Document Middleton_doc_d25410b504

City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 1 Chapter 6 Utilities and Community Facilities ■ Energy Sources and Transmission Lines ■ Telecommunications ■ Water and Wastewater Utilities ■ Solid Waste ■ Storm Water Management ■ Municipal Facilities and Services ■ Police, Fire, and Emergency Services ■ K-12 Schools and Higher Education ■ Health Care Services ■ Miscellaneous Services This section of the Comprehensive Plan is a compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs to guide the future development of utilities and community facilities in the local governmental unit such as sanitary sewer service, storm water management, water supply, solid waste disposal, on-site wastewater treatment technologies, recycling facilities, parks, telecommunications facilities, power-generating plants and transmission lines, cemeteries, health care facilities, child care facilities and other public facilities, such as police, fire and rescue facilities, libraries, schools and other governmental facilities. The element also describes the location, use and capacity of existing public utilities and community facilities that serve the local governmental unit, includes an approximate timetable that forecasts the need in the local governmental unit to expand or rehabilitate existing utilities and facilities or to create new utilities and facilities and assesses future needs for government services in the local governmental unit that are related to such utilities and facilities. Virtually all of these utilities and facilities require the City to partner and cooperate with other units of government, regional utilities and the private sector to ensure that Middleton residents, businesses, and visitors remain adequately served well into the future, thereby ensuring the community’s long-term sustainability and prosperity. Although this chapter discusses the majority of the utilities and public facilities in the community, services pertaining to parks, cultural facilities and the transportation system are addressed in detail in other chapters. Vision: Middleton’s quality of life is enhanced by outstanding and reliable utilities and services. The City will continue to maintain a high standard of service for those utilities, services, and facilities under its direct management, and will work with others to ensure that they are supported in continuing to deliver quality service to their customers. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 2 1 MG&E is an investor-owned public utility located in Madison. It generates and distributes electricity to about 146,000 customers in a 250 sq.mi. area in Dane County. MG&E also transports and distributes natural gas to about 152,000 customers throughout 1,682 sq.mi. in seven counties. 2 Founded in 2001, ATC is the first public, multi-state, transmission-only utility in the country. 3 It is common for both ATC and local distribution utilities to have equipment at substations. Ownership typically reflects the utility with the highest dollar value of equipment. Regardless of ownership, in lieu of property taxes, all utilities annually pay utility shared revenue payments to the state and municipalities instead of property tax computed on the depreciated value of all equipment at all substations. 4 The four transmission lines include the 345 kV line (energized in early 2013) along U.S. Highway 14, a 138 kV line and a 69 kV line extending along Pleasant View Road and the northern edge of Pleasant View Golf Course, and a 69 KV line that runs through the business parks west of U.S. Highway 12 and along Century Avenue and High Road. Energy Sources and Transmission Lines Electricity Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) distributes electricity service throughout the City,1 with the exception of a tiny area of land along the west end of Greenway Blvd. that is served by Alliant Energy. The City’s electrical distribution system consists of feeders and laterals with loads of 34.5 kV or less. These lines emanate from four substations that are fed by high-voltage transmission lines owned by the American Transmission Company (ATC)2. Although four substations serve the Middleton area, the MGE-owned Pheasant Branch substation, located near the Century Ave./High Road intersection, serves the majority of the community.3 With the 2013 completion of the 345 kV line (known as the Rockdale-West Middleton Project) along the Beltline and U.S. Highway 14, four ATC transmission lines (including one 138 kV line and two 69 kV lines) now extend through the City. Each line connects with the West Middleton substation located in the Town of Middleton just west of the City4. In April 2015, ATC received authorization to install a 345 kV transmission line (known as the Badger Coulee Project) that will stay west and north of the city limits. Project completion is anticipated in 2018. (Insert map showing Electric Transmission Facilities and substations? See Fitchburg example) Most of Middleton’s older neighborhoods are served by overhead distribution lines. Starting in the 1970s, new developments began to feature buried electrical, cable and telephone wires. Since the 1990s, the City has worked with MGE and other utilities to bury overhead lines in and close to downtown Middleton as part of street reconstruction projects. Tax Incremental Financing District #3 has funded most of these aesthetic improvements, which can entail significant cost. For example, it cost $566,000 to bury the overhead utilities along three blocks of Parmenter Street, between University Ave. and Lee St., as part of the 2015 street reconstruction project. As a rule of thumb, the greater the number and voltage of electrical lines along a street, the greater the cost to bury them. Although the City encourages large transmission lines to be placed underground, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission regulates this activity and has consistently allowed above-ground installations. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 3 5 T h e 1 0 M W a r r a y o f s i x 262-foot towers northwest of Middleton are owned and operated by Epic Systems, which sells the electricity to MGE to help offset the company’s energy costs. Figure 2 Parmenter Street looking south beneath overhead utilities, April 2015 As of 2015, the electrical energy used by MGE’s customers is supplied as follows:  Coal 48% (down from 57% in 2006)  Gas/Oil 9% (up from  Purchased Power 30% (down from 37%)  Renewable 13% (up from O v e r t h e p a s t d e c a d e , M G E h a s m a d e g r e a t s t r i d e s i n h a r n e s s i n g e n e r g y f r o m n a t u r a l s o u r c e s ( “ g r e e n p o w e r ” ) . I n 2 0 0 7 , t h e u t i l i t y s t o p p e d b u r n i n g c o a l i n D a n e C o u n t y . S i n c e 2 0 0 6 , t h e u t i l i t y h a s g r o w n i t s w i n d c a p a c i t y f r o m 1 2 m e g a w a t t s ( M W ) t o 1 3 7 M W t h a n k s t o w i n d f a r m s i n W i s c o n s i n ( i n D o d g e , F o n d d u L a c , a n d K e w a u n e e C o u n t i e s ) a n d I o w a 5 . M G E h a s a l s o t u r n e d t o b i o g a s , w h i c h f o r m s a s a r e s u l t o f b i o l o g i c a l p r o c e s s e s i n s e w a g e t r e a t m e n t p l a n t s , w a s t e l a n d f i l l s a n d l i v e s t o c k m a n u r e m a n a g e m e n t s y s t e m s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e u t i l i t y n o w p u r c h a s e s e l e c t r i c i t y f r o m t h e i n n o v a t i v e m a n u r e d i g e s t e r t h a t b e g a n o p e r a t i n g i n 2 0 1 4 a h a l f m i l e n o r t h w e s t o f M i d d l e t o n ’ s a i r p o r t , i n t h e T o w n o f S p r i n g f i e l d . T h e d i g e s t e r g e n e r a t e s e l e c t r i c i t y b y b u r n i n g m e t h a n e r e l e a s e d f r o m b a c t e r i a l c o n s u m p t i o n o f h e a t e d c o w m a n u r e . I n 2 0 1 5 , t h e d i g e s t e r g e n e r a t e d 1 3 , 1 5 1 , 8 4 0 k i l o w a t t - h o u r s ( k W h ) o f e l e c t r i c i t y , w h i c h i s e n o u g h t o p o w e r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 1 0 0 h o m e s . M G E a l s o p u r c h a s e s e l e c t r i c i t y p r o d u c e d b y m e t h a n e g a s c a p t u r e d a t t h e D a n e C o u n t y R o d e f e l d L a n d f i l l s o u t h e a s t o f M a d i s o n . O n a v e r a g e , t h e R o d e f e l d g e n e r a t o r s p r o d u c e a b o u t 3 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 k W h p e r y e a r , o r e n o u g h e l e c t r i c i t y t o s e r v e a b o u t 4 , 6 0 0 h o m e s . O t h e r l o c a l e n e r g y p r o j e c t s r a n g e f r o m s o l a r p h o t o v o l t a i c p a n e l s t o a m i c r o - c o g e n e r a t i o n u n i t . MGE also offers various programs to its customers to defray the cost of investing in renewable energy, including wind and solar power systems. A s o f 2 0 1 6 , m o r e t h a n 4 0 0 l o c a l , r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y s o u r c e s a r e n o w c o n n e c t e d t o M G E ’ s c o m m u n i t y e n e r g y g r i d . ATC’s Badger Coulee transmission line project will help convey renewable power from wind swept western states to Wisconsin. Aside from that project and routine maintenance on existing facilities, the company has no other short-term plans for upgrading transmission lines in the ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 4 vicinity of Middleton. ATC updates their Ten Year Plan on an annual basis around October; Middleton is in Planning Zone Three. MGE will continue to increase capacities of existing substations and add new feeders as demand warrants. Starting in 2017, MGE plans to begin upgrading streetlights (the ones they own or maintain) and traffic signals from high pressure sodium to LED, a project which they estimate could provide 80% energy savings per average fixture. The utility may also soon offer “nest thermostats” to customers at a reduced price in exchange for customers consenting to the placement of a power control box on their air conditioning unit which MGE would use to regulate energy consumption during peak loads. Renewable Energy The City’s Sustainability Plan, adopted in November 2010, embraced the following vision regarding energy resources and usage in the city: “The City of Middleton is a leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy generation and use. Public and private energy users are using innovative technologies to make Middleton a “net zero” City that produces all of its energy needs from renewable sources within the City limits.” This plan listed a variety of indicators, targets, actions, and performance measures pertaining to energy. Notably, the plan called for 25% of the City's electric power and transportation fuels to be generated from renewable resources by 2025 (a dramatic increase from 1.6% in 2009). One of the City’s initial projects was to use an energy efficiency community block grant (EECBG) from the federal government to upgrade 82 City-owned, decorative streetlights in the downtown area to LED fixtures. The City also made energy efficiency improvements to municipal buildings. Until recently, no significant amount of energy was generated within the City of Middleton—the City met its energy needs from power plants and other sources outside its corporate limits. However, in the past three years, the City has made particularly great strides with developing local renewable energy resources. As part of the reconstruction of Terrace Avenue in 2014, the City installed a photovoltaic energy generation system consisting of solar panels mounted on the south-facing roof of a new canopy shelter called the “Terrace Avenue Pavilion.” This system is designed to generate approximately 23,000 kW hours of electricity per year, enough to offset the operating costs of the canopy’s electrical features, power a nearby electric vehicle charging station and all the pedestrian and roadway lighting along the street corridor, and even sell surplus energy to MGE. The system does not require regular maintenance and is expected to save 21.5 tons of CO2 on an annual basis. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 5 6 T h e p r o j e c t a l s o a d v a n c e s M G E ' s l o n g - t e r m f r a m e w o r k , E n e r g y 2 0 3 0 , u n d e r w h i c h t h e u t i l i t y h a s s e t t h e g o a l o f s u p p l y i n g 3 0 % o f i t s r e t a i l e l e c t r i c s a l e s w i t h r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y b y 2 0 3 0 . In 2016, the City of Middleton began partnering with MGE on a “Shared Solar Pilot Project,” an innovative initiative to h e l p r e d u c e g r e e n h o u s e g a s e m i s s i o n s , h e l p m a n a g e f u e l c o s t s f o r a r e a r e s i d e n t s a n d b u s i n e s s e s , a n d s u p p o r t t h e g r o w t h o f s o l a r w i t h i n t h e c o m m u n i t y . 6 T h e p r o j e c t e n t a i l s p l a c i n g a 5 0 0 - k i l o w a t t ( k W ) s o l a r a r r a y upon the roof of the City’s Middleton Operations Center (MOC) and a 100kW array atop the Police / Courthouse building. These arrays will enable residents and businesses to p u r c h a s e s o l a r e n e r g y t o m e e t u p t o 5 0 % o f t h e i r a n n u a l e l e c t r i c i t y n e e d s without having to install solar panels on their buildings. P a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h i s e l e c t i v e p r o g r a m w i l l r e s e r v e s o m e o f t h e e l e c t r i c i t y p r o d u c e d f r o m t h e p r o j e c t f o r p e r s o n a l u s e f o r 2 5 y e a r s , p a y $ 0 . 1 2 p e r k i l o w a t t - h o u r f o r t h e s o l a r p o w e r t h e y u s e ( w i t h t h e r a t e f i x e d f o r 2 5 y e a r s ) , a n d h a v e t h e a b i l i t y t o t a k e t h e i r s o l a r i n v e s t m e n t w i t h t h e m i f t h e y m o v e t o a n o t h e r r e s i d e n c e i n M G E ’ s e l e c t r i c s e r v i c e a r e a . A l t h o u g h t h e s h a r e d s o l a r r a t e i n 2 0 1 6 i s 2 . 8 c e n t s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t s t a n d a r d R g - 1 r a t e , t h i s r a t e w i l l n o t c h a n g e u n t i l 2 0 4 1 w h e r e a s t h e c o s t o f c o n v e n t i o n a l s o u r c e s o f p o w e r a r e l i k e l y t o i n c r e a s e o v e r t i m e , t h e r e b y l i k e l y r e d u c i n g a p a r t i c i p a t i n g c u s t o m e r ’ s o v e r a l l e l e c t r i c i t y b i l l . I t i s l i k e l y t o t a k e a b o u t 1 0 y e a r s f o r p a r t i c i p a n t s t o b e g i n s e e i n g n e t s a v i n g s a n d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 7 y e a r s t o a c h i e v e a p a y b a c k o f t h e e x t r a c o s t t h a t w a s p a i d u p - f r o n t . W i t h t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e 5 0 0 k W a r r a y , t h e City will become Wisconsin’s largest Community Solar project on a municipal building. MGE is also interested in expanding the concept to other buildings such as the City Hall, Library and Senior Center. Aside from the City’s initiatives, several individual property owners have also begun investing in renewable energy. However, the number of private solar installations within Middleton is unknown, and it is unlikely that any wind turbines have been erected as of yet within the city limits. Such installations would have to adhere to the City’s zoning regulations (Section 10.22(4)(l)) pertaining to setback, height and noise emissions. Since the 2006 Plan, the City has adopted an Outdoor Lighting ordinance (Chapter 33) to promote the use of light fixtures that conserve energy and avoid spillage of light into areas where lighting is unnecessary. Natural Gas MGE provides natural gas service throughout the City of Middleton. T h e u t i l i t y p u r c h a s e s g a s o n t h e o p e n m a r k e t f r o m m o r e t h a n 2 5 m a r k e t e r s a n d p r o d u c e r s . I t i s t h e n t r a n s p o r t e d t o M G E ’ s d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m t h r o u g h p i p e l i n e s to five “gate stations” and additional “regulator stations” in the Madison area. These stations are where MGE takes control of the gas, reduces the pressure to (typically) 60 pounds, and adds odorant prior to delivering the gas through pipes ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 6 7 For example, in residential areas, Charter Communications currently offers 60 MB download and 5 MB upload speeds, although these rates will soon increase to 100 MB download with 10 MB uploads. Commercial properties commonly have 100 MB / 10 MB speeds, and Charter estimates that about 95% of the buildings in Middleton’s business parks currently have fiber connectivity. Most residents have the option to connect to fiber but have not yet done so due to cost, opting instead to continue relying on a coaxial connection for phone, video/TV, and internet service. Charter predicts that conversion from coax to fiber will likely occur within 5-10 years, and that phone and TV/video services will increasingly be delivered through the internet. to residential and commercial customers. According to MGE, all of Middleton is in good shape with respect to natural gas supply—there are no pressure problems, and no limitations for future growth. Telecommunications The telecommunication industry continues to undergo significant changes as a result of deregulation and technological advancements. Telecommunications companies are broadening their capabilities as they develop fiber-rich networks and a denser network of wireless communication antennae, thereby providing customers with better coverage and faster speeds.7 It has become increasingly common for telecommunication companies to specialize less in individual products and instead offer a suite of phone, TV/video, and internet services to compete with one another. Compared with a decade ago, fewer residents and businesses in urban areas such as Middleton are relying on satellite-based services, which can be limited by weather and obstructions (buildings, trees, topography). Private companies control the future expansion of their facilities and network, and they work with communities and developers to install facilities that will serve new developments and areas that are planned for redevelopment. Companies can and do enter into agreements with each other, which helps reduce overbuilding duplicate networks. Nearly all telecommunication facilities in Middleton are privately constructed and maintained. However, equipment is often placed on or within municipal infrastructure. Coaxial and fiber lines are typically located within the right-of-way or utility easements. As a result, telecommunication companies must obtain permits from the City to perform any construction or maintenance activities within public rights-of-way or on structures. In older parts of the City, coaxial or fiber lines may be co-located with overhead electrical lines, but in general these facilities are buried, thereby reducing service outages and enhancing reliability. A variety of communications antennae are located on towers within or close to the city, and service providers continue to seek new locations in the area to eliminate gaps in coverage due to topography or other obstructions. Through lease agreements, several antennae arrays are installed on the City's two water towers, atop several tall buildings (such as the Marriott Hotel), and on freestanding towers. These antennae are typically connected to one another through a fiber backbone installed by one or more companies. The City recently revised its zoning ordinance (Section 10.22(4)(l)) to indicate that height limits do not apply to mobile service support structures or attached facilities. However, the ordinance provides the zoning administrator with the authority to require security fencing for any object ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 7 that has potential for safety hazards or attractive nuisance problems. Furthermore, noise levels may not exceed 65 decibels at a lot line shared with adjoining property. In 2009, the City of Middleton and the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District joined with 14 other Madison-area anchor institutions serving education, health, government and non-profit organizations to secure a $5.1 million federal grant to establish the Metropolitan Unified Fiber Network (MUFN). This collaborative fiber-optic network unifies and augments existing telecommunication resources to facilitate enhanced Internet, point-to-point connectivity, and application sharing. According to the project website, the intent is to improve broadband access, economic development, public