Common Council

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of October 17, 2022

Meetings

• The Common Council does not meet the week of September 26, but many other City committees do, 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.
• 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.
• District 11 Town Hall meeting on October 24th with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway: You're invited to participate in another District 11 Town Hall meeting at the Sequoya Library on Monday, October 24th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  This month we will be joined by our own Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway to discuss housing opportunities in District 11. Topics that will be covered include how to age in place and keep neighborhoods affordable, new accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations, transit-oriented development [TOD] overlay zoning for the new bus rapid transit, potential changes to the zoning code's family definition, and construction projects at Madison Yards, Hilldale, Westgate, and the University Research Park. Attend in-person or register in advance to attend the virtual Zoom meeting using your computer, smartphone, or listen in via your telephone.  You will receive login information after registering at:

  https://cityofmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYuduGrqz4jGN2YhWX2fHEixTNw67VPlDYb

  Take this opportunity to meet the Mayor of Madison and learn about housing opportunities and challenges in District 11. 

Events

• 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.
• 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.

• Homebuyer education class: The City of Madison, in partnership with the Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County and Consumer Credit Counseling Service, want to share with you these HUD Approved Homebuyer Education classes occurring monthly through the rest of 2022! Find all the events by following here. The next class for October is open! Learn more about what it takes to buy your first home, securing a mortgage, and down payment assistance programs. Hear from content experts like realtors, lenders, insurance agents, home inspectors, and housing counselors.
  • Time: 8am to 3pm
  • Date: Saturday, October 22, 2022 Register by October 18th
  • Location: Villager Mall on Park Street, Atrium Entrance (2300 S Park St. Madison, WI 53713)
  • Education provided by Consumer Credit Counseling Service and made possible by Home Buyers Round Table.
  • Register here: https://homebuyersroundtable.org/event/free-homebuyer-education-class-october-2022/
  • Any questions contact Maria Davila-Martinez (mailto:mdavila-martinez@cityofmadison.com) or by phone at 608-266-6557.
• Food scraps recycling: Food scraps recycling for 2022 ends on October 25 at two farmer's market drop-off sites:
  • Market Site 1: South Madison Farmer's Market (1602 S. Park Street, Labor Temple)
    • Hours: 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
    • Dates open: Only Tuesday markets
  • Market Site 2: Eastside Farmer's Market (202 S. Ingersoll Street, McPike Park)
    • Hours: 4:00pm to 7:00pm
    • Dates open: Only Tuesday evenings

Also, consider composting your food scraps in your own backyard. News release

• 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

Announcements

• Celebrating native nations: Madison Public Library - in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison - is bringing back a popular program from last year that centers the experiences, traditions and lifeways of Native people in and around Madison. Native presenters from different nations will lead programs highlighting both traditional and contemporary practices, stories, and community relationships. Programs kick off in October following Indigenous Peoples' Day, and include art workshops, cooking and crop demonstrations, storytelling, presentations on traditional skills and customs, and more! Find all the details here.
• Spotlight on Cherokee Marsh: As we conclude the celebration of 50 years of conservation parks in Madison, we focus your attention on Madison's largest conservation park. So large, the more than 1,300 acres of Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park are divided into three unique units – Mendota, North and South. Cherokee Marsh – North Unit was designated a conservation park in 1971 when the Parks Division first created the Conservation Park program. Read more about this natural wonder here.
• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: One out of every eight women in the United States are at risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime. In 2022, The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 5,380 new cases of breast cancer in Wisconsin. Early diagnosis is key to helping create better outcomes. Access to screening can be limited among people with lower incomes and who lack health insurance. To bridge this gap, the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP) offers free breast exams, mammograms and other diagnostic tests for women ages 45-64 (or under 45, for those with a current breast concern), who have limited income and insurance. Learn more here.
• Electric compactors to be named: Finally, the Streets Division will be revealing the names of the trash and recycling electric compactors used at the drop-off site located at 4602 Sycamore Avenue. Earlier this year, a ranked-choice style election was held to choose the names from a list of finalists. Over 2,200 votes were received during the election and two names received the highest number of total points were selected. On October 21, 2022 the names of the compactors will be revealed along with the breakdown of the voting totals. See the full list of very creative finalist names here.
• Madison Forward Fund: The Madison Forward Fund, a year-long guaranteed income experimental program, has distributed the first of twelve monthly payments to low-income families. The guaranteed income is a monthly payment of $500 given directly to 155 households for 12 months. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. The program is founded on the belief that Madison families deserve a basic level of income to support fundamental needs, and that people experiencing financial scarcity are best positioned to make decisions regarding their household needs. Read more here.
• 2023 Operating Budget: In this year's Operating Budget, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's focus is on the programs and services that build a safer community, build healthier neighborhoods and create opportunities for youth. The City's operating budget funds the numerous services, programs, and skilled staff that sustain high quality City services and help keep Madison strong. This operating budget released today is in addition to the 2023 Executive Capital Budget, released in September, which funds infrastructure, buildings and other capital investments. Read the news release here.
• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Domestic Violence Awareness Month is held throughout the month of October as a way to bring advocates across the nation together to end domestic violence.? Throughout the month of October, the City of Madison, along with communities across the country, will mourn for those whose lives were taken by domestic violence, celebrate the tremendous progress victim advocates have made over the years, and connect with one another with a true sense of unity 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/

• 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
• "Street Meets": The City of Madison Engineering Division has a new digiseries out focusing on five impactful street and paths design projects the community has endured during the 2022 construction season. The digiseries "Street Meets" is a series of five videos focusing on the following projects:
  • University Avenue 
  • Old Middleton Road 
  • Jenifer Street 
  • St. Paul Avenue 
  • South Blair Street