Alder round up, fire dept objects to closing streets, committee assignments for alders, help get masks to health care workers, Conservation Congress voting tips from League of Women Voters, stimulus checks for people who don’t make enough money to file taxes and more.
ALDER ROUND UP 4/13/20
From Your Common Council Office:
We will be having a Common Council Executive Committee special meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. via virtual meeting.
Online link to CCEC agenda for the April 16, 2020 meeting.
From Streets:
The Council Office received several emails regarding drop off sites and curbside pick-up of yard waste. Please see below.
The drop-off sites are closed, and will remain closed, to help residents comply with the Safer at Home Order to help slow the spread of COVID-19. While the drop-off sites are outside, people will be in close proximity to each other and our staff as they use the site. Also, most of what can be dropped off at the sties can be picked up at the curb.
Weekly yard waste collection is a significant increase in services and cost that’s not feasible. Right now, residents are guaranteed five curbside collections (two in the spring, three in the fall). Many times more can be provided, but five times is the minimum amount that we can provide. Increasing this service from at least five times a year to weekly would require significant investment in equipment, fuel, and personnel.
The best way to use the system we have now is to go to our yard waste website, www.cityofmadison.com/yardwaste. Then click on the blue Pickup Schedule button.
When the map shows your neighborhood shaded green for “pickup pending” get your yard waste to the curb.
The map cannot tell you when the collection will happen, but it will tell you when the material needs to be set out so it’s not late. The arrival times of collection crews depends on workload and personnel availability.
The map is updated each workday right around 3:00pm when the crews finish their work for the day. We do not have an alert system to text or email people to alert them to
Our current yard waste system does have limitations because it cannot tell you specifically when collections will occur. This has been a drawback of our method since we’ve started doing it this way several years ago. Finding a way to give a little more certainty to the collections is a project we will be undertaking. With all that said, our collection system is very efficient from an operations point of view because it allows us to better respond to what the residents actually set to the curb for us to pick-up.
From Public Health:
COVID-19 Information Update 4/13/20
Increased Contact Tracing Infrastructure
Public Health Madison & Dane County have about 30 staff working with individuals confirmed to have COVID-19 and following up with their close contacts to continue to contain the disease in Dane County. This week, additional public health staff and retired public health nurses will also be joining the team to increase capacity even further.
A robust contact-tracing infrastructure quickly isolates people confirmed to have COVID-19 and ensures follow-up with anyone who had close contact with them so they can be quarantined and tested.
Investing in case-based intervention like contact tracing, is essential if we are going to eventually lift population-level interventions, like the Safer at Home order.
4/13/20 AM COVID News Roundup
- Wisconsin Republicans, Democrats both heavily voted by mail – but there are differences:https://bit.ly/3ekRmr9
- ‘Voter suppression at its finest’: Wisconsin citizens say missing ballots kept them from being counted in election: https://bit.ly/2yd0Iog
- Milwaukee Election Commission conference on absentee ballots interrupted by ‘Zoombombing’: https://bit.ly/2JXNxdJ
- In local assembly race, Madison democrats kick-off campaigns amid pandemic:https://bit.ly/2V6TrzE
- Madison may repurpose streets to help pedestrians, cyclists maintain social distancing amid COVID: https://bit.ly/2JZkW7A
- Why are only 15 percent of Madison’s low-income students getting free meals from district during COVID closures? https://bit.ly/3b64nTE
- Alliant Energy Center could be used as COVID care facility, Gov. Evers says:https://bit.ly/3b6eYhm
- Simpson Street Free Press continues publishing amid COVID school closures:https://bit.ly/3ekL7na
- First coronavirus death reported in Juneau County: https://bit.ly/3c890fU
- Rock County approves $1 million in small business loans: https://bit.ly/2K1aNaG
- Clerks set to count votes in messy Wisconsin Election: https://bit.ly/3b6f4FK
ALDER COMMITTEE RE-ASSIGNMENT?
Colleagues –
As you know, we will have a new alder joining us at our next meeting. That, combined with the council leadership election and a handful of one-year terms (MPO, room tax commission, education committee) means that my office needs to look at alder appointments today and tomorrow. While I expect that we collectively want to maintain the status quo, I did want to reach out and see if any of you want to request any changes in your committee assignments. I understand that there may be alders wanting to step back from the committee on aging and food policy council in particular. If you do want to make any changes, please email me directly (do not reply all) today if possible.
Thanks and be well –
Mayor Satya
PUBLIC RECORDS LAWSUIT AGAINST WATER UTILITY DISMISSED
It is true, the city is quite good at getting open records requests filled or communicating about why its not getting done. Not like the county and school board. The county is s-l-o-w and denies requests more often than not, but also communicates. The school board is s-l-o-w too.
From City Attorney Michael May
You may recall reading about a public records lawsuit against the Madison Water Utility. It involved some records related to PFAS investigations. In an order issued on April 9, Judge Niess dismissed the lawsuit.
This legal action was quite unnecessary. The records were denied months ago because they related to an ongoing investigation. The investigation had since been completed. If the attorneys had simply contacted our office and renewed their request, they would have obtained the documents. Upon receipt of the lawsuit, we provided them with the records, and they agree to dismiss the case.
We attempt to make it clear to those who engage in PR requests that it is best to contact our office before filing suit. There may be reasons to release some or all of the documents requested without the necessity of litigation.
ACA Doran Viste did most of the work to obtain this dismissal, assisted by ACA Roger Allen.
FIRE DEPARTMENT OBJECTS TO, BUT CANNOT STOP CHANGES TO STREETS
In an email sent Monday, 4/13 at 12:44pm from Fire Chief Steven Davis:
From a public safety access position, I feel like this is a horrible idea. I realize that the fire department will not be able to prevent this from occurring. Imagine if you house was on fire, or you were having breathing difficulty or other life safety issues. The added delay in that situation, I’m sure would not be worth the benefits to those who should stay home. I don’t think this city suffers from the density issues, that other communities have implemented this process experience.
Fire is not supportive of the idea.
Chief Davis
STIMULUS CHECKS FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T FILE TAXES
From Homeless Services Consortium
Our colleagues have shared information on the Stimulus checks and I wanted to send it your way. Please see below and attached.
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Attached are flyers to assist in getting the word out about the Economic Impact Payments. The last 6 attachments are the same, just in different languages.
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I found this information tonight and thought this might be good information to share with the consortium.
It seems that there is a portal for people to update/provide their direct deposit and address information and check their stimulus check status. Below you will find the link to do this.
Those who have not filed taxes in the past 2 years can go on the website now to provide their payment information to get their check via direct deposit to avoid a long wait for a mailed check.
Those who did file in the past 2 years but received their return as a check via mail or they have new account information from their last filing, soon they will be able to go on the site to update this information (mid-April). Once that option is up and running, they can also check the status of when they will receive their check.
Additionally, they can also use this to update their address if they have moved since their last filing or have not filed recently. This can be a huge thing for many of those we work with as many are either transient or they may be in a different location since they filed last year.
Having their current address if vital in this process for two reasons. Firstly, because the IRS will send a letter out a couple weeks after the payment is direct deposited to inform the person that it was transferred to their account and the date this occurred. That way, someone can know if it was attempted but not received and they can then reach out to the IRS to report this. Secondly, for those who don’t have an account for a direct deposit to occur, they can make sure their address is current to ensure the paper check arrives properly.
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
1 -e-poster_economic impact payments 2 -e-poster_if you still need to file 
EIP Message for Partners
HELP GET MASKS TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ON CONSERVATION CONGRESS VOTING
Spring is here. Time for the Annual Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Hearings, which are a great opportunity for League members to have a voice. Due to the COVID-19 situation, participation will be held ONLY online, and we urge you to take a few minutes to respond to the online questionnaire.
Go online to Vote starting April 13 at 7:00 p.m. through April 16, 7:00 p.m. Questionnaire is at www.dnr.wi.gov and search “Spring Hearings.” A link is also on this web page: https://dnr.wi.gov/About/WCC/
The Annual Spring Hearings are a unique opportunity for any Wisconsin resident to provide input on natural resources advisory questions from the DNR, Natural Resources Board, and Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
Each question includes background information, the specific question and a choice of YES, NO or NO OPINION. Don’t be daunted by the length of the questionnaire. You have the option of skipping questions or selecting “No Opinion.”
The 55 questions will be in SurveyMonkey format which is compatible with most cellular devices, tablets and computers. If you encounter an Error opening the link, try a different internet browser. Suggested are: Google Chrome 18 or later; Firefox 24 or later; Internet Explorer 11; Safari 7 or later; Microsoft Edge.
