Due to the chilly weather, Goodman Pool, Madison Parks Beaches and Cypress Spray Park will be closed today. The only exception will be for Goodman Pool swimming lessons - those will be held as scheduled.Read more!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Too Cool for Pool
Pool and Beaches Closed today . . .
Another Demolition
Torn down to expand a yard . . . because the house was neglected.
Please be advised that Edwin Tallard will be filing a demolition permit application on July 15, 2009 for Plan Commission review that calls for a Single Family Home located at 5722 Lake Mendota Dr Madison, WI 53705 to be demolished. For more information regarding this forthcoming application, you may contact the applicant, Edwin Tallard, 5718 Lake Mendota Dr Madison, WI 53705 at edwintallard@gmail.com or (608)235-8494.Read more!
Applicant's Comments:
The dilapidated building we bought in Nov of '08 is in a severe state of disrepair. It was built in 1955. In heavy rain, water flows down through the garage and throughout the utility room. Due to numerous leaks in the roof over the last 15 yrs the home is filled with mold and decay. The future plans for the lot are leveling it to expand my yard. I also will be planting a vegetable garden, planting grass, and several small evergreen trees on the perimeter.
If you have any questions about the Plan Commission demolition permit approval process, please contact the City of Madison Planning Division at (608) 266-4635.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Meetings only 3 days Week Ahead
Really short week ahead or the schedule isn't updated yet . . .
Monday, June 29, 2009
9:00 AM SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND ENERGY COMMITTEE PRIVATE SECTOR WORK GROUP CONFERENCE CALLS ROOM 107A CCB
What the hell kind of a notice is this? It doesn't say what they will be talking about.
4:30 PM BOARD OF ESTIMATES ROOM 260 MMB
Yawn. This looks like a 15 minute meeting, max.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
4:30 PM URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION ROOM LL-110 MMB
1900 E Washington Ave
Lisa Link Peace Park
5:00 PM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ROOM LL-130 MMB
Economic Development Workplan
5:00 PM HOUSING COMMITTEE ROOM 260 MMB
Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Thursday, July 2, 2009
4:30 PM MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD SOUTH MADISON BRANCH LIBRARY, 2222 S PARK ST
Planning for the new Central Library Read more!
Monday, June 29, 2009
9:00 AM SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND ENERGY COMMITTEE PRIVATE SECTOR WORK GROUP CONFERENCE CALLS ROOM 107A CCB
What the hell kind of a notice is this? It doesn't say what they will be talking about.
4:30 PM BOARD OF ESTIMATES ROOM 260 MMB
Yawn. This looks like a 15 minute meeting, max.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
4:30 PM URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION ROOM LL-110 MMB
1900 E Washington Ave
Lisa Link Peace Park
5:00 PM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ROOM LL-130 MMB
Economic Development Workplan
5:00 PM HOUSING COMMITTEE ROOM 260 MMB
Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Thursday, July 2, 2009
4:30 PM MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD SOUTH MADISON BRANCH LIBRARY, 2222 S PARK ST
Planning for the new Central Library Read more!
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Big Friday Round Up
Oh my goodness, where to begin . . .how about the hairbrained ideas coming out of Meadowood . . .
SCREW THE 4TH AMENDMENT
Is the City Attorney Michael May smoking crack? Or maybe he's still out of town? Looking for more work for his office? Or maybe the Mayor failed to consult with him? I wonder how much money its going to cost the city when they go all the way to the Supreme Court to litigate the new search and seizure practices proposed by the Mayor and police department? Seriously, warrantless searches. What happens when something besides a gun turns up? What if its just a baggy of pot? Will the kids or their parents be prosecuted for that instead? I mean, once the parents consent, what protections do they and their children have? Are they banking on everyone being low income and not being able to get an attorney who will challenge this?
IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME, LOITERING IS BACK
MORE OFFENSIVE THAN EVER!
Those darn constitutional rights, they are so bothersome to the City!
Thought #1. Ok, now I'm really beginning to think the City Attorney's office is raiding the police evidence room for personal use on a regular basis. Loitering laws that only apply to certain geographic areas of the city? Wow, are they really that afraid of budget cuts that they are trying to ensure that they have continued employment. Looks like another case to be taken to the Supreme Court at our expense.
Thought #2. Get me a map, we can just circle the areas of the city where there are concentrations of people of color, and that is where the law will be applied. I mean, why even bother trying to legally figure out how to have a law that applies in only come areas of the City? Seriously, it's the only place it will be enforced anyways. Someone call the ACLU!
Thought #3. Emily Mills does another good job breaking down the issue. I especially like how she points out the criminals drive cars, why don't we just let police pull over cars without reason.
MEANWHILE, A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST
With all this talk about safety you'd think that the public hearing on how the police department is going to spend $200,000 would have gotten some attention. But no . . . Kristin Czubkoski was the only one to show up. I guess I called it. Sometimes I wish I wasn't right. But I maintain, why would anyone show up if they don't have anything provided to comment on? Apparently police think its the time of the meeting that is the problem. Not.
COPS WILL GET THEIR RIFLES, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER
Ah, now I know why they didn't tell us what they wanted to spend the money on BEFORE the public hearing! Somewhere in the city, Satya Rhodes-Conway's head exploded when she opened the email and found out the money will be spent as follows:
I'm going to say something nice about the Madison Police Department. At the rally for driver's cards and tuition cuts for immigrants in Wisconsin, a uniformed City of Madison Police Officer showed up to the rally, spoke, fielded questions from local media and I presume helped lobbying for the right thing! Thank you!
OH, NOW ITS A GOOD IDEA
Remember the budget last year, when I had all those lousy amendments that were just a waste of time and annoying. Well, turns out, that my amendment that would have implemented landlord registration and paid for itself is now a good idea according to the Mayor. Good thing Alder Julia Kerr worked with city staff and has had the ordinance drafted for months cuz the Mayor can just take credit for it when it passes without doing any of the work. Glad he finally came around and see the merit . . . or more likely, he has his eye on the revenue stream.
WYOU GOES PLATINUM
Great article on Barbara Bolan, the new Executive Director. Donate now. Or come to the fundraiser July 12th at 4:00 at the High Noon Saloon. Details here. Lend your hand to the wall of support and help save this valuable community resource. It is, after all, our television station.
HOMELESS, DON'T CALL US UNLESS ITS BETWEEN 8:00a.m. & 4:00p.m.
Wow. Why would it take weeks to get voice mail up and running? They've already been having problems for days.
ALDER SHIVA BIDAR-SIELAFF REMINDS US
Friday at dusk: please light a candle to show your support for the brave people of Iran who are fighting for freedom. (Iranian prodemocracy leaders have called for this international show of solidarity)
HOUSING UPDATE - A PEOPLE'S AGENDA
Thanks to everyone who showed up last night, it will take a bit before the notes are all typed up, but when they are, they will be sent to the participants and I'm sure I'll blog some part of it. There were also reporters there from the Cap Times (Kristin and Pat), as well as the Isthmus and Street Pulse, so you might find something there. Thanks to Kristin who chose to spend her birthday with us!
Sorry to disappoint you and end on a positive, positively unsnarky note or two, but the items were timely and people will be asking. And, I had more, but ran out of time . . . Read more!
SCREW THE 4TH AMENDMENT
Is the City Attorney Michael May smoking crack? Or maybe he's still out of town? Looking for more work for his office? Or maybe the Mayor failed to consult with him? I wonder how much money its going to cost the city when they go all the way to the Supreme Court to litigate the new search and seizure practices proposed by the Mayor and police department? Seriously, warrantless searches. What happens when something besides a gun turns up? What if its just a baggy of pot? Will the kids or their parents be prosecuted for that instead? I mean, once the parents consent, what protections do they and their children have? Are they banking on everyone being low income and not being able to get an attorney who will challenge this?
IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME, LOITERING IS BACK
MORE OFFENSIVE THAN EVER!
Those darn constitutional rights, they are so bothersome to the City!
Thought #1. Ok, now I'm really beginning to think the City Attorney's office is raiding the police evidence room for personal use on a regular basis. Loitering laws that only apply to certain geographic areas of the city? Wow, are they really that afraid of budget cuts that they are trying to ensure that they have continued employment. Looks like another case to be taken to the Supreme Court at our expense.
Thought #2. Get me a map, we can just circle the areas of the city where there are concentrations of people of color, and that is where the law will be applied. I mean, why even bother trying to legally figure out how to have a law that applies in only come areas of the City? Seriously, it's the only place it will be enforced anyways. Someone call the ACLU!
Thought #3. Emily Mills does another good job breaking down the issue. I especially like how she points out the criminals drive cars, why don't we just let police pull over cars without reason.
MEANWHILE, A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST
With all this talk about safety you'd think that the public hearing on how the police department is going to spend $200,000 would have gotten some attention. But no . . . Kristin Czubkoski was the only one to show up. I guess I called it. Sometimes I wish I wasn't right. But I maintain, why would anyone show up if they don't have anything provided to comment on? Apparently police think its the time of the meeting that is the problem. Not.
COPS WILL GET THEIR RIFLES, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER
Ah, now I know why they didn't tell us what they wanted to spend the money on BEFORE the public hearing! Somewhere in the city, Satya Rhodes-Conway's head exploded when she opened the email and found out the money will be spent as follows:
The City of Madison Police Department will receive $171,142 which shall be used as follows:The council has removed finding for rifles from the budget and had this discussion on more than one occasion. From the 2008 budget process:
$34,228 toward the salary and benefits of a Dane County prosecutor position
$20,000 for the Dane County Drug Court program
$10,000 for the Dane County Victim Witness program
$24,300 for the purchase and equipping of a detective vehicle
$9,500 for licenses for specialty software to be used to investigate computer crime
$10,500 for a server to store evidence collected from computers
$18,700 for evidence drying cabinets$42,214 for rifles$1,700 for a powerpoint projector and screen
Amendment No. 3WHO EVER THUNK IT
Agency/Project: Police / Project #3 - Rifle Acquisition Project
Page(s): 17
Sponsor(s): Alds. Brandon, Rhodes-Conway, Solomon
Remove funding for the rifle acquisition program, including the estimated funding amounts in 2009 and 2010 ($25,000 G.O. and $25,000 grant funding in each year).
General Obligation Debt $ (20,000)
Other Funding (20,000)
Total $ (40,000) Levy Impact: $ (2,590)Some remained consistent in the arguments to trust the police and they need the tools to do their jobs as with the tasers. Others, pointed out that we've used a rifle once that they fired the weapon. We don't need our average officers to have these military style automatic rifles since we have a sniper/swat team on staff of the MPD for the extreme circumstances. Lots of questions, some debate. Alder Webber called the question, I was the only who hadn't spoke but I didn't object. The motion passed 11 - 9. AYE Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Brandon, Bruer. NO Clear, Compton, Gruber, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Clausius, Cnare. Cnare originally passed and voted at the end.
I'm going to say something nice about the Madison Police Department. At the rally for driver's cards and tuition cuts for immigrants in Wisconsin, a uniformed City of Madison Police Officer showed up to the rally, spoke, fielded questions from local media and I presume helped lobbying for the right thing! Thank you!
OH, NOW ITS A GOOD IDEA
Remember the budget last year, when I had all those lousy amendments that were just a waste of time and annoying. Well, turns out, that my amendment that would have implemented landlord registration and paid for itself is now a good idea according to the Mayor. Good thing Alder Julia Kerr worked with city staff and has had the ordinance drafted for months cuz the Mayor can just take credit for it when it passes without doing any of the work. Glad he finally came around and see the merit . . . or more likely, he has his eye on the revenue stream.
WYOU GOES PLATINUM
Great article on Barbara Bolan, the new Executive Director. Donate now. Or come to the fundraiser July 12th at 4:00 at the High Noon Saloon. Details here. Lend your hand to the wall of support and help save this valuable community resource. It is, after all, our television station.
HOMELESS, DON'T CALL US UNLESS ITS BETWEEN 8:00a.m. & 4:00p.m.
Wow. Why would it take weeks to get voice mail up and running? They've already been having problems for days.
The Salvation Army continues to have major phone system malfunctions. As of today, we have learned that we will not be able to have voice mail until 7/15/09. All families needing shelter and/or individuals needing help with Rx need to call 250-2223 Mon-Fri 800am-400pm. There will be a staff person answering this line, recording messages and contact information. Do not use 250-2298 any longer. 211 website has been updated.
ALDER SHIVA BIDAR-SIELAFF REMINDS US
Friday at dusk: please light a candle to show your support for the brave people of Iran who are fighting for freedom. (Iranian prodemocracy leaders have called for this international show of solidarity)
HOUSING UPDATE - A PEOPLE'S AGENDA
Thanks to everyone who showed up last night, it will take a bit before the notes are all typed up, but when they are, they will be sent to the participants and I'm sure I'll blog some part of it. There were also reporters there from the Cap Times (Kristin and Pat), as well as the Isthmus and Street Pulse, so you might find something there. Thanks to Kristin who chose to spend her birthday with us!
Sorry to disappoint you and end on a positive, positively unsnarky note or two, but the items were timely and people will be asking. And, I had more, but ran out of time . . . Read more!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tonight! People's Vision for Affordable Housing
To hear the City's Economic Development Director and the Mayor speak, we don't need any more affordable housing, in fact, we need to send it outside of the city. Is that your vision for Madison? Join us tonight!
Do we really have too much affordable housing? Are we really needing to "diversify" our housing by adding more high end housing to the city so we can increase the tax base? Is that the direction you think the city should be headed?
Do we really have too much affordable housing? Are we really needing to "diversify" our housing by adding more high end housing to the city so we can increase the tax base? Is that the direction you think the city should be headed?
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009Read more!
Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Downtown Public Library, 201 W Mifflin St
We've been talking about it for years . . . we've taken some steps forward and more lately, a few giant leaps backwards (property tax exemption and the death of inclusionary zoning). We have committees and task forces and workgroups and lots and lots of talking, but not much action. In fact, we don't even have a plan! The government doesn't have a plan. There is no plan as the economy crumbles, stimulus money gets gobbled up and nothing changes.
That's where you come in! We're creating a people's vision for affordable housing! That's right, no expertise needed! Just you, your brain and some common sense! What should the City of Madison look like? What is your vision for housing? What does this community need?
Please come and share your thoughts and opinions!!
Chicken Coop Tour, Garden Tour and Art Walk!
Wow, its a downtown/near east neighborhood pride weekend!!!
On Saturday, June 27 from 1-4 will be the "Tour de (Chicken) Coops" - a free, self-guided tour of five chicken coops in the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood. Maps will be available Saturday at the start of the tour - 917 East Dayton Street. See here.
The eighth annual Tenney-Lapham Art Walk will be this Sunday, June 28 from 1-5. Maps will be available at 408 Washburn Place and Burnie's Rock Shop the day of the walk. A complete listing of all the artists along with a map can be found here.
The Capitol Neighborhoods Inc (CNI) 2009 Garden Walk is Saturday, June 27 from 11 am to 4 pm. Tours begins at The Loraine, 123 W. Washington Ave. Tickets are $10. Although the flyer indicates a rain date, there will not be one. For more info please visit: www.capitolneighborhoods.org Read more!
On Saturday, June 27 from 1-4 will be the "Tour de (Chicken) Coops" - a free, self-guided tour of five chicken coops in the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood. Maps will be available Saturday at the start of the tour - 917 East Dayton Street. See here.
The eighth annual Tenney-Lapham Art Walk will be this Sunday, June 28 from 1-5. Maps will be available at 408 Washburn Place and Burnie's Rock Shop the day of the walk. A complete listing of all the artists along with a map can be found here.
The Capitol Neighborhoods Inc (CNI) 2009 Garden Walk is Saturday, June 27 from 11 am to 4 pm. Tours begins at The Loraine, 123 W. Washington Ave. Tickets are $10. Although the flyer indicates a rain date, there will not be one. For more info please visit: www.capitolneighborhoods.org Read more!
Economic Development Plan - Recommendations 4 - 6
Junkets to Southern California and Germany, yeah, that's what will help economic development . . .
RECOMMENDATION # 4 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT
RECOMMENDATION # 5 – PUBLIC/PRIVATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM
RECOMMENDATION # 6 – ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
CONCLUSION
So, there you have it. How many jobs will all this create? How much will it all cost us? What will we expect to see that is different in a year? Or two, or three? What are the top priorities? Who's going to do the work? etc. etc. etc. It all seems to be missing. I'm actually quite shocked that in the entire document, jobs are only mentioned twice. And in relation to supporting "physical connections" for "quality jobs" in one place. With the economy in the shape it is in, shouldn't that be the number one priority. Especially if you are concerned about disposable income. It seems this plan is focused on bringing people who will have high paying jobs here, but not creating jobs for the people who live here. Is that what our tax dollars should be spent on?
