Notes from the Mayor

We’ve heard rumors that around the holiday season things slow down around City Hall, but so far the pace hasn’t eased up. With all that’s going on, I appreciate this space to share a few of the highlights of what’s happening in city government this year.

The 2004 Budget

Crafting next year’s budget was a challenge—we were faced with more than $8 million in bad news from the state. So I am pleased to report that I was able to make cuts that don’t impact front-line services that affect neighborhoods to make up for much of that loss of aid.

I was also able to put forward some modest new programs, and still keep the tax levy increase below what it’s been 10 of the last 13 years. This includes a pilot program for neighborhoods facing emerging challenges, five new parks for peripheral areas that have been on waiting lists and five additional police officers. In addition, I made sure that proposed cuts to library hours, crossing guards and street repair crews did not happen.

While the city faced one of its toughest budgets in history, I am pleased with the outcome and believe it balances the desire most Madisonians have to protect core city services while keeping property taxes in line.

Inclusionary Zoning

During my campaign for Madison mayor, no issue came up more frequently than affordable housing. So the day I took office we got to work on one piece of the solution, which is known by the somewhat awkward name of inclusionary zoning. This policy, which is in its final stages of debate as I write this, would accomplish two things. One, it creates more affordable owner-occupied houses and apartments by requiring developers to build them and giving them incentives to do so. Two, by making it mandatory for all new developments with more than 10 units, we will get the affordable housing dispersed throughout the city.

The reason for pushing this ordinance is that too many Madisonians feel they cannot afford to buy a home here. We should be providing housing that is affordable to our workers, such as police officers or teachers. That’s sound economic development. And it helps keep growth within the city, which is good from an environmental perspective.

Etc

Other issues occupying my attention have been the quest to keep neighborhood grocery stores, and help neighborhoods that have lost their stores like the northside Sherman Plaza and Monroe Street’s Ken Kopps. I’ve formed a Mayor’s Advisory Committee that reflects the mosaic diversity of our community and is helping me on the issues of housing and economic development policy, particularly as it impacts people of color. And my newly formed Energy Task Force is looking at how to make sure we have sufficient energy to provide our citizens and businesses, especially the growing high-technology industry, with adequate power. And it’s charged with looking at how we conserve energy and focus on renewable energy sources as well as green building techniques.

In addition, I’ve launched Fit City Madison, to emphasize that taking care of ourselves is not only good at keeping health-care premiums down, it can also be fun and reduce stress in our lives. I’m sure we can all use that.

I wish all of you a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Thanks for giving me the honor of serving as your mayor.

--Dave Cieslewicz