Top 10 Favorite/Interesting Moments from the Police Presentation

On Wednesday evening, Police Chief Noble Wray gave a presentation to the alders who were available to show up. Here's the things I found of interest:

10. The number of police we have has doubled in the county (country? I think that was a typo) in the last 20 years. However, no new District Attorney positions have been added in that same time period.

9. Violent crime is down 14.2% from 2005 to 2007. Property crimes (thefts, burglaries etc) are up 8.3%. (You think that has anything to do with the police department's big idea to publicly announce that they were going to stop responding to commercial burglar alarms?)

8. Kudos to Journey Home! In 2006 588 prisoners were returned to Dane County. 81 (14%) returned to prison within the 1st year. During that same time, the 331 who went through Madison Urban Ministry and Voices Behind Bars program Journey Home, only had 3 (1%) of the people return to prison. Chief Wray says that to prevent crime, we should be putting more money into re-entry programs.

7. The chief thinks we need to get tough on "bad corporate citizens" - i.e. pawn shops and metal recyclers. The want the City and the State to make people wait longer to get their money from these places, limit the amount of money any individual can get and check id's of people who use these services.

6. If you call the self-reporting system, it still might be a week before you get a call back.

5. Where did our 30 cops get used? Only 1/3 of the 30 officers are assigned to patrol.
- From the first 12 officers there are 4 officers that got assigned to patrol this summer. (I wasn't clear if the are, or will be.) Here's where the rest went: 2 temporary detectives (Central and West), 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 Sergeants, 1 Detective, 1 Investigator, 1 training officer, 1 gang officer and 1 officer for the West Community Policing Team.
- From the next 18 officers that will be ready in February 2009 - only 6 will be assigned to patrol. The rest will be 4 Sargeants, 2 mounted police officers for the Central District, 1 more officer for the West Community Policing Team, 1 more officer for the South Community Policing Team, 2 police officers for the TEST (traffic enforcement) unit.

4. The police department thinks that we should make it mandatory to collect DNA from people they arrest, not just those that are convicted. They want the state law changed. We actually have police following people around waiting for them to toss out a cigarette or spit on the sidewalk so they can collect their DNA.

3. The Chief supports the loitering ordinance, but only if he isn't held accountable. He doesn't want to have to report to the council on the race of the people who are being arrested.

2. Crime is down since 1990 when the gangs first hit Madison. So, why was the big news all about gangs in Madison. Several people asked me why if gangs first hit Madison in 1990, why is it such a surprise that gangs are involved in thefts? How was that the take away from the presentation? That wasn't my take-away. More important was what the police chief said, it's the economy (stupid!) Alder Rummel picked up on it and expressed the need for economic alternatives to gangs for young people.

1. Police are looking for alternatives to arrest. They like the Teen Court and Journey Home programs and are hungry for more resources. They think the resources should be better coordinated in the community, I don't think the resources they are looking for are there but it is a good conversation to have! They credited the work done in Allied Drive for the decrease in crime. And yet we are ending the Weed and Seed Coordinator position that is there. Alder Cnare suggested that we have a police liaison that works with the Office of Community Services so we can better educate the police department.

The alders who were there were: Konkel, Cnare, Verveer, Rummel, Judge, Skidmore, Rhodes-Conway, Kerr, Bruer, Clausius, Clear, Pham-Remmele. I was interested in Alder Bruer's introduction where he said that poverty is on the rise and that is why public safety is such an important issue. I'm not sure he was saying poor people are criminals, but it was close. However, all in all, it was nice to hear the police say that they don't need more officers, they need more or better services for the community. Too bad those services aren't considered "basic services" come budget time. Or will they be now that the police department wants them?
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Decriminalizing Homelessness

There is a national trend to criminalize the homeless, instead of providing services. A trend to have the police deal with "the problem" of the homeless. Sadly, the definition of "the problem" often isn't the fact that we have people in our society that don't have a home, instead, "the problem" is that they are seen in the public and it makes people uncomfortable.

I've been in meetings for months now where people consistently bring up the issues of human dignity and how we treat our homeless here in Madison. As I read more and more about how a city becomes one of the meanest, I began to think that liberal Madison is really just liberal and not progressive, and its not much better than other cities throughout the United States.

This, combined with the fact that we have no money in the budget for new programs this year unless we find cuts and 68% of our budget is salaries ($144 million) that we can't touch (let me just say again, we don't pay enough attention when we pass those union contracts, we aren't asked our opinions before negotiating and we are handed the results of the negotiation when it is too late to effect the process and we are chastised for asking questions!), made me think I had to try something else.

Something else. We've been talking about what this "something else" was going to be for quite some time. When I came up with my ideas, I took them to two different groups of advocates for the homeless and asked them if they were serious about this and if they would back me up. Out of about 15 - 20 people I talked to, only two had concerns about moving forward. All of us realized that it was going to stir up controversy, but we collectively decided that it was worth the risk. And so I was willing to do it, because I didn't want to sit through another painful meeting where someone asked "Where are the homeless supposed to sleep and go to the bathroom?" Because I don't have any answers.

So, the "solutions" I came up with are as follows:

1. When personal items are removed from public property, there needs to be a notice (English and Spanish) put up that allows someone to move their property within 72 hours. If the property isn't moved, instead of throwing it all out, it will be stored for 45 days. There are measures put in place to deal with if the belongings are causing a public safety hazard.

2. Homeless shouldn't be ticketed for sleeping in the park if they have no place else to sleep.

3. Homeless shouldn't be ticketed for going to the bathroom in public if they have no restroom to use.

The public urination one is the most controversial and of course, takes away from the first proposal which is imminently reasonable. The second two ordinances only apply to those who are homeless who have no other resources. Not drunk sports fans and bar hoppers.

Clearly, the real solutions are a day labor program, homeless outreach services, public restrooms and showers, personal storage that is accessible, more day services for the homeless, preferences for homeless to get into mental health and aoda treatment services, more resources for the homeless when they are in the shelters etc. etc. etc. But they all cost money, that we don't have. This isn't a priority. It's not a basic service. The votes on the council are not there.

If those are the circumstances we are working with, if we aren't going to provide adequate services, then at the same time, we can't criminalize basic human functions. After all, the costs for court or even jail probably end up costing us just as much as if we would just provide the services in the first place.

So, there you have it. I'm sure many wonder why I would even stick my neck out there and propose something that sounds so crazy. Why would I open myself up to all the crazy am radio bashing and I'm sure a wonderful factless editorial from the Wisconsin State Journal? Because, it's important. It's about human dignity and respect for our fellow human beings.
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Clerk's Office Extended Hours for Absentee Voting

From the clerk's office:

The Clerk's Office will be extending its hours for absentee voting the three weeks prior to the Presidential Election. We will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. We are using the September Primary to test our efficiency plan for processing absentee ballot requests in SVRS with voters at the counter, and it is working well. By offering extended hours, we hope to save absentee postage.

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Zoning Code Rewrite

Upcoming meetings right after Labor Day!

First, for the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association (Blair St. to the Yahara River North of E. Washington Ave.) here's the announcement:

The Zoning Code Rewrite will be the main topic on the agenda for the September 3rd meeting of the TLNA Council. All are welcome to attend. Rick Roll and Matt Tucker from the City planning department will make a presentation and participate in the discussion. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at 302 N. Baldwin in the Tenney Apts. community room.

If anyone is interested in previewing what this is about, please see the website that the city and its consultant have put together. Here is the link:

http://www.cityofmadison.com/neighborhoods/zoningRewrite/reports.cfm

Second, from Ald. Rhodes-Conway, here's an announcement about some upcoming public meetings:

There will be two public meetings about the Zoning Code rewrite Thursday, September11, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. The locations are:

Goodman Community Center - Evjue Community Room, 149 Waubesa Street
and
Overture Center for the Arts - Wisconsin Studio, 201 State Street

The Agenda is:

1. Check-in and Open House
2. Welcome and Introductions
3. Project Update
PowerPoint presentation: background and Zoning Code outline
4. General Questions and Discussion of Process and Schedule
5. Small Group Break-Outs
Divide into small groups by topic area. Groups will likely be organized by the following topics, but may include other topics of interest suggested by participants:
• Residential districts/issues
• Commercial and mixed use districts/issues
• Environmental and sustainable development standards
• Development review issues
• Special Issues
6. Reconvene and Wrap Up
Discuss findings, next steps, communication and opportunities for involvement.
7. Adjournment

Mark your calendars!
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Buses Return to Gorham Street!

Buses return today!

From Madison Metro:

BUSES RETURN TO GORHAM ST.
Thursday, August 28

Westbound Routes 2, 4, 9 & 28 return to Gorham St. with the start of the service day on Thursday, August 28.

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City Salaries - How About Those High Paid Women!

As the city's press agents are in full damage control mode over this year's budget, I was reminded once again . . . of a little disparity in our salaries. Of the employees making over $120,000 in total compensation, guess how many are women?

50%? Nope.

40%? Nope.

30%? Nope.

20%? Close.

If I counted correctly and guessed correctly on a couple names 98 men, 24 women or 19.6%.

Makes the report that we got on gender equity look a little silly in that its all how you slice the numbers - and some of the staff made sure they were presented in the best light. Hopefully the Affirmative Action Commission comes up with a good action plan to remedy this situation, no matter how you slice the numbers.

The other thing that really caught my eye was the fact that Captain Mary Shauf makes slightly less than Lt. Joe Balles who is under her command. Huh?
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So How Much will Truman Olson Cost?

A reasonable question to be asked by a member of the Board of Estimates (City's finanace committee), what's the bottom line? The answer was . . . well . . . I'm not sure what the answer was. It went something like this.

$2.2M to buy the Truman Olson site.
$425,000 to buy the Nakoosa site (but hey, its just a paper transaction!).
$160,000 to fix the soil on the Nakoosa site cuz you can build on the fill that is there.
$??? for environmental clean up on the Nakoosa site.
$??? to assist Goodwill in finding another site.

And I think they said $1.3 to build the road on the Truman Olson site. So the bottom line is . . . what?

And all of this so we can do what? We haven't exactly said now have we. We said something vague like "economic development". And, I just learned the other day, we can't make any money on the land we purchase from the Army for 3 years. Can you feel your wallet getting lighter? And see your taxes going up?
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Snow - We got most of what we wanted!

More places to park cars, parking ramps are open longer, better notifications through text messages, extended street sweeping days . . . but we also got higher fines! Originally, the only thing being talked about was higher fines for downtown and unnotified towning. But we quickly got extended hours in the parking ramps and extra park parking lots (kind of). But higher fines was what everyone wanted to focus on, you know, for the second class citizens that live downtown typically stereotyped as "students". After dragging the conversation out much, much, much longer than it ever should have been, in fact, as long as it takes Chief Wray to tell us how we're going to use 30 new officers, we finally have something to vote on! I tell ya, all this talk about prioritizing "basic services" seems so absurd when these two things take 9 months to resolve . . . but I digress.

So, it turns out, that the fines won't just be for downtown, they will be applied citywide when there is a snow emergency. That means that the $30 fines downtown are now $60 and the $20 fines in the rest of the city are now $60 as well. And, I believe that the towing without notice will also continue. (That's not part of the ordinance change, and there wasn't one needed. Turns out, we had the authority all along.)

We made some progress last year (more parking ramp hours and parks parking lots being available), and some progress on text messaging this summer, but I think there are still some ideas to explore. I'm anxious to hear the feedback from my constituents on the higher fines, if they are even paying attention at the end of August and over the Labor Day weekend. Meanwhile, lets enjoy this weather! And hopefully, this year, I won't have to have another 30 or more posts on snow!

Read more!

And the answer is . . . .

Police Chief Noble Wray promised to tell us what the 30 officers were going to be doing the day after we voted for them last November. We waited . . . and we waited . . . and we waited . . . however, this week the waiting is allegedly over! It only took 9 months after we obliterated our operating budget and blindly voted for 30 new officers so people would feel good . . . despite the fact that we didn't have the police study that would tell us how many officers we needed . . . finally, tomorrow we have this agenda! (Emailed to alders yesterday, not available to the public as far as I know.)

Madison Police Department
Common Council Presentation
August 27, 2008
* * * * * * *
Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Room 201 (City County Building)
* * * * * * *
1. Assignment of 30 Madison Police Department Officers
2. State of Public Safety in Madison
3. Questions and Answers

I hope what he has to say was worth the wait! But why did it take him 9 months to tell us what these officers would do? Did he not know?
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The Week Ahead: Reminders

The Weekly Meeting Schedule is back up and running and there is very little on it at the moment. As always, it is subject to change throughout the week, so check back if you are looking for something of interest. And, don't forget, if you're looking at the Legistar version of meetings, called the Legislative Calendar, be careful. If it is listed there it may not be appropriately legally noticed and the list there is not complete, you also have to check the Notice of Additional Meetings to get the complete picture!

Anyways, despite the fact it is August and the last week of the month, there's still a few things going on, here's the items I find of interest:

Monday, August 25, 2008
4:30 PM BOARD OF ESTIMATES ROOM 260 MMB
A jam packed agenda, and the Mayor is gone to the Democrat's National Convention.
- Floating holidays for non-represented Transit Employees.
- Appointing Bill Clingan for the Community Development Division Director
- Water Conservation Plan for the City of Madison
- Authorizing the RFP for Downtown Public Library
- The snow ordinance, increasing fines for downtown.
- Truman Olson
- New TIF policy

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
5:00 PM PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE/MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION ROOM 260 MMB
- Multi-modal transportation/traffic plan for downtown

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
5:30 PM BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE ON CLEAN ELECTIONS ROOM 403 CCB
- They haven't met since March, but they are talking about public financing of campaigns.

6:00 PM COMMON COUNCIL -DISCUSSION ROOM 201 CCB
- That's a horrible title to notify the public that Noble Wray is going to talk to us about public safety.

Thursday, August 28, 2008
4:00 PM EOC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ROOM 523 CCB
- I hear that the City Attorney will now be showing up to talk about the Chronic Nuisance law. There's no agenda linked, but that's my understanding of why they are meeting on Thursday instead of Monday when the Exec Committee normally meets.
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Allied Architect Out

I wish I would have had time to go to the CDA meeting yesterday, but I had to stay at work. However, this can't be good.

So, now, we don't have financing for the project in place as required which technically means that the project should be dead. We don't have an architect. And we have to meet deadlines for WHEDA. None of this can be good news. Development is a type of thing that doesn't always go smoothly, there are always things that come up that can't be anticipated, but with experience, you get better at it and better at responding to the bumps. In this case, since our staff have little to no experience, I wonder how much staff time is going into this and what isn't getting done as a result? And at what point we decide we need to do something different? And how much this will end up costing us? And can we get the CDA to pay for all that staff time?

This is the kind of thing that if you think about it too long, you get this horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach. I didn't vote for this disaster, but I still have a feeling of responsibility as an elected official and it really feels like someone needs to stop this trainwreck. But its hard to do anything without good information. Ugh. I need something more than architects who "might be able to" work within our budget and "hope" that switching architects won't slow down the project.
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Historic Tours of Downtown - Plus A New One!

Check out these tours by the Madison Trust:

The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation will be offering a brand new tour this Saturday! Join us for our first ever Orpheum Theatre historic tour. The tour of this State Street staple will include the interesting history of Madison theaters, access to parts of the Orpheum not usually available to the public and free popcorn! All of the proceeds will go directly toward the effort to relight the theater's historic marquee. As usual, the Trust continues to offer tours of distinctive neighborhoods each Saturday.

Since we began in May, 443 people have attended the tours.

The tours offered this week are:
State Street--Aug. 23, 10 am and
University Heights--Aug. 23, 11 am
The Orpheum Theatre: Behind the Scenes--Aug. 23, 2 p.m.

The tour offered next week is:
State Street--Aug. 30, 10 am

See www.madisontrust.org/tours for more details.

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Wisconsin LEAST affordable in . . .

Nope, not housing! Childcare!

I'm sure I didn't need to tell Wisconsin parents that, but just in case it feels like chilcare eats up so much of your budget, here's some back up to help confirm that!

According to a 2008 report from the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, Wisconsin is the least affordable state for parents purchasing child care for 4-year-olds at a center ($10,473) and 2nd least affordable state for infant care in a center. ($12,350/yr.)

The report compared the average costs of full-time child care with the state median income for two-parent families and for single parents. Wisconsin also ranked as the second least affordable state for school-age care in a center. The report also found that child care prices are high relative to other household expenses.

Click here for more information.

Other things to note:
- In every region of the United States, average child care fees for an infant are higher than the average amount families spend on food.
- In every state, monthly child care fees for two children at any age exceed the median rent cost and are nearly as high as or even higher than the average monthly mortgage payment.
- In 44 states and District of Columbia, the average annual price for child care for an infant in a child care center is higher than a year's tuition at a four year public college.
- The average annual price for care of two children (one infant and one 4-year old child) ranges from 48% - 102% of the state median income for single parents.

It's worth checking out the report . . . if you're into that kind of thing!

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Air Quality vs. Economic Development

Those lousy air quality standards could hurt economic development! With the news that Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay are not meeting EPA air quality standards, one of the first things mentioned in the AP article is how it affects economic development. In fact 6 Wisconsin counties are 6 of 215 in 25 states that are not meeting these standards. "Brown, Columbia, Dane, Racine, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties have unacceptable levels of fine particulate matter in the air or contribute to problems in neighboring areas."

What I find interesting about this AP article is that it provides the following information:

The pollution is largely caused by coal-fired power plants and diesel engines and creates health problems such as asthma, lung disease and heart problems. The EPA estimates tens of thousands of premature deaths are linked to sooty air every year.

And then the state's response is as follows:

"Non-attainment designations do in fact inhibit business growth and development, and that's not good for the state of Wisconsin," Shea said. "We think that sort of burden on the state's businesses is unnecessary. It would be another thing if the state hadn't been moving forward with regulations that significantly limit air emissions in the state, but we have."

So how is it that we have a republican federal administration protecting the health of the community and the Democratic state administration protecting businesses? Sometimes, is so hard to tell which is which by what the do and how it is reported.
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Committee Training

For those committee members who missed the training, they will be replayed on Channel 12. The trainings can be vied as follows:

For committee members who were not able to attend one of the committee training sessions held last week, the Wednesday session will be played on City Channel 12 on the following dates and times:

Sunday, August 24 - 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 27 - 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 31 - 10:00 p.m.

They are worth checking out! Committees can have alot of power, if the committee members know how to use it!
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Disc Golf and Dog Parks

Dane County is seeking your input on both! You can fill out a survey here. They are considering having more of both. So, give them your input!
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TIF Policy - What's Next?

The committee finally finished its report! Only a year late!

The report is done and now it goes off to the Board of Estimates and hopefully it doesn't get stuck waiting for the Mayor to put it on the agenda. Some of the major changes that you can look for include changes to the goals and objectives:

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
- The three major goals and objectives (not in priority order) were support the downtown, support neighborhood revitalization and support economic development.
- Now there are two Support Economic Development and Support Neighborhood Revitalization including Downtown.
- There will be less emphasis on the Downtown.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- The objectives used to just be improve public infrastructure, support development of industrial sites and provide financial assistance to new and existing businesses.
- Now the objectives are to create jobs in "high-need" areas which are areas where there are deteriorating or obsolete building stock, stagnation or decline in property values, commercial or industrial vacancies or concentration of unemployment; job creation through new business development and job creation through attraction, retention, expansion of existing businesses.
- Focus of financial assistance will be to businesses in manufacturing, medical/biotech, agriculture/biotech, IT/software technology/communications, financial/insurance or businesses and industry that are in our economic development plans or goals of the city.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION
- The objectives for neighborhood revitalization used to be to about improving infrasturcture, removing deteriorated buildings, creation of mixed-use infill, full range of basic neighborhood goods and services, provide transportation and other amenities, increase supply of high quality, home ownership opportunities, increases or decrease densities. These items were all moved to other areas of the document.
- Ojectives now include supporting neighborhood revitalization in high need areas defined as areas with deteriorating or obsolete building stock, stagnation or decline of property values, high density or overcrowding, existance of conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes, factors that are bad for health or juvenile delinquency or public health, safety or welfare and areas where buildings have been demolished for a variety of reasons. Other objectives are adaptive re-use of obsolete building and urban in-fill.

In summary, economic development will be focusing on high need areas and job creation in key categories. Neighborhood development will not be primarily focused on downtown, it will also focus on high need areas and adaptive re-use and urban infill.

OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS
- We lowered the income ranges that would qualify for affordable housing.
- We made "luxury housing or 100% market rate housing" an ineligible use of TIF funds.
- Jobs that are created should be "career ladder" jobs that pay a living wage or substantially in excess of a living wage.
- If the developer says they are going to create jobs, we have a job creation guaranteed section. (This seems to be the most controversial piece of our changes.)
- Housing close to jobs and linked by public transportation is part of economic development.
- We can spend our TIF funds up to 15 or 22 years depending on the type of the TIF, but we are limiting the expenditures to the first 12 years, so we have more time to recoup the increment.
- The "equity kicker" has a new formula for if the developer makes more money than they said they would. When there is extra money 1/3 goes to the TIF district, 1/3 to affordable housing trust fund and 1/3 the developer gets to keep.
- Annual review of TIF goals.

I think those are the major changes . . . but we've had so many drafts and re-writes, I could have missed something.

The real question is, we did this plan in a vacuum. I believe the only people to testify was the paid lobbyist from Smart Growth Madison and a volunteer from Progressive Dane. I thought it would be good for the group to have a public hearing on its final product, but I was shot down. I felt it would be good for the group that worked on it to hear from folks and make changes if we missed something, especially since we spent so much time on it and have an area of expertise.

The process from here is very unclear - its in the Board of Estimates hands. I don't know if they will ask the Council to refer it to affected committees (Housing, Economic Development) or if they will just send it to council, or sit on it like they did last time.

Stay tuned . . . but don't hold your breath.
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Homebuyers Fair September 6th

Here's the info!

The Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County is putting on a Home Buyers Fair on Saturday September 6th from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at American Family Insurance, Building A -Training Center, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53718.

BENEFITS:

* Learn how to own a home for under $1,000/month
* Earn a Home Buyer Education Certificate in one day
* Have a chance to win $3,000 to put toward your down payment
* Free Parking
* Free Admission
* Classes start at 9:30 AM and 11:30 is the latest you can arrive and earn a Home Buyer Education Certificate


Follow the RED balloons to the entrance.

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Guessing About The Week Ahead

At the moment, its hard to know what the week ahead holds. I can do a bit of educated guessing. The weekly schedule is currently giving me this message:

CITY OF MADISON WEB SITE SERVICES ARE DOWN

The City of Madison Website services such as Report a Problem, City News Release System, Police Incident Reports, and Poll Worker Application, etc. will be down for server maintenance.

All of the city agency sites will not be responding to web requests during this downtime. We expect to restore services by Monday, August 18, 2008.
To contact the City Webmaster during this downtime, email us at webadmin@cityofmadison.com.

(The weekly schedule can be found here now.)

So, I'm working off the Legislative Calendar in Legistar, which is
a) not the (more) offical notice of meetings
b) confusing because it often lists things that aren't correct; and
c) you have to click on the agenda to get more info that you need (where the meeting is!)

MONDAY 8/18/2008
4:00 PM TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCING POLICY AD HOC COMMITTEE
- Final Vote on the Policy?! Seriously, this time!
- Hopefully, we will schedule a public hearing on the policy so we can try to engage the folks who think TIF should be used for economic development. We haven't had much public input and we have to make sure we haven't angered the economic development gods.

4:30 CITY-COUNTY LIAISON COMMITTEE
- Discussion of cooperation on City Domestic Partner Registry with the proposed County registry.

4:45 PM COMMISSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT
- Salt usage will be referred til September, if we do this right, we can make it through another winter without doing anything!
- Water Conservation Report

4:45 PM LANDMARKS COMMISSION
-St. Raphael's Landmark nomination. This is likely to be a discussion about how to make sure this does not happen again.

5:30 PM PLAN COMMISSION
-Reconsideration of Apartments at Sequioya Commons (515 S Midvale). Alder Gruber has changed his mind again, likely after talking to Joe Krupp, the developer.

TUESDAY 8/19/2008
Nothing of great interest?

WEDNESDAY 8/20/2008
4:30 PM URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION
- Hotel
- Villager Mall (1 & 2)
- New Bowling/Entertainment Center on East Side
- Office Building down by Findorff Yards (Proudfit)

THURSDAY 8/21/2008
4:30 PM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
- CDA Workplan (you have to show up to get a copy to see what is in it.)
- Allied Drive Architect's Contract
- Truman Olson (again!)
- Villager Mall Update (no link)

5:00 PM ALLIED AREA TASK FORCE
- CDA Updates (useless link) And how does the CDA give an update when they are in a meeting across town?

5:00 PM LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMISSION
- Resolution creating a committee to create a Downtown Transportation Plan

Hopefully, my guessing was good and later today the weekly schedule will be back!

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Safety and Security Deposit Tips

More from the Tenant Resource Center for those who survived the "moving daze" . . .

Be Safe in Your New Apartment and Protect Next Year’s Security Deposit – Tips from
TRC

Much of the moving out is over...but the Tenant Resource Center has some tips for those moving in. Know how to keep your new apartment safe and protect your new security deposit from illegal withholding next year!

BE SAFE IN YOUR NEW APARTMENT

Be sure to inspect your new unit closely for locks and other safety features, and report anything that is not functioning properly to the landlord right away. Be aware of your surroundings while you are moving and stay safe!

Door locks, chains, and deadbolts. Always lock your doors—even when you are home.
Don’t make your apartment and yourself easy targets for intruders by propping your door open or leaving it unlocked for friends or roommates. Always use your deadbolt, and if you don’t have one at least an inch long, request that your landlord install one.

Sliding doors. Unsecured sliding doors are a common target for unauthorized entry. Be
sure to use your patio door lock, plus a secondary locking device such as a “charlie bar”—a brace that prevents the door from sliding open and is hard to dislodge from the outside.

Window and ventilation locks. All first floor and second floor windows are required to have both regular locks, which do not allow the window to open at all, and ventilation locks, which allow the window to open a few inches for ventilation but not wide enough to allow entry. These locks, when installed and used properly, will not allow entry without breaking glass. If locks are missing or don’t work, request repairs.

Security-locked entrances. Controlled-access buildings are only secure if the common
doors remain closed and locked when not in use. Remember, if you prop them open, you are compromising the safety of the whole building. Security locking systems are required in Madison for common entrances.

