Proposed changes to city ordinance: signature requirements for license and permit applications

These proposed changes to the city’s ordinance governing licenses will be before  Licenses Committee Meeting schedudled for April 16, 2013.

Licenses Committee

ALD. T. ANTHONY ZIELINSKI, CHAIR

Ald. Milele A. Coggs, Vice-Chair

Ald. Nik Kovac, Ald. Joseph Dudzik, and Ald. Jose Perez

Staff Assistant, Chris Lee, 286-2232

Fax: 286-3456, clee@milwaukee.gov

Legislative Liaison, Teodros Medhin, 286-8681,

tmedhi@milwaukee.gov

File #:  121521    Version: 0

Type: Ordinance

Status: In Committee

File created: 2/27/2013

In control: LICENSES COMMITTEE

On agenda:

Title:

An ordinance relating to signature requirements for license and permit applications.

Sponsors: THE CHAIR (Tony Zielinski)

Attachments:Hearing Notice List

Number 121521

Version ORIGINAL

Reference

Sponsor THE CHAIR

Title: An ordinance relating to signature requirements for license and permit applications.

Sections: 68-4-2-e rp; 74-1-4-k rp; 84-7-5-a am; 84-20-3-d rp; 84-33-5-0 am; 85-12-2-0 am; 89-7-2 am; 89-9-2 am; 90-4-7.8-d-1-0 am; 90-4-7.9-d am; 90-4-12-d am; 90-5-1-a am; 90-37-4-a am; 93-7-2-0 am; 95-14-3-a am; 100-50-4-a am; 100-54-3-a-0 am; 105-75-3-b-0 am; 107-13-3-a rc; 108-5-3-a am; 115-33.5-3-c rp

Analysis

Section 85-12 of the code of ordinances requires that, for a city license or permit generally, the license or permit application shall be “signed and certified” by the applicant.  This ordinance repeals redundant or contradictory signature requirements for various types of licenses and permits.

Body

The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee do ordain as follows:

Part 1.  Section 68-4-2-e of the code is repealed.

(Note:  The provision being repealed reads as follows:

68-4.  Food Dealer License.

2.  APPLICATION.

e.  The signature of all applicants and their agents to confirm that all information on the application is correct and acknowledge that any change in the information on the application shall be reported to the city clerk within 10 days of the change.)

Part 2.  Section 74-1-4-k of the code is repealed.

(Note:  The provision being repealed reads as follows:

74-1.  Food Peddlers.

4.  APPLICATION.

k.  The signature of all applicants and their agents to confirm that all the information on the application is correct and acknowledge that any change in the information on the application shall be reported to the city clerk within 10 days of the change.)

Part 3.  Section 84-7-5-a of the code is amended to read:

84-7.  Extended Hours Establishments.

5.  APPLICATION.

a.  Application for an extended hours establishment license shall be filed with the city clerk on a form provided [[therefore]] >>therefor<<.  [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, or by a duly authorized agent or officer of a corporation or limited liability company, and sworn to by the applicant.]]

Part 4.  Section 84-20-3-d of the code is repealed.

(Note:  The provision being repealed reads as follows:

84-20.  Parking Lots or Places.

3.  APPLICATION.

d.  The applications shall be verified under oath by the applicant or his duly authorized agent.)

Part 5.  Section 84-33-5-0 of the code is amended to read:

84-33.  Professional Photographer.

5.  APPLICATION.  Applications shall be filed with the city clerk on forms provided therefor.  [[The application shall be signed and sworn to or affirmed by the applicant.]]  The application shall require the following information:

Part 6.  Section 85-12-2-0 of the code is amended to read:

85-12.  Contents of Application.

2.  WHEN APPLICANT IS [[NOT AN INDIVIDUAL AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION IS NOT REQUIRED]] >>A BUSINESS<<.  An application for a new license shall be signed and certified by a majority of the owners of the business entity.  A renewal application shall be signed and certified by at least one owner.  Each type of application shall contain the following information:

Part 7.  Section 89-7-2 of the code is amended to read:

89-7.  Application for Escort Service License.

