Alder Patrick Heck
Contact Information
Home Address:
123 N. Blount St #303- Phone: (608) 286-2260
- district2@cityofmadison.com
- Contact Alder Patrick Heck
- Contact Council
Council Office
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
Room 417
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 266-4071
Fax: (608) 267-8669
WI Relay Service
Alder Heck’s Updates
Updates & Week of May 18 Meetings of Interest for District 2
District 2 Updates and Meetings of Interest
City meetings remain online only with details on agendas listed in Meetings of Interest below; all have virtual public participation options.
Stay in touch with your neighbors through either Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. or Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association. CNI's next virtual Executive Committee meeting is May 26. Both organizations provide great ways to plug into both neighborhood and city happenings.
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There are three sections to this week's update:
- COVID-19 Updates
- Other District 2 Updates
- City Meetings of Interest to District 2

- Salvation Army on Darbo St: (608) 250-2203.
- East Madison Community Center
- The River Food Pantry
- Madison Metropolitan School District free lunch offerings.
- Dane County Immigration Affairs Specialist: Fabiola Hamdan, hamdan@countyofdane.com, 608-242-6260
- Latino Consortium for Action (LCA) Emergency Relief Fund for COVID-19
- Tenant Resource Center: 608-257-0006 ext. 7
- Greater Madison Resource Center: COVID-19 Resources and Needs
Info on Madison Public Library's Curbside Service and Library@Home here.
From the City's Economic Development Division: Business & Non-profit Information Covid-19.


- final plans for a site previously approved for demolition of a residential building with no proposed use;
- a conditional use in the Downtown Residential 2 (DR2) District for a multi-family dwelling with more than eight dwelling units;
- consideration of a conditional use to allow outdoor recreation; and
- consideration of a conditional use to construct two additional stories in Area F of the "Additional Heights Area Map" in MGO Section 28.071(b).



