Dredging Delayed, Housing Approved

Last night, the Monona City Council rejected the bids for the Belle Isle dredging project. The rejections does not mean that the project has lost support of the council, but rather that a majority decided to wait until 2012. Alder Speight and I voted to go forward with the project in 2011.

While the dredging project has widespread, possibly unanimous support on the council, it became clear to me that the project could unravel. The project includes three channels. Several residents on Lagoon du Sud want that channel removed from the project. Some residents on Sumac Lagoon have expressed the same sentiment. If one or two channels are removed, contractors will likely lose interest in bidding and will bid at higher unit rates.

The council approved the GDP for the 215 Femrite row housing project is on for a decision.

***

You can expect to hear in the very near future about a resolution to the M.Y. Dream Park shelter lawsuit filed by the city against the architect.

***

Wiseguy moment. During a roll call vote, as he is wont to do Alder Wiswell cast "a reluctant aye". Adding a descriptive term seemed like such a good idea, I couldn't help but cast "a regular aye". I was followed by Alder Kugle who cast an "enthusiastic aye."

Monona City Council Preview - September 6, 2011

The Monona City Council will consider a number of important items next Tuesday, September 6. The GDP for the 215 Femrite row housing project is on for a decision. The project seems to have wide, but not unanimous support on the council.

Also up is a decision whether to accept the bids for the Belle Isle dredging project. The dredging project has widespread, possibly unanimous support on the council. The key question is whether to proceed in 2011 or re-bid it in early 2012. I'm undecided on the timing. We have received a lot of citizen input. Many of the comments center around various ways to calculate the special assessment.(See separate post for FAQs.)

On for a first read is the rejection of the bid for the Firemen's Park restroom/concession/storage building and instead combining replacement of the existing restrooms with a new open air shelter.

 So, nothing really controversial or anything...

Who Do the Doo-Doo Belong To?

I have proposed that Monona amend its ordinances to allow dogs in city parks if on a leash. Seems like a modest enough proposal, possibly even reasonable. But others say, "Ah-ha! What if reckless dog owners allow their dog to do more than just take a walk in the park? What if they let Fido take a dump in the park? And what if these owners then exit the park leaving said doo-doo behind, so to speak?"

Well, letting your dog do his bidness in a public park and not cleaning up violates city ordinances now and would still violate the ordinances. I'm just proposing to allow leashed dogs in the parks. I'm not proposing to allow owners to leave their dogs poo in the park.

"Ah, yes, but if you let people walk their dogs in the park, scofflaws will flock to the parks en masse to deposit mass quantities of sh*t!"

Capitalism and government regulation to the rescue! Require DNA testing of a dog's poop as a condition of getting a license! (Feel free to smack your forehead at this point.). Dog poop found in the parks could be tested and if it's your dog's doo, buddy, you are gonna pay!

Yes, believe it or not, DNA testing of dog poop is a growing industry. As a lawyer, my mouth waters at the thought of a new source of litigation. Just think of the chain of custody issues alone!

***

For the humor-impaired, I am not proposing forensic analysis of dog poopas a condition of getting a (dog license.)

Monona Park & Rec Board meeting

The Monona Park and Recreation Board meets at 6:30 PM next Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at the Monona Community Center.

To say that we have a full agenda is an understatement.

A Discussion/Recommendation on Ordinance regarding Pets in Parks
I requested this item after numerous constituent contacts over the years asking for a dog park, which is not in the cards due to a lack of an adequate location in city parks. Right now, pets are excluded from all city parks, which seems silly and isn't enforced.

B. Discussion/Recommendation on donation of Pet Waste Station at Arrowhead Park

C. Discussion/Recommendation of update of the Geese Management Plan to include humane removal of geese

D. Review/Discussion of 2012 Operating Budget for Community Center, Recreation, and Outdoor Pool

E. Review/Recommendation of received bids for Firemen’s Park Shelter restroom project. This project is likely going to be delayed until 2012. Couple points: This facility is not just a "restroom", but will also include a concession stand and storage. Storage isn't sexy, but is necessary especially for all the rec program offerings. The storage at the M.Y. Dream Park shelter is cramped and crammed with stuff. 

My understanding is that part of the reason the bids came in higher than the estimates is that the masonry construction was high, apparently due to several ongoing large masonry projects in the area.

Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan Meeting

Dane County Parks will be hosting a public information meeting to review proposed initiatives that will be included in the draft 2012-2017 Dane County Parks & Open Space Plan next week on Monday, August 8th, 7:00pm at the Lussier Family Heritage Center at 3101 Lake Farm Park Road. The meeting will also provide a summary of comments gathered throughout the public input process including the 4 quadrant meetings that were held throughout June.  County Parks staff will be working on preparing the draft report throughout August and plan on having it available for review by the end of the month.

For any questions related to the plan, please contact Chris James, Park Planner at 608-224-3763 or by email at james@countyofdane.com.

 

Moving Shelters

There is a silly rumor going around town that the city of Monona is going to move the Dream Park Shelter to Firemen's Park. This rumor is inaccurate. Here is the real scoop.

As you may have heard, yours truly is Acting Mayor while Mayor Miller is out of the country. Here is my plan: Build a tramway between the Dream Park and Firemen's Park and move the shelter back and forth as needed. Yep, shelter shuttle. It is the latest in urban mass transit. In this case, really massive transit. With some fancy staff work, I know we can get it done. In the short run, the tramway will be manually powered. Jake Anderson will man the ropes at one end and Dan Stephany will man the other.

The construction work crew is already lined up.



When the shelter is not rented, we can sell tram ride tickets. At night, we can suspend the shelter high above the city to keep out the vandals.

You have to admit is not run-of-the-mill Acting Mayor stuff.

And Bob thinks he's getting the gavel back! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!

Turtles Move In

While the new Blue Park isn't quite ready for human use yet, that hasn't deterred this turtle from moving in.

Monona Pool is Opening!

From the Monona Park & Rec Department:

It's pool season once again! The Monona Community Outdoor Pool is open tomorrow, Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 from 1-6:30 pm. The pool will also be open on Monday May 30th from 1-4:30 pm. Next weekends hours will be Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5 from 1-6:30 pm and then regular season hours will begin on Thursday, June 9th. We hope to see everyone there!


Also, beat the rush and come in for your season pool passes today (Friday) before 4:30!

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.)

Parks & Open Space Plan Public Input Meeting - March 29

Parks and Open Space Plan Public Input Meeting

Date: Tue - 03/29/2011

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Monona Community Center

The City of Monona and the Parks and Recreation Board invities the public to view the proposed 2012-2016 Parks & Open Space Plan for the City of Monona. There will be an opportunity to look at what improvements are being recommended at each park and have a question/answer session with Parks & Recreation Director Jake Anderson

This Meeting will be in the Senior Center level of the Monona Community Center.

Some background:
http://www.mymonona.com/pages/parks_recreation/parks_open_space/details.php/54/parks_services/park%2B%2Bopen%2Bspace%2Bplan/

A draft master plan for Winnequah, Ahuska, Lottes, and Oneida Parks:

Plan Commission Reviewing Fireman's Park Plans

Agenda

City of Monona

Plan Commission Meeting

Monona Public Library Community Media Room

1000 Nichols Road

Monday March 28, 2011

7:00 p.m.

C. Public Hearing for Monona Parks and Recreation Department, Represented by Director Jake Anderson, Proposing the Construction of a New Restroom Building at Fireman’s Park Shelter in Winnequah Park. (Case No. 2-006-2011)

See also: http://www.mymonona.com/pages/calendar/export_file.php?t=1994
D. Prehearing Conference for Monona Parks and Recreation Department, Represented by Director Jake Anderson, Proposing the Construction of a New Restroom Building at Fireman’s Park Shelter in Winnequah Park. (Case No. 2-006-2011).

Monona City Council Preview - February 21, 2011

Reposting. Note the story in the WSJ this morning Conflict brews in Monona over 'blighted' buildings.


 
[BEGIN ORIGINAL POST] 

The Monona city council meets next Monday, February 21, 2011. Here are some of the items on the agenda.


Appearance by Chris James of Dane County Parks Regarding Dane County Open Space Plan and Yahara Recreational Trail.

2006-2011 Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan Regional Trail Map


2012-2017 Plan:
http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/open_space_plan.aspx

2006-2011 Plan:
http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/planning.aspx#open_space_plans

G. Council Action Items.

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

a. Consideration of Resolution 11-02-1750 Approving a Redevelopment Plan for North Monona Drive – Redevelopment Project Area No. 7 (CDA). Map of Redevelopment Districts.

b. Consideration of Resolution 11-02-1752 A Preliminary Resolution Declaring Intent to Exercise Special Assessment Police Powers Under Section 66.0703, Wisconsin Statutes, in the City of Monona, Dane County, Wisconsin, for Street Improvements to Tecumseh Avenue, Neponset Trail, Nishishin Trail, Nishishin Trail NE, and Pocahontas Drive (City Administrator).

2. New Business.

a. Consideration of Resolution 11-02-1753, 2011 Pool Locker Room Flooring Project (Park & Recreation Board).

b. Consideration of Resolution 11-02-1754 Naming of Ahuska Park Football Field “Haukereid Field” (Park & Recreation Board).

c. Consideration of Resolution 11-02-1755 Authorizing the Approval of Final Offers for Monona Drive Phase II Land Acquisitions (City Administrator).

In other news, interviews of applicants for the Public Works Director position will be on February 28.

The city plans to interview three applicants for the city facility study on March 1.


I am on both interview panels.

Updated Monona Parks Capital Plan

Here are some updates to the Park & Rec capital plan, including the third draft of the 2010-2020 action plan (3rd draft) and the draft 2012-2016 capital plan. These are both works-in-progress. Jake Anderson reports that the Parks Board got through funding years 2012-2013 at the January 2011 meeting and the 2014-2016 plans are still up for debate/recommendation at the February meeting.

The 2010-2020 Action Plan are staff recommendations (2010 and 2011 reflect the actual capital budget adopted by the council).



Once adopted by the Parks Board, the 2012-2016 capital plan will be the Board's recommendation to the mayor and city council.


Like all budgets, these are planning documents and subject to change and moreover, these are *drafts*. If you would like to see priorities changed, you may want to let that be known directly to the director, the Board or the council.

And below is the draft 2012-2016 Parks Board's capital plan (the layout is a little hinky):



Monona Parks Capital Plan

The Monona Parks & Rec Board recently reviewed the 5-year capital plan, including additions for 2015 and 2016 and an action plan extending through 2020.

The January 11, 2011 packet is here:
http://www.mymonona.com/pages/city_government/committees/download_includes/export_file.php?id=88

The capital plan pages begin on page 7. Staff recommendations begin on page 12. Click on the image below to enlarge the document.

Go to http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2011/01/updated-monona-parks-capital-plan.html to see the update spreadsheets.

A Proposal to Name the Football/Soccer Field at Ahuska Park

The Monona Parks Board will be considering a request made by Monona Grove Youth Football to name the existing Football/Soccer Field at Ahuska Park the Haukereid Field. This would be to honor Morrie Haukereid as one of the founders of the Monona Pee Wee Football program and current organizer over the past 42 years.

Here is the proposal click on the image to see an enlarged view.

Current facilities-naming policy requires a public comment period on any naming request before the Parks & Recreation Board will make a recommendation at the February 8th meeting. Tentatively City Council would take the proposal up at the February 21st meeting. Individuals or groups that would like to comment on the naming process are welcome to email Jake Anderson or contact members of the city council or Parks & Recreation board by going to http://www.mymonona.com/

Artist rendering of what the football field entrance.

Monona Garden Party - January 27th

Word comes from Monona Park & Rec Chief Jake Anderson about the formation of a new club/group that will focus on gardening in Monona.


The first meeting will take place Thursday, January 27th at 6:00 pm at Monona Community Center - Senior Center (Lower Level). 

If possible, please RSVP to Jake by January 25th.

Jake's message:

As Parks & Recreation Director, I’m interested in tapping into the vast amount of talent we have in Monona to improve the aesthetics/sustainability of our parks and building grounds landscaping and future partnerships for programs that I’ll expand on at our kick-off meeting.

#1 – As Director of Parks & Recreation, I have noticed some amazing home gardens in Monona, efforts done at the Library by Leslie Johnson, and the Community Center planting that was done by the Natural Step and Kate Heiber-Cobb and Heather Gates. I’ve also noticed that the City could improve on its image in public places as one of many tools to attract and retain families and generally make Monona a better place to live, work, and play.

#2 – With the amount of people already gardening in Monona, it would be great to have a local avenue to discuss gardening, to conduct classes for those interested in starting a perennial garden, growing seeds, garden design, good deals on plants, etc. We can facilitate this process by providing space at the Monona Community Center and potentially using park land as demonstration sites or perhaps a Community Garden.