This is actually quite the departure from the plans originally laid out in the original plan. Just take a look at page 27 here for an exaple of how shockingly devoid of details this workplan is and how far they have strayed from the original intent. I have no problem with adjusting to the economy, but if newsletters and annual reports were recommended to enhance communications and those are still goals, why did those types of details disappear? Why are low priorities now high priorities? Why didn't the work get done? Why were high priority projects shelved? Why are projects like the East Capital Gateway (East Washington Ave) not major workplan items if they are about to decide who to hire to market the area? What happened with all the groups and task forces and advisory groups that were supposed to be formed? Why did some items change categories from the original plan?
I'm not sure there is anything bad going on here, but there's no explanation of anything. If you're making these changes, you should probably lay the foundation to explain what is happening. Yes, we all know the economy changed and that was a catalyst, but what was the thinking behind all of this? What do we hope to accomplish as a result of these changes? And why, or why, did all the details just disappear?
For information about the presentation by staff and questions the council asked, see here.
For recommendations 1 - 3, see here. Read more!
RECOMMENDATION # 4 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT
ED PLAN *** Promotion of Available City Financial Assistance
Ok - how are you promoting these funds? How do people find out about them? Are they doing anything to increase the visibility of the funds? Or, do only those with special connections find out about the funds? Even more interesting to me is, why aren't there competitions for these funds instead of "first come, first served"?
Continued promotion of financial assistance available through the City of Madison, including BREWD, TIF, Capital Revolving Fund, Facade Improvement Grant, Housing Revenue Bonds, Home Ownership loans, Energy Efficiency Stimulus Funds, and other CDA-sponsored economic and neighborhood revitalization projects.
__________ Federal, State, Foundation Funding GuideThis makes sense, I think they should do the same for city funding or just combine the efforts.
A more proactive review/promotion of federal, state, and foundation funding options available to the City or directly to businesses for economic development activities.
__________ Commercial Real Estate DatabaseThis is the one where Cooley said Madison would bully the entrenched business community interests by taking advantage of being the 800 pound gorilla to make this happen. Great. So much for all this talk about regional collaboration.
Collaboration with the local commercial brokerage community, and allied economic development partners, to enhance the type and accessibility of information about available commercial real estate.
ED PLAN___ Promotion of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)No problem with this one, I'm just surprised it isn't happening already and that we don't have another BID yet, especially since talking with Susan Schmidt from DMI (Downtown Madison Inc) you just can't help but get excited about them!
In partnership with neighborhood business districts, promote the use of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to enhance and capture opportunities within those corridors.
__________ Economic/City Financial MetricsGood. But I wonder, will it be things like measuring "demographics" that say that only high income people should live in Madison?
In coordination with the Madison Measures project, develop additional metrics to measure the state of the Madison economy.
__________ “Madison” Branding CampaignI'm interested in how much this one is going to cost? I'm presuming it will involve hiring a consultant.
Develop a campaign for branding Madison as a preferred/competitive location for business.
__________ Explore Future TIF OpportunitiesFinally!!! Pro-active decisions about what types of TIF projects we want!!! However, I'd like to see them tell us what their priorities are and how they will determine which areas have these opportunities.
In the context of the economic development emphasis of the recently adopted TIF Policy, review and map opportunities where the use of TIF could leverage additional private investment over the next five-ten years.
__________ Community ToursHere it is! Junkets! When Chris Schmidt asked where to, it sound like Southern California, Germany and Sweeden were mentioned. While everyone else is having their budgets frozen, especially around travel, they want to increase theirs. In the age of electronic and video conference technology can't they find a better way to gather information about what works in other cities and countries? And wow, more than one person was very adamant with me that looking to Southern California for solutions might not be the best model to follow.
Meet/tour other Wisconsin/Midwest communities to learn more about their economic development approaches in an effort to gain additional ideas for Madison. This could also include tours of businesses within Madison.
__________ Business AppreciationI don't object to this, but I hope its not something that they spend alot of time on, given they are concerned about staff and not being able to do other higher priority items. We have several business organizations in Madison that should be able to do these types of activities that we could just "add on" to, instead of creating our own programs.
Events/activities in recognition and appreciation of businesses located within the City. This could be in partnership with community organizations directly supported by the business sector.
ED PLAN *** Continued Partnership with the CDA for Economic Development ProjectsSo far, that partnership doesn't seem to be working out so well. I'd like to hear wht the priorities are, what are measurements of success of those projects and what types of future plans they are thinking of. Also, does the CDA have the capacity to do more.
Per the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, further explore ways in which the Community Development Authority (CDA) can continue to promote economic development within the community.
________*** Home Ownership and Rehabilitation ProgramsOffice of Economic Revitalization? Wow. I wonder how many people know what that is, cuz its not part of the regular city language. It's Percy Brown who administers a few housing programs for the city, but I"m not sure that they are the types of housing that Cooley was talking about. And there are several other programs in the city in the CDBG office and then there is the goofy TIF program to promote homeownership. Again, I find it intriguing that housing programs are not considered economic development. I'd love to hear more about the goals and priorities and specific activities that might be done.
Continued promotion of the home ownership and rehabilitation programs managed by the Office of Economic Revitalization.
ED PLAN___ Benefit/Cost Model:) Yes! Let's do it! I would like to see what the cost/benefit analysis would have been on Tomo Therapy or BioAg Gateway. The first project never happened and the second one hasn't happened yet either. And if I heard Cooley, he seemed to be backing away from the BioAg Gateway project, saying that biotech isn't the area where we are going to create alot of jobs.
As recommended in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, develop and utilize a benefit/cost model to measure the fiscal impact of key development projects and to align TIF and other City economic development tools with the benefit received.
ED PLAN___ Project Facilitation FundI think this is a great idea. It would be great to be able to say, "here is the money for economic development" and here are our priorities and projects we want to fund. I also think that if we can put $1M in for Economic Development, I think we they should also put $1M in for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, because the workers are going to need some place to live.
As recommended in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, capitalize a Project Facilitation Fund (beginning with $1 million annually and adjusting as needed) to provide needed incentives to develop infrastructure or provide direct financial incentives to critically important high fiscal impact, high quality job-generating projects.
RECOMMENDATION # 5 – PUBLIC/PRIVATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM
ED PLAN *** Evangelism of Business Resources and Vision
In partnership with other economic development and business organizations, do more to share the resources available in Madison with employers who are looking elsewhere for possible expansion/location, and the vision of a great business sector throughout the entire community.What does "do more' mean? What do they plan to do? Again, this is supposed to be a workplan.
__________ City Partnerships
Similar to the “Sister Cities” concept, develop relationships with U.S. cities in other regions of the Country for the purpose of generating leads of businesses looking for Midwest locations.Giggle. I hear originally these were called "Brother Cities" . . . back to the junkets. And when he talked about this at the briefing for the council, he really did talk more about overseas opportunities.
ED PLAN *** Better utilization and partnership with allied business and economic development organizations
Ok - again how, and what are the items that will be accomplished as a result?
Promote better utilization and partnership with the City’s allied business and economic development organizations, including: Chamber, CVB, THRIVE, MAGNET, BID, DMI, Smart Growth Greater Madison, Dane County, UW, MATC, Urban League, MMSD, business incubation facilities, Central BID, neighborhood business associations, neighborhood planning councils, etc.
RECOMMENDATION # 6 – ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
ED PLAN __ Mission StatementThis was the rallying cry of the EDC back when Zach was still on the council, I can't believe they just haven't done it already. And, I was very surprised to see Cooley poo-poo the idea and say that it wasn't a priority.
As outlined in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, revise the DPCED mission statement to include “economic development in support of high qualify of life” as a fundamental goal.
ED PLAN __ StaffingAgain, Larry Palm tried to ask what this meant? Didn't get an answer. Not even close. I would think if you really wanted more staff, you'd come forward with a proposal.
As outlined in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, fully staff the Economic Development Division.
ED PLAN *** TrainingI have no problem with this, in fact, citywide we need to spend more money on training for our staff. I'd just want to make sure that they are getting the best bang for their buck and not wasting money.
As outlined in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, expand funding for professional training of Economic Development Division staff.
CONCLUSION
So, there you have it. How many jobs will all this create? How much will it all cost us? What will we expect to see that is different in a year? Or two, or three? What are the top priorities? Who's going to do the work? etc. etc. etc. It all seems to be missing. I'm actually quite shocked that in the entire document, jobs are only mentioned twice. And in relation to supporting "physical connections" for "quality jobs" in one place. With the economy in the shape it is in, shouldn't that be the number one priority. Especially if you are concerned about disposable income. It seems this plan is focused on bringing people who will have high paying jobs here, but not creating jobs for the people who live here. Is that what our tax dollars should be spent on?
This is actually quite the departure from the plans originally laid out in the original plan. Just take a look at page 27 here for an exaple of how shockingly devoid of details this workplan is and how far they have strayed from the original intent. I have no problem with adjusting to the economy, but if newsletters and annual reports were recommended to enhance communications and those are still goals, why did those types of details disappear? Why are low priorities now high priorities? Why didn't the work get done? Why were high priority projects shelved? Why are projects like the East Capital Gateway (East Washington Ave) not major workplan items if they are about to decide who to hire to market the area? What happened with all the groups and task forces and advisory groups that were supposed to be formed? Why did some items change categories from the original plan?
I'm not sure there is anything bad going on here, but there's no explanation of anything. If you're making these changes, you should probably lay the foundation to explain what is happening. Yes, we all know the economy changed and that was a catalyst, but what was the thinking behind all of this? What do we hope to accomplish as a result of these changes? And why, or why, did all the details just disappear?
For information about the presentation by staff and questions the council asked, see here.
For recommendations 1 - 3, see here. Read more!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Economic Development Plan - Recommendations 1 - 3
Ok, lets rip into this plan and figure out what its about . . .
First, here is the code to understand some of the designations of the items in the plan:
Third, where is the report on what they are accomplishing this year? It's kind of hard to review this workplan without a status update on what has happened and is expected to happen this year. Clearly, much has changed in the economy and I would hope staff are taking steps to address issues, but what are they and how does this work plan build on current efforts?
Now, the plan as presented . . .
RECOMMENDATION # 1 – CUSTOMER SERVICE
I'm unclear about why "physical space development of a center" is on this list, as it is essentially on hold while they try to determine what is going to happen with the Marcus Hotel and the Municipal Building and the Government East parking ramp. We objected to the $1.6M being in the budget for this a few years ago, and the money remains in the budget so people don't think we forgot it, but its not going anywhere and it seems silly to even include it in the work plan if its not happening. If something is happening on this item, it should be detailed.
RECOMMENDATION # 2 – QUALITY JOB CREATION/RETENTION/EXPANSION
???? Why wouldn't they? Does the staff have other suggestions about what should be done to support small businesses in lieu of not doing the conference? Why is this a question?
RECOMMENDATION # 3 – PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
I appreciate the questions the alders tried to ask at the meeting. With Cooley answering the questions, however, there wasn't much hope of getting a straight answer that wasn't thrown back on their laps.
Recommendations 4 - 6 tomorrow . . . plus what's missing and some comments about the introductory remarks from the presentations.
For information about the presentation by staff and questions the council asked, see here.
For recommendations 4 - 6, see here. Read more!
First, here is the code to understand some of the designations of the items in the plan:
ED PLAN - A recommendation that is found within the acceptedSecond, this isn't a work plan, there was more detail in the 3 - 5 year Economic Development Plan. This is a reprioritization of recommendations to work on with a new set of recommendations sprinkled throughout. But there are no time lines, no specific work items to accomplish, no designation of which staff will be working on them and quite frankly, at that end of the year, how will you measure what was accomplished? It's shocking that there was more detail in the original plan than in this "workplan". Obviously, some of these recommendations are on-going items and I'd like to see what steps are being prioritized by staff.
3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan
*** - A project or program already underway
ED PLAN *** - A recommendation of the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan that is already underway
__________ - An idea for a project or program not currently underway, and not found within the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan. It is a recommendation for a new program/project from City staff or the EDC.
Third, where is the report on what they are accomplishing this year? It's kind of hard to review this workplan without a status update on what has happened and is expected to happen this year. Clearly, much has changed in the economy and I would hope staff are taking steps to address issues, but what are they and how does this work plan build on current efforts?
Now, the plan as presented . . .
RECOMMENDATION # 1 – CUSTOMER SERVICE
ED PLAN *** Zoning Code Modernization
Complete re-write of the City’s Zoning Code.
ED PLAN *** Development Services Center
Development Services Center website, implementation of ELAM permitting software, and physical space development of a center.
ED PLAN *** Dept. of Planning & Community & Economic Development website
Complete re-design of the DPCED website.These items are all well underway and being done by people not in the Economic Development Unit, but primarily in the Planning Unit. Therefore, when Cooley talks about staff resources, these shouldn't have any impact in his unit.
I'm unclear about why "physical space development of a center" is on this list, as it is essentially on hold while they try to determine what is going to happen with the Marcus Hotel and the Municipal Building and the Government East parking ramp. We objected to the $1.6M being in the budget for this a few years ago, and the money remains in the budget so people don't think we forgot it, but its not going anywhere and it seems silly to even include it in the work plan if its not happening. If something is happening on this item, it should be detailed.
________*** Road Construction Information/Assistance
Continued partnership between the Office of Business Resources, City Engineering, and the Chamber Small Business Advisory Council, and Central Business Improvement District to use the Road Construction Survival Guide and Road Works website developed in 2009 to outreach to and help prepare business owners who will be impacted by road construction in 2010.This item is essentially done. Here's the guide and website. I think the plan is to do outreach - I'd like to see the workplan contain specifics about that outreach.
__________ Streamlining Process
This effort would include a closer look at the City’s current development review process in concert with the new ELAM permitting software and proposed Development Services Center to see if further efforts can be made to streamline approval processes within the City of Madison.How'd this creep back in here? When the whole "Madison is unfriendly to business" campaign started (you know, backlash about local minimum wage and paid sick leave and inclusionary zoning), this was number one on the list. Studies were done, plan commission got a presentation by UW students who studied the process and facts were gathered. Recommendations were made and discussed. So much so, that it didn't really make it into the 3 - 5 year plan and instead there was the re-write of the zoning code, purchase of software to help process applications and the development services center, but now, it's back again. I think we need to let those items work and re-evaluate once they are in place.
ED PLAN___ Monitoring/Benchmarking Customer Service
As outlined in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, this recommendation calls for a formalized approach to gather and measure customer feedback (such as through a Baldrige or similar process).I thought this was kind of basic and would have been one of the first things to get done, so that we could see progress. This is now a plan for the 2nd year of the 3 - 5 year plan and frankly, it should already be in place, otherwise at the end of the plan, there will be no trend information.
ED PLAN___ Communication/Collaboration/Attitude
Work with existing business organizations (region/City/district) to participate in implementation of the work plan objectives, develop and communicate an overall regional/city competitiveness vision, and develop/evangelize with internal/external markets the “why” and necessity of the vision, strategy, and action plans.I'd like to see what details on this item, what does this mean? It doesn't really say anything, how will I know if at the end of the year we have accomplished this item?
RECOMMENDATION # 2 – QUALITY JOB CREATION/RETENTION/EXPANSION
ED PLAN__ Proactive retention/expansion
As outlined in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, this project would include the purchase of retention/expansion software to manage a proactive effort on the part of City staff and other economic development partners to reach-out to businesses in a proactive manner to determine their future retention/expansion needs.Hmmmm . . . I thought it was pretty clear that this software would require us to keep track of confidential information, which would be an open record and therefore would make it difficult to have businesses talk to them. So, what is the purpose of the software. I guess I want to see the "why" at this point and what purpose it will serve.
__________ Proactive retention/expansion (revised)
The approach above requires allocation of financial resources to purchase software, additional staff capacity (as outlined in the 3-5 Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan), and availability of volunteers in the private sector to assist with the effort. The current economic recession puts the likelihood of all three of these components in jeopardy.
One of the goals of this effort is to determine what business needs are at the moment, and where there may be opportunities for expansion. Given that all businesses have unique needs at the moment, an alternative approach in lieu of purchasing software and starting a new effort at this time, is to do more to promote the resources that are already available to businesses within the community, while working with those businesses that contact us.Larry Palm did his best to try to get them to tell him what this means? How much staff do they need? Cooley just turned it around on them, and said it was up to them. What kind of a game is that? Isn't it staff's job to make a proposal and then have the council determine what they support? This sounds like it is just here to say "see, we told you it wouldn't happen". Promoting resources already available to people who contact them isn't anything new is it? Isn't it what they do now? This item is mildly disturbing, as the whole point of the 3 -5 year plan was to make the city more pro-active, not reactive.
