Updates & Week of April 13 Meetings of Interest for District 2

District 2 Updates and Meetings of Interest

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt schedules. In the coming week four city committees are holding virtual meetings (up from two last week). Most committees are on hiatus until the city's meeting capabilities expand both in terms of technology and availability of city staff. Common Council will be working with the Mayor and her team to identify those committees that are most needed for maintaining city services and projects, as well as those that can contribute to the COVID-19 response and eventual recovery efforts. 

Meeting details are listed on agendas below, but all should have virtual public participation options.

On the neighborhood front, the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association held a successful virtual TLNA Council meeting with neighbor participation included, so our new reality does allow for neighborhood decision-making, information sharing, and providing input to the city. Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. is preparing to launch their first virtual Executive Committee meeting on April 21. Check out the TLNA and CNI websites and their email listservs for details.

Stay healthy, stay home, stay in touch, and please practice physical distancing whenever outside your home, in the grocery story, in parks, on sidewalks, and on bike paths.
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There are three sections to this week's update:

1. COVID-19 Updates
2. Other District 2 Updates
3. City Meetings of Interest to District 2

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1. COVID-19 UPDATES

Where to Get COVID-19 Information

- For information on the city's responses and services visit the City's Coronavirus Website. On the right side menu of that page are links to City Service Updates, Resources for Businesses, and many other important resources.

 

- Another key site is Public Health Madison and Dane County and their Data Dashboard.

 

- The City has started a weekly COVID-19 newsletter. See the first issue here.

 

- Subscribe to the City's COVID-19 email and/or text alerts here.

 

Links to Other COVID-19 Information

 

From the Governor: Gov. Evers Announces COVID-19 Volunteer Program

 

Joining Forces for Families has provided lists of some local resources for housing during the pandemic.

 

Mayor's statement: City of Madison Looking for COVID-19 Cloth Face Covering Donations

 

MPD Chief Wahl: daily blog and update on enforcing the Governor's "Safer at Home" order.

 

Mayor's statement: Let's Double Down on Physical Distancing and Social Solidarity.

 

From the Governor: Gov. Evers Directs DNR To Close 40 State Parks, Forests And Recreational Areas

 

All City of Madison news releases are here.

 

From Dane Buy Local: Dane County Small Business Pandemic Support Program.

TLNA list of some area restaurants that are offering to-go or delivery.

Information about Downtown Madison's businesses during the pandemic can be found here.

Information on UW's response to the pandemic at this site.

 

Madison Metropolitan School District info, including their offering Free Health Meals can be found here.

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2. OTHER DISTRICT 2 UPDATES

 

City Considering Reducing Traffic or Closing Some Streets to Provide More Space

 

City Traffic Engineering is evaluating a proposal to temporarily close some streets and car travel lanes where appropriate to provide more space for pedestrians and bicyclists. On April 10 Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association Council wrote a letter of support to the city for such accommodations. Included in the draft TE proposal is restricting car traffic on E. Mifflin Street from N. Blair to N. Dickinson Streets to local traffic only. Residents would still have access by car. The logistics of such a change are not yet clear, nor is how cross streets will be handled, but if it is enacted, I will encourage Traffic Engineering to retain access to businesses as they can. The Transportation Commission is expected to discuss this draft proposal at their April 15 virtual meeting (see agenda below).

 

 

Election News & Thank Our City Workers

 

As you know, the April 7 election was confusing, disheartening, and even unsafe for those who voted in person or worked the polls. As detailed by Mayor Rhodes-Conway's update Thank you for Supporting Our Elections!, we owe a great deal of thanks to all who worked the polls, including the many city staff members who agreed to take over for those who were unable to do poll work due to health concerns. Many city workers from across several departments also assisted with processing the avalanche of absentee ballot requests. All of those workers, many individuals, and the dedicated Clerk's Office saved Madison from the long election day lines seen elsewhere.

 

Note that the Board of Canvassers for the City of Madison and for the Madison Metropolitan School District will be meeting on  April 13 to count absentee and in-person votes and then certify the election results for the city.

