Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of February 19, 2024

Image credit: City of Madison

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.

• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items for District 11 include (Item 21 file 82076) approving plans, specifications and authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for the Annual Construction and Reconstruction of Concrete Sidewalk and Incidental Concrete Curb and Gutter Work Ordered (District 11) and (item 26 file 82104) a Report of Engineering of Non-Bid Contract for Regent Street and N Kenosha Drive Storm Culvert Replacement (District 11)
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• Economic Development Committee: The Economic Development Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items include amending the Land Banking Fund Policy to add urban agriculture as an appropriate secondary use for properties acquired through the fund, a discussion about the 2025 budget, and the selection of the Madison Region Economic Partnership to administer the City of Madison's BizReady Program.
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• Madison Food Policy Council: The Madison Food Policy Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 21, in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include amending the Land Banking Fund Policy to add urban agriculture as an appropriate secondary use for properties acquired through the fund, revising City of Madison leases on lands being used for row crop agriculture, and reports from the chair, staff, and regular business.
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Public Information Meetings & Sessions

• Public Input Meeting - Meadowood Park, Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (IN-PERSON): The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Meadowood Park and we want your input. An earlier online workshop included a larger group discussion, providing an opportunity for neighborhoods to learn and share ideas, then moved into smaller individual online break-out ‘rooms’ to address design considerations specific to each park. 
• Public Input Meeting - Kestrel Park, Thursday, February 22 (VIRTUAL): A Park Development Plan for Kestrel Park was completed and approved by the Board of Park Commissioners on June 14, 2023. Madison Parks is now beginning to implement the plan, with construction anticipated in 2024. Construction will include a new playground and community patio space. Work will also be done to establish the ground cover vegetation as noted in the plan. 
• Public Information Meeting - Monona Terrace Tunnel Lighting Project, Thursday, February 22, 2024 (VIRTUAL): The City is planning on replacing the lighting system that currently provides lighting to vehicle traffic on John Nolen Dr. for the Monona Terrace Tunnel with non-corrosive materials and light emitting diode (LED) fixtures. In addition to tunnel lighting and controls, potential infrastructure for aesthetic lighting will be evaluated for future installation.

Announcements & News Releases

• Officer dishes up service, spaghetti during job shadow program: MADSON, Wis. – For one community center on the south side, Fridays are for food and friendship. The latest round of the Madison Proximity Project, a job shadow program started by the Madison Police Department earlier this year, took place at the…
• State Street--Bus Rapid Transit Station Construction: The two State Street Bus Rapid Transit stations will begin construction starting Monday, February 19, between W Gorham Street and W Dayton Street.  A single, westbound traffic lane will remain available for delivery vehicle access.  Construction…
• Street Closures--Southbound N Lake Street posted February 16, 2024
• Starting 7:00 a.m. on Monday, February 19, the southbound direction of traffic on North Lake Street will be closed between State Street and University Avenue for installation of temporary communication poles and overhead lines. The work and closure…
• New Artist-in-Residence at Central Library Wants Your Help Filling A Vintage Doll House and Creating A Family Reunion: The Bubbler at Madison Public Library welcomes artist Grace Olson as the new Artist-in-Residence at Central Library
• City Breaks Ground on New Bus Storage, Maintenance Facility to Support Electric Fleet: MADISON, WI – For the first time in a decade, the City is able to expand its Metro Transit bus services thanks to federal funding for a major $16M remodel project to support the City’s new electric bus fleet.
• Hospitalized Absentee Ballot Process: February 13 was the first day for hospitalized voters to appoint an agent for the retrieval, delivery, and return of their absentee ballot. This process is available until 5 p.m. on Election Day. Hospitalized voters can initiate the process by appointing an…
• Mail It Back Monday: As of today, the City Clerk’s Office has issued 615 absentee ballots for the February Primary, with 123 returned to be counted. The Clerk’s Office strongly encourages absentee voters to mail back their absentee ballots today, if possible. By mailing…

Events

• Spring Primary Election Day, Tuesday, February 20, 2024: Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
• Gentle Yoga, Tuesday, February 20: Yoga improves balance, range of motion and flexibility, which are all important, especially as we age. Yoga Accessible for All (YAFA) teachers dedicate themselves to making yoga safe and inviting for anyone who is interested in gaining the benefits (yafayoga.org).
• Yoga Core, Tuesday, February 20: Yoga Core is a great class to help build strength and body awareness. 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. Participants will need to be able to get up and down off the floor. Chairs or walls may be used for balance assistance.
• Knowing and Understanding Your Rights, Wednesday, February 21: This meeting aims to inform community members about their constitutional rights during traffic stops. Madison Police Department officers will also share crime prevention tips to protect people from becoming a victim of identity theft.
• Meditation At Monona Terrace, Thursday, February 20: Mindfulness Meditation will be led by Sarah Moore M.D., a mind-body practitioner, therapist, and physician. Sarah has been practicing meditation for more than 20+ years and teaching meditation to groups and individuals for the past 15 years. Her personal practice has brought her much peace, joy and stability, and she is excited to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with others.
• Learn How to Ride Metro at Sequoya Library, Friday, February 23, 2024: Learn how to use Metro Transit’s fixed route city bus service. Topics include using Google Maps, the Transit app, and other digital options; paper schedules and phone service; and discounted fare options. Metro employees will answer your questions about bus travel and provide one-on-one assistance in English and Spanish.
• Yoga Core, Friday, February 23: Yoga Core is a great class to help build strength and body awareness. 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. Participants will need to be able to get up and down off the floor. Chairs or walls may be used for balance assistance.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, February 24: Join a naturalist for an easy family-friendly walk from Aldo Leopold Nature Center into beautiful Edna Taylor Conservation Park and enjoy a bit of nature education along the way. Walk will begin at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive. Meet outside at the Children's Shack. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks, Badgerland Bird Alliance, and Aldo Leopold Nature Center . No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• District 11 Book Club on March 20: To explore the topic of city zoning codes in further detail, the next District 11 Book Club will be held on Wednesday, March 20th at the Sequoya Library from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The book we will be discussing is the 2022 book by M. Nolan Gray, “Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It.” Copies of the book are available for you to check out in-person from the Sequoya library at the Ask Desk while supplies last. The discussion will be hosted by District 11 Alder Bill Tishler, and all community members are welcome to attend.