Updates, Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of March 20, 2023

Greetings friends and neighbors,

Happy First Day of Spring!!

In-person absentee voting will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, March 21st at several locations throughout the City of Madison. In district/east side locations are:

Hmong Institute | 4402 Femrite Dr 

11:00 am – 3:30 pm Tuesdays, March 21 & 28
11:00 am – 3:30 pm Thursdays, March 23 & 30
10:00 am – 3:30 pm Fridays, March 24 & 31

Pinney Library | 516 Cottage Grove Rd
11:00 am – 7:00 pm weekdays, March 21-31
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, March 25 & April 1

Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church/Lake Edge United Church of Christ | 4200 Buckeye Rd | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Sundays, March 26 & April 2

Voters who have requested an absentee ballot by mail can return their completed absentee ballot to an in-person absentee voting location during the location's voting hours. A full list of early voting locations can be found here.

What will you need to bring with you if you're voting absentee in person?

• An acceptable photo ID for voting in Wisconsin.
• If you need to register for the first time or update your registration because of a move or name change, you will need to bring a proof of residence document with you, too.

Several offices and referenda will be on the ballot, including but not limited to the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, Madison Alder Districts, and the vote for Madison Mayor. Voters will also see six referendum questions, including the City of Madison Municipal referendum, where Madison voters will be asked to weigh in on whether to stagger alder terms. The Common Council Office recently issued a press release on the topic. In addition, WORT Radio spoke with Alder Paulson and City Attorney, Michael Haas about the upcoming binding referendum to stagger alder terms within the City of Madison Common Council. Listen to their conversation here.

Towards the end of last year, the Common Council Office hired Lorissa Banuelos as its first ever Community Engagement Strategist. Lorissa has been the staff person behind compiling and sending information to all alders on a weekly basis, providing high level overviews of city meetings, events and announcements. In addition, the Common Council Office now has its own Facebook page! If you're interested in seeing these updates on your own Facebook page, please visit and like or follow the page (https://www.facebook.com/CityofMadisonCommonCouncil).

The City of Madison Fire Department will be hosting a CPR and AED training at Fire Station 14 (3201 Dairy Drive) next Wednesday March 29th, 8:30-10am. Please be advised that this training is not a certified course. Register by emailing Captain AJ Greenlee at agreenlee@cityofmadison.com

Have a great week!

Jael

Common Council: The Common Council will meet in a hybrid format on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Agenda items include commending and thanking Tom Solyst for his dedicated service to Vera Court Neighborhood Center and the residents of Madison; amending regulations related to keeping chickens within Section 28.151 of the Madison General Ordinances to increase the number of chickens allowed as an accessory use; authorizing the City of Madison to develop a comprehensive response to the crisis in home healthcare in Madison; supporting the reopening and dismissal of certain Municipal Court cannabis convictions; and adopting the Hawthorne-Truax Neighborhood Plan as a supplement to the City of Madison Comprehensive Plan.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for public comment
• Watch online

Housing Strategy Committee: The Housing Strategy Committee will meet in a virtual format on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Agenda items include repealing Sections 32.03 and 33.34 and amending Section 33.09(3) of the Madison General Ordinances to combine the City-County Homeless Issues Committee, Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee, and Housing Strategy Committee; and a discussion on housing plan recommendations involving: Displacement & Segregation.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for public comment
• Watch Online

Save the Date! Northeast Area Plan – Open House Invitation: The City of Madison's Planning Division is excited to announce an Open House for its Northeast Area Plan. The Open House is part of ongoing community outreach efforts to engage with residents about land use, housing, transit, streets, bike, paths, and other community facilities in the region. The event, happening Wednesday, March 29th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Madison College, Truax Main Building, 1701 Wright Street, Room D1630 is an opportunity to bring residents and staff from different agencies together to discuss next steps. The Open House follows the Northeast Area Plan's kickoff meetings in which City staff met with area residents to address questions, concerns, and other feedback. Click here for the meeting building and parking map.

CALL FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS/NAVIGATORS – Apply before March 20th: Interested in helping neighborhood residents participate in the Northeast or West Area planning process?  The City of Madison is funding 4-5 Community Partner/Navigator positions that will conduct outreach to current residents, property owners, business owners, and other stakeholders, with a particular emphasis on low and moderate income communities. Depending on which area you are most familiar with, you select an area plan and apply online or by regular mail! For questions email us at Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com

• Northeast Area Plan Community Partner/Navigator guidelines and application
• West Area Plan Community Partner/Navigator guidelines and application

Lake Monona Waterfront Challenge: Your Input is Needed!

The Master Plan Submissions Are In! We are EXCITED about all three submissions for The Lake Monona Waterfront Challenge! Now we need your input to help us re-imagine possibilities for the waterfront.  Madison Parks is gathering public input and perspectives, and we need BIPOC representation to be included in the general themes. What does spending time on the lake waterfront look like for you? Your family? Or visitors?

Please review the three submissions via PADLET (click here) to share your visions and perceptions for the Lake Monona Waterfront Challenge by the end of the day on March 23, 2023.

Dane CORE 2.0 Rental Assistance Program Applications to Close May 31: Dane County and the City of Madison announced today that the Dane COronavirus REntal program (CORE 2.0), funded by the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program through the U.S.

The We Read Youth Voices Writing Contest Returns April 3: Madison Public Library will once again host the We Read Youth Voices Writing Contest in collaboration with Forward Madison FC  and the Wisconsin Book Festival  with support from the Madison Public Library Foundation  in the spring of 2023.

Madison Wells Meet Proposed Federal PFAS Standards: Today the US EPA released draft standards  for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. PFAS are a group of human-made substances that are widespread in the environment and can impact human health. The proposed standards take into account the best available science on human health impacts of PFAS and the detection limitations of drinking water testing facilities.

Blair Street South Project Resumes Work on E. Washington Ave.: (MADISON, Wis.)--Construction for the Blair Street South project will resume at 9 a.m. Monday, March 20, as the project shifts its focus to the E. Washington Avenue intersection.

2023 Spring Election Sample Ballots Available: The Spring Election is on Apr. 4, 2023. There are several offices and referenda that will be on the ballot in April.

Moving Forward Capital City Path Extension to Connect Glacial Drumlin State Trail: The City of Madison has submitted an application for federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding to complete the final phase of the Capital City Trail.