Common Council

Oscar Mayer, Public Market, Voting

Greetings District 12 Residents!

I hope you're surviving this year's version of winter. You can stay up-to-date on the various city policies about where to park and sidewalk clearing on the city's Winter website. You can also sign-up for text/email reminders.

This update returns to two favorite topics: Oscar Mayer and the Public Market.

Oscar Mayer Strategic Assessment Committee

The next meeting of the Strategic Assessment Committee will be next Tuesday, February 13 at 5:30pm at Warner Park Community Recreation Center. If you have an interest, you will have an opportunity to share your thoughts with the committee and are more than welcome to attend to learn more about the topics being discussed.

• City's Role in the Development Process – Current Zoning, Urban Design District, Development Approval Process
• Relevant Plans – Imagine Madison, Neighborhood Plans
• Transportation Issues
• Racial Equity and Social Justice Training

More information about the committee is available online.

Public Market

The Public Market continues to move along at the intersection of East Washington Avenue and First Street. The city is still negotiating with the private property owners about the size, cost and location of the public market.

City staff has created a Request For Qualification (RFQ) for an operator of the Public Market with responses due by the end of February.  

The Public Market Foundation has been working to raise awareness and fundraise for the public market. The successful "Taste of the Public Market" has been highly attended and Market Ready vendors have been very involved in each event. The Taste of the Public Market is currently being planned for March.

Also in late March or April, I will be hosting another Public Market neighborhood meeting. We hope to soon have more specifics about the details of the market which we would like to get feedback from area residents.

Voting Location Changes

Recently the Common Council did approve moving two current District 12 wards to new polling places. While discussion of the move has occurred for the past several years, it was not until the recently completed Goodwill Store was an alternate location viable. Unfortunately, there was rather a quick deadline for approving the changes to ensure that we can properly notify voters for the next election – the Spring Primary.

It's typically a good idea to move elections for the who Spring/Fall cycle so it became necessary to move quickly to ensure that the Spring Primary and General were at the new locations to ensure that the Fall elections go smoothly.

The City Clerk's Office will continue to monitor our polling places and will make further recommendations if there is a need.

2018 Voting Dates

• Spring Primary Election - Tuesday, Feb. 20
• Spring Election - Tuesday, Apr. 3
• Fall Primary Election - Tuesday, Aug. 14
• General Election - Tuesday, Nov. 6

F35A Operation Timeline

I recently received a notice from the US Air Force about the F-35A Environmental Impact Statement. They are currently in a "Scoping Period" from now until April 6, 2018.
 

They are hosting Public Scoping Meetings to learn more about the proposal, talk with staff, and submit comments.

Thursday, March 8, 2018 from 5 to 8 pm
Crowne Plaza Madison Hotel Three Lakes Ballroom 4402 E. Washington Ave

You can also find out more information on the Secretary of the Air Force website. 
 

Larry