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Introduction, Committees, Imagination Center Groundbreaking

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Introduction

My name is Julia Matthews and I was sworn in to my first term as District 12 Alder on April 15th. I've sent a couple of updates, but wanted to give a real introduction and share my committee assignments and some exciting moments from my first month.

It's been a busy few weeks meeting with community leaders, attending public information sessions, and special events to learn more about different city functions.

Committee Assignments

  1. City-County Homeless Issues Committee
  2. Housing Policy Committee
  3. Community Resources Committee
  4. Common Council Executive Committee

Brand New Committees

Housing Policy and Community Resources are both new committees this term, resulting from some consolidation of committees in the last year.

Housing Policy Committee is replacing Housing Strategy Committee and Landord and Tenant Issues Committee, and will meet for the first time later this month.

Community Resources Committee is replacing Community Services Committee, Committee on Aging, and Early Childhood Care and Education Committee.

I look forward to helping develop these new committees and contributing to work plans to ensure the essential functions of the 5 previous committees are still being completed.

Noteworthy Events -

..From my first month in office! These are just a handful..

Public Engagement for the North/South BRT started with a presentation at Transportation Commission on April 23rd. There have been several public information meetings including one virtual and one in the district at Warner Park Community Recreation Center. There are two more Public Information Meetings this week:

In late April I attended a celebration to honor community development partners and the 50 years our Community Development Division has overseen Community Development Block Grants. At this event I got to learn more about Community Development Division and the work it does to support important community services. Look out for a blog post to dive deeper into what CDD does in the coming months!

Last weekend, I got to attend a small business (bus) tour with many other alders and city staff from the office of business resources to kick off small business week. The tour started off in District 12 with Madison Oriental Market and a stop at FEED Kitchens!

Finally, my 4th week as alder, I was honored to attend the groundbreaking for the Imagination Center (and with a bid that came in under budget)!

Madison Mayor, Alders, and other stakeholders lift shovels of dirt at Imagination Center Groundbreaking Event

This project is over a decade in the making and as a former library kid (at Madison Public Libraries!) I am so excited for this project to break ground. I first learned about this project in late 2022 and ever since have been an advocate for this project so that more folks in Madison can have easy access to a Library in their neighborhood as well as a year round community meeting space!

Highlights and Meetings for the Week of 5/12/2025

Updates and Notices

  • Farmers' Markets: Find the locations and schedules for farmers' markets near you!
  • This Tuesday May 13th at 6pm there will be a virtual Public information Meeting for northside neighbors to hear more about the AmFam Insurance Championship
  • Low Mow May - Everything you need to know :)

  • Help Shape the Future of Biking, Walking and Rolling in Dane County: The Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is inviting Dane County residents to complete a short survey that will help guide the region’s active transportation future. [posted May 6, 2025]

    Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

  • Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, May 12, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing the submission of an application for a $150,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to fund a portion of the City's cost of site assessment and demolition at 1810 S Park St, 1901 S Park St, 814 North Ave, and 826 North Ave.
  • Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, May 12, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 13.
  • Police and Fire Commission: The Police and Fire Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 14, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a discussion of the Police Chief hiring process.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Events

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

 

All The Best,

 

Alder Matthews

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District 12 - Alder Matthews

Alder Julia Matthews

Alder Julia Matthews

District 12
Contact Alder Matthews