Metered parking resumes June 15, city recommends contactless parking payment app

MILWAUKEE -- The City of Milwaukee is encouraging residents to use the updated MKE Park app to pay for parking as metered parking enforcement resumes Monday, June 15.Contactless parking payments can promote the health and safety of both those paying for parking and the city's parking employees by reducing physical interactions with parking meters, read a news release Saturday, June 13."The City of Milwaukee is pleased to partner with ParkMobile to provide our residents and visitors with an upgraded mobile parking app experience,” says Mayor Tom Barrett. “The MKE Park app lets people quickly and easily pay for parking without touching a meter, which is safer for everyone.”The MKE Park app is a free download for both iPhone and Android devices.To pay for parking with the app, the user will enter the zone number posted on stickers on the meter of their parking spot, select the amount of time needed and touch the “Start Parking” button to begin the session.Users can also easily extend their parking session on their mobile device without having to go back to the meter.ParkMobile has over 300,000 users in the state of Wisconsin and is available for use on the UW- Madison, UW-Green Bay, and UW-Milwaukee campuses, according to a release.On March 19, the city suspended all timed, metered and night parking restrictions to accommodate residents who were spending more time at home due to COVID-19 and businesses pausing operations for workers and clients alike.As more businesses have reopened, the need for increased turnover of parking spaces and locations has increased, the city said in a news release.Alternate-side parking and night parking permits will not be enforced until a later date.

Milwaukee mayor announces commission to examine police practices, strengthen community trust

MILWAUKEE— Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced Friday, June 5 the creation of a Commission on Police Accountability and Reform to examine police practices and strengthen community trust among law enforcement officers in every neighborhood in the city.“The tragic events in recent days and the history of police violence in America underscore the critical need for the City of Milwaukee, and every city across the nation, to take specific actions to examine and transform America’s policing system.

Mayor: Milwaukee bars/restaurants can reopen at 25% capacity Friday

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Thursday, June 4 announced Milwaukee bars and restaurants may reopen at 25% capacity starting Friday, June 5 amid the coronavirus pandemic.Bars and restaurants were forced to close to dine-in customers in March -- and have been limited to pickup and delivery service only.

Mayor Tom Barrett shares specifics on Milwaukee Business Restart Program

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced Wednesday, May 20 specifics on how the Milwaukee Business Restart Program will assist small local businesses as they resume operations.According to a press release, applications for grants through this program will be available beginning Thursday, May 28 and those applications will be accepted over a two week period ending Friday, June 12 .Starting Thursday, businesses can apply at: Milwaukee.gov/restart.A press release says the Milwaukee Business Restart Program is designed to get City of Milwaukee small businesses up and running following setbacks associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic.Grants will be available to businesses established before the end of 2019 with annualized revenue of less than $2-million and 20 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees.