2022-10-21 Neighborhood News & Updates

Walk-tober

Are you ready for the challenge and get a prize? Walk to work, walk to the store, walk to pick up food, walk before school or just walk for fun. Walk-tober 2022 features walking routes each week to encourage you to get out and enjoy the season.  We also have a Walk-tober Challenge to encourage you to keep walking all month, with fun prizes for everyone who completes it.

Streets Division Updates:

  • Fall leaf collection is underway!  Learn when to put out your leaves for pickup at www.cityofmadison.com/YardWaste
  • Food scraps recycling at the farmer’s markets ends on October 25, 2022.  Learn more about this program and other ways to manage food waste at www.cityofmadison.com/FoodScraps
  • Plan on taking brush or maybe leaves to a drop-off site? The hours and locations are different this year.  Before loading your vehicle, be sure the site you plan on using is open.  Get the hours and locations at www.cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites
  • Can you believe it already snowed a little in Madison!  The Streets Division is ready for winter.  Are you?  Get all your winter information from parking rules to outdoor recreation opportunities at www.cityofmadison.com/Winter
  • On October 21, 2022 the Streets Division will unveil the names of the electric compactors used at the Sycamore location.  The compactor names and vote totals will be available on the 21st on the compactor webpage.

General Election is November 8, 2022

Voters can view a sample ballot for their address and find out where and how to vote on the MyVote Wisconsin website.

A number of offices are up for election:

  • Governor/Lieutenant Governor
  • Attorney General
  • Secretary of State
  • State Treasurer
  • U.S. Senator
  • U.S. Congressional Representative – District 2
  • State Senator – District 27
    • Voters who reside in District 27 will see this office on their ballot
  • Representative to State Assembly – Districts 46, 47, 48, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80
    • Voters who reside in each district will see that district’s race on their ballot
  • Dane County Sheriff
  • Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court

All Dane County voters will see three referendum questions on their ballots. Voters who reside in the Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Middleton/Cross Plains, or Verona Area School Districts will also see school district referendum questions on their ballot.

Absentee Ballots in the Mail

Voters are encouraged to ensure their absentee ballot certificate envelope is sealed and complete before returning it to the City Clerk’s Office. A complete absentee certificate envelope will include: Voter signature, Witness signature, and Witness address.

IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING STARTS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, IN MADISON

In-person absentee voting will begin Tuesday, Oct. 25, at several locations throughout the City of Madison.

What will you need to bring with you if you’re voting absentee in person?

  • An acceptable photo ID for voting in Wisconsin.
  • If you need to register for the first time or update your registration because of a move or name change, you will need to bring a proof of residence document with you, too.

Because we have dozens of ballot styles citywide, we use the ExpressVote accessible ballot-marking device for in-person absentee voting.

Voters who have requested an absentee ballot by mail can return their completed absentee ballot to an in-person absentee voting location during the location’s voting hours.

At the end of the voting shift for the day, your absentee ballot will be brought to the Clerk’s Office in a courier bag with a tamper-evident seal.  The unique serial number on the tamper-evident seal is documented on a chain-of-custody form, as is the number of absentee envelopes sealed in the courier bag.

Voting will take place at the locations listed below.

Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
8:30 am – 4:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4

Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave
10:00 am – 4:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4

Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Dr
8:30 am – 7:30 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
8:30 am – 5:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5
11:30 am – 5:30 pm Sundays, Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

East Madison Community Center, 8 Straubel Court
11:00 am – 4:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4

Edgewood College – Wingra Commons, 1000 Edgewood College Dr
11:00 am – 3:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 31 – Nov. 4

UW-Madison Union South, 1308 W Dayton St
11:00 am – 5:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4

UW-Madison Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St
11:00 am – 5:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4

Madison College Truax Campus, 1701 Wright St
11:00 am – 3:30 pm weekdays, Oct. 31 – Nov. 4

Madison College South Madison Campus, 2429 Perry St
11:00 am – 3:30 pm weekdays, Oct. 31 – Nov. 4

Alicia Ashman Library, 733 N High Point Rd
11:00 am – 5:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5

Central Library, 201 W Mifflin St
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5
2:00 – 4:00 pm Sundays, Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

Goodman South Madison Library, 2222 S Park St
11:00 am – 7:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5
2:00 – 4:00 pm Sundays, Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

Hawthorne Library, 2707 E Washington Ave
11:00 am – 7:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5

Lakeview Library, 2845 N Sherman Ave
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5
2:00 – 4:00 pm Sundays, Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

Meadowridge Library, 5726 Raymond Rd
11:00 am – 7:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5

Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Rd
11:00 am – 7:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5

Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd
11:00 am – 7:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5

Hmong Institute, 4402 Femrite Dr
11:00 am – 3:30 pm Tuesdays, Oct. 25 & Nov. 1
11:00 am – 3:30 pm Thursdays, Oct. 27 & Nov. 3
10:00 am – 3:30 pm Fridays, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4

Global Market & Food Hall, 2161 Zeier Rd
11:00 am – 7:00 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5
10:00 am – 1:00 pm Sundays, Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

Lussier Community Education Center, 55 S Gammon Rd
6:00 – 8:00 pm Wednesdays, Oct. 26 & Nov. 2
10:00 am – noon Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5

Urban League Southwest Employment Center, 1233 McKenna Blvd
11:00 am – 5:00 pm Wednesdays, Oct. 26 & Nov. 2
11:00 am – 5:00 pm Fridays, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4
11:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday, Oct. 31

Boys & Girls Club – Allied, 4619 Jenewein Rd
10:30 am – 5:30 pm weekdays, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4

Catholic Multicultural Center, 1862 Beld St
1:00 – 5:00 pm Tuesdays, Oct. 25 & Nov. 1
1:00 – 5:00 pm Thursdays, Oct. 27 & Nov. 3

Tenney Park Shelter, 402 N Thornton Ave
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Friday, Nov. 4

Eagle Heights Community Center, 611 Eagle Heights Dr
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Fridays, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4

Bridge – Lake Point – Waunona Neighborhood Center, 1917 Lake Point Dr
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Thursdays, Oct. 27 & Nov. 3
9:00 am – 3:00 pm Fridays, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4

Rebalanced – Life Wellness Association Men’s Health & Education Center, 588 Grand Canyon Dr
9:30 am – 4:30 pm Tuesdays, Oct. 25 & Nov. 1
9:30 am – 4:30 pm Wednesdays, Oct. 26 & Nov. 2
9:30 am – 4:30 pm Fridays, Oct. 28 & Nov. 4
9:30 am – 4:30 pm Saturdays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5

Wisconsin Youth Company, 1201 McKenna Blvd
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Tuesdays, Oct. 25 & Nov. 1
4:00 – 6:00 pm Thursdays, Oct. 27 & Nov. 3

Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church/Lake Edge United Church of Christ, 4200 Buckeye Rd
9:00 am – 2:00 pm Sundays, Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

Fountain of Life Church, 633 W Badger Rd
9:00 am – 2:00 pm Sundays, Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

Badger Rock Neighborhood Center, 501 E Badger Rd
By appointment only, 10:00 am Wednesday, Oct. 26
Contact the Clerk’s Office in advance to make appointment.

Ho-Chunk Nation Community Center, 4724 Tradewinds Pkwy
By appointment only, 2:00 pm Wednesday, Oct. 26
Contact the Clerk’s Office in advance to make appointment.

*No voter registration on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 – 6, per state law.

Welcome Town of Madison residents to the City of Madison!

A week from Monday, the City of Madison will start providing services to approximately 5,000 additional residents, 2,407 housing units and 835 parcels. All City agencies are getting ready for final attachment, which will occur on October 31. For more information visit www.cityofmadison.com/townofmadison

Events

  • Halloween on State Street: The City of Madison will once again be working to make State Street and downtown Madison a safe and enjoyable space for celebrating Halloween. Events that will be occurring, include:
    • Wednesday, October 26
    • Saturday, October 29
      • Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee’s viewing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at 10:00 PM in Shannon Hall.
      • Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Performing Suspiria at the Orpheum Theater starting at 8:00 PM.
      • Other opportunities for spooky fun all around Dane County can be found here.
    • Monday, October 31: No planned events

In the past few years, the City has moved away from a formal/sanctioned event for Halloween, also known as Freakfest, and again there will be no formal event this year. There is also no UW football game or homecoming planned for Halloween weekend this year. To facilitate physical safety, a glass ban has been instituted on State Street for Halloween weekend, and Streateries will be closed at 6:00 p.m.

  • Nurses 4 Black Wellbeing: Research participants are needed for an anonymous survey. The goal of the study is to learn more about the ways wellbeing, physical activity and life stress can affect blood pressure. Participants must racially identify as Black, cultural and ethnic diversity welcomed, age 18 or older, read/speak English, living in the greater Madison area. The research survey takes 20-30 minutes to complete. PPE will be provided. The research survey is one walking test (10-feet), one questionnaire on a laptop computer (with or without assistance), one blood pressure check, and one interview question about inner strength. Research participants receive one $25 Target gift card as a thank you for their time. This is a UW-Madison research survey. There is no connection with any community service. Questions? Concerns? Need additional information? Please contact Dr. Linda Oakley, black.wellbeing.study@nursing.wisc.edu,   608-263-5866.
    • Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 
    • Hours: Walk-in hours from 3pm to 6pm  
    • Where: Badger Building, 818 W. Badger Road (2 blocks off S. Park Street)
  • Virtual community sessions on the 2023 budget: The city’s budget for 2023 will be debated and adopted by the Common Council in November. In addition to public comment opportunities at Finance Committee and Council meetings over the next six weeks, there will be two virtual community sessions on the budget. City Finance staff will provide background information on the city’s capital and operating budget process, including highlights of the 2023 executive budget.  This is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about our city’s budget.  Electronic copies of budget information can be found at https://www.cityofmadison.com/finance/budget/2023
  • The first virtual session was recorded on October 13. The second virtual session will cover the same presentation and will take place on Monday, October 24. The meeting will start at 5:30 PM and end at 7:00 PM
  • Intervention speaker series: Public Health Madison & Dane County continues to work with community partners to implement their Roadmap to Reducing Violence. To support the Roadmap, they co-hosted their violence prevention and intervention speaker series. Recent topics included:

         The next speaker series webinar will be:
         Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence “101”
         Thursday, October 27, 12pm – 1pm
         Register now

Announcements

  • City of Madison polling place listing: Several polling locations in the City of Madison have changed since the last election. The City Clerk’s Office encourages voters to confirm their polling place before Election Day (November 8). You can look up your polling place address using the MyVote Wisconsin website or go to www.cityofmadison.com/WhereDoIVote. See a list of polling places here.
  • Madison Fire now hiring firefighters/EMTs: For the first time since 2019, the Madison Fire Department is accepting applications for the position of fulltime firefighter/EMT. Becoming a firefighter/EMT is a unique opportunity to make a difference in a person’s life – and a direct impact in our community – every single day. No previous fire or EMS experience is necessary to apply. Learn more about this opportunity here.
  • Electric compactors names announced: The Streets Division would like to introduce you to their newly named compactors – Rosie the Rubbisher and Stone Cold Squeeze Often. To learn how the names were picked and see a breakdown of the voting, read the news release.
  • Lake water quality improved this summer: Great news! A lot fewer beaches were closed for swimming this summer. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) took a total of 430 water samples this summer from 23 beaches, looking for E. Coli bacteria and blue-green algae, which can make people sick. The total number of beach closures for swimming and recreation was 124, down significantly from last summer’s total of 345. There are many factors that contribute to the water quality of our lakes. PHMDC’s microbiologist helped explain the role of weather, pollutants, and clean water corridors in an interview on WORT-FM. Take a listen!

