One reporter described it as feeling like we were in the eye of the storm.
GETTING STARTED
They started on time!!!! Taking at least Verveer and Cnare by surprise as they were absent for roll call, but in the chambers within minutes after the meeting started.
Bruer suspends the usual rules to allow items to be taken out of order and get introduced from the floor.
WILCO
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz call on Satya Rhodes-Conway who moves adoption. Mayor reads the resolution and asks her to comment. Rhodes-Conway says that if they do this tonight, they will do it before Chicago. Passes on a voice vote, with no audible no votes.
CONSENT AGENDA
There were no items separated for discussion. Here’s what Bruer attempted to say:
16. Legislative File No. 17644 – Report of Mayor recommending reinstatement of committee members who have filed “Statement of Interests” form. (2/3 vote required to reinstate member to Low-Income Bus Pass Program Committee) – Bruer announces they will record a unanimous vote if no one objects.
45. Legislative File NO. 17440 – Authorizing The Mayor And City Clerk To Apply For And Accept A DNR Lake Planning Grant To Provide Virtual Discharge Gauge Information in Real-Time for Lower Mud Lake. (Various ADs) (Report of BPW – Corrected Recommendation: RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT not RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO PLACE ON FILE WITHOUT PREJUDICE) 101.
101. Legislative File NO. 17576 Supporting the city of Madison’s application for Google Fiber for Communities (Introduced from floor 2/23/10 – Ald. Mark Clear, D. 19 – for purposes of referring to the Common Council meeting of 3/16/10).
He notes this includes #103 on the addendum which reinstates a few more people to committee.
The entire agenda except the public hearing items was voted on by the council by 6:35, which was about the time Verveer walks in the room.
OOOOPS, THERE WAS A REGISTRANT ON ITEM NUMBER 1 WHO WANTS THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Colin Bowden is neither in support or opposition. He says his point is that saw item honoring Wilco and but is concerned that if anyone caught themselves up on racial disparities in the criminal justice system, Dane County and Madison are not totally just. Within Madison alone, people of color are arrested more than white people, even tho there are many less black people, they are a smaller percentage. He says black people are 100 times more likely to get a drug sentence the first time. The fact that the Council is not making a statement on that, a large municipality in Dane County, strikes me as a form of injustice and would like personally to see some brainstorming and statements in favor of equity and how Madison impacts the Criminal Justice System. The council should work on it.[This is ironic given the discussion at the CCOC (Common Council Organizational Committee) just an hour before the meeting. That will be a separate blog post this morning and I’ll try to remember to link it here.]
There are no comments from the council.
MOVING ON, PUBLIC HEARINGS
They aren’t supposed to take this up until 6:45 but there is nothing left on their agenda, so they start to take it up 6 minutes early.
OOOPS, RECONSIDERATION
Mike Verveer request to move reconsideration of the consent agenda since in he walked in in the middle of it. Verveer explains that he was at a neighborhood association meeting and he told them he could stay a moment longer because the council never starts on time and he walked in in the middle of the consent agenda. He requests reconsideration on #18, there was a request from and ALRC (Alcohol License Review Committee) colleague to refer it back to ALRC so they can reconsider. He says he intended to request this before the meeting, but they started on time.
There is no objection to reconsidering. Then they vote to refer 18 to ALRC and re-adopt the consent agenda.
STILL NOT 6:45 BUT ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS
No one is there to register except on Target. All the other items are passed or recessed as noted on the agenda. So item 2 (Board of Public Works Broom St.) passes, 3 – 9 (liquor licenses) passes, 10 & 11 (Board of Public Works Edgewood and N 3rd St assessment districts) all pass. #12 public hearing opened and recessed but no vote.
TARGET
Registrant
Jackie Bell representing Target in support. She says she is very excited about the proposal, unique proposal for Target, unique property, 50 ft of grade change, opportunity to put underground parking and sale floor on top level, a lot of great input form citizens, number of emails and phone calls and input from citizens, thanks Schmidt and the neighborhood groups for their questions and concerns – staff did great working with us, this is a cohesive development, works well with mall, with further approvals, would like to get under construction this spring and open summer 2011, she is willing to answer questions and take comments.
Mayor notes the entire design team is here for questions.
Questions of Registrants
None.
Questions of Staff
None.
Discussion
Chris Schmidt moves adoption of 13 & 14 – Schmidt thanks Target for working with us through our process, very good to work with, very receptive to public input, that is reflected in strong support for the project, not universal, but some people would not agree the sky is blue, they’d call it azure. This went through a large public meeting, city committees, can’t speak highly enough of work they have done and staff.
Marsha Rummel is also very appreciative, nothing more to add, but would like to be noted in opposition to 14 which takes a parking lot that was part of the residential portion to put into parking for the development, she understands why, but thinks green space is important, wanted to make the council aware. She repeates they were great to work with, she says this is a model of how the system is not broken.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz mumbles that “I’d disagree about that”
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff as an alder in the area thanks Schmidt and says she looks forward to using Hilldale and happy to have a new place to shop, says they made it easy on rest of us and she appreciates it. [Judy Compton made sure to tease her after the council meeting for being the new Cindy Thomas on the council, because “Cindy Thomas knows shopping!”]
Mark Clear says he is the other alder in the area and appreciates the Target team, he says he was only peripherally involved, thanks Alder Schmidt for his leadership with the Neighborhood Association.
Brian Solomon rings in to note that he is also an adjacent alder. He slaps Schmidt on the back and thanks him as well.
The council kind of erupts into side comments. The mayor advises them to settle down and says the need some decorum.[Wow. When the Mayor wants to get out of there, he suddenly has standards for the meeting. Wish he’d do that more often, especially when there is a long meeting.]
Motion passes on a voice vote.
WRAPPING IT UP
They have a public hearing on #102, no one registered. Passes.
Verveer points out they didn’t vote on number 12, so they do and they re-refer it. Mayor apologizes, says he was so excited that they were almost done.
INTRODUCTION OF ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
Tim Bruer introduces something about Olin Park which is referred to the Parks Department.
Julia Kerr introduces a TIF resolution for Wingra LLC for 62 units of Senior Housing. Refers to 3/8 Board of Estimates meeting.
Bridget Maniaci introduces, by title only, an amendment for noise permits. Referred to Housing and PSRC (Public Safety Review Committee). [I think this is to allow permits to have a band in your backyard for a party, but it was unclear, and its by title only, even tho its an issue that is a year and a half old. No reason to introduce by title only, unless she is trying to get it done by Mifflin Street, which would be unfortunate, because it shouldn’t be about Mifflin but for the other 364 days a year. But, for the record, if I’m surmising correctly, I fully support the concept.]
Judy Compton asks to be added as a sponsor on 101.
Bruer moves adjournment.
Clear fails to wish Happy Birthday to Marsha Rummel (today), which he has done at the end of several council meetings for several other alders.
FINAL NOTE
The council has taken breaks that have lasted longer than this meeting.