Be sure to thank all city workers whenever you see them, not just for the election help, but also those who continue to do their jobs despite the risks. The Madison Police Department, Madison Fire Department (and their Emergency Medical Service workers), Garbage/Recycling collectors, Streets and Traffic folks, Parks employees, and anyone else who is still working with the public especially deserve our gratitude. Those working "behind the lines" on the city's pandemic response and planning are also working many extra hours, virtually and in person, often while juggling childcare needs and other COVID-19 matters at home. Be sure to thank them too!

 

 

 

Complete the 2020 Census As Soon As Possible

 

As of April 10, here is how we are doing in comparison to other states, counties and cities in terms of completing the 2020 census:

- Wisconsin is ranked #2 with the second-most completed census forms at 54.4% (Minnesota is #1)

- Dane County is ranked #8 Wisconsin counties at 61.8%

- Madison is ranked #195 of Wisconsin cities at 59.2%

We can do better! It remains critical that everyone who lives in Madison and Dane County completes the census and is counted. Ask your friends and coworkers if they have completed their census form. It can be filled out online at my2020census.gov, by phone, or by mail. Filling out the census is an easy thing you can do right now to help everyone in our community. Follow the Census 2020 completion rankings here.

Gardening Season and COVID-19

Since many neighbors are out of work or want to lower their food expenses, I've received several requests for information about public gardening opportunities and gardening in street terraces (the area between the sidewalk and the street curb). Some are also interested in minimizing food shopping to decrease potential exposure to COVID-19. There are many public gardens sprinkled around the city and county, but unfortunately, the only public garden in District 2 is Reynolds Homestead Garden in the 600 block of E. Mifflin. Fortunately, the city does allow residents to plant gardens in the street terrace and, of course, in their yards. Details on both can be found here and more information on Community Gardens is here.

Repeat: More Parking Rules Temporarily Suspended

All on-street meters, Residential Permit Only restrictions, 1-hour and 2-hour time-limit restrictions in non-metered areas, and Street sweeping and Clean Streets-Clean Lakes program parking restrictions are temporarily suspended through Sunday, April 26th, unless otherwise noticed. This amends the previous notice which was scheduled to expire April 6th, and expands the suspension of on-street parking restrictions to include Street Sweeping and Clean Streets-Clean Lakes restrictions. Details can be found here.

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400 Block E. Washington Steering Committee Expected Soon

 

The James Madison Park District Steering Committee that has been reviewing the LZ Ventures redevelopment proposal for the north side of 400 block of E. Washington Ave is still expected to hold a virtual meeting in the near future. Email notices will be sent to all who have signed up to participate in the Steering Committee process and will also be noticed in my Alder Updates.

 

If you'd like to participate and/or stay informed contact Eli at president@capitolneighborhoods.org or Joe at jmartino@isi360.com.

 

The developer submitted a formal application to the city: those materials can be found here. In addition to further neighborhood input, the proposed demolitions will need review by the Landmarks Commission and/or the city's Preservation Planner, the Urban Design Commission will need to weigh in, and Plan Commission will consider various aspects of the proposal. The Landmarks Commission and UDC have been on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but UDC is expected to start meeting virtually later this month, so the proposal could be heard by UDC in late May with Plan Commission in June. I'll be sure to publicize any such meetings.

126 Langdon St. Redevelopment Proposal Could Be at Plan Commission in May

 

Core Spaces, the developers of the proposed apartment building at 126 Langdon St., has asked that their application be considered at the Plan Commission's expected May 18 virtual meeting. Plan Commission is preparing to hold its first virtual meeting on April 13 and, assuming that the city's virtual meeting capabilities perform as expected, Core Spaces' request may follow that timetable.

 

Note that Core Spaces has made some design modifications in response to UDC and neighbor input. The neighborhood steering committee, organized by the Mansion Hill District of Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc., will contact committee members in the near future seeking any additional input and will distribute updated proposal renderings. I will relay that info in my updates. If you would like to be on the steering committee email list, contact Bob at bob.klebba@gmail.com.

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3. City Meetings of Interest to District 2

 

Below are some pertinent agenda items from the two city committees that are meeting this week. If you click on a meeting agenda below, then click on an agenda item of interest, you will see all documents that have been submitted on that item.

 

The city meeting agenda items are open for testimony from the public should you be interested in weighing in via teleconferencing (details included on agendas). Also, committees and commissions have an opportunity at the beginning of each agenda for Public Comment on items not on the agenda. I also appreciate hearing from you on any items on which you have a particular interest or concern.

