Madison Common Council members met for an impromptu meeting Friday where they discussed “placemaking,” which is the process of making city locales more desirable destinations, as a means to improve safety.
Mayor Paul Soglin called the meeting Wednesday, falling within the requirement to provide 48 hours notice.
Council members discussed long-term city planning goals, including making certain places in the city, including transfer points, parks and street corners, more engaging.
Ald. Denise DeMarb, District 15, said the East Transfer Point is an example. She said if the city allowed vendors to sell food and coffee, provided coffee and gave people an art board to draw on, the transfer station would draw more people.
Likewise, DeMarb said, upgrading key community locations would make them safer and allow the city to spend fewer resources on policing.
Soglin said the council members should draft lists of priority areas in their districts that need changes, and then they will try to organize a plan to “redesign the city.”
