Yard Waste and Curbside Brush Collection Starts 4/6, Social Distancing on City Paths and Virtual Council Meeting Info

Sharing details on spring yard waste and curbside brush collection, social distancing while using City bicycle and pedestrian pathways and information on the first virtual council meeting taking place tomorrow.

Spring Yard Waste Collection Starts April 6

Residents should anticipate slower collection service than in past years.

On Monday, April 6, 2020 the Streets Division will begin curbside yard waste pickup .

Residents should anticipate slower collection service than in past years.

Collection depends on staff availability. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Streets Division will adjust crew responsibilities to ensure critical operations like trash and recycling collection continue uninterrupted. Crews may need to be reassigned from yard waste pickup to perform crucial services, resulting in delays.

There will still be two curbside pickup opportunities during spring. After both collection opportunities occur, curbside yard waste collection will end for the summer months. Curbside yard waste collection will return in the fall for leaf collection season.

What is Yard Waste?
Yard waste is plant material. Examples include pulled weeds, fallen leaves, and other plant debris. Yard waste also includes pumpkins, crabapples, black walnuts, pine cones, vines, and even twigs that are less than 18 inches long.

Woody material trimmed from trees, shrubs, and bushes is brush. Brush and yard waste are separate collection services.

When Do I Set Out Yard Waste for Collection?
Go to the Streets Division's yard waste website and click on the blue Pickup Schedule button.

Once on the map page, if your neighborhood is shaded green for "Pickup Pending," you should prepare your yard waste for collection. Crews will be around soon to collect what is out.

The Pickup Schedule is updated at the end of each workday when curbside collection is active. Residents wishing to know the most current information regarding the whereabouts of crews and the collection status of their neighborhood should check the Pickup Schedule website regularly.

Following the Pickup Schedule's map's guidance will ensure the yard waste is out to the curb before crews arrive so residents should not miss their two spring opportunities.

The map cannot provide a date as to when the actual collection from the curb will take place. Progress of collection crews depends on the amount of material set to the curb, crew & equipment availability, and weather.

Residents can also call the brush and yard waste collection hotline at 608-267-2088.

How Yard Waste Should Be Prepared for Collection 
When setting out yard waste, residents can pile the material loose on the terrace or curbside. Residents can also place yard waste into compostable paper bags.

If bags are used, they must be open at the top. Yard waste can also be placed under a tarp to prevent it from blowing into the street.

Do not place yard waste in the street or gutter.

Yard waste in the street creates a nutrient-rich runoff that leads to algae blooms and weed growth in the lakes. Yard waste piles in the street can also clog storm drains, which may lead to street ponding during rainstorms.

Yard waste piles should be placed away from obstructions such a trees, utility poles, mailboxes, and fire hydrants.

And, do not mix brush with yard waste. Brush is a separate collection process than yard waste. Piles of brush and yard waste folded together will not be collected.

More information about preparing yard waste for pickup can be found on the Streets Division website, or by watching the "How to Prepare Yard Waste for Pick-Up" video on the City of Madison YouTube channel.

Drop-off Sites Remain Closed
The drop-off sites at 1501 W. Badger Rd, 4602 Sycamore Ave, and 402 South Point Rd remain closed to the public.

The sites will reopen once the Safer at Home Order has been lifted.

Additional Information
For more information regarding the yard waste collection and other Streets Division services, please visit www.cityofmadison.com/streets.

Curbside Brush Collection Begins April 6

Residents should anticipate slower collection service than in past years.

On Monday, April 6, 2020, the Streets Division will begin curbside brush collection.

Residents should anticipate slower collection service than in past years.

Collection depends on staff availability. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Streets Division will adjust crew responsibilities to ensure critical operations like trash and recycling collection continue uninterrupted. Crews may need to be reassigned from brush pickup to perform crucial services, resulting in delays.

What is Brush?
Brush is woody material trimmed from trees, shrubs, and bushes that measure over 18 inches in length.

Leaves, weeds, grass clippings, and similar plant debris is yard waste. Yard waste is a separate collection service.

When Will My Brush Be Collected?
To learn when you should place your brush out for pickup, go to the Streets Division's brush collection website and click on the Pickup Schedule button.

Once on the map age, neighborhoods shaded green for "Pickup Pending" should prepare the brush for collection. Crews will be around soon.

The Pickup Schedule is updated at the end of each workday when brush collection is active. Residents wishing to know the most current information regarding the whereabouts of crews and the collection status of their neighborhood should check the Pickup Schedule website regularly.

Following the Pickup Schedule map's guidance will ensure brush is out to the curb before collection crews arrive, and a collection opportunity should not be missed. The map will not be able to provide a specific date as to when collection will occur.

Residents can also call the brush and yard waste collection hotline at 608-267-2088 for estimates on collection. The hotline recording is updated weekly.

How to Prepare Brush for Pick-Up 
In order for brush to be collected at the curb, it must not be longer than 8 feet in length, and must not be thicker than 8 inches in diameter.

Brush should be piled on an open area of the terrace away from trees, utility poles, and other obstructions.

Be sure to pile brush with cut ends facing the same direction, and separate brush from any foreign objects like loose dirt, metal, wire, rocks, and items set out for large-item pickup.

Do not put brush into bags, boxes, or any receptacle. Brush placed into a container will not be collected. Smaller brush piles may be bundled with string or twine. Bundles must be shorter than 4 feet in length and must not weigh more than 40 pounds. Oversized bundles, and brush bundled with wire, will not be collected.

Do not pile brush in the street, or obstruct the sidewalk.

Also, do not mix brush with yard waste. Brush is a separate collection than yard waste, so the piles must be kept separate. Piles with material mixed together will not be collected.

More information about brush collection can be found on the Streets Division's website, or by watching the "How to Prepare Brush Waste for Pick-Up " video.

Finally, the Streets Division will not collect brush that has been cut by a contractor.

Drop-off Sites and Brush Processing Center Remain Closed
The Streets Division's drop-off sites at 1501 W. Badger Rd and 4602 Sycamore Ave and the Brush Processing Center at 121 E. Olin Ave remain closed to the public.

These sites will reopen once the Safer at Home Order has been lifted.

Collection Season
Curbside brush collection should last until the start of the fall leaf collection season.

Residents will have multiple opportunities for curbside brush pickup during collection season.

The official final round of brush collection will be announced when then the start of the fall leaf pickup season is known.

Special Note: Large Brush Piles
Piles that will take chipper crews longer than 10 minutes to process will be assigned to a one-man crane vehicle to collect. The crane vehicle, also called a "clam," will typically arrive within three business days of the chipper crew.

Social Distancing while using City Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways

The City of Madison's shared-use paths remain open. The City's bicycle and pedestrian paths play a crucial role in a number of essential activities including travel to/from work and providing community members opportunities to maintain mental and physical well being. We encourage users to participate responsibly.

To maintain compliance with the Emergency SAFER AT HOME Order by Governor Tony Evers PDF (pdf), and heeding guidance from Public Health Madison & Dane County,

Please help keep our community healthy and safe by following these tips when using Madison's shared-use paths:

• Do not go out if you or someone in your household feels sick.
• If you can, choose less frequented paths or go at less popular times.
• Always keep 6 feet away from people you do not live with including when passing people.
• If you use earbuds to listen to a portable device, keep the volume low enough to hear what is happening around you.

Tips for Walking /Running

• When in busy areas, walk single file lines or with just one child when out with household members.
• Avoid stopping on the path as it makes it hard for other users to pass safely, step off to an area off the path.
• When walking with your dog, please keep it under control and away from other users.

Tips for Bicycling/Rolling

• Ride cautiously and within your ability level.
• Do not forget to let others know you are passing.
• Only pass when you can maintain 6 feet of distance from other users.
• Do not pass in between people walking in opposite directions.
• No group riding or rolling with people outside your household.
• When active with household members, keep your group small.

To view additional information about Madison area bicycle paths currently available and in development, visit https://www.cityofmadison.com/bikeMadison

Madison Common Council to Conduct First Virtual Meeting on March 31, 2020

On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the Madison Common Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting virtually in response to COVID-19. The City's IT Team has been working to adapt technology to conduct meetings similar to in-person meetings. The City has selected video and audio-conferencing software Zoom, which will be used by Alders, staff, and members of the public wishing to testify in front of the Council.

March 31, 2020, agenda: www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/meeting-schedule/common-council-86

For members of the public wishing to watch the meeting, we highly recommend watching via the Madison City Channel website, City of Madison YouTube Channel  or on television (Charter Digital 994 and AT&T U?Verse 99). Audio listening via phone is available by calling: (312) 626-6799, and typing: 531 697 510

You can watch the meeting using the Zoom app, but we recommend using one of the above methods if you won't be speaking on an agenda item. Find how to watch the meeting via Zoom at: www.cityofmadison.com/virtual-common-council.

For those who wish to provide input on items on the agenda, we recommend sending in comments or registering to speak as soon as possible.

1. Written Comments: You can send comments on agenda items to allalders@cityofmadison.com.
2. Register but Do Not Speak: You can register your support or opposition to an agenda item without speaking at www.cityofmadison.com/comment-common-council.
3. Register and Speak: If you wish to speak at the virtual meeting on an agenda item, you must register to speak at www.cityofmadison.com/comment-common-council. When you register to speak, you will be sent an email with the information you will need to join the virtual meeting.

"This will be a new experience for all Alders, staff, and the public. We ask for patience while we navigate challenges related to this new technology," said Council President Shiva Bidar.

The public is encouraged to share feedback on their experience by e-mail to it@cityofmadison.com, subject line: CC Virtual meeting.

As always, if there is anything I can do to help, feel free to reach out: district19@cityofmadison.com

-Keith F