City budget, Committee and public information meetings, Announcements and Events

Hello neighbors,

You may have seen the news that the Common Council voted this week to provide the public with a referendum, so you can decide whether to cut City services, or raise your property taxes by an average of $20 per month. Please know that no one took this decision lightly. The Mayor, Alders, and City staff all would prefer not to cut services, and not to raise taxes. But we are between a rock and a hard place. The Mayor gave a brief overview of where we are, and what we can expect from either decision of the voters in this speech to the Madison Rotary Club. The Mayor’s comments start at 17:18. While I encourage you to watch the entire presentation, some of the most salient points are made between minutes 28-31:14, and in answer to a question from 50:53-53:33. I also encourage you to review the blog post from my colleague, Alder Evers, who addressed the opening of bus rapid transit (BRT) and the budget.

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, August 26, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include amending the 2024 Resource Recovery Special Charge, as well as accepting a donation of Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and educational posters for overdose prevention.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, August 26, in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include approving housing recommendations that serve to strengthen efforts to expand rental, homeowner and student developments that were prepared by the Housing Strategy Committee, as well as adopting the Northeast Area Plan and the West Area Plan.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Water Utility Board: The Water Utility Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 27, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include 2025 Capital and Operating Budget requests, as well as PFAS settlements.
  • 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, August 28, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include establishing soil infiltration design standards.
  • 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

• Spring Harbor Watershed Study, Tuesday, August 27: This meeting will cover the updated solutions modeling for the Spring Harbor Watershed Study, which began in June 2022 after the completion of the original Watershed Study. Aug. 27, 2024 Public Information Meeting Registration
• Commercial Avenue Sanitary Sewer Reconstruction, Wednesday, August 28: This project will replace and upsize approximately 1,678 feet of sanitary sewer along the Commercial Avenue service roads on both the north and south sides of State of Wisconsin Highway 30 (Highway 30) and along North Fair Oaks Avenue.

Announcements and News Releases

• Navigating Madison’s New Bus-Only Lanes : As the city prepares for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to launch on September 22, the Madison Department of Transportation wants to make sure drivers understand how to navigate new dedicated bus lanes.
• Statement from Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway on the Referendum Resolution: The approval of a referendum in November is the only budgetary path in 2025 that protects our values as a community, while we work to address the chronic underfunding of local governments at the state level.
• Madison Public Libraries Will Be Closed for Labor Day, Sunday Hours Return, and More: All library locations will be closed to in-person service on Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day. Libraries will reopen on Tuesday, September 3 with regular hours.
• Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Draft 2025-29 Transportation Improvement Plan now available. Public information meeting to be held September 4, 6:30pm. Agenda will be available one week prior to the meeting.
• View the latest newsletter from Public Health Madison & Dane County.

• There will be a planned removal of 6 large dead oak trees in Hoyt Park this fall or early winter. Five of the trees are along Owen Parkway and one is just off the main parking lot. Two of the trees will possibly be left as “snags”, 10-15 feet high to provide habitat for wildlife and insects. Trees of similar species will be planted in future planting seasons.

  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

• Lunch Time LIVE! Yid Vicious, Tuesday, August 27: On Tuesdays - June through August - a FREE outdoor concert series will take place from noon-1pm on the King Street walkway of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Chairs will be available, and blankets and lawn chairs are welcome on the lawn nearby. And don't forget to grab 'to-go' lunch at dozens of downtown restaurants.
• Imagination Center Update: Town Hall to Inform, Educate, Advocate, Tuesday, August 27: Join us for a Town Hall led by Alder Sabrina Madison and the Sandburg Area Neighborhood Association to discuss the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park. Get informed about the current budget threats, educate yourself on the library’s benefits, ask questions, and learn how to advocate effectively to support this important community resource.
• Capitol View Farmers' Market, Wednesday, August 28: The Capitol View Farmers' Market is held weekly on Wednesdays (3:00-7:00pm) from late May through mid-October. Join us each week for great local vendors, live music, food carts, and special activities from week to week. Visit our website and follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and schedules!
• West High School revitalization ribbon cutting celebration, August 30, noon-2pm, ribbon cutting at 1pm.
• Dane Dances: Aniba & the Sol Starz / Rebulu Group, Friday, August 30: Dane Dances is a free, family-friendly event held every Friday evening in August on the beautiful Monona Terrace rooftop. The much-anticipated summer music series promotes inclusivity for all ages and is a great way to get down and dance with your friends, family, or coworkers. FREE! NO TICKETS NEEDED OR REQUIRED

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

Take care,

Regina Vidaver