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Want to get involved with MPNA, meet new neighbors and make new friends?  MPNA sponsors events and projects throughout the year.  We can always use the help.  Contact us to find out how you can get involved.

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City & County Information

(Alder Cnare's Blog 4.9.12)

Community Budget Conversations Start This Week!

Please join us at any one or all of the meetings.

• Thursday, April 12, 7-9 pm?  Warner Park Recreation Center?, 1625 Northport Drive?
• Monday, April 16, 7-9 pm?  Olbrich Gardens Evjue Commons?, 3330 Atwood Avenue?
• Thursday, April 26, 7-9 pm?  Madison Senior Center?, 330 West Mifflin Street
• Monday, April 30, 7-9 pm?  Wright Middle School Gym?, 1717 Fish Hatchery Road?
• Tuesday, May 2, 7-9 pm ?Toki Middle School?, 5606 Russett Road?

Last year, the mayor and Common Council began this new program to get input on the city's budget called Community Conversations. It was series of five, two-hour meetings in different parts of the city, attended by about 550 people, to explain where your tax dollar goes and ask citizens to rank six different values and all the city services in importance to themselves, their neighborhood and the city overall. In addition, 1563 on-line surveys were completed.

It was such a successful program that we are doing it again this year, and earlier in the process so that your thoughts can have even more impact as city departments start to develop their budgets for presentation to the Mayor, who develops a budget to present to the Council for debate, amendment and passage with committee meetings and public hearings along the way. (Yes, we can pass budgets on time! Sometimes it takes three late nights, but we've done it in two nights in recent years.)

Last year, we learned that while overall, citizens rated nearly every value and its associated services important, Basic Services and Daily Life were ranked highest, with Social Justice and Community Services second. Responsibility, Sustainability and Planning Growth and Economic Development and Public Space and Community followed closely behind.

The input did guide our decisions and discussions at the Common Council and we so valued the input that we are all enthusiastically looking forward to this year – especially because we will have more time to digest and implement the feedback. City staff and alders will be on hand as listeners and to answer questions – we are there to learn from you!

In addition to meetings, there is an on-line survey available at the City's Budget Website: http://www.cityofmadison.com/budgetprocess/ If you can't make a meeting, please complete the survey on-line.

Other information on the Website is: 2012 Budget Conversation meeting information, ways to promote the process to your neighbors, book club, work colleagues and family; prior budgets, FAQ's about budgets and taxes, and charts that illustrate the areas of revenue and spending.

Please join the Conversation and let me know if you have insights and ideas, especially something you have observed for District 3.

Here's a link to Channel 3's "For the Record" with the Mayor, President Pro Tem Shiva Bidar-Sielaff and me discussing the upcoming meetings.

(Alder Cnare's Blog)



Ride the Drive, June 3 and August 12

The City of Madison and Madison Parks are pleased to bring Ride the Drive, presented by Trek, back for its fourth year!  We will be hosting two events this year:  Ride the Drive-Downtown on June 3, 10am-3pm and Ride the Drive- Northside, August 12, 10am-3pm.

Ride the Drive is a free community event that turns Madison’s signature streets into a public promenade that is open to bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, and those out to share in the experience and fun atmosphere.  These popular events have drawn over 20,000 families, friends, and recreation enthusiasts each.   Ride the Drive is more than just closed streets, it includes music, activities, food and fun stopping points along the way.

In addition to our signature downtown event, the Northside has been chosen to be the first non-downtown location and is a great opportunity to showcase another area of town.  Ride the Drive- Northside will have the traditional Ride the Drive elements but will also have a block party sort of atmosphere and will provide the Northside the chance to show off their streets, parks, businesses, neighborhoods, and welcoming small town vibe.

This year’s events have many ways for the community to participate.  Corporations can help sponsor the event.  Local businesses and organizations can rent a booth or host an activity along the route.  Volunteers are needed to help set up and throughout the day.   And of course, we invite all to come out and Ride the Drive.   The event is free and open to the public.

Ride the Drive is a City of Madison sponsored event that was started in August 2009.

For more information about these events, please visit the Ride the Drive website at www.cityofmadison.com/ridethedrive





Past Updates and information from Alder Cnare

Column from Dane County Executive Joe Parisi

Tornado Warning System & Emergency Contacts by County Supv. Dave de Felice

Local Contacts

*City of Madison Police Department - East District

Neighborhood Liason: Lieutenant Wayne Strong

809 South Thompson Drive

Madison WI 53718

Direct Phone: 261-9112

Fax: 224-7150

Email: wstrong@cityofmadison.com

Speeders Hot Line: 266-4624

You can sign up for electonic newsletters from the East District by going to www.cityofmadison.com and click on My Account.

**District 3 Alder

Lauren Cnare

608-226-0987 (cell)

district3@cityofmadison.com (e-mail)



**Dane County District 16

Supervisor: Dave de Felice (day full-LEE-chay)

Email: defelice@co.dane.wi.us

www.countyofdane.com