Engineering Prescribed Burns 2024

This year, ecological restoration contractors hired by City of Madison Engineering Division will be conducting prescribed burns on areas of existing native vegetation. Prescribed burns are an important management tool for Wisconsin’s native plant communities. The timeline for these burns to occur will be between March 11 and May 31. The correct conditions for prescribed burns can be difficult to predict, so it is not usually possible to provide exact dates. Burns may not occur at all if correct weather conditions do not occur.

Prescribed burn(s) that will occur in your area include:

*this burn may be conducted by Madison Fire Department staff as part of wildland fire training

The prescribed burn Project Manager will be mailing postcards to residents to notify them about the prescribed burn in their neighborhood.

All burns are being conducted by certified contractors with approval by Madison Fire Department. The burns will only take place under specific weather conditions in order to manage smoke and minimize impacts to neighbors. In addition, the burn professionals will install appropriate road signage on the day of the burn.

A list of project contacts and more information is on our website at:

https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/projects/2024-prescribed-burns

2024-02-19 Updates from Alder Wehelie

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.

  • Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include creating the City of Madison Honorary Street Name program, updating the street naming policy, and items involving Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20.
  • Economic Development Committee: The Economic Development Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items include amending the Land Banking Fund Policy to add urban agriculture as an appropriate secondary use for properties acquired through the fund, a discussion about the 2025 budget, and the selection of the Madison Region Economic Partnership to administer the City of Madison’s BizReady Program.
  • Madison Food Policy Council: The Madison Food Policy Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include amending the Land Banking Fund Policy to add urban agriculture as an appropriate secondary use for properties acquired through the fund, revising City of Madison leases on lands being used for row crop agriculture, and reports from the chair, staff, and regular business.

Announcements & News Releases

Events

Westside community Connections meeting Thursday 2/15 at 6pm

Please join me, Alder Duncan, and Alder Harrington-McKinney as we host Charlie Romines, Streets Superintendent, and Bryan Johnson, Streets Public Information Officer. Considering the recent heavy snowfall, Charlie Romines, and Bryan Johnson, will address resident concerns and present on winter weather policies and practices. There will be an opportunity for a Q&A to answer questions from residents about snowplowing, salt routes, salt vs sand, etc. Please register at: www.cityofmadison.com/westsidecommunityconnections.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Alder Wehelie.

Park & Open Space Plan Open House Drop-In Sessions

Madison Parks is updating its Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) and seeking input from area residents. The purpose of the POSP is to guide and inform public park policies and park facility decisions in the city of Madison.  Parks staff is working with a consultant planning team led by MSA Professional Services, Inc., to host a series of open houses to introduce the project and gather input from attendees.  The open houses are drop-in sessions, held at various locations throughout the city in April and May. Participants may stop by anytime during the two-hour event, each held from 5:30 – 7:30pm.

POSP Open House Sessions

Madison Parks anticipates the planning process to continue throughout 2024. As part of the process the team will work with the Parks Long Range Planning Committee to review the sections of the plan as they are updated.

Additional information about the POSP is available on the Parks Projects, the main source of information as the project moves forward. The website will include project status updates, additional input opportunities and review and approvals process.  Madison Parks welcomes your ideas for additional ways to get the word out and asks that you share this information with all who may be interested in the POSP.

2024-01-15 Update from Alder Wehelie

My Colleagues, Alders John W. Duncan District 1 and Alder Barbara Harrington-McKinney District 20 are excited to work collaboratively to provide a platform for our residents to learn more about the important work City of Madison agencies are doing to keep our communities safe and thriving. These sessions will replace my Lunch and Learn series which I held during the 2nd Thursday of the month at noon.

To participate in the virtual Westside Community Connections session on Thursday, January 18 from 6pm-7:30pm, please register in advance at the following link: www.cityofmadison.com/westsidecommunityconnections 

The sessions are created to give far westside residents district and citywide updates and will feature a different city agency each month. This month’s session will feature Yang Tao, Ph.D., P.E., Director of Traffic Engineering. Tao will share important updates, both district specific and citywide, on the Vision Zero Initiative, Safe Streets Madison program, and street lighting. Alders will assist in facilitating the meeting and there will be time for a Q&A at the end of the presentation by Tao.

For more information, please contact me at district7@cityofmadison.com or by phone (608) 571-4919

Looking forward to seeing you!

~Alder Wehelie.

2024-01-12 Neighborhood News & Updates

2024 Neighborhood Grant Program 

Have you and your neighbors been thinking about making community improvements or strengthening your neighborhood group? The Planning Division will once again offer funding through the  Neighborhood Grant Program for Leadership and Capacity Building and Community Enhancement projects. 

Please review  Grant Program Guidelines and Application. You can also check the  Workshop recording to help you understand criteria and past projects. Once you are ready to start an application, please contact the Planning Division at  Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com, and share project ideas with your alderperson. The application deadline is February 26, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Northeast Area Plan Art Workshop on January 24, 6-8pm

Do you have art project ideas for the Northeast area? Or would like to join a brainstorming session to generate potential art-related projects that could be included in the  Northeast Area Plan?

In collaboration with the City Arts Administrator Kairn Wolf, the Northeast Area Planning (NEAP) team is hosting an upcoming  art workshop on January 24, 6-8pm at the Fleet Service Facility located at 4151 Nakoosa Trail, Madison, WI 53714. The primary goal of the workshop is to gather feedback and insights regarding potential art projects within the NEAP area. Your participation would be instrumental in shaping the artistic vision of this community.

Accessible Taxi Grants Will Help Fill Transit Gaps

People who use wheelchairs face barriers to daily living activities, social outings, and fully participating in what the City has to offer, because of inadequate accessible transportation options. New grant funding will help close the gaps. $250,000 in grants will be available to Madison cab companies for the purchase of accessible taxi cabs later this year. Accessible cabs cost between $50,000-60,000 each. Click  HERE for more information. 

Streets Division Updates

Severe Winter Storms & How to Stay Informed

Forecasts show a serious winter storm for Friday into Saturday, potentially worse than the one we received on January 9.  Higher winds and intense snowfall may create near whiteout conditions in some areas, especially on open areas of Madison, like on areas bordering farm fields.  

Here is what you should do in order to stay informed about the City response to this storm, and all winter storms. 

  • Subscribe to the City of Madison News Release email list. Do this at  www.cityofmadison.com/News.  Everyone can get these. If there are any changes to the Streets Division’s trash & recycling collection schedule, it is announced as a news release first.  And all other important city news are all published as News Releases.  You are welcome to sign up to receive them directly from the City. 
  • Subscribe to the Winter Information lists, too: On  www.cityofmadison.com/Winter, sign up to receive Snow Plow Updates.  If you ever want to know what the plows are doing – sign up to receive those updates and that update will tell you.  Yes, the updates are sometimes quite long and detailed, but they explain the plow deployments and what to expect on the roads.  You can sign up to receive other alerts regarding snow emergency declarations, to sidewalk clearing, to nightly text reminders for alternate side parking.  All of it is at  www.cityofmadison.com/winter.
  • Use the Winter Website: The City’s website has a great many of other resources to stay prepared for winter. That website again is  www.cityofmadison.com/Winter

Madison Public Library Takeover Returns

Until January 31, 2024, the Madison Public Library is accepting applications for the  Library Takeover program. Teams of 3-4 people can apply to participate. The program includes a multi-session course on event planning and culminates in a finished and fully-funded program at the library in 2024. The library will choose a maximum of three teams to participate and will provide them with $2,000 each to plan their event. Each individual team member will also receive a $400 stipend and a certificate of completion from Madison Public Library. “This year we are looking for more innovative, out-of-the-box idea–submissions that will surprise us or challenge everyone’s expectations of what one might typically see in a public library,” said Community Engagement Librarian Sean Ottosen.

2023-12-15 Neighborhood News & Updates

2024 Neighborhood Grant Program 

Have you and your neighbors been thinking about making community improvements or strengthening your neighborhood group? The Planning Division will once again offer funding through the Neighborhood Grant Program for Leadership and Capacity Building and Community Enhancement projects. The application deadline is February 12, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. 

In late December, we will post updated grant materials on our webpage for 2024. In the interim, you can refer to last year’s  guidelines for assistance. Once you are ready to start an application, please contact the Planning Division at  Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com, and share project ideas with your alderperson. We also invite you to attend an optional orientation meeting:

Neighborhood Grant Program Orientation January 11, 2024

  • Virtual, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please sign up to receive an email with information about participating in the meeting.
  • In-Person, 6:00 p.m., Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 206. 

Northeast Area Plan Public Meeting

Do you live in the Northeast Area or know someone that does? Join the City of Madison Planning Division and Wisconsin DOT staff to learn about changes that could be on the horizon. City staff will unveil the first draft of Northeast Area Plan actions.

Event Details:

  • In-person option: Monday, December 18, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm. Location: Madison College Truax Campus Gateway Atrium (Wright Street). Free food and Spanish interpretation will be provided. See parking location  HERE
  • Virtual option (via Zoom): Tuesday, December 19, 12:00-1:00 pm. Registration is required:  https://rb.gy/ni9lex. Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Madison Public Library Takeover Returns

From December 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, the Madison Public Library is accepting applications for the  Library Takeover program. Teams of 3-4 people can apply to participate. The program includes a multi-session course on event planning and culminates in a finished and fully-funded program at the library in 2024. The library will choose a maximum of three teams to participate and will provide them with $2,000 each to plan their event. Each individual team member will also receive a $400 stipend and a certificate of completion from Madison Public Library. “This year we are looking for more innovative, out-of-the-box idea–submissions that will surprise us or challenge everyone’s expectations of what one might typically see in a public library,” said Community Engagement Librarian Sean Ottosen.

State Street Campus Garage at Lake Street to Close 12/27/23

The State Street Campus Garage, Lake Street structure, located at 415 N. Lake St., will permanently close on December 27, 2023.  Staff is working with impacted Monthly Parking Permit holders to relocate them to alternative City facilities, or to find other parking solutions.

Starting next year, the State Street Campus Garage at Lake St. will be redeveloped into a mixed-use property that will include a new parking garage, student housing, and an inter-city bus terminal. Construction is expected to conclude by 2026. To learn more about this project, and alternative parking options visit the  Parking Division webpage

Streets Division Updates

  • Leaf Collection Complete: Do not set out leaves for collection. All neighborhoods have received their last chance pickup opportunity. Curbside pickup will resume in the spring of 2024.
  • Drop-off Site Hours: Drop-off sites are on winter hours. Check the hours before loading your car.  Drop-off site information is available at www.cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites.
  • Winter Information: The City of Madison has a hub for all things winter from how to use salt correctly to winter recreation opportunities to free sand locations to snowplowing update email signups.  All of that is available at www.cityofmadison.com/Winter.

2023 Madison Winter Service and Program Updates

Staying Healthy this Winter 
Public Health Madison Dane County put together helpful info in one place in case you’re feeling a little under the weather after traveling and spending time with family from around the country this Holiday season. They’ve also shared information about food safety and other general safety tips for holiday celebrations this year. No matter your plans this season keep yourself and your loved ones healthy by getting vaccinated and testing when experiencing symptoms. 
Mayor’s Message
As 2023 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the work your City government has done for our community this year. We’ve made significant progress in funding and building affordable housing, and in permitting market-rate housing. We’ve improved public safety, thanks to Chief Barnes’ strategic planning and data-driven approach to reducing gun violence. We’ve added solar generation capacity to our own City buildings, and we supported the installation of solar on homes and businesses around the community. We’ve invested in infrastructure to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety across the City. We’ve seen ridership on Metro Transit increase dramatically. We’ve repaired and rebuilt miles of sidewalk and streets. And every day, our Fire Department answers dozens of EMS calls, our libraries serve hundreds of families, our Streets Department cleans our streets and picks up our trash, our Parks provide recreation opportunities for all, and our water and sewer utilities keep the water flowing in both directions. 

None of this would be possible without the dedicated hard work of City staff. I want to thank each and every one of our almost 3,000 City employees for the work they do every day to keep our City safe, sustainable, and equitable. I also want to thank you, Madison’s residents, for everything you do in your daily lives to keep Madison a great place to live. I hope each of you have a chance to enjoy everything Madison has to offer in winter. I wish you and your families a peaceful holiday season, and a happy New Year. 

Thank you,
Mayor Satya

Follow Mayor’s Blog
Metro’s Millionth  Ride
The new Metro redesign is proving to be very popular with riders. For the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Metro has provided more than 1 million rides in a single month.  In October, Metro provided 1,075,549 rides, an almost 20% increase compared to October of last year. This is the highest monthly ridership since February of 2020.

It also appears that the number of transfers has decreased – meaning that while the number of rides on mainline services is up 26%, the actual increase in people appears to be even higher. Metro is working quickly to adjust to this added demand on the system. Learn more here
Metro Schedule Adjustments
To improve on-time performance and overall reliability, schedule adjustments were made to most Metro routes on Sunday, December 3. In addition, several stops scheduled to close next year along the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line were also closed on this date to help buses stay on time. 
Decide Olbrich Future
Madison Parks is creating a Park Development Plan for the parkland north of Garver Feed Mill, referred to as Olbrich Park – North Parcel. As part of the plan parks will host a public input meeting, Thursday, December 7 at 6:00pm via Zoom, where Staff will present background information, survey results, draft plans, listen to feedback, and answer questions.
New Salt Route Maps
The City of Madison Streets Division has reduced the salt routes for the upcoming winter by six percent.  Over 50 miles of roads that were previously part of the salt route network have been removed, reducing roughly 270 tons of salt from being spread on our roads and entering our local waterways. Learn why and see the updated salt route map here
Library Winter Hours 
All libraries will be CLOSED on Sunday, December 24 and Monday, December 25 for Christmas and Sunday, December 31 and Monday, January 1 for the New Year. Each week, libraries will reopen the following Tuesday with regular hours.  We’ll have special winter break programs for families throughout December as well.

While our physical spaces are closed, you can continue to access LINKcat to place holds, check your record, or renew items you’ve checked out. You can also check out our always-accessible online collections, ebooks and downloadable audiobooks from Wisconsin’s Digital Library, Kanopy streaming video, Flipster magazines, and other online collections. Book returns will remain open for 24/7 service and Pinney Library has a drive-through book drop for your convenience. 
Violence Prevention Funding 
Public Health Madison & Dane County is accepting applications from local community organizations to receive funding that supports violence prevention efforts in Dane County. In 2022, Public Health first launched the series of funding opportunities for community projects that aligned with goals laid out in the Roadmap to Reducing Violence. This latest round is funded through grants from the Dane County and the City of Madison. Applications are due by the end of the day on December 20, 2023. 

Find more information at publichealthmdc.com/ViolencePrevention or apply now.
Library Needs Volunteers
Madison Public Library is partnering with the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department to provide a collection of native Wisconsin plant seeds to library visitors this winter. The native plant seeds have been collected by Dane County Parks volunteers, and we plan to distribute them in multiple library locations over the next couple of months. Native Wisconsin plant seeds are best sown in the fall and left to overwinter (learn how in one of these upcoming classes!)

Now the library is looking for volunteers to help with the hard part: packaging the seeds so library patrons can take them home! Three library locations are looking for help on this project. If you would like to donate your time and effort, you can register for one event or multiple by clicking the links below: Pinney Library | Monday, December 11, 6-8pm Sequoya Library | Friday, December 15, 12-2pm If you’d like to help you can also learn more about Madison Public Library’s Seed Libraries and how they operate year-round.
Library Takeover Returns
From December 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, Madison Public Library is accepting applications for the Library Takeover program. Teams of 3-4 people can apply to participate in the program, which includes a multi-session course on event planning and culminates in a finished and fully-funded program at the library in 2024, providing $2,000 for each team to use in planning their event, as well as a $400 stipend and a certificate of completion from Madison Public Library.

The deadline for applications closes at the end of January 2024.
Teejop & Beyond Wrapping Up
Only a few programs remain in the Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations series at Madison Public Library – don’t miss your chance to hear from Indigenous presenters from across the state! Plus, a newly added event features Ho-Chunk author and artist Jim Terry, who will discuss his graphic novel memoir Come Home, Indio at Central Library and sign copies of the book.
We Read Winter Break
Over winter break the Madison Public Library has some fun ways to keep your family entertained and engaged with books and reading! Our We Read: Winter Break edition includes programs, take-home kits, play and more. Madison Metropolitan School District is out for winter break December 21, 2023 – January 3, 2024. If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, we’ve got lots of programs and activities to engage them! Learn more at madpl.org/winterbreak
Olin Drop-off Site Closure
The Streets Division Olin Avenue drop-off site has closed and it will remain closed until the spring of 2024.

Learn more about the drop-off site winter schedule here
City Service Changes 
Click here to learn more about all City of Madison holiday closures. If you or someone you know is in need of help this holiday season, please use 211 Wisconsin to help connect with food, shelter, safety, or other community resources.

2023-12-01 Neighborhood News & Updates

Upcoming 2024 Neighborhood Grant Program 

It’s time to initiate discussions with your neighbors to brainstorm ideas for community improvement projects! Grants, usually $5,000 or less, are allocated for Neighborhood Leadership and Capacity Building and Community Enhancements, including physical projects. The Planning Division is presently in the process of revising the Neighborhood Grant Program, and the final details will be posted in mid to late December. The application deadline for this program is February 12th at 4:30 pm. In the interim, you can refer to last year’s  guidelines for assistance. Once you are ready to start an application, please contact City Planning at  Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com, and share your project idea with your alderperson. 

Madison Public Market Official Groundbreaking on Nov. 27!

The City’s new Madison Public Market has entered the official construction phase. On Monday, November 27, 2023, the City of Madison, Madison Public Market Foundation, and project stakeholders conducted a formal groundbreaking ceremony at 202 North First Street, marking the site for the upcoming Madison Public Market (MPM). City leaders and project stakeholders provided insights into the project and its expected influence during the groundbreaking event. See the press release  here.

State Street 2024 Pedestrian Mall Experiment

The City of Madison is embarking on an experiment to transform the 400-600 blocks of State Street into a pedestrian mall. Scheduled for the summer of 2024, the experiment aims to implement changes, and City staff will be presenting the initial design concept for these blocks. Discussions about options for the closure of these blocks to private vehicles will be a key focus. For those interested in learning more and participating, an upcoming hybrid public meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 4, 2023, at 5:30 pm. The in-person location will be the Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 215. To attend the meeting virtually, please register in advance.

Streets Division Updates:

  • Last Chance for Leaf Collection: All Madison residents will get one more leaf collection opportunity.  Set the leaves out on Sunday, December 3 for pickup.   The entire city shares this set out date, so please be patient as crews cycle through Madison one absolute final time collecting leaves from the curb.  Pickup is not guaranteed, however.  If a winter storm hits before this last chance round is completed, crews will transition to performing snowplowing duties as that is a higher priority.
  • Drop-off Sites Now on Winter Hours:  Sycamore and South Point sites are no longer open on the weekends.  The Olin Avenue site is completely closed.   The hours at Sycamore and South Point have also been reduced.  Please check the drop-off site website before loading your vehicle:  www.cityofmadison.com/dropoffsitesWhy did the hours change? This is an annual occurrence that happens when the Streets Division’s seasonal staff term comes to an end, so the extra drop-off site hours they are able to provide are no longer possible.   
  • Salt Route Map: Streets Division salt routes were reduced by about 6% this winter compared to last winter, which leaves 778 miles of traffic lanes through the City of Madison as still part of the salt route network.  You can see a map of the areas that the City of Madison Streets Division will be treating as salt routes at  www.cityofmadison.com/Winter.  The map only shows the Streets Division salt routes.  So you may also be wondering why some roads, like Stoughton Road, or the UW Campus, are not showing as being salted on this map when you know that they are, in fact, salted when it snows.  The Streets Division is not the only agency that maintains roads in the City. For example, Stoughton Road is actually a state highway and it is maintained by Dane County Highway, just like the Beltline, Highway PD, and other areas around Madison. (University Avenue from Blackhawk Avenue west is also maintained by Dane County).  The UW Campus is also not maintained by the Streets Division.  That is maintained by the campus itself.   We are working on a better map that is more interactive and with more features – but that is taking more time to pull together than the PDF map that is currently available.  We hope to have this improved map available later this winter. 
  • Still Time to Help Your Trees with the Spongy Moth:  Egg masses can still be removed from trees, sheds, log piles, and other places around your lawn.  You want to find them and destroy them before they hatch in the spring.  You can read more about the spongy moth and how to appropriately destroy the egg masses at  www.cityofmadison.com/SpongyMoth
  • Holiday Recycling Guide: With the holidays comes lots of cardboard, wrapping paper, and other stuff – and also lots of recycling questions.  Be sure you check out the holiday recycling guide at  www.cityofmadison.com/Recycling.

2023-12-01 Updates from Alder Wehelie

Below are some important information to prepare for your winter.

Declared Snow Emergency

The City of Madison declares a Snow Emergency when we need to plow all residential streets. This most often happens when there are three or more inches of snow on the roads.

During a Snow Emergency, people who park in the Snow Emergency Zone must follow alternate side parking rules for the next two nights. A Snow Emergency may be extended past the 48 hours if needed.

We will always declare a Snow Emergency before 9:00 pm on the night it will take effect.

Please note: During a Snow Emergency, Alternate Side Parking fines are $60, plus a $65 towing fee.

Don’t let the snow lead to a ticket or a tow!

  • Sign up to get notified via Text Messaging
  • Sign up to get notified via email lists
  • Call the Winter Parking Hotline at (608) 261-9111

Snow Removal Regulations

Public Sidewalks

Pedestrians need safe public sidewalks. Property owners are responsible for snow removal. If you rent, read your lease to check who handles snow removal. You must clear the public sidewalks that border your property.

Clear the snow by noon of the day after the snow stops. The snow and ice are your responsibility, regardless of the source. Remember to check your sidewalk after the plows come through. Snowplows may create a blockage.

If you cannot remove ice, you must use sand to provide traction. You must have a safely sanded sidewalk by noon of the day after the snow or ice stopped.

How much of my sidewalk do I have to clear?

You must clear the entire width of the sidewalk, from edge to edge. It is not enough to carve a narrow path. People who use wheelchairs, canes, strollers, etc. need space to maneuver.

You are as responsible for clearing ice on your sidewalk as well as clearing snow.

Ice can be more dangerous than snow.

  • The sooner and more completely you shovel, the less likely it is that the snow will become ice.
  • Arrange for someone to take over while you are on vacation.
  • If you do not clear the sidewalk by the required time, we may issue you a citation with a fine.
  • If you do not shovel, crews will remove the snow and ice on your behalf. This service will also be at your expense. We add the bill to your property tax as a special assessment.

Related Resources