Dredging Up History

The planned dredging project at Belle Isle is a major issue on the council's plate right now. I strongly believe the dredging will go forward either this fall or next year. It has been planned for a number of years, but a key difference that demonstrates the city's commitment to the project is that the city hired an engineering firm to prepare for the project. The lagoons have not been dredged since the early 1950's.

Under current ordinances, benefited property owners will pay 70% of the costs. Residents of that area also got hit with street special assessments this year, but the projects have both been in the works for years and it was known that both would likely take place in the same year or continuous years. (I note that when a road is first improved with concrete curb and gutter, abutting property owners pay 60% of the cost for the road work. The city taxpayers pay the other 40%. City ratepayers pay all of the costs for utility work.

Belle Isle residents are understandably upset that bids came in triple the amount of then-city engineer Rich Vela's estimate from a couple years ago. That cost jump is one reason we are considering re-bidding the project.

Here is a bit of history for the excellent Monona in the Making. Click to enlarge.

Sunny Side Down

I get twitchy when our dear Sunny agrees with me. In this week's edition, she credits me for my comments that traffic signals are the obvious choice over a roundabout at Copps Avenue/Broadway. She then goes on to play whack-a-Chad because Chad didn't fold his tent and go home, but is pushing for the city to take another look at the roundabout option and get more data.

Background: The city is going to upgrade the Copps/Broadway intersection because of the increased traffic that will result from the two new clinics, the Menards expansion, and the eventual Whitehorse property development. The city administration said we would have the improvement done by the time the clinics opened and Meriter's clinic will be opening this fall.

Alder Speight (pronounced like "eight" NOT eighth") is asking us to look more closely at the total costs for each option. The total costs include societal economic costs, such as crash costs (property damage and injuries), wasted fuel, added pollution, and lost productivity from sitting at the traffic signals. On every measure, the total cost of traffic signals is higher, often much higher than the cost of a roundabout.

As I noted at the last council meeting (the scary one when I had the gavel), looking at total costs is not some wacky goofball idea. There is bloc of people who roll their eyes and close their minds whenever Chad says anything (OK, I know that he does tend to go on a bit, but that's because he's passionate about our city). We use net benefit analysis at my day job to help evaluate where to spend safety funds. Net benefit analysis is a very common practice in traffic engineering. The FHWA has a web page with links to various net benefit/cost models.  

The rub here is that these are external costs to the city, i.e. they do not come out of the city's budget.  They would not be imposed only on our residents, but on all users of that intersection. It makes complete sense to consider the external costs when using federal funds since those monies come from all of us (more or less) and thus should be spent in a way that benefits all of us.

Chad's persistence has caused me to take a second look. He and I requested that the city obtain these total costs from Vierbicher and they are working on it (at no added cost to the city). We shall see what the numbers say, but I fully expect the roundabout will be cheaper from the total cost standpoint. The analysis has to be tweaked to account for Copps/Broadway being a three-legged intersection in ways that will favor traffic signals (fewer T-bone crashes than you would expect at a 4-legged intersection), but I don't think that will change the total cost numbers.

The question then becomes whether we take money out of our own Monona pockets - and only our pockets - to cover these larger social/economic costs or not.

***

Here is one more website that does nice job laying out the factors to be considered.

Monona City Council Preview

The Monona city council meeting on Monday, August 1, 2011 has a shortish agenda, but several items of interest.
Consent Agenda.
1. Consideration Of 2011 Temporary Class “B” Fermented Malt Beverage Retailer’s License Application For National MS Society – Wisconsin Chapter, President Colleen G. Kalt, N61 W29576 South Woodfield Road, Hartland, Wisconsin 53029, For The Period Of August 7, 2011.

