Marquette Neighborhood Association (mna) Board November 20, 2014

Marquette Neighborhood Association (MNA) Board

November 20, 2014

Minutes

Board Members Attending: Karyn Chacon, Colleen Hayes, Jack Kear, Rene Lauber, Lynn Lee, CeCe Pollard, Jesse Pycha-Holst, Mike Soref, Anne Walker, Amanda White

Absent: John Coleman, Cheema

Others Attending: Carl Durocher, Laura Lob, Bill Scanlon, Colleen Bos, Steve Ohlsen

Two candidates for mayor asked to speak to the neighborhood association. There was consensus that MNA should have a neighborhood forum with all candidates invited rather than have the candidates address a board meeting.

Madison Police Update

Officer Lewis could not attend but gave information for Lynn to pass on. Officer Lewis said that the police responded to complaints about speeders near Marquette/O’Keeffe. Police are stopping speeders Williamson St. near the school and have put up a speed board near the intersection of Spaight and Dickinson Streets.

Madison Police Department is working with neighbors as police investigate an active drug house. No further information on this.

MNA Board Retreat

Amanda moved to ratify the officers elected at the annual membership meeting: President: Lynn; Vice President: Colleen; Treasurer: Cheema; Secretary: Mike. Rene seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Rene moved to approve the committee chairs and vice-chairs named at the retreat (vice-chairs in parentheses):

Preservation and Development: Jesse (Mike)

Fundraising and Festivals: Colleen (Amanda)

Education and Values: Lynn (Rene)

Traffic: Anne

Membership and Communications: CeCe (Rene)

Public Arts: Scott Thornton

Parks and Gardens: Jack

Finance: Cheema

Jesse seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Schools Committee was folded into the Education and Values Committee.

Committee Reports

Preservation and Development (P&D)

Madison Community Coop 1139 and 1143 Willy Street

The Madison Community Cooperative (MCC) is looking into purchasing and demolition of the two residential buildings, which are currently for sale. MCC would put up a single two-story building to house homeless adults. The committee voted to support the project. The board need not take action on the project at this time.

Colleen Bos Meadery Tasting Room

Colleen Bos described the proposal for a tasting room at 849 E Washington Ave. The tasting room would be converted from a gallery. The committee had recommended support of the application to the ALRC. The board voted to pass the committee recommendation unanimously. Jesse will write the letter, which will also be addressed to the Plan Commission.

Update on South 800 Block of East Washington

Gebhardt Development submitted the only proposal to the city for purchase of the Don Miller lot on the south side of East Washington Ave. The city committee formed to review proposals met on November 8 and decided that Gebhardt should proceed to further specify the proposal. Alder Rummel and Daniel Grossberg represent the neighborhood on the committee.

Update Restaurant proposals at 1216-1226 Williamson St.

There was discussion about the increased traffic that can be expected from the two proposed restaurants, the Paint Bar and Tipsy Cow. That block of Willy St already has heavy traffic.

Update 1018 Williamson St.

The Landmarks Commission rejected the application for demolition of the building. The building was put up for sale and sold quickly.

Update Affordable Housing Paper.

Mike will forward a paper, which was presented to P&D by Steve Steinhoff and Joy Newman, to the board.

Traffic

The city has scheduled reconstruction of Jenifer St. for 2015. Anne has contacted city staff and reported that the first neighborhood meeting about it will likely be in December or January, which is a bad time. Staff of City Engineering said it would be bid out about February 20. There was discussion about the short time for neighborhood input and how to delay the street reconstruction. The board did not take action on calling for a delay—it will not act until the December meeting. Alder Rummel will set up a neighborhood meeting before the December MNA meeting.

Fundraising & Festivals:

Colleen gave the committee report. Colleen moved that Katherine Davey, Maggie Weiser, and Dan Hobson continue to be the Music Coordinators for the Orton Park Festival, to be paid a total of $1,000. Karyn seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Amanda moved that Bob Queen do the music and operational coordination of the Waterfront Festival, to be paid $1,000. Jesse seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Colleen will communicate the decisions to the coordinators.

Lynn relayed a proposal for fundraising by Bob Queen. Getting sponsorship funding for the festivals last year was awkward, since he primarily solicited sponsorships for the Waterfront Festival. Bob Queen’s offer was to raise funds for both MNA festivals--to raise at least $50,000 with a 10 percent commission, to be capped at $5,000. He expects to raise more than $50,000. Most of the discussion was about the future of fundraising for the MNA festivals, including possible roles for Gary Kallas and Wil-Mar.

Rene moved to hire Bob Queen to fund-raise $50,000 or more for the two festivals, and he will sign a contract, for which he will be paid $5,000. Jesse seconded. The motion passed with 8 in favor and one abstention.

Parks

Jack said that the committee did an inventory of neighborhood parks and green spaces during the past year. The inventory will be the basis for evaluating grant proposals for work in the neighborhood’s parks.

Approval of MNA Board September Minutes and October Membership Meeting Minutes

Lynn moved to approve the September and October minutes. Jesse seconded. The motion passed with 7 in favor and 2 abstentions.

Alder Report

Paint Bar needs site plan to be approved by City Zoning. Alder Rummel initiated changing the ordinance so that there would be parking standards for restaurants and nightclubs.

City Planning staff sent letter to developers of the Stone House project (north 1000 block of East Washington Ave.) disapproving plans for a music venue. The Red Caboose may be included in the project.

There were two requests for barbecue shops on Blair St., and one of the proprietors is also looking at the Take 5 site.

As Jenifer St. Market looks at relocation, some neighbors are getting involved.

Alder Rummel will meet with City Parks on Central Park and get back to the neighborhood association.

Adjournment: Colleen moved to adjourn, Anne seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30.

Submitted by Mike Soref, Secretary, MNA Board