VNA November Meeting Agenda - November 20, 2019

The November meeting of the Vilas Neighborhood Association will be held this Wednesday, November 20th, at 7pm at HotelRED.

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 web site is at 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

New Business

1.     ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERSHIP.  The Vilas Neighborhood Association hereby announces the date of the Association’s annual meeting to be at 7pm on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at HotelRED.  The annual VNA Council elections shall occur at that meeting, as governed by the VNA Charter.  https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/vnacharter

a.     Dues.  To cast a ballot in the VNA Council election, you must be a current 2019 member of the Vilas Neighborhood Association.  If you need to pay your dues for 2019, or wish to renew for 2020, please arrive prior to the meeting, or renew online at https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/take-action.  Dues are $20 per household, or $10 per individual.  A household membership allows up to two adult members of the household to participate in the election.  Members must be present at the annual meeting to participate in the election.  Renew your membership today!

b.     The Nominating Committee of the VNA puts forth candidates for the four VNA Council seats up for election this year.  If you wish to make a nomination, please contact Lee Lazar at cyborglenis@yahoo.com. 

c.     Please note that, pursuant to Article 5, Section 6 of the VNA Charter, “…additional nominations may be made at the annual meeting at the written request of ten or more members.”

2.     Regent Revitalization Project.  Per Jason Ilstrup, President of DMI:  “The group is getting back together to discuss our past projects, recent activity on Regent Street, proposed new projects and how this group can potential move forward.  There is a lot of interest amongst this group to continue our discussion from years past.”  Tuesday, December 10, 5pm at HotelRED.

3.     Friends of Lake Wingra’s Salt Education Forum.  “Friends of Lake Wingra is working with some UW grad students who have put together a blueprint for a more salt conscious UW campus. They are trying to spread the word with the public and we would like to have a public session for them to share this info. Would Vilas be interested in co-hosting? Co-hosting is just helping share the event with your neighborhood and having a representative there.”

Existing Business

1.     Treasurer’s report – Pat Scheckel

2.     Vilas Ink newsletter – Pat Scheckel

3.     Social report - Lee Lazar

·         VNA Holiday party

4.     VNA Directory & Block Captains – Roz Woodward & Sarah Bahauddin

5.     Nominating Committee & Elections Update – Lee Lazar (with Gera Bodley, Mary Clare Murphy, and Eileen Thompson)

·         2019 VNA elections operations – talk through the election plan

6.     Joint Campus Area Committee (JCAC) report – Liaison - Doug Carlson

·         No report this month

7.     VNA Zoning Committee report.  – Lea Jacobs

·         Alcohol Density Impact Report

·         Discussion of past VNA positions on alcohol licenses

·         Path forward for VNA

8.     Vilas retail news and updates

9.     Vilas Park Master Planning – (VNA reps:  Wendy Fearnside, Ann Rivlin, Lee Lazar)

·         Resident Resource Group first meeting was Nov 6th, 5:30-7pm

10.  Edgewood Liaison committee report – (Liaisons - Jon Standridge and Sarah Bahauddin)

·         Liaison meeting report – Sarah, Jon

Other Business

Adjourn

VNA Council Minutes - 10/23/19

VNA Council Meeting Minutes

10/23/19 7pm - HotelRED 

Call to Order

Approval of Minutes

Announcements

·Special thanks to HotelRED for making the meeting room available for our use this evening.

·Communications

·      A reminder that our neighborhood web site is at www.vilasneighborhood.com

·      Email address for the VNA – vnapresident@gmail.com 

·      The Vilas Ink newsletters are now being posted on the web site at: https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/vilasink

New Business

·      Yahoo Groups is going away. We need to figure out a new way to communicate with the neighborhood in place of the existing ListServ. Stay tuned.

Existing Business

1.            Treasurer’s report – Pat Scheckel

·      $1912 in account; $200 paid for VNA tailgate and some dues were collected.

2.            Vilas Ink newsletter – Pat Scheckel

·      Submissions for next newsletter are due mid-November (11/15).

·      If anyone wants to take on ad sales for future newsletters, please let Pat know. Opportunity to sell ads to some Monroe St. businesses (old and new). 

3.     Social report - Lee Lazar

·      Vilas Halloween Party – Thursday, 10/31, 1800 block of Adams Street.  4pm until trick-or-treating.  Hosted by the Kothari/Lazio/Strigel/Walker/Kelly families, with support from the VNA.  Pizza, beer, wine, kids' drinks provided. If you can bring a side or something to share, that would be awesome; but if not, no problem!  It is more important to come celebrate.

·      VNA Holiday Party – December 15th at HotelRED 6:30-8:30pm 

4.     Nominating Committee & Elections Update – Lee Lazar (with Gera Bodley, Mary Clare Murphy, and Eileen Thompson)

·      2019 VNA elections operations

o  Logistics of annual meeting announcement and candidate slate

o  Charter updates/next steps on early voting proposal

o  Elections will occur at the December VNA Council meeting on 12/18/19

o  An email communicating all election details will be sent out to the ListServ

o  Flyers will also be distributed with election details and candidate information

5.     VNA Directory & Block Captains – Roz Woodward & Sarah Bahauddin

·      Sarah and Roz have divided neighborhood into 2 territories and they are each looking for Block Captains in their designated territories. Roz – east of Grant; Sarah – west of Grant.

·      Directory – does this warrant a committee to get done? Sponsor(s) to print?

o  Block Captains can collect the data as a starting point.

6.     Joint Campus Area Committee (JCAC) report –- Doug Carlson

·      No report this month – six-week gap in JCAC schedule, next meeting is 10/30

7.     VNA Zoning Committee report  – Lea Jacobs

·      Summary of VNA Zoning Committee Meeting with City Staff on 9/11/19

·      ALRC alcohol density meeting – updates and discussion

o  City Finance Dept and Public Health of Dane County published a 100 page report with their findings from a 6-month study. The report can be found online in the ALRC 10/23 meeting minutes.

o  Increased alcohol density is linked to the increase in use of city services (police, fire, building inspectors)…article in today’s WSJ.

o  ALRC receptive to neighborhood input/feedback.

o  ALRC does not think restricting licenses in certain geographic areas is a good idea.

o  City has 38 Class B combination licenses left to issue. (453 is the city limit)

o  This is a zoning issue not an ALRC issue. No NEW beer gardens can be opened (exceptions have been Hong Kong Café expansion and Pizza Extreme expansion….these were expansions and not new).

o  New licenses requested on 1400-2000 Monroe St blocks are always discussed.

o  Problematic existing operators – hard to take away existing licenses when property/business is at stake. Can propose conditions…keep record of problems as they occur, call police if warranted….license renewals occur every May and special conditions can be requested at that time. **This usually works**

o  Can request conditions upon initial license request – need to research condition options at County Clerk office. Zoning committee will do this research.

o  Recap of city report can be found here: https://cityofmadison.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=a6563299db6940cfb96e9a9a8fa05215

o  Idea of creating guiding principles for VNA was proposed so we have a starting point when these requests arise.

8.     Vilas retail news and updates

·      New restaurant opening in Jac’s space (L’Etoile sous-chef is opening)

·      New store opened where Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream was

·      Marie’s Soul Food – carry out; chicken/ribs/sides; dinner only

·      HotelRED expansion will be starting

·      Camp Randall South End expansion also approved

9.     Vilas Park Master Planning – Wendy Fearnside

·      Resident Resource Group - first meeting is Nov 6th, 5:30-7pm

o  Additional Vilas rep (1-2) is desired - particularly someone with young children; only 2 meetings are planned so not a big time commitment at this time.

