D6 Items of Interest Week of April 15, 2024
postedAfter five years of waiting... On April 10th, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized regulations for PFAS in drinking water. Six new enforcement standards, or maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), have been established for six different PFAS compounds: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX individually, and a combined standard for the sum of PFNA, PFHxS, GenX, and PFBS.
Well 15 is the only municipal drinking water well that does not currently meet new EPA PFAS standards; the well was preemptively shut down in 2019 amid community concern and has not operated since. The decision to not operate Well 15, in addition to rigorous testing, has lead to the eventual construction of the first municipal PFAS treatment system in Wisconsin. Construction will begin this summer (2024), with the expectation for the PFAS treatment system to be operational at Well 15 by next summer (2025), well before the new EPA rules take effect. New EPA PFAS Regulations Finalized
Budget Events Schedule. Finance staff and Alders are convening a series of budget discussions, I will be at the Central and Northside events. Please join us to learn more and discuss the issues we are facing.
Eastside Budget Engagement Event: Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 PM @ Kennedy Elementary
Westside Budget Engagement Event: Thursday, May 16, 6 PM @ Memorial High School
Southside/Near Westside Budget Engagement Event: Wednesday, May 29, 5:30 PM @ Goodman South Library
Central (Downtown/Campus/Isthmus) Budget Engagement Event: Thursday, May 30, 6 PM @ MMB 215 (hybrid)
Northside Budget Engagement Event: Wednesday, June 5, 6 PM @ Blackhawk Middle School
The updated version of Wilson + Blair is at Landmarks on Monday and UDC on Wednesday. Landmarks will only review the residential component in the First Settlement Historic District, not the hotel on E Wilson (UDC will look at that on Wednesday). The staff report from the Preservation Planner is highly detailed since the applicant is asking for an alternate design variance. Plus the Essen Haus and related entities are also at ALRC on Wednesday to allow outdoor uses for 2024 only (2 nights of music, sand volleyball, and seasonal events) adopted in January at Plan Commission.
Council meets Tuesday in room 215 of the Municipal Building. It’s a hefty agenda and could be a long night with honoring resolutions, council leadership elections, ADU changes, restraint for animals that cause harm, adopting the Lake Monona Waterfront Master Plan, and guidance for the 2025 budget. Under new business for introduction is rezoning for Wilson + Blair, applying for a $4M grant for Breese Stevens Field, a small cap TIF loan for improvements for the Atwood Music Hall at 1925 Winnebago, and an appeal of the Plan Commission RE demolition of 428-444 State St.
Postcards and more details for the Passenger Rail Station neighborhood meeting should be coming soon. Hold the date for the virtual meeting on April 30. Residents and property owners adjacent to the rail corridor in Districts 4, 6, 12, and 15 will be invited.
Monday April 15 – Sustainable Madison Committee - 4:30p SMC Agenda 04.15.24
3 82831 Stormwater Management Update Presentation from Phil Gaebler, P.E. - City of Madison, Water Resources Engineer
4 82832 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Presentation Update on the implementation of the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) ordinance by Trent Schultz, City of Madison - Transportation Demand Management Coordinator.
Monday April 15 – Landmarks Commission – 5p LC Agenda 04.15.24
Send comments on agenda items to landmarkscommission@cityofmadison.com, registration info in the agenda link above.
2. 79566 134-150 S Blair-Land Combination & New Construction in the First Settlement historic district (District 6)
The Preservation Planner is recommending referral to tweak the disjointed architectural vocabulary of the proposed residential building on S Blair to infill the parking lot. Landmarks is not weighing in on the proposed hotel on E Wilson, it is not in the First Settlement Historic district. UDC will review both proposed buildings on Wednesday.
Staff Report “The applicant is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness to resolve the underlying platted lot lines on a lot of record, and construction of a new principal structure with an Alternative Design Variance request in order to meet the new construction standards for the new structure. While this redevelopment project involves multiple lots, the request before the Landmarks Commission at this time only involves the lot of record within the First Settlement Historic District. The redevelopment project also involves the Hotel Ruby Marie, which is located within the Third Lake Ridge Historic District, but no exterior changes are proposed at this time for that property.
The lot of record included in this proposal is currently a surface parking lot. Per the application materials, it has operated as a single lot since 1955, which makes the resolution of the underlying platted lot lines is more of a platting exercise rather than the consideration of combining separate smaller lots that have functioned independently. The application materials state that the current parcel/lot of record was created in 1955 and has operated as a single parcel/lot of record since that time.
For the new construction, redevelopment of this property faces several challenges. Its mid-20th century reconfiguration to accommodate a larger commercial building and the subsequent commercial use of the site changed the physical character of this segment of the block. The longtime lot is dramatically larger than all other lots in the First Settlement Historic District. However, it is in keeping with the larger commercial and industrial lots that characterize this end of the Third Lake Ridge Historic District, which is immediately adjacent to this lot. The lot development pattern history of this lot aligns with the lot development pattern of the Third Lake Ridge lots in the vicinity. As such, the proposal for the new principal structure is asking for an Alternative Design Variance that would reference the size and character of the historic resources within 200 feet of the subject property that are located within the adjoining historic district, with this property then serving as a transition between the two local historic districts.
While the current iteration is a substantial improvement, staff does still have concerns about how the design meets the historic district new construction standards. The new design draws references from nearby historic resources, but does so in a disjointed manner that does not result in a cohesive design. The window grid pattern from the Beaux-Arts style depot across the street is in all of the first floor windows of the street façade of the new structure, but the style of arched window openings is not. The large glass entry feature from the Beaux-Arts building is on the new building, but the design of the window surround and the central bay on the new structure is in a Stripped Classicism design instead of Beaux Arts. That central bay is then flanked by two bays that use the architectural vocabulary of the early 20th century commercial building that is also across the street, but with no entrances and still including the multi-light window pattern of the Beaux-Arts building. Staff advises that the design of the new building should use a single architectural vocabulary rather than picking disparate pieces from different types of historic resources that have resulted in a disjointed design. The building form, materials, and site design all appear to meet the standards of approval, but the Architectural Expression standard does not appear to be met yet and the design needs to refine the wall cladding on the front façade and the window styles in order to meet those standards. However, staff believes that some tweaks to the existing design are possible.”
4. 82374 2450 Atwood Ave - Exterior Alterations to a Designated Madison Landmark - St. Bernard's Catholic Church (District 15)
5. 82440 Madison Historic District Illustrated Design Guidelines
Hey if you live in one of Madison’s five local historic districts, take a look at the proposed design guidelines. These are to help you!
Tuesday April 16 – Common Council – 6:30p CC Agenda 04.16.24
1. 82641 Welcome and Proclamation: Lord Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda and delegation from Madison Sister City Kanifing, The Gambia.
2. 82816 Presentation: Poetry recitation by Madison's Poet Laureate, Steven Espada Dawson - "When My Brother Visits We Play Hide and Seek "
5. 82834 Affirming Unwavering Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse.
7. 82822 Election of Common Council President
8. 82823 Election of Common Council Vice President
13. 81952 Amending Sections 28.151 and 28.211 of the Madison General Ordinances to allow Accessory Dwelling Units for properties with up to eight dwelling units and remove owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs.
I support this amendment; it is a way to add modest increases in density in the already built environment.
15. 81965 Amending Sections within Chapter 28 of the Madison General Ordinances related to drive-through windows. 4/8/24 PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO RE-REFER - to May 6, 2024 Plan Commission and May 21, 2024 Common Council meeting at the request of the ordinance sponsors.
28. 82439 Submitting the appointment of Meagan Tuttle for confirmation of a five-year term as Planning Division Director.
45. 82555 Request to extend license issuance beyond the 180 day limit under MGO 38.05 Two Birds Madison LLC • dba Public Parking 709 E Johnson St • Agent: Clement Mocanu Jr Estimated Capacity (in/out): 86/32 Class B Combination Liquor & Beer • 95% alcohol, 5% food Police Sector 407 (District 6)
48. 82222 Amending Section 23.35 of the Madison General Ordinances related to animals that cause injury and requiring them to be restrained at all times.
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance adds requirements for any owner of an animal that bites or injures a person or another animal off property. The amendment requires that when any animal is off the owner’s property that they be muzzled and attached to a leash no longer than four feet in length. The amendment further requires that when the animal is on property it must be supervised and physically restrained at all times. It permits an owner to place the animal in a secure structure and specifies what that entails.
49. 81653 Adopting the Lake Monona Waterfront Master Plan (District 4, District 13, District 14)
Improving the Causeway portion of the parkway may be part of the upcoming John Nolen Drive road/bridge reconstruction, but the rest of this master plan will cost millions of dollars over many years, rely on fundraising and grant writing in collaboration with community partners, and require state regulatory approvals as well as Council approvals as the plans are refined. This will be a long journey.
69. 82687 2023 Board of Public Works Annual Report
2023 BPW Report Considering their authority over approving public works projects including street terrace right of way design and updates to tree canopy and green infrastructure priority area overlays, a search for “terrace” and “preserve trees” brings up one mention each in this 33-page report.
77. 82079 Directing the Finance Department to issue a report analyzing City operating budgets from 2019-2024 and calling on the State Legislature to authorize local sales tax options
Fiscal Note: No appropriation required. The resolution directs the Finance Department prepare a comparison chart for the years 2019 through 2024 that shows the city population, total City operating budget, and amounts by department (adjusted and noted for any transfers of services between departments during that time period). The resolution also calls on the State Legislature to authorize local option sales taxes for Wisconsin cities and to authorize a Madison Area Transit District with local sales tax authority.