Based on League Positions and recent advocacy, LWVWI urges all members and supporters to Go Online to Vote on Questions #1-8, #16, #21-22, #28 and #55. After voting, LWVWI would really appreciate it if you would reply to this email with the words I DID IT to let us know you participated.
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Questions #1 – 7 Requiring the use of non-toxic ammunition on state owned or managed property With similar wording, these seven questions deal with non-toxic shot, bullets or shotgun slugs for individual hunts.
LWV urges a Yes vote on all of these 7 questions. LWVUS has supported non toxic and non lead shot, bullets and fishing tackle in US Fish & Wildlife (USFWS) Refuges for many years because of the unintended lead poisoning of game and non-game species, lead build up in areas with concentrated hunting and fishing areas and potential health risks. DNR reports cases of lead poisoning in bald eagles and scavengers spike dramatically during fall hunting seasons due to the accessibility to gut piles and carcasses. If ingested, relatively small amounts of lead can poison birds. Lead poisoning can be fatal or cause behavioral and physiological changes in wildlife. USFW issued a nationwide ban in 1991 after determining toxic impacts to waterfowl and their predators. Since 1998 USFWS has required non-toxic shot use for all types of hunting on all waterfowl production areas nationwide. In 2007, WDNR began similar requirements for specific types of fishing and hunting.
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Questions #8 and #16 Limit the Spread of CWD in Deer
#8 Do you support restricting the placement of artificial water supplies that are not for agricultural purposes of attracting deer or elk in CWD-affected counties?
#166 Do you support the department working with the legislature to restrict the baiting and feeding of deer statewide.
LWV urges a Yes vote. The League position is based on LWVUS and LWVWI positions promoting an environment beneficial to life (human as well as wildlife and aquatic species) with natural resources managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems. LWVWI has supported legislation to limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) deer-to-deer throughout the state by banning baiting and feeding deer and funding deer testing and research on the potential for transmission to humans from infected deer and deer meat. CWD is a highly transmissible prion disease that leads to chronic illness, drastic weight loss (wasting), reduced fertility and early mortality in deer herds. Since 1997, the World Health Organization has recommended that it is important to keep the agents of all known prion diseases from entering the human food chain. The Center for Disease Control and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommend not consuming meat from CWD-infected deer.
Questions #21 and #22 Limit Baiting and Feeding by County
#21 Do you support legislation that would give more authority to the DNR to determine baiting and feeding regulations, including when and where bans are put in place?
#22 If greater flexibility is returned to DNR, do you support allowing CDACs the ability to make recommendations regarding baiting and feeding in their respective counties?
LWV urges a Yes vote on #21 but a NO vote on #22. The League supports science-based decision making. Currently such bans are limited by statute. Bans should be science based. DNR has biologists who should determine baiting and feeding regulations. #22 would go further and allow County Deer Advisory Committees (CDACs) to make these determinations but they are not biologists and are subject to local pressures.
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Question #28 Oppose Back Forty Mine
#28 Would you support the Wisconsin Conservation Congress informing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) that the proposed Back Forty Mine Project poses a significant threat to water quality in the Menominee River and Lake Michigan?
LWVWI urges a Yes vote to Oppose Back Forty Mine, a proposed open-pit metallic sulfide mine. The League position is based on LWVUS and LWVWI positions on mine waste, water quality and the rights of First Nations. The League for many years has opposed metallic sulfide mining in Wisconsin due to the high potential for long-term leaching of acid-producing wastes into groundwater and surface waters. Aquila Resource’s Back Forty Mine is proposed to locate on the Menominee River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Menominee River is the border between Wisconsin and Michigan and flows to Lake Michigan. There are also potential irreversible impacts on cultural resources of the Menominee Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, including Native American grave sites and other areas of historic significance.
- Question #55 – Alternative funding source to Fish & Wildlife Account
#55 Would you favor the legislature creating an alternative funding source in addition to license fees?
LWV urges a Yes vote. The League position is based on LWVUS Principles that require government agencies be funded appropriately. The health of fish and wildlife are important elements of healthy ecosystems as well as the basis for a strong state tourism economy. Without adequate funding important DNR programs will be shrunk.
THANK YOU
