Month: March 2024

Dear Friends,

Due to the new legislative maps signed into law by Governor Evers, the Stone Meadows Neighborhood will be in the 80th Assembly District, which I represent in the State Assembly.

I am dedicated to serving the people of the 80th Assembly District and providing assistance whenever possible. If you have any questions or concerns about legislation, policy, or other topics, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at:

Phone: (608) 237-9180

E-mail: rep.bare@legis.wiconsin.gov

Via the web: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/80/Bare/

I hope to make you proud to have me represent you.

Thanks and please be in touch,

Mike Bare, State Representative

80^th Assembly District

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.

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.

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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

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.

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