Join me for the week without driving! Lots of great info from other Alders. Voting updates, announcements and events.

Hello neighbors,

We are embarking on the “week without driving” from September 30-October 6 - a nationwide initiative designed to help people who do have access to cars to think deeply about how and when they use them. In general, I don’t drive much, but I usually drive to the gym a couple times a week, and for grocery shopping usually once a week. This week, I’m taking up the personal challenge not to drive at all, to be in community with our residents who don’t or can’t drive. One of the things that makes Madison a wonderful place to live is that residents don’t need a car just to run a few errands. Owning a personal vehicle shouldn’t be a requirement to fully enjoying all that Madison has to offer. I hope you’ll join me in this challenge!

I also wanted to draw your attention to several excellent recent blog posts from my colleagues:

• Alder Evers’ blog describes the press coverage of the launch of bus rapid transit (BRT) and its connection to the housing needs in our growing city, and the Wisconsin State Journal’s endorsement of the City’s operating budget referendum.
• Alder Figueroa-Cole’s blog describes how our City staff have experienced an erosion of their compensation, due to inflation and increases in benefits premiums, in spite of efforts to make up for wage losses during austerity years.
• Alder Martinez-Rutherford posted on the press conference given by all Dane County Mayors regarding the draconian limits on local municipalities imposed by the state legislature.
• Alder Guequierre summarized the major points made at his district’s budget listening session. Please feel free to join one or both of the next ones in the series:
  • Thursday, October 3, 2024, 6pm-8pm, in person at Oakwood Village Auditorium, 6209 Mineral Point Road. Surface parking available at 6209 Mineral Point Road and underground parking available the Heritage Oaks building, 6205 Mineral Point Road (press button at garage entrance to be let in). This session will feature a deeper dive into the Community Development Division and the City’s funding to non-profits. You may register for any of the sessions at www.cityofmadison.com/D19ExploretheBudget.
  • Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 6pm-8pm, virtual via Zoom. You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet or listen in via telephone. You will receive login information after registering at www.cityofmadison.com/MeetingOctober16Budget. This session will feature a deeper dive into cut scenarios and the impact of cuts. Spanish and Mandarin interpretation will be available at this virtual meeting. Additional languages upon request.

Construction updates:

• The Shorewood relief interceptor construction is starting this week. Trees and brush will be removed on both sides of the path between Marshall Court and Shorewood Blvd.  Once the trees and brush are removed, excavation will begin on the west side of Marshall Court. Construction will proceed west towards Shorewood Blvd. and will continue until weather forces a break for the winter. A section of the east/west Blackhawk pedestrian/bike path through Shorewood Hills will be CLOSED, beginning Monday, September 30. View the detour route.
• The N. Franklin and Lynn Terrace reconstruction project will come to Common Council on October 8, and is slated to begin construction in April, 2025.
• The Mineral Point resurfacing project has been pushed back to 2027.
• You can check out all of the road construction planned for 2024-2029 on the Transportation Improvement Plan map.

Announcements and News Releases

• Secure Ballot Drop Boxes Now Open: The City of Madison’s secure ballot drop boxes are now open for the November 5 General Election. The boxes provide a secure way for City of Madison absentee voters to return their ballots to the City Clerk’s Office.
• Register to Vote! Register at any Madison Public Library. If you have a Wisconsin ID and your address is up-to-date with the DMV, you can also register online. It takes 28 days to establish residency at a new address.
• How to Vote Absentee by Mail: The City Clerk’s Office is beginning to mail out absentee ballots. In person absentee voting begins October 22.
  • Madison Clerk’s Office Correcting Duplicate Ballots : The Madison Clerk’s Office is rectifying a data processing error that caused duplicate absentee ballots to be sent to around 2,000 voters.
• General Election Media Kit Now Available: The Madison City Clerk's Office is releasing its media kit for the November 5 General Election. The media kit includes election statistics, key dates, and a brief overview of the election process.
• Greater Madison MPO Seeks Community Input on Draft Coordinated Plan: The Greater Madison MPO released its draft 2024-2028 Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan, the Greater Madison area's transportation plan for older adults, people with disabilities and people with low incomes.
• City of Madison celebrates groundbreaking for Theresa Terrace townhomes: The City of Madison is taking steps to address the shortage of “Missing Middle” housing, starting with one of its own properties.
• Madison Adds Electric Collection Trucks to its Fleet: The City of Madison Streets Division will be the first community in Wisconsin with an all-electric trash collection truck – 2 in fact! Help us name these trucks by 4pm on October 1!
• TetraPAKMAN Announced as the New Artist-in-Residence at Central Library: Renowned local artist TetraPAKMAN returns to Central Library for a new residency that uses recycled materials and community-generated social sculptures to inspire conversations about climate justice.
• Art installed along Atwood Ave. multi-use path as part of Percent for Art program: People biking, running and strolling along Atwood Avenue will notice some new artwork on the paths near Olbrich Park as several designs are in the process of being installed on the multi-use path.
• Fall Leaves and Yard Waste Collection Begins Week of October 6, 2024: The Streets Division’s fall yard waste and leaves collection begins the week of October 6, 2024.All residents will receive three collection opportunities this fall, weather permitting.
• Highlights from the Bus Rapid Transit Ribbon-Cutting : Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway was joined by local, state, and federal leaders at a celebration ceremony located near the new Eau Claire BRT Station.
• South Madison residents get first look at site plan for future Park Badger redevelopment: People living in South Madison got their first look at a proposed master plan for the Park Badger redevelopment site.
• Emerald Ash Borer Treatments Completed for 2024; Over 3,000 Trees Treated Again This Year: The Urban Forestry section of the Streets Division has completed this year’s round of treatment of public ash trees against the invasive emerald ash borer. Public ash trees are treated once every three years.

Events

• Cherokee Marsh Phragmites Workday, Monday, September 30: Assist in keeping the high-quality wetlands in Cherokee Marsh free from invasive phragmites. Volunteers are needed to use twine to tie stalks in bundles. We will then cut the stalks above the twine and treat the cut ends.
• Capitol View Farmers' Market, Wednesday, October 2: The Capitol View Farmers' Market is held weekly on Wednesdays (3:00-7:00pm) from late May through mid-October. Join us each week for great local vendors, live music, food carts, and special activities from week to week. Visit our website and follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and schedules! (Location: far Eastside of Madison, near the Great Dane Eastside, 5901 Sharpsburg Dr.)
• Energy Resource Fair, Friday, October 4: MGE will provide energy saving tips and a chance to win a SMART Thermostat, Energy Services will be on site to assist with Energy Assistance qualifications, and Project Home will discuss our Weatherization program and how they can improve health, safety and save energy in your home.
• A Closer Look at Madison School, City Referenda, with the Wisconsin Policy Forum. October 17, 6-7:30pm, Edgewater Hotel. Please register in advance.
• Check out upcoming events at the Monroe Street library:
  • Oct. 16, 3:30pm: Read to a dog! A furry friend is a geat audience for emerging readers. Come and read to Lili or Roxy. Both are certified via Alliance for Therapy Dogs. Bring a favorite book, or grab one of ours. First come, first served.
  • Oct. 19 10am–noon: Make masks with Maria. Kids and adults are welcome. Maria will host a number of colorful and very fun Saturday art projects through December.
  • Oct. 19, 2:00pm. Join us for a Book Schmooze, an informal get-together to talk about books you’ve read lately, books you’ve loved, etc. Hear what others have been reading and get ideas for your next books. Space is limited. Please call 608 266-6390 during open hours to RSVP.

For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the City events calendar.

Take care,

Regina Vidaver