Finance Meeting & Operating Budget Amendments

UPDATED 11/13/22

Finance Committee Meeting:

The Finance Committee will meet virtually at 4:30 pm on Monday, October 31.

• You can register at https://www.cityofmadison.com/MeetingRegistration
• Watch the Meeting: https://www.cityofmadison.com/watchmeetings
• Listen by Phone:    (877) 853-5257 (Toll Free)    Webinar ID: 872 0767 7668

Budget Amendments:

The Executive Budget can be found here.  The next step in the budget process is the submission of amendments to the Executive Budget.  The following are the amendments I have proposed, these include collaboration with county supervisors and Madison City Staff.  

Consider emailing allalders@cityofmadison.com to support these amendments. 

Thank you for your support, Yannette

Collaborative County & City Efforts:

AMENDMENT PASSED COUNTY'S BUDGET

Men's Shelter (County's Budget):  Much has changed since Grace Episcopal Church offered its basement to operate the men's shelter.  The pandemic brought changes that impact the operating budget, some of these are:

1. Public Health's restrictions eliminated community meals which increased the cost of food
2. Quarantine/isolation services are now possible
3. The 90-day stay restriction was eliminated
4. Additional beds are available

In collaboration with Supervisor Smith & Wegleitner an amendment was entered into the County's budget to increase funding for the men's shelter operations.

AMENDMENTS PASSED COUNTY'S BUDGET & CITY FINANCE

Double Dollars Funds (County/City Match): Supervisor Huelsemann and I are putting forward a matching funds city-county amendment for the Double Dollars

1. Dane County Double Dollars Program | | wkow.com
2. Letter | County should invest in Double Dollars | Letters to the Editor | captimes.com

Nurses Navigators (County/City Match): Supervisor Castillo and I, are proposing amendments to increase capacity to:

1. engage with and bring together stakeholders to assure access to necessary reproductive health services
2. engage with community partners and collaborate with new and existing networks in Dane County
3. focus outside of the clinical space to assist birthing persons in navigating the complex health and social support systems for a full array of reproductive health resources
4. to coordinate, connect, and educate birthing people on their options for preventing unintended pregnancies and available resources

These positions will also carry a PNCC caseload, expanding the capacity of our perinatal program while also providing a link to services for birthing people who desire to keep their pregnancy and need extra support.

City Operating Budget Amendments: 

AMENDMENT FAILED FINANCE - REINTRODUCING AT COUNCIL

Parks: I am looking forward to presenting an amendment for a Parks Volunteer Coordinator.  This position is much-needed and there is precedence showing the potential savings to the agency and city.

1. A dedicated staff person at Olbrich Gardens has coordinated an average of 26,026 hours of volunteer time annually (data from 2009 – 2021, excluding 2020)
2. If these volunteers were paid at Independent Sector's Wisconsin 2021 value of volunteer hours of $27.87, they would have contributed over $725,000 in staff time on an annual basis
3. Measured from 2009 to 2021, over $9 million in volunteer hours have offset costs at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. 
4. Having a similar position dedicated to parks will improve processes, will help us maintain service levels, and will save us money
5. Read the full review and supporting documentation here

AMENDMENTS PASSED CITY FINANCE

Pilot Projects – One-time Expense

Blight Study (Building Inspector):  The passage of 2017 Act 317 by the state legislature severely restricted the City's ability to conduct programmed inspections.  

1. The proposed amendment funds a blight study in the Allied Drive area, which encompasses 57 parcels, 69 buildings, and 504 dwelling units
2. If the area is determined to be blighted, the City would have the ability to conduct programmed inspections in the area
3. This includes exterior inspections of all buildings and interior and exterior inspections of all rental units
4. This will change the dynamics of the reporting burden and the fears of retaliation due to complaints

Third-Party Transport (Police): MPD officers transport individuals to Winnebago Mental Health Institute for emergency detentions and from Winnebago for commitment returns to Madison.

1. Trips to/ from Winnebago on average require two officers to be out of service and unavailable for an average of 5-6 hours
2. Using the 2021 average hourly MPD Police Officer rate, a trip done on regular time costs approximately $575 and if done on overtime costs approximately $735
3. These resources can be freed and redirected to manage other policing service needs within the community

AMENDMENT FAILED FINANCE 

Process Improvements: 

I am bringing forward these two amendments to facilitate the streamlining of existing tasks within MPD:

Upgrade a Police Officer position to the rank of Sergeant to increase capacity for the Traffic Section and Special Events Coordination.

1. The position will assist with the coordination, planning, and scheduling of large events in Madison and assist with additional events that may come from the attachment of the Town of Madison.
2. In addition to regular supervising duties, a Sergeant role is authorized to make staffing decisions and assignments, complete Incident Command (ICS) documents and enter and approve assignments in Telestaff on behalf of their peers

Upgrade to a Police Data Analysis Supervisor position from a vacant Crime Analyst 1 to support the new Data, Innovation, and Reform data analytics team reporting restructure. 

1. The proposed position would report to the new Director and be responsible for certain supervisory duties such as assigning work tasks, scheduling, employee professional development, discipline, etc. 

AMENDMENTS PASSED CITY FINANCE

One-Time Funding – Grants:

Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMWHA) grant

The grant will fund a two-year initiative to expand peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other practices for wellness programs, under a Wellness Coordinator contract

1. Provide enhanced visibility of services
2. Collaborate with existing mental and emotional health resource networks
3. Provide our law enforcement officers with a trusted, vetted resource who is relatable and visibly present
4. Enhance the skills and effectiveness of our existing 29-member Peer Support Team (MPD personnel who volunteer their time)
5. Provide relevant, timely, and critical training for all members of our department including but not limited to, suicide prevention, the supervisor's role in responding to a critical incident, Trauma exposure in law enforcement, substance abuse, coaching and counseling for officer health, support and mentoring for new recruits, peer support orientation (for new members) and ongoing education, etc.
6. Ensure greater continuity of programming and oversight
7. City Employee Assistance Program staff will be involved in implementing the initiative. There is no city match and no impact on the levy

Community Policing Development Microgrant grant from USDOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

1. Coordinate the community policing advisory board process with the community in each police district
2. Residents will work with other community members and District officers to discuss public safety and create community activities to build neighborhood cohesion
3. This effort will replicate and expand MPD's successful multiracial police-community advisory board pilot project, developing better relationships and the number of community policing activities in at-risk and underserved neighborhoods
4. A pilot was funded through a previous COPS grant and was supported and evaluated by a University of Wisconsin professor with a post-project article published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2019

Complete list of City of Madison Operating Budget amendments:

Download or print a copy: https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11368237&GUID=3DAD9809-1EB3-4F5E-8273-CF71F45A5293

Common Council Meeting:

The Common Council will meet in hybrid format at 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 1.

• Meeting details
• Meeting agenda  
• Watch online

Many other committees meet the week of October 31, including the Finance Committee, Board of Public Works, Public Market Development Committee, Madison Public Library Board, and more. To see the full list of City meetings scheduled for the week, please consult the City meeting schedule.