Saturday, July 24, 2021

Public input: public money, farmland preservation

The City of La Crosse is set to receive almost $22 million in American Recovery Act funding and they are inviting public comments on how to allocate it. 

"In May 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury launched the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. 

"The City of La Crosse is expected to receive two separate funding allocations from the ARPA totaling $21,990,000. These dollars must be obligated by December 31, 2024, but actual payments can lag to December 31, 2026."

This is the bill Democrats passed first, after defeating the criminal Trump and securing the barest of Senate majorities, with zero Republican votes, to ensure those impacted by COVID would be able to recover. Funds are to be spent on infrastructure, payments to certain professions, support for hard-hit individuals and businesses, and public health.

The city has created three online surveys for your suggestions. In addition, anyone may email or call the City Council and Mayor about city business. 

Please participate

For example: 

Infrastructure, public health, and economic equity intersect, in the transportation realm, at "active transportation"--walking, biking, and public transport. What could our city be like if anyone of any age or ability (AAA) could *safely, comfortably, directly, and easily* walk or bike to appointments, school, work, shopping, social and recreational activities? What if some of our main streets had a totally separated and physically buffered lane for bicyclists OR were turned into car-free public spaces (Pearl Street)? 

What if you could count on the bus to take you every place you need and want to go whenever you want to go there and what if, just like with our public streets, our public transportation did not charge a "toll" to use it? We all pay for the streets, but they've been taken over by cars; speeding cars, polluting cars, dangerous cars, parked cars, and parked things pulled by cars, from trailers and boats to motor homes, canoe racks, and construction vehicles.

What if our streets were reworked to ensure that pedestrians, bicycling children, and people using wheelchairs and walkers could have equal access, safety, and comfort using them? What if we start transitioning to designing for people, not for cars?

There are so many fantastic models out there. Weigh in. If we're going to recover, let's recover to a better, healthier, more equitable community.

The County of La Crosse is asking for your ideas and input on county farmland preservation. This is part of the County's long range comprehensive plan. Please visit the comprehensive planning site at lacrossecounty.org/comprehensiveplan.(And don't forget to note the obvious - CAFOS and industrial animal products factories are incompatible with farmland preservation.)



Saturday, July 17, 2021

Reminder: Advocate for PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Ride the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus from La Crosse to Viroqua for a day of sight-seeing, shopping, dining, and exploring. We’ll leave mid-morning from La Crosse. Jackie Eastwood, Transportation Planner with the La Crosse Area Planning Committee, will join us to talk about the SMRT and answer questions.

We’ll arrive in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. and you will choose what to do, where to go, and how long to stay There are two return trip options which have you back in La Crosse between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. LATA will provide trip participants with talking points, so we can be SMRT advocates, too!

The bus costs $3 cash each way - pay with exact change on the bus. Bring your own lunch or eat at a restaurant. Other expenses will depend on what you choose to do, including

  • Driftless Books & Music
  •  
  • The Vernon County Museum ($)
  • Ewetopia
  •  
  • Parrish Music
  • Paper, Scissors, Stone
  •  
  • Second Time Around
  • The Drifting Boutique
  •  
  • Jaali's Dollies
  • Viroqua Public Market
  •  
  • Viroqua Food Co-op
  • Thoreau’s Garden
  •  
  • Gary's Rock Shop
  • and more!

    Catch the SMRT Yellow Route to Viroqua:

    •   9:48 - UWL (State St shelter between Iguana’s and Newman Center)     
    •   9:54 - WTC (7th St. Academic Resources Center shelter)       
    • 10:03 - Mayo Clinic shelter near building                         
    • 10:08 - Gundersen Health (Founders’ Building entrance on 8th St.) 
    • 10:16 - Shopko South

    Return trip YOUR CHOICE:

    • Yellow Route leaves at 3:24 p.m., back in La Crosse 4:22 - 4:50 p.m. or
    • Blue Route leaves at 4:39 p.m., back in La Crosse 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
    THERE WILL BE WALKING or wheeling!
    Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.
    Masks are required on public transportation.

    Sign up by July 20: tinyurl.com/LATA2VIROQUA.

    Questions? MTUFriends@hotmail.com or 608-315-2693

    Thursday, July 15, 2021

    Wednesday, July 14, 2021

    Second chance - SPEAK OUT FOR CLIMATE ACTION in the city budget

    PLANET

     
     
    MONEY

    Only one person spoke about the fact that the proposed FIVE YEAR city budget has totally left out climate action at the public hearing on Monday, July 12.

    You have a second chance to speak up. Please take it! If you need suggestions, please email couleeprogressive@hotmail.com.

    If you cannot make this meeting, please EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS to the city council (zzcouncilmembers@cityoflacrosse.org) and mayor (reynoldsm@cityoflacrosse.org). 

