Meetings and Updates Week of May 6
posted- City Meetings:
- Finance Committee 5/6
- Plan Commission 5/6
- Common Council 5/7
- Public Safety Review Committee 5/8
- Board of Park Commissioners 5/8
- Reminder: Heritage Sanctuary Garlic Mustard Pull 5/11
- Events & Announcements
City 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.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, May 6, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include supporting the effective dissemination of funds provided through the Violence Prevention Services to support on-site services for apartment buildings that are under and/or at risk of public nuisance declaration, appointing Tana Elias for confirmation as the Madison Public Library Director, and authorizing a contract with the Foundation for Black Women's Wellness to support the Dane County Health Council's project "Saving our Babies.”
Plan Commission
The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, May 6, in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include adopting the recommendations for the Bus Rapid Transit North-South corridor, development-related requests (none in District 3), and amending Madison General Ordinances related to drive-through windows. I’m a sponsor of the drive-through change, which I wrote about in my March 9th blog post. At the March 10th Plan Commission meeting I moved to refer this item to a later Plan Commission meeting so that the sponsors and staff could meet to discuss some comments from the public about site design and drive-through isle visibility from the street, but we decided not to change the proposal because we determined that further restrictions to the placement and design of drive-throughs would have the practical effect of making them nearly impossible to add in the City, which is not the intent of this proposal.
Common Council
The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 7, in hybrid format at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include:
- A presentation to the council that includes an overview of housing market data and initiatives
- Granting new alcohol sales licenses for Refuel Pantry Inc at 4905 and 4102 Commercial Ave, both with restrictions on the licenses as recommended by the Alcohol License Review Committee.
- A resolution confirming Tana Elias as to a five-year term as Director of Madison Public Libraries. Congrats, Tana! Read more about Tana in this announcement.
- A resolution Reaffirming Support for a Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza and Supporting Student Protesters, sponsored by Alders Bennet, Rummel, and Wehelie. You can read the text of the resolution here. The resolution is proposed on the Council agenda to be adopted by the same night that it’s introduced, 5/7, under a suspension of the normal rules that require two separate Council meetings for introduction and adoption, and without referral to City policy committees for their review and input. The text of the resolution specifically names and calls on the Chancellor of UW-Madison to authorize the tents at the Library Mall protest encampment and directs MPD to change procedures for responding to other police jurisdictions’ requests for Mutual Aid for demonstrations. UW-Madison is my day-job employer so I will have to recuse myself from the vote on this resolution under the Common Council’s Code of Ethics, Madison General Ordinances 3.35.
- A resolution amending Madison General Ordinances related to dog licenses to add a license tax exemption for service animals
- Resolutions awarding Public Works contracts for Water Main Rehabilitation project in Burke Heights (District 3) and street pavement Chip Sealing work in several District 3 neighborhoods this year.
- A resolution authorizing the City of Madison’s Streets and Urban Forestry Division to apply for and accept a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for $500,000 and, if awarded, amending the Streets 2024 Capital Budget and authorizing the resulting grant agreement (I’m a cosponsor).
- A resolution supporting the effective dissemination of funds provided through the Violence Prevention Services to support on-site services for apartment buildings that are under and/or at risk of public nuisance declaration (I’m a cosponsor). This is the funding secured in the Finance Committee’s 2024 Operating Budget amendment, which I cosponsored, for Violence Prevention funds during the budget process last fall.
- A resolution combining the duties of Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee and the Housing Strategy Committee into the newly formed Housing Policy Committee (which is one of my committees), effective on November 15th, 2024.
- Madison Police Department’s 2024 Quarter 1 report from Chief Barnes.
- A resolution establishing the City’s input for interstate/interchange design alternatives as part of the WI Dept of Transportation’s Interstate Corridor Study. See my April 20th blog post with details about this item when it was presented in the Transportation Commission’s April 24th meeting. I want to also clarify that this resolution advises WisDOT on which designs the City feels are safer or have a lower impact to Madison residents, and the resolution does not authorize projects, funding, construction, etc. Any of those authorizations would be done under a separate process with their own public input processes, which I will promote here and communicate with affected District 3 neighborhoods if I’m still in this role when that time comes, although those proposals would be driven by WisDOT’s project timeline and state/federal funding approvals, and are probably several years away.
Here’s the meeting agenda and information to join/register/comment:
Public Safety Review Committee
The Public Safety Review Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 8 in virtual format at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items include a report from Madison Police about gun violence and strategic planning, an update from Madison Fire about CARES Program updates, and a proposal to change Madison’s Chronic Nuisance Premises Ordinance (I’m the sponsor of this item).
Here is the City Attorney’s Office’s analysis: “The Chronic Nuisance Premises ordinance was enacted in 2009 at a time when nuisance activity associated with residential premises was related more to general quality of life issues rather than gun violence and other violent activity that deeply impacts residents’ ability to feel safe in their homes. The primary focus of this amendment is to make it easier and faster to declare a Chronic Nuisance Premises when there are firearm crimes and crimes involving serious bodily injury. The ordinance previously allowed for domestic violence offenses to be considered a nuisance activity under this ordinance subject to specific review by the Chief of Police and Office of the City Attorney. This amendment exempts domestic violence, and several other victim-centered offenses from this ordinance. Finally, there were several administrative/reorganization amendments intended to clarify some provisions and make comprehension easier.”
