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Meetings and Updates Week of October 2nd

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Meetings and Updates Week of October 2nd

  • City Meetings: Plan Commission 10/2, Common Council 10/3, Board of Public Works 10/4
  • Bike Course at Sycamore Park – Public Meeting 10/5
  • Autumn Property Crime Prevention Tips from MPD
  • City Efforts on the Child Care Crisis
  • Digital Inclusion to Expand Internet Access
  • Events & Announcements

City Meetings

Plan Commission

The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, October 2, 2023 in virtual format at 5:30 PM. Agenda items include development related requests including platting for five new single-family homes in Reston Heights and a proposed expansion of a packaging and processing facility along South Stoughton Road (note that these are both in District 16 but near District 3).

Common Council

The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 in hybrid format at 6:30 PM. Agenda items include:

  •  The 2024 Executive Capital Budget (referral for a public hearing in a few weeks; no action on the Capital budget yet
  • An item to study Madison’s affordable housing crisis either via the existing Housing Strategy Committee or through the creation of a new task force
  • A proposal to repeal MGO 23.07(6)(a) and (b), subsections of the trespassing ordinance which focused specifically on the behavior of sleeping or possessing items related to sleeping while trespassing.
    • The general trespassing subsection for all behavior (including sleeping) remains in subsection (2) which is not proposed to be repealed.
    • I asked the City Attorney for his legal analysis of whether there would be new conflicts or burden on MPD if this change passes and received this response: “In my opinion, eliminating subsection (6) does not place any new burden on MPD because the current ordinance is applied and interpreted to mean that notification can be given by either a no trespass sign or by sending a letter to the police department. Also, the “without permission” phrase in subsection (6) is not necessarily interpreted to mean that the trespasser needs to prove they have permission. In court the City needs to prove that the alleged trespasser does not have permission from the property owner, so police officers still need to gather more information regarding whether the individual has permission to be on the property. The current version of subsection (2) uses more clear language to issue and prosecute a citation, which may be why it is used so much more frequently. And in almost all cases the citation could have been issued under subsection (2) rather than subsection (6). The new proposed language in the Substitute further clarifies that the property owner’ notice to leave the property may be given by another authorized person, which may include the police.”
    • Here’s a link to the Unlawful Trespass sections of Madison General Ordinances if you want to look at the language for yourself.
  • An appeal of the Plan Commission’s 8/28 decision to place on file a conditional use permit for a car wash at 3913 Lien Road here in District 3. I wrote about my initial concerns with this proposal in this blog post in August. I made the motion to place on file after finding that the proposed conditional use didn’t meet two approval conditions that each conditional use permit must meet, condition 4 (use cannot impede normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding property) and condition 7 (compliance with applicable regulations, including the Transit Oriented Development overlay which requires uses to benefit transit). Here’s the appeal memo from Planning staff. The Plan Commission’s decision stands unless overturned by a 2/3rds vote of the Common Council.
  • A resolution amending the Community Development Division’s 2023 operating budget to accept grant funds from the National Council on Aging for a Senior Center vaccine initiative (I’m a cosponsor).
  • A resolution amending the 2023 capital budget to add $1m of Dane County funding and $2.28m in City debt (General Obligation Borrowing) for the Madison Public Market to cover cost increases based on the final project bids, which came in significantly higher than expected. Note: this item is introduced for referral and we aren’t taking action on it yet. It goes to the 10/4 Board of Public Works, the 10/5 Public Market Development Committee, and 10/9 Finance Committee before coming back to Common Council for a vote on 10/17.
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

Board of Public Works

The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 in virtual format at 4:30 PM. Agenda items include a resolution authorizing new funding for the Madison Public Market, an amendment to the contract for the Starkweather Creek/Olbrich Gardens Watershed Study, and awarding a public works contract for the installation of the Felland Reservoir Booster Pump and the Milky Way Reservoir Valve here in District 3.

Bike Course at Sycamore Park - Public Input Meeting

Virtual (registration required), Thursday, October 5th at 5:00PM

The community is invited to attend a public input meeting and learn about a natural surface, 1.5-mile bike trail proposed for Sycamore Park. The proposed trail would form a single-lane loop comprised of several different trail surfaces. Portions of the trail would be covered in a natural stone chip seal surface while others would be constructed of native soil, stone, and wood. The project would be built by a professional trail builder with experience in constructing bike-optimized singletrack. A similar project was constructed at Aldo Leopold Park and Cannonball Path in 2021. Trail construction such as this uses techniques such as bermed turns, rollers, and technical trail features to enhance the experience of riding bikes off-road and make riding fun. Trail difficulty is proposed to range from "easy" to "moderate" with a ride around optional lines for technical features.

Autumn Property Crime Prevention Tips from MPD

The seasonal change of fall has commenced. The frost is glistening off the bladed grass, and the leaves are changing while gravitating to the ground.

Listed below are some helpful tips.