________*** Small Business Conference
If the City wishes to host a fourth bi-annual small business conference in 2011, planning will need to being during the second half of 2010.
???? Why wouldn't they? Does the staff have other suggestions about what should be done to support small businesses in lieu of not doing the conference? Why is this a question?
__________ Workforce Summit
The 2009 Economic Development Work Plan called for a Workforce Summit in 2009. Given staffing demands, we will not be able to host this event in 2009.
__________ Workforce Development
In lieu of, or in addition to, a Workforce Summit continue the work of the Workforce Development Sub-Committee of the EDC to further explore the role the City should play relative to workforce development throughout the community.If I understood Cooley right, this simply isn't a priority for them as they feel that others are already doing it. The committee has been meeting for some time, or at least appointed and supposed to be working, their work should be done by the end of 2009 I would thin, this item should probably say that they would act on recommendations and implement them. I suspect, however, that this item will just drop off the radar screen.
ED PLAN*** Business Requests/Prospects
City staff receives numerous unsolicited requests on a weekly basis from businesses, site selectors, developers, the Department of Commerce, etc. with ideas for businesses interested in expanding within Madison or re-locating to Madison. Economic Development Division staff serves as a lead on these prospects by providing information about available space, demographic information, and financial assistance.Ok, but what are the goals here? How many people do they plan to assist with what type of activities and what do they expect their success rate to be? How do they prioritize these requests?
__________ Business Creation/Talent Portal
Major economic recessions, such as the one we are currently facing, result in a significant number of highly skilled unemployed/underemployed individuals along with opportunities for new business development. The City could foster the connection of individuals with opportunities through the development of an online business creation/talent portal.Huh? The Job Center for the middle and upper class? What is this? Is it for entrepreneurs who want to create businesses? What would be the outcomes? How does this benefit the City? Will it create a certain number of jobs? So, its sounds like a fine idea, but when they are saying they don't have the resources, is this where we get the biggest bang for our buck?
__________ Product Beta-testing in Appropriate Clusters (such as “Green Industries”)
Businesses often require beta-testing of new products with potential customers. Madison is already recognized as a “green community,” taking a lead in new efforts for sustainability. There may be opportunities to reach-out to companies in the growing “green” business cluster to complete their beta-testing here. Especially in cases where are firms are not already familiar with Madison, this could be an effective way to introduce them to Madison, with the goal of accommodating their future expansions here.Again, this sounds like an idea just thrown out there. At least it has some goals to attract businesses and introduce them to Madison, but is this the best use of resources? Shouldn't we be focusing on the low hanging fruit? Do they have the staff and time to do this? If they do, how will we know success when it happens? Is it one product tested or 100?
__________ Common Council – Business RelationsHere's an idea, how about just including alders when the staff are having discussions with businesses in their districts? This also says "employers" not businesses. Is there a focus on employment and jobs? Are they focusing on major employers? Or small businesses? Shouldn't alders already be doing this on their own and does staff really need to spend time working on this? Again, I think they could just be included when discussions are happening in the district.
Arrange additional opportunities for Alders to tour and meet with employers within their Districts.
__________ Economic Development Impacts of Projects/Policies
Greater utilization of the EDC for review/input of projects and policies from an economic development standpoint.BAH HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!! Too funny. This is the same EDC that is the only committee I remember in 8 years that REJECTED referrals we tried to make. Now, they want referrals. Toooooooooo funny!!!! I wholeheartedly agree with this recommendation. But the committee members have to be on board and they have to not ask "why is this here" and "why are we wasting our time with this" and then they actually have to give meaningful feedback. Complete with recommendations on how to change proposals if they think the proposals merit it.
__________ Demographic Shift
Further explore the impact that shifting demographics will have on the Madison economy.Wow. Just wow. To me, it was pretty clear what this meant. But I'd like to hear this justified. I'd like to hear what they will be looking at. Are they concerned we have too many poor people here - and yet don't want to work on workforce development? What other demographics are they worried about changing? Explain yourself please. Just say it, in plain English. What are you worried about?
ED PLAN *** Small Business Assistance
As outlined in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, continue/strengthen outreach/cooperation with organizations that provide small business planning assistance.Ok, again, more specifics please.
RECOMMENDATION # 3 – PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
________*** Community Infrastructure (roads, facilities, etc.), including related real estate transactions
Continued investment in City infrastructure (roads, facilities, etc.), including the necessary real estate transactions for said projects.I'd really like to hear more details about how the staff work on this, how they prioritize these projects and what they measure about the projects when making them a priority. How do staff intervene on behalf of businesses? And what did they mean "including the necessary real estate transactions for said projects"? Did they mean TIF dollars?
ED PLAN *** Physical Development Projects
Implementation of physical development projects, including but not limited to: UW Research Park II, Capitol Gateway, BioAg Gateway (including BioLink), Truman Olson, Royster Clark, Garver, Union Corners, Edgewater Hotel, Public Market, Marcus Hotel (and related private development), and the Downtown Library (and related private development), the Villager, Allied Drive, Badger/Ann/Park projects, Truax, and the Lake Point redevelopment.Again, what are the staff doing? Why this list of projects? Are these projects prioritized? What is needed on these projects? Is this just things that the Planning Department is already doing, or is futher intervention or work needed?
__________ “Green” Workforce and Business “Homesteading”
Given its central location, available transit, mixed-use neighborhoods, etc. living or locating a business within the City of Madison provides individuals with a greater opportunity to live or run their businesses in a more sustainable manner than most other locations within the region. As a way to retain/attract a quality workforce within the community and employers who consciously wish to be more “green,” promoting the concept of “green” workforce and business “homesteading” could be further explored.Interesting, again, more details, please. What activities would staff do to make this happen?
ED PLAN__ Business Incubator Study
As outlined in the 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development Implementation Plan, study the demand/appropriateness of additional business incubators within the City of Madison. The concept of a “green business” incubator and free incubator space could be included.Are we hiring someone to do a study? Is the staff doing an informal study? How will this be determined? How would free space be maintained? Again, what is the work plan in this item?
__________ Job Creation – Physical Development Connection
On a more formalized level, consider the strategic connection between physical development projects within the City of Madison and their ability to provide space for quality job creation.?? What does that mean? What action items? How would it be formalized?
__________ Neighborhood (including downtown) reinvestment
Continued investment in older housing stock and older neighborhood commercial areas (including downtown).Again, what does this mean? More TIF dollars? Does this mean tear downs or fix ups? Does this mean new housing programs to entice middle class home owners to fix up housing downtown? How is this an economic development item? (Note: I think it could be, I'd just like to hear it explained. I mean, housing as economic development is not really something we have been talking about.)
I appreciate the questions the alders tried to ask at the meeting. With Cooley answering the questions, however, there wasn't much hope of getting a straight answer that wasn't thrown back on their laps.
Recommendations 4 - 6 tomorrow . . . plus what's missing and some comments about the introductory remarks from the presentations.
For information about the presentation by staff and questions the council asked, see here.
For recommendations 4 - 6, see here. Read more!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
2010 Economic Development Plan . . .
So, guess how late they started and who was in charge of starting the meeting . . . and look for the comments in red that seem to be sending some interesting messages.
Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . we waited for it, 13 minutes before Alder Bruer came in the room and started the meeting, then he babbled for a short minute or two and then introduced Clear who described how we got where we are [It made me smile, knowing how badly the conservatives did not want to do the Economic Development Plan.] and made excuses about why the Economic Development Plan for this year got approved so late. Bruer says the reason more people are not here is because they were out of town and that is wasn't a scheduling conflict [Is he that oblivious? Verveer and Maniaci came in at the tail end of the meeting when the State St. Oversight committee was done discussing Peace Park. Who knows who went to the Zoning Code meeting, but I'm guessing that is where Rummel was.] or lack of interest.
Alders Present: King, Bidar-Sielaff, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Clear, Schmidt, Clausius, Bruer, Pham-Remmele (Late, when the meeting was over, Verveer and Maniaci)
No Shows: Sanborn, Cnare, Rummel, Eagon, Skidmore, Solomon, Kerr, Compton, Schumacher
EDC Members Present: Julia Stone (and Alder Clear)
Members of the public: About 6, I think when you remove the reporters/bloggers and Thuy's husband who attends most meetings with her.
Please note some of the concerning statements made in red below. Will comment more tomorrow.
6:17. Finally Cooley gets started with his powerpoint presentation.
Why are we doing this? Cooley says we have a false sense of security because "Madison Best" awards are abundant. [Pause to get microphone, where Bruer admits he is "sitting in back cuz he can hardly hear him back here". He spends the whole meeting in the back of the room talking to business community folls.] Cooley points out the "best" awards look at the Metro area and that they are not for Madison only, but the Madison area. Cooley says Madison is lagging the rest of the county in median income by 18% (Madison's median income is $50 - 55K and the rest of the county is $60 - 65K), wealth (and their discretionary income) is moving to the suburbs and businesses will follow. He talks about how this isn't unusal in many cities. [Wow, was he just comparing us to inner cities that experience white flight? Do you think they have median incomes of $50K?] Fitchburg and Sun Prairie show and even more stark changes in incomes with nearly $70K and $65K median incomes respectively. [Ok, so this is even more ironic as Fitchburg doesn't have a downtown.] He says the velocity and trends of change are really concerns because the outlying areas have much higher incomes. Fitchburg had a 37.6% increase, Sun Prarie a 25.9% and Madison 21.2% in median incomes 2000 - 2008. [Its disturbing he doesn't mention the numbers of residential homes built during this period and the fact that you could buy more home for the same dollars in some of these areas. Finally, he doesn't mention that other areas of the state and country are losing population and we are lucky to have growth. He makes it sound like people are moving out of Madison, when in fact we are growing as well.] He says that Madison jobs grew 10% and the county's jobs grew 15% and he points out this is a 50% difference. Again the slide says "as household and discretionary income moves, jobs follow" seeming to imply people are leaving Madison. Says we need jobs throughout the spectrum (low end jobs and high end jobs) and we needs jobs that are stable. The slide says "One of the most important functions that a city can provide
is an environment of stable, quality jobs for its citizens." He says the City is driven off property tax and property tax is direct reflection of average incomes and wages. 70% of our revenue is from property taxes. Says the latest numbers that show an increase in property taxes for Madison but that doesn't include the residential and that the increase was in commerical construction - he says it doesn't count tho because they are projects that were in the works before the economy crashed.
Commercial property increased $377.8M
Residential property decreased through re-evaluations by $233.8M
Property Formerly Exempt increased by $12.3M [Now you can see what that fight is about.]
Total increase $224.5M [I didn't detail everything.]
[Hmm, residential property values are down, but over all the city is up due to commercial real estate values and yet he is trying to tell us that we are in serious trouble? I don't quite think his numbers or anecdotes are backing him up.]
Residential property values are down in 2009 by 1% and not increasing at the same rate (7 - 8% 2002 - 2006) as in previous years. [Again, he fails to mention the real estate market and what affect that has on all this.] He says we need high income jobs and properties so we can continue to keep the quality of life we enjoy here in Madison.
How economic development has changed? No longer chasing smokestacks, but looking at the environment we create and how we can encourage businesses and what barriers we create to businesses moving here. [He presents an interesting chart that I couldn't successfully replicate for you.] They have done a SWOT analysis.
Strengths: Innovation, Existing Clusters (biotech), Workforce, Culture & Character (Cooley makes a snarky comment about the "character" of Madison and not needing to comment further), Quality of Life
Opportunities: Outperform region/state/nation, Emerging clusters, Build awareness
Weakness -Core perceived as inhospitable to business [Core what? He skipped over this and moved on quickly. I think he was talking about the alders.], Lack of risk capital, State business environment, Lack of awareness
Threats - Lingering recession/ paralysis, Anti-growth contingent - “BANANA”, Core asset values [Again, core what? I think he is talking about the property values in the downtown alder districts], Status quo attitude, Competition
6:28 - Matt M now explains the suggestions for the 2010 plan, explains where it came from (Based on 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development, Implementation Plan. Adjustment for current economy. Guidance needed from Common Council and EDC.) Says that they need funding and staffing because can't do it all. Goes over hand out, didn't add much that wasn't printed on the hand out. [I'll put this up tomorrow with editorial comments about what is missing and further needed. Perhaps one of the first things they could do it become more public friendly and get the materials out ahead of time and provide them on their website? A link instead of handed out paper.]
DISCUSSION
Rhodes-Conway asked how to give input. Matt M says annotated handout is fine. Suggests that within each of the recommendation areas to mark priorities, note top 3 or 4, let them know where you have questions. No one right way to provide the feedback.
Clear says council leadership has added 2 additional alder positions to the Economic Development Commission. It will be discussed at CCOC July 7 and back at council on July 21st. Mayor and leadership feels this will help strengthen the committee.
Pham-Remmele - Says it is a well thought out and impressive plan, needs more time to go through and observe and compare to what she knows. Unprecedented economic downturn, just came from a special meeting with commerical real estate owners. Says we are discussing this as a family matter so she will discuss it openly - talks about Meadowood Mall which has Anchor Bank, branch library, Walgreens, barbershop, dry cleaner, chinese take out and pizza and hardware store. Heart of community and having alot of problems she doesn't want to bring up. She says she has 2 questions but then talks [!] about how they can't keep this confidential any longer, wants businesses to stay, says they have lost some businesses, butcher shop became a community center, hardware store wants to be guaranteed that it will be stable or they will leave to their second store in Cottage Grove. She wants to ask him to please stay, and notes that "many man in the area would find an excuse to go to the hardware store 3 times a day, you know that". She says she asked him not to put a closing sign up. She asked "what chip do I exchange with him?" [Wow, almost sounds like bribery the way she said it. I wonder if the businesses asked her that question.] On the other side people who live in the neighborhood want businesses to come to the mall. So, she trusts staff to be open and tell her how they are doing this. [Why does she feel the need to say that?] The question she has, how firm and how flexible is the 3 - 5 year plan? What about the urgent needs? We don't want to lose any more of the tax base. Please be a honest as possible with me. [Sigh . . . ]
Cooley says it is tough, we need to change the entire city, it has to become more sensitive to bringing up disposable income and bring up wages. Otherwise stores will be moving. Talks about Willy Sutton when asked why he rob banks, Willy said "that is where the money is". Businesses will move to suburbs if we do not change the dynamic. Downtown has to appeal to all people, not just students and state workers. Older areas of the city need to be redeveloped. Some of the workforce, affordable housing and homeless shelters have to be shared with the other communities - otherwise it won't work. This isn't a city or zoning decision, its a business decision. People look at the demographics and what the demographics will support. He says right now, there is nothing we can do.
Pham-Remmele says she wants to have a private meeting, they agree. Says we can't wait 5 years.
Cooley says that we can be as flexible as we need to be. Some of the suggestions in the handout he suggest are not as important using the example of mission statement and website, but working on more direct efforts to figure out from a city perspecive what should we be?
Pham-Remmele asks about UW, but she says we need entry level jobs. Even low income to (need to?) bring home the bacon. Very important, start from the bottom up.
Clear says that Pham-Remmele asked a fundamental question, why should a business locate here instead of Sun Prairie, why should business staM in an at risk neighborhood (Meadowood vs Monroe St) not Cottage Grove. Clear asks how you address at risk neighborhood. How do we reverse the trend of hardware store being replaced with check cashing or . . . Pham-Remmele steps back in and adds liquor store?
Cooley doesn't answer, says he is glad Clear said it was a rhetorical question. [I'm quite certain Clear never said that and it was odd how he sidestepped that question.]
Cooley says city is a wonderfully care giving society and it has changed the demographics of the city. Suburbs can do things that we can't. We don't have housing for middle, or upper management. It's a race to the bottom. Maybe Madison [housing] should be a little higher priced than the rest of the area. It may take a fundamental change. And we need to do this with fact driven inforamtion. If we are going to be a successful city, we need to take a long hard look at what we are doing now. [Ok, his use of the word "demographics" is just starting to get a little creepy. It seems like it is code for something. Low-income? People of color?]
Pham-Remmele talks about how Judy Compton sold houses to many of the people in her neighborhood. [Why, wasn't quite sure.]
Cooley says we need to have low crime and good schools. Companies can locate anywhere, but families will move somewhere because of the schools and crime. We have to be very aware of where we are today and if that is a compelling reason to attract the kinds of people we need to support the community.
Pham Remmele says she is very painful, but talks about schools and says people vote with their feet and move and as a compassionate city we think about those who don't have that option.
King says there is some urgency, and the preception that Madison is unfriendly and asks how to turn that ship around. Says people like the older homes with character and they need alot of work and they don't want to touch those houses, how will we reinvest in neighborhood? He talks about how the process is hard? How do we do that? [I'm completely confused, what process, its a "free market" process at the moment.] Cooley says "you are an alder and you can change that."
King asks how they will communicate that thinkgs have changed. Someone with a bad experience will tell 20 people and someone with a good experience will sell one. Cooley points out the Mike Ivey article about the new very expensive building on W Johnson and how that developer couldn't say enough nice things about Madison's process. Also talks about how Full Compass has good stories to tell - however, he couldn't seem to remember the name of the company. He talks about how perception becomes reality, says it has gotten better but still convoluted. Talks about Landmarks, Urbran Design Commission & Plan commission and about how things get sent to subcommittees [seriously? how often does that happen?] and referrals back and forth - he says more study doesn't result in better end results. He then notes "historic is always old, old is not always historic".
Clear says he is hearing the city process is improving but it takes a long time to get past the reputation.
Cooley says we can benchmark that - look at approval times in other cities and we can measure that. Madison's unique way of doing things - everyone has a voice in it all the time. We can keep that character and work with it. Suburbs are taking it away from us.[Um, someone should give him the study the plan department did a few years ago that noted how long our approvals took and how we ranked with other cities.]
Bidar-Sielaff says that she has been to the suburbs and they are not taking anything away from her. She suggests we need to tell our own good stories. Need something besides the website. How can we highlight, with our partners, the good stories. Business of the month. Says those who live and work here has a story to tell.
Cooley says it is kind of in the plan, marketing both internally and externally. Will do it through website and using technology within constructions of state laws. They may do a blog "and the like".
Clausius asks about recommendation 3 - community infrastructure. He talks about a roundabout and extensions for Parkside Drive and there is talk that the projects won't stay in the budget. Steinhaufels is concerned about the projects not going through. How much support can he get from EDC with the capital budget. Round about was pushed back last year - its important for the Lien Road project. He says needs support for that project.
Cooley said that EDC should be weighing in on alot of things from crime statistics and ordinances. [Duh, remember when Zach very plainly told the council that the EDC didn't want to get tied up considering ordinances that the city was passing and that they just wanted to do their work. We tried to refer items there, but they didn't want that. Perhaps Cooley should have a conversation with (past?) EDC members about this.] He says we are blessed to have Matt, Michael, Don Marx and Percy who can find money.
Clear tells Clausius he should talk to alders on Board of Estimates. [Clausius is on BOE.]
Clausius asks about recomnedation #4 - commercial database. Right now major fast food franchise that wants to come in to Madison, but they want a regional training center. He says it would be good to have EDC out there to help. Doesn't want to see it go to Fitchburg or Sun Prairie. Cooley says that Michael Gay has info, but database is not as developed. Individual brokers want to keep their own inforamtion. Milwaukee has a system that is now the de facto standard. Matt has been working with THRIVE for the past three months, but there are intrenched interests. Cooley says tho that "we will drive it [getting a commercial database] out of the City of Madison and take advantage of being the 800 pound gorilla."
Schmidt asks about jobs and what the software will do to create jobs. Cooley says CRM (Customer Relation Management) is really the problem, we are our own worst enemy - anything that comes to city is open record. He says they are talking to companies about confidential matters, we don't want to put that into a database that is readily accessible. We know what is going on, and we keep a good database ourselves, written contacts and in our minds. No real need to get that CRM database right now. The software could do follow ups, newsletters and ticklers.
Schmidt also says he never heard of the phrase "business homesteading". Cooley says he made that up. Says the idea not quite flushed out. He talks about the Mayor's ideas of green building and how the city could define buiding standards for city controlled land and that a couple could come in and build to these standards and if they stay there for a period of time, the land could be sold to them cheaply. He suggests that we do the same with businesses, if you do it this way, over time we might be able to make a deal. He asks how do we incent from a policy prospective. He says they are playing with the concept to see if it is going anywhere.
Schmidt asks about the community tours, where would they go? Cooley says Southern California, several looking for lower cost areas for manufacturing. Some have customer bases that need warehouse or distribution centers. They are looking at Mexico and others. He said "nobody in their right mind wants to go down there, espeically border towns." 30% differential in costs by locating in midwest. He says we can do the same thing internationally. He says 2nd tier German and Sweedish companies want to have a US presence. He says their industry clusters and demographics that match ours.
Schmidt asked about cities that had similiar challenges as ours and were successful. Cooley says no one has had similar experiences. The recent economy changes are a "major reset", jobs of the past are no longer going to be the jobs of the future. The way we used to cope with recession was to have safety nets, jobs aren't going to come back this time, need to find those jobs that will have a competitive advantage, we need to work to grow our own and agreesively pursue more. Work with MATC to train people, we will lose and gain some people - we just need to make sure we gain the right people.
Schmidt asks how we can avoid common mistakes. Cooley says that we can't over micromanage the workforce, we can't become enamored with the next cool thing, which he points out is biotech and biopharma but then quickly notes that those are not big job creators. He says that biotech plays better in Madison and that we have a better shot here but every state and many cities think that and most of the centers are in Boston, San Diego and ?? South San Francisco?? Says we have a better chance because we have the workforce and university.
Palm asks about the perception of Madison. He points out that there have been a number of situations where the city was accused of putting up barriers, the projects were approved, but the businesses didn't move forward. The businesses backed away. He says we are spending alot of energy helping someone who makes a stink and then we don't get the benefits of all that work.Palm says that we can't serve all of our customers if some of them are just playing with us.
Palm asks how do we assess which project get a priority, how do you decide? Is it first come first serve? Cooley says it is partially triage, partially opportunistic. Says TIF changes concentrate on creating jobs.
Maniaci and Verveer arrive.
Palm asks if additional city financial assistance. He notes that we had $1 for a revolving fund, how do we expand the dollars available. Cooley says that we need to take advantage of all the programs out there. He talks about a program he just found out about this morning, for city owned land, feds pay us back 45% of interest to purchase the land. There is also a program for privately owned land. Says an allocation has been made to Madison. Cooley notes communications are important and we need to be making sure we don't leave things on the table, need to be time effective, need to make better use of consultants and the legislative side.
Palm asks about the workforce conference that was delayed because the staff says they don't have enough staff. He asks "what is full staff?" Cooley says they are putting numbers to it now and they need to pick and choose and find out what the priorities are of the executive and legislative arms of government. He says that its not that they don't care about the work force, but other people are working at it and they are at the table with them. [Sounds like they don't intend to follow through on the workforce development work.]
Palm tries to ask the question again about how much staff they need. Cooley avoids answering the question. Says that is why they are here, to ask the council what their priories are.
Mendoza commends staff, Tim, Matt, Michael, Peggy. Work hard and you're looking at a snapshot. They know the work plan is not all inclusive. Thanks council for interest and Bruer and Clear for remaining engaged as they are. Says there will be a menu of options, many of which will relate to the city budget. The question is what will the prioritize if they costs dollars, where will they devote limited resources. Says this is the next step in the conversations. Thanks Julia Stone from EDC for coming.
They ask if Julia would like to add anything ? She's only been on EDC for one month but she " fully agrees with Tim's synopsis".
7:35 ends, kinda.
They quickly annouce that this will be at the EDC at next two meetings (July 1 and Aug 5). [Wow, nice to do it while people are out on the summer vacations!]. They says they will have a bigger room because it has been crowded. They may have a broader public input session late summer or fall as well.
Everyone starts talking - Thuy yells at them to be quiet in her best teacher voice.
Cooley asks the alders to look at the increased use of BIDS, looking at map for logical places and they are looking to get together with alders and business leaders in that area to talk about the success. Says government can't maintain the level of services the downtown bit is doing and wants others to have those advantages.
Then, I think they are done and adjourn again.
For recommendations 1 - 3, see here.
For recommendations 4 - 6, see here. Read more!
Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . we waited for it, 13 minutes before Alder Bruer came in the room and started the meeting, then he babbled for a short minute or two and then introduced Clear who described how we got where we are [It made me smile, knowing how badly the conservatives did not want to do the Economic Development Plan.] and made excuses about why the Economic Development Plan for this year got approved so late. Bruer says the reason more people are not here is because they were out of town and that is wasn't a scheduling conflict [Is he that oblivious? Verveer and Maniaci came in at the tail end of the meeting when the State St. Oversight committee was done discussing Peace Park. Who knows who went to the Zoning Code meeting, but I'm guessing that is where Rummel was.] or lack of interest.
Alders Present: King, Bidar-Sielaff, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Clear, Schmidt, Clausius, Bruer, Pham-Remmele (Late, when the meeting was over, Verveer and Maniaci)
No Shows: Sanborn, Cnare, Rummel, Eagon, Skidmore, Solomon, Kerr, Compton, Schumacher
EDC Members Present: Julia Stone (and Alder Clear)
Members of the public: About 6, I think when you remove the reporters/bloggers and Thuy's husband who attends most meetings with her.
Please note some of the concerning statements made in red below. Will comment more tomorrow.
6:17. Finally Cooley gets started with his powerpoint presentation.
Why are we doing this? Cooley says we have a false sense of security because "Madison Best" awards are abundant. [Pause to get microphone, where Bruer admits he is "sitting in back cuz he can hardly hear him back here". He spends the whole meeting in the back of the room talking to business community folls.] Cooley points out the "best" awards look at the Metro area and that they are not for Madison only, but the Madison area. Cooley says Madison is lagging the rest of the county in median income by 18% (Madison's median income is $50 - 55K and the rest of the county is $60 - 65K), wealth (and their discretionary income) is moving to the suburbs and businesses will follow. He talks about how this isn't unusal in many cities. [Wow, was he just comparing us to inner cities that experience white flight? Do you think they have median incomes of $50K?] Fitchburg and Sun Prairie show and even more stark changes in incomes with nearly $70K and $65K median incomes respectively. [Ok, so this is even more ironic as Fitchburg doesn't have a downtown.] He says the velocity and trends of change are really concerns because the outlying areas have much higher incomes. Fitchburg had a 37.6% increase, Sun Prarie a 25.9% and Madison 21.2% in median incomes 2000 - 2008. [Its disturbing he doesn't mention the numbers of residential homes built during this period and the fact that you could buy more home for the same dollars in some of these areas. Finally, he doesn't mention that other areas of the state and country are losing population and we are lucky to have growth. He makes it sound like people are moving out of Madison, when in fact we are growing as well.] He says that Madison jobs grew 10% and the county's jobs grew 15% and he points out this is a 50% difference. Again the slide says "as household and discretionary income moves, jobs follow" seeming to imply people are leaving Madison. Says we need jobs throughout the spectrum (low end jobs and high end jobs) and we needs jobs that are stable. The slide says "One of the most important functions that a city can provide
is an environment of stable, quality jobs for its citizens." He says the City is driven off property tax and property tax is direct reflection of average incomes and wages. 70% of our revenue is from property taxes. Says the latest numbers that show an increase in property taxes for Madison but that doesn't include the residential and that the increase was in commerical construction - he says it doesn't count tho because they are projects that were in the works before the economy crashed.
Commercial property increased $377.8M
Residential property decreased through re-evaluations by $233.8M
Property Formerly Exempt increased by $12.3M [Now you can see what that fight is about.]
Total increase $224.5M [I didn't detail everything.]
[Hmm, residential property values are down, but over all the city is up due to commercial real estate values and yet he is trying to tell us that we are in serious trouble? I don't quite think his numbers or anecdotes are backing him up.]
Residential property values are down in 2009 by 1% and not increasing at the same rate (7 - 8% 2002 - 2006) as in previous years. [Again, he fails to mention the real estate market and what affect that has on all this.] He says we need high income jobs and properties so we can continue to keep the quality of life we enjoy here in Madison.
How economic development has changed? No longer chasing smokestacks, but looking at the environment we create and how we can encourage businesses and what barriers we create to businesses moving here. [He presents an interesting chart that I couldn't successfully replicate for you.] They have done a SWOT analysis.
Strengths: Innovation, Existing Clusters (biotech), Workforce, Culture & Character (Cooley makes a snarky comment about the "character" of Madison and not needing to comment further), Quality of Life
Opportunities: Outperform region/state/nation, Emerging clusters, Build awareness
Weakness -Core perceived as inhospitable to business [Core what? He skipped over this and moved on quickly. I think he was talking about the alders.], Lack of risk capital, State business environment, Lack of awareness
Threats - Lingering recession/ paralysis, Anti-growth contingent - “BANANA”, Core asset values [Again, core what? I think he is talking about the property values in the downtown alder districts], Status quo attitude, Competition
6:28 - Matt M now explains the suggestions for the 2010 plan, explains where it came from (Based on 3-5 Year Strategic Economic Development, Implementation Plan. Adjustment for current economy. Guidance needed from Common Council and EDC.) Says that they need funding and staffing because can't do it all. Goes over hand out, didn't add much that wasn't printed on the hand out. [I'll put this up tomorrow with editorial comments about what is missing and further needed. Perhaps one of the first things they could do it become more public friendly and get the materials out ahead of time and provide them on their website? A link instead of handed out paper.]
DISCUSSION
Rhodes-Conway asked how to give input. Matt M says annotated handout is fine. Suggests that within each of the recommendation areas to mark priorities, note top 3 or 4, let them know where you have questions. No one right way to provide the feedback.
Clear says council leadership has added 2 additional alder positions to the Economic Development Commission. It will be discussed at CCOC July 7 and back at council on July 21st. Mayor and leadership feels this will help strengthen the committee.
Pham-Remmele - Says it is a well thought out and impressive plan, needs more time to go through and observe and compare to what she knows. Unprecedented economic downturn, just came from a special meeting with commerical real estate owners. Says we are discussing this as a family matter so she will discuss it openly - talks about Meadowood Mall which has Anchor Bank, branch library, Walgreens, barbershop, dry cleaner, chinese take out and pizza and hardware store. Heart of community and having alot of problems she doesn't want to bring up. She says she has 2 questions but then talks [!] about how they can't keep this confidential any longer, wants businesses to stay, says they have lost some businesses, butcher shop became a community center, hardware store wants to be guaranteed that it will be stable or they will leave to their second store in Cottage Grove. She wants to ask him to please stay, and notes that "many man in the area would find an excuse to go to the hardware store 3 times a day, you know that". She says she asked him not to put a closing sign up. She asked "what chip do I exchange with him?" [Wow, almost sounds like bribery the way she said it. I wonder if the businesses asked her that question.] On the other side people who live in the neighborhood want businesses to come to the mall. So, she trusts staff to be open and tell her how they are doing this. [Why does she feel the need to say that?] The question she has, how firm and how flexible is the 3 - 5 year plan? What about the urgent needs? We don't want to lose any more of the tax base. Please be a honest as possible with me. [Sigh . . . ]
Cooley says it is tough, we need to change the entire city, it has to become more sensitive to bringing up disposable income and bring up wages. Otherwise stores will be moving. Talks about Willy Sutton when asked why he rob banks, Willy said "that is where the money is". Businesses will move to suburbs if we do not change the dynamic. Downtown has to appeal to all people, not just students and state workers. Older areas of the city need to be redeveloped. Some of the workforce, affordable housing and homeless shelters have to be shared with the other communities - otherwise it won't work. This isn't a city or zoning decision, its a business decision. People look at the demographics and what the demographics will support. He says right now, there is nothing we can do.
Pham-Remmele says she wants to have a private meeting, they agree. Says we can't wait 5 years.
Cooley says that we can be as flexible as we need to be. Some of the suggestions in the handout he suggest are not as important using the example of mission statement and website, but working on more direct efforts to figure out from a city perspecive what should we be?
Pham-Remmele asks about UW, but she says we need entry level jobs. Even low income to (need to?) bring home the bacon. Very important, start from the bottom up.
Clear says that Pham-Remmele asked a fundamental question, why should a business locate here instead of Sun Prairie, why should business staM in an at risk neighborhood (Meadowood vs Monroe St) not Cottage Grove. Clear asks how you address at risk neighborhood. How do we reverse the trend of hardware store being replaced with check cashing or . . . Pham-Remmele steps back in and adds liquor store?
Cooley doesn't answer, says he is glad Clear said it was a rhetorical question. [I'm quite certain Clear never said that and it was odd how he sidestepped that question.]
Cooley says city is a wonderfully care giving society and it has changed the demographics of the city. Suburbs can do things that we can't. We don't have housing for middle, or upper management. It's a race to the bottom. Maybe Madison [housing] should be a little higher priced than the rest of the area. It may take a fundamental change. And we need to do this with fact driven inforamtion. If we are going to be a successful city, we need to take a long hard look at what we are doing now. [Ok, his use of the word "demographics" is just starting to get a little creepy. It seems like it is code for something. Low-income? People of color?]
Pham-Remmele talks about how Judy Compton sold houses to many of the people in her neighborhood. [Why, wasn't quite sure.]
Cooley says we need to have low crime and good schools. Companies can locate anywhere, but families will move somewhere because of the schools and crime. We have to be very aware of where we are today and if that is a compelling reason to attract the kinds of people we need to support the community.
Pham Remmele says she is very painful, but talks about schools and says people vote with their feet and move and as a compassionate city we think about those who don't have that option.
King says there is some urgency, and the preception that Madison is unfriendly and asks how to turn that ship around. Says people like the older homes with character and they need alot of work and they don't want to touch those houses, how will we reinvest in neighborhood? He talks about how the process is hard? How do we do that? [I'm completely confused, what process, its a "free market" process at the moment.] Cooley says "you are an alder and you can change that."
King asks how they will communicate that thinkgs have changed. Someone with a bad experience will tell 20 people and someone with a good experience will sell one. Cooley points out the Mike Ivey article about the new very expensive building on W Johnson and how that developer couldn't say enough nice things about Madison's process. Also talks about how Full Compass has good stories to tell - however, he couldn't seem to remember the name of the company. He talks about how perception becomes reality, says it has gotten better but still convoluted. Talks about Landmarks, Urbran Design Commission & Plan commission and about how things get sent to subcommittees [seriously? how often does that happen?] and referrals back and forth - he says more study doesn't result in better end results. He then notes "historic is always old, old is not always historic".
Clear says he is hearing the city process is improving but it takes a long time to get past the reputation.
Cooley says we can benchmark that - look at approval times in other cities and we can measure that. Madison's unique way of doing things - everyone has a voice in it all the time. We can keep that character and work with it. Suburbs are taking it away from us.[Um, someone should give him the study the plan department did a few years ago that noted how long our approvals took and how we ranked with other cities.]
Bidar-Sielaff says that she has been to the suburbs and they are not taking anything away from her. She suggests we need to tell our own good stories. Need something besides the website. How can we highlight, with our partners, the good stories. Business of the month. Says those who live and work here has a story to tell.
Cooley says it is kind of in the plan, marketing both internally and externally. Will do it through website and using technology within constructions of state laws. They may do a blog "and the like".
Clausius asks about recommendation 3 - community infrastructure. He talks about a roundabout and extensions for Parkside Drive and there is talk that the projects won't stay in the budget. Steinhaufels is concerned about the projects not going through. How much support can he get from EDC with the capital budget. Round about was pushed back last year - its important for the Lien Road project. He says needs support for that project.
Cooley said that EDC should be weighing in on alot of things from crime statistics and ordinances. [Duh, remember when Zach very plainly told the council that the EDC didn't want to get tied up considering ordinances that the city was passing and that they just wanted to do their work. We tried to refer items there, but they didn't want that. Perhaps Cooley should have a conversation with (past?) EDC members about this.] He says we are blessed to have Matt, Michael, Don Marx and Percy who can find money.
Clear tells Clausius he should talk to alders on Board of Estimates. [Clausius is on BOE.]
Clausius asks about recomnedation #4 - commercial database. Right now major fast food franchise that wants to come in to Madison, but they want a regional training center. He says it would be good to have EDC out there to help. Doesn't want to see it go to Fitchburg or Sun Prairie. Cooley says that Michael Gay has info, but database is not as developed. Individual brokers want to keep their own inforamtion. Milwaukee has a system that is now the de facto standard. Matt has been working with THRIVE for the past three months, but there are intrenched interests. Cooley says tho that "we will drive it [getting a commercial database] out of the City of Madison and take advantage of being the 800 pound gorilla."
Schmidt asks about jobs and what the software will do to create jobs. Cooley says CRM (Customer Relation Management) is really the problem, we are our own worst enemy - anything that comes to city is open record. He says they are talking to companies about confidential matters, we don't want to put that into a database that is readily accessible. We know what is going on, and we keep a good database ourselves, written contacts and in our minds. No real need to get that CRM database right now. The software could do follow ups, newsletters and ticklers.
Schmidt also says he never heard of the phrase "business homesteading". Cooley says he made that up. Says the idea not quite flushed out. He talks about the Mayor's ideas of green building and how the city could define buiding standards for city controlled land and that a couple could come in and build to these standards and if they stay there for a period of time, the land could be sold to them cheaply. He suggests that we do the same with businesses, if you do it this way, over time we might be able to make a deal. He asks how do we incent from a policy prospective. He says they are playing with the concept to see if it is going anywhere.
Schmidt asks about the community tours, where would they go? Cooley says Southern California, several looking for lower cost areas for manufacturing. Some have customer bases that need warehouse or distribution centers. They are looking at Mexico and others. He said "nobody in their right mind wants to go down there, espeically border towns." 30% differential in costs by locating in midwest. He says we can do the same thing internationally. He says 2nd tier German and Sweedish companies want to have a US presence. He says their industry clusters and demographics that match ours.
Schmidt asked about cities that had similiar challenges as ours and were successful. Cooley says no one has had similar experiences. The recent economy changes are a "major reset", jobs of the past are no longer going to be the jobs of the future. The way we used to cope with recession was to have safety nets, jobs aren't going to come back this time, need to find those jobs that will have a competitive advantage, we need to work to grow our own and agreesively pursue more. Work with MATC to train people, we will lose and gain some people - we just need to make sure we gain the right people.
Schmidt asks how we can avoid common mistakes. Cooley says that we can't over micromanage the workforce, we can't become enamored with the next cool thing, which he points out is biotech and biopharma but then quickly notes that those are not big job creators. He says that biotech plays better in Madison and that we have a better shot here but every state and many cities think that and most of the centers are in Boston, San Diego and ?? South San Francisco?? Says we have a better chance because we have the workforce and university.
Palm asks about the perception of Madison. He points out that there have been a number of situations where the city was accused of putting up barriers, the projects were approved, but the businesses didn't move forward. The businesses backed away. He says we are spending alot of energy helping someone who makes a stink and then we don't get the benefits of all that work.Palm says that we can't serve all of our customers if some of them are just playing with us.
Palm asks how do we assess which project get a priority, how do you decide? Is it first come first serve? Cooley says it is partially triage, partially opportunistic. Says TIF changes concentrate on creating jobs.
Maniaci and Verveer arrive.
Palm asks if additional city financial assistance. He notes that we had $1 for a revolving fund, how do we expand the dollars available. Cooley says that we need to take advantage of all the programs out there. He talks about a program he just found out about this morning, for city owned land, feds pay us back 45% of interest to purchase the land. There is also a program for privately owned land. Says an allocation has been made to Madison. Cooley notes communications are important and we need to be making sure we don't leave things on the table, need to be time effective, need to make better use of consultants and the legislative side.
Palm asks about the workforce conference that was delayed because the staff says they don't have enough staff. He asks "what is full staff?" Cooley says they are putting numbers to it now and they need to pick and choose and find out what the priorities are of the executive and legislative arms of government. He says that its not that they don't care about the work force, but other people are working at it and they are at the table with them. [Sounds like they don't intend to follow through on the workforce development work.]
Palm tries to ask the question again about how much staff they need. Cooley avoids answering the question. Says that is why they are here, to ask the council what their priories are.
Mendoza commends staff, Tim, Matt, Michael, Peggy. Work hard and you're looking at a snapshot. They know the work plan is not all inclusive. Thanks council for interest and Bruer and Clear for remaining engaged as they are. Says there will be a menu of options, many of which will relate to the city budget. The question is what will the prioritize if they costs dollars, where will they devote limited resources. Says this is the next step in the conversations. Thanks Julia Stone from EDC for coming.
They ask if Julia would like to add anything ? She's only been on EDC for one month but she " fully agrees with Tim's synopsis".
7:35 ends, kinda.
They quickly annouce that this will be at the EDC at next two meetings (July 1 and Aug 5). [Wow, nice to do it while people are out on the summer vacations!]. They says they will have a bigger room because it has been crowded. They may have a broader public input session late summer or fall as well.
Everyone starts talking - Thuy yells at them to be quiet in her best teacher voice.
Cooley asks the alders to look at the increased use of BIDS, looking at map for logical places and they are looking to get together with alders and business leaders in that area to talk about the success. Says government can't maintain the level of services the downtown bit is doing and wants others to have those advantages.
Then, I think they are done and adjourn again.
For recommendations 1 - 3, see here.
For recommendations 4 - 6, see here. Read more!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Yet Another Demolition
Another house outlived it's practical usefulness?
Please be advised that Joan Pregler will be filing a demolition permit application on August 19, 2009 for Plan Commission review that calls for a single-family house located at 1119 Merrill Springs Rd Madison, WI 53705 to be demolished. For more information regarding this forthcoming application, you may contact the applicant, Joan Pregler, Joan Pregler Design Associates, LLC, 7919 Airport Road P.O. Box 620424 Middleton, WI 53562 at jpda@chorus.net or (608)831-7733.Read more!
Applicant's Comments:
Many design attempts to remodel this 1948 Single-Family Home proved unsuitable for retrofit. Demolition & construction of a new home on the R-1 zoned property will: achieve accessibility for Aging-In-Place using ADA principles, locate the garage at grade level, obtain energy efficiency, & correct drainage and water issues.
Owners will contact neighbors & the Association to preview their proposed new home. Historic Preservation indicates there are no historical or neighborhood issues.
There is Free Lunch!
At the Goodman Community Center!
WHAT: Free Lunch and recreation program!!Read more!
The Goodman Community Center is offering a free lunch and recreation program for any children under age 18. Any child 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult or a sibling over the age of 10.
WHEN: Monday-Friday
June 22- August 21
Lunch: 11:30-12:30 for all ages
Open supervised recreation: 12:30-2:30 in the gymnasium for all ages
Supper : 3:30-6:30 for youth 12 and older in the Lussier Teen Center
Middle and high school activities available until 9 pm
Where: Goodman Community Center Gymnasium
149 Waubesa St.
CONTACT: Tanya Martinez-Knauer at 241-1574 ext 237 or tanyamk@goodmancenter.org
Some things, make too much sense!
How could safe roads be politicized and controversial?
Coalition for Safe Roads
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/19/09
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Christine Neumann Ortiz or Jeanne Geraci
Office: 414-643-1620
Cell: 414.736.2835 or 414.426.6891The Coalition for Safe Roads and Law Enforcement Urge Legislature to Adopt Driver Cards
Here's some other things going on today in this regard:
The Coalition for Safe Roads, a broad coalition of law enforcement, dairy farmers, labor unions, faith leaders, and advocacy groups, will be holding a Press Conference and lobby day on Monday, June 22 to urge the Wisconsin State Legislature to adopt the Assembly version of the driver cards provision in the Wisconsin State Budget. The driver cards would serve as limited purpose driver's licenses for undocumented and legal immigrants who are currently unable to provide documentary proof of their legal status but who otherwise qualify for driver's licenses.
The driver card is of urgent necessity to ensure the safety of our roads and communities in Wisconsin. It has received support from the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, the Wisconsin Troopers Association, as well as numerous local law enforcement officials around the state including Milwaukee Chief Flynn, Madison Chief Wray, Whitewater Chief Coan, Beloit Chief Lathrop, Appleton Chief Walsh, Green Bay Chief Arts, and the Village of Dorchester Police Department.
After the Press Conference, Coalition leaders will lobby legislative leadership in support of the Driver Card provision.
What: Coalition for Safe Roads Press Conference in Support of Driver Card Provision
When: Monday, June 22,10:00 - 10:30am
Where: Assembly Parlor, Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison
Speakers:
Officer Carlos ValentÃn, Amigos en Azul, City of Madison Police Department
John Rosenow, Rosenholm-Wolfe Dairy, Cochrane, WI
Christine Neumann - Ortiz, Executive Director, Voces de la Frontera
SEIU Representative
URGENT Action for Driver's Licenses and In State Tuition!Read more!
Madison, Monday June 22nd
10:00am - 10:30am: Coalition for Safe Roads Press Conference in Support of Driver Cards Provision
10:30am- 12:00pm: Presence in capitol and lobby
12:00pm: Voces de la Frontera Rally on State Street Capitol Steps to support Driver Cards and In State Tuition
The "What Not To Do" Week Ahead
Well, this week is kind of discouraging, its a great example of what not to do (list at the end of the post)!
Monday, June 22, 2009
4:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING: 2009 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT TOWN OF MADISON TOWN HALL, 2120 FISH HATCHERY RD, MADISON 53713
- How should the police spend their money they get from this grant? My guess is, no one shows up. And even if they do, nothing will change.
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMUNITY SUMMIT 211 STATE ST. PROMENADE HALL
- It's getting closer to a final proposal. Unfortunately, there is so much info, I think it is hard to have a meaningful public process. Especially when they didn't tell anyone about the meeting til last week. And when the Alders asked on Tuesday how it was being advertised, they said the Mayor was doing a press release. Which went out on Friday . . . wow, you'd think they didn't want people to show up.
6:00 PM COMMON COUNCIL - DISCUSSION ROOM 201 CCB
- Council leadership gets an "F" in scheduling this. Brilliant, schedule a council briefing for the same time as a Community Summit on the Zoning Code. Or, perhaps they don't want anyone to see what they are doing with Economic Development (yawn . . . my guess is that they're doing nothing to address the current economy or create jobs unless they are high end biotech type jobs. Note, the notice says addressing the "business climate", not the people who suffering as a result.) This article makes it sound like the council will actually make decisions - but I don't think they can during a "discussion" where quorum is not required.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
12:00 PM PERSONNEL BOARD ROOM 501 CCB
- Here it is folks, the new personnel rules, city staff should be paying attention!
5:30 PM EAST WASHINGTON/CAPITOL GATEWAY BUILD STEERING COMMITTEE ROOM LL-110 MMB
- Holy crap! I wonder if anyone will show up, I don't think this committee has met in nearly two years, in fact, there are 6 vacancies. Too bad the ordinance isn't available, I'm sure that will also cut down on the public input. And I wonder if they will get quorum in the summer with all those vacancies.
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADISON CENTRAL LIBRARY, 201 W MIFFLIN ST, ROOMS 202 & 204
- That's alot of topics to discuss with a large group in 90 minutes.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMUNITY MEETING 4340 TOKAY BLVD.
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMUNITY MEETING 1625 NORTHPORT DR
- These two agendas look pretty much the same as Monday's community summit. So, I think they are all the same, but I don't know why they have different names?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
I got nothing. But that's ok, you can come to the "People's Vision for Affordable Housing" at the Public Library at 5:00. We really DO want your input, please!
So, I'm not sure if its a naturally slow week, or if many more meetings will get added to the agenda, but I suggest that you check back later in the week to see if items got missed?
WHAT NOT TO DO
This weeks "what not to do" list.
1. Hold a public hearing with no specific information available so the public won't have anything to comment on. (Police, East Wash)
2. Take an extremely complex and complicated topic and try to summarize for the public and leave little time for questions. (Zoning Code)
3. Schedule a council briefing AND a community summit on the same night. (Council Briefing on Economic Development Work Plan)
4. Don't advertise your community meeting in a meaningful way and wait to send out the press release until Friday when the meeting is on Monday. (Zoning Code)
5. Label your events in a confusing manner so people don't know which meetings to attend. (Community Summit and Community Meetings with same agendas)
6. Appoint a HUGE (over 20 people) committee, don't meet for nearly two years, then schedule a meeting on a summer evening. (E Washington)
7. Have a meeting about an ordinance that is several pages long and don't have it available to the public. (E Washington)
8. Schedule a discussion for 90 minutes with a HUGE (over 20 people) committee with a long list of topics that could each be discussed for 90 minutes. (Zoning Code) Read more!
Monday, June 22, 2009
4:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING: 2009 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT TOWN OF MADISON TOWN HALL, 2120 FISH HATCHERY RD, MADISON 53713
- How should the police spend their money they get from this grant? My guess is, no one shows up. And even if they do, nothing will change.
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMUNITY SUMMIT 211 STATE ST. PROMENADE HALL
- It's getting closer to a final proposal. Unfortunately, there is so much info, I think it is hard to have a meaningful public process. Especially when they didn't tell anyone about the meeting til last week. And when the Alders asked on Tuesday how it was being advertised, they said the Mayor was doing a press release. Which went out on Friday . . . wow, you'd think they didn't want people to show up.
6:00 PM COMMON COUNCIL - DISCUSSION ROOM 201 CCB
- Council leadership gets an "F" in scheduling this. Brilliant, schedule a council briefing for the same time as a Community Summit on the Zoning Code. Or, perhaps they don't want anyone to see what they are doing with Economic Development (yawn . . . my guess is that they're doing nothing to address the current economy or create jobs unless they are high end biotech type jobs. Note, the notice says addressing the "business climate", not the people who suffering as a result.) This article makes it sound like the council will actually make decisions - but I don't think they can during a "discussion" where quorum is not required.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
12:00 PM PERSONNEL BOARD ROOM 501 CCB
- Here it is folks, the new personnel rules, city staff should be paying attention!