2.  APPLICATION.  Any person desiring an escort service license shall file a written application with the city clerk on a form to be provided by the city clerk. [[The information provided to the city clerk shall be provided under oath. If the applicant is a corporation, the name of the corporation shall be set forth exactly as set forth in its articles of incorporation, together with the date and state of incorporation, the names and residence addresses of each of its officers, directors and each stockholder holding 10% or more of the stock or beneficial ownership of the corporation. The application shall also be verified by an officer of the corporation. If the applicant is a partnership, the application shall set forth the name and residence address of each of the partners, including limited partners, and the application shall be verified by each partner. If one or more of the partners is a corporation, the provisions of this section pertaining to a corporate applicant shall apply to the corporate partner. If the applicant is neither a corporation nor a partnership, the application shall set forth the true full name and residence address of the applicant and be verified by the applicant.]] The application shall [[also]] include any other name by which the applicant has been known during the previous 5 years. The application for an escort service license shall set forth the proposed place of business of the escort service by business address, including suite number, and not by post office box, and shall contain a description of the nature and scope of the proposed business operation. In addition, the following information shall be furnished concerning the applicant if an individual, and concerning each stockholder holding 10% or more of the stock or beneficial ownership of the corporation, each officer and director if the applicant is a corporation, and concerning each partner, including limited partners, if the applicant is a partnership:

Part 8.  Section 89-9-2 of the code is amended to read:

89-9.  Application for Escort License.

2.  APPLICATION.  Any person desiring an escort license shall file a written application with the city clerk on a form to be provided by the city clerk. [[The application shall be verified by the applicant and the information provided to the city clerk shall be provided under oath.]] Any applicant for an escort license shall furnish all information required by s. 89-7-2 as well as a description of the applicant’s height, weight, color of eyes and color of hair. The applicant shall provide 2 passport-size color photographs at least one inch by one inch taken within 3 months of the date of application. In addition, the applicant shall identify by name and address the escort service at which the applicant is currently working, if any, or at which the applicant expects to be employed.

Part 9.  Section 90-4-7.8-d-1-0 of the code is amended to read:

90-4.  Classification of Licenses.

7.8.  TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF LICENSED PREMISES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

d.  Application.

d-1.  Application for the temporary extension of license premises shall be filed on or before the deadline established by the city clerk on forms provided by the city clerk.  [[The application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant, if an individual; one partner, if a partnership; or by a duly authorized agent, officer or member, if a corporation or limited liability company.]]  The application shall include:

Part 10.  Section 90-4-7.9-d of the code is amended to read:

7.9.  PERMANENT EXTENSION OF PREMISES.

d.  Application.  Application for the permanent extension of licensed premises shall be made in writing to the city clerk on forms provided by the city clerk. [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, a partner, or by a duly authorized agent or officer of a corporation or limited liability company, and shall be sworn to by the applicant.]] The application shall contain the name of the licensee, the address of the existing licensed premises, including the aldermanic district in which it is situated, a specific description of the area for which the permanent extension is sought, and such other reasonable and pertinent information as the common council, licensing committee, or city clerk may require. The city clerk shall forward all applications to the licensing committee.

Part 11.  Section 90-4-12-d of the code is amended to read:

12.  CLASS “D” SPECIAL TEMPORARY OPERATOR’S LICENSE.

d.  Application; Issuance. Application for the Class “D” special temporary operator’s license shall be made to the city clerk in writing on forms furnished by the city clerk. [[The application shall be signed by and sworn to by the applicant.]] Such application shall state the name and permanent address of the applicant, the date of birth, the organization and the premises at which the applicant will be working, and the date or dates of the specific event, not to exceed 14 consecutive days, sponsored by the organization. The city clerk shall issue the Class “D” special temporary operator’s license upon payment of the license fee required in ch. 81 without referring any of the applications to the common council for action. The license shall state the name of the individual, and the period and the premises for which it is issued.

Part 12.  Section 90-5-1-a of the code is amended to read:

90-5.  Licensing.

1.  APPLICATION: FORM AND CONTENTS.

a.  To Be Filed.  Application for all licenses issued pursuant to this chapter, except for the short-term Class “B” special fermented malt beverage license, shall be made to the city clerk in writing on forms furnished by the city clerk.  [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, or by a duly authorized agent or officer of a corporation or club, and sworn to by the applicant.]]

Part 13.  Section 90-37-4-a of the code is amended to read:

90-37.  Centers for the Visual and Performing Arts.

4.  APPLICATION.

a.  Application for a center for [[a]] >>the<< visual and performing arts license shall be filed with the city clerk on a form provided [[therefore]] >>therefor<< .  [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, or by a duly authorized agent or officer of a corporation or limited liability company, and sworn to by the applicant.]]

