Public Comments and Questions from Meeting on UWM Dorms by Sura, July 31

3rd District Town Hall meeting on UWM Dorms, July 29, 2008

From the Chalk Board:
What’s the rush? Wait for Master Plan
Dorms Downtown (all)
Engineering School Dtown (all)
Protect River Corridor (all agree)
Better public Transportation
“Code of Conduct” expectations/ agreement
Chapter 17 & 18 changes * Fast
Increase Minority Enrollment – Reach out into inner city (west of Holton) Pabst, Tower Automotive
Explain how UWM is taxed
Limit size/beds as sites dictate
So Milwaukee: Drinking Overlay Zone
What is the TRUE need & timeline for beds/sites
Temporary Enrollment Cap?
Are “Buffer Zones” effective for UWM locations
Has Riverview existed long enough to judge true impact?
Adeq. Parking – it’s site dependent
Green Built
Do dorms residents get a night parking permit?
Why/what proof do they need 1,500 beds?
What about UWM’s Lake Dr. properties for dorms?

Comments from index cards:

• No moratorium on dorms! Why do we treat students like an enemy and not an asset?
• Concerns and Expectations: - Protect River corridor and viewshed  -“green building”  - adequate parking and public transportation  - reasonable “code of conduct” expectations for students  - university oversight over conduct with penalties for noncompliance  -community input on location, design, and compliance
• Criteria for sit selection: It’s very important that the site be buffered from existing residential neighborhoods. Noise, litter, student foot & car traffic can be very disruptive.
• Comments and Concerns :
  - Impact on environment with construction & then occupancy
  - Traffic impacts, parking for residents and visitors
  - Building design that will compliment the neighborhood it is built in
  - Construction lead the way with “green” building materials and maintenance
  - Better communication and interaction with UWM planners and neighbors in the development site/sites. Follow the vision/planning of SE WI Regional Planning Commission in preserving the river corridor.

• Consider large parking fees and use proceeds to fund free public transportation.
• Respect the Milw River Overlay District requirements, both in letter and in spirit. No new building on the river!
• 400 fewer new or freshman students enrolled this year. If they are having a lower enrollment, why are they building more dorms? We should wait to see if there is still a need in 2 or 3 years
• Extension of Memo of Agreement that WTLT has with UWM & Kenilworth Dorm to all new dorms. Chapter 17 expedited to occur in 2009
• Would encourage the “clustering” of students to encourage more active, urban lifestyles and reduce need for cars. So – Columbia Hosp, Prospect Mall, Park East, Hometown or Riverworks sites – where there is already student presence.
• We need neighborhood approved building design standards – should fit with the neighborhood.
• Slow this process down. What is the rush? They have been waiting years. They can wait 2 more years while good planning and neighborhood involvement will find well thought-out locations with good design.
• What is Bob Greenstreet’s role in dorm building? It seems to me that due to his relationship to the University, he should recuse himself from participating.
  Continue reading ‘Public Comments and Questions from Meeting on UWM Dorms’

  31 Jul 2008 | 8:15 pm | Environmental Sustainability, 3rd District | No comments yet - Add your comments

UWM Dorms in our neighborhoods by Sura, July 21

Tuesday, July 29
7:00 pm
First public meeting
Urban Ecology Center
1500 E. Park Pl
(parking will be at a premium. please walk, bike or carpool.)

Where will UWM’s new dorms be?

• On the Milwaukee River?
• East Side?
• Brady St. area?
• Riverwest?
• Prospect Mall?
• Maryland Ave. School?
• Downtown?
• Capitol Drive?

UWM’s RFP (Request for Proposals) specified housing for 500-700 lower division students (RiverView Dorms house ~475 students).Will UWM show its commitment to our city and its residents? Is UWM using the UWM Foundation so they can bypass public process? How will the Dorms be designed? Will they be LEED certified? Will the Milwaukee River Overlay District be respected? Will the size of dorms be manageable? Is re-use of existing buildings being considered?

Come and find out more!

This is a resident-driven meeting. Alderman Nik Kovac will be attending to hear your concerns and answer questions.

We want a strong and healthy UWM, which will improve the health and vitality of our neighborhoods. Come hear the discussion and share your ideas about size, environmental impact, accountability, etc., with your neighbors and Alderman Nik Kovac.