G. Council Action Items.
1. Unfinished Business (Approval Requested Unless Otherwise Noted) (None).

2. New Business.
a. Consideration of Ordinance 8-11-627 Amending Section 9-1-8 of the Code of Ordinances Regarding Fluorides in the Water System (Public Works Committee). This item relates to reducing the amount of fluoride in city water to 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water per federal recommendations. Current ordinances require one to one and a half parts fluoride per million parts of water.
 
b. Consideration of Resolution 11-08-1790 Approving an Agreement with the City of Madison for the Interconnection of Municipal Water Systems (Public Works Committee). The proposed agreement with Madison would finally make the long-considered emergency connection between the two cities water supplies.

c. Consideration of Resolution 11-08-1791 Award of Contract for Design Engineering Services for East Broadway/Copps Avenue Intersection Improvements (City Administrator, Public Works Director). This item would award an engineering design contract to Vierbicher for the Copps Avenue intersection.

A Litigation Status Report is also available.

Monona City Council Report - Some Stuff Happened

The Monona city council met on Tuesday, July 5, this week due to the holiday. See the full agenda!

See the full packet.


G. Council Action Items.
1. Unfinished Business (Approval Requested Unless Otherwise Noted).
a. Consideration of Resolution 11-06-1782 Authorization to Proceed with Planning for Tax Increment District Amendment (CDA). Adopted 6-0

2. New Business.
a. Consideration of Resolution 11-07-1786 Capital Budget Amendment for Winnequah Road Choker Project (Alderman Wood, Alderman Busse). The proposal is to straighten the entry/exits to the 'sidewalk' portions. Amendment is not likely to be needed. PW Director Dan Stephany developed a cheaper alternative solution that will be tried at one or two locations in the next few weeks.

On a related note, Mayor Miller did hand me the gavel at an upcoming meeting to put in his ideas about the location and/or need for the speed display signs on Winnequah Road. He had different distances than I came up with. His basic point is that doesn't like the location of one sign at Graham Park because he feels it is too close to Bridge.

I don't agree. Graham Park is about 1000' from Bridge Road. Mayor Bob said 600'. The entire stretch from Maywood Road to Bridge Road is 3200' (Mayor Bob said 1800'). And the speed detectors read the speed at some point upstream (i.e. more than 1000' from Bridge Road).

I attempted to stage a coup d'etat by holding to the gavel, but then the city attorney advised me that having the gavel wouldn't really make me mayor.  


* b. Consideration of Resolution 11-07-1787 Accepting Offer from American Transmission Company for Transmission Line Easement (City Administrator). ATC has offered $75,000 for an easement through the wetlands for the giant transmission towers soon to come. And no, the city can't use its ownership as a way to stop the transmission line. Under chapter 196 stats., ATC could condemn the property.ADOPTED

* c. Consideration of Resolution 11-07-1788 Acceptance of Bid for 2011 Fire Department Remodel (Fire Chief). This proposal would add three individual bunk rooms and a remodeled kitchen to the fire station. Not acted upon; may need to re-bid because isn't clear that all bidders had the same information from the city.

d. Consideration of Resolution 11-07-1789 Supporting The Monona Fire And Emergency Medical Services Departments in their Application to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Seeking to be Licensed as a Paramedic Provider (Public Safety Commission).

Adopted. By approving this resolution the council basically just stated its support to upgrade emergency medical services from EMT's to paramedics. Several of current staff are retiring so that replacements will be hired at a lower rate of pay than the current veteran staff, which will offset the substantial training costs.

The proposal also stated support for a second ambulance. However, the intent is to keep the current ambulance when a new one is acquired within the next year.

Monona City Council Preview - June 6, 2011

The Monona city council gathers next Monday. Several items of interest are on the agenda.  

* a. Consideration of Resolution 11-06-1781, 2010 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR) Review and Recommendations (Director of Public Works).

b. Consideration of Resolution 11-06-1782 Authorization to Proceed with Planning for Tax Increment District Amendment (CDA). This resolution would begin the process of amending TID #2. City Redevelopment Districts can be viewed here (related but not the same as TIDs). Somewhat dated TID map.TID #2 is at the southern end of the city along Broadway.

* c. Consideration of Resolution 11-06-1783 Approval of Proposal from BT Squared for Design, Surveying, and Construction Engineering Services for 2011 Dredging Project (Public Works Committee). This item is a $54,000 engineering services contract. It concerns me that proposals were not sought from any other engineering firm. I copy the entire resolution below. BT Squared has done the engineering for the Belle Isle street project that is currently underway.

