Madison students may have been free for the past month, but the City Council had no such vacation.
The council met last Tuesday for what Ald. Austin King, District 8, described as 'mostly housekeeping business.' However, the council did approve several new liquor licenses, most notably a license for the Latin dance club replacing Luther's Blues on University Avenue.
King said his mandatory sick leave proposal is likely to dominate council discussions in the weeks to come. If adopted, the ordinance would force all city employers to offer paid sick leave to full time employees, which would increase overall company costs. But critics of the proposal argue that businesses will either leave the city or refuse to come if the proposal becomes law.
The Madison Economic Development commission will have an open meeting next Tuesday at which members of the public can voice their concerns about the ordinance.
'They're inviting all the businesses to come and bellyache,' King said.
Ald. Paul Van Rooy, District 18, said the proposal is likely to fail in the end.
'I don't think it has support to pass on the council right now,' Van Rooy said.
The council will also look to revise the city's inclusionary zoning ordinance, which is designed to help low-income families purchase homes. Nobody has purchased an inclusionary zoning home to date.
And Madison's most popular party is on committee agendas as well.
'Discussions about Halloween have already begun,' King said.