On the agenda:

• Overview of process and how the community can get involved
• History/Impact of RiverView dorms
• Review of the Milwaukee River Overlay District
• Are there alternative locations?
• Feedback from residents (you!) on where or how to build the dorms

Tuesday, July 29
7:00 pm
UWM Dorms in our neighborhoods
First public meeting
Urban Ecology Center
1500 E. Park Pl

Sponsored by: Brady St. Area Assn., Cambridge Woods Neighborhood Assn., East Village Assn., Greenwich Village Neighborhood Assn., Mariners Neighborhood Assn., Murray Hill Neighborhood Assn., Prospect Ave. Assn., Riverside Park Neighborhood Assn., Riverwest Neighborhood Assn., Water Tower Landmark Trust and Milwaukee River Neighbors

21 Jul 2008 | 6:44 pm | Development, 3rd District | No comments yet - Add your comments

Creating a vison for the 3rd District by Sura, July 21

Join us at our planning meetings. Ideas on the table include:

• Discussion/study groups
• Alley/Street Art and beautification (garage murals, stencils, flowers)
• Local currency
• Tool sharing
• Car sharing
• Better bike lanes
• Information kiosks
• Community Supported Bakery
• Community Pharmacy, including natural remedies for medical autonomy
• Small scale and community solar ovens
• Victory gardens, urban agriculture

We’re narrowing down the focus. Join us now or for future meetings!

Call or email for location.

21 Jul 2008 | 6:31 pm | Art, Environmental Sustainability, Streets, Bicycles, Pedestrians, DIY - Do It Yourself, 3rd District | No comments yet - Add your comments

Milwaukee Zine Fest by Sura, July 14

Friday through Sunday, July 18 - 20, 2008
Sponsored by the UWM Library.
Free and open to the public.

Friday, July 18 / 4pm -10 PM
4-6 PM: BBQ & Baseball and Kickball, King Park (1 block from Nowhere Central)
6-10 PM: Bands play, including: Acne Attack!, Prohibition, Crappy Dracula, Dinosaur Pills, The Mistreaters. Nowhere Central, 1315 McKinley Ave. Milwaukee, WI

Saturday, July 19 / 11 AM-11 PM
11 AM - 5 PM: Zine fair, dialogues and workshops (see below), UWM Library 4th Floor Conference Center
6-11 PM: Bands play, including: Dallas/Marie, Irock Z, The Candliers, Gerald Prokop, Truthdealer, Kid Millions, Mutiny Amongst Friends, Porches, Bromance, The Vault 927 E. Center St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Sunday, July 20 / 1-10 PM
1-5 PM: Films, dialogues and workshops (see below), UWM Library 4th Floor Conference Center
6-10 PM: Bands play, including: Number 9 Hard, Kickin’ It Poolside, The Jack Moves, The Brief Candles, The Fishtank, 2866 Fratney St. Milwauke, WI 53212

For a list of full workshops, including copier tricks, teen education, feminist and queer discussions, film screenings, and gallery previews, and a list of confirmed tablers so far, check the Midwest Zine Collective Website

14 Jul 2008 | 3:10 pm | Art, DIY - Do It Yourself | No comments yet - Add your comments

Amending the Fire and Police Commission Rules by Sura, July 8

A Fire and Police Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, and includes proposed amendments to the Fire and Police Commission Rules.

also Note under VII, Police Department: Request to Amend MPD Rule 4, Rescission of Rule 9, and Creation of SOP 340.

All very vague.

Additionally, no minutes to the previous meeting are available. According to folks at the FPC, “Minutes are usually developed for each meeting.  However, in the recent past they have been delayed due to press of business and short staff.  We will develop them as time permits, and hopefully one day we will be able to keep them current.  In the meantime, any questions regarding what happened at the last meeting may be telephoned or e-mailed in for response.”

um, what? Minutes are usually developed?

Now that’s public process!

July 7, 2008

PUBLIC NOTICE – FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
DATE:    July 10, 2008
TIME:    4:45 p.m. (open committee meeting)
5:30 p.m.  (open session)
PLACE:    Room 301-A, City Hall, 200 East Wells Street  (open committee meeting)
Room 301-A, City Hall, 200 East Wells Street  (open session)

AGENDA ITEMS – Open Committee Meeting

The Committee on Rules and Complaints of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners will meet in open session to consider the following proposed amendments to Fire and Police Commission Rules:
Continue reading ‘Amending the Fire and Police Commission Rules’

8 Jul 2008 | 1:34 pm | Safety | No comments yet - Add your comments