2022-10-15 Updates from Alder Wehelie

Country Grove Park Public Information Meeting

The City of Madison Parks Division is hosting a virtual public information meeting about the Master Plan for Country Grove Park, 7353 East Pass. Parks would like discuss the proposed shelter location and share some other ideas regarding changes to Country Grove in the coming years.

The virtual meeting is scheduled for:

Wednesday, October 26. 2022
6pm-7:30pm
Please register in advance

Please visit the Country Grove Park Master Plan page for more information about the master planning process.

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of October 17, 2022

Meetings

Events

  • Dick Wagner honored in park dedication: In December 2021, Madison lost R. Richard Wagner, a public servant and community leader. On Friday, October 21, 1:30pm, the community is invited to join U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Alder Mike Verveer and friends as we honor the legacy of Dick Wagner in a park dedication ceremony. We will honor his legacy in a park dedication ceremony, renaming Kerr-McGee Triangle Park, 728 Jenifer Street, to R. Richard Wagner Park. More details here.
  • Halloween on State Street: The City of Madison will once again be working to make State Street and downtown Madison a safe and enjoyable space for celebrating Halloween. Events that will be occurring include:
    • Wednesday, October 26
    • Saturday, October 29
      • Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee’s viewing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at 10:00 PM in Shannon Hall.
      • Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Performing Suspiria at the Orpheum Theater starting at 8:00 PM.
      • Other opportunities for spooky fun all around Dane County can be found here.
    • Monday, October 31: No planned events

In the past few years, the City has moved away from a formal/sanctioned event for Halloween, also known as Freakfest, and again there will be no formal event this year. There is also no UW football game or homecoming planned for Halloween weekend this year. To facilitate physical safety, a glass ban has been instituted on State Street for Halloween weekend, and Streateries will be closed at 6pm.

  • Homebuyer education class: The City of Madison, in partnership with the Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County and Consumer Credit Counseling Service, want to share with you these HUD Approved Homebuyer Education classes occurring monthly through the rest of 2022! Find all the events by following here. The next class for October is open! Learn more about what it takes to buy your first home, securing a mortgage, and down payment assistance programs. Hear from content experts like realtors, lenders, insurance agents, home inspectors, and housing counselors.
  • Food scraps recycling: Food scraps recycling for 2022 ends on October 25 at two farmer’s market drop-off sites:
    • Market Site 1: South Madison Farmer’s Market (1602 S. Park Street, Labor Temple)
      • Hours: 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
      • Dates open: Only Tuesday markets
    • Market Site 2: Eastside Farmer’s Market (202 S. Ingersoll Street, McPike Park)
      • Hours: 4:00pm to 7:00pm
      • Dates open: Only Tuesday evenings

Also, consider composting your food scraps in your own backyard. News release

  • Violence prevention: Join Public Health Madison & Dane County Violence Prevention Unit as they host the first of two violence prevention speaker series events during the month of October:
    • Speaker Series Event #4 – Panel Discussion
      • “The importance of youth engagement and connection in violence prevention efforts”
      • Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 12pm-1pm
      • Registration required

