Joe Leean
Secretary
Referred to committee on Health.
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State of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Extension
Madison
December 27, 2000
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
As required by section
1606m,
1999 Wisconsin Act 9, included here are model ordinances for a traditional neighborhood development and for a conservation subdivision. The principal author for these ordinances is Professor Brian Ohm, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension, with much input and support from colleagues and independent reviewers. Brian joins me as a signatory to this letter.
University of Wisconsin-Extension thanks the Wisconsin Legislature for requesting our institution to help Wisconsin communities with implementation of the Smart Growth Law. The development of these model ordinances is but one of the many educational efforts regarding land use and smart growth which UW-Extension has undertaken statewide. As communities grapple with these important issues, we look forward to helping them by providing locally relevant education using the world class educational resources such as those evidenced by Professor Ohm's fine model ordinance development work.
Sincerely,
Kevin Reilly
Chancellor
Brian Ohm
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin - Madison/Extension
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
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State of Wisconsin
Private Employer Health Care Coverage Board
Madison
December 28, 2000
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
The Private Employer Health Care Coverage Board (Board) is required by statute to submit an annual report to the Governor and appropriate standing committees of the Legislature. This, the Board's first such report, covers the period from the enactment of
1999 Wisconsin Act 9 (October 1999) to the present. Since we were not able to obtain the services of a qualified vendor, coverage will not be available through the Program by the effective date set by the Legislature.
Please contact Phillip Borden, Director of the Office of Private Employer Health Care Coverage, if you would like additional information about the Private Employer Health Care Coverage Program or about the activities of the Private Employer Health Care Coverage Board.
Sincerely,
Eric O. Stanchfield
Chair, Private Employer Health Care Coverage Board
Secretary, Department of Employee Trust Funds
Referred to committee on Small Business and Consumer Affairs.
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and
Consumer Protection
Department of Natural Resources
Madison
December 2000
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A19
In Wisconsin, the lake sturgeon is an important cultural and recreational fish that was once used for economic gain. Native American peoples throughout the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi River basins revered the fish as an important food source as well as a spiritual icon. European settlers used the fish for its flesh, caviar and swim bladders, which produced "isinglass," an important early additive for a variety of products including wine and paint. Lake sturgeon stocks were nearly wiped out throughout their range due to overharvest, commercial fishing, the building of dams on spawning streams and pollution.
Wisconsin began a pro-active management of its lake sturgeon populations in 1903 with the passage of the first lake sturgeon harvest regulations, which prohibited the harvest of a fish less than 8 pounds.
Pursuant to §
95.60(6)(c), Wisconsin Statutes, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conducted a review of the scientific literature, contacted experts on sturgeon biology and consulted with aquaculture authorities to compile a broad base of knowledge on lake sturgeon.
The following sections provide a summary of background information on lake sturgeon biology, current regulations and enforcement, aquaculture potential, disease and health related issues, and public sentiment, plus the pros and cons for each listed option.
Referred to committee on Agriculture.
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State of Wisconsin
Gathering Waters Conservancy
Madison
January 1, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
It is my pleasure to share with you a report on Gathering Waters' activities and accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2000. This report is being submitted in accordance with the statutory requirements (s.
23.0955(2)(b)5) of the state grant that Gathering Waters received in FY2000. Gathering Waters had an extremely successful year, thanks to the ongoing support of the state legislature and the Department of Natural Resources.
Gathering Waters started off FY2000 by adopting an ambitious strategic plan to guide our efforts over the next three years. Several staff members from the DNR participated in our strategic planning process and provided us with invaluable input into the final plan (see attached). We are proud to report that we have already made substantial progress toward our strategic goals.
We look forward to working with the Department and the state legislature on the projects outlined above and other initiatives that develop over the course of the year. Please do not hesitate to contact me for additional information. I have also attached Gathering Waters' financial report for FY2000 for your review.
Sincerely,
Vicki Elkin
Executive Director
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
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Agency Reports
Southeast Wisconsin
Professional Baseball Park District
Milwaukee
December 21, 2000
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Enclosed please find the Miller Park Monthly Progress Report for the month of November 2000 for your review and consideration. As the enclosed report indicates, Miller Park continues to develop with the District Board's objectives of building the premier baseball facility in the country; scheduled for play on Opening Day 2001; within budget; and with meaningful community participation.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions or comments regarding the enclosed report.
Very truly yours,
Michael R. Duckett, P.E., R.l.s.
Executive Director
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State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Housing and Economic
Development Authority
Madison
January 2, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Pursuant to section 234.25, Wisconsin Statutes, the following is the Fiscal 2000 annual report of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). Please note that each of the housing programs described in the following pages are consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the state housing plan. In addition, the report reflects Calendar 2000 data for those programs operating on a calendar year basis. The report contains the following information:
* Fiscal 2000 Program Activity
* Job Creation Report
* WHEDA Strategic Plan
* Calendar 1999 Annual Report
* June 30, 2000 Financial Statement
Should you have any questions or comments on this report, please call me or Jim Langdon at 266-3529. Thank you for your interest in WHEDA.
Sincerely,
FRITZ RUF
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 9, 2001
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
As part of our ongoing audits of the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program required by s.
49.141(2g)(a), Wis. Stats., we have completed an evaluation of Wisconsin Shares, the State's child care subsidy program. This program, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development, was created by
1995 Wisconsin Act 289 to assist W-2 participants and other low-income working families in paying for child care.
In fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000, approximately 33,000 families and 60,500 children participated in the program at a cost of $191.3 million in federal and state funds. FY 1999-2000 expenditures exceeded budgeted levels by $10.2 million, primarily because of increased program participation that was, in part, the result of changes made in the 1999-2001 biennial budget expanding eligibility and reducing family copayments.
From September 1997 through June 2000, monthly program participation increased by 83.5 percent, growing from 18,671 to 34,268. It was estimated that in 1998, approximately 14 percent of eligible children participated in the program. Given that participation rates in several other midwestern states are greater than 20 percent of those eligible, there appears to be a realistic potential for continued growth in Wisconsin if more families choose to take advantage of the program and if adequate funding remains available. However, the extent of future growth is difficult to project based on the newness of the program and the numerous changes made to it since its inception.
As part of the program, the Department also administers contracts and grants designed to improve the quality and availability of child care services. We believe that improvements in the management of these types of grants are needed to ensure that $11.4 million in increased funding that will be provided to local entities is spent appropriately. In addition, if participation increases and expenditures continue to rise substantially, the Legislature will have to consider a variety of issues related to program funding, eligibility, and benefits.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Workforce Development and staff of the local agencies we visited. The Department's response is Appendix 4.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
