I should know better than to think I could quick get something done at work. There was no way I was going to get the round up done yesterday, but here it is, today, with stuff from today as well.
URBAN FORESTRY
“Green Tuesdays” is an ongoing series. This one happens to be about urban forestry.
Green Tuesdays: Films & Lectures on Sustainability
FREE – MONONA PUBLIC LIBRARY – 6:30 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M.
Next Tuesday, January 12: Urban Forestry Forum Learn how to create and support a healthy urban forest from foresters Marla Eddy and Anne Healy, and the folks at Community GroundWorks. From Emerald Ash Borers, gypsy moths, and other threats, to the potential of fruit and nut orchards to help diversify our forests and feed us, there is much to know about how we can help nature’s systems that provide for us.
About Green Tuesdays Green Tuesdays: Films & Lectures on Sustainability is the enlightening and entertaining series of lectures, films, and conversations on sustainable living brought to you by The Natural Step Monona and the Monona Public Library.
Upcoming presentations: Healthy Home Fabrics with Karen Powell (2/09),
What’s up in Monona? (3/9), and Mama Earth (3/30).Green Tuesdays are from 6:30 to 8:00, with engaging and fun conversations often pushing the conclusion a bit past that hour. The series is free and open to the public. Sessions are on the second and fifth Tuesdays of the month, from September through May. The Monona Public Library is at 1000 Nichols Road.
Whole Foods serves treats. Attendees are encouraged to come early for delightful food and drink.
Green Tuesdays: Films are supported by the Dane County Environmental Council.
About the Forums and Community GroundWorks This is one of a continuing series of forums throughout the Madison area. The Urban Forestry Forum was created by Community GroundWorks and funded by an urban forestry grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Program.
Community GroundWorks at Troy Gardens is a nonprofit organization responsible for the development, management, and stewardship of twenty-six acres on the north side of Madison. Troy Gardens is composed of a community garden, an organic CSA farm, restored natural areas, an edible forest, and a large Kids’ Garden. Community GroundWorks promotes healthy communities and personal well-being through education, growing wholesome and organic food for local tables, and nurturing a relationship between people and the land.
I WONDER IF THEY HAD SCHUMACHER IN MIND WHEN THEY WROTE THIS
I was particularly interested in these lines.
And while we’d hesitate to discourage anyone from running for public office, McDonell’s point is well taken. If someone is unable to fulfill the most basic responsibility of the job – showing up at the meetings – then it’s likely public office is not a good fit.
HEADLINE WRITERS
So, why do most crime headlines not question the veracity of the victim. And some do.
COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ON THE EDGEWATER
Please mark your calendars for a Common Council informational presentation on the proposed Edgewater development by Hammes Company representatives, planning and economic development staff and others on Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Room 260, Madison Municipal Building.
Recognizing again the time demands and other possible conflicts for alders we attempted to find a date and time that worked for a majority of members. Unfortunately for some alders who have an active interest in the proposed Edgewater development we were unable to accommodate their schedule.
We would like to encourage alders that are unable to attend or have questions prior to the presentation to forward them to Council staff, Brad Murphy, Joe Gromacki or other city staff.
If you have any suggestions or ideas for the meeting framework don’t hesitate to send those to Ald. Mark Clear or me. It is our expectation that the agenda will be released early next week.
Ald. Tim Bruer
Common Council President
EDGWATER COUNCIL MEETING: FEBRUARY 23 & 24?
I’m working on gathering up all the information to put together a committee timeline/flowchart for the Edgewater approval process, and a thought occurred to me. We’re looking to bring all of the decisions to be voted upon to the February 23rd council meeting. Given the amount of testimony and the number of approvals to be decided upon (TIF, land use, etc.), I’d like to get your individual feedback on having a two-part meeting. Basically taking the public comments on the night of February 23rd, and then recessing the meeting and coming back the next evening February 24th to actually ask questions of staff and do our decision making. Given the meeting we had in December, I’m anticipating hours of public testimony, and I feel like we owe it to city staff and our constituents not to be there at 5am trying to make policy choices.
Please let me know your thoughts, if you think this is a good idea, or what you’d like to see differently.
Thanks so much!
Bridget
THAT’S NOT QUITE HOW IT HAPPENED
From: Bruer, Tim
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 4:35 PM
To: ALL ALDERS
Cc: Cieslewicz, Dave; Piraino, Janet; Schumacher, Al; Dryer, David; Phillips, Rob; Brasser, Dean
Subject:As Council members are undoubtedly aware there has been considerable concern and interest in the overall practice and procedures, staffing and equipment levels pertaining to snow removal.
At the January 5, 2010 CCOC meeting members reviewed the Mayor’s Snow Report. A number of Council members present had several suggestions or areas in which they recommended further review and reporting.
In response Council leadership in conjunction with the Mayor’s office and related city departments are interested in establishing a Council work group that will review, assess and make recommendations associated with snow removal needs.
Given the overall dynamics associated with this critical basic service we are hopeful that within a reasonable timeframe, and well in advance of the next budget review process, to have specific recommendations that will enhance the level and quality of snow removal throughout the city.
A number of Council members have expressed interest to me in serving on this work group. With most of the information and data readily available time demands placed on the work group should be limited to a couple of meetings. If you are also interested in serving please let us know by Wednesday, January 13, 2010.
