Budget, Transportation/Traffic, Sheltered Campground & County Landfill Updates Plus Highlights for the Week of November 15th

Greetings friends and neighbors,

I cannot believe it's already mid-November! With the snow we received yesterday and more in our upcoming forecast I can't help but feel WI winter knocking at our doors. While the cold isn't ideal (in my opinion), I hope this weather reminds you of your favorite winter time traditions and you are able to participate in them during this time. Baking cookies, drinking hot chocolate (with LOTS of whip cream) and curling up under blankets binge watching my favorite movies are among mine :)

I also want to acknowledge that my blog presence has been lacking as of late along with slowed email responses. Now that I've made it through my first city budget process I am anticipating my schedule to be a bit more relaxed through the end of the year. I also want to thank you for your patience, understanding and support during this time. One of our most significant budget wins, gaining a full service ambulance at Fire Station #14, was due in part to your advocacy and collective voice!! 

I hope this upcoming week is good to you and yours - stay warm!

Best,

Jael

2022 Budget Updates

After nearly 20 hours of deliberations, the Common Council approved the City's 2022 Capital and Operating Budgets. A major highlight for D16 includes funding for a 9th ambulance at Fire Station 14 to serve the city's southeast side. The Fire Department anticipates the ambulance to be in service by February 1, 2022. View all the details about the budget at www.cityofmadison.com/finance/budget.

Dairy Drive Sheltered Campground 

Madison's first ever sheltered campground is nearly complete and will be welcoming it's new residents this week! Over the past week, MACHOne Health, Kabba Recovery and staff of the City's Community Development Division have hosted several open hour tours of the site with great success. Below are pictures of 1) view of the pallet shelters from outside 2) view inside a model pallet shelter

MACHOne Health is asking for the community's support in assisting residents settle into their new home and has compiled a list of useful donations. Please visit this page to view the list and feel free to share widely within your networks!

The Dairy Drive sheltered campground is one of two solutions city staff have produced after being asked to find alternatives for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness before enforcing ordinances to end the encampment at Reindahl Park. Last week the Common Council approved part two of this plan, which will provide 35 hotel rooms (for shelter/housing) to individuals currently living at Reindahl Park. With the impending transition of campers to one of these two locations, the Common Council will continue working with city staff to end the temporary permissible encampment at Reindahl and begin the work to restore the park back to its intended use(s). 

Transportation/Traffic Updates

Redevelopment of US Highway 51 from Interstate 39/90 east of Stoughton to the Madison Beltline

The WI DOT is proceeding with design of the US 51 corridor, from I-39/90 east of Stoughton to US 12/18 north of McFarland. Construction along the corridor is scheduled for 2024 to 2029 but could be completed sooner depending on funding. The project is set to include a reconstruction of the road from the interstate to Larson Beach Road in McFarland as well as a passing lane east of Stoughton and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements. More details about the project are available on the DOT's website.

DOT is seeking public feedback to help guide the project design. You can provide feedback this Thursday 11/18 4-6pm at the next DOT hosted public information meeting. Please note the meeting is in person and will take place at the McFarland Municipal Center (5915 Milwaukee St, McFarland).

Alternate Side Parking 

Be advised, alternate side parking begins at 1am today, Sunday November 15th! Alternate side parking is in effect each night from Nov 15, 2021- Mar 15, 2021and is only enforced between the hours of 1-7am daily. Read more about this policy in this media release,

County Landfill Updates

The county landfill (utilized by city & county residents) is running out of space and staff are currently working towards offering a solution. As you may have seen/read recently in the news, one of those solutions is to purchase a portion of the Yahara Hills golf course for expanded landfill use as well as a sustainability campus. Please view a PowerPoint presentation regarding the proposal here. 

The project will be running through multiple processes moving forward. Public information meetings will likely occur in January and/or February 2022 in regards to changes that will need to be made to the current neighborhood plan, should the proposal be approved. 

I have heard from several residents, particularly those within the four neighborhoods south of the Beltline (Owl Creek, Lost Creek, Secret Places, Liberty Place and Twin Oaks) with concerns about this project. Please know that I've heard you and will be working with city staff to ensure your concerns are shared and addressed. As I receive them, I'll be sharing updates about the development's movement on my city webpage/blog. 

Event Highlights for the Week of November 15, 2021

Events, activities, seminars, etc.

With wintery weather ahead, be sure to check out all the opportunities for outdoor fun to be had in Madison Parks. Whether it's a tried-and-true favorite or exploring a new activity, you're certain to find something you'll enjoy.

Good news! Public Health Madison Dane County is now booking appointments for 5-11 year olds only at the Arena clinic at the Alliant Energy Center, open Tuesday through Saturday. Demand is high, and appointments may be limited. Consider also checking with your health care provider or other local vaccinators for an appointment. There are many services available at the Alliant including, a temporary clinic for first doses, second doses, boosters, and vaccines. Book an appointment by clicking here. Appointments are required for 5-11 year olds and strongly recommended for all others to avoid long wait times. Walk-in availability is not guaranteed. If you need help booking an appointment, please call (608) 242-6328. This site is a walk-in site. It is not a drive thru site. There are transportation options available, if you need a ride. If you booked an appointment, have your confirmation email handy, either on your phone or printed out. Public Health also offers vaccination at their South Madison and East Washington offices. 5 to 17 year olds are able to receive the Pfizer vaccine, but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when they arrive to be vaccinated. If this is not possible, a parent or guardian needs to be reachable by phone.

In conjunction with the Mexican Mobile Consulate's visit to Madison College's Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, you're invited to attend an Immigration Resource Fair, offered from 10am – 2pm each day on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21 at the campus. Attendees will have an opportunity to consult with Madison College's Legal Clinic volunteer lawyers, learn about creating an emergency contact plan, meet with area community organizations who provide immigration resources, have documents notarized, and much more! Services available in Spanish. There will also be COVID-19 vaccinations available, including for children ages 5 and up, on a first come-first served basis. Questions? Please call 608-242-6260. Request your appointment for the Mobile Mexican Consulate at https://mexitel.sre.gob.mx/, or by calling 1(877) 639-4835.

On Thursday, November 18, there will be a combined Madison Night Market AND a Seasonal Lighting Celebration. Join Santa & Mrs. Claus for a special ceremony beginning at 6pm where the Capitol Square meets State Street. At 6:08pm, all the lights will be turned on. See the location map of the special light displays and community planters.

Announcements, press releases, press conferences, etc.

Face Covering Emergency Order #4 went into effect on November 5, 2021. See Face Covering Emergency Order #4 and news release for details. This order will be in effect until November 27, 2021.

The Engineering Division would like you to know about their upcoming Public Information Meetings (PIM). You can always find the latest PIMs on the Engineering Website homepage and Engineering Division Facebook Event Tab.

Old Middleton Road Resurfacing

12 p.m., Nov. 15, 2021, via Zoom. Registration prior is required:

Nov. 15, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

Craig Avenue Resurfacing

6 p.m., Nov. 23, 2021, via Zoom. Prior registration is required:

Nov. 23, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

St. Paul Avenue, Ohio Avenue, Talmadge Street, Jackson Street, Lafollette Avenue Reconstruction

5:30 p.m., Nov. 30, 2021, via Zoom. Registration prior is required.

Nov. 30, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

11:30 a.m., Dec. 1, 2021, via Zoom. Registration prior is required.

Dec. 1, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

Old Middleton Road Resurfacing

6 p.m., Dec. 1, 2021, via Zoom. Prior registration is required:

Dec. 1, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

Davies Street, Dempsey Road, Maher Avenue Reconstruction

6 p.m., Dec. 2, 2021, via Zoom. Prior registration is required:

Dec. 2, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

Resurfacing 2022

5 p.m., Dec. 14, 2021, via Zoom. Registration prior is required.

Dec. 14, 2021 Public Information Meeting Registration

Resurfacing Project Page

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which are second dwelling units on properties with single-family homes, can be a great opportunity to provide additional housing options in neighborhoods across our growing city. ADUs have been allowable in Madison since 2013, and many growing cities across the U.S. are beginning to allow them or to relax zoning regulations to promote more of them. Based on recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan, recent housing reports, and the Mayor's 2021 Housing Forward Initiative, elected officials and staff have proposed changes to the City's Zoning code to help make the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units easier as another housing choice in Madison (please see Legislative Item 68079.) To find out more about the scope of the proposed changes, please review one or both of these focused resources:

Brief memorandum from Planning & Zoning Staff, dated November 2, 2021

15-minute video of Staff Presentation to Plan Commission on November 8, 2021 (starts at Minute 9:30 in video)

Scheduled Public Hearings (Virtual Meetings)

1. Monday, November 22, 2021 Plan Commission (5:30 PM Start)

2. Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Common Council (6:30 PM Start)

Please feel free to submit questions for staff or written comments for consideration by Plan Commissioners and members of the Common Council to: planning@cityofmadison.com, with "ADUs" in the subject line.