My concerns about the process are several:

Foremost is the lack of engineering proposals from other firms. We might have gotten a better proposal from another firm. BT Squared's involvement in the Belle Isle area gives them a better understanding of the issues relating to the dredging project. Is that factor enough to warrant exclusion of other firms from consideration?

Second, according to the resolution,"the Public Works Committee directed staff to work with BT Squared to develop a proposal to provide design and construction engineering services for the dredging...". Directing staff in that manner is not the PWC's role. I look forward to hearing more about the process at Monday's meeting.

Third, the absence of competing proposals is contrary to city policy for professional contracts in this amount. 

WHEREAS

, the 2011 Capital Budget includes of total of $250,000 for Belle Isle dredging to be

completed in conjunction with the scheduled 2011 street improvements to Tecumseh Avenue,

Neponset Trail, Nishishin Trail, Nishishin Trail NE and Pocahontas Drive in the Belle Isle

neighborhood; and,

WHEREAS

, the Public Works Committee, acknowledging the work completed by BT Squared to date as

engineer for the 2011 Belle Isle street improvements project, and recognizing the benefits of project

continuity, directed staff to work with BT Squared to develop a proposal to provide design and

construction engineering services for the dredging of the lagoons on Belle Isle; and,

WHEREAS

, BT Squared submitted a proposal (attached) which includes planning, design, permitting,

bid document preparation, and construction administration services to dredge silt from Lagoon du

Nord, Lagoon du Sud, and Sumac Lagoon on Belle Isle and pipe the silt to Winnequah Park for

dewatering during the fall of 2011 (Phase 1), then use the dredged material for the grading of a

section of Winnequah Park in 2012 (Phase 2); and,

WHEREAS

, the Public Works Committee, at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 1, 2011,

recommended that the City contract with BT Squared to perform Phase I of the work.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,

by the Common Council of the City of Monona that Phase

I of the proposal by BT Squared to provide design, surveying, and construction engineering services

for the dredging of Lagoon du Nord, Lagoon du Sud, and Sumac Lagoon at a cost not to exceed

$54,130 is hereby approved, and the Director of Public Works is authorized to proceed with the

processing of an Independent Contractor Agreement with BT Squared to provide the aforementioned

services.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED

, that the Director of Public Works is hereby directed to investigate the

cost and permit requirements needed to dredge the inlet between Cove Circle and Squaw Circle and

to issue a future amendment to the contract with BT Squared to include design and construction

engineering for dredging at this location.

***

* d. Consideration of Resolution 11-06-1784 Award of Contract for 2011 Road Maintenance Program (Public Works Committee).

* e. Consideration of Resolution 11-06-1785 Award of Contract for 2011 Parking Lot Maintenance Program (Public Works Committee).

H. Miscellaneous Business.

1. Update on South Winnequah Road Safety Recommendations (City Administrator). I requested this report because I'm wondering what the status is of the actions required by the council (other than removing the Frost Woods stop signs).

APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL FROM BT SQUARED FOR DESIGN, SURVEYING, AND

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR 2011 DREDGING PROJECT

Madison Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee Meeting - May 24

Local biped Travis Youman sent me this info:

The City of Madison is having a bicycle/pedestrian committee meeting on Tuesday, May 24th as they look for input on bicycle projects that they should be looking at.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/article_01f18562-8095-11e0-ba9d-001cc4c03286.html

Travis writes:

I put my thoughts into projects that *I'd* like to see them at least take a look at (http://www.straycatbicycles.com/blog/?p=447) but the main one I'd like to focus on is expanding Monona Drive/Atwood to include bike lanes between Cottage Grove Rd and Walter St. I plan on making the case that bicycle lane projects should be looked at independently of resurfacing streets, as that section of Monona Dr doesn't need to be resurfaced any time soon (it's in great shape compared to the res of Monona Dr), which could leave us with the default "lake loop" being 95% on bike lanes/bike paths/side streets and 5% on a very bike-UNfriendly Monona Drive next year once the reconstruction from Winnequah to Cottage Grove Rd is completed.

