I lied/Can't Sleep Extra Round Up

So, I wasn't going to blog today, but . . . I came home last night after being sniffly all day, made dinner and laid down. I was freezing so I covered up and fell asleep. Now, in the early am, I'm awake, sick/can't sleep cuz of runny nose and cough and waiting for the cold medicine to kick in, so . . . here's what I have for today . . .

STILL, NO ANSWER
Looks like council leadership (Tim Bruer, President and Mark Clear, Pro Tem), Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Bob Dunn (Hammes Company) didn't come to any agreement today. They're meeting again on Tuesday.


CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG - HO CHUNK AND UNION CORNERS
I've been hearing about this, but was sworn to secrecy, that's why Barrett scooped me! :P Guess it's not a very big secret as this went out over a neighborhood listserve or two:

Today there was a meeting at the Ho-Chunk Nation office on Mendota Street to discuss their plans to develop the Union Corners property located at East Washington Avenue and Milwaukee Street. There were about 20 people including Alders Rummel, Palmer and Rhodes-Conway, reps from nearby neighborhood associations, including SASYNA, and other groups interested in development of this site (i.e. Commonwealth, Project Home, Eco Realty, Progressive Party, Urban Farming, etc.). The nation plans to purchase the entire property and would like to develop it over an eight year period. The very preliminary plans for the first phase include a building for nation offices and a nation museum, a health center and daycare center. The office/museum would be located at the very visible East Wash/Milwaukee Street corner. Phase 2 might include a gas station/convenience store. Phase 3 might include affordable apartments and senior housing with a public meeting hall. A grocery store is possible and the nation is open to partnerships with other businesses or organizations. There are no plans for a casino. The nation has similar types of developments elsewhere in Wisconsin including health care, child care and community centers.

Plans are very preliminary and will be open for input from surrounding neighbors and interested organizations. Joe Green from Ho-Chunk Nation discussed their plans. He grew up in the neighborhood and attended East High. He made it clear the nation wanted to create a project which benefited the neighborhood and city. The project would be affordable and environmentally positive including features such as solar panels and low energy consumption. It would fit into the existing neighborhood so buildings would be shorter than previously proposed for the McGrath development. They would not remove the property from the tax rolls so it would contribute property taxes for Madison schools and services.

A decision to pursue this project will be made by the nation during January. By the end of the January, preliminary plans for the property would be available for review by the public during meetings with interested parties. SASYNA was very involved in the original plans for Union Corners and will continue to involved. Stay tuned for more info during the new year.

There was a very positive reception to the Ho-Chunk plans for Union Corners. This is a very positive development for the neighborhood.

Looks like it wasn't a big secret if all those people were there and its on list serves and even Barrett knows about it. :) Giggle. I'm just always glad when someone tells me something is confidential, and I can't be accused of being the leak.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS FUNNY
Giggle. This article chooses a funny example (and picture) given the above. And points out how out of touch the council leadership is.

AN AGENDA FOR THE CITY
Joe Tarr from the Isthmus gets the Mayor to talk about his agenda for the city. And uses a progressive as Mayor Dave's foil. I suppose he had to, since I'm not sure others have a vision for what the city should be working on in the next year. I happen to agree with Satya Rhodes-Conway and I'm happy she was able to clearly articulate an alternative as good progressives do, I'm just frustrated that the story doesn't have an agenda from the moderates or conservatives on the council. Is this part of the positioning towards the right of the Mayor - or did no one else have an agenda? Or don't they want to admit what their agenda is?

The Mayor's agenda is crime. And then there's these other things:
- building support for a referendum on regional transit next fall
- breaking ground on the new Central Library
- winning federal support for high-speed rail
- improving relationships with the business community
- and pursuing green initiatives, like making the city more bike-friendly and energy-efficient.

Rhodes-Conway counters with:
- strong attention to economic development - she says. "I don't mean attracting large companies. I mean helping support and grow the businesses we have."
- review some basic economic development mechanisms, like tax increment financing and put a process in place for evaluating job creation proposals for TIF
- equal review of downtown and periphery projects
- help people in these tough economic times, pay attention to community services

Heh, people. Notice the mayor didn't mention people who are struggling or community services, even tho they are going through an extensive review of their funding processes and priorities.

Falk gets it right, focusing on jobs.

"ANOTHER DUDE"
This note from the Mayor was forwarded to me with the title above . . . can't say I'm surprised.

I wanted you to be among the first to know that I’ve made a decision about the City IT Director position. I’m pleased to welcome Paul Kronberger to the City of Madison.

Paul has an extensive background in IT. He started his career in the City of Milwaukee IT Department, has worked for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue as IT Director and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce as IT Director. After a few years in the private sector, Paul is eager to return to the public sector to serve the City of Madison.

This was certainly not an easy choice, as we had three very qualified finalists for the position. Dave Faust and Rich Beadles have been the consummate professionals throughout this lengthy process and throughout their careers. I thank them for that and I know that they will continue to make great contributions as we move forward.

