Dear Neighbors,

I hope this message finds you well. After much consideration, I want to share with you that I will not be seeking re-election to the Madison Common Council for District 7. This decision was not made lightly, as serving you and the city of Madison has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

Reflecting on my time on the Council, I am deeply proud of the progress we have made together. With your trust and partnership, we have achieved significant milestones that contribute to the well-being and vibrancy of our District 7 and the city of Madison:

• Country Grove Park Development: I am especially proud of the work we did to create Country Grove Park, a space that fosters connection, recreation, and joy for families and residents of all ages.
• Manchester Park Pathway: I successfully proposed a budget amendment of $225,000 to improve and extend the pathway through Manchester Park, which will increase connectivity and accessibility for area residents.
• Community Engagement: I prioritized active dialogue through community meetings about developments coming to our district and worked to facilitate the communication of information about City resources to the community through my monthly Lunch and Learn, including topics such as winter operations, economic development, streets operations, and community development.
• Equitable Practices: I advocated for policies that ensure resources and opportunities are equitably distributed across all neighborhoods, reflecting Madison’s values of inclusion. My time on the Equal Opportunities Commission was particularly meaningful in this way.
• Economic Development: Because I am dedicated to equitable economic development for all, I have focused on ways to improve access to economic development opportunities for marginalized communities in both funding and policy. I am especially grateful for my time on the Economic Development Committee, where I had a chance to learn about and participate in a number of important initiatives.
• Sustainable Development & Housing: As a member of the Sustainable Madison Committee and the City-County Homeless Issues Committee, I championed thoughtful development that balances growth and affordability with sustainability, ensuring our community remains a great place to live for generations to come.

While I will not continue in this role, my commitment to serving our community remains steadfast. I will explore other avenues to contribute to the issues that matter most to us all.

I want to thank you for your support and collaboration over the past 4 years. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated neighbors.

I look forward to supporting the next chapter of our community’s journey.

If you have any questions, concerns, or simply want to connect, please do not hesitate to reach out via text at 608-571-4919.

With gratitude,

Alder Nasra Wehelie

• How to Have Your Christmas Tree Collected: The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees. Crews collect only trees. Wreaths, boughs, and other evergreen decorations go into the trash. The first round will begin on January 6, 2025. The second and final… [posted December 26, 2024]
• Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule for New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day: There will be no Streets Division collections performed on both Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in observance of the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day holidays. The drop-off sites will also be closed on these two days. Below… [posted December 26, 2024]

Updates and Notices

City Offices are closed on December 31 and January 1: Administrative offices are closed on December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025, for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Emergency services will be open; please call 911. Use Report a Problem for non-emergencies.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

There are currently no Boards, Commissions, and Committee meetings scheduled for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

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

• 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
• Mayor Rhodes-Conway’s Statement on Unprocessed Absentee Ballots: Today, the Madison Clerk’s Office released a statement alerting the public of 193 unprocessed absentee ballots found after November 5, 2024. [posted December 26, 2024]
• Disclosure of Unprocessed Absentee Ballots : The goal of the Clerk’s Office is that each eligible voter will be able to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted. [posted December 26, 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.

Holiday Schedules for City Services

Trash and Recycling Pick-Up Changes

Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024: There will be no Streets Division collections performed on both Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Wednesday, December 25, 2024 in observance of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day holidays. The drop-off sites will also be closed on these two days.

If your trash and recycling are normally collected on Monday or Tuesday by the Streets Division, you should have your carts to the curb by 6:30am on Monday, December 23, 2024.

If your trash and recycling are normally collected on Wednesday or Thursday by the Streets Division, you should have your carts to the curb by 6:30am on Thursday, December 26, 2024.

More information is available on this Streets Division webpage.

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.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

There are currently no Boards, Commissions, and Committee meetings scheduled for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

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

• Abundant Life Christian School Shooting: Facts and Questions Page: MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Police Department is committed to transparency and will continue to release information that can be used to improve public safety. This must be balanced, however, with our commitment to the victims and survivors of the…[posted December 18, 2024]
• 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.
• Keep sidewalks safe: Reminder of City of Madison sidewalk shoveling and salt use ordinances: As winter weather approaches, the City of Madison’s Building Inspection Division would like to remind everyone about the City’s ordinances for sidewalk clearing and salt usage. [posted December 19, 2024]
• Read, Play, Write, and Create at Madison Public Library this Winter Break with WE READ: MADISON, WI – Beginning Monday, December 16, kids and families can visit any Madison Public Library location and find new play materials, reading buddies, scavenger hunts, and more thanks to the Winter WE READ campaign designed to keep kids reading, playing, writing and creating all winter long. [posted December 17, 2024]
• Madison police, other agencies respond to school shooting: MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Police Department responded to a mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School on Monday morning. Officers were dispatched to the school, which is located on the city’s east side, at 10:57 a.m. They arrived to find… [posted December 17, 2024]
• Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes notified the Common Council on Friday that he will resign from his position as Chief of Police effective February 1st, 2024 to take a job as Chief of Police for Seattle. He has recommended that Assistant Chief John Patterson serve as the Interim Chief until a new Chief is appointed. From Chief Barnes’ letter: “I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together. We faced significant challenges, including the aftermath of civil unrest, distrust in policing, and the unprecedented global pandemic. However, through our collective efforts, we have strengthened community-police relations and implemented a crime reduction model known as stratified policing which has created a safer Madison.”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

• Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, December 28: Join a naturalist for an easy family-friendly walk from Aldo Leopold Nature Center into beautiful Edna Taylor Conservation Park and enjoy a bit of nature education along the way. Walk will begin at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive. Meet outside at the Children’s Shack. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks, and Aldo Leopold Nature Center . No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park, November 9th through December 31, 2024: Lighted holiday themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through anytime Dusk until Dawn to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.

Join me on Thursday, December 12, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. for a virtual Lunch and Learn that will provide information on the City of Madison’s winter services and what folks should think about as we enter the snow season. Streets Division Superintendent Charlie Romines will be the special guest for the December Lunch and Learn.

This Lunch and Learn will include a presentation by Charlie Romines focusing on winter snow removal, snow emergencies, and other winter-weather-related information. It will serve as an effective way to inform and engage residents over the lunch hour about important winter updates.

There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. Attendees can ask questions or express feedback verbally or in the chat box. They can also submit their questions in advance to Lorissa Banuelos, Community Engagement Strategist, by emailing lbanuelos@cityofmadison.com. Please include “December 12 Lunch and Learn question” in the subject line.

Join us for this Lunch and Learn to help you prepare for snow season in Madison. This event is free and open to all residents. To attend this Lunch and Learn, please register in advance. You will receive login information after registering at www.cityofmadison.com/LunchandLearnD7

D7 Lunch and Learn to Focus on Important Winter Updates

Join me on Thursday, December 12, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. for a virtual Lunch and Learn that will provide information on the City of Madison’s winter services and what folks should think about as we enter the snow season. Streets Division Superintendent Charlie Romines will be the special guest for the December Lunch and Learn.

This Lunch and Learn will include a presentation by Charlie Romines focusing on winter snow removal, snow emergencies, and other winter-weather-related information. It will serve as an effective way to inform and engage residents over the lunch hour about important winter updates.

There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. Attendees can ask questions or express feedback verbally or in the chat box. They can also submit their questions in advance to Lorissa Banuelos, Community Engagement Strategist, by emailing lbanuelos@cityofmadison.com. Please include “December 12 Lunch and Learn question” in the subject line.

Join us for this Lunch and Learn to help you prepare for snow season in Madison. This event is free and open to all residents. To attend this Lunch and Learn, please register in advance. You will receive login information after registering at www.cityofmadison.com/LunchandLearnD7

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Southwest Area Plan

The City recently hosted an in-person open house and two virtual meetings for the Southwest Area Plan. These public meetings were opportunities for residents and other stakeholders to learn about the planning process and provide feedback. Below are some ways that you can still provide your input and learn more about the Southwest Area Plan.

Commenting Map
Tell us about your experiences in the Southwest Area. Share what you love about the Southwest Area, along with your ideas and feedback on things that need attention on the Southwest Area Plan interactive commenting map!

In addition to the commenting map, you can head to the project website to:

1. Review project materials, including background maps and handouts from recent public meetings.
2. Watch the recorded virtual meetings and other informational videos.
   • Southwest Area Plan Public Meeting: Meeting of December 3, 2024 (12pm)
   • Southwest Area Plan Public Meeting: Meeting of December 3, 2024 (6pm)
3. Sign up to receive emailed projects updates by subscribing to the email list.

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Madison Arts Commission 50th Anniversary Celebration

The Madison Arts Commission invites you to its 50th Anniversary celebration at the Madison Children’s Museum on December 5th at 4:00pm. This event will be family-friendly and include live performances by VO5 and others, as well as arts activities with artists.

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Playground Workshop

Madison Parks will replace five existing playgrounds in 2025, and neighbors are invited to attend a virtual playground workshop!  Parks staff will present an overview of the playground replacement program and ask for input on design decisions. Join Parks staff at a virtual community meeting on Thursday, December 5 at 6:00pm via Zoom – REGISTER IN ADVANCE.

Southwest and Southeast Area Plan Kick-off

The City of Madison invites community members to participate in an in-person kick-off event or virtual meeting for the  Southeast Area Plan and a virtual kickoff meeting for the  Southwest Area Plan! The Southwest Area Plan in-person meeting took place on November 19 and included about 80 community members, many of whom contributed their feedback. The Southeast Area Plan in-person event is coming up next week, December 4, and is an opportunity to meet with staff from Planning, Engineering, Transportation, Parks, and other City departments to learn about upcoming projects and provide input on the future of the area.

Event Details:

Southeast Area Plan

Date: December 4, 2024

Time: 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Location: La Follette High School Cafeteria and Commons, 702 Pflaum Road

Childcare and Spanish interpretation will be provided. If there is a need for other language interpretation, please contact us at  southeastareaplan@cityofmadison.com.

This event will begin with a brief presentation, but community members are welcome to drop in anytime, whether for a few minutes or the full duration. Come learn about the Southeast Area Plan and share your ideas with City staff!

Virtual Meetings

Virtual meeting options are also available for both plans:

Southwest Area Plan Virtual Meetings (registration required; both sessions cover the same content):

December 3, 2024, from 12:00–1:00 p.m.

December 3, 2024, from 6:00–7:00 p.m.

Southeast Area Plan Virtual Meeting (registration required):

December 5, 2024, from 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Join us to help shape the future of Madison’s Southwest and Southeast areas. We look forward to your input!

Hundreds of Affordable Housing Units to Receive City Funding

Hundreds of proposed new income- and rent-restricted apartments will receive financial support from the City of Madison’s Community Development Division after another round of Affordable Housing Fund awards were approved by the Common Council during its meeting on Tuesday, November 26.

The 2024 Affordable Housing Fund-Tax Credits Request for Proposals (RFP) competitive process offered gap financing loans for development teams that are also seeking Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). To receive City funds, applicants must secure 2025 Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from WHEDA and other financing needed to complete the project, have an ownership stake in the development, designate at least 20% of the units for those making 30% of the Area Median Income or less, adopt City-sanctioned tenant selection standards, and receive all relevant City land use and permit approvals.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Cases are Rising

Public Health Madison & Dane County urges everyone to be aware of the pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak as the holiday season approaches. As of November 25, there have been  281 cases in Dane County in 2024, and 1,887 cases statewide. “With the holidays approaching, many families will be traveling and gathering with friends and family. This could increase the spread of all respiratory illness, including pertussis, which has been primarily impacting teenagers and college-aged people in recent months,” said Amanda Kita-Yarbro, Epidemiologist for Public Health Madison & Dane County. Pertussis is a persistent cough illness. It is a respiratory infection caused by a bacteria and spreads easily. Anyone at any age can get it, but it can be particularly serious and even deadly to infants and people with a compromised immune system.

Streets Division Drop-off Sites Changing Hours

The Streets Division drop-off sites are changing to winter hours.  The Olin Avenue site will be closing for the winter season on December 1.  The South Point Rd. and Sycamore Ave. sites are switching to winter hours on Friday, December 6. 

Check the Streets Division website to find out the drop-off site hours before loading your car.  Drop-off site information is www.cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites.

Public Information Meetings

• In-Person Open House: Southwest Area Plan kickoff event – Tuesday, November 19, 2024: Join Planning, Engineering, Transportation, Parks, and others at an open house on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Akira Toki Middle School, 5606 Russett Road. There will be a brief presentation at the start. Feel free to drop in and stay for a few minutes or the entire time.  Learn about the Southwest Area Plan and other upcoming projects in the Southwest Area.
• Upcoming events/meetings
  • Economic Development Committee: The Economic Development Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an update on the Economic Development Plan, a presentation of the Economic Development Division Report from 2021-2023, and a discussion regarding means testing financial assistance programs.
    • Meeting Details
    • Meeting Agenda
    • Register for Public Comment
    • Watch Online
  • Empowering Small Businesses: District 7 Lunch and Learn featuring the Office of Business Resources, Thursday, November 21: Please join me as I hosts staff from the Office of Business Resources! Learn more about small business opportunities, how to apply for city programs, TIF, TBE certification, and more! This virtual event is free and open to all Madison residents. . You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet or listen in via telephone. You will receive login information after registering at  www.cityofmadison.com/LunchandLearnD7.
  • District 11 Book Club with Stu Levitan, Wednesday, December 11: For our next District 11 Book Club on December 11th, Stu Levitan will give an illustrated talk on Madison in the 1970s, adapted from his forthcoming book, Madison: The Illustrated Sesquicentennial History, Volume 2, 1932 to 1979
• Announcements
  • Information About a Pilot Program for Event and Commuter Parking Charges at Some City Parks
    • You may have seen news recently that the 2025 City Budget authorizes a pilot program for Madison Parks to explore charging fees to park at some City parks. The idea came from Madison Parks’ 5% cut scenarios during the preparation of the 2025 Operating Budget as a potential strategy to address part of the structural deficit. This pilot program is not intended to charge Madison residents for their use of our public parks, but rather to explore charging fees for special events like home-field Badger games or for limited, designated parking spaces for commuters. Here is how Madison Parks describes the scope of the pilot program:
    • “Initial ideas for the pilot program suggest charging to park a vehicle during home Badger football games, in the north lot of Vilas Park, while continuing to provide the south lot as free three-hour parking.  Other concepts include fee-based parking for a limited number of reserved commuter parking stalls during peak hours in popular lots such as Garner, Olin or Burr Jones. This concept allows park visitors plenty of free parking to visit a park throughout the day. It is unlikely that all of these concepts will be a part of the experiment in 2025, but these and other ideas will be considered by the Board of Park Commissioners.  As the pilot program takes shape, we welcome and encourage community feedback.”
    • Any proposal to implement this pilot program will be reviewed by the Board of Park Commissioners, which will include an opportunity for residents to provide comments and input. I will watch for this on the Board’s agendas and will share more information in future weekly blog posts.
  • Greater Madison MPO Secures $1 Million to Enhance Roadway Safety Across Dane County: The Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has been awarded $1 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to enhance safety for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians throughout Dane County.

Manchester Park Playground Improvements

The City of Madison Parks Division has begun it’s work on replacing the playground at Manchester Park. The new playground equipment is anticipated to be installed and completed by late 2024 or early 2025. For more information on this project, please visit the Manchester Park Playground Improvements project page.

Empowering Small Businesses: District 7 Lunch and Learn featuring the Office of Business Resources

I am pleased to announce my upcoming Lunch and Learn on Thursday, November 21, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Learn more about small business opportunities, how to apply for city programs, TIF, TBE certification, and more! This virtual event is free and open to all Madison residents.

This interactive session will feature expert speakers from the Office of Business Resources, including Saran Ouk, Manager of the Office of Business Resources, Ruth Rohlich, Business Development Specialist, and Michael Miller, Business Development Specialist. Attendees will leave with knowledge of small business resources, staff contacts, and actionable tips essential to overcoming common challenges and fueling growth and success.

This event is virtual via Zoom, and advanced registration is required. This event is free and open to the public. You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet or listen in via telephone. You will receive login information after registering at www.cityofmadison.com/LunchandLearnD7.

Southwest Area Plan Open House

The Planning team for the Southwest Area Plan has announced the dates and times for a series of kickoff events. The events will focus on laying the groundwork for the planning process, including short presentations on what the Area Plan process involves (what area plans do and do not do, the differences between future land use recommendation maps and zoning maps, etc.) before an open-house-style event where community members can ask questions of City staff from across multiple departments.

