Common Council Update, Wingra Watershed, Jeff Erlanger Award

Hi Everyone,

Last Night at Council

Last night a great deal was accomplished at our Common Council meeting. We approved millions more for new affordable housing projects, and we unanimously approved two important transportation items, the Metro Transit Network Redesign and the new Transportation Demand Management (TDM) policy.

It was also a frustrating evening. The Community Services Committee had unanimously voted at their last meeting in favor of asking Council to provide additional funds for young adult and adult employment programs, as there are a number of quality programs that the allotted funds could not cover. In response, I worked with staff and came up with an additional $159,600.

Because this was a budget amendment, it required 15 votes, but only five colleagues joined me in voting yes. Several colleagues defended their no vote by arguing that our process for funding non-profits is broken and unhealthy, but no one offered any suggestions as to how to fix it. Lots of talk about a broken system, but no solutions.

Everyone agrees the main problem is scarcity of funds. Yet, when more money was provided, when a small measure of a solution was made available, the response was: no thanks.

So, yes, this is frustrating. But now is the time to pivot and be grateful for what we accomplished and look for pragmatic ways to move forward to get more good things done for Madison.

Reminder: Wingra Proper Watershed Study Kick-Off Meeting - Thursday, December 8th, 6pm

The City of Madison is completing a watershed study in the Wingra Proper watershed (as shown above). The City of Madison contracted with an engineering consulting firm to complete the study. The watershed study will identify causes of existing flooding and then look at potential solutions to try to reduce flooding. The study will use computer models to assist with the evaluations.

A public information meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m., Dec. 8, 2022, via Zoom. Registration prior is required and may be done by clicking here.

Jeffrey Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award

A highlight of last night's Council meeting was when we awarded the 16th Annual Jeffrey Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award to Alexis London, Bayview Foundation's Executive Director.

Every year in the presentation of the award we show this very moving clip of the time Jeff was on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1981. It's a great reminder that kindness, tenderness and compassion are the glue that holds us all together. Here is the link to that clip.

Take care, stay safe, and best wishes during this holiday season.

Tag