Shared Use Paths, Master Recycler Course, Monona Terrace Celebration, and More

Hi Friends and Neighbors!

Here are this week's updates:

Speed Policy on Shared Use Paths

The Transportation Policy and Planning Board will be having a discussion on the City's speed policy on Shared Use Paths. This discussion will address the conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists, particularly those using Electric Bikes which enable users to bike at a high rate of speed. As D13 Alder, I've received many complaints from residents regarding this behavior on the SW Path.

Here is a link to the user feedback staff received which will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting. A special thanks to DMNA's Transportation Committee for submitting recommendations to city staff as part of this process.

Master Recycler Course 

Sustain Dane, in partnership with the City of Madison, is once again offering an opportunity to become a Master Recycler  The first session is the evening of July 20, 2022. Enrollment is now open. The course will teach you about how to recycle the right way in your home, and also provide you with the tools so you can share your knowledge with everyone from your neighbors to your TikTok followers to everyone within your social orbit so they will know how to recycle right, too.

25th Anniversary Celebration of Monona Terrace

Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a free community celebration on Saturday, July 23, from 6:30pm-9:45pm at its William T. Evjue Rooftop Gardens. The event will feature local and regional bands, dance performances, and conclude with a spectacular drone show over Lake Monona. More details here.

July is Disability Pride Month

On July 30, 2022, join Wisconsin's Disability Community at Warner Park from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. as we celebrate the 32nd Anniversary of the ADA and make plans to make things more inclusive.  A fun day of entertainers, exhibits, adaptive sports, artists, and crafts people. You can check out this link to learn more about Disability Pride Month, and at its July 19th meeting, the Madison Common Council will be considering a resolution recognizing July 2022 as Disability Pride Month.

#TeamCity Awards Ceremony

 This week we celebrated five City of Madison employees and five collaborative teams who live and breathe the City's mission, vision and values at the 2022 July #TeamCity Awards Ceremony.  These recipients that go above and beyond to help their department, other departments and residents were selected from a large pool of candidates that were nominated by their peers, supervisors, residents and everyone in between. You can read about the awardees and their great work by clicking here. Congratulations to all of this month's recipients for recognition of all of the work they do! 

Brush Collection 

Brush collection is winding down for the year. Make sure you don't miss your brush pickup opportunities by getting your schedule at www.cityofmadison.com/BrushCollection.

In-person Absentee Voting 

In-person absentee voting starts on July 26th for the August primary. You can find the list of in-person absentee voting locations by clicking here. This week, the Clerk's office posted a helpful reminder of what types of photo IDs you can use for voting in Wisconsin.

Public Health Expanding Reproductive Health Services in Dane County

With initial investment from Dane County, Public Health Madison & Dane County will increase staff, and expand hours and services offered at its Sexual and Reproductive Health clinic beginning later this year. Public Health already provides reproductive health care, through the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) clinic at 2705 E. Washington Avenue, in Madison. The program services clients with a wide range of sexual health services including birth control, emergency contraception, STI testing, and more. This year (likely fall), the clinic will expand staffing, hours, and more comprehensive services, including adding long acting reversible contraception, for example, Intrauterine Devices, or IUDs, that provide long-term pregnancy prevention. This additional staff capacity will also allow Public Health to increase outreach and education efforts and work with community stakeholders so that everyone's reproductive rights are protected and honored. Read the full release here.

MPD Survey Results Released

The Madison Police Department has released the results of a citywide survey designed to improve policing in our community. Overall, the majority of Madison residents approve of the job police are doing and feel safe in their neighborhoods. "We want to keep our community safe. We want to make sure people aren't afraid to go for a walk around their block. To know their kids are growing up in a safe place." Police Chief Shon Barnes said. "To know we are meeting this goal, that's good, but we recognize more work always needs to be done." Most residents also believe police are effective in protecting them from violent crime and are familiar with one or more of the department's community outreach programs. While residents feel safe in their own neighborhoods, the survey found many do not feel safe in the city as a whole and want more accountability for officers. Many also want to see the department react quicker once a community concern is raised. To read the full release and find a link to the full survey results, click here.

Vision Zero Update

The third issue of Madison's Vision Zero Quarterly Newsletter is now available. This issue discusses the work of Madison's Vision Zero initiative and how it is shaped by the public to increase safety and awareness of the issues the city faces. You can find more information about Vision Zero at its website.

Finally...

At last week's meeting, Council passed the resolution Alder Foster and I drafted committing the City to Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting set forth by the International Dark-Sky Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society.

According to these principles, lighting should be:

1. Useful: All light should have a clear purpose
2. Targeted: Light should be directed to only where needed
3. Low Light Levels: Light should be no brighter than necessary
4. Controlled: Light should be used only when useful
5. Color: Use warmer color lights where possible.

Moreover, the resolution states that the City of Madison will apply for designation as an International Dark Sky Community through the International Dark-Sky Association. Separately, Council voted overwhelmingly to amend Madison's ordinance on outdoor lighting in order to address light spillover and glare.

Thank you for supporting these important steps forward in addressing light pollution in Madison.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag