Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of November 11, 2024

Manchester Park Playground Improvements

The City of Madison Parks Division has begun it’s work on replacing the playground at Manchester Park. The new playground equipment is anticipated to be installed and completed by late 2024 or early 2025. For more information on this project, please visit the Manchester Park Playground Improvements project page.

Empowering Small Businesses: District 7 Lunch and Learn featuring the Office of Business Resources

I am pleased to announce my upcoming Lunch and Learn on Thursday, November 21, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Learn more about small business opportunities, how to apply for city programs, TIF, TBE certification, and more! This virtual event is free and open to all Madison residents.

This interactive session will feature expert speakers from the Office of Business Resources, including Saran Ouk, Manager of the Office of Business Resources, Ruth Rohlich, Business Development Specialist, and Michael Miller, Business Development Specialist. Attendees will leave with knowledge of small business resources, staff contacts, and actionable tips essential to overcoming common challenges and fueling growth and success.

This event is virtual via Zoom, and advanced registration is required. This event is free and open to the public. You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone, or tablet or listen in via telephone. You will receive login information after registering at www.cityofmadison.com/LunchandLearnD7.

Southwest Area Plan Open House

The Planning team for the Southwest Area Plan has announced the dates and times for a series of kickoff events. The events will focus on laying the groundwork for the planning process, including short presentations on what the Area Plan process involves (what area plans do and do not do, the differences between future land use recommendation maps and zoning maps, etc.) before an open-house-style event where community members can ask questions of City staff from across multiple departments.

Event Details:

In-Person: The City of Madison will hold plan in-person kickoff event for the Southwest Area Plan on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, starting at 6:30pm at Toki Middle School.

Virtual: Save the date for the virtual Southwest Area Plan event will be held from Noon – 1:00pm and 6:00pm – 7:00pm on Tuesday, December 3. More information to come!

The Beltline bounds the Southwest Planning Area to the north and northeast, the City of Fitchburg to the south and southeast, and S. High Point Road to the west. It is represented by five different alder districts: District 1 (Council Vice President John Duncan), District 7 (Ald. Nasra Wehelie), District 10 (Council President Yannette Figueroa Cole), District 19 (Ald. John Guequierre), and District 20 (Ald. Barbara Harrington-McKinney).

Read the full news release here to learn more about the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans and the dates of their kickoff events.

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, November 12, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include adopting the additional property tax levy, as well as budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format, if needed. This meeting, if needed, would be used for budget deliberations.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Thursday, November 14, at 5:30 p.m. in hybrid format, if needed. This meeting, if needed, would be used for budget deliberations.
  • 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

• Nomination Deadline Extended for Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award: The deadline to submit nominations for the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award has been extended until Friday, November 15… [posted November 8, 2024]
• Statement from Mayor Rhodes-Conway on the City’s Referendum : “Madison residents deeply value the services their city government provides and that's reflected by the outcome of the referendum." [posted November 8, 2024]
• City of Madison Honors those Lives Lost due to Traffic Violence during Week prior to the World Day of Remembrance: In recognition of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday, November 17th, the City of Madison will install a memorial display and host a press conference to remember the lives lost due to traffic violence on City of Madison… [posted November 8, 2024]
• Final Guaranteed Yard Waste Collection Round Begins Next Week: For some neighborhoods of Madison, the final guaranteed leaf collection of the fall begins next week. These neighborhoods have a set out day for leaves and yard waste of Sunday, November 10, 2024.Other neighborhoods have later final guaranteed set… [posted November 8, 2024]
• Housing Strategy Committee outlines recommendations to increase affordability and supply: As the City works to support more housing opportunities of all types, there is more work to be done. That is why the Housing Strategy Committee reviewed the City’s 2021 Housing Forward Initiative and is building on it by making new recommendations. [posted November 7, 2024]
• Southbound Lane Closures on S Park Street – November 9 and 10: Starting at 4:00am Saturday, November 9 until approximately 7:00pm on Sunday, November 10, C.D. Smith will close the southbound travel lanes on S Park Street, between University Avenue and W Dayton Street for crane setup and girder installation for… [posted November 6, 2024]
• Street Closures - Madison Marathon: The Madison Marathon races will take place Sunday, November 10, starting at 7:00am at the Capitol. Runners will move through the UW Arboretum, Vilas Park, around Lake Monona, and back to the Capitol, with the last runners finishing around 1:… [posted November 5, 2024]
• What to Expect at the Polls: The City Clerk’s Office encourages voters to verify their polling location at https://MyVote.wi.gov before heading to the polls tomorrow. Redistricting in May changed some ward lines, which may affect where you vote.The busiest times at the… [posted November 4, 2024]
• Election Hero Day: The Madison City Clerk’s Office is celebrating National Election Hero Day on November 4.Election Hero Day is a civic holiday that celebrates the heroic role of poll workers in keeping our elections fair, accessible, and transparent. In the City of… [posted November 4, 2024]

Events

• OIM Opening Investigative Process, Monday, November 11: The Office of the Independent Monitor will be providing details on the opening of its investigative process. The Office is also announcing the start of a data project in collaboration with UCLA. After remarks, Independent Monitor Robin Copley and Data Analyst Greg Gelembiuk will be taking questions from the media.
• Parks Alive Fall | Allied Park, Monday, November 11: Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you!
• Parks Alive Fall | Warner Park, Wednesday, November 13: Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the fall. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you!
• LGBTQ 50+ Intergenerational Autumn Dinner, Thursday, November 14: A fun fall gathering of like-minded adults to mingle, enjoy a meal, listen to music, and maybe even do some dancing. Blush is a local all-girl band out of Madison. Their music is grungy alternative-rock, and they will play some originals and some covers everyone is sure to know.  A $20 donation for the meal is appreciated but not required. Registration required, call 608-255-8582. Open to all ages of queer folks and their allies.
• World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Friday, November 15: The City of Madison Vision Zero team will be hosting their 3rd installation display to honor those lost from traffic violence beginning on Monday, November 11. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, November 16: Fall Tree Walk ~ Join Naturalist Tree Expert Sean Gere for a fun and informal free family friendly guided walk or take a healthy nature hike on your own any day in Necember on easy walk and bike paths along Starkweather Creek. Enjoy the outdoors and learn about trees when leaves have fallen and you can see the branching structures and bark more easily.   
• Hayride Through Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17: See the Holiday Fantasy in Lights at Olin Park aboard a haywagon! No reservation is needed.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, November 17: 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.

For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the City events calendar.