The Madison Common Council voted on several downtown-related issues Tuesday, including passing a tenant rights ordinance and establishing Saturday May 3 as the date for the Mifflin Street Block Party.
Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, first proposed in October 2007 an ordinance requiring landlords to provide photographic evidence of damage if they intend to take money out of a tenant's security deposit.
After gaining the approval of the Housing Committee last month, the photo ordinance received overwhelming support at Tuesday's meeting. Nancy Jensen, Executive Director of the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin, said the ordinance protects the interests of both tenants and landlords.
This is not an issue that's held to student housing and student rentals, it's an issue that is showing up across the city,"" Jensen said. ""Photos are already used as a common business practice '¦ it's not an expense, it's not a burden on the industry.""
Judge said the ordinance will not only save tenants from frivolous security deposit deductions but also help landlords avoid disagreements with difficult tenants.
""This is something that most people should get behind,"" Judge said. ""It's a really great best business practice.""
The council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance.
Additionally, the council established a glass-free zone from 10 a.m. on May 3 to 6 a.m. May 4 in the West Mifflin Street area for the 2008 Mifflin Street Block Party.
The council also passed an ordinance allowing Neighborhood Electric Vehicles in the city of Madison. Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, sponsored the ordinance, which allows the vehicles to operate on city streets with speed limits of 35 MPH or less.
According to Clear, several other cities in Wisconsin, including Green Bay, Janesville, LaCrosse and most recently Milwaukee, allow the vehicles.
UW-Madison has a ""small fleet"" of NEVs which are to be used around campus, according to Judge. Prior to the meeting, alders were given the chance to test-drive the NEVs on a Capitol Square area route dubbed the ""Madison Mile.""
Lucy Zweep of Ozee Cars, a Stoughton dealership that sells NEVs, said the vehicles are appealing because of their ability to function well both on and off the streets.
