DMNA Council Minutes

Attendance: Char Thompson, Paula Benkart, Marge Jacoby, Julia Grimm, Bill Barker, Jane Riley, Daryl Sherman, Bill Klein, Karen Cornwell, Garth Hammel, Gretchen Twietmeyer, Henry Hart, Ann Clark, Margaret Nelson, Madelyn Leopold, Margaret Nelson.

Bill Klein has a new e-mail address kleinw@mindspring.com

The minutes of the meeting on February 9th were amended as follows and accepted as amended: In the President's Notes, "Near West zoning committee" should read, "Near West Planning Council." Under the discussion of the Madison Police South District Patrol Officers, "for officers" should be "four officers." Motion made by Henry Hart, seconded by Jane Riley.

Treasurer's report--Info available from Kathie Beckett, Treasurer.

Supervisor Karen Cornwell reported that there will be nothing substantive to report from the Dane County Board until after the elections on April 5.

On March 15--from 7:00 to 8:30 PM a Candidate's Forum for County Supervisor will be held at WEST High School.

Bill Barker reported that we have to get busy on the Long-Range Plan. Ken Golden is concerned may not address the long-range plan unless it is approved at the DMNA annual meeting. George Austin reviewed the plan in the past and commented on it at the annual meeting on 4/20/1997. "He recommended prioritizing the visions it contains, being specific about the responsibility and timeline for implementing them, having the plan official adopted by DMNA and the city, using maps to display ideas visually." It was suggested to put the plan on the WEB page. It was important to emphasize the traffic plan. It will take a long time to approve and we will need a representative at every meeting to pass.

Suggested agenda for the annual meeting: Amend the articles of incorporation, approve long-range plan, present the findings on the Lake Wingra study.

Near West Planning Council--Jane Riley, Paul Beckett and Bill Barker met with representatives of Regent, Allied, Greenbush, Nakoma, Vilas Neighborhood Associations and City Staff. They wanted a small group of closely associated organizations (near West) Bruce Newton gave the presentation. He recommended that the city suggest the geographic boundary. There was sentiment against this proposal. The Northwest Planning Council and South Planning Council are city franchised. The Isthmus Planning group is grassroots. It was suggested to include Shorewood in the Planning Council. This council would not usurp the Neighborhood Associations. The Dunns Marsh NA has only one member and the Westmoreland and Allied NA are not active. This would be a galvanizing group. They plan on calling another meeting.

Captain Gaber of the Madison Police Department reported that in a recent speed monitoring between 9 and 1l am, 8 citations were given.

New Business - The candidate's forum will be held on March 15th, as reported above

Committees

Transportation--Ann Clark reported that plans were unveiled for the interchange at Verona Rd. and the Beltline. . Our role is to continue to pester the Mayor's Study Committee because most alders are not concerned about sprawl. Tom Huber --regarding WI State Pedestrian Plan. Should be enforcing present pedestrian law. Cannot force locals to put in sidewalks. Captain Silverwood will in June be adding enforcement of pedestrian rights law.

Membership: Shirley Lake reported the Paula Benkart is the new chair. Sheila Faye is the Assistant. We will take no new memberships after the April meeting during the year we reissue the directory. There are 140 directories left. These will only be given to new members--exceptions will be made just before the new directory is to be issued. Mailing for the membership drive did not work out. The committee is working on getting student volunteers. We would use them to help with surveying the closed apartments. We also have three separate positions that need to be filled for the committee. 1) data base entry--Bill Barker agreed to handle this, 2) Understand program and make and print forms and make lists for the membership drive and, 3)layout for directory. They hope to draw on volunteers right away. We need new help with the Hornblower distribution. We have seven new members for a total of 923 member households.

Rail Corridor--Paul Beckett, no new information

Zoning--Fence and lighting issues at the Laurel Tavern. There will be a meeting of the Terry Place residents and the Laurel.

Social Committee--No report

Gardening--Daryl Sherman Garden Tour July 15.

Parks--There are plans to put in a garden on either side of the steps in front of Dudgeon (the space between the fence and the pedestrian sidewalk). Working on finding a landscape architect or student to design this; UW Landscape Architecture Dept. not interested. We will be working with Dudgeon Center on this. Glenwood Children's Park--trimming on the east slope in ongoing, will trim the west slope. There will be plantings along the entrance from east Gregory Street.

Housing--Char Thompson "nothing to report"

Jazz in the Park--bands committed thus far, Jazz West, Westside Andy, Madisala

Lake Wingra--the Watershed Fair at the Science Building at Edgewood was great;was still on display as of March 8.

Oak Savanna-- Margaret Nelson reported that they are cutting Buckthorn and honeysuckle. They want to burn again but will need snow first. Will begin to plant white oak and grasses, There will be a celebration on May 21 from 2-5pm with tours, new T-shirts for sale and a potluck and sing along.

Publications--deadline was March 1. Need article for the annual meeting. Homepage: We have GCI script now. It allows discussion on site; provides form for easier calendar info. These updates unline after a detailed design process

Woodlands--Bill Barker reported that mapping of ephemeral wildflowers is in progress.

History Committee--no report

Edgewood Liaison--There will no longer be an Edgefest. An Edgewood Service Day, with work to raise funds to support the school will replace it. The college has a new address 1000 Edgewood College Drive. No dogs are allowed on the grounds, signs to this effect are up now.

Dudgeon Liaison--A neighbor on Western Avenue is reported to find Dudgeon School "an eyesore and blight on the neighborhood" If no improvements are made this summer he will try to organize the neighborhood against it.

Business Liaison, Jules Grimm: Pascals will be closing. Jim Shapiro of Stoughton is buying up all the property he can get, and appears to be trying to drive out businesses by raising the rents too high, is reported to have visions for the area. He has cut leases from five years to two years. We will invite him to our meeting to share views with each other. Chris Kerwin is leaving, and Victor Allen's might be. A meeting of (West End?) Monroe Street businesses will be held next Wednesday to discuss and review what is happening. Shirley Lake: We should be pro-active and get information to all the building owners: We want it to be the way it is now.

501(c)3: Madelyn Leopold presented the "Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Dudgeon-Monroe Neighborhood Association, Inc." and the resolution to amend the articles. In discussion it was concluded that the activities of the association do not constitute lobbying and therefore we could apply for 501(c)(3) status.

Char moved to accept resolutions. Seconded by Ann Clark. After discussion motion was carried unanimously.

Dudgeon Center: We can rent a storage room for $60./month. It will not be available until July. This space is also a leading candidate for space for an elevator. Wingra School would be glad to split space (for storage) and costs with us.

It was moved, seconded and carried to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:04 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Marge Jacoby and Daryl Sherman, Co-Secretaries.

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Last Modified: 03-Feb-08 06:04 PM

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