Elections, Council and homeless services updates; Water main flushing, bike updates and more.
ALDER ROUND UP 4/3
From The State:
A federal judge today refused to delay Wisconsin’s April 7 election, but he pushed back to April 13 the deadline for absentee ballots to be received so they can be counted in the spring races, which include the presidential primaries.
Under current law, today was the final day to request an absentee ballot. U.S. Judge James Conley pushed that back to 5 p.m. tomorrow.
He also enjoined the state from enforcing a requirement that those voting absentee have a witness if they are unable to safely do so.
Read the ruling:
Under current law, today was the final day to request an absentee ballot. U.S. Judge James Conley pushed that back to 5 p.m. tomorrow.
He also enjoined the state from enforcing a requirement that those voting absentee have a witness if they are unable to safely do so.
Read the ruling:
https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/200402Order-1.pdf
From The County:
Dane County has selected Dane Buy Local to administer the county’s newly created Small Business Pandemic Support Grant Program. Funds will be used to support Dane County small businesses experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dane Buy Local will administer the grants and have information about the County’s grant program on their website www.danebuylocal.com.
From Public Health:
Please help distribute this business survey to all area businesses, including sole proprietors, consultants, ride share drivers, etc. The survey is due by April 6, and will help provide important information about how WI businesses are doing, and what the needs and impacts are during this crisis.
See below for more information.
From The EOC:
Complaints of businesses not in compliance of the Governor’s order should be sent to the general Public Health COVID-19 email (coronavirus@publichealthmdc.com).
Complaints of observed large gatherings of people should go to 911 dispatch.
Absentee ballots must be received in the Clerk’s Office in time for delivery to the polls on Election Day (April 7th)
CURBSIDE VOTER REGISTRATION AND ABSENTEE VOTING
Curbside voter registration and absentee voting is now available through 9am-1pm Saturday is the last time one can curbside vote before having to do on Tuesday at their polling place, outside of 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Due to COVID-19 precautions for the April 2020 Election, the City of Madison has reserved parking meters on the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard for any City of Madison voter to register and/or vote from the curb. Just pull up to a parking meter in front of the City-County Building or Madison Municipal Building with a “No Parking – Police Order sign.” If you have a cell phone, you can call the number posted on the sign at the meter to begin the curbside voting process. Otherwise, wave at one of our election officials standing in front of the building, wearing a bright yellow vest. Two officials will bring your ballot to your vehicle and will check your voter ID at your vehicle. If you have your own pen to use, wave it at the officials as they approach your vehicle. (Note, we are sanitizing clipboards and pens after each use.)
If you had the Clerk’s Office mail you an absentee ballot, and you need a witness, you may use the curbside voting process for that purpose. You can also read about other options for witnesses here: https://cityofmadison.com/clerk/news/voters-in-need-of-a-witness
SIGN UP TO BE A POLL WORKER
The City of Madison is in need of hundreds of poll workers for the April 7th election. To become a poll worker, sign up on the City of Madison Clerk’s website.
From Public Health:
COVID-19 Information Update 4/3/20
New Data Summary
A new weekly data summary is attached. We’re having some technical difficulties getting this on the website but will post it as soon as those are resolved.
- Cases this week increased by 56%, from 158 to 246.
- A graph with the number of new and cumulative tests by day is included.
- In this week’s data spotlight, we talk about statistical models and why we use them.
4/3/20 AM COVID News Roundup
LOCAL/STATE
- Tony Evers calls in Legislature on Saturday to enact all mail-in spring election, GOP leaders reject proposal: https://bit.ly/2UYoQ5X
- Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway names new Metro Transit general manager: https://bit.ly/346awMX
- Festa Italia canceled, Country Fest postponed due to COVID: https://bit.ly/3aIumAd
- American Family Insurance and foundations to provide $6.8million in COVID relief:https://bit.ly/34eZcht
- Federal judge orders Wisconsin clerks to wait until April 13 to release results of Tuesday’s election: https://bit.ly/2R8xEoM
- Gov. Evers comes under criticism from some Democrats for handling of Tuesday election:https://bit.ly/2R7DM0g
- Confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass 1,900 in Wisconsin: https://bit.ly/2ys9LBW
- Tellurian treatment center seeking medical supplies, donations to help those in recovery:https://bit.ly/2UE6w35
- Dane County sees another COVID-19 death as state numbers pass 1,800: https://bit.ly/2UYp50R
- Teenager allegedly threatened with jail over COVID-19 posts: https://bit.ly/2JEIuOZ
- Wisconsin Apartment Association launches COVID task force: https://bit.ly/2UYgxXU
Kwasi K. Obeng, Chief of Staff
Common Council Office
ELECTIONS ROUND UP – 4/2
Court Order
A federal judge has not postponed the election, but has changes a couple absentee deadlines and relaxed an requirement.
