Meetings and Updates Week of January 29

• City Meetings
  • Finance Committee 1/29
  • Transportation Commission 1/31 (with interesting stuff!)
• More WisDOT I-39/90/94 Corridor Study Public Meetings 1/30, 1/31, 2/1
• Upcoming Metro Transit Info Sessions
• State of Public Safety Address 2/1
• Use this time to plan this year’s garden project!
• Events & Announcements

City Meetings

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, January 29, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include authorizing a contract with Sustain Dane to provide energy efficiency upgrades to naturally occurring affordable housing, accepting $400,000 from Dane County to support the Dairy Drive urban campground, and selecting a public art feature for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment
• Watch Online 

Transportation Commission

The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 31, in virtual format at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items include: 

• The Vision Zero Progress Report with updated crash and fatality data through the 2022 calendar year.
• A presentation about forthcoming updates to Metro Transit fare collection technology and strategy.
• A presentation about the Northeast Area Plan with an emphasis on the transportation and connectivity components of the planned changes.
• A resolution Endorsing and Prioritizing Improvement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity as Part of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s I-39/90/94 Study and Reconstruction. NOTE: this resolution affirms that the state-owned Milwaukee Street bridges over the Interstate is the City’s highest priority for reconstruction as part of Interstate Upgrades. I’m a cosponsor of this resolution.
• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment
• Watch Online

More Interstate Corridor Study Public Meetings

• I-39/90/94 Corridor Study, Tuesday, January 30 (VIRTUAL): The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) invites you to a public involvement meeting for the 67 mile I-39/90/94 Study in Dane, Columbia, Sauk and Juneau counties between Madison and Wisconsin Dells.
• I-39/90/94 Corridor Study, Wednesday, January 31 (In-Person): The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) invites you to a public involvement meeting for the 67 mile I-39/90/94 Study in Dane, Columbia, Sauk and Juneau counties between Madison and Wisconsin Dells. 5-7 p.m., Jan. 31, 2024, in-person meeting, Wisconsin Dells High School, (Art Gallery), HH Bennett Hall, 1501 Brew Farm Road, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965.
• I-39/90/94 Corridor Study, Thursday, February 1 (In-Person): The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) invites you to a public involvement meeting for the 67 mile I-39/90/94 Study in Dane, Columbia, Sauk and Juneau counties between Madison and Wisconsin Dells. 5-7 p.m, Feb. 1, 2024, in-person meeting, Madison College – Truax Building, Conference Room D1630, 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704

Upcoming Metro Transit Info Sessions

Learn how to get around the city with help from Metro Transit! Whether you're looking to navigate the bus system or find alternative options, these helpful information sessions led by Metro employees will connect you to the services that are right for you. Several sessions are planned in library locations between January and April 2024. Metro employees will be available for one-on-one conversations in English and Spanish. No registration required; all are welcome!

• February 8, 10am - 1pm | Central Library
• February 13, 3-5pm | Pinney Library
• March 14, 3-5pm | Alicia Ashman Library
• March 16, 10am - 12pm | Pinney Library
• April 23, 10am - 12pm | Lakeview Library

State of Public Safety Address Thursday, Feb 1st at 11am

MPD Chief Shon Barnes will be giving the annual State of Public Safety Address on Thursday, February 1 at 11:00 a.m. This will take place at the Madison Municipal Building, Room 215. All are welcomed to attend. Questions can be directed to Lieutenant Angela Kamoske, Executive Officer to Chief Shon Barnes, 608-261-9113, akamoske@cityofmadison.com. 

Use this time to plan this year’s garden project!

I like to use these late winter weeks to plan our garden projects for the year! Replacing part of the managed grass lawn with native plants is a great way to cut down on lawncare work, support more pollinators, and beautify the area. I’m including this in my weekly blog of updates because Dane County’s Plant Dane Program will soon begin accepting orders of native garden plants for reduced-cost to help promote beautiful urban habitat stormwater retention in the community. Note that groups working on school or community projects can apply for free plants! This application is due Thursday, February 1st.

