Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of February 24

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. 

• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include changes to the Zoning Code to bring more flexibility for homeowners seeking to build or modify single-family homes and Accessory Dwelling Units and facilitate small residential infill projects where already allowed. 

• Meeting Details 

• Meeting Agenda 

• Register for Public Comment 

• Watch Online 

• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 26, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include the disposal of City-owned vacant land located at 4937 Femrite Drive in District 16. 

• Meeting Details 

• Meeting Agenda 

• Register for Public Comment 

• Watch Online  

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) 

• Resurfacing Program 2025 Projects, Monday, February 24: The public information meeting for Resurfacing projects for 2025 is scheduled for 6 p.m., Feb. 24, 2025, via Zoom. Registration prior is required.  

Announcements and News Releases 

• Statement Regarding Metro Bus Service Disruptions : Many Madison Metro bus routes experienced service disruptions last week due to a high number of driver absences and driver refusal of overtime work. [posted February 20, 2025] 

• Imagination Center at Reindahl Park Construction Process Begins with Bid Advertisement: The City of Madison Engineering Division is calling all interested and prequalified contractors to submit a bid to work on the City’s new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park (ICRP), the first Madison Public Library facility to be built in a City of Madison Park. posted February 19, 2025 

• First Production Pierce Volterra Electric Pumper Now in Service in Madison: City of Madison solidifies its leadership in environmental sustainability and fire service innovation by receiving the first Pierce Volterra Electric Pumper production unit ordered, now in service. [posted February 19, 2025] 

• Metro Transit to Expand Service into Monona: Starting Monday, March 3, Metro's Route 38 will provide hourly service into the City of Monona. [posted February 17, 2025] 

• Final Days to Vote for Snowplow Names!: Voting ends on Monday, February 24 at 8:00pm at www.wisaltwise.com/NameThesePlows. [posted February 17, 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 

• District 11 Book Club: The Art of Community, Wednesday, February 26: Please consider attending the next District 11 Book Club event on February 26th at 7:00 PM in the main meeting room at the Sequoya Library. Together with area residents and community leaders, we will discuss Charles H. Vogl's 2016 book, The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging. A limited number of copies will be available at the "Ask Desk" on a first-come, first-served basis. This casual, public event is open to all, and even if you haven't finished the book, you're encouraged to attend and join the conversation!  

• DCR FILM SCREENING - "John Lewis: Good Trouble," Thursday, February 27: In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Madison Department of Civil Rights, Dane County Office for Equity and Inclusion, and Monona Terrace present the film, “John Lewis: Good Trouble.” 

• Black History Month Festival, Friday, February 28: Join the Madison Senior Center in celebrating Black History Month with a day of fun, food, bingo and entertainment! This special event is designed for older adults. Please Register. 

• Dig into Rain Gardens- 1:1 Coaching Sessions with the Experts, Sunday, March 2: Participants will meet individually with a rain garden expert to look at their specific site using an online mapping application, determine drainage patterns and select an optimal location for a rain garden. Experts will also assist participants with sizing, plant selection and provide resources on site preparation and installation. The event is $20, but Madison residents receive a reimbursement of up to $50 for native plants purchased through the Plant Dane Native Plant Program and planted in their rain garden. 

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

Lastly....

It's not just the policies, it's the cruelty. The cavalier manner in which cuts have been made that will result in children dying overseas, federal workers losing their jobs, life-saving clinical trials upended, and myriad other examples too many to mention here is more than enough to cause alarm.

I am encouraged, however, to recall a voice from the past, reminding us what truly counts. 

"Character is destiny," wrote the Greek philosopher Heraclitus 2500 years ago. In times like these when the collective character of those in power is decidely suspect, it's important we all draw upon the classic virtues of courage, compassion and fortitude. 

If we are not already in a constitutional crisis, we are clearly on the verge of one. In terms of what all this means locally remains unclear. As I learn more, I will be sure to share with you the details.

Meanwhile, let's all enjoy this burst of early spring-like weather and continue to support each other, including the most vulnerable in our midst.

That's all for now.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag