Happy New Year - call 988 if you need support; Hate Crimes Task Force; New Year's Day Closures; Mineral Point Road Diet meeting 1/18; Announcements

Hello neighbors,

I want to wish each and every one of you a healthy and happy start to 2024! However, I know for many folks these days can be difficult, particularly if you have lost a loved one in the recent past. For those of you who are finding yourself in more darkness than light, please don’t hesitate to call or text 988. This hotline is an available service when you are feeling down enough to consider self-harm. Please know that, no matter what, you are loved, and you are valued. Reach out if you need to.

I also wanted to make you aware that, in response to an increase in reported incidents of bias-motivated calls for service, the Madison Police Department will create a 90-day Hate Crimes Task Force beginning January 1, 2024, followed by a rigorous evaluation period. The Hate Crimes Task Force is being created to proactively address bias-motivated threats, harassment, and violence throughout the city of Madison.

Please note that City Offices are closed on January 1. Emergency services will be open; please call 911. Use Report a Problem for non-emergencies.

Neighborhood Meetings                                            

• January 18, 2024, 7pm, Community Meeting on the proposed “road diet” for Mineral Point Road, Mid-Town Police District Community Room. 
  • A “road diet” has been proposed for Mineral Point Road from Speedway/Glenway to Midvale Blvd. Mineral Point Road is currently four lanes with directional peak-hour lanes. On-street parking is allowed during off-peak times, although not heavily utilized. A road diet on this street would consist of reducing the street down to three travel lanes (one lane in each direction plus a center left-turn lane) with marked buffered bike lanes. All on-street parking would be permanently eliminated along this stretch if this proposal were to move forward. Please come to listen to a brief presentation and share your perspectives on this proposal!

Announcements & News Releases

• Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award Winner is Dr. Fabu Carter: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced that Dr. Fabu Carter is the recipient of the 2023 Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award. 
• Large Items Free with Work Orders for Resource Recovery Charge Ratepayers: Madison residents who pay the Resource Recovery Special Charge will no longer be charged for items that previously required a fee when they place their large item work orders. 
• How to Have Your Christmas Tree Collected: The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees. Crews collect trees only.  Wreaths, boughs, and other evergreen decorations should go into the trash. The first round of tree pickups will begin on January 2.
• Parking Rates will Increase: Hourly and monthly parking rates will increase for some City garages and lots, starting January 1.
• Madison Parks 2024 Calendar: Buy a 2024 Madison Parks Calendar for just $10, including tax. You can buy calendars online, or from the Olbrich Botanical Gardens gift shop, Parks Lakeside Office, and Warner Park Community Recreation Center. 
• 2024 Neighborhood Grant Program: Have you and your neighbors been thinking about making community improvements or strengthening your neighborhood group? The Planning Division will once again offer funding through the Neighborhood Grant Program for Leadership and Capacity Building and Community Enhancement projects. The application deadline is February 12, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Once you are ready to start an application, please contact the Planning Division at Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com, and share project ideas with your alderperson. We also invite you to attend an optional orientation meeting: Neighborhood Grant Program Orientation January 11, 2024
  • Virtual, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please sign up to receive an email with information about participating in the meeting.
  • In-Person, 6:00 p.m., Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 206. 

Streets Division Updates

• Drop-off Site Hours: Drop-off sites are on winter hours. Check the hours before loading your car.  
• Winter Information: The City of Madison has a hub for all things winter from how to use salt correctly to winter recreation opportunities to free sand locations to snowplowing update email signups. 

Take care,

Regina Vidaver