Public Works Committee — Minutes

City of Pewaukee W240 N3065 Pewaukee Road Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, July 23, 2026 In Attendance: Mayor Steve Bierce, Michael Kreiter, Jim Blackwood Also In Attendance: Director of Public Works M. Wagner, Chief Engineer-Utilities R. Wirtz, City Engineer M. Gabbey, Utility Manager J. Mueller, Utility Assistant Manager R. Kincaid, Administrative Assistant H. Jacobs 1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Bierce called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and called for everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance 2. Public Comment - Please limit your comments to two minutes. If further time for discussion is needed, please contact your District Alderperson prior to the meeting. No public comment was received. 3. Discussion and Action Regarding the Minutes 3.1 Discussion and possible action to adopt Jun 11 2026 meeting minutes. Mr. Kreiter identified an error on page 7 of 56, noting that the road name in agenda item 4.5, second paragraph, appeared to read "Blue Mountain Road" and requested clarification of the correct name. Staff confirmed the correction. Mr. Kreiter also inquired whether the battery recycling item was included on the current agenda, and was advised it was not, as the responsible staff member was absent. Motion was made and seconded (J. Blackwood, M. Kreiter) to adopt the June 11, 2026, meeting minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Water and Sewer Division 4.1 Discussion and possible action regarding the City of Pewaukee and Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District Sewer Service Agreement expiration and possible extension. Ms. Wagner presented an overview of the existing sewer service agreement between the City of Pewaukee and the Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District (LPSD), which is set to terminate at midnight on December 31, 2027. She noted that the map included in the agreement packet was of limited legibility due to the age of the document and the number of times it had been copied, and clarified that the relevant service area had already been partially absorbed by the City when it took over the north section of the lake upon incorporation. Ms. Wagner outlined two primary paths forward: renewing and updating the existing agreement, or pursuing a merger of the two entities into a single sanitary district. Staff expressed a preference for exploring the merger option, citing several operational challenges with the current dual-entity structure, including difficulties in coordinating maintenance, managing capacity in shared infrastructure, and clearly communicating to residents which entity to contact for service. Information provided by staff included the following: LPSD currently serves approximately 987 properties within the City of Pewaukee, representing about 64% of its customer base; LPSD's system was largely installed in the 1970s around Pewaukee Lake at the direction of the DNR to improve lake water quality. LPSD operates 14 lift stations, several of which are located within the City. Staff also noted that LPSD operates in the Town of Delafield, and that any merger discussion would need to address that portion of the service area. Mayor Bierce raised concern that taking on aging infrastructure could expose the City to significant replacement costs. Ms. Wagner countered that City ratepayers are already effectively funding that infrastructure through LPSD sewer rates, which currently stand at $197 per REU compared to the City's rate of $141 per REU. Staff noted that surrounding communities such as Waukesha charge approximately $247 per REU, and that consolidation would give the City greater control over the timing and manner of infrastructure upgrades. Ms. Wagner also acknowledged that LPSD's current director has been proactive in improving the system, including televising pipes, upgrading lift stations, and securing a clean water loan at a reduced interest rate for capital projects. Mr. Kreiter asked about the potential immediate financial impact of a merger. Staff indicated that the necessary feasibility studies would need to be completed before any firm figures could be offered, but estimated the study cost at less than $100,000. Mr. Blackwood noted that administrative efficiencies from consolidation could offset some costs. Ms. Wagner clarified that the scope of any merger discussion would be limited to the sanitary sewer operations; the LPSD's lake management program would not be part of the proposed consolidation. The Committee expressed general support for proceeding with exploratory discussions. Staff proposed the following path forward: hold a joint meeting with LPSD, obtain a cost estimate for the required feasibility study, bring that estimate back to the Committee, and then forward a recommendation to the Common Council. No formal action was taken on this item. 4.2 Discussion on the status of the Well Siting Study. Ms. Mueller reported that the well siting study is ongoing, with a minor delay due to technical mapping issues. Results are anticipated to be available toward the end of August. Staff noted that news media inquiries regarding the study have started, and requested that Committee members direct any such contacts to Maggie Wagner in order to maintain a consistent public message. Staff indicated that frequently asked questions would be developed and distributed to Committee members as the study progresses. 