D6 Items of interest Week of July 22, 2019

I am thankful there were no injuries to nearby neighbors and first responders as a result of the fire and explosion at two MGE substations on Friday.  Thank you for taking care of yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, co-workers and your pets during the extreme heat and power outage. Some local businesses sustained losses but overall considering the magnitude of the event, we were really lucky.

Highlights:  On Tuesday, the Water Utility Board discusses the new groundwater interim standards issued by the state Department of Health Services that include PFAS. On Wednesday, the proposed speed humps for the 1300-1400 Spaight are on the Transportation Commission agenda for reconsideration.

I am holding two neighborhood meetings this week for proposals within a block of each other: on Wednesday learn more about Winnebago Arts Café request for increase of capacity and on Thursday attend the second meeting regarding Red Caboose/Movin' Out development proposal for 2340 Winnebago. And there are two public info meetings about Dogs in Parks this week on Tuesday and Thursday, and the survey is still available until August. More details below.

The public information meeting on the Garver Path held this past Thursday by city staff and KL Engineering was well-attended. Many neighbors asked the city staff-consultant team to find options to construct the path so that it has no/low impact on the wetlands surrounding OB Sherry Park, move the path away from the Milwaukee St/ Fair Oaks intersection, and reconsider the width of the bridge crossing at Ivy St. There will be another public meeting next summer that incorporates public comments. The project is scheduled for 2021, there will a third and final public information meeting before the project is bid. Eventually the path will connect through the Voit farm/Starkweather park to Highway 30 and add bike path connectivity to more east side neighborhoods.

I have been working with County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan, County Supervisor Michele Ritt, Common Council co-sponsors Alders Abbas and Baldeh, the Mayor's office and city and county staff to discuss the creation of a joint city-county task force on PFAS. There are questions we are working through and the final proposal may take until September to submit to the Council and County Board for adoption.

Monday July 22

SUSTAINABLE MADISON COMMITTEE

4:30p room 206 MMB

https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=649113&GUID=3D9A0846-BCA0-4A98-9491-95C23001E6DF

5. 56734 Presentation: Green Urbanism Course Final Report

6. 56735 Presentation: Carbon Disclosure Project Disclosure

7. 55206 Accepting the final report and recommendations from the Urban Forestry Task Force.

https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=7510586&GUID=F6BDE01E-50BA-4A68-A821-E82511B5C5F2

8. 53550 Discussion Item: Possible LaFollette Capstone Project Draft Capstone application_

9. 56736 Update: Solar Zoning and Permitting Fees and Process Working Group

10. 54139 Update: RESJI / Equity Lens for 100% Renewable Energy Plan

Tuesday July 23

PUBLIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

5p room 206 MMB

https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=712253&GUID=5BB5EB8E-312B-4D2E-94EC-7CFF4E742525

27499 Public Market Discussion

- Public Market Design Presentation by MSR Design and City Staff

- Public Market Foundation Updates

- MarketReady Update

Tuesday July 23

WATER UTILITY BOARD

4:30p  Madison Water Utility- 119 E. Olin Ave. Conference Room A&B

https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=668258&GUID=70846717-4B29-426E-8487-25E26D4570E1

3. 56750 Update and Discussion of State Proposed Groundwater Standards (including PFAS)

On June 21, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued "Cycle 10" groundwater standard proposals with changes to 16 substances and the addition of 11 new substances including two PFAS compounds: PFOA and PFOS. The new enforcement standard is 20ng/L (20 parts per trillion) and the new preventive action limit is 10% of the standard or 2 ppt. The DNR initiated a request for review of the substances in March 2018, DHS studied the scientific research and issued the new standards last month. The rule-making process will take until Fall 2021 to become effective and update Chapter NR 140 (Wisconsin Administrative Code).  Until the final rules are published in 2021, the standards are interim but based on the proposed preventive action level, Public Health Madison Dane County can recommend testing of groundwater if either PFAS compound exceeds 2 ppt. These are not drinking water standards but will inform the Madison Water Utility and other local utilities. Unfortunately not all the PFAS compounds found in city wells were studied by DHS https://www.cityofmadison.com/water/documents/PFAS_May_2019.pdf

The MGE fire and explosion on July 19 had a PFAS element. According to an update from the Mayor's office late Friday: "As you heard earlier today, Madison Fire needed to use firefighting foam for the blaze.  That foam is often associated with the contaminants known as PFAS. It is unclear whether the foam used did actually contain PFAS and it is being tested.  In the meantime, there were immediate steps taken to lessen the spread of the water and foam, and there is intensive remediation occurring now. Two environmental engineering firms contracted by ATC and MG&E are working at the scene and have removed hundreds of gallons of water from the storm sewer in two different areas.  The consulting firms are working in collaboration with the City and DNR.  The water removed will be tested immediately.  Additional barriers have been installed to curtail additional water run-off. There will additionally be soil removal as part of the remediation as soon as possible. We will continue to work with all the parties on this issue, which we of course take very seriously."

