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Updates, Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of April 24, 2023

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Greetings friends and neighbors!
First, I'd like to say thank you for your support during the Spring Election. I am very pleased and grateful to be able to continue serving Madison and being your Common Council representative. Email continues to be the most efficient way to get a hold of me. My email is district16@cityofmadison.com. 
In the near future I will be hosting events to meet me as well as community events focused on specific areas of interest/policy (ie: traffic safety). For now, please save the date for a meet and greet social to be held the evening of Friday May 26th - I will share more information closer to the date!

Included in this update you'll find:

- An introduction to the 2023-2025 Common Council Cohort

- 2023 Property Tax Assessment Information

- WisDOT Interstate Alternatives

- Update about The Meadowlands Apartments

- City Meeting & Event Highlights

 

In community,
Jael

Introducing the 2023-2025 Cohort of Madison Alders!

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Our lovely Common Council Office staff took the time to gather information from all 20 alders which was published in a press release yesterday. Read the press release to learn more about the alders who will be representing their districts and city for the next (2 year) term!

2023 Property Tax Assessments

The 2023 property assessments are now available on the City website at cityofmadison.com/assessor. Assessment notices were mailed today to all property owners whether or not their assessment has changed from the previous year's value. Property values increased 14.4% overall from the 2022 assessments. Commercial property has increased 16.8% and residential assessments increased 12.9%. Information about the property assessment process in Madison is available in a Madison Assessor’s Office video available here .The open book period will begin Monday, April 24 and close Friday, April 28 at 4:30 p.m. This period of time is an opportunity to discuss property value and provide reason for changing value, if appropriate. Property owners must initiate contact with the appraiser for their property in one of two ways: email: openbook@cityofmadison.com; call: (608) 266-4531.

Interstate 39/90/94 WisDOT Design Alternatives Project

WisDOT project staff are putting together design alternatives for 67 miles of Interstate highway lanes and interchanges, including several along the East Side of Madison. Here’s the project webpage with more information about the project and its phases.

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Of note to residents in and near our district is the possible new interchange near what is currently the far eastern end of Milwaukee Street and I-94/WIS 30. City Transportation staff and other local elected officials (including myself and Alder Field) are coordinating to organize a public information meeting on this part of the project during the second half of May. As soon as the meeting is scheduled, information will be shared widely.

Special thanks and recognition to Alder Field of neighboring District 3 for compiling information about property tax assessments and the Interstate Interchange planning project! If you don’t already, I’d encourage you to subscribe to both he and Alder Martinez-Rutherford (District 15)’s blogs. Subscribe to get District 3 Updates | Subscribe to get District 15 Updates

The Meadowlands Apartments

A new apartment complex in District 16, The Meadowlands, has recently been in the news, as it was declared a chronic nuisance property in March. A nuisance in this term is a condition or use of a property that interferes with neighbors’ use or enjoyment of their property, endangers life, health or safety or is offensive to others. To date I haven’t shared much information publicly as I have been focused on assisting staff and residents of the building on addressing acute needs. Due to concerns I’ve been contacted about, as well as misinformation I’ve heard, I’d like to share some updates and information about efforts that have been launched to abate/decrease the amount and type of issues that have occurred.

As a result of the chronic nuisance declaration, KCG, the developer and property owner of The Meadowlands, is required to regularly meet with staff of the Madison Police Department (MPD) and the Office of the City Attorney (OCA) and provide a written course of action they intend to take to reduce the nuisance activity happening on the property. To date, some of the significant improvements KCG has implemented are:

  • ​Hiring of a contracted security firm to provide onsite security services
  • Entered into a contract with a local towing company to remove vehicles not permitted on the property
  • Increased the amount of onsite staff (maintenance and leasing specialist). They are currently in the process of hiring an Assistant Property Manager
  • Purchased and installed additional security cameras
  • Installed an outdoor playground

​Additional steps they are working on but will take time are:

  • ​Securing partnerships with a local non-profit organization(s) to provide onsite resources and/or support services
  • Implementation and construction of an approved landscaping plan

I have been working closely with KCG, MPD and OCA staff and attend weekly meetings where updates are provided. At last week’s Coffee with a Cop, East Neighborhood Resource Officer (Alexa) Graham shared the severity of calls at the apartment has subsided markedly in recent weeks. She also noted the physical presence of multiple (police) squad cars near or at the complex doesn't necessarily correlate with calls for service because MPD has been sending multiple responders to calls for service. Due to my work at YWCA Madison and specialty in housing and homeless services, I have been working with KCG executive staff to assist in identifying and connecting with non-profit organizations that have an interest and capacity to provide onsite services. One of those providers is Public Health Madison Dane County’s (PHMDC) Violence Prevention Coalition. In fact, PHMDC is currently coordinating a service fair they will host at the complex Saturday May 20, 2023 (flyer below).

While the complex has absolutely had its share of issues in a short amount of time, work is being done to make improvements. They absolutely won’t happen overnight but will take time. From my experience, it’s clear the majority of residents want to see improvements made. There is one thing I’m asking for the public and media’s assistance with – that is to refrain from referring to the apartments as "M Block." This is an assumed reference to Chicago’s “O Block.” The O Block has a history of being one of Chicago’s most troubled areas, notorious for homicides and gun violence. This is not what's occurring at The Meadowlands Apartments and it's not an association we want in Madison. Continuing to use this moniker is not helpful or productive to creating the community many of us are working towards.
Please continue reaching out to me with questions/concerns.

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Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of April 24, 2023

Meetings

  • Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 in hybrid format at 6:30 PM. Agenda items include amending the 2023 operating budget and setting the 2023 rates for the sewer utility, stormwater utility and landfill remediation (citywide); amending portions of Section 9.23 of the Madison General Ordinances relating to regulation of mobile home parks; repealing and amending sections of the Madison General Ordinances to remove the penalty of possession of certain weapons; and more.

Events

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  • Dane County Farmers' Market - Wednesday Market: The Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market is located on the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in between the Madison Municipal Building and the City County Building. While more intimate than the Saturday Market, you will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, bakery items, cut flowers, plants, and many specialty items.
  • East Side Farmers' Market, Tuesday, April 25, 2023: The Eastside Farmers' Market is Madison Wisconsin’s finest weekday farmers' market. Our goal is to bring the freshest Wisconsin grown food direct to the heart of the East side. Our vendor members are agricultural producers and food artisans who make value added products from Wisconsin's agricultural bounty.
  • Dane County Farmers' Market - Wednesday Market: The Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market is located on the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in between the Madison Municipal Building and the City County Building. While more intimate than the Saturday Market, you will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, bakery items, cut flowers, plants, and many specialty items.
  • Community Engagement: State of Black Children Dialogue | April 29: Join Blacks for Political and Social Action Dane County and other community organizations for a dialogue with Black educational experts on how to help our children succeed. The event will provide opportunities to discuss your concerns & solutions and includes lunch. RSVP is required. Please email bpsa20PAC@gmail.com if you have further questions about the event.
  • Annual Spring Break-A-Way 3on3 Basketball Tournament Series | April 28: After March Madness, the real tournament begins with the Annual Spring Break-A-Way 3on3 Basketball Tournament Series. Northside teens compete in a double-elimination tournament while enjoying a free meal. With on-site registration, players simply have to show up with two friends, or we will find a team for drop-in players. The tournament series is held on Friday nights: April 28, May 19 & May 26 (5pm-8pm), and includes middle school and high school divisions. Please stay home if you feel sick.
    For sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, contact Zach at 608-245-3684 or zwatson@cityofmadison.com.
  • HUD-Approved Homebuyer Education Class (2-Part Class)(April 22 and 29): This class is offered virtually and in person as a two part series. If you need help registering email cmonsivais@lacasadeesperanza.org.Your Path to Homeownership is provided by La Casa de Esperanza, a Non-Profit HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency dedicated to assisting individuals and families to increase income, build savings and gain assets. Our focus on financial wellness is supported by the Center’s programs and services which include; home buyer education and counseling, free tax services, employment coaching, financial coaching and access to financial workshops. Our people-centered approach supports our belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to work on their financial wellness.
  • Prescribed Burn Crew Member Volunteer Training, Saturday, April 29, 2023: Join Conservation Resource Supervisor, and DNR-certified Burn Boss, Paul Quinlan for a Burn Crew Member Volunteer Training. Meet Paul and team at Elver Park, behind the main shelter to learn basic fire management as an ecological tool in prairie or mixed hardwood forest, as well as safety during prescribed burns. You'll also learn the laws and rules Law and rules, proper burning conditions and basic fire methods.
  • Inspired by Wright: A Hands-on FLW Tour, Saturday, April 29: Join us for this hands-on Frank Lloyd Wright Tour demonstrating how Wright saw geometric shapes as underlying forms of nature and applied them to almost all his work. As you tour the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, you’ll learn how this unique site influenced Wright’s choice of geometry, which is expressed in nearly every aspect of the building and grounds.
  • Barks in Parks: Sculpture Unveiling, Sunday, April 30, 2023: Join the Madison Parks Foundation at Quann Dog Park on April 30 as they unveil the new custom pet tribute and memorial sculpture. This art sculpture memorial will offer the public a way to commemorate their pets while supporting Madison dog parks.

Announcements

Sound the Alarm. Save a Life! The American Red Cross is making homes fire resistant through the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. At no cost, you can have the Red Cross visit your home and demonstrate some simple changes that will help protect your family against fires including:

  • Free smoke alarm installation if no working smoke alarms are present in your home
  • Guidance in developing a Family Disaster Plan
  • Valuable emergency preparedness tips and information

Visit the Red Cross webpage to learn more and to setup your free appointment.

Streets Division Updates

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District 16 - Alder Currie

Alder Jael Currie

Alder Jael Currie

District 16
Contact Alder Currie