The (School Board) Week Ahead . . .

Kinda . . . a little . . .

I thought this sounded interesting:

Pocan and Miller will speak Monday 11/30 - Agenda of the Madison School Board for 11/30 includes:

Discussion with State Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs regarding K-12 Funding in Wisconsin and the Impact of the State Budget on School District Finances.

The meeting is at 5:00 PM in room 103 of the Doyle Building. Read more!

The (County) Week Ahead

Without the budget, things slow back down, but still some items of note . . . and several missing agendas?? Full weekly schedule here. Agendas here.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2009
5:30 p.m. EANR – Sustainable Agriculture Subcommittee...Rm. 310 CCB
Setting Priorities for Work Group Recommendations
- Farm Profitability
- Beginning Farmer
- Farmland Preservation/Conservation
- Urban Agriculture and Community Food Security

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009
5:00 p.m. HEALTH & HUMAN NEEDS COMMITTEE...Rm. 309 CCB
- I couldn't find much to be interested in.

* 5:30 p.m. ZONING & LAND REGULATION COMMITTEE ...Rm. 310 CCB
- Determine the date for enacting the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Farmland conversion fees under the Working Lands Initiative

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009
12:30 p.m. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE...Rm. 310 CCB
- As disappointing as the city's committee on economic development, shouldn't they have more to talk about with these economic times besides the mustard museum?

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009
5:00 p.m. HUMAN SERVICES BOARD...Rm. 315 CCB
- Continued discussion of merging POS agencies.

5:00 p.m. IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE...Rm. 321 CCB
- Agenda not available?????

5:30 p.m. CAPITAL AREA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSON...Rm. 310 CCB
- Agenda not available?????

7:00 p.m. DANE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS...Rm. 201 CCB
- 2010 Calendar of Meetings
- Authorizing a Contract Between Dane County and Inmate Calling Solutions,
LLC, for Dane County Jail Inmate Telephone Services (on consent agenda)
- Authorizing an Agreement Between Dane County and Matrix Consulting Group
to Conduct a Staffing Study of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office (on consent agenda)
- Approving AFSCME contracts and compensation and benefit packages for non-represented and confidential employees (on consent agenda)

And I didn't see much else, I'm guessing it'll be a quick meeting.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009
10:00 a.m. Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission ...2302 Fish Hatchery Rd.
- Agenda not available???
Read more!

The (City) Week Ahead

Back to the rat race . . .

Monday, November 30, 2009
11:30 AM TIF REVIEW BOARD ROOM 313 MMB
- Considering using the "half-mile rule" for the capitol square TIF

4:30 PM BOARD OF ESTIMATES ROOM 260 MMB
- Bus pass program for small businesses
- 5 year contract for Al Schumacher
- Meadowood Neighborhood Center - the one Pham-Remmele voted against funding for but takes credit for, but doesn't know anything about cuz she refuses to go to relevant meetings then says staff doesn't keep her informed. i.e. Thuy alert!
- Half Mile Rule for capitol TIF
- Amendment #1 to the Contract for Purchase of Services with Accela, Inc. and amending the Information Technology 2009 Capital Budget by transferring $127,000 from Purchased Software Enhancements Project # 810345 to the Enterprise Land and Asset Mgmt. Syst. Project # 810558 to fund Amendment #1 & contracts with Tyler Technologies, Inc. for the purchase and implementation of the MUNIS system and other software products for the City’s Integrated Enterprise Resource Planning System project (ERP) and for related services. (i.e. Clear alert!)
- Budget games . . . the deficit for the first time in 20 years, mostly goes to reduce debt. Here's what went over:
Police Department: $125,000
City Channel: $9,000
Streets Division: $994,000
Community Services: $25,000
Workers Compensation Fund: $1,625,000
Total Appropriation from General Fund Balance: $2,778,000

The key line in the fiscal note: The appropriation of $2,778,000 from the General Fund balance brings the 2009 General Fund budget to the expenditure limit allowable under the State of Wisconsin's Expenditure Restraint Program. (That's the game that is played. We have no money, until we have to spend up the the ERP limit, then we spend so we don't lose ability to spend the following year. Funny, the articles didn't mention recycling revenues being down, but it was one of the areas causing the over-runs. Also interesting that the Mayor's not available for comment on this one.)

More details on other budget adjustments here.

- Towing contract

4:45 PM LANDMARKS COMMISSION: POSSIBLE QUORUM OF URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION, PLAN COMMISSION AND/OR COMMON COUNCIL ROOM 300 MMB
- Edgewater If you're interested in this, you'll want to read the staff report. It tells you where they think the project meets the ordinance, and where it does not and would need a variance. Apparently new information will be presented at the meeting. I think there were a little generous on a few points, but in the end, find that a certificate of appropriateness for the tower cannot be granted unless they allow a variance.

6:30 PM LAND BANKING WORKSHOPS 2222 S PARK ST
1. Models of land banking, including Denver’s Urban Land Conservancy
2. Developing collaborative projects between city government and nonprofits
3. Incorporating neighborhood needs through Community Benefits Agreements
4. Creating successful transit oriented development

Tuesday, December 1, 2009
9:00 AM LAND BANKING WORKSHOPS ROOM 260 MMB
- Same agenda as last night

2:00 PM PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 733 N HIGH POINT RD
- 2011 Funding allocations (of course, there are no attachments, would you expect anything else?)

4:30 PM WATER UTILITY BOARD 809 E THOMPSON DR, EAST DISTRICT POLICE STATION CONFERENCE ROOM
- Board development and strategic planning (no attachments, this can be boring stuff, but its also where when done effectively alot happens while no one is watching - I'm not sure which to expect.)

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
4:30 PM URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION ROOM LL-110J MMB
- 62 housing units at the Bancroft Dairy.
- More apartments at 801 S. Park St.
- Replacing Gordon Commons with a surprising amount of green space.
- Edgewater (starts at 7:00, or later)

5:00 PM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ROOM 300 MMB
- With the economy the way it is, you would think this committee would be working their butts off . . . but no, its a snoozer.

5:00 PM HOUSING COMMITTEE ROOM 260 MMB
- Landlord Entry Law, allegedly making it more clear - but instead muddying the waters.
- Giving police ability to ticket landlords for more violations. And changing the photo ordinance.
- Chickens.
- Changing the default when the landlord can show an apartment to 1/2 way through the lease, was 1/4. (Keeping the loophole to allow the landlord to change it in the lease as long as its in the non-standard rental agreement)

5:00 PM VENDING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ROOM LL-130 MMB
- Vending by and around schools, with comments from the school

5:35 PM COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE 1625 NORTHPORT DR.
- Discussing how to allocate funds in the future (no handouts linked tho information has been provided at the meetings - irritating.)

Thursday, December 3, 2009
5:00 PM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMITTEE ROOM 260 MMB
- How to spend the $25,000 in the budget. Two ideas here.
-
Read more!

A little more Round Up

There's a little bit out there to comment on . . .

EDGEWATER TOUR
I considered going, but didn't feel like listening to another sales pitch. Apparently Rummel concludes, yes, the huge building will change the views for neighbors (duh, but somebody had to say it) and Maniaci presents a false choice "Alder Bridget Maniaci, a member of the commission, said the group first has to figure out if ordinance language related to neighborhood's historic district is meant to "stop destruction of historic properties" or "stop new development in historic districts." I sat on the commission, I don't think the commission needs to figure that out, generally speaking, it is clear that development is allowed, and we even said many times it shouldn't look faux historic, but should reflect the time in which it is built. I think the ordinance is clear that new development is allowed, the question is, is it compatible? Here's the language about "New Development" in the Historic District:

(e) Guideline Criteria for new Development in the Mansion Hill Historic District.
1. The gross volume of any new structure shall be visually compatible with the
buildings and environment with which it is visually related (visually related
area).
2. In the street elevation(s) of a new building, the proportion between the width and the height in the facade(s) shall be visually compatible with the buildings and the environment with which it is visually related (visually related area).
3. The proportions and relationships between width and height of the doors and
windows in new street facade(s) shall be visually compatible with the buildings
and environment with which it is visually related (visually related area).
4. The rhythm of solids to voids created by openings in the facade of the new
structure should be visually compatible with the buildings and environment with
which it is visually related (visually related area).
5. All new street facades should blend with other buildings via directional
expression. When adjacent buildings have a dominant vertical or horizontal
expression, this expression should be carried over and reflected.

There's other areas of the ordinance that come into play and the commissions job will be to try to balance it all and decide if it should get a certificate of appropriateness and consider:

c. Whether, in the case of any property located in an Historic District
designated pursuant to the terms of Subsection (6)(d) hereunder, the
proposed construction, reconstruction or exterior alteration does not
conform to the objectives and design criteria of the historic preservation
plan for said district as duly adopted by the Common Council.

So, the question becomes, should they get a certificate of appropriateness and does it conform with its plan. My guess is, they won't make a final decision on Monday, but you never know.

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING
Hmmm . . . Badger Depot closing causes confusion . . . no kidding, who didn't see that coming.

"CABLE COMPETITION" BILL NOT DELIVERING
Again, who didn't see this coming. Rates are up, union jobs are down, and its the beginning of the end of public cable access as we know it. In the Milwaukee area alone the they've lost 300 union jobs, or 15% of the jobs.

THE SAD STATE OF THE MEDIA
Sometimes, a picture is worth a 1,000 words. This used to be functioning media room at city hall . . . and now . . . its where they store the chairs.

Better yet, or I guess, worse . . .  the other day when I cut through there, one of the computers had a "blue screen of death" on it.

BANDS, PROMOTERS, SOUND GUYS (OR GALS IF THEY EXIST?), ETC, NO DRINKS FOR YOU!
I have the week off, so I was reading the . . .gasp . . . thedailypage forum. Generally, to be avoided as it just devolves into a nasty round of insults, but this discussion is of interest . . . as they note, while its hard to argue that bartenders should be able drink on the job, they bring up some good questions about brewmasters and others. Was the ordinance intended to be that broad? Here's the ordinance proposal in question proposed by Schumacher and the Mayor:

(8) It shall be unlawful for the licensee, agents, officers, directors, partners, members, managers of the licensee, or any employee or independent contractor of a licensed establishment, including members of the licensee’s immediate family, to drink or consume any alcohol beverage or to be under the influence of an intoxicant, or a controlled substance or a combination of an intoxicant and a controlled substance, while working or performing services on the licensed premises.

BURY THE BAD NEWS
Instead of discussing this during the budget, they release it during a slow news week/when no one is paying attention, but the city is facing a deficit for the first time in 20 years. Not by much given we have a $239M operating budget, but $3.4M still hurts when taking it out of our reserve. It's also interesting that when looking at the city budget, you can find 16 fund balances, but not the amount that is in the reserve listed anywhere.

Eh, that's all I got for today . . . Happy Thanksgiving. Read more!

Pre-Thanksgiving Round Up

It's a slow week, but somehow, I still found a few things to comment on.

WYOU BLUES
If you ever thought about donating to WYOU, now is the time to do it. Please. After looking at the budget last night, its grim. And our only hope to survive is YOU. There's no other place to find this kind of local programming. And, if charter goes with their "consumption based billing" you may be watching a little less youtube. (Tho, I gotta wonder how that will work with all the free wifi - I bet they start blocking video streaming.)

DON'T RENT EARLY!
I blew it on this interview, I forgot to say that in addition to the price, the other big reason not to rent early if you are a student . . . some of the better apartments, the ones that landlords don't want to rent to students, are held back til later in the year in hopes of getting either more mature students or non-students. And I can't stress enough that when you are asked to renew earlier and earlier every year, you don't get the opportunity 2 months into your lease to know what the heating bills are, if you get along with your roommates, what kind of repairs the landlord will do, how alternate side parking affects you, will you be coming back next semester, is there flooding in the spring, etc etc etc. Because, the next thing that happens after people rush out there to sign leases . . . is that they decide to break the lease or sublet. My guess is Maniaci's ordinance won't do anything, as long as the landlord's still have the option to change the date in the non-standard rental provision.

SO MUCH FOR BUDGET CUTS
At a time when people are desperate for jobs and most places are getting tons of applications for the few jobs available, wouldn't this year have been a good time to cut back on say . . . recruiting . . . especially driving 14,000 miles in a year to places like Fargo N.D. Most departments can't even advertise their positions in their professional magazines and the Human Resources Department has said that they have cut back on advertising because of the economy and our attempts in the past to give them more money have been refused. But the police department, no need to be frugal there, they get a credit card with no limit.

MORE BAD HEADLINES
City subcommittee changes snow clearing ordinance [ONLINE EXCLUSIVE] - Right . . . a subcommittee changed an ordinance. In what universe? I don't really know where to begin, but given the professional media can't get their headlines right, I guess we can hardly expect UW students to get it right. What I'm confused about is are they planning for Madison Metro to get the tickets, cuz the bus pads are the city responsibility to clear. Or were they intending to make that the responsibility of nearby property owner? I re-read the article, wasn't sure what the intent was.

OVERCROWDING
Define overcrowding. These same homes, if they were family members, likely would not be "overcrowded" but because they are "unrelated" they are "overcrowded". And, given our definitions of "family" in our zoning codes and the lack of desire to fix it in the zoning code re-write, I think we should tread lightly. One of the odder questions I have even been asked was when 3 straight guys wanted to rent a 4 bedroom but couldn't because they were "unrelated", and asked if they should pretend they were gay. Which was inventive, but . . . still wouldn't help.
Read more!

City and County Week Ahead

Well, its feast or famine. Not much this week. Good thing I'm wasting more of the years of vacation I accumulated . . . and won't have to go to meetings!

The city only has 5 meetings and not much of interest. The rest of the meetings are here.

Monday, November 23, 2009
nothing of interest . . .

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
12:00 PM TOUR OF EDGEWATER HOTEL: POSSIBLE QUORUM OF LANDMARKS COMMISSION, URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION, PLAN COMMISSION AND/OR COMMON COUNCIL 666 WISCONSIN AVE (No agenda available, not even the public notice.)

5:00 PM PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE/MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION ROOM 260 MMB
- Vending by schools

The county has 11 meetings. Also not a whole lot of interest. The rest of the meetings are listed here and agendas are here.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
5:30 p.m. PERSONNEL & FINANCE COMMITTEE...Rm. 309 CCB
- Contract for inmate jail phone services.
- Sheriff staffing study contract
- AFSCME union contracts
- Unrepresented employees compensation package for 2010
- Possible closed session for bargaining with the unions

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
7:30 p.m. ZONING & LAND REGULATION COMMITTEE ... Rm. 201 CCB
- Lots of small projects and University Research Park final plat.
- Borrowing for zoning permit tracking software
- Continuing zoning code rewrite committee for the county

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
- Nothing of interest.

Read more!

Continued Round Up for this Week

Less regurgitation of things you should know, more attitude! :)

BIGOTED FLASHBACK
As my co-worker and friend Megin McDonell says on my Facebook page "hello? 1999? is that you? can you come and get your talking points, please, and take them back to your own century? thanks."

Apparently, we're going to have the debate about if Section 8 causes crime, again. What's so galling is that is that it is the landlord's responsibility to screen their tenants just like any other tenant and if they find the tenant to be a problem - for a reason other than that they receive Section 8 payments to help pay their rents - then it is up to them to deny them. What I find concerning about the police department's current desire to map where crime and Section 8 vouchers might line up, is that it presumes that Section 8 somehow causes the crime, instead of recognizing that maybe, just maybe, those are the only landlords they can get to to rent to them because the other units are too expensive or they are being discriminated against. Another facebook friend notes "Of course, there's never any drug use, alcohol related violence, sexual assault, battery, theft, etc. happening at other concentrations of government assisted housing in town, i.e. the University." Good point. The final craziness here is that the section 8 program has their own requirements from HUD related to felony drug offenses and qualification to receive benefits of the program. On a final note, the landlord they are using as their poster child here is not the greatest landlord and I hear many concerns about his dealings. And I do believe he is in violation of the ordinance based on his comments in this article and previous articles on this matter. My personal opinion - not "according to sources at the Madison Tenant Resource Center"

SHAPIRO OUT, MERCER IN
Wow. Somehow, I don't think this is a very good decision. First of all, I don't think they can just decide who replaces Shapiro, I'm pretty sure the council will vote on it. Second, I really hope that cooler heads prevail and someone talks some sense into the Tavern League - Mercer certainly hasn't used good judgment lately, if the Tavern League wants to further alienate themselves, this is a good step, if not, I hope they reconsider.

HOW'D I MISS THIS
What? 12 Monona Terrace employees lost their jobs? Why? Just trying to be thorough, randomly. Do you believe it?

WOW

"In many ways, progressive Madison resembles a European-style monarchy. The king is called the mayor, and the council is a group of his advisers."

That kind of nailed it. This council has a council leadership that is an arm of the mayor. It's like they forgot there is an executive and legislative branch. The Mayor has 10 staff people, the 20 council members have 2 to share among them. They also all mostly have full time jobs in addition to serving our community. The problem I see is that the Mayor doesn't have to have all this power. The council could elect council leadership that will represent the council's interests, not the Mayor's. The council could take more initiative and show some leadership of their own, both individually and collectively. The Council could work in a more democratic manner instead of letting three guys make all the decisions behind the scenes and then call things "compromises" when 3/4 of the council and none of the community were involved in the discussion. Sigh . . . I could go on, but I better stop . . .

BONE MARROW DONORS NEEDED

Marrow Donor Registration
Antonio Rieder Drive
Saturday, November 21
10am-3pm
At Centro Hispano

Antonio is an adorable 6-year-old from Guatemala who was adopted by a family in Madison. During the fall of 2009, he was diagnosed with the blood disorder aplastic anemia. Antonio’s best treatment may be a bone marrow transplant. The best match for him and other patients of color is an unrelated donor from the same ethnic group. That’s why his family is encouraging donors from all ethnicities to join the Be The Match Registry.

You could help save a life.

Contact Todd Coleman at (866) 702-HOPE Or todd.coleman@bcw.edu

LANDBANKING WORKSHOPS

On November 11th, the Madison Common Council took the historic step of setting aside $5 million to establish a city land banking fund.

But how exactly will land banking work here in Madison? The details are still being worked out, but there is one thing that we know for sure: we increase the likelihood that our land banking efforts will be successful if we do a good job of learning lessons from successful land banking programs in other cities.

Join us for a discussion with two of the nation’s most innovative land banking experts from Denver, CO. Aaron Miripol is President and CEO of the Urban Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization with a mission of land banking, preservation and development of urban property for the long term community benefit. Joining Aaron will be Dace West, Co-Director of the City of Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships, which serves as a catalyst to leverage the best of Denver's public and nonprofit sectors to engage in innovative and collaborative work.

Aaron and Dace will share their experiences and help build our knowledge base around issues such as:

* Models of land banking, including Denver’s Urban Land Conservancy,
* Developing collaborative projects between city government and nonprofits,
* Incorporating neighborhood needs through Community Benefits Agreements,
* Creating successful transit oriented development.

Land Banking Workshops (same workshop both dates)

* Monday, November 30th, 6:30-8:30 PM, at the brand new Urban League Center for Economic Development & Workforce Training, 2222 S. Park St.
* Tuesday, December 1st, 9:00–11:00 AM, at the Madison Municipal Building, Room 260, 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

Sponsored by the Center for Resilient Cities, Common Wealth Development, Housing Initiatives, Madison Area Community Land Trust, Project Home, Urban League of Greater Madison, and the City of Madison.

For more information, go to www.affordablehome.org/landbanking

Read more!

Short Recap of Short County Board Meeting

Watched it on TiVo . . . wasn't feeling well so went home. So, you don't really get the same information as if you are actually there, but here's what I got out of it.

A. ROLL CALL
And here is one area that watching on TV is difficult as the clerk doesn't repeat if people are here and you can't always hear if they say they are here.
It sounded like Gau, Kostelic, Levin, Manning, Matano, Miles, Richmond, Ripp, Solberg, Stubbs, Vedder, Bayrd were gone, Ripp, Gau, Manning and Levin showed up by the end of roll call. In the end, they ended up with 30 present and 7 missing. Vedder and Stubbs were excused, but I don't know who was absent for sure besides Kostelic, Miles, Matano and Solberg cuz I could see their empty seats - or maybe Solberg was just too short to see? I think Richmond or Bayrd were the other absent people, but I'm not sure. By the time they were voting on things, the 5 missing people in question had shown up.

1. Prayer/Inspirational Message – Supervisor Duranczyk (Supervisor Erickson next)
Hmmm, McDonell called on Downing, but that is not what the agenda said. Downing said that with the economy, it is important to think about in some parts of the world, instead of saying heloo, a common greeting is "have you eaten today". As we get ready to show thanks in this world of plenty, please join him in the pledge.

2. Pledge of Allegiance – Supervisor Duranczyk

B. SPECIAL MATTERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Res. 183, 2009-2010 – Memorial to Mary Louise Symon
Rusk introduces members of the family and reads the resolution. Moved by Rusk, Seconded by Levin, passes on a voice vote. Rusk says that updating ethics ordinance tonight, says no one more ethical than Mary Louise Symon, and that she treated everyone with equal respect. Also respects that she was elected chair of the Counties Association back in the 80s. Many people wanted her to run for County Executive in mid-1980s after she left the county board, she said "leave me alone". She had many priorities outside of public life. Her daughter Judy said a few words. Thanks the county board. She enjoyed her 6 terms and proud of being chair for 3 years. Brought home stories of butting heads but always made sure each point of view was heard respectfully. Made many friends and stayed interested in county issues. Some issues she worked on here you are still working on today, but progress has been made. Thanks them.

2. Dane County Poverty Task Force Presentation
Michael Basford and Greta Hansen from the task force do a presentation.

Hansen says extra copies in the back. Read them again and often. Thanks them for taking the issue on. Many challenges and solutions. Thanks staff and supervisors Vedder and Wheeler for working on report. Thanks those who held a listening session in their district.

Basford thanks the staff as well, along with Vedder, Wheeler and those who hosted listening sessions. Says report was worked on since Sept. 2008. 12 meetings, 6 hearings, lists groups they worked with. Started their work with the knowledge that anti-poverty programs work. In a decade after Lyndon Johnson started the War on Poverty in 1964, national poverty rate lowered from 19% to 11.5%. Report was a result of listening, staff and research from individual members. They looked for research as it relates to children, people without health care, hunger and nutrition, public schools, seeking employment, caring for young children and seeking transportation and housing. Talks about work with homeless, homelessness isn't just about not having a place to stay at the end of the day. It is a struggle to get people into housing and keep them there. Poverty is not just the state of not having enough money, there are other issues that also need to be addressed. Encourages them to look at the data in the report. All of the indicators are on the downturn. Poverty rate in Dane County has gone from 10.9% to 11.5% from 2007 to 2008. .6% might not sound like a big deal, but that is the entire population of the Village of Cross Plains. So think of the entire Village of Cross Plains going into poverty. And that isn't the full brunt of the economic downturn, we don't have 2009 numbers yet. Based on everything else we know, those numbers will likely be worse. Says after report, still hearing more. They heard from the Madison Schools yesterday that they have seen a 19% increase in the last year of homeless children attending schools in Madison. Also heard yesterday that the HPRP program (stimulus money to help pay rent and prevent homelessness), in a little over 2 months spent 111,000 of 550,000 available to serve 125 families. They are receiving dozens of phone calls every day. Talks about funding for benefits specialist for homeless and mentally ill people to help them get the SSDI benefits. Dane County is one of most difficult places in the nation to get benefits you are qualified for. [Wait, what? I thought we had Cadillac services that were a magnet for people to move here? Did you know people can't get benefits that they qualify for? Hmmm . . . interesting myth vs reality moment!] This person helps people fill out the paperwork and do the appeals because almost all initial decisions are rejections. That position started June 1st, received 80 referrals and have a waiting list of 10 people. Inaction is not an option, current levels of poverty are affecting all areas of Dane County with increased strains on government services, municipalities, schools, businesses, non-profits, charities and families. Dane County government responsibility to rise to that challenge.

Hansen goes over the recommendations, asks them to put them in their heart and look at how it affects your life and people you know and the constituents in your district. They ask that when they make policy decisions to consider how it impacts people in poverty. If you're going to make a decision that negatively impacts people in poverty, at least do it with your eyes open. [No wonder they didn't want to hear about this report until after the budget was over . . . and they raised the sheriff's fees for evictions and cut struggling non-profits serving struggling people by 3% and spreading more of the pain to them than unions and their measly 3% pay cut or the slight increase in taxes.] Know what the impact is going to be so you can make plans to remedy the impact, if you want to. She says that they had an opportunity to restore the cuts . . .

Interrupted, McDonell calls on Hendrick to suspend rules to let them continue, they give them 5 more minutes. No one objects . . .

Hansen says they encouraged them and still recommend that they restore the cuts to human services. Next year you will be doing it again, you can address the cuts throughout the year and we don't want you to let that go by the wayside. Part of the way would be to make the task force a permanent commission to keep poverty on the agenda and on your radar. When life is good and poverty is gone, then you should disband it, but until that time you need citizens to partner with you on this work. She says that they should collaborate with municipal and school leaders, look at transportation in outlying communities who have few resources and how they get to resources, especially barriers for seniors. She says people who turned out care more about their neighbors than they do about themselves. That is a very telling value, that you probably already know and it was inspiring. Community and pantry gardens, common in city of Madison is growing in Dane County and think they need to look at it because of growing issue of access to local food. Asks them to look at the Elder Economic Security Index and look at how Dane County ranks. There are many self-sufficiency matrices that are used to measure poverty in various communities and we can use them to measure if we are making a difference. She thanks them, they want to continue working on the issue.

Stoebig asks about if you could separate the data by single family households vs two parent households and if they saw differences. He says he didn't see that in the data. He says that too often single parent households and average family households contribute to poverty throughout the nation.

Basford says the last 12 months stats for 2008 and in the back of teh report and that might be the best reference to answer the question. He says there are other areas of data in areas like housing that he can send to them, but that is a good starting point.

Stoebig asks about the transportation planning for senior service and was wondering if they worked with Human Services staff to better understand how county distributes specialized transportation money from the federal government and if they got any input from the county's mobility manager who is supposed to look at state and federal dollars and make sure options were available.

Hansen says that they did hear from staff, but they heard at the listening sessions that there are services, but we need to fine tune them, they are not working as well as they should and they are isolating and marginalizing people in the outer areas of the committee.

Basford says to look at the listening sessions notes, especially the ones from Sun Prairie, Stoughton and Mazomanie, you'll get alot of stories of the need for gas and transportation vouchers.

Hampton asks if the commission would be permanent, what would be your next objective.

Hansen says that part of what they learned, many systems operating to address poverty at some level, there is a need for greater communication, coordination and cooperation. A commission looking at poverty and how to address it can be a way to get people to the table to talk about common concerns and assets, but people in poverty are not getting what they need to move towards greater self sufficiency. Permanent commission would help move in that direction.

Veldran says hasn't read the report, asks about Dane County being one of the hardest places to get the benefits available to them.

Basford says to look at page 7. For Dane County residents with disabilities they are clearly eligible through SSDI, rejected, re-rejected and re-rejected. Wisconsin State Journal Article from September 20th of this year spells it out.

3. Announcements
Supervisor Levin introduces 4 resolutions since Stubbs is not here. Contracts for 2010.

Downing says resolution for giving prioritized zoning code revisions another term, it was extended once and sunsets at the end of the year. They have had 5 ordinance amendments, its been years and well into second list of priorities. He has another resolution about Planned Unit Developments this evening.

Richmond says a week ago event around Charter for Compassion, while talking about Poverty Task Force and cuts to human services, he would like them to read the charter and think about signing it if you agree with it. Now, with the economy, it is something to keep in mind every day.

Rusk says that Treasurer asked him to announce to check to make sure they are getting the Lottery Credit. You can save $70 - 100 on your tax bill. You can go to the Treasurer's website and check to see if you are there based on your last name. If you are, you need to send a form to the treasurer's office before Thanksgiving.

C. APPROVAL OF BILLS & ACCOUNTS
1. Claims Recommended for Approval
Moved by Stoebig, seconded by Ferrell. No discussion. Passes on a voice vote.

2. Claims Recommended for Denial
Moved by Schlicht, seconded by Kostelic. No discussion. Passes on a voice vote.

E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Ord. Amdt. 25, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 17, Adopting Flood Storage District Maps (Adopt)
2. Res. 148, 09-10 – Resolution for Safer Beaches and Cleaner Lakes (Adopt)
3. Res. 161, 09-10 – County Executive Appointments (Adopt)
4. Res. 163, 09-10 – Authorizing Public Health-Madison and Dane County to Accept a Public Health
Emergency Response Grant Related to the H1N1 Response (Adopt)
5. Res. 169, 09-10 – Amending Supervisory District Boundaries 35 and 36 City of Stoughton
Ordinance #0-16-09 (Adopt)
6. Res. 170, 09-10 – Adopting the 2009 Update of Dane County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
(Adopt)
7. Res. 182, 09-10 – County Executive Appointments (Adopt)
Hendrick separates item 6. McDonell says he will record it as unanimous approval on items E 1 - 5 & 7. No objection and they are recorded as unanimous.

Hendrick says he wanted to speak in favor of this plan and although it is a multi-hazard plan, he wanted to emphasize flood mitigation aspects. In 2008 there were more claims for flood damage in hydric soils areas than in the flood plains and that includes the 100 year flood plains which they regulate and the 500 year flood plains. 134 complaints in flood plains but 150 complaints outside that area. These hydric soils were formed by flooding in the past and are a good way to predict future flooding. One of mitigation efforts that they should do it prevent building on hydric soils so they don't have the expensive flood plains. We won't want to buy houses because they continue to be flooded.

Hulsey asks staff how many homes are in 100 year flood plains. Staff doesn't know. Hulsey says its 665, staff agrees it is close. [One might ask, if he knew the answer, why he asked? I'm surprised he didn't have a chart for that. :)] He says that in the last budget they had a hazard buy out budget of $200,000. The staff says that is in another department budget. Hulsey says that he didn't see the total value of the houses in the 100 year flood plain. He says trying to mitigate losses in Belle Isle area but we need to prioritize.

McDonell says that they should try to make sure that they are asking questions. He says he seems to know the answers better than staff. [My point, exactly.[

Passes on a voice vote.

G. REPORTS ON ZONING PETITIONS
a. Map of Dane County
b. Summary of Grant as Modified Petitions
1. Petition 10082 – Town of Springfield – Springfield Highlands LLC (Grant as Modified)
2. Petition 10084 – Town of Cross Plains – John Kalscheur (Grant as Modified)
3. Petition 10107 – Town of Sun Prairie – Homburg Equipment Inc (Grant as Modified)
4. Petition 10109 – Town of Dunkirk – Richard Hagen (Grant as Modified)
5. Petition 10111 – Town of Rutland – Tim and Chris Properties LLC (Grant)

Richmond separates G1. On G2 - G5 they had registrants. Andrew and Chris Homberg registering in support and available to answer questions.

Martz asks if it is separated if they can comment? There is one registrant and they will hear from them.

Matano voting no on G4.

G 2 - 5 passes on a voice vote.

They have Roger Bowden available for information on item G1. Martz says the registrant might want to speak. McDonell explains to the registrant they might want to speak so people could ask them questions. [That's a nice difference between the city and county. The Mayor would have actively discouraged the person from speaking, McDonell, probably realizing it will save time in the long run, encouraged the person to speak.]

He says he doesn't have a presentation. Says this goes way back, talks about 2020 process, worked on subcommittee after subcommittee to come up with comprehensive plans was the notion to discourage scattered growth there ought to be incentive to develop a rural hamlet and that is what they are trying to do at Springfield Corner. Identified in comprehensive plan as an area to have small area of housing. This is the first phase of that cuz adjacent to the corner.

Richmond asks staff about how many acres being rezoned and how much of the acreage is in flood plains or wetlands? He says it looks like 26 of the 39 acres, is that correct. Yes, he agrees 26 in flood plains and wetlands.

Richmond asks about the page that says natural resources has open water and town comprehensive plan says to keep development away from those areas. Staff says that buildings should not be placed in those areas.

Richmond holds up a map that is gray where there is hydric soils and says that there are lots there that are 3 to 4 acres and they seem to go across a pond and hydric soils. He asks why? Staff says that is a questions for the developer.

McDonell suggests he word the question differently and tells him not to use staff to make a political point - Richmond says he wants to know if it is typical.

Staff says that there are alot of bodies of water in Dane County and its not atypical for property lines to cross streams and small ponds.

Richmond asks about the conservation subdivision and asks what size lots they should have.

Staff says that there is no designated acreage for a conservation subdivision. He says Town of Springfield plan suggests they be kept to 1.5 acres. It could be less than 1.5 if community septic system established.

Richmond confirms it is a unsewered subdivision. Says it sounds like the lots are large, but won't ask staff the question.

Richmond asks about the culdesac, the town plan seems to discourage that. Staff confirms.

Richmond asks if there would be plans to get rid of it. Staff says Town owns land that they could extend the road, but there was no discussion of that at the committee.

Richmond say bottom of page 95, number 13 says maximize public open space, is this maximizing common open space. Staff says they can't make that deicison, ZLR committee recommended approval.

Richmond asks if someone wanted to maximize open space, how would one do that, what suggestions would staff make? Staff says to look at town and county comprehensive plan to see if state or county parks department or if the town would be interested in purchasing that land.

Richmond says there are 12 acres in hydric soil area that is being rezoned ot what? Staff says conservancy? He asks what that means? Could be used by passive recreational area. Owned by? Homeowners association.

Stoebig asks about the working lands initiative conversion fee, is that applicable? 26 going from A-1 to housing. Is there a delayed effective date. Staff says conversion fees only apply after January 1.

Ripp says this is in his district. Hasn't walked the area for a while but spent time here when a kid. Says the stream is intermittent. There are no buildings or septic systems on hydric soils, they are larger lots, hydric soil in back is a prairie area. Parks could have taken it over if they wanted it, we didn't take it, didn't fit in the parks plan. Private park, if town or county interested we can have it. The culdesac, the town has plans for additional development, so they hope it is temporary.

Miles says that they talked about it in committee and the were hoping the culdesac was temporary. On the size of the lots, they are larger to provide an ag feel and accomodate one live stock per acre. On open space, he raised these issues as well, see the letter where they responded ot some of those questions. 3k. addresses the open space question. The outlot in the northwest corner is their open space. All of it will be held privately and that is consistent with the town plan. Regarding the map, there is a 100 year flood plan delineation on there, they required them to get the hydric soils determination and it is more consistent with the 100 year flood plain line, not the full gray area. If you look at G.b. the memorandum highlights the conditions of having no buildings on hydric soils.

Richmond says he highlighted on his map the hydric soils and if trying to preserve that area, why not make the lots the area the size that you can build instead of having them go across the pond.

Miles says that the size of the lots is to allow one livestock per acre. If they reduced it to lots outside the 100 year flood plain, they would have lost one of the lots and would have had to change the zoning so they could have no livestock.

Richmond asks if the intent is to have livestock? If so, what kind. [It was kind of cute, he's trying to get answers, but can only ask questions of the chair, so he's hypothetically tossing out questions that Miles can or might not answer. McDonell is answering some of them as they go along. Seems a little silly and prohibiting a dialog, but it is Robert's Rules which they adhere to strictly.]

Miles says they are debating what kind of livestock, it will be in the homeowners association agreement. McDonell says probably not loud animals. [Talking and jokes off mic I couldn't hear.]

Richmond talks again. [McDonell losing his patience . . . the tacos are probably getting cold . . . :) . . . they have their budget party planned for after the meeting.] McDonell notes he has spoken many times, Richmond says he is asking questions but now is ready to debate. He says he hasn't been following it, understands Miles assurance about the culdesac and it doesn't make sense to him considering what the town plan says. He is voting against, hopes that other will consider that. Supervisor Miles says it has been discussed for a while, but reading through staff analysis, knowing this is a wetland area, that there is going to be livestock and the way it is platted, doesn't make sense.

ROLL CALL
AYE: Downing, Druancyzk, Ferrell, Gau, hampton, Hesselbein, Jensen, Kostelic, Levin, Martz, Miles, O'Laughlin, Opitz, Ripp, Salov, Schlicht, Schmidt, Solberg, Stoebig, Veldran, Wheeler, Wiggie, Willett, Bayrd, Bruskewitz, [more liberal than Tammy Baldwin)deFelice, DeSmidt, McDonell
NO: Erickson, Hendrick, Hulsey, Manning, Matano, Richmond, Rusk
ABSENT: Vedder, Stubbs

Passes 28 -7 - 2

H. ORDINANCES
1. Ord. Amdt. 36, 08-09 – Amending Chapter 9, Updating the Dane County Ethics Code (Adopt Sub.2 with Amdts.)
Rusk says basically on consent agenda, but major update. Thanks the ethics board. Unusual process, they raise questions to be sent to the ethics board and they have been deciding what they think is best and agreed with them in almost every case. Wanted it ready by Dec 1 when people take out nomination papers.
- Clarified prohibition on use of county equipment for electoral purposes. - Pictures is a big thing, if a picture is taken in the public domain, you can't regulate that, if you are supervisor DeSmidt and you decide you want a picture with nurse friends and go out there and have a picture taken, that would not be appropriate. If want to take a picture on county property is should not be in areas that the public does not have access to.
- They added immediate family members to the section on prohibiting fees and expenses.
- New provision on statement of economic interests, clerk will be sending a list to ethics board of those folks who don't submit it and they can be fined.
- Complaint process has been revamped with deadlines and requirements, they are not happy when unfounded or frivolous complaints come at election time and they had that in mind when they made these changes.
Urges support.

Salov asks about public property, is it just Dane County property, does it include town hall etc.

Rusk says it is county property.

Passes on a voice vote.

I. AWARD OF CONTRACTS
1. Res. 136, 09-10 – Approving the Sale of the Surplus Cross Plains Highway Garage (Adopt Sub. 1)
No discussion. Voice vote with a bunch of nos. Wiggie, Martz, Gue, Ferrell, Schlict, Gau and Bruskewitz want to be recorded as voting no. Motion carries.

2. Res. 158, 09-10 – Authorizing Addendum of Agreement #2 with Strang, Inc. for Job Center Remodel (Adopt)
No discussion. Passes on a voice vote.

3. *Res. 175, 09-10 – Award of Contract for Site Excavation at Saddlebrook Storage Facility ( )
Passed finance unanimously earlier this evening. 6-0 and adoption 4-0 in Public Works and Transportation. Sub 1 is before them.

Richmond asks about the facility, is it being knocked down? McDonell says they are just redoing the floor.

Ripp says it was a horse facility, large arena with large doors, but have to grade the area and then they can store the vehicles inside.

Passes on a voice vote.

J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Res. 27, 09-10 – Authorizing the Marketing of Land in County Property in the Town of Westport for Mineral Extraction (Adopt/Deny/Adopt with Amdts.)
Several registrants in support, all AFSCME representatives.

One registrant in opposition but won't speak cuz they are postponing.

Hulsey moves to postpone to next meeting, deFelice seconds.

Downing wants to move denial. It would be appropriate now, but they could discuss that next time. Some parliamentary confusion about motions . . . but the motion to postpone to the next meeting passes.

K. ITEMS THAT REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY FOR PASSAGE
1. Res. 114, 09-10 – Authorizing Acceptance of Wisconsin Department of Commerce Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Funds and Awarding of a Professional Services Contract Department of Human Services – CDBG (Adopt)
2. Res. 155, 09-10 – Transfer Between Information Technology (IT) Funds Human Services Administration and Badger Prairie Administration (Adopt)
3. Res. 160, 09-10 – Authorizing an Agreement to Accept the Highway Safety Grant Funds for a Community Traffic Safety Project “Alcohol Enforcement Project 2010” (No
Recommendation”/Adopt)

There is no requests for separation. Bayrd clarifies on 3 them motion is adoption. No objections to recording a unanimous vote.

L. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 2010 BUDGET DELIBERATIONS IF NEEDED
1. Res. 145, 09-10 – 2010 Dane County Operating Budget Appropriations Resolution (Adopt Sub. 1)
2. Res. 146, 09-10 – 2010 Dane County Capital Budget Appropriations Resolution (Adopt Sub. 1)
3. Ord. Amdt. 26, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 12, Establishing a Farmland Preservation Zoning Conversion Fee (Adopt)
4. Ord. Amdt. 27, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 12, Regarding Zoning Fees (Adopt)
5. Ord. Amdt. 28, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 62, Adjusting Fees Charged by Family Court Counseling Service (Adopt)
6. Ord. Amdt. 29, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 35, Huber Law Prisoner Fees (Adopt Sub. 1)
7. Ord. Amdt. 30, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 62, Increasing The Cremation Certificate Fee (Adopt)
8. Ord. Amdt. 31, 09-10 – Amending Chapters 45 & 46, Revising Fees Charged for Environmental Health Service (Adopt)
9. Ord. Amdt. 32, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 54, Regarding Parking Fees at the Alliant Energy Center (Adopt with Amdts./Adopt)
10. *Ord. Amdt. 33, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 62, Imposing a County Vehicle Registration Fee (“No Recommendation”)
11. Ord. Amdt. 34, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 62, Regarding Fees Charged by the Sheriff for Seizure of Property or Evictions (Adopt)
12. Ord. Amdt. 37, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 67, Airport Terminal Rent and Landing Fees (Adopt)
13. Ord. Amdt. 38, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 46, Regarding Collection of Fees for Private Sewage System (Adopt)
14. Ord. Amdt. 41, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 62, Regarding Fees for Deferred Prosecution Program (Adopt)
15. Ord. Amdt. 42, 09-10 – Amending Chapter 70, Increasing Fees at the Dane County Parking Ramp Consistent with the 2010 Budget (Adopt)
16. Res. 147, 09-10 – Setting the 2009 Tax Levy (Adopt)
These items were taken care of on Monday and so they were skipped.

M. SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS THE COUNTY BOARD IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT BY LAW
McDonell invites them to the Essen Haus for an after budget party.

Downing wants to know what happened to his resolution he was circulating, McDonell asks them not to steal it.

N. ADJOURNMENT – Until Thursday, December 3, 2009, 7:00PM, Or Call of Chair
Move by Opitz, seconded Gau. Passes

8:15. They're outta here. Read more!

Mid-week Round Up

Lots and lots of miscellaneous . . . catching up on non-budget, non-Edgewater related topics! And no long meetings to report on! Spent time in non-government meetings last night! :)

PROPERTY OWNERS, GET YOUR TAX CREDITS

The Dane County Treasurer, David Worzala, is encouraging property owners to make sure they are signed up for the lottery credit to reduce their 2009 property taxes. The lottery credit is paid by the state and will reduce your taxes by $70-100 each year depending on your school district. The credit remains each year until you move so the savings continues each year once you have signed up.

While most property owners are signed up, the Treasurer's Office has identified almost 14,000 properties in Dane County that are likely to be eligible, but who are not yet signed up. To be eligible for the lottery credit you have to have lived in your home on January 1, 2009 and it has to be your primary residence.

To check if you are one of those not yet signed up, click here and follow the simple directions. To get on this year's tax bill, you have to send in your form before Thanksgiving.

DIDN'T THIS GET SETTLED YEARS AGO
One would this this shouldn't be necessary . . .

WIEA “Indian” Mascot and Logo Taskforce and RAAINL will be providing educational material, observing fan behavior and providing a ‘Silent Vigil of Protest’ at the 2009 WIAA State Football Championship games involving race-based “Indian” named teams playing at Camp Randall Field on Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20.

We need volunteers to observe/vigil/photograph fan behavior during, and to help distribute materials to fans as they leave the following games:

Division 4 – Kewaunee ‘Indians’ vs. Big Foot ‘Chiefs’
Division 2 – Kimberly vs. Waunakee ‘Warriors’
Division 1 – Milwaukee Marquette vs. Menomonee Falls ‘Indians’

If you can help distribute materials, meet outside Camp Randall at Gate 1 at:
8:30 PM Thursday, November 19 for Division 4 Game
2:30 PM Friday, November 20 for Division 2
5:30 PM Friday for Division 1

The games start at 7 PM, 1 PM and 4 PM respectively for those attending the ‘Silent Vigil.’

EMPLOYERS STEALING FROM LOW-WAGE WORKERS
Man, it just gets worse . . . as if the economy wasn't taking its toll on low-income workers . .. .

Employers Stealing Millions from Workers Everywhere!
Workers Speak Out Against Wage Theft

When: 6pm Thursday, November 19
Where: UW-Madison campus. Check TITU for room location.

Wage theft is rampant across the country! A recent study found that 26 percent of low-wage workers were paid less than minimum wage, while 76 percent were not paid for overtime, resulting in an average of $51 stolen from workers' paychecks every week.

The illegal underpayment or non-payment of workers' wages affects millions of workers each year, forcing many to choose between paying their rent and feeding their families.

Join us in educating and organizing ourselves to help stop wage theft. We'll hear from local workers who have experienced it, from faith and community leaders describing the impact on our community, and from students discussing how we can organize in solidarity with workers and do something about it!

Organized by the Student Labor Action Coalition and the Workers' Rights Center.

Endorsed by: Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice, Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program, Campus Women’s Center, Chicana/o Latina/o Studies Program, Havens Center, Immigrant Workers Union (UTI).

PRAISE OR PROTEST
How's Obama doing on Afghanistan? Get ready to react!

Where: Madison, beginning at Lisa Link Peace Park, 400 State Street, up State St. toward the Capitol, around the Capitol and ending inside the Capitol rotunda with a rally and speakers.

When: On the day following the announcement by President Obama of his decision on additional troops for the war in Afghanistan:
If the announcement is made Sunday - Thursday: Event will be held the following day (Monday-Friday) at 4:30pm
If the announcement is made Friday or Saturday: Event will be held the following day (Saturday or Sunday) at noon
(Please check with contacts below to confirm time and day after President Obama makes an announcement of his decision.)

Contact info removed, but I can send it to you if you want.

While those within the Obama administration continue a vigorous debate about a possible escalation of the war in Afghanistan, concerned Madison-area citizens have already put in place their plans for a response to Obama's decision. A coalition of local peace groups, including Veterans for Peace, Madison-Area Peace Coalition, Madison Pledge of Resistance, and Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice are calling for Madison citizens to gather at Madison's Lisa Link Peace Park, 400 State Street, for a response to Obama's decision, including an open mic where speakers representing a range of opinions will share their views, followed by a solemn candlelight walk around the Capitol in remembrance of all of the victims of war.

"I'd like nothing more than for us to be able to gather to note a positive development, like a decision that no additional troops will be sent, or that the United States is establishing a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan," said Steve Burns, of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.

Recently, high-level Obama administration officials and influential members of Congress, including US ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, have spoken out against sending additional troops into the war in Afghanistan, raising hopes that the Obama administration might pull back from the brink of an Afghanistan escalation.

Despite these hopeful signs, Madison-area residents remain prepared to speak out forcefully if Obama does make a decision to escalate the war. “During the 10 year Soviet war in Afghanistan an estimated 1 million Afghans died, 1.2 million were disabled and 3 million were wounded. The American people will not stand for the Obama administration repeating the actions of the Russians. The killing must stop.It only breeds hate, not peace,” said Buzz Davis of Veterans for Peace.

Rae Vogeler of the Madison Area Peace Coalition said, “Our position has always been the US shouldn’t be in Afghanistan to begin with. We want the wars ended now and the troops and contractors brought home. Every day more troops and civilians die, more billions are spent, and we move closer to bankruptcy as a nation.”

This event has been endorsed by: Veterans for Peace, Madison Area Peace Coalition, WI Network for Peace and Justice, Madison Pledge of Resistance, Peregrine Forum and Wisconsin Impeachment/Bring Our Troops Home Coalition.

UN-NAMED SOURCE
I was in my sitting in my office and got a google alert for the Tenant Resource Center so I read the article and burst out laughing and rolled my eyes. One of the worst questions we get asked is if a landlord is good or bad and the problem is, its all relative, it can vary from year to year and of course, people threaten to sue us - so we don't really give recommendations or endorsements. Large management companies are usually as good as the people they hire, some small landlords are as good as the meds they are taking. Sometimes there are some where we see patterns or bad policies. We can guess who's charging illegally for carpet cleaning or charging security deposits for routine cleaning. We know who is sloppy on their landlord entry policies or who will negotiate with tenants when they are at eviction court. But . . . we're hesitant to say anything on the record, officially. Which is why I laughed so hard at this ringing endorsement from an un-named source in my office . . . which I thought was very artfully worded and subtle, but Apex owner Bosben clearly knew was not exactly a compliment:

“I wouldn’t say they are any better or any worse than the other big management companies,” says a source at the Madison Tenant Resource Center.

Bosben takes issue with any criticism . . .

Wait, we didn't exactly criticize him! He made that assumption . . .

As for me, when they asked me if they could put my name on that quote I hesitated . . . because of my sorta miserable multiple experiences with them as a neighbor went with the ol' "no comment".

But Kudos to my staff who managed to say nothing and yet get the landlord to say that they knew it was criticism! Too funny, some people are their own worst enemy.

MAYOR DAVE'S BIG DONORS
At the last council meeting, Pham-Remmele accused Mayor Dave of selling a seat on a committee for $1000. Mayor Dave says there are so few of those donors, so I thought I'd take a peak at some of his reports, here's what I found:
January 2009 Continuing Report
- Robert and Irwin Goodman each gave $500.
July 2009 Continuing Report
- #20,565 raised with 19 pages of donors mostly giving $100 - 500.
January 2008 continuing
- Raised a total of $225
July 2008 Continuing
- $6,231 raised.
- Fred and Mary Mohs each gave $500
- Emily Earley gave $1,000
January 2007 report
- James Crow gave an accumulated total of $1,250
- David Liebl gave an accumulated total of $1,150
- Frank Byrne gave an accumulated total of $1,387
- Peggy Anderson gave an accumulated total of $1,000
- Elliot Butler gave an accumulated total of $1,150
Spring Pre-primary 2007
- Stephen Hurley gave $1,000
- Spring Pre-Election 2007
- Patrick Essie gave $1000
- Bruce Neviaser gave $1000
July Continuing 2007
- Raised $8,127 but not larger donors

So, I went through that quickly, might have missed something, but . . . did any of these folks get some super great committee assignment? Perhaps I missed people who gave over several years? I dunno, nothing jumps out at me. I'll dig around some more. I'd have quite a few other comments about his campaign finance reports, but I don't think that people are buying seats on city committees . . .

MEETINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK
Because the 46 meetings I looked at on Monday morning were not enough, here's the ones that were added since then . . .
Yesterday, I posted the week ahead schedule, but because 46 meetings just aren't enough, here are the ones that they have added since then . . .

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
1:30 PM SISTER CITY COLLABORATION COMMITTEE FUNDRAISING SUBCOMMITTEE ROOM LL-110 MMB

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
4:00 PM HOUSING DIVERSITY PLANNING AD HOC COMMITTEE ROOM 313 MMB

Thursday, November 19, 2009
3:00 PM ERLANER, JEFFREY CLAY, CIVILITY IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE AWARD COMMITTEE ROOM 403 CCB

5:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY REVIEW COMMITTEE ROOM 103A CCB
- Chronic Nuisance and licensing landlords
- Vendors by schools

I ALSO MISSED THIS IN THE WEEK AHEAD!
Robbie Webber explains . . .

Thursday, November 19, 5:00 PM, Room 300 of the Municipal Bldg This is a scheduled meeting of the Long Range Transportation Plan Commission, but members of the Ped/Bike/Motor Vehicle Commission, the Transit and Parking Commission, Board of Public Works, and Transportation Planning Board (MPO) have also been invited.

The Wisconsin DOT will present their plans for the intersection of Verona Rd and the West Beltline. The project extends down to Cty PD (McKee Rd) and will affect/alter some intersections in the area, including the entrance to the Home Depot area.

There is also a proposed new road under Verona Rd where the SW Path runs down. The path would be moved laterally to run along the side of the new road.

This project is far in the future, but this is an opportunity to see what WisDOT has planned so far and see if you want to comment. This is an information only meeting. No action or vote will be taken.

The DOT web site has some drawings, but changes may have been made since then. However, the web site will give you can idea of the general outline of the project.

PEOPLE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING VISION PLODS FORWARD
There are no easy answers, but feel free to join us tonight at the Central Library to discuss how we move forward:

Please come to the People's Housing Vision meeting this Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the second floor meeting room of the Central Library. We're moving forward on our priorities and developing detailed solutions. We'll be discussing our research on addressing important concerns like enforcement of Ch. 32 of the Madison ordinances, expanding overflow shelter space, a third party shelter complaint system, expanding community resources in tenant/landlord matters for persons with Limited English Proficiency, rehabbing foreclosed properties to provide affordable housing opportunities, and providing greater fair housing protections for victims of domestic violence and persons with service animals . . . and more.

HARRIET IS MOVING!

Starting November 20, 2009, the Telecirc ("Harriet") phone number will change to 608-242-4700. Please note this change if you call Harriet to renew items, or to review your list of holds, items checked out, or items overdue.

Email notification for holds is also available! Contact your local library to sign up for email notices. Contact information for LINKcat libraries is available here.

Read more!

All Aboard the Thuy Rollercoaster Council Recap

When the consent agenda came out with only Pham-Remmele separating items for discussion, I got several "Thuy Alert!" emails. I struggled with whether to just post there was alot of grandstanding that wasn't worth writing about and leaving it at that . . . but the problem is, she made a few good points in between bachelor roses and Brad and Angelina African baby orphans. In case you haven't already figured it out . . . lots of purple comments today. Be forewarned, she talked/asked questions for a full 45 minutes of the 90 minute meeting.

GETTING STARTED
They actually got started early, and by that I mean only 5 minutes late! I think it was out of respect for the guests from the Camaguey sister city.

ROLL CALL - Kerr absent, Maniaci m.i.a.

Bruer suspends the rules to take items out of order and introduce items from the floor.

CAMAGUEY SISTER CITY RESOLUTION
They celebrated 15 years of a sister city relationship with Camaguey and welcomed the Cuban artists visiting Madison.

Ricardo Gonzalez spoke recalling 15 years ago when the council adopted a project that was daring and difficult to undertake and yet over last 15 years one of the most successful sister cities. He introduced guests. Thanked the Mayor’s office and council for putting their confidence in us at the time and for voting for the resolutions about Cuba. Notes that Congress will be voting to end the travel ban allowing us to go see Cuba and see sister city without the restrictions. One of the guests thanks the Mayor and Council.

Bruer "quickly" adds words to add to the celebration tonight. I tuned out.

CONSENT AGENDA
You'll have to look up your own links for some of these.
- Item 72 recommendation is to approve (Linden Park driveway easement)
- Item 24 recommendation is approval of the third substitute (Department of Energy Grant)
- Item 47 recommendation is to adopt (reducing energy and transportation fuel usage by 25% by 2025)
- Item 53 add housing committee as a referral (notification for chicken licenses and revocation of license)
- Item 55 refer substitute (sewer utility rates)
- Item 22 & 23 recommend approval but requires extra-majority vote (Water Utility Bonds)
- Exclude 8 (appointments), 10 (shared appreciation for non-profits), 13 (Meadowood Neighborhood Center), 20 (Vendor's fees) for discussion
- Pham-Remmele asked for the Water Utility Bonds (22 & 23) to also be excluded.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Nothing of note.

MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS
Pham-Remmele asked for separation because she had concerns in April and she was told to just agree to go along and let them go ahead with the appointments and that CCOC (Common Council Organizational Committee) was going to take up this issue and make a recommendation for commission and committees appointments servicing many issues, asks council leadership what has been taken up. [Ok so here's the beginning of driving her 20 colleagues crazy by grandstanding and either using questions, rather poorly, to make a point or just plain not doing her homework, there are mixed opinions about which it is, but it is clear the entire council left to right was just annoyed throughout the evening. One alder from the right, who I don't necessarily agree with often, suggested I list the phone number and emails in my blog for the people she could have contacted prior to the meeting to get her questions answered instead of wasting time and grandstanding.] Patiently waiting since the spring. [Ok, this is the second major annoyance of the evening. Instead of "waiting" for something to happen, she could do her job and "make" things happen. She has this sense of entitlement that she can just say something and everyone else should just do the work with no direction or assistance from her.] She has a concern cuz this item has to get 2/3 council approval, she is very new on the council [OK - if she is new on the council that means Rummel, Solomon, Kerr, Clear, Clausius and Schumacher are also "new" along with the newest alders Maniaici, Bidar-Sielaff, King, Eagon, and Schmidt and I RARELY hear any of them use this as an excuse.] and takes her job seriously, when she votes she wants to be informed about the decision, so when it is decided that mayor appoint citizens, that is wonderful, but when the requirement to consent is from the council we are the final authority to look into it and approve it, but all time she served, she has been told it is a courtesy, you vote yes unless you have a big issue, most of time no issues, but she doesn’t know people, same names appear again and again, getting to point she memorized the names,[Ok - credit where credit due, yes, some of the same names pop up over and over, but many are due to requirements that committees have for cross appointment, so LRTPC need a plan commission for example, so that person's name come up more than once.] some serve 10 – 12 years, serve on many committees, good they volunteer to step up and take care of civic matters, shows dedication and appreciates this, but if so important make every decision in town, many things go through so many commissions and these people, I don’t know them, don’t know how dedicated, not know who’s interest they are serving, election in 1.5 years, not put negative thoughts in your mind,[classic, make your point by denying what you are doing, I wonder if she is concerned about someone running against her in a few years or what is going on in her mind.] should it be someone making big decisions for city shouldn’t they be scrutinized, they are not accountable and not elected [recycle RTA talking points here.] at least have something known to rest of council when appointed for 10 years. [She does have a point, the council should get more information, including I am told, the ordinance requires the council to get a copy of the statement of interest forms, perhaps this is what she is getting at. I need to get the ordinance and follow up on that. However, people are usually appointed for 1, 2, 3 or 5 years, not 10.] She asks about Stuart Levitan, she says she doesn’t know him, [Is she living under a rock?] who is serving in so many groups [CDA, Madison Development Corporation and Landmarks], don’t know him enough to know one way or the other. Rosemary Lee has been here forever [only on Vending Oversight]. She asks what did CCOC decide or do,[One more theme for the evening, she doesn't attend committees where items of interest to her are discussed and doesn't participate at the committee level and just expects others to do the work at her command.] there appointments are usually on the consent agenda, no one ever knows. She says don’t do this for her, she is not going to request or ask to be placed on any commission or committee,[Interesting strategy, knowing that she won't get appointed, declare she doesn't want to be appointed, and do it very publicly.] She says Bruer called her before meeting and suggested she serve on the Affirmative Action Committee and she appreciates it, but please don’t do it for me, don’t be like a bachelor over the rose, I am not desperate, fix the process so when vote for people not elected – let’s do it transparently, fairly, big city and working class should be a lot of people serving instead of the same old group, same old crowd, doesn’t make us look good, if clean, honest we should smell like roses.[Gotta give her props for her colorful, memorable statements, but I often walk away remembering roses, but not why she used it to get attention.]

Bruer – he’s going to see if he can focus – says at council and CCOC and in leadership meetings they look at composition of the committees, their representation and expertise so there is a certain level of review that continues to go on. [That was a bit of a stretch. CCOC doesn't review committee appointments and that is why I asked for the reports on gender and race/ethnicity, because many committees are unbalanced, but very little is done with that report cuz the mayor decides.] We could have a committee to look at them, but we don’t have one, it would take us 2 or 3 years to go through confirmation hearings. A number of times appointments have been sent back,[Ok, but how many times, if ever, has the appointment changes? The Mayor usually just comes back with the same person.] mayor is sensitive to that. He says it is critical that every member of the body, if you have people in the community and willing to devote time, make those nominations known to the mayor and encourage those interested parties to fill out the application [Ok - Pham-Remmele may have a point here, when I was alder I encouraged people I know who were filling out the form to NOT use my name and instead I helped them find another alder to recommend them so they'd have a chance of getting appointed.]– if look at alder district reports, there is representation from all districts, he has sensitivity to encourage new blood and that doesn’t mean that those who have served diligently that end of the 5 or 10 years that they shouldn’t be encouraged to serve in other ways. Since Pham-Remmele has been vocal about their concern, if you have people bring those names forward and he would welcome her to bring the names to leadership and we will recommend them to the Mayor.[Here, I'm not sure if Pham-Remmele is not doing her job on her own, or if she just feel alienated from the Mayor's office and doesn't bother, as I did.]

Pham-Remmele thanks him, says that is the urgency, people in her district applied and encouraged and recommended and not chosen and they won’t apply any more. [Score one for Pham-Remmele, that is precisely the problem I hear all the time. People won't apply because when they did there was no communication from the Mayor's office and have heard of others who never hear about their application or they get appointed to something they aren't interested in.] One is still serving, but they donated $1,000 to mayor campaign and that is why appointed, [That seems a little far fetched to me - but I'll follow up on that claim! I don't think any appointment except maybe Plan commission is worth that much money, and you could just stand with the Mayor at a press conference to get his attention and get appointed to something.]that was the bomb that dropped, this is not clean, with upcoming election, maybe we should see how they contribute to campaign, don’t want bad rumors to be passed alone.[If she's interested, it's all on-line, she could look it all up herself.]

Bruer jumps in with nervous glances from the Mayor, and says that is a strong statement, he would like Mayor to identify all "Alder Thuy’s"[Konkel pet peeve, Bruer only calls the women by their first names, never the men. "Alder Bridget" is another of his favorites along with "Alder Shiva". Drives me nuts.] folks and he’d be happy to look at them and report back to Thuy and says there is no evidence of pay for play. [No wonder the mayor was looking nervous, this is hardly a real credible defender on this point.] That is totally an unacceptable suggestion. [It's only unacceptable if its not true, but if she's going to make the claim, she better be ready to back it up.] If she feels that is the case, then she wants to have leadership evaluate and assess that.

Mayor says not many gave $1000 to his campaign.

Palm says Pham-Remmele brings up some interesting issues, some committees have more applicants and some have fewer because not as desirable, what is the general understanding of how many applicants per positions – how does the Mayor recommend people, why do some people get appointed, some don’t.

Mayor says it varies widely, dozens for plan, few for more obscure committees, he encourages all alders to encourage people to apply, some districts have more representation, but they look for geographical diversity.

Palm asks about the council's 12 year rule and the Mayor's 10 year rule, what is your opinion on people on multiple committees for generations?

Mayor says he has been criticized for the opposite, for letting people go. Says there is not an ironclad rule, thinks good to turn over committees after a decade unless extraordinary reason.

Pham Remmele asks to abstain from the approvals, doesn’t know enough, abstain me from these appointments until process is more clear, a lot of appointments tonight and don’t have information to vote and not fair to vote against, abstain from process until process improved.[But don't expect her to life a finger to make it happen. She could write a resolution to create a committee to look at it, write a report or change the ordinance herself. If she wants to have the discussion, she should propose some changes.]

This passes on a voice vote. Pham-Remmele, of course, abstaining.

SHARED APPRECIATION FOR NON-PROFITS
She asked for it to be excluded, pleased came to the decisions to change policy, it was a policy that didn’t work, have seen agency asking them to modify the rule that so they can operate, good time to eliminate, except city is giving up return that is going back into the funds, we get nothing for doing it, want staff or policy makers look deeper to see if something to offset this,[ahem, or she could do her job and come up with a proposal] instead of demanding a share of appreciation, can we do something so when property is sold can we get something for the e city, charge interest on the loan, getting rid of an unworkable policy – asks staff to respond before they vote.

Clingan says this has been an issue for 10 years, trying to protect themselves, not giving up shared appreciation, it is plowed back into the provider, almost all funds in many years have been given back to same provider in the same night and resolution. They added a provision that shared appreciation must be plugged back in to the core mission of the provider.[How are they going to track that? Where is the accountability?] Second thing is a compromise to have it be the default position, but there could be exceptions on selective cases.

Passes on a voice vote.

MEADOWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
Pham-Remmele apologizes for being the only one raising issues this evening. She has to ask for that permission, item 13 is for aneighborhood center in her district Raymond Road. Thankful to see $72,000 assigned for this, cuz she worked very hard for 3 years to make it reality, [REALITY CHECK: SHE VOTED AGAINST HER OWN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FUNDING IN THE BUDGET WHEN IT WAS PART OF THE EMERGING NEIGHBORHOOD FUNDS!!! Yes, I'm yelling, just channeling the pent up frustration of my former colleagues. This was the vote that caused Rummel to throw her pen in the air during that budget debate. It also caused alot of eye rolling and tense moments with the council as many understood the need, but felt compelled to vote against it if the alder didn't want it. It was an interesting dilemma. I chose to vote for it because its not about Pham-Remmele, but the people who need the services.] At this point, she stop talking and points out that several alders talking and not listening. Maniaci slinks back to her seat. Pham-Remmele waits. [She was probably right to point it out, but then also a little overly dramatic about it and she feels the need to drive. her. point. home.] Yes, there are more serious issue to discussion, but uncomfortable talking when something else going on, this is not respectful, this is like being in class, promises to be clear and short and fast as possible, but wants them to pay attention. She says this is a neighborhood center in her district, ran for office to respond to needs of neighbors and senior citizens longing for a place to gather and when it happened she really plead for that, from the point not even a concept, city responded unusually by giving $20K for study to a pilot and at the end of 2008 a lease signed almost at the last minute, opened Feb. 23, the response of neighborhood people has been beyond expectations, thankful for that, the word pilot has been removed, next year funded by CDBG is a good sign. Question is then what? So she is for it, answer a lot of needs in the area, things not done before opening, very clear with the public, as an alder for the district she is out in the dark, no one shared anything with her, someone showed her something to be introduced tonight [There was no pause here and a quick shift in topics and I'm not clear what she was saying, but I think she was unhappy about not being kept in the loop and I don't know if this is the typical kind of thing that can happen to alders, or if this is more of her just not doing here work.] She says she feels like a parent of a child in Africa and Angelina Jolie came to adopt her child, this is beyond her expectation, don’t need to be connected, from this point on this child, who used to be an orphans is adopted, it has legitimate it documents, wants to rest in peace and know that they have a name and will be cared for. [?????????????????????] Question is what happens after this year, is it legitimate or will it be a goner, hopes someone could explain it. So far all these things happen and can’t answer how happened.

Clingan says it’s a two year funding cycle, they would apply next summer for the regular cycle of funding and they hope that they would apply like other neighborhood associations, right now, stand alone money to get it going and become part of regular neighborhood center.

Pham-Remmele says when it opened she was told had to encourage people to use it and there would be a survey – she is scared, does it go through any survey process and if have to re-apply, who is in charge, are we doing things this flexibly all the time, if there is a formula to be funded like other centers? [She sat on the committee for two years, she should know the process.] She says she feels like she got the adoption papers under the table, doesn’t like it.

Clingan says this all happened when he was first hired, this happened in city standards with lightening speed, it was imperative to get it done, because they missed the 2 year cycle they put money into it for next year and then they hope that Meadowood like others will be part of two year cycle and if successful would get funding in 2011.

Pham-Remmele says that this community center is also connected to the library, she says "Mayor you know" they are worried about the library and at April meeting at police station you promised people that it won’t go anywhere, at budget Palm said we would look at location and money is set aside and expanded, its not going anywhere, plea to everyone for this community center, you adopted the baby, sibling connected right there, you approve land banking of $5M to save the land to develop union corners, next to the library there is a piece of land sitting there for 10 years and if expand you might want to expand to that. [Sometimes I don't understand the connect between her random list of thoughts and so I worry I didn't capture it correctly. But that's all I got out of that. I'm working on just getting recordings for moments like these so you can just hear it for yourself.] In 2011 when they expand the library, what will happen to the community center. Excuse me, but I am giving up two kids, one handicap and old, but if Brad and Angelina adopts them she wants to say something now and move on, wants it on public record, when look at role of community center should share services with library branch, two siblings, might not be there all the time, say something on the record, so people listening on TV can hear something.[Same problem.]

Bidar-Sielaff says if Pham–Remmele is interested in how decision made, she could attend CDBG meetings, members of Meadowood were there when this was discussed, the alders who served on the committee didn’t know if Pham-Remmele supported this and had no information from the alder. She would encourage the alder not to make accusations of things under the table, this was done on the table, it was clear and open with members of the group there to answer questions. They made a commitment cuz we do care about what s going on in any neighborhood in our city. They were happy to make the commitment, but need to integrate it into the committee funding process. Discussion like this are wasteful and disrespectful. [Kudos Bidar-Sielaff!]

King says this is a real asset to the southwest side and going in a positive direction and wants to be added as a sponsor.

Palm - insert pause here - says that he thought they covered this last week, but still some haven’t heard accurately so he'll repeat himself. A number of years ago they tried to locate a library that was reasonable for the service area and branches serve a lot of people. Compton and Cnare don’t have a branch, Clausius and Clear don't either. Branches serve a lot of people and some in our community have a branch very near their home and he is overwhelmed with the pride they have but don’t know others don’t have that privilege. When library tries to look at costs of operations they look at the service area and try to make it accessible by the most people. The previous alder was passionate about not moving it, no conclusion with landlord, mayor graciously put placeholder in budget for next year for improvements, they will look at service area and model and find out what is best for people, for all of the southwest side. He explicitly said library is a place for all but not a community center, to insinuate that they two have a relationship is not appropriate, please stop saying it. Library is there for everyone, not a secondary role, that is why not community or neighborhood center, there are two different roles, could be conjoined or nearby, but that is not part of the library’s method of operation. Sometimes it is a broader issue to be resolved with neighboring alders and neighborhood associations, he invites all alders to come to library board to discuss where a proper branch placement is. Your participation is always welcome, you could grace us with your presence and it would be good to hear what people say at the time the decisions re made not after. [Kudos, again!]

And with that . . . the motion passes.

RAISING THE VENDING FEES
Pham-Remmele says this is a Vendin Oversight Committee issue, where she serves and has had several calls from food vendors concerned about raising the fees. Fees were $680 in 2003, $800 in 2004 and now $850 so if you look, 25% increase in last 6 years and as she mentioned before, Warren Hanson has been working with less and adding more responsibility. He lost his assistant Charlie, working without help and this is one of the few area where we have direct service to the public, so when money approved to hire assistant was taken for other uses and with the hiring freeze, now entering the spring, is there any guarantee at all if we raise the fee, will it be use toward paying for that position? There is nothing in the resolution. When need money why do we get it from small business vendors, it’s a very small number of money, but these are people who are mostly minority who don’t know how city works and don’t know that we are discussing things impacting them. She works with Verveer on VOC and depends on his experience and she feels uncomfortable approving this, that is the reason she excluded it. Should they do this, is the money worth doing it?. We discuss a million dollars very easily and something like this she wants to bring to their attention, plight of small business people. Worth consideration.

That was the end of the discussion.

WATER UTILITY BONDS
Bruer asks comptroller to explain for new members of the body and give us a sense of why this comes up with such a short notice.

Brasser says this is a refinancing of Water Utility’s debt, they have faced constrained revenues as it become more difficult to get rate increases, but expanding capital improvement program, especially with water quality issues. Coming under increasing financial pressure and needs to borrow more money to operate and finance capital improvement program. They are also under antiquated bond covenants, high levels of required debt service coverage. To bring more stability to water utility, this refinancing replaces all debt with new bonds that were bid this morning, and refinancing results in several benefits 1) modernize bond covenants to conform with industry standards, 2) allows utility to reduce debt service over next few years and increase cash balance and flow, water utility can pay back capital loan from the city more quickly. Most of the borrowing amounts changed, good interest rates, Title 1 was predicted to be $49M but that was reduced to $47M. Those are all tax exempt, 20 year bonds, 3.88% true interest rate, lowest ever. Other resolution is a smaller piece of debt $1.5M, taxable because refinances some debt of water utility that was already refinanced in 2005 and can’t issue tax exempt debt for refinanced debt. $50M interest rates favorable, utility improve cash position, allows them to borrow, $11M is for their current capital projects.

Bruer asks the reason for the short window? Attractive interest rate?

Brasser says borrowing for water utility approved in 2009 budget last fall, planning in the works for a long time, quick turnaround is because competitive sales process. Bids go up at 10:30 in morning, bids are good for 24 hours, get bids, work out package quickly. That is why they held the special Water Utility and Board of Estimates meetings right before the council meeting. They need council approval so can get back to the winning bidder by 10:30 tomorrow morning.

Bruer says this has been true as long as he can remember.

Brasser says it is the standard schedule.

Bruer says if questions or concerns they can contact comptroller office in advance.

Brasser says any time. Notes Piper from Water utility is here too.

Schumacher adds that water utility has the fortunate but financial dilemma that 20% savings on conservation and that translates to revenue, city will be facing this in the future, but we as a city need to figure out how to have a fee structure to add in to the conservation – cost of doing business with water utility.

Pham-Remmele says if to refinance, how is the current interest rate changed? What is current interest rate?

Brasser says that inside the cover of the resolution shows the schedule for the winning bidder, interest rates that bond holders will pay over next several years, for year 1, 2 3 and 4 they pay different rates, the calculation of the true interest costs including transaction fees is the 3.88% which replaces several different bonds at different rates and maturity. Says average interest rate is going to be close to the ones replaced.

Pham Remmele said that text says the “next few years” – should help improve stability, repay working capital loan. I next few years 9 or 2 or 10?

Brasser says closer to 2 than 9. City fund balance, beginning a few years ago, water utility had a cash crunch, growing capital expenditure needs and rates from Public Service Commision (PSC) assumed higher water sales, as sales declined, also meant declining revenues. Conservation good, no money bad. City loaned money on a temporary basis, that loan is $4.6M at moment, financing will help reduce that by $1M or more when completed and over next 3 – 5 years, water tultity will fully repay the balance.

Pham Remmele says she asked her husband to look at last year to this year water bill. March 2008, 1.2 per cubic foot, 1.41 this year, with sewage etc. added her bill went from $422 to $525 and just putting self in position for regular Madison resident, encouraged to be conservative, rate of using we are going down, have rate of 17% of customers in default, all optimistic to repay, but we do have less use for water and higher fees charged and higher number of customers non-paying. Has reservations going into this. Wants to answer to regular resident, what are we doing? $50M is not a small amount.

Mayor asks Piper – Brasser says that it’s true that water rates have gone up and will need to go up, Robin can talk about how new rate cases are looking at changing the rate structure, utility has been addressing this.

Mayor wants Piper but Pham–Remmele jumps in and asks about meter reading improvements, how did we pass the savings to the residents and how much of loan or money is used for replacing the pipe system, doesn’t see numbers there to give her the assurance.

Brasser says that everything water utility spends is either to repay current debt or for new projects from 2009 budget, can only spend the proceeds on improvements to the water supply and distribution system. He says that this resoltuion doesn't include those details, it’s in the budget process.

Pham-Remmele asks if by approving this tonight, how will it impact customer rate for Madison residents if they approve these two items, how is this going to affect the resident of Madison?

Brasser says this action has no direct impact on the rates. Except good repairs of system, rates set by PSC, which is a separate process, most of borrowing replacing debt, very little impact, Robin can talk about the rate cases. This allows utility to cover current capital costs already built in to the current rates.

Piper says that in this refunding is $11M for 2009 and a little 2010 and majority is for main replacements and infrastructure improvements, won’t affect the rates for a few years, PSC doesn’t allow actual inclusion of assets that were funded through the money until the assets are in service, affect is in future years.

Schumacher asks Piper where we stand with other utilities?

Piper says that they have the lower portion of larger utilities, 78 larger ones in the state and we’re approaching the upper teens, but fairly low for area and state. Water bill is now municipal services, sewer, stormwater and landfill remediation fees all on the water bill. Water bill increase is only 36% of the bill and that is all that is increased.

Cnare says that lack of money stymied us (Water Utility) this year, we have a loan out there, but reality is that it has an impact on our budget, this allows them to pay back the $4.5M that is the win, scrambling to catch up cuz too conservative for years, pipes, booster stations and the water table level issues need to be addressed. This is forecasting and the community now understands this is a precious service and resource and that they are not not saving up for one big bolus every few years. Not wait for the main to break, basic stuff, not an unusual occurrence, residents will appreciate when they turn on the faucet and have clean water now and for year to come. Good deal on water for a long time, starting to catch up - PSC agrees we need to increase the rates, benefit is also capital budget and automatic reader reading, monthly bill will be able to see the results in the savings. This is not unusual, its a critical piece that allows this to go forward.

Pham-Remmele wants to be clear – what is the bond rating now?

Brasser says AA2.

Pham-Remmele asks if this is better or worse?

Brasser says it is down from AA1 before this most recent rating. Last time sold bonds, Moody’s gave them a negative rating, need to rectify situation that we are trying to address with this debt restructuring, so rating went down.

Pham-Remmele asks if they are sliding? What proportion of operating expense is for debt service?

Piper says he thinks it is 18 – 20%, that is in the ball park.

Pham-Remmele asks if that is comfortable – are we ok with that or should we worry about it?

Brasser says not a ratio to worry about, but in general fund we have goal of 12%, but water utility isn’t a city, different structure, capital intensive, much of effort this building and maintaining the system, so expect to have a higher ratio for debt service cuz of all the borrowing.

Pham-Remmele says right now it is?

Brasser says coverage ratio of operating income to debt service has been scheduled out. Its 300% and then drops to between n 130 – 140% of the revenue of debt service for 20 years of bond issue. Above required level of 125%. 1.4 was requirement in past, with new debt, 1.25 and utility is projected to have actual 1.3 – 1.4. [I confess, I didn't quite understand that, so I hope what I typed is correct.]

Pham-Remmele asks if this is optimistic?

Brasser says it was realistic.

[Ok, that was more tolerable and a little less grandstanding. But again, this isn't the first time the council approved bonds in the nearly 3 years Pham-Remmele has been on the council and she should have known much of this.]

They vote, it passes. There are some introductions of items. They adjourn for their "budget party" at Madisons. Rollercoaster ride comes to an end . . .

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