When more information is available about the fire fighting foam, I will share it.

Tuesday July 23

Public Input Meeting Dogs in Parks

6:30p The Village on Park Street 2300 S Park St The Atrium Community Room

The Board of Park Commissioners and Common Council are in support of reviewing Madison General Ordinance 8.19  which does not allow dogs either on or off-leash in most Madison Parks.  The ordinance prohibits a dog in any public park and any school ground in the city of Madison or City space (City space is defined as any building or portion of a building that is occupied by the City). Exceptions to this prohibition include service dogs, law enforcement dogs, off-leash dog parks and parks where dogs are allowed on-leash and on a path.

The ordinance was originally created in 1973 and has been revised several times.  This review was prompted by the increase in the number of Madison residents and the increase in the number of dog owners in the city.  There has also been an increase in population density in some areas of the city due to multi-family developments, particularly multi-family developments which allow dogs.  The 2018-2023 Park and Open Space Plan pdf  stated that Dog Walking was one of the top 10 recreational activities.

Creating a policy which allows dogs in parks could include restrictions on dog access to only certain areas in a park.  The policy will inform any changes to Madison General Ordinance 8.19.

Wednesday July 24

Transportation Commission

5p room 215 MMB

https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=644767&GUID=6BD5F6EF-0A80-4433-935D-30646794639B

56722 Reconsideration of Spaight Street Speed Humps

Per Tom Mohr of Traffic Engineering: Metro will propose a compromise of one speed hump per block for a total of two speed humps in order to maintain their goals of acceptable on-time bus routing performance at the transfer points. 

Earlier this year, residents of the 1300 and 1400 blocks of Spaight signed a petition in support of traffic calming. The proposed project was supported by staff and became eligible for funding. What was initially proposed was two humps on the 1300 block and one on the 1400 block for a total of three. 

56719 Bus Rapid Transit Public Information Meeting August 29, 2019 Thursday, August 29 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Madison Senior Center, 330 W Mifflin St.

Wednesday July 24

TASK FORCE ON STRUCTURE OF CITY GOVERNMENT

6p room 108 CCB

5. PRESENTATION BY DEPUTY MAYOR CAM MCLAY AND KARA KRATOWICZ REGARDING PERMFORMANCE EXCELLENCE

6. UPDATE FROM BCC SUBCOMMITTEE ON STAFF SURVEY, MEETING AND DISCUSSION OFFICE OF RESIDENT

7. UPDATE FROM COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

Wednesday, July 24

Neighborhood meeting Winnebago Arts Café 2262 Winnebago St,

7p Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church

Join me to learn more about Jake and John DeHaven's proposal to increase the capacity of the Winnebago Arts Café from the current 99 to 225, request a parking reduction of 25 stalls, and add an outdoor patio.  All of these proposals require conditional use approval from the Plan Commission.  The Plan Commission will take up the application on Monday July 29 at 5:45p.  Please contact planner Sydney Prusak sprusak@cityofmadison.com 608-243-0554 if you have comments to share.

The DeHaven's will also have to request a change of licensed premises at ALRC to increase capacity and extend the licensed premise to include the patio, this would be a separate process. The existing conditions on their alcohol license are as follows: 1. Entertainment must end by 10:30p on Sunday-Wednesday and by 11p on Thursday-Saturday. 2. Establishment must close by 11p on Sunday-Wednesday and by midnight on Thursday-Saturday. 3. Sound level must not exceed 45 dbs at the property line.

Thursday July 25

Neighborhood meeting Red Caboose and Movin Out

6:30p Bashford United Methodist Church 329 North St room 3

Join me for the second neighborhood meeting where the development team will be presenting architectural drawings for the revised program design to be located at 2340 Winnebago St.  Red Caboose and Movin' Out intend to demolish the existing building on 2340 Winnebago Street, as well as the adjacent two single-family homes at 2311 East Washington Avenue and 2305 East Washington Avenue. The property will be redeveloped to include a mixed-use building with Red Caboose Childcare on the first floor and 36 units of affordable housing above, managed by Movin' Out.

Thursday July 25

Public Input Meeting Dogs in Parks

6:30p Madison Public Library 201 W Mifflin

See Tuesday for details.