September Office Hours, Capital Budget and Other Highlights for the Week of August 30

September Office Hours

I will be hosting office hours on Wednesday, September 22nd (virtually) from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. I will be using Zoom (with video): REGISTER

Please use the registration above to get the Zoom link. When you register, you'll also get an e-mail reminder on the day of Office Hours. You can register in advance or the day of.

Note: I have set it up so I can only meet one person at a time. If I'm meeting with someone else, there will be a small waiting period in a meeting lobby. If you don't want to use Zoom, I will be answering calls (608-912-0000) during this time as long as I'm not speaking with someone else. 

If you have a question, concern, or topic of interest that you would like to discuss, but the September 22nd doesn't work for you, you can e-mail me.

Mayor's 2022 Executive CApital Budget

On Tuesday, the Mayor will release her proposed 2022 Executive Capital Budget. The budget will be viewable at the City's Budget website. The Finance Committee will hold hearings on the Capital Budget in September.

• Hearings are scheduled for Monday, September 13th and Tuesday, September 14th. These meetings will include an opportunity for public comment and presentations by each City department.
• The Finance Committee will consider amendments to the Capital Budget on September 27th.

The Mayor's proposed 2022 Executive Operating Budget will be released in October.

The full Common Council will debate and approve both budgets in November.

Zoning for Tiny House Villages, Portable Shelter Missions, and Mission Camps

The City-County Homeless Issues Committee will be discussing proposed zoning text amendments related to tiny houses, portable shelter missions, and mission camps at its meeting on Monday. 

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

These changes are expected to be in front of the Common Council for approval on Tuesday. 

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

Final Report of the Digital Inclusion Task Force

I recently chaired a Task Force that looked at Digital Inclusion and Equity in Madison. Our final report will be at the Education Committee for discussion on Wednesday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

For additional information about additional meetings scheduled for this week, please consult the City Meeting Schedule online here

• Library Takeover is a program created to support communities to make their idea happen at the library! Teams of 3-4 people can pitch their idea via an online application from September 1-October 1. If accepted, the team could receive a $2,000 event budget, free space at the library, a $400 stipend for each member of the team, a 4-workshop event-planning course and help from an influential local mentor.  They're looking for first-time event organizers, diverse communities, LGBTQ+ communities, etc. Learn more and apply here.

• IRONMAN Wisconsin returns to Madison on September 12. Volunteers are critical to the success of this event and are needed throughout the day in a variety of areas.  Sign up now to be a part of the action.  If you're involved with a non-profit that can put together a team of 15 or more volunteers, there may be grant funding opportunities available. If you are interested, please email imwisconsin@ironmanvolunteers.com for more information.

• On August 26, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Centers for Disease Control exceeded its authority, thereby blocking the temporary moratorium on evictions. Read more here.  While this is concerning for many renters, the Tenant Resource Center wants to remind renters and property owners alike that there are still millions of dollars available in assistance funds via the Dane CORE program. They urge you to apply now, even if it is for September's rent. Assistance requests are being processed in real-time, and staff are available to help if you find the online application challenging. 

• In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling blocking the Centers for Disease Control's moratorium on evictions, the Homeless Services Consortium is hosting two information sessions to give a basic overview of the eviction process in Dane County, tenant rights, and some FAQs:
  • English session
    September 2, 1:00pm
    Register in advance for this meeting.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
  • Spanish session - Proceso de Desalojo para Dane County
    September 3, 10:00am
    Register in advance for this meeting.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

• Your feedback is being sought as part of the Connect Greater Madison: Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) 2050 Update process. The Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization wants to know how well the current area transportation network is serving your needs. Use the interactive mapping tool to post comments on the network, identifying specific gaps and challenges, as well as what you love and what's working well. This commenting tool is open and available from August 23 to October 3, 2021.

• The City of Madison Engineering Division is sharing a new, interactive map and tool for the community to learn more about flooding impacts, stormwater infrastructure and potential flooding in the City of Madison.  Learn more here.

• The City of Madison Engineering Division and Olbrich Botanical Gardens are proud to announce an award the City earned for work on Olbrich's recent expansion.  The Olbrich Botanical Gardens', Frautschi Family Learning Center (FFLC), earned the 2021 US Green Building Council's Leadership Award -West North Central Region. The USBGC Leadership Awards highlight green building projects, companies and individuals over the last year and recognize commitment toward creating healthy, sustainable spaces.

• Included as part of the Vision Zero initiative roadway improvements, upcoming speed limit reductions are scheduled for several Madison streets identified as having a high level of injury causing crashes. The first one to occur, on South Park Street between Regent Street and Badger Road, begins on Monday, August 30, and will reduce the speed limit to 25 mph.  There are some streets in and around District 19 that will be added during September and October. Read more and see additional streets that will have speed limit reductions later in 2021 here.

• There are many options in Dane County to get tested for COVID-19.  Read more here.  See a list of testing partners here, and request a test kit be mailed to you here.

• A new initiative designed to provide alternative emergency response for individuals who are in crisis is set to launch next week. The Madison Fire Department's Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) team will begin responding to 911 calls effective September 1.  Learn more here.

• Redistricting, the process of redrawing Madison's wards and alder districts based on population changes that have occurred over the last decade, has begun. Redistricting determines which communities and neighborhoods are assembled into alder districts and other voting districts. There are many opportunities for the community to participate in the process. Draft maps of new district boundaries were expected last week, but have been delayed until this upcoming week. Staff has added more data and new tools to the Redistricting website. Final Madison District/Wards maps are expected to be approved in October.

• City of Madison, Wisconsin Government, Madison Senior Center and AARP just launched a survey to gather information from people age 45 and older who live, work or play here. Survey data will be used to create an action plan that will inform City leaders about how to make Madison age-friendly. Join our efforts by sharing your thoughts and opinions. Take the survey: www.bit.ly/3fMw4oM. Learn more at the Mayor's Blog: Age Friendly Communities.

As always, if there is anything I can do to help, feel free to reach out: district19@cityofmadison.com

-Keith F