VNA Council Meeting Minutes
June 23, 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 in person)
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 July 28, 2021 meeting will tentatively be held via Zoom.
Existing Business
o Treasurer’s Report and Vilas, Ink – Pat Scheckel
o There is approximately $5,200 in the bank account, with no major changes in the past month.
o Submission deadline for the next Vilas, Ink will be August 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 The 4th of July bike parade is planned.
o Book club meetings are anticipated to occur every other month.
o The Vilas neighborhood block party is being planned for Saturday, August 14th in the 1900 block of Jefferson Street. Assistance is needed for kids’ games, set-up, tear-down and other tasks – please contact Bethany if you can help out.
o Bethany suggested other possible social activities to include a neighborhood rummage sale, a neighborhood walking tour of historic homes and a charity event to benefit the Monroe Street library.
o District 13 Alliance – Dana Scheckel and Sarah Bahauddin
o The Good Neighbor gathering is scheduled for September 25th at Brittingham Park.
o Joint Campus Area Committee
o No updates
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 is working with other City departments to make Brittingham park safe and inclusive for everyone. He indicated that alcohol is not allowed in the park and that the shelter is to close at 9 pm.
o The house in the 1500 block of Jefferson Street, operated as an Airbnb with several resulting complaints, has apparently been sold – hopefully this will eliminate the complaints.
o The City Building Inspection department is to visit the site of the former Open Pantry. The Owner is responsible for upkeep even though the building is unoccupied.
o Tag did not have a date as to when Wingra Park Drive would close to through traffic.
o Tag is part of a working group reviewing the City’s lighting ordinance to work to minimize light pollution around Lake Wingra. Any revisions to the lighting ordinance would affect the overall city.
o Tag continues to work to improve digital access in the City’s low-income communities.
o Kathy Peterson and Lindsey Ludden, Madison Police Department Midtown detectives, provided an update:
o No major crimes in the neighborhood, although burglaries continue with thefts from unlocked vehicles and unlocked garages.
o Several thefts of catalytic convertors from Toyota Prius’ were noted.
o Midtown District Captain Jason Freedman’s summer focus for the mid-town district is reduction of burglaries, thefts from autos and hazardous driving. This will be accomplished through increase foot patrols, education and a focus on traffic areas receiving the most reports.
o Vilas Park Master Plan - Wendy Fearnside and Ann Rivlin
o No updates.
o Zoning Committee - Ben Biltz and Wendy Fearnside
o The neighborhood survey responses cutoff date is June 30th. Results will be available for an initial review at either the July or August VNA meeting.
o Hotel Red is still on the market for sale.
o Construction at the Lucky’s site has not started and it is currently unclear when construction will start.
o Jordan’s Big Ten Pub has applied for an indoor entertainment license.
o A new bookstore/coffee bar/cocktail bar will be opening in the former Greenbush Bakery site.
New and Other Business
o Mary Clare Murphy, Wendy Fearnside and Bonnie Gruber have continued to provide significant work on revisions to the VNA Bylaws. Progress was made in discussing the proposed revisions at the meeting, but due to the significant number of changes, more discussion will be required at upcoming VNA meetings.
o Drafts will be shared with the VNA council prior to the next meeting so that more progress can hopefully occur at the next council meeting.
o It was noted that the changes need to be voted on (and approved) by the September VNA Council meeting if they are to be in place prior to the next election cycle.
o Sally Lehner has received the grant from the City to paint storm drain murals (scheduled for August 25th at 5 pm) by the stone arch bridge in Vilas Park.
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: 7/28, likely via Zoom.