o  Communication with Parks dept and amongst involved groups has been disjointed

10.  Edgewood Liaison Committee report – (Liaisons - Jon Standridge and Sarah Bahauddin)

·      Liaison meeting report – Sarah, Jon

o  Master Plan.  Edgewood’s repeal of the plan is on the Plan Commission agenda for October 28, 2019.

o  EHS not bringing any items to the agenda – and neighbors didn’t have any - so last meeting was canceled.

o  Edgewood College looking at 40 acres of land south of Seminole (O’Brian Farm) for sports facilities but high school was not mentioned.

o  Collaborative Working Group (EHS, DMNA, VNA) - (VNA reps:  Sarah, Jon, Chris, Craig)

• CWG’s work has been suspended.  It is unclear when, or if, this work will resume.

Other Business

·      Next meeting is November 20, 2019 at 7pm at HotelRED due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Adjourn

VNA October Meeting Agenda - Oct 23, 2019

The October meeting of the Vilas Neighborhood Association will occur at 7pm on Wednesday, October 23rd, at HotelRED.

Agenda

 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 web site is at 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

New Business

 Existing Business

1.     Treasurer’s report – Pat Scheckel

2.     Vilas Ink newsletter – Pat Scheckel

3.     Social report - Lee Lazar

·         Vilas Halloween Party – Thursday, 10/31, 1800 block of Adams street.  4pm until trick-or-treating.  Hosted by the Kothari/Lazio/Strigel/Walker/Kelly families, with support from the VNA.  Pizza, beer, wine, kids' drinks provided. If you can bring a side or something to share, that would be awesome, but if not, no problem!  It is more important to come celebrate.

·         VNA Holiday party planning updates

4.     Nominating Committee & Elections Update – Lee Lazar (with Gera Bodley, Mary Clare Murphy, and Eileen Thompson)

·         2019 VNA elections operations

o Logistics of annual meeting announcement and candidate slate.

·         Charter updates/next steps on early voting proposal

5.     VNA Directory & Block Captains – Roz Woodward & Sarah Bahauddin

6.     Joint Campus Area Committee (JCAC) report – Liaison - Doug Carlson

·         No report this month – six-week gap in JCAC schedule, next meeting is 10/30

7.     VNA Zoning Committee report.  – Lea Jacobs

·         Summary of VNA Zoning Committee Meeting with City Staff on 9/11/19

·         ALRC alcohol density meeting – updates and discussion

8.     Vilas retail news and updates

9.     Vilas Park Master Planning – Wendy Fearnside

·         Resident Resource Group first meeting is Nov 6th, 5:30-7pm

·         Additional Vilas rep is desired

10.  Edgewood Liaison committee report – (Liaisons - Jon Standridge and Sarah Bahauddin)

·         Liaison meeting report – Sarah, Jon

·         Master Plan.  Edgewood’s repeal of the plan is on the Plan Commission agenda for October 28, 2019.

·         Collaborative Working Group (EHS, DMNA, VNA)  (VNA reps:  Sarah, Jon, Chris, Craig)

o CWG’s work has been suspended.  It is unclear when, or if, this work will resume.

Other Business

Adjourn

VNA Council Minutes - September 25, 2019

9/25/19 VNA Council Meeting Minutes

**The next meeting will be Wednesday, 10/23/19, at 7pm at HotelRED**

 Call to Order

Approval of Minutes

Announcements

o   Special thanks to HotelRED for making the meeting room available for our use this evening

o   Communications

·      A reminder that our neighborhood website is at www.vilasneighborhood.com

·      Email address for the VNA – vnapresident@gmail.com 

·      The Vilas Ink newsletters are now being posted on the web site at https://www.vilasneighborhood.com/vilasink

o   Home History Project with DMNA (Doug Carlson)

·      We have been contacted by DMNA to see if we are interested in participating in a project researching the historic details of homes in the neighborhood

·      There will be a meeting on 10/19 at 1:30pm at the Sequoya Library for those interested

·      Joe Jackson, a photographer for the WSJ, had presented a slide show some time again. Suggested that we try to contact him for help as well.

New Business

1.     Pizza Extreme – Class B liquor license application update  (Lea Jacobs, VNA Zoning Chair)

·      ALRC approved liquor license request

·      The inside bar only has seating for 5 and license gets reviewed yearly; this does not seem to raise any concerns by VNA

2.     Northern Vilas alcohol concerns – general discussion

·      A few recent incidents on the near campus side of neighborhood; not able to be linked to a certain bar or residence. Increase of events on Badger game days.

·      There will be a discussion at the 10/2 ALRC meeting to talk about alcohol density along the Regent/Monroe St corridors. This meeting will take place at 5:30pm at 210 MLK Jr Blvd #201 and is open to the public.

·      Discussed that VNA is generally opposed to increasing the number of large vertical drinking establishments but in favor of developing Monroe St, including restaurants that serve alcohol with food.

·      Several suggestions were offered including meeting with UW Dean of Students and law enforcement to take a more proactive approach on this issue.

·      We will resume this discussion at our next meeting once the 10/2 ALRC discussion occurs.

3.     Good Neighbor Gathering this Saturday, 9/28, at Brittingham Park

·      1-3pm Lakefront clean-up

·      3-6pm Family friendly activities

·      6-8pm Live music and food carts

4.     Alder Tag Evers update

·      Recapped Pizza Extreme agenda item

·      He has been informed of some Air BnB violations in the neighborhood that the city is looking into

·      Regent St re-invigoration plan has resurfaced

·      Vilas Park Master Plan – there have been some concerns raised around the neighborhood input process. Some feel the city is moving forward without appropriate neighborhood input and this is being addressed. There will be a meeting on this in the Arboretum on 11/11.

 Existing Business

5.     Treasurer’s report – Pat Scheckel

·      $2100 in account

·      A $250 donation was made to the Good Neighbor Gathering

6.     Social report - Lee Lazar

·      Tailgate this Saturday, 9/28, at 8:30am before UW/Northwestern game – 2105 Jefferson Street

·      VNA Halloween Party – 1800 block of Adams; 4pm on 10/31; pizza/keg/soda will be offered

o   A $400 budget was approved for this party

·      12/15/19 is the tentative neighborhood holiday party date at HotelRED

7.     Nominating Committee – Lee Lazar (with Gera Bodley, Mary Clare Murphy, and Eileen Thompson)

·      The are 4 seats up for re-election this year; please contact Lee Lazar to submit any new candidates

·      Mary Clare proposed creating a procedure for neighbors to vote early in the upcoming VNA Council elections

·      This would require a change in the Bylaws; changing the Bylaws requires notifying the neighborhood and then getting approval at 2 consecutive VNA council meetings

·      In order to make this happen this year, elections would need to be held in December rather than in November

·      Several motions were made and unanimously passed:

o   Craig Stanley made a motion to form a sub-committee to review the current Bylaws in detail, including election procedures, with all changes to be completed by June 2020.

o   Pat Scheckel made a motion that the VNA Council and Nominating Committee ATTEMPT to come up with a way to change the current election/voting procedures to allow for early voting in this year’s election. This requires coming up with a proposal of how this would work, notifying the neighborhood by 10/13, discussing approval at the October and November VNA Council meetings, and then holding elections on 12/18/19. The Nominating Committee will take the lead on this knowing that it may be too complicated to get done in time for this year’s elections but an attempt will be made.

o   Craig Stanley made a motion to move this year’s election date from November to December regardless of the outcome of the above discussion.

• THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN MOVED FROM NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER 18, 2019.

8.     VNA Directory & Block Captains (Roz Woodward & Sarah Bahauddin)

·      2020 membership drive will be announced with the holiday party invitation (these will be distributed earlier than normal)

·      Roz has welcome packets available for new neighbors. Please contact her if you have  a new neighbor.

