Tuesday, August 30, 2011
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It's Just a Phase
Boxer
Boxer at Essen Haus Dogfest
Wisconsin River
Early morning - June 5, 2011
Deception Point
Between Whidbey Island and the mainland
The Madeline
Madeline Island Ferry Line
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William Ambrose Mayberry - Another of My Great-Great Grandfathers (And that's a Union uniform)
My New Book Blog
Syra J. Branson 1825-1892, My Great-Great Grandfather
Pumba
Our Humane Society Sweetheart
Map of New Amsterdam
My ancestor Cornelis Melyn was patroon of New Amsterdam
Why are boats allowed to be parked on lawns?
ReplyDeleteMy random question: why can't I come up with a profound random question? (I realize I am being rhetorical, not helping you in the least, but it does bug me.)
ReplyDeleteHow can I get stand at the farmers market?
ReplyDeleteAre we going to move to asses for taxes- business in a different manner then we have done it previoulsy??? Homeowners get assessments of 100% (I am not sure how business owners are assessed)-all I know is that the guy who owned the storage lockers by Menards was WAY WAY underassesed based on the selling price and he was reaping the benefits before, during and after.
ReplyDelete....And it is not the first time I have seen that in this town.
Magic numbers can go up and down?
ReplyDeleteWhat is Monona going to do with the properties it purchased and tore down? Has the city purchased any others or are there plans to? Is there any other new development news for North Monona Drive or any other part of Monona (the new hospitals are looking great)?
ReplyDeleteRelated to the previous dog post: I was talking to someone earlier in the month that lamented the lack of a dog park in Monona. It seems like we have the space and this wouldn't cost much. How about it?
April Fools? My pay is getting cut, my teachers pay is getting cut and the ultimate saloon is getting a grant for $9,661 from the city for new signage?
ReplyDeleteThe super pooper at Fireman's park is a better use of tax money.
"Why are boats allowed to be parked on lawns?"
ReplyDeleteWhy not?
"Magic numbers can go up and down?"
ReplyDeletePossibly some can, but not the ones involving major league baseball.
"My pay is getting cut, my teachers pay is getting cut and the ultimate saloon is getting a grant for $9,661 from the city for new signage?"
ReplyDeleteThe Ultimate is getting funds from the city's facade improvement program that was adopted to encourage businesses on Monona Drive to update their buildings appearance. It's a 50/50 match with a $10,000 max and is funded from TIF.
My pay got cut too. I think it's a worthwhile program.
"It's a 50/50 match with a $10,000 max and is funded from TIF. "
ReplyDeleteIn other words-the ulitmate will reap the benefits of a $10,000 grant. City tax dollars that could have gone elsewhere-school, state or county.
If their business increases will we get our money back??
It's a grant, so no money is paid back.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the economic viatlity of Monona Drive is an important part of the health of Monona?
Do you think the Drive is more likely to thrive with crappy looking or nice looking buildings?
Why do ask people to ask questions if you're just going to be crabby? Maybe you didn't intend that, but it sure comes off that way. I don't know what I think about the "facade improvement plan," but I think it's worthy of people questioning handing over this kind of dough to businesses when it's tax dollars especially when we're cutting to the bone in other areas. On the other hand, these businesses endured a lot during the construction so maybe the they do deserve a little help.
ReplyDeleteI also think you were unecssarily snotty to the person with the boat question. The least you could is direct the person to the proper person at city hall to ask.
It's TIF money, so we can't use it outside the a TIF district. Thus, it can't be used to substitute for general revenue funding.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do get tired of answering questions from people who don't understand what they are talking about. I thought my answer was more pithy, than crabby.
"I also think you were unecssarily snotty to the person with the boat question."
I asked the boat question person, "why not?" because I was hoping they might explain why they think parking boats on lawns is a problem.
Pithy? I'd agree - if you have a lithp.
ReplyDelete"Do you think the economic viatlity of Monona Drive is an important part of the health of Monona?"
ReplyDeleteThus, we should subsidize the cost of doing business? This line of reasoning would mean that homeowners who a positive net worth and do not improve the outside of their house should receive a grant for fixing their driveway (for example.) Do you ask these businesses to open their books to see if they are struggling OR are they businesses that should not thrive and be thrown to the mercy of the invisible hand.
"Do you think the Drive is more likely to thrive with crappy looking or nice looking buildings? "
This is not the point. This is like me saying to you-Don't you think we would have stronger schools if we used TIF less. You are against strong schools.
I do understand the program-I do not like it nor do I like counselors who play word games.
"Yes, I do get tired of answering questions from people who don't understand what they are talking about. I thought my answer was more pithy, than crabby."
ReplyDeleteGreat attitude you've got there (sarcasm). If you don't want to put up with the stupidity of the masses, why bother soliciting questions?
Why do people care about other people parking boats on the lawn?
ReplyDeleteWould they prefer the lawn paved over.
I am puzzled about why so many people in Monona are concerned about such things. It it very creepy People have too much time on their hands.
"Subsidizing" businesses and homeowners.
ReplyDeleteActually, we do "subsidize" homeowners who want to improve their homes with the Renew Monona program (that is a loan program, not a grant). Renew Monona is also funded from TIF.
The idea of the commonwealth has seemingly passed down the memory hole, but both of these programs use public money (albeit, a special category of money, TIF) to make Monona a better place to live, economically more viable, with better housing stock. We spend all of our money to make this a better place to live and work for all of us. That a few specific people benefit more than the average isn't a reason to kill the programs.
To use language more in tune with the 21st century political ear, consider these programs to be investments in our community.
There are no 'means' testing simply to hold down administrative costs. We are talking about relatively small amounts of money, so that elaborate screening doesn't make sense.
Stronger schools with less TIF? Before a TIF District can be created, a Joint Review Board is convened, That board includes reps from MGSD and Madison College (plus the county). The school leadership recognizes that the long-term viability of the community's tax base benefits from TIF Districts.
As for me being crabby, pissy etc., I will point out that the original comment referred to the "ultimate saloon", so they started the discussion with a negative tone. That being said, I probably was more crabby than snarky.
The Ultimate Salon's application and staff memo can be found here: http://www.mymonona.com/pages/calendar/export_file.php?t=2426
"What is Monona going to do with the properties it purchased and tore down? Has the city purchased any others or are there plans to?"
ReplyDeleteThe general plan is to acquire the properties in order to unify ownership and make the parcels more viable for redevelopment. The city doesn't plan to do anything with these lots in the short-term. There is North Monona Drive Redevelopment Plan.
http://www.monona.wi.us/pages/calendar/export_file.php?t=1772
See my prior post:
http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2011/01/public-hearing-north-monona-drive.html
Dog park in Monona. "It seems like we have the space and this wouldn't cost much. How about it?"
ReplyDeleteThis idea comes up fairly often and the Parks Board has considered the idea, but we actually do not have the space to create a dog park of any size. HOWEVER, the Capital Springs Recreation Area will SOON have a dog park. This area is just south of Monona near the Lussier Heritage Center. I'm not sure of the exact timing.
Here's the master plan:
http://dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/completed_archive/parks_trails/capsprings/capspringsMP.pdf
Want to help? Here's the Friends group: http://www.fwsp.org/capitalsprings/?Id=109
Are we going to move to assess for taxes- business in a different manner then we have done it previously??? Homeowners get assessments of 100%...-all I know is that the guy who owned the storage lockers by Menards was WAY WAY underassesed based on the selling price and he was reaping the benefits before, during and after."
ReplyDeleteBy state law, all properties have to be assessed *by the assessor* at their fair market value (FMV). With houses, if the house hasn't sold recently, the FMV is determined by using comparable sales.
Commercial properties are trickier because they vary much more than houses do and don't turn over as often. An alternative way to do the assessments is by the income approach. If the assessor had used the income approach on those storage properties, then the assessment would have been much higher.
No one on the city side was very happy with the assessed values for those properties when we found out (during TIF negotiations) the value based on the income approach.
HOWEVER, the city council can NOT get involved in setting assessments of individual properties. The assessor that the city hires does that. The council cannot interfere in that process. We have, however, made the ability to do the income approach one criterion in choosing a new assessor (the contract is up for the current assessor).
I disagree about the space for a dog park. You could take the back 2/3rds of Maywood park, or an open section of Fireman's or Winnequah park. It would be a better use of our investment and a community asset.
ReplyDelete"I disagree about the space for a dog park. You could take the back 2/3rds of Maywood park, or an open section of Fireman's or Winnequah park."
ReplyDeleteFair comment. Since the Parks Board has considered a possible dog park before and decided against it due to limited space, I suggest that anyone wanting the Board to pursue it should come to ameeting and make the pitch during the public appearance section of a Board meeting.
BTW, the new dog park in the Capital Springs Rec Area is supposed to open this October.
"As for me being crabby, pissy etc., I will point out that the original comment referred to the "ultimate saloon", so they started the discussion with a negative tone. That being said, I probably was more crabby than snarky."
ReplyDeleteI do not care if you come across as crabby. You are the alderperson and it is your blog
"I do not care if you come across as crabby. You are the alderperson and it is your blog."
ReplyDeleteHell, yeah!!
How about snarky and curmudgeony?
"How about snarky and curmudgeony? "
ReplyDeleteAs long as I can do it. We are good.
What happened to the Princeton Club Express?
ReplyDeleteSo who violated the sales agreement between Thomases and the City by ripping out all the foliage on the west side of Frostwoods Park? And more inportantly, what is going to be done to fix this?
ReplyDeleteFrost Woods Park. The city removed the trees due to staff error. The staff has apologized to the Thomases and the city will be planting trees. That's about all I know right now.
ReplyDeleteI am curious about the "Thomases and foliage/trees" comment and answer above, as I know nothing about the sales agreement, what it stated, what occurred that violated that agreement and who on the city removed the trees/foliage. Did you post about this elsewhere, or could you please explain? Thank you.
ReplyDelete(Yes, you've been extra crabby, snarky, or whatever you want to call it this post, but I know you are trying your best to provide good information to your community, no matter your mood, so I thank you!)
"What happened to the Princeton Club Express?"
ReplyDeleteGood question. I'll ask staff.
"I am curious about the "Thomases and foliage/trees" comment and answer above...could you please explain? Thank you."
ReplyDeleteThe document gifting the land to the city contains a restriction that the city cannot clear more than 10' of the lot from the eastern edge for 25 years and that the clearing may only be done for limited purposes (including forest management or playground installation).
***
"(Yes, you've been extra crabby, snarky, or whatever..., but I know you are trying your best to provide good information to your community, no matter your mood, so I thank you!)."
Um, thanks. I've never been called 'extra crabby' before! Sounds like something you would order at Red Lobster. "I'd like that sauce to be extra crabby, please."
As a member of the Princeton Club, I asked about the status of the Princeton Club Express a couple months ago. They are still interested in coming to Monona but want to find the right spot. He did not say why the proposed location for the Princeton Club fell through.
ReplyDeleteCity staff reports that the Princeton Club has decided to not develop a new Princeton Xpress in a new building on the site that Homburg Contractors own just north of PDQ on Monona Drive. There has been some talk of Princeton Club trying to find a site that they could redevelop instead of building a new Princeton Xpress, but nothing further from them.
ReplyDelete