Fiscal Note
On March 23, 2020, the Mayor issued an Emergency Proclamation based on the increasing transmission of the COVID-19 virus within the City of Madison. To help mitigate the financial impacts of this emergency on the businesses and residents of Madison, the proposed resolution authorizes the Parks Division to refund all permit fees and other associated fees that have been pre-paid for Street Use Events if the event is cancelled due to the emergency actions. The resolution also waives the deadline regarding the timeline to issue or deny street use permits effective 4/1/2020 until the time that the Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County and the Governor of Wisconsin determine to end the emergency actions that they have taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Street Use permit fees collected as of March 26, 2020 for the period of January through May 2020 total $5,700. To date $2,100 has been refunded, with additional potential refunds of $3,050. No additional permits are being issued for April 2020.
In 2019, Street Use permit fees for the months of May - December ranged from $49,843 in June to $500 in December for a total of $178,533. The average monthly amount for the period of May through August was $37,000.
There is no fiscal impact from waives the deadline regarding the timeline to issue or deny street use permits.
A budget amendment is not proposed at this time. The Finance Department is closely monitoring the 2020 budget and subsequent budget amendment resolutions to fully fund the response efforts are anticipated in the future.
Title
Allow for refund of certain Street Use Permits granted or issued, and waive deadline for street use permit decision-making under Madison General Ordinance Section 10.056
Body
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, pursuant to Madison General Ordinance Section 3.19, the Mayor issued an Emergency Proclamation, based on the increasing transmission of COVID-19 within the City of Madison; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, the Governor of Wisconsin issued Emergency Order #12 ordering individuals to remain home except for Essential Travel; and
WHEREAS, as part of the Governor’s Order all public and private gatherings of any number
of people that are not part of a single household or living unit are prohibited, with only very limited exceptions; and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s Order and the closure of numerous businesses throughout the City has the potential to have significant negative financial impact on residents, businesses and nonprofit and community organizations, including those that sponsor special events that have been canceled; and
WHEREAS, Street use permits are required for many outdoor events in the City. Many of the events are annual events, the planning for which has been underway for several months and Street Use Permits have already been issued and fees paid. Many of these events have been canceled due to COVID-19, it is anticipated that several future such events will also be canceled due to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Division has pending applications for street use events to be held later in 2020, which cannot be acted upon until such time as the Street Use Staff Commission can convene to consider them, which will likely not occur until some or all of the emergency orders are lifted;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that effective immediately and until the time that the Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County and the Governor of Wisconsin determine to end the emergency actions that they have taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Parks Division is authorized to refund all permit fees and other associated fees under Madison General Ordinance Section 10.056 if the event has been canceled or is no longer viable due to the emergency orders taken due to Covid-19.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that effective immediately, the 21-day deadline to approve or deny an application for a street use permit in Madison General Ordinances Section 10.056(5)(f) is hereby waived until the time that the Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County and the Governor of Wisconsin determine to end the emergency actions that they have taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic.