Please slow down in the neighborhood, meetings, events, and announcements

Hello neighbors,

In case you haven’t noticed, the students are back! Please be aware of road closures for student move-in this week.

Also, we are getting more and more speeding complaints as people compensate for all of the road closures in the area. When we ask the Madison Police Department to increase enforcement in these areas, they tell me more than 70% of the people they stop are residents living within a six-block radius. So, please, think about your neighbors and slow down.

In other road-related news, based on feedback from area residents, traffic engineering will be installing an additional stop sign at the corner of Regent Street and Franklin Avenue. This will create a full, 4-way stop at this intersection. Please be aware this change is coming, and adhere to all posted signs, whether you are in a car or on a bicycle, to improve everyone’s safety.

Upcoming Meetings of Interest

• 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.
• 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.
• 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. If the request is granted, the water charge for an average residential customer 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.
• Lunch-and-learn webinar on Complete Streets – Join this session Thursday, September 15, 12:00-1:00 p.m. to review the concept of Complete Streets; the importance of the street network and features such as block size and street width; pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities and their role in a complete street network; and receive information and resources to assist communities in identifying and eliminating barriers.

Events

• 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

• Freedom Inc. announces the availability of four, $5,000 scholarships for Black, Queer youth and adults pursuing higher education in Dane County. The application deadline is September 5. All students applying to or attending any college, university, trade school, or other educational institution are encouraged to apply!
• Police Civilian Oversight Board: The application process for at-large nominations for two 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. Learn more and find the link to the application here.
• ‘Since 2018’ blog: The City of Madison Engineering Division is sharing specific projects and progress since the August 2018 flood in a new blog series. 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. Read the news release for more information.
• Energy Efficiency Excellence Award: The City of Madison is proud to be one of the state’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award Recipients. 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 through 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 through 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 through September 27, 2022
• Monkeypox vaccination clinic: 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, 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.
• 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. 
• 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 35 mph)
  • Portage Road, from E. Washington Avenue to Hanson Road (reduced to 25 mph from 30 mph)
  • Segoe Road, from University Avenue to Odana Road (reduced to 25 mph from 30 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.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver