VNA Council Meeting Minutes
11/20/19 7pm HotelRED
Call to Order
Approval of Minutes
Announcements
o Special thanks to HotelRED for making the meeting room available for our use this evening
o New chef will pass out surveys at next month’s meeting for menu suggestions
o Communications
o A reminder that our neighborhood web site is: www.vilasneighborhood.com
o Email address for the VNA – vnapresident@gmail.com
o The Vilas Ink newsletters are now being posted on the web site at https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/vilasink
Alder Report (Tag Evers)
o Concerns over Vilas Park Master Plan process; participants say the process has not been productive and do not believe the desired outcome will be achieved.
o There will be an article in the Isthmus tomorrow regarding discrepancies in monetary reporting with the Henry Vilas Zoo Society.
o The ALRC is likely to approve the license for the Fairchild Restaurant on the 2600 block on Monroe St.
o There will be some street and alley reconstruction next summer in the Vilas neighborhood. Affected residents will be/have been alerted.
o Tag is meeting with the interim Police Chief tomorrow. He did not vote in favor of the proposed additional police officers in the city budget. Believes effort should be put toward preventative measures with regards to crime in the city.
o The EHS master plan repeal was referred to the December Plan Commission meeting.
o Affordable housing in the city remains a top concern of Tag’s.
New Business
1. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERSHIP. The Vilas Neighborhood Association hereby announces the date of the Association’s annual meeting to be at 7pm on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at HotelRED. The annual VNA Council elections shall occur at that meeting, as governed by the VNA Charter. https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/vnacharter
a. Dues. To cast a ballot in the VNA Council election, you must be a current 2019 member of the Vilas Neighborhood Association. If you need to pay your dues for 2019, or wish to renew for 2020, please arrive prior to the meeting, or renew online at https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/take-action. Dues are $20 per household, or $10 per individual. A household membership allows up to two adult members of the household to participate in the election. Members must be present at the annual meeting to participate in the election. Renew your membership today!
b. The Nominating Committee of the VNA puts forth candidates for the four VNA Council seats up for election this year. If you wish to make a nomination, please contact Lee Lazar at cyborglenis@yahoo.com.
c. Please note that, pursuant to Article 5, Section 6 of the VNA Charter, “…additional nominations may be made at the annual meeting at the written request of ten or more members.”
2. Regent Revitalization Project. Per Jason Ilstrup, President of DMI: “The group is getting back together to discuss our past projects, recent activity on Regent Street, proposed new projects and how this group can potential move forward. There is a lot of interest amongst this group to continue our discussion from years past.” Tuesday, December 10, 5pm at HotelRED.
3. Friends of Lake Wingra’s Salt Education Forum. “Friends of Lake Wingra is working with some UW grad students who have put together a blueprint for a more salt conscious UW campus. They are trying to spread the word with the public and we would like to have a public session for them to share this info. Would Vilas be interested in co-hosting? Co-hosting is just helping share the event with your neighborhood and having a representative there.”
Existing Business
1. Treasurer’s report – Pat Scheckel
a. $2000+ in account; expect an increase next month with dues collected at elections
2. Vilas Ink newsletter – Pat Scheckel
a. Working on next issue; drop date TBD as this is the first time Pat has done on his own and is unsure of holiday printing schedules, etc.
3. Social report - Lee Lazar
a. VNA Holiday party – 12/15 from 6:30-8:30 at HotelRED; flyers need to go out in the next week or so. All are welcome!
4. VNA Directory & Block Captains – Roz Woodward & Sarah Bahauddin
a. Discussed possible form to collect neighborhood directory information. There is a company that does some of the other city neighborhood directories that helps collect information and sells advertising to cover all costs. Pat raised a concern of businesses getting asked multiple times to advertise with VNA (VilasInk and directory).
5. Nominating Committee & Elections Update – Lee Lazar (with Gera Bodley, Mary Clare Murphy, and Eileen Thompson)
a. 2019 VNA elections will take place at next month’s meeting (12/18 at 7pm at HotelRED)
b. New candidates are still being accepted
c. Reviewed election night procedures
6. Joint Campus Area Committee (JCAC) report – Liaison - Doug Carlson
a. No report this month
7. VNA Zoning Committee report. – Lea Jacobs
a. Alcohol Density Impact Report (see last month’s minutes for link) – correlates high density areas with demand for city services; Lea reviewed study findings.
b. Discussion of past VNA positions on alcohol licenses
c. Path forward for VNA – started the discussion; more data requested
8. Vilas retail news and updates
a. The Fairchild Restaurant (old Jac’s) coming with chef from L’Etoile
b. Garth’s still under construction
c. HotelRED expansion slated to start in January
9. Vilas Park Master Planning – (VNA reps: Wendy Fearnside, Ann Rivlin, Lee Lazar)
a. Resident Resource Group’s first meeting was Nov 6th, 5:30-7pm
b. VNA reps concerned over lack of opportunity for public input
c. Can VNA sponsor a public meeting for public input to then convey to consultants?
d. Meeting with Parks Director tomorrow morning
e. VNA reps ideas: attractive to all people, welcoming to visitors, kid friendly, retain essential character of park, open spaces with flexibility, ability to have recreation that doesn’t require permanent structures, accessibility to permanent/clean restrooms, upgrade/improve current space/facilities, playground upgrades, renovate shelters and courts, no development of large athletic fields, maintain green space.
f. Should parking be addressed? City issue….not a park issue.
g. Suggestion that plan should address Lake Wingra shore line, lake access, inconsistent walking paths/sidewalks around lake, and water quality.
10. Edgewood Liaison committee report – (Liaisons - Jon Standridge and Sarah Bahauddin)
a. Last meeting was 11/5
b. Edgewood College discussed athletic field development in Fitchburg; trying to consolidate from 12 offsite locations
c. Master Plan repeal vote has been delayed until December Plan Commission meeting
Other Business
Adjourn