Saving and expanding trees in Madison, access City processes through Legistar, draft West Area Plan meeting, Camp Randall Sports Complex meeting, events and announcements

Hello neighbors,

At this week’s Common Council Meeting, we were treated to an extensive overview of the City’s policies and efforts to retain and expand our tree-scape across Streets, Forestry, Stormwater Engineering, and Parks. I highly recommend you review the presentation, as you may be surprised to learn, for example, that the City plants 1,000 more trees annually than it removes. And, the City purchases land for greenspace, regional watershed protection, and to ensure access to parkland. We should be proud of the City’s efforts in this regard, and herald our committed staff who do this work.

I also wanted to take a moment to highlight another aspect of City processes, namely that there is full transparency on all City initiatives through our online system called Legistar. Want to understand the approval process for a development? It’s online. Want to track the designation of a historic resource? It’s online. But I understand that Legistar is not that easy to navigate, which is why City staff developed this video to help everyone understand how to review the public system. This is your government, and it is fully open for your engagement and review.

Public Information Meetings

• Draft West Area Plan - In Person Public Meeting-Transportation, Thursday, June 6: City staff have announced highlights of proposed changes to the Draft West Area Plan. For more details, check the project webpage. There will be additional changes released by May 10. City staff will join Common Council members representing the West Area to host a series of five additional public meetings where people can further review and discuss the Draft West Area Plan.
• UW-Madison Camp Randall Sports Center Replacement Public Meeting, Wednesday, June 12, 6-7pm, Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Room 1227. This will be a hybrid meeting, also accessible by Zoom. Members of the UW-Madison project team and architecture team will give a presentation with Q&A to follow.

News Releases & Announcements

• There are 2 newly available medians people can adopt in our district: Franklin at Kendall (scheduled to be reconstructed in 2025), and on Farley at Stevens. If you are interested in adopting one of these medians, please contact Carissa Wegner, City Landscape Architect.
• Free burlap available to contend with spongy moth infestations.
• Willy Street Co-op East is in search of new spray-paint artists to create a mural at their east location. Please send an email to info@damawi.org stating your intent to submit a design by June 15. A final design will be due no later than June 30.
• The Stevens Street reconstruction project will now include replacement of the water main, thus, all utilities (storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and water main) will be now be replaced as part of this project. The target start date will be August 5, with a target finish date of November 15.
• 2024 Vision Zero Safe Streets and Speed Management Projects: Since 2020, Vision Zero Madison has implemented safety improvement and speed management projects every year to enhance safe travel on City streets.
• MPD recruits work on team-building during first week of training academy: Over the next six months, the Madison Police Department will recap each week of its in-house training academy. There are 32 recruits in this year’s class.
• City of Madison Launches the First Year of the Building Energy Savings Program (BESP) : The City of Madison has launched the first year of the new Building Energy Savings Program (BESP). The program, adopted by the Common Council in 2023, requires large commercial buildings to benchmark their energy use annually and tune up building’s energy systems every four years.
• Public Health Launches New Rapid Beach Water Testing this Summer: This week, Public Health Madison & Dane County kicked off its annual beach monitoring season. During the summer months each year, Public Health monitors conditions and tests the water at local beaches to make sure it is safe for swimming.
• Lane closure on West Washington Avenue: Integrity Grading and Excavating began construction on W Washington Ave, between Broom St and Fairchild St. Two-way traffic, one lane in each direction, will be maintained on W Washington Ave.
• MPD sergeant honored for work with people affected by mental illness: A sergeant with the Madison Police Department has been honored for his efforts to improve the quality of life of people affected by mental illness. NAMI Dane County awarded Sergeant Jared Prado the CIT Officer of the Year Award.
• Author of Northwoods, Amy Pease, to Speak at 24th Annual Book Club Café event at Madison Public Library: Local author Amy Pease will headline the 24th Annual Book Club Café hosted by the Friends of Madison Public Library on June 27 at Central Library. Pease will discuss her debut mystery novel Northwoods–which is set in Northern Wisconsin–and was described by People magazine as “a riveting debut by a nurse practitioner with an insider's view of the opioid epidemic.
• Welcome to MPD: Training underway for new class of police recruits: The Madison Police Department welcomed its 70th academy class during a special ceremony.
• Resources for Homebuyers and Property Owners: Are you a current homeowner or looking to own your first home? The City of Madison’s Community Development Division (CDD) is excited to share with you upcoming homeownership related events hosted by our community partners! When you go to www.cityofmadison.com/homeloans you will be able to find the homeownership event’s calendar and other CDD resources available to homeowners and homebuyers to achieve and maintain homeownership.

You will be able to find events related to homebuyer education and homeowner maintenance. Other resources include down payment assistance for first time homebuyers, property tax assistance for seniors (65+), and information about major and minor rehabilitation programs.

If you have any questions, please contact the City of Madison at email: homeloans@cityofmadison.com or call 608-266-6520.

Events

• Capitol View Farmers' Market, Wednesday, June 5 (This event occurs on multiple dates):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.)
• Northside Budget Engagement Event, Wednesday, June 5: Attention Northsiders! Join us at Black Hawk Middle School for an interactive session where we discuss the 2025 budget outlook. This in-person event is your chance to have your voice heard and share your thoughts on what should be prioritized in our community. Join us for an exciting opportunity to have your voice heard on matters that affect our community. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
• Goodman Pool Opening Day, Friday, June 7: Join us on opening day at the Goodman Pool! Weather permitting, we'll open the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Pool for the 2024 season. Goodman Pool is for everyone! Thanks to the Madison Parks Foundation, admission scholarships are available! Apply online.
• Safety Saturday, Saturday, June 8: Safety Saturday is an event that educates parents, children and the public on ways to make safe decisions, prevent injuries, and to encourage the use of safety devices such as seat belts, bike helmets, and smoke alarms. See event website for more information.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift A, Saturday, June 8: Join us for a meaningful day of conservation efforts as we work together to protect and enhance our local conservation park! Your participation is crucial in safeguarding the biodiversity and natural habitats that make our park a haven for wildlife and a treasure for our community.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift B, Saturday, June 8: Join us for a meaningful day of conservation efforts as we work together to protect and enhance our local conservation park! Your participation is crucial in safeguarding the biodiversity and natural habitats that make our park a haven for wildlife and a treasure for our community.
• Marquette Waterfront Festival, Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Marquette Waterfront Festival kicks off the summer on the east side with two stages featuring some of the very best local bands and national touring acts, along with vendors from favorite local restaurants, craft beer and wine, kids’ games, craft vendors and the Fools’ Flotilla.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, June 8: 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, Badgerland Bird Alliance, Madison Audubon Society,  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 2:30-4pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, June 9: 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, Badgerland Bird Alliance, Friends of Olin Turville, and Madison Audubon Society. 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.
• The First Baptist Church (518 North Franklin Ave) invites members of the neighborhood to visit the Dane County Trash Lab truck on Friday June 28 from 6-8pm, and Saturday June 29 from 9:30am-2pm. There will be up-to-date information on recycling in Madison, and about backyard and curbside composting.  Also, there will be some kid's activities, and popcorn!

Be well,

Regina Vidaver