Elizabeth Katt Reinders, senior campaign representative with Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign provided a briefing to Council members on how cities can lead on solutions to climate change and Madison's opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and create a clean energy economy that addresses social equity and public health. The presentation focused on the electricity sector, how cities across the country are committing to 100% clean energy and how Madison is poised to be a leader in these efforts.
Following the Ms. Reinders presentation, Raj Shukla, chair of Sustainable Madison Committee (SMC), presented background, context and intent of the 100% clean energy resolution that passed the SMC and introduced at the Common Council meeting for referral.
Repeal and recreate Section 12.325 of the Madison General Ordinances to limit persons entering or staying on highways (#78). The third substitute has a revised list of street medians to include in the ordinance. The ordinance does not explicitly identify panhandling as the rationale for prohibiting lingering in street medians, it is framed as a public safety measure.
PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURE: From the drafter's analysis: This is a public safety measure that limits persons from entering a highway and approaching a vehicle that is in operation. It also limits a person from staying upon the median of the highway longer than it takes to cross the highway. This ordinance also applies to vehicle operators who stop for a person violating these two prohibitions. The ordinance provides exceptions for crossing at crosswalks, getting into or out of a vehicle, highway maintenance and othersThe ordinance will apply only to such activities taking place on what are defined as "covered highways." These are "arterial" streets, which is a classification based on heavier traffic levels, and on certain portions of some streets intersecting with arterial streets. A list of each street considered "arterial" is provided in the text of the ordinance. These are the streets with the greatest danger of injury to pedestrians, as has occurred in other cities. Because of their high traffic, these streets also present the greatest danger of distractions to drivers by persons in the median or the highway, resulting in higher risk of car crashes and potential injuries. The ordinance is narrowly tailored to cover those parts of the city with the greatest safety risks. It does not, for example, cover sidewalks, where both pedestrians and drivers are accustomed to seeing persons.
Lengthy discussion on this item. Item referred to the February Council meeting. Sponsors (Soglin, McKinney, Baldah, Cheeks, Phair) will meet with City Attorney May to review the Ordinance, amendments and address additional questions raised by Alders.
The High Point-Raymond Neighborhood Development Plan update will be a topic of discussion at the City's Long Range Transportation Planning Committee meeting on Thursday, January 26th at 5:00. We will be asking the committee to provide initial input on transportation related issues, which will be used to guide the development of the draft plan. The meeting is open to the public and those interested are encouraged to attend. The meeting materials and agenda will be posted to the High Point-Raymond website when they are available (typically one week before the meeting).
All meeting materials from the December 15th Public Open House are on the website, including the presentation and results from the interactive polling exercise. Approximately 100 people attended the meeting.
Residents who have expressed interest in joining the committee reviewing the High Point-Raymond Neighborhood Development Plan please mark your calendars to attend the January 26 meeting. We will be confirming the date for the next community meeting to continue input will be announced.