Announcements

  • Celebrating native nations: Madison Public Library – in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison – is bringing back a popular program from last year that centers the experiences, traditions and lifeways of Native people in and around Madison. Native presenters from different nations will lead programs highlighting both traditional and contemporary practices, stories, and community relationships. Programs kick off in October following Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and include art workshops, cooking and crop demonstrations, storytelling, presentations on traditional skills and customs, and more! Find all the details here.
  • Spotlight on Cherokee Marsh: As we conclude the celebration of 50 years of conservation parks in Madison, we focus your attention on Madison’s largest conservation park. So large, the more than 1,300 acres of Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park are divided into three unique units – Mendota, North and South. Cherokee Marsh – North Unit was designated a conservation park in 1971 when the Parks Division first created the Conservation Park program. Read more about this natural wonder here.
  • October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: One out of every eight women in the United States are at risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime. In 2022, The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 5,380 new cases of breast cancer in Wisconsin. Early diagnosis is key to helping create better outcomes. Access to screening can be limited among people with lower incomes and who lack health insurance. To bridge this gap, the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP) offers free breast exams, mammograms and other diagnostic tests for women ages 45-64 (or under 45, for those with a current breast concern), who have limited income and insurance. Learn more here.
  • Electric compactors to be named: Finally, the Streets Division will be revealing the names of the trash and recycling electric compactors used at the drop-off site located at 4602 Sycamore Avenue. Earlier this year, a ranked-choice style election was held to choose the names from a list of finalists. Over 2,200 votes were received during the election and two names received the highest number of total points were selected. On October 21, 2022, the names of the compactors will be revealed along with the breakdown of the voting totals. See the full list of very creative finalist names here.
  • Madison Forward Fund: The Madison Forward Fund, a year-long guaranteed income experimental program, has distributed the first of twelve monthly payments to low-income families. The guaranteed income is a monthly payment of $500 given directly to 155 households for 12 months. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. The program is founded on the belief that Madison families deserve a basic level of income to support fundamental needs, and that people experiencing financial scarcity are best positioned to make decisions regarding their household needs. Read more here.
  • 2023 Operating Budget: In this year’s Operating Budget, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s focus is on the programs and services that build a safer community, build healthier neighborhoods and create opportunities for youth. The City’s operating budget funds the numerous services, programs, and skilled staff that sustain high quality City services and help keep Madison strong. This operating budget released today is in addition to the 2023 Executive Capital Budget, released in September, which funds infrastructure, buildings and other capital investments. Read the news release here.
  • October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Domestic Violence Awareness Month is held throughout the month of October as a way to bring advocates across the nation together to end domestic violence.? Throughout the month of October, the City of Madison, along with communities across the country, will mourn for those whose lives were taken by domestic violence, celebrate the tremendous progress victim advocates have made over the years, and connect with one another with a true sense of unity to end domestic violence. If you or someone you know feels unsafe in a relationship, help is available 24 hours a day by calling (608) 251-4445 or texting (608) 420-4638.  In an emergency, please call 911. For more resources, please visit https://abuseintervention.org/
  • Healthy Communities Fund: The 2022 Healthy Communities Fund application period is now open. $14,000 is available to be awarded to local projects in Madison and Dane County that make an effort to address health inequity in our communities. Applications are due by November 11.
  • “Street Meets”: The City of Madison Engineering Division has a new digiseries out focusing on five impactful street and paths design projects the community has endured during the 2022 construction season. The digiseries “Street Meets” is a series of five videos focusing on the following projects:

2022-10-07 Neighborhood News & Updates

Moon over Monona Terrace TONIGHT, October 7th, 7-9:30 p.m.

FREE tickets at mononaterrace.com All ages are invited to the Monona Terrace rooftop this Friday, Oct. 7 from 7- 9:30 pm to view the Moon and other celestial objects such as Jupiter and Saturn through a multitude of different telescopes provided by the Madison Astronomical Society. The evening will also feature fun learning activities for kids with educational games and prizes, and short kid friendly presentations about the moon and sky conditions. In the event of rain or cloud cover, the activities, presentations and games will be moved inside.