Event Details:

In-Person: The City of Madison will hold plan in-person kickoff event for the Southwest Area Plan on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, starting at 6:30pm at Toki Middle School.

Virtual: Save the date for the virtual Southwest Area Plan event will be held from Noon – 1:00pm and 6:00pm – 7:00pm on Tuesday, December 3. More information to come!

The Beltline bounds the Southwest Planning Area to the north and northeast, the City of Fitchburg to the south and southeast, and S. High Point Road to the west. It is represented by five different alder districts: District 1 (Council Vice President John Duncan), District 7 (Ald. Nasra Wehelie), District 10 (Council President Yannette Figueroa Cole), District 19 (Ald. John Guequierre), and District 20 (Ald. Barbara Harrington-McKinney).

Read the full news release here to learn more about the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans and the dates of their kickoff events.

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, November 12, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include adopting the additional property tax levy, as well as budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format, if needed. This meeting, if needed, would be used for budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Thursday, November 14, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format, if needed. This meeting, if needed, would be used for budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

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

• Nomination Deadline Extended for Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award: The deadline to submit nominations for the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award has been extended until Friday, November 15…[posted November 8, 2024]
• Statement from Mayor Rhodes-Conway on the City’s Referendum : “Madison residents deeply value the services their city government provides and that’s reflected by the outcome of the referendum.” [posted November 8, 2024]
• City of Madison Honors those Lives Lost due to Traffic Violence during Week prior to the World Day of Remembrance: In recognition of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday, November 17th, the City of Madison will install a memorial display and host a press conference to remember the lives lost due to traffic violence on City of Madison… [posted November 8, 2024]
• Final Guaranteed Yard Waste Collection Round Begins Next Week: For some neighborhoods of Madison, the final guaranteed leaf collection of the fall begins next week. These neighborhoods have a set out day for leaves and yard waste of Sunday, November 10, 2024.Other neighborhoods have later final guaranteed set… [posted November 8, 2024]
• Housing Strategy Committee outlines recommendations to increase affordability and supply: As the City works to support more housing opportunities of all types, there is more work to be done. That is why the Housing Strategy Committee reviewed the City’s 2021 Housing Forward Initiative and is building on it by making new recommendations. [posted November 7, 2024]
• Southbound Lane Closures on S Park Street – November 9 and 10: Starting at 4:00am Saturday, November 9 until approximately 7:00pm on Sunday, November 10, C.D. Smith will close the southbound travel lanes on S Park Street, between University Avenue and W Dayton Street for crane setup and girder installation for… [posted November 6, 2024]
• Street Closures – Madison Marathon: The Madison Marathon races will take place Sunday, November 10, starting at 7:00am at the Capitol. Runners will move through the UW Arboretum, Vilas Park, around Lake Monona, and back to the Capitol, with the last runners finishing around 1:… [posted November 5, 2024]
• What to Expect at the Polls: The City Clerk’s Office encourages voters to verify their polling location at https://MyVote.wi.gov before heading to the polls tomorrow. Redistricting in May changed some ward lines, which may affect where you vote.The busiest times at the… [posted November 4, 2024]
• Election Hero Day: The Madison City Clerk’s Office is celebrating National Election Hero Day on November 4.Election Hero Day is a civic holiday that celebrates the heroic role of poll workers in keeping our elections fair, accessible, and transparent. In the City of… [posted November 4, 2024]

Events

• OIM Opening Investigative Process, Monday, November 11: The Office of the Independent Monitor will be providing details on the opening of its investigative process. The Office is also announcing the start of a data project in collaboration with UCLA. After remarks, Independent Monitor Robin Copley and Data Analyst Greg Gelembiuk will be taking questions from the media.
• Parks Alive Fall | Allied Park, Monday, November 11: 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!
• Parks Alive Fall | Warner Park, Wednesday, November 13: 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 fall. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you!
• LGBTQ 50+ Intergenerational Autumn Dinner, Thursday, November 14: A fun fall gathering of like-minded adults to mingle, enjoy a meal, listen to music, and maybe even do some dancing. Blush is a local all-girl band out of Madison. Their music is grungy alternative-rock, and they will play some originals and some covers everyone is sure to know.  A $20 donation for the meal is appreciated but not required. Registration required, call 608-255-8582. Open to all ages of queer folks and their allies.
• World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Friday, November 15: The City of Madison Vision Zero team will be hosting their 3rd installation display to honor those lost from traffic violence beginning on Monday, November 11. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, November 16: Fall Tree Walk ~ Join Naturalist Tree Expert Sean Gere for a fun and informal free family friendly guided walk or take a healthy nature hike on your own any day in Necember on easy walk and bike paths along Starkweather Creek. Enjoy the outdoors and learn about trees when leaves have fallen and you can see the branching structures and bark more easily.   
• Hayride Through Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17: See the Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park aboard a haywagon! No reservation is needed.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, November 17: Walks at Warner Park held on the 3rd Sunday of every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners Wild Warner  and Madison Audubon . Meet at the colorful Warner Park shelter by the lagoon. Parking is available nearby. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park, November 9th through December 31, 2024: Lighted holiday themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through anytime Dusk until Dawn to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.

For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the City events calendar.

City’s Affordable Housing Fund Supports 150+ Units, Native Nations Program, Safe Communities Celebration, and More!

Calling all neighborhood leaders, residents, non-profit groups, and others who support community building in neighborhoods: please circulate this list of announcements via email lists, newsletters, and other communication methods.

 

City’s Affordable Housing Fund to Support 150+ Affordable Housing Units

Four affordable rental housing developments will receive financial support from the City of Madison after the Common Council approved the funding during its meeting on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

Six developers submitted requests in response to the  2024-2025 Affordable Rental Housing Development Non-Tax Credit Request for Proposals (RFP), which offered assistance to affordable rental housing developments that are not utilizing Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. The goal of the Non-Tax Credit Affordable Housing Fund program is to offer support for different types of affordable housing development and preservation than those that typically receive tax credits.

Celebrate Native Nations during the Teejop & Beyond Program Series at Madison Public Library

The Madison Public Library created this program in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison to highlight both traditional and contemporary practices, stories, and community relationships of native nations. Six presenters representing different Native tribes will lead programs throughout October and November on a wide range of topics, including Native citizenship and participation in the electoral process, the recent discovery of canoes in Lake Mendota, the history and process of making musical instruments, and more. Four presenters are returning from last year’s program series.

Upcoming Events

• Paper Basketmaking with Kimberly Crowley – November 9th, 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. | Hawthorne Library
• The KICC Anishinaabe Music Circle – November 9th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Lakeview Library
• Growing Up Native in Wisconsin – Storytelling and Writing Workshop – November 15th, 6:00 -8:00 p.m. | Lakeview Library
• Ho-Chunk Food Tasting – November 16th, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.| Meadowridge Library

Safe Communities’ 25th Anniversary Celebration

Safe Communities will celebrate its 25th anniversary on November 19th. Safe Communities of Madison and Dane County is a non-profit coalition of over 350 organizations working together to save lives, prevent injury and make neighborhoods and the city safer. The coalition focuses on drug poisoning prevention, elder falls prevention, traffic safety/pedestrian safety, and suicide prevention. Join their anniversary celebration:

Tuesday November 19th, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Black Business Hub, Atrium (1st floor)

2352 S. Park St., Madison 53713

RSVP here:  https://forms.gle/UM8Drk1FuQPZ9Vsw5

Streets Division Updates

• Leaf Collection: Don’t miss your leaf collection set out dates! Get the one for your home at  www.cityofmadison.com/YardWaste
• Street Tree Inventory: Ever wonder what kind of tree it is in front of your house? What about every tree along the street in Madison? We have a map for that now that shows you the tens of thousands of trees along Madison’s streets. Check out  our new street tree inventory.
• New Online Recyclopedia: Confused about if you should recycle something or put it in the trash? Does something require special handling?  We have a new tool to help you figure out how to dispose of all this stuff in our lives. You can  check it out on our new website.
• Our Electric Trucks Have Names! As you may recall, Madison has Wisconsin’s very first electric trash trucks – so we ran an election to give them silly names and many of you voted.  Here’s the results.
• Never Miss a Collection Day:  As we move closer to winter, we recommend you sign up for the new Trash & Recycling Schedule Updates email list.  This will help you not miss a trash & recycling pickup day if weather causes any delays in the pickups.  Sign-up for this email list in the  Streets section on the City’s email-list page.

