Updates January 9, 2022

• COVID testing is back at the Alliant Energy Center - Appointments required
• Madison Fire Station #14 now has an ambulance
• New alder district boundaries now in effect
• National Guard hosting a meeting regarding PFAs on Tuesday, January 11 at 6 pm
• City 
• Neighborhood
• COVID news and resources

COVID testing is back at the Alliant Energy Center - Appointments required

Appointments now open at walk-up testing site at Alliant Energy Center

Public Health Madison & Dane County is supporting DHS-contracted private testing provider, Accelerated Labs, to open an additional mass testing clinic in Dane County to help meet the demand for testing with a sustainable solution amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. 

Madison Fire Station #14 now has an ambulance 

I'm happy to share that Madison Fire Station 14 now has a full time service ambulance. Medic 14's placement at Fire Station 14 on Dairy Drive will increase paramedic-level service to the area, help reduce advanced life support response times, and provide patient transport to local hospitals sooner than before. The Madison Fire Department will host a press conference tomorrow, Monday, January 10 at 10 am about this, which can be watched on Madison City Channel.

New alder district boundaries are in effect

As of January 1, new alder district boundaries are in effect. Every ten years, City of Madison aldermanic districts are redrawn based on U.S. Census data. In District 3, there are now 14,362 residents based on the 2020 Census data. 

To summarize the changes to District 3:

• The neighborhoods east of Sprecher Road are now 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 are now part of District 3. 

• The Hiestand neighborhood, which was previously split between districts 15 and 3, is entirely within district 3.

On City Planning's Redistricting website, you can also peruse an interactive map of new boundaries and the City's redistricting process.

National Guard hosting a meeting regarding PFAs on Tuesday, January 11 at 6 pm

On Tuesday, January 11 at 6 pm the National Guard, housed at Truax, will be holding an open house at MATC's Mitby Theater (3550 Anderson St). The purpose of this meeting is to detail the status of an investigation the Guard announced last September regarding PFAS contamination at Truax. 

The meeting is open to the public and members of the community will be able to pose questions before and after a panel discussion from Guard representatives. Written comments regarding the site's evaluation will also be accepted for 30 days after the event.

City

Christmas tree collection underway

The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees. The first round began on January 3, 2022 with the second and final round beginning on January 18, 2022. 

You can also donate your tree for a public art installation, "How Lovely Are Thy Branches," at Olbrich Park. 

Snow plow updates

The Streets Division has several ways for you to stay informed about snow plow updates:

Get Snow Plow Updates informing you of what the Streets Division is doing to fight the current snowfall. You can also follow the Streets Division on Twitter at Madison Winter and find the Streets Division on Facebook.

Find additional winter-related information, including parking rules, how to report snow plow issues, winter snow activities in city parks, and more at https://www.cityofmadison.com/residents/winter/ .

Drop-off sites hours

The Streets Division drop-off sites are now on winter hours. Be sure you know the hours before loading your car. The drop-off site webpage is cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites

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

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.

Collection calendar

2022 is here, so be sure you have the current trash and recycling collection calendar. Download your calendar today or call the Streets Division to have one mailed to your home.

City meetings of interest this week

Greater East Towne Plan

The Transportation Policy and Planning Board will be discussing adoption of the Greater East Towne Plan as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan at their meeting on Monday.

Meeting details

Meeting agenda

Register for Public Comment

The Board of Parks Commissioners will be discussing adoption of the Greater East Towne Plan as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan at their meeting on Wednesday.

Meeting details

Meeting agenda

Register for Public Comment

Additional meetings scheduled for this week

Virtual event from the Madison Public Library: Not Homeless Enough

Attend an upcoming virtual event, Not Homeless Enough, on January 20, 6-7pm. Brought about through a collaboration between the Doubled Up Workgroup and the Madison Public Library, Not Homeless Enough will feature filmmaker Diane Nilan and her short documentary on families experiencing doubled up and self-paying hotel homelessness in Madison and Dane County.  There will be a short discussion afterward of positive steps to take in our county. The event is free and open to the public, pre-registration is required. 

City news releases

• Radon: A Risk for Lung Cancer. Radon can't be seen, smelled, or tasted and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Many people in Dane, Rock, and Green counties test their homes for radon and find elevated levels.

• Additional Testing Clinic to Open Due to High Demand for Tests Public Health Madison & Dane County is supporting DHS-contracted private testing provider, Accelerated Labs, to open an additional mass testing clinic

• As Temps Plunge, Protect Your Home's Water Pipes This winter is off to a frigid start and there's another cold front approaching.

• How Lovely are thy Branches by Lillian Sizemore An 89-foot diameter temporary walking labyrinth will be constructed from recycled holiday tree branches this winter, and will be free and open to the public.

• Public Health Adopts New COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Following updated COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Public Health Madison & Dane County is adopting new guidelines for the length of isolation and quarantine.

From the Mayor

• Supporting a Diverse, Local Business Community. The City of Madison is committed to maximizing opportunities for local businesses and businesses owned by historically marginalized groups to do business with the City.

• Housing Forward Update. Announcing a Housing Forward Progress Report.

Community

Grants available for beautifying our neighborhoods

The City's Planning Division has a grant program designed to help neighborhoods build capacity and beautify public places. The grant program helps to improve the quality of life within neighborhoods, and the City as a whole. This program requires those who apply for the grant to meet with City staff to discuss their project by January 17, 2022.

Madison Arts Commission seeks to recognize those who've been helping us through the pandemic

The Madison Arts Commission has introduced the Silver Lining Award and is seeking nominations. The Silver Lining Award honors the creativity, dedication, and perseverance that brought silver linings to our city during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nominations are being accepted in three categories: Arts, Hospitality, and Community. 

The nomination deadline is January 31, 2022.

Take Action: Protect Your Trees from the Gypsy Moth now

Winter is the time to take action and help control the gypsy moth population in Madison. This moth species is a pest that can defoliate and weaken trees.  In addition, while they prefer oak trees, all tree species are susceptible to this bug. You can help your trees by destroying the moth's egg masses, which can hold upwards of 1,000 eggs, so you can make a big difference by destroying them.

The masses are fuzzy brownish patches that are often found on tree trunks, or other flat outdoor surfaces like picnic tables, sheds, and so on. There are two ways to destroy egg masses: 

First, you can scrape them from the surface and place them in a container filled with soapy water. Let them soak in the water for two days and then throw the masses into the trash. 

Or, you can apply a soybean-oil based product called "golden pest oil" directly to the egg masses to prevent them from hatching (you can find golden pest oil at garden centers).

Learn more about what homeowners can do to protect their trees from moths at the UW-Extension website.

COVID information and resources

• Data Notes for the Week of January 6, 2022

• What to do if you test positive for COVID-19?

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

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

• 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

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