Alder Currie Updates, Important Reminders Plus City Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of May 23rd

Greetings all,

This week's city related updates are a bit shorter than usual, however, it will still be a busy week! Myself and fellow Alders will be getting briefed on the 2022 Operating Budget outlook and instructions, updates about the Town of Madison annexation and the American Rescue Plan Act in Monday's Finance Committee meeting. 

I am also proud to share that I will be speaking at the 2021 Black Girl Magic Conference, this Friday! I am especially excited about this years theme, The Magic of Youth Activism and participating in an elected official panel alongside two amazing leaders, Representative Sheila Stubbs and Board of Education member Maia Pearson. If you are the parent or loved one of a girl who identifies as Black, Multiracial or African-American and in grade 4th-8th, please ask your school social worker about how to get her registered! 

Lastly, we are in crucial need of volunteers in order to make the 2021 Ride the Drive event successful. I hope you will make plans to participate and/or volunteer for this fun and healthy community event. PS, the best volunteers will join me in registering to be an intersection guide :)

More information about volunteer needs, tasks, times, and training can be found here.

Stay cool and/or dry this week!

-Alder Currie

Envision the future of the East Towne Area

Over the past year, the Planning Division has hosted a number of different virtual activities to hear how residents, businesses and property owners would like to see the East Towne Area grow and develop into the future. This feedback helped inform the Planning Division's work to draft a new concept for future land use, transportation, and parks and open space.

Come view the new draft and share your ideas during this second series of virtual meetings. Register in advance for the meetings at the links to the right. Join us on:

- Monday May 24th, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Register for 5/24 Meeting Here

- Wednesday May 26th, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Register for 5/26 Meeting Here

The meetings will be held in English. If you are in need of interpretation or other accommodations, please contact us.

To share thoughts on the planning area and sign up to receive meeting invitations, visit the East Towne Area Plan project website: www.cityofmadison.com/easttowneplan

Parents - Summer is around the corner, do you still have questions or concerns about safety related to COVID? 

The City of Madison Child Care Unit, along with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Madison & Dane County Public Health, 4-C and WECA encourage you to join them to learn about the most current updates regarding COVID guidance and summer programming.

Planning for Summer Child Care Programming 2021 COVID Q&A With Rachel Goldberg (Public Health) and Monty Marsh (DCF)

(Group Centers) Tuesday, May 25th at 1:00 - 2:00 pm 

(School-Age Programming) Wednesday, May 26th at 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Registration is not required, simply join using the following Zoom link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88383700119

Sessions will be recorded for those who are unable to make the live event.

Need Help Paying for Internet Service?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit program on May 12, 2021 to help low-income households pay for Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households.

If your household is eligible, you can receive:

• Up to a $50/month discount on your broadband service and associated equipment rentals

• Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands

• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application.

You can learn more about the Emergency Broadband Benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit or by calling 833-511-0311.

Ride the Drive 2021 – In Your Neighborhood: 

With a pause in 2020, the Parks Division is excited to bring four simultaneous events on Sunday, June 6, from 9am to 1pm. With four events, each with a roughly 2-mile route, we will need 500+ volunteers. It's a big undertaking, and we are committed to offering a unique event for Madison neighbors to enjoy. 

The need for volunteers is critical this year. If you live on or near the route or in the neighborhood, we hope you'll register today to be a volunteer. Each volunteer receives the coveted RTD t-shirt and most positions are just 2 hours. Positions include bike ambassadors, setup and cleanup crews, info booth & t-shirt sales and the greatest need, intersection guides.  Individuals, families, local companies and organizations are encouraged to volunteer. 

Visit RideTheDrive.com for more information.

As in previous years, the focal point remains a park with surrounding street closures allowing participants to stroll, roll, pedal or glide along the route without motor vehicles. Click the park name link to view route map.

o   Kennedy Park - East

o   Marlborough Park - South

o   Warner Park - North

o   Wingra Park – Near West

Streets Unveils New System for Large Item Collection Beginning May 28th

The Streets Division will begin a new work order system for large item collection starting on May 28, 2021.

When the system goes live on May 28th, residents will be able to schedule their large item pickup for the month of June and beyond. You only need to use the work order system if the item you are dropping off requires a fee. 

List of Large Items & Appliances That Require a Fee

Residents will also use the new system purchase recycling fee stickers for items like televisions that must be taken to the drop-off site.

Large Item Work Order System FAQ 

Additional details about how this new system will work can be found on the Streets Division's website.

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of May 24, 2021

Bike Registration and Winter Bikeway Maintenance Updates

The Transportation Commission will be receiving an update on the City's bike registration program and an annual report on winter bike facilities maintenance at its meeting on Wednesday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

City Land Banking Policy

The Housing Strategy Committee will be considering the City's proposed land banking policy at its meeting on Thursday.

• 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

Events, activities, seminars, etc.

• Madison Public Library, the Wisconsin Book Festival and the All of Us Research Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are joining forces to present a virtual author event series focused on a range of community health issues.  On Monday, May 24 at 7 pm author Jason Karlawish and his book The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It will be featured.  In The Problem of Alzheimer's, Karlawish traces Alzheimer's from its beginnings to its recognition as a crisis, tells the story of the biomedical breakthroughs that may allow Alzheimer's to finally be prevented and treated by medicine, and presents an argument for how we can live with dementia.  Register to attend The Problem of Alzheimer's: https://www.wisconsinbookfestival.org/events/problem-alzheimers

Announcements, press releases, press conferences, etc.

•  Beginning June 1, the City of Madison will resume enforcement of all on-street parking restrictions, ending the temporary suspension of Residential Parking Permit restrictions and time limit restrictions in non-metered areas. Read more here.

• Effective on June 2, Public Health Madison & Dane County will lift all public health orders, including mask requirements, and gathering and capacity limits.  Read more here.

• Historic news: The City of Madison launches a multilingual complaint portal for discrimination cases.  Read more here.

• Mayor Announces Madison Pop-Up Shop Initiative, a new City of Madison initiative to support small-scale, less resourced businesses and fill vacant storefronts as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.