VNA Information Forum Recording, Updates, and a Word About Balance

Hi Everyone,

Here are this week's updates:

Recording of Feb. 5 VNA Zoning Forum

On Wednesday, the Vilas Neighborhood Association hosted an informational fourm on the proposed minor changes to our zoning ordinance. The meeting was well attended by approximately 40 residents in District 13 and information was provided by the city's Planning Director, Zoning Administrator, and Preservation Planner. The meeting was recorded and you may watch it by clicking 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 Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 11, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include changing the terms of Alder appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees.

• Meeting Details

• Meeting Agenda

• Register for Public Comment

• Watch Online

• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 12, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include adopting the Sauk Creek Corridor Plan.

• Meeting Details

• Meeting Agenda

• Register for Public Comment

• Watch Online 

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

Public Information Meetings (PIM’s)

• Public Input Meeting - Sandburg Park, Thursday, February 13: Madison Parks is replacing five existing playgrounds in 2025. On Dec. 5, a virtual playground workshop was held for all five playgrounds, including the playground in Sandburg Park, 2818 Independence Lane.

Announcements and News Releases

• Stop by on Winter Bike Day, Happening February 14 : Demonstrating that biking isn’t just a summer activity, even in snowy Wisconsin, the local bicycle advocacy group Madison Bikes is hosting a Winter Bike Day on Friday February 14. [posted February 7, 2025]

• Time to Vote on the Snowplow Names!: The election opens today on the Wisconsin Salt Wise website. You have until February 24 at 8:00pm to submit your vote. Madison, you crushed the snowplow name suggestions.  We received 1,335 total names. [posted February 4, 2025]

• Recycle Your Whole Pizza Box - Even the Greasy Parts 

• If you have City of Madison recycling at your home, you can now put the entire cardboard pizza box in the green recycling cart. Even if there are grease stains. For years, the recycling guidance for Madison residents was to rip off cardboard lids of… [posted February 4, 2025]

• Madison Public Library Invites the Community to Celebrate 150 Years of Library Service: MADISON, WI -- Madison Public Library is celebrating 150 years of service in 2025 with programs, events, and activities designed to highlight the value of libraries as a cornerstone of the Madison community. [posted February 3, 2025]

• Changes Coming to Local Rent Assistance Program: City and County government officials are alerting residents that changes are in store later this year for the Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership (EDDP). [posted February 3, 2025]

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

• Hospitalized Absentee Voting Begins Today, Tuesday, February 11: This is the first day hospitalized voters may appoint an agent(opens in a new window) to pick up their absentee ballot from the City Clerk's Office for the February 18 Spring Primary. 

• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, February 14: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the game room or the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo!

• Groove & Glide, Friday, February 14: Make the most of winter at a Groove and Glide event! Experience the fun and beauty of ice skating under the lights with fun music and games.  All ages and experience levels are welcome. Grab your friends, a date, or family, and have fun on the ice.  

• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, February 16: Tracks and Signs ~ Join Naturalist Kathlean Wolf  for a free fun educational family friendly guided walk to explore the Wild Side of Warner Park.  We'll look for the footprints, scat, and nests of our wild neighbors, and try to interpret the story of their lives during the coldest part of winter. We may have hot cocoa and a campfire with smores after the walk.

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

Lastly...

Like many of you I'm quite sure, I found this past week to be overwhelming. I'm reminded that's the intention, one that's been stated openly, referenced by one of the architects as "flooding the zone." I'm also reminded that self-care and rest are appropriate forms of resistance, that cultivating resilience for the long-haul is critical. Finding that balance is key, and I don't profess to be an expert.

In the face of what appears to be a marked increase in cruelty, I'm choosing to hold dear to kindness and mercy as an antidote. I don't know what the future will bring, but I'm resolved not to live in fear or to be overwhelmed by the flood.

We will get through this.

I'm reminded of this quote by Rebecca Solnit: "The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving."

Last week, at the urging of a friend, I downloaded the 5 Calls App. Phone calls, lots of them, individual acts every day, pushing back against the flood, reclaiming a sense of balance.

That's all for now.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag