I’m catching up from taking a break from email for a long weekend, so I’ve missed a bit and I’m behind, so I thought I’d share because I’m guessing others are in my boat! This is last week and the holiday weekend local government news updates.
City
Wisconsin State Journal – Developer still seeking financing for $43M State St. Hotel “It’s been eight months since the Madison City Council approved plans for a $43 million, nine-story boutique hotel that promises to transform the 100 block of State Street. But the site remains a collection of empty buildings and storefronts on one of the city’s prime blocks as the developer, Ascendant Holdings of Madison, continues to seek a capital partner to deliver the final financing piece to move the project forward.”
Wisconsin State Journal – Madison leaders face possible “subsidy” for unique city golf program “Parks Division Superintendent Eric Knepp recently penned an ominous memo alerting the mayor, seven council members and the Park Board that after a flood-shortened playing season and amid a long-term waning in golf’s popularity, the city’s four courses ended 2018 with a $863,320 loss. Revenues dropped to about $2.4 million last year, while costs rose to about $3.1 million.”
Cap Times – East Side apartments to move forward with credits previously meant for Park Street project “After missing out on tax credits this spring, a proposed far east side affordable apartment complex has been surprised with credits late in the game. Ace Apartments, slated for 4602 Cottage Grove Road, was recently awarded crucial, competitive federal tax credits to create 59 units of affordable housing. Kathryne Auerback, executive director of Movin’ Out, Inc., said Monday she was “very pleased” to learn about the award. The Ace Apartments by Mirus Partners (which after a merger is known as The Commonwealth Companies) and Movin’ Out will provide 70 units of housing, 59 of which would be affordable.”
Wisconsin State Journal – Plenty of challenges in bringing bus rapid transit to Madison “Hoping to finally realize a transportation initiative that has been in the planning stages for a number of years, city officials are moving toward implementing a bus rapid transit system. But dropping a faster, more efficient people mover into the middle of a densely developed city will be a daunting challenge. With little capacity to expand streets, Madison will have to make hard choices about whether to trade some on-street parking or regular traffic lanes for dedicated bus routes. It will also be costly. An initial route roughly from East Towne to West Towne malls will require a capital outlay of $80 million to $100 million — plans call for much of that to come through federal funding — and could cost about $3 million annually to run.”
State Journal – New Madison program seeks to bring solar energy to under-served communities “The city of Madison has launched a new program designed to help low-income residents share in the benefits of solar energy. Modeled after an existing program designed to help Madison residents install solar panels, the Backyard Solar grants are intended to bring solar to neighborhoods that may have been left out of the solar boom, said Heather Allen, program director for Renew Wisconsin, which administers the MadiSUN programs for the city. Grants will be available to community organizations and housing developers through a competitive process and will fund up to one-fifth of a project’s cost.”
Wis. State Journal – Catching Up: City taking proposals to serve southeast Asian elders “After the Madison City Council agreed to take proposals for $115,000 in city funding to serve Southeast Asian elders, it’s unclear whether the group that pushed for the competitive process will seek the funding. Doua Vang, executive director of the Southeast Asian Healing Center, said, “We would like to. It depends on how complicated it is.” Madison got more involved in funding services for the Southeast Asian community after Journey Mental Health Center shuttered Kajsiab House in September. For 18 years, Kajsiab provided meals, activities and access to mental health care for Hmong and Cambodian elders.”
Wisconsin State Journal Editorial – Salvation Army plan deserves path to approval in Madison“What Madison shouldn’t do is look for reasons to stop this needed redevelopment from moving forward. The site is near Downtown, along a major bus route and across the street from The Beacon, a day resource center for the homeless.”
Cap Times – Downtown residents excited about Essen Haus redevelopment, concerned about design “The neighbors emphasize that they want to work with McGrath and are willing to compromise, but they’re not yet satisfied with the current proposal. Lance McGrath did not respond to a request for an interview.”
Cap Times – ‘We’re not out the woods’: Neighbors applaud SSM move to keep grocery, but remain cautious. “SSM isn’t going to demolish the Pick ‘n Save, and the city is fast-tracking a request for proposals to build a new grocery store on the neighboring property. It seems like a major win for a neighborhood that has lobbied hard to prevent any gap in grocery access. The meeting attendees, numbering more than 100, applauded SSM’s news on Thursday, but some neighbors note that the issue isn’t completely resolved. The city still needs to find a grocer, and Kroger, the Pick ‘n Save’s parent company, has not publicly committed to keeping it on the site open for a specific length of time.”
Wisconsin State Journal – City staff recommends Stone House Development for Judge Doyle Square project “A special city negotiating team is recommending Stone House Development, of Madison, over two other suitors to do a pricey mixed-use development above the large underground parking garage nearing completion at the Judge Doyle Square project Downtown. But the staff team also says that proposals by Gebhardt Development, of Madison, and Mandel Group, of Milwaukee, would also bring a successful outcome and that the city should further consider their proposals if negotiations with Stone House don’t work out.”
Cap Times – Madison City Council approves controversial appointee to police review committee “A committee charged with reviewing the Madison Police Department gained a new member Tuesday following a controversial vote on a mayoral appointment. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway appointed Gregory Gelembiuk to the Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee, which was formed in 2015 following the police shooting death of Tony Robinson. Gelembiuk, who was not at the meeting, has actively attended ad hoc committee meetings and is a member of the Community Response Team, a group of Madison citizens working to address policing and public safety issues that formed following the officer-involved shooting of Paul Heenan in 2012. The ad hoc committee unanimously approved his appointment.”
Cap Times – Madison City Council approves settlement agreement with Taco Bell “Madison’s City Council signed off on a settlement agreement with Taco Bell Tuesday, settling a dispute over a request from the fast food restaurant’s State Street location to serve alcohol. The approval means that the city will issue a beer and wine license to the Taco Bell Cantina, located at 534 State St., in the next 15 days. The license will allow the Taco Bell Cantina to serve wine and beer until 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday each week, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Taco Bell will have to meet the city definition of a restaurant and have food available at all times.”
State Journal – Madison looks to restrict entry to more Downtown bars late on weekend nights “Over the objection of the state’s Tavern League, Madison liquor regulators went ahead Thursday with the expansion of an initiative that prohibits people from entering certain Downtown taverns late on weekend nights. Should the City Council concur, beginning July 1, no additional patrons will be allowed to enter at least 14 bars after 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, even if they were previously in them that night. The state-mandated bar closing time is 2:30 a.m. on weekends.”
State Journal – Zoning code change would help allow alcohol sales at retailers “Call it browse with a beer, or maybe The Gap with taps. Under a proposed change to Madison’s zoning code, retailers with liquor licenses would be able to sell alcohol to customers for consumption on site. City zoning administrator Matt Tucker said the move to allow “incidental alcohol sales” at stores would position Madison to take advantage of an “experiential” trend in brick-and-mortar retailing.”
Cap Times – SSM Health decides not to build clinic on site of Park Street Pick ‘n Save “SSM Health has announced they will not, as previously planned, build a clinic at 1312 S. Park St., the site of a current Pick ‘n Save, in response to neighborhood concerns. “We hear you South Madison,” Damond Boatwright, Regional President for SSM Health in Wisconsin, said in a press release. “We care about your health and well-being and understand the importance of maintaining access to healthy foods in our community.” Instead, SSM decided to use their existing property on South Fish Hatchery Road for its clinic project.”
Wisconsin State Journal – Madison strip club Visions clears major hurdle for liquor license renewal “With a recommendation Wednesday by a city committee to renew Visions Night Club’s alcohol license, Madison’s only strip club is a step closer to staying open for business.”
Wisconsin State Journal – Salvation Army offering major redevelopment on Near East Side “The Salvation Army of Dane County is restarting a bid to redevelop its current building and perhaps surrounding properties on the Near East Side for a roughly $25 million project that would deliver a new homeless shelter, transitional housing units with support services, and income-based and non-subsidized apartments.”
Wisconsin State Journal Editorial – Don’t veer from vital goal of BRT “It’s called “bus rapid transit” for a reason. It’s supposed to be fast. So Madison officials should be careful not to undermine that priority as they apply for federal money, plan routes and tackle logistical challenges in pursuit of a better bus system.”
County
Wis. State Journal – Fleet ready to battle weeds on Yahara Lakes, officials say “The fleet is ready for war. On water weeds, that is. Dane County’s fleet of 13 weed harvesters is motoring up to cut and remove tons of aquatic plants in the Yahara chain of lakes this summer, a continuation of a program to try and reduce lake flooding and lower the amount of algae-producing phosphorus. The 13 harvesters are two more than last year, and the lake weed management budget jumped 53% to $773,400, as the county tries to stay ahead of the growing weed problem.”
Cap Times – Building Bridges mental health program served more than 500 students, new Dane County efforts planned “A joint program between Dane County and area schools that provides mental health support for students reached a milestone after serving 524 students and their families this school year, according to officials.”
Cap Times – Dane County committees approve building downtown jail tower “Two Dane County committees voted Tuesday to formally recommend moving forward with a $148 million jail renovation plan that involves building a tower next to the existing Public Safety Building in downtown Madison. The committees acted unanimously on voice votes, unsurprising after both signaled support of the south tower option at a meeting May 7. Ultimately, the south tower option will bring the county’s three jail facilities into a consolidated downtown location.”
Madison Schools
Wisconsin State Journal – Madison School Board lays out timeline for hiring interim superintendent “The board has already stated a preference for an internal hire. The body is looking to interview finalists in mid-June and approve a contract before July. Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham will leave the district at the end of August for a teaching position at Harvard University.”
Cap Times – School Board names officers, finalizes interim superintendent hiring timeline “The Madison School Board selected Gloria Reyes as its new president Monday night, and several others were chosen for board officer roles during the group’s monthly meeting at East High School.”
Capital Times – Breese Stevens operators, school district finalize agreement over Lapham school parking lot “Big Top Events needs to use the lot to provide parking spaces for stadium staff and players on the Forward Madison professional soccer team. However, the parent teacher groups for Lapham and Marquette elementary schools and O’Keeffe Middle School see the parking lot as a profitable fundraising opportunity. The agreement in place allows for both, with representatives from Big Top Events and the Lapham and Marquette parent teacher group calling it “positive” and “fantastic.””
Cap Times – Fundraising effort launched to cover costs of updates to Madison East High field house “Madison East High School began a campaign last week to cover the remaining costs of renovations to the school’s field house later this summer, which would provide more capacity and ability to host a variety of events. The redesign of the Milton McPike Field House is part of the school’s long-term plan for updates to the school, and follows the 2017 renovation of the school’s auditorium. An anonymous donor provided the school with a $1 million gift to help renovate the Field House, according to renovation campaign committee chair Tony Arneson. That gift spurred other gifts from alumni and some funding from the Madison School District, leaving the current fund level at about $2.9 million. The committee is hoping to raise about $250,000 more to reach the estimated project total of $3.2 million.”
Wis. State Journal – Madison School District administration blocked survey of teachers on school-based police “According to emails released by the Police Department under the state’s public records law, Assistant Chief Vic Wahl asked Joe Balles, the district’s head of security, on Nov. 29 about having the district distribute the survey to staff, then followed up with him multiple times over the next three months as Balles, a retired Madison police officer, declined to say whether the district would allow the survey to be administered. On Jan. 30, Balles wrote Wahl to say he’d emailed Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham about the survey and “really promoting the fact The Police Foundation is administering the survey and reporting back the survey results.” “I’m leaning toward sending this out to ALL high school staff through our four high school principals,” he said. It’s not clear from the records why that didn’t happen. Wahl said he had phone conversations with district staff about the survey, but declined to detail them and referred the State Journal to the district.”
Cap Times – Madison students call for consent-based, inclusive sex education in wake of alleged sexual assaults. “Joe Balles, the Madison Metropolitan School District’s head of security, said in a TV interview that Madison’s schools “are full of kids, and kids will be kids. As terrible and tragic as that incident sounds, I would just ask that people just be patient. Our schools are very safe but there are incidents that are going to happen from time to time.” Though Balles apologized for what he called poor word choice, students like Czachor and her classmates at East and other high schools now are working to create a campus culture that doesn’t tolerate sexual assault.”
Channel3000.com Madison middle school recognized as a national leader in college prep “A Madison middle school is being recognized as a national leader in college readiness. Madison’s Wright Middle School was named a National AVID Demonstration school. AVID, shot for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college prep program that focus on organizational strategies, study skills, critical thinking, tutorial support and field trips. In Madison, AVID is paired with the Teens of Promise program, TOPS, through the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.”
Other
Wisconsin State Journal – Madison Area Technical College closes Downtown campus, marking end to 98-year history “The boxes are packed, the offices emptied and all that’s left to do is turn out the lights. Madison Area Technical College’s Downtown campus will close next Friday, marking the end of a 98-year occupancy just a block from Capitol Square. Opened in 1921, the six-story building at 211 N. Carroll St. has for nearly a century served thousands of nontraditional students.”