#3 – I would like to roll out a project called “Adopt a Park Sign” or something to that effect that would have committed groups working on putting together a landscaping plan for a park sign, using plants from their gardens to split/divide, and to maintain throughout the year. The city could provide mulch and exposure through the website, facebook, city newsletter, and newspaper. I know there are currently a few groups that help take care of certain street areas in Monona

#4 – A Monona Plant Swap meet. I think this would be a great first event as a fundraiser for this group/club. Local gardeners provide a certain number of plants/divisions in early May to bring to the swap meet. Then people can purchase plants at a low cost $2 - $3/plant and there can be an admission fee to get into the swap meet.

#5 – An avenue for new and experienced gardeners to get together, discuss ideas, tour other gardens, and socialize.

Some discussion items for the first meeting:
Starting perennials from seed – What type of equipment you need, what are easy to grow to start with, what type of soil/mix should you use?


Native Landscaping? - What is considered a native perennial plant to our area? Which natives have longest blooms (Bring photos of your gardens!)

Resources – What websites do you use for information for beginner gardeners, advanced, and sources to purchase plants/bulb/seed from both locally and online.

Plant Swap Meet Details – brainstorming session on if this idea is feasible for Monona and possible dates, location, etc.

Jake Anderson - Parks & Recreation Director
City of Monona
1011 Nichols Rd, Monona WI 53716

608.222.4167 (phone)
608.223.2311 (fax)

janderson@ci.monona.wi.us

Become a Fan of us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/mononaparksandrec

Wood Chopperers and Haulerers Needed

Jake Anderson sends along an invite to help cut up downed trees in Woodland Park this Sunday, November 28th beginning at 8 AM.

The conceptual designs of a parking lot at Woodland Park is featured under the 8.10.10 Packet & Minutes.


http://www.mymonona.com/pages/city_government/committees/download_includes/export_file.php?id=82


Volunteers will get to take home the firewood for free (except for the sweat equity).

Think eight of the clock in the ante meridiem is too dang early? Me too. Come by anytime in the morning and help out.

The Monona Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers on Sunday, November 28th starting at 8:00 am to help clear branches and cut the downed trees at Woodland Park into free firewood. We need people that have chainsaws to cut the wood into firewood and people to help haul the wood.

Jake Anderson, alder Scott Munson, yours truly, and other likely suspects (including an anonymous former alder now in the witness protection program) will be on hand. Brings your hands and join in.

***

Your questions anticipated & answered: What the? and why the?

Why not just leave the downed trees in the park? Wouldn't that be more natural?

Not all trees are created equal. These are not trees that just fell down. The city has been cutting down the black locusts mainly and some other invasives that take over and outcompete the oak trees. Removing the invasive trees is part of the effort to restore the park to an oak savanna/oak woodland.

Read the 2006 the Woodland Park ecological evaluation and restoration plan.
"OK, I get why you cuts the trees down, but why not just leave them in situ?" 
 
There is a lot of this downed timber and that makes us very uneasy about continuing to do the annual prescribed burns in the park that help keep down the other invasives. Oak trees need fire. Many of theses trees have been cut in the past year (including this past summer). Too much fuel left on the ground would burn for a long, long time.
 
Did you know this area used to be predominantly prairie, including oak savanna?
 



From WDNR: Data created by Robert W. Finley - 1976 Professor of Geography Emeritus, University of Wisconsin Center System. Digital Data prepared by Maribeth Milner, and Steve Ventura UW-Madison. Wisconsin Transverse Mercator NAD83(91). Map created by Nina Janicki, 1999, DNR GIS Services Section. This data layer is included in DVGISlib, a part of the DNRView extension to ArcView. DNRView makes it easier to use and share DNR geographic data. Trained ArcView users can obtain DNRView from the appropriate regional contact listed in the "GIS" Datasharing" section. The data on this map are available on a cost of resources basis from WDNR, GIS Services Section. See the "GIS Datasharing" section. Visit http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/at/et/geo.



This map was distributed in the Ecological Landscapes handbook.

Thanks to former alder Peter McKeever for raising these questions (the guy always has been a professional trouble maker), so we could provide answers before knickers become knotted.

Monona Chamber of Commerce 20th Annual Holiday Food Drive

Donate Money: Drop your change in one of the Chamber's piggy bank collection contqiners or mail a check to the Monona Chamber of Commerce at 6320 Monona Drive, Monona, WI 53716.


Donate Food: The Chamber is also collecting non-perishable foods in large collection barrels. One of the barrels is at the Monona Community Center. Can you name other barrel locations?

Monona Chamber of Commerce

20th Annual Holiday Food Drive

Now until December 17th

The Monona Chamber of Commerce Together We Can Holiday Food Drive provides complete, ready to cook, holiday meals to needy families. For every $26 contributed a meal is provided to a needy family through the St. Stephen's Food Pantry or to a Monona School District Family in need. The meals include: either a turkey or a holiday ham, potatoes, carrots, canned fruit, vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, muffins, pie or cobbler.

One hundred percent of money and food items collected are donated to the pantry and High School program. Help provide holiday meals for needy families in the Monona area. For details call the Monona Chamber of Commerce at 608-222-8565.


Donate Money: Drop your change in one of the Chamber's piggy bank collection contqiners or mail a check to the Monona Chamber of Commerce at 6320 Monona Drive, Monona, WI 53716.


Donate Food: The Chamber is also collecting non-perishable foods in large collection barrels. One of the barrels is at the Monona Community Center. Can you name other locations?

A Quote and a Vote

During the November 15th Monona city council meeting, alder Mike Veserat delivered himself of a memorable quote. Speaking about the proposed electronic outdoor advertising, alder Veserat said “The better question raised tonight (referring to the city council meeting) is whether we should sell our souls for a billboard sign!”


Because more than one person has told me that they agreed with alder Veserat on the outdoor advertising sign, I feel compelled to point out for the record:  After issuing the sell-your-soul quote, alder Veserat later voted in support of the sign (technically he voted against an amendment to remove the sign revenue from the budget).

(To be fair, Mike did say that his vote didn't mean he supported the sign, but he didn't want to kill it during the budget. Fair is the enemy of the funny.)

I wasted part of my morning listening to the city council meeting online trying to find the exact times of the quote and the vote without success (due to a lack of perseverance on my part).

***

Even more disturbing is listening to one's own voice on a recording. Unbeknown to me, the cable guys were obviously messing with the audio to make me sound like a chipmunk with swollen adenoids.

Variable Message Sign Research

Since the Monona city council voted (with my support) to keep a proposed variable message outdoor advertising sign in the budget, a few astute people around town have weighed in with opposition to the sign. I have done a little digging myself, but have not had time to digest it all.

The proposed sign would be installed in Ahuska Park and face the Beltline. (The Monona Rag recently posted on it.) The proposed lease would pay the city $22,500 per year for 15 years or $337,500 in total (that's a bit misleading; if you use a 3% discount rate, the present value is $216,628). The sign company, Adams would pay all other costs. That's pretty much the plus side.

Among other things, two issues have caught my attention on the negative side. One is the amount of energy the signs use. Alder Munson and I (perhaps others) are waiting for Adams to get back to staff with some figures.

Alder Munson found some data oin the Internet from a manufacturer of these types of signs. According to a manufacturer of electronic billboards, Action Graphix Digital, a 48’x14’ sign (as proposed here) typically uses about 17.6 kW. In a month, that would be 12,672 kW-hrs (assuming 24 hour/day operation, which may not be accurate).

According to Scott, the US Energy Information Agency, the average Wisconsin home uses 710 kW-hr per month. So, that sign would use as much energy in a month as almost 18 homes assuming the sign was in operation 24 hours per day.


The other issue is whether the signs present a safety hazard. Our WisDOT did a study on I-94 in Milwaukee that found substantial increases in crashes. The study is, however, a bit dated (1981-1987).

The NYT did a series on distracted drivers in March 2010. The story quotes an industry exec: "It’s a very flexible, very responsible medium and very impactful.” The research is somewhat muddled because the sign industry has a lot of money at stake and they have financed some of the research.

How much money? Here's what the NYT story says:

The signs are typically used in busy traffic areas, where advertisers are willing to pay a premium for them. A digital billboard costs $250,000 to $300,000, roughly half what it did five years ago, but much more than the $5,000 to $50,000 for a traditional billboard.

Space on the digital signs fetches a premium in part because up to six advertisers can share a single location. Traditional billboards fetch a wide range of monthly rents (from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on location and audience) and the digital versions cost the same or a bit more, but the industry benefits by selling that space at that price to more than one advertiser.

Data showing the dangers of the signs can be found on the website of a public interest that opposes billboards generally. http://www.scenic.org/billboards/safety
Here is a link to 2009 FHWA study.

I haven't had time to read even a small portion of these reports. Feel free to dip in and offer up the choicer bits (oh, boy, the choicer bits from a federal highway study....gak.)

Or just offer up you take on this one.