D16/City Relevant News and Updates Plus Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of June 21, 2021

Greetings!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Juneteenth and Father's Day weekend! I enjoyed walking in the 32nd Kujichagulia Madison Center for Self-Determination Juneteenth parade alongside my YWCA colleagues, being able to meet some peers on the Council and other local elected officials in person, and watching my daughter and her teammates, The Dynamic Badgerettes, perform in the parade and 2 additional community celebrations. I also enjoyed attending (and eating) at the 4th annual Juneteenth Soul Food Brunch (JSFB), hosted by EOTO Culturally Rooted. This year proceeds from the brunch went towards creating the Black Male Emergency Resource Fund, a supportive fund for Black men and fathers. The fund has been created because of the lack of resources for fathers and single men in our community despite the plethora available for mothers and women. If you'd like to learn about EOTO Culturally Rooted and/or donate to the fund, please visit their website - https://culturallyrooted.wedid.it/ - and choose, "Black Men's Emergency Resource Fund" as the designee. 

With the federal eviction moratorium nearing its end date of June 30th, the city and county have decided to increase the income eligibility limit for households to qualify for the Dane CORE Rental Assistance Program. Please see the flyer below for more information about how to apply for this assistance. Flyers in Spanish and Hmong will be available at a later date. 

In my last blog I included information regarding a dye test scheduled to occur at Starkweather Creek in order to prepare for PFAs remedial actions that will need to be taken at the Dane County Airport. Due to weather conditions, attempts to test have been unsuccessful to date. Airport and consulting staff (Mead & Hunt) will be evaluating conditions this week to see if the test could be conducted successfully, ideally tomorrow, Wednesday 6/23. I will continue to provide updates as they become available. 

The Clean Lakes Alliance team has contacted all Council members regarding an opportunity to help steer the development of a new, community action plan for improved lake health. To view and/or complete the survey, visit GREATER MADISON LAKE SURVEY.  Taking the survey will let Yahara CLEAN Compact members (19 government and community partners, convened by Clean Lakes Alliance) and consultants know how you feel as they assess priorities and formulate action recommendations. This is your chance to shape the final plan and help us build a better water quality future together!

Last Friday, Mayor Rhodes-Conway held a press conference regarding her proposal for the city's allocation of the $47.2M anticipated to come into our community as a result of the (federal) American Rescue Plan Act. I'd like to applaud the Mayor for her commitment to community investments such as affordable housing, shelter, and violence prevention while also working towards reducing the city's budget shortfall and economic losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At last night's finance committee meeting, the committee voted unanimously to refer the resolution to the Council for adoption. To see the powerpoint presentation presented at the press release and finance committee, click here. Furthermore, Council President Abbas is coordinating a briefing presentation for all Alders so that we can ask questions and become familiar with the proposed projects in order to make an informed decision regarding the resolution. 

I can't believe this but nearly 60 days have passed since the April 20th decision of the Council to transfer parking enforcement operations and officers from Madison Police Department to the Parking Division. As such, an update on the communications and engagement with parking enforcement employees throughout the transition was provided to all Council members. Several planning meetings have occurred since, as well as the formation of a diverse core transition team - responsible for leading the transition process - and the creation of recurring meetings for cross departmental communications and collaboration. 

Finally, I want to provide a short update about some district improvements I have been working on - speeding and the new large item pick up process. 

I have been in communications with staff of the city's traffic engineering department regarding areas of concern (Vondron, East Buckeye and South Thompson) and working on some lower cost solutions, due to having a limiting remaining budget, such as pedestrian warning signs, placing barrels in parking and/or right turn lanes near intersections to discourage passing on the right. Larger and more expensive improvements, such as traffic islands, Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFB), will need to wait to be considered for prioritized projects next year, however, data will be collected in order to inform prioritization. 

I have received some feedback regarding the city's change in large item pickup, mostly negative. Please know myself and other Alders are in communications with staff of the Streets Division to provide feedback and some suggestions for improvement. Like any significant change in processes/systems, this process has experienced it's share of challenges, in regard to consumer use. However, feedback from those who have used the system is extremely helpful in the advocacy to suggest changes in implementation as well as communications. Please do allow some time for staff to receive communications and feedback before having updates and modifications readily available. 

As always, I welcome your feedback and/or perspective on any policy that will come before the Council, as well as specific district concerns.  Here's to an enjoyable 1st week of (officially) summer!

-Jael

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of June 21, 2021

 Events, activities, seminars, etc.

• Madison Public Library, Be Well Madison  and Wisconsin Mujer, are hosting a series of events centered on health and wellness titled Live Well @ Your Library. Events will take place the 4th Sunday of each month in different Madison Public Library Neighborhoods from June-August, and will focus on themes of Reflection, Renewal, Restoration and Celebration. The first event will be June 27 at Pinney Branch Library.  In September, a full-day culminating event will take place at Central Library to go along with the Celebration theme and end the series.  Learn more here.
• Madison Dane Day of Reflection: The past 15 months have been like none other in recorded human history. They have taken their toll in ways we have yet to truly acknowledge, articulate and sometimes even allow ourselves to feel. None of us has been untouched by the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and widespread systemic injustice and violence toward Black, Indigenous and people of color.  On Friday, June 18, through Friday, June 25, you're invited to take some time to pause, remember and reflect on our collective trauma. It is hoped that people, organizations, and businesses across Madison and Dane County choose to intentionally mark the day in some way in a shared Day of Reflection. This could range from journaling or taking some moments of silence by yourself or with friends, family and colleagues to hosting a small, appropriately distanced gathering, candlelight vigil or walk of some sort. It could be through art or through demonstration. The choice is yours. Simply stop and shift your gaze to all we have been through together.  Humbly offered by participants of the City of Madison's Neighborhood Resource Teams. #MadisonDaneDayofReflection #2021DayofRelfection
• Upcoming, public-facing COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinics, as organized by Public Health Madison & Dane County:
  • Friday, June 18: Cottage Fireman's Festival, 5pm-8 pm
  • Friday, June 18: Bayview Center for Education and Arts, 11:30am-2:00 pm
  • Saturday, June 19: Cottage Grove Fireman's Festival, 3pm-7 pm
  • Monday, June 21: Jason Glenn Hair Salon, 12pm-7 pm
  • Tuesday, June 22: Waunakee Library, 3pm-6 pm. This is a dose 2 clinic; people needing 1st doses are also welcome.
  • Wednesday, June 23: Middleton Outreach Ministry, 10 am-1 pm

You can find details and see a map of all upcoming public clinics on the Public Health website.  Public Health Madison & Dane County's COVID-19 Data Snapshot is released every Thursday. You can read their weekly blog post for a summary of the week's data.

Announcements, press releases, press conferences, etc.

• Testing and vaccination operations at Alliant Energy Center are ending on June 26.  Read more here.
• In recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, Madison Public Library is celebrating with inclusive events, an all-new LGBTQ+ Wellness Guide, and booklists and book displays in libraries.  Learn more and register for the events here.

Monona Terrace resumed public tours on June 17.  Click here to learn more about dates and hours.

Save the Date

• The Madison Senior Center welcomes guests back to the building on July 13, 2021, at reduced capacity.  Read more here.
• Downtown Madison businesses are excited to share the return of Maxwell Street Days to State Street.  This year's event, now in its 44th year, expands from three days to four, July 15 – July 18.  Click here for hours and a list of the 60+ participating businesses.