Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of October 13, 2025

Public Health Offices Closed: Public Health Offices will be closed on Monday, October 13, 2025, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. The City of Madison Offices will remain open and operate regular office hours.

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, October 13, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a briefing on the 2026 Executive Operating Budget, as well as authorizing various applications for grant funding from the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 14, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. This is a budget hearing on the 2026 Executive Operating Budget. Public comments will not be taken at this meeting.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Thursday, October 16, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Agenda items include updates on the Curb Management Framework and the Urban Design Commission Code.
  • 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.

Events

• Learn to Fish, Tuesday, October 14: Learn to Fish with Madison Parks. Participants will learn the basics of fishing. The Fishmobile, courtesy of Warner Park Community Recreation Center, will be on site with all the fishing equipment needed to participate.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, October 18: Transitioning to Winter ~ Join Master Naturalist Sean Gere with Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free family friendly guided tour along Starkweather Creek.  Enjoy Fall outdoors and learn how plants, trees, birds, insects and other animals are enjoying the bounty of Summer and getting ready for Winter.
• Volunteer at The Glen, Saturday, October 18 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Volunteering at The Glen offers you a unique opportunity to contribute to your community, learn new skills, grow personally and professionally, and connect with like-minded individuals.
• Rock ‘N’ The Well Open House, Saturday, October 18: Rocks! Water! Motion! Welcome to Madison Water Utility’s Rock ‘N’ The Well Open House 2025! This event is FREE to all community members. Show up any time between Noon and 4 pm.
• Hayrides & Hikes, Saturday, October 18: Tour Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North Unit aboard a tractor-pulled hay wagon, enjoy nature activities, take a self-guided hike, participate in the scavenger hunt or do it all! Plus enjoy free hot cider, a campfire, and marshmallows to roast on the fire.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, October 19: Reflections and Changes ~ Join Master Naturalist Lynn Persson for a free family friendly guided nature walk on easy paths along the Warner Lagoon, quiet trails through Warner Woods, and follow the bike path to Sled Hill for a beautiful view of the Wild Side of Warner Park!
• District 11 Book Club on October 22, 2025 at 7:00 pm:(link is external)   Alder Tishler will moderate a panel discussion on The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America(link is external) by Richard Rothstein. The panel members will discuss the book and what Madisonians can do in the present day to combat the legacy of segregation.

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

Announcements and News Releases

• SafeGrowth Initiative Brings New Public Art to Historic Downtown Corridor: West Gilman Street is being transformed by three distinctive public art projects, breathing new creative energy into the historic corridor. [posted October 10, 2025]
• October is Pedestrian Safety Month: As the days grow shorter and more kids walk to and from school, fall is a great time for everyone in Madison to get outside for some fresh air, exercise, and exploration. It’s also the perfect moment to focus on pedestrian safety. [posted October 9, 2025]
• Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award : The City of Madison invites you to submit nominations for its annual Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award. [posted October 8, 2025]
• Swearing-In Ceremony for Madison’s New Chief of Police John Patterson:
• The City of Madison and the Madison Police Department invite community members and the media to attend the official swearing-in ceremony for John Patterson as our new Chief of Police. Chief Patterson is a 27-year veteran of the MPD, having served in… [posted October 7, 2025]
• John Nolen Drive Reconstruction Begins Monday, October 13: Reconstruction of John Nolen Drive will begin on Monday, October 13. During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Lakeside Street and Broom Street. North Shore Drive and Broom Street will also be reduced to one… [posted October 6, 2025]

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.