Part 14.  Section 93-7-2-0 of the code is amended to read:

93-7.  Application.

2.  CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.  [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, or by an agent or officer of the corporation, and sworn to by the applicant.]]  Each application for a license shall state:

Part 15.  Section 95-14-3-a of the code is amended to read:

95-14.  Home Improvement Contractor and Salesperson Licenses.

3.  APPLICATION.

a.  Applications for new and renewal contractor or salesperson licenses shall be filed with the city clerk on forms provided [[therefore]] >>therefor<<.  [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, or by a duly authorized agent or officer of a corporation or limited liability company, and sworn to by the applicant.]]

Part 16.  Section 100-50-4-a of the code is amended to read:

100-50.  Public Passenger Vehicle Permits.

4.  APPLICATION.

a.  Application for a public passenger vehicle permit shall be filed with the city clerk on forms provided [[therefore]] >>therefor<<. [[The application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant, if an individual; each partner, if a partnership; a duly authorized agent, corporate president and secretary, if a corporation; or a duly authorized agent and 2 members, if a limited liability company.]]

Part 17.  Section 100-54-3-a-0 of the code is amended to read:

100-54.  Public Passenger Vehicle Driver’s License.

3.  APPLICATION.

a.  Application for a driver’s license shall be filed with the city clerk on forms provided [[therefore]] >>therefor<< .  [[The application shall be signed and sworn to or affirmed by the applicant.]]  The application shall require the following information:

Part 18.  Section 105-75-3-b-0 of the code is amended to read:

105-75.  Private Alarm Systems and Regulations.

3.  LICENSE REQUIRED.

b.  Application for an alarm business license, private first responder service license or for an alarm sales license shall be filed with the city clerk on a form provided therefore. [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, or by a duly authorized agent or officer of a corporation or limited liability company or by the duly authorized agent of the club, association or other organization, and sworn to by the applicant. An agent shall be a natural person.]]  The application shall require:

Part 19  Section 107-13-3-a of the code is repealed and recreated to read:

107-13.  Amusement Machine or Jukebox Distributor License.  

3.  APPLICATION PROCEDURE.

a.  Application.  The application for a new or renewal amusement machine or jukebox distributor license shall be in writing on a form furnished by the city clerk and shall state that the application for a license is not made for and on behalf of any other person and that the applicant is not acting as an agent for, or in the employ of, another.

Part 20 Section 108-5-3-a of the code is amended to read:

108-5.  License Required.

3.  APPLICATION.

a.  Filing.  Application for a public entertainment premises license shall be filed with the city clerk on a form provided therefor.  [[The application shall be signed by the applicant, if an individual, or by a duly authorized agent or officer of a corporation or limited liability company, and sworn to by the applicant.]]

Part 21  Section 115-33.5-3-c of the code is repealed.

(Note:  The provision being repealed reads as follows:

115-33.5.  Newspaper Vending Boxes; Newspaper Vending Box Permits.

3.  APPLICATION.

c.  The application shall be signed under oath by the applicant.)

LRB

APPROVED AS TO FORM

__________________________

Legislative Reference Bureau

Date:______________________

Attorney

IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE ORDINANCE

IS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE

 

__________________________

Office of the City Attorney

Date:______________________

Requestor

City Clerk – License Division

Drafter

LRB138621-1

Jeff Osterman

02/192013

Read PDF of this text here.

Read full history of this legislation here.

 

 

Zielinski new Licenses Committee Chair

Three new Common Council Committee Chair appointments were announced April 25.

Alderman Zielinski was appointed chair of the Licenses Committee, formerly chaired by Alderman Jim Bohl. Alderman Bohl was appointed chair of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee, formerly chaired by Alderman Terry Witkowiak, who was defeated in the election April 3. Alderman Jim Witkowski was appointed chair of the Public Safety Committee, formerly chaired by Alderman Bob Donovan.

Committee chair appointments were made by Alderman Willie Hines, Common Council president.

District 14 Alderman Zielinski new chair of License Committee

Three new Milwaukee Common Council Committee Chair appointments were announced today.

Alderman Zielinski was appointed chair of the Licenses Committee that was formerly chaired by Alderman Bohl.

