Common Council

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of January 10, 2022

Meetings

Greater East Towne Plan

The Transportation Policy and Planning Board will be discussing adoption of the Greater East Towne Plan as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan at their meeting on Monday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

The Board of Parks Commissioners will be discussing adoption of the Greater East Towne Plan as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan at their meeting on Wednesday.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment

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

Events

• Madison International Partners offers citizenship classes on Tuesday evenings from 5pm-6:30pm and on Saturday mornings from 9am-10:30am. Classes are held online via Zoom, and enrollment for both classes is now open. If interested, you can register here.
• Appointments are now open at "walk-up" testing site at Alliant Energy Center. Public Health Madison & Dane County is supporting DHS-contracted private testing provider, Accelerated Labs, to open an additional mass testing clinic in Dane County to help meet the demand for testing with a sustainable solution amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. For more information can be found here.

Announcements

• Removing snow from all Metro bus stops requires a lot of teamwork! Metro receives help from various City of Madison departments in order to clear stops quickly and efficiently. The team does the best they can removing snow from every stop, however some get missed along the way. For fast results, please let the City know when they miss a stop by using the City Report-a-Problem form. This ensures the correct department is notified.
• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is requiring all passengers and employees to wear face masks while utilizing all forms of public transit, including Metro Transit buses and paratransit vehicles. The federal order has been extended into March 2022.
• The Streets Division has several ways for you to stay informed about snow plow updates:
  • Get Snow Plow Updates informing you of what the Streets Division is doing to fight the current snowfall.
  • Follow the Streets Division on Twitter at Madison Winter.
  • Find the Streets Division on Facebook.
• Are you planning to apply to the 2022 Neighborhood Grant Program? If so, you are required to meet with City staff to discuss your project by January 17, 2022. Grant awards in 2021 were for projects such as a gathering place in Mohican Triangle Park, Darbo Neighborhood Council leadership training and the Junction Ridge Oasis in Junction Ridge Park. View photos of the Junction Ridge Oasis grand opening and learn more here.
• Take action: protect your trees from the gypsy moth. Winter is the time to take action and help control the gypsy moth population in Madison. This moth species is a pest that can defoliate and weaken trees. In addition, while they prefer oak trees, all tree species are susceptible to this bug. You can help your trees by destroying the moth's egg masses, which can hold upwards of 1,000 eggs, so you can make a big difference by destroying them. The masses are fuzzy, brownish patches that are often found on tree trunks or other flat outdoor surfaces like picnic tables, sheds, and so on. There are two ways to destroy egg masses:
  • First, you can scrape them from the surface and place them in a container filled with soapy water. Let them soak in the water for two days and then throw the masses into the trash.
  • Or, you can apply a soybean oil-based product called "golden pest oil" directly to the egg masses to prevent them hatching. You can find golden pest oil at garden centers.

Learn more about what homeowners can do to protect their trees from moths at the UW-Extension website.

• Streets Division Updates
  • Large item pickup service has increased! Instead of monthly set-out opportunities, you will see many more chances for pickup. In order to get your home on the pickup schedule, you must submit a work order.
  • The Streets Division drop-off sites are now on winter hours. Be sure to check the drop-off site webpage so you know the hours before loading your car.
  • 2022 is here, so be sure you have the current trash and recycling collection calendar. Download your calendar today or call the Streets Division to have one mailed to your home.