D6 Items of Interest Week of January 6, 2025
postedWinter Storms and Extreme Cold: The best way to stay safe during extreme winter weather is to be prepared and stay indoors. Learn how to prepare for winter storms.
Happy New Year! I'm back in town after spending most of the last six weeks helping my elderly parents deal with home health care issues. I plan to post another blog to update everyone on upcoming district meetings but wanted to get out the weekly information provided by Council staff. Stay warm!
The city's legistar system was down when I prepared this post and thus I could not provide live links. Agenda items #10 (older adult programming) and #11 (Madison Ice Arena/Hartmeyer) at Finance tomorrow have generated a lot of public comments.
Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings
Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, January 6, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include the restructuring of existing land contracts with Madison Ice Inc. and East Madison Ice Collective into forgivable loans and authorizing the sale of those properties for $1.
6. 86356 Awarding up to $4,160,497 in federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as allocated to the City of Madison by the American Rescue Plan Act (a/k/a HOME-ARP), to Housing Initiatives, Inc. to support the development of 16 units of affordable housing and supportive services; and authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into agreements to implement the development project (District 12).
10. 85469 Substitute: Approving the allocation of City funds that are budgeted and designated to support older adult programming among a group of agencies selected through a Request for Proposals process conducted by the Community Development Division, for use towards contracts covering eligible expenses incurred on or after beginning in January 1, 2025 (Citywide).
11. 86169 Authorizing the eventual forgiveness of $1,613,365 of debt held by Madison Ice Inc. for the Madison Ice Arena (725 Forward Drive) and Hartmeyer Ice Arena (1810 and 1834 Commercial Avenue), authorizing the termination of existing land contracts for both ice arenas with Madison Ice Hartmeyer, LLC and Madison Ice MIA, LLC (Madison Ice, Inc.), authorizing the fee simple sale of Hartmeyer Ice Arena to East Madison Ice Collective and the fee simple sale of Madison Ice Arena to Madison Ice, Inc. for $1, authorizing a fundraising requirement of approximately $3 million by East Madison Ice Collective for capital improvements to Hartmeyer Ice Arena, and authorizing additional terms related to the renegotiation of the City’s relationship to the ice arenas (District 12 and District 19).
- Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 8, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include the review and approval of Metro Transit bus stop changes.
- Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 8, at 6:30 p.m. at 330 E Lakeside St. Agenda items include approving the Madison Mallards request for firework displays for the 2025 Mallards and Night Mares season at Warner Park Stadium.
- Community Development Block Grant Committee: The Community Development Block Grant Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, January 9, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include awarding federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program grant funds to Housing Initiatives, Inc. to support the development of 16 units of affordable housing and supportive services.
If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.
Announcements and News Releases
- Ice Skating in Madison Parks Starting Today: Ice skaters, rejoice! Tenney Park and Vilas Park lagoons and many rinks are opening today and this weekend for free ice skating! Bring your own skates or rent at Elver, Tenney, and Vilas with staff available: Friday: 4-8pmSaturday: 12-8pmSunday: 12-… [posted January 3, 2025]
- Statement on Wisconsin Election Commission Investigation : I fully support this independent review, and look forward to WEC’s findings and recommendations, which will inform any changes we make to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future. [posted January 2, 2025]
Sauk Creek Greenway Corridor Plan Survey Open until January 5: The City of Madison is developing a Corridor Plan for the Sauk Creek Greenway on the west side of Madison between Tree Lane and Old Sauk Road just east of High Point Road. The community input received to date has helped inform the draft plan that proposes to stabilize key banks to reduce erosion within stormwater conveyance channel, improve maintenance access, and replant disturbed areas with native woodland trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses in order to improve the ecological health and wildlife habitat within the greenway corridor. The City recently shared draft plans for the corridor during a public meeting on December 4th, 2024. The City is seeking input on the draft plan via an online survey. The survey will be open through January 5th, 2025. Please consider sharing your input if you haven't yet!
If you were unable to attend the December 4, 2024 Virtual Public Information Meeting, you can view the meeting recording: Dec. 4, 2024 Public Information Meeting Recording, or the presentation slides with polling results: Dec. 4, 2024 Public Information Meeting Presentation with Polling Results. Additional info, including slides and recordings from the previous 3 public meetings is available on the project webpage.
There will be additional opportunities to share your input:
- A public meeting in January to share the Final Sauk Creek Corridor Plan (January, date TBD)
- Board of Public Works and Common Council (dates TBD)
- During each design phase
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
- Groove & Glide, Friday, January 10: 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.
- Mobile Vaccination Clinic: Badger Prairie Needs Network, Saturday, January 11: Public Health Madison & Dane County are hosting mobile vaccination clinics throughout the county in partnership with community organizations!
- Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, January 11: Explore Owen Conservation Park on gentle trails through historic oak openings on a hillside with an Ice Age kettle and along restored prairies with beautiful vistas on this high point overlooking the west side of Madison. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks and the Friends of Owen Conservation Park. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Owen Conservation Park are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, year-round 1:30-3pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
- Candlelight Snowshoe Walk, Saturday, January 11: Join Madison Parks, Wild Warner and the Friends of Cherokee Marsh in this free, family-friendly event at Warner Park. See the park by candlelight and warm up by the fire. Limited snowshoes will be available to borrow during the event or bring your own or wear appropriate winter footwear. No registration is needed. This event will take place with or without snow cover but may be canceled if conditions are icy or otherwise unsafe.
Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, January 12: Follow rolling hiking paths through the Turville Point Conservation Park woodlands and prairie with beautiful vistas of Lake Monona and Monona Bay. Walks at Turville Point held on the 2nd Sunday every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners, Madison Parks and Friends of Olin Turville. Meet at the Turville Point parking lot, entrance at the E. Olin Ave. stoplight from John Nolen Drive at the railroad tracks, south of Olin Park (not at the boat launch). No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.
Alder Marsha A. Rummel
District 6
Contact Alder Rummel