That's also the main route that most cyclists that I know in Monona take to get either downtown or the East side of the Isthmus, so it's doubly important for Monona residents.

Monona Celebrates Our Leaders, Volunteers - and Heroes

The city of Monona held its annual Volunteer Appreciation event yesterday evening at the Community Center. The event is always a good chance to see a lot of fellow Mononans who serve on committees and do other volunteer work for the city. It's always a good time, but I always see more people there than I get a chance to to talk to. This year's event was quite well-attended. Kudos to Leah Kimmell, executive assistance to the city administrator, for her typical excellent work organizing the evening.

Award recipients were chosen by the Distinguished Service Committee, the Mayor, and the Police Chief. The presentation of the awards by Chief Ostrenga to Monona PD personnel involved in the incident at the UW Credit Union last December was very moving. I am posting separately on those awards and the venets of that day.

Mayor Kahl received a Proclamation from Governor Walker declaring Tuesday, April 19, 2011 as Robb B. Kahl Day in the state of Wisconsin. City Administrator Pat Marsh, City Attorney Bill Cole, and I made brief remarks and presented him with the proclamation and also a plaque and gavel from city staff. (More to follow in a separate post on a silly kerfuffle stemming from my remarks and my supposed 'refusal' to say Governor Walker's name. Honestly, I thought it was Madison liberals who attended the Church of the Perpetually Offended - Unitarian, of course.)

Without further delay, here are the awards:

Distinguished Service Awards:


Sara Deuman

Ron Hoffman

Hance Anderson


Mayoral Awards:

Jim Reiter

Bruce Rogers

Wally Ostrenga

Ladies’ Improvement Society

• M.A. Lichtfeld

• Kathy Thomas

• Betty Kruska

• Kathy Fellerson

• Kathy Witte

• Kathy Mahoney

• Doreen Peterson

• Millie Kaske

• Betty O’Donnell

• Joan Nyenhuis

• Pat Breunig

• Judith Bodden

• Judy McConnell

• Kathy Darwin

• Mary Nesbit

• Kathy Gerber

• Judy Harbort

• Margaret Metcalfe

• Deb Whitehorse

• JoAnn Stanton

• Nancy Kugle

• Terri O’Conner

• Leslie Busse

• Mary Pringle

• Sarah Whalen

• Sue Manning

• Susan Fox

• In memoriam: Zona Appel, Maggie Schuchardt, Betty Schaefer

***

(Sound like fun? Applications to volunteer for a committee are available on the city website. http://www.mymonona.com/ and/or contact the Mayor or an alder to express your interest.)

Monona City Council Preview - March 7, 2011

The Monona city council has several items of interest on the slate for Monday evening.

Council Action Items.


New Business. a. Consideration of Resolution 11-03-1761 Consideration of Recommendations of Ad-Hoc Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Committee for South Winnequah Road (Ad-Hoc Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Committee). The ad hoc committee is holding one final very brief meeting to approve minor tweaks to the the final recommendations. You can a summary in my previous post. This is a first reading and the council will not vote on it until the March 21 meeting. The recommendations include keeping both stop signs, some signing and pavement marking, but no sidewalk.


We will also convene in Closed Session under Wisconsin Statute section 19.85(1)(e) Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session (Monona Drive Phase II Land Acquisitions); section 19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility (City Attorney Contract Renewal, Public Works Director Employment Contract).


* c. Consideration of Resolution 11-03-1758 Approval of Employment Contract for Public Works Director (City Administrator). The * means we are asked to take action at the first reading. Welcome our new PW Director Dan Stephany to Monona!

d. Consideration of Resolution 11-03-1762 Approval of Contract with Bray Architects for Space Utilization and Facilities Study (City Administrator). [City Hall (including the Police and Fire Departments) and the Community Center.]



e. Consideration of Resolution 11-03-1763 Budget Amendment Designating American Transmission Company Funds (Mayor Kahl). These are one-time and annual payments from ATC to the city for environmental impacts. The total impact fees are based on cost of the project. ATC is required to pay 5% of the cost basis as a one-time fee and 0.3% annually. The payment is divided among all of the communities on the corridor. 

