Fiscal Note
No appropriation required. Staff resources to support the Task Force will be accommodated within existing resources. Title
AMENDED - Creating a Central Park Design and Implementation Task Force.
Body
Background
For several years the City of Madison, Urban Open Space Foundation and many stakeholder groups have discussed and planned for the creation of a Central Park in the East Isthmus of Madison. The City of Madison has noted this park in both the City's comprehensive plan and the East Rail Plan. The Urban Open Space Foundation has developed detailed plans, acquired parcels of land, and raised over $1,000,000 in funds to construct the park. Stakeholder groups such as neighborhood associations, gardeners, skateboarders, and others have all been involved in helping to craft a plan for the park.
While much progress has been made, there are many hurdles that need to be overcome to bring this park to fruition. Issues regarding additional land purchases, moving the rail line, fundraising for needed capital funding, and developing a plan to phase construction of the park need to be developed. There are also questions regarding governance and fiscal responsibility for the park. All parties need to agree on how funds will be raised and how the park will be developed, managed, and maintained. These and many other issues need to be investigated and an implementation plan needs to be developed in order for the community to move forward on the creation of this park.
WHEREAS, the Mayor is proposing to put together a 12-member ad hoc task force that would work on answering a series of questions regarding the implementation and governance of the park; and
WHEREAS, the task force would be responsible for reviewing all work to date on the project and also consider all of the outstanding issues and determine whether the project should move forward; and
WHEREAS, if the task force concludes that the work should continue, the task force would answer the following questions:
a) Explore additional lands to be purchased.
b) Explore options for developing the park in phases and develop a phased implementation strategy for the park.
c) How does the relationship in terms of governance, financing, management and maintenance of the park work among the parties involved?
d) What is the final concept plan for the park?
e) What is the best plan of action regarding moving the railroad tracks?
f) What do stakeholder groups think about this plan?
g) What is needed in terms of private fundraising?
h) Review the proposed park footprint and address the relationship of park space to redevelopment plans in the corridor.
i) Design integration with other nearby green space.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that a Central Park Design and Implementation Task Force is hereby created; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the task force shall consist of:
1) The District Alder
2) An Alder
3) Park Commissioner
4) Mayor's Designee
5) Member from Urban Open Space Board of Directors
6) Area Property owner
7) Neighborhood resident
8) Neighborhood resident
9) Representative from MGE
10) Representative from Madison Community Foundation
11) Citizen Member
12) DMI Representative
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the task force shall be staffed by the Director of the Department of Planning and Development; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the task force shall engage the community and conduct several public meetings as part of the process; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the task force will report their findings to the Common Council by June, 2007 January, 2008, and the task force's report will include:
1) A final plan of the park to recommend to the Common Council;
2) A draft MOU between all parties to deal with fundraising, implementation, management, and maintenance of the park;
3) A phased implementation strategy for the park;
4) A draft fundraising plan.