Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of March 16, 2026

Just when it felt like spring had arrived, Wisconsin weather had other plans. Starting tonight, the Streets Division will plow roughly 1,800 miles of Madison streets. Crews will begin with major salt routes, which include Metro bus routes and key roads near hospitals and schools. Residential plowing will begin after the snowfall ends and more than 3 inches have accumulated. To help plows work safely and efficiently, choose off‑street parking options whenever possible and follow all parking restrictions. Do not place trash or recycling carts in the road for pickup, as they obstruct snowplows.

For winter updates, visit the City of Madison website: cityofmadison.com 

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 – Discussion: The Common Council discussion will take place on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 201 of the City-County Building. This discussion will cover City of Madison sustainability initiatives.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Watch Online
• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, March 16, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include the extension of Tax Increment District 41 for 12 months.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, March 16, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 1, 2, 15, and 19.
  • 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 (PIMs)

• Sherman Ave, N. Sherman Ave, and McGuire Street Reconstruction, Monday, March 16: The City is planning reconstruction of Sherman Ave from McGuire St to N. Sherman Ave/Fordem Ave, N. Sherman Ave/Fordem Ave from Northfield Pl to Erie Ct, and McGuire St from Sherman Ave to Fordem Ave in 2026. A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., March 16, 2026, via Zoom. Registration is required. 
• Public Input Meeting - Newbery Park, Tuesday, March 17: The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Newbery Park and we want your input. At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from input gathered at the playground workshop. 

Announcements and News Releases

• Building a Greener Madison: Common Council Holds Discussion on the City's Sustainability Plan: The Madison Common Council will hold a discussion on City sustainability initiatives on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM in Room 201 of the City-County Building. [posted March 13, 2026] 
• New Central Drop-off Site at 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway Opens on April 11, 2026: The new centrally located drop-off site for the Streets Division will open on April 11, 2026.The address of the new location is 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway. [posted March 11, 2026] 
• Absentee Ballots Are in the Mail: The City of Madison Clerk's Office has begun mailing absentee ballots for the April 7, 2026, election. [posted March 10, 2026] 
• Rachel Darken Named Fleet Service Superintendent: Mayor Rhodes-Conway has appointed Rachel Darken as the City of Madison’s new Fleet Service Superintendent within the Public Works Department. [posted March 10, 2026] 
• Charlie Romines Named Public Works Director: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is pleased to announce the appointment of Charlie Romines to the position of Public Works Director. [posted March 10, 2026] 
• 2026 Brush Collection Schedule is Now Available: The 2026 set-out date schedule for the Streets Division's brush schedule pickup is now available on the brush collection website. Learn the Set-Out Dates for Your Neighborhood.... [posted March 10, 2026] 
• CARES Teams Acquire Long-Awaited Response Vehicles to Better Support People in Crisis: CARES will now respond to non-violent behavioral health emergencies in specialized Ford Transit vans outfitted to allow personalized care. [posted March 10, 2026] 
• Spring Yard Waste Collection Set-Out Date Schedule for 2026 Now Available: The 2026 set-out date schedule for the Streets Division's springtime yard waste collection is now available on the yard waste website. When do I put out yard waste for pickup? Go to our yard waste website. Enter your address into the form. [posted March 2, 2026] 

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

• Olbrich Gardens Public Workshop, Tuesday, March 17-In-Person (This event occurs on multiple dates): Olbrich Botanical Gardens is undergoing its first comprehensive master planning process in more than 20 years and is seeking public input during a series of meetings, the 2nd is on Tuesday, March 18, 2026. The widely regarded landscape architecture firm Reed Hilderbrand was chosen through a competitive selection process to lead the design team and the project as a whole.
• MSCR & Madison Parks Hiring Fair, Wednesday, March 18: Madison Parks and MSCR are hiring seasonal staff in aquatics, maintenance, conservation and more! Attend a Hiring Fair at Parks Lakeside Offices and apply and interview onsite! Make this a summer to remember! 
• Learn & Ride: Junction Road Park & Ride, Thursday, March 19: Join Metro Transit staff to learn how to ride the bus, navigate routes and stops, and feel confident getting where you need to go with Metro!
• Olbrich Gardens Public Workshop, Thursday, March 19 (Virtual): Olbrich Botanical Gardens is undergoing its first comprehensive master planning process in more than 20 years and is seeking public input during a series of meetings, the 2nd is on Tuesday, March 18, 2026. The widely regarded landscape architecture firm Reed Hilderbrand was chosen through a competitive selection process to lead the design team and the project as a whole.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, March 21: Equinox Walk ~ Join Noah Edelstein with Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free fun educational family friendly walk along easy paths to the beautiful Starkweather Creek greenway.

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