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Plan Commission: Agenda

5:30pm, Monday, April 13, 2020

Virtual Meeting

 

Some or all of the members of the Plan Commission, applicants, or members of the public, may participate in the meeting remotely by teleconference or videoconference.

 

Note: Virtual attendance instructions in the agenda linked above.

PUBLIC HEARING-5:45 p.m.

Zoning Map Amendments & Related Requests

Note: Items 5 and 6 are related and should be considered together

Agenda Item 5

Creating Section 28.022 -- 00419 of the Madison General Ordinances to change the zoning of property located at 935 West Johnson Street, 8th Aldermanic District, from TR-U2 Traditional Residential - Urban District 2) District to CI (Campus Institutional) District.

Agenda Item 6
935 W Johnson Street, 8th Ald. Dist.: Consideration of a demolition permit to demolish a single-family residence to accommodate a future University of Wisconsin-Madison academic building.

 

BUSINESS BY MEMBERS

Agenda Item 22

Plan Commission Sustainability Initiative

 

SECRETARY'S REPORT

- Upcoming Matters - April 27, 2020

- 1020 Sherman Avenue - Conditional Use - Construct accessory building accessory building exceeding 576 square feet of area on a lakefront parcel and containing an accessory dwelling unit

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Police and Fire Commission: Agenda

5:30pm, Monday, April 13, 2020

Teleconference Meeting

 

Some or all of the members of the body may participate by teleconference.

Note: Teleconferencing attendance instructions in the agenda linked above.

FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSION ITEMS

 

Update regarding 2019 Firefighter Recruit Class 9
Update regarding 2020 Hiring Process
Update regarding Apparatus Engineer Promotional Process
General status update regarding personnel investigations
General state update regarding Fire Department resignations and retirements

POLICE DEPARTMENT DISCUSSION ITEMS

 

Recommendation of Acting Police Chief regarding promotions and appointments; schedule personnel file review

Update on 2020 Pre-Service Academy Hiring Process

Update on 2021 Pre-Service Academy Hiring Process

General status update on Police Department discipline

Police Chief Recruitment Process - timeline; methods for obtaining community and stakeholder input; impact of COVID-19 on the process; staff update; discuss/schedule LVN virtual training.

 

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Transportation Commission: Agenda

5:00pm, Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Virtual Meeting

 

The City of Madison is holding the Transportation Commission meeting virtually to help protect our community from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

Note: Virtual attendance instructions in the agenda linked above.

E. STAFF REPORTS

Agenda Item E.1.

Report on the actions taken by the Transportation Department during the COVID-19 health emergency

10 mins

Note: This item will include discussion of possible street closures and car travel lanes in response to physical distancing needs for pedestrians and cyclists (see update above).

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

Agenda Item F.1.

Temporarily suspend the enforcement of Madison General Ordinance Section 33.56(5) to allow the Director of Transportation, Transit Manager, Traffic Engineer, and Parking Manager to take actions related to transportation issues identified in Madison General Ordinance Section 33.56(5)(a)-(c)

30 mins

 

Agenda Item F.2.

Temporarily suspend parking regulations under Madison General Ordinance Section 12.122, to support curbside pickup from grocery stores and restaurants.

10 mins

 

Agenda Item F.3.

To Approve actions taken by Metro during the COVID-19 health emergency 30 mins

30 mins

 

Agenda Item F.4.

Review and Approval of Metro Transit's Proposed Service Changes to take effect in August of 2020 for Route 29 and UW Campus Routes 80, 81, 82, and 84.
30 mins

 

Agenda Item F.5.

Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into agreements with Abby Vans, Inc., Badger Bus Lines, Inc., and Transit Solutions, Inc. for the purpose of providing Paratransit Services to Metro Transit for a term of three (3) years from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023 with two one-year options, exercisable by the City, to extend the term. If so exercised, option year one would be from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, and option year two would be from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Each option shall be exercised in writing by the Metro Transit General Manager at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of the original contract term.

15 mins

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Common Council Executive Committee: Agenda

6:00pm, Thursday, April 16, 2020

Virtual Meeting

Agenda not yet available, but should appear at the Agenda link above.

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