Budget, budget, budget . . . sure wish there was a place to see all the amendments . . . .
Monday, October 28, 2013
5:30 PM Personnel & Finance Committee Room 351 CCB
– Regular meeting, lots of miscellaneous – may go into closed session to discuss bargaining with employees
5:45 PM Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee – Amended Agenda Room 357, City-County Building
– Salt Use Reduction for Dane County – Sue Jones
– *Reconsideration of Sub. 1 to Res. 116, 13-14 – Awarding a Contract for the Augdit of the Organizational Structure of Dane County Government Land and Water Programs
– Res. 156, 13-14 – 2013 Dane County Conservation Fund Grant Award – The Natural Heritage Land Trust – Viking County Park Trail Entrance
– Res. 157, 13-14 – 2013 Dane County Conservation Fund Grant Award – The Prairie Enthusiasts – Blue Mounds Natural Resource Area
– Res. 158, 13-14 – Authorizing the Transfer of Land to Dane County at 5201 Fen Oak Drive
– Res. 161, 13-14 – Authorizing the Purchase of Land at Capital Springs Recreation Area
– 2014 Budget Discussion and Budget Amendments
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
8:30 AM Public Safety Communications Center Board – Law Enforcement Protocol Steering Subcommittee 809 S. Thompson Drive
– DANECOM TALK GROUP DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
2:30 PM Public Safety Communications Operating Practices Advisory Committee – Fire/EMS Radio Protocol Sub-committee Middleton EMS
– Discussion and possible action, on Version 9 of the Dane County Fire/EMS Radio Communications Protocols, Document review.
5:45 PM Public Protection & Judiciary Committee Rm. 357, City-County Building
– PP&J BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
PP&J-1: Increase Expenditures and Borrowing Proceeds, Clerk of Courts.
PP&J-4: Jail Space Planning, Moves Figures in the Budget to the Planning and Design Category, Sheriff.
PP&J-5: Jail Space Planning, Requires Full County Board Approval, Sheriff.
PP&J-6: Jail Space Planning, Reduces Funding to address immediate needs for new Jail, Sheriff.
PP&J-7: Eliminate Borrowing and Expenditures for Jail Planning, Sheriff.
PP&J-8: Increase Expenditures for new Bailiff Positions, Sheriff.
PP&J-9: Eliminate Revenue from Cremation Fee Increase, Medical Examiner.
PP&J-10: Provision Regarding ME Out of State Contracting, Medical Examiner.
PP&J-11: Provide Funding for Local EMS District Insurance, Emergency Management.
PP&J-12: Increase ATIP Bailiff Expenditures, Sheriff.
PP&J-13: Increase Expenditures and Borrowing Proceeds to Purchase Vehicle, Sheriff.
PP&J-14: Increase Revenue for Deerfield/Cambridge Policing Contract, Sheriff.
PP&J-15: Increase Expenditures and Borrowing Proceeds for Bailiff Space Evaluation, Administration.
PP&J-16: Change Rate for Staff Attorney Positions, Clerk of Courts.
HEALTH & HUMAN NEEDS BUDGET AMENDMENTS. The following budget amendments are being distributed to the committee members for information only.
HHN-7a: Increase Expenditures for a Community Court Pilot Project.
HHN-7b: Provision for Choosing the Site for the Community Court Pilot Project.
6:00 PM Personnel & Finance Committee Room 351 CCB
– Department reviews for departments under Executive and Personnel and Finance
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
9:00 AM Public Safety Communications Center Board – Combined Fire & Medical Dispatch Review & Steering Subcommittees Room 325, CCB
– NEW BUSINESS – Discussion & Possible Action
a. Election of chair and co-chair
b. Review of Committee make-up and structure
c. Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) V6 Update Guide
d. Review of Policy & Procedure 6.2.11 – Priority Dispatch System Use
1:30 PM Public Safety Communications Operating Practices Advisory Committee – Pre-Alert Work Group Middleton Fire Station #1
– DISCUSSION ON REQUEST FOR CHANGE FIRE AND EMS PRE-ALERT
5:30 PM Health & Human Needs Committee Rm. 357, City-County Building
– Res. 155, 13-14 – Authorizing Leopold Lease for JFF Program DCDHS – CYF Division.
– 2014 BUDGET AMENDMENTS – DISCUSSION & ACTION
5:30 PM Airport Commisson-Noise Abatement Subcommittee – Noise Abatement Subcommittee Robt. B Skuldt Conf Rm, Dane Co. Airport
– The whole agenda is all about noise
6:00 PM Personnel & Finance Committee Room 351 CCB
– Review of Departments under Public Works and Transportation, Zoning and Land Use Regulaions and Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources
7:00 PM Task Force for Prioritized Revision of Chapter 10 – Agenda with additional information for meeting 5201 Fen Oak Dr., Room A-B
– Revise the zoning ordinance to address Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are large-scale livestock farms that consist of 1,000 “animal units” or more. Because of the large volume of animal waste associated with CAFOs, the potential exists for these types of operations to negatively impact water quality. Every Wisconsin farm, regardless of size, is responsible for meeting performance standards and prohibitions to prevent polluting lakes, rivers, wetlands or groundwater. The state regulates waste storage structures and manure application at CAFOs under the U.S. EPA Clean Water Act’s pollutant discharge permit program (known in Wisconsin as WPDES). According to DNR data, there are 14 permitted CAFO operations currently in Dane County, covering dairy (9), beef (3), and chicken (1) farms. The recently built GL Dairy biogas facility in the town of Vienna also has a WPDES permit. Concerns have been expressed that the number of CAFOs could
increase given the potential to generate additional revenue from waste converted to energy at biogas facilities.
State law provides for limited local regulation of CAFO farms. For example, the county could use its zoning authority to require a Conditional Use Permit for CAFO operations over a certain size, or, limit the zoning districts within which CAFOs would be permitted. Currently, the county’s base large-tract agricultural zoning district (A-1EX) does not place any limitation on the number of animal units.
– Create a zoning category for rural subdivisions utilizing joint septic systems on nonproductive farm lands (rocky drumlins, etc.) / Reduce zoning lot size requirements for rural housing settings, including conservation and cluster subdivision, in order to reduce housing costs These are policy recommendations taken from the Land Use Chapter of the Dane County Comprehensive Plan. The recommendations are intended to minimize conversion of agricultural land for residential development, avoid conflict with active farm operations, and promote affordable rural housing options.
Creating a separate zoning category for rural “cluster” subdivisions on a joint septic system could establish regulations based on land characteristics and other criteria designed to protect water quality, sensitive environmental features, and rural character. Reduced lot sizes could bring down housing costs, without compromising water quality or rural character. This new residential zoning category could be used as another option for towns seeking to establish “receiving areas” for transfer of development rights programs. The comprehensive plan also recommends that the county subdivision code be amended to include a conservation subdivision ordinance.
– Clarify and update nonconforming use and structure provisions in sections 10.21, 10.22, and 10.23.
The county’s regulations governing nonconforming uses and structures are confusing and out of step with applicable state law. Under state law, the county cannot prohibit, or “limit based on cost”, the repair, maintenance, renovation, or remodeling of a nonconforming structure. The county zoning code provisions regarding nonconforming structures and uses in section 10.23, limits the alteration, restoration, or repair of a building occupied by a nonconforming use to no more than 50% of the assessed valuation of the building – as of the year in which the use became nonconforming. In many cases, it’s difficult to ascertain if a use even existed prior becoming nonconforming, let alone what the assessed value of the building was at the time. The 2012 county shoreland zoning ordinance update addressed nonconforming structures and is now consistent with state law. Chapter 10 provisions regarding nonconforming uses and structures should also be updated to conform with state law in a manner that can be easily understood and administered.
– Revise rules relating to non-conforming mineral extraction sites
The existing code provision treats non-conforming mineral extraction sites differently than other nonconforming uses. Section 10.21(d) reads, “Mineral extraction sites that were registered as nonconforming sites as provided by this ordinance shall not be considered abandoned or discontinued if the site is inactive for more than one year.” Other non-conforming land uses that are discontinued for a year are considered terminated and any future use must comply with the zoning ordinance. There are approximately 5,567 acres of land registered in 96 non-conforming mineral extraction sites around the county. Of the 96 sites, 24 appear to be abandoned, 19 are inactive (or may already be reclaimed), and the remaining 53 are currently active and have an approved reclamation plan on file.
Problems can arise when long inactive mineral extraction sites suddenly commence operations. There have been numerous instances around the county of neighbor confusion and complaint with such operations. One option would be to eliminate the provision in section 10.21(d) that exempts nonconforming mineral extraction sites from the standard “sunset” clause that applies to other non-conforming uses. Under this scenario, operators seeking to recommence extraction activities on inactive/abandoned sites would need to apply for a conditional use permit and comply with current ordinance standards.
– Conduct a complete and comprehensive re-write of the zoning ordinance
The town of Westport submitted this recommendation, noting that the ordinance dates from the 1950’s, and does not effectively address current trends and land uses. In addition, the piecemeal approach to updating the code has occasionally resulted in unanticipated consequences elsewhere in the code, which in turn often requires additional piecemeal fixes. A re-write would ensure internal consistency within the ordinance, and accommodate modern land uses and emerging trends. Consideration could also be given to different approaches to zoning instead of the traditional “Euclidean” model, which is based primarily on separation of incompatible uses. Other models, such as incentive, performance, or modular zoning can offer communities more flexibility to achieve goals and objectives detailed in adopted land use or comprehensive plans. A provision in state law allows towns to opt out of county zoning after a
comprehensive re-write of the county zoning code is completed. Concerns have been expressed about undertaking a time-consuming and expensive process to re-write the county zoning code, only to face the possibility of numerous towns opting out of county zoning.
– Agricultural Plan Development district
The county should adopt an Ag Plan Development Overlay District to help track splits and ensure compliance with town housing density policies. Such an overlay district could be applied to remaining farm acreage after the eligible splits have been exhausted. As an overlay district, it would not affect agricultural / open space uses permitted under the applicable zoning category (A-1EX in most cases). The overlay district could replace the current system of using deed restrictions to track the density status of properties. This approach would ensure a consistent method of tracking splits that would also be publicly accessible via county zoning maps.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
8:30 AM Youth Commission – Youth Leadership Committee Room 321, City County Building
7:00 PM Dane County Drainage Board Bristol Town Hall, 4474 Hwy N
