Updates December 20, 2021

In this update:

• Face cover order extended
• Increased large-item pickups (mattresses, couches, etc.)
• Neighborhood updates
• City updates
• COVID news and resources

Face Covering Order Until February 1, 2022. Dane County experiencing high numbers of COVID cases and hospitalizations

Public Health Madison & Dane County is issuing Face Covering Emergency Order #6, effective at 12:01am on January 3, 2022, immediately after the current order expires. Order #6 mirrors the requirements in Order #5. The Dane County Order requires face coverings among people ages two and older when in most enclosed spaces open to the public where other people are present. The order will expire on February 1, 2022.

Throwing away an item such as a mattress or couch? Large item pick-ups are now weekly instead of biweekly 

You must submit a work order to get on the large item pickup schedule.

The Streets Division has recently increased the number of large item pickups available throughout the year to weekly instead of biweekly. A pickup order must still be submitted.

Neighborhood

Video: Virtual neighborhood meeting on multifamily proposal for 4605 Sprecher Road 

A video of last week's virtual meeting on the multifamily proposal for 4605 Sprecher Road is now available.

This is a market-rate multifamily development proposed by Ross and Leah Rikkers. 4605 Sprecher Road is the southwest corner of Sprecher Road and Milwaukee Street. The project is proposed to include 145 units, of which 36 would be studios, 78 would be one-bedrooms, 20 would be two-bedrooms and ten would be three-bedrooms. There would be 166 parking stalls, of which 85 would be underground and 81 would be surface stalls. 

Oak Park Place proposals recommended for approval

Elevation of the proposed 12-unit townhome
 

Elevation of the proposed senior housing multifamily

Oak Park Place has proposed developing a 12-unit townhome at 5818 Gemini Drive that was previously approved in 2006, and a 99-unit age restricted, senior housing multifamily development at 5817 Halley Way that was previously approved in 2015. 

Plans were reviewed at a virtual neighborhood meeting in September. Watch a video of this meeting.

The plans received a final approval at Urban Design Commission and were recommended for approval at last week's Plan Commission meeting. They will be at the January 4, 2022 Common Council meeting for approval. 

Salt route changes to our district

Some streets in our neighborhood where sand was used after it snows, will be switched back to salt use, also called a salt route. Salt routes are roads around schools, hospitals, Madison Metro routes, and other critical transportation corridors.

The following street sections will be restored to the salt routes:

• Agate Lane from Meadowlark Dr to Acewood Blvd

• Wyalusing Drive from Sprecher Rd to Amnicon Trail

• Neptune Court from Atlas Ave to Argosy Ct

• Argosy Ct from Neptune Ct to Atlas Ave

• Milwaukee Street from Sprecher Rd to Wyalusing Dr

• Wyalusing Drive from Sprecher Rd to Milwaukee St

These are street sections that had been part of the salt route network in the past, but no longer are:

• Amnicon Trail from County Highway BB to Wyalusing Dr

• Sharpsburg Drive from North Star Dr to Sprecher Rd

• Dominion Drive from Sprecher Rd to Wyalusing Dr

What happens to the streets that aren't salt routes?

These are the residential neighborhood streets. They are never salted. They are plowed when there is three or more inches of snow on the road.

These roads get little traffic and since they are not salted, they will have a layer of snow and ice on them throughout the winter.

The Streets Division will apply sand as needed to these streets if the roads become slippery.

Why were the above streets removed from the salt route network?

For the winter of 2020/2021, Streets carefully evaluated our salt route network.  They found many segments of streets no longer met the criteria to be salted.  Therefore, they removed them from the salt route network.

Why add back salt routes that were removed last year?

Since schools have returned to in-person instruction, the roads around the schools will once again be salted for the school buses.

Also, some of the other reductions were due to Madison Metro changing their routes.

What to know more?

Further information about our winter operations can also be found at cityofmadison.com/Winter.

The design process for the new Door Creek Park Shelter is underway

Access a video of last month's virtual community meeting for the Door Creek Park shelter.

At the virtual meeting, Parks staff and the project consultant team reviewed two shelter design options. Of the two options discussed, Option Two was favored over Option One. Meeting attendees also expressed concern regarding after-hours activity in the park and requested additional parking lot and building lighting. The project includes additional parking lot lights and the shelter design will incorporate exterior building lighting.

Visit City of Madison Parks: Door Creek Park Shelter for more information.

Reminder that alder district boundaries change on January 1

The new maps take effect on January 1, 2022, rather than when current alder terms are up in April 2023. In District 3, there will now be 14,362 residents based on the 2020 Census data. 

To summarize the changes to our district:

• The neighborhoods east of Sprecher Road will become part of district 16, currently represented by Alder Jael Currie. Alder Currie will do an excellent job representing her new areas and I will assist whenever possible. 

• The Burke Heights neighborhood and a portion of Mayfair Park will become part of District 3. 

• The Hiestand neighborhood, which is currently split between districts 15 and 3, will become entirely within district 3.

City

Property tax bills

Property owners received their 2021 tax bill last week. The property tax bill is sent and collected by the City of Madison on behalf of four taxing jurisdictions: Madison Schools, City of Madison, Dane County, and MATC.

Distribution of your property tax bill

3% - Madison College

12% - Dane County

36% - City of Madison

49% - Madison schools

For those over the age of 65 and meeting income limits there is a property tax assistance program available.

A new Everyday Engineering Podcast episode is out: Creative Solution to Unsheltered Homelessness: Dairy Drive. 

Everyday Engineering Podcast Host Hannah Mohelnitzky interviews City of Madison Community Development Department Director Jim O'Keefe and City of Madison Engineering Division Facilities Management Section Manager Bryan Cooper to talk about the Dairy Drive sheltered campground. 

Recorded in October-- but reflecting on the bigger picture project and impact to our community.

City news releases

• Trash & Recycling Will Be Collected on Christmas Eve 2021 

• Brush Cleanup from Wind Storm 

• Be on Santa's 'Good' List, Be Good to Your Pipes! 

• Omicron Variant in Dane County: Pay Attention, Don't Panic 

• Yard Waste Collection Over for 2021 

• Take Action: Protect Your Trees from Gypsy Moths 

• City of Madison Building Inspection Closing Office Building at 131 West Wilson Again 

From the Mayor

• Streets Division Updates

• Statement of Mayor Rhodes-Conway on the Death of Dick Wagner 

COVID information and resources

• Why Should I Get a Vaccine or Booster Now That Omicron Is Here? 

• Data Notes for the Week of December 16 

• COVID Spreads Easily Between Schools and Families: Getting 5-11 Year Olds Vaccinated is Important

• Omicron Variant: Info as of December 1, 2021

• Top 5 answers to your questions about the COVID vaccine for 5-11 year olds

• Addressing booster myths (and why you should get one)

• Dane County testing sites

• How Can I Talk to Someone About Getting Vaccinated?

• Data Dashboard

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

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