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Meetings and Updates Week of May 19

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  • City Meetings:
    • Common Council 5/20
    • Housing Policy Committee 5/22
  • Two New Southeast Area Plan Engagement Opportunities!
    • Join the Hiestand Park Neighborhood Walk and Talk 5/21
    • Survey for Southeast Residents, Respond by 5/30
  • Milwaukee St & Walbridge Ave Crossing Improvements – Construction Begins Next Week
  • Open Book Period for 2025 Property Tax Assessments 5/19-5/23
  • Events & Announcements

City Meetings

Common Council

The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include:

  • Item 2: An honoring resolution recognizing May as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
  • Item 4: A staff presentation by Finance: Overview of the City Budget.
  • Item 26: A resolution approving plans for developer-provided public improvements in Phase 1 of the new Starkweather neighborhood on the east side (the old Voit Farm property). This agreement lets the developer build streets, sidewalks, a new multi-use path, and utility connections to serve the lots included in Phase 1. Here are the public works plans in the new subdivision for those who are curious.
  • Item 29: A resolution authorizing an agreement allowing the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation to use a Madison Parks-owned parking lot and driveway at Cherokee Marsh-North Unit on the North Side for a week during the American Family Insurance Championship golf tournament this summer. Here’s a staff memo from Parks staff.
  • Item 30: a resolution accepting a donation from WI Department of Health Services of naloxone and fentanyl test strips for overdose prevention for MPD’s Madison Area Recovery Initiative (I’m a cosponsor).
  • Item 32: a resolution amending MPD’s operating budget to accept a Juvenile Justice grant award of $60k from WI Dept of Justice (I’m a cosponsor). The funds will be passed to The Rainbow Project and Focused Interruption to provide violence prevention support to youth who are juvenile justice system-involved or considered at-risk.
  • Item 45: a resolution entering an agreement with the City of Fitchburg, Dane County, and WI Dept of Transportation for the implementation of North-South Bus Rapid Transit on State and County Highways.

Meeting info:

Housing Policy Committee (brand new committee)

Map of Madison's priority growth areas
Image credit: City of Madison DPCED
Map showing where the City expects future growth to take place. Salmon-colored circles represent existing population centers, dark purple are transitioning, and light purple areas represent future growth areas. Check out the Housing Policy Committee presentation (linked to the left) for more information. 

The very first ever Housing Policy Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, May 22, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Agenda items include a very interesting staff presentation on Madison’s housing situation and City efforts to expand housing options to keep up with rising demand for more housing in our growing community. 

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Two New Southeast Area Plan Engagement Opportunities!

Join the Hiestand Park Neighborhood Walk and Talk on Wednesday the 21st

Flier with Hiestand Park neighborhood walk event details.
Image credit: City Planning

One of the engagement strategies for the Southeast Area Plan this year includes a neighborhood walk in the Hiestand Park/Milwaukee Street corridor area with City staff from the agencies whose services help to shape and maintain these public areas. We did a similar walk through the Burke Heights neighborhood as part of the Northeast Area Plan process in fall 2023 and that interaction helped inform several Plan recommendations for future improvements.

Residents are invited and encouraged to join and share their feedback! Staff from Planning, Traffic Engineering, Parks, and more will be joining. Share your ideas, concerns, and vision for your community to help shape the future of the Southeast Area!

  • When: Wednesday, May 21st at 5:30pm (rain date is Thursday 5/29th at 5:30)
  • Where: Meet at the Hiestand Park picnic shelter

What to Expect:

  • Casual walk with City staff and myself
  • Share what matters to YOU
  • Food and refreshments after the walk

For more information about the Southeast Area Plan, check out the project webpage.

Second Survey for Southeast Area Residents Through May 30th

Part 2 of the Southeast Area Plan Community Survey is now available! A public link to the survey for anyone who was not randomly selected to receive it is also available.

The first part of the survey focused on identifying issues and opportunities within the Southwest and Southeast areas. The second part of the survey, which is open until May 30, focuses on some of the topics that emerged in the first round of responses. Careful analysis of Part 1 survey results is underway and a summary of results will be posted in the coming weeks.

The feedback the Planning Division receives in these surveys is crucial in helping them shape plans that accurately represent the needs of these communities. Take the survey by May 30th!

More information about the survey is available here.

Milwaukee Street & Walbridge Ave Crossing Improvements – Construction Begins Next Week 

Rendering of plans for the crossing improvements at Milwaukee Street and Walbridge Avenue.
Image credit: City Traffic Engineering

A long-awaited crossing improvement project is planned for the intersection of Milwaukee Street and Walbridge Avenue. The project includes a pedestrian refuge for folks crossing Milwaukee Street, improved left-turn lanes, and a Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon to warn drivers of crossing pedestrians.

Traffic Engineering staff gave me a heads up that the contractor is likely to begin construction next week. Driving through here this morning, I could see that the orange traffic barrels are already lined up along the street. Residents who drive, bike, or walk this part of Milwaukee Street should please watch for and obey construction cones and signage.

Open Book Period for Property Tax Assessments 5/19-5/23

Residents should expect a postcard in the mail with 2025 property tax assessments soon. That information is also available now on the City Assessor’s website.

As per state statute, an “open book” period is available as an opportunity for property owners to discuss their assessments with Assessor's Office staff prior to completion of the assessment roll. If any details are incorrect, the Assessor’s Office will correct the error and adjust your assessment. Errors might include a change in the number of rooms or a building permit that was not completed on January 1, 2025. During this period, staff can also explain the methods and information we use to assess your property.

The 2025 Open Book Period to correct assessment records is May 19 – May 23, 2025. To correct an assessment record, please contact:

Property owners may continue to file appeals May 26th – June 2nd (4:30 p.m.). If that deadline is missed, they may attend an initial Board of Review hearing on June 3rd to file. However, they will need to attend in-person to do so.

If you have general questions concerning assessments, please contact the Assessor's Office at assessor@cityofmadison.com or (608) 266-4531.

Events & Announcements

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted. Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

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District 3 - Alder Field

Alder Derek Field

Alder Derek Field

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