Alderman Bohl was appointed chair of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee that was formerly chaired by Ald. Witkowiak, who was defeated in the election April 3.

Alderman Witkowski was appointed chair of the Public Safety Committee that was formerly chaired by Alderman Donovan.

All remaining committee chairs remain the same.

Committee chair appointments are made by Alderman Willie Hines, Common Council president.

Candidate Forum Wed., March 28, 7pm at BV United Methodist Church

The Bay View Compass, with the League of Women Voters, is presenting another Candidate Forum that will feature Aldermanic District 14 candidates Tony Zielinski and Jan Pierce, and Milwaukee County Board Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic (District 4) and Jason Haas (District 14).

Watch the Feb 7 candidate debate/forum

The Bay View Compass and Bay View Neighborhood Association held a candidate forum Feb. 7 at Humboldt Park School.  The candidate included the following:

Incumbent 14th District Alderman Tony Zielinski and challenger Jan Pierce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wEfEgsqO8U&feature=email 

Incumbent Fourth District County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic and challenger Bill Buresh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExJMansLALc&feature=email

Unopposed 14th District County Supervisor Jason Haas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKJwz9JK8_Q&feature=email

 

 

Pursuit of alcohol licenses resembles carnival game

A contest over alcohol licenses is brewing in Bay View between Hub Super Market and A. K. Food Mart. What complicates the story is the local alderman’s power to affect the outcome.

Currently Paresh Patel, Hub owner, possesses a license to sell beer in his grocery store at 2277 S. Howell Ave. His neighbor, Jesse Singh, who owns and operates A. K. Foot Mart half a block south of Hub, also wants a beer license, which he believes he needs to fairly compete with Patel.

But now Patel wants a full liquor license. He hopes to establish a liquor store in the building he recently purchased, 2273 S. Howell Ave., which is adjacent to his grocery business.

The Compass learned that Patel and Singh met with District 14 Alderman Tony Zielinski in December 2011 to discuss their mutual aspirations for licenses. At that meeting, according to both Singh and Patel, Patel agreed to give up the beer license at his grocery. Patel said he didn’t need to sell beer in his grocery if he was operating a liquor store next door.

Consequently Patel applied for a full liquor license and Singh for a beer license. The city’s License Division certified both applications. Singh’s hearing before the committee was scheduled for Jan. 23.

Singh had previously applied for a beer license in 2009 but was blocked by Zielinski, who cited neighborhood opposition and the building’s condition.

This time around, Zielinski said that he’s supporting Singh’s application because of the improvements Singh made to the exterior and interior of his building. In 2011 Singh said he invested about $400,000 to remodel the façade and entry of his grocery store. He painted the exterior of the building, replaced windows, and remodeled and painted the interior.

Singh’s hearing before the Licenses Committee was held Jan. 23. Two people testified in support of A. K. No one appeared at the hearing to oppose his application but Bay View resident Patty Pritchard Thompson, who is campaign treasurer of Zielinski’s opponent Jan Pierce in the upcoming aldermanic election, testified that she was neutral. Thompson expressed concern that Zielinski didn’t hold a public meeting to both inform residents of A. K.’s application and get a read on their disposition.

In response to her testimony, Zielinski asked the committee to hold their vote until the next committee meeting and said that he would hold a public meeting in Bay View about Singh’s application. The hearing is scheduled for Feb. 13 at 11am.

Balwinder Singh, Jesse Singh’s wife, said that Zielinski called her soon after their application was put on hold and assured her that there was no opposition to their application among the Licenses Committee members.

Meanwhile…

Patel’s application for a new liquor store license was certified and published by the License Division Dec. 6, 2011. The city ordinance that governs beer and liquor licenses provides that an applicant must be heard by the Licenses Committee within three cycles of the committee, or within 60 days of the certification.

In an interview with the Compass Jan. 10, Patel alleged that he had been approached by Zielinski who asked Patel to wait until after the spring aldermanic elections to appear before the Licenses Committee.

Fifth District Alderman Jim Bohl, who chairs the Licenses Committee, said that there are exceptions to the 60-day timeframe between certification and an applicant’s hearing. The hearing can be delayed if the applicant requests more time. He said an alderman can also request that the committee postpone a hearing “for one additional cycle” if an alderman states he needs more time to perform due diligence regarding an applicant or application.

In a phone interview Jan. 10, Zielinski denied that he advised Patel to hold off his liquor store license application until after the election. But he said he tried to delay Patel’s hearing. “I told the [Licenses] committee not to schedule Paresh. I told Paresh to withdraw [the application] because of the feedback I’m getting from the community. I don’t support it now. I don’t support it in the future unless business owners like Sarah Jonas of Lulu’s support it.

“I told [Patel] he’s got to convince those people in the area that would be negatively impacted by him. It’s up to those businesses,” Zielinski said, indicating that the disposition of his constituents forms the basis of his support or non-support of a license application.

However, Zielinski added that he is “leaning toward supporting A. K. Food Mart’s application for a beer license” because of the building improvements made by owner Jesse Singh, whom he described as a good business operator.

Zielinski added that Lulu co-owner Sarah Jonas “doesn’t have a problem with A. K. getting the license, so I’m leaning toward A. K., but not Hub.” Jonas’ cafe and bar, 2261-65 S. Howell Ave., are located in the buildings directly north of Patel’s proposed liquor store.

Moments after this interview, Zielinski placed a second call to the Compass. Patel was already conferenced in, creating a three-way call between Zielinski, Patel, and the Compass.

The alderman said that he included Patel in the call because he wanted to clarify or correct the information provided to the Compass by Patel.

Zielinski insisted that what he actually said when he approached Patel was that he was not going to support his application for a liquor license unless Patel gained the approval of nearby business owners.

Patel rejected this version of their conversation and maintained his position, asserting three times during the conference call that Zielinski had indeed told him that he should wait until after the spring election to meet with the Licenses Committee.

Zielinski expressed his incredulity that Patel thought he tried to persuade him to delay.

The following day Patel said that he was not going to request a delay of his hearing and would not wait until after the spring elections.

Patel Goes to India

On Jan. 18, Patel informed the Compass that he intended to withdraw his application for the liquor license. He claimed he was certain that he would be denied the application when he appeared before the committee.

He said that his decision was also motivated by learning that his father, who lives in the United States, needed surgery and preferred to receive medical care in India. Patel said he would accompany his father to India, withdraw his application, “and let the building sit empty.”

Patel said he expected he would be in India for three weeks, which would extend beyond the 60-day time period for his hearing. He claimed that he tried to call the License Division to inform them of his decision but that after “being on hold for an hour and a half,” he gave up. (On Jan. 27, an official of the License Division stated that their phones were not functioning properly for two days and that it was very possible Patel called and was on hold for a long time.)

The License Division said Patel’s application was active and had not been withdrawn as of Jan. 27.

When asked about the status of Patel’s application the same day, Zielinski said Patel had informed him of his impending trip to India and that he was going to request that Licenses delay Patel’s hearing.

Stay tuned.

Zielinski said the public meeting to discuss Singh’s application will be held at the Bay View Library in February. The date was not set at press time.

Hub Super Market hopes to open liquor store in Bay View

County Executive Chris Abele vetoes $50K allocation to Bay View’s Art Stop project

Earlier this week Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele vetoed a resolution (RES-11-595) of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors to allocate $50,000 that would have helped pay for the Bay View Art Stop project spearheaded by District 14 Alderman Tony Zielinski. The board would have tapped funds that were previously allocated for a public art project for the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

The project aims to place a sculpture in the triangle of the Howell, Kinnickinnic, and Lincoln avenues intersection in Bay View.

In the text of his veto, Abele stated that he’s recommending $720,000 formally allocated to the Public Art Program be used instead to upgrade 25 county underground storage tanks ($475,000) and to replace pedestrian bridges in Grant Park ($245,000). He said that “both projects have on the critical deferred maintenance list based on recommendation(s) from department heads and the Department of Administrative Services.”

Abele said that he has long supported the arts but “given the county’s $55 million deficit, high debt burden, moratorium on borrowing and major deferred maintenance needs” that he couldn’t justify spending taxpayer money on a public art project.

District 14 Supervisor Jason Haas and District 4 Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic both voted to adopt the resolution to fund the project. Haas said he thinks the board will be able to assemble enough support to override the veto.

Alderman Zielinski said that he is optimistic that the veto will be overridden.

 

Security cameras installed

Kinnickinnic Avenue’s new Business Improvement District from KK and Becher to KK and Morgan has had many surveillance cameras recently installed! The installation of these cameras will continue to ensure that KK is one of the safest business districts in the city.