  • LOCK IT:
    Ensure your car doors and all doors to your residence are kept locked
  • LIGHT IT:
    Leave exterior residence lights on at night or utilize motion detecting lights.
  • HIDE IT:
    Keep valuables in your garage, car, and home out of sight.
  • REMOVE IT:
    Removing valuables from your car is better than hiding them. This includes garage door openers and spare keys.
  • CLOSE IT:
    Keep your garage door closed and double check it at night.
  • MOTOR VEHICLES:
    If warming up your vehicle don't leave your vehicle unattended.
  • FIREARMS:
    Vehicles are not firearm lockers! Please secure your firearms in hidden locations, while positioning them in locked cases or safes.
  • REPORT IT:
    Report all criminal and suspicious activity immediately.

City Efforts on the Child Care Crisis

The recent blog post by the Mayor uses data to describe the state of Madison’s child care shortage. The post shares a few ways the City is trying to address the shortage while highlighting needed steps that only state and federal lawmakers have the authority to do. Excerpt:

  • “45% of child care centers reported they had vacancies in their programs because they could not hire enough employees to staff all of their classrooms.
  • 28% of centers reported they had entire classrooms empty because they could not hire staff.
  • 1127 children in Dane County have had to be turned away because classrooms were closed due to staffing shortages.
  • 2,500 children are on waiting lists for regulated care throughout the City and approximately 6,000 are on waiting lists in Dane County.

A new study by the Wisconsin Counties Association demonstrates that the cost of child care in Wisconsin can eat up as much as a third of a family’s income. The cost of child care for two young children can be more than the $22,000 cost of tuition for two undergraduate students at UW-Madison.

The lack of child care workers in turn impacts the entire economy. Madison already has more job openings than workers to fill them, and that shortage is compounded by the child care crisis. In 2022, Wisconsin’s women’s labor force participation dipped below 60% for the first time since the late 1980s. Parents who cannot get childcare, most often women, are forced to stay home to care for their children, worsening state and local workforce shortages and slowing down economic growth.”

Read more.

Digital Inclusion

To build more connected communities, everyone needs internet. The federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has been a monumental tool offering a $30 monthly discount (among other benefits) to lower-income households. The program has enrolled over 20 million American households, with 16,000 in Madison alone. However, without action to continue funding for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, experts warn the ACP could be out of money by the spring of 2024. This means thousands of Madisonians may lose this vital benefit that keeps them connected.

In light of National Digital Inclusion Week (Oct. 2-6), we want to affirm that the City of Madison is dedicated to bridging gaps in access to and adoption of digital devices and internet connectivity. The Affordable Connectivity Program is central to this endeavor. We encourage you to reach out to your congressional representative, asking them to support continuing to fund the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. We also encourage you to share this program with others who might be eligible. Together with Madison Public Library and all our community partners, we can help preserve internet access so all residents can live, learn, work, and thrive.

ACP participants receive up to $30/month discount on internet service and a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying tribal lands. Participants can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50).

Participants qualify based on household income; if you, your child, or a dependent participate in certain government assistance* programs; if you, your child, or a dependent already receive a Lifeline benefit; or if you qualify through a participating internet provider’s existing low-income program. Enroll today at www.affordableconnectivity.gov.

Don’t currently have email, computer or Wi-Fi access to enroll?

You can contact the ACP Support Center by phone at (877) 384-2575.

The Madison Public Library offers free computer and Wi-Fi access. Call (608) 266-6300 for a list of library locations and computer use hours.

Need bilingual support? You can contact the ACP Support Center at (877) 384-2575.

* If you or someone in your household participates in one of the following programs, you are automatically eligible for ACP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools, or if you received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is administered by USAC with oversight from the Federal Communications Commission.

Events & Announcements

  • East Side Farmers' Market, Tuesday, October 3, 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.

  • Fall Financial Empowerment Series with ULGM Part 3 of 4 (Sept. 19, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, and Oct. 10), Tuesday, October. 3rd, 2023: Part 3 of 4 in the Fall Financial Empowerment Series. Empower Your Path to Financial Success: Elevate Your Understanding of Key Financial Concepts like budgeting, navigating debt, credit and saving for the future. Sign up HERE!
    • Part 1 of 4: Budget Basics with ULGM
    • Part 2 of 4: Navigating Debt with Johnson Bank
    • Part 3 of 4: Improving and Building Credit with UW Credit Union
    • Part 4 of 4: Retirement and Homebuying with Thrivent
  • The Capitol View Farmers’ Market, Wednesday, October 4, 2023: The Capitol View Farmers Market is returning to the North Star Neighborhood! Join us each Wednesday (May 31-October 11, 2023) from 3:00-7:00pm to support local farmers and vendors, enjoy live music and food carts, and make the most of summer in Madison!
  • Cyclocross Practice Ride | Sycamore Park, Wednesday, October 4, 2023: We've partnered with Capital Off-Road Pathfinders in offering a free, temporary cyclocross course to practice your biking skills. Each event is open from 5-7pm at the designated location. You will need a bike with knobby tires, such as a mountain bike style and a good-fitting helmet. Some parks do not have restrooms, please plan accordingly. Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing similar to cross country running but on a bicycle. Courses feature wooded trails, grass, pavement, steep hills, and obstacles.
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District 3 - Alder Field

Alder Derek Field

Alder Derek Field

District 3
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