Common Council

District 3 Updates September 11, 2019

1. Portland Park Neighborhood Input Meeting |

2. Join the Rolling Meadows Neighborhood Association Board |

3. Kwik Trip |

4. Meadowlands Multi-Family Residences Update |

5. Volunteer with Friends of McGinnis Park |

6. F35 Aircraft |

7. Quick Madison Water Utility Poll |

8. City of Madison seeks nominations for next Poet Laureate |

9. Madison Public Libraries Closed September 12 |

10. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) is urging residents to stop using vape or e-cigarette products immediately |

11. Draft Policy Revision for Dogs in Madison Parks |

12. 2020 Executive Capital Budget |

13.  City Meetings |

14. Calendar |

Today is the 18th anniversary of 9/11. We remember those who lost their lives, their families, and the brave, decisive actions of the first responders. 

1. Tonight: Portland Park Neighborhood Input Meeting

Public Input Meeting One
Wednesday, September 11, 6:30-7:30 pm
Kennedy Elementary School -- Library
221 Meadowlark Drive
Madison, WI 53714

Parks staff will be holding a Public Input Meeting to discuss the Portland Park Master Plan. At this session, attendees will examine opportunities and constraints of the site, give input regarding their preferences and priorities for amenities to include in the park, and participate in a planning exercise related to park amenity planning.

View the Project Page

2. Thursday: Join the Rolling Meadows Neighborhood Association Board

The Rolling Meadows Neighborhood Association is looking for individuals in the neighborhood to join the Board of Directors. In this role, you will help plan events, keep the neighborhood informed, and make sure that everyone has a voice.

If interested:

1. Send an email to rolling.meadows.na@gmail.com and 

2. Come to their next meeting: September 12, 7pm, at New Beginnings/Victory Hmong Alliance Church, 602 Acewood Blvd, Madison, WI 53714

3. Kwik Trip's Sprecher and Cottage Grove Rd project at the September 16 Plan Commission Meeting

Kwik Trip's new proposed location at the corner of Sprecher and Cottage Grove Roads is going through the city approval process and will be at the Monday, Sept. 16 Plan Commission Meeting. 

If you haven't done so already, please do send me your thoughts on the proposal. You can also feel free to send them to Colin Punt in City Planning for review at Plan Commission.

4. Meadowlands Multi-Family Residences Update

The developer received preliminary approval at the September 4 Urban Design Commission meeting, but also received some feedback that will impact the project, including concerns about some inconsistencies in the exteriors, questions related to the use of green space, and the need for more community engagement about the design aspects of the project. I'm gathering information on what this means for the design and for the project's next steps and will share more information when I have it. 

The proposal is scheduled for the October 28 Plan Commission meeting.

5. Volunteer with Friends of McGinnis Park 

Friends of McGinnis Park is a new group that focuses on maintaining McGinnis Park on Crystal Lane.

They have regular volunteer work times at McGinnis Park, open to everyone interested in helping out:

• Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 - 11:00am

• Saturday from 9 am - 12 pm

They need help with planting, weeding and keeping the park clean.

Future plans for McGinnis Park include installation of a community garden, bat houses, and a donation of some art sculptures.

You can learn more by visiting the group's Facebook page, or by emailing friendsofmcginnispark@gmail.com.

Leadership opportunities within this newly-formed group are also available. Please email them for more details. 

6. F35 Aircraft and tomorrow's open house

City staff have released an analysis of the draft United States Air Force F-35A Operational Beddown National Guard Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pertaining to the 115 Fighter Wing at Truax Field and maps of the expected noise areas at or above the 65 decibel range. 

You are welcome to contact me and other elected officials with your thoughts on the proposed stationing of F35s at Truax Field, but I also encourage you to submit comments via the Air National Guard's official public comment channels as this is a decision being made by the federal government, not the City of Madison. Those comments can be made through September 27 and can be made online or by mail.

