Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of December 4, 2023

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 here.

• City-County Homeless Issues Committee: The City-County Homeless Issues Committee meeting will take place on Monday, December 4, 2023, in virtual format at 5:30 PM. Agenda items include updates on the Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, a report on car camping, and updates on the men's shelter development.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, in virtual format at 6:30 PM. Agenda items include adopting an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for the Mineral Point Road Widened Sidewalk, and resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as condemning Islamophobia and Antisemitism.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board: The Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, in virtual format at 6:30 PM. Agenda items include an update on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation I-39/90 Corridor Study, the Electric Vehicle Plan, and a status report on Capital Area RPC Activities status report.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Thursday, December 7, 2023, in hybrid format at 5:00 PM. Agenda items include an update on the Sustainability Plan, a progress update, and input on key issues related to the West and Northeast Area Plans, and demolition approval standards.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

Public Information Meetings & Sessions

• 2024 State Street Pedestrian Mall Experimental Closure - Initial Concept Review - Monday, December 4, 2023 (VIRTUAL & IN PERSON): Following Metro Transit's network redesign, which shifted bus routes off the lower blocks of State Street, the City of Madison Common Council adopted a resolution directing staff to pursue an experimental pedestrian mall/street closure of the 400-600 blocks in the summer of 2024. Planning Division staff will present the initial design concept for those blocks and discuss options for when the blocks will be closed to private vehicles.

Events

• Yoga Core - Tuesday, December 5, 2023, and Friday, December 8, 2023: Want to build your strength and increase body awareness? Yoga Core is a great way to do it! This class incorporates a wide variety of seated, standing, balancing, and mat-based yoga poses focusing on strength, stability, and mobility. Core-based practices can help enhance balance and stability and prevent falls and injuries as we age. All levels are welcome!
• Holiday Lights Tour & Reception - Tuesday, December 5, 2023: Catch the holiday spirit as we tour Olin Park's Holiday Lights display! Vans leave from the Goodman Community Center and will stop at the Madison Senior Center on the way to Olin Park. Afterward, we will return to Goodman to enjoy a holiday reception of cookies & hot chocolate. Registration required! 
• Wellness Talks: The Energies of Sleep - Wednesday, December 6, 2023: If you struggle with sleep, you probably feel like you've tried everything! You may have changed your sleep environment, developed a bedtime routine, tried supplements, or modified your diet. But have you tried balancing your body's energy systems? They play an important role in our ability to get a good night's sleep.
• Learn to Nordic Walk - Friday, December 8, 2023: What is Nordic walking? Join us at Elver Park on Friday, December 8, 2023, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM and get ready for winter! We've partnered with Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki) for this free workshop. Participants of all ages are welcome and will explore Elver Park and learn where to hike and snowshoe in this park. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures at Owen Conservation Park -  Saturday, December 9, 2023: 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, Madison Audubon Society, and the Friends of Owen Conservation Park. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Owen Conservation Park are held year-round on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

Announcements

• Rates Increasing in 2024 for City of Madison Owned Parking Facilities: The City of Madison Parking Division is scheduled to increase several off-street parking rates, effective January 1, 2024. These increases are necessary as they provide continued maintenance of our facilities, improve the level of service offered, and ensure safe and comfortable parking structures for all to use.
• Set Out Leaves on December 3, 2023, for a Last Chance Collection Opportunity: Set out leaves on Sunday, December 3, 2023, for a last chance leaf pickup. Crews will be around to collect piles set out for pickup if the weather allows.
• Additional Funding to Support Violence Prevention Programs: On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, Public Health Madison & Dane County began accepting applications from local community organizations to receive funding that supports violence prevention efforts in Dane County.
• Metro Ridership Surges Past 1 Million Rides for October: For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Metro has provided more than 1 million rides in a single month. Metro provided 1,075,549 rides in October, an almost 20% increase compared to October of last year. This is the highest monthly ridership since February 2020.
• Madison Public Market Groundbreaking: 'A Place Where Dreams Come True.'