4.3 Discussion on the adoption of Chapter 300 Sanitary Sewer Ordinance. Ms Wagner reported, for informational purposes, that Chapter 300 of the Sanitary Sewer Ordinance was adopted by the Common Council. The ordinance represents a comprehensive rewrite of the City's previous sewer ordinance, which dated to approximately 1994–1996. Notable updates include refined language regarding the standby charge for properties that have not connected to the sewer system within the mandatory 15-year window, and authorization to issue letters to properties that are past that deadline, giving them one year from the date of the letter before the standby charge is assessed. Language was also incorporated from the City of Brookfield's ordinances, given Brookfield's role as the City's regional treatment plant operator for industrial and commercial flows. Staff noted the item was provided for the Committee's records. 5. Engineering Division 5.1 Discussion and possible action regarding a draft Joint Quiet Zone Agreement with the Village of Pewaukee. Ms. Wagner presented a draft Joint Quiet Zone Agreement with the Village of Pewaukee, noting that this item had first come before the Committee in January of this year and was subsequently concurred with by the Common Council in February. The draft agreement has been reviewed by the City Attorney and forwarded to the Village for their review and comment. Ms. Wagner explained the framework of the agreement: the City's two railroad crossings — Duplainville Road and Parkside — are already equipped with quad gates and require no additional improvements to qualify for quiet zone designation. The Village's crossings, however, do require safety improvements in order to qualify. Under the proposed joint agreement, the City's crossings are included in the combined quiet zone analysis, and their safety factor is sufficient to bring the Village's crossings into compliance without the need for the Village to wait for a standalone Federal Railroad Administration review period. However, staff emphasized that the Village is still required to complete the safety improvements it would have had to make under an independent quiet zone application. The specific improvements to be made by the Village are not yet finalized and will be incorporated into the agreement prior to final approval. Staff indicated that once the agreement is executed and the Village's improvements are confirmed, the process of formally enacting the quiet zone requires only a short 30- to 60-day notice period. Staff noted that the City had been at that final step for its own crossings when the Village approached with the joint request, and the City paused its independent application to avoid enacting and then modifying the quiet zone. Mr. Kreiter inquired about the status of the Springdale Road crossing quiet zone, which is shared with the City of Brookfield. Mr. Gabbey reported that Brookfield is working to complete improvements at all of its crossings and anticipated finishing by 2028, at which point the same short notice period would apply for enacting that quiet zone. Motion was made and seconded (J. Blackwood, M. Kreiter), to recommend the draft Joint Quiet Zone Agreement with the Village of Pewaukee to the Common Council, contingent on final edits by the respective attorneys and the Village of Pewaukee Director of Public Works. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Public Comment - Please limit your comments to two minutes. If further time for discussion is needed, please contact your District Alderperson prior to the meeting. Ms. Mueller addressed the Committee on an item not on the agenda, but time-sensitive matter regarding the Still River well. Staff reported receiving notification earlier in the week that the most recent round of water sampling at the Still River well showed an increase in PFAS contamination levels. As a result, the City is required by the DNR to send an additional public notice to water customers within 30 days of notification, in addition to the quarterly notice already distributed with utility bills. The notice is expected to be mailed during the week of August 3rd. Ms. Mueller noted that staff has also submitted materials to the DNR for the treatment pilot study, and that the matter is progressing. The Committee was advised to direct any related public inquiries to staff. 7. Adjournment Motion was made and seconded (M. Kreiter, J. Blackwood) to adjourn the meeting at 4:30 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted Magdelene Wagner Director of Public Works