VNA Council Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2020
Council Members
o Sarah Bahauddin (present)
o Pat Scheckel (present)
o Ben Blitz (present)
o Lea Jacobs (present)
o Hans Borcherding (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
New Business
o None
Existing Business
o Treasurer’s Report –Pat Scheckel
o Pat indicated:
o There is approximately $4,000 in the bank account.
o The Spring issue of Vilas, Ink is posted on the VNA website and will be printed and distributed.
o Colony Brands is closing their print shop it is unclear if any future issues will be printed.
o VNA directory - Pat Scheckel and Block Captains - Roz Woodward
o Colony Brands previously committed to printing our new neighborhood directory, however that printing was to be their last publication, with Covid 19 the directory printing will need to be reconfirmed.
o Social Report - Lee Lazar
o Lee indicated the Summer Launch party is currently on hold due to Covid 19 gathering restrictions. Based on if and when these restrictions are lifted, the party may be rescheduled.
o Listserv
o None
o Monroe/Regent streets Retail News
o None
o Edgewood Liaison Committee (Craig Stanley, Shawn Doherty and Sarah Bahauddin) Report
o Sarah opened this discussion by providing an overview of Edgewood High School’s application for a Conditional Use Permit for installation of lights on their athletic field. Sarah also reviewed the development, and results reporting, of a neighborhood survey undertaken to inform the VNA council on how to represent neighborhood views to the Plan Commission. Sarah thanked the committee members and Doug Carlson (who assisted the committee with development and survey results reporting) for the countless hours they spent on this survey. Doug noted the survey was not intended to be binding or scientific, but rather to be informative.
o The following notes are intended to summarize, in no particular order, the wide variety of views, opinions, concerns and survey result interpretations related to the subsequent open discussions.
o The following two survey interpretations were discussed at length :
o The survey results, either “Yes, Take a Position – Oppose” or “Yes, Take a Position – Support” should stand on their own, i.e. without reviewing underlying comments to make inferences as to the thoughts of those voting “Take No Position” and “Yes, Take a Position – Compromise”.
o The underlying comments of those voting to “Take No Position” and “Yes, take a Position – Compromise” should be considered because the underlying survey design did not provide a mechanism for these views to be considered and, when they are considered, the neighborhood is relatively evenly split in their views to either support or to oppose.
o A lengthy discussion of these interpretations and an analysis of the survey results supporting each position followed.
o There was discussion as to if only a “No” vote by the Plan Commission could lead to an eventual compromise. Tag Evers indicated his understanding was the Plan Commission could in fact impose conditions as a part of their approval. Tag indicated the Plan Commission could impose conditions such as limiting hours, number of events, capacity, renting out the field to others, days of the week, times of the year, etc. could be conditions of their approval. Based on this he encouraged submission of support, opposition or proposed conditions of compromise comments be sent to the to the Plan Commission.
o There would were questions of if Plan Commission conditions of approval were indicated, would the City even enforce them based on past non-enforcement of provisions related to events at the field. It was noted that approximately (70) events held in 2018-2019 with one third of those being for non-Edgewood events.
o Additional comments were made relative to the need for VNA to support DMNA’s position of opposition to the lights and relative to disappointment that VNA can’t oppose the lights as a gesture of support for the for the athletic field neighbors.
o Although VNA’s previous position of support for the overall athletic field upgrades was reported in the press, it is unclear if this position was ever formally registered with the City since Edgewood High School’s application was withdrawn prior to a formal vote by the City. A suggestion was made that if the VNA council now takes a No Position, then the previous support position should be withdrawn. It was noted that VNA council’s previous support position was taken based on informal feedback council members received and was not informed by a survey. It was noted that this was an underlying reason a survey was taken this time.
o Questions were asked “If the neighborhood is truly divided on this issue, how is the VNA council, who are elected to reflect the views of the neighborhood, to take a position? What would be the rational for the VNA to take a position?
o After over an hour of good informative discussions, Sarah moved that motions be developed and voted on by the VNA council.
o The original motion was : “The VNA resolves not to take a position regarding Edgewood High School’s Conditional Use Permit application to add lights to their athletic field due to divided neighborhood opinion.” This resolution carried by a vote of 6 in favor and 2 opposed.
o A motion to add to the original motion was: “This supersedes any previous position of the VNA” This resolution carried by a vote of 8 in favor and 0 opposed.
o Sarah closed this discussion by encouraging neighbors to submit of comments of support, opposition or compromise directly to the Plan Commission. It was also agreed that Sarah would send the survey results to the Plan Commission.
o Alder Update – Tag Evers
o There is a family in the DMNA neighborhood that has been diagnosed with Covid 19
o Vilas Park Drive has been closed within the park to allow more room for social distancing while exercising in the park.
o The City council approved $3,500 for meal distribution in the Bayview area.
o Alley reconstruction in the neighborhood will begin May 4th and utility surveying in those alleys is ongoing.
o Tag asked Mike Elliot to delay Edgewood High School’s Conditional Use Permit application due to Covid 19, but he has not received a response yet. Also not sure if a virtual meeting will be held with the DMNA President, VNA President and Edgewood High School prior to the Plan Commission meeting.
o At Tuesday's online Council meeting, Interim Police Chief Vic Wahl provided an update regarding calls for service.
o According to Chief Wahl, overall calls are down throughout the City, with the notable exception of two areas: domestic violence and overdoses.
o In some parts of the City, there's also been in uptick in auto thefts and burglaries, mostly crimes of opportunity, which may be related to more kids out of school, some up to no good. Again, lock those doors!
o In District 13, particularly in Bay Creek, disturbing events including the recent carjacking at the Pick N Save on S. Park and shots fired nearby in weeks prior, have caused some to wonder if there's a connection to the pandemic.
o Relative to the rise in domestic violence and overdoses. Tag wants to encourage you to ask for help if you or someone you know is in need. The local hotline for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services is 608.251.4445.
o Zoning Committee Update – Wendy Fearnside for Lea Jacobs
o None
o Vilas Park Master Plan – Wendy Fearnside
o Wendy attended a virtual meeting in which City Staff and the consultant presented drafts of 3 concept plans to get feedback from the resident and community partners advisory groups For VNA this group includes Wendy Fearnside, Ann Rivlin and Lee Lazar). If VNA neighbors want to have input at this time, it will be important to have input before they finalize the concepts and go to a larger public input process. There are a lot of good ideas in the concept plans, and also some potentially controversial issues. To Wendy, the most important issues are:
o Playgrounds. None of the concepts retain the Shoe or have a playground in that general area of the park. Proposed playgrounds are between the tennis courts and stone bridge and adjacent to the beach. One alternative includes a playground on the hill with the Indian mounds, which may or may not include the dinosaur play structures.
o The shelter. All 3 concepts include a dramatic shelter designs and largely enclosed building with a community room, rather than a more open and flexible space with removable walls.
o Wetland restoration and natural shoreline. One of the concepts would let the lagoon revert to its natural boggy condition, which would not support ice skating.
o Parking and vehicular traffic on the southeast side of the park. One of the concepts closes the drive to through traffic. Two include roadway, turnarounds, and parking that appear to dominate the character of the area on the south side of the Zoo and former speed skating area of the lagoon. Landscaping will minimize some of this impact.
o Lack of a minimalist, “leave it largely like it is” alternative. This could include renovation or replacement with similar features to those today. Including such an alternative would allow some of the current park features to be included in a final plan that mixes and matches things from each of the concepts.
o Wendy indicated that the conceptual plans will be updated based on input from the advisory committees prior to an open presentation and open comment period.
o Wendy will submit the conceptual design information to Sara to post on the VNA website. Neighborhood comments will be due to Wendy by May 7th so that she can pass them on to the City and the consultant.
o Good Neighbor Gathering committee – Sara Bahauddin
o Sarah and Dana Scheckel are working with Tag Evers and the DMNA President to send out post cards to District 13 residents to establish a long-term method for connecting neighbors in need with neighbors willing to meet those needs. The VNA council voted earlier to redirect $250 from the planned in-person gathering to this post card effort. The goal is to send out these post cards by May 1st.
Other Business
o None
Adjourn