Fiscal Note
N/A
Title
Report on the Allied Area Task Force.
Body
The Allied Area Task Force was established by the Common Council in April, 2005. The stated mission of the Task Force is:
MISSION: Make recommendations to the Mayor and Common Council regarding
the Mayor's vision for Allied and any other focused sets of strategies, phases, and
potential resources to help improve the Allied neighborhood in the next five years.
Membership of the Allied Area Task Force consists of the following representatives:
Madison Mayoral designee
District Alderperson
District County Board Supervisor
Dane County Executive designee
Fitchburg Mayoral designee
Madison Metropolitan School District designee
Verona Area School District designee
3 Allied Community Residents
Allied Area Property Owner
2 Allied Area Stakeholder Group representatives
3 Alternate Allied Community Residents
The Allied Area Task Force began meeting in July, 2005. The first several meetings of the Task Force were used to provide information and background materials to the membership and to allow individual members to express their views of the neighborhood. The Allied Area Task Force used this information to begin a process of identifying the issues they wanted to address. The top three priority issues identified by the Task Force were:
1. Safety
2. Housing
3. Employment
The Allied Area Task Force invited experts in the employment field to present
information on that issue. They invited Mark Olinger, Director of Madison's
Planning & Development, to discuss the topic of housing. Mr. Olinger
presented a through set of demographic and financial data relating to housing in
general and specifically to the Allied Drive neighborhood. Based on the this
information and the questions and concerns raised by the Task Force, Mr.
Olinger presented the Allied Area Task Force with a comprehensive approach
to neighborhood building that includes the four goals of 1) building a
neighborhood; 2) changing the dynamic; 3) capitalization; and 4) a
comprehensive, compassionate strategy for affordability. The Task Force
enthusiastically endorsed this comprehensive approach.
With the approach outlined, the Common Council authorized the release of
$100,000 in TIF funds (File ID # 02119) to hire consultants to assist the City on
a neighborhood improvement plan. A consultant(s) will be selected to assist
with real estate financial review and analysis and to assist with a
communication and outreach strategy. The purpose of the later is to fully
engage residents, stakeholders and the broader Madison community in the
Allied plan. The Task Force reviewed and commented on the Requests For
Proposals (RFP) before they were let out for bid. A workgroup consisting of City
staff and representatives from the Allied Area Task Force will review the
proposals received in response to the RFP's for consulting services and make a
recommendation to the Mayor and Common Council on the selection of the
vendor(s).
In addition, the City has obtained the pro-bono assistance of the Wisconsin
Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA will work with
City staff and the Allied Area Task Force in conducting a charrette as a vehicle
to get meaningful input into the neighborhood plan. The charrette is expected
to take place in early July, once the communications/outreach consultant(s)
have had an opportunity to engage residents, stakeholders and the broader
Madison community.
The Allied Area Task Force has established a schedule of meetings for their
meetings through June, 2006. They will meet on the 4th Thursday of the month
at 5:00 p.m. Additional meetings may be held to address special opportunities
or circumstances that arise, such as the potential City purchase of the Hauk
properties.