Month: December 2024

• 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.