Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Commending and thanking Alder Amani Latimer Burris for her dedicated service to the constituents in District 12 and to the City of Madison.
Body
WHEREAS, Alder Amani Latimer Burris (“Alder Amani”) was elected to the Madison Common Council and assumed office on April 18, 2023; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani served on the City-County Liaison Committee; Landmarks Commission; Water Utility Board; and participated in various city committees including Parks and the Urban Design Commission; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani faithfully represented the diverse voices of District 12 by working with residents, businesses, nonprofits, stakeholders, city staff and others to address key and ongoing issues such as housing and development, property management Metro redesign, public safety, traffic, zoning, homelessness, environmental protections, small business support, senior care, youth services, arts and culture, and more; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani championed civic engagement by hosting and facilitating 23 in-person listening and community input sessions, increasing neighborhood involvement and fostering transparency and inclusion; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani engaged developers early on, urging them to meaningfully include community voices in decision-making - especially regarding impactful issues like F-35 noise, parking, street use, need for sidewalks - and emphasized going beyond the City’s checkbox community engagement requirements; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani supported the first-ever raising of the Transgender Visibility Flag in Madison, standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community; and joined others to sponsor resolutions to uplift the voice of Madison residents to the federal level including calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, condemning Islamophobia and Antisemitism and opposing Social Security Administration office closures and cuts to Medicare; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani helped shepherd numerous housing developments that will result in thousands of additional units in District 12, ensuring that developers heard and where possible, incorporated the neighborhood concerns; working earnestly to promote development choices that were better aligned with community needs; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani authored several important resolutions, including a resolution:
• Calling for the creation of a Housing Strategy Taskforce, which led to the Housing Strategy Report;
• Urging the City and Administration to lobby the State Legislature to expand revenue options for municipalities; advocating for a municipal sales tax and regional transit authority which will contribute to the long-term financial sustainability and disburden the taxpayers from the potential of ongoing tax referendums; and,
• In conjunction and in partnership with SEIU, urging employers to support a flexible paid time off for its employees in recognition of our quest for and right to Freedom as individuals and as a nation, which is represented by Juneteenth, the 11th Federal Holiday, passed by Alder Amani’s Cousin Dr. Opal Lee; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani joined the Alder from District 18 to successfully co-sponsor and secure funding for the Body Camera Pilot Program, reinforcing transparency and accountability in public safety; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani worked with other Alders to continue the work of police accountability by restoring funding for the Office of the Independent Monitor and reconsidering the elimination of the Public Service Review Committee; and,
WHEREAS, working with the Public Market Foundation, other Alders, staff, electeds and committed stakeholders, Alder Amani championed the Public Market, advocating for its preservation and progress when it faced potential cancellation; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani worked with others to ensure continued funding and community support for major District 12 projects including: the Warner Park Upgrade, the Imagination Center, the Bartillon Project, and additional greenspaces like the Marsh Project; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani strongly supported the Office of the Independent Monitor, fought to preserve Civil Rights Department funding, and resisted budget cuts that would pit services for BIPOC communities against those for seniors; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani worked to protect historic properties, and supported nonprofit organizations such as Northport Community Center (NPC), Eastside Community Center (ECC), Affordable Dental, The Hub, and Riverside Food Pantry, and helped neighborhood associations and businesses grow and connect with city resources; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani played a role in citywide discussions on zoning, supported the expansion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to support vital infrastructure such as stormwater pipes; and,
WHEREAS, as a member of one of the MGE EV Advisory Committees, Alder Amani contributed to early efforts to expand electric vehicle infrastructure which resulting in one of Madison’s first neighborhood charging stations outside Northstreet Café, Young Blood Beer Co., Bloom Bake Shop, and Café Domestique in her district; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani advocated for environmental sustainability by convening city staff, experts, and stakeholders to protect wetland area, including facilitating a land purchase that will work to balance environmental and development interests; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani Latimer Burris supported the funding and groundbreaking of the state-of-the-art PFAS treatment facility at Well 15 which will be operational this year and will be the State’s first municipal well to disperse a hybrid treatment system using granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange (IX) resin to remove PFAS contaminants; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani acknowledges the decades-long environmental justice work of Dr. Maria Powell, whose tireless advocacy brought attention to the issue, following the detection of PFAS contamination and voiced community concern which led Alder Amani to start the pre-advocacy work of calling for the Well 15 to be named after Dr. Powell and an educational marker to be placed forthwith to recognize her work and leadership that will save lives; and,
WHEREAS, Alder Amani called for and led efforts for the equitable education of Common Council, most notably by advocating for and helping to implement the first-ever series of Common Council Budget Engagement Events, which drew hundreds of residents and produced a detailed report to inform future budget decisions and will undoubtedly serve as a model for the City to use and promote in the future; and,
WHEREAS, through tireless advocacy, inclusive community building, and a vision for justice and sustainability, and sticking to the principles of transparency, integrity and accountability --working alongside of alders, supported by staff, pushed by the neighborhood, under thoughtful mentorship and inclusive of stakeholders, Alder Amani has served with integrity, compassion, and excellence;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council commend and thank Alder Amani Latimer Burris for her outstanding service to the residents of District 12, neighboring districts, and the entire City of Madison.