You will have the opportunity to learn more as Paul’s confirmation comes through the Council. I look forward to you all having a chance to meet Paul.

I don't know what the applicant pool is, but I'm glad someone is noticing the trend besides me. It may or may not be a valid comment, but, I'd like to hear the Mayor articulate what they are doing to bring gender equity to the leadership in the city. Think maybe the next planning director might be a woman? Ok, I bet not.

MORRISEY ON POT
Um, no, he's not smokin' it. He has an opinion on it. An interesting one at that.

WORDS MATTER
Hmmm, I found this article curious. Joel DeSpain says the following:

"The crime took place outside, and one of the four suspects had a handgun," DeSpain said.

However, if you read to the end of the story you find out:

"Money and electronic items were taken during the robbery, and one suspect was found carrying at least one stolen item," DeSpain said. "Officers also recovered a facsimile handgun."

If the second statement is correct, shouldn't the first statement perhaps have been worded differently?

GOOD TO KNOW
Was I running against Noble Wray? David Blaska claims the following:

In the spring election, Police Chief Noble Wray and the police union defeated Brenda Konkel.

[NOTE: When I quote someone, I provide a link, to provide the reader with easy access to information and to ensure I don't take something out of context and to keep things honest. It would be kinda cool if professional newspapers would hold their bloggers to the same standards.]

Good night, happy holidays to those who will be celebrating over the next few days and stay safe on the roads. Read more!

State of the City: An analysis

A whole lotta pro-business. A dash of police state and anti-progressive. Zero progressive. Here's the old and new initiatives he talked about. It should be a somewhat comprehensive summary of what he wrote about - who knows what he actually said. Full text here. Here's what I would like see in such an address.

However, before we get to the list, first, let me say, that the Mayor was supposed to give his State of the City Address to the Common Council on Tuesday night. He first passed because there were people there to speak to the council (they apparently couldn't be bothered with mundane things like the direction the Mayor wants to take the City they live in) and then he said it was too late (10:00) so he wouldn't give his speech to the Council, but they could read it on-line in the morning. Instead, he opted to go to the invite-only Rotary Club and give his speech there. I think that, in and of itself, sends a very strong message - the people of the City of Madison and its elected officials are not what are important with this administration - he's bending over backwards for the business community and he doesn't care that he does the business of the City in private settings instead of where the public has more access.

Anyways, here's the brief run down of "bold, aggressive" initiatives we can look forward to.

PRO BUSINESS
- Madison continues to move forward with projects like the Institutes for Discovery and Union South on the UW campus, Allied Drive housing, the Villager Mall and others.
- Annual economic development work plans.
- Business retention software
- Modernizing our zoning code.
- For the first time in the City’s history we have an economic development director.
- Virtual one-stop shop to help businesses, developers and homeowners work their way through the permits and approvals needed to build or improve their homes and businesses. A physical one-stop-shop is on its way.
- Third Madison Small Business Conference
- Roadworks website and a Small Business Construction Survival Guide – a set of best practices aimed at helping businesses survive and even prosper through the necessary disruption of major road repair projects.
- New policy emphasizing using TIF for job creation
- Create the BioAg Gateway and BioLink incubator facility
- Work with the University Research Park to get Research Park II up and running on the far west side.
- Continue support for Collaboration Council and its economic development organization: Thrive.
- Working with hotel developers to help meet the need for several hundred new hotel rooms that will bolster our tourism and convention industries and make Monona Terrace an even greater success.
- City will not participate in resolving Overture’s remaining construction debt, we should be at the table to ensure Overture’s long-term success after that issue is resolved.
- Move forward on a first-ever cultural plan for our City.
- Work with Commonwealth Development on the conversion of the Garver Feed Mill to an arts incubator and other uses.
- Continue the exciting developments in the East Washington-Capital Gateway Corridor, including the urban research park that the UW is developing there, the new Google office and the new Central Park. We are also in the process of contracting for project management services to move the important work of that corridor forward.
- Continue the renaissance of the Villager Mall on south Park Street
- Move forward with an exciting new proposal for the old Bancroft Dairy on Park and Fish Hatchery.
- Three conspicuous, cleared properties dot our landscape: Union Corners on the east side, the St. Raphael’s block downtown and phase II of the Hilldale development on the west side. In each case we need to work with the owners to develop them just as soon as is practical.
- Move ahead with a new Central Library. While rehabbing the existing building is a tempting alternative, let’s not rule out a more aggressive (private sector) solution.
- Continue the development of the Public Market concept to build the connection between Madisonians and the rich and healthy local foods that are available in our region.
- Stoughton Road Corridor has a bright future. (There were alot of words here, no action)
- Downtown Plan project will balance the needs of the community and will continue to further the discussion on transportation options in the downtown area.
- Downtown Hospitality Council to ensure that our downtown economy is safe, fun and profitable.
- Strengthen our Sister Cities program by showing progress in building business ties as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
- We should remember that bicycles are not just toys. The bike industry brings in $1 billion to the Wisconsin economy – four times more than snowmobiles. And Madison is the center of much of it. Trek, Syrus, Planet Bike, Pacific Cycle and other companies employ hundreds. We should build on our already strong reputation to make Madison the center of the bike universe.
- We are working hard with the Chicago Olympic Committee to land some of the 2016 summer games biking events right here in Madison.

A DASH OF POLICE STATE
- Add 20 more police officers in the next 3 years (in addition to the 30 we just added.)
- Developed empirical data to identify worst offenders and asked Tammy Baldwin to get earmarks to cleanse them from the downtown (i.e. the worst 25 downtown transients, who turned out not to be transient)

PROGRESSIVE
chirp, chirp

I suggest you check out the miscellaneous section to play your own game of Where's Waldo or I Spy and try to figure out where the progressive is.

ANTI-PROGRESSIVE
- See above "dash of police state"
- Long-term problems at Brittingham Park have practically ceased
- Our Chronic Nuisance Ordinance continues to be extremely helpful in our efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe by holding property owners accountable.

(And tho he didn't mention it, don't forget about the upcoming curfew issue and the bus fares.)

MISCELLANEOUS/OH YEAH, EVERYTHING ELSE
- Customer satisfaction survey done on basic services.
- Continue expansion of Neighborhood Indicators project
- Report a Problem
- Plans to fix our streets.
- Police study that will create a data-driven patrol-staffing plan
- Open fire station 12 this year.
- Pilot neighborhood center in the Meadowridge Mall on the southwest side.
- Refocused the work of our Neighborhood Resource Teams and asked each team to identify specific problems and develop comprehensive interventions to alleviate them.
- Alcohol License Review Committee is more rigorously evaluating applications and holding license holders accountable.
- Partnering with Dane County and communities throughout the state in our lobbying efforts related to enhancing the penalties for drunk driving and increasing the state's beer tax to help fund prevention programs.
- First annual review of the downtown Alcohol License Density Plan shows a 5% reduction in alcohol related calls for service without the feared displacement of problems or negative impact on our vibrant nightlife.
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) training conference to help us build prevention into our environment - focusing on Peace Park and Metro's South Transfer Point.
- The schools and mayor's office will attend each other's management team meetings several times a year.
- Appointed School Board member Marj Passman to the City's new committee looking at long-term affordable housing strategies.
- City has added a non-voting seat to its Plan Commission for the District, to ensure that we are growing and redeveloping with the needs of our children in mind.
- We’re exploring the recycling of compostable materials and we may have a system ready to go in about two years.
- Continue to work with stakeholders to lower lake levels at proper times of the year would lead to stronger, healthier wetlands, a greater variety of plants and animals and cleaner, clearer water.
- Recently adopted goals for the Northeast Neighborhoods put them on the map as one of the largest areas in the nation to be developed using a comprehensive set of environmentally friendly initiatives.
- Encouraging diversity on committees, commissions and boards, as well as in the workplace.
- Increase access for people with disabilities to public meetings through the use of DeafLink, a sign language interpreter service.
- DCR staff is working with Madison employers through the EOC Employment Committee to understand the rights of employees and responsibilities of employers.
- DCR staff is closely working with targeted businesses to attain certification and work on City projects.
- We need to create a regional transit authority to help us improve our bus system, rebuild our streets and maybe, if we can get approval for Federal cost sharing, build a commuter rail system.
- Bring high-speed intercity rail back to Madison. We need to get to work on siting a station or stations in the city.
- Maintain a partnership we began with the county last year to step up cleaning our shorelines.
- Maximize and to deploy as rapidly as possible the Federal stimulus money that will come to our community.
- Be aware of the challenges faced by low-income residents and the organizations that serve low-income populations.
- We’ll continue our lobbying efforts at the State Capitol to repair state statutes to provide tax-exemption status for low-income housing providers.
- l believe in the goal of providing a range of good quality housing for people of every income level all over our City and in the surrounding region. We now need to rededicate ourselves to that goal and work toward better solutions. To that end, I’ve created a new committee that will explore affordable housing strategies. And, work has already begun on joining our City’s housing authority with Dane County – because affordable housing should be a goal not just in Madison, but throughout the region. (i.e. we don't want the affordable housing here, how can we get others to do it.)
- The federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act creates new opportunities to weatherize our own buildings and the homes of low-income residents.

I also found this spin to be very interesting:

There has been a great deal of emphasis on basic services in the last two years, and that is appropriate. I believe it is important for city government to step back for awhile and reestablish that it cares about the basics. But once the understanding is established that city government will first take care of basic services and not waiver from that commitment, then I think it is possible to go beyond just the basics to do things that create a really great city.

So, I ask again . . . after reading all of this, is this what you want your city to be? Is this bold and aggressive and moving in a direction you want? What's missing? Do you feel like this addresses the needs you see in the community? And more importantly, where's the progressive? (Best asked in a "Where's the Beef?" tone of voice) Read more!