Mequon Weekly Bulletin - January 24, 2020

Upcoming Meetings
Planning Commission – Policy Subcommittee: January 27 – 6:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Festivals Committee: January 27 – 6:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Economic Development Board: January 28 – 7:30 A.M. (Agenda)
Special Finance – Personnel Committee: January 28 – 6:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Ethics Board: January 30 – 6:00 P.M. (Agenda)
Board of Police and Fire Commissioners: February 4 – 8:00 A.M.
Special Public Works Committee: February 4 – 5:00 P.M.
Tree Board: February 5 – 6:00 P.M.
Bike and Pedestrian Way Commission: February 6 – 8:00 A.M.
Board of Appeals: February 6 – 6:00 P.M. (Agenda)

Now Accepting Applications for the 2020 Citizens Police Academy
The Mequon Police Department will again be hosting a Citizens Police Academy class this year. The 2020 Academy will begin on Thursday, February 20 and will then meet on the next five consecutive Thursdays. Classes will be held in the evenings from approximately 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., with a few exceptions. This course provides participants with a hands-on experience of different situations that a Mequon Police Officer may handle at any given time. If you, a family member, or friend would like to participate, please contact Sergeant Mark Kastens directly at 262-242-3500 or fill out an application by February 13. Please click here to obtain a copy of the application or learn more about this opportunity.

Stormwater Rules Update Adopted
In April of 2019, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) adopted a revision to Chapter 13 Stormwater Rules. All of the City of Mequon is within the MMSD planning area and is required to follow the Chapter 13 rules. There is not an exemption for property outside the sewer service area. More information on Chapter 13 and Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking here. The revised rules affect properties that have new impervious area. Impervious area is generally surface that does not drain water, like concrete or asphalt roads and driveways, roofs, etc.

There are essentially two types of stormwater reports that are required to comply with MMSD rules: A Stormwater Management Plan or a Green Infrastructure Plan. A full Stormwater Management Plan is required if over a half-acre of new impervious surface (21,780 S.F.) is added to a development or land disturbance is greater than 2 acres. Subdivisions, new commercial developments, and some larger single family homes typically trigger the requirement for a Stormwater Management Plan.

The change in Chapter 13 now requires that all properties that are developing or redeveloping and add over 5,000 square feet of new impervious area, a Green Infrastructure Plan is required. Green infrastructure could include rain gardens, ponds, biofiltration areas, and/ or constructed wetlands. This requirement typically affects single family lots that District through certified survey maps or that are not part of subdivisions with formal Stormwater Management Plans. Some small commercial sites will also trigger the requirement for Green Infrastructure Plans.

Since April, MMSD has received 11 Green Infrastructure Plans. Three plans have been submitted by the City of Mequon and two more are in the review process. Staff is reviewing the building permit process to ensure that property owners are aware of the changes in Chapter 13 and guiding them through the MMSD process. Please note that this requirement does add time and administration to the building permit process, which staff is also trying to make transparent to property owners and builders.

Mequon Police Department Selects the Second School Resource Officer (SRO)
As a part of the budget process, a cost-sharing agreement was entered into by the Mequon- Thiensville School district, the Village of Thiensville and the City of Mequon. This agreement allowed for the creation and joint funding of a second SRO position. School Superintendent Matt Joynt and one member from his staff, along with the command staff at the Police Department, interviewed three current Mequon Patrol Officers who applied for the position. The group unanimously selected Officer Jason Moertl to be the new, second, SRO. Officer Moertl will start this position on February 17.

Mequon hosts WisDOT I-43 North-South Public Involvement Meeting
On Tuesday, January 21, WisDOT hosted a Public Involvement Meeting at City Hall. Displays included a video of the diverging diamond interchange design for Brown Deer Road, exhibits for each of the interchanges, as well as a plan for the entire project/corridor. The packet from the Public Involvement Meeting is attached, as is the Comment Forms any member of the public may utilize to provide feedback to WisDOT. The interchange exhibits can be found on the City’s website by clicking here.

City Staff will be submitting comments on behalf of the City. Comments include reiteration of the request to maintain a partial interchange at County Line Road, request to reinsert the traffic signal at the County Line Road and Port Washington Road interchange (it was included in the 2015 design, and subsequently eliminated when Milwaukee County withdrew its willingness to have maintenance responsibility), inclusion of the safety elements required to extend the railroad quiet zone on Mequon Road and County Line Road (or at a minimum, not to preclude the installation of improvements in the future), extension of the Donges Bay Road reconstruction to the railroad tracks, and extension of the sidewalks east on Mequon Road. 

Design will continue through 2020 and into 2021. Some ancillary construction may begin in 2021, with the majority of the construction in 2022-2024. WisDOT intends to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction throughout the construction. Further updates will be provided as additional information is made available.Until then, please click here to view WisDOT’s I-43 project website. 

Ozaukee County Issues Board Meeting Minutes
Please click here to view the Ozaukee County Board meeting minutes from January 15.