In addition to the Public Safety Review Committee, this proposal will be reviewed and voted on by the Landlord Tenant Issues Committee on 5/16, the Housing Strategy Committee on 5/28, and will come back to Common Council for final action on 6/4.
Board of Park Commissioners
The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 8, in virtual format at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include adopting the Parks Development Plans for parks in the West Area Plan’s planning area and the Northeast Area Plan’s planning Area (includes Mayfair Park in District 3) and approving the Plant Collections Policy for Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
Reminder: Heritage Sanctuary Garlic Mustard Pull on Saturday, May 11
Garlic mustard is an aggressive invasive species threatening native plants including the outstanding spring trillium displays in east Madison's Heritage Sanctuary Conservation Park. A Madison Parks staff person will lead this off-trail project. Please bring a dandelion weeder, if possible, and wear garden gloves. Meet by the sanctuary sign at the south entrance (625 Meadowlark Drive) at 8:50 a.m. Email Beth at elsbethrich@gmail.com if you plan to volunteer.
From Madison Parks: At peak trillium bloom in early to mid-May, the 9.3 acre Heritage Sanctuary is unequaled. Under an oak forest canopy lies a wildflower carpet more typical of a maple forest.
More info at https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/events/2024-05-11/conservation-volunteer-day-heritage-sanctuary.
Thank you volunteers!
Events & Announcements
- Street Closure for Madison Night Market: Starting at noon on Thursday, May 9th, portions of West Gilman Street, North Broom Street, West Mifflin Street, and North Carroll Street will be closed for the first Madison Night Market of the year. The closures will last until 1:00 am on Friday,… [posted May 3, 2024, by Traffic Engineering and Transportation]
- City resources for small businesses: Small Business Equity and Recovery program: The City of Madison’s Small Business Equity and Recovery (SBER) program was started to support small, independent businesses owned by historically disadvantaged people. [posted May 3, 2024, by Planning & Community & Economic Development, Economic Development and Planning]
- West Area Plan feedback summary, DRAFT Plan edit highlights, and additional public meetings announced: City staff are announcing proposed changes to the DRAFT West Area Plan and additional public meetings. [posted May 2, 2024, by Planning & Community & Economic Development, Economic Development]
- Metro Transit and MMSD Schools Announce 4th Annual Summer Youth Pass Program: On Thursday, May 2, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison Metropolitan School District Interim Superintendent Lisa Kvistad held a press conference to announce Metro’s fourth annual free summer youth pass program for Madison residents. As part of Mayor… [posted May 2, 2024, by Metro Transit]
- Limit mowing to twice in the next month as part of Low Mow May 2024: The City of Madison is asking people to support our local pollinators by limiting mowing practices in the next month as part of Low Mow May 2024. [posted April 30, 2024, by Engineering, Planning & Community & Economic Development, Building Inspection]
- MPD captain recognized nationally as a rising police leader: MADISON, Wis. – A Captain with the Madison Police Department was recognized in Las Vegas last week as a rising police leader and for her research on domestic violence homicides. Captain Stephanie Drescher was honored with the 2024 Past… [posted April 29, 2024, by Police]
- Financial Empowerment Series (#1-4), Tuesday, May 7: Financial Basics: Budgeting, debt reduction, credit repair and homebuying basics. Financial Empowerment Series to be held in 4 parts occurring on May 7, 14, 21, and 28. For questions regarding this program contact Kielley at klemkuil@ulgm.org.
- Financial Wellness Workshop #2 (Movin' Out), Tuesday, May 7: Achieving financial security can be a lifelong pursuit, but it can be challenging to make progress toward it without a concrete spending plan.
- Learn to Fall Safely, Wednesday, May 8, 2024: SAFELY Learn to fall safely and to get backup without injury. Falls are a leading cause of death for older adults in Wisconsin. We will use thick “crash mats” for practicing .Classes are progressive. Attending all 4 classes recommended. Scholarships available.
- Music in the Park in May, Wednesday, May 8 (This event occurs on multiple dates):Free concert series at the Olin Park pavilion sponsored by FOOT - Friends of Olin-Turville and Madison Parks. Wednesdays in May from 6 to 8pm. Doors open at 5:45pm.
- Conservation Park Tour, Wednesday, May 8: Conservation Park Tours are educational staff-guided walks held at various conservation parks on the 2nd Wednesday, May - October. Event starting times vary, depending on the sunset and typically last about 90 minutes. Walks are held rain or shine, free to attend, easy-paced and family-friendly. No registration is required. Most locations do NOT have restrooms. As always, dogs and pets are prohibited in all conservation parks.
- Homebuyer Education Workshop, Saturday, May 11: Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop by the Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County takes place in-person at the Sunshine Place (18 Rickel Rd., Sun Prairie, WI) on Saturday, May 11 from 8:30am-3:30pm! Lunch will be provided.
- Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift A, Saturday, May 1: Join us for a rewarding morning of environmental stewardship as we work together to combat invasive garlic mustard at Heritage Sanctuary! Garlic mustard threatens the biodiversity of our local ecosystems, and your help is crucial in preserving the natural beauty of our community. Help us protect the rich, spring wildflower display at this park.
- Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift B, Saturday, May 1: Join us for a rewarding morning of environmental stewardship as we work together to combat invasive garlic mustard at Heritage Sanctuary! Garlic mustard threatens the biodiversity of our local ecosystems, and your help is crucial in preserving the natural beauty of our community. Help us protect the rich, spring wildflower display at this park.
