They are working on a list of issues that would be their legislative agenda. There is one glaring problem with their current potential list.
Possible Legislative Agenda Topics and the Lead Alders on the issues
1. Economic development/jobs – Lead alders Matt Phair, Sue Ellingson, Marsha Rummel
a. Attracting/keeping families to Madison (work w/MMSD)
b. Sustainability of Madison
c. Real estate
d. Jobs/workforce skills
e. Jobs that match Madison education levels
f. Recruitment/expansion
g. What would help businesses
h. Build tax base
i. Industry clusters – tourism, healthcare
j. Clusters export/import2. Changing demographics – Lead alder Satya Rhodes-Conway
a. Aging population
b. Income socio-economic
c. Cultural diversity3. Housing – Lead alder . . . None
a. Affordable
b. Low/Moderate income levels
c. Middle income
d. Homelessness
e. Service provider network/safety network4. Citizen involvement – Lead alder Lauren Cnare
a. Neighborhood association-an active one in each neighb.
b. Review modes of communication (i.e. 3 min. testimony)
c. Coordinate with PTO’s for added family engagement
d. Neighborhood roundtable
e. Reach out to young families5. Environment – Lead alder Sue Ellingson
a. Lake, groundwater
b. Sewer/water
c. Stormwater management6. Climate change – Lead alders Anita Weier, Satya Rhodes-Conway and Marsha Rummel
a. Building codes
b. Streets
c. Adapt/prepare
d. Revisit assumptions
e. Best practices aren’t anymore!7. Neighborhood plans – Lead alder Larry Palm
a. Completed plans for every neighborhood
b. Updated frequently so stay current
c. Individual housing/economic development
d. Should they be consistent, i.e. use a template8. Transportation – Lead alders Steve King and Larry Palm
a. Carbon free expressway
b. Buses to all parts of the city
c. Bike paths to all parts of the city
d. Utility
e. Regional collaboration with other municipalities
f. Planning for fluctuating gas prices
They also submitted other items in writing – which shows that Ellingson and Subeck stepped up to work on housing and homelessness, but also thing that homelessness is the county’s issue and too big of an issue for them to tackle. Here’s some more info on the issues.
Legislative Agenda Topic: Housing
Team Members: Ald. Sue Ellingson (Lead), Ald. Lisa Subeck
August 23, 2012
Council Agenda
Housing
Improve housing Low income: Develop affordable housing
Middle income: Encourage housing that will keep middle income families in the city
How to renovate rundown housing?
The city can’t just build housing; we have to figure out how to encourage private development.
Improve small cap TIF operation.Policy focused?
– Yes.Existing policy?
– Pretty effective Section 8 and public housing (2600 units). Ineffective small cap TIF program. That’s about it.Within the Council’s jurisdiction?
– Yes.Benefit from Council action?
– Yes.Just right focus (not too broad or too narrow)?
– Just right focus.Legislative Agenda Topic: Homelessness
Team Members: Ald. Sue Ellingson (Lead), Ald. Lisa Subeck
August 23, 2012
Council Agenda
Homelessness
Reduce homelessness Service provider network
Safety net
Mental health and drug abuse problems
Poverty
Jobs and transportation
Where to draw the line at who gets free housingPolicy focused?
– Yes.Existing policy?
– Yes. However, there are still homeless people.Within the Council’s jurisdiction?
– Social workers are key to addressing this problem, and the County should lead.Benefit from Council action?
– Yes.Just right focus (not too broad or too narrow)?
– We can’t solve poverty, mental health problems, and drug abuse. Really the problem is too broad. But we must do something.Legislative Agenda Topic: Environment
Team Members: Ald. Sue Ellingson (Lead), Ald. Larry Palm
August 23, 2012
Council Agenda
Environment
Improve water and land Lake, groundwater, stormwater management
Road salt
Infiltration
Phosphorus, sediment
Upstream pollution – unreasonable TMDL reduction
Water utility
Sewer utilityPolicy focused?
– Yes.Existing policy?
–Within the Council’s jurisdiction?
– Yes, road salt and infiltration.
– Not so much, phosphorus and sediment. Although the TMDLs will force the city to deal with farm pollution.
– Yes, water utility.
– Not so much, sewer utility.Benefit from Council action?
–Just right focus (not too broad or too narrow)?
