Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City of Madison to accept if awarded, private grant funding of up to $10,000 from the Alliant Energy Foundation. The grant will fund a portion of the costs of fabrication and build out of the interior of the Water Utility’s Water on Wheels (WU-WOW) educational outreach vehicle. If the grant is awarded, the Water Utility's 2026 Adopted Capital Budget will be amended to appropriate the private grant funding in the Water Utility Vehicle Major Program (Munis #12339).
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Authorizing the City of Madison to accept, if awarded, a private grant of up to $10,000 from the Alliant Energy Foundation, and authorizing the Water Utility General Manager to enter into a grant agreement and sign related document(s) authorizing acceptance of the grant and amend the 2026 Adopted Capital Budget to appropriate the grant revenue and expenses, up to $10,000, for the Water Utility Water on Wheels (WU-WOW).
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WHEREAS, The Madison Water Utility is seeking support to create the WU-WOW, an interactive mobile education center that will bring hands-on water science, conservation, and workforce education directly into neighborhoods, schools, community centers, and public events throughout Madison.
WHEREAS, Developed in partnership with the Madison Children's Museum, the WU-WOW will transform a utility box truck into a traveling learning laboratory featuring interactive exhibits, tap water access, and educational experiences focused on groundwater protection, drinking water quality, conservation, and careers in the water industry.
WHEREAS, By meeting residents where they live, learn, and gather, WU-WOW will help build trust in public drinking water, increase awareness of environmental stewardship, engage historically underserved communities, and inspire the next generation of water professionals.
WHEREAS, This investment will create a long-term community asset capable of reaching thousands of residents annually while advancing public education, environmental sustainability, and workforce development goals across Madison.
WHEREAS The Madison Children’s Museum (MCM) is one of the few children’s museums nationwide with an on-site fabrication shop. Consulting with the MCM to fabricate the interior exhibit space for the WU-WOW provides access to an award-winning, in-house team specializing in sustainable, durable, and highly interactive designs.
WHEREAS, The MCM has estimated costs of fabrication from the interior buildout of the WU-WOW to be no greater than $31,800, the Madison Water Utility has written a private grant request to the Alliant Energy Foundation for $10,000 to help offset these costs,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Madison is authorized to accept a private grant, if awarded, for up to $10,000 from the Alliant Energy Foundation for fabrication and buildout of the WU-WOW educational outreach vehicle, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, if the private grant is awarded, the City of Madison Water Utility 2026 Capital Budget will be amended to appropriate the grant revenue and expenses for the WU-WOW, up to $10,000, into the Water Utility Vehicle and Equipment major #12339, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Water Utility General Manager, or their designee, is authorized to sign a private grant agreement with the Alliant Energy Foundation in a format approved by the City Attorney, and any other necessary documents to comply with the grant requirements and to secure the grant funding.