In order to keep the composition of this work group manageable we are going to attempt to represent the various geographic sectors of the city. However those alders that are not serving on the work group are encouraged to participate or provide their input and suggestions.
Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any more questions please feel free to contact Ald. Mark Clear or me.
Ald. Tim Bruer
Common Council President
I don’t think the mayor’s office and departments involved want this group at all. I think the Alders are the one who want this workgroup.
E-FAIRNESS, COLLECTING OUR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES
About a week ago, when I was looking at hotel taxes I began to wonder whatever happened to city efforts to make sure we collect taxes on hotel rooms sold through internet travel companies (Orbitz, Expedia, etc.). Michael May. the city attorney explained there was a legal hiccup and that the original lawsuit was dismissed on a procedural ruling for failure to exhaust administrative remedies: the court ruled that the City first had to assess a tax and have an administrative hearing. They have had some discussions with the Dave Gawenda, the City Treasurer on how to proceed.
Meanwhile, I also just got a notice about e-fairness from a booksellers group. Over the last year and a half, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island passed e-fairness legislation. A a few years ago, editorials and newspaper reports often opposed e-fairness efforts, over the past few months, there has been an overwhelming influx of positive articles demanding e-fairness now. Over the holiday, both the New York Times and Huffington Post published opinion pieces calling for sales tax equity. Contact your legislator! With all the government funding woes, this could help.
WILLY ST CO-OP NEEDS YOUR INPUT
The Willy Street Coop board is taking feedback on whether to discontinue nonmember surcharge– in order to eliminate the difference at the register between member and nonmember prices. Whether you want this distinction be kept at the checkout counter or want that surcharge to disappear, please weigh in by facebook or by email coop.services@willystreet.coop to the board before Jan 24. For background to the issue, see Lynn Olson’s piece in January issue of the Reader and Fae Dremock’s column in the October issue of the Reader.
BAD NEWS FRIDAY = D’ANGELO SETTLEMENT
Whenever the city has bad news, it comes out on Friday. Start watching when bad news comes out and note what day it is . . . this Friday’s bad news was the D’Angelo sexual harassment settlement.
NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS
Know of a neighborhood or business association with a great idea for building community or beautifying the look and feel of an area? How about encouraging these neighborhoods to check out the Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development Division’s 2010 Neighborhood Grant Program? Begun in 1999, this program has helped to fund over 200 neighborhood projects that have included many thousands of volunteer hours.
PROJECT CATEGORIES
Community Enhancement, Neighborhood Leadership and Capacity Buildling, and Neighborhood Planning Projects are the three categories that a proposed project must fall under.ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Neighborhood associations/planning councils, business associations, and other community organizations that are located in areas without neighborhood associations or business associations (APPLICANTS IN THIS CATEGORY MUST BE APPROVED BY CITY STAFF) are eligible applicants.Visit the City Planning Division’s Neighborhood webpage for details and to apply:
IMPORTANT DATES
JANUARY 21 – NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM Q&A, HAWTHORNE LIBRARY, 6:00-7:30PM, 2707 E WASHINGTON AVENUEFEBRUARY 8th DEADLINE – PROJECT INTENT FORM FOR GRANTEES REQUESTING MORE THAN $2,000 (CITY STAFF WILL THEN INVITE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO FILL OUT A FULL-APPLICATION FORM)
MARCH 1st DEADLINE – FULL APPLICATION AND MINI-GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE
Please contact Linda Horvath, 267-1131 or Rebecca Cnare, 266-4957 with any questions.
RESURFACING STH 113 (Pensylvania, Packers, Northport) MEETING
Alder Rhodes-Conway sent out this notice:
The Wisconsin DOT and City of Madison are holding a meeting to share and get feedback on plans for the resurfacing of STH 113 – Pennsylvania, Packers and Northport. Please join us:
January 14th
5:30-7:30 pm
Lakeview LibraryThere will be ample time to view the plans, ask questions and give feedback, in addition to a short presentation. Also, the plans will be up on the web shortly.
MORE ZCRAC PLEASE
Zoning Code Rewrite Committee requested to meet:
I am formally requesting that ZCRAC reconvene and begin meeting regularly again. I think the Chair will be more than able to identify issues that need further discussion, but if not I am happy to provide a list, and I’m sure other members will have items to contribute. Now that we are not rushing through the chapters, perhaps we can actually have substantive discussion about the issues. I suggest that until we have either a draft from the Plan Commission or a draft of the maps, that the meetings be staffed by one person from zoning or planning instead of all the consultants and numerous planning and zoning staff. This will save money and staff time. Further, I think we should pay attention to actually tapping the expertise of the members of this body – perhaps by asking representatives of different constituencies to identify their top issues in the code, or to analyze particular sections to the draft.
Please understand that I am not eager to add another meeting to my already busy schedule. This issue, however, is too important to rush, too important to discuss only among the select few, and too important to not discuss thoroughly.
Thank you
Satya
WHICH DUE WILL MAYOR DAVE HIRE?
Most people have assumed that Rob Phillips would take over for Larry Nelson, but the Mayor is going through the process and has it narrowed down to two . . . guys.
MLK EVENTS
A schedule of events to celebrate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday can be found on the website of the Department of Civil Rights under “Events Around Madison”.
OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN
Farley may still end up on the ballot.
