Downtown Plan Public Meetings
Tuesday, June 24, Wednesday June 25, and Thursday June 26, 5 p.m.
Overture Center
The City of Madison begins a series of public meetings on the future of downtown. Tuesday's meeting focuses on tourists and culture, Wednesday's on downtown business and Thursday's on living downtown. Residents are encouraged to come with their "big ideas."
Public Protection & Judiciary
Personnel & Finance
Tuesday, June 24, 5:45 p.m.
Room 308 of the City-County Building
Last year, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk decided the way to get District Attorney Brian Blanchard to agree to implement efficiency changes in his office was to tie his budget to certain benchmarks. If he met the benchmarks, such as providing defendants with early discovery and changing the way his attorneys are assigned cases, he'd get the money he asked for.
Blanchard was understandably peeved at having his budget tied to a set of benchmarks he hadn't endorsed, but he's dutifully complied. Last week, Falk recommended that the two Dane County committees meeting Tuesday give Blanchard the money he needs to hire a clerk.
The county's court system also had to meet certain benchmarks to improve workflow, which they've begun implementing. Falk has also recommended the courts get funding for staff attorneys, as well as a domestic violence caseworker.
Community Services Commission
Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday June 26, 5:35 p.m.
119 E. Olin Avenue
The commission will take two days to consider nearly $1 million in funding requests from various nonprofit organizations, including the Urban League, Centro Hispano and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin is asking for $12,000 for its Youth Peer Court, where teenagers accused of minor crimes come before an actual jury of their peers.
James Madison Park Property Planning Committee
Thursday, June 26, 5:30 p.m.
Room 108 of the City-County Building
The committee holds a public hearing on what the city of Madison should do with its premiere, lakefront park. Should it sell the land under Lincoln School? Lease out the Collins House? The committee will make a formal recommendation about the future of the park by the end of the summer.