In an effort to improve communication between the city and UW-Madison, and to address drinking-related issues downtown, the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create an alcohol coordinator, who will assume office July 1.
According to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's spokesperson Melanie Conklin, the main purpose of the coordinator will be to focus on alcohol policies and listen to the concerns of downtown bar owners, the Madison Police Department and university officials. She emphasized the coordinator will focus primarily on policy, not simply handing out more drinking tickets to students.
\It's a cooperative venture that should bring [UW-Madison and the city] together as well in focusing our policy toward nightlife downtown,"" she said.
The position will cost approximately $50,000, with UW-Madison paying $25,000 and the city covering the other half.
Conklin said the idea of an alcohol coordinator stemmed from input from downtown businesses, as well as communication problems. She said many times it was difficult to understand what alcohol policy-related committees, such as the Alcohol License Review Committee, wanted.
In addition, Conklin said city officials and police realized a majority of late-night weekend calls dealt with bar time problems and drinking-related violations. The coordinator will be able to help police develop more tools to deal with and reduce these calls, she said.
Members of the ALRC deliberated Wednesday over the nuances of the position, which Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said is still largely ""up in the air."" Although many agreed outlining the duties of the coordinator will be a ""mind-boggling"" job, they decided whoever assumes the position should attend all ALRC committee meetings. Marsh Shapriro, Dane County Tavern League representative to ALRC, said the coordinator should also work with police to regulate campus-area house parties.
UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas said he hoped this new position will allow university organizations, such as the Policy Alternative Community and Education coalition, to work more closely with bar owners and ""bridge the gap"" when dealing with binge and underage drinking problems.
Conklin said the city does not know whether a newly created task force will search internally for the coordinator. However, she did say she expects the city to conduct a much broader search because she doubts there are many possible applicants within city organizations that possess the adequate qualities for the job.
