Common Council

Week of August 29th: Plan review opportunities, and other city meetings, events, and announcements

There are still opportunities to comment in person (and virtually) on the updated Hawthorne-Truax neighborhood plan, 102 S Sprecher development project will be at the Plan Commission, and a few more meetings and events, and a whole lot of annoucements!

• Hawthorne-Truax Neighborhood Plan Review: More opportunities this week
• 102 S Sprecher at Plan Commission this week
• Other city meetings, and the Reindahl Park master plan public meeting
• More events: MMSD & Public Health are hosting a virtual session on Wednesday on School Safety, and there are lots of Parks events still happening as summer winds down
• Annoucements: The Common Council is hiring a community engagement specialist, the Public Library is hosting a Naturalist-in-Residence and is looking to collect oral histories, and lots more.

Hawthorne -Truax Neighborhood Plan review continues

There are still some upcoming opportunties to review in-person the initial draft of the revised Hawthorne-Truax neighborhood plan:

• 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.

At the City's website for the plan, you can comment virtually on the "Interactive Commenting Map", or you can send email to the Planning staff who are guiding the project. 

(There were two virtual meetings about the plan this past week - I don't yet have links to those recordings but when I get them, I'll include them in my update, so look for them next week!)

102 S Sprecher at the Plan Commission this week

The 102 S Sprecher project will be at the Plan Commission on Monday, August 29th. It was originally scheduled to be on the agenda at the August 8th meeting, but because Legistar, the online system the City uses to manage meetings, agendas, and materials) was down nation-wide, the Plan Commission had to delay this project to the 29th. If the Plan Commission approves the project, it will be on the agenda for the September 6th Common Council meeting. 

Meetings 

• Many committees meet the week of August 29, including the Finance Committee, Landmarks Commission, Plan Commission, and Madison Public Library Board. To see the full list of City meetings scheduled for the week, please consult the City meeting schedule.
• Reindahl Park public information meeting: The City of Madison Parks Division is updating the Master Plan for Reindahl Park. The update process will review existing park uses and amenities as well as identify future improvements. The master plan update will also take into consideration the location of Madison Public Library's Imagination Center within the park. The in-person public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 5:30pm-7pm, at East Madison Community Center multi-purpose room, 8 Straubel Court.

Events

• Virtual session on school safety: In partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District's Office of School Safety, Public Health Madison & Dane County's Violence Prevention Unit is hosting a virtual session on school safety on Wednesday, August 31, 5pm - 6pm. The virtual session is free but registration is required. The session will be recorded and made available on PHMDC's Violence Prevention Unit's webpage. This is the third installment in the "Violence Prevention & Intervention Speaker Series". The series will be sharing the latest violence prevention and intervention strategies, methodologies, and theories. It is open to everyone in the community
• Madison Parks: As summer draws to a close, there are still many events happening around the city in Madison's beautiful parks. Check out all the activities on the Parks Division's calendar.

