Meetings and Updates Week of Feb 5th
posted- City Meetings:
- Plan Commission 2/5
- Board of Public Works (with some District 3 traffic projects) 2/7
- Board of Health 2/7
- District 3 Safe Streets Madison Projects Posting for Bids at BPW on 2/7
- How to watch the 2/1 State of Public Safety Address
- MMSD Superintendent Finalists Announced, input opportunities
- Events & Announcements
City Meetings
Plan Commission
The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, February 5, in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include 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 (I’m a cosponsor; this item affirms the replacement of the state's Milwaukee Street bridges over I-39/90 as the City of Madison’s highest-priority connectivity improvement as part of WisDOT's Interstate Corridor Study), as well as development related requests downtown and on the west side.
Board of Public Works
The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 7, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for Safe Streets Madison 2024 (see below for District 3 projects) and a change to the City’s streets assessment policy for redevelopment-related public works projects.
Board of Health for Madison and Dane County
The Board of Health for Madison and Dane County meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 7, at 2300 S. Park St. in the Atrium Community Room at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include the violence prevention grant award recommendation for 2023-2024, a resolution that authorizes a contract for the evaluation of the CARES program, and accepting additional grant funds from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families for the Family Foundations Home Visiting Program.
District 3 Safe Streets Madison Project Posting for Bids
As mentioned above, this week’s Board of Public Works agenda includes an item authorizing the City to advertise and receive bids for Safe Streets Madison’s 2024 traffic calming projects. This contract includes several small-scale, traffic-calming and pedestrian-enhancement projects, citywide. All projects have been ranked according to the City’s “Safe Streets Madison” program and have been discussed and approved by the Transportation Commission. Projects include the following categories:
- Speed Humps for traffic-calming
- Curb bump-outs for shorter pedestrian crossings and traffic-calming
- Concrete islands for pedestrian refuge and traffic-calming
- Median nose extensions for better pedestrian refuge
- Sidewalk extensions to fill gaps in sidewalk network
- Traffic signal enhancements to add signal head locations for better driver visibility and general upgrades to current standards
Those who are curious can check out the individual project plan designs at this link. The specific improvements for District 3 streets included in the bids are the following:
- Cottage Grove Road and Acewood Blvd—Traffic Signals
- Cottage Grove Road and Acewood Blvd—Island Nose Extensions
- Martha Lane speed humps
- Meadowlark Drive speed humps near Kennedy Elementary School
- Milky Way speed humps
- Milwaukee Street crossing at Walbridge Ave pedestrian refuge island
Written Comments: You can send comments on Board of Public Works agenda items to boardofpublicworks@cityofmadison.com.
Or register for Public Comment:
- Register to speak at the meeting. Limited to three (3) minutes.
- Register to answer questions.
- Register in support or opposition of an agenda item (without speaking).
How to Watch: 2024 State of Public Safety
The Madison Police Department remains committed to providing the highest level of service to the Madison community. I last Thursday’s address, Chief Shon Barnes shared year-end crime data from 2023. He, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, and Melinda Knuth, the Violence Prevention Supervisor with Public Health Madison Dane County, outlined their goals for public safety for the new year. A recording of the speech will be available on the City of Madison’s YouTube page.
Madison Metro School District Superintendent Finalists Announced
Candidate interview recordings and biographies are available at MMSD’s search website. Tune in to the finalist livestream interview panels on February 6, 2024.
All members of the MMSD community - includes students, families, staff, and community members - are invited to watch the livestream candidate interviews on Feb. 6. and submit feedback on each finalist.
- Student interview panel: Tuesday, February 6, noon - 1:30 p.m.
- Parents/caregivers interview panel: Tuesday, February 6, 6:30 - 8:55 p.m
Events & Announcements
- Passenger Rail Station Study - Virtual Meeting, Tuesday, February 6: Learn more and share your feedback about the draft results of the corridor evaluation and learn more about several potential station sites under consideration at the upcoming virtual public meeting.
- Community Conversation: Pedestrian Safety, Wednesday, February 7: This is an opportunity for community members with disabilities and allies to gather and discuss how we can work together to reduce pedestrian crashes and deaths and engage with existing efforts in the City of Madison. For this conversation, we use the word “pedestrian” to describe anyone who walks, rolls, or rides to get to where they need to go.
- 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.
- City of Madison Recertified as a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community : The City of Madison has been recertified as a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Every four years, the City is required to apply to continue to be designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community.
- Voter Registration “Closes” Today: Wednesday, Jan. 31, is the final day to register to vote online or by mail prior to the February 20 Spring Primary. Note that no residents of District 3 live in an area with a primary election on Feb 20.
- The City of Madison's Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program, Launched February 1st, 2024!: As part of a broader strategy to foster stable and sustainable communities in the City of Madison, the Community Development Division is now offering low -interest loans ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, depending on property size, to owners of rental properties to improve their housing stock. With these loans, property owners can make major repairs, implement energy-efficiency upgrades, and take steps needed to comply with building codes and regulations. These updates will help improve the health, safety, and welfare of tenants who live in these buildings.
- MPD: Recruitment Open House, Wednesday, February 7: Come learn about our agency, its mission to public service and the various careers available within the Madison Police Department. Our recruiting officer will talk attendees through our application and the hiring process.
- Inspired by Wright: Galentine's Edition, Thursday, February 8: Our tour will launch with a complimentary cocktail or mocktail. Then we're off to discover Frank Lloyd Wright's inspirations from geometry and the building site in his design of Monona Terrace. Following the tour, create your own Wright-inspired glass piece of art.
- Northside Community Resource Fair, Thursday, February 8: Come to the Northside Community Resource Fair to learn about valuable City of Madison resources and programs available to Northside residents! Enjoy free pizza slices, while supplies last!
- 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!
