Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of December 9, 2024

In the D19

• Set Out Your Leaves & Yard Waste on Sunday, December 8 for a Last Chance Pickup. The Streets Division will be performing a last chance pickup for leaves and yard waste, weather permitting. All residents who need another leaf pickup should set out their leaves and yard waste on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Crews will be through all Madison neighborhoods one last time to collect leaves and yard waste sometime during the workdays following Sunday, December 8, weather permitting. Every Madison neighbor shares the same last chance set out date.  Crews will be in your neighborhood as soon as they can. Please be patient. It will take multiple workdays for every neighborhood to receive their last chance pickup. The same crews operate snowplows. Plowing takes precedence. Fortunately, heavy snow is not in the forecast. Drop off sites also accept leaves but note that winter hours are now in effect.
• Proposal to forgive the debt of two ice arenas. I provided background on a plan to eventually forgive the debt of the Madison Ice Arena (725 Forward Drive, District 19) and Hartmeyer Ice Arena (1834 Commercial Avenue, District 12) in a blog on November 24. If you have questions or would like to learn more, District 12 Alder Latimer Burris is hosting a neighborhood meeting that will take place on Thursday December 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Lakeview Library (2845 N. Sherman Avenue). The arenas are also holding open houses for anyone wishing to tour the facilities: Madison Ice Arena at 5 pm on December 12 and Hartmeyer Ice Arena at 6 pm on December 18. The proposal is now making its way through committees: Economic Development at 5 pm on December 18, Finance at 4:30 pm on January 6, and Common Council on January 14 for a final decision.

Updates and Notices

Winter Weather Alerts: Subscribe to get winter weather alerts in real time. Residents can sign up to receive alerts by text or email.

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, December 10, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include removing the paid parking pilot.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include expanding a safety education program.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include allowing the Urban Canid Project to continue.
  • 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.

Announcements and News Releases

• Grease Reminder From City Crews, Recent Sewer Overflow Cleaned Up Successfully: The City of Madison Engineering Division wants to remind the public to avoid pouring fats, oil, grease (FOG) and other food waste in home drains this season. A ditch area on the City of Madison’s east side is clean after a Sanitary Sewer Overflow… [posted December 6, 2024]
• Sycamore and South Point Drop-off Sites Start Winter Hours on Friday, December 6, 2024 = No More Weekend or Evening Hours Until Spring:The Streets Division drop-off sites at 4602 Sycamore Avenue and 402 South Point Rd are shifting to winter hours. The final day of "expanded" hours is Friday, December 6, 2024.  The sites will be open from 7:30am until 2:45pm on this date.… [posted December 5, 2024]
• Vision Zero’s '20 is Plenty' Program to Roll Out This Winter : Madison joins other progressive cities across the country — including Minneapolis, New York City, Portland, and Seattle — in lowering speed limits on local streets [posted December 5, 2024]
• Smart Planning, Fire Sprinklers a Winning Combo This Holiday Season: Your holiday décor choices can impact your home fire safety. Automatic fire sprinklers offer an extra layer of protection, too. We share some practical tips to protect yourself and your loved ones during the holiday season! [posted December 4, 2024]
• Olin Avenue Drop-off Site is Closed: The Streets Division drop-off site at 121 E. Olin Avenue is now closed. In order to drop off items, such as televisions, excess cardboard, and other items, you must go to another Streets Division drop-off location.  Drop-off site… [posted December 2, 2024]

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

• Overdose Recognition and Response: A Toolkit for Overdose Prevention and Post-Care, Wednesday, December 11 [Virtual Webinar]: Join us for an engaging and free virtual training on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose.
• District 11 Book Club with Stu Levitan, Wednesday, December 11: For our next District 11 Book Club on December 11th, Stu Levitan will give an illustrated talk on Madison in the 1970s, adapted from his forthcoming book, Madison: The Illustrated Sesquicentennial History, Volume 2, 1932 to 1979.
• D7 Lunch and Learn featuring the Streets Division, Thursday, December 12: Join Alder Nasra Wehelie on Thursday, December 12, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. for a virtual Lunch and Learn that will provide information on the City of Madison's winter services and what folks should think about as we enter the snow season. Streets Division Superintendent Charlie Romines will be the special guest for the December Lunch and Learn.
• Mobile Vaccination Clinic: Hmong Institute, Friday, December 13: We're hosting mobile vaccination clinics throughout the county in partnership with community organizations! All vaccines are free to those eligible:…
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, December 13: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the game room or the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo!
• Homebuyer Education Workshop, Saturday, December 14: Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop takes place in-person at the Atrium Villager Mall (2300 S Park St, Madison, WI) on Saturday, December 14 from 8:30am-3:30pm! Lunch will be provided.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift A, Saturday, December 14: Join us for a meaningful day of conservation efforts as we work together to protect and enhance our local conservation park! Your participation is crucial in safeguarding the biodiversity and natural habitats that make our park a haven for wildlife and a treasure for our community.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday | Shift B, Saturday, December 14: Join us for a meaningful day of conservation efforts as we work together to protect and enhance our local conservation park! Your participation is crucial in safeguarding the biodiversity and natural habitats that make our park a haven for wildlife and a treasure for our community.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, December 1: 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, Badgerland Bird Alliance, Madison Audubon Society,  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 2:30-4pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, December 15: Walks at Warner Park held on the 3rd Sunday of every month are co-sponsored by Madison Bird City FUN partners Wild Warner and Madison Audubon . Meet at the colorful Warner Park shelter by the lagoon. Parking is available nearby. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

• Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park, November 9th through December 31, 2024: Lighted holiday themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through anytime Dusk until Dawn to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.

   

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