Tape-Delayed City Council News

I'm a little late with this post due to a case of what my mother used the call the 'epizutic' - sometimes also known as the 'creeping epizutic'.

On Monday, February 4, 2008, the Monona city council approved a permanent outdoor seating area for Buffalo Wild Wings. The council also approved the purchase of new email software, including for the city council. The city email program's has improved lately, but is still clunky. This upgrade (basically to Microsoft Outlook) will be a step forward for the whole city staff. The council will only get the web version of Outlook.





The council approved the purchase of a Honda Element (2008 Honda Element - the Official Honda Web Site) for the police force. Chief Ostrenga brought this amended proposal forward and asked Alder McKeever to sponsor the amednment to purchase this more fuel efficient vehicle. I also suggested that the city implement a policy to evaluate the use of a hybrid vehicle when purchasing any city street fleet vehicle. The council was broadly supportive, in particular Alders Miller, Thomas, and McKeever.



Finally, the council got a closed door update on negotiations with MSP Real Estate, a Minnesota firm that, according to a story in the Cap Times "wants to replace the former Garden Circle apartments off Owen Road with senior housing, [and] is eying final city approval this month." http://www.madison.com/tct/business/271317

BTW, the Cap Times also reported on a proposed $20 million redevelopment at Chief's Auto. http://www.madison.com/tct/business/271316

According to Karyn Saemann's article,

"John K. Livesey, the developer behind Pier 37 and South Towne's facelift, wants to supplant a longtime auto salvage yard just east of Ahuska Park with offices, restaurants and a four-story hotel....he'll formally submit his proposal to the city within 60 days. Discussions have already begun on potential tax incremental finance aid....He said the $20 million project, to tentatively include two office buildings, two stand-alone restaurants and a hotel with up to 140 rooms, would be called Whitehorse Commons after the Whitehorse family that has long owned the property. Livesey has an offer to purchase the site from the family."

Are we going to see these stories disappear as the Cap Times drops its daily newspaper and goes for a larger "web presence"? The Capital Times to cut daily paper