    ---

    Below are the links for the July 19, 2021 City Plan Commission Meeting at 6PM (Lifesize Planning Room #3). Members of the public may speak in person at the event or via the Lifesize link: https://call.lifesizecloud.com/9794361

    Click to call from Mobile (audio only)   +1 (877) 422-8614,, 9794361#

    Call in by Phone (audio only)   +1 (877) 422-8614

    Meeting extension: 9794361#

    To VIEW ONLY, click this link: https://stream.lifesizecloud.com/extension/9794361/0d016062-5436-4221-a814-2adab70cb22e

    This meeting will also be held in person at the South Side Neighborhood Center - 1300 6th St S, La Crosse, WI 54601.

    July 19, 2021 Meeting Agenda:

    http://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=873994&GUID=51BF6AF4-20B9-4D37-8117-3375067AA2B2

    July 12, 2021 Meeting Minutes:

    http://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=873993&GUID=318BE197-F0A2-4362-A131-47AC4EB9FDC9

    Learn more about the budget here::

    https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/finance/budget/capital-improvement/2022-capital-budget

    Tuesday, July 13, 2021

    Fair Maps - July 18

     

    The Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition is working to end gerrymandering and fight for fair maps in Wisconsin's redistricting process, and we are doing our part! For the Our Wisconsin Revolution - La Crosse Chapter July Meeting, we will be joined by Abby from Wisconsin Conservation Voters who will lead us in mapping communities of interest as part of the process! 

    To join this virtual meeting and mapping workshop, REGISTER HERE and the zoom link will be emailed to you!

    Can't make it? Check out this helpful video to walk you through creating your own community of interest map, and be sure to follow the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition on Facebook to stay involved! 

    Monday, July 12, 2021

    Young Climate Leaders

     From WI Conservation Voters:

    All across Wisconsin, young activists and community leaders are urging their communities to take climate action. Next Wednesday, July 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. you'll have a chance to hear from some of Wisconsin's leading voices in the fight against climate change. Our panelists' goals touch nearly every facet of addressing climate change, from pushing for fossil fuel divestment to state policy writing and creating local awareness about the effects of climate change here in Wisconsin.

    Panelists include:

    • Amanjot Kaur | Sunrise Movement Brookfield
    • Molly McGuire | UW Divestment Coalition
    • Nada Elmikashfi |Chief of Staff to Rep. Francesca Hong
    • Stephanie Salgado | Youth Climate Action Team

    We all stand to learn so much from leaders like our panelists, who are organizing and engaging decision makers at every level of government to protect their communities from the threats of climate change. To RSVP and save your spot, click here.

    Sunday, July 11, 2021

    Wolf heart

     

    Tuesday, July 06, 2021

    Public Input - King Street


    But first, if you really want to see great bike/ped street design, check out these sites.

    * "Curbing Traffic" - Freedom to Roam: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021/6/29/how-dutch-cities-restored-the-freedom-to-roam

    * ”Curbing Traffic” - 10 benefits: https://youtu.be/aRhC5lJp0VU

    * Living Streets: https://www.ourlivingstreets.com/

    * Traffic calming for real: https://youtu.be/bAxRYrpbnuA

    * London's first cycle street: https://youtu.be/4WtddplenEk

    * Indiana bike lane: https://youtu.be/5tcnoGOqIf0

    Rather than spending thousands on concrete bump outs and roundabouts, why not just ban cars from King street? Or make King a BIKE PRIORITY street where cars have to wait for people. Or, make one 10' curbside lane into a protected bike path protected by one lane of parked cars, make the speed limit 20 mph, and let the narrowed car space naturally reduce speeds and calm traffic? And if King Street becomes a bike/walk paradise somehow, what does it connect to and does it go any place people need to go? 

    As long as design is done with the assumption that cars are kings and fast cars are emperors and everyone else must be accommodated (>sigh<, I guess), we will not get good connected safe pleasant healthy usefull streets for people of all ages and abilities.

    Please attend.

    =====

    The City of La Crosse Planning Department and SEH Inc. would like to invite you to a King St. Greenway Extension public workshop next week.  Details are below.  Hope to see you at either session!

    Date: THURSDAY, July 15th, 2021

    Time: Please Attend Either Session:

    Afternoon: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (3:45 presentation)

    Evening: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (5:45 presentation)

    Location: La Crosse Center, North Hall

    300 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI 54601

    The City and SEH will present the; scope of the project, initial concepts and challenges, preliminary survey results and lead several exercises to gather public input on facility design. If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact Darren Fortney, Consultant Project Manager.

    What is a Greenway?

    La Crosse’s Neighborhood Greenways, also known as slow streets, are streets with low motorized traffic volumes and speeds, designated and designed to give bicycle and pedestrian travel priority. La Crosse’s Neighborhood Greenways use signs, pavement markings, green infrastructure, and speed and volume management measures to create safe places for people to bicycle and walk.

     

     

    Project Contact: Darren Fortney (608) 620-6191 dfortney@sehinc.com

     

    Darren Fortney, AICP, NCI, LEED-GA

    Senior Principal

    Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.

    608.620.6191 direct | 608.770.2330 mobile


    Friday, July 02, 2021

    Public Input City Budget


    But first, please read this Guardian (UK) article about the latest leaked draft IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report. Read it and understand it.
    ”According to AFP, the IPCC draft details at least 12 potential tipping points. 'The worst is yet to come, affecting our children’s and grandchildren’s lives much more than our own,' the report says.”

    Consider that the City of La Crosse pledged TWO YEARS AGO to reduce its carbon footprint to zero and increase its renewable energy use (community-wide in both cases) to 100%, and they are just now planning to hire a planner to plan for a plan that will be ready in about another year or so, give or take.

    In the meantime, what's in our budget right now that recognizes the TERRIFYING climate catastrophe we've bumbled our way into? What's in there right now to stop further unnecessary carbon emissions from DEMOLISHING BUILDINGS, building new things that are NOT ZERO-CARBON, and encouraging more people to drive and park more fossil-fueled vehicles wherever they want. For example.

    Is there money to vastly improve the routes and schedules of our public transportation service? Is there anything in the budget to build a grid of PROTECTED BIKE LANES for residents of all ages and abilities so they can safely and easily use bicycles for everyday transportation? Is there a budget to install EV charging stations around the city? A mandate and budget to get businesses and residences off of fossil gas? A program to weatherize all of the city's rental properties? Money to gather the top employers, schools, colleges and universities, and non profits to work out how they will be leaders not laggers in reaching carbon zero goals?

    If you find there's no or not enough attention paid to the climate action commitment, please mention this is your remarks.

    ===

    This email is to notify you of the Public Hearing on the 2022-2026 Capital Budget Process, which will be held at 

    the City Plan Commission’s Meeting on July 12, 2021 at 6PM at the South Side Neighborhood Center, located at 1300 6th Street South in La Crosse.

     

    Attached is the draft Capital Budget Summary: https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/home/showpublisheddocument/5261/637586563335400000

    Here is the link for the detailed report:

    https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/finance/budget/capital-improvement/2022-capital-budget

     

    Members of the public will be able to provide comments on the 2022-2026 Capital Budget via video conferencing, in person, or written statement. Please include the item number and description with your comments.

     

    The City Plan Commission Meeting’s Public Hearing will be held on July 12, 2021 at 6PM, located at the South Side Neighborhood Center, 1300 6th Street South in La Crosse. Social distancing policies will be in effect.

     

    The meeting will also be conducted through video conferencing and may be viewed and accessed with the following link:

    https://stream.lifesizecloud.com/extension/9794361/0d016062-5436-4221-a814-2adab70cb22e

     

    Or, comments via written statement can be sent ahead of the meeting in an email sent to Tim Acklin, acklint@cityofalcrosse.org , (608) 789-7391, or dropped off to Planning Department at City Hall, located at 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, WI 54601.

     

    If you have any questions, please contact either Tim Acklin, AICP, Planning Administrator, (608)-789-7391 acklint@cityoflacrosse.org

    or Erin Duffer, Planning & Development Assistant, (608)-789-8311 duffere@cityoflacrosse.org .

    Thursday, July 01, 2021

    July 22 = Transit Advocates' Ride SMRT to Viroqua

     From La Crosse Area Transit Advocates:

    Ride the Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit (SMRT) bus from La Crosse to Viroqua for a day of sight-seeing, shopping, dining, and exploring. We’ll leave mid-morning from La Crosse. Jackie Eastwood, Transportation Planner with the La Crosse Area Planning Committee, will join us to talk about the SMRT and answer questions.

    We’ll arrive in Viroqua at about 11 a.m. and you will choose what to do, where to go, and how long to stay There are two return trip options which have you back in La Crosse between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m.
    LATA will provide trip participants with talking points, so we can be SMRT advocates, too!

    The bus costs $3 cash each way - pay with exact change on the bus. Bring your own lunch or eat at a restaurant. Other expenses will depend on what you choose to do, including

  • Driftless Books & Music
  •  
  • The Vernon County Museum ($)
  • Ewetopia
  •  
  • Parrish Music
  • Paper, Scissors, Stone
  •  
  • Second Time Around
  • The Drifting Boutique
  •  
  • Jaali's Dollies
  • Viroqua Public Market
  •  
  • Viroqua Food Co-op
  • Thoreau’s Garden
  •  
  • Gary's Rock Shop
  • and more!

    Catch the SMRT Yellow Route to Viroqua:

    •   9:48 - UWL (State St shelter between Iguana’s and Newman Center)     
    •   9:54 - WTC (7th St. Academic Resources Center shelter)       
    • 10:03 - Mayo Clinic shelter near building                         
    • 10:08 - Gundersen Health (Founders’ Building entrance on 8th St.) 
    • 10:16 - Shopko South

    Return trip YOUR CHOICE:

    • Yellow Route leaves at 3:24 p.m., back in La Crosse 4:22 - 4:50 p.m. or
    • Blue Route leaves at 4:39 p.m., back in La Crosse 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
    THERE WILL BE WALKING or wheeling!
    Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

    Sign up by July 20: tinyurl.com/LATA2VIROQUA.

    Questions? MTUFriends@hotmail.com or 608-315-2693