City-County Building
Common Council

Week of July 14th

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Dear Neighbors,

It’s been a busy few weeks! I greatly appreciate everyone who has reached out to share their thoughts on upcoming proposals, hopes for the city, and issues that they need help with. As your alder, it’s my job to listen and make navigating local government easier.

Earlier this week, I met with Madison Metro’s Director of Operations Bryan Mulrooney to talk about how we can increase ridership and ease of use for Metro buses in District 16. We also discussed additional safety measures on the new 60-foot buses, including driver barriers, and the addition of these features to all other buses in the fleet. I was also able to tour the Hansen Road Bus Rapid Transit facility and learn about the maintenance and operations of BRT and the constant innovation of Madison Metro.

I had a great time attending MMOCA’s Art Fair on the Square to talk with local artists, see neighbors, and hear from folks about why they come back to Madison year after year. If you weren’t able to make it, Art Fair on the Square (and off the Square!) will continue tomorrow, July 13th, from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out. I am eager to hear from you!

-Sean 

Office Hours

Office Hours with Alder O'Brien

District 16 is one of the largest aldermanic districts in Madison, stretching from Stoughton Road to the far edge of the city and from Reston Heights all the way to Secret Places and Owl Creek.

On the campaign trail, I promised to show up and be accessible to residents from every corner of our district. I’m excited to announce my first round of office hours for July and August! These will be a great opportunity to meet with me face-to-face, hear about what’s happening at the city, and share your thoughts and ideas.

  1. July 24th – 10:00am-12:00pm at Twisted Grounds Coffee in Madison
  2. August 13th – 2:00-4:00pm at Ed Locke Public Library in McFarland

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I hope to see you there!

Housing Forward Proposals

Housing Forward Flag Lots
How a deep residential lot can be converted into two separate lots, creating a new backyard lot

As many of you are aware, the Common Council will be considering three proposals to address Madison’s housing crisis. The most common concern that I have heard from residents of all ages is affordability and the lack of housing choice in our city. There is no one single solution that will magically fix this crisis, but through tangible steps like this, we can begin to diversify and increase Madison’s housing stock to better accommodate our growing population.

These proposals are about creating choice in housing and making it easier for folks to get into homes – and then stay in their homes – to raise a family or enjoy retirement. I have heard from dozens of residents across District 16 and the entire city in support of these changes. People recognize the need not only for affordable housing, but increased choice for all housing types in Madison. The three proposals include:

  1. Legistar 88735: Allow more property owners with deep residential lots to split their lots to create what is also called a “Backyard Lot” to support the potential creation of more homeownership lots. I am a sponsor of this proposal.
  2. Legistar 88736: Allow two units of housing as a permitted use on any residential lot that currently allows single-family homes citywide to support the creation of more duplexes and homeownership opportunities. I am a sponsor of this proposal.
  3. Housing Forward Map
    Map showing where 2-unit housing is currently allowed in Madison and where it would be expanded

    Legistar 88737: Adjust downtown zoning rules to be more similar to other parts of the city and create more opportunities for mid-scale development. I am a sponsor of this proposal.

The proposals went before the Housing Policy Committee on June 26th and the Plan Commission on July 7th and received unanimous support. There was also a Public Information Meeting with residents from all parts of the city who shared their feedback on July 2nd. The city has put together a shareable document with summaries of the three policies and a fantastic FAQ section.

These proposals have earned the support of trusted community organizations such as the American Association of Retired Persons of Wisconsin (AARP), 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Downtown Madison Inc., Madison is For People, the Realtors Association of South-Central Wisconsin, Urban League of Greater Madison, and Strong Towns.

Property Safety

Property Crime Safety Instructions

There has been a slight uptick in light property crimes in parts of District 16. As a reminder, please make sure that you are keeping your vehicles and garages locked. If you see suspicious behavior, especially at night, please report it to the Madison Police Department. Suspicious behavior includes:

  • Walking across yards, from driveway to driveway
  • Walking along rows of cars parked on the street, seemingly peeking inside or checking the doors
  • Flashlights in yards or garages at night

If you see any of the above behaviors, you can call MPD and provide a physical description, direction of travel for the individual, and access to any doorbell or security camera footage.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

  • Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 15, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include the three housing forward proposals.
    • Items #6-8 - The Housing Forward proposals listed above. (I am a sponsor)
    • Item #11 - Allowing for construction and change in the legal status of certain lands associated with the Madison Lakeway’s project.
    • Item #14 - Entering a contract for the Starkweather Creek Watershed and Olbrich Gardens Watershed Study. (I am a sponsor)
    • Item #27 - Approving plans and specifications for public improvements necessary for 4575 Helgesen Drive CSM and authorizing construction.
    • Item #54 – Allowing for entering of agreements with intercity bus providers to recover costs.
    • Item #55 – Allowing for fundraising for the annual Metro Transit Bus Rodeo.
    • Item #62 - Maintenance of public water transmission pipeline facilities to be constructed by the Pressure Zone 4 Interstate Crossing project. (I am a sponsor)
    • Meeting Details
    • Meeting Agenda
    • Register for Public Comment
    • Watch Online
  • Police and Fire Commission: The Police and Fire Commission meeting will take place on Monday, July 14, at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include a discussion of the Police Chief hiring process.
  • Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 15, at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include approving amendments to Tax Incremental Districts in District 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, and 15.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Announcements and News Releases

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

Parks Alive Dates!

Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you! Events start at 5:00 p.m.

Please find additional upcoming City of Madison Parks events listed on the City parks event calendar.

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

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District 16 - Alder O'Brien

Alder Sean O'Brien

Alder Sean O'Brien

District 16
Contact Alder O'Brien