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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.
Meetings and Updates Week of Sept 16
posted- City Meetings:
- Finance Committee Meeting and Capital Budget Hearings 9/16 and 9/17
- Transportation Commission
- Mayor Proposes 2025 Executive Capital Budget
- Background on the Capital Budget
- City Agency Capital Budget Briefings at the Finance Committee
- East District MPD Coffee With A Cop Scheduled For 9/24 and 10/29
- Important Notice About Voter Registration Drive Precautions
- 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 (2025 Executive Capital Budget Briefings)
The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, September 16, at 4:30 p.m. AND Tuesday, September 17 at 4:30 p.m., both in virtual format. Agenda items include agency briefings on the 2025 executive capital budget. See below for more details on the 2025 Executive Capital Budget proposal.
- Meeting Details (Monday)
- Meeting Agenda (Monday)
- Register for Public Comment (Monday)
- Watch Online (Monday)
- Meeting Details (Tuesday)
- Meeting Agenda (Tuesday)
- Watch Online (Tuesday)
Transportation Commission
The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 18, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include crossing guards at middle schools, a working session on the Complete Green Streets Guide, and a presentation on the 2025 operating budget.
Mayor Proposes 2025 Executive Capital Budget
Background on the Capital Budget
Last week, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway released her 2025 Executive Capital Budget and 6-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which detail funding proposals for streets, parks, bikeways, public buildings, water and stormwater systems, and other public assets in Madison.
The Capital Budget is one major piece of the City’s budget. In October, the Mayor will introduce her 2025 Executive Operating Budget, which focuses on services, staffing and programs. While the City’s operating budget faces a structural deficit due to unrealistic constraints placed on Wisconsin cities from the State Legislature, its capital budget has different funding sources to finance capital projects (versus everyday services, which are funded by the operating budget). Funds in the capital budget cannot be used to fund the costs of everyday services to residents in the operating budget.
General Obligation borrowing for 2025 is proposed to be $12.4 million lower than in 2024, and reduced by $5.3 million for the six-year span of the Capital Improvement Program. I was one of the alders who gave feedback to the Mayor asking her to consider proposing a Capital Budget for 2025 with less General Obligation borrowing next year to offset the potential impact of the property tax referenda on the November 5th ballot if they are approved by voters.
See this webpage for more information about the Executive Capital Budget and a recording of the Mayor’s address. This Finance Department webpage includes the Full 2025 Executive Capital Budget as well as links for every City agency’s specific budget. I highly recommend clicking through those if you are interested in digging deeper. Ahead of future votes on this I will share more thoughts about how items in the 2025 Capital Budget proposal impact District 3.
City Agency Capital Budget Briefings at the Finance Committee
The Executive Budget will be discussed at City Finance Committee meetings on September 16 and 17, with final Common Council action in November, allowing multiple opportunities for resident input. Full budget documents can be found on the 2025 Capital Budget website. Here is the schedule for agency Capital Budget briefings at the two Finance Committee budget hearings:
- Monday, Sept 16 (virtual meeting)
- Madison Fire Department
- Madison Police Department
- Madison Dane County Public Health
- Madison Public Library
- Planning Division
- Community Development Authority Redevelopment
- Community Development Division
- Economic Development Division
- Administration (IT, Mayor’s Office, Finance Department, and Zoo)
- Tuesday, Sept 17 (virtual meeting)
- Metro Transit
- Parking Division
- Traffic Engineering
- Transportation
- Monona Terrace
- Engineering: Bicycle & Ped, Facilities, Major Streets, and Other Projects
- Sewer Utility
- Stormwater Utility
- Fleet Services
- Madison Parks
- Streets Division
- Madison Water Utility
Members of the public can register to speak at the Monday, September 16 meeting at https://www.cityofmadison.com/MeetingRegistration. The 9/16/24 meeting will start at 4:30pm with regular finance committee business and public comment on the budget. The 9/17/24 meeting is a continuation of the 9/16/24 meeting and will not include a public comment period.
After these initial Finance Committee budget briefings, the Finance Committee will take up and vote on the 2025 Capital Budget proposal (including any amendments) in their September 30th meeting. On October 8th, the Mayor will propose her 2025 Executive Operating Budget. The full Common Council will take up both the 2025 Capital and Operating Budgets in the November 12th, 13th, and 14th budget hearings. Watch for more details in future weekly updates posts!
East District MPD Coffee With A Cop Scheduled For 9/24 and 10/29
From East District MPD:
“Good morning East District!
