Final EIS, E. Dean Delayed, Monona Court Petition - D15 Update 2/24/20

Last Week

• I received notification from our City Engineering team that the E. Dean Avenue reconstruction project that was slated for this year will need to be delayed until 2021. You can see the current schedule for upcoming street reconstruction projects at this link. 
• The United States Air Force released the Final EIS for the F-35 installation. The Final EIS is substantially similar to the Draft EIS that was released in August of last year and still predicts the significant and disproportionate negative impacts to those living closest to the airport. A final record of decision is expected following a 30-day waiting period (no sooner than March 30, 2020).
• On Thursday, the Plan Commission held a special work session to review potential ordinance changes related to sustainable development. Topics included: improving our stormwater management, options for implementing recommendations from the Urban Forestry report, and addressing the impact of building windows in bird deaths. You can watch the discussion here. One slide offered a good reminder about the impact that house cats have on our bird population. Please remember that cats should not be allowed off-leash outside your home.

This Week

• Monday - Today is the last day to purchase tickets for the Pinney Library Gala. More info on the Grand Opening of New Pinney can be found here.
• Tuesday - Several items of interest will be on the Common Council's agenda tonight including: Appeal of Plan Commission action concerning 3630 Milwaukee Street, reorganizing and recreating a unified ordinance relating to dogs on City property and dog recreation areas, and Creating the Ad Hoc Task Force on the Structure of City Government (TFOGS) Final Report Implementation Work Group. Both the Milwaukee Street (Amazon proposal) and TFOGS items are for introduction only, meaning they will be back at a future meeting for discussion and action. Regarding the changes to our dog-related ordinances, I am working with our Parks division to ensure we have a good communication plan ready for implementation and a plan for enforcement to accompany the proposed changes.
• Wednesday - Those living in the area around Monona Court received a postcard last week with information on a petition to revert Monona Court to 2-way motor vehicle traffic. Thank you to all who have reached out already. If you have an opinion on this that you'd like to share, please send it to me via email or plan on attending Wednesday's Transportation Commission meeting where this will be considered.
• Thursday - Come hear about African American History in Madison and enjoy a soul food meal at the library.
• Friday - In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Madison Department of Civil Rights and Monona Terrace present the film, HARRIET.
• Saturday - Check out the International Festival downtown; join the Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition for a No F35s – Parade to Truax Field; or attend Love the Library: A Grand Opening Gala for Pinney Library.
• Sunday - Check out the Sierra Club Clean Energy Hootenanny Fundraiser.
• Remember to save the date for a Dog Park Meeting Thursday, March 19th at Olbrich Gardens - More info here. 

City of Madison News Releases

Madison Commons Media Digest

• Noise concerns top list of more than 6,400 comments on F-35 study; Air Force to release final version this month, Chris Hubbuch, Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 18.
• Dane County community groups team up to fight black infant mortality, Abigail Becker, CT, Feb. 20.
• Pearson, Gomez Schmidt advance to general election for Madison School Board Seat 6, Scott Girard, CT, Feb. 18.
• Unnamed parents, conservative law firm, sue Madison School District over gender identity policy, Logan Wroge, WSJ, Feb. 18.
• Report: More teachers left MMSD last year than in previous four, Scott Girard, CT, Feb. 18.
• Madison gears ups for bike path improvements to increase connectivity, safety citywide, Howard Hardee, WSJ, Feb. 17.
• Think tank offers housing recommendations to improve community health, Abigail Becker, CT, Feb. 20.
• Addressing mental health in Dane County, Carousel Bayrd, A Public Affair, WORT-FM, Feb. 18.
• American Family cuts 200 IT jobs, offers workers retraining, Shelley K. Mesch, WSJ, Feb. 20.
• Turning point: South Madison is changing, which has some residents worried they'll be priced out, Abigail Becker, CT, Feb. 19.
• Wisconsin Assembly passes $10 million slate of bills to safeguard water, Briana Reilly, CT, Feb. 18.

District 15 Calendar

Click on 'details' in the events below for links to additional details and meeting agendas. You can find a full list of city meetings here.