Business owners who already have cameras have cited specific incidents where these cameras were instrumental in the apprehension of criminals. Once it becomes common knowledge that these cameras are up, surely there will be a deterrent effect.

Proposed zoning changes for Port of Milwaukee

I am holding a neighborhood meeting to discuss the Port Redevelopment Plan 6pm on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the Port of Milwaukee, 2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Dr.

The city of Milwaukee approved the boundary for the Port Redevelopment Plan in March 2009 and directed the Department of City Development to prepare a draft of the plan. A map of the boundary is available online at mkedcd.org/planning/Port/index.html.

The proposed Port Redevelopment Plan seeks to preserve land for uses that support the operations and growth of the Port of Milwaukee and water-related businesses, promote development that creates or retains employment opportunities in the city of Milwaukee, mitigate environmental contamination, eliminate blighting influences, and improve public access to natural water resources.

To accomplish the above objectives, the plan recommends zoning changes to certain properties within the boundary. It is important to note that the approval of the redevelopment plan by the Common Council does not enact the new zoning recommendations. Later action by the Common Council is necessary for any zoning changes to be enacted. Also, the recommended zoning changes would only apply to future development—all existing uses are grandfathered in.

A draft of the plan will be posted at least one week prior to the public meeting at mkedcd.org/planning/Port/index.html. In the draft there will be maps showing recommended zoning changes, a list of all properties in the boundary and their recommended zoning, and details regarding what uses are allowed in various zoning categories.

Tony Zielinski is the city of Milwaukee’s alderman for the 14th District, which includes Bay View. He can be reached at tzieli@milwaukee.gov or (414) 286-3769.

KK BID security ambassadors

We successfully spearheaded the creation of Bay View’s first business improvement district (BID) last year. BIDs are economic development tools designed to stimulate business growth along business strips. There are approximately 30 BIDs in the city of Milwaukee. Our BID runs along KK from Becher to Morgan.

Public safety initiatives fall under the rubric of economic development. While KK is one of the safest business districts in the city, we must be constantly vigilant to make it safer. Within the next few weeks there will be a visible presence of security/community ambassador personnel along KK during the evening and late-night hours. The security/community ambassador personnel will also be able to answer questions and help patrons in other ways to maximize their shopping experience.

Another initiative of our BID is in the area of graffiti removal along KK. Because of the company we are contracting out with, any graffiti will be removed more quickly. People are less likely to shop in areas where graffiti exists because of the negative perception.

At our first official BID board meeting early in June we elected our officers. The president is Jason Wedesky from Actaea Works; the vice-president is Bill Doyle; the treasurer is Mike Krolic from M&I Bank; and the secretary is Joyce Parker from Joyce Parker Productions.

At the end of this year the board can vote to participate in a myriad of other initiatives to improve business along KK.

Tony Zielinski is the city of Milwaukee’s alderman for the 14th District, which includes Bay View. He can be reached at tzieli@milwaukee.gov or (414) 286-3769.

Mayor signs solar loan ordinance

Mayor Barrett recently signed the Solar Power Revolving Loan Fund ordinance. This makes Milwaukee one of the first communities in the nation to have such a program. The ordinance went into effect March 19.

The more we promote solar power the better it will be for our environment and our economy. The more solar power we use the less greenhouse gases that are emitted. The more solar power we use the less foreign fossil fuels we have to import thereby reducing our imbalance of trade. The more solar power we use the more solar panel installation jobs that are created.

Historically, the principal barrier to entry for solar panels has been the significant upfront costs. This ordinance overcomes this hurdle by requiring only $300 upfront. The homeowner then has 15 years to pay the city back. The idea is that the reduced energy costs could be used to help pay the city back. Everybody wins under this scenario.

Once again, I am honored to be working closely with Mayor Tom Barrett in promoting initiatives that are good for the residents of our community. Mayor Barrett has consistently signed ordinances I have passed for workers and the environment and I look forward to working with Mayor Barrett in bringing more such initiatives forward. If anybody wants more information on the program or they know of other communities that want to pass similar legislation then please contact me at tzielinski@wi.rr.com. The more communities that pass such an ordinance the better it will be for all involved.

Tony Zielinski is the city of Milwaukee’s alderman for the 14th District, which includes Bay View. He can be reached at tzieli@milwaukee.gov or (414) 286-3769.

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