Common Council

COVID-19 Updates

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is staying well, and taking care of each other in these unprecedented times. I have a number of updates and resources to share related to COVID-19.

1. Food and resources

2. Voting

3. Streets Division operations

4. Metro bus service

5. Filing for unemployment

6. Parking restrictions relaxed

7. Madison Police Department customer services

8. Changes to City Engineering services

9. Madison Water Utility

10. Official resources

1. Food and resources 

According to the FDA, there is no expectation that there will be food shortages, and currently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19. That said, we are being asked to stay at home, so that means we need to access our local food.

When to shop

Woodman's, Metro Market, Metcalfe's, Hy-Vee, Pick 'n Save and others are using designated special shopping hours for those who are at higher risk for illness. At Woodman's East, special shopping hours are Wednesdays from 6-8 am. At Metro Market, special shopping hours are 6-8 am everyday. 

Additional grocery shopping guidelines for everyone.  

Community food resources

If you're at higher risk of illness and in need of food or supplies, the following is a working list of resources available. This list is far from exhaustive and there are many community-based, grassroots efforts happening all over our city to connect residents in need with food resources.

• WI State Journal – 3/18/20: "Here's where you can get free meals in Madison during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic"

Students

• Madison Metropolitan School District - Neighborhood Food Sites

Seniors

• SSM Health Meals on Wheels

• NewBridge Madison

• Independent Living – Evening Meals on Wheels 

Emergency food and general resources

1. 2-1-1 Wisconsin: https://211wisconsin.communityos.org/ 

Madison-area food pantries are constantly providing updated information on hours to United Way Dane County 2-1-1 staff and 2-1-1 also serves as a vital connection point for other critical resources.

2. Madison Resources for COVID-19

2. Voting

Absentee voting is encouraged for the April 7 election. You can request an absentee ballot until April 2. 

Request an absentee ballot online: Request a ballot at myvote.wi.gov. Choose "Vote Absentee" and complete the necessary information. You may need to upload a photo of your official identification like a driver's license or passport.  

Request a ballot by email: You can email voting@cityofmadison.com and receive a ballot which you will need to print out, and mail it back in. In your email be sure to include: 

• Name

• Madison address

• Address to which the ballot should be mailed

• Signature

• Copy of voter ID, if not already on file in Clerk's Office

Ballots will be mailed out through the Thursday before the election. Absentee ballots must be received in the Clerk's Office in time for delivery to the polls on Election Day.

Curbside Voting: The City of Madison has reserved four parking spots on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. outside the City-County Building and the Madison Municipal Building for curbside voting. Hours are: 8 am - 6 pm, Monday - Friday, March 20-April 3.

Signs will be posted at each of the designated stalls prompting voters who need to use the curbside voting option to call the City Clerk's Office. A pair of election officials will be sent out to the voter's vehicle to assist the voter in registering (if needed) and voting.

Voters who are high-risk for COVID-19 can cast their ballot from their vehicle. High-risk populations include older adults and people with chronic health conditions. 

For those not at high-risk, in-person absentee voting is available in the Clerk's Office, City-County Building, Room 103, and in the Madison Municipal Building, Room 153. More sites may be added over the coming days; visit the City Clerk's in-person absentee voting page for the most up-to-date information.

3. Streets division operations

All Streets Division collection and maintenance operations are ongoing. This includes, trash, recycling, large item, pruning, street sweeping, pothole repair, and other services.

Early start for refuse and recycling

Items and carts placed to the curb for collection should be ready for pickup at the curb by 6:30 am. Field staff have staggered start times to facilitate social distancing.

Customer service offices are closed. Streets Division walk-in customer service offices are closed to the public until further notice.

Drop-off sites are open for regular winter hours, but with no unloading assistance. Staff at these sites cannot assist with unloading vehicles in an effort to practice social distancing.

Recycling fee stickers cannot be purchased from the drop-off site staff. Items that require a recycling fee must have the sticker attached before they can be dropped off at the site.

Visit the Streets Division COVID-19 webpage for more information.

4. Metro bus service

• Capacity on Metro Transit buses is limited to 15 passengers plus the driver.

• Metro Transit should be used only for essential trips such as travel to employment, medical appointments, grocery stores, etc.

• Use alternative forms of transportation if they are available to you. 

• Exit the bus through the rear doors. 

