Milwaukee · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Milwaukee public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Fall leaf collection
Leaf drop is heavy — 30-40% down citywide. Residents can mulch, rake a foot from the curb, use drop-off centers, or request paper-bag pickup; a color-coded online map shows when collection is coming to your area.
Federally funded EV charging network
A $15 million federal grant will build public EV chargers at 26 sites, including libraries, county parks, UWM and the zoo — but the federal money is currently frozen, so the city is pursuing state funds and a private operating partner, with installation hoped for 2027.
Native plants ordinance
Ald. Brower's ordinance lets residents replace lawns with intentional native plant gardens without fear of being mowed down by the city, after a constituent's planting was cut. The committee added an annual registry requirement before recommending passage.
Lincoln Creek flooding and the MMSD West Basin project
Bauman pushed on whether TID money should attack the Lincoln Creek flooding problem directly; staff pointed to the MMSD-led West Basin project as the big fix, with the TID-funded playground depending on its timeline.
Multifamily recycling enforcement gap
Alders flagged that recycling rules at apartment buildings are essentially complaint-based and rarely enforced; DPW is working with DNS to fold enforcement into regular property inspections.
Deconstruction ordinance moratorium extended again
The deconstruction requirement for older homes has been paused since 2021; the committee extended the stay another year while the city reworks the program toward salvage-and-reuse. Ald. Spiker pressed for a concrete game plan rather than another indefinite punt.
End of city-run recycling at the MERF site
DPW confirmed the city will not rebuild its recycling facility, contracting with WM instead because recycling returns no longer justify the investment. Spiker criticized that the full council never formally weighed in.