Council Recap, Minus R Place

Here’s everything that happened, minus the discussion about R Place, that merits a little more attention.

ROLL CALL
Everyone there except Verveer, who will show up in just a big (Mayor tries to turn on everyone’s mics so that the clerk doesn’t have to repeat the vote, but the system collapsed.)

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
Done, no objections. This allows them to have the consent agenda, take items out of order and introduce resolutions and ordinances at the end the meeting. Seems like we should be able to write rules that do that every time, doesn’t it? I tried when I was on the council, Michael May couldn’t figure it out.

HONORING RESOLUTIONS
Hispanic Heritage Month
There has to be about 50 people here, mostly kids, to hear the next two items.

Shiva Bidar-Sielaff reads the resolution.

Mike Verveer shows up.

Brenda Gonzalez President of Centro Hispano Board speaks, says there is nothing more inspiring than looking around they room and thinking about the work that they all do, thanks everyone. Says she is usually here to tell you what you are not doing or not supporting, but today here to say that we are here to stay, here to work, we are what makes Madison a great city to live in.

Salvador Carranza – says he is with LuCHA (Latinos United for Change) and the Latino Education Council. Thanks them, says the history of Hispanics and Latinos in this state is long, hope you understand how much contribution they have made. They first came here in the end of the 19th century/beginning of the 20th century to work in our canneries and factories, they were recruited to come here when there were labor shortages in World War 1 and 2, in the 50s and 60s they were brought here to work in the fields. Many started to stay and contribute and settled in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Madison, then the Cuban immigrants came, that is when Centro Hispano started, that is the spirit of Madison and he hopes it continues. He does a quote I kinda missed about Spain for Hispanics was our past, Mexico and Latin America are our future and present, real future is United States. Hispanics are a promising future for city and state, hope to recognize that we can make that possible.

Tim Bruer asks for the whole council to be added as sponsors.

Mayor says that on behalf of common council, its an honor to have so many people here to celebrate this month and the resolution.

Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

Honoring Ms. Viva Mexico
Bidar-Sielaff reads the resolution.

Elena Aleman thanks everyone, talks about independence days of various countries and how great it is to celebrate the culture, food and dance. She says it celebrates our past, but unified and promotes diversity and she is honored to be included.

Bidar-Sielaff thanks everyone for coming, speakin in English and repeating in Spanish, she says they should be happy there were first on the agenda. She says they have a long night ahead of us, thinks it is great that the youth are here, Elena is a great example of what youth can do – hopefully others can follow if we ever have a Dream Act.

Honoring Dan Stephans from Landmarks Commission
Marsha Rummel reads the resolution.

Dan Stephans says that he is privileged to serve the City of Madison, he did so with confident and consistent commissioners and wonderful city staff, it was only with their assistance that he has done what he has done.

Bridget Maniaci calls him awesome, says he was there for lengthy issues large and small, he is very talented and shared that in discussions and his decorum, she was thoroughly impressed with professionalism and insight, and he brought a lot with his job with the state, he has passion for why we were all there.

Rummel says she is new to Landmarks, but has watched the last few years, many of members of the commission are here to thank Stephans, he has a professional demeanor, quiet attitude that got us through long evenings and hard issues, the reason for him leaving is that he moved out of city, I guess we’ll have to forgive you for that.

Retirements
Both Elizabeth and Jeff (JJ) Ekola are retiring.

Mayor Soglin says that their daughter Amy was also an intern in the mayor’s office, and any time any of you want to come back, he’d be glad to have you.

Jeff Kola says thank you, its been a privilege to work with the city and he has been impressed by the inherent integrity he has found since he came here in in 1987. He tells the story of Warren Kenney who was having a meeting with a person from the city from the state to the south and when the business got done the party pushed an envelope across the table. Kenney asks “what are you doing that for, we don’t do things that way here” and he heard that when he first came and observed it in years of working here, despite all the difficulties, there is an inherent integrity in the city government and thanks them for being able to be a part of it.

911
Lauren Cnare says a city staff person brought this to them and reads the resolution.
There is a long silence following the reading.

Bruer asks that the whole council to be added as a sponsor.

Mayor says there will be a performance and ceremony at Overture on Sunday at 3:00.

CONSENT AGENDA
Cnare explains that they will be passing everything on the agenda except where there are registrants, extraordinary votes or alders separate items.

They separate items 7 – 16 which are public hearings.
5 (retirement resolution) is not a 15 vote item as noted.
51 Iengineering budget amendment) is an extra-majority item that will be recorded as being unanimous unless someone objects.
She says there are registrants on items 8 14, and 16.
21 (appointment to Zoning Board of Appeals) is adopted under suspension of the rules.
23 (Supporting the application by the Natural Heritage Land Trust for a Stewardship grant to purchase the Wheeler Triangle), 26 (redistricting adjustments to wards), 27 (redistricting – adjustments to districts), 28 (R Place), 30 (Dexters), 31 (habitually intoxicated persons), 32 (Class B liquor licenses for parties), 47 (settlement with Adams Outdoor Advertising), 50 (TIF for University/Whitney Way), 125 (326 W Wilson) are separated.

