City Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of February 2, 2025

posted February 2, 2025 - 10:27pm

City Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of February 2, 2025

Information Source: Thank you to Lorissa R. Bañuelos, our Community Engagement Strategist at the Common Council Office, for compiling all of this information each week for Alders Citywide! Appreciated.

Updates and Notices

Parks Activities in Winter: Ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more — see what's open and happening for winter fun in Madison Parks!

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, February 3, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a presentation of the Finance Department’s 2025 internal audit plan.
Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, February 3, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include accepting a Comprehensive Plan progress update report, as well as development-related requests in District 9 and District 16.
Urban Design Commission: The Urban Design Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 5, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include amending the report of the Lamp House Block Ad Hoc Plan Committee.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meetings (PIM’s)

Block 113 (Brayton Lot) redevelopment draft RFP public meeting, Monday, February 3: The City of Madison’s Department of Planning, Community and Economic Development will be holding a virtual public meeting from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on Monday, February 3, 2025 to outline a first draft for a Request for Proposals (RFP) to redevelop Block 113 – formerly known as the Brayton Lot – in downtown Madison.
Public Input Meeting - Sandburg Park, Thursday, February 6: Madison Parks is replacing five existing playgrounds in 2025. On Dec. 5, a virtual playground workshop was held for all five playgrounds, including the playground in Sandburg Park, 2818 Independence Lane. Parks staff presented an overview of the playground replacement program and asked for input on design decisions during break-out sessions specific to each park location.

Announcements and News Releases

Applications now open for 2025 Arts Grants: The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) is inviting individual artists and non-profit organizations to apply for its annual grant program. [posted January 30, 2025]
Early Ridership Numbers : Overall, ridership is up systemwide by 10 percent since the launch of the Bus Rapid Transit. The Rapid A Route is up nearly 20 percent over ridership numbers in 2023. [posted January 29, 2025]
CARES Program Expands Service to Sun Prairie Starting in February: The City of Sun Prairie is excited to announce the expansion of services from the Madison Fire Department’s Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) Program to the community, beginning Monday, February 3. This expansion is made possible through an agreement between the City of Sun Prairie, the City of Madison, and Dane County. [posted January 29, 2025]
Statement from Mayor Rhodes-Conway on Federal Funding Directive : Today’s directive from the federal Office of Management and Budget has the potential to impact tens of millions of dollars in services for the residents of Madison. [posted January 28, 2025]
Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Award in Public Discourse Winner is Madelyn Leopold : Award Winner and Nominator Have Designated Local Non-Profit to Receive Monetary Contributions. [posted January 27, 2025]

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

In-Person Absentee Voting Begins, Tuesday, February 4: Early voting (in-person absentee) begins today for the February 18 Spring Primary. Check our website for locations and hours.
Mobile Vaccination Clinic – Elver Park Neighborhood Center, Thursday, February 6: We're hosting a mobile vaccination clinic at Elver Park Neighborhood Center! All vaccines are free to those eligible…
Learn to Cross-Country Ski, Thursday, February 6: Join us for a free cross-country ski workshop at Elver Park, hosted by Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki)! Open to all ages, you'll learn the basics and practice your skills while exploring the park. Limited to 30 participants. Advanced registration is required and may be done online or by calling 608-266-4711.
Groove & Glide, Friday, February 7: Make the most of winter at a Groove and Glide event! Experience the fun and beauty of ice skating under the lights with fun music and games. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Grab your friends, a date, or family, and have fun on the ice.
Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, February 8: Explore Owen Conservation Park on gentle trails through historic oak openings on a hillside with an Ice Age kettle and along restored prairies with beautiful vistas on this high point overlooking the west side of Madison. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks and the Friends of Owen Conservation Park. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Owen Conservation Park are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, year-round 1:30-3pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
Skate Cinema, Saturday, February 8: Join us for an evening of ice skating and a movie at Skate Cinema! Bring a lawn chair and a blanket and make it an evening. This event is free to attend and no advanced registration is required. Ice skating will be allowed while the movie is playing - just not in front of the screen! A limited number of loaner skates will be available or bring your own skates. We’ll have an outdoor fire pit for warming up and Travelin' Tom's Coffee for purchase.
Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, February 9: Follow rolling hiking paths through the Turville Point Conservation Park woodlands and prairie with beautiful vistas of Lake Monona and Monona Bay. Walks at Turville Point held on the 2nd Sunday every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners, Madison Parks and Friends of Olin Turville. Meet at the Turville Point parking lot, entrance at the E. Olin Ave. stoplight from John Nolen Drive at the railroad tracks, south of Olin Park (not at the boat launch). No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

ABW,

Alder Amani

Amani Latimer Burris, Alder, District 12

(608) 345-8747 (cell -- text preferred)

District12@cityofmadison.com

P.S. Here is a directory the major city departments:

https://www.cityofmadison.com/departments.

Use this to connect directly to the office that can help you with your issue. Feel free to cc me on the email: District12@cityofmadison.com (if you want me to see your submission).

Of course, you can contact me by email at district12@cityofmadison.com andI prefer that you text me, or call me at (608) 345-8747, especially if the email you want me to read or review is urgent.

Here’s how to reach out:

Reach out through the City website at www.cityofmadison.com/council.

Reach out to all alders: you can email us at allalders@cityofmadison.com.

Reach out to the Mayor's office, their email is mayor@cityofmadison.com

Reach out to get your issue handled directly: feel free to reach out directly if you know the department that would likely handle your issue. Just email them directly and cc: me in on the email, so that you can get direct help and I can stay abreast of your situation.

Here is a directory of all of the major city departments: https://www.cityofmadison.com/departments. Again, if you want me to see your submission just cc me on the email:. District12@cityofmadison.com

Reach out if you don't know who your issue, comment or question or concern should be routed to you by sending an email to council@cityofmadision.com This will go to the Common Council Office and they will get it routed to the right place. The Common Council staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.

As always, If your issue is urgent or you are having trouble catching up with me, feel free to call the City Common Council office at (608) 266-4061 or send an email to council@cityofmadison.com and let them know you are trying to reach me.

We receive hundreds of emails, especially if an issue is contentious or controversial, and unfortunately our department has a limited staff. Of Course, my cell is listed below so feel free to text or call me.