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Resources for the Madison Community
Madison stands with the families of Abundant Life community. This page is dedicated to connecting victims and the broader community to resources and accurate information about the tragic events that happened on December 16.
D6 Items of Interest Week of August 5, 2024
postedFlood Alert through Tuesday morning: Anyone living or visiting in the City of Madison should be aware and avoid any flooded area. Heavy rain is expected to move through the region and has the potential to create flash flooding. Some streets may flood temporarily.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch in effect from 10 p.m., Aug. 5, 2024 (tonight) until Aug. 6, 2024 (Tuesday morning). While the heavy rain forces the City’s storm sewer to capacity and causes temporary flash flooding in specific areas of the City. At this time, this event is not considered a major flooding event.
Please do not drive, walk or travel in any flooded streets or washed-out paths. Flooded areas may be deeper than they appear, and as little as six inches of water can knock an adult off their feet.
Depending on the specifics of the storm, flash flooding can occur at a number of areas throughout the city. In D6, locations that are prone to flash flooding include Mifflin/Ingersoll.
Heavy Rain Expected Tonight and Tomorrow. More details in the link.
Public Comment on Referendum Resolution Scheduled for August 6
The Madison Common Council is encouraging residents to submit public testimony on an important resolution affecting the City budget at its meeting on Tuesday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. If adopted, the resolution would place a referendum on the November 5 general election ballot. The referendum would authorize an increase of $22 million to the state-imposed property tax levy limit to allow the City to continue to fund police, fire, garbage collection, parks and library operations, and other City services and operations.
To register to speak in-person or virtually at the August 6 meeting, please fill out this form. The agenda item for the referendum resolution is 84443. You can also register to speak at the City County Building the day of the meeting. You can submit written comments on the referendum resolution by emailing allalders@cityofmadison.com.
The Council meeting on August 6 is the community’s opportunity to have their voice heard on this vital City budget issue. A special virtual council meeting will then be held on August 20 for alders to take a final vote on the resolution. This is due to final figures from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, needed for the referendum resolution, not being ready until after August 15. Please note, in-person or virtual public testimony on the referendum resolution will only take place at the August 6 meeting. However, you can submit written comments to your elected officials anytime between now and August 20.
Information about city agency proposed 2025 operating budgets with 5% cuts as requested by the Mayor is now available 2025 Operating Budget Proposals from City Agencies. The link contains an itemized list of potential cuts. The proposed reductions will inform the Mayor’s development of two 2025 budget scenarios (they are not final yet): one scenario without new revenues, and one scenario with new revenues from a successful property tax referendum. In the scenario without new revenues, as outlined in Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s Sustainable Long-Term Plan for Madison’s Budget, around 25 percent of the proposed service cuts will need to be enacted in the 2025 budget and the remaining cuts would need to be implemented in the City’s 2026-2029 budgets to close future deficits.
Under a scenario where the Common Council puts forward and voters approve a property tax referendum, the City would still be required to find 1 percent in service efficiencies and reductions but would avoid permanent cuts to services in the 2025 budget as well as future budgets.
More information on the 2025 budget process is available on the City’s Budget Outlook page.
- Watch Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's presentation outlining a sustainable long-term budget plan for Madison’s budget delivered at the July 16 Council meeting.
- Read the Mayor’s memo to Alders
- See answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the budget and a potential referendum.
- Check out some interesting facts and figures about Madison’s budget.
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, August 6, in hybrid format at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include taking public comment on a resolution authorizing the scheduling of a referendum relating to exceeding the municipal property tax limits, as well as a resolution limiting the granting of “Class A” liquor licenses for the purpose of limiting density and proximity of such licenses to sensitive sites.
12. 84160 Public Hearing - New License Molten Monkey LLC • dba Molten Monkey Pizza 912 E Johnson St • Agent: Otto Dilba Estimated Capacity (in/out): 50/20 Class B Beer, Class C Wine • 5% alcohol, 95% food Police Sector 407 (District 6)
22. 84038 Amending Sections 28.071(3)(a)1 and 28.074(6) of the Madison General Ordinances related to parking to prohibit surface parking in the Downtown Core (DC) District.
26. 84351 Submitting the appointment of Eric M. Knepp for confirmation of a five-year term as Parks Superintendent.
31. 83669 Amending Section 38.05(9)(a) and creating 38.05(b) and (c) of the Madison General Ordinances related to Class A and Class “A” alcohol beverage licenses to impose geographic limitations on “Class A” and Class “A” license applications considered by the Common Council after adoption of this ordinance for purposes of regulating density of such alcohol beverage licenses.
AGENDA NOTE: Alcohol License Review Committee did not consider file 83669 at the 7/24/24 meeting. The recommendation is to re-refer to Alcohol License Review Committee (9/18/24), Common Council (9/24/24).
68. 84443 Authorizing the Scheduling of a Referendum Relating to Exceeding the Municipal Property Tax Limits in the City of Madison
69. 84572 Chief of Police 2nd Quarter Report: Chief Shon F. Barnes, Madison Police Department
70. 82973 Repealing and Recreating Section 33.24 of the Madison General Ordinances related to the Urban Design Commission to implement Phase 1 of planned multi-phase revisions to the UDC ordinance. Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel
AGENDA NOTE: The recommendation is to re-refer to Plan Commission (12/2/24), Urban Design Commission (11/20/24), Common Council (12/10/24). At the request of the Mayor, as the sponsor, I agreed to refer and wait until the new Planning Director is on-boarded and has a chance to review the proposed ordinance changes.
82. 83420 Adopting the Sustainability Plan Update and directing staff to implement the recommendations in the plan.
83. 83601 SUBSTITUTE: Amending Section 27.05 of the Madison General Ordinances to refine lawn and property maintenance provisions.
84. 84359 Naming Justin Festge-Russell as Madison's 2024-25 Youth Poet Laureate. Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel
INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS FOR REFERRAL WITHOUT DEBATE
85. 84571 Amending Section 37.09(3)(e)1 of the Madison General Ordinances to establish soil infiltration design standards. Sponsors: John P. Guequierre And Yannette Figueroa Cole
89. 84626 Amending Section 28.071(2)(a)2. of the Madison General Ordinances related to Downtown Height Requirements to allow affordable student housing to exceed the maximum number of stories. (District 2, District 4, District 6) Sponsors: Derek Field, MGR Govindarajan And Michael E. Verveer
100. 84612 Authorizing the City’s execution of a Maintenance Agreement with Common Wealth Development, Inc. for the use of the E. Main Street right-of-way with two existing patios and associated patio improvements to support two outdoor cafés adjacent to the property located at 931 E. Main Street, as well as the City’s acceptance of ownership of said improvements in exchange for the perpetual maintenance of them by Common Wealth Development. (District 6) Sponsors: Marsha A. Rummel
106. 84643 BY TITLE ONLY: Approving housing recommendations that serve to strengthen efforts to expand rental, homeowner and student developments prepared by the Housing Strategy Committee.
If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.
News & Announcements
- Public Comment on Referendum Resolution Scheduled for August 6 : The Madison Common Council is encouraging residents to submit public testimony on an important resolution affecting the City budget at its next meeting. [posted August 2, 2024]
- Road Closures - Stevens Street Reconstruction posted August 2, 2024
Beginning Monday, August 5, Stevens Street will be closed to through traffic from North Franklin Avenue to Grand Avenue. This is part of the North Franklin Avenue and Stevens Street Resurfacing project that will replace aging and deteriorating… [posted August 2, 2024
- August Moving Days: How to Set Out Appliances, Furniture, & Other Large Items: When placing large items out for pickup, follow these guidelines… [posted August 2, 2024]
- August Moving Days: Daily Collections of Carts in Student Move Area: Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday August 5, 2024 residents in the downtown moving days area can place trash and recycling collection carts out for daily pickup. The Streets Division will have crews patrolling the move-out area emptying collection… [posted August 1, 2024]
- City of Madison Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes Updated Ahead of Primary: Madison's 14 absentee ballot drop boxes are getting an updated look ahead of the Aug. 13 primary election. [posted July 31, 2024]
- August Moving Days: How to Recycle Televisions, Computers, and Other Electronics: Electronics must be delivered to the Streets Division’s drop-off sites, or to a reputable private electronics recycler in the area. All electronics are accepted for free from City of Madison residents at the Streets Division drop-off… [posted July 31, 2024]
- In-Person Absentee Voting Begins Today: In-person absentee voting for the August 13 Partisan Primary begins today.“Avoid lines at the polls on election day and visit one of our local libraries to cast your ballot early,” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. “In-person absentee voting has begun. You… [posted July 30, 2024]
- August Moving Days: How to Use the Large Item Work Order System during the Move Out: Starting the week of August 4, 2024 and ending on Friday, August 23 2024, the large item work order rules are different for residents who live in the student move-out area. [posted July 30, 2024]
- Want to Vote by Mail? Request Absentee Today: With just two weeks remaining before the August 13 Partisan Primary, the City Clerk’s Office urges voters wishing to receive an absentee through the mail to submit their requests today. “Don’t lose the opportunity to make your vote count,” said Mayor… [posted July 29, 2024]
- August Moving Days: Make a Plan and Donate Today: The annual August Moving Days for downtown Madison will soon get underway. Thousands of Madison residents will be changing homes within the downtown moving days area and you will need to decide just what to do with all their stuff. The… [posted July 29, 2024]
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 Voting Begins, Tuesday, August 6: Beginning today, voters who are hospitalized can appoint an agent to:…
- Blood Pressure Screening, Tuesday, August 6: Free Blood Pressure Screening is available to older adults, on the first and third Tuesday, 11:15 - 12:00 pm. Please find additional upcoming Madison Senior Center events listed on the Madison Senior Center event calendar.
- Madison Night Market, Thursday, August 8: The Office of the Common Council is excited to host its resource table at the Madison Night Market on Thursday, August 8. We welcome you to stop by and say hi and share your feedback with Council staff and alders!
- Dane Dances: Luisito Rosario / V05, Friday, August 9: Food and cocktails are available for purchase at 4:30 PM. Lake Vista Café will be open for your enjoyment along with La Taguara, Melly Mells Catering, and Kipps Kitchen. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Feel free to bring a blanket, chair, and picnic basket Sorry, carry-in alcohol is prohibited. Seating on the rooftop is limited.
- Ride the Drive 2024, Sunday, August 11: It’s thousands of happy healthy people coming together to experience parks and open streets in a single, one-day, free, community event. Since the inaugural Ride the Drive in 2009, this event continues to celebrate Madison’s commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle focusing on the environmental and economic impacts and the importance of social integration.
Parks Alive Dates!
Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you! Events start at 5:00 p.m.
Please find additional upcoming City of Madison Parks events listed on the City parks event calendar.
Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.