So, remember when the Mayor let Inclusionary Zoning die? He promised a committee that was charged to come up with new answers by May 1, later changed to July 1. The committee structure was introduced on November 5th and passed December 2. Clearly a media ploy to distract attention as the alder appointments were submitted January 27 and approved February 3rd. The citizen appointments were submitted March 31 and approved April 21st.
Well, this might sound familiar, but, the committee hasn’t yet met. That’s why I say it was nothing more than a media ploy. There was no serious intent to actually do anything, if there was, and they were serious about it, the appointments would have been rushed through and the committee would have met 6 – 8 times by now.
The committee was originally supposed to have been done by May 1, but it was changed to July 1. The first meeting was scheduled for last Friday (May 22) at 10:30 (Note to self, add #11 to the rules to exclude the public, plan the meeting the day before a three day weekend.) and then cancelled, with only 18 hours notice to the committee members, and essentially no notice to the public (the most it could have been would have been 2.5 hours if the clerk posted it at 8 am and the public looked at that schedule).
When the meeting was cancelled, this was the message that accompanied the cancellation:
NOTE: 5/21/09 – THIS MEETING IS BEING CANCELLED DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. WE WILL TRY TO RESCHEDULE FOR SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU.
However, as of this morning, there is no meeting scheduled. I suppose, technically, they have 24 hours, so there could still be a meeting tomorrow, but not even the Mayor’s office would push it that far.
Not that I really ever thought this committee would do anything, but I got a little hope when I saw the non-alder appointments. However, there has been alot of confusion about why create this committee when we already have the Housing Committee, the Affordability Subcommittee of the Housing Committee and the Housing Merger Committee. Why not just support their efforts and give them adequate staffing? So I was skeptical, but getting a little more hopeful. Now, given that its been 6 full months since the plan was hatched and they haven’t even met a month after the original deadline for their report, I’m even more skeptical and less hopeful. Especially given that we had all this stimulus money to work with and could have been really innovative, but the opportunities are quickly slipping away.
For what it is worth, this is what the committee was formed to do:
WHEREAS, Inclusionary Zoning has been in effect in the City of Madison since Feb. 14, 2004; and
WHEREAS, the original intent of Inclusionary Zoning was to further the availability of the full range of housing choices for families of all income levels in all areas of the City of Madison. A full range of housing options promotes diverse and thriving neighborhoods, schools, and communities. It also aids the recruitment and retention of local businesses and their workforce, which are essential to the economic welfare of the City. This purpose can be accomplished by providing dwelling units for families with annual incomes less than the area median income; and
WHEREAS, the promise and goals of IZ remain achievable and a must if the City is to grow economically and culturally;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council hereby create an Ad Hoc Housing Diversity Planning Committee charged with developing recommendations to further the availability of the full range of housing choices for families of all income levels in all areas of the City of Madison; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Committee shall consist of nine members,
including the names of five alderpersons and four other members from the Housing
Committee and one member from the Inclusionary Zoning Oversight Committee.
Members shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council.BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Committee is charged to engage with
stakeholders to:
* Develop recommendations to create and promote a diversity of housing choices for
families and households of all income levels in all areas of the City of Madison.
* Establish a process and timeline to implement recommendations.BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Committee will target a completion of its report, including recommendations to the Common Council and the Mayor’s Office, by July 1, 2009.
I don’t know if they’ll ever get to do their work, its clearly needed, but the efforts seem disingenuous, duplicative and still are currently non-existant. I wonder if they will ever come up with anything. Meanwhile, remember the REALTORS plan?
This is all so painfully familiar. The City is going back to the good old days, where affordable housing is just off the radar screen. Hmmm . . . what to do?
