Common Council

Week of August 15th: Save the dates for Hawthrone-Truax plan, Independent Police Monitor finalists, and other news and events

A quick update on some development projects and upcoming neighborhood meetings for the Hawthorne-Truax neighborhood plan, and a few other meetings and announcements of interest!

• District 3 Development Projects: One sentence updates on 102 Sprecher (delayed at Plan Commission but still on schedule for Common Council), Emerson Assisted Living (delayed indefinitely), Plato Madison (still on schedule)
• Hawthrone-Truax Neighborhood Plan - multiple upcoming opportunities to learn more and give updates on the draft of the updated plan
• Independent Police Monitor - Finalists to be announced soon and particpate in a public forum on Thursday August 18th. 
• City Meetings, Events, and Announcements: Two Parks Alive events this week, Storytelling for Kids at Madison Public Library, Dane Dances continues, and more.

Development Projects update:

• 102 S Sprecher St: This project was scheduled to be considered at the Plan Comission on August 8th, but due to a tech snafu with Legistar being down, the Plan Commission was not consider most items of its agenda, including this project, so it will be considered at the August 29th Plan Commission instead. It is still scheduled to be at the Common Council on September 6th.
• Emerson Assisted Living Facility (402 Rustic Drive) has been delayed indefinitely at the request of the applicant. I'll keep everyone updated if and when it comes back.
• Plato Madison (the former Plaza Hotel, 3841 E Washington Ave) - This project is still scheduled to go to the Urban Design Commission on September 7th and to the Plan Commission on September 19th. It does not need the approval of the Common Council. 

Join us to review the draft of the updated Hawthorne-Truax Neighborhood Plan!

The Planning Division will present initial draft concepts and recommendations from the Hawthorne-Truax Neighborhood Plan for review and feedback at a series of public meetings, events and activities.

• August 23 and 24 -Virtual Concept Review. Register on the project's website for one of the Virtual Meetings: www.cityofmadison.com/HawthorneTruax August 23, 6-7pm or August 24, 12-1pm. Both meetings will include review and feedback on initial draft neighborhood plan concepts and recommendations.
• August 25 – Hawthorne-truax neighborhood plan review and Community Night Out. Join us 4-7pm in the Hawthorne Elementary Open Space, 3458 Lexington Ave., Madison, WI 53714 for food, family fun, and review of initial draft plan concepts and recommendations. RAIN DATE: September 1, 4-7pm
• August 27 - Splish Splash Concept Review. Review initial draft plan concepts and recommendations while enjoying the Reindahl Park Splash Pad, 1818 Portage Rd., 11am-2pm
• August 30 and September 6- Food Pantry Feedback. Staff will be at the East Madison Community Center food pantry to gather feedback on the initial draft plan concepts and recommendations. East Madison Community Center, 7 Straubel Ct, August 30 & September 6, 11am-1pm
• September 6 & 7 - Madison College Conversations. Staff will be at Madison College to gather feedback on initial draft concepts and recommendations with Madison College students and community members. Madison College Lobby, 1701 Wright St. September 6 & September 7, 11am-1pm.

Independent Police Monitor Virtual Candidate Forum: The finalists for the Independent Police Monitor position will be introduced at a virtual event on Thursday, August 18th. At this event, the candidates will have an opportunity to answer questions from members of the Police Civilian Oversight Board. The Police Civilian Oversight Board plans to deliberate and make a hiring decision in closed session at its August 25 meeting. Neither the Common Council nor the Mayor make the hiring decision for this position. For more information, and to find out how to register to speak or to just watch the forum, click here. 

Meetings 

• The Common Council will not meet again until September 6, but many other committees meet this week, including the Landmarks Commission, Urban Design Commission, Board of Public Works and the Alcohol License Review Committee. To see the full list of City meetings scheduled for this week, please consult the City meeting schedule.
• The next in-person public information meeting regarding the Town of Madison Attachment is scheduled for 6:00pm, August 18, 2022 at Arbor Covenant Church at 2509 McDivitt Road in Madison. Come to meet City of Madison staff and learn about the Town of Madison attachment. The meeting will have interpreters in Spanish. Free food and childcare will be provided. Learn more here.