Vidaver moved an amendment to the resolution, seconded by Madison, to change the time period of the report called for in the resolution from beginning in 2019 to 2014. The amendment passed by voice vote
The resolution as amended was moved by Vidaver, seconded by Madison, to RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER. The motion failed by the following vote: Ayes: Rummel, Vidaver, Verveer Nays: Evers, Madison, Rhodes-Conway Excused: Currie
AGENDA NOTE: The motion failed, therefore the recommendation to Council is to place on file.
I’m not sure why the Finance Committee would opt out of an opportunity to call on the State Legislature to authorize a local sales tax and regional transit district.
78. 82259 Approving the Amendment to the Project Plan for Tax Incremental District (TID) #36 (Capitol Gateway), City of Madison. (District 6, District 12) Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel And Amani Latimer Burris
Fiscal Note: The proposed resolution authorizes the sixth project plan amendment to the TID 36 Project Plan. The amendment includes the use of $1.6 million in increment to support the Madison Public Market (Munis project #10069). The increment will replace $1.6 million of the $1,641,071 of GO Borrowing authorized in Legistar file 80106 (RES-23-00656). The remaining $41,071 authorized will be GO Borrowing. No additional City appropriation required.
84. 82456 Establishing Guidance for Developing the 2025 City Budget
I support the substitute
91. 82564 SUBSTITUTE Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a development agreement and authorizing an amendment to the 2024 Capital Budget to fund a $1,669,000 Tax Incremental Finance Loan to Vermillion Madison LLC, or its assigns, to upgrade sanitary sewer and associated costs and construct approximately 328 units of market rate housing and approximately 361 parking stalls located at 1617 Sherman Avenue in Tax Incremental District (TID) 54. (District 12)
INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS FOR REFERRAL WITHOUT DEBATE
103. 82802 Appeal of the Plan Commission action on the demolition permit for 428-444 State Street. (District 2), Legistar ID 81565. Common Council (Public Hearing - 5/7/24)
110. 82973 Repealing and Recreating Section 33.24 of the Madison General Ordinances related to the Urban Design Commission to implement Phase 1 of planned multi-phase revisions to the UDC ordinance. Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel
112. 82584 Approving the Madison Arts Commission’s selection of Jennifer Bastian as the next Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence, and approving Lisa Lang and Karolina Romanowska as alternates. Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel
114. 82638 Amending the 2024 Adopted Budget for the Planning Division to add an additional $500 in Wisconsin Arts Board Grant revenues and seeking Common Council approval of the 2024-2025 Arts Grants awards as recommended by the Madison Arts Commission. Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel
115. 82639 Creating a New Historic Marker Program and installing up to six new makers in 2024. Staff Memo
116. 82711 Authorizing the Parks Division to submit, and if awarded, to accept a grant of $4,000,000 from the State of Wisconsin Grants for Local Projects Program for the Breese Stevens Field Improvement Project and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a contract with the State of Wisconsin to accept the grant award; and amending the 2024 Adopted Capital Budget of the Economic Development Division and the Parks Division. (District 6) Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel And Satya V. Rhodes-Conway
Fiscal Note: The proposed resolution authorizes the Parks Division to apply for and accept if awarded, grant funding from the State of Wisconsin Grants for Local Projects Program. The grant will fund a portion of the costs of improvements at Breese Stevens Field. The City must demonstrate that it has $4,000,000 in match funding for this project. The Parks Division’s 2024 Adopted Capital Budget authorizes $200,000 for Breese Stevens Improvements within the Park Facility Improvements Major. If the grant is awarded, the Parks Division 2024 Adopted Capital Budget will be amended to reflect a total project cost of up to $8,000,000 and appropriate the grant funding of up to $4,000,000. The Economic Development Division’s 2024 Adopted Capital Budget will be amended to add $2,000,000 in new City-issued General Obligation borrowing authorization to the Breese Stevens Field Improvements to support overall project costs. The resolution also directs City staff to pursue an amendment to the TID #36 Project Plan from the TIF Joint Review Board to utilize up to $2,000,000 in TID #36 funding in lieu of GO borrowing. If the Project Plan amendment is approved, TIF funding would replace GO Borrowing. The resolution also amends the 2024 Adopted Capital Budget of the Parks Division to appropriate $1,800,000 in Park Impact Fees ($1,300,000 from City-Wide and $500,000 from North District) to the Breese Stevens Field Improvements Project Munis #15039, within Park Facility Improvements Program MUNIS Major #17443.
