Rental Assistance, Tear Gas Report - D15 Update 2/22/21

Last Week

Rental assistance available

Are you a Dane County renter in danger of eviction due to COVID-19? You may be eligible for rental assistance from Dane CORE Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Learn more and see if you're eligible here.

Family shelter progress

City Engineering is working with Community Development and other City agencies and partners to convert the former Karmenta Nursing Home, 4502 Milwaukee Street, into a new shelter for families. You can watch a video about the work that's underway on the new shelter. The target opening date for the facility is set at March 15.

Spring primary election results 

Thanks to all of you that voted in the spring primary election on Tuesday. 1,236 voters cast their ballots in District 15, which is less than 17% of the 7,332 ballots cast in this fall's presidential election. 

Those D15 residents that did vote, favored Sheila Briggs (36.0%) and Jill Underly (35.3%) as the best choice for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Statewide results favored Jill Underly (27.4%) and Deborah Kerr (26.5%) as the top two vote getters and they will advance to the spring election on April 6. 

If you haven't already, please consider requesting your absentee ballot for the April 6 election now. It's quick and easy and you'll get your ballot in the mail several weeks ahead of election day. In addition to the State Superintendent race, there will also be questions on an advisory referendum about the size and shape of the Madison Common Council. I'll share more info about that referendum in a future update. You can request absentee ballots for all the elections this year at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/VoteAbsentee. 

Dean/Allis project approved at Board of Public Works

The Dean/Allis reconstruction project was approved by the Board of Public Works on Wednesday. Final approval for the project will be in front of the Common Council on March 2nd and construction is anticipated to begin this spring. You can find all the details to the project here.

In the news:

• COVID-19 Variant Strain B.1.1.7 Confirmed in Dane County
• Public Health, Health Care Team to Vaccinate Dane County School Staff
• City of Madison Seeking Part-Time School Crossing Guards
• Bus Lines Poetry Contest 2021
• Cabin Fever Survival Guide is a family-friendly activity guide for the last of the winter months during the pandemic
• Driver's license recovery info clinics are live! The YWCA is currently offering virtual info clinics for individuals who are experiencing licensing issues in the Dane County area. Appointments can be made on their website with more dates to be added in the future.
• Winter is Alive! a cooler world carnival
• 2021 Grants to Beautify Your Neighborhood or Build Capacity!
• Madison Commons, Media Digest

This Week

Common Council

The agenda for this Tuesday's Common Council agenda is relatively light. One item of possible interest to D15 residents is Item #4 - Amending the City of Madison Official Map to establish mapped reservations for future Streets and Highways in the current and future City of Madison generally located north of Milwaukee Street. This official 'mapping' will place a reservation on the official city map for potential future transportation network infrastructure based on the recommendations of the Milwaukee Street Special Area Plan. This will have little immediate impact, but helps ensure that we have the opportunity to construct needed facilities in the future and that property owners are aware of these plans.

Prior to the Common Council meeting, The Common Council Executive Committee will take up the MPD Tear Gas Usage Report. You can find the meeting details online here.

Other city meetings

There are a number of city meetings not highlighted in this update. You can find a full schedule of city meetings here.

Save the Date

• On Monday, March 1, from 5:30pm-7:30pm, there will be a Zoom-based Community Q & A Session regarding the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments related to allowing greater residential densities and adjusting conditional use thresholds.  There will be a video presentation to provide an overview, and Planning Division Director Heather Stouder and Zoning Administrator Matt Tucker will be available for questions. Register for the session at Housing Ordinance Changes – Overview and Community Q & A Read the proposed amendments here Read the Staff Report/Memo here
• Attend a virtual informational meeting on Wednesday, March 3, 6pm-7:30pm to provide feedback and learn more about the Metro Transit Network Redesign.  Complete information here.
• Join WRTP/BIG STEP for a virtual Women in Construction Roundtable via Zoom on Wednesday, March 10, at 4pm.  The roundtable will feature a panel of women who have found success in the construction industry.  The discussion will include personal stories from women in the industry; advice on how to have a successful career in construction; live Q&A/open discussion platform; and representation from several union trades.  Register for the roundtable here.  If you have any questions, please call WRTP/BIG STEP at (608) 255-0155 or email WRTP at southcentral@wrtp.org.
• On Wednesday, March 10 at 5pm, Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will be reviewing the planned bus stop changes occurring in 2021.  Changes include bus stops closing, opening, the addition of concrete bus stop pads and/or the addition of an amenity.
• The People's Maps Commission Public Hearing - March 11 (more info here)
• Spring Election - April 6

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