Keys. Never label your keys or key chain with your house or unit number. If you lose
them, your apartment will be at risk. Landlords are not obligated to change the locks between tenants, but if you’d like the locks rekeyed and the landlord does not want to do it, you could offer to pay for the rekeying. You can ask your landlord for extra sets of keys, but you may be required to pay a small deposit.

Door viewer. Always use your door viewer before you open your door for someone. If
the door viewer is broken or not provided, notify the landlord.

Common area lighting. Be sure hallways and basements have adequate lighting. If bulbs
are burned out, notify the landlord right away. Common area lighting is required by Madison General Ordinances. Parking lots for more than three cars must have lighting.

Getting repairs completed. In most instances, the above-mentioned security measures
are required by local building codes. Always notify the landlord if repairs are needed. If the landlord does not respond in a timely manner, call the City of Madison building inspector at 266-4551.

If your apartment is in poor condition when you move in, contact the landlord
immediately to report the repairs and cleaning that need to be done and negotiate a deadline for those to be completed. If the landlord agrees to compensate you for cleaning or repairs that you perform, be sure to put your agreement in writing, whether it’s a reimbursement or a rent credit or some other arrangement.

FOLLOW THESE TIPS TO PROTECT NEXT YEAR’S SECURITY DEPOSIT

Fill out a check-in form and make sure you keep a copy. In the City of Madison the
landlord is required to furnish you with one; if s/he doesn't, s/he cannot deduct for cleaning or damages. If you need a check-in form for your new apartment, download one from TRC’s website at http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/forms/. NO INTERNET ACCESS? STOP AT TRC FOR FREE CHECK-IN FORMS AND MUCH MORE! When you arrive at your new
place, take the time to thoroughly inspect your apartment and document ALL existing damage and wear and tear on your check-in form, so that you won’t be charged for those items when you move out next year.
Read more!

Voter Registration Month

I suspect that the people who read my blog don't need this information - but feel free to pass it along . . . or become deputized to register people!

Voter Registration Month September 10 - October 10

The Madison Common Council is declaring a Voter Registration Month for September 10 through October 10. Madison residents can register to vote at the City Clerk's Office, any Madison Public Library, or any Madison Fire Station. No proof of residence is needed during this Open Registration period. The names of voters who have registered in advance will be printed on the November 4 poll lists, saving voters time on Election Day.

You can check the status of your voter registration online at http://vpa.wi.gov.

Eligible voters can also be deputized to register their neighbors to vote. For more information, see www.cityofmadison.com/election/deputy/Registration/.

Read more!

Economic Development Director Do Over - 3rd Times A Charm

It must be Friday . . . that's when the City issues all of its bad news.

Looks like we're going to try again to find an Economic Development Director. Let's hope third time is the charm!!

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION DIRECTOR
$79,758 to $107,673 annually	Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development	8/15/2008	9/12/2008

p.s. At 4:20, after I posted this, we got this email . . .

I would like to inform you that our recruitment process for the position of Economic Development Division Director unfortunately did not yield a successful candidate we can nominate for this important position at this time. This position is too important to fill with anything but the ideal candidate. Therefore, I have directed our Human Resources Department to commence a second recruitment process immediately.

The Economic Development Division Director position is vital to the City of Madison's--and I would add, to the region's-- economic development efforts. Through various initiatives including, most recently, the completion of our Economic Development Plan, the City of Madison is well poised to hit the ground running in collaboration with other public and private sector leaders to continue our work growing our local economy. The Economic Development Division Director will be a central figure in that work, along with the many hard-working economic development professionals within and outside of City government. That is why I am committed to reaching a successful recruiting process.

I attach the job announcement we will be advertising starting this weekend. The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. on September 12, 2008. In an effort to increase our applicant pool, the application will not require completion of a questionnaire. Please feel free to distribute this job announcement broadly.

Finally, I want to thank all the members of the application review and oral interview panels for their work on and time commitment to this recruitment process, as well as all City staff who have assisted in this effort. I look forward to a successful outcome in this renewed recruitment process for this important position.

Sincerely,

Dave Cieslewicz
MAYOR

Read more!

Allied Over Budget

Ahem.

I saw this a little late to post much this morning.

And most of what I have to say, isn't fit to print, even on a blog.

Thanks to everyone who called and emailed me this morning with the news . . . knowing I try not to actually read the WSJ.

I don't think we can blame Epstein Uhen here, I blame the CDA for being unrealistic about the costs . . . they're not developers and don't have the experience to do this project. I wonder if WHEDA would have given them the tax credits if they known that their costs in this category were 5 to 6 times greater than they budgeted?

JFC. And they want us to trust them on Truman Olson?
Read more!

Moving In & Out

Some of my regular readers might be getting sick of hearing about the Downtown moving days, but I've got one more and trust me . . . these posts are popular. Here's some pictures from yesterday!

However, first if you need more info about moving, go see tenantresourcecenter.org or stop by the Tenant Resource Center today 9 - 6, call us at 257-0006 or email at asktrc@tenantresourcecenter.org or see us at the Triangle Ethnic Fest and Africa Fest this weekend.

Anyways, I took some flyers to distribute to a few places around town and snapped some pics along the way. Got stuck in some awful traffic, my car overheated and I ended up riding my bike the rest of the day, but I got my pics. Enjoy!

The name of the game this year, ROAD CONSTRUCTION . . .






This year, with the carts, the trash looked a little different downtown . . . it harder to dump out a huge tan cart than it is to rip open a trash bag . . . making it harder for the dumpster divers to create such a mess, but nicer for those of us who live among it!




Too bad the private trash haulers didn't do as well!




Our course, besides the unsightly trash, there was the annual traffic jams . . .


And the creative parking jobs . . .






Some didn't have vehicles and did it on foot . . .



Those who did have vehicles, packed anything that could move!

















Many got everything out of their house, but had no where to go with it!




And sometimes it was hard to tell between difference between the trash and the treasure.


And when they were all moved out, they rested and packed up the cleaning supplies . . .





And there were plenty examples of people making bonehead examples, I'm not sure what MG&E was thinking trimming trees on Mifflin St.

For many, they're only half way there, they got out yesterday, and today, they move in. Hot, sweaty, crabby, not much good sleep . . . but definitely, something to tell the grandkids about . . . it's character building . . . and all those nice cliches . . . but mostly, its just insane. There should be a better way to do this!
Read more!

Important Childcare Agency Needs Your Help!

My heart skipped a beat yesterday morning when I saw the images of the flames shooting out of the top of the offices of 4-C's and Lutheran Social Services. I immediately thought of George Hagenauer and wondered what the hell I would do if I was Executive Director of a Building that had just burned down. (The Social Justice Center had a little fire scare earlier this spring, but all was safe.) Incidently, he described it as "a bit of a kick in the head" . . . that's probably putting it mildly! I also remembered to check my computer back up system to make sure that it was still working and reminded myself it was time to switch those hard drives.

This morning, I got this email, telling us how we can help. I think its important to pass along!

Dear Friends of 4-C,
Everyone at the 4-C office is safe. No one was hurt in the Lutheran Social Services office either. That is the good news. The building and the contents are a complete loss. Penny Chase, Training Director at 4-C, was telling me that another wall fell in this afternoon and everything is smoldering. They are still putting on water.

The 4-C staff is very temporarily in some offices across the parking lot from the burned out building. They are already looking for more "permanent" office space.

Insurance will pay for many of the costs of rebuilding and refurnishing but surely there will be things that will not be covered by insurance. There has been a fund set up if you would like to help out with those replacements.

You can send checks to:
First Business Bank, 401 Charmany Dr, Madison, WI 53719.
Please make the check out to 4-C Support Fund.

I will keep you informed if there are other ways that we can help 4-C staff get up and running again. This is a meaningful first step for now.

Please pass the word among your colleagues and friends.

4-Cs is an important partner in helping make sure that child care providers are trained and have technical assistance. It's worth writing a check if you have the means! I did.
Read more!

It's all about the bugs.

TRC has put out three press releases in the last three days, I sent out one and from the four press releases I have gotten two response from the local media. Forget the information about moving to/from E Gorham and State St. Forget the information about where to responsibly recycle your gently used goods. Forget moving tips to help save your security deposit.

What gets their attention? The bugs. It's the same thing, every year.

Here's the press release that got one local tv station to call:

IS IT HERE ALREADY?! Yes, Hippie Christmas, dumpster diving, whatever you want to call it, it’s well under way as Madison enters the magical weeks during which thousands of renters exchange apartments and furnishings.

More than ever before, the Tenant Resource Center has a very important reminder for people looking to snag some cheap furnishings while on the move:

• inspect all items closely for signs of pests

• no matter what they look like, leave upholstered items on the curb!

No matter how new and appealing a piece of furniture might look just sitting there waiting for a new home, remember that cockroaches and those dreaded and persistent BED BUGS love to stow away in the dark, tight spaces of upholstered furniture and cardboard boxes.

If you are moving and disposing of any items such as mattresses or pillows that you believe might be infested, consider spray painting the item with the words “BED BUGS” to deter others from picking up the item, and spreading the infestation further.