The Air National Guard has scheduled a public open house on Thursday, September 12, from 5-8pm at the Alliant Energy Center, and comments can also be made in person there. A final decision will be made early next year. 

7. Quick Madison Water Utility Poll

Madison Water Utility wants to engage their customers to better understand which incentives would be most effective in increasing water use efficiency still further. MWU is working with the WaterNow Alliance, in partnership with the online polling platform POLCO , to maximize public engagement. Madison Water Utility is a 2019 recipient of a WaterNow Project Accelerator grant.

Complete the poll

8. City of Madison seeks nominations for next Poet Laureate

Poets Laureates generously share their love of poetry with our city, create occasional poems for specific civic events, and they participate in and help sustain poetry programs for the City of Madison.

Madison boasts of having been one of the first cities in our nation to have a poet laureate. John Tuschen was appointed by Paul Soglin in 1977. Five poets have served following him including Andrea Musher, Fabu, Sarah Busse, Wendy Vardaman, and Oscar Mireles.

After completing four years of service as Madison Poet Laureate, Oscar Mireles will soon pass the torch. Before the end of the year, the Madison Arts Commission will review nominations and make a recommendation to the Mayor's Office. On January 20, 2020 a new Poet Laureate, appointed by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, will begin their term.

Any poet that wishes to self-nominate or any organization or member of the community that wishes to nominate a poet for the position of Madison's next Poet Laureate may submit an application for consideration.

Poets Laureate are selected based on their involvement and commitment to the community, literary excellence and continued pursuit of the craft.

Apply here. 

Deadline to apply is Friday, September 27

9. Madison Public Libraries Closed September 12

All Madison Public Library locations will be closed on Thursday, September 12, for a staff inservice.  Normal operating hours will resume on Friday, September 13.

Library customers may return library items in library book drops or use LINKcat to place holds, check library card records, or renew items. The library's databases and downloadable audiobooks and eBooks are also accessible 24/7 with a library card.

10. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) is urging residents to stop using vaping or e-cigarette products immediately.

Health Alert:

As of September 5, there are 34 confirmed cases of Wisconsin residents hospitalized for severe lung disease and damage from vaping. Nationally, over 200 possible cases are being investigated.

"I urge everyone that currently uses vaping devices to inhale THC or nicotine to stop immediately, and encourage others to not begin using these products," says Janel Heinrich, PHMDC's Health Officer. "Parents and educators can also help by talking with youth, since no amount of marijuana or nicotine use during adolescence is ever safe."

Anyone who has used vaping products and is experiencing unexplained shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss should talk to a healthcare provider.

Wisconsin Outbreak Investigation Website

Community Resources

Tobacco is Changing – Learn more about the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping

Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line or 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free help to quit smoking and FDA-approved medication

11. Dogs in Madison Parks

Survey shows broad support for dogs in Madison Parks

Madison Parks staff worked hard over the summer to collect public input on the current dogs in parks policy. Five public meetings were held along with an online survey. Based on those results, a draft policy was presented to the Parks Long Range Planning Subcommittee last week. The new policy would allow on-leash dogs in Madison parks except at playgrounds, splash parks, sports fields, groomed cross country ski trails, beaches, and conservation parks. The recommendation from the subcommittee will be forwarded on to the Board of Parks Commissioners for final approval.

12. 2020 Executive Capital Budget Released

Mayor Rhodes-Conway released her 2020 Capital Budget and Capital Improvement Plan last week. Budget materials can be found here. Amendments to the Mayor's Capital budget will be released on September 20 and considered by the Finance Committee on September 23. The Mayor's Operating Budget will be released on October 1 and follow a similar process with Common Council eventually considering all Capital and Operating Budget amendments in early November. As always, the public can attend city meetings and give public comment.

13. City Meetings

City Weekly Meeting Schedule 

County Weekly Meeting Schedule

District Reports

14. Calendar