City of Madison officials discussed preparation and safety measures for the upcoming Mifflin Street Block Party at a press conference Wednesday. The block party is expected to see around 10,000 people, according to officials.
The event, held annually towards the end of the academic year, has traditionally drawn significant party crowds to the area. Previous years saw a flipped car and a collapsed balcony, among other incidents.
Various police officers from the Madison Police Department (MPD), University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office will be present on Saturday. MPD will deploy more than 150 officers and utilize horses and drones, according to MPD Central District Captain Kipp Hartman.
Ninety-six firefighter paramedics and EMTs will also be at the event, according to Madison Fire Department Division Chief Dan Williams. Two tactical paramedics will also be embedded within the MPD’s operations in case of an active threat.
Hartman said MPD’s amnesty policy, adopted just days before last year’s block party, will be in effect on Saturday.
The policy states underage drinking violations will not be issued to a caller who requests medical assistance or to a person in need of assistance, provided the caller remains at the scene and fully cooperates, or if the impaired individual is a victim of a crime. The policy does not apply if emergency responders initiate contact, or in cases involving other ordinance violations or crimes.
Inspections of the Mifflin street area began in February, according to Matt Tucker, Madison’s building inspection division director. Of the 60 properties checked, 44 notices of violations were written and three properties were issued municipal citations.
“Many of the balconies in these areas are old [and] they get overoccupied,” Tucker said. “It’s a great concern for us.”
Inspectors will be back in the area on Friday for final inspections and the division will force the closure of balconies failing to meet the requirements.
“If a balcony appears to be overloaded, it most likely is. [If] people are bouncing or jumping on the balcony, ask them to stop,” Tucker said. “Even a fall from three feet will injure someone when it’s unexpected.”
Additional regulations will be in effect, including an outdoor fire ban and glass ban. If a glass bottle is being used, Hartman said it would be confiscated by police “for safety reasons.”
“We feel we’re ready to meet the needs of this incident for our community,” Williams said.
Jake Wesson is a staff writer and photographer for The Daily Cardinal. He has written stories covering politics, protests, public safety and more. You can follow him on Twitter @jake_wesson11.
Drew Wesson is a staff writer and photographer for The Daily Cardinal. He has written stories covering public safety, protests, political events and more. You can follow him on Twitter @drewwesson1.