In the PSC's 2009 final decision, the cost basis was set at about $219 million with a proviso that ATC could submit more information on the costs within 60 days. ATC submitted a figure of $170 million for the cost basis. Dane County, joined by the city of Madison, petitioned the PSC to increase the total project cost. After hearing from the parties, including ATC, the PSC set the amount on total project cost at about $180 million.

Using ATC's $170 million cost basis, the City of Monona would have received $324,000 one-time payment and $38,880 annually. Using a $180 million cost, by my estimate, Monona will receive a one-time payment of $341,082 and annual payments of $40,930.

It appears that the one-time payment can only be used for "park, conservancy, wetland or other similar environmental programs, unless the commission approves a different use under this subsection."

Monona Notes

Two days and three meetings.

Yesterday, the selection committee interviewed candidates to be the new Director of Public Works for the city of Monona. The committee consisted of Mayor Robb Kahl, City Admin. Pat Marsh, Executive Secretary Leah Kimmell, Leslie Busse, Alder Dennis Kugle, Chris Homburg, and me.  We struggled to choose between the final two candidates - they had different strengths, which made choosing difficult. The committee recommended Daniel Stephany, currently Public Works Director in Wrightstown. Final confirmation is pending background check and council approval.

Today, the facilities study selection group interviewed three candidates to review two major city buildings and make short and long-term recommendations. The buildings are the community center/senior center and city hall/police/fire/EMS. We interviewed three firms. The group consisted of Fire Chief Scott Sullivan, Police Chief Walter Ostrenga, Park & Rec Director Jake Anderson, Senior Center Director Diane Mikelbank, City Admin. Pat Marsh, Executive Secretary Leah Kimmell, Leslie Busse, GIS Specialist/Landscape Architect/Director of IT Jeff Greger, and me. The committee reached a recommendation and again I hope to be able to announce results soon.

Finally, the AD HOC PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY COMMITTEE held a public information meeting "on pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety, including the potential for sidewalks, along South Winnequah Road."

We heard from many residents along that roadway, all of whom were opposed to installing a sidewalk. Staff had put together estimates for several sidewalk combinations with a cost between $165,000 and $229,000.

The Committee voted to recommend that the city not install a sidewalk along that roadway. Other than Chief Ostrenga who voiced his support for a sidewalk, I was probably the last holdout. In the end, the cost was just too high and it would start a war amongst ourselves that I have no interest in pursuing.

The Committee had previously made a number of recommendations. I was not at that meeting, but only disagree with one recommendation.


A motion was made by Mr. Veserat and seconded by Ms. Thomas to keep both stops signs as is (at Maywood Road and Frost Woods Road). Motion approved 3 to 1. Mr. Kugle opposed the motion stating he felt the stop sign at Frost Woods Road should be removed.


Notes: I still oppose the stop sign at Frost Woods. I do not believe it is warranted by any of the conditions. Many drivers make a cursory stop (a slow-moving 'stop') because their experience tells them the stop sign isn't needed and you will never get good compliance in that situation. 



A motion was made by Mr. Veserat and seconded by Mr. Kugle to eliminate consideration of speed tables/humps. Motion approved unanimously.

A motion was made by Mr. Veserat and seconded by Ms. Thomas to recommend squaring off the choker approaches at an estimated cost of $25,000.00. Motion approved unanimously.


A motion was made by Ms. Weix and seconded by Ms. Thomas to mark and sign the bike lane as a bike and pedestrian lane. Motion approved unanimously.


A motion was made by Mr. Kugle and seconded by Mr. Veserat to install small speed meter signs in both directions in the area of Graham Park at a spot to be determined by the Police Department. Motion approved unanimously.