safety, education, and community support programs, including improved internet access for underserved residents. The consortium collectively owns the fiber, and Middleton is physically connected via the rail corridor. The City itself is in the process of establishing its own fiber network to enhance service and reduce its costs. Taking advantage of the recent reconstruction of downtown street terraces and Parmenter Street, the City has installed fiber between municipal buildings in downtown Middleton (including City Hall, the library, and the senior center) and, by the end of 2016, the courthouse / police building. The City’s fiber network also connects to Clark Street Community School, from which the school district has installed a network linking Middleton High School and Kromrey Middle School. , and the district is planning to connect Kromrey Middle School as well. The City’s police department maintains “mission critical” radio connections between its building, vehicles and other agencies. The fiber network could eventually fulfill the department’s data and voice network requirements. In the future, fiber could also connect with traffic control devices, although the City does not currently have a plan for future enhancements. Overall, Middleton's telecommunications infrastructure appears to be keeping pace with industry trends and the evolving high-tech needs of the community. Water and Wastewater Utilities Water Service The City of Middleton operates its own public Water Utility. Its personnel work to ensure the safety, maintenance, and long-term efficiency of the community’s water system. As has been the case for many consecutive years, the City’s 2015 Water Quality Report indicated no water quality violations, meaning that the community’s drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. The City’s Water Study Update report, completed in 2015, provides a comprehensive analysis of the community’s water system. It addressed the following issues: • Determination of present water demands and adequacy of the present supply to meet those demands. • Estimation of future changes on water system demands through the year 2030. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 8 • Evaluation of Middleton’s well supply, distribution system, and storage facilities to determine their ability to meet future demands. • Recommendations for system improvements. Middleton currently draws its water from six sandstone wells, which range in depth from 330 feet to 856 feet. The city’s first well, which was located near Terrace Avenue and Aurora Street, was abandoned in the 1960s due to its small capacity and maintenance needs. Well #7 was drilled in the late 1990s and is located near the west end of Stonefield Road. It was tested at 1,400 gallons per minute (gpm) and will be brought online when demand warrants and after a pump house is constructed. The City’s newest well—Well #8—was brought online in 2010. Located just east of the City along West Point Road in the Town of Westport, Well #8 has improved water quality and supply, provides redundancy, and accommodates new development on the City’s northeast side. The City’s water storage facilities consist of two elevated tanks (water towers) and two ground- level reservoirs. The overflow elevation for the two tanks is 1,080 MSL (mean sea level). The combined storage of the City is 2.35 million gallons. Figure 6-1: Maximum Well and Storage Capacity Well Location Capacity Comments 1 Terrace Ave. / Aurora St. Abandoned in 1960s 2 Hillcrest Ave. 350 gpm 3 Hillcrest Ave. 1,060 gpm 4 High Rd. / Northside 1,200 gpm 5 Elmwood Ave. / Gateway 1,325 gpm 6 Greenway Blvd. 1,550 gpm 7 Stonefield Rd. 1,400 gpm Not yet online 8 West Point Rd. / Mendota Park 1,500 gpm Storage Location Capacity Comments Tower Highland Way / Orchid Heights 750,000 gal. Tower High Rd. / Northside 1,000,000 gal. Reservoir Terrace Ave. / Quarry 1,000,000 gal. Reservoir Next to Well #6 100,000 gal. Middleton’s water distribution system consists of water mains which are typically sized from 6” to 10” in residential areas and from 10” to 18” in commercial areas. In addition to the two elevated tanks, the City relies on two booster stations to provide adequate pressure. As a general rule, storage in a water system should be sufficient to supply the average day demand for a four-hour peak demand with one half of the storage being depleted. Despite population growth, the average day demand (usage) has remained quite constant—around 2.2 million gallons per day (MGD), the same level as in 2006. The historical maximum day, which occurred most recently in 2012, was 4.56 MGD. By 2030, based on conservative modeling, the maximum daily usage is projected to be 8.1 MGD. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 9 The 2015 Water Quality Report concluded that, by 2030, one well with a total capacity of 1,400 gpm needs to be added to the service area. The addition of Well #7 will provide sufficient capacity to meet existing and near-term demand. If the Water Utility’s service area were to expand to include lands that exceed an elevation above 980 ft., an additional elevated tank or booster station would be necessary to maintain adequate pressure. Sanitary Sewer Service The City of Middleton is part of the Central Urban Service Area (CUSA), which is served by the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) wastewater collection and treatment system. The treatment plant, known as Nine Springs, is located south of the Beltline along South Towne Drive in Madison. The City’s four main interceptor sewers are known as the Valley, Pheasant Branch, Airport Road, and Esser Pond interceptors. The first three interceptors flow into MMSD’s West Interceptor at a pump station located on the east side of Allen Blvd. at Marshall Park. The City’s Esser Pond interceptor connects to MMSD’s Nine Springs Valley Interceptor/Esser Pond Extension, which flows to Pump Station 16 near Tiedeman’s Pond, from which it flows south along Gammon to the wastewater treatment facility. During high run-off events, some of the Esser Pond effluent can be diverted via MMSD’s Gammon Road Extension to the West Interceptor. In the mid 1990s, the City prepared plans for a fifth interceptor—the Orchid Heights interceptor—in order to serve the Northlake neighborhood and other areas, but following public input the City instead decided to upgrade a lift station to avoid constructing a gravity interceptor along the eastern edge of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Due to topography and historical growth patterns of the community, a small albeit increasing section of northeast Middleton is served by the Town of Westport Sanitary Sewer District, which is also part of the CUSA. This area includes the parcels located generally east of Waconia Lane and south of South Ridge Way and Shorecrest Drive. This includes the Overlook Pointe and Arbor Lake apartment communities, the developing Community of Bishops Bay, as well as portions of the Villages of Bishop’s Bay neighborhoods. Interceptors are adequately sized to accommodate growth to the west and north of the city (west of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy). In these areas, City officials expect that the developers of these areas will fund any pump stations that are necessary to connect new neighborhoods with the Pheasant Branch interceptor (for example, to serve the Acker property southeast of the Balzer Road / Pheasant Branch Road intersection). However, sewer capacity needs to be addressed as the city grows northeast into the Middleton/Westport Joint Planning Area. In 2015, the City upgraded the force main beneath Valley Ridge Road to handle the four phases of the Back Nine neighborhood in the Community of Bishops Bay (CBB) development. The City anticipates that the remainder of this ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 10 8 Single Stream Recycling is a system where all recyclables, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal cans are mixed together in one cart. The cart is emptied into a separate recycling truck with only one compartment. development—along with the Laufenberg farm west of Highway Q and north of Northlake—will be served by the yet-to-be-built Oncken Road Pumping Station. This will require construction of a force main along Highway Q south to MMSD’s West Point interceptor located near Mendota County Park. The City expects that these improvements will be constructed as part of a utility district financed by the City and repaid by the CBB. The timing of this work will be determined by agreement between the City and the developer. The portion of CBB that will remain in the Town of Westport will be served by City water and the Town’s sanitary sewer system. MMSD is in the process of updating its Collection System Facilities Plan, which addresses issues related to the sewer interceptor maintenance and lifespans. The City of Middleton has its own Comprehensive Sanitary Sewer Plan as well as plans for each of the interceptors that have been constructed or proposed. Solid Waste The City of Middleton contracts with a private company to provide garbage and recycling services to City residents and some small businesses, whereas larger multi-family and commercial buildings have their own contracts with private haulers. Since 2008, the City has contracted with Pellitteri Waste Systems to provide weekly curbside collection of trash and items for “single-stream” recycling 8. Bulk items (including appliances) are picked up on call. Pellitteri disposes of solid waste at the Dane County Landfill, and they sort and bale the mixed recyclables at their Kipp Street Station in Madison before shipping them to manufacturers for reuse. The City actively encourages residents to find suitable alternatives for sending household items to the landfill. In 2015, the City opened the Middleton Recycling Center, which is part of the new Middleton Operations Center at 4330 Parmenter Street. The center is open year-round on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to Noon, excluding major holidays, and accepts a wide variety of items for recycling. A Trash & Recycling Guide is kept current on the City’s website. Additional information about the City’s policies and programs with respect to trash collection and recycling are delineated in the Public Health chapter of City ordinances (Section 6.04). The City’s street crew collects brush from street terraces between April through October on a set schedule, whereas they remove leaves in April, May and November with no set schedule. The City has made available at cost compost bins to encourage residents to decompose and reuse organic material at their residences. Storm Water Management The City meets State (WPDES), County, and Local requirements for properly handling stormwater quantity and quality, and the City’s storm water ordinance incorporates water quality and infiltration standards that are among the most stringent in Wisconsin. The City’s Water Resources Management Commission reviews development proposals and environmental conditions throughout the ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 11 9 State law (Act 20 adopted in 2013) required passage of a referendum to enable the City to charge storm water utility fees without offsetting City property taxes by the amount collected by the storm water utility. 