Helping You Stay on Top of Respiratory Illnesses This Fall and Winter It’s respiratory illness season. You know the common culprits: flu, RSV, and COVID-19. And this year we also have pertussis. We’ve recently released a few blog posts to help sort out who should get vaccinated and where to find vaccines, and what you need to know about our ongoing pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak and how to protect yourself. We’ve also freshened up our respiratory illness data dashboard to optimize its usefulness! We’ve updated the levels of illness, added a race/ethnicity snapshot to hospitalization data, showing more detected viruses in air sampling, and changed our first alert system a little. Too busy to check all that on the regular? We’ve got you! Just scroll down below the dashboard and read our short “key takeaways,” summarized for you each Thursday!

Understanding Data to Address Drug Overdose Deaths In May, we published our updated Summary of Drug Overdose Deaths. It’s an overview of information about people who died of a drug overdose in Dane County from 2000-2022. These data represent real people. They are our families, our friends, our neighbors, and they were loved. Here are the main takeaways: Overdose deaths in Dane County are decreasing, but they’re still unacceptably high, affecting people of all ages. The data also shows that not everyone is impacted equally by overdose deaths, with Black people more likely to die of an overdose compared with Dane County as a whole.  Changes in the types of substances being used are impacting overdose rates. There’s rarely a single substance that causes an overdose death, they tend to be caused by the interactions of multiple substances in someone’s system. Synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, have replaced heroin and prescription drugs as the main contributor to overdose deaths and xylazine is an emerging substance of concern.  Learn more, including how we’re working to reduce overdose deaths in Dane County by reading our blog post and Summary of Drug Overdose Deaths.

Building Community Relations Within Our Retail Food Program Part of our work in inspecting and licensing food establishments in Dane County is building relationships in the community. Following retail food program standards, we aim to reduce foodborne illness risk factors through education and cooperative efforts with food establishments. To meet these goals, we’ve begun holding presentations in Spanish about starting a food business for prospective food business owners who speak Spanish as a first language. So far, we’ve had 60 prospective new food operators attend, with several more presentations scheduled for later this fall. These presentations have been well received and provide valuable guidance on navigating the licensing process for potential owners. Do you have a group of folks interested in opening a food establishment? Contact our team to learn more!

Centering the Voices of People With Lived Experiences is Crucial to Improving Birth Outcomes Our Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) team has been doing some innovative work to incorporate the voices of people with lived experience in their review process. FIMR works to find ways to prevent fetal and infant deaths. It’s an evidence-based, community-level prevention strategy that helps maintain a sense of urgency, while also being a foundation for action. The goal is to improve the wellbeing of birthing people and families in Dane County. Historically, nationwide, the FIMR process has involved mostly medical providers and hasn’t been representative of the racial makeup of the community. With Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families seeing poorer birth outcomes than their white counterparts in Dane County, last year our team started shifting the way the FIMR process is conducted by partnering with people with lived experience of infant loss to join the FIMR process, to work towards true community-driven change. This is an innovative model that is not being done anywhere else in the country. Here are the policy and program changes they’ve already made, based on what they’ve learned so far: Centering voices of people with lived experience is essential to be truly community-driven. People with lived experience need to be paid for their partnership and recognized as valuable members of the FIMR team. Including people with lived experience deepened their learning and encouraged more inclusive, collaborative work. One FIMR participant had this to say about this important work: “The opportunity to be compensated for my involvement has made a significant difference for me as a Black woman with lived experience…It reinforces the importance of diverse representation and ensures that individuals from all backgrounds can actively contribute to improving maternal and infant health outcomes.” To learn more about the FIMR process and how it works, visit our website.

Have You Seen Our Events Calendar? Wondering when our next mobile vaccination clinic is, if we’re holding any upcoming trainings, or whether we’ll be open on specific holidays? Find it all on the home page of our website or by visiting publichealthmdc.com/events! It’s continually updated, so check back often to see what’s on our horizon!