TOD Overlay and Family Definition at Common Council Tuesday 1/17, Holocaust Remembrance Day resolution, events and announcements

Hello neighbors,

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 17, the Common Council will be considering the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)-Overlay proposal. Currently, the agenda includes the substitute amendment, which includes local and national historic districts. I am anticipating an extensive debate on whether the historic districts should, or should not be included in this Overlay. If you would like to register for the meeting, you may choose to simply state your opposition or support, or you may indicate if you wish to speak. Speakers have a three-minute limit. Please know that if you have already sent comments to all Alders, they have been entered into the public record.

Also on tomorrow’s agenda is the revision of the “Family Definition”. However, the sole purpose of this item’s presence on the agenda is to re-refer it to the Plan Commission. Currently, the agenda lists the item as proposed for referral to the June 12 Plan Commission meeting, but it is my understanding that the sponsors will be seeking to move it forward to the originally-scheduled February 13 Plan Commission meeting, with proposed referral to the Common Council on February 28. It is possible there will be discussion about the date of referral, but if not, please know you will have the opportunity to comment on the proposal at the Plan Commission, and as it moves along the process. It is possible that, even if it is brought to the Plan Commission on February 13, they will still opt to refer it to June if the information related to the potential impacts of this zoning change I, other Alders, and members of the public have requested is not yet ready.

We will begin tomorrow’s meeting with a resolution honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day, which will be January 27. As the child of a Holocaust escapee, it will be my honor to read a portion of this resolution. Rabbi Betsy Forester and a local Holocaust escapee will be receiving the resolution, and speaking for a few minutes on its importance.

Events

• Public Health Madison Dane County’s Violence Prevention Unit and Madison Metro are hosting a virtual session on transportation safety. The session takes place on Wednesday, January 18th from 12-1pm. Please register in advance. The session will be recorded and made available afterwards on Public Health’s Violence Prevention Unit’s (VPU) Events webpage.
• Free HUD-Approved Homebuyer Education Class (In-Person)-Saturday, January 21, 2023: The City of Madison, in partnership with the Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County and Consumer Credit Counseling Service, are once again offering HUD-Approved Homebuyer Education classes.
• Lake Monona Waterfront Design Competition Master Plan Presentations – January 26, 6pm, Madison Central Library, Rooms 301-302. The event will also be livestreamed.

Announcements

• Plow Naming Suggestions Opportunity Has Ended; Election Begins January 23, 2023
• County Executive Parisi and Madison Mayor Rhodes-Conway Announce the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award Honorees 
• Membership and leadership changes at the Police Civilian Oversight Board
• Fleet Recognizes 2022 Employee of the Year Andrew Harrison

Take care,

Regina Vidaver