I gotta make up for a kinda short round up on Friday, so, here it is . . . a few staler items and some items from last Thursday I still need to catch up with.
THE WEEK AHEAD
City
County
School Board
Monona
SHIT, I AGREE WITH THE WSJ EDITORIAL
No one looks good here. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz can declare victory, but who is really winning? No one.
GLAD TO SEE SOMEONE CARES ABOUT ETHICS
Unlike in the City of Madison. Someone (besides me) going to file a complaint? Buehler? Buehler?
NOT ALL BAD NEWS IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY?
At least not for the bigger builders and if buyers can get credit. It seems like every month there is an article about how the housing industry went up or down compared to the previous year. This article makes it sound not all bad. If you want to buy new.
HOW LONG DID THIS TAKE?
It only took a couple weeks before the Mayor decides to do something, (or a decade, depending upon how you look at it) and he waits til bury-the-bad-news Friday so its in the less read Saturday paper. Or Friday night news. When it shows up at a third venue you know its not just a slow news day, but a concerted pr effort. Finally, I think the Cap Times, who I don’t mind agreeing with, gets it right, perhaps we need more bus drivers.
HALF-PRICE BUS PASSES AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE
People will no longer be required to show a Quest Card to be able to get a low income bus pass. Good news for those who can use the pass but are not on the (formerly) food stamp program. Take my advice, don’t read the comments.
MADISON METRO CAMERA PROJECT NEAR COMPLETE
Nice to see a drop in some issues, but I’ve always thought that cameras were problematic, it looks like it might not be the cameras, but the follow through by the police that have made the difference:
Madison School District safety coordinator Luis Yudice said the increase in disruptive behavior is an indication that Metro bus drivers are now more likely to file incident reports because they know that school and police officials are following up on them.
School, police, city and bus officials have been meeting regularly for the last two years to coordinate information and strategies for improving bus safety. As part of the new focus on safety, bus drivers have been trained to report incidents – such as fights, thrown objects, vulgar language, fare disputes, smoking, theft, vandalism and weapons brought aboard – and Metro has begun tracking the number of incidents each month.
That could have been done without the cameras. I haven’t been on a bus in a long time, I wonder what kind of warning signs they have for passengers?
And look what else they are being used for, this is news to me:
For about the last year, Metro has used the recordings to evaluate new drivers at the end of their six-month probationary period, he said. The video is also used when part-time drivers are promoted to full-time drivers, he said.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COULD BE GOOD FOR OUR LOCAL ECONOMY
It could help with tourism. If only we had some of the criteria “Dynamic downtowns, stunning architecture, cultural diversity and a commitment to historic preservation”. We’re close, except on the last one or two.
NO CLEAN UNDERWEAR?
Um, I’d be worried a professional got fired for being late, sounds a little petty, but the underwear thing . . . gotta love small towns.
CHARGING $.25 PER ON-LINE TRANSACTION
It was only a matter of time before this happened, but the I think the bigger problem is in the parking ramps and with the new parking meters. We’re being charged quite a bit for those much smaller transactions. Sure, its convenient, but the city is paying the price.
NOT SO FAST
Maybe the City of Madison should wait to repeal its agricultural land use value ordinance at CCOC on Tuesday if the industry is fighting the changes at the state.
BAD TIMING ON CUTTING BACK
They shouldn’t have cut back at all, but it looks like the new “no schedule” brush collection this spring will be extra problematic.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD THIS?
City cracking down on restaurants that become bars . . . first it was the rules about how much percentage of food must be sold . . . then it was something else I can’t remember, now this . . . which looks more like a crack down on live music and djs than bars. Next we’ll be bringing back the cabaret license!
UM, BAD PLANNING
If you’re going to build a $7M building, shouldn’t you have at least one tenant after nearly a year and a half?
Construction of the $7 million project began in November 2008 and was completed last month. There are no prospective tenants at this point, Hyer said.
UNEMPLOYED AND ON YOUR OWN
No action on Friday in the US Senate could spell disaster for many in Wisconsin.
FRESH WATER LAKES BECOMING SALT WATER?
Salt in the lakes increased 10 times since 1940.
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
Perhaps Porchlight should follow their own advice. I was recently at a meeting where someone was talking about their dreams for the men’s homeless shelter. They had a basic request, could it be above ground instead of tucked away in a basement – among other basic things like no code violations and decent staff. Perhaps they should use some of that money they are raising to upgrade the programs they already run before expanding. Especially given Joe Tarr’s recent piece.
ANOTHER CHANGE TO SEE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
Here’s the recap from the Progressive Dane event, but if you missed it, you have another chance Tuesday night, March 2nd at the Lakeview branch of the public library, 2845 N.Sherman Ave., in the large meeting room in the rear of
the library, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER TO DECIDE
The fate of Central Park is in one person’s hands. Maybe the Mayor can try to take away his power too?
SHOWING UP THE EDGEWATER
The Target process went relatively smoothly and now the Copps at Grandview is working to avoid the same pitfalls. If you ask me, it’s all in the attitude:
Residents hammered developers on everything from the building’s size to its blocky architecture. But developer Brian Munson said this critique will help shape the project.
“These are the comments we want to hear,” Munson said. “We want to make this work and we’ll look at everything that was said and look for ways to answer them.”
But they didn’t escape all that easily.
Madison Ald. Lauren Cnare, who represents the area, said she supports the project, but acknowledged there is plenty of redesign needed before it can move forward.
Hopefully they’ll get it worked out BEFORE they have to submit several applications. And they’ll get their materials in on time. I bet they will.
MARQUETTE NEIGHBORHOOD CHILI DINNER
The 19th Annual Marquette Neighborhood Chili Dinner featuring The Kristy Larson Honky Tonk Trio
Sat. mar. 6
5:30-9:00pm
Music 7-8:30pm
Wil-Mar Center
953 Jenifer st,
$10 adults, $6 Pre-teens
(veggie chili, bottled beer available)To Benefit the Mna Scholarship Fund – Call 257-4576 for more info
NEW COMMUNITY GARDENS
Get info and give input on how they will work.
Two information meetings will be held for those who might be interested in gardening this summer at Lindbergh Elementary school.
Tuesday, March 2, Lindbergh School, 6-8pm, English/Spanish
Tuesday, March 9, Kennedy Heights Comm. Center, 7-9pm, English/Hmong
ZCRAC UPDATE, APRIL, MAYBE?
From: Roll, Rick
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 3:11 PM
Subject: Status Report on the Zoning Code Rewrite ProjectHello,
I’m writing to provide you with a status report on the zoning code rewrite project. A technical and legal review of the draft zoning code by City staff is underway but not complete. Staff are working to provide a final recommendation for the Plan Commission’s consideration. Memorandums that include the recommendations from staff and city boards and commissions who reviewed the draft code will be reviewed by the Plan Commission. Reviews of the draft zoning code have taken longer than originally planned due to a weather related cancellation, two meetings which lacked a quorum and the need for multiple committee/commission meetings to review the draft code. It is hoped that Plan Commission reviews of the memorandums will be complete in April. We anticipate the ZCRAC meeting in April to review draft downtown zoning districts which are not yet complete. However, this schedule may need to be adjusted based on unforeseen circumstances such as additional commission review meetings. I will let you know about potential ZCRAC meeting dates as soon as possible so everyone has plenty of advanced notice for the next meeting. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
DON’T FORGET – E WASHINGTON AVE MEETING TONIGHT
Last year, the city hired Jim Bower of the Bower Group to help implement adopted plans to create an employment center in the Capitol Gateway corridor. The city also hired the Hiebing Group and Vandewalle & Associates to create marketing strategies. They have held focus groups with corridor businesses, developers, neighborhood association leaders from Marquette, Atwood, Tenney-Lapham and Emerson as well as other interested parties.
A public meeting has been scheduled for Monday March 1 at Research Products Training Facility 130 S Ingersoll 6-8p. Enter at the door near the parking lot.
Please join Alders Maniaci, Rhodes-Conway and myself, Dept of Planning and Community and Economic Dept staff, and the consultants to discuss the initial results of their work and to seek input.
Thanks
Marsha Rummel
District 6
