed approach to preserve its public value. Jerry T. Gardner , 4925 North Bartlett Avenue, supported restoring lake views for park visitors and the broader community. MR. ZESS MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE VILLAGE BOARD APPROVAL OF THE NATIVE RANGE ECOLOGICAL PROPOSAL FOR BUCKLEY PARK BLUFF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,230 AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF MEMO AND EXHIBITS, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE HALLER . MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 7 . Department Status Report and Project Updates Director Collins clarified that the forestry update referred to removing ash trees and replacing them with a variety of non-ash species, not planting additional ash trees. Approximately 75 replacement trees were planned for fall planting, reflecting removals associated with storm damage, disease, dieback, and safety concerns. The Committee discussed the permanent pedestrian improvements planned at four locations currently using temporary yellow bollards. Director Collins reported that construction funding had been approved through the Transportation Alternatives Program grant. Design is expected to be complete by the end of 2026, with bidding anticipated around January and construction in 2027. Staff solicited proposals for construction oversight and management. QR codes had been installed to collect public feedback. Members raised concerns about low branches and trees obscuring street signs. Director Collins explained that the Village maintains a seven-year pruning cycle, with a map available on the Village website, and evaluates safety-related requests outside that cycle. Director Collins also discussed a proposed budget request for tablets to allow field employees to document inspections and improve follow-up communication with residents. New tree locations are being reviewed to avoid planting within 20 feet of stop signs to improve intersection visibility. Director Collins provided an update on the Silver Spring Drive intersection at Consaul Place and Diversey Boulevard. Traffic signal installation is anticipated in November because of the lead time for signal poles. Until installation, stop signs will remain on the intersecting streets, with through traffic on Silver Spring Drive. The Committee discussed pedestrian access and construction impacts on nearby businesses. Director Collins reported ongoing coordination with the contractor to improve temporary pedestrian routes and expedite reopening the intersection corners. Staff estimated that corner work could take up to approximately three weeks but expressed hope for earlier completion. Director Collins explained that coordinating concrete, brick pavers, grades, and accessible ramps had added complexity to the work . 8 . Adjournment PRESIDENT BUCKLEY MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 7 :22 P.M., SECONDED BY TRSUTEE HALLER . MOTION PASSED 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Anna Christopherson Assistant Village Manager