VNA Council Meeting Minutes
April 28, 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 (not 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 May 26, 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, in the past month:
o Primary expense was payment of approximately $600 for Vilas, Ink printing.
o The next Vilas, Ink submissions deadline will be May 21st.
o The council voted to approve VNA purchase of Zoom account, approximately $150/ for annual subscription.
o Block Captains - Roz Woodward
o No updates
o Social Report
o The VNA social chair has an e-mail address: socialchairvilas@gmail.com.
o A virtual book club will begin in June with Sherlock Holmes/Hercule Poirot short stories. More details to follow via the listserv.
o Listserv updates
o No updates
o Monroe/Regent Streets Retail & Monroe Street Library News
o No updates
o District 13 Alliance – Dana Scheckel and Sarah Bahauddin
o Discussions are being held on a wealth gap workshop. More details to follow via the listserv.
o Joint Campus Area Committee
o Plans for small-scale Commencement weekend activities at Camp Randall were discussed.
o Doug indicated lane closures on Park Street and Johnson Street will be required for underground utilities work. Doug also indicated that lane closures for construction of the new Chemistry building addition are to be be complete in 2021.
o Edgewood Liaison Committee Report - Shawn Doherty, Craig Stanley, and Sarah Bahauddin
o No updates
o Alder Update – Tag Evers provided the following updates:
o Tag provided an update on the Mayor’s five-part Housing Forward Plan, indicating the proposed Zoning changes are one part of the plan.
o Tag indicated there is a synergy in the goals of the Housing Forward and the Climate Forward plans, with a focus on providing affordable housing and increased housing density along public transit lines.
o A discussion was held on the property tax impacts of the housing initiatives and who ultimately bears the costs for these initiatives.
o Vilas Park Master Plan - Wendy Fearnside and Ann Rivlin
o The Transportation Committee discussed the closure of Vilas Park drive from the stone arch bridge to the parking lot at the existing shelter. This closure includes:
i. A six-foot wide compacted gravel non-ADA compliant walking path, separated by a three-foot buffer, to be added along the roadway.
ii. Two-way traffic from the east entrance to the park up to the shelter parking lot. Bicycles will share drive lanes with vehicles.
iii. This plan was approved by the Transportation committee with a recommendation for approval at the May 12th Parks Commission meeting. Note that subsequent to the meeting this was approved by the Parks Commission. Exact timing of implementation to be determined.
iv. More information is to follow via the listserv.
o Wendy indicated the City has had slack-lining and hammock usage policies in place since 2017. It was noted that it is prohibited to attach to oak, hickory, and birch trees due to potential long-term damage to these trees. It was noted that connections can be made to other tree species if a protective covering on the tree is applied before the support lines are tied. More information is published on the City’s website.
o Zoning Committee - Ben Biltz and Wendy Fearnside
o The Zoning committee provided an updated neighborhood survey to VNA council members prior to the meeting. The updated survey was approved for publication by the VNA council. Ben expects the final survey will be sent to the neighborhood in May. Hard copies of the survey will also be distributed and a note about the survey will be included in the next Vilas, Ink newsletter.
o It was noted that Hotel Red is on the market for sale.
o Ben indicated the new Conditional Use Threshold Zoning ordinance was approved in committee and will now go to the City Council for approval. (Note that the City Council has referred a decision on these changes to the June 1st Council meeting.) Ben provided an overview of the impact on the Vilas neighborhood, which are assumed to be minimal based on the small amount of land in the affected zoning districts. Tag is hosting a May 3rd town hall on the proposed changes with City staff.
New and Other Business
o Hunter Lisko, Madison Police Department neighborhood liaison officer provided an update:
o MPD will be focusing on bar time issues in the Regent Street corridor.
o Hunter indicated MPD has several online services including a self-report feature for low level issues and MPD’s polices and standard operating procedures related to use of force and officer decision making.
o No racist flyers reports were recorded in the previous month.
o The City will send out consultant requests for proposals to evaluate restoration alternatives for the Annie Stewart fountain, including in-place restorations versus a move of some/or all of the fountain to a new location.
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: 5/26/2021 via Zoom.