District 12 Notes & Updates; Meeting & Event Highlights for the Week of December 9, 2024

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of December 9, 2024

Proposed Loan Forgiveness and Proposed  $1 Land Sale of Hartmeyer Ice Arena

Come give your input, ask questions and hear more about the proposed loan forgiveness and proposed  $1 Land Sale of Hartmeyer Ice Arena (HIA): a Northeast Side property at 1810/1834 Commercial Avenue (in District 12) and Madison Ice Arena (MIA): a Westside property located at 725 Forward Drive (in District 19).   

This neighborhood meeting will take place on Thursday December 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Lakeview Library (2845 N. Sherman Avenue) in person.

 As your Alder, I have yet to sign on as a sponsor or weigh in on it or even form an opinion yet (other than advocate for the real and absolute need for a community meeting and community input.

This historical and complex, future- setting issue was introduced on 11/26/24  and was supposed to hit Finance Committee on Monday (12/2/24) and come up for a final vote (by Common Council) on Monday 12/10/24 (just 14 days later) but now, thankfully and by grace, it will be in January.

As this is a complex deal with varying levels,  I'm  pouring over the information, meeting with various groups and committed to getting your input and feedback.  In other words, doing my best to hear consider multiple angles, stories, and points of view. 

So thank you to those who have reached out, those who have requested more information, those who have shared the history, your stories, etc. 

If you haven't weighed in feel free to email or better yet text me (608) 345-8747 or simply come to the community meeting.  I'm listening and available.

In January (1/14/25) the Common Council will hear and decide on the resolution introduced to council right before Thanksgiving.   Prior to this, the issue will be discussed/considered at the:

•  Economic Development Committee (on 12/18/24 @ 5 p.m. via Zoom)
• Finance Committee (on 1/6/25@ 4:30 p.m. via Zoom) 
• Madison Ice Inc. will host an in-person open house at the Hartmeyer Ice Arena (for those who want to tour the facility) on 12/18/24 from 6-7 p.m.  Please come.
• If you cannot make any of these meetings or activities yet you care to weigh-in, you can send your comments, feedback, questions, statements, etc. to:

                       Email:  OBR@cityofmadison.com (Office of Business Resources)
                       CC:  District12@Cityofmadison.com
                       Re:  Legistar file #86169 Madison Ice Arena/Hartmeyer Ice Arena                                Loan Forgiveness & Land Sale Proposal
 

Stay tuned for upcoming community meetings for new developments in D12. 

Here's the latest early stage development  explorations that may be going to DAT (the City's Design Assistance Team), requesting a community meeting and/or hitting the docket soon:

--A 5-story property being explored at Commerical and Packers* 

--A 500+ unit property being explored at Pennsylvania and First*

--A supportive 16 unit housing complex at Ruskin and Roth is taking on new life*

Some of you may have missed:

--27 Smart Senior Housing at the corner of Dryden Drive and Packers.  I'd be remiss not to mention the Moka Coffee House, that I frequent way too often, at The Bruns Family Farm Plaza (ok, it's really called the Northside Town Center but maybe one day?).

--A 90 unit at the corner of Carpenter and East Washington Avenue (but not to worry fifty of your neighbors showed up to talk integrating the design into the neighbor; sidewalks, parking, and traffic, traffic, traffic; more traffic and coffee. 

  We'll see what we can do.  

Thank you Carpenter-Ridgeway and Hawthorne /Truax neighbors for showing up, engaging and speaking up.  Thank  you to Volker Developoment and Knothe & Bruce Architects, DAT Chris, and Shawn from Streets for listening and adapting when its in your purview.   

Small Pleasures

I finally got my physical District 12 Alder Map to track all the projects going on in D12.  When I count all off the development/business projects (from rumored to reality) that are going up or have a high chance of happening (since April 2023) we're at 18.  18 in the12th.  18 in 12 in almost 2 years.  Whew.  ABW.  Always Be Working.

*At the beginning of the process, stay tuned for more details and opportunity to engage

Updates and Notices

Winter Weather Alerts: Subscribe to get winter weather alerts in real time. Residents can sign up to receive alerts by text or email.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

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.

Common Council: The next Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 10, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. 

1. Agenda items include removing the paid parking pilot and censuring an Alder.  

   This is not a complete list of all items 100+ items (ordinance/zoning changes, appointments, appropriations (authorization to spend/set aside/allocate money); authorizations, amendments, approvals, licensures, introductions, etc.  that will be considered by the Common Council. 

2.  Common Council operates under a Consent Agenda which means that all items on our agenda are passed as presented except for: 1) Items which have registrants wishing to speak. 2) Items which Alder(s) have separated out for discussion/debate purposes.

 If you register for public comments and wish to speak, (see link below:  Register for Public Comments) your item will be pulled from the Consent Agenda and will have 3 minutes to give your input.

Helpful information:  To reach all of Common Council with your comments, questions, or concerns, email us at:  allalders@cityofmadison.com  If you know it, be sure to include the agenda file number (aka Legistar number).    You can find the agenda item number and Legistar file number on the meeting agenda.  

• Meeting Details

• Meeting Agenda

• Register for Public Comment

• Watch Online

• Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include expanding a safety education program.

• Meeting Details

• Meeting Agenda

• Register for Public Comment

• Watch Online

• Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include allowing the Urban Canid Project to continue.

• Meeting Details

• Meeting Agenda

• Register for Public Comment

• Watch Online

• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, December 15: Walks at Warner Park held on the 3rd Sunday of every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners Wild Warner  and Madison Audubon . Meet at the colorful Warner Park shelter by the lagoon. Parking is available nearby. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

• Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park, November 9th through December 31, 2024: Lighted holiday themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through anytime Dusk until Dawn to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.