Streets Division Updates:

  • Brush collection is over.  Do not set out more brush for pickup at this time.  Take your brush to a drop-off site (www.cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites)
  • Yard waste & leaf collection starts is underway. Get the dates when you should set out your leaves and yard waste for pickup at www.cityofmadison.com/YardWaste
  • The food scraps recycling drop-off is coming to a close of October 25.  To learn more about where you can take food scraps, and the hours and locations of the farmer’s market drop-off sites, visit www.cityofmadison.com/FoodScraps

Calling all Neighborhood Leaders! Please share any profile and contact updates by November 14.  Madison’s neighborhoods are the building blocks that make our community strong. The City of Madison values all the work that neighborhood organizations do in the community, and we would like to continue helping you bring people together to form a collective, united voice. The City of Madison has formally recognized many neighborhood organizations based on a few different criteria, as described on the City website. If your organization has been formally recognized, it will be listed with a descriptive profile that neighbors, businesses, community based organizations, and educational institutions use to find out about your group. Please find your group on our City website, review the information, and if you would like any changes, you can update your information here. If you have any questions, please send an email to Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com

Health & Resource Fair for Older Adults Tuesday October 11th 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Madison Senior Center, 330 W Mifflin St. FREE health screenings for depression & stress, memory, blood pressure, hearing and vision. Also, find info on Medicare, housing, scams, dementia and many more important topics, and attend two special presentations: Stay Warm & Save Energy by Madison Gas & Electric in both English and Spanish and Brain & Body Fitness by graduate students from UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. This is a great opportunity to learn, collect information and get free health screenings; plus win door prizes and enjoy light refreshments. Call 266-6581 or email seniorcenter@cityofmadison.com for more information.

General Election is November 8, 2022

Voters can view a sample ballot for their address and find out where and how to vote on the MyVote Wisconsin website.

A number of offices are up for election:

  • Governor/Lieutenant Governor
  • Attorney General
  • Secretary of State
  • State Treasurer
  • U.S. Senator
  • U.S. Congressional Representative – District 2
  • State Senator – District 27
    • Voters who reside in District 27 will see this office on their ballot
  • Representative to State Assembly – Districts 46, 47, 48, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80
    • Voters who reside in each district will see that district’s race on their ballot
  • Dane County Sheriff
  • Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court

All Dane County voters will see three referendum questions on their ballots. Voters who reside in the Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Middleton/Cross Plains, or Verona Area School Districts will also see school district referendum questions on their ballot.

Absentee Ballots in the Mail

Voters are encouraged to ensure their absentee ballot certificate envelope is sealed and complete before returning it to the City Clerk’s Office. A complete absentee certificate envelope will include: Voter signature, Witness signature, and Witness address.

Town of Madison Final Public Information Meeting

The City of Madison will hold a Final Public Information Meeting for the Town of Madison Attachment on October 20, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. This public meeting will be conducted virtually and prior registration is required. Join us to meet City of Madison staff and learn about the Town of Madison attachment.

Events

  • Madison Senior Center Health & Resource Fair: The Madison Senior Center’s annual Health & Resource Fair is on Tuesday, October 11, 9am-11:30am, at the Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin Street. Learn more about the event here, or call 608-266-6581 or email seniorcenter@cityofmadison.com for more information.
  • Community Talk Back Series: Join the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (FFBWW) at noon on October 11 for their Community Powered Policy Session to share your thoughts on the most pressing issues affecting Black women, children, and families. Your feedback will directly shape the policy recommendations included in their “Policy Blueprint for Black Women’s Health: Black Women Deserve,” which will be published as a resource and roadmap for policymakers and decision-makers across the nation. All community members are invited to attend the various sessions. Register here for the upcoming session or future sessions.
  • 20th Annual Wisconsin Book Festival: The schedule for the 20th Anniversary Fall Celebration of the Wisconsin Book Festival has been released! Visit wisconsinbookfestival.org to see the full lineup for the 4-day celebration taking place October 13-16 and start saving the date for your favorites. Catch international best-selling author Andy Weir for Project Hail Mary, activist and advocate Brenda Myers Powell for Leaving Breezy Street, Reese’s Book Club author Thrity Umrigar for Honor and many more!
  • Fire truck parade: Please join the Madison Fire Department (MFD) on Sunday, October 9, at 1pm, for the annual Fire Truck Parade. For 2022, MFD has partnered with Downtown Madison to enhance the event with a fire safety scavenger hunt, fire-themed story walk, and deals and specials at downtown stores and restaurants.
  • Walk-tober is back: For the third consecutive year, the City of Madison is promoting staying active this fall with a special month-long event, Walk-tober. This series of planned activities and events hopes to motivate the public to get out and walk during the month of October. The Walk-tober website provides weekly scheduled activities, walk suggestions, contests and a few collaborations (reading lists, nature walks and the “Walk or Wheel” challenge) with stakeholders around the city. You may also want to read about the 26th annual National Walk & Roll to School Day on October 12.
  • Virtual community sessions on the 2023 budget: The city’s budget for 2023 will be debated and adopted by the Common Council in November. In addition to public comment opportunities at Finance Committee and Council meetings over the next six weeks, there will be two virtual community sessions on the budget. City Finance staff will provide background information on the city’s capital and operating budget process, including highlights of the 2023 executive budget.  This is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about our city’s budget.  Electronic copies of budget information can be found at www.cityofmadison.com/finance/budget/2023. Virtual community sessions on the 2023 budget will be held on Thursday, October 13, and Monday, October 24.  Both meetings will start at 5:30 PM and end at 7:00 PM

