Rhodes-Conway will honor Judge Doyle Square contract\, vague on providing funding for more ambulances

Welcome back... with a new mayor and nine new members... change is coming to madison's common council.

We asked mayor-elect satya rhodes- conway about current city issues... including the judge doyle square project, and funding for fire services.

Rose schmidt tells us what to expect when she's sworn in next week.

Incoming mayor satya rhodes- conway says she intends to honor the ongoing contract with the vendor in the judge doyle square project... going back on something she told news 3 now during her campaign.

She's not offering specifics on whether city departments like fire and police could get additional funding... saying she'll wait and see what they request first.

((( , "8:50:20 there will be a lot of changes "))) madison council president samba baldeh explains... the makeup of the common council will be different.... but many of the same issues remain top of mind.

((( samba baldeh "8:51:15 public safety is key.

Providing services in terms of ambulances and fire services is also key.

These are a big chunks of the budget 27 "))) fire response times has been a growing issue..

Especially on the far east side... where alders tell us there are neighborhoods with up to 20 minute response times..

One thing that struck me was the percentage of medical calls that they go on 05 as opposed to fires mayor elect satya rhodes conway says it's too premature to say whether the fire crews will get more funding for ambulances... but she's asking city departments to describe how their goals align with imagine madison... the city's comprehensive plan.

((( , "we'll be evalauting all budget requests in relationship to those goals and we'll move on from there "))) as she prepares to take the reins... rhodes conway also inherited another city issue... the contentious judge doyle square project downtown.

I asked if she'll cut ties with beitler real estate.

((( , "8:39:25 we have a contract for thre block 105 and i'm not in the habit of breaking contracts 30"))) the incoming mayor would not offer specific details about the project... but says she's looking forward to conversations ahead... and council members say having a new administration may make that easier.

((( , "i do think we will find a way to move the project forward either with the current vendor or another vendor "))) the mayor elect says next wednesday her office will release a letter with budget instructions... for departments like fire and police.

And she says after that happens -- she'll have a much better idea about how much money they'll get.

Thank