Note: The committee agreed that two signs would be installed, one on each side of the road (rather than mounting two speed meter signs on one post). These signs do not the large solar-powered arrays that were briefly installed here (and are now located on Monona Drive).

http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/engineering/changeable_message_signs_and_speed_feedback_signs.cfm


A motion was made by Ms. Weix and seconded by Mr. Kugle to paint full intersection crosswalks at Bridge Road, Graham Avenue, Frost Woods Road, Owen Road, and Maywood Road. Motion approved unanimously. Note: The Committee added the intersection of Moygara tonight. We also added the pedestrian flag boxes at Frost Woods and at Maywood.

George Lightbourn got off the best line of the night when he referred to Winnequah Road as Monona's "science project." Some other folks made the same point - "why are we talking about this road again?" The simple answer is that residents keep bringing concerns about the road to the city council. It seems everyone can find something to dislike about one aspect of the road or another. Some don't like the bump outs, some don't think it is safe for pedestrians, especially school children, some think the speed is too high, or the lanes are too narrow.

The council will take up the committee's recommendations either on March 7 or March 21.

Monona City Council Report - Reader's Digest Version January 18, 2011

The Monona city council met last night.


Consideration of Resolution 11-01-1747 Approving a Renewal and Amendment to the Employment Agreement with the City Administrator (Mayor Kahl, City Attorney). Passed 6-0 with a raise and 2-year extension.

Apparently we are not allowed to include an anti-Bears clause in our employment contracts. Perhaps it could be covered under the EAP. Or we could set up a Maoist-style reeducation camp.

(An aside: Wow, I just Googled reeducation camps and stumbled across the right-wing's equation of diversity training with actual reeducation camps. What an insult to all the people who actually suffered through real reeducation camps. Gee, I remember when conservatives actually cared about such real victims.)

New Business
a. Consideration of Ordinance 1-11-624 Amending Chapter 13 of the Code of Ordinances Concerning Operation Signs (Plan Commission). Discussed; likely to pass easily at the next meeting.

b. Consideration of Resolution 11-01-1748 Approving an Agreement with Vierbicher Associates, Inc. to Provide Engineering Consulting Services for a Traffic Impact Analysis Study of the East Broadway Corridor (Public Works Committee). Rules suspended and Resolution Adopted 6-0.

c. Consideration of Ordinance 1-11-625 Amending Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances Concerning the City Engineer/Director of Public Works (City Administrator). Discussed; will probably pass at the next meeting. This proposal would split the city engineer and public works director position, which are combined under the current ordinances. The Monona city engineer/public works director resigned effective Friday, January 21, so the city needs to fill those positions.

The mayor and administrator propose to contract out for all engineering services and hire an in-house public works director who might or might not be an engineer (probably not). I asked for a job announcement to be developed by the next meeting so we know what the plan is. My request was joined informally by other alders and agreed to by the mayor. Over the years, Monona has gone back and forth on whether to have an in-house or contract city engineer. I have serious reservations about not having a professional engineer on staff.


d. Consideration of Resolution 11-01-1749 Contract for Brush Collection and Disposal Services (Public Works). Discussed; likely to pass easily at the next meeting. The item came in about $13,580 under budget.  I plan to propose that we add a fifth monthly collection ($8,000). The new contract would be with Johnson Tree Care instead of the city's waste dispsoal contractor as is currently done. Garbage and recycling disposal will remain as is. A new waste disposal contract is due this spring.

Monona City Council Report - Reader's Digest Version

A Reader's Digest Condensed version of the Monona city council meeting from last night (October 18, 2010).

The council extended the Winnequah Road stop signs for six months to collect more data and to develop a plan to address the speeding and pedestrian safety issues.I supported the extension. The road needs a sidewalk. There seems to be growing acceptance on the the council of that concept, but whether that translates to action or not, I don't know.

H. Council Action Items.


1. Unfinished Business (Approval Requested Unless Otherwise Noted).

a. Consideration of Ordinance 9-10-618 Amending Title 10, Chapter 2 Regarding Bicycles (Police Chief) (Tabled 10/4/10). Approved 6-0.

