Set your leaves out ASAP, 2024 Budget, Moore's Towing Redevelopment, Pile Driving on University, Meetings, Announcements & Events

Hello neighbors,

The Streets Division has let us know there will be one last leaf pickup, City-wide, this week. Please set your leaves out today, or before 6am tomorrow (Monday) to ensure your leaves get picked up. 

2024 Budget

I have seen a number of posts on the community listserve in regards to the 2024 City budget. I want to make sure everyone is aware you can review everything about the budget on the City’s website – the operations of our City are public and transparent. You can review the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s assessment of the Madison budget for an unbiased evaluation. Also, if you’re like me, your 2023 property tax bill has arrived. I encourage you to review the information sheet included with that bill, as it highlights some key facts about our budget, including that Madison received the second-lowest per capita allotment of shared revenue from the state. Keep in mind that state money represents funds you and I have paid in, and there is a large surplus of state dollars that could be put back into our schools, roads, libraries, and first responders if the legislature would release it back to municipalities. The fact of the matter is, to provide services to our residents, it takes money. And the cost of everything is rising, including personnel, supplies, and construction. So, if the state won’t release our funds back to us, there are only so many mechanisms we have to ensure the high level of services you expect can continue. It is no secret we are likely headed to a referendum, unless things change at the state level. And Madison is no different than our surrounding communities, who will also be forced into referenda to fund basic services. I can say with assurance there is no mismanagement at the City. I deeply respect the work of our Finance Director, David Schmiedicke, who has been in his role since 2012, when he was first appointed by Mayor Soglin. The integrity of the service he provides is second to none, and he is overseeing a group of bright, professional, and dedicated staff who ensure the City’s finances are managed accurately and appropriately. 

Moore’s Towing Redevelopment

Thank you to everyone who attended the public information meeting on the redevelopment of the Moore’s Towing and adjacent property on Thursday evening. The developers presented their current plans for a 4 story building with a 5th story setback. The building would have retail space on the bottom (they have a letter of intent for a restaurant/deli), and 53 units with a mix of studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms, with underground car and bicycle parking. The shadow studies showed significant shading of the adjacent homes during the winter months. The developers would need to have the single family home rezoned, and would require conditional use approval by the Plan Commission to build that many stories, and to be able to not have step-backs of the higher stories. The developers are people who live in the neighborhood, and will be managing the property directly. Once the submission process commences, I will continue to communicate with the neighborhood about processes and opportunities for engagement. I anticipate at least one, if not more, additional public meetings on this topic.

Upcoming Pile Driving

There will be some pile driving at University Avenue and University Bay Drive the week of December 11 for the BRT station there. It shouldn’t last too long but there will be some routine bangs. Pile driving is needed because the BRT station platform will be over a very large storm sewer box culvert; the piles will make sure the weight of the station doesn’t crush the culvert!

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

• Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board: The Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 6, in virtual format at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include an update on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation I-39/90 Corridor Study, the Electric Vehicle Plan, and a status report on Capital Area RPC Activities.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

Public Information Meetings & Sessions

• 2024 State Street Pedestrian Mall Experimental Closure - Initial Concept Review, Monday, December 4 (VIRTUAL & IN PERSON): Following Metro Transit's network redesign, which shifted bus routes off the lower blocks of State Street, the City of Madison Common Council adopted a resolution directing staff to pursue an experimental pedestrian mall/street closure of the 400-600 blocks in the summer of 2024.  Planning Division staff will present the initial design concept for those blocks and discuss options for when the blocks will be closed to private vehicles.
• Student Loan Forgiveness Workshop, December 6, 5:30pm, online. 
• Public Input Meeting - Olbrich Park - North Parcel, Thursday, December 7 (VIRTUAL): Madison Parks is creating a Park Development Plan for the parkland north of Garver Feed Mill, referred to as Olbrich Park - North Parcel. REGISTER IN ADVANCE. Staff will present background information, survey results, draft plans, listen to feedback, and answer questions. As part of the plan, we'll have several public engagement opportunities. Take the Online Survey! The survey will be open from November 2 through November 26. Survey results will be shared at the first public meeting in December.
• E Wilson Street and E Doty Street Reconstruction, Thursday, December 7 (VIRTUAL): The City is planning the reconstruction of E Wilson St from MLK Blvd to S Franklin St and E Doty St from MLK Blvd to King St in 2024. The project improvements include replacement of existing pavement and pavement base, curb and gutter, sanitary sewer main and laterals, storm sewer, and porting of the water main. Damaged sections of sidewalk will also be replaced or as needed to install sewer service laterals. In addition, a new cycle track will be installed along E Wilson St as part of this project. A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Dec. 7, 2023, via Zoom. Registration is required prior. Dec. 7, 2023 Public Information Meeting Registration 

