VNA Council Meeting Minutes
February 24, 2021
Council Members
o Sarah Bahauddin (present)
o Pat Scheckel (present)
o Ben Blitz (present)
o Bonnie Gruber (present)
o Hans Borcherding (not present)
o Jim Corkery (present)
o Wendy Fearnside (present)
o Karie Krantz (present)
Call to Order (meeting was conducted virtually using Zoom)
Approval of Minutes - previous minutes were approved.
Announcements
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
o The VNA March 24, 2021 meeting will also be via Zoom
Existing Business
o Treasurer’s Report and Vilas, Ink– Pat Scheckel
o There is approximately $5,200 in the bank account, including approximately $2,500 received for local merchants advertising in the Vilas, Ink newsletter.
o Pat expects the next Vilas, Ink will be printed mid-March and ready for the block captains to distribute the third week of March.
o Block Captains - Roz Woodward
o No updates
o Social Report
o Sarah indicated a new Social Chair is still required and we should work to identify potential candidates for this position. Subsequent to the meeting a new Social Chair has volunteered – more information to follow.
o Listserv updates
o No updates
o Monroe/Regent Streets Retail & Monroe Street Library News
o Brian Hamilton, owner of the new Kettle Black Kitchen on Monroe Street provided an overview of his new restaurant plans. The menu will be a fusion of Southern US comfort food and French cooking. The restaurant is currently providing meal kits and will be open for in-person dining when Dane County allows expanded capacity limits. The restaurant is currently seeking a beer/wine license and will apply for a liquor license at a later date.
o District 13 Alliance – Dana Scheckel and Sarah Bahauddin
o Dana indicated that the District 13 group is working on an anti-racist workshop anticipated to be presented over Zoom; that the ethnic food drive for Bayview and the Triangle community associations was very successful - thanks for all the neighborhood donations; and that a new listserv is being established for this group.
o Joint Campus Area Committee
o No direct neighborhood issues, but Doug indicated a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stop is planned for Union South/Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery location, that the Ag Building will be renovated into an events space and that as housing/retail development has been proposed for the current Don’s Car Care location on Old University Ave.
o Edgewood Liaison Committee Report - Shawn Doherty, Craig Stanley, and Sarah Bahauddin
o Edgewood High School has decided to reopen its lawsuit against the City of Madison in an effort to install the athletic field lights.
o Alder Update – Tag Evers provided the following updates:
o A Plan Amendment to add a street within the new Bayview development passed the Council unanimously. The new street will only allow for emergency vehicles and pedestrian access off of Regent Street.
o The City’s land banking policy is currently under review.
o Tag is working with the City’s Sustainability Plan on a comprehensive re-write of this plan.
o Tag is working on improving digital access in low income neighborhoods.
o Tag’s virtual office hours are on Friday mornings.
o Vilas Park Master Plan - Wendy Fearnside and Ann Rivlin
o A Zoom presentation of the final Vilas Park Master Plan is scheduled for February 4th at 6:00 pm. More information on the meeting will be provided via the Listserv.
o VNA comments on the final Master Plan were submitted by 2/18. It is expected that the Board of Parks Commissioners will perform a final review and approval of the Vilas Park Master Plan on March 10th.
o Traffic Engineering is considering options and is expected to make a decision in April or May, related to closure/partial closure of Vilas Park Drive for the summer of 2021.
o Zoning Committee - Ben Blitz and Wendy Fearnside
o The committee is continuing work on an updated neighborhood survey. Ben expects the draft survey will be sent to the council for review prior to the next council meeting for comments and approval prior to issuing to the neighborhood in the Spring of 2021.
o Ben provided a very good overview of the new Conditional Use Threshold ordinance. Wendy noted there are very few properties within the Vilas Neighborhood Association boundaries that are in the affected Zoning classifications. A copy of the presentation will be included with the meeting notes. Paul Cuta and Craig Stanley will provide additional background information for Tag Evers to review and consider before this comes before the Plan Commission on 3/22 and the Common Council on 3/30.
New and Other Business
o Alexis (Lexi) London, Bayview Foundation Executive Director provided an update on the upcoming redevelopment of the current site. Highlights of the presentation were as follows:
o Demolition/new construction for this $50,000,000 project is anticipated to start in May 2021 and will be phased over approximately three years. The development will include a new activity center. Over 90% of the finds for the project have been raised including grants from WHEDA, the City of Madison and Dane County
o The Bayview Foundation has four focus areas – Housing, Social Services, Art, and Sustainable Gardening.
o The facilities date to 1970 and are deteriorating and in need to replacement.
o Bayview currently has 102 units housing approximately 310 people (many are seniors) and this redevelopment will accommodate approximately 500 people. English is a second language for 86% of the residents speaking 10 different first languages.
o This project will expand available affordable housing with most residents on Section 8 vouchers. The new development will also include 10 market rate apartments.
o Sarah indicated the bylaws review and update work is to begin late March with a focus on elections and dues.
o The Alder Town Hall will be on March 10th – more information will be sent via the listserv.
o The Monroe Street Merchants Association is worklog on ideas for the 2021 Neighborhood Grant program andf they may be asking for a neighborhood volunteer to assist with this.
o Sally Lehner submitted an application for the City’s Storm Drain Mural Program.
o Sarah indicated we could use assistance with the following committees. Please email vnapresident@gmail.com if interested or for more information.
o Election Nomination chair/co-chair
o Help with website and possible social media
o Listserv co-moderator
Adjourn
Next Meeting: 3/24/2021.