Events

• Parks Alive is a collaborative effort across multiple City departments and involves many community-based stakeholders and mobile resources. This is a great opportunity to come out to local parks, build community, strengthen relationships, and have fun!
  • Monday August 15, 4:30pm-7:30pm Parks Alive ~ Elver Park Food cart, Art Cart, Dream Bus, movie 
  • Wednesday August 17 4:30pm-8:45pm, Parks Alive / Movies with Madison Parks ~ Meadowood Par Movie: Brother Bear @ 7pm. Art Cart, Fit2Go, Food Carts

Check out the Parks Division Event Calendar for more fun activities in parks around Madison.

• Madison Public Library Is Hosting Storytelling Events for Kids. From August 8 to August 20 across different libraries, the Madison Public Library We Read program is offering a chance to share stories in a unique way. For two weeks, each library will have workshops and/or self-directed activities for kids and families to enjoy. Activities include Bubbler-led making opportunities like creating your own digital comic or making a stop-motion animated video using iMovie. Bubbler Media Instructor Rob Franklin (Rob Dz) will also lead interactive spoken word poetry workshops and Alexis Dean, the Bubbler in the Neighborhood artist at Meadowridge Library, will lead a poetry-inspired storytelling session, as well. See this link for dates and times for each library and what activities are at which library.
• Dane Dances! 2022 "A Season of Celebration" Dane Dances! is a family friendly event on the stunning Monona Terrace rooftop EVERY FRIDAY EVENING IN AUGUST. The much-anticipated summer music series is a great way to get down and dance with your friends, coworkers, or family. The rooftop gets shaking as the sun sets against the iconic Wisconsin State Capitol with the breeze of Lake Monona at your back while you dance. Feel free to bring a blanket, chair and picnic basket; seating on the rooftop is limited. Sorry, carry-in alcohol is prohibited. Dane Dances! promotes inclusivity with a fun night of music and dancing to music and bands for all ages.

Announcements

• On Monday, August 15, John Nolen Drive will see a section of roadway, from North Shore Drive to East Lakeside Street, reduced to 35 mph from 45 mph as part of the 2022 roadway improvements for the Vision Zero Initiative. Learn more here, including the additional streets scheduled for speed limit reductions in 2022.
• Metro Transit's supplemental school bus schedules for 2022-23 are now available online. Plan your student's bus trip to/from school on Google Maps or call us at 608-266-4466 for help.
• Streets Division Updates
  • Curbside brush collection is winding down for 2022. Before you put brush out for pickup, check to see when the next collection will be for your home. The brush schedule can be found at www.cityofmadison.com/BrushCollection
  • Did your trash & recycling date change? If you live on the west side, it might have changed on August 1, 2022. Get your collection calendar at www.cityofmadison.com/CollecionSchedule
  • Do you have a question about the new Resource Recovery Special Charge? If you do, head over to www.cityofmadison.com/Recycling and check out the Resource Recovery Special Charge page for an extensive FAQ about this new charge.
• Be a Volunteer Fall Food Cart Reviewer! The annual Food Cart Review will run September 12 - October 8, 2022, and you can apply to be one of the reviewers!  This review will determine which food carts will be allowed to vend in Downtown Madison from April 15, 2023 - April 14, 2024. Application deadline is Friday, August 19 at 4p.  You will be notified if you have been accepted as a reviewer by August 25th. Reviewers are required to visit at minimum 80% of the food carts in the review.  In 2019 we had 59 carts participate.  During the Review, you must be available 3-4 of the Saturday's between 9a-1p and be able to get Downtown during the week over the lunch hour (11a-2p).  All Reviewers are required to take a mandatory virtual training on Tuesday, August 30, from 6p-7p.  A love for food, small businesses and the vibrancy of our city is a plus! Click here to apply.