– Just right focus, road salt and infiltration.Legislative Agenda Topic: Climate Change
Team Members: Ald. Anita Weir (Lead), Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, Ald. Marsha Rummel
August 23, 2012
The climate is changing, evidenced by warming temperatures and more instances of extreme weather such as droughts, heat waves, abnormally heavy rains, floods, wildfires and tornados. The average temperature across the contiguous United States for the first half of 2012 has been the warmest on record, dating back to 1895, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Globally, the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1998. Glaciers and sea ice are melting.UW-Madison climate scientists predict that Wisconsin’s warming trend will increase considerably in the decades ahead. Warming increases the risk of extreme weather as the cycling of water between the ocean, atmosphere and land speeds up, resulting in more intense rainfall and droughts across the globe.
A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that dangerously hot weather has increased throughout the Midwest during the past 60 years. Madison suffered from flooding in 2008 and a drought and several 100-degree days in 2012. The city of Madison must adapt to changing conditions. Planning now can help the city protect people, property and resources. A comprehensive plan must include reduction of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change impacts.The Madison Common Council will meet climate change challenges in the following ways:
Heat Waves and Drought
1. Specify locations for cooling centers, direct staff to find out where vulnerable elderly people live and how to communicate with them and transport them if necessary. Budget the addition of portable splash parks.
2. Prepare adequately for possible power outages.
3. Plan how to conserve water in case of drought. Coordinate with the Water Utility to make sure sufficient water is stored to meet needs.Flooding and Stormwater Control
1. Re-examine ordinances and wetland/shoreland management programs to make sure they are strong enough to deal with changing climate and extreme weather.
2. Analyze infrastructure capacity to make sure stormwater will not overflow and the sanitary sewer network will not back up into buildings during heavy, long-lasting rainstorms. Make sure that the design of sanitary and stormwater systems is coordinated to minimize high water impacts.
3. Research ways to minimize stormwater inflow and groundwater infiltration. Adopt a net zero runoff site plan requirement.The Built Environment
1. Identify 200-year floodplains and prevent future development in those areas.
2. Develop incentives to encourage infill development in areas at low risk for flooding.
3. Direct staff to design and reconstruct roadways to handle changes in temperature and precipitation. Explore new materials and use more permeable surfaces.Air Quality
1. Encourage use of mass transit, walking and bicycling to reduce pollution from carbon-based fuels. Consider a wheel tax.
2. Plan and encourage construction of buildings that require less energy to cool and heat.
3. Currently the city is signed up to have 22% of electricity in green power (Metro Transit and Monona Terrace are at about 50%.) The city could increase this percentage to 25%, then 30%, then 50% over time.
4. Educate the public about causes and dangers of fine-particle pollution and smog.Emergency Response and Communication
1. Educate residents and businesses about the danger of extreme weather and what individuals should do in case of emergency.
2. Continue to work with Dane County and surrounding communities to refine emergency shelter and evacuation plans. Make sure all entities can communicate in an emergency.
Resources:
Wisconsin’s Changing Climate: Impacts and Adaptation, 2011, www.wicci.wisc.edu
Keene, New Hampshire, Adapting to Climate Change: Planning a Climate Resilient Community, November 2007. http://www.ci.keene.nh.us/sites/default/files/Keene%20Report_ICLEI_FINAL_v2_0.pdf
Union of Concerned Scientists report: “Heat in the Heartland”
www.ucsusa.org/heatintheheartland
Yahara Lakes Advisory Group 2 recommendations to state Department of Natural Resources, 2012 http://pdf.countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/Final_Recommendations_YLAG2.pdfLegislative Agenda Topic: Shared Revenue
Team Members: Ald. Sue Ellingson
August 23, 2012
Council Agenda
Shared revenue
Get our fair share of Shared Revenue from the state
We would have fewer problems if we weren’t sending our money to rich Milwaukee suburbs.
Ask for a presentation from Finance to explain the details.
Drag our state legislators in to explain why it’s like this.
Pressure them for change.Policy focused?
– Yes.Existing policy?
– We’re too accepting.Within the Council’s jurisdiction?
– Pressuring our state representatives is within our jurisdiction.Benefit from Council action?
– Yes.Just right focus (not too broad or too narrow)?
– Just right.
So, since these are council work group meetings, when does the public get to weigh in on these issues?
And, um, where are the rest of the alders that didn’t sign up for anything?