- Deadline to request an absentee has been given a 24 hour extension to Friday, April 3 at 5pm.
- Deadline to get absentee ballots into the clerk’s office is now extended until Monday, April 13th at 4pm. There is no postmark by April 7 or postmark by April 13. Regardless of the postcard, the ballot must be receive by us at 4pm April 13th.
- Requirement to get a witness signature for absentee ballots is not removed. However, if a voter is unable to get a witness despite reasonable efforts, they can provide a written affirmation to that effect and the ballot will still be counted.
Absentee Mailing Data
We have issued 82,938 absentee ballots. 34,448 ballots (41.5%) have been returned. There have been 4,344 ballots cast either in our office or curbside in front of our building. Our email backlog is 1,493. And 1,426 requests have not been processed because we still require the voters to send us copies/pictures of their voter ID. Friday is the last day for voters to register at the curbside voting. Registration after Friday will need to occur at a voter’s polling place. There will be curbside voting on Saturday from 9am – 1pm, but all voters will need to be registered at their current address.
Assistance for Election Day
Engineering has begun assembling barriers for our polling places: https://twitter.com/MadisonWIClerk/status/1245825905739644928. We also have received face shields from ETC and hand and surface sanitizer from Yahara Bay Distributors. https://twitter.com/MadisonWIClerk/status/1245826844554932225 The face shields will be given to poll workers who are facilitating curbside voting.
The governor has called for the National Guard to assist in filling in poll worker deficiencies across the state. There are 111 municipalities in the state who do not have enough poll workers to operate any polling places in those municipalities. City of Madison has requested between 500-700 guardsmen.
Sincerely,
Jim Verbick, Deputy Clerk
City of Madison City Clerk’s Office
ELECTIONS ROUND UP – 4/3
Good evening/morning,
I’m going to keep this one short, because Mike May took the bulk of what I was going to put into this update. If you have not seen his emails, you can find them below, along with his attachment.
Absentee Ballot Data
We have issued 86,694 absentee ballots, and so far 40,387 (46.7%) have been returned. Of the 86,694, the number of ballots cast either in our office or our curbside voting is 4,828. We had 484 curbside voters on Thursday. We still have about 800 requests left to process. A short clarification to Mike May’s first point, the election commission has said requests for ballots must be complete by 5pm, so any request that came in before 5pm and need an ID or anything like that cannot be honored.
Barring any great update outside of our purview, this will likely be my last update before the Election. There is no voting on the day before the election. I’ll still be processing requests over the weekend and any other critical work that must be done, so if you have any questions feel free to send them and I should get back quickly.
Sincerely,
Jim Verbick, Deputy Clerk
City of Madison City Clerk’s Office
CITY ATTORNEY ELECTIONS UPDATE FROM 4/3 (6:59pm & 11:57pm)
6:59pm Update
Friends:
Things are happening so quickly, it is hard to keep up. This is a short update on where we are tonight.
- Requests for absentee ballots had to be in by 5 pm today. Any requests received after that time will not be honored.
- Governor Evers has called a special session of the legislature for tomorrow. Although the exact contours of the new proposal by the Governor is not clear, it essentially calls for an all mailing election, including: extending the election to May 19; extending the time to count ballots to May 26; sending an absentee ballot to all registered voters who have not received one; ending all in person voting with a few exceptions. News reports said that the legislative leaders immediately rejected the Governor’s proposal.
- Unless changed by actions before then, in person balloting at a much more limited number of polling places will take place on Tuesday. The City continues to plan for that eventuality. If you can be a poll worker, contact the City Clerk.
- Under the recent ruling from US District Court Judge William Conley, absentee ballots received by April 13 will be valid for the election. This includes ballots mailed and received by that date and those delivered to the Clerk’s office or drop boxes by that date. The old deadline was Tuesday, April 7.
- In addition, unwitnessed absentee ballots will be valid if delivered by persons who cannot find a witness for their ballot and include a statement with the ballot that they could not obtain a witness. They are urged to note on the outside envelope that they have a “No witness certification” with the ballot.
- No election results are to be released until April 13.
- The Republican Party filed an immediate appeal of Judge Conley’s rulings.
Here are a couple recent stories on developments:
New Yorker:
Milwaukee JS:
State Journal:
Stay tuned!
11:57pm Update
Order –Seventh Cir. Emergency Stay Order
Late tonight, the 7th Circuit issued a stay as to one part of Judge Conley’s order. The portion of the order that lifted the requirement of a witness on absentee ballots was set aside, pending further proceedings. Absentee ballots will still require a witness signature.
The Court refused to stay the other portions of the order on extra time for receipt of absentee ballots.
As I said earlier, stay tuned.
MPMay
City Attorney
City of Madison
HOMELESS SERVICES CONSORTIUM UPDATES 4/2
Here are some updates for today:
- Men’s shelter at Warner Park has been going well. There have been kinks to work out along the way, but all in all going well!
- There was an email message that went out about CDA being able to accept electronic signatures for paperwork for mainstream vouchers. This applies to other paperwork for CDA too.
- Latest on EA Grant Information:
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/press/2020/dcf-order-12-covid-19.pdf
What is the guidance for intakes, Emergency Assistance, and Job Access Loans, etc.? A. DCF will permit applications for these programs to be taken over the phone. Documentation of eligibility criteria that is not questionable should not delay processing applications for these programs. Collateral contacts are acceptable if guidance required. A recommendation is for each agency to dedicate essential staff to be available to complete these functions or make sure individuals are familiar with and comfortable using ACCESS.
General DCF guidance is here:
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/guidance
- The HSC Board of Directors approved a statement today encouraging landlords/property managers/storage facilities to not charge late fees for the months of April and May and asking them to be flexible in working with folks in setting up payment arrangements. Please see attached for the statement.
>>> The 2020 Census is here! As we practice social distancing, take the opportunity to complete the census now from the comfort of your own home. You can fill it out online at my2020census.gov, by phone, or by mail. <<<
MADISON BIKE UPDATES
Let’s Keep Biking and Walking Safely
Mayor Rhodes-Conway Statement on Transportation
Madison Bikes Updated Bike Shop Information
Madison BCycle remains open and is taking precautions but please wash your hands before/after usage.
Would you like to find somewhere quieter to ride where it might be easier to maintain distance from others or just feeling desperate for somewhere different? Here are some resources:
- Low Stress Bicycle Route Finder for Dane County
- Use the Dane County Bicycle Map to find smaller trails or newer trails you might not have tried. The new path along County Highway M features underpasses that just opened late last Fall. Or maybe you’ve never tackled the hill on the path that leads to Memorial High School. This is a great time to explore and with this map you can go in and turn off layers to find path segments you might not have ever had a reason to ride to create a new route.
- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that state park and trail fees are waived at the current time. This includes the Capital City Trail, Military Ridge State Trail, Badger State Trail and the Glacial Drumlin State Trail. However, people are asked to not travel to other areas of the state to enjoy other non-local parks and trails.
- Want to learn more before you go? Check out the Featured Dane County Trails from the Madison Area Transportation Planning Board and get information on some of the more popular routes.
Planning to get away and out in nature by riding one of the Madison area mountain bike trails? Remember that you still need to remember follow social distancing.
- Don’t congregate at trailheads.
- Do be patient if you come upon a rider who is slower. You will need to stay back at least 6 feet until you reach a space with room for someone to get over 6 feet.
- When catching up to someone riding slowly, ride their pace and stay 6 feet back until the singletrack opens up. If this is going to be difficult for you, then consider riding very early or very late when you are less likely to encounter others.
- Be especially cautious on the two-way trails. This is not the time to set personal records but to instead ride slowly and always be alert to the need to move way over.
- Ride well within your ability levels. If you do not have experience with jumps don’t go to Quarry Park and start launching off them. You can learn that skill later. Stick to watching videos for now.
- Expect more people walking on the trails, more families riding and more beginners and be a good ambassador for the sport by being friendly but at a distance.
- As always, only ride when the trails are open. Remember that this time of year rain frequently closes the trails.
Share your photos of walking and biking with the hashtag #walkbikemadison! Inspire others with your kids biking, you carrying some takeout food, your trusty commuter, your favorite neighborhood walk, your ride on the trails and more!
Public Health Madison & Dane County COVID-19 Information
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Work Happening Now:
Operations staff are continuing to work and project staff in Traffic Engineering and Engineering continue to manage and move projects forward.
- Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd Sidewalk Replacement – Starting Wed, April 8 work will begin on the sidewalks on the east side of the 100 block of MLK Jr Blvd and on the sanitary sewer reparis on the 200 block. Vehicle traffic will not be allowed on the 200 block through approximately April 13. During this project bike racks will be moved so please look along the Capitol Square, Doty Street and Wilson for parking if racks are gone/full along MLK Jr Blvd. Project Information
- Fish Hatchery Rd Reconstruction – This project is the section of Fish Hatchery Rd in the City of Fitchburg project and has started. Detour at the Cannonball Path north of the beltline. More Information
- Dayton St – This UW project will start the week of April 3 to finish the items that weren’t able to be completed in 2019.
- E Johnson St – Work is beginning to finish up things that were not completed in 2019. This includes some sidewalk work where temporary closures on one side of the street will be needed. Some work will also take place near the MG&E driveway and the cycletrack may close and bikes will need to ride on the sidewalk area temporarily. All disruptions will be very short.
- Old Sauk Road between Pleasant View Rd & Pioneer Rd – This section of road will be closed starting April 1. Bicyclists will wan to use Pleasant View Rd to Blackhawk Rd to Twin Valley Rd. Motor vehicle traffic will be detoured to Pioneer Rd and Mineral Point. Bicyclists will want to continue on to Big Stone Trail to White Fox Lane to the Pioneer Park Path to return to Old Sauk Road.
- Demetral Park Path – The lighting that was approved in 2019 is currently being installed. Use caution when passing workers. Work should be completed sometime the week of April 6.
- West Towne Path extension and underpass of Gammon Rd – Avoid travel on Gammon Rd near the Beltline and West Towne Mall if possible. Currently two lanes of traffic are being maintained but roadway flagging may occur as needed. Access to the mall is being maintained in this area but it will be easier to use Mineral Point Rd entrances. This project includes construction of a shared-use path from the Struck St ped/bike underpass to the west side of S Gammon Rd via a ped/bike underpass of Gammon Rd. Project Information
- Cottage Grove Rd from the Interstate to Sprecher Rd – AT&T and MG&E are working in this area and the bike lanes are closed in numerous sections and the other lanes are narrowed. This work is expected to last another week or so. Use Milwaukee St to reach Sprecher Rd as an alternative. Starting in April, this section of Cottage Grove will be reconstructed. Project Information
- S Ingersoll St at McPike Park – The street is closed. Please follow the detour.
- Monona’s Bridge Rd – Monona has Bridge Rd closed between Inland Way and Lake Pointe Dr. The Lake Loop will not be impacted but access to other streets will be.
- UW Arboretum Curtis Pond Rehabilitation – Work is going on near the west entrance to the arboretum across from the Curtis Pond. New stop signs have been installed and trucks will be using the road. Please follow any signage or workers. Watch for gravel in the road.
- McKenna Blvd/Gammon Lane Flood Mitigation Project – Work is currently being finalized in the area of Elver Park and the Greentree-Chapel Hills Park Path should reopen soon. Once the work is completed in this area work will move to the Schroeder Rd/Struck Ave area. Project Information
- Reinhndahl Park Path remains closed for the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District interceptor project.
- The Campus Drive Path remains closed behind the UW Veterinary Building.
Upcoming Projects:
- Southwest Path Resurfacing – Two sections are scheduled for resurfacing in 2020: Odana Rd to Glenway St and Commonwealth Ave to S Prospect Ave. The contractor is allowed to do the work between the beginning Of May and the beginning of September. The closure will be announced a minimum of 14 days in advance and will take no more than 5 days. Project Information
- Capitol Square – A State of Wisconsin project will impact the Capitol Square starting later this year. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Information on other future city projects can be found on the City of Madison Engineering webpage.
WATER MAIN FLUSHING
Water Main Flushing plans beginning Monday, March 30th (all flushing is daytime unless otherwise noted)
- North (Area 13) — Between Northport Dr and Lake Mendota
- Near East (Area 24) — E Washington Ave to Lake Mendota between Blair St and the Yahara River
- South East (Area 9) — Monona Dr to Stoughton Rd from Pflaum Rd to Cottage Grove Rd
- South (Area 18) — Fish Hatchery Rd to John Nolen Dr north of the Beltline
- East (Area 29) — East of N Thompson Dr between Commercial Ave and Lien Rd