10 The fee may not exceed $15 per equivalent runoff unit (ERU), with one ERU defined to be equal to 2,880 square feet of impervious surface area. This area was calculated to be the average quantity of impervious area on a lot occupied by a single family residence. community. The vast majority of streets in the City have curb, gutter and storm sewers, and numerous developments rely on detention and retention pond systems. A few older portions of the City have swales on private property and street flow to convey storm water runoff. Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of rain gardens and other “green” measures during construction to reduce runoff. The City has long recognized the importance of maintenance of storm water management facilities, yet wrestled with how best to fund this work given that maintenance projects struggled to compete against other City priorities during annual budget deliberations. In November 2014, Middleton residents voted by a 2-to-1 margin to establish a Storm Water Utility to provided a dedicated funding mechanism,9 and the Common Council subsequently implemented the utility and created a Storm Water Utility Board. The City is now authorized to charge residential, commercial and tax-exempt properties a fee based on the amount of impervious surface area calculated for their lot.10 Establishing a storm water utility enables the City to have a more predictable revenue stream than property tax collections, and customers who generate a larger share of runoff will pay a proportionately larger share of the cost. Residential customers are expected to comprise approximately 31% of the revenue stream, with tax-exempt properties making up about 15%. Municipal Facilities and Services This section and the next examine public facilities and services, other than utilities, provided by City government. City Hall Many general government services—including the City Administrator, Clerk, Finance Department, Assessor, and the Planning, Engineering, Public Lands, Recreation and Forestry Departments—currently occupy Middleton City Hall, which is located at 7426 Hubbard Avenue, in downtown Middleton. The facility has served in this capacity since 1965, almost the entire history of Middleton as a city (since 1963). Municipal functions located outside of this building include the City’s street, utility and public lands crews (see Middleton Operations Center); the Police Dept. and Municipal Court functions; the Middleton Public Library; the Middleton Senior Center; and the City’s Tourism Office. The Common Council and nearly all of the City’s boards, committees, and commissions conduct their meetings at City Hall. The relocation of police and court functions to a different site in 2010 freed up about 2,000 square feet of space, which in turn has accommodated expansion of several departments located within City Hall. The western end of the grounds consists of community space, including an “edible garden.” Immediately west of City Hall is a vacant 4,000 square foot lot that the ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 12 City purchased in 2012 in order to remove a deteriorating building. This site could be added to the City Hall campus. Library The Middleton Public Library is located at 7425 Hubbard Avenue. A major expansion of the facility was completed for $1.1 million in 2004, bringing the facility’s size to a total of 42,000 square feet on two levels. The library features a computer lab and two meeting rooms that are available for use by community and other not-for-profit groups for programs of an informational, educational, cultural, or civic nature. The facility has received national recognition for its breadth of service and commitment to quality, and it attracts county residents from well beyond the City’s borders. 2006 2015 Notes Circulation 672,273 710,108 Peaked at 800,000 Digital resource circulation 0 44,430 Programs offered 419 903 Program attendance 12,033 30,247 Over the past decade, the Middleton Public Library has seen tremendous growth in circulation, visits, collection size and usage, and programs offered for all ages. The library’s circulation is routinely the second highest in the South Central Library System, despite having only the seventh largest service population. Its circulation ranks 12th in the state of Wisconsin. The dramatic increase in circulation of digital resources (eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, etc.) caused hardcopy circulation to peak around 800,000 a couple years ago. A 2015 building and space needs study revealed shortages of physical space in most areas of the library when compared with national library and community standards. While the library’s centralized location is vital to the community, future remodeling and/or expansion is recommended to meet the evolving needs of our growing community and to maintain the library’s relevance and significance in downtown Middleton. Additionally, the library is striving to reach out to more locations in Middleton through the expansion of Outreach Services. Outreach serves an important dual role of providing library services to patrons who are unable to visit the library in person and promoting the vast array of programs, services, and resources available to all community members. Per Sec. 2.11, the Library Board of the City consists of nine members, eight of whom are citizen members with the other a school administrator or representative, in accordance with Wis. Stat. s. 43.54(1)(c). The Library Board shall have the powers and duties prescribed by Wis. Stat. ss. 43.58 and 43.60. Middleton Operations Center In 2015, the City relocated its streets maintenance, fleet maintenance, water utility and public lands maintenance functions into the new Middleton Operations Center at 4330 Parmenter Street. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 13 The move from the old facilities at 3100 Laura Lane was prompted by a need for safer, more accessible, more efficient, and larger “city garage” space as well as by a desire to accommodate the prospective redevelopment of that highly visible and accessible location (thereby creating 5+ acres of new, taxable property. Sized to serve the City’s needs well into the future, the new, $10 million complex provides four city departments with a modern, 85,000 square feet Operations Center, a 22,000 square feet cold storage building (a portion of which serves as the City’s Recycling Center), and a salt storage facility with expanded capacity. The main building includes a roof structure designed to accommodate a large solar array (see page The project entailed relocating on-site a 51-stall park-and-ride site owned by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Parks, Recreation and Conservancy Lands The Middleton Public Lands, Recreation & Forestry Department oversees all parks and conservancy areas within the community and is responsible for all reservations, planning, maintenance and yearly improvements on the land within its jurisdiction. As of 2014, the City owned 156 acres of parkland. This land was comprised of 27 active and passive use park areas as follows:  10 neighborhood or community parks provide opportunities for both active and passive recreation, including softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and soccer  12 mini parks provide playground facilities and picnic areas on a smaller scale  5 special use parks that provide specific facilities for skateboarding, dog exercise, water access, community pool or other active use pursuits The City’s 2014-2019 Comprehensive Park and Open Space Plan contains extensive information about these park areas. Updated every five years, the plan was prepared to guide the City in acquiring and developing public outdoor parks and recreation facilities and to enable Middleton to participate in outdoor recreation grant programs through the Department of Natural Resources. As defined in Section 2.10, a seven-member Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission guides the policy oversight of the City’s park areas. There are approximately 820 acres in conservancy land in Middleton, representing 14 percent of the city’s total area. The City currently owns and maintains 28 conservancy areas. These areas contain forests, prairies, ponds or wetlands as their primary land cover, and typically host at least one segment of the City’s 22 mile trail network. These lands are managed for passive recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 28.20, which allows cities to have community forest lands. The City’s 2010 Conservancy Lands Plan inventories these areas, describes existing management techniques, and lists recommended policies and implementation strategies. As defined in Section 2.16, a seven-member Conservancy Lands Committee exists to advise the Common Council on ways to advance the City’s interest in management of its community forests, fields and wetlands for conservation purposes. Senior Center ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 14 11 Only five senior centers in Wisconsin, and only 225 out of 11,000 senior centers nationwide, are accredited by the National Institute of Senior Centers. Located at 7448 Hubbard Avenue in a refurbished bank building, the Middleton Senior Center continues to be a trailblazer as it proactively and creatively addresses the growing community demand and interest in its services. Over the past 15 years, the Senior Center has garnered three national accreditations11 and five state accreditations as it continually strives to operate at the highest standard possible with a focus on evidence-based programs and best practices. Providing programs, services and activities in accordance with its motto, “Enriching the lives of older adults,” the center’s staff have monitored national trends and implemented local initiatives to continue offering the very best in engaging programs and services. Senior Center staff estimate that in 2015, they had about 50,000 contacts or “sign-ins”, with about 3,000 people served. Over the past decade, senior center staff helped the City to become the first in Dane County to be designated a “Dementia Friendly Community.” Other advances include development of a large and highly utilized durable medical equipment loan closet, and multiple programs offering significant education opportunities such as video lecture series, Madison College classes and several writing classes. The hiring of a volunteer coordinator has made possible enhanced volunteer opportunities, including the very active “Nimble Fingers” sewing group. The group donates thousands of handmade items to dozens of Middleton and Dane County social service organizations each year. Other accomplishments include a fabulous band, “Middleton Jazz”, and a number of social groups, such as “Women Embracing Change”. Looking to the future, the Senior Center director has prioritized helping older adults embrace the quick and changing landscape of technology. The center recently shut down its traditional computer lab classroom in order to move to laptop and tablet-based learning. The continuation of programs and services that challenge and engage older adults on various levels will be forefront in the center’s plan to stay current and relevant in the years to come. Senior Center staff also plan to undertake the City-side assessment of “Aging Friendly Community”, as outlined and certified by the World Health Organization (WHO). The director envisions this assessment project lasting several years, involving many senior volunteers, city departments, community partners and all citizens to create a vision and plan to make the entire City of Middleton aging friendly. Per Section 2.27, the Commission on Aging is charged with recommending changes to programs and services needed to aid persons 55 years or older. Commission members consist of one alderperson and eight citizens, at least six of whom are intended to be at least 55 years old. Although city government is its primary funding source, the center also receives a portion of its budget from Dane County. Hubbard Activity Center Opened in March 2013, the Hubbard Activity Center is co-located with the senior center at 7448 Hubbard Avenue in a building owned by the City’s Community Development Authority. The Middleton Recreation Department holds arts, music, and movement classes in the 1,300 square foot center. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 15 Youth Center Based at 2429 Clark Street (at Clark Street Community School), the Middleton Youth Center is a free after-school and summer program oriented to youth in grades 5 through 8. It serves on average about 30 students each weekday. The Youth Center offers academic assistance, enrichment activities (art, sports, gardening, music, outdoor and environmental education, and cooking), community service opportunities, and—during the summer—a free summer lunch program. The center receives funding from the City of Middleton, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, Dane County, and through donations, and it is a proud partner of Dane County's PASS (Partners for After School Success) AmeriCorps program. Looking ahead, there has been interest in the possibility of building a multi-use gym at adjacent Fireman's Park. This would enable the Youth Center to provide sports and active programs on a year-round basis while also providing gym space for Clark Street School. Youth Center staff will continue to develop new programs and mini courses to meet the needs and interests of students (for example, establishing a new Radio Club that will create content for Lussier Community Center's new radio station). Tourism Office / Visitor Center Located in the refurbished rail depot at 1811 Parmenter Street, Middleton’s Tourism Department is a convenient and comprehensive resource for identifying attractions and services that might appeal to people visiting the City and the surrounding area. The office is open primarily during traditional weekday business hours. Tourism staff attend numerous conferences in the area to promote the City, and they keep current a plethora of information on the department’s website, www.visitmiddleton.com. Additional information about City of Middleton government is available on the Internet at www.cityofmiddleton.us. Police, Fire, and Emergency Services Police and Municipal Court Middleton’s Police Department (MiPD) and Municipal Court are co-located at 7341 Donna Drive, just east of the Parmenter St./Donna Drive intersection, in a state-of-the-art building specifically designed to house these functions. (These functions moved to this location in 2010, freeing up space in City Hall for the expansion of other city departments.) The state-of-the-art 42,000 square foot building includes secured underground parking, an arrest processing facility with a four-hour holding area, and the City’s emergency operations center which, along with the dispatcher area, were constructed to storm shelter standards. When municipal court is not in session, the courtroom is often used for City-hosted training or City-sponsored meetings. The City has partnered with Madison Gas and Electric to place a 100kW solar array atop the building within the next year as part of the “Community Solar” initiative. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 16 12 Fitchburg and Sun Prairie also provide round-the-clock dispatching but do not directly receive 911 calls. The Police Department provides citywide services through its 37 sworn officers and 15 civilian personnel. Through a mutual aid agreement or memorandum of understanding, the MiPD also provides as-needed assistance to other agencies within Dane County (particularly the Sheriff’s Department) along with Sauk City. Middleton operates its own 911 dispatch center, whereas calls to 911 in most other Dane County communities are handled by the Dane County Public Safety Communications Center 12. Middleton’s center dispatches the City’s police officers but routes calls requiring EMS or fire response to the Although there is always at least one dispatcher on duty, the MiPD routinely staffs two dispatchers between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and has trained supervisors and records staff to provide backup support. The City’s 911 call response rate (for both landline and cellular calls) remains well above national dispatch standards—89% of calls are answered within 10 seconds, 97% within 20 seconds, and 99% within 30 seconds. There were 20,998 citizen calls for service in 2015, compared with an annual average of 18,041 between 2012 and 2014. In 2015, the MiPD began a comprehensive review of arrest statistics, policies and procedures which disproportionately affect minorities and people of poverty, the fine/deposit structure in Municipal Court, incarceration policies, outreach efforts in the minority community, use of force and officer training. Their goal is to adapt to 21st Century police practices in training, policy revision, use of force, patrol priorities and interactions with the people of our community. For example, the police department has begun focusing on primary traffic violations that endanger other drivers and pedestrians, and officers are encouraged not to issue multiple citations during traffic contacts. Now, an officer’s effectiveness is measured by the number of citizen contacts they have (many of which are positive, proactive encounters), not the number of traffic citations or arrests they make. This shift in focus is reflected in the 245% increase in the number of traffic warnings between 2014 and 2015. There were 658 reportable traffic crashes in 2015, compared to 784 in 2014, a 16% decrease. Traditionally, crime rates in the City of Middleton have been lower when compared to similar sized cities in the State of Wisconsin. The reported crime rate has decreased each year since 2012, including a decrease in the rate for many of the more serious and concerning crimes. However, armed robberies and thefts from vehicles have increased since 2012, largely due to an increase in heroin use. The police department attributes overall crime reduction to the strong partnerships which have been built between the MiPD, community members, and different organizations. The MiPD is actively engaged in community outreach programs. For example, each year since 2005, the department has offered a Citizens’ Academy to about a dozen Middleton community members interested in hands-on learning about the work of the police, fire and EMS departments. Over 40 community volunteers help the MiPD through its Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 17 Given that its headquarters was planned and designed to meet the needs of the police and municipal court functions for at least 50 years, the department does not plan to open and operate a second facility. However, off-street parking is already near capacity, particularly around the time of shift changes, so there may become a need to provide additional parking in the not-to- distant future. MiPD’s management continues to emphasize the recruiting and hiring of sworn officers that reflect the demographics of the community. The Community Awareness officer regularly gives presentations at schools and goes to job fairs to help minority populations get into the law enforcement profession. The Police Department is scheduled for a review by certified assessors in January 2017. To achieve full accreditation, the MiPD must demonstrate and provide proofs documenting that it is following 235 professional standards which have been established by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group. The MiPD is one of only 25 law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin that are currently fully accredited and meeting the professional standards on a yearly basis. Emergency Medical Services Middleton is served by three ambulance providers—one is operated by the City and the other two are privately-owned businesses. Middleton EMS, a City department, provides emergency care of sick, disabled, and injured persons, and as well as safe transportation of these patients to other appropriate health care facilities. Middleton EMS is the exclusive 911 ambulance provider for a designated geographical response territory that includes the entire City of Middleton, Township of Middleton, and a portion of the Township of Springfield. These three communities have entered into a contract under Wis. Stats. 66.0301 for the provision of emergency medical services to their residents, visitors, and workforce. The resident population of this area is approximately 25,000, with a significantly larger weekday commuter population. Middleton EMS has an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Dane County whereby it provides paramedic services to neighboring communities in situations where Advanced Life Support (ALS) is needed and the local EMS agency that responds to the incident is not able to provide ALS-level care. The City also has a mutual aid contract with Dane County whereby Middleton EMS may respond to a call in another municipality if their ambulance(s) are not available to respond. Conversely, if Middleton ambulances are out on calls simultaneously, this contract ensures that an ambulance from another adjacent municipality will respond to handle the next call. Founded in 1976, Middleton EMS was staffed entirely by local volunteers until June 1994, when the City hired a full-time EMS Chief to oversee administrative duties and management of day-to- day operations. In July 2001, in response to growing demand and an ever decreasing number of available volunteers, Middleton EMS began staffing its daily operations with 6 full-time career ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 18 paramedics, supplemented with approximately 20 paid-on-call emergency medical technicians. As annual call volumes continued to increase significantly, the City of Middleton decided to hire additional full-time paramedics to meet the needs of the community. On April 20, 2009, the staffing plan for Middleton EMS transformed into one that is now comprised exclusively of 14 full-time career paramedics and 12 part-time paramedics. Since 1994, when there were fewer than 600 calls for service, call volume has increased nearly 200%, to almost 1,700 calls in 2015. Formerly co-located with the fire department, in September 2008 Middleton EMS began operating from a new 10,700 square foot building at 2020 Parmenter Street. The building provides very functional work space for the on-duty paramedics, and it includes a training room that can be used for community meeting space with a seating capacity of up to 60 persons. The EMS department operates two identically equipped 2009 Braun Type III ambulances. Each of these ambulances is staffed with two paramedics at all times. There is also a third ambulance held in reserve that is put into service whenever one of the two first-line ambulances is out of service for maintenance or repairs. A six-member EMS Commission exists to prepare and recommend to the Common Council an annual budget to cover anticipated expenses required to fulfill the department’s objectives, as well as the standard of care and general policies under which the EMS operates. The Commission also consults with EMS oversight bodies from neighboring communities and Dane County to develop a regional system that is responsive to issues concerning emergency medical service delivery. Membership consists of a City alderperson, a City resident who is not an elected official, one representative each from the Towns of Middleton and Springfield, the EMS medical director, and one full-time paramedic staff representative. Of the two businesses that provide ambulance service in Middleton, Ryan Brothers Ambulance has the greater presence, having opened its “Madison—West, Station 3” at 8494 Market Street in 2012. Ryan Brothers is a family-owned ambulance company that provides n. With its new 3,700 square foot building in Greenway Center, Ryan Brothers now has three stations and a fleet of 18 ambulances in the metro area. The family-owned company provides emergency and non- emergency Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance transportation focusing primarily on inter-facility transfers (trips between hospitals, clinics, assisted living facilities and nursing homes) within a 100 mile radius of Madison. They typically respond to 10-20 calls per month within Middleton city limits, particularly trips between assisted living facilities such as Middleton Village and an area hospital. Their skill set includes critical care paramedic service. The other private business, Curtis Universal Ambulance Service, Inc., is based in Madison just east of the Dane County Regional Airport. Curtis also focuses on providing inter-facility transport service in Middleton and the rest of the metro area, although they have a much small portion of the regional ambulance market. Like Ryan, they are able to provide emergency and non-emergency ALS and BLS ambulance transportation. Middleton EMS does not foresee the need for an additional ambulance and paramedics to staff the ambulance within the near term, providing growth in the community continues at the same pace. However, as the City grows to the northeast, a second station may eventually be needed in ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 19 13 A disparity in service level already exists along Signature Drive, where condominium residents are located in the City whereas the homeowners north and east of the golf course live in the Town of Westport. order to maintain acceptable response times to all city residents. An intergovernmental agreement calling for the eastern third of the Community of Bishops Bay development to remain in the Town of Westport means that future residents who move into the unincorporated portion of the development will be served by Waunakee EMS, which at present does not provide paramedic-level service. Consequently, Middleton’s EMS chief sees further potential for a disparity in emergency care provided to different homes that are essentially located in the same neighborhood13. Fire Protection The Middleton Fire District serves approximately 30,000 people in a 54-square-mile area covering the City of Middleton, the Town of Middleton, and portions of the Towns of Springfield and Westport. These four communities have entered into a contract under Wis. Stats. 66.0301 for the operation of the Fire District. The geographic boundaries include Woodland Road to the north, Timber Lane and Enchanted Valley Road to the west, Midtown Road to the south, and the City of Madison to the south and east. Located at 7600 University Avenue, the headquarters fire station was reconstructed in 2008. This state-of-the-art facility features in-house training facilities and sleeping quarters that enable the five full-time employees and 120 paid-on-call associates to provide the highest level of care at an enormous cost savings to district taxpayers. A satellite fire station is located near the junction of Old Sauk and Pioneer Roads in the Town of Middleton. The Middleton Fire District is Wisconsin’s largest volunteer-based fire department and plans to remain professionally staffed by volunteers well into the future. Services provided by the Fire District include fire suppression, fire inspections, fire code plan review, code enforcement, fire pre-plans, public education, and technical rescue. The district responds on average to approximately 620 calls per year. It participates in mutual aid agreements with all municipalities in Dane County and assistance is provided statewide through the Mutual- Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). These agreements allow fire departments to assist each other with equipment and personnel as necessary. A five-member Fire Commission comprised of representatives from each of the contracting municipalities oversees operations and recommends operating and capital budgets to the Common Council and three Town Boards. Each participating municipality is responsible for a proportioned share of the Fire District’s operating expenses based on equalized property values. As of 2016, the City of Middleton maintains 64% of the district’s operating and capital budgets while the remaining 36% is contributed by the Towns of Middleton, Springfield and Westport. The City acts as the district’s fiscal agent and has custody and management of all monies belonging to the Middleton Fire District. Looking to the future, fire district officials are anticipating the need to place state-of-the-art rapid response equipment in northeastern Middleton to address the growing needs of the Fire District. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 20 K-12 Schools and Higher Education K-12 Schools and Support Facilities Middleton is home to three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and an alternative high school. No private K-12 schools exist within the city limits. The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) serves all City of Middleton neighborhoods with the exception of the Community of Bishops Bay, which is developing on the far northeast side of Middleton and is served by the Waunakee Community School District. The Waunakee district also encompasses the Laufenberg property adjoining the Northlake subdivision, whereas the properties located within Middleton’s 20-year growth area in the Town of Springfield are all served by the MCPASD. The district encompasses approximately 28,300 residents spread over 68 square miles, and it employs approximately 1,140 people (full and part- time). As of September 16, 2016, there were 7,117 students enrolled in six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and a charter high school. (Three of the elementary schools and one of the middle schools are located outside of the City of Middleton.) Middleton High School served 2,015 students, and 98 students were enrolled at nearby Clark Street Community School. The school district also served 320 students in a 4K program, and 60 students participated in 21st Century eSchool. During the 2015-16 school year, minority populations comprised 25.89 of the student population, students with disabilities comprised 10.65%, 17.6% of students participated in the free or reduced lunch program, and 4.78% were English language learners. The following schools are located within Middleton’s city limits: Clark Street Community School, 2429 Clark St. Serving grades 9-12; 86 students. Clark Street Community School is a place and project based democratic school founded by local educators, community members, students and families who were interested in developing a school that works for educational innovation in our school district. Elm Lawn Elementary, 6701 Woodgate Road Grades K-4; 468 students. Kromrey Middle School, 7009 Donna Drive Grades 5-8; 1,138 students. The $50 million reconstruction of the school was completed in 2015. Now a magnificent, state-of-the-art facility, the school began accommodating fifth graders in September 2014 to help free up space at the district’s elementary schools. Middleton High School, 2100 Bristol St. Grades 9-12; 2,043 students. School district officials have begun engaging the community to develop a plan for addressing critical space needs at the school. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 21 Northside Elementary, 3620 High Road Grades K-4; 423 students. Sauk Trail Elementary, 2205 Branch St. Grades K-4; 336 363 students. Aside from the schools, MCPASD facilities include the District Administrative Center, the District Operations Center, the Transportation Center, the Performing Arts Center and the Indoor Pool. All of these are located within the city. District Administrative Center, 7106 South Ave. The DAC houses the school district’s administrative functions, including the Superintendent’s Office, Community Relations, Employee Services, Business Services, Student Services, Professional Development, and Technology. Formerly Elm Lawn Elementary School, the building consists of offices, conference rooms and a gymnasium. The Board of Education conducts its meetings in the DAC. District Operations Center, 2130 Pinehurst Drive The District Operation Center hosts both the school district’s maintenance program and the Food & Nutritional Services Program. Indoor Pool, 2100 Bristol St. Located on the northeast side of Middleton High School, this L-shaped pool is available for use by residents and non-residents when not in use for high school athletic programs. Pool activities include Red Cross-sponsored swimming lessons, water aerobic classes, open swim, Water Safety courses, and Master's Swim. Performing Arts Center, 2100 Bristol St. The PAC is a focal point for the Middleton community. Constructed as an addition on the northern end of Middleton High School, the building is a work of art fit for many types of cultural performances, presentations or meetings. A distinctive glass exterior designed by James Moravec of Potter Lawson gives way to a stunning interior featuring wood paneling and brick. Transportation Center, 3180 Deming Way One of the district’s newest buildings, this site houses school buses and other district vehicles. MCPASD transports students who live more than 1 mile from school, or in a location deemed too hazardous for walking to school. Higher Education There are no institutions of higher learning within Middleton. (In 2009, Globe University opened a small, technical college at 1345 Deming Way, but due to declining enrollment the campus closed in June 2016, consolidating with their east side location. The building is for sale.) However, the University of Wisconsin, Edgewood College, and Madison College are located 5- to-10 miles east and southeast of the city. In addition, Edgewood College has established a ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 22 campus at 1255 Deming Way just half a mile south of Middleton’s Greenway Station. This campus was designed to serve as a hub for many of the college’s returning adult and graduate programs. Served by 150 spaces of free, off-street parking, the facility includes a variety of classroom and conference spaces that can be reserved by businesses for group projects, training, and office retreats. Health Care Services Numerous health care facilities are located in and close to the City of Middleton. Although no hospitals, urgent care, or full-service medical clinics are currently operating in the community, the City is well served by several regional medical facilities. The nearest hospital and emergency care facility is University Hospital, 1675 Highland Ave., in Madison—about four miles east of Middleton’s city limits. Meriter Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital—both located on the west end of downtown Madison, also serve as regional medical facilities. The nearest urgent care facilities are Dean Clinic—West at 752 N. High Point Rd., Madison, and UW Health’s Urgent Care at West Towne, 7102 Mineral Point Rd., Madison. UnityPoint Health - Meriter owns a 13-acre site in the southeast quadrant of the Highway 12 / Century Avenue intersection. They intend to redevelop the property in phases to include an ambulatory care center and related outpatient services. Build out is scheduled to occur over the next two decades. Medical clinics, group practices and other related businesses currently established within Middleton include the following:  2521 Allen Blvd.: Sports Medicine  2711 Allen Blvd: The non-profit Dean Foundation (funded by Dean Clinic) has offices in this building for research and the BSP Free Clinic. The clinic provides specialty care for people who are uninsured or have income below 250% of the Federal poverty level. Clinic access is only through referral by a primary provider; it is not a walk-in clinic.  2248 Deming Way #100: Physical therapy  2261 Deming Way: Parfitt Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center  2275 Deming Way: Various medical specialty offices, including Dean Clinic Aesthetic Surgery Center and UnityPoint Health - Meriter Orthopedic Clinic.  2349 Deming Way: UW Health Transformations Clinic, Transformations Surgery Center, Inc., UW Health Deming Way Eye Care Services.  2365 Deming Way: Generations Fertility Care (UW Health)  3146 Deming Way: Wisconsin Fertility Institute  3185 Deming Way: Under construction, this site will hold a 34,525 sq.ft. building for UW Health Pharmacy Enterprise (office and warehouse space) with the ability to accommodate a future 14,000 sq.ft. addition.  7780 Elmwood Ave: UnityPoint Health – Meriter – Middleton Clinic; First Choice ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 23 Dental  3205 Glacier Ridge Rd.: Robertson Plastic Surgery  8309 Greenway Blvd.: Dental office  8383 Greenway Blvd. #120: Dental office  1424 N. High Point Rd.: Spinal Health and Correction Center  2030 Pinehurst Dr.: Home Care Services  2241 Pinehurst Drive: Chartwell Midwest Wisconsin coordinates home nursing services through community-based home nursing agencies to assist and teach the administration of medication.  6220 University Ave. #103: Orthotics Clinic  6255 University Ave. #204: University Podiatry Associates  6630 University Ave.: Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic  6661 University Ave.: Dental  6704 University Ave.: Chiropractic  7425 University Ave.: Eye care  7974 UW Health Ct.: UW Medical Foundation and administrative headquarters for UW Health ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 24 Miscellaneous Services Health Clubs/Pools The City of Middleton is home to a variety of health clubs the provide services ranging from one-on-one training, 24-hour facilities, yoga, strength and flexibility, relaxation and other specialty fitness programs. During the summer, the City operates a community swimming pool next to Middleton High School. Year-round, city residents have access to the high school’s indoor swimming pool during non-school hours. Harbor Athletic Club provides its members with access to indoor and outdoor pools. Senior Housing and/or Assisted Living Facilities People seeking retirement communities or needing assisted living facilities can find a variety of residential options in the city, and given the retirement of Baby Boomers, several more housing options will likely develop within the next decade. The following communities are located within the city limits:  Alterra Clare Bridge, 6701 Stonefield Road  Alterra Sterling House, 6916 Century Ave.  The Elmwood, 6604 Elmwood Ave.  Harbor House, 5330 & 5340 Century Ave.  Heritage Senior Living, 6206 & 6234 Maywood Ave.  Middleton Glen, 6720 Century Ave.  Middleton Village, 6201 Elmwood Ave. Child and Youth-oriented Facilities As of October 2016, there are 19 state-licensed child care programs in the City of Middleton—11 group (9 or more children) programs operating in commercial buildings (including an after- school program in each elementary school) and 8 family (8 or less children) programs operating in residences. There are also 3 county-certified, in-home child care providers and two day camp programs operating within the community. In addition, there are several small, in-home daycares that may be exempt from licensing requirements. These child care facilities are distributed throughout the city such that most residences (with the exception of those in the Community of Bishops Bay) are located within one mile of a licensed center or in-home provider. The City’s zoning code requires a conditional use permit to operate a daycare serving more than eight children on a residential property. Cemeteries There are two privately-owned cemeteries in the City of Middleton. St. Bernard Catholic Church maintains a cemetery along Branch Street, and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church maintains a small cemetery along Century Place. No new cemeteries are planned in the community for the foreseeable future. Religious Establishments / Places of Worship ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 25 The following places of worship are located within the City of Middleton:  6970 Century Ave.: Sikh Temple / Gurudwara Sahib  3510 High Rd.: Gateway Community Church  7337 Hubbard Ave.: St. Luke’s Lutheran Church  1313 John Q. Hammons Dr. (Marriott Hotel): Chapel Valley Community Church (Foursquare Church)  2015 Parmenter St.: St. Bernard