Online bed bug resources:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bedbugs/
http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Extension/DiagnosticLab/IDLFS/BedBugs/BedBugs.html

Meanwhile, I have landlords coming into the TRC office asking me why we don't get our word out more because we are such a valuable service. And I have neighbors asking me why I don't do more to tell "students" (i.e. downtown movers who are not all students) how to properly dispose of their "junk".

When the landlord asked me, I laughed, along with others in the office, and told him we've sent out press releases but not much of a response. He chimed in, without prompting, saying "yes, our newspapers don't cover the news any more."

Any press we get today isn't very helpful as the people moving, who need the information the most, aren't going to be sitting around watching tv or picking up a newspaper, unless it is to wrap breakables in. The information would have been helpful over the last few days.

Hopefully, the on-line stuff is making a difference. Facebook, craigslist, on-line forums, blogging, listserves, etc. At least I know with these resources, 1000's of people have READ the information, and many more will have received it. Meanwhile, if people have questions, stop on by Tenant Resource Center or give us a call. We'll be there today and tomorrow 9 - 6 and we'll be at Triangle Ethnic Fest and Africa Fest this weekend.

If you know people moving, help us spread the word! These days, on-line and word of mouth are our best ways to get the word out! (We know, because we ask our customers!)
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Downtown "Moving Days" Are Coming!

If you live or work downtown, you know that the busiest time of the summer is upon us when downtown area renters (not just students! but most anyone who rents downtown!) are stuck in the chaotic week-long nightmare optimistically called "Moving Day". This is the time when the downtown is awash in moving trucks and the resulting traffic jams, temporarily homeless individuals (transients?! Alert the police!) with apartments full of earthly possessions packed into anything that moves, plus tons and tons of garbage.

The Tenant Resource Center has some tips for those moving (with my editorial and sometimes snarky comments in parentheses!). Following these tips can help feed the hungry, save the environment, and closer to your wallet, help you get your security deposit back hassle free.

REDUCE, RECYCLE,REUSE - DONATE USABLE ITEMS
Area organizations are sponsoring "Moving Days" to help tenants cope with unwanted items as they move. Goodwill Industries and St. Vincent de Paul Stores have downtown drop-off sites as well as their regular donation pick-up services. Donate any usable clothing; unopened, nonperishable food items; dishes, pots and pans; decorative items; furniture and other functional household items at the following pick-up sites:

Broom & Mifflin (Near Capitol Centre Foods): Goodwill truck
August 11—13, 11 am—5 pm; August 14, 8 am—2:00 p.m.

Gorham & Henry (One block off State Street): St. Vincent de Paul truck
August 11—14, 9 am—9 pm

Regent & Mills (Behind McDonalds in UW Lot 51): St. Vincent de Paul truck
August 11—14, 9 am—9 pm

More information on donation sites.

(I haven't heard anything official, but watch for the impromptu recycling efforts on the corner of S. Ingersoll and E. Wilson Street (Central Park) where you can pick up (free!) or drop off usable items.)

TRASH
The City of Madison also requests that tenants recycle and remove trash properly as they move out of their apartments. Check out the City's website at for recycling and trash removal guidelines.

Additionally, the City is urging people to put their trash out on multiple days so that the trash stays in the carts to the extent possible.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT
- Schedule a check-out time with your landlord, if possible. If there is a dispute about something, it can often be quickly resolved by talking with your landlord in person. For example, you could decide to clean the stove better or just pay the cost for the landlord to do it, or other similar items pointed out during a check-out inspection.

- Fill out a check-out form and make sure you keep a copy. In the City of Madison the
landlord is required to furnish you with one; if s/he doesn't, s/he cannot deduct for cleaning or damages. If you need a check-out form, or a check-in form for your new apartment, download them from TRC’s website for free!

- Clean your apartment. It should be as clean as when you moved in.

- Take photographs or make a video tape if necessary to document the apartment's condition.

- Get a disinterested witness (not relatives or roommates) to walk through with you to verify the state of the apartment and its cleanliness; try to get a written statement from them or a future address where they can be contacted should the need arise.

- Forward your mail and leave your new address with your landlord. All correspondence and security deposit returns will be sent to your last known address unless otherwise specified in your lease.

- When you arrive at your new place, take the time to thoroughly inspect your apartment and document ALL existing damage and wear and tear on your check-in form, so that you won’t be charged for those items when you move out next year.

TENANT RESOURCE CENTER AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND!
Tenant Resource Center (TRC) is open for calls and walk-ins, no appointment necessary, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. at 1202 Williamson Street, Suite A in Madison, call 608-257-0006. Outside Dane County 877-238-RENT.

In addition to normal business hours, TRC will have information tables at two community events in Madison this weekend, on August 16 and 17:

AFRICA FEST at Warner Park, Saturday August 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

TRIANGLE ETHNIC FEST at the “Triangle” at Braxton Place, Sunday August 17, from 11:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please visit TRC at these two locations if you have moving-related or other rental problems over the weekend.

EAST GORHAM
Yes, you will be able to get to/from E Gorham if you are moving!

STATE STREET
Here's some moving instructions for State Street.

Read more!

East Gorham: Yes, you can move in and out!

So, E Gorham Street is closed at a time when many people will be trying to move in and out. How's that going to work?

I asked the question last June and the while there were no provisions in the contract to deal with the fact that they could be pouring or blacktopping the street on the days people are trying to move, the staff worked with the contractors to make sure that there would be local access to the street for garbage/recycling trucks and those moving in and out.

The street is currently scheduled to be completed on the 25th, with Traffic Engineering installing signs and painting the following week, with the goal of having the street open, the day after Labor Day, September 2nd.

Things have been going well, and here is the latest updates:
- The asphalt binder was installed last week from Baldwin to Paterson.
- The segment from Livingston to Butler still has the existing asphalt, including numerous temporary patches.
- The block from Paterson to Livingston will be the only one with gravel for the downtown moving days this week.
- The contractor is scheduled to mill the street from Livingston to the west and pave everything from Paterson to the west beginning on Monday, August 18.
- The landscaping should be finished by the scheduled completion date of Friday, August 22, which leaves Traffic Engineering one week to install the street signs and pavement markings.

And . . . if Traffic Engineering can complete their work quickly . . . they might be able to open the street prior to the Labor Day weekend and first Badger football game!

This is going too smoothly! I'm afraid to hope that they might make this all work out! Many thanks to the many staff who helped smooth out many of the wrinkles during the closure of this major arterial through the Isthmus!
Read more!

Hmmm . . . Something wrong here.

Press releases about public hearings two days after they occur, economic development plans that are currently meaningless (the hard work is yet to be done!) and godfather invitations. Oh my!

NO BUDGET HEARINGS HERE!
So, I told you that the Mayor didn't quite know how people were supposed to know about his hearing on the budget. But it gets stranger. Check out this press release. Notice something strange?

He issues a press release, two days later, inviting people to a budget hearing "tonight"? I thought scheduling these hearings in August when no one was paying attention was as obnoxious as he would get in issuing a non-vite to his budget hearings, but he took it a step further this year!

USELESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
What is even more interesting is when you compare that to the Economic Development Plan news release that went out minutes after the Council passed the Economic Development Plan, with no priorities or reality check on what it meant. Quick spin to take credit for the Economic Development Plan that I pushed to get in the budget a few years ago (it failed the first year with Brandon opposed, passed the second year) and that the main sponsor, Brandon, never wanted. And we failed miserably to have a decent discussion on what our goals are. Additionally, the plan is meaningless in its current state until there are realistic priorities set, based on what money will be available in the budget. Since we are talking "no new programs" in this budget, which the Mayor really doesn't want your input on, nearly half of the recommendations are meaningless. And many, many more need more thought. Here's how I separated them out for the last council meeting, but we didn't vote on it:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DPCED should continue with plans to:
a. Complete the Zoning Code modernization (1. 2.a.)
b. Reestablish the Tax Increment District in the Southeast Industrial Area. (3. 4.a.)
c. Retain an experienced, highly skilled ED Director. (6. 1.a.)
d. Monitor progress against plan metrics. (6. 4.a.)
e. Report annually to EDC, Mayor and Council (6. 4.b.)

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following items appear to be able to be done with minimal efforts by staff and minimal cost to the City and DPCED should work on if it is prioritized:
a. Revise DPCED mission statement (1. 1.a.)
a. Capitalize on systematic retention and expansion contacts. (2. 2.a.)
b. Establish a Small Business Solutions OBR team. (2. 3.a.)
c. Continue to support and work with small business contacts. (2. 3.c.)
d. Monitor Kaufman impacts (2. 3.d.)
e. Continue to work with existing business/business owners in employment centers. (3. 1.a.)
f. Encourage the formation of Neighborhood BIDs. (4. 6.a.)

