Common Council

Updates December 28, 2020

1. Where to get info on winter streets, parking, and snow and how to report problems|

2. No trash and recycling pickup on New Year's Day |

3. How to have your Christmas Tree collected |

4. Reduce your holiday waste |

5. Madison Metro New Year's Day schedule |

6. Free COVID-19 testing to continue at Alliant Energy Center for at least three more months |

7. The MSCR Winter Program Guide is now available |

8. Public Health launches webpage to keep you informed on vaccine updates |

9. Renew your cat or dog license |

10. Showcase your creativity with Madison Makes |

11. GreenPower program application now available |

12. Madison Parks: Where you can ski the trails |

13. COVID-19 updates and resources |

14. City meetings schedule |

Where to get info on winter streets, parking, snow and how to report problems

There's a substantial winter storm forecasted to be arriving in Madison tomorrow, Tuesday, December 29. Stay informed on snow emergencies, where to get free sand, winter recreation and more on the City of Madison winter website at cityofmadison.com/winter .

The City Streets Division encourages residents to contact them directly for questions, complaints, or problems with snow-related issues. This is the fastest way to get these issues addressed.

The best choice is the snow removal Report a Problem form. All of their field supervisors receive, prioritize, and address these as quickly as they can.

Residents can also call the Streets Division office at 608-246-4532. 

To learn more about snow plow operations, sign up to receive Snow Plow Alerts where operations are explained each time plows go out.

No curbside trash and recycling pickup on New Year's Day

There will be no refuse, recycling, or large item collection on Friday, January 1. The drop-off sites will also be closed.

Curbside Collection Information

If you normally have your refuse and recycling collected on Fridays, you must place your cart(s) to the curb for collection by 6:30 am on Monday, January 4, 2021.

Be sure to set your carts out for pickup on time. Carts set out late may not be collected.

Other collection services, such as large item pickup, may be temporarily delayed this week as Streets Division crews work to make up for the holiday.

Additional Information

More information regarding the Streets Division's recycling and solid waste services can be found at cityofmadison.com/streets, or by contacting the Streets Division offices at 608-246-4532.

How to have your Christmas Tree collected

The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees. The first round will begin on January 4, 2021 with the second and final round beginning on January 19, 2021.

Trees must be placed on the terrace or the road edge. Do not place wreaths, evergreen rope, garlands, and boughs out for tree collection. 

Residents who wish to have their tree picked up during the first round should set their tree to the curb by 6:30 am on January 4.

Reduce your holiday waste

All of the gifts have been opened, and everyone is enjoying their new toys. But what do you do with all of the boxes and wrapping paper?

Find out in the City holiday recycling guide. It's full of tips and information from what wrapping paper and cards can be recycled to what to do with electronics and plastic.

Madison Metro New Year's Day schedule

Madison Metro will have reduced service on Friday, January 1.  

Free COVID-19 testing to continue at Alliant Energy Center for at least three more months

The free COVID-19 community test site at the Alliant Energy Center (AEC) in Madison will continue until at least March 31, 2021.

Testing site details:

• Testing is done in the New Holland Pavilion at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. 

• The site is open until at least March 31, 2021.

• The test is free and available to those 5 years and older who may arrive by car, bike, or on foot. No appointment is necessary. Translation is available in Spanish and Hmong.

• No identification is needed and immigration status is not asked.

• Pre-registration is available in English, Spanish and Hmong, and is encouraged in order to get through the site as quickly as possible.

• Free transportation is available for those that need it by calling the Public Health Transportation Line at (608) 243-0420.

• The test is not an antibody test and does not indicate if someone has had COVID-19 in the past.

• Test results are provided via email or phone call within 3-7 business days.

The MSCR Winter Program Guide is now available

Registration begins on Monday, January 4 at 8 am. The winter program guide is full of new programs and old favorites, for all ages. All MSCR programs operate with enhanced health and safety procedures and follow all current public health orders.

Public Health launches webpage to keep you informed on vaccine updates

Public Health's new COVID-19 vaccine webpage includes information and updates on distribution status, availability, timeline, how the vaccine is developed, who gets it first and why, safety, and more.

It will likely be spring 2021 before a vaccine is available to the public. In the meantime, COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in our community. Everyone needs to continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Avoid close contact with people you don't live with
• Wear a mask
• Wash hands often
• Stay home if you feel sick

Renew your cat or dog license

It's the time of the year for renewing your cat or dog license. All City of Madison residents owning a dog or cat that is 5 months of age or older must have their pet licensed. The license year is January 1 through December 31.

Showcase your creativity with Madison Makes

Have you taken on a new creative project during this pandemic, or reignited your passion for an existing hobby? Madison Makes is a new virtual event on March 6, which will showcase videos of Madison area people who love to create and want to share it with others.

Learn more and apply.

GreenPower program application now available

The City of Madison Engineering Division is looking for its next class of GreenPower Program trainees for 2021. The application is now available for anyone who would like to apply for the solar installation job training program.

GreenPower is a program where eager trainees learn how to install solar panels, even if they have little to no prior electrical experience. The program can help position a trainee for a potential career in the trades.

The program has been steadily growing since its inception in 2016, when it was started as a pilot project. Since its start, trainees have installed more than 17 complete systems at city facilities.

Madison Parks: Where you can ski the trails

Content from the Madison Parks email update sent on December 23, 2020

Do you have a favorite ski trail? Here are the seven cross-country ski locations found in Madison Parks. On each of the pages you'll find more details and trail maps. You'll also see the latest status. Parks recommends bookmarking your favorite so you can check the status before heading out.

Three locations require a permit, as noted with an (*) and these trails are groomed more regularly then the free-to-use trails. Select a park to find the status of the trail.

• Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park, South

• Door Creek Park

• Elver Park - east, west and snow loop*

• Odana Hills Golf Course*

• Owen Conservation Park

• Turville Point Conservation Park

• Yahara Hills Golf Course*

*A Cross-Country Ski Permit is required for these locations. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the onsite kiosks are unavailable. Permits may be purchased online or by calling (608)266-4711 (Monday –Friday, 8am-4:30pm, excluding holidays)

COVID-19 updates and resources

• Financial Navigators hotline

• Close Contacts Now have Quarantine Options

• COVID-19 vaccine not likely to be available to the public until Spring 2021 or later

• Tips for A Healthier Holiday Season

• What's Allowed in Emergency Order #10?

• UW-Madison's rapid testing

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

• 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

City meetings schedule

City weekly meeting schedule

The Mayor's meeting schedule

The County weekly meeting schedule