D6 Items of Interest Week of December 4, 2023

As Israel’s horrific violence in Gaza assumes genocidal proportions, the movement demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire is growing in the US and around the world. I am proud to join with 10 other alders to co-sponsor a resolution Calling For a Ceasefire in Gaza that will be #108 on Tuesday’s Common Council agenda. Since the resolution was introduced, Council members have received dozens of letters sharing the Madison community’s heartbreak and outrage at the collective punishment of Gaza and the loss of innocent civilian lives.  

We must use our local power to apply maximum pressure on the U.S. government to demand a ceasefire to force Washington to impose it on Israel. A ceasefire won’t solve all the problems, but it is a necessary step to stop the killing and ensure civilians receive food, water, electricity and healthcare, basic human rights. I am thankful and proud that Rep Mark Pocan has joined with 24 Members of Congress Call on Biden Administration To Establish A Ceasefire, Protect Children in the Gaza Strip. 

On Monday, there is a hybrid meeting to review initial concept designs for an ‘experimental closure’ of the 400-600 blocks of State St Mall next summer. On Tuesday, the Office of the Independent Monitor holds a community listening session at Warner Park Community Rec Center. On Thursday, the Parks Division is holding a virtual meeting about the Garver North plat with survey results and Engineering is holding a virtual meeting on street reconstruction of E Doty and E Wilson. Meeting registration links below.

Please hold Wednesday December 20 for a virtual meeting at 6:30p with the JCAP Real Estate group to review the next iteration of their proposal for the Essen Haus block, AKA Wilson + Blair. 

Monday December 4 – Landmarks Commission-  5p LC Agenda 12.04.23

3. 80836 10 S Franklin Street - Construction of a garage structure in the First Settlement Historic District (District 6)

Note: Item 3 will be referred to the January 8, 2024 meeting

7. 75031 12-4-23 Demo Report Buildings Proposed for Demolition – 2023

-117 W Mifflin Street (the Silver Dollar)

-119 W Mifflin Street 

-121 W Mifflin Street 

-123 W Mifflin Street 

-125 W Mifflin Street 

-15 N Fairchild Street

The Landmarks Commission reviewed the proposed demolitions of 119-125 W Mifflin St on July 8, 2019 and made the finding that that “the buildings at 119 W Mifflin Street, 121 W Mifflin Street, 123 W Mifflin Street, and 125 W Mifflin Street have historic value based on architectural significance, cultural significance, historic significance, as the work/product of an architect of note, its status as a contributing structure in a National Register Historic District, and as an intact or rare example of a certain architectural style or method of construction.”

117 W Mifflin was not included in the previous demolition request reviewed by Landmarks in 2019.

For all the Mifflin Street parcels “Staff recommends a finding of historic value due to this building being determined to be contributing to a State Street National Register Historic District by the Keeper of the National Register, and as a rare style of glazed terracotta arcade building.” 

The Plan Commission is the final decisionmaker on whether this historic block face can be demolished. Landmarks is advisory to them. 

You can send comments on agenda items to landmarkscommission@cityofmadison.com.

Monday December 4 – City County Homeless Issues Committee -  5:30p CCHIC Agenda 12.04.23

PRESENTATIONS 

2. 80895 Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness - Updates HomeBase 

3. 80597 Car Camping Report Melissa Mennig, Dane County

Monday December 4- Neighborhood Meeting 2024 State Street Pedestrian Mall Experimental Closure -  5:30p

The 2024 State Street Pedestrian Mall Experimental Closure - Initial Concept Review will be a hybrid event, with options to attend in person or virtually. In person at Madison Municipal Building room 215 (enter on Doty St) or virtually Register in advance

Following Metro Transit's network redesign, which shifted bus routes off the lower blocks of State Street, the City of Madison Common Council adopted a resolution directing staff to pursue an experimental pedestrian mall/street closure of the 400-600 blocks in the summer of 2024.  Planning Division staff will present the initial design concept for those blocks and discuss options for when the blocks will be closed to private vehicles.

For questions or meeting accommodations, please contact Dan McAuliffe at dmcauliffe@cityofmadison.com.

Tuesday December 5 – Office of the Independent Monitor Community Listening Session – 6-8p @ Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Drive

We welcome the Madison community to join us for an evening of open dialogue, constructive discussions, and community engagement. Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of Madison's police oversight process. As a gesture of appreciation for community involvement, a free dinner will be provided to attendees.

The primary objective of the Community Listening Sessions is to gather input from the Madison community on the Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) and OIM/Office of the Independent Monitor’s complaint process. As this complaint process will be the primary means by which the public will communicate with its independent and civilian-lead police oversight agency, Madison residents will be encouraged to participate in discussion groups designed to gather valuable feedback and input regarding what they expect and wish to see in the PCOB/OIM Complaint Process.

For media inquiries or additional information, please contact the Office of the Independent Monitor at OIM@cityofmadison.com

OIM Community Listening Sessions

Tuesday December 5 – Common Council – 6:30p CC agenda 12.05.23

1.80579 Presentation: Poetry recitation by Madison's Poet Laureate, Angie Trudell Vasquez - "Eyes Alive"

2. 80981 Recognizing the dedicated service and outstanding achievements of Angela Trudell Vasquez during her tenure as Madison Poet Laureate.

14. 80281 Adopting an amendment to the City of Madison Comprehensive Plan.

This was referred at the last CC meeting along with the companion item #105 so that D19 residents’ concerns regarding changes to the new Low Medium Residential/LMR escalator clause which allows additional density of up to 70 dwelling units per acre in select conditions could be addressed. Alder Kristi Slack’s blog explains the escalator clause changes.

33. 80605 SUBSTITUTE - Approving geometry, plans, and specifications and authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for Mineral Point Road Widened Sidewalk. (District 9, District 11, District 19) 

Staff Report Staff responded to community concerns about the loss of trees along Mineral Point and worked for a better balance of safer bike and pedestrian infrastructure and protecting the tree canopy.

34. 80752 Approving plans and specifications and authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for 1904 Bartillon Drive Homeless Shelter project. (District 12)

Bartillon Shelter plans

51. 80482 Approving the 2024 Urban Forestry Special Charge 

52. 80491 Approving the 2024 Resource Recovery Special Charge

Both the Urban Forestry and Resource Recovery special charges are covered by the Madison Customer Assistance Program (MadCAP) established by the Council in 2021 and approved as a 2-year pilot by the Public Service Commission in 2022 to assist lower-income households who earn less than 50% of the area median income with a $20 or $30 monthly credit on their municipal services bill.

Info about signing up for MadCAP credit on municipal services bill

74. 80809 Awarding up to $11,295,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund to support five affordable housing development projects, selected through a City Request for Proposals (RFP) process, that will support construction of approximately 375 units of new rental housing in Madison, 300 of which will be affordable, and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute loan agreements with the developers of those projects (Districts 11, District 13 and District 19).

Funding Awards The assistance per unit ranges from $34-$40K, the average cost is $37,650.

Final Resolution - Background “For purposes of this initiative, affordable rental housing is defined as that which is reserved for households with incomes at or below 60% of the County Median Income (CMI), and with rents restricted at levels deemed affordable to households at those income levels. 

Initially, the receipt of AHF funds required developers to commit to a 30-year period of affordability, however, since 2020, the required commitment is 40 years. Furthermore, since 2022, applicants willing to commit to permanent affordability through a recorded Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA) are eligible for more favorable loan terms. 

In Wisconsin, LIHTCs are administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). WHEDA allocates credits annually through a competitive statewide process. The review criteria that WHEDA employs favors development proposals that demonstrate significant leveraging of other financial resources. In determining how to allocate City AHF assistance, CDD conducts its own competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. That process is scheduled to coincide with WHEDA’s cycle such that City funds are awarded in time to benefit developers seeking tax credits from WHEDA. WHEDA’s next application deadline is January 26, 2024. 

Most of the funds allocated to support these developments are unlikely to be drawn until 2024. However, in order for the City’s financial commitments to be recognized in WHEDA’s funding process, those funds must be authorized in the City’s 2024 budget.”

