VNA Council Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2021
Council Members
o Sarah Bahauddin (present)
o Pat Scheckel (present)
o Ben Biltz (present)
o Bonnie Gruber (present)
o Hans Borcherding (present)
o Jim Corkery (present)
o Wendy Fearnside (present)
o Karie Krantz (present)
Call to Order (meeting was conducted via Zoom)
Approval of Minutes - previous minutes were approved.
Announcements
o Communications
o A reminder that our neighborhood website 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
o The VNA November 17, 2021 meeting will be held via Zoom.
New Business
o The VNA Council unanimously approved the revised bylaws. Based on this, the new election procedures in these bylaws will be followed for our November VNA Council elections.
o Sara and Tiffany with Alvarado Real Estate Group provide a presentation on Own-It – Building Black Wealth, which is a real estate community initiative to increase home ownership for people of color. Their presentation is included as an attachment with the meeting notes. Some key points of their presentation included:
o 64% of homeowners in Dane County are white families while only 14% of homeowners are Black.
o Own It: Building Black Wealth is a two-part initiative designed to address and work towards eliminating substantial barriers to wealth and homeownership for Black families in the Greater Madison area. The program does so by providing two key elements: an educational program and access to $15,000 for down payment funds with fewer restrictions. This pilot program is offered to families, alumni, and staff, for free, at One City Schools. We plan to continue this model with additional partner groups in the future. The Wealth Building and Homeownership courses, for free, along with continuing education and wealth building/homeownership cohorts for participants after completion of the courses. Down payment funds of $15,000, per family, will be provided for those who complete the educational program, and will be available in February 2022.
o 40 families are participating in the first Wealth Building Course (9/12/21 - 10/31/21).
o $270,000 has been raised for the down payment fund to date (which will help 18 families).
o This is not a government funded/restricted project, it is a private sector initiative designed and led by a diverse team of Madison-area professionals in the real estate, banking, and finance industries in pursuit of a common goal – to empower, educate, and guide Black and Brown families towards homeownership, wealth, and financial freedom. The organization acknowledges systemic racism embedded within financial systems, practices, and policies, and they are committed to exposing and eradicating these structural barriers.
Existing Business
o Treasurer’s Report and Vilas, Ink – Pat Scheckel
o There is approximately $3,800 in the bank account, with no major changes in the past month.
o The next Vilas, Ink will be issued late November. The deadline for articles submission is November 20th.
o Block Captains - Roz Woodward
o No updates
o Social Report – Bethany Nelson
o The VNA social chair e-mail address is: socialchairvilas@gmail.com. Details of all events will be shared on the Listserv.
o A book club meeting or a trivia night will occur in December.
o Bethany indicated all requested supplies and monies were received for the Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) Halloween party – thank you to all who donated.
o Details for Halloween night activities will be issued via the listserv.
o With Hotel Red no longer being available for our annual Holiday party, Bethany is looking for ideas on where to hold the event this year. Subsequent to the meeting Bethany confirmed the annual Holiday Party will be at Garth’s on Sunday, December 12th from noon to 2 pm.
o District 13 Alliance – Dana Scheckel and Sarah Bahauddin
o Recently met to review this year’s Good Neighborhood Gathering and to start planning next year’s event on September 19th, 2022.
o A One City School presentation was also provided to the group.
o Joint Campus Area Committee – Doug Carlson
o A new Computer Sciences building is planned to be constructed beginning in 2022, with completion anticipated in 2024.
o A major donation was received for a new Humanities building.
o The Camp Randall South End Zone renovation project will begin after the last football game of this season and is anticipated to be complete for the Fall 2022 football season. This renovation will result in a net 2,500 reduction in seating capacity.
o Doug reminded everyone that if there are football game issues, they should be brought to his attention so that he can bring them up to the UW/neighborhoods liaison committee.
o Edgewood Liaison Committee Report - Shawn Doherty, Craig Stanley, and Sarah Bahauddin
o Edgewood High School will be applying for a Conditional Use permit to add a second floor to the Commons Building. This addition was anticipated in their Master Plan.
o Sarah is still working to establish regular communications with Edgewood High School.
o Alder Update – Tag Evers provided the following updates:
o With it being Capital and Operating budget season, Tag is working on an amendment to:
o expand the Monroe Street Library hours of operation from 3 days per week to 5 days per week.
o reduce regulations associated with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to make these a permitted use in lieu of a conditional use
o to add a City information Technology staff person to support digital access and equity in underserved neighborhoods.
o District 13 boundaries will be minimally changed in the approved new redistricting plans.
o Tag continues work on the Lake Wingra Heritage committee, which is considering creating an urban design district around Lake Wingra to better manage development near the lake.
o Tag is working with Madison Police Department to improve enforcement of traffic regulations along Monroe Street.
o Vilas Park Master Plan - Wendy Fearnside and Ann Rivlin
o No firm date has been set for closure of Vilas Park Drive. The City is working on plans for creating asphalt and crushed gravel biking and walkway paths that are separated from the roadway.
o Zoning Committee - Ben Biltz and Wendy Fearnside
o Construction at the Lucky’s site has not started and it is currently unclear when construction will start.
o After much discussion, the VNA Council voted to not support Lucky’s proposal to increase capacity and to remove other restrictions in their current operating permit.
o The Hotel Red conversion from a hotel to housing was approved by the City.
Other Business
o November VNA Council elections:
o Bonnie Gruber will chair the Nomination committee for our November elections. Brad Ricker and Wendy Fearnside will work with Bonnie on this committee.
o Details on the election procedures will be sent via the listserv.
o The VNA council approved absentee voting for this election.
o Sarah indicated we could use assistance with the following committees. Please email vnapresident@gmail.com if interested or for more information.
o Help with website and possible social media
Adjourn
Next Meeting: 10/17, via Zoom.