Common Council

Highlights for the Week of January 3, 2022

Events

• An 89-foot diameter temporary walking labyrinth will be constructed from recycled holiday tree branches this winter, and will be free and open to the public. How Lovely Are Thy Branches is coming to Olbrich Park Beach in Madison WI, January 2 through March 1, 2022. Read more here, including how you can donate your holiday greenery for the labyrinth.

Announcements

• City administrative offices are closed on December 31 and January 1. Emergency services will be open; please call 911. Use Report a Problem for non-emergencies.
• The Streets Division will be performing regularly scheduled curbside collections of trash and recycling on Friday, December 31, 2021. Streets Division drop-off sites will also be open on New Year's Eve, but they will be closing at 10:50am. Learn more here.
• On December 20, Public Health Madison & Dane County issued Face Covering Emergency Order #6 PDF , effective at 12:01am on January 3, 2022, immediately after the current order expires. The Dane County Order requires face coverings among people ages two and older when in most enclosed spaces open to the public where other people are present. The order will expire on February 1, 2022. Read more here.
• Nearly 150 Omicron cases have been identified in Dane County as of December 21. This indicates rapid growth of Omicron from the initial three cases that were first identified on December 16. The number of Omicron cases is expected to continue rising quickly as more cases are sequenced. Everyone should get vaccinated and boosted, monitor themselves carefully for symptoms, and get tested before gathering with others for the holidays, especially if gathering with people 65 or older, immunocompromised people, or people with chronic health conditions (like heart problems or diabetes). Learn more here.
• Metro Transit operates regular weekday schedules on Friday, December 31. There is no extended service. Buses follow HOLIDAY schedules on Saturday, January 1. Find all the details here.
• The City of Madison is one of many municipalities in the United States looking for creative, healthy and safe solutions to help community members experiencing unsheltered homelessness find a path forward, especially during the pandemic. The City of Madison constructed its Dairy Drive Sheltered Campground in record time, from buying and selecting the land, to working with Seattle-based Pallet to build 30 temporary structures with heat, air conditioning and electricity. The City's newest and first approach to constructing a sheltered campground is the first in the midwest of its kind. Everyday Engineering Podcast Host Hannah Mohelnitzky interviews City of Madison Community Development Department Director Jim O'Keefe and City of Madison Engineering Division Facilities Management Section Manager Bryan Cooper to talk about how the City approaches this work and is able to complete a project of this size in such a short amount of time. Learn more on the new Everyday Engineering Podcast episode: Creative Solution to Unsheltered Homelessness: Dairy Drive. You can also listen on RSS feed/GooglePlay/other podcast options in addition to iTunes.
• Following updated COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control  (CDC) and from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services  (DHS), Public Health Madison & Dane County is adopting new guidelines for the length of isolation and quarantine. Learn more here.
• The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees. The first round will begin on January 3, 2022 with the second and final round beginning on January 18, 2022. Collection will be weather dependent. Do not place wreaths, evergreen rope, garlands, and boughs out for tree collection. These belong in the trash. They contain wires or metal that can damage wood chipping equipment. More details can be found here, including information about how you can donate your tree for a public art installation, "How Lovely Are Thy Branches," at Olbrich Park. Learn more about the art installation here.
• Due to the sensitive grounds throughout the entire property, and to ensure an on-time 2022 opening, the Glenway Park grounds are CLOSED to the public. This includes walking, cross-country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing. Read more about the reasons for this closure in a Parks Division blog post, and find alternate locations to enjoy outdoor winter activities here.