75. 80810 Approving the allocation of up to $1,850,000 of additional Affordable Housing Funds to be divided between Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corporation (WHPC) for Gardner Bakery Housing Redevelopment and St. John’s Lutheran Church, in partnership with Urban Land Interests, for St. John’s Lutheran Church Housing Redevelopment and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute loan agreements with the developers of those projects. (District 2 and District 12)

I reported last week on #74 and #75 when they were at Finance. This item stands out as a worrying indicator of the effects of inflation and higher construction costs on projects that have land use approvals but are now stuck, including the addition of higher sewerage charges that also appears to be an emerging issue. 

In 2022, the City awarded Affordable Housing Funds to St. John’s Lutheran and for the redevelopment of the Gardner Bakery. But per the staff report, rising construction costs, interest rates and other factors have made it difficult for the developments to proceed within the timelines required by WHEDA. The provision of additional City support, and in the case of the St. John’s Lutheran Church redevelopment, additional County support, will allow the developments to proceed.

84. 80850 Authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute a Professional Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for professional construction administration and inspection services during the construction of the Unit Well #15 PFAS Treatment Facility at 3900 E Washington Avenue (District 12).

Staff report: “Madison Water Utility (Utility) Unit Well #15 historically has been an important drinking water supply source, delivering up to one billion gallons annually to northeast Madison including the E Washington Avenue corridor. However, due to elevated levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), the Utility shut down the well in 2019. 

In April 2021, the Utility completed a Feasibility Study for PFAS Treatment that concluded granular activated carbon or ion exchange would effectively eliminate PFAS from the treated water. In June 2022, the Utility contracted with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for professional engineering design services for a PFAS treatment facility. The final design of a treatment facility is near completion. The next step is to execute a Professional Services Agreement for construction administration services.”

90. 80938 Amending RES-23-00471 and RES-23-00472 by extending the commencement deadline related to Tax Increment Finance (TIF) investment in the Roth Street I Limited Partnership and Roth Street II Limited Partnership projects located at 2007 Roth Street (District 12).

92. 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. Sponsors: Yannette Figueroa Cole, Juliana R. Bennett, Jael Currie, Nikki Conklin And Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford

AGENDA NOTE: The recommendation is to re-refer, Common Council Executive Committee (1/9/24), Common Council (3/19/24).

I wish the sponsors would place this on file and stop delaying the inevitable. It will be a year since it was introduced. Two of the three committees opposed the recommendation and voted to place it on file. Figure out how to improve the effectiveness of the Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee – state preemption of our ordinances makes it more difficult to protect tenants or enforce best practices on landlords – and keep the other two committees separate to continue their work. 

This proposal was introduced 1/31/23 and referred to the City-County Homeless Issues Committee (3/6/23), Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee (2/16/23), Housing Strategy Committee (2/23/23), Common Council (3/7/23). 

3/6/23 CITY-COUNTY HOMELESS ISSUES COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO PLACE ON FILE WITHOUT PREJUDICE 

4/27/23 HOUSING STRATEGY COMMITTEE Return to Lead with the Recommendation to Place on File without Prejudice to the CITY-COUNTY HOMELESS ISSUES COMMITTEE

100. 80662 Amending Section 16.03 of the Madison General Ordinances related to Transportation Demand Management to clarify Transportation Demand Management procedures, including broadening applicability.

TDM Presentation

11/29/23 TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT WITH THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS - Recommend the Approval of the ordinance changes minus the exemption for City wholly owned properties.

106. 80722 Accepting ownership of the sculptures Greeting Arc I and Greeting Arc II by Sunghee Min Metal Arts, located in the median of the 200 block of S Pinckney Street (District 4). Sponsors: Michael E. Verveer And Marsha A. Rummel

108. 80848 Calling for a ceasefire in Gaza Sponsors: Nasra Wehelie, Marsha A. Rummel, Barbara Harrington-McKinney, Amani Latimer Burris, Isadore Knox Jr., Charles Myadze, Michael E. Verveer, John W. Duncan, Juliana R. Bennett, Jael Currie, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford

110. 80894 Condemning Islamophobia and Antisemitism Sponsors: Nasra Wehelie, Regina M. Vidaver, Marsha A. Rummel, Barbara Harrington-McKinney, Isadore Knox Jr., Charles Myadze, Amani Latimer Burris, Kristen Slack, Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, Juliana R. Bennett, Derek Field, William Tishler, Michael E. Verveer, John W. Duncan, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford And MGR Govindarajan

INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS FOR REFERRAL WITHOUT DEBATE

112. 81016 Amending Section 3.50 of the Madison General Ordinances related to Salaries of Officials to update salaries for Alders. Sponsors: Yannette Figueroa Cole

Fiscal Note “The proposed ordinance increases the annual salary of alders from $15,128 to $24,218 effective April 15, 2025. This ordinance also increases the annual salaries of the Common Council President from $18,407 to $29,467 and the Vice President from $16,319 to $26,124 effective April 15, 2025. Effective every two years thereafter, the salaries will be adjusted by a percentage equal to the percentage of any increases for managerial employees in the previous two years. The annual cost of the increase, including benefits is $204,000. The 2025 cost, including benefits is $147,600. Funding for the increase will need to be included in the 2025 adopted operating budget. No appropriation is required at this time.

The 2023 adopted operating budget included funding for a proposed increase to alder pay effective April 18, 2023, via Common Council amendment #13-SUB. Per the amendment, alder annual pay would increase from $14,904 to $20,604. The Council President’s annual pay would increase from $18,135 to $25,071 and the Vice President’s annual pay would increase from $16,078 to $22,226; both positions continuing to receive a premium based on the hourly rate differentials at that time. While the 2023 budget included funding for the pay increase, per Wisconsin Statutes, the increase must also be codified in ordinance passed by a three-fourths vote of all members of the Council. Passage of the ordinance failed, therefore, alder pay rates were not increased. The funding will lapse to the general fund reserves at the end of 2023.”

114. 80936 A RESOLUTION authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a two-year, competitively selected service contract with Baker Tilly US, LLP to conduct a comprehensive compensation study throughout the City of Madison departments and divisions. The study will review job descriptions, organizational charts, policy handbooks, and pay plans and provide comparisons and recommendations based on peer organizations. Sponsors: Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, Sabrina V. Madison, Yannette Figueroa Cole And Michael E. Verveer

115. 81021 Naming Steven Espada Dawson as Madison's Poet Laureate Sponsors: Satya V. Rhodes-Conway And Marsha A. Rummel

You can send comments on agenda items to allalders@cityofmadison.com

Wednesday December 6 – Housing Strategy Committee/ Homeownership Subcommittee – 6p HSC Agenda 12.06.23

2. 80958 Discussion of Housing Report- Homeownership

***This meeting is being held in person in Room 202 of the Madison Municipal Building. To register to speak on an item, you will do so in person at the meeting. Please arrive early if you plan to register to speak.*** Written Comments: You can send comments on agenda items to housingstrategy@cityofmadison.com

Thursday December 7 – Plan Commission Special Meeting – 5p PC Agenda 12.07.23

2. 71680 Sustainability Plan Update -Plan Commission input on draft goals and actions 

I previously reported on the new draft and the gaps in the plan identified in the Staff Presentation compared to peer cities

3. 81028 West and Northeast Area Plans - Progress update and Plan Commission input on key issues 

4. 81029 Demolition Approval Standards - Discussion of potential language change

Demo Change Draft I can definitely see the positive impact of Chair Ledell Zellers on the proposed draft.

You can send comments on agenda items to pccomments@cityofmadison.com. Comments received after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting may not be added to the public record until after the meeting.

Thursday December 7 – Garver North Plat Public Input Meeting – 6p virtual

Madison Parks is creating a Park Development Plan for the parkland north of Garver Feed Mill, referred to as Olbrich Park - North Parcel (or North Plat by neighbors...) REGISTER IN ADVANCE. Staff will present background information, survey results, two draft plans, listen to feedback, and answer questions. View survey results.

Thursday December 7 – E Wilson + E Doty Reconstruction Public Information Meeting – 6p virtual

Dec. 7, 2023 Public Information Meeting Registration 

The City is planning the reconstruction of E Wilson St from MLK Blvd to S Franklin St and E Doty St from MLK Blvd to King St in 2024. The project improvements include replacement of existing pavement and pavement base, curb and gutter, sanitary sewer main and laterals, storm sewer, and porting of the water main. Damaged sections of sidewalk will also be replaced or as needed to install sewer service laterals. In addition, a new cycle track will be installed along E Wilson St as part of this project.

 Learn more on the project page.