Fiscal Note
The total cost of this project is expected to be less than $80,000. A total of $80,000 is secured and includes $20,000 in the Planning Unit's 2006 operating budget, a $25,000 BUILD grant from Dane County, and $35,000 in donations. A special revenue account, SO35, has been established and the $20,000 in the operating budget will be transferred to that account.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Authorizing the acceptance of a BUILD Grant from Dane County, the hiring of a planning consulting firm, Vierbicher Associates Inc., and establishing the Regent Street-South Campus Plan Steering Committee.
Body
WHEREAS, Regent Street has long been an essential commercial street for surrounding neighborhoods, the University of Wisconsin- Madison, and the city as a whole, but its condition is beginning to reflect its age and is leading to real estate development speculation; and
WHEREAS, the South Campus Neighborhood, generally located north of Regent Street and bounded roughly by Monroe Street, N. Randall Avenue, W. Johnson Street, and N. Murray Street, contains numerous underutilized parcels which have also attracted the interest of real estate developers proposing projects that are much taller and more dense than what has been build in the past; and
WHEREAS, there is not a detailed neighborhood plan for this area to guide redevelopment and other improvement activities to ensure a vital and vibrant urban neighborhood in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council recognized the need to develop a neighborhood plan for this area and designated $20,000 in the City's 2006 Operating Budget for this effort, with the condition that it be matched by at least $40,000 from other sources; and
WHEREAS, Dane County has awarded the City a Better Urban Infill Development (BUILD) grant in the amount of $25,000, and an additional $35,000 has been raised through donations; and
WHEREAS, the City has issued a Request for Proposals to engage a planning consulting firm to develop a neighborhood plan focusing on land use and design guidelines, and other elements that lead to a complete neighborhood and vibrant commercial district; and
WHEREAS, five proposals were received and are being evaluated by a selection team.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby accept the $25,000 BUILD grant from Dane County and authorizes the Director of the Department of Planning and Development to execute the grant agreement with Dane County associated with these funds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to enter into a contract on behalf of the City with the consulting firm(s), Vierbicher Associates Inc. as recommended by the selection team; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Unit Director is authorized make other expenditures of any funds remaining after the execution of the above-referenced contract with the consulting firm(s) if necessary to complete this project up to a total of $80,000; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that an 11-member Regent Street - South Campus Plan Steering Committee be established, and that its membership, including the designation of alternates, be as follows: 3 representatives owning businesses and/or property in the planning area (plus 2 alternates), 3 representatives from this or adjacent neighborhoods (plus 2 alternates), 2 alders (plus 2 alternates), 1 Associate Vice Chancellor of UW Facilities and Planning or his/her designee, 1 representative from area medical institutions (plus 1 alternate), and 1 student representative (plus 1 alternate). In addition, any alder whose aldermanic district includes a portion of, or is adjacent to, the planning area may serve as non-voting, ex-officio members and may assume the role of an alternate if the appointed alders are not in attendance.