- The excess height is compatible with the existing or planned (if the recommendations in the Downtown Plan call for changes) character of the surrounding area, including but not limited to the scale, mass, rhythm, and setbacks of buildings and relationships to street frontages and public spaces.
- The excess height allows for a demonstrated higher quality building than could be achieved without the additional stories.
- The scale, massing and design of new buildings complement and positively contribute to the setting of any landmark buildings within or adjacent to the projects and create a pleasing visual relationship with them.
- For projects proposed in priority viewsheds and other views and vistas identified on the Views and Vistas Map in the City of Madison Downtown Plan, there are no negative impacts on the viewshed as demonstrated by viewshed studies prepared by the applicant.
Some neighbors are concerned about the loss of the existing buildings that contribute to the history and fabric of the James Madison Park neighborhood and contain affordably priced apartments while others see the need for more housing and density along what is expected to be Madison's first Bus Rapid Transit route.
Help Snuff Out Smoking-Related Fires
According to the Madison Fire Department, a number of recent fires have left more than 80 people in our community without a home, and each fire had a common link: cigarettes. Since February, MFD has responded to at least six fires suspected or determined to be caused by improperly discarded smoking materials. These fires have resulted in nearly $3 million in property loss, in addition to leaving dozens of people searching for new homes. Luckily, no injuries or fatalities have resulted from these fires, but firefighters call attention to the trend in hopes of preventing more fires like these. More information from MFD here.
Traffic Enforcement Effort on East Washington Ave.
Due to reports of reckless driving, speeding, and noise on East Washington, the Madison Police Department has recently conducted six traffic operations in the E. Washington corridor. According to MPD, complaints about these issues have come from residents extending from Capitol Square to the Interstate. Working together, three Police Districts (Central, North, and East) put a plan into place to increase traffic enforcement and high visibility patrols, specifically on Friday and Saturday nights. Six operations were conducted in April and May, resulting in the following:
Contacts: 148
Tickets/Citations: 56
Warning: 24
Due to the on-going complaints and their patrol officer's observations, MPD will continue this approach through the month of June. They have requested the help of the Traffic Enforcement Safety Team and plan to involve City Traffic Engineering and other law enforcement agencies, as well as considering a local media push and community outreach. From what I hear from many longtime Madison residents, these problems along E. Washington have persisted for decades, but in the last couple of years and during the pandemic the situation has deteriorated further. I hope that we can find multiple ways to increase safety and decrease noise along E. Wash.
Gates of Heaven Exterior Restoration Project
City Engineering is proposing a restoration project for the historic Gates of Heaven Synagogue building in James Madison Park (See Board of Public Works Agenda Item 21 below). They plan to clean the exterior stone, consolidate it, replace very few stones, repoint point the brick, restore the existing windows and doors, and standardize the storm windows. The stone consolidant will bind the sand particles together so that they do not continue to flake off. According to Engineering, this Madison sandstone is beautiful in its soft worn state, but it is also fragile and takes on damaging amounts of water so they must strike a balance.
Work could happen around Parks reservations of the space sometime between August 2020 and December 2020, but due to the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, the schedule could change. Keep up with the project at this website. The funding for the Gates of Heaven floor replacement project, has already been approved.
Reminder: MG&E Seeking Annual Pruning Permit
Every year, Madison Gas and Electric applies for a permit to conduct tree pruning around their high voltage utility lines to ensure the safe transmission of electricity to our homes and businesses. Residents have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about MGE's pruning permit until 3:00pm on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Details in an earlier Alder Update.
From Madison's Dept. of Civil Rights:
The City's Department of Civil Rights wants you to know, if you have not received needed medical attention or if you have experienced discrimination while seeking healthcare (based on race, gender, or another protected class), you can file a complaint for their office to investigate. Inequities in access to healthcare and unique health risks may lead to an increase in disease and death rates among people of color, particularly African Americans, according to national reports. You are encouraged to access their services online here.
Volunteers Needed to Remove Garlic Mustard
You've probably heard about garlic mustard. While sometimes used to make a pesto or as a salad topping, this invasive plant dominates and displaces quality native plants and vegetation. According to the Parks Division, removing the weed by hand, can reduce the use herbicide. They have identified a number of conservation parks that are invaded and the work need is great. How to volunteer and more information here.
The City of Madison is holding this Plan Commission meeting virtually to help protect our community from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Note: Virtual attendance instructions in the agenda linked above.
NEW BUSINESS
Conditional Use & Demolition Permits
Note: Virtual attendance instructions in the agenda linked above.
DISCUSSION WITH THE MAYOR
HONORING RESOLUTIONS
5/11/20 PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO RE-REFER - PUBLIC HEARING to the PLAN COMMISSION
5/11/20 PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO RE-REFER - PUBLIC HEARING to the PLAN COMMISSION
Note: Like Item 10, this is another parcel of the Madison Yards development and the motion to re-refer by Plan Commission was the same as that for Item 10.
5/12/20 FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER
Agenda Item 25
SUBSTITUTE Authorizing the execution of a two-year Lease Agreement between the City of Madison and Watson Smith LLC for the City's lease of the property located at 4502 Milwaukee Street for temporary shelter purposes, with the option to purchase the property at the end of the two-year lease.
5/12/20 FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT (15 VOTES REQUIRED) - REPORT OF OFFICER
5/12/20 FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT (15 VOTES REQUIRED) - REPORT OF OFFICER
5/12/20 FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT (15 VOTES REQUIRED) - REPORT OF OFFICER
5/12/20 FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT (15 VOTES REQUIRED) - REPORT OF OFFICER
5/12/20 FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT (15 VOTES REQUIRED) - REPORT OF OFFICER
Agenda Item 34
SUBSTITUTE Adopting the Historic Preservation Plan as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan, directing staff to implement the recommendations contained in the plan, accepting the Underrepresented Communities Historic Resource Survey Report, and dissolving the Historic Preservation Plan Advisory Committee.
5/4/20 LANDMARKS COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER
5/13/20 TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER
Agenda Item 38
Authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into an agreement with Dane County to provide Group Access Service for the City of Madison for the calendar year 2020.
5/13/20 TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER
Authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into an agreement with Dane County for the purpose of providing Metro Transit with State 85.21 funding given to Dane County for the provision of accessible transportation for eligible persons within Metro Transit's service area in the calendar year 2020.
5/13/20 TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER
Awarding Public Works Contract No. 8885, 2020 Parking Garage Maintenance. (2nd & 4th ADs)
5/5/20 COMMON COUNCIL Refer to a future Meeting to Adopt to the COMMON COUNCIL
Amending Section 33.01(10)(c) of the Madison General Ordinances to limit when City subunit meetings are not to be held and to allow the Common Council to permit exceptions.
Submitting the appointment of Michael R. Haas for confirmation of a five-year term as the City Attorney.
Note: Virtual attendance instructions in the agenda linked above.
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Note: Virtual attendance instructions in the agenda linked above.
Temporary Class B Concurrent with Street Use
