October Office Hours, Budget, and Other Highlights for the Week of October 17, 2022

I will be hosting office hours on Thursday (10/20) from 7:30am to 9:30am. 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 date above doesn't work for you, you can e-mail me.

• Mayor's Operating Budget Focuses on Building a Safer Community, Healthier Neighborhoods, and Opportunities for Youth. The operating budget is in addition to the 2023 Executive Capital Budget, released in September, which funds infrastructure, buildings and other capital investments. Electronic copies of budget information can be found at www.cityofmadison.com/finance/budget/2023.

• Agencies will make presentations related to the 2023 Executive Operating Budget at Finance on 10/17 and 10/18. The schedule of agency presentations for this meeting and the presentations can be found here. The committee will be seeing presentations and asking questions, but no actions will be taken on the Operating Budget until the Finance Committee considers amendments at their Oct. 31 meeting.

• Last Virtual Community Session on the 2023 Budget on October 24th

  The city's budget for 2023 will be debated and adopted by the Common Council in November. In addition to public comment opportunities at Finance Committee and Council meetings over the next six weeks, there will be two virtual community sessions on the budget. City Finance staff will provide background information on the city's capital and operating budget process, including highlights of the 2023 executive budget. This is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about our city's budget. A recording of the first session on October 13th is now available. Another virtual community sessions on the 2023 budget will be held on Monday, Oct. 24, starting at 5:30 PM and ending at 7:00 PM.

  • Join the October 24 virtual community session
  • Live stream the October 24 virtual community session

Alder Figueroa Cole has been posting a series of blog entries to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month which lasted was from September 15 to October 15.

• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
• Hispanic Heritage Month - The American Dream
• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Access to Food
• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: THE DREAMERS
• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Housing
• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: A call to service
• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Family, Friends & Relationships

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Many other City committees meet this week including the Finance Committee (10/17 and 10/18), Alcohol License Review Committee, Common Council Executive Committee, and Board of Health for Madison and Dane County. To see the full list of City meetings scheduled for the week, please consult the City meeting schedule.

• Brush Collection Over for 2022 - Brush is woody material you have cut from your trees, shrubs, or bushes that measure at least 18 inches in length. Yard waste & leaf collection starts is underway. Get the dates when you should set out your leaves and yard waste for pickup here.

• City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board Announces Hiring of Independent Police Monitor

• Electric Compactor Names to be Revealed October 21, 2022

• Town of Madison final public information meeting: The City of Madison will hold a Final Public Information Meeting for the Town of Madison Attachment on October 20, 2022 at 6pm. This public meeting will be conducted virtually and prior registration is required. Come meet City of Madison staff and learn about the Town of Madison attachment.

• October 15th was White Cane Safety Day in Madison

• From Public Health: 

  • Monkeypox Update

  • October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Public Health Urges Breast Cancer Screening

  • The Bivalent Boosters Shouldn't Be a Secret - The data tell us that many people don't know about the new boosters or are unsure if they are eligible.
  • Violence prevention: Public Health Madison & Dane County Violence Prevention Unit is hosting two violence prevention speaker series events during the month of October:
    • Speaker Series Event #4 – Panel Discussion
      • "The importance of youth engagement and connection in violence prevention efforts"
      • Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 12pm-1pm: Registration required
    • Speaker Series Event #5 – DAIS
      • Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence 101
      • Thursday, October 27, 2022, 12pm-1pm: Registration required

• Madison Forward Fund Providing Direct Assistance to Low-Income Pilot Program Recipients

• Engineering Launches Digiseries 'Street Meets' - including videos on Old Middleton Road and University Avenue.

• Madison's latest Vision Zero Quarterly Newsletter is available, including information on Safe Systems, the Budget Process for Safety Projects, Vision Zero Reconstruction Projects and Data Showing Progress, 20 is Plenty, Let's Talk Streets, and Complete Green Streets.

• From Madison Parks: News and Events

• Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation Parks: Spotlight on Cherokee Marsh

• From the Mayor: Dane County Climate Champions - I'd like to congratulate our City Engineering Facilities staff and the 87 other Climate Champions in 77 organizations that were recognized by Dane County last week. 

• Madison Public Library's Popular Program Celebrating Native Nations Returns October-December 2022

• In-Person Absentee Voting (Early Voting) begins at Madison Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 25 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 6 in multiple locations. Voter registration is also available during this time (excluding Nov. 5 and 6) and voters can return absentee ballots, as well. Check online for available dates and times here.

• Acceptable Photo ID to Vote - As you prepare for the General Election on November 8, the City of Madison Clerk's Office wants to remind you what types of photo ID you can use for voting in Wisconsin.

• Six Resumes Received for District 17 Common Council Vacancy - Council Executive Committee Will Meet on Oct. 20th to Recommend Interim Alder

• Info, Resources, and a Calendar of Important Dates for Those Considering Running in the Spring 2023 Common Council Elections can be found here.

• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a way to bring advocates across the nation together to end domestic violence.? If you or someone you know feels unsafe in a relationship, help is available 24 hours a day by calling (608) 251-4445 or texting (608) 420-4638.  In an emergency, please call 911. For more resources, please visit https://abuseintervention.org/

• Dick Wagner honored in park dedication: In December 2021, Madison lost R. Richard Wagner, a public servant and community leader. On Friday, October 21, 1:30pm, the community is invited to join U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Alder Mike Verveer and friends as we honor the legacy of Dick Wagner in a park dedication ceremony. We will honor his legacy in a park dedication ceremony, renaming Kerr-McGee Triangle Park, 728 Jenifer Street, to R. Richard Wagner Park. More details here.

• Healthy Communities Fund: The 2022 Healthy Communities Fund application period is now open. $14,000 is available to be awarded to local projects in Madison and Dane County that make an effort to address health inequity in our communities. Applications are due by November 11.
  • Landing page on the Public Health website
  • Direct link to application

• Halloween on State Street: The City of Madison will once again be working to make State Street and downtown Madison a safe and enjoyable space for celebrating Halloween. Events that will be occurring, include:

  • Wednesday, October 26
    • Downtown Madison Family Halloween State Street and Capitol Square trick-or-treating for young children and their families from 3:00 – 6:00 PM sponsored by Madison's Central Business Improvement District.
    • Hayrides around the Capitol Square from 3:00 – 6:00 PM sponsored by Madison Parks.
    • Movies with Madison Parks showing Hocus Pocus from 6:00 – 8:00 PM near the top of State Street.
    • See Halloween Activities for more information.
    • Saturday, October 29
    • Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee's viewing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at 10:00 PM in Shannon Hall.
    • Claudio Simonetti's Goblin Performing Suspiria at the Orpheum Theater starting at 8:00 PM.
    • Other opportunities for spooky fun all around Dane County can be found here.
    • Monday, October 31: No planned events

In the past few years, the City has moved away from a formal/sanctioned event for Halloween, also known as Freakfest, and again there will be no formal event this year. There is also no UW football game or homecoming planned for Halloween weekend this year. To facilitate physical safety, a glass ban has been instituted on State Street for Halloween weekend, and Streateries will be closed at 6:00 p.m.

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., feel free to reach out: district19@cityofmadison.com

-Keith F