Updates Storm, Trash, City Billing System, TOD, Neighborhood Grant, Financial Assistance

Greetings!

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season surrounded by family and friends! I am looking forward to spending time with my family the next few days. Be safe and stay warm!

A few important updates your way:

Hours of Operations Update

All Madison Public Libraries will now be closed Friday, December 23, Saturday, December 24-Monday, December 26 and Saturday, December 31-Monday, January 2 for the holidays. Full press release is available here: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/new/winter-weather-updates

In anticipation of the winter storm, city offices, including the Council office, will be closed to the public all day on Friday, December 23. City staff, including Council office staff, will be working remotely and responding to email and phone calls all day on December 23. Since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, City administrative offices, including the Common Council office, will be closed on Monday, December 26 in observance of the holiday.

Streets Division Drop-off Sites Closed December 23: Due to the extreme weather, the Streets Division drop-off sites are closed

Winter Storm & Trash update

At midnight, Streets crews plus help from Parks, Engineering, and heavy equipment contractors will begin plowing every street in our city. Plowing is a long, slow operation. And the wind will certainly complicate matters as roads plowed once will become covered over again.

No trash and recycling pickup by the Streets Division on December 23, as those crews will be needed to help with the continued snow response from the wind. Folks with a Friday trash/recycling day should instead set their carts out for pickup on Monday, 12/26. (People with a Monday pickup should follow the previously published holiday schedule). 

Street drop-off sites are also closed. Snowplow update can also find here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/residents/winter/SnowIce/snowPlowUpdates.cfm

Madison Municipal Services project

Update on the Madison Municipal Services project, and the next steps on continuous improvements of the product. Thank you to those that have reached out to report issues with the new system. Your input has been used to continue to improve the new process.

There is good news to report, as of 3:45 pm today, 12/22 we have:

• 19,519 customers registered for Municipal Services Accounts
• 14,366 customers registered for autopay
• 9548 successful online transactions

With your support, staff have collected and identified a list of improvements for the software vendor to address. Some of the issues are being worked on now, and it is expected to see continued improvements as changes are implemented. All modifications are slated to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023 and should improve the registration process.

IT Staff provided this link with step-by-step registration instructions. These instructions will be updated as improvements are made, and we will have the instructions translated into Spanish, Chinese and Hmong.

Water Utility, Finance and IT staff have been working tirelessly to support our customers and each other throughout the implementation of this project. If you have any questions, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Project Update: Zeier Road Shelter

https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/at-winters-onset-homeless-men-use-madisons-shelter-in-record-numbers/article_749eba8e-9dfa-5bd3-bd59-f1bdc0401d4c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

2023 Neighborhood Grant Program guidelines and applications are now available on the City’s webpage! Grant applications will be due February 20 by 4:30 p.m. What will you and your neighbors do? Start exploring ideas for physical improvements and leadership and capacity building initiatives. Consider attending an optional workshop to learn more: January 19, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Register in advance for this meeting HERE.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Or, attend the workshop in person on January 19, 5:00 p.m. at the Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 206.

Transit-Oriented Development Overlay Zoning

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a pedestrian-oriented, compact, mixed-use development style focused along high quality public transit. It typically includes a mix of housing, office, retail, neighborhood amenities and other uses within walking distance of a transit station. 

Transit-Oriented Development Overlay Zoning District Meeting

The Planning Division will be hosting a virtual public meeting on Transit-Oriented Development Overlay Zoning on Thursday, January 12th at 6pm.  Advanced signup is required.  The meeting will contain information from previous public meetings and Committee meetings covering what TOD Overlay Zoning is, why it is being pursued, and the various components of the drafted ordinance that will be in front of Council on January 17th.  We will be showing some information and case studies on how the TOD Overlay relates to national and local historic districts due to the additional interest in that topic generated by the Transportation Policy and Planning Board’s (TPPB) and Plan Commission’s recommendations to Council that historic districts be included within the Overlay area.  Information on TOD and the virtual meeting is available on the project website.  For reference, the City’s online zoning map has been updated with the TOD Overlay boundary recommended by TPPB and Plan Commission. 

Wisconsin Help for Homeowners Assistance Extended Deadline (12/30/2022)!

Are you a homeowner with overdue home bills? The pandemic continues to have lingering effects on Wisconsin families. The City of Madison would like to remind homeowners, if you are finding it hard to make ends meet, Wisconsin Help for Homeowners is still available, and applications will be accepted through December 30, 2022. This statewide program can help with overdue bills like mortgage payment, property taxes, HOA/Condo fees, manufactured home loan monthly payment and/or lot rent, land contract monthly payments, and utilities. Maximum amount of assistance is up to $40,000.

You may qualify if you meet all of the following:

1. If you are a Wisconsin homeowner living in a: single-family home, duplex, condo, or manufactured home.

2. You have been financially impacted since January 21, 2020 (i.e. fewer paid hours at work, loss of wages, job loss, increased household costs).

3. Your household income is at or below 100% of County median. For DANE County income and other info, contact the Community Action Coalition for SCW at 608-237-1255.

For more information or to apply go to homeownerhelp.wi.gov or call 1-855-2-HOME-WI

City Updates Salt Use Ordinance for Public Sidewalks The City of Madison new ordinance limits the use of salt or other melting agents to the amount necessary to treat the ice so it can be removed. The new change also allows the City to educate and enforce salt standards to property owners who use too much salt or melting agents.

The goal of the ordinance change will keep sidewalks safe for pedestrians and also help the community cut down on salt use, which helps our area waterways. When salt moves into local waters, it contributes to making the City’s lakes and groundwater more salty, which is a public health concern.

Rules for Property Owners

• Excess salt and chemical melting agents may not accumulate on the sidewalk and must be removed following ice or snow melt.

• The owner of each lot or part of lot shall remove all snow and ice upon the sidewalk abutting the premises owned no later than noon of the day after the snow or ice has accumulated on the sidewalk, regardless of the source of accumulation.

• The owner of property abutting sidewalks on two intersecting streets shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalks of both streets, including that portion of the sidewalks bordering the crosswalk, including the curb ramp, if any, regardless of the source of the snow accumulation.

• First offense: $124; second offense: $187