2. New Business.

* a. Consideration of Effectiveness of Stop Signs on Winnequah Road (Public Safety Commission, Public Works Committee). Extended six months 6-0.

* b. Consideration of Resolution 10-10-1734 Requesting Exemption from County Library Tax (Interim Library Director). Approved 6-0.


* c. Consideration of Resolution 10-10-1729 Award of Contract for Monona Drive Entry Feature Construction (Plan Commission). Approved 5-1 (Veserat opposed). Details, details, details.
* d. Consideration of Resolution 10-10-1728 Purchase of Playground Equipment for Winnequah “Blue” Park (Park & Recreation Board). Approved 6-0. By the way, the original equipment at The Blue Park was paid for by then-city attorney Lee Boushea. His gift was made anonymously at the time, but since that fact was mentioned last night and that happened 19 years ago, I figure it's OK to give the old boy some credit.
e. Consideration of Resolution 10-10-1735 Endorsing an Alternative Emergency Radio System Proposal (Public Safety Commission). Discussion deferred.

f. Consideration of Ordinance 10-10-620 Consolidating Election Polling Locations Into One Location (City Clerk). Discussion deferred.
 
Entire packet.
 
The council also began its budget deliberations. I have to admit that I have found very little to dispute in the Mayor's budget. I may offer an amendment to increase the IT budget, but that's about it -  so far anyway. The moderate increase in spending is funded by increased transportation aids, exempt computer aid, and use of fund balances (quite reasonable use of the fund balances; we would maintain a 19% reserve fund).
 
Te Mayor added half-time positions in Parks/Rec/Community Center and  Senior Center and also increased the budget for senior contracted services.

The Mayor's budget eliminates any funding for the now-defunct Youth Center. I think the proposal is reasonable, but I do worry about where these kids are going and what they are doing. When the middle school was at Winnequah, there was significant use of the Youth Center. I assume the need still exists, but as far as I know there is no place serving this need.
 
The budget is on the city council page (scroll down). And here's the summary.
 
The festivities continue tonight.

Monona City Council Preview - October 4, 2010

[Reposting]
An evening of ceaseless excitement is on tap for the Monona City Council this coming Monday, October 4, 2010. You doubt? Just treat your eyes to a view of the actual text of official agenda:

Unfinished Business (Approval Requested Unless Otherwise Noted).


a. Consideration of Resolution 10-09-1721 Monona Drive Reconstruction Phase III Design Engineering Services (City Engineer).

b. Consideration of Resolution 10-09-1724 Directing the Mass Transit Commission to Outline its Vision for Mass Transit in the City of Monona (Alderman Munson, Alderman Veserat). Covers the Vision Thing.

c. Consideration of Ordinance 9-10-617 Amending Sections 7-2-5 and 7-15-1 of the Code of Ordinances to Include a Late Fee for Liquor License Renewal Applications (License Review Committee).

d. Consideration of Ordinance 9-10-618 Amending Title 10, Chapter 2 Regarding Bicycles (Police Chief).
 
But WAIT! That's not all, there's more (like the old Ronco ads):
 
New Business.


a. Consideration of Ordinance 9-10-619 Establishing a No Parking Area on East Coldspring Avenue and Amending the Official Traffic Map (Public Safety Commission). (Hey, that might actually be kind of interesting.)

b. Consideration of Resolution 10-10-1732 Design and Construction Engineering Services for 2011 Street and Utility Improvements (Public Works Committee).

c. Consideration of Resolution 10-10-1733 Amending the Personnel Policy Manual to Add a Section Regarding the Police Canine Team (Police Chief).


And then we get to the Stick it to Alder Wood portion of the entertainment (I jest - I think):

1. Consideration of Dates for Budget Meetings/Work Sessions:

a. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 5:30 pm

b. Thursday, Oct. 21, 5:30 pm

c. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 5:30 pm

d. Thursday, Nov. 4, 5:30 pm.
 
How does that give me the wrong end of the stick? As I told the Mayor a week or so ago, I am out of town (on Wisconsin's lovely North Coast) for work on October 20 and 21. And November 4 is the WLA Awards banquet where the Monona Public Library will receive the Library of the Year Award, which I absolutely plan to attend.
 