5:30 PM EAST WASHINGTON/CAPITOL GATEWAY BUILD STEERING COMMITTEE ROOM LL-110 MMB
- Holy crap! I wonder if anyone will show up, I don't think this committee has met in nearly two years, in fact, there are 6 vacancies. Too bad the ordinance isn't available, I'm sure that will also cut down on the public input. And I wonder if they will get quorum in the summer with all those vacancies.
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADISON CENTRAL LIBRARY, 201 W MIFFLIN ST, ROOMS 202 & 204
- That's alot of topics to discuss with a large group in 90 minutes.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMUNITY MEETING 4340 TOKAY BLVD.
5:30 PM ZONING CODE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMUNITY MEETING 1625 NORTHPORT DR
- These two agendas look pretty much the same as Monday's community summit. So, I think they are all the same, but I don't know why they have different names?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
I got nothing. But that's ok, you can come to the "People's Vision for Affordable Housing" at the Public Library at 5:00. We really DO want your input, please!
So, I'm not sure if its a naturally slow week, or if many more meetings will get added to the agenda, but I suggest that you check back later in the week to see if items got missed?
WHAT NOT TO DO
This weeks "what not to do" list.
1. Hold a public hearing with no specific information available so the public won't have anything to comment on. (Police, East Wash)
2. Take an extremely complex and complicated topic and try to summarize for the public and leave little time for questions. (Zoning Code)
3. Schedule a council briefing AND a community summit on the same night. (Council Briefing on Economic Development Work Plan)
4. Don't advertise your community meeting in a meaningful way and wait to send out the press release until Friday when the meeting is on Monday. (Zoning Code)
5. Label your events in a confusing manner so people don't know which meetings to attend. (Community Summit and Community Meetings with same agendas)
6. Appoint a HUGE (over 20 people) committee, don't meet for nearly two years, then schedule a meeting on a summer evening. (E Washington)
7. Have a meeting about an ordinance that is several pages long and don't have it available to the public. (E Washington)
8. Schedule a discussion for 90 minutes with a HUGE (over 20 people) committee with a long list of topics that could each be discussed for 90 minutes. (Zoning Code) Read more!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Help Needed to Pay for Funeral Services for Homeless Man
Since I know that many of you might be interested in helping, I thought I should pass along this information:
Dear Ms. Wallinger:Read more!
Thank you for sharing with me information regarding the City's Homeless programs and the Block Grants you administer. This information is helpful to me and my interest in improving homeless access to healthcare.
Additionally, I thought you might also like to know that I am communicating with Dwayne Warren's mother and collected monies for his funeral and burial. Currently, Dane County is providing 2,000 dollars which is all the money that is available for these services. I am collecting money because I believe that the funeral will expense out at around 5,000 dollars. Dwayne's family is without resources and I am making arrangements for his mother's transportation. However, I am very pleased and grateful to the Salvation Army who is donating a plot a Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery off of Mineral Point Road.
I am opening an account at M&I for contributions to the Dwayne Warren Memorial Fund, the residual will be split between the family and a health care provider that provides free healthcare.
Please pass this information along to those you believe may be interested, as well as those who may wish to attend his funeral.
PAYABLE TO:
Dwayne Warren Memorial Fund
C/O Todd Hunter Law Office
115 West Main Street, 2nd Floor
Madison, WI 53703
If anyone wishes to help me with this endeavor, please provide to them my
telephone number (608) 255-8678 and address.
Again, thank you for your work and providing me with the outline of services
the City of Madison helps support.
Sincerely,
Todd Hunter
It's Friday . . .
So, its time for comments on a smattering of things that went on this week and other miscellaneous items!
VERVEER SAYS HE IS NOT BAD
I've been asked to clarify. Verveer has not actually introduced, nor does he plan to at the moment, anything to do with the street musicians. He simply intends to talk about it at the next meeting. Apparently, the issue he sees is that the musicians are in the places that the vendors at the Farmer's Market have paid for. If that's the only issue, then why not just address that? I guess I'll have suspend my judgment about if Verveer is BAD or not.
CRAZY COUNCIL MEETING
I blogged about the insanity at the council meeting this week. It had several county board members last night rightly feeling pretty smug that they run a good meeting. Several people thanked me for shining a light on this matter and I got several new followers on Twitter and Facebook as a result. However, while my description was mostly a blow by blow of the meeting with a few comments interspersed, Dusty's description was much better. This week's "bad" designation goes to Dean Mosiman and his editors! I think they should be made to watch that segment of the meeting over, and over and over and over!
SPEAKING OF THE COUNTY BOARD (STICKING IT TO THE SHERIFF?)
I nearly fell off my chair last night when the County Board refused to change the ordinance that would allow the sheriff to charge the eviction fees that they had passed in the budget. I wonder if they were sticking it to the sheriff because he refuses to listen to them on the immigration issues, or if that is just wishful thinking? Either way, its good news for both landlords and tenants in that the landlord will be charged less to do an eviction therefore less money will get passed along to the tenants! It was freaky to record a vote with both Vedder and Bruskewitz!
WHAT'D WE MISS?
I sent out the blog posts of Forward Our Motto and myself responding to Blaska's plan for addressing issues in Meadowood. I asked people what solutions we missed. I got very few responses, but there were some interesting things I thought I should share:
- Some people think that the neighborhood is already meeting and trying to solve the problems.
- The community gardens and the new farmer's market are two positive steps that the community is taking. And of course, they have their neighborhood center which their Alder voted against! grrrr . . .
- Some people appreciate that landlords will do month to month leases with probation and parole clients. I appreciate it too, I just don't think it should be mandated. Unless we mandate that they have to rent to people on probation and parole! :)
- I thought some might be interested in what faith communities are doing in the Allied Drive Neighborhood:
ALLIED DRIVE PEACE MARCH
One of the responses I got mentioned that this was going on and I thought I should pass it along:
SORRY IF I MADE YOU CRASH!
On Monday I started getting calls from City staff that my blog was down. They were upset, they needed their fix! So, I didn't think anything of it because it worked for me on several computers in several locations, but I got more complaints and then tried to think about what would be doing it. At first I assumed it was a blogger issue, then I remembered that I added the "share" button to my posts late last week. And come to think about it, the views of my blog were down quite a bit. So, I removed the share button, had someone test it and voila! the website worked on the city machines. IT staff explained that "It looks like the share button is hosted on a website that is blocked by our Internet Content Filter." Well, that explains it! But, when sharing this story with others, I learned that apparently I was crashing computers all over the city. My humble apologies!!!
IF A HOMELESS MAN DIES DOES ANYONE KNOW
Usually not. Unless he dies on the Capital grounds! Of course, that limited recognition only lasted a few moment as hours later they were setting up for a noon event in the very same area.
ALDERS REFUSE THEIR SALARIES!
Ok, not so much. Remember the hoopla Pham-Remmele made over the ordinance change that would allow alders to turn in their salaries if they didn't want them? Well, they had 30 days from the day that they were sworn in to notify the clerk if they wanted to refuse a portion or all of their salary. Well, the first opportunity to do so was with the last election and how many do you think turned in a portion or all of their pay. Zero. Zip. Nada. Not even the Queen of Grandstanding herself, the sponsor of the ordinance Ms. Pham-Remmele. Hmmm . . . some might say that was a waste of time.
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the blog readers for your lovely comments over the past few weeks. I'm glad so many find value (information) and humor in my posts. And thanks to those who said they voted for me in the Isthmus poll. I'm glad that so many are finding that they know so much more about what is going on in local government these days. And I appreciate everyone who thinks I should get paid to do this . . . the only problem is . . . while I could use a copy editor (sigh!) I don't think I'd want to give up my content control! Read more!
VERVEER SAYS HE IS NOT BAD
I've been asked to clarify. Verveer has not actually introduced, nor does he plan to at the moment, anything to do with the street musicians. He simply intends to talk about it at the next meeting. Apparently, the issue he sees is that the musicians are in the places that the vendors at the Farmer's Market have paid for. If that's the only issue, then why not just address that? I guess I'll have suspend my judgment about if Verveer is BAD or not.
CRAZY COUNCIL MEETING
I blogged about the insanity at the council meeting this week. It had several county board members last night rightly feeling pretty smug that they run a good meeting. Several people thanked me for shining a light on this matter and I got several new followers on Twitter and Facebook as a result. However, while my description was mostly a blow by blow of the meeting with a few comments interspersed, Dusty's description was much better. This week's "bad" designation goes to Dean Mosiman and his editors! I think they should be made to watch that segment of the meeting over, and over and over and over!
SPEAKING OF THE COUNTY BOARD (STICKING IT TO THE SHERIFF?)
I nearly fell off my chair last night when the County Board refused to change the ordinance that would allow the sheriff to charge the eviction fees that they had passed in the budget. I wonder if they were sticking it to the sheriff because he refuses to listen to them on the immigration issues, or if that is just wishful thinking? Either way, its good news for both landlords and tenants in that the landlord will be charged less to do an eviction therefore less money will get passed along to the tenants! It was freaky to record a vote with both Vedder and Bruskewitz!
WHAT'D WE MISS?
I sent out the blog posts of Forward Our Motto and myself responding to Blaska's plan for addressing issues in Meadowood. I asked people what solutions we missed. I got very few responses, but there were some interesting things I thought I should share:
- Some people think that the neighborhood is already meeting and trying to solve the problems.
- The community gardens and the new farmer's market are two positive steps that the community is taking. And of course, they have their neighborhood center which their Alder voted against! grrrr . . .
- Some people appreciate that landlords will do month to month leases with probation and parole clients. I appreciate it too, I just don't think it should be mandated. Unless we mandate that they have to rent to people on probation and parole! :)
- I thought some might be interested in what faith communities are doing in the Allied Drive Neighborhood:
Faith communities are already involved in the Allied Drive Neighborhood – Fountain of Life holds services there, the Allied Partners (a collaboration of MUM and about fifteen other faith communities) is actively engaged, supporting community events like the Allied Festival and Community Meals, the food pantry, eviction prevention, the Allied Wellness Center, special funding to the Urban League to help them get a transportation component for a new jobs initiative off the ground, and support of the Neighborhood Association. And the group is working with the Wellness Center and others to develop a cooperative program that emphasizes responsibility, accountability, empowerment and community development from the grassroots level. I just wanted to make sure that people understand that faith communities are involved, those who are not as involved often don’t know that. Faith Communities involved in the Allied Drive Community include First Baptist, Society of Friends, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Westminster Presbyterian, Fountain of Life, Bethany United Methodist, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Memorial United Church of Christ, Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ and others.I'm still kinda surprised I didn't get more responses about what people thought was needed. Perhaps community policing instead of more police and human services are just the answer. However, I do have to note, while many say that the police are not in the area enough, I have also heard others refer to it as a "police state". Interesting differences of perception.
ALLIED DRIVE PEACE MARCH
One of the responses I got mentioned that this was going on and I thought I should pass it along:
The Allied Drive Neighborhood Association is planning a peace march next Thursday 6/25 at 8:00 p.m. beginning in front of their offices. Those who would like to participate in a prayer session pre-march can come at 7:30.
SORRY IF I MADE YOU CRASH!
On Monday I started getting calls from City staff that my blog was down. They were upset, they needed their fix! So, I didn't think anything of it because it worked for me on several computers in several locations, but I got more complaints and then tried to think about what would be doing it. At first I assumed it was a blogger issue, then I remembered that I added the "share" button to my posts late last week. And come to think about it, the views of my blog were down quite a bit. So, I removed the share button, had someone test it and voila! the website worked on the city machines. IT staff explained that "It looks like the share button is hosted on a website that is blocked by our Internet Content Filter." Well, that explains it! But, when sharing this story with others, I learned that apparently I was crashing computers all over the city. My humble apologies!!!
IF A HOMELESS MAN DIES DOES ANYONE KNOW
Usually not. Unless he dies on the Capital grounds! Of course, that limited recognition only lasted a few moment as hours later they were setting up for a noon event in the very same area.
ALDERS REFUSE THEIR SALARIES!
Ok, not so much. Remember the hoopla Pham-Remmele made over the ordinance change that would allow alders to turn in their salaries if they didn't want them? Well, they had 30 days from the day that they were sworn in to notify the clerk if they wanted to refuse a portion or all of their salary. Well, the first opportunity to do so was with the last election and how many do you think turned in a portion or all of their pay. Zero. Zip. Nada. Not even the Queen of Grandstanding herself, the sponsor of the ordinance Ms. Pham-Remmele. Hmmm . . . some might say that was a waste of time.
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the blog readers for your lovely comments over the past few weeks. I'm glad so many find value (information) and humor in my posts. And thanks to those who said they voted for me in the Isthmus poll. I'm glad that so many are finding that they know so much more about what is going on in local government these days. And I appreciate everyone who thinks I should get paid to do this . . . the only problem is . . . while I could use a copy editor (sigh!) I don't think I'd want to give up my content control! Read more!
County Board Recap
Meeting started promptly at 7:00 and ended at 8:35. 55 minutes of Special Matters and Announcements, 40 minutes of business.
A. ROLL CALL - Excuse Supervisors Hampton and Richmond [Announced on the Agenda]
Stubbs, Veldran, Downing, Rusk, Schmidt, Erickson, Wiganowsky all also absent.
Chair McDonell announced 27 present - 10 absent and Hampton, Richmond, Rusk and Wiggy are all excused. [I missed one of the absenses because the County Clerk doesn't repeat the roll call and it is hard to hear who says they are here.]
1. Prayer/Inspirational Message - Supervisor Stubbs (Veldran next)
2. Pledge of Allegiance - Supervisor Veldran
Stubbs not there, so Chair McDonell had them rise and recite the pledge.
B. SPECIAL MATTERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Dane County Lakes and Watersheds State of the Waters Presentation
- Sue Jones, Office of Lakes & Watersheds Coordinator
Talks about Take a Stake in the Lakes events and other projects that they worked on in the last year: Turville Bay Research Project to try to get more native plant growth, Aquatic Invasive Species Planning, Municpal Storm Water Partnership including salt use recommendations, myfairlakes.com activities, working on activities in the Memorandum of Understanding with others to clean up the lakes, working plan to deal with nutrients and sediment, etc.
- Dane County Lakes & Watersheds 2009 Waters Champions Recognition
Jones introduced the three individual honorees.
2. Dane County Housing Authority Presentation - Supervisor Bayrd
Kate Nardi from the Dane County Housing Authority share information about foreclosures and what activities they are working on.
- In 2008 there was a 50% increase in foreclosures
- From 2008 to 2009 there was a 39% increase for the first quarter according to information that comes from CCAP (court records) and the UW
- In May of this year foreclosures increased 20% over last year with 650 court filings this year and 543 in 2008
- She explains that the 650 filings don't represent the struggles that the families are facing
- Nardi explained that the Housing Authority is the HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency, they get HUD funding for their activities.
- In addition to trying to help people in foreclosure, they also try to support people before the foreclosure is filed.
- They serve City and County residents. 60% county, 40% city.
- They also have HCRI funding to help 14 households and FEMA funding to help 15 households if no job which is the 2nd wave of funding.
- They educate people about the legal process, talk to them about alternatives, go to court as advocates as well.
- She talked about local lawyers crafting a local rule for the court system that would require mediation in foreclosure cases.
- She said that they have a Pay for Performance Contract to pay for staff to work on the cases and they are one of the few who respond to a national 800# line.
- Welcomes ideas on how to increase capacity and number of people they can support.
3. Library Board's Plan for Service - Supervisor Martz
Martz & Wheeler came forward, Martz says they all got the plan in their mailboxes. He introduces the President of the Library Board.
- He thanks current and former Library Board Supervisors and introduces Julie Chase who is the Director of Library Services.
- Talks about article in WSJ yesterday by the Historical Society about how libraries used to be run.
- He says service demands are up.
- He highlighted challenges of building a new library in Fitchburg and Cottage Grove and how that would impact the library services county wide.
- Says they are doing well despite challenged.
- Thanks them for continuing to support the 100% funding for municpal reimbursements and the guidelines they adopted.
- He says the 100% reimbursements prevent libraries from having to cut hours.
- He asks them for input.
- Shares he heard from two library directors that they appreciate the comprhensive guidelines.
QUESTIONS
Hendrick says he supports 100% reimbursement, but says it won't be viable to have a stand alone library service in Fitchburg. He characterized the situation as hopeless and asks if that is correct.
Library Board President says they hired consultants a few years ago to try to figure out how to give services county wide if no Dane County library service, he said they had quite a few recommendations but each have pros and cons and there needs to be a public discussion before decisions are made.
4. Res 55,09-10 - Congratulating Ben Brummel for his Division 1 State Championship in Wrestling for Middleton High School
Supervisors from the Middleton School District Ferrell, Opitz & Ripp joined Hesselbein as she read the resolution.
Opitz thanks Hesselbein for writing the resolution and the Coach. Congratulates Ben for academic and athletic accomplishments and his community involvement in the bike and pedestrian plan for the City of Middleton. Quips that he is well equiped to wrestle with issues in the future.
Ben thanked them for the honor and thanks his family, coach, friends and team mates. Good four years and looking forward to college.
5. Res 56, 09-10 - Recognizing Dale Bruhn for his Years of Service to the Community
Matano reads the resolution with a long list of accomplishments. Lynn Green from Dane County Human Services as well as Vedder, DeSmidt, Wheeler and Willett(?) joined him to honor Bruhn's work on the Long Term Care Committee for the county.
Bruhn thanks them for the honor, says its almost overwhelming. Appreciated working on the committee that worked on critical needs for vulnerable populations and appreciates the support the Board has provided for statewide and nationally recognized programs.
Vedder says only known him for a few years, that when he announced he was leaving after 14 years there was agony and tears. His last meeting they had cake and champaign and broke all the rules.
Matano moved approval, Wheeler seconded. It passed on voice vote.
6. Announcements
Salov was recognized, but Jensen talked about the Fair. McDonell asked to make sure there would be Ponies this year, because his daughter was upset last year that they weren't there. Jensen plugged various activities during the fair. Dane County Fairest of the Fair winner also joined him. He explained it was the first ever and will compete in a statewide competition - her job is to promote the county.
Salov said Thursday is Military Appreciation Day and there is free admission and red white and blue ribbons for military and their families. He asks for volunteers from 2:00 on to help hand out the ribbons.
The Dane County Fairest of the Fair winner Molly talked about her role, the entertainment of the fair, what she has learned going to the Fair and invites people to the fair July 15th - 19th and says to look at the Dane County Fair website.
They also Announced the runner up and other contestants.
Downing - said resolution next month in honor of passing away of Linda Farley. Talked about her lifelong work as a physician, that she looked for the special light in everyone, was an activist and had a deep caring for vulnerable and social justice issues. He reminded them that she appeared before the county board on resolution supporting single payer health care and urging state to take action. She was huge advocate for the single payer system and believed that health care is a human right. She said once you realize that, then the only question is how to get people the care they need.
Sheriff - introduce recruiting class. Some are not newest class but newest deputies.
Veldran talked about recent shooting death of the 17 year old student. Says he was at the meeting with the Mayor and others to talk about solutions. He said they talked about police solutions, but also how community could reach out. He said the community had already started a community garden and June 24th they had already planned a farmer's market at the Orchard Ridge Church with 15 vendors. He says this is the grand opening 3:00 - 7:00 and talked about other activities that will be there. Said the farmers market will be on Wedensdays all through the growing season
Veldran also announced he was circulating a letter in light of the PSC decision to grant the ATC power line. He said that the original bill at the state allowed change in rules for condemantion with limited attorney fees which will prevent people from bringing cases. The letter urges reps and senators to reconsider that.
McDonell announed that there was a card circulating for Rusk who's sister passed away.
[That took til 7:55! Now, on to actual business of the board!]
C. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS
1. Claims Recommended for Approval
They were approved with a few abstentions and at least one vote no on one of the items. But they all passed without discussion.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Ord Amdt. 3, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 17, Regarding Official Map Revisions Incorporating a Dam Failure Analysis Approved by the WDNR for Across Moen Creek in Steward Park (Adopt)
2. Ord Amdt. 5, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 69, Adjusting Speed Limits on County Highways (Adopt)
3. Res 2, 09-10 - Authorizing Dane County Participation in an Intergovernmental Agreement to Fund a Position for Storm Water Information, Education and Outreach Coordination for the Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership (MAMSWaP) (Adopt)
4. Res 28, 09-10 - Encouraging Dane County Municipalities and Residents to Prevent Phosphorus Runoff into the Counties Lakes and Streams by Proper Disposal of Leaves and Yard Waste (Adopt)
5. Res 37, 09-10 - County Executive Appointments (Adopt)
6. Res 46, 09-10 - Supporting a Wisconsin Payday Lending Consumer Protection Act (Adopt)
7. Res 53, 09-10 - Establishing the Dane County 2010 Census Complete County Committee (Adopt)
8. Res 54, 09-10 - County Executive Appointments (Adopt)
Matano noted that DJ Laurie she graduated from law school and asked for that to be corrected.
Salov noted that the resolution on Payday Lending is important. We have had caps on loans but they are disappearing, loans going to 500 - 600% and should encourage legislators to pass a bill to fix this.
All of the items passed on a voice vote.
G. REPORTS ON ZONING PETITIONS
a. Map of Dane County
b. Summary of Grant as Modified petitions
1. Petition 9982 - Town of Primrose - Theodore White (Grant as Modified)
2. Petition 10049 - Town of Verona - Doerfer Brothers Inc (Grant as Modified)
No registrants, passes on a voice vote.
I. AWARD OF CONTRACTS
1. Res. 7, 09-10 - Award of Contract for New Badger Prairie Health Care Center (Adopt Sub 1.)
2. Res. 29, 09-10 - Authorizing the Purchase of Land at Cam-Rock County Park - Christensen (Adopt/Adopt with Amdt.)
REGISTRANT
One registrant, Finch in opposition. Says he is speaking for himself only. Says udgets are tight, county workers are furloughed and the purchase of the park shouldn't be a priority when people are concerned about losing jobs and homes. He said he has questions about what the impact of the delay would be.
McDonell explains that the public doesn't ask questions that he should ask his questions and they will try to address the questions during debate.
Finch asks if what other costs will be incurred if they purchase the property and how it will be paid for.
QUESTIONS OF REGISTRANTS
Salov asked if he has been monitoring purchases. Finch says no. Salov explained that there are many purchases the county is making (Anderson property and the Mazomanie Park) and suggests he looks at them in context
MOTION
Hendrick moves EANR amendment, Ferrell second. The amendments says that the proceeds from sales of house go to Conservation Fund. Passes voice vote with a few nos.
QUESTIONS OF STAFF
Hulsey - Says he understands that the property will generate rent and taxes. Asks about impact of delay. Staff says purchase contract is in place, seller may not sell if they wait past July. Says the trail is being constructed and it is hard to stop a project when ready to go. She said rent will be $700 per month plus they pay utilities and taxes. Hulsey says it will cover interest on money borrowed to purchase the land. He said they plan on selling property in the future. This helps complete trail and pays for itself.
McDonell asks about the accounts that Personnel & Finance froze.
Staff says Land and Water Legacy Account was frozen and $2.3M of projects won't go forward.
In the Conservation fund they only spent $1M of $7.5M planned.
Ripp explains that staff "low balls" estimates and they might make money on the deal. He said this is the last part to get the trail complete and usually they have to pay more than market rate. He says this is a good deal and the only issues is that they have to buy the whole property. The next person who buys the property might not be willing to sell. He says they are basically held harmless.
Stoebig asks staff why the money going in the Conservation Fund instead of General Fund. McDonell says that is a political question and not for staff to answer.
deFelice - Asks a question about selling the land. Staff says to look at the map - lot is .5 acre in size, so you can see that yellow cross hatching is the .3 of the acre that would be sold with the house.
DISCUSSION
The chair asks for discussion on the motion as amended.
Stoebig asks why money goes to Conservation Fund even tho already voted on it - wants an explanation. Seems concerned that the Conservation Fund is borrowing.
McDonell says maintenance fund will be from GPR.
Hendrick says that policy is that proceeds form Conservation Fund projects go back into the Conservation Fund, but that he can't speak to specific amendment.
Passes on voice vote - Schlict, DeFelice, Martz, Willett ?? recorded as no. [If you want to know exactly who asked to be noted as voting no, you should probably look at the minutes when they come out.
3. Res. 39, 09-10 - Authorizing Memoranda of Understanding Regarding 2009 Personnel Savings
Schmidt - Urges Supervisors to take a pay cut. She says that even though she is also taking a cut of 16 days in her day job, she is going to take a pay cut.
Passes without further comment, sounded unanimous.
4. Res. 40, 09-10 - Authorizing 2009 Personnel Savings Initiative for Unrepresented Employees
No discussion, passes and sounded unanimous.
J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Res 31, 08-09 - Support State Action on Electronics Recycling (Adopt with Amdt.)
No disccuison, sounded like it passed unanimously.
2. Res 32, 09-10 - Opposing State Landfill and Solid Waste Budget Measures (Adopt with Amdt.)
Schmidt says she is concerned that the reason to raise tipping fees was because out of state garbage is being brought in to Wisconsin because our fees are lower. Torn because she thinks that there is a merit to the reason for raising the fees and she says the issue is deeper than in the resolution.
Ripp says that we pass through whatever fees the State adds. They only accept Dane County waste in their landfill. Big chunk of the fee is City of Madison - will add several hundred thousand dollars to the City's budget. He says this is a bad deal because of how it impacts the taxes of the municipalities.
Willet says it impacts businesses as well. Already received notice that his fees going up. Businesses are struggling to keep people employed and it will just get passed through. State is being greedy and taking it out on the rest of us. [I found it amusing that he also said that his fees were going up likely more than the fees actually costs and sort of complains that another business is taking advantage of the situation.]
Stoebig explains the recycling law of 1990 that created the fund. He says the fund helped pay for recycling programs in municipalities and state programs. At that time it made sense, communities supported recycling, but over the years the legislature looked to tap that fund. Suddenly we had self-supporting programs that went away. He says the increase won't go to recycling but to balance state budget and that is why they introduced this resolution, out of frustration.
deFelice points out that state did promise to pay for 66% and only paying 30% and increasing the fees in the middle of the budget cycle. We cut employee wages tonight in the middle of the budget while already have a hole to fix. State constantly passes on costs to us and we are left holding the bag. Missed some of what he says, but he wants the fees renegotiated.
It passes on a voice vote.
K. ITEMS THAT REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY FOR PASSING
1. Ord. Amdt. 4, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 54, Regarding Parking Fees at the Alliant Energy Center (Adopt)
2. Ord Amdt 6, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 62, Regarding Fees Charged by the Sheriff for Seizure of Property of Evictions (Adopt with Amdt.)
3. Res. 25, 09-10 - Acceptance of a WI DNR Grant - Survey of Three Floodplain Lakes of the Lower WI River (Adopt)
4. Res 26, 09-10 - Authorizing Acceptance of Funds for Dane County Streambank Easement Program (Adopt)
5. Res 33, 09-10 - Authorizing Acceptance of Grant from teh Nature Conservancy (Adopt)
6. Res 35, 09-10 - Setting Up Accounts to Recieve Donations for the Lyman Anderson Center Woods (Adopt)
7. Res 42, 09-10 - Transferring funds in the Capital Budget for Asbestos Remediation at 501 E Badger Rd. (Adopt)
8. Res 43, 09-10 - Approving a Change Order and Transferring Funds for Installation of a Heat Exchanger to Serve the Public Saftey Communications Center and other First Floor CCB (Adopt)
Item 2 is separated, Gau asks if the revenues on parking at the Alliant Center will go to the general fund or the Alliant Center Operating Fund, staff says Alliant Center.
All items pass unanimously on a voice vote except item 2 that was separated.
2. Ord Amdt 6, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 62, Regarding Fees Charged by the Sheriff for Seizure of Property of Evictions (Adopt with Amdt.)
McDonell steps down as the chair, Hendrick is in the chair.
Ferrell tries to amend the ordinance to say that the fee would be $50.
Hendrick rules him out of order. He says that it is similar to what they discussed at the last meeting. He also explains that McDonell ruled that his own proposal was not similar as $53 is not the same as $40. He asks if Ferrell wants to appeal the ruling of the Chair, Ferrell declines.
Ferrell makes another motion to change the fees to $45. Hendrick asks if someone will second while he consults with corporation council. He rules that motion is also not in order as they discussed various amounts at the last meeting.
Ferrell appeals the ruling of the chair this time. Willett seconds it, if a second is required. Hendrick says challenging the ruling of the chair is non-debatable so they vote.
ROLL CALL
AYE: Vedder, Veldran, Vogel, Wheeler, Bayrd, deFelice, DeSmidt, Downing, Erickson, Hesselbein, Hulsey, Jensen, Kostelic, Levin, Manning, Matano, McDonell, Miles, O'Laughlin, Optiz, Salov, S???, Stoebig, Hendrick
NO: Willett, Ferrell, Gau, Martz, Ripp, Schlict, Solberg, Bruskewitz (originally out of the room)
ABSENT: Stubbs, Wiggy, Hampton, Richmond, Rusk, S???
[Sorry, I missed two votes there.]
Hendrick calls on Wiggy. Laughter erupts. McDonell is sitting in Wiggy's seat as Wiggy is absent. McDonell announces that there will be a two for one special at the bar after the meeting and that it is half price box wine night.
McDonell explains that the basic objection to the ordinance change was that it was mid-year. He said the reason for this change came from statute. He says that there was a concern that we would be raising cost on individuals who would be paying in tough economic times. He says this change just acknowledges what they passed in the budget. He says he hopes he will be remembered as the patron saint of "what is in the budget is in the ordinance" and explains that they need to passed at the same time. He reiterates, this just aligns ordinances with the budget.
Hendrick clarifies that teh PP&J recommendation of $40 per hour is what is before them.
.
No further discussion.
ROLL CALL
AYE: Veldran, Vogel, Wheeler, Willett, deSmidt, Downing, Hesselbein, Hulsey, Jensen, Kostelic, Levin, Martz, Miles, O'Laughlin, Opitz, Ripp, Salov, Schmidt, Solberg, Stoebig, McDonell
NO: Vedder, Bayrd, Bruskewitz, deFelice, Erickson, Ferrell, Gau, Manning, Matano, Schlicht, Hendrick
ABSENT: Stubbs, Wiggy, Hampton, Richmond, Rusk
Motion fails, Hendrick explains it requires a 2/3 vote of those elected, not those present.
M. SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS THE COUNTY BOARD IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT BY LAW
None.
N. ADJOURNMENT
Opitz/Gau passes unanmiously.
KONKEL EXCLUSIVE
[Shoot me now, I sound like the Critical Badger!]
Apparently, there is an amendment to their rules circulating that would prevent the long special matters items in the beginnings of the meetings. It would eliminate memorial resolutions, proclamations and special presentations leaving only presentations by the County Executive and Announcements (limited to 2 minutes). It was sponsored by Hendrick, deFelice and Opitz when I saw it, but there were others signing on.
It is a little crazy that they spend more time on announcements and presentations than they do on actual business.
NOTE: I had some technical problems with my computer so my notes from this meeting were a little sketchy, my apologies in advance for this likely not being my best work. Read more!
A. ROLL CALL - Excuse Supervisors Hampton and Richmond [Announced on the Agenda]
Stubbs, Veldran, Downing, Rusk, Schmidt, Erickson, Wiganowsky all also absent.
Chair McDonell announced 27 present - 10 absent and Hampton, Richmond, Rusk and Wiggy are all excused. [I missed one of the absenses because the County Clerk doesn't repeat the roll call and it is hard to hear who says they are here.]
1. Prayer/Inspirational Message - Supervisor Stubbs (Veldran next)
2. Pledge of Allegiance - Supervisor Veldran
Stubbs not there, so Chair McDonell had them rise and recite the pledge.
B. SPECIAL MATTERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Dane County Lakes and Watersheds State of the Waters Presentation
- Sue Jones, Office of Lakes & Watersheds Coordinator
Talks about Take a Stake in the Lakes events and other projects that they worked on in the last year: Turville Bay Research Project to try to get more native plant growth, Aquatic Invasive Species Planning, Municpal Storm Water Partnership including salt use recommendations, myfairlakes.com activities, working on activities in the Memorandum of Understanding with others to clean up the lakes, working plan to deal with nutrients and sediment, etc.
- Dane County Lakes & Watersheds 2009 Waters Champions Recognition
Jones introduced the three individual honorees.
2. Dane County Housing Authority Presentation - Supervisor Bayrd
Kate Nardi from the Dane County Housing Authority share information about foreclosures and what activities they are working on.
- In 2008 there was a 50% increase in foreclosures
- From 2008 to 2009 there was a 39% increase for the first quarter according to information that comes from CCAP (court records) and the UW
- In May of this year foreclosures increased 20% over last year with 650 court filings this year and 543 in 2008
- She explains that the 650 filings don't represent the struggles that the families are facing
- Nardi explained that the Housing Authority is the HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency, they get HUD funding for their activities.
- In addition to trying to help people in foreclosure, they also try to support people before the foreclosure is filed.
- They serve City and County residents. 60% county, 40% city.
- They also have HCRI funding to help 14 households and FEMA funding to help 15 households if no job which is the 2nd wave of funding.
- They educate people about the legal process, talk to them about alternatives, go to court as advocates as well.
- She talked about local lawyers crafting a local rule for the court system that would require mediation in foreclosure cases.
- She said that they have a Pay for Performance Contract to pay for staff to work on the cases and they are one of the few who respond to a national 800# line.
- Welcomes ideas on how to increase capacity and number of people they can support.
3. Library Board's Plan for Service - Supervisor Martz
Martz & Wheeler came forward, Martz says they all got the plan in their mailboxes. He introduces the President of the Library Board.
- He thanks current and former Library Board Supervisors and introduces Julie Chase who is the Director of Library Services.
- Talks about article in WSJ yesterday by the Historical Society about how libraries used to be run.
- He says service demands are up.
- He highlighted challenges of building a new library in Fitchburg and Cottage Grove and how that would impact the library services county wide.
- Says they are doing well despite challenged.
- Thanks them for continuing to support the 100% funding for municpal reimbursements and the guidelines they adopted.
- He says the 100% reimbursements prevent libraries from having to cut hours.
- He asks them for input.
- Shares he heard from two library directors that they appreciate the comprhensive guidelines.
QUESTIONS
Hendrick says he supports 100% reimbursement, but says it won't be viable to have a stand alone library service in Fitchburg. He characterized the situation as hopeless and asks if that is correct.
Library Board President says they hired consultants a few years ago to try to figure out how to give services county wide if no Dane County library service, he said they had quite a few recommendations but each have pros and cons and there needs to be a public discussion before decisions are made.
4. Res 55,09-10 - Congratulating Ben Brummel for his Division 1 State Championship in Wrestling for Middleton High School
Supervisors from the Middleton School District Ferrell, Opitz & Ripp joined Hesselbein as she read the resolution.
Opitz thanks Hesselbein for writing the resolution and the Coach. Congratulates Ben for academic and athletic accomplishments and his community involvement in the bike and pedestrian plan for the City of Middleton. Quips that he is well equiped to wrestle with issues in the future.
Ben thanked them for the honor and thanks his family, coach, friends and team mates. Good four years and looking forward to college.
5. Res 56, 09-10 - Recognizing Dale Bruhn for his Years of Service to the Community
Matano reads the resolution with a long list of accomplishments. Lynn Green from Dane County Human Services as well as Vedder, DeSmidt, Wheeler and Willett(?) joined him to honor Bruhn's work on the Long Term Care Committee for the county.
Bruhn thanks them for the honor, says its almost overwhelming. Appreciated working on the committee that worked on critical needs for vulnerable populations and appreciates the support the Board has provided for statewide and nationally recognized programs.
Vedder says only known him for a few years, that when he announced he was leaving after 14 years there was agony and tears. His last meeting they had cake and champaign and broke all the rules.
Matano moved approval, Wheeler seconded. It passed on voice vote.
6. Announcements
Salov was recognized, but Jensen talked about the Fair. McDonell asked to make sure there would be Ponies this year, because his daughter was upset last year that they weren't there. Jensen plugged various activities during the fair. Dane County Fairest of the Fair winner also joined him. He explained it was the first ever and will compete in a statewide competition - her job is to promote the county.
Salov said Thursday is Military Appreciation Day and there is free admission and red white and blue ribbons for military and their families. He asks for volunteers from 2:00 on to help hand out the ribbons.
The Dane County Fairest of the Fair winner Molly talked about her role, the entertainment of the fair, what she has learned going to the Fair and invites people to the fair July 15th - 19th and says to look at the Dane County Fair website.
They also Announced the runner up and other contestants.
Downing - said resolution next month in honor of passing away of Linda Farley. Talked about her lifelong work as a physician, that she looked for the special light in everyone, was an activist and had a deep caring for vulnerable and social justice issues. He reminded them that she appeared before the county board on resolution supporting single payer health care and urging state to take action. She was huge advocate for the single payer system and believed that health care is a human right. She said once you realize that, then the only question is how to get people the care they need.
Sheriff - introduce recruiting class. Some are not newest class but newest deputies.
Veldran talked about recent shooting death of the 17 year old student. Says he was at the meeting with the Mayor and others to talk about solutions. He said they talked about police solutions, but also how community could reach out. He said the community had already started a community garden and June 24th they had already planned a farmer's market at the Orchard Ridge Church with 15 vendors. He says this is the grand opening 3:00 - 7:00 and talked about other activities that will be there. Said the farmers market will be on Wedensdays all through the growing season
Veldran also announced he was circulating a letter in light of the PSC decision to grant the ATC power line. He said that the original bill at the state allowed change in rules for condemantion with limited attorney fees which will prevent people from bringing cases. The letter urges reps and senators to reconsider that.
McDonell announed that there was a card circulating for Rusk who's sister passed away.
[That took til 7:55! Now, on to actual business of the board!]
C. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS
1. Claims Recommended for Approval
They were approved with a few abstentions and at least one vote no on one of the items. But they all passed without discussion.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Ord Amdt. 3, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 17, Regarding Official Map Revisions Incorporating a Dam Failure Analysis Approved by the WDNR for Across Moen Creek in Steward Park (Adopt)
2. Ord Amdt. 5, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 69, Adjusting Speed Limits on County Highways (Adopt)
3. Res 2, 09-10 - Authorizing Dane County Participation in an Intergovernmental Agreement to Fund a Position for Storm Water Information, Education and Outreach Coordination for the Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership (MAMSWaP) (Adopt)
4. Res 28, 09-10 - Encouraging Dane County Municipalities and Residents to Prevent Phosphorus Runoff into the Counties Lakes and Streams by Proper Disposal of Leaves and Yard Waste (Adopt)
5. Res 37, 09-10 - County Executive Appointments (Adopt)
6. Res 46, 09-10 - Supporting a Wisconsin Payday Lending Consumer Protection Act (Adopt)
7. Res 53, 09-10 - Establishing the Dane County 2010 Census Complete County Committee (Adopt)
8. Res 54, 09-10 - County Executive Appointments (Adopt)
Matano noted that DJ Laurie she graduated from law school and asked for that to be corrected.
Salov noted that the resolution on Payday Lending is important. We have had caps on loans but they are disappearing, loans going to 500 - 600% and should encourage legislators to pass a bill to fix this.
All of the items passed on a voice vote.
G. REPORTS ON ZONING PETITIONS
a. Map of Dane County
b. Summary of Grant as Modified petitions
1. Petition 9982 - Town of Primrose - Theodore White (Grant as Modified)
2. Petition 10049 - Town of Verona - Doerfer Brothers Inc (Grant as Modified)
No registrants, passes on a voice vote.
I. AWARD OF CONTRACTS
1. Res. 7, 09-10 - Award of Contract for New Badger Prairie Health Care Center (Adopt Sub 1.)
2. Res. 29, 09-10 - Authorizing the Purchase of Land at Cam-Rock County Park - Christensen (Adopt/Adopt with Amdt.)
REGISTRANT
One registrant, Finch in opposition. Says he is speaking for himself only. Says udgets are tight, county workers are furloughed and the purchase of the park shouldn't be a priority when people are concerned about losing jobs and homes. He said he has questions about what the impact of the delay would be.
McDonell explains that the public doesn't ask questions that he should ask his questions and they will try to address the questions during debate.
Finch asks if what other costs will be incurred if they purchase the property and how it will be paid for.
QUESTIONS OF REGISTRANTS
Salov asked if he has been monitoring purchases. Finch says no. Salov explained that there are many purchases the county is making (Anderson property and the Mazomanie Park) and suggests he looks at them in context
MOTION
Hendrick moves EANR amendment, Ferrell second. The amendments says that the proceeds from sales of house go to Conservation Fund. Passes voice vote with a few nos.
QUESTIONS OF STAFF
Hulsey - Says he understands that the property will generate rent and taxes. Asks about impact of delay. Staff says purchase contract is in place, seller may not sell if they wait past July. Says the trail is being constructed and it is hard to stop a project when ready to go. She said rent will be $700 per month plus they pay utilities and taxes. Hulsey says it will cover interest on money borrowed to purchase the land. He said they plan on selling property in the future. This helps complete trail and pays for itself.
McDonell asks about the accounts that Personnel & Finance froze.
Staff says Land and Water Legacy Account was frozen and $2.3M of projects won't go forward.
In the Conservation fund they only spent $1M of $7.5M planned.
Ripp explains that staff "low balls" estimates and they might make money on the deal. He said this is the last part to get the trail complete and usually they have to pay more than market rate. He says this is a good deal and the only issues is that they have to buy the whole property. The next person who buys the property might not be willing to sell. He says they are basically held harmless.
Stoebig asks staff why the money going in the Conservation Fund instead of General Fund. McDonell says that is a political question and not for staff to answer.
deFelice - Asks a question about selling the land. Staff says to look at the map - lot is .5 acre in size, so you can see that yellow cross hatching is the .3 of the acre that would be sold with the house.
DISCUSSION
The chair asks for discussion on the motion as amended.
Stoebig asks why money goes to Conservation Fund even tho already voted on it - wants an explanation. Seems concerned that the Conservation Fund is borrowing.
McDonell says maintenance fund will be from GPR.
Hendrick says that policy is that proceeds form Conservation Fund projects go back into the Conservation Fund, but that he can't speak to specific amendment.
Passes on voice vote - Schlict, DeFelice, Martz, Willett ?? recorded as no. [If you want to know exactly who asked to be noted as voting no, you should probably look at the minutes when they come out.
3. Res. 39, 09-10 - Authorizing Memoranda of Understanding Regarding 2009 Personnel Savings
Schmidt - Urges Supervisors to take a pay cut. She says that even though she is also taking a cut of 16 days in her day job, she is going to take a pay cut.
Passes without further comment, sounded unanimous.
4. Res. 40, 09-10 - Authorizing 2009 Personnel Savings Initiative for Unrepresented Employees
No discussion, passes and sounded unanimous.
J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Res 31, 08-09 - Support State Action on Electronics Recycling (Adopt with Amdt.)
No disccuison, sounded like it passed unanimously.
2. Res 32, 09-10 - Opposing State Landfill and Solid Waste Budget Measures (Adopt with Amdt.)
Schmidt says she is concerned that the reason to raise tipping fees was because out of state garbage is being brought in to Wisconsin because our fees are lower. Torn because she thinks that there is a merit to the reason for raising the fees and she says the issue is deeper than in the resolution.
Ripp says that we pass through whatever fees the State adds. They only accept Dane County waste in their landfill. Big chunk of the fee is City of Madison - will add several hundred thousand dollars to the City's budget. He says this is a bad deal because of how it impacts the taxes of the municipalities.
Willet says it impacts businesses as well. Already received notice that his fees going up. Businesses are struggling to keep people employed and it will just get passed through. State is being greedy and taking it out on the rest of us. [I found it amusing that he also said that his fees were going up likely more than the fees actually costs and sort of complains that another business is taking advantage of the situation.]
Stoebig explains the recycling law of 1990 that created the fund. He says the fund helped pay for recycling programs in municipalities and state programs. At that time it made sense, communities supported recycling, but over the years the legislature looked to tap that fund. Suddenly we had self-supporting programs that went away. He says the increase won't go to recycling but to balance state budget and that is why they introduced this resolution, out of frustration.
deFelice points out that state did promise to pay for 66% and only paying 30% and increasing the fees in the middle of the budget cycle. We cut employee wages tonight in the middle of the budget while already have a hole to fix. State constantly passes on costs to us and we are left holding the bag. Missed some of what he says, but he wants the fees renegotiated.
It passes on a voice vote.
K. ITEMS THAT REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY FOR PASSING
1. Ord. Amdt. 4, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 54, Regarding Parking Fees at the Alliant Energy Center (Adopt)
2. Ord Amdt 6, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 62, Regarding Fees Charged by the Sheriff for Seizure of Property of Evictions (Adopt with Amdt.)
3. Res. 25, 09-10 - Acceptance of a WI DNR Grant - Survey of Three Floodplain Lakes of the Lower WI River (Adopt)
4. Res 26, 09-10 - Authorizing Acceptance of Funds for Dane County Streambank Easement Program (Adopt)
5. Res 33, 09-10 - Authorizing Acceptance of Grant from teh Nature Conservancy (Adopt)
6. Res 35, 09-10 - Setting Up Accounts to Recieve Donations for the Lyman Anderson Center Woods (Adopt)
7. Res 42, 09-10 - Transferring funds in the Capital Budget for Asbestos Remediation at 501 E Badger Rd. (Adopt)
8. Res 43, 09-10 - Approving a Change Order and Transferring Funds for Installation of a Heat Exchanger to Serve the Public Saftey Communications Center and other First Floor CCB (Adopt)
Item 2 is separated, Gau asks if the revenues on parking at the Alliant Center will go to the general fund or the Alliant Center Operating Fund, staff says Alliant Center.
All items pass unanimously on a voice vote except item 2 that was separated.
2. Ord Amdt 6, 09-10 - Amending Chapter 62, Regarding Fees Charged by the Sheriff for Seizure of Property of Evictions (Adopt with Amdt.)
McDonell steps down as the chair, Hendrick is in the chair.
Ferrell tries to amend the ordinance to say that the fee would be $50.
Hendrick rules him out of order. He says that it is similar to what they discussed at the last meeting. He also explains that McDonell ruled that his own proposal was not similar as $53 is not the same as $40. He asks if Ferrell wants to appeal the ruling of the Chair, Ferrell declines.
Ferrell makes another motion to change the fees to $45. Hendrick asks if someone will second while he consults with corporation council. He rules that motion is also not in order as they discussed various amounts at the last meeting.
Ferrell appeals the ruling of the chair this time. Willett seconds it, if a second is required. Hendrick says challenging the ruling of the chair is non-debatable so they vote.
ROLL CALL
AYE: Vedder, Veldran, Vogel, Wheeler, Bayrd, deFelice, DeSmidt, Downing, Erickson, Hesselbein, Hulsey, Jensen, Kostelic, Levin, Manning, Matano, McDonell, Miles, O'Laughlin, Optiz, Salov, S???, Stoebig, Hendrick
NO: Willett, Ferrell, Gau, Martz, Ripp, Schlict, Solberg, Bruskewitz (originally out of the room)
ABSENT: Stubbs, Wiggy, Hampton, Richmond, Rusk, S???
[Sorry, I missed two votes there.]
Hendrick calls on Wiggy. Laughter erupts. McDonell is sitting in Wiggy's seat as Wiggy is absent. McDonell announces that there will be a two for one special at the bar after the meeting and that it is half price box wine night.
McDonell explains that the basic objection to the ordinance change was that it was mid-year. He said the reason for this change came from statute. He says that there was a concern that we would be raising cost on individuals who would be paying in tough economic times. He says this change just acknowledges what they passed in the budget. He says he hopes he will be remembered as the patron saint of "what is in the budget is in the ordinance" and explains that they need to passed at the same time. He reiterates, this just aligns ordinances with the budget.
Hendrick clarifies that teh PP&J recommendation of $40 per hour is what is before them.
.
No further discussion.
ROLL CALL
AYE: Veldran, Vogel, Wheeler, Willett, deSmidt, Downing, Hesselbein, Hulsey, Jensen, Kostelic, Levin, Martz, Miles, O'Laughlin, Opitz, Ripp, Salov, Schmidt, Solberg, Stoebig, McDonell
NO: Vedder, Bayrd, Bruskewitz, deFelice, Erickson, Ferrell, Gau, Manning, Matano, Schlicht, Hendrick
ABSENT: Stubbs, Wiggy, Hampton, Richmond, Rusk
Motion fails, Hendrick explains it requires a 2/3 vote of those elected, not those present.
M. SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS THE COUNTY BOARD IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT BY LAW
None.
N. ADJOURNMENT
Opitz/Gau passes unanmiously.
KONKEL EXCLUSIVE
[Shoot me now, I sound like the Critical Badger!]
Apparently, there is an amendment to their rules circulating that would prevent the long special matters items in the beginnings of the meetings. It would eliminate memorial resolutions, proclamations and special presentations leaving only presentations by the County Executive and Announcements (limited to 2 minutes). It was sponsored by Hendrick, deFelice and Opitz when I saw it, but there were others signing on.
It is a little crazy that they spend more time on announcements and presentations than they do on actual business.
NOTE: I had some technical problems with my computer so my notes from this meeting were a little sketchy, my apologies in advance for this likely not being my best work. Read more!
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