Announcements

  • Accessibility to the ballot: The City of Madison Clerk’s Office works to make sure that every eligible voter is able to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted. Making sure all voters know their options for casting a ballot is one way they try to reach that goal. Learn more about the several tools that Clerk’s Office staff and election officials use to make sure voting is accessible in the City of Madison.
  • Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Award: The City of Madison invites you to submit nominations for its annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award. This award honors Jeffrey Clay Erlanger, who was an individual of integrity, passion, intelligence and civility. Jeff understood that thoughtful and caring people could have very different views on how to best address our community’s many complex issues and problems. Jeff, who died on June 10, 2007, spent a significant part of his life committed to public service, focusing on constructive advocacy and civil debate, fairness, openness and effective representation. He embraced the similarities that unite us. Find more information about the award and the nomination process here. Read the news release here.
  • Dane CORE 2.0 application portal: As of October 5, the Dane CORE 2.0 application portal has reopened. For anyone who submitted an application prior to September 15, your application is still being processed and there is no need to submit a new application. To view the status of your application, or to check for open tasks (meaning you may be missing documentation in your file), please log into Neighborly and review your submitted application. For new applications, including Additional Funding Requests, there are new program eligibility requirements. The new program requirements include:
    • Program benefits will be available only to those with household incomes at or below 50% of the County Median Income, which are the following limits: Household Size of 1 $40,400, Household Size of 2 $46,150, Household Size of 3 $51,900, Household Size of 4 $57,650, Household Size of 5 $62,300, see website for more.
    • The program will provide assistance only for past-due (unpaid) rents.
    • Only arrears accrued since July 1, 2021, will be eligible.
    • Limited assistance will remain available for forward/future rent payments, and only if paired with security deposit assistance.

To learn about program eligibility and to apply for Dane CORE 2.0, please visit www.danecore.org.

  • Vision Zero: The final Vision Zero speed reduction for 2022 will occur on a portion of Segoe Road beginning on October 10. This area was selected due to the busy use for multi-modal street traffic, its proximity to a school and park, as well as lots of residents, restaurants and a large shopping area. The section of Segoe Road that will see the speed reduced to 25mph is from University Avenue to Odana Road, approximately 2.2 miles.

    Nationally, a statistical analysis to the first quarter of 2022 shows that traffic fatalities are up 7% compared to 2021, which was already a high year for traffic fatalities. In contrast to the national trend, Madison crash data shows the total number of traffic crashes are down 5% for the first half of 2022, compared to the first half of 2021. Even more astounding is that fatalities and serious injury crashes are down 29% in the first half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2021. These promising statistics tell us that the citywide Vision Zero project improvements are making a difference!