Month: July 2021

The Police Civilian Oversight Board (COB) and the City of Madison are looking to hire an exceptional individual with a commitment to racial equity and an understanding of oppression and institutional racism to serve as the City’s first ever Independent Police Monitor.

The preferred candidate shall understand racial inequalities specifically in the criminal justice system and bring prior experience successfully working with multicultural communities. This person will demonstrate knowledge of social injustices and will quickly understand the community’s attitude towards the organization and historical and contemporary race relations.

You can apply for the position here (open until August 1st):

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/madisonwi/jobs/3134231/independent-police-monitor?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

The City has launched a new webpage for the American Rescue Plan Act (www.cityofmadison.com/arpa) to provide information about the planned allocation of federal funds to support an equitable recovery and continue to provide government services. The City will host two information sessions to share information about the annual budget process and address funding allocations outlined in the plan. The information sessions will take place on July 22nd (4:30-6:30pm) and July 27th (4:00-5:00pm). The sessions will be recorded and posted to the webpage.

To join the July 22nd meeting CLICK HERE.
To join the July 27th meeting CLICK HERE​.

About the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

The City of Madison will receive $47.2 million of federal funding through the State and Local Recovery Funds component of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to recover from the negative public health and economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City has adopted a plan to use ARPA funds to address critical community issues, support an equitable recovery, and continue to provide government services.

The City’s plan for ARPA funding focuses on five priority areas –

• Violence Prevention & Youth Engagement – $2,585,000.
• Homelessness Support – $8,650,000.
• Affordable Housing — $6,650,000.
• Emerging Needs — $1,000,000.
• Economic Development — $3,915,000.

The allocations were recommended by cross-agency Recovery Teams comprised of City staff with expertise in affordable housing, community services, economic development, public health, and other areas, and were prioritized based on impact, urgency, and feasibility balanced with the fiscal needs brought on by COVID-19. These priority areas and initial allocations were approved by the Common Council on July 6, 2021. There will be ongoing opportunities for community members, community based organizations, the Common Council, and other stakeholders to provide input on specific projects that utilize ARPA funds.

The City of Madison Finance Department invites residents to attend the ARPA information sessions and to follow along on the ARPA webpage that will be regularly updated with information about projects related to ARPA funding and opportunities to access those funds. Questions and comments can be directed to Finance Director David Schmiedicke (dschmiedicke@cityofmadison.com).

Movies in the Park have begun! Bring your chair or blanket July 13th for Raya and the Last Dragon at Aldo Leopold Park, 2906 Traceway Dr. Dinner, DREAM Bus mobile library, and DREAM Bikes free bike repair too. Madison Parks hosts the movie and Leopold-Arbor Hills hosts dinner and other activities. Visit Madison Parks for more movies in other Madison neighborhoods: https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/events/movies/

It Takes a Village July 20 Take two! This Community Resource Fair focuses on bringing the community together in a fun environment to learn about services available on the south side of Madison. Stop by Penn Park between 12-5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20 to meet new librarians from Goodman South Madison, enjoy a cookout, get free books from the Madison Reading Project and engage with other public servants. Madison Reading Project will be onsite from 2-5 p.m. (free books while supplies last). Visit: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/new/it-takes-village-community-resource-fair-july-20

Madison Public Library Artist in Residence Program This summer The Bubbler at Madison Public Library is launching a new artist-in-residence program called the Bubbler Artist Cohort. Six diverse teaching artists will work together to create community connections and creative opportunities around a single theme. As part of a larger initiative by Madison Public Library called YOU(th) Belong, the Cohort plans to collaborate over the course of six months to explore the spectrum of “Belonging” with youth (8 – 18 years old). Visit: https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/the-bubbler-at-madison-public-library-announces-new-artist-in-residence-program

Carts in Madison Parks! The City of Madison has been awarded a $50,000 Street for Pandemic Response and Recovery grant through the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) to launch a Carts in Parks Vending Pilot Program this summer into fall! This program will provide daily food cart vending in 20 parks around Madison, support community-driven micro vending markets, reduce the barriers to vending in city parks, provide greater food access, and enhance our community gathering spaces. Visit: https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/city-unveils-carts-in-parks-vending-program

Madison West Police Department notified us today of a new property crime micro time hotspot that has developed around the area of Maple Grove Drive and McKee Rd in Aldermanic District #7. Please remain vigilant and do everything possible to keep homes and vehicles secured and belongings out of view in locked cars.

As you may know, West PD is focusing on property crime for this summer’s strategic plan and is focusing on eight historical property crime hotspots. When new and highly active clusters are identified, the PD plans to share this information with neighborhood associations. The police sectors around this intersection are accounting for 25-30% of the district’s property crime incidents over the last two weeks.

The PD is dispatching additional resources into these areas during the overnight hours and residents can expect additional check-ins when they find open garage doors.

See the attachment for more information on this micro time hotspot.