May 22, 2019
VNA Council Meeting Minutes
The June VNA Council meeting will be held at HotelRED on Wednesday, June 26th at 7pm.
Call to Order
Approval of Minutes
Announcements
· Special thanks to HotelRED for making the meeting room available for our use this evening.
· Communications
o A reminder that our neighborhood website can be found at www.vilasneighborhood.com
o Email address for the VNA – vnapresident@gmail.com
o The Vilas Ink newsletters are now being posted on the website at https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/vilasink
New Business
1. Leaves/Gutters Project – Grace Ruetten
o Grace is an Edgewood College graduate student working on a project to free our neighborhood streets (drains and gutters) from leaves before large rain events to keep leaves out of our lakes
o You can sign up to receive a text or email alert before rain events (between Oct 1st and Nov 30th)
o She is looking for a volunteer on each Vilas street/block to sign up for these alerts and then clear the drains and gutters before the rain to keep leaves out of our lakes
o If you are interested in helping, please call Grace at 608.459-0092
o You can find more information at www.ripple-effects.com
Existing Business
2. Treasurer’s report – Pat Scheckel
o We have $1472 in our account
o There is $400 budgeted for the upcoming summer block party
3. Social report - Lee Lazar
o Block Party – Saturday 6/15 from 4-9:30pm on the 1900 block of Jefferson St.
o Party is BYO…grills will be available. Everyone is encouraged to bring a dessert, side or snack to share
o If you can help supply tables, chairs, coolers, and/or yard games, please contact Pat at pschecke@yahoo.com
o We are still looking for a host for our annual Badger football tailgate. Please contact Lee Lazar (llazar@associated.cc) if you are interested
4. VNA Directory & Block Captains – Roz Woodward
o Has welcome packets for new neighbors
o Still looking for a few block captains – check the website for details
o Will use the block captains to distribute flyers for the summer block party
5. Status of Vilas Ink newsletter – Pat Scheckel
o The summer issue has more than enough content and will be coming out soon
o The deadline for content for the fall issue will be the end of August
6. Web site status – Chris Kelly
o Bios needed from council members: Ben
7. Joint Campus Area Committee (JCAC) report – Liaison - Doug Carlson
o No update
8. VNA Zoning Committee – Lea Jacobs
o Reviewed Lea’s final charge document
o Council voted unanimously to establish VNA Zoning Committee as a new standing committee under the VNA Charter
o Council voted unanimously to appoint Lea Jacobs as Chair. Discussion of additional members – Paul, Wendy and Ben
9. Edgewood Liaison committee report – (Liaisons - Jon Standridge and Sarah Bahauddin)
o Collaborative Working Group (Sarah, Jon, Chris, Craig) – overview, updates, discussion
o These meetings are being run by a 3rd party facilitator. On a scale of 1-10 the group believes they are at a 5 as far as being able to reach an agreement. They are 6 weeks into the agreed upon 12 week process.
o There is a trust issue that runs both ways, especially with the DMNA
o Meanwhile, EHS is taking legal steps to appeal their position/rights regarding athletic field usage (this is separate from the CWG)
o Please note that the CWG’s work is publicly available for review here: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AD0LWCiJvanyk8A&id=597512B1BC4A50E1%21226737&cid=597512B1BC4A50E1
10. Vilas retail updates
o 1403 Regent Street Updates. Liquor license was approved by the Common Council for the sale of beer, cider, and wine only. No hard liquor. Special thanks to Ald. Tag Evers and VNA Council representative Ben Biltz for their work on this following our April meeting.
o Garth’s - pending application for a class B license for beer and wine only. 1722 Monroe Street (DMNA)
o This will be a craft beer bar; casual neighborhood establishment; dog friendly; no food (although you can bring food in)
11. Development update
o Lea Jacobs voiced her concern over saturation of retail spaces with new development (retail on street level with housing above) – currently many vacant spaces on Monroe Street
o There is a push for greater density and height along city corridors to allow a successful public transportation system; zoning does not currently allow townhouses in the city of Madison
o HotelRED expansion still on hold
o There is a new hotel development project (176 rooms, 293 parking spaces) across the bike path by the Kohl Center (behind 780 Regent St)
Other Business
12. Vacancy – Per Article 5, Section 8 of the VNA Bylaws, the Nominating Chair may present a replacement – with concurrence from at least 5 remaining VNA council reps - to hold the seat for a few months, through the end of Wes’ term this fall.
o The Council discussed whether to fill this position or leave it vacant until elections in November. It was agreed that this spot will remain vacant until the next VNA council elections.
Adjourn