Common Council

Weekly Update, 4/19-4/25

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of April 19, 2021

20 MPH is Plenty

The Transportation Policy and Planning Board will be receiving a presentation on the 20 is Plenty initiative to reduce residential speed limits to 20 mph as part of the City's ongoing Vision Zero initiative at its meeting on Monday.

·     Find meeting details online here

·     Find meeting agenda online here

·     Register for public comment here

Land banking and Housing Forward Initiatives

The Housing Strategy Committee will be discussing a draft land banking policy and the new City Housing Forward initiative at its meeting on Thursday.

·     Find meeting details online here

·     Find meeting agenda online here

·     Register for public comment here

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

Events, activities, seminars, etc.

·     Join PBS Wisconsin, the UW Public History Project, and expert guests as they reveal never before seen footage exposing housing discrimination in 1962 Madison. The brainchild of then-Wisconsin NAACP president Lloyd Barbee and UW Extension filmmaker Stuart Hanisch, this collection of hidden camera footage was at first supported, then later legally restricted, by the University of Wisconsin. Recently uncovered and unrestricted, this groundbreaking film will be shown and discussed by a panel of experts including Barbee's children Daphne Barbee-Wooten and Rustam Barbee, YWCA Madison CEO Vanessa McDowell, and local historian Betty Banks. Join the LIVE virtual event to reveal and reflect on Madison's hidden housing history on Sunday, April 18 at 6pm.

·     Madison International Partners continue to offer two citizenship classes a week.  The classes are free and held virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays from 5pm-6:30pm and Saturdays from 9am-10:30am.  Join by registering here.

·     In partnership with United Way of Dane County, JustDane's Journey Home program presents a virtual Reentry Service Fair on April 20 from 3pm-4:30pm for individuals recently released from prison to get connected to resources. The meeting will focus on Employment and Residence.  Join the event here.  For more information, contact Ron Burford at JustDane at ron@justdane.org, call the JustDane offices at 608-256-0906, or visit the JustDane website.

·     Earth Day Challenge volunteers needed in Madison parks!  The Parks Division is recruiting more than 650 volunteers in 45+ parks from 10am – 12pm on April 24.  The registration deadline is April 21 at 11:59pm.  Find more information here.  

·     On April 24 at 7pm, the Mead Witter School of Music will stream Verisimilitudes: A Journey Through Art Song in Black, Brown, and Tan, a theatrical event concert that unveils the archive of Black women and men who have explored music through the genre of Classical Art Song.  Watch here.

Announcements, press releases, press conferences, etc.

·     Public Health Madison & Dane County is pausing administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.  Read more here.

·     On April 14, the Mayor unveiled Housing Forward, a package of initiatives that collectively represent the City's housing agenda.  Find out about the details here.

·     Need help finding local financial resources?  Contact the Financial Resources Hotline for free, confidential help by phone. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on Madison residents' finances, and the Financial Resources Hotline can provide referrals to resources and basic information that might help address concerns. Sign up online to receive a call from a financial navigator or sign up for a session by calling Madison Public Library at 608-266-6300.  Read more here.