City Highlights for the Week of November 27, 2023

The City of Madison Streets Division has reduced the salt routes for the upcoming winter by six percent.  Over 50 miles of roads that were previously part of the salt route network have been removed. In an average winter, this reduction will prevent roughly 270 tons of salt from being spread on our roads and entering our local waterways.

If a road is no longer used by Metro, then it may not need to be considered part of the salt route network. Following the redesign of the Metro bus routes, Streets Division staff reviewed all of the salt route network looking for areas where we can reduce the salt routes and prevent more salt from being spread onto the roads.

2023-2024 Salt Routes.pdf
 

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found here. Council staff prepare the weekly highlights.

• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, November 27, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include awarding up to $11,295,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund to support five affordable housing development projects, authorizing the sale of City-owned property to Madison College for $1.00 in order for Madison College to construct and operate a childcare facility, and approving the 2024 Urban Forestry and Resource Recovery special charges.
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• Sustainable Madison Committee: The Sustainable Madison Committee meeting will take place on Monday, November 27, in hybrid format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items includes updates on the Sustainability Plan and the UW-Madison West Campus District Plan.
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  • Register for Public Comment
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• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, November 27, in virtual format at 4:30 pm. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 1, 13, 16, 17, and 19.
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  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 29, in virtual format at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items include an update on Metro Transit ridership, supporting and approving the City of Madison applications to WisDOT for Federal funding under the 2024-2028 Transportation Alternatives Program, and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement with the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the design and construction for retrofitting older energy inefficient streetlights to energy efficient LED fixtures citywide through the Carbon Reduction Program.
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  • Register for Public Comment

Public Information Meetings & Sessions

• Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management Plan Listening Session, Tuesday, November 28 (VIRTUAL): Join the Stormwater Utility for a public listening session as part of development of the Stormwater Vegetation Management Plan. These listening sessions are intended to solicit feedback on big picture questions regarding vegetation goals and maintenance on existing stormwater utility land. These sessions will be interactive, with live polling on big picture questions, image mapping, and opportunities to identify what is working well, in addition to hearing any concerns you might have. Registration is required prior to the Zoom meeting, please register for the Zoom meeting using this link: Nov. 28, 2023 Public Information Virtual Meeting Registration
• Public Input Meeting - Olbrich Park Nature Play, Tuesday, November 28 (VIRTUAL): Madison Parks is installing a nature play area in Olbrich Park. Earlier in 2023, Parks crews removed the playground at Olbrich Park near Lakeland Ave. The typical lifespan of post and platform playground equipment is 20-30 years, and this playground was past the standard expected lifespan. The community is invited to attend a public input meeting, where Parks staff will present concept plans for review and input. Tuesday, November 28 at 6:00pm via Zoom - REGISTER IN ADVANCE
• Knutson Drive Reconstruction, Wednesday, November 29 (VIRTUAL): The City is planning to reconstruct Knutson Drive (Green Avenue to Northport Drive). The project includes a new street design with curb and gutter, sidewalk, and driveway aprons. The asphalt pavement and gravel base will be replaced. The sanitary sewer and water main will remain. The project will add storm sewer and stormwater features for controlling surface water runoff. A public information meeting  has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Nov. 29, 2023, via Zoom. Registration prior is required. Nov. 29, 2023 Public Information Meeting Registration . A survey is now available. Please take the survey before 5 p.m., Dec. 7, 2023. Knutson Drive Reconstruction- Green Avenue- Northport Drive Survey 

Announcements & News Releases

• Winter is Coming, Collect New Free Snow Machine Baseball Cards: The City of Madison is ready for winter with its new collectable snow machine baseball cards, now available for free at all Madison Public Library branches, both City of Madison Streets Division offices and other locations across the City. The four…
• Mayor Rhodes-Conway Announces New Chief of Staff: Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced today that Mary Bottari will be stepping down, and that Sam Munger will serve as Chief of Staff starting at the beginning of 2024.
• Salt Routes Reduced for Winter of 2023-2024: Over 50 miles of roads were removed from the salt routes for this upcoming winter. In an average winter, this will save around 270 tons of salt from being spread on our roads and entering our waterways.
• Community Invitation to Upcoming Community Listening Session: MADISON, [11/21/2023] — The Madison community is invited to participate in the first of several upcoming Community Listening Sessions to be held by the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM). This first session will be hosted at the Madison…

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! * No Class: October 10, 20, 27 and November 7 and 24
• HolidayFest Arts & Crafts Fair, Saturday, December 2: Join us for the 24th annual HolidayFest Arts & Crafts Fair held the first Saturday in December each year. Over 80 vendors from the Midwest will be participating. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures at Tenney Park, Saturday, December 2: Nature-expert guided walks in Tenney Park along Lake Mendota and the Yahara River Parkway bike path through the Madison Isthmus are free, family-friendly and held the first Saturday of each month, from 2:30-4pm. The walk begins at the Tenney Beach parking lot, 1330 Sherman Avenue. No registration is required. No pets are allowed. Co-sponsored by Madison FUN Friends of Urban Nature, Madison Parks, Madison Audubon Society, Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association  and Friends of the Yahara River Parkway.