Westside Community Connections 3/21 at 6pm

Please join Alder Wehelie, Alder John W. Duncan and Alder Barbara Harrington-McKinney of the City of Madison Common Council, on Thursday, March 21, as they host Matthew Mikolajewski, Director of Economic Development Division, Saran Ouk, Manager of Office of Business Resources & Kirsten Donkle, Contract Compliance Specialist of Department of Civil Rights, who will talk about resources and programs available for businesses in our community.

When: Thursday, March 21, 6-7:30 p.m.

To participate please register in advance at the following link: www.cityofmadison.com/westsidecommunityconnections

Attendees can also submit their questions in advance to Lorissa Bañuelos, Community Engagement Strategist, by email lbanuelos@cityofmadison.com. Please include “Westside Community Connections” in the subject line.

2024-03-11 Updates from City of Madison

CDC’s News COVID Guidelines Four years after the first confirmed case of COVID in Wisconsin, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new guidance about what to do if you test positive. 

Public Health Madison Dane County explains what changed and why
Mayor’s Message
As we celebrate Women’s History Month this March, I am delighted to highlight the remarkable contributions of talented women that work for the City, particularly those in the construction trades. The City of Madison Engineering Division, in collaboration with the Parks Division, Traffic Engineering Division, and Building Inspection Division, proudly joins the nationally-recognized Women in Construction Week, occurring from March 3rd to March 9th, 2024.

For the fifth consecutive year, City Engineering is showcasing the exceptional work of women in various roles within the construction sector. Under the theme ‘Keys to the Future’, we aim to celebrate the strength, knowledge, and indispensable role that women play in shaping the future of the construction industry.

City Engineering has spotlighted each agency recipient, highlighting their remarkable journeys and contributions to the construction industry through social media posts, written articles, and video features. We’re celebrating Women’s History Month by introducing the following remarkable women who are featured this year: Maria Delestre, Construction Manager, City of Madison Engineering Division Ali Heinritz, Traffic Engineer, City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division Nadine Resler, Property Code Enforcement Officer, City of Madison Building Inspection Division Keira Miller, Park Maintenance Worker, City of Madison Parks Division Taylor Lemon, Equipment Operator, City of Madison Engineering Division I encourage you to check out their stories on City Engineering’s social media channels and website. These exceptional women are just a few of the amazing folks who work for the City of Madison. Day in and day out, our dedicated staff work diligently to ensure the safety of our streets, the beauty of our parks, and the resilience of our buildings. Whether it’s maintaining our infrastructure, beautifying our neighborhoods, or ensuring the smooth functioning of essential services, their contributions, both big and small, are critical to maintaining and enhancing Madison’s quality of life.
Follow Mayor’s Blog
Ride the Drive Returns
It’s the return of parks and open streets! Ride the Drive is back and set to be Madison’s landmark event of the 2024 summer. On Sunday, August 11, from 10 am to 2 pm, select downtown area streets and parks come alive with the spirit of community. Ride the Drive is a free, one-day rain-or-shine event promoting the use of alternative transportation with miles of open streets. By threading the route through six key Madison parks, we aim to connect the community, encourage outdoor activity and foster a deeper appreciation for these green spaces. Each of the six Park Hubs offers activities for all ages, food and entertainment.
South Transfer Point Temporarily Closed
Construction at the South Transfer Point begins on Friday, March 1 to remove the current orange and blue structure. Standard Metro shelters will be installed after this structure has been removed. During the temporary closure, passengers should board near the South Transfer Point at the Park and Badger intersection.
Complete Information
Public Hearing Scheduled
On Wednesday, March 13, Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. to discuss fare updates related to new fare technology being installed this summer.
Complete Information
Learn More About Riding Metro!
Visit with Metro outreach staff at several upcoming events to learn more about the bus system! 
Schedule of Events
New Madison Fire Internship Program
The Madison Fire Department announced a new internship program aimed at cultivating up-and-coming talent from communities historically underrepresented in the public safety workforce. The City of Madison Firefighter/EMT Development Program will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 with an expected start date in June 2024. The department hopes to hire two interns per year for the duration of the grant-funded program. The internship is a comprehensive, full-time paid learning experience and career development pathway geared toward youth interested in firefighting and EMS as a career. 
Tour of the Emerald Isle
In this fun and informative pictorial presentation, Joe Fahey will discuss some of the key points of Irish culture, both past and present. Of course, no Irish discourse would be complete without visiting a few pubs to tilt a Guinness along the way! 
Madison Poet Laureate Debut Gala
The public is invited to meet and honor Madison’s new Poet Laureate, Steven Espada Dawson, at a reception and poetry reading on World Poetry Day*, Thursday, March 21, from 7:00 – 8:30pm at the Arts + Literature Laboratory, 111 S. Livingston St #100. The reception is free-of-charge and open to the public. 
Three Finalists for Library Director
After a nationwide search and several rounds of interviews, three candidates have been selected as finalists in the search for the next Director of Madison Public Library! The Madison Public Library Board spearheaded the process and involved many key stakeholders including the Mayor’s Office, Madison Public Library Foundation, library staff, South Central Library System and more. 
We Read Spring Break 
As kids take a break from school March 25-29, why not stop into Madison Public Library? The We Read Youth Voices Writing Contest is returning April 1 and we’ll be getting inspired during the week of Spring Break with all kinds of programs and activities designed to spark creativity and inspiration. 

We’ll have writer’s notebooks available at each library location (including the Dream Bus) for kids to pick up throughout the week, as well as over-sized story dice that can be rolled to generate characters, settings and interesting obstacles. Plus, programs for all ages will encourage different forms of expression: For babies and toddlers, there are storytimes led by music therapists and yoga classes geared towards creative movement.  For school-age kids, build stories with LEGO challenges or practice sharing stories by reading to a dog.  For teens and tweens, tell your story through movement with cardio drumming at Meadowridge Library or a Dance + Yoga class at Goodman South Madison Library. Learn more about We Read Spring Break: madpl.org/springbreak
Naturalist-in-Residence App Open 3/15
Madison Public Library and Madison Parks are looking for a local naturalist to lead a series of workshops, guided walks, and programs in libraries and city green spaces for six weeks during summer 2024. 

Educators, birding enthusiasts, scientists, artists, writers, Waterkeepers, and more are invited to apply to a Naturalist residency with the Madison Public Library. The Naturalist-in-Residence will facilitate outdoor programming in Madison’s diverse natural areas–including outdoor library spaces–for community members of all ages. 

The Naturalist-in-Residence will facilitate or organize a minimum of 10 programs during the residency, and collaborate with library staff to develop accompanying elements like book lists and library displays. Applications for this paid position open on Friday, March 15. Learn more about the residency and get ready to apply: madpl.org/naturalist

2024-03-08 Neighborhood News & Updates

West Area Plan Public Meeting March 12, 2024

A draft West Area Plan is available for review!  Please  review and comment on draft maps and actions here by March 20th, or provide feedback at the in-person public meeting on March 12, 6:00 p.m. at Vel Phillips Memorial High School, 201 S. Gammon Rd., Wisconsin Neighborhood Center. A full PDF of draft plan text and maps, including chapter introductions and appendices, is available  here.  After March 20th, Planning Division staff will review public feedback, meet with other city agencies, and prepare a fully formatted final draft of the plan, including photos and additional background info graphics, for board/committee/commission/Council review. An additional topic-specific meeting on “proactive rezoning” (e.g., City-led rezoning of property to match Plan land use recommendations) will be held on March 18th at 6:00 p.m. ( virtual – registration required).  Post card invitations were mailed to affected property owners and all are welcome to participate in this virtual meeting to learn more.

Make Music Madison (MMM) will Return Friday, June 21st, 2024

The 12th annual MMM will be Wednesday, June 21, 2024 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. at a diverse array of performance locations including city parks, community centers, libraries, restaurants, coffee shops, and various public and private spaces. Venue registration will open on April 1st. Visit  MMM website for more information.

Music “Performed by Anyone, Enjoyed by Everyone.”

Do you live on the Northside or Eastside of Madison and are you concerned about housing complaints in the area? 

The Equal Opportunities Commission of Madison is  hosting an event that aims to address the surge in housing complaints within the community and provide residents with a platform to voice their concerns.

  • What: Housing Meeting Hosted by the Equal Opportunities Commission
  • When: March 14th, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
  • Where: Lakeview Madison Public Library, 2845 N. Sherman Ave. Madison, WI 53704.
  • Light beverages will be provided.

For more information contact Linda Ketcham at linda@justdane.org or Araceli Esparza at wisconsinmujer@gmail.com

RACE Forward Grants Deadline March 29, 2024

Race Forward and Americans for the Arts are seeking proposals from local organizations for funding to participate in the first annual Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy (CWA) this September 27 to October 5, 2024. Funding will be for about 12 to 15 sites; participation in the CWA will also be encouraged and open to organizations not requesting funding. This is an opportunity to deepen commitments to racial justice and inclusive democracy through cultural activities. The application deadline is March 29, 2024. 

Streets Division Updates

  • Get Your Mini-Recyclopedia!: In case you missed it, an updated and shorter version of the Recyclopedia is available at all Madison Public Library locations.  Head over to the one closest to your home at pick one up so you can learn about how to recycle right and also see the good news about the large item collection update that’s new for 2024.
  • 2024 Spring Yard Waste Collection: Every neighborhood will have two curbside collection opportunities this spring for the leaves, weeds, and other plant debris that has been rakes or pulled from your lawns or gardens.  There will be one pickup opportunity in April and another in May.  The dates for your home can be found at  www.cityofmadison.com/YardWaste.
  • 2024 Brush Collection: Collection of sticks, branches, and other brush will begin at the end of March.  Every home will have five curbside collection opportunities for brush.  The set out dates for brush pickup can be found at  www.cityofmadison.com/BrushCollection.
  • Drop-off Site Hours: Streets Division drop-off sites remain on winter hours through March.  Be sure you check the drop-off site website for locations and hours before loading your car.  We see a lot of people going to the sites on days when we’re closed or showing up to the wrong sites still.  Please look before going filling up your car.  Drop-off site information can be found at  www.cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites
  • Night Sweeping Ongoing: Throughout March, Streets Division crews will be running street sweepers during the overnight hours.  This is something we do every year as winter comes to a close.  One shift of operators works at night because traffic is light and our street sweepers work very slowly.  It’s just safer for everyone to keep the sweepers out of conflict with traffic when we can. We work the sweepers extra hours during this shoulder season between winter and spring because we can’t run sweepers during the winter months, so our roads have an excess of sand, salt, and general grit on them.  (Sweepers need water to work, so you can’t use them when it’s below freezing, which is one of the reasons you can’t use them in the winter.)  We want to gather up as much debris as we possibly can as fast as we can before the spring rains wash it into the storm drains and out to our local waterways – so some of our staff shifts to work nights so we can do more sweeping.  We definitely regret it if our night sweeping disrupts anyone’s sleep, but we feel the benefit our work provides our lakes is worth the temporary inconvenience we may be causing.

Manchester Park Playground Improvements Public Input meeting: Wed March 6th, 6pm

The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Manchester Park and we want your input.

The online workshop included a larger group discussion, providing opportunity for neighborhoods to learn and share ideas, then moved into smaller individual online break out ‘rooms’ to address design considerations specific to each park. Following the online workshop, staff will use input gathered at this meeting to develop two playground concepts, which will be presented at a second online playground meeting held this winter. The new playground equipment will be installed in 2024.

Please feel free to invite your children to the meeting to help provide input on the playground!

PUBLIC INPUT MEETING #2

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 6:00 pm- REGISTER AND ATTEND

Please contact Alder Wehelie if you have any questions.

district7@cityofmadison.com

Engineering Prescribed Burns 2024

This year, ecological restoration contractors hired by City of Madison Engineering Division will be conducting prescribed burns on areas of existing native vegetation. Prescribed burns are an important management tool for Wisconsin’s native plant communities. The timeline for these burns to occur will be between March 11 and May 31. The correct conditions for prescribed burns can be difficult to predict, so it is not usually possible to provide exact dates. Burns may not occur at all if correct weather conditions do not occur.

Prescribed burn(s) that will occur in your area include:

*this burn may be conducted by Madison Fire Department staff as part of wildland fire training

The prescribed burn Project Manager will be mailing postcards to residents to notify them about the prescribed burn in their neighborhood.

All burns are being conducted by certified contractors with approval by Madison Fire Department. The burns will only take place under specific weather conditions in order to manage smoke and minimize impacts to neighbors. In addition, the burn professionals will install appropriate road signage on the day of the burn.

A list of project contacts and more information is on our website at:

https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/projects/2024-prescribed-burns

2024-02-19 Updates from Alder Wehelie

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 at the Meeting Schedule page.

  • Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include creating the City of Madison Honorary Street Name program, updating the street naming policy, and items involving Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20.
  • Economic Development Committee: The Economic Development Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items include amending the Land Banking Fund Policy to add urban agriculture as an appropriate secondary use for properties acquired through the fund, a discussion about the 2025 budget, and the selection of the Madison Region Economic Partnership to administer the City of Madison’s BizReady Program.
  • Madison Food Policy Council: The Madison Food Policy Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include amending the Land Banking Fund Policy to add urban agriculture as an appropriate secondary use for properties acquired through the fund, revising City of Madison leases on lands being used for row crop agriculture, and reports from the chair, staff, and regular business.

Announcements & News Releases

Events

Westside community Connections meeting Thursday 2/15 at 6pm

Please join me, Alder Duncan, and Alder Harrington-McKinney as we host Charlie Romines, Streets Superintendent, and Bryan Johnson, Streets Public Information Officer. Considering the recent heavy snowfall, Charlie Romines, and Bryan Johnson, will address resident concerns and present on winter weather policies and practices. There will be an opportunity for a Q&A to answer questions from residents about snowplowing, salt routes, salt vs sand, etc. Please register at: www.cityofmadison.com/westsidecommunityconnections.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Alder Wehelie.

Park & Open Space Plan Open House Drop-In Sessions

Madison Parks is updating its Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) and seeking input from area residents. The purpose of the POSP is to guide and inform public park policies and park facility decisions in the city of Madison.  Parks staff is working with a consultant planning team led by MSA Professional Services, Inc., to host a series of open houses to introduce the project and gather input from attendees.  The open houses are drop-in sessions, held at various locations throughout the city in April and May. Participants may stop by anytime during the two-hour event, each held from 5:30 – 7:30pm.

POSP Open House Sessions

Madison Parks anticipates the planning process to continue throughout 2024. As part of the process the team will work with the Parks Long Range Planning Committee to review the sections of the plan as they are updated.

Additional information about the POSP is available on the Parks Projects, the main source of information as the project moves forward. The website will include project status updates, additional input opportunities and review and approvals process.  Madison Parks welcomes your ideas for additional ways to get the word out and asks that you share this information with all who may be interested in the POSP.

2024-01-15 Update from Alder Wehelie

My Colleagues, Alders John W. Duncan District 1 and Alder Barbara Harrington-McKinney District 20 are excited to work collaboratively to provide a platform for our residents to learn more about the important work City of Madison agencies are doing to keep our communities safe and thriving. These sessions will replace my Lunch and Learn series which I held during the 2nd Thursday of the month at noon.

To participate in the virtual Westside Community Connections session on Thursday, January 18 from 6pm-7:30pm, please register in advance at the following link: www.cityofmadison.com/westsidecommunityconnections 

The sessions are created to give far westside residents district and citywide updates and will feature a different city agency each month. This month’s session will feature Yang Tao, Ph.D., P.E., Director of Traffic Engineering. Tao will share important updates, both district specific and citywide, on the Vision Zero Initiative, Safe Streets Madison program, and street lighting. Alders will assist in facilitating the meeting and there will be time for a Q&A at the end of the presentation by Tao.

For more information, please contact me at district7@cityofmadison.com or by phone (608) 571-4919

Looking forward to seeing you!

~Alder Wehelie.

2024-01-12 Neighborhood News & Updates

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. 

Please review  Grant Program Guidelines and Application. You can also check the  Workshop recording to help you understand criteria and past projects. Once you are ready to start an application, please contact the Planning Division at  Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com, and share project ideas with your alderperson. The application deadline is February 26, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Northeast Area Plan Art Workshop on January 24, 6-8pm

Do you have art project ideas for the Northeast area? Or would like to join a brainstorming session to generate potential art-related projects that could be included in the  Northeast Area Plan?

In collaboration with the City Arts Administrator Kairn Wolf, the Northeast Area Planning (NEAP) team is hosting an upcoming  art workshop on January 24, 6-8pm at the Fleet Service Facility located at 4151 Nakoosa Trail, Madison, WI 53714. The primary goal of the workshop is to gather feedback and insights regarding potential art projects within the NEAP area. Your participation would be instrumental in shaping the artistic vision of this community.

Accessible Taxi Grants Will Help Fill Transit Gaps

People who use wheelchairs face barriers to daily living activities, social outings, and fully participating in what the City has to offer, because of inadequate accessible transportation options. New grant funding will help close the gaps. $250,000 in grants will be available to Madison cab companies for the purchase of accessible taxi cabs later this year. Accessible cabs cost between $50,000-60,000 each. Click  HERE for more information. 

Streets Division Updates

Severe Winter Storms & How to Stay Informed

Forecasts show a serious winter storm for Friday into Saturday, potentially worse than the one we received on January 9.  Higher winds and intense snowfall may create near whiteout conditions in some areas, especially on open areas of Madison, like on areas bordering farm fields.  

Here is what you should do in order to stay informed about the City response to this storm, and all winter storms. 

  • Subscribe to the City of Madison News Release email list. Do this at  www.cityofmadison.com/News.  Everyone can get these. If there are any changes to the Streets Division’s trash & recycling collection schedule, it is announced as a news release first.  And all other important city news are all published as News Releases.  You are welcome to sign up to receive them directly from the City. 
  • Subscribe to the Winter Information lists, too: On  www.cityofmadison.com/Winter, sign up to receive Snow Plow Updates.  If you ever want to know what the plows are doing – sign up to receive those updates and that update will tell you.  Yes, the updates are sometimes quite long and detailed, but they explain the plow deployments and what to expect on the roads.  You can sign up to receive other alerts regarding snow emergency declarations, to sidewalk clearing, to nightly text reminders for alternate side parking.  All of it is at  www.cityofmadison.com/winter.
  • Use the Winter Website: The City’s website has a great many of other resources to stay prepared for winter. That website again is  www.cityofmadison.com/Winter

Madison Public Library Takeover Returns

Until January 31, 2024, the Madison Public Library is accepting applications for the  Library Takeover program. Teams of 3-4 people can apply to participate. The program includes a multi-session course on event planning and culminates in a finished and fully-funded program at the library in 2024. The library will choose a maximum of three teams to participate and will provide them with $2,000 each to plan their event. Each individual team member will also receive a $400 stipend and a certificate of completion from Madison Public Library. “This year we are looking for more innovative, out-of-the-box idea–submissions that will surprise us or challenge everyone’s expectations of what one might typically see in a public library,” said Community Engagement Librarian Sean Ottosen.