Golf, BRT, Trees, & Birds - D15 Update 5/12/19

Monona Golf Course

Several news articles were published this past week about the future of golf within the City of Madison Parks system and I've received questions and concerns from a number of residents about what this means for Monona golf course in particular.

In short, Madison Parks currently operates four golf courses: Odana, Glenway, Monona, and Yahara. The operation of these courses has historically been expected to be fully funded by user fees. Over the last decade the Golf Enterprise Fund has posted a financial loss every year with the exception of 2015.

2018 was a particularly poor year for the enterprise financially, losing more than $800,000. This loss exhausted the fund reserves and will require a loan/subsidy from the city's general fund and has escalated the urgency of addressing the financials of golf operations at the city.

As a result, the mayor and parks superintendent are recommending the creation of a task force to develop options for moving forward. A recommendation could include partial or full closure of any and all of the city-operated courses and could include revisiting the expectation that golf operations are fully-funded by user fees.

Of particular interest to District 15 residents, especially in the Lake Edge and Glendale neighborhoods, is the question of what a closure of Monona Golf Course might mean for future land use. I've heard from many neighbors that they oppose selling of parkland for development purposes. This was also something I heard frequently from nearby residents during my campaign.

I will follow the work of the task force closely and provide regular updates here as the work progresses. I will also advocate for a fully transparent process that encourages and supports authentic public input.

Birds and glass

Another topic that has generated some questions and concerns from District 15 residents is related to the recently approved proposal for an 11-story mixed-use tower on E. Washington Ave. The proposal was approved by the Plan Commission last week and plans call for the development to be completed by the end of 2020.

I share concerns about the impact of glass for our bird population and have spoken with members of the Plan Commission on this subject. The City of Toronto has adopted bird-friendly development guidelines and I support efforts to investigate the feasibility of adopting similar guidelines in Madison.

In the news:

• Record loss for Madison golf courses prompt Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway to create task force
• Madison committee optimistic city task force will find solution for golf course financial crisis
• The 2019 Spring Yard Waste Collection Is Complete
• High-rise glass office tower approved for Madison's Near East Side
• Madison BRT Survey #2
• Madison Canopy Project
• Tammy Baldwin introduces bill to hasten toxic chemical cleanup
• Additional Honors for Madison's Cycling Environment
• New Pinney Library Construction Photos
• Lake Edge & Glendale Garage Sale Registration - 2019
• Take a look at the contemporary designs for Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison's proposed expansion

This week's highlights:

(You can find more details for these events and more on the District 15 calendar below and a full list of city meetings here.)

Monday, May 13, 2019

3:00 pm - PARKS LONG RANGE PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE: Review of Policies Regarding Dogs in Parks, Volunteering in Parks

6:30 pm - Transportation Policy and Planning Board: Paratransit Service Update and Boundary Discussion, Winter Bike Maintenance

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

6:00 pm - Madison Bus Rapid Transit Planning Study: Public Meeting #2: There will be a presentation and open house focused on route and station location options for the East-West BRT. The second survey for Madison BRT is also now open. 

6:00 pm - Dane County, District 24 Town Hall: Join County Executive Joe Parisi and Supervisor Tanya Buckingham for a Town Hall at the Monona Library

6:30 pm - Common Council: 15. Transportation Improvement Plan 

7:00 pm - Eastmorland Community Association Monthly Meeting: Discussion of Biergarten at Olbrich Park fundraiser for ECA or treatment of ash trees and
discussion of contribution to Pinney Library for purchase of bike racks, Report regarding the annual park clean-up and updates regarding the annual membership meeting

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

6:00 pm - Public Input Meeting - Urban Forestry Task Force: The community is invited to attend a listening session and provide input to a draft report and recommendations of the Urban Forestry Task Force.

6:00 pm - TASK FORCE ON STRUCTURE OF CITY GOVERNMENT: UPDATE FROM COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE REGARDING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES; UPDATE ON STAFF SURVEY; DISCUSSION OF DRAFT INTERIM REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL

Thursday, May 16, 2019

5:00 pm - Lands We Share Community Conversation - Closing Night Gala: Guests will be invited to view the traveling exhibition, enjoy locally-sourced food, and join a presentation and panel discussion.

6:00 pm - Kids Code Madison: Upper elementary (4th and 5th Grade) and middle school students are invited to Kids Code Madison, a weekly, drop-in coding club.

6:00 pm - Chapters Teen Writing Club: Middle and high school students can meet other aspiring authors, bounce ideas off one another, share your stories, and feel the creativity flow!

Friday, May 17, 2019

3:00 pm - Sennett Middle School's 50th Birthday Open House Celebration: Join the Sennett Staff on Friday, May 17th in celebration of Sennett's 50th year!

5:00 pm - Hmong American Day Celebration: Come celebrate the end of an amazing week of Hmong American Day in the Madison schools with us!

5:00 pm - Uprooted Reception and Panel Discussion: Meet the artists featured in Uprooted: Plants in a Changing Climate and learn about the process of creating work for the exhibition.

6:30 pm - EMCC Free Family Paint Night & Monthly Family Fun Night - Community Dance Party: Family open art studio is an opportunity for children to make art with an adult family member, caregiver, or mentor! And this month we will host a Community Dance Party! "I Wanna Dance with Somebody!"

Saturday, May 18, 2019

8:30 am - Historic Dean House Rummage Sale: Friday and Saturday on the back porch of the Dean House.

11:00 am - WPR Listener Appreciation Event: Throughout the day, we'll make stops at three Madison parks. At each park we'll have Wisconsin Public Radio personalities and staff for you to meet, fun yard games to play, some fun WPR giveaways, and some yummy treats!

1:00 pm - Celebrating the Ten Avatars (Dashavatar): An Indian Mythology of Evolution: In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, join Namaste Madison and the Karmic Flower Dance Company for a celebration of Indian culture, mythology, and art.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

11:00 am - 22nd Annual WORT Block Party: There will be children's activities, food from around the world, art and craft vendors, info tables, WORT boutique, and a raffle with fabulous prizes donated by area businesses.

11:00 am - 2019 Spring Plant Sale: From our gardens to yours, we offer hundreds of perennials for shade or sun, native plants, vegetable & herb starts, annuals and more! Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions.

12:00 pm - Badger Rock Community Market: Join us for Soul Food Sunday!

Subscribe to my District 15 Updates via the sidebar above to receive an email when new updates are published. If you have any questions or thoughts or upcoming events you'd like added to the calendar, you can reach me at district15@cityofmadison.com.