Updates January 16, 2022

Updates for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Neighborhood 

City

COVID-19 information and resources

Tomorrow, Monday, January 17: 37 Annual Madison & Dane County King Holiday Observance

The King Coalition welcomes Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, as keynote speaker for the 37 Annual Madison & Dane County King Holiday Observance on January 17. The program starts at 6 pm and will also include performances by the MLK Community Choir and presentation of the MLK Humanitarian Awards by Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and County Executive Joe Parisi. 

Access the broadcast here. 

The program will also be livestreamed on Facebook live and on radio at WORT-FM 89.9

No trash and recycling pickup on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 

There will be no trash or recycling collection by the Streets Division on Monday, January 17, 2022 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. The drop-off sites will also be closed.

Monday collections should instead place their carts out by 6:30 aam on Tuesday, January 18.

Additional changes to city services on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

City administrative offices will be closed.

Metro operates on a Saturday schedule. The Metro call center is open 8am-4:30pm on the holiday. The Metro Administration Office will be closed. All standing paratransit rides will be canceled on Monday, January 17. Paratransit passengers must schedule casual rides to travel on this date. Rides are eligible according to Saturday schedules.

Neighborhood

You're Invited: First Public Meeting Set for New Imagination Center at Reindahl Park

The community is invited to see preliminary designs for the new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park, 6-8 pm, January 27, 2022, via Zoom. Registration prior is required to receive the Zoom link. Community members are invited to share comments, ask questions and engage fully with the City on the proposed preliminary designs.

Deadline extended for applying to the Neighborhood Grant Program

Are you planning to apply to the 2022 Neighborhood Grant Program? This grant program is designed to help neighborhoods build capacity and beautify public places. The deadline to contact staff for a pre-app meeting has been extended to Jan. 31. Grant awards in 2021 included such projects as a gathering place in Mohican Triangle Park, Darbo Neighborhood Council leadership training and the Junction Ridge Oasis in Junction Ridge Park. View photos of the Junction Ridge Oasis grand opening and learn more here.

How to subscribe to alder blogs 

With the new district boundaries now in effect, I wanted to share how to find your district and subscribe or unsubscribe for updates:

• To find your district, please use the Find My Alder online tool.

• For those formerly in District 3 and now in District 16, see the webpage for Jael Currie, District 16 where you can "Subscribe to Email List". 

• If you would like to unsubscribe from the District 3 email list, there is an "Update My Subscriptions" link at the bottom of the email you received about this alder update. I do not have the ability to unsubscribe you, so you will have to use that link.

• There is no requirement for you to receive only your alder's emails; you are more than welcome to subscribe to multiple alders' email lists.

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.

City meetings of interest this week

Body-worn cameras

The council was supposed to consider a resolution for a police body-worn camera pilot program at this Tuesday's meeting, but this item will now be referred to the council's April 19 meeting to allow time for the Madison Police Department to hold a required public hearing.

Greater East Towne Plan

The Economic Development Committee will be discussing adoption of the Greater East Towne Plan as a supplement to the Comprehensive Plan at its meeting on Tuesday.

Meeting Details

Agenda

Register for Public Comment

Rent Abatement

The Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee is discussing rent abatement at its meeting on Thursday. Rent abatement entitles a tenant to suspend rent payments or pay only a portion of the rent until a landlord completes property repairs.

Meeting Details

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

• Downtown Madison Office and Restaurant Building at 131 West Wilson Approved for Reopening Again
  Madison Building Inspectors have notified the owners of the office and restaurant building at 131 West Wilson that the building conditions have been verified to be safe to open.

• Historic Preservation Ordinance Revisions Proposed The City of Madison Landmarks Ordinance Review Committee (LORC) has proposed revisions to Madison's Historic Preservation Ordinance for local historic districts.

• Madison Celebrates Adult Crossing Guard Recognition Week The State of Wisconsin has declared the week of January 10 Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week. The City of Madison would like to honor the 58 dedicated Crossing Guards who work at intersections throughout the city.

• Medic 14, City's Ninth Ambulance, Now In Service On Dairy Drive
  Medic 14 is now in service and responding to emergency medical calls on Madison's southeast side, bringing additional advanced life support (ALS) emergency services to the area.

From the mayor

• You are Invited to the 37th Annual Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday
  Madison will once again be offering programs to honor Dr. King and celebrate his legacy. Again this year, many events will be virtual.

• Façade Grants Beautify Downtown & Neighborhood Businesses This week I had the opportunity to meet with staff from the City's Planning, Community and Economic Development Department to celebrate our 100th façade improvement grant here in Madison.

• Team City Awards Recognize Outstanding Employees
  The City of Madison is lucky to have a talented and dedicated workforce, and we want to recognize that with the Team City Awards.

• 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.

COVID information and resources

• Data Notes for the Week of January 13 

• What do I do if I'm exposed to COVID-19?

• Am I Up to Date on My COVID Vaccinations? 

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

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

• Dane County testing sites

• Data Dashboard

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