Announcements

• Career opportunity: The Common Council Office is hiring a Community Engagement Specialist. If you have a passion for communications and public service, you might be just who we're looking for! Learn more about this exciting opportunity. Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on August 29.
• Madison Parks 2023 Calendar Photography Contest: The Madison Parks 2023 calendar photography contest deadline of Monday, September 5, is quickly approaching. The contest is open to all. No fancy equipment is needed. Most modern cell phone cameras will do the trick! Just be sure to submit photos taken horizontally and in a City of Madison park. See Madison Parks photography contest for all the details. 
• Citywide Traffic Enforcement: In August, the Madison Police Department is continuing to focus on hazardous driving behaviors throughout the City.  So far in August, MPD has conducted a total of 21 enhanced traffic enforcement projects, with an additional 6 scheduled for the remainder of the month. Read more on the Police Blotter Blog
• Police Civilian Oversight Board: The application process for at-large nominations for two (2) seats on the City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board is now open. The deadline for submitting nominations or self-nominations is Tuesday, September 6, 2022. The Civilian Oversight Board was established on September 1, 2020, when the Madison Common Council passed MGO sections 5.20  and 5.19  creating it and the Office of the Independent Police Monitor. Learn more and find the link to the application here.
• 'Since 2018' blog: The City of Madison Engineering Division will share about specific projects and progress since the August 2018 flood in a new blog series, 'Since 2018,' on its website. In the last days of August, the Engineering Division will focus on specific changes or projects the Engineering Division stormwater section has produced since the 2018 floods that devastated the City's west and southwest side. The flood caused an estimated $30M in public and private damage. Since then, the City of Madison has strengthened its commitment to stormwater, even increasing the budget toward projects and resources into ways to improve the stormwater system. Read the news release for more information. Of note to District 3, especially those in the Northstar Neighborhood: you may have noticed the construction just south of the neighborhood along Sprecher Road - that's part of the flood prevention effort and you can read about it here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/blog/since-2018-sprecher-road
• Energy Efficiency Excellence Award: The City of Madison is proud to be one of the state's 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award Recipients. During an August 18, 2022, press conference at City of Madison Fire Station 14,  Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program, recognized the City of Madison for designing with energy-efficient features in its buildings. To learn more, read the news release and watch the press conference.
• Food scraps recycling: Food scraps recycling for 2022 is available at two farmer's market drop-off sites this summer from June 14 to September 27.
  • Market Site 1: South Madison Farmer's Market (1602 S. Park Street)
    • Hours: 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
    • Dates open: Only Tuesday markets from June 14 to September 27, 2022
  • Market Site 2: Eastside Farmer's Market (202 S. Ingersoll Street)
    • Hours: 4:00pm to 7:00pm
    • Dates open: Only Tuesday evenings from June 14 to September 27, 2022
• Monkeypox vaccination clinic: With expanded eligibility guidance from Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Public Health Madison Dane County has opened a monkeypox vaccination clinic. The clinic is open with limited hours on weekdays, by appointment only. Learn more about the updated eligibility and how to make an appointment at publichealthmdc.com/monkeypox. Monkeypox does not spread easily from person to person, and the virus is spreading mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who has monkeypox.
• Naturalist-in-Residence: Madison Public Library is launching a new residency all about nature! Local naturalist John C. Newman has been named the first Naturalist-in-Residence at Madison Public Library and will lead a series of events, walks and workshops throughout September and into October. The goal of the Naturalist-in-Residence project is to encourage the Madison community to explore, learn, and reflect upon the natural world and their place in it, through the guiding vision of an experienced local naturalist. Those who participate will get to enjoy Madison Parks, as well as the many green and urban spaces around the city and at libraries. Learn more here.
• Public notice to all customers of Madison Water Utility: Madison Water Utility has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to increase water rates. The increase is necessary due to a 5.8 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 3.2 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 2020. The total increase in water revenues requested is $8,498,655, which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 18.12 percent over the water utility's present revenues. If the request is granted, the water charge for an average residential customer with a ?-inch or ¾-inch meter who uses 4,000 gallons of water per month will increase from $29.92 to $34.92, or 16.71%. This increase only applies to the Water charges on your bill. Charges for Sewer, Storm Water, Landfill, Resource Recovery, and Urban Forestry are not a part of this rate application. A virtual public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. To learn more about the rate increase application and to register for the virtual public hearing, please read the Water Utility's news release.
• Share your stories: Madison Public Library is looking for a few good stories through an open call for submissions to the Madison Living History Project. Submissions should include a focus on historical moments or changes over time and elevate an underrepresented group or lesser-known chapter of Madison's history. For example, collections might revolve around changes to neighborhood hangouts or locally owned businesses, the history of a Madison event or initiative, or the experiences of refugee or immigrant groups who've made Madison their home.  Learn more about the project at Madison Living History Project, find some example project ideas, and apply at madisonlivinghistory.org. Read the Public Library's news release here.
• Speed reduction on Mineral Point Road: The next 2022 roadway improvement scheduled through the Vision Zero initiative takes place on Monday, August 29, to a section of Mineral Point Road, from S. Whitney Way to the Beltline. This speed reduction from 40 mph to 35 mph should not affect travel times on this stretch of roadway. Along with the previous speed changes occurring earlier this year on E. Washington Avenue and John Nolen Drive, this newest reduction will continue to work towards the goal of making Madison safer. Lowering the speed limit just 5 mph on this thoroughfare will not only decrease the likelihood of a serious or fatal crash but also increase the safety for all roadway users. Additional streets scheduled for speed limit reductions in 2022 include:
  • Old Sauk Road, from the Beltline to Westfield Road (reduced to 30 mph from 35mph)
  • Portage Road, from E. Washington Avenue to Hanson Road (reduced to 25 mphfrom 30 mph)
  • Segoe Road, from University Avenue to Odana Road (reduced to 25 mph from30 mph)

For each of these changes, along with updated permanent signs, staff will place temporary digital signboards in the area to remind drivers of the speed limit changes. Find more information in the news release.