Rummel votes no on 49 (ATC lines).
Bidar-Sielaff recuses herself on item 50 (TIF).
They announce that on item 50 (TIF) all the people withdrew their registrations, but there is still an amendment.
125 (W Wilson) has a registration, but they explain that people don’t speak when items are introduced and that they can come back next time.
Cnare says that there are registrants on item 28 (R Place) that will be late and they will postpone that item til they get here.

King says he is reversing his vote at Plan Commission and voting no on 49 (ATC).

Re-reading of the items they say the following list is separated. 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 47 and 50.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item 7 (Regent Treats Liquor License)
No registrants, they close the hearing, motion is to place on fie without prejudice. Passes unanimously on a voice vote.

Item 8 (677 S Segoe Rd) – SCREW NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, WE CAN IGNORE THEM
Mike Scott speaks opposing. He says he is not opposed to the project, its just the size and density that is contrary to neighborhood plan. Midvale Heights Neighborhood supported 20 – 25 unites, but this will have 60 units. This project is not better than 68 units in the previous project, 100 bedrooms does not resolve the density issue, contrary to what the alder says. Midvale was supposed to vote, at the last minute it was supported with reservations on the number of units and bedrooms. They felt the city had the real power to do something about density, that they were putting them on notice, but that seems to have been forgotten, UDC said density was not their call, plan commission had a discussion on density and importance of the neighborhood plans, they said they take them seriously but voted to approve. He says it changed from 4 stories to 3, but density is still problematic, he has been thinking about 60 units and 100 bedrooms and how it will impact the neighborhood. He says it might be ok to double the density with 70 bedrooms but three times the density squeezed into that small space is problematic. This is not downtown, it is supposed to be like the rest of the neighborhood, one of the questions asked was if there could be a different development without density, developer says no, not financially viable. If the neighborhood plan is of so little value and can be trumped on basis of profit what is the point. We already have a city of big boxes, this density is above the neighborhood plan, if you have the power and ability to do something you should not approve it unless reduced to size and location appropriate in the neighborhood plan.

John Bano representing the developer. He says this is a triangle of land between Westgate and single family residences, they started the process over a year ago, it was a 4 story building with 90 units, working with staff and neighborhood, it is now 77 units, 3 story and gone form mixed use development to more global view of project. This is an apartment complex, but cuz of Westgate across the street it is mixed use in that Westgate is part of it, because adjacent. This is a buffer or step down between Westgate and the residents and a buffer from potential Hy-Vee. They tried to put it adjacent to Segoe, all have direct access to Segoe, there is green area by single family residences. Neighborhood asked for a traffic study, he talked to the engineer today, the final report is not out. He says it will have the same number of trips as 60 unit apartment complex will, they want final approval, tomorrow they are at UDC, they have been through informational with UDC, plan commission gave them a majority vote.

Joe McCormick is registered in support, available to answer questions

Cnare moves adoption with conditions

Chris Schmidt says he knows the history of the neighborhood plan, he was co-chair of the “development”, they are discussing a triangle, recommendation stated approximately 20 – 25 units, goal was mixed use site with multi-bedroom units to transition to 6 stories at Westgate and encourage family style apartment living not just 1 and 2 bedrooms. He will vote against it, he helped write the recommendation contrary to the project, understands the process and concessions that were made.

Schmidt is the only no vote.

Items 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 & 13
They vote unanimously on a voice vote to pass the ALRC and Board of Public Works items. No registrants, no discussions.

Items 14 – 16
14 (600 Bear Claw Way) – Donald Schroeder, Alex McKenzie, Tim McKenzie all in support and available to answer questions – motion passes on a voice vote.
15 (600 Bear Claw Way)– Closed the public hearing, passes (?)
16 (Bethel) – Bill White, (Mayor makes jokes about how often he appears) supports referral, not wish to speak. They recess public hearing, refer with additional item to the future, unspecified.

OTHER QUICK ITEMS
Item 21 (appointments to Zoning Board of Appeals)
They say that was on the consent agenda.

Item 23 (Wheeler Triangle Money)
They suspend the rules, move adoption, Announce Bill White supports, no one speaks and they pass it on a voice vote unanimously.

Items 26 & 27 (redistricting)
They suspend the rules, move adoption.

Schmidt, commends Brian Grady and staff for excellent work, reason to separate is resolution passed in July and the actions the state took, this creates empty wards, saying no is symbolic, they (state) don’t care, we are just a useful headline, they use us to beat on, this is just a process vote we have to take.

Satya Rhodes-Conway echos the thanks to staff and redistricting committee and also objects to need to do this, there was no need to do this if state followed pre-established process and not change law midstream and let municipalities finish their maps. They did not see fit to do that now have to create extra wards, creates extra work and cost, not as large as other municipalities. More importantly leaves us open to situation that we can no longer say that people legitimately can have a secret ballot, there are so few people in those wards it may be possible to see how people voted, that is reprehensible, she lays that at the feet of the state legislature, she will not protest vote, but wishes could join Chris Schmidt.

Item 28 (R Place)
They are waiting for registrants.

Item 30 (Dexters)
Rhodes-Conway moves to refer back to ALRC for Jan 18, 2012 instead of place on file without prejudice, applicant discovered needs alteration to conditional use, that will give him enough time instead of making him reapply.