D6 Items of Interest Week of September 25, 2023

The Finance Committee will take up 16 budget amendments to the 2024 Executive Capital Budget on Tuesday including one I am co-sponsoring to purchase furniture, fixtures and make improvements to the Lakefront Porch using park impact fees. On Wednesday, the Transportation Commission will finish deliberations on N Baldwin Safe Street 4 way stop project and hold a public hearing on Metro Redesign refinements. On Thursday, the Housing Strategy Committee takes up a resolution to create a one-year Housing Taskforce.

Tuesday September 25 – Finance Committee -4:30p Finance Agenda 09.25.23

20. 79719 Supporting limitations on city purchases from nuclear weapons producers.

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the Back from the Brink resolution along with several of my council colleagues. Members of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) Wisconsin and other co-sponsors have been speaking with Alders, the Mayor’s office, and Finance staff about the Resolution since 2018 (with a two-year break during the Covid pandemic). I worked with advocates before I left office in 2021 and I am glad to be part of the final resolution.

Thanks to the Back from the Brink Resolution Co-sponsors:
350 Madison, the Dane County Chapter of United Nations Association, the First Unitarian Society Social Justice Ministry, the Four Lakes Green Party, the Friends Meeting of Madison, the Interfaith Peace Working Group, Madison Mennonite Church, Our Wisconsin Revolution, Physicians for Social Responsibility – Wisconsin, Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society Social Action Committee, Progressive Dane, Raging Grannies of Madison/Dane County, General Synod of United Church of Christ (passed the resolution June 2019), Veterans for Peace - Chapter 25, Wisconsin Network for Peace, Justice and Sustainability, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom-Madison and World BEYOND War-Madison Chapter.

23. 79467 2024 Executive Capital Budget

2024 Capital Budget by agency.

Executive Summary by project elements. $266.5 Million proposed.

FC Capital Budget Amendments. The Finance Committee will deliberate and vote on proposed amendments to the capital budget.

Alder Mike Verveer and I are co-sponsoring amendment #15 to “Add $25,000 in Park Impact Fees from the East District for improvements to the Lakefront Porch, the newly designated park land on the surface of Crowley Station at 201 S. Hancock Street, to purchase furniture, equipment, landscaping, or other items to complement the space and encourage residents to gather and enjoy the outdoors.

From the Finance Dept analysis: In July of 2023, the Common Council dedicated the surface of Crowley Station to be park land (Legistar # 78675), as well as approved an agreement with the Madison Parks Foundation (Legistar #78692) to receive improvements to the space that would enhance the park by creating an inviting porch-like atmosphere to encourage residents and visitors to gather and enjoy the outdoor area, which will also include a community garden managed by Rooted, Inc. The improvements to this space will be substantially funded by a donation to the Parks Division from the Madison Parks Foundation, valued at approximately $350,000. A grant from the WEDC in the amount of $25,000 will also support improvements at this site.”

On Thursday September 28, Alder Nasra Wehelie is having a noon informational session on the city budget with Finance staff and she is welcoming all city residents who are interested in joining the virtual meeting Register for Lunch and Learn on the city budget with Alder Wehelie

Wednesday September 27 – Transportation Commission – 5p TC Agenda 09.27.23

5. 80012 Public hearing regarding the approval of the Metro Transit Network Redesign Refinements will be held beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The public hearing will only include a staff presentation and public testimony. There will be no discussion, deliberation or vote by the Transportation Commission on this item at the public hearing on September 27th. This item will be adjourned to the next Transportation Commission meeting for discussion, deliberation, and vote.

6. 80013 Safe Streets Madison - N. Baldwin St. Project

At the September 13 TC meeting, staff indicated they would be supportive of adding a 4 way stop sign at N Baldwin and E Mifflin but wanted additional time to study the impacts to the E Wash intersection. It was also mentioned that the proposed removal of 6 RP3 parking spaces on N Baldwin between Johnson and Dayton would require a public hearing. The public hearing for removal of the RP3 parking is not on this agenda.

You can send comments on agenda items to transportationcommission@cityofmadison.com or click on the agenda link for details about registering to speak.

Thursday September 28 – TIF Review Board – 12p TIF Review Board Agenda 09.28.23

The final step approving the new tax incremental districts and application for use of the half mile rule:

2. 78185 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CREATION OF THE PROJECT PLAN AND BOUNDARY AND USE OF THE “HALF MILE RULE” FOR TID 52 (EAST WASHINGTON AVE & STOUGHTON RD)

3. 78193 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CREATION OF THE PROJECT PLAN AND BOUNDARY AND USE OF THE HALF MILE RULE FOR TID 53 (EAST WILSON)

4. 78195 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CREATION OF THE PROJECT PLAN AND BOUNDARY AND USE OF THE “HALF MILE RULE” FOR TID 54 (PENNSYLVANIA AVE)

5. 78232 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE USE OF THE “HALF-MILE RULE” FOR TID 50 (STATE AND LAKE)

6. 78233 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE USE OF THE “HALF-MILE RULE” FOR TID 45 (CAPITOL SQUARE WEST)

7. 79880 2023 TIF Review Board / Joint Review Board Annual Report

Former D11 Alder Chris Schmidt was recently appointed by Mayor Satya as the sole citizen member of the board.

Thursday September 28 – Housing Strategy Committee – 5p HSC Agenda 09.28.23

2. 79226 Creating a Housing Taskforce addressing Madison’s affordable housing shortage and other related housing issues

The proposed resolution creates a one-year taskforce made up of existing staff, board/committee/commission members, and alders.

Staff memo Existing City Housing Initiatives Planning Director Matt Wacher provides a summary of the existing work plan for alders in response to this resolution. If you go to page 4, Matt proposes an alternative framework to creating a new taskforce and recommends that the Housing Strategies Committee be utilized to address the questions raised by alders. I appreciate that Alder Amani proposed the Taskforce because it has jumpstarted the Council’s response to the housing crisis.

In case you missed it, this article published by Tone Madison on September 19 provides a comprehensive overview of housing strategies https://tonemadison.com/articles/how-to-actually-solve-madisons-housing-crisis/ I am interested in pursuing social housing, land banking and using bond financing as options to explore.

Meanwhile last February, several alders proposed to combine all the housing committees and add county members, see the next item.

3. 75926 BY TITLE ONLY: Repealing Sections 32.03 and 33.34 and amending Section 33.09(3) of the Madison General Ordinances to combine the City-County Homeless Issues Committee, Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee, and Housing Strategy Committee.