I think it is in the works to change the November 4 date. Hopefully, I can get some accommodation on the October 20-21 budget dates. To ruin the fun of conspiracy theorists, my understanding is that the Mayor is unavailable the previous week and also the subsequent week (or maybe this just shows what a clever conspiracy it is.).
 
Monona common council agenda.

Read the entire city council packet for October 4, 2010.

***

Conspiracy, anyone?


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And, included here for no particular reason, do NOT miss 15 Hilarious Redneck Inventions

Monona City Council Preview - August 30, 2010

The Monona City Council meets tomorrow (Monday, August 30) at 7:30 PM in the Media Room at the Library. The full agenda.

We will be getting three reports to start the information portion of the evening. Chris James of Dane County Parks Department will speak about the Capital Springs State Recreation Area (this includes the status the proposed bike trail connecting Lake Farm County Park with the Village of McFarland and associated railroad trestle widening).

Also on tap:

• Dane County Supervisor Robin Schmidt (RTA, Radio Interoperability, and Other County Issues)
• City Engineer Rich Vela and BT Squared Civil & Environmental Engineering: Belle Isle Planning/Engineering Update.

Also Consideration of Resolution 10-08-1718 Requiring a Referendum on the Levying of a Sales Tax to Fund Commuter Rail (Aldermen Kugle, Wiswell, Veserat). This referendum would ask us Monona voters if we want to use the entire half-cent sales tax increase for commuter rail. What a question! Heck, I don't think anyone would support using all of the sales tax increase just from commuter rail. I sure wouldn't (I might not support using any of it for that purpose).

As I've said before, this referendum is premature and a distraction. We ought to be focused on telling the RTA Board what Monona wants out of a planned regional transit system (like other communitiess are doing).

The Monona Transit meeting did not reach a conclusion and has scheduled another meeting for September 8 when RTA Board members and staff will attend.

I expect the council vote will be delayed until after that meeting (We can approve the referendum at our September 20 meeting and be in time for the November ballot).

See my prior posts on this topic.
http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2010/08/monona-transit-meeting-on-august-25.html

http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2010/08/rtas-draft-principles-for-regional.html

http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2010/08/lets-play-hypothetical-referendum.html

http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2010/08/dane-county-rta-status.html

http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2010/08/monona-city-council-preview-august-16.html


The council is also asked to approve at a first reading: Consideration of Resolution 10-08-1722 Approval of CDA Recommendations for “Renew Monona” Program Loans (CDA).


and Consideration of Resolution 10-08-1723 Award of Contract for Demolition at 608 Clear Spring Court (City Administrator). CORRECTION. This building is being razed because it is "dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary, and otherwise unfit for human habitation".  This is one of the properties the CDA acquired in the past year.

The council will have a first reading on changing the status of the Sustainability Committee [Consideration of Ordinance 8-10-616 Reconstituting the Sustainability Committee to that of a Standing Committee (Alderman Wood, Alderman Munson)].

Finally, the Mayor has knocked it out of the park with his nomination of James Pflasterer to the Monona Police and Fire Commission. He is the former General Counsel for the state's Labor and Industry Review Commission.

Public Works Committe this Week

Here's the main agenda for this month's Monona Public Works Committee meeting. You can read the whole enchilada here.

Read the PWC packet.

Date: Wed - 08/04/2010


Time: 6:30 PM

Location: City Hall Large Conference Room
 
5. Old Business

A. Update on Proposed 2011 Street Improvements

B. Update on 2010 Street and Utility Improvements

C. Update on Water Rate Case and Public Fire Protection Charge

D. Discussion of Request for Proposal for Refuse/Recycling and Brush Collection

6. New Business

A. Review and Approval of Change Order Submitted by D’Onofrio Kottke and Associates for Additional Construction Engineering Services Pertaining to the 2010 Street and Utility Improvements Project

B. Review of 2009 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR)

C. Update on Winnequah Road Traffic Management