• Other than brief periods during boarding, you should maintain a distance of 6 feet from the driver and your fellow passengers.

It is particularly important for riders who are at a high risk of severe illness, including paratransit riders, to avoid public transit. High risk individuals include:

• People 60 years or older 

• People with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes

• People who have a weakened immune system 

• Women who are pregnant 

Changes in service

Metro Transit will be reducing service and following Saturday schedules all seven days of the week beginning on Monday, March 23.

Check the Metro website for possible changes in your bus route schedule. 

This modified service will continue until the City begins to return to a more normal function.

Paratransit service will remain unchanged; however, paratransit riders who are at high risk of severe illness are encouraged to protect themselves and stay home if possible.  

5. Filing for unemployment

If you are temporarily or indefinitely out of work, Governor Evers has issued an emergency order that states that applicants do not need to do a work search during the declared emergency. The Department is in the process of making the necessary updates. No action is needed on your part regarding the work search.

6. Parking restrictions temporarily relaxed

In an effort to accommodate the community and respond to temporary changes in neighborhood and business on-street parking needs, all on-street metered and time-limit parking restrictions are relaxed through Sunday, April 5, 2020.

In Madison, all on-street metered, 1-hour and 2-hour limit areas, including "permit only" areas, will not be enforced city-wide through Sunday, April 5, 2020. On-street meters will not require payment.

All other restrictions should be followed, including:

• Posted "No Parking" areas, signs and hoods are still valid and enforceable.

• Vehicles are required to move every 48 hours, or could be considered an abandoned vehicle and subject to citation and towing.

• Disabled parking license plates or permits are still required to park in designated disabled parking stalls.

• Do not park in marked Metro Bus stops.

• Street Sweeping and Clean Streets-Clean Lakes restrictions are still in effect for posted dates and times, including on Thursday and Friday mornings downtown.

• Leave loading zones free for day-to-day business needs.

• All off-street garages and lots are operating as normal and will still require payment.

Further information.

7. Madison Police Department customer services

While the public windows at the district stations remain open, MPD's support service windows in the City County Building are closed to the public. This impacts the following services:

• Parking Citations can be paid the following ways:

  • Online at www.madisonpay.com

  • By mail:  City Treasurer, P.O. Box 20, Madison, WI 53701-0020

  • At any of the MPD District Stations (excluding the Central District and South District); no cash payments can be accepted at these locations

• For other parking citation questions or to contest a citation, call (608) 266-4170

• To make arrangements to retrieve an impounded vehicle, call (608) 266-4170. Vehicle releases will be appointment only.

• To retrieve property from MPD please call (608) 266-4955. Releases will be by appointment only.

• Public records requests can be made in the following ways:

  • By calling (608) 266-4075

  • By emailing pdrecords@cityofmadison.com

  • Sending a fax to: (608) 267-1117

  • By mail: Madison Police Records, 211 South Carroll Street, Madison, WI 53703

• Routine public fingerprinting services are suspended until further notice

Please understand that most of MPD's civilian support staff is working from home during this time, and there may be delays in responding to voicemail or email requests. District stations remain open during normal business hours, to retain access for those needing essential MPD services. Please try a phone call for routine requests or issues. MPD's front-line, core services remain fully operational. 

8. Changes to City Engineering services

Engineering offices are not open to the public at this time, and a date to reopen has not been set. 

Office staff will continue to respond to emails, voicemails, field inspections and following up on drainage/erosion concerns. If you have general questions for the Engineering Division, email engineer@cityofmadison.com.

Operations staff

The Engineering Operations team is working as normal. If you have questions or concerns for our Operation/Maintenance Section (sanitary or storm back-ups, dead animals in the Right of Way, etc.), call 608-266-4430. If after hours, a dispatcher will route your call appropriately.

Engineering construction services

The Construction Engineering group is continuing work on public works construction projects. At this time, no changes have been made to proposed construction projects, but a number of public information meetings for upcoming projects have been postponed. View the full list of postponed public information meetings.

9. Madison Water Utility exempting late payment fees until further notice

Madison Water Utility is exempting late payment fees until further notice. 

They ask that customers who are still able to pay their Municipal Services Bill on time please continue to do so. 

Madison Water Utility never disconnects customers for late payments.

10. Official information 

City of Madison COVID-19 updates 

UW Health's COVID-19 resources and hotline