Common Council

Updates August 21, 2020

1. Grandview Commons development at Plan Commission next week |

2. Traffic calming options on Swanton Road |

3. Complete your 2020 Census |

4. Options for voting in November |

5. Metro will start charging fares again on Tuesday, September 1 |

6. Madison, show us your mask! |

7. Community help needed in curbing gun violence |

8. City meetings schedule |

Grandview Commons development at Plan Commission next week

DSI's Grandview Commons "B-Block" proposal, which is a mixed-use development proposed for the block bordered by North Star Drive, Sharpsburg Drive, and Gemini Drive, will be at Plan Commission on Monday, August 24. To provide public comment at the online meeting, you must register first.

The development will then be at Common Council on Sept 1.

The proposal includes 5,800 square feet of commercial space, 150 apartments, 198 covered parking stalls and 79 surface stalls.

You can see a video presentation of the proposal, designs, a map and downloadable slides in this post.

If you would like to share your thoughts on the proposal and haven't yet done so, please email me at district3@cityofmadison.com.

Traffic calming options on Swanton Road

Attend a virtual neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, August 25, at 6 pm, where we will hear about a proposal for traffic calming, on-street parking removal, and improved pedestrian/bicycle access on Swanton Road.

You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone or tablet, or you can listen in via telephone. You will receive login information after registering at https://madisonwi.link/swanvirtual.

Traffic calming on Swanton Road neighborhood meeting
Tuesday, August 25, 6 pm
Register at https://madisonwi.link/swanvirtual

Si necesita un intérprete, un traductor, materiales en formatos alternativos u otros arreglos para acceder a este servicio, actividad o programa, comuníquese al número de teléfono que figura a continuación tres días hábiles como mínimo antes de la reunión.  (608) 266-4071

Yog hais tias koj xav tau ib tug neeg txhais lus, ib tug neeg txhais ntawv, cov ntawv ua lwm hom ntawv los sis lwm cov kev pab kom siv tau cov kev pab, cov kev ua ub no (activity) los sis qhov kev pab cuam, thov hu rau tus xov tooj hauv qab yam tsawg peb hnub ua hauj lwm ua ntej yuav tuaj sib tham. (608) 266-4071

Complete your 2020 Census

As of July 31, an estimated 30,000 Madison households still needed to respond to the 2020 Census according to the Census Bureau. The city's 2020 self-response rate (72.4%) was lagging the final 2010 self-response rate (77.2%) by 4.8 percentage points. 

The City of Madison's Complete Count Committee is asking households that have not yet responded to take ten minutes to complete the Census at my2020census.gov , by phone , or by mail . Census Bureau employees have begun visiting households that have not yet responded.

"We ask the community to help us achieve a complete count in Madison. Every household that fills out their census form gets us one step closer to creating a complete picture of the diverse residents of our community," said State Representative Shelia Stubbs, chair of the City's Complete Count Committee (CCC). "Additionally, every household that is counted brings federal funding to Madison and Dane County for the next 10 years. Funding that will advance racial equity and support our community's recovery from COVID-19. For the 2020 Census, racial equity, and our response to COVID-19, we are all in this together as a community."

Several notes when completing the Census:

• By law, all responses are confidential. There are no questions about citizenship or immigration status.

• When filling out the Census, include everyone that lives in your household.

• College students should complete the Census using their Madison-area address.

• All Census Bureau employees visiting nonresponding households will present an ID badge that includes their name, photo, a Department of Commerce watermark, and expiration date.

• Census Bureau employees speak English and many are bilingual. If they do not speak the householder's language, they can provide access to Census materials in 60 languages.

Options for voting in November
 

Many have asked the Clerk's Office about the options for returning one's ballot in November. The City Clerk's Office will mail ballots to all voters with absentee ballot requests on file by September 17. It may take up to one week for a ballot to reach a voter through the mail.

Voters may track the status of their ballot at myvote.wi.gov . An Intelligent Mail Barcode on each absentee mailing label will provide the voter with more ballot delivery information than was available for the April Election. The My Vote website will list the date the Clerk's Office processed the absentee request, the date the Clerk's Office assembled the absentee mailing, the date the ballot went through the USPS processing center, and the anticipated delivery date.

Voters who have requested an absentee ballot are encouraged to note on their calendars that ballots will be mailed September 17, and that they should contact the Clerk's Office if they do not receive their ballot by September 24.

Voters are encouraged to return their absentee ballots to the Clerk's Office without delay.

Metro will start charging fares again on Tuesday, September 1

Metro resumes fare collection on all buses starting Tuesday, September 1. Passengers must have cash or a valid pass to ride.

Service increase starts Sunday

Starting Sunday, August 23, Metro will increase its level of service.

Due to budget constraints and staffing limitations, Metro is not able to return to the same level of service that was provided earlier in the year. However, as businesses and college campuses make plans to open in the fall, Metro must increase its current service level to accommodate as many riders as possible while its reduced bus capacity limits (20 riders per bus) are still in effect.

Madison, show us your mask!

People across Madison are masking up to protect themselves and the people around them from COVID-19. This week, Madison firefighters shared why they're masking up, posting photos of some favorite face coverings. You can join the conversation by using the hashtag #MaskUpMadison. If you're in need of a mask, visit Public Health Madison and Dane County for resources.

Community needed in curbing gun violence

Our community is suffering the worst outcomes of gun violence in the tragic death of 11-year old Anisa Scott. Her funeral is set for tomorrow, Saturday, August 22. There will be a unity march beginning at 11 am, starting at the State Capitol, at the intersection of Pickney Street and East Washington Avenue and going to Breese Stevens Field.

A private funeral will follow, and will be live streamed for the public.

The senseless gun violence must stop. The Madison Police Department is working diligently and devoting all available resources to finding those responsible and holding them accountable. There are several organizations working with those believed to be involved.  

I spoke recently with the east side family whose daughter was hit by a stray bullet. They shared with me the pain, fear, and anger they are feeling. 

We must address gun violence as the public health crisis that it is. In addition to the heartbreaking loss of life, it affects the future health of our children and our neighborhoods. We need public health approaches to ending gun violence which require collaboration, data collection, and strategies that interrupt the cycle of violence.

I ask anyone with any information about the recent incidents of gun violence to contact Madison Area Crimestoppers at (608) 266-6014 or p3tips.com. Those who report information can remain anonymous. 

City meetings schedule

City weekly meeting schedule

The Mayor's meeting schedule

The County weekly meeting schedule