Community Benefits Agreement Outline
Park East Redevelopment Area

Good Jobs

• When available, all jobs will be with locally owned, union-represented businesses paying living wages and offering full-time work.
• All construction-phase jobs will pay at least prevailing wage.
• During construction, at least 25% of jobs will be in Disadvantaged Business Enterprises/Minority Business Enterprises and 5% in Women's Business Enterprises
• During construction, at least 25% of employees will be minorities and 5% women.
• After construction, at least 75% of jobs will pay at least a living wage or market wage (whichever is higher), plus health insurance. The living wage is 110% of the federal poverty line for a family of four (in 2003, $9.73 per hour). Jobs without health insurance will pay at least $2 per hour more.
• Preferred jobs will be full-time, with sick leave, vacation time, and flexibility for family needs.

Affordable Housing

• The city will establish an inclusionary zoning district for housing. All housing developments will designate at least 20% of their units for affordable housing (affordable to families with incomes of 30% to 70% of county median income). Developers can opt out by showing financial hardship, but will pay linkage fees to help fund the construction of affordable housing elsewhere.
• Preference will be given to landlords accepting accept federal Section 8 vouchers.
• Commercial developments will pay linkage fees to help fund affordable housing construction.

Local Hiring and Training

• Enhanced apprenticeship programs will make construction jobs more accessible for low-wage workers and minorities.
• For post-construction hiring, the City will create and staff a First Source Referral System, using community-based organizations and community learning centers. If employers cannot find an appropriate applicant from the First Source system within 3 weeks, they may hire any available worker.
• At least 50% of post-construction jobs will go to members of the target application pool, as measured every six months.
• The targeted applicant pool will include low-income residents of Zip codes 53204, 53205, 53206, 53208, 53210, 53212, 53215, 53216, 53218, and 53233.
• The First Source Referral coordinator will work with employers to determine training needs and arrange training opportunities for members of the target applicant pool. Training will use existing providers where possible (such as Milwaukee Jobs Initiative, Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Esperanza Unida).
• Start-up money for the coordinator will be funded by linkage fees.

Environmental Issues

• The area will include:
  • A bike trail linking with neighboring trails,
  • A buffer area along the river,
  • Access to bus routes,
  • Pedestrian access to other parts of the city,
  • Space for urban gardening and a grant program to offer central city youth access to gardening opportunities.
• Building design specifications will include "green-building" requirements.

Community Involvement/Accountability

• When possible, existing city enforcement mechanisms will be used (for example, emerging business requirements).
• An annual report on implementation of Community Benefits agreements will be sent to the Common Council.
• A community oversight board, appointed by the Common Council, will help monitor implementation of Community Benefits agreements.

Community Services

• Funds from linkage fees will help subsidize childcare for low-income parents living or working in the development area. Care will be provided at the Milwaukee Area Technical College childcare center or a center of comparable quality.
• Preference will go to development of a grocery store at the west end of the project area.