9.     Vilas Ink newsletter (Pat Scheckel)

·      PDF version now available on the neighborhood website

·      Hard copy should be delivered any time now

10.   Joint Campus Area Committee (JCAC) report (Doug Carlson)

·      At the last meeting the following was discussed:

o   Presentation on Sellery renovation (will be similar to Witte renovation with 2 stories added)

o   Dayton St closed until the end of November

o   New Natatorium planned with ice rink (will result in loss of Shell to general public); planned for 2022

o   Upgrade to plaza by Camp Randall has started

o   Nails Tails structure has been removed

o   A Pyrotechnics Test was conducted at Camp Randall

• Fireworks would be launched over the scoreboard extending 200-300ft in the air possibly during the National Anthem, team introduction, and with a game win.

• Games TBD but neighborhood will be notified in advance

• Minimal dust or particles expected (none detected by Fire Dept during test)

• These will be short in duration and the sound was more of a “crackle” than a “bang”

11.  VNA Zoning Committee report (Lea Jacobs)

o   Lea gave a brief summary to be discussed in more detail at October’s meeting

12.  Vilas retail news and updates – no update

13.  Vilas Park Master Planning

o   A more thorough update and discussion planned for October’s VNA meeting.

14.  Edgewood Liaison committee report (Jon Standridge and Sarah Bahauddin)

o   Liaison meeting was held 2 weeks ago; discussed how to continue liaison meetings if the Master Plan goes away.

o   CI zoning change passed through Plan Commission

o   Mention of enrollment challenges at the college

o   10/2 Plan Commission meeting for exiting Master Plan

Other Business

o   Alder Evers said some area has been added to the snow emergency zone

o   Vilas has been selected to pilot a leaf collection program; everyone should have received a mailing from the Street Department

Adjourn

VNA September Meeting Agenda - September 25, 2019

The September meeting of the Vilas Neighborhood Association will be held this Wednesday, September 25, at 7:00pm, at HotelRED.  

Agenda

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 web site is at 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

·         Home History Project, with DMNA.  – Doug Carlson

New Business

1.     Pizza Extreme – Class B liquor license application update – Lea Jacobs, VNA Zoning Chair

2.     Northern Vilas alcohol concerns – general discussion

Existing Business

3.     Treasurer’s report – Pat Scheckel

4.     Social report - Lee Lazar

·         VNA Halloween Party

5.     Nominating Committee – Lee Lazar (with Gera Bodley, Mary Clare Murphy, and Eileen Thompson)

·         Update from committee for VNA’s November 20th election plans

·         Nominations and timing

·         Election and election operations

·         Annual meeting notice

6.     VNA Directory & Block Captains – Roz Woodward & Sarah Bahauddin

·         2020 membership drive

7.     Vilas Ink newsletter – Pat Scheckel

8.     Joint Campus Area Committee (JCAC) report – Liaison - Doug Carlson

9.     VNA Zoning Committee report.  – Lea Jacobs

10.  Vilas retail news and updates

11.  Vilas Park Master Planning

·         Wendy Fearnside, Julia Kerr, Jim Lorman are representing VNA.  A more thorough update and discussion planned for October’s VNA meeting.

12.  Edgewood Liaison committee report – (Liaisons - Jon Standridge and Sarah Bahauddin)

·         Liaison meeting report – Sarah, Jon

·         EHS athletic field updates

o EHS and City of Madison are now engaged in a lawsuit.

o Changes to UI Zoning

o Repeal of Edgewood Master Plan

o Collaborative Working Group’s work has been suspended.  It is unclear when, or if, this work will resume.

Other Business

Adjourn

VNA August Meeting CANCELLED

Due to numerous planned Council absences leading into the holiday weekend and the start of the school year, the August 28th meeting of the Vilas Neighborhood Association is cancelled due to likely lack of quorum.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25th, at 7pm at HotelRED.