Announcements & News Releases

• Community Invitation to Upcoming Community Listening Session: The Madison community is invited to participate in the second of several upcoming Community Listening Sessions to be held by the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM). 
• Rates Increasing in 2024 for City of Madison Owned Parking Facilities: The City of Madison Parking Division is scheduled to increase several off-street parking rates, effective January 1, 2024. 
• Metro Ridership Surges Past 1 Million Rides for October : For the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Metro has provided more than 1 million rides in a single month.  In October, Metro provided 1,075,549 rides, an almost 20% increase compared to October of last year.
• Madison Public Market Groundbreaking: ‘A Place Where Dreams Come True.’ 
• Additional Funding to Support Violence Prevention Programs: Starting today, Public Health Madison & Dane County is accepting applications from local community organizations to receive funding that supports violence prevention efforts in Dane County.
• Olin Avenue Drop-off Site Closed for 2023: The Streets Division drop-off site at 121 E. Olin Avenue is now closed for the remainder of 2023.The site will reopen in the spring of 2024.

Events

• Yoga Core, Tuesdays & Fridays, October 6 through December 15, 2023: Want to build your strength and increase body awareness? Yoga Core is great way to do it! This class incorporates a wide variety of seated, standing, balancing, and mat-based yoga poses focusing on strength, stability, and mobility. Core-based practices can help enhance balance and stability and prevent falls and injuries as we age. All levels are welcome! 
• Holiday Lights Tour & Reception, Tuesday, December 5: Catch the holiday spirit as we tour Olin Park’s Holiday Lights display! Vans leave from the Goodman Community Center and will stop at the Madison Senior Center on the way to Olin Park. Afterwards, we will return to Goodman to enjoy a holiday reception of cookies & hot chocolate. Registration required! 
• Wellness Talks: The Energies of Sleep, Wednesday, December 6: If you struggle with sleep, you probably feel like you've tried everything! You may have changed your sleep environment, developed a bedtime routine, tried supplements, or modified your diet. But have you tried balancing your body's energy systems? They play an important role in our ability to get a good night's sleep.
• Learn to Nordic Walk, Friday, December 8: What is Nordic walking? Join us at Elver Park on Friday, December 8 and get ready for winter! We've partnered with Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki) for this free workshop. Participants of all ages are welcome and will explore Elver Park and learn where to hike and snowshoe in this park. 
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, December 8: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the game room or the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo!
• Bird & Nature Adventures at Owen Conservation Park, Saturday, December 9: Explore Owen Conservation Park on gentle trails through historic oak openings on a hillside with an Ice Age kettle and along restored prairies with beautiful vistas on this high point overlooking the west side of Madison. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks, Madison Audubon Society, and the Friends of Owen Conservation Park. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Owen Conservation Park are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, year-round 2:30-4pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Bird & Nature Adventures at Turville Point Conservation Park, Sunday, December 10: Follow rolling hiking paths through the Turville Point Conservation Park woodlands and prairie with beautiful vistas of Lake Monona and Monona Bay. Walks at Turville Point held on the 2nd Sunday every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners, Madison Parks, Friends of Olin Turville, and Madison Audubon Society. Meet at the Turville Point parking lot, entrance at the E. Olin Ave. stoplight from John Nolen Drive at the railroad tracks, south of Olin Park (not at the boat launch). No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver