Uncommon Council

7/19/22 - One Stepback Forward

Ben and Sam celebrate the efficiency of the in-person Common Council meetings by pulling in other local news happenings. Topics include CARES team expansion, birds, imaginary coal, disability pride month, bus rapid transit, affordable housing, batting practice, and shallow stepbacks. Meeting Agenda [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=892687&GUID=731B3022-9C0A-4FE9-8F8E-26B02B5EE494] Consent Agenda [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11068229&GUID=BE855E20-FD49-4741-9178-CF50E95C0CC8] - Items excluded from discussion CARES team expansion announcement [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NwUuZ8di_Q] - Community Alternative Response Emergency Services team CARES team article [https://www.cityofmadison.com/fire/emergency-medical-services/community-alternative-response-emergency-services-cares] City goals for carbon emissions, local-owned businesses, and women/BIPOC-owned businesses [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXtzRgnpVQs] W Washington zoning documents [https://madison.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5656009&GUID=B17A7C6F-734E-48AD-AB1B-534E36BBDB10]

7/12/22 - Letting it Bake

Ben and Sam talk about the first in-person Common Council meeting since the start of the covid-19 pandemic. Main topics include a Common Council harassment policy, subcommittee self-evaluations, and new citywide lighting policy changes. Your intrepid correspondents also touch on pickle ball, curtain hangings, county reproductive health services, simmering public policy, LEDership, Robert's Rules, the merits of a 5-point scale, and Common Council recreational traditions.  Meeting Agenda [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=892686&GUID=4443B4EC-04F8-4A24-8644-B71232639DFA] Public Health Expanding Reproductive Services in Dane County [https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/public-health-expanding-reproductive-health-services-in-dane-county] List of County Reproductive Health Services [https://publichealthmdc.com/health-services/sexual-health] Sample Subcommittee Self-Evaluation Form [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10669607&GUID=27C3D6D3-DDF1-45D0-AD11-3FB982FD95EC] International Dark Sky Association [https://www.darksky.org/]

6/7/22 and 6/21/22 - You Had Me at More Density

Ben and Sam catch-up on the June Common Council meetings covering protest petition changes, metro redesign, and several rezoning proposals. They also touch on significant local government happenings, bookcases, Park street coffee destinations, state supreme court decisions, cat lactose tolerance, new alder appointments, naked bike rides, and malls in Singapore. City Resources 6/7 Meeting Details [https://madison.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=892684&GUID=A8680A2B-832A-47F1-A389-6C2A36C4E3A5&Options=&Search=] - Agenda and minutes. 6/21 Meeting Details [https://madison.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=892685&GUID=698A19C0-0880-49BA-A935-BF2C79DD4976&Options=&Search=] - Agenda and minutes. Protest Petition Proposal [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10908557&GUID=9B792426-05B6-4142-902E-F9B22CDBFF31] - Alder Bennett's proposal to change protest petition process for rezoning amendments.  Metro Redesign Proposal Map [https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/documents/network-redesign/draftplan/220309MetroRedesign_FINAL.pdf] - New routes as well as impacts to geographic areas in terms of wait times and walking distance to access. City of Madison Zoning Ordinance [https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20--31_CH28ZOCOOR_SUBCHAPTER_28CREDI_28.0512DI] - Differences between TR - U1 and TR - U2 zoning rules. TL;DR TR - U2 is denser. Articles WPR: The Highland Park shooting suspect considered a second attack in Wisconsin, police say [https://www.npr.org/2022/07/07/1110243287/highland-park-shooting-crimo-second-attack-madison-wisconsin] WPR: Open letter to UW-Madison leaders calls for action following attack on international student near campus [https://www.wpr.org/open-letter-uw-madison-leaders-calls-action-following-attack-international-student-near-campus] WPR: The Wisconsin Supreme Court says ballot drop boxes aren't allowed in the state [https://www.npr.org/2022/07/08/1100696685/wisconsin-supreme-court-ballot-drop-boxes-disability-assistance] 6 Ways to Advance Equity in Public Transportation [https://salud-america.org/6-ways-to-advance-equity-in-public-transportation/#:~:text=Actively%20pursue%20transit%2Doriented%20development,Decriminalize%20fare%20evasion.]

5/24/22 - Where the Sidewalk Debate Ends

Ben and Sam cover the introduction of new alders, comment process changes, suggested lighting practices, Lake Mendota sidewalks, more special recovery charges, and historic preservation changes. Meeting Agenda for 5/24 [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=892683&GUID=602FB381-19E5-4468-A68E-3110C3B2F411] Comments from Smartgrowth [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10813875&GUID=5FBAB44B-7EDE-40A3-A33A-18FD74DEE25A]on historic preservation changes Blog post [https://www.cityofmadison.com/council/district10/blog/?Id=26460] from Alder Figueroa Cole about Common Council process changes Outdoor Lighting best practices [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10912774&GUID=07B9EEF6-5276-4B70-8D99-C0FBBCA8B9F0]

5/22/22 - Mistakeholders with Reez Bailey [Interview]

Ben and Sam welcome Reez Bailey to the Uncommon Council for an interview about his experience running to be alder in district 4. Reez shares tips on how to get involved in local politics and what it takes to get your message heard. We also talk PFAS, Pokemon cards, Dostoyevsky, stand-up cliches, and local cuisine.  See more of Reez talking about police reform and surprisingly still relevant sports references here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtUhkt4seDg&list=PLSurIooxnoYoLZyHIURlpmzN9NsA0kC2k].  Stuff from the episode: Capital City Theatre [https://capitalcitytheatre.org/season-overview] website. The average price for a studio apartment in Madison is now above $1100 [https://www.apartmentlist.com/renter-life/average-rent-in-madison].  Well 15 PFAS clean-up background [https://madison.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10838021&GUID=CC67844E-C938-4856-AF91-C12C10DBB455].