The Plant Dane Program provides Dane County residents access to native plants at the discounted price of $2.88/plant ($11.50/4-pack), about half the normal retail price. It's open to schools, non-profit organizations (lake and neighborhood associations, youth groups, faith centers, clubs, etc.), municipalities and individual residents in Dane County, Wisconsin. Here’s the Program webpage where you can review species lists and where you can submit orders starting in early February. 

Here are some more helpful resources, several of which we have used for our own gardening projects:

• For all gardening: UW-Extension Webinars for WI Gardeners
• All gardening: UW-Extension/Horticulture’s Ask-Your-Gardening-Question web form (it works!)
• Native gardens: Dane County Land and Water Resources guide to growing native plants
• Native rain gardens: Wisconsin DNR Rain Gardens page and manuals
• Native rain gardens: City of Madison’s Roger Bannerman Rain Garden Initiative webpage
• Composting: Environmental Protection Agency’s guide to composting at home
• Lawncare: EPA’s Caring For Your Lawn in an Environmentally Friendly Way webpage

Happy planning and planting!

Events and Announcements

• Metro Transit - Downtown Construction Related to East-West BRT, Thursday, February 1 (VIRTUAL): Learn more about Metro’s bus rapid transit construction in the downtown area including expected construction timelines and road closures.
• Starker Avenue Resurfacing with Utilities, Thursday, February 1 (VIRTUAL): The City is planning to resurface Starker Avenue from Woodvale Drive to Droster Road. The project includes replacing the water main, replacing the sanitary main and laterals, full removal and replacement of the gravel base and asphalt pavement, replacement of the storm sewer main and inlets, spot replacing driveway aprons, spot replacing curb, spot replacing sidewalk, and improving and shortening pedestrian crossings.
• Affordable Connectivity Program – ACP Windown: In 2021, Congress established the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, appropriating $14.2 billion. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was tasked to develop and implement the ACP as well as ACP outreach and awareness activities. As of January 2024, over 22 million households are enrolled and receiving the ACP monthly benefit. Without additional funding from Congress, the allotted $14.2 billion to fund the ACP is projected to run out in April 2024 (this date is an estimate and may change). As a result, the FCC has begun taking steps to wind down. This includes:
  • ACP applications and enrollments will not be processed after February 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. 
  • Households who have applied, been approved, and are receiving the monthly internet discount before February 8, 2024, will continue to receive their ACP benefit until ACP funds run out, as long as the household remains enrolled in the program.   
  • After the ACP funds run out (projected in April 2024), households participating in the ACP will no longer receive the ACP discounts.
  • We’re hearing from community partners that some ISPs are telling customer the program isn’t running anymore; this is inaccurate—if households are enrolled (not just have applied) by February 7, they can still benefit until the funds run out.
• Common Wealth Development is excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2024 Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program!: The 2024 Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program is a 8-week internship provides Madison youth with the space to build valuable connections, learn about the City of Madison, and gain crucial professional development skills, all with supportive mentorship. Interns will work, on average, 16 hours per week and wages start at $15.50/hour for this internship opportunity. For more information, please visit Common Wealth’s website. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Sam Heim at samantha@cwd.org or via phone at 608-220-8155. 
• Christmas Tree Collection Resumes Monday, January 29, 2024: Streets Division crews will be performing one final round of Christmas tree collection starting Monday, January 29, 2024. If you still need your Christmas tree collected, please have it out on the terrace or right of way area by 6:30am on Monday, January 29th.
• The Madison Common Council Appoints John Guequierre to Alder District 19 Vacancy: On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, the Common Council Executive Committee (CCEC) convened to make a recommendation on the appointment of an alder for District 19 according to the procedures outlined in Madison General Ordinances 2.03. 
• MPD job shadow program sends officer to barbershop: MADISON, Wis. -- The second set of participants in the Madison Proximity Project brought an officer to a barbershop on the city’s near east side.
• City Clerk's Office begins mailing absentee ballots to voters with requests on file, Tuesday, January 30: Track the status of your absentee at My Vote. 
• Last day to register to vote online or via mail, Wednesday, January 31: After today, here are your options for registering to vote.