With summer (almost) behind us and kids going back to school, its time for another Coffee With A Cop!
This month, CWAC will be on Tuesday September 24, from 12PM until 1PM. Madison Public Libraries-Hawthorne Branch will be our gracious host. 2707 E. Washington Ave.
We don't have a focal topic yet, but if/when we come up with one, we will post it here. In the meantime, I plan to give a rundown of crime reduction and community engagement initiatives in the East District this past summer, and the results that we've seen.
And stay tuned for an October Coffee With A Cop! It's currently planned for the evening of October 29 at the Pinney Branch on Cottage Grove Rd. By that point we should be comfortably into sweater weather!”
Important Notice About Voter Registration Drive Precautions
The Madison City Clerk’s Office urges voters to check their registration online at https://MyVote.wi.gov, especially if they completed a voter registration form with someone who approached them on the street. The City Clerk’s Office is receiving an unprecedented number of incomplete voter registration applications submitted by national organizations holding voter registration drives.
To save taxpayer resources, the City Clerk’s Office encourages voters to use one of these options if they need to register or update their voter registration:
- Register at https://MyVote.wi.gov if you have a Wisconsin driver license/ID and have an up-to-date address on file with the DMV.
- Register at any Madison Public Library if you live in the City of Madison. Madison library staff are all trained by the Clerk’s Office on voter registration and proof of address.
- If registering with someone out in the community, look for someone wearing a Voter Education Ambassador pin. These individuals have been trained by the City Clerk on voter registration and proof of address.
Registering with groups that do not follow proper procedures may mean you are not registered to vote at your current address. For the August Primary, many Madison polling places saw voters who expected to be listed on the poll book, but the group with which they registered had not submitted a complete registration form to the Clerk’s Office. Fortunately, these voters were able to register at the polls on Election Day.
The goal of the City Clerk’s Office is that each eligible voter will be able to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted.
If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.
Events & Announcements
- West Area, Northeast Area Plans pass Common Council; work on Southwest, Southeast Area Plans begins this fall: The City of Madison Common Council approved the first two Area Plans under the City’s new Planning Framework Tuesday night with few changes beyond what had already been proposed by City boards, committees, and commissions.
- Common Council approves change to allow more affordable student housing: The City of Madison Common Council approved a change to the city’s zoning code Tuesday night to expand the existing downtown affordable housing incentive so it can be used to create more affordable housing specifically for college students.
- Sample Ballots Now Available: The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. You can find a sample ballot for your address at https://MyVote.wi.gov.This is what Madison voters will see on their November ballot: [posted September 10, 2024]
- Celebrate Disability Voting Rights Week: The City Clerk’s Office is celebrating Disability Voting Rights Week by highlighting accessible options for exercising your right to vote. “It’s important for all residents to feel confident that their voices are heard at the polls,” said Mayor… [posted September 9, 2024]
- Capitol View Farmers' Market, Wednesday, September 18: 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!
- City Clerk's Office begins mailing absentee ballots to voters with requests on file, Thursday, September 19: Track the status of your absentee at My Vote.
- BRT Station Open House – Downtown, Thursday, September 19: Stop by to preview the station, ask questions and Pick up a Fast Fare card!
- Trucks and Treasures, Saturday, September 21: Kids of all ages (adults too!) are welcome to see, climb and explore the featured public service machinery and equipment and meet the City employees who operate each.
- Madison Fire Department Zoo Takeover, Saturday, September 21: The Madison Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division and your Vilas neighborhood firefighters are taking over the Henry Vilas Zoo! Stop by to learn about home fire safety and fire prevention while visiting your favorite zoo animals.
- Firefighter Fun Day at Fire Station 9, Saturday, September 21: Firefighter Fun Day returns to Fire Station 9! The firefighter/EMTs of Fire Station 9 open their doors for an afternoon of fun for the whole family! Stop by for free food, drinks, music, games, fire truck and ambulance tours, fire station tours, and more! All children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Metro Transit - Fast Fare Pick Up! Pick up a Fast Fare card and get help from City of Madison staff. To learn more about Fast Fares, please visit the Fast Fares webpage.
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Lakeview Library: September 16, September 19 & September 25
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Alicia Ashman Library: September 16
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Sequoya Library: September 17 & September 26
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Meadowridge Library: September 18 & September 26
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Central Library:September 19, & September 25
- Fast Fare Pick Up at Pinney Library: September 23
For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the City events calendar.