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DPCED should further explore the following recommendations and report back to the Common Council with potential plans for implementation, including costs, timelines, staffing necessary and other details as appropriate, prior to moving forward with these plans:
a. Implement the Development Services Center (1. 3.a.)
b. Identify best practices for monitoring and communicating customer service and regularly report outcome (1. 4.a. & 4.c.)
c. Upgrade citizen/customer service across City departments and evaluate taking the City through a Baldridge quality management process. (1. 6.a.)
d. Create a Retention and Expansion Task Force and develop target list. (2. 1.a. & 1.b.)
e. Support “Economic Gardening” (2. 3.e.)
f. Make development of UW-Madison Research Park II an utmost priority. Continue City Engineer/Planning Director liaison. Research and Development Center District status. Support the Research Park in efforts to recruit outside companies. (3. 2.a. b. & c.)
g. Restore the East Capitol Gateway as a major employment district. Develop public/private/foundation advisory committee. Exert strong City leadership including concept planning, land and property assembly and development competitions. Establish BID. (3. 3.a. b. & c.)
h. Utility City land assembly capabilities in the Southeast Industrial Area. (3. 4.b.)
i. Revise TIF policies to favor basic sector development and compete more effectively with neighbor and other Midwestern communities. (4. 2.a.)
j. Utilize the Community Development Authority and/or investigate creating a new public/private venture to catalyze basic sector employment creation opportunities within key physical priority areas, including along the East Washington Corridor. (4. 3.a.)
k. Develop staff capabilities and expertise to seek state and foundation grants more effectively and to partner with state and local foundations, assess upside potential. Assign present or hire new staff or outside contract to develop matrix of programs and timelines. (4. 5.a.)
l. Convene the team of local private and public economic development practitioners. (5. 1.a.)
m. Convene an informal public/private economic development leadership group. (5. 2.a.)
n. Convene private and non-profit leadership support to implement key tasks within this plan, starting with business retention and expansion and the East Washington Capital Gateway. (5. 3.a.)
o. Encourage eventual formation of a countrywide public/private economic development partnership. (5. 6.a.)
p. Project management designation of staff and training. (6. 3.a.)

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the following items, while important, given budget constraints for 2008 are not feasible to move forward with at this time. The DPCED should prioritize the following list and submit a realistic work plan and current cost estimates for the following items by June 2009.
a. Develop and implement internal process metrics and customer comment techniques ($50,000) (1. 4.b.)
b. Upgrade DPCED website ($7,000) (1. 5.a.)
c. Communicate DPCED plans through a quarterly DPCED electronic newsletter and annual report ($5,000) (1. 5.b.)
d. Purchase or create account management plan and contact management support software. ($35,000) (2. 1.c.)
e. Refine OBR website ($5,000) (2. 3.b.)
f. Conduct an incubation feasibility study. ($30,000) (2. 4.)
g. Develop and implement Bio-Ag marketing plan, focusing on the Southeast Area by including the whole city. ($235,000) (3. 4.c.)
h. Develop and utilize a fiscal impact benefit/cost model to allocate tools for major development projects. ($50,000) (4. 1.a.)
i. Capitalize Project Facilitation Fund ($1,000,000) (4. 4.a.)
j. Utilize the Capital Budget to develop enhanced proactive funding strategies. (4. 7.a.)
k. Develop more aggressive strategy and convene partners/commit to marketing plan. ($50,000 - $100,000) (5. 4.a.)
l. Build public/private/non-profit support for UW-Madison basic sector growth and employment development. ($5,000) (5. 5.a.)
m. Hire experienced economic developer to lead R & E. ($80,000) (6. 1.b.)
n. Retain project development manager/specialist to lead key physical projects/priorities. ($90,000) (6. 1.c.)
o. Expand support of small business solutions. ($10,000) (6. 1.d.)
p. Add capabilities to DPCED to do: Communications, GIS and website development, external newsletter and to pursue grants. ($50,000) (6. 2.a.)
q. Expand funding for DPCED staff training. ($10,000) (6. 5.a.)
r. Annually monitor implementation progress. ($10,000) (6. 6.a.)
s. Fully upgrade Plan every two years. ($60,000) (6. 6.b.)

Instead of setting the priorities above, we wussed out and passed this amendment that I recommended:

These work plans shall be approved by the Common Council annually prior to the department budget recommendations being made each year.

GODFATHER INVITATION
This one, had me laughing out loud in my office yesterday. Kudos to Kristin Czubkowski from the Cap Times for calling this out! (Scroll down to the last section if you click on the link.)

In what is perhaps the best sentence I have yet to read in an agenda, the EOC "invites" mayoral assistants Ray Harmon and Joel Plant and city attorney Michael May to talk about the city's chronic nuisance law and "to explain why the amendments requested by the Equal Opportunities Commission have not been drafted/introduced." The city's chronic nuisance law allows the city to charge landlords of problem buildings for the police services called to the building.

Something tells me this type of invitation is a little less birthday party and a little more Godfather in its tone.

This just points out once again, how nutty local government can be when no one is paying attention (August break!). Which, again, points out how important the local press is to keeping local government on its toes!
Read more!

The Week Ahead - Busy for August!

Lots going on in the beginning of the week . . . but then it tapers off . . . Here's the things of interest to me. The rest of the schedule is here.

Monday, August 11, 2008
4:00 PM INCLUSIONARY ZONING ADVISORY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ROOM LL-110 MMB

- Hopefully we can finalize our report today. We were supposed to be done in July, but we couldn't even agree on what the report should say. Our first vote failed 5 - 5. Perhaps if all of our seats were filled, we'd have had another person there to vote and it wouldn't have been a tie. We've had a vacant seat since Marsha Rummel was elected - a year and a half ago.

5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 330 W MIFFLIN ST - ROOMS 1 & 2 - (2ND FLOOR)

- They didn't even get halfway through the report at the last meeting, so they are going to continue reviewing the consultants review of our zoning code.

6:30 PM COMMITTEE MEMBER TRAINING 201 W MIFFLIN ST - ROOM 202

- Here's some minimal training for committee members, it just covers the basics. All committee members should attend, but the training needs some revamping so that committee members get the information they really need to be effective. And hey, maybe if the meetings weren't held in August when everyone is gone . . . they'd get more people to attend. (60 out of 900 isn't very good turnout.)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008
12:00 PM TIF REVIEW BOARD ROOM LL-130 MMB

-Creation of Stoughton Rd TIF - for economic development.

4:30 PM MADISON ELECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ROOM 101 MMB

- Getting ready for this fall's elections and hiring a new deputy clerk.

5:00 PM AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMISSION ROOM LL-120 MMB

- Strategize action plan for implementation of recommendations contained in reports to the Common Council on diversity on City boards, commissions and committees and representation and salaries in top management.

5:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY REVIEW BOARD ROOM 103A CCB- Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs in apartments . . . will mercury from a broken lightbulb kill us all?

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
4:00 PM BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS 6701 US HWY 12/18

- Annual Park tour

4:30 PM URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION ROOM 300 - MMB

- Lots going on, mostly commercial development and hotels. Of interest is the Urban League's informational presentation on the Villager Mall.

6:30 PM COMMITTEE MEMBER TRAINING ROOM 201 CCB

- Second verse, same as the first!

Thursday, August 14, 2008
5:00 PM EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION ROOM LL-120 MMB

- Pulling teeth to get changes to the Chronic Nuisance Ordinance!

Friday, August 15, 2008
2:00 PM CENTRALIZED RESIDENT SERVICE SYSTEM STUDY TEAM ROOM 525 CCB

- What the heck is this and what will they be talking about? And why is the Board of Estimates interested? I guess you need to show up to find out the answers.

Also this week, the Mayor's hearings on the budget on Tuesday and the school board community meetings on referendum (see message from School Superintendent and School Board President:

As families across our community begin preparations for the 2008-09 school year, the Board of Education is going out into the community to discuss the financial status of the district.

Two public forums are scheduled:

Tuesday, August 12 at 6 p.m. in the Warner Park Community Center, 1625 Northport Drive, and

Thursday, August 14 at 6 p.m. in the James Madison Memorial High School Auditorium, 201 S. Gammon Rd.

The forums will provide an overview of the district's financial situation and a discussion of the Board's options, including going to referendum this November.

The audience will be divided into small groups depending on the number of people attending. The small groups will be facilitated by members of the Management Team and a Board member will be assigned to each group. This will provide an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Key questions that will be asked each small group include:

• Is there any additional information you need regarding the District's financial situation?
• What are your reactions to the options the Board is considering?
• Are there other ideas you have to address the District's current financial situation?

At the end of the evening, there will be a large group share-out of information from each smaller group. Notes from each group will be organized and posted on the website.

We encourage you to attend, so you are better informed about the fiscal issues confronting the school district. Please feel free to pass this information on to others.

We look forward to seeing you,

Dan Nerad Arlene Silveira

Superintendent Board of Education President

And, there's a community meeting on the development of the Villager Mall - at the same time as the UDC meeting - who plans this stuff? Anyone?

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Update on The Villager Redevelopment Project
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
6:30 p.m.
The Villager Studio
2234C S. Park Street

Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, in cooperation with the Burr Oaks Neighborhood
Association, will be holding an update on The Villager Redevelopment
Project. The following is the agenda for the meeting:

• Review of and response to input received from last community meeting
• Input on updated exterior design proposal
• Review of internal layout of the Atrium
• Discussion and recommendations of amenities for the community room
• Next steps and suggestions for incorporating art into The Villager
• Update on Urban League/Library/Planned Parenthood development
• Timeline for next steps of Villager redevelopment

For more information on this project visit The Villager Redevelopment
website at: http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/villager

Or contact:
Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14
Office: 266-4071
Home: 298-0060
Email: district14@cityofmadison.com

or

City of Madison Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development
215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Rm. LL100
P.O. Box 2985
Madison, WI 53703
Email: villagermall@cityofmadison.com

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Strike That! Reverse.

Channel 12 to keep its spot on the dial! It won't be moving to channel 994!

Sorry, that's all I have on it. It's what I got from the TV news station, not the print news, so its not very detailed. But at least its local news!

At least if you can't get news about your local government, you can watch hours and hours of selected meetings where you've been able to find it for years! So, cancel your order for those cable "free" cable boxes.
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Another dying local paper?

First, it was the Cap Times, then the Isthmus, now the Wisconsin State Journal?

In just a few short months, the City of Madison has lost years of experience in its top print news organizations. The Cap Times laid off 24 people and stopped its daily printing instead opting to publish daily on-line, the Isthmus has announced its letting some of its people, including Eisen, go, and now the Wisconsin State Journal is looking for 3 - 5 of their most experienced people to go.

We're living in interesting times. As newspapers struggle to compete with the changing technology, and people like me increasingly look for their news on-line, we're watching them make some silly decisions. I fully realize, I'm part of the problem. I advertise on Craigslist and other free internet sources for job openings, I canceled my subscriptions to the papers and don't pick up a print paper. There's no revenue coming in from me. It's not that I don't value the paper and that I wouldn't pay for it on-line . . . I just don't have to.

What concerns me, is newspapers are good at what they do. Sending reporters to get the news. That's why we call the NEWSpapers. Having their reporters blog and being worried about forums and comments on articles and how many clicks something gets is driving them to make silly decisions about what their priorities are and it makes it increasingly difficult to get any local news. In their quest to keep up with the times, the are forgetting why they have value. I don't need to be entertained by the newspaper, I want the NEWS!

Bloggers aren't going to fill the void that reporters fill. They don't have the same access to people who make the news, they don't have the time to get the stories that reporters have and they don't have the respect and relationships that reporters get over time. Also, if they start giving us their opinion instead of the news, their news reporting becomes less credible. If the papers continue to cut back on their reporting staff, and have them busy writing blogs, where will our relatively neutral local news come from? And simply re-writing the police press releases and incident reports doesn't count for news!

I find myself getting more and more news from the TV stations lately. Which is sad, because they don't spend the same amount of time (20 seconds?) and you don't get the same depth of coverage. However, they have actually been better at giving me news than the papers.

What concerns me even more, is not that I can't get the local news that I want . . . it concerns me that they are a check and balance on government. If the public doesn't know what the local government is doing . . . well, you fill in the blank . . .

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Madison City Council does what Sarkozy won't!

But hey, it wasn't political.

Sarkozy is refusing to meet with the Dalia Lama. He doesn't want to offend China during the Olympics. China is saying that it would have adverse consequences for France if he does meet with the Dalai Lama. Critics believe that he is refusing to meet with the Dalai Lama so that he can get good contracts for France.

While the Common Council is not France and our actions dont' carry the same consequences, this certainly does point out that what we did was indeed political.

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Obama, Rove and Christians

I'm not sure if my aunt sends me these types of things to provoke me, or if she has no idea what my political leanings are, or just doens't think about who is on her recipient list . . . . I'm not an Obamaista (vote McKinney!) . . . but I found this incredibly ignorant and offensive. This was sent by my aunt's church secretary on behalf of Dr. somebody-or-other and my aunt forwarded it to me:

Dear Friends,
As I was listening to a news program last night, I watched in horror as Barack Obama made the statement with pride. . ."we are no longer a Christian nation; we are now a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, . . . As with so many other statements I've heard him (and his wife) make, I never thought I'd see the day that I'd hear something like that from a presidential candidate in this nation. To think our forefathers fought and died for the right for our nation to be a Christian nation--and to have this man say with pride that we are no longer that. How far this nation has come from what our founding fathers intended it to be.

I hope that each of you will do what I'm doing now--send your concerns, written simply and sincerely, to the Christians on your email list. With God's help, and He is still in control of this nation and all else, we can show this man and the world in November that we are, indeed, still a Christian nation!

Please pray for our nation!

Really - people fought and died for the right for our nation to be a Christian nation? Ever hear of freedom of religion?

The only good thing was on the same day, I found this release where a minister and three Catholic Workers tried to do a citizens arrest of Karl Rove. What cracked me up was the judge's response. You think he intended to say that, or it just slipped out?

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How to fill a Common Council Vacancy!

I've heard many people, including an alder, tell me that Council President Tim Bruer is in charge of picking Zach Brandon's replacement. I have no idea where that notion comes from, he may be in charge of the process, but he doesn't pick the person! Here's the press release that explains how it really works! The Common Council Organizational Committee reviews the resumes and interviews the candidates then makes a recommendation to the Council. The Council can accept that recommendation or reject it. But first, we have to get some resumes

RESUMES TO BE ACCEPTED TO
FILL 7TH ALDERMANIC DISTRICT VACANCY

Resumes must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2008

City of Madison Common Council President, Ald. Timothy Bruer, announced that he is accepting resumes from residents of the 7th aldermanic district interested in filling the aldermanic position to be vacated by Ald. Zach Brandon (Mr. Brandon is resigning from the Council effective upon the selection of his replacement or October 8, 2008, whichever is sooner).

All resumes should be mailed or delivered to:

Common Council President
Ald. Tim Bruer
Room 417, City-County Building
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Madison WI 53703

Resumes must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

Resumes should include:

o Name
o Address
o Home telephone number
o Work telephone number
o E-mail address
o Biographical resume should include education, work, neighborhood, and civic experience
o A statement on why the applicant wishes to serve
o A statement of what the applicant wants to accomplish
o A statement if the applicant plans to run for alderperson in the Spring 2009 election

The Common Council Organizational Committee (CCOC) will review all resumes and interview applicants at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 103A, City-County Building. The CCOC will make a recommendation to the Common Council to be acted upon at their September 16, 2008 meeting. The person appointed by the Common Council would then serve until a 7th district alderperson is elected on April 7, 2009 and takes the official oath of office.

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Mayor's Hearings on the Budget

Only 15 Westsiders turned up last night to talk to the Mayor about a potential 10% increase in taxes. Why?

Perhaps the Westsiders are more well off than the rest of us and are happy that they got their 30 police officers and are willing to pay for it. Then again, maybe not.

On Monday, when the Dane County Coalition to Fight Homelessness and End Poverty met with the Mayor, someone asked how people were supposed to know about the public hearings on the budget. The Mayor looked confused. Actually sort of lost his composure for a moment . . . looked nervously at his staff . . . then looked down at his paper. Finally, he quipped, "you can read it on Brenda's blog". Unfortunately, I was a bit behind this week and didn't blog about it, yet . . . but I would have at least expected a press release from the mayor.

I see that Channel 27 did something the day of the first hearing. And Channel 3 reported on the pathetic turnout. But I haven't run across much else. So, just in case you weren't aware, here's when the next hearings are!

Tuesday, August 12, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
East District Police Station, 809 South Thompson Drive

Monday, August 18, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Madison Central Library, 201 West Mifflin Street
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Common Council Recap

Get it here, cuz you can't find it in the newspapers! I've already answered questions last night for reporters about what happened (cuz they didn't bother to show up) and this morning because people can't find anything in the WSJ on the items they are interested in. For links to the items below, either see the agenda, or yesterday's post.

Here's the rundown.

We heard early public comment from one person opposed to making text messages and instant messaging not public records.

#11 - Chickens - So, single family home owners can have up to 4 chickens if they follow various rules. This would allow renters in two-flats and duplexes to have chickens too. This item was referred since the Health Department wasn't there to answer questions about how chickens were a health threat. (Where's that little eye-rolly thing.)

#12/13 - Cliff Fisher project on N Franklin/N Hancock and moving house to 500 block of E Johnson - This will be the final vote on this project, but most of the decisions have already been made. This item passed without comment.

#15 - Solar/Wind Ordinance - This is likely to get referred back for more work. I'll gladly take it back at Landmarks, since what the City Attorney's staff told us looks like it wasn't true . . . sigh. I'm glad I abstained. Referred back to committees as expected.

We heard public testimony from a gentleman supporting adding Steve Hiniker to the CARPC.

#20 - Economic Development Plan - We all congratulated ourselves, staff and EDC and then punted. I proposed two different amendments. One that said the EDC should make priorities and report back to us (as soon as possible) and another that actually did the prioritizing that hadn't been done. We went with the first, easier one. So, we have a report, that supposed to be a workplan, but isn't. (Dang that eye rolly emoticon is in high demand this morning.)