120. 82750 Approving a Certified Survey Map of property owned by Willow Partners, LLC located at 702-734 E Washington Avenue (District 6). Sponsors: Planning Division
129. 82847 Authorizing a loan to Atwood Music Hall LLC or its assigns in the amount of $125,000 for real estate improvements to the commercial property at 1925 Winnebago Street through the TID 54 Small Cap TIF loan program using TID #54 incremental revenue as authorized in an amendment to the TID #54 Project Plan (RES 23-00507) adopted by the Common Council on July 25, 2023. (District 6) Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel at Economic Development Committee (4/17/24), Finance Committee (5/6/24) Common Council (5/7/24)
137. 82915 Adopting the recommendations for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) North-South corridor outlined in Attachment 1 and described in the report entitled “North-South BRT Locally Preferred Alternative.” Sponsors: Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, Tag Evers And Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford
138. 82916 Responding to WisDOT’s I-39/90/94 Project Concurrence Point 2 Sponsors: Derek Field
140. 82922 Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a 2024 YHDP contract amendment with the Center for Community Stewardship to support the Madison/Dane County Continuum of Care’s Youth Action Board member compensation.
Wednesday April 17 – Urban Design Commission – 4:30p UDC Agenda 04.17.24
4. 79707 134, 140, 148, 150 S Blair Street/506, 508, 510, 514, 516, 518, 522 E Wilson Street - New Residential Building and Hotel in UMX Zoning. (District 6) Owner: JDJ Import Company, LLC Applicant: Brian Munson, Vandewalle & Associates Initial/Final Approval is Requested UDC is an Advisory Body
See LC Agenda for staff memo that addresses UDC questions.
Wednesday April 17 – Board of Public Works – 4:30p BPW Agenda 04.17.24
12.* 82852 Approving plans and specifications and authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for 20 is Plenty (Citywide) Sponsors: BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
20 is Plenty is a city-wide initiative to help promote slower speeds on local streets. This project is for Citywide sign modifications to reduce local/residential-classified streets from 25 mph speed limit to 20 mph speed limit. The focus of new and replacement 20 mph signs will be primarily on streets entering neighborhoods and not necessarily posting on all streets within a neighborhood. It is expected that collected and arterial streets with speed limits of 25 mph would remain as such. This project includes approximately 1,900 new signs across the City. Estimated Cost: $498,212.00. RECOMMEND TO ADOPT
13.* 82886 Approving plans and specifications and authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for Burr Jones Shoreline Repair (District 12) Sponsors: BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
This project will remove two old, corroding seawalls along the Yahara River shoreline. Once the seawalls are removed in these areas, they will be restored with riprap to protect the shoreline. Along with the seawall replacement, a path is being added from the existing sidewalk to the river where stone steps will be added for access to the river in this area. Once the shoreline improvements are complete, any areas disturbed during construction will be restored, seeded and matted. Total estimated cost is $210,000.00. RECOMMEND TO ADOPT
Wednesday April 17 – Alcohol License Review Committee – 5:30p ALRC Agenda 04.17.24
You can send comments on agenda items to licensing@cityofmadison.com or click on the link to the agenda to register.
10. 82547 Change of Licensed Conditions Prosit To You Inc • dba Essen Haus Current Capacity (in/out): 240/150 • Proposed Capacity (in/out): 240/150 514 E Wilson St • Agent: Robert Worm Class B Combination Liquor & Beer • 30% alcohol, 70% food Police Sector 406 (District 6) Request to allow Sunday and Monday outside music as per Planning Commission
11. 82548 Change of Licensed Conditions Prosit To You Inc • dba Up North Current Capacity (in/out): 260/0 • Proposed Capacity (in/out): 260/0 524 E Wilson St • Agent: Robert Worm Class B Combination Liquor & Beer • 30% alcohol, 70% food Police Sector 406 (District 6) Request to allow Sunday and Monday outside music as per Planning Commission
12. 82549 Change of Licensed Conditions Prosit To You Inc • dba Come Back In Current Capacity (in/out): 247/0 • Proposed Capacity (in/out): 247/0 508 E Wilson St • Agent: Robert Worm Class B Combination Liquor & Beer • 30% alcohol, 70% food Police Sector 406 (District 6) Request to allow Sunday and Monday outside music as per Planning Commission L
81267 Plan Commission Disposition Letter 01.22.24 That the sand volleyball/ outdoor recreation, weekly outdoor live music/performance events (Sunday and Monday only), and seasonal events in the parking lot for the restaurant-taverns at 506-518 E Wilson Street and 134-148 S Blair Street are hereby approved for calendar year 2024 only.
See the disposition letter linked above for the adopted conditions.
I support the redevelopment of this site in the long term. In the short term, for 2024, I support allowing the related establishments to hold outdoor events using the conditions of approval the Plan Commission adopted on January 22, 2024.
Alder Marsha A. Rummel
District 6
Contact Alder Rummel