Common Council

Updates February 8, 2021

1. Property crimes 

2. Phased reopening continues with latest Dane County Public Health Order

3. In-person absentee voting for the Spring Primary is underway

4. Madison Police Department Survey

5. Attend a Metro Transit Public Hearing - March 10

6. Neighborhood beautification grant opportunity - applications due March 15

7. Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of February 8, 2021

8. COVID-19 vaccine virtual town hall on Thursday

9. As temps plunge, protect your home's water pipes

10. Thursday, Feb. 18: Screening of Crisis Cops: Creating Communities of Care 

11. Metro Transit's updated mask policy

12. Construction begins in March for Flex Lane on US 12/18 (Madison Beltline)

13. COVID-19 updates and resources

14. City meetings schedule

Property crimes 

Break-ins are happening throughout the city, and sadly, our district is not immune. These are overwhelmingly crimes of opportunity, where people are looking for unlocked vehicles, homes or open garages. Please be safe. The reality is in order to reduce these crimes, locking up our cars and homes play a key role in prevention.

Please, if you're a victim of a crime, always get a business card with your case number on it from the Madison Police, which allows for you to have a point of contact in the future. 

Please follow these guidelines from the Madison Police Department:

Each evening, make sure your:

1. Garage door is closed

2. Car and home are locked

3. Exterior lights are on

4. Valuables are not left behind and visible in your car.

Additionally, get to know your neighbors in the homes in front, to the sides, and behind your home. Then you can share contact information with each other in case any needs or emergencies arise. 

Your immediate neighbors are your first responders. They may be first to notice a crime in progress, a fire, burst water pipes, a pet that has wandered away or someone who hasn't picked up their mail or newspapers in several days and needs medical attention. Choose what information you feel comfortable sharing with your immediate neighbors like phone numbers, email addresses or emergency contact information. You may also choose to share the names of the adults who live in your residence, any pets you have or whether anyone in your family has a notable health issue.

• Source: MPD's Good Neighbor Project Starter Kit

More tips and resources from the Good Neighbor Project

If you have any information about these cases please contact: 

Madison Area Crime Stoppers

p3tips.com • 608-266-6014 

Individuals contacting Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Phased reopening continues with latest Dane County Public Health Order

Public Health urges residents to protect progress by still being mindful of risk

Public Health Madison & Dane County has issued Emergency Order #13. The order goes into effect February 10, at 12:01am and will be in effect for 28 days. 

A summary of provisions that changed between Order #12 and Order #13 include:

• Gathering limits indoors and outdoors increased.

  • A Gathering inside where food or drink is offered or provided is limited to 25 individuals. A Gathering inside where food or drink is not offered or provided is limited to 50 individuals.  Individuals must maintain six feet physical distancing and face coverings are required.

  • A Gathering outside where food or drink is offered or provided is limited to 100 individuals. A Gathering outside where food or drink is not offered or provided is limited to 150 individuals. Individuals must maintain six feet physical distancing.  Face coverings required at gatherings of more than 50 individuals.

• Updated the types of face coverings that are allowed, and added additional face covering requirements for outdoor locations.

  • Outdoors while participating in a sporting event, including drills, practices, scrimmages, games or competitions, unless the sport is played individually, or played with physical distancing at all times.

  • Outdoors while attending a gathering of more than fifty (50) individuals.

• Games and competitions are allowed for all sports. In most situations, individuals must wear face coverings.

  • Six feet physical distancing is required except when an individual is actively participating in the sport. 

  • Sports that cannot maintain physical distancing at all times are limited to 25 individuals indoors, and 100 individuals outdoors, not including employees.

  • All sports must have a hygiene policy, cleaning policy, and protective measure policy.

• Removal of provision to limit regulated childcare and four-year old kindergarten groups to 15. Indoor youth settings must follow gathering limits.

Temporary retail stores are able to operate under the same requirements as permanent retail stores.

When Order #12 was issued on January 11, the seven-day case average was 213, and 71 people were hospitalized with COVID-19. Today, the seven-day case average is 107 and there are 63 people hospitalized with COVID-19. Over 11% of the Dane County population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

These provisions are unchanged between Order #12 and Order #13:

• Face coverings are required in enclosed buildings, while driving with people who are not part of your household, and outdoors at a restaurant or tavern. The types of face coverings allowed was updated to reflect new CDC recommendations.

• Businesses continue to be limited to 50% of approved building capacity and must have written cleaning and hygiene policies in place.

• Indoor seating at taverns continues to not be allowed; customers may enter taverns only to order, pick-up, and pay for food or beverage.

• Provisions for schools, continuing education and higher education institutions, industry-specific requirements, health care, public health, human service, infrastructure, manufacturing, government, and religious entities and groups remain unchanged.  

See the full order for all details.

In-person absentee voting for the Spring Primary is underway

In-person absentee voting for the Feb. 16 Spring Primary is underway.

What will you need to bring with you if you're voting absentee in person?

• An acceptable photo ID for voting in Wisconsin

• If you need to register for the first time or update your registration because of a move or name change, you will need to bring a proof of residence document with you, too

The Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction primary is on the ballot February 16. All seven candidates for State Superintendent participated in a forum on Jan. 7, 2021 organized by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Public Education Network and co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Watch the forum and read their questionnaire responses. 

Madison Police Department Survey

The City of Madison Police Department is launching a community survey and asks citizens to take a few minutes to complete it. In order for MPD to improve their services to the community, they need and value feedback. One of MPD's core values is a commitment to continuous improvement and the insight of the citizenry will assist them as they consider ways to modify or enhance their service models.  

Complete the survey

Attend a Metro Transit Public Hearing - March 10

On Wednesday, March 10 at 5pm, Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will be reviewing the planned bus stop changes occurring in 2021. Changes include bus stops closing, opening, the addition of concrete bus stop pads and/or the addition of an amenity.

Neighborhood beautification grant opportunity - applications due March 15

Perhaps you are noticing opportunities to beautify something in your area, or maybe you are getting more involved with your neighborhood group or business association. You may be feeling a deeper sense of place and a desire to get involved in making your neighborhood even better. The Planning Division's 2021 Neighborhood Grant Program may be able to assist you with a small grant. 

New this year, your neighborhood group or business association could earn up to 10 bonus points for incorporating a COVID-19 recovery initiative into your project proposal. Consider attending an optional workshop on February 15 at 6 pm for guidance on how to apply and to hear what other neighborhoods are considering doing. 

Learn more and apply.

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of February 8, 2021

Tear Gas and Body-Worn Cameras

The Public Safety Review Committee will be discussing an MPD report on tear gas usage and the final report and model policy of the Body-Worn Camera Feasibility Review Committee at its meeting on Wednesday.

Meeting details

Agenda

Register for public comment

Traffic calming on Swanton Road

The Transportation Commission has a number of items of interest at this Wednesday's meeting, including whether to implement traffic calming on Swanton Road between Easley Lane and Hamlet Place. This is part of the potential 2021 City of Madison traffic calming projects that will be discussed.

Meeting details

Agenda

Register for public comment

Internet Accessibility and Barriers

The Education Committee will be discussing the current status of internet and Wi-Fi access at their meeting on Wednesday.

Meeting details

Agenda

Register for public comment

Digital Inclusion Strategies

The Digital Technology Committee is discussing digital inclusion strategies at its meeting on Thursday.

Meeting details

Agenda

Register for public comment

COVID-19 vaccine virtual town hall on Thursday

Public Health Madison & Dane County will host a virtual town hall and Q&A on vaccines on Thursday, February 11, at 6:30pm. The event is free and everyone is encouraged to attend. The event will be held on Zoom and participants can register to receive the Zoom link to attend. 

The event will be limited to 500 people on a first come, first serve basis.  Please see the Facebook event and flyer for more information.  

As temps plunge, protect your home's water pipes

During this brutally cold stretch, it's important to protect your water pipes from freezing or bursting.

Be sure to insulate pipes in unheated areas like crawl spaces, unheated garages, and attics, and follow the rest of these important steps.

Thursday, Feb. 18: League of Women Voters of Dane County presents a screening and forum for Crisis Cops: Creating Communities of Care  

A Virtual Public Issues Film Screening and Forum--Free and Open to the Public (Registration necessary)

The League of Women Voters of Dane County invites you to attend a special screening of the 25-minute version of the award-winning HBO documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, with follow-up presentations by and audience discussion with Joe Smarro, one of the "crisis cops," as well as Dane County law enforcement officers who are implementing trauma-informed care strategies, and a guest with mental health crisis lived experience. The Ernie & Joe documentary, produced and directed by Jenifer McShane, follows two police officers with the San Antonio Police Department who are diverting people away from jail and into mental health treatment, one 911 call at a time. Registrants for this event will have the opportunity to view the 95-minute version of the film before or after the forum.

Speakers:

Nikyra McCann, Owner and Founder of Still Standing Enterprise

Sergeant Sarah Shimko, 15 year Madison Police Department (MPD) Officer and current supervisor of MPD's Mental Health Unit (MHU)

Joe Smarro, decorated combat veteran from the United States Marine Corps

Officer Joel Zietsma, McFarland Police Department Officer

Joy Cardin, Moderator - Retired WPR Talk Show Host, LWVWI Board Member, LWVDC Program Committee Member

For more information about the film, please go to www.ernieandjoethefilm.com.

COVID-19 data dashboard updated with new vaccine data

Public Health Madison & Dane County has updated the Dane County COVID-19 data dashboard with more vaccine-related data. Vaccine data are updated on Wednesdays and Fridays each week.

Metro Transit's updated mask policy

The CDC/TSA released a public order that now makes it a federal law for riders and employees to properly wear a mask on buses, and at transfer points and shelters.

Construction begins in March for Flex Lane on the Beltline

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is proceeding with the development of a new Dynamic Part-Time Shoulder Use or "Flex Lane" for US 12/18 – the Beltline – in Madison. Making improvements to the inside median shoulders will allow for their use as an additional travel lane during peak travel periods. The project will also address deteriorating pavement; improve existing drainage deficiencies; and replace the existing median barrier wall along the Beltline. These highway improvements will be made from Verona Road (US 18/151) to the I-39/90 interchange. 

The Flex Lane project is a first for Wisconsin; however, part-time shoulder use is already in place in 17 states. This will improve daily commutes for drivers, as well as visitors attending major area events. This measure is recognized as a safe, sustainable and reliable way to alleviate congestion. 

What you need to know: 

• Flex Lane construction is expected to begin in March 2021 with completion in December 2021. 

• Anticipated traffic impacts on the Beltline: 

  • Daily single lane closures from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

    • Plan ahead for delays and allow extra time to reach your destination. 

  • Off-peak ramp closures at interchanges between I-39/90 and Whitney Way. 

  • Nightly lane closures from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. 

• The Flex Lane system is anticipated to open in late 2021 or early 2022.

• Additional traffic cameras will be installed along the Flex Lane corridor, between Whitney Way and the I-39/90 interchange. 

  • Learn more about the Flex Lane project at wisconsindot.gov/FlexLane; be sure to watch the narrated operations video on that home page. 

COVID-19 updates and resources

• Data Dashboard

• 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

• 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