#22 - Budget Process Report - We didn't really make much progress, since we didn't want to change much. I renewed my pleas to make this year's process more humane, it fell on deaf ears. The report passed. (However, at CCOC I think I'm making progress on setting the dates for a Thursday, Tuesday, Thursday in 2009.)

#34 - Budget Shortfall - $599,000 out of our $1M contingent reserve for the snow, etc. This passed without comment with the mega motion at the beginning of the meeting.

#35 - Hotel Study - Should we spend money for a study on if we need more hotel's downtown? If so, is this the right consultant? The motion to place this on file failed 12 votes against in a roll call vote. Those voting against the study were AYE: Webber, Brandon, Sanborn, Solomon, Konkel and Rhodes-Conway. ABSENT: Bruer, Kerr NO: Clausius, Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rummel, Schumacher, Skidmore, Verveer

#36 - Lake Levels - Using our bully pulpit to get the DNR to do what we want. Passed, with lots of grandstanding and lots of people adding their name to the resolution. We wasted alot of time talking about a unanimous vote.

#60 - ATC Power Lines - Opposing the ATC power lines and expressing our point of view the that ATC power lines should be underground if they happen. Ald. Solomon made an amendment that I missed the language on (it essentially called on us to find ways to reduce energy use, that might make the power lines unnecessary), but prompted a serie of righteous statements, some microphones that turned off because people got too loud and a lecture from the soon to be departed Alder Brandon. Voting for Solomon's amendment were: AYE: Cnare, Compton, Judge, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber. ABSENT: Bruer, Kerr, Gruber NO: Clausius, Palm, Clear, Pham-Remmele, Schumacher, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon. (Yes, there were more AYE than NO votes, but on the Council, you need 11 votes for something to pass and with Kerr and Gruber missing, that didn't happen.) Brandon then made an amendment that didn't make much sense to me, it passed on a voice vote with Rhodes-Conway and me voting against. Then the resolution passed.

#61 - Text messages and IM not public records - I made an amendment that doesn't prohibit us from using these technologies but does require us to keep a record if we do. The motion passed on a roll call vote. AYE: Cnare, Compton, Judge, Konkel, Plam, Rummel, Sanborn, Solomon, Verveer, Webber. ABSENT: Bruer, Kerr, Gruber NO: Clausius, Clear, Pham-Remmele, Schumacher, Skidmore and Brandon. That cause a little consternation over there on the right side of the room! Ultimately, the ordinance passed with that amendment.

#62 - CDA Land Transfer - Getting the Villager Mall project moving . . . this passed with the mega motion in the beginning of the meeting, with one amendment requiring at least 12,000 square feet for the Southside library.

#72 - Setting higher goals for the efficiency of our Recycling Program. Passed without comment with the mega motion.

#74 - Mailboxes - you won't be able to park within 4 feet of any mailboxes. This passed on a voice vote - Webber and I voting against. There was a somewhat bizarre discussion with lots of mis-information. And apparently, Ald. Compton doesn't think we should be able to vote on things that are outside of our districts. i.e. Downtown alders shouldn't vote on periphery issues. Does that mean she can't vote on downtown issues? (Again, an eye roll emoticon needed.)

#76 - Banning Alcohol in East Moorland Park - Huh, we have a committee to look at these issues who didn't look at this issue and will reconsider it later . . . so why are we doing it now? I don't think anyone really answered that question, or the question about when we will have a policy. This passed on a voice vote, Ald. Sanborn and myself voting against.

#77 - Salt Report - The alternate resolution and the original were referred back to the Commission on the Environment with the mega-motion in the beginning of the meeting.

#79/80 - Reconsideration of Linden Park Plat - At the last meeting, we had wrong information, and despite the fact that the staff told us that at the meeting, the council voted for it anyways. I was somewhat hopeful that three weeks later, we would know what the right answer is, but we don't. The motion to reconsider was not made, as there was no new information for the council to make any different decision . . . but we might have new info this morning, much too late.

And with that, we were still out by 9:30!
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Council Agenda for Tonight.

Nothing to see here. :) Just kidding, we might actually have a meeting that goes past 10:00, I can't remember the last time that happened, we've been spoiled and getting out early. Here's the items of interest. (That'll teach me to wait to read the agenda til Monday night!)

#11 - Chickens - So, single family home owners can have up to 4 chickens if they follow various rules. This would allow renters in two-flats and duplexes to have chickens too.

#12/13 - Cliff Fisher project on N Franklin/N Hancock and moving house to 500 block of E Johnson - This will be the final vote on this project, but most of the decisions have already been made.

#15 - Solar/Wind Ordinance - This is likely to get referred back for more work. I'll gladly take it back at Landmarks, since what the City Attorney's staff told us looks like it wasn't true . . . sigh. I'm glad I abstained.

#20 - Economic Development Plan - We finally have a plan, but no priorities. I guess we're just going to punt on that.

#22 - Budget Process Report - We didn't really make much progress, since we didn't want to change much.

#34 - Budget Shortfall - $599,000 out of our $1M contingent reserve for the snow, etc.

#35 - Hotel Study - Should we spend money for a study on if we need more hotel's downtown? If so, is this the right consultant?

#36 - Lake Levels - Using our bully pulpit to get the DNR to do what we want.

#60 - ATC Power Lines - Opposing the ATC power lines and expressing our point of view the that ATC power lines should be underground if they happen.

#61 - Text messages and IM not public records - Yes, they should be! But we are going to attempt to exempt them. I still don't understand how that is legal.

#62 - CDA Land Transfer - Getting the Villager Mall project moving . . .

#72 - Setting higher goals for the efficiency of our Recycling Program

#74 - Mailboxes - you won't be able to park within 4 feet of any mailboxes.

#76 - Banning Alcohol in East Moorland Park - Huh, we have a committee to look at these issues who didn't look at this issue and will reconsider it later . . . so why are we doing it now?

#77 - Salt Report - There is a alternate resolution that we will be voting on tonight.

#79/80 - Reconsideration of Linden Park Plat - At the last meeting, we had wrong information, and despite the fact that the staff told us that at the meeting, the council voted for it anyways. I was somewhat hopeful that three weeks later, we would know what the right answer is, but we don't. So, do we reconsider to get the right answer, or, do we let it go and be pro-business? Shitty choice.


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The Week Ahead

Here's what I find interesting about the week ahead, the rest of the schedule is where it always is.

Monday, August 4, 2008
4:45 PM LANDMARKS COMMISSION ROOM LL - 130 MMB
- It's not on the agenda, but expect a motion to reconsider the solar/wind ordinance. As one committee member says "we were bamboozled". We were told by the city attorney's office that there were no real changes and it just brought our local ordinance into compliance with the state law. It's a six page ordinance with many references to elsewhere that would take hours to de-scramble, so I read it, but I didn't research all the references. I tried to ask some questions, but the staff were rather unhelpful. I ended up abstaining as I knew I didn't understand all the implications of the ordinance and wasn't going to get the answers I needed . . . so I can't move to reconsider.

5:30 PM PLAN COMMISSION ROOM 201 CCB
- The agenda lists demolition definition discussion, not as a numbered agenda item, but after the Secretary's report so I can't tell if they are discussing the definition of demolition, or scheduling a meeting to discuss it. Beyond that, its a somewhat uneventful agenda.

CANCELLED - 6:00 PM JAMES MADISON PARK PROPERTY PLANNING COMMITTEE ROOM LL-110 MMB
- Expect quite a bit of progress to made at this meeting. There is alot of pressure to make this our last meeting, but I doubt it will be. The Mayor imposed an unrealistic August 15th deadline on us, but expect us to blow that off. I think the task before us is to figure out what restrictions we would want placed on the sale of any land or buildings. It seems that the committee is pretty much all on the same page as the neighborhoods.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
4:30 PM COMMON COUNCIL ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEE ROOM 103A CCB
- Discussion on how we use security cameras and what policies we should have in place.

6:30 PM COMMON COUNCIL ROOM 201 CCB
- Sadly, I haven't read the agenda yet. I left for Ohio on Friday before the agenda was done and didn't take my computer with me. Wouldn't have mattered if I did, since I was camping and there was no internet access where I was. I won't have time to read the agenda until after work tonight. So I'll post items of interest tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
12:00 PM PERSONNEL BOARD ROOM 108 CCB
- "Clarifying" provisional appointments.
- Continued look at what the role of the personnel board is.
5:00 PM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ROOM LL-130 MMB
- The City's 3 - 5 year plan - now they are going to prioritize what they are going to work on . . . instead of making that part of the report the Council approves.

Thursday, August 7, 2008
4:00 PM COMMON COUNCIL ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMITTEE CREATION AND COMMITTEE RULES ROOM 417 CCB
- This committee is on the verge of recommending changes to rules on how city committee operates. Hopefully, we'll have a public hearing on our ideas prior to them being introduced to the council.
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