TLNA Minutes for 5-15-03
Council Members Present: Rex Loehe, Carol Weidel, Sal Calomino, Susan Bauman-Duren,
Diane Brusoe, Joe Brogan, Bob Shaw, Gay Davidson-Zielske, Jim Zychowicz, Sandy
Ward, Pat McDonnell, Suzanne Keyes-Rybeck, Alf Meyer, Sgt. Dexheimer, Officer
Rodney Wilson
I. Meeting Called to Order 7:05 p.m.
II. Introductions Around the Table
III.
Ice Cream Social – Gay Davidson-Zielske
a.
Received complaint about combining Ice Cream Social and Art
Walk.
b.
One artist is willing to have Ice Cream Social at her house,
but there would be no bathroom use.
c.
Other possibilities for Ice Cream Social include: Sunday, June
22nd coinciding with Summer Solstice Walk, or Sunday June 29th
in the Christ Presbyterian Church parking lot from 4:00 – 5:00 (last hour
of the Art Walk, which is scheduled from 1:00 – 5:00).
i.
Motion by Gay
Davidson-Zielske to hold Ice Cream Social on June 29th in the Christ
Presbyterian Church parking lot from 4:00 – 5:00.
ii.
Seconded by Sandy
Ward.
iii. Motion Carried on a Voice Vote.
IV.
Distribution and Approval of Minutes for April 17, 2003
a.
Motion by Sandy Ward
to approve April Minutes
b.
Seconded by Carol
Weidel
c. Motion Carried on a Voice Vote
V.
TLNA Budget – Alf Meyer
a.
Overview of TLNA Financial Situation: as of January 2000, assets =
$13,200. As of May 15, 2003,
assets = $14,692. Peak assets
occurred in 2002, with $18,365 cash on hand. There continues to be a steady flow of dues thanks to
Richard Linster. Current Council
expenditures include: $3,000
distributed to 4 public schools ($750.00 each), $500.00 for Garden, $170.00 for
Banner, $413.00 for Neighborhood Sign, and $100 for Heifer Project. Neighborhood newsletter remains
self-supporting and Alf Meyer and Bob Shaw are discussing raising ad
rates. TLNA has considerable cash
reserves and significant distributions were made last year. The TLNA is not in business to
accumulate cash and Council should look to use revenues to improve
neighborhood.
i.
Some future suggested uses discussed by Council include: red
crosswalk flags, school scholarship endowment and monument.
1.
Regarding monument, Susan Bauman-Duren noted that the Council
can’t keep putting this off or will have to consider returning
“Gary’s” donation of $1000.00 for the project. Sal Calomino indicated that he’d
put this item on the agenda for June.
2.
Bob Shaw & Joe Brogan pressed neighborhood support for the
$20,000.00 Foundation for Madison Schools Endowment Fund, of which
O’Keefe will receive $5,000.00.
The campaign is exceeding $25,000.00. Karen Crossley’s term organizing the campaign is
ending and Anne Hallbach will replace her.
1.
Motion by Joe Brogan
to allocate $500.00 in support for the Foundation for Madison Schools Endowment
Fund and designate those funds be earmarked for O’Keefe.
2.
Seconded by Susan
Bauman-Duren.
3.
Discussion: Alf Meyer noted that it is within the
Council’s means to give $500.00 to all schools for a total contribution
of $2,000.00. The Council agreed
this could be voted on at a later date.
4. Motion Carried on a Voice Vote.
VI.
Confirm Zoning Change for Carl’s Paddlin’
(which also includes Great Big Pictures) from M1 to C3.
a. Segue to Alder Report.
VII.
Alder Report – Brenda Konkel.
a. Zoning Change for Carl’s Paddlin’: The problem is that the property in question is a large parcel that is supposed to be zoned for residential use. Brenda indicated she’ll be sitting down with both Carl’s Paddlin’ and Great Big Pictures to figure out a creative way to make it residential and still meet Carl’s Paddlin’s need. She expects issue will be referred in about two weeks.
b. Receiving lots of calls regarding parking problems in the area.
c. Received call from police captain regarding locating satellite office at Sonic Foundry. In Brenda’s opinion, the satellite office should instead be located at Breese Stevens.
d. Thorton Avenue – Brenda will be meeting with neighborhood leaders to make sure plans are being implemented and that neighborhood concerns are being collectively heard.
e.
Bob Shaw: Any
more on the designation of a TIF District on E. Washington Avenue?
Brenda Konkel: No, not officially. Unofficially it appears to being moving
forward. Studying issue to see if
there’s enough blight in the area.
Bob Shaw: Heard Business Incubator may be put in there.
f. Sandy Ward & Susan Bauman-Duren further discussed parking issue.
Introduction of Officer Rodney
Wilson, who has an adjacent beat on W. Wilson Street.
Bike Patrol – is a
great asset to Department, but there are too few officers available for bike
patrol. Sometimes officers carry
bikes in the back of their squads.
Officer Rodney Wilson: Bike patrol is a great way to talk to the community. It breaks down barriers with neighborhood – folks are more likely to approach and talk to officers than if they’re in their car. Bike patrol is slowly taking on popularity in the Department. The problem is one of duel purpose. You’re on your bike and then you get called and have to return to your car.
Issue of stolen cars – often they are abandoned in parks.
Crime Statistics –
Sgt. Dexheimer indicated that he didn’t bring a lot of statistics this
time, however, parking remains the number one complaint.
Officers getting out of practice issuing parking tickets, which is being taken-over by parking enforcement 24 hours a day.
Satellite Office – Sgt. Dexheimer discussed this issue briefly last month. Satellite office is not meant to be a storefront operation for public to stop in. This is a misnomer. Staffing logistically impossible and an unrealistic expectation. The best way for public to contact police is through dispatch or by contacting Captains in District Stations. Purpose of satellite office is for officers to check email, to complete district reports, use bathrooms, and eat lunch. This keeps officers in area to maintain radio contact, etc. Can’t force officers to use satellite office, so the space needs to be attractive to officers – particularly the bathrooms for women officers who need proper accommodations because of a need to remove their gun, etc., in order to use facilities.
Susan Bauman-Duren: Is Sonic Foundry a good choice for
satellite office?
Sgt. Dexheimer: Wish it was more centrally located, however, Sonic Foundry is offering so much, computers, etc. Also, more problems arising at Sherman Terrace. Proximity to Tenney Park, where officers would like to have more presence due to drunkenness, homelessness, etc. Would also be able to increase bike patrols in the area due to the additional spaces at Sonic Foundry for bikes. The Sonic Foundry location also would get officers to the far end of the district, rather than closer to State Street (see map handout of relationship of Sonic Foundry to Tenney Lapham neighborhood – scale ½ mile radius).
Susan Bauman-Duren: Expressed some support for Sonic Foundry location over Breese Stevens and commented on a recent home invasion by a mentally ill man in the neighborhood in which the police were able to respond in about 2.5 minutes.
Segue by Council into a discussion about homeless and public urination in the Tenney Lapham neighborhood.
VIII.
Garden Tour – Bob Shaw
a.
Talked with Mary Jo Schivoni, haven’t had a neighborhood
garden tour in many years.
Scheduled for Sunday, June 29th,
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. People
take tour on their own. There are
8 – 9 gardens participating in the neighborhood to tour.
In need of $50 - $100 for brochures
and expenses. Alf Meyer suggested
using Lakeside Printer instead of Kinko’s for brochure.
1.
Motion by Bob Shaw to
have TLNA reimburse him for expenses associated with garden tour and brochure.
2.
Seconded by Susan
Bauman-Duren.
3. Motion Carried on a Voice Vote.
Safety – Sandy Ward
Reported on tagging (graffiti)
of building at 816 E. Gorham Street.
Have not heard back from Cheryl Wittle re: (red) flags (for crossing intersections), but presumably moving along.
Max Rahder (Regent Neighborhood
Association) Op-Ed piece to the Wisconsin State Journal regarding House
Parties (see handout). Does TLNA
want to sign-on? – Jim Zychowicz
Brenda Konkel: there are other ways to address problem
and others are working on this issue.
It might be better to approach Dave (Mayor Cz.) and the new
administration first.
Jim Zychowicz: suggest rephrasing letter prior to
signing on to it.
Motion by Jim Zychowicz to first contact Mario Mandoza in
the administration to get feedback, send letter to Mayor first (to apprise him
of concerns/issue) and rewrite as friendly request: “to continue to vigorously address the existing
efforts at dealing with these problem house parties.”
Seconded by Diane Brusoe.
Motion Carried on a Voice Vote.
Newsletter – Bob Shaw
Newsletter deadline this weekend.
Went to Breese Stevens Committee
today – brief update.
Neighborhood “Earth Day” activities update.
Education – Joe
Brogan
School referenda June 3rd (see handout)
Motion by Rex Loehe.
Motion seconded by Susan Bauman-Duren.
Motion carried on a voice vote.