City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  January 20, 2004

Item No.:         13

Recommendation:  That the Council adopt Ordinance No. 2288, which would repeal Section 6.21 (f) (1) (f) of the Municipal Code regarding removal and clearing of snow and ice upon public bikeways.

Background:  Section 6.21 (f) (1) (f) of the municipal code states…(f) Bikeways. The City shall remove and clear away all snow and ice upon paved public bikeways and bike paths.

Prior to 2002, the only paved bikeways in the City of Oak Creek were located on Drexel Avenue from Howell Avenue extending east past Abendschein Park, and Shepard Avenue from approximately Puetz Road extending south to Shepard Hills Drive.  Milwaukee County has recently constructed approximately five miles of bikeways in Oak Creek, primarily along the old North Shore right-of-way.  The City partnered for the development of two bikeway segments from the County’s Oak Leaf Trail to adjacent residential areas.  Milwaukee County does not remove snow and ice from County developed bikeways.

Repealing Section 6.21 (f) (1) (f) would eliminate the City’s obligation to remove snow and ice from City bikeways.  The current Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Milwaukee County requires the City to perform snow and ice removal on certain segments of the County’s bike trail.  The staff will work with the County in an effort to eliminate that requirement.  The City may perform such maintenance operations on various public bikeways where desired.

Fiscal Impact:  Snow and ice removal operations on all public bikeways would result in additional snow removal expenditures.

Prepared by:

Douglas A. Schachtner

Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk