Common Council

Capital Budget, CGR Redevelopment, Spaanem/Maher Traffic Calming - D15 Update 9/14/20

Last Week

• Executive Capital Budget - The mayor presented her 2021 Executive Capital Budget at Finance Committee last week. The Finance Committee will consider amendments and then recommend a draft budget that will go to the Common Council for debate, further amendments, and a vote in November. The 2021 Executive Operating Budget is expected to be released on October 6 and will follow a similar review by the Finance Committee prior to also going to the Common Council in November. You can find a link to both of these timelines as well as a link to available 2021 Budget documents here. This infographic from the Finance Department helps explain the difference between our capital and operating budgets. The two budgets are connected via debt service that is paid out of the operating budget for borrowing that funds capital projects. ?

• New and active cases of COVID-19 continue to be very high in Madison and across the state - UW-Madison suspended in-person instruction and moved to remote instruction for two weeks and several campus dorms have been put on quarantine. This follows quarantines that were put in place by Public Health for a number of fraternities and sororities downtown. The current known spread of COVID-19 in Dane County is 10 times what it was at the height of the Safer at Home order. Please continue to do everything you can to slow and stop the spread of this deadly pandemic.
• Other city updates:
  • Call for Volunteers for Starkweather Creek Water Monitoring
  • Complete the Census at Dream Bus Stops September 14-18
  • Common Election Misconceptions
  • Final Round of Brush Collection Begins Monday, September 21
  • The survey for feedback on a proposed off-leash dog exercise area for O.B Sherry or Eastmorland Park can be found here. The survey closes September 26th.

This Week

• Cottage Grove Road Development Proposal - The Plan Commission will consider the proposal to demolish three buildings on Cottage Grove Road to make room for two apartment buildings. You can find the details about this proposal and how to provide comment here.
• Common Council Meeting - You can find a link to the meeting details including links to the agenda and the registration form here. Some items of interest to D15 residents include:
  • 11. Presentation Related to Reorganizing the Structure of the Common Council - One of the most significant recommendations of the Task Force on the Structure of City Government was a recommendation to change the nature of the position of alder from that of a part-time to a full-time role. As part of this recommendation and in an effort to keep cost increases down, a smaller council was also recommended (from 20 to 10 alders). There will be an informational presentation at Tuesday's meeting to introduce this recommendation and the council will debate the merits of the proposal at a special meeting in October.
  • 56. Authorizing the City to participate in the preparation of an amendment to the Town of Blooming Grove and City of Madison Cooperative Plan to allow for an alternate means of development of the "Cooperative Development Property" - this amendment will allow for the Voit Farm to come into City of Madison jurisdiction ahead of schedule if it is requested by the property owner.
  • 73. & 74. Updates to zoning and official map for areas within the Milwaukee Street Special Area Plan - These updates will codify the recommendations adopted as part of the Milwaukee Street Special Area Plan in terms of zoning and the location for part of a future street network. These items are being introduced on Tuesday and will be referred to the Plan Commission before returning to the Common Council at a future meeting. 
• MPD Policy Discussions - On Wednesday, the Public Safety Review Committee will be discussing several ordinances related to MPD procedures, including tear gas, acquisitions from the Defense Logistics Program, and the 8 Can't Wait platform.
• Spaanem/Maher traffic calming - Join me and city staff on Thursday at 7p to talk about options for controlling speeding and cut-through traffic on Spaanem and Maher. You will need to register in advance of the meeting here.
• Madison Bike Week - This year's Madison Bike Week will look a lot different than previous years due to COVID. Things kick off next weekend and continue the week of September 14th. You can find more details here.
• Other city meetings: There are a number of other city meetings of possible interest this week and you can find a full schedule here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/meeting-schedule

Save the Date

• This year's HOME COMPOST BIN & RAIN BARREL SALE will be at Garver Feed Mill on 10/10.

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