Common Council

Updates November 15, 2020

1. Providing shelter to homeless families at the former Karmenta site |

2. Kwik Trip's application for an alcohol license at Wednesday's ALRC meeting |

3. The City's 2021 budget |

4. Additional meeting highlights for this week | 

5. Madison City Channel now available on Roku |

6. Public Health Madison & Dane County expands eligibility criteria for drive through flu clinic |

7. Save the Date: Hearing on 2021 Metro Transit service changes |

8. Provide your thoughts on the Shared Streets Program |

9. COVID-19 updates and resources |

10. City meetings schedule |

Providing shelter to homeless families at the former Karmenta site

Last week, the Plan Commission unanimously approved the zoning changes that would allow for the potential temporary use of the former Karmenta site as a "mission house" for families experiencing homelessness. A Mission House is defined in the City's Zoning Code as 'A facility operated by a religious institution or nonprofit organization that provides lodging. May also include the provision of meals, worship services, or other supportive services.' 

As the winter approaches, the city is seeing increased numbers of families experiencing homelessness and is in need of high-quality shelter. 

This zoning change would allow for this site to be potentially temporarily used by The Salvation Army as a mission house for families experiencing homelessness. Please note that this site falls in District 15. There is further information on this zoning change in Alder Foster's blog. 

There is another public hearing for these items at the November 17 Common Council meeting. It is item 18 on the agenda, Legistar item 62436. If you would like to provide written or oral comment on these items to the Common Council, you can find links to email or register for comment at Tuesday's meeting here. 

Additionally, the City is interested in acquiring the property, which would allow greater control by the community in future development plans. The City could sublease the property temporarily to The Salvation Army, and later develop the site. The City's acquisition of the site will be discussed at the December 1 Common Council meeting.

A neighborhood meeting on these items is being planned for Tuesday, December 15 at 6 pm.

Kwik Trip's application for an alcohol license at Wednesday's ALRC meeting

Kwik Trip has applied to sell beer, wine and cider at their future location at 6525 Kilpatrick Lane. They will not be selling "hard liquor". Their application for a Class A Beer and a Class A Liquor license with a restriction of no hard liquor will be reviewed at the Alcohol License Review Committee's meeting this Wednesday, November 18, at 5:30 pm. Their application is #17 on the agenda, Legistar #62953.

The City's 2021 budget

The 2021 Capital and Operating Budgets were finalized by Common Council at the November 11 meeting. Council heard 5.5 hours of Public Comment on the 10th and spent the evening of the 11th deliberating and voting on all proposed budget amendments, as well as finalizing the budgets.

Finance Committee Capital budget amendments
Finance Committee Operating Budget amendments

Full Council Capital budget amendments
Full Council Operating budget amendments

For more background:

• Budget overview video that includes a presentation from budget manager Laura Larsen talking with Alder Foster and me.

• Brief from the non-partisan Wisconsin Policy Forum.

• Budget overview developed by District 19 Alder Keith Furman. 

The key differences between the Capital and Operating Budgets

Additional meeting highlights for this week

Updates on Violence Prevention Unit

The Common Council Executive Committee will be receiving a presentation from the Madison and Dane County Public Health Violence Prevention Unit at their meeting on Tuesday.
Meeting details
Agenda
Public comment

Proposed Ban on the Use of Face Surveillance Technology

The Public Safety Review Committee will be discussing a proposed ordinance banning use of face surveillance technologies at their meeting on Wednesday.

Meeting details
Agenda
Public comment

Discussion of Police Body-Worn Camera Policy Considerations

The Body-Worn Camera Feasibility Review Committee will be discussing possible body-worn camera policy considerations at their meeting on Thursday.

Meeting details
Agenda
Public comment

Madison City Channel now available on Roku

Madison City Channel is now available on Roku streaming devices. Madison City Channel is the City of Madison's municipal television channel, a service provided by City of Madison Information Technology (IT). Madison City Channel covers essential City board, commission, and committee meetings, as well as events like panel discussions and community listening sessions. Madison City Channel also presents public affairs programming, featuring City officials, community leaders, and candidates in local elections. 

Public Health Madison & Dane County expands eligibility criteria for drive through flu clinic

The free drive through flu clinic at the Alliant Energy Center is available to all Dane County adults and children 6 months and older, regardless of health insurance status.  The clinic is open until November 21, 2020, but everyone is encouraged to get a flu shot as soon as possible since it can take 2 weeks to reach full effectiveness.

Save the Date: Hearing on 2021 Metro Transit service changes

Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, December 9, at 6 pm to review and discuss service adjustments proposed for March 2021. Link available soon.

Provide your thoughts on the Shared Streets Program

The City is reaching out to the public to help gather information on the Shared Streets Program. You're encouraged to complete a survey by December 1. Links to the survey in the following languages:
English
Spanish
Chinese

Proposal to use part of the former Oscar Mayer plant as a bus facility

Public meetings were recently held to discuss and learn more about how a portion of the former Oscar Mayer meatpacking plant is being considered for use as a maintenance and bus storage facility for Metro Transit.

Hosted by City of Madison Staff
Thursday, November 5
Watch Meeting
 

Hosted by Northside Planning Council
Wednesday, October 15
Watch Meeting
 

Give feedback on this proposed project by calling (608) 266-4466, emailing mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com or filling out an online feedback form.

COVID-19 updates and resources

• UW-Madison now has rapid testing available to community members ages five and older. See their website for details.

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

• COVID-19 recovery dashboard, a tool to track local indicators in order to better understand how our residents and community are doing throughout the pandemic.

• 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)

City meetings schedule

City weekly meeting schedule

The Mayor's meeting schedule

The County weekly meeting schedule