The Madison Street Use Staff Commission discussed approving the permit for the annual Mifflin Street Block Party Monday.
DCNY Pro, which sponsored the party in 2009 with the help of WSUM Student Radio, addressed the commission to review details of its street use application for the upcoming event this year.
In its permit application, DCNY Pro presented an official event schedule, map and security plan. The commission also reviewed vending, traffic and clean-up operations for the party.
The party, which will be held Saturday, May 1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., stretches from the 400 to 600 blocks of West Mifflin Street in addition to the 10 to 100 blocks of North Bassett Street and Bedford Street.
In addition to the DJ stage introduced last year, this year's event will also host another stage for live music from local artists. A new beer garden will also appear on the 400 block of West Mifflin Street to sell alcohol to partygoers over the age of 21.
Cpt. Mary Schauf, Police Captain of the Madison Central District, attended the meeting to offer insight into police presence at the party. Outside of minor scheduling changes, Schauf outlined plans for parking and security enforcement while the streets remain closed off.
Last year, arrests and citations at the party dropped dramatically from previous years.
According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, most arrests in years prior resulted from open intoxicants, he said. Police seemed more accomodating in 2009 due to the official sanctioning and sponsorship of the event, something that had been absent recently.
""It went extremely well with the partnership last year,"" he said.
Verveer and DCNY Pro intend to meet with Mifflin neighborhood residents in the last week of April to facilitate discussion between residents, police and organizers as the party approaches.
Members of the Street Use Staff Commission said they plan to grant the permit as soon as the certificate of insurance quotation has been approved.
