Dane County Budget Action Alert

October 1, 2016

SIERRA CLUB - FOUR LAKES GROUP

ACTION ALERT – DANE COUNTY BUDGET – CONSERVATION PROVISIONS 

The Dane County Budget has been introduced by County Executive Joe Parisi (https://www.countyofdane.com/budget/2017/executive.aspx) and has been sent to the County Board for their consideration. An initial Public Hearing was held on 10/19/16. 

At 7 p.m. Monday, November 14, the County Board is scheduled to deliberate the 2017 Budget (Room 201 City-County Building, Martin Luther King Blvd, Madison). This means we have just under a month to contact County Supervisors on water, conservation and energy provisions in the budget. 

Please contact your County Supervisor now regarding the 2017 Budget.  Go to http://www.countyofdane.com/board/ if you need the name and contact information for your Dane County Supervisor. The Four Lakes Group supports:

  • Enhanced recreational opportunities for Dane County;
  • Clean (drinkable, fishable & swimmable) water and adequate water supplies for Dane County, and;
  • Transitioning Dane County to clean energy, maximizing energy efficiency.

 Therefore, the Group supports and asks you to advocate for the following 2017 Budget items with County Supervisors:

WATER & LAND PROVISIONS

1) Support the following staff positions in the Fiscal Year 2017 Dane County Operations Budget of the Department of Land & Water Resources:

  • New Dane County Restoration Specialist position to oversee Dane County Conservation Crews, accelerate restoration of county lands to prairies, wildlife areas ($77,000)
  • New Dane County Facility Park Planner position to oversee work on bike and trail projects including new Glacial Drumlin connector ($86,000)
  • Create second Dane County Conservation Crew with Operation Fresh Start ($60,000)
  • New Dane County Stormwater Engineer (Urban run-off) ($101,000) 

This last position should allow the Land & Water Division to fully implement the 10-year, $20 million program to curtail and document mitigation of nutrients and sediments from urban storm water. This program is supposed to cover all of the ~400 urban outfalls in Dane County, by 2021. 

2) Support for additional 2017 Budget proposals that will address phosphorus pollution and reduce the impacts of urban storm water runoff.

  • $2.3 million for the Lake Preservation and Renewal Fund:  Acquisition of land and easements integral to reducing phosphorus run-off and improving water quality.
  • $2.5 million of new money for the Dane County Urban Water Quality Grant Program. These funds address the county’s most problematic storm water outlets, municipal leaf management, and promote green infrastructure.

3) Endorse the first year of funding for the “Suck the Muck” (Phosphorus Legacy Sediment Removal Program) proposal with the understanding that this pilot will document "Lessons Learned" as well as develop criteria for selecting future stream segments and standards for habitat restoration and protocols for short- and long- term monitoring and research.

Physical removal of lake sediments looks promising but there are concerns that sediment does not end up re-suspended and mobile in the ecosystem. Therefore, conservationists are asking that habitat and lake impacts be monitored particularly in the first year of this program. 

4) $10,000 in capital funding for Water Partnership Grant program (Environmental Council Grants) which funds small projects that promote environmental education, conservation, and restoration of Dane County's natural resources. 

5) Continued commitment to preserve critical lands for conservation, wildlife habitat, and recreation thru purchases made from funds in the Conservation Fund. 2017 Budget proposal includes $6.9 million for the Conservation Fund. 

6) Support an amendment that will be offered by Supervisor Erickson to add $40,000 to start to address chloride (salt) pollution. The money would be used to develop best practices and associated training for winter maintenance of parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. 

RECREATION

7)  Expanding recreational and transportation/access opportunities in the Fiscal Year 2017 Dane County Capital Budget with

  • $1 million Black Earth Creek Connections grant fund to assist local communities in acquiring corridor for the Good Neighbor Trail
  • $130,000 Glacial Drumlin Trail Connector Design (Matched with $215,000 grant secured by Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin)
  • $305,000 Design, Study Phase Two Lower Yahara Trail, Fish Camp County Park to Lake Kegonsa State Park
  • $100,000 Ice Age Trail Access, Development

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

8) Support the proposed investment of more than $2 million in the Dane County Capital Budget to triple Dane County’s production of electricity from solar power and to increase conversion of County vehicles from fossil fuel power to compressed natural gas generated by the County landfill. 

9) Support the creation of the Office of Energy and Climate Change responsible for planning, organizing, developing, and implementing a county-wide climate change action plan. The proposed budget includes $145,000 for this initiative. 

The office will coordinate and direct the activities of the County Executive’s Dane County Climate Change Action Council that will determine emission reduction targets and implementation plans; serve as liaison to members of the council; meet with stakeholder organizations; coordinate programs of county departments; oversee public relations and promotional activities of Dane County’s climate change initiatives; and provide technical assistance to individuals and organizations. The office will monitor and track the performance of these efforts to reduce climate change emissions and adapt to climate change. 

Please share your suggestions and concerns about the proposed Budget with the County Board Supervisors. Deadline is the County Board Budget deliberations on Nov. 14. 

Prepared by Liz Wessel, lizard59sc@yahoo.com and Don Ferber d_ferber@sbcglobal.net for the Sierra Club – Four Lakes Group

Letter to Dane County Supervisors

Dane County Supervisors: 

The Sierra Club supports Dane County’s efforts to serve our citizens and safeguard the air, lands and waters we depend on. The 2017 budget offers a number of measures that will enhance our quality of life and provide for a more secure future for our people and county. 

We particularly applaud the clean energy initiatives to install significant amounts of new solar, increase vehicle use of renewable compressed natural gas, create a new Office of Energy and Climate Change, and reduce our carbon footprint. These steps demonstrate Dane County’s commitment to clean energy. We suggest the County also look into additional measures for 3rd party solar investments and energy reduction measures sufficient to ensure the County is truly doing its share to combat climate change. 

The continued budgetary proposals to clean lakes and rivers that will provide clean waters to drink and recreate in, and reduce costs of mitigating the effects of pollution, are also to be lauded. Critical phosphorus runoff into our lakes has been clearly addressed through the Lake Preservation and Renewal Fund and the Urban Quality Grant Program, and we support these measures.

The Sierra Club has long recognized the importance to provide everyone opportunities to enjoy nature and get away to the outdoors. The significant investments included in the proposed budget will enhance public access to the outdoors. Since continued expansion of our natural and recreational areas has not been matched by added staffing, the proposed new staffing is a good step in rectifying this shortage. The further developments of bike, hiking and water trails can provide invaluable additional opportunities for enjoyment of our wonderful resources. As the county continues to acquire new lands through the excellent Conservation Fund, we encourage the county to further review staffing requirements that ensure good stewardship and management of these lands and the opportunities they offer.

Along with the environmental measures, we also thank Dane County officials for their continued emphasis on supporting people’s needs directly and working to bring equity to our citizens so that all are served and none are left behind.

With appreciation,

Don Ferber

Four Lakes Group Sierra Club Conservation Chair