Catholic Church Several places of worship are located just beyond the city limits:  4200 County Hwy. M: Holy Wisdom Monastery  6815 Schneider Rd.: St. Andrew Lutheran Church  5501 University Ave.: Dale Heights Presbyterian Church  6101 University Ave.: Asbury United Methodist Church  6205 University Ave.: St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Foundry414, Madison Vineyard Church  3232 West Point Rd.: Peace Thru Christ Lutheran Church and School Goals, Policies and Recommendations This section of the Utilities and Community Facilities element endeavors to provide a strategic plan for the expansion and improvement of these facilities to respond to the needs of existing and future residents and visitors. Overall Goals Provide and maintain a high quality, cost-effective, well-planned and efficient system of utilities in the City of Middleton. Coordinate utility system planning and implementation with land use and transportation plans and projects to promote orderly extension of services and installation in a manner that has the least physical and aesthetic impact possible. Maintain and improve utility infrastructure to ensure adequate capacity to serve existing users and accommodate new service areas. Strive to provide city residents with access to education, health and recreation services and opportunities to promote active lifestyles and physical and mental health. Provide Middleton residents, property owners, businesses and visitors with high quality community facilities that ensure protection and conservation of the natural environment. Policies and Recommendations by Topical Area ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 26 Energy Sources and Transmission Lines 1. Require the burial of electrical distribution lines in all new developments, and continue to bury existing facilities, where feasible, as redevelopment and street reconstruction occurs. Particular emphasis should be placed on the community’s “gateway” corridors, including parts of Century and University Avenues where redevelopment is desired. 2. Continue to support public/private partnerships to collocate electrical and telecommunication lines. 3. Ensure that any future transmission lines avoid conflicts with established runway approaches designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as well as future approaches identified in the airport master plan. 4. Continue to make progress toward the goal of generating 25% of the municipal electricity and transportation fuels from renewable resources by the year 2025. 5. Continue collaborating with Madison Gas & Electric to monitor implementation of the Community Solar project and to plan similar solar array installations on other municipal buildings or land, and to encourage the private sector to do likewise. 6. Work with MGE to provide incentives for residents and businesses to purchase power from renewable energy and to employ energy conservation practices. 7. Evaluate the potential adoption of a more strict commercial building code to mandate increased energy efficiency, and pursue other recommendations in the Sustainable City Plan. 8. Update the City’s Outdoor Lighting Code (Chapter 33) as necessary to reflect evolving changes in technology and best practices. Telecommunications 1. Work with landowners and developers to ensure that telecommunications infrastructure keeps apace with technological developments so as to promote economic development and improved access for all residents. 2. Continue to support public/private partnerships to collocate telecommunication facilities with other utility lines. 3. Review City ordinances to ensure that regulations pertaining to the installation of communication towers, dish systems or antenna systems are consistent with State law while mitigating (as authorized by State law) potential negative impacts on adjoining residents. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 27 4. Preserve and protect the City’s franchising rights. 5. Develop a plan for connecting traffic control devices to the fiber network to promote safety, emergency responsiveness, and efficiency. Water and Wastewater Utilities 1. Require all development within the Urban Service Area (USA) to meet urban service standards and to be served by public sewer and water systems. 2. Require annexation of unincorporated lands before extending urban services to serve those areas. 3. Continue working with developers to plan for the Oncken Road Pumping Station and the extension of a force main along Highway Q to connect the station with MMSD’s West Point interceptor, with the improvements to be constructed as part of a utility district financed by the City and repaid by the developers. The timing of this work will be determined by agreement between the City and the developer. 4. Plan for development of a new well with a total capacity of 1,400 gallons per minute, to be brought online by 2030 to accommodate continued City growth. 5. Plan for the development of a new elevated water storage tank if any new lands are to develop at an elevation above 980 ft. 6. Continue to incentivize water conservation through the City’s programs and other mechanisms. 7. Encourage the use of reclaimed water – for example Purple Pipe – for irrigation and other uses as appropriate. 8. Evaluate all municipal buildings for water use, and identify and install water saving fixtures where appropriate. 9. Review the City’s water rate structure at regular intervals, and determine how the City can structure rates to increase water conservation. 10. (Say anything about enacting and enforcing a wellhead protection program?) Solid Waste 1. Maintain a good relationship with solid waste and recycling contractors to ensure that high quality services continue. 2. Continue operation of the Middleton Recycling Center, and when appropriate consider expanding and/or improvement opportunities for the recycling and reuse of materials. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 28 3. Keep current the information contained in the City’s Trash & Recycling Guide, available on the City’s website, and continue public education and awareness of recycling opportunities for computers, electronics and appliances. 4. Continue to encourage composting by city residents and businesses, and provide public education/awareness regarding the benefits of composting. 5. Implement City-wide food compost collection services. 6. Consider the adoption of a more specific policy aimed recycling of construction waste materials. Storm Water Management 1. Closely monitor the recently established Storm Water Utility District to ensure that it accomplishes the management of storm water facilities as planned, and ensure that the Storm Water Utility Board is an effective body to carry out its purpose. 2. Update the City’s Storm Water Runoff Control and Erosion Control ordinances to maintain the highest standards feasible consistent with best available technology and practices. 3. Evaluate how to incentivize measures which encourage increased water infiltration. 4. Recommend the use of porous pavement where appropriate. Municipal Facilities & Services 1. Conduct a study of City Hall, including the adjoining vacant parcel to the west of the building, to identify ways that the building can function more efficiently and better meet the needs of the public and the municipal departments based in the building in order to maintain a vibrant civic campus in the downtown. 2. Ensure that the City’s Parks and Open Space Plan and Conservancy Lands Plan are kept up-to-date to maintain grant eligibility and to ensure the continued orderly development and management of park and conservancy lands, and support implementation of the recommendations in those plans. 3. Continue the City policy that requires developers to dedicate new parkland and/or pay park development fees according to a formula that is adjusted on an annual basis. 4. Develop a plan for remodeling and/or expanding the Middleton Library to provide additional space to meet the evolving needs of our growing community and to maintain the library’s relevance and significance in downtown Middleton. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Middleton Comprehensive Plan 2016 Chapter 6 – Utilities and Community Facilities Page 29 5. Explore feasibility of building a multi-use gym at Firemen’s Park to enable the Youth Center to provide sports and active programs on a year-round basis while also providing gym space for Clark Street Community School. 6. Support the Senior Center’s plan to undertake an “Aging Friendly Community” and the center’s ongoing efforts to provide programs and services that challenge and engage older adults on various levels. The center should integrate the “Dementia Friendly Community” initiative into its programming. Police, Fire and Emergency Services 1. Anticipate the likely need to place rapid response equipment in northeastern Middleton to address the growing needs of the Fire District, as well as a potential second EMS station. 2. Ensure that police, fire, and EMS personal have access to adequate equipment and training to ensure the health and safety of City residents. K-12 Schools and Higher Education 1. Support the school district’s evaluation of space needs at Middleton High School, assisting as necessary with development of an expansion plan that minimize impacts on the surrounding residential neighborhood. 2. Collaborate with the Middleton and Waunakee school districts to ensure that school expansions are planned to serve Middleton’s northern growth area in a timely fashion and scaled appropriately to help achieve more compact, pedestrian-oriented development patterns in new neighborhoods. Health Care Services 1. Monitor community needs with regard to health care facilities, and encourage the construction of new or expanded facilities in the City as need increases and in locations that are accessible by multiple transportation modes. Miscellaneous Services 1. Continue to promote the integration of independent and assisted living facilities in residential areas, so that people do not have to move far if they wish to “age-in-place” in or near the neighborhood to which they are accustomed, and with which they have social connections. 2. Promote the siting of at least one child care center in the Community of Bishops Bay as that area’s commercial center develops.