Common Council

Updates August 30, 2020

1. School supply drive for kids at The Harmony

2. Madison Fire Department boosts City's COVID response

3. Annual Madison compost bin and rain barrel sale returns on Saturday, October 10

4. COVID-19 updates and resources

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

6. Wednesday: Community conversation on hiring police chief

7. Grandview Commons development at Common Council Tuesday and Urban Design Commission on Wednesday

8. Are you ready to vote November 3?

9. City meetings schedule

School supply drive for kids at The Harmony

The Harmony is holding a school supply drive for the elementary-age resident kiddos. If you can donate any of the following by Saturday, Sept 5, please contact Corrin Lackey at (608) 228-7876 who can pick them up from you:

School supplies list (adapted from Kennedy Elementary's list):

• Child scissors

• Pairs of scissors, sharp point 

• Boxes of plain #2 pencils (please sharpen, Ticonderoga brand preferred)

• Boxes of beginner pencils (Ticonderoga preferred)

• Boxes of colored pencils

• Pink block erasers

• Plain sticky notes (3x3) (Post-it preferred)

• Boxes of 24 crayons 

• Boxes of washable markers (Crayola preferred)

• Ten-count packs of wide washable markers (Crayola preferred)

• Dry erase markers

• Fine point black dry erase markers (Expo preferred)

• Small white glue sticks 

• Large glue sticks

• Rolls of clear tape (Scotch preferred)

• Packs of watercolor paints

• Bottles of white glue (Elmer's preferred)

• Packs of watercolor paints 

• Backpacks

• Multi-colored construction paper

• Over the ear headphones (no earbuds or Bluetooth headphones)

• Plastic pocket folders, primary colored, pocket folders (pocket across the bottom)

• Plastic plain folders with pockets and 3-hole prongs inside (pocket across the bottom)

• One-subject spiral notebooks

• Composition notebooks 

• 1" binders

• Boxes of tissues

• Small plastic supply boxes

• Plastic bins to keep supplies in (ex. 12" x 9")

The Harmony also has a children's book lending library to which book donations can be made.

Partnership with Madison Fire Department boosts City COVID response

A new partnership between Public Health Madison and Dane County the Madison Fire Department is boosting local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new Outbreak Response Team, composed of MFD Community Paramedics, aims to catch possible disease outbreaks before they spread further into our community. The program especially focuses on outbreaks in congregate living facilities such as nursing homes.

Annual Madison compost bin and rain barrel sale returns on Saturday, October 10

After a one-year hiatus, the annual Madison compost and rain barrel sale is back at a new location. This year's sale will be held at the Garver Feed Mill on Saturday, October 10.  The new location provides contactless pick-up and experts will be on hand to answer questions.

When it comes to easy, cost-effective ways to lessen your impact on the planet, rain barrels and compost bins provide an eco one-two for your home. Harvesting rainwater for your plants saves money and reduces stormwater runoff into local waterways.

It is estimated that our urban communities contribute about 30% of the total phosphorus that enter lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa, and Wingra from runoff. Rather than sending more stuff to the landfill, compost bins will help you create nutrient rich soil by turning yard waste and food scraps into organic fuel for the garden.

Compost bins and 50 and 100 gallon rain barrels with diverters are available at discounted prices. Pre-orders before Oct 2 receive an additional $10 off. Supplies are limited and due to COVID restrictions, pre-ordering is strongly recommended.

Pre-ordering information 

Facebook event

COVID-19 updates and resources

The Alliant Energy Center testing site is now open until at least September 19, but the Public Health WIC Clinic at Village on Park testing site will be open at least through Dec. 30. More testing sites and info here, including free testing for UW students and employees.

• Madison COVID-related news and service updates, Español: COVID-19 and Hmoob: COVID-19

• Public Health Madison and Dane County COVID data and orders

• Dealing with job loss

• Childcare, food, jobs, housing and low-cost internet access 

• Community-aggregated COVID resources

• From the City's Economic Development Division: Business & Non-profit Information Covid-19, including Streatery Program

• WI Dept. of Health Services Cases by Neighborhood (Census Tract)

Metro will start charging fares again on Tuesday, September 1

Fare Collection Starts Tuesday, September 1

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

Board Buses at the Front Door

Also starting on Tuesday, September 1, passengers are directed to board at the front of the bus to access the farebox.

Buy Passes/Tickets Through the Mail

Passes and 10-ride cards can be purchased through the mail by paying online or by check using a printed mail order form. Customers are encouraged to place orders well in advance to account for mail delivery time. Buy Online

For more information, call (608) 266-4466 or email mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com. Complete information is available at mymetrobus.com.

Wednesday: Community conversation on hiring police chief

On Wednesday, the Police and Fire Commission is hosting a virtual community conversation with the help of the Local Voices Network. These conversations will be recorded and used as a way to collect public input into what the city should be looking for in a new police chief. These recordings will be transcribed, indexed and shared with journalists, public officials, and the public via the lvn.org webpage. The PFC may have one or more commissioners present for each conversation in a listening role. Participants must pre-register at https://lvn.org/PFC

Grandview Commons development at Common Council Tuesday and Urban Design Commission on Wednesday

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, was approved at Plan Commission last week, and will be at Common Council on Tuesday, and back at the Urban Design Commission on Wednesday. At the Urban Design Commission, they will only be discussing the project in terms of design including materials, landscaping, etc.

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

Are you ready to vote November 3?

Here are three steps you can do now to make sure you're ready for the November 3 election.

1. Check your voter registration at myvote.wi.gov.

If you've moved – even to a different unit in the same building – you'll need to update your registration. You can register online if your address is up-to-date with the Wisconsin DMV, or you can register by mail or in-person at the City Clerk's Office.

2.  Make sure you have the ID you need to vote.

Voters in Wisconsin have to present photo ID for their vote to count. Election officials look at the name, expiration date, and ID type when they check a voter's ID; they do not look at the address on the ID.

Need help getting an ID? The Dane County Voter ID Coalition assists voters fill out the necessary paperwork for free and can help arrange free transportation to the DMV. Call (608) 285-2141 for assistance getting an ID you can use for voting. The Coalition is a partnership between the Dane County NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Dane County.

3.  Make a plan for voting in the November 3rd election.

Are you planning to vote absentee (also known as vote-by-mail)? Get your application for an absentee ballot in as soon as you can. You can request your absentee ballot at myvote.wi.gov, email the Clerk's Office, or send a letter via mail to the Clerk's Office. If you have never voted absentee by mail before, you will need to provide a copy of the photo ID you use for voting when you make your request.

The Clerk's Office is still working on plans for placing secure ballot drop boxes around the city and scheduling in-person absentee (early) voting locations. Check cityofmadison.com/election in the coming weeks for up-to-date schedules and election info.

City meetings schedule

City weekly meeting schedule

The Mayor's meeting schedule

The County weekly meeting schedule