Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of October 16, 2023

Sign Up for BRT Alerts: Keep up-to-date on BRT updates by signing up for email and text alerts at: mymetrobus.com/alerts     

City of Madison Sustainability Survey: What is your vision for a green, climate-friendly, and resilient Madison? Where do you see opportunities for improvement? What are your top priorities? The City of Madison wants to hear your thoughts on the draft Sustainability Plan’s eight themes and supporting goals. This plan will help the City advance sustainability through its policies, programs, and projects. By taking this quick survey, you are helping ensure the draft themes and goals are in line with the community’s vision for a sustainable City of Madison. Ten lucky winners will receive a $20 gift card to The Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream! Let’s work together to create a sustainable City for both existing and future Madisonians! Take survey here: www.cityofmadison.com/sustainability

Meetings

• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 17 in hybrid format at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include authorizing funding for the Madison Public Market, reducing the time allotted to each alder for discussion and debate, and transferring parking enforcement and supervision from the Madison Police Department to the Madison Department of Transportation’s Parking Division.

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• City-County Homeless Issues Committee: The City-County Homeless Issues Committee meeting will take place on Monday, October 16 in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include updates on affordable housing development funds, amending various ordinances to remove minimum penalty amounts, 2024 City and County budget recommendations, and general staff updates.
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• Urban Design Commission: The Urban Design Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 18 in Room 206 of the Madison Municipal Building at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include a public hearing for a new hotel in District 11, an informational presentation on the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park in District 12, an informational presentation for a mixed-use development in District 4, and other business in District 4 and District 12.

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• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 18 in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include creating a Wilson/Broom/Henry Underground District to remove overhead distribution and service utility lines and replace them with underground systems and services in District 4, approving the roadway geometry for the reconstruction of John Nolen Drive from North Shore Drive to S Broom Street in District 4, and various other items all across Madison.

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• Economic Development Committee: The Economic Development Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 18 in virtual format at 5:00 p.m. Agenda items include adopting an amendment to the City of Madison Comprehensive Plan.

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• Madison Food Policy Council: The Madison Food Policy Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 18 in virtual format at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include authorizing funding for Luna’s Groceries and Gooh Groceries, as well as reports from the Madison Food Policy Council Chair, Dane Food Access Network, Farmland Preservation Task Force, Community Gardens, and other groups and staff members.

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Upcoming Metro Transit Meetings: Learn more about Metro’s proposed second BRT line to run from the north side of Madison through the downtown area, to Madison’s Southside neighborhoods and ending in Fitchburg.

North/South BRT Planning

• South Side Wednesday, November 1 5:30pm – 7:30pm Urban League (2222 S. Park Street) 
• North Side Thursday, November 2 5:30pm – 7:30pm Warner Park Community Center (1625 Northport Dr.)
• Fitchburg Thursday, November 9 5:30pm – 7:30pm Fitchburg Council Chambers (City Hall, 5520 Lacy Rd.)
• Virtual meeting Wednesday, November 8 6:30pm – 7:30pm Register and receive meeting link at madisonbrt.com 

Announcements

• Atwood Avenue Now Open to Bidirectional Traffic: (MADISON, Wis.)—Starting today, Atwood Avenue is open to bidirectional traffic from Fair Oaks Avenue to Cottage Grove Road.
• Mayor’s Statement on Release of “Race to Equity 10-Year Report: Dane County”: We welcome the release of Kids Forward’s “Race to Equity 10-Year Report: Dane County.” Ten years ago, the first Race to Equity report highlighted the fact that racial disparities in our community were deep, persistent, and
• Street Closure--Westbound W Dayton Street (Lake Street to Brooks Street): Westbound traffic is closed on West Dayton Street between N Lake Street and Bernard Ct for a UW steam tunnel project through the Park St & Dayton St intersection.  Work and traffic control is expected to remain in place.
• Street Closure--N Fair Oaks Avenue (Mon. 10/16 thru Wed. 10/18): Starting at 7:00 a.m.
• Street Closure--100 block N Allen Street: On Tuesday October 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m., the 100 block of North Allen Street will be closed to through-traffic between Chamberlain Ave and Van Hise Ave Avenue.  The roadway will be re-opened to through-traffic by 3:00 p.m.
• Tips needed as MPD continues investigation into shooting that killed teen, injured 3 others: The Madison Police Department is searching for five people directly involved in Tuesday night’s deadly shooting at Harmony at Grandview Commons.
• Madison Public Library to Distribute Free Eclipse Glasses: MADISON, WI - Madison Public Library will distribute free eclipse glasses in preparation for Saturday’s solar eclipse.
• New Artist-in-Residence at Central Library Brings Well Wishes and a Wishing Well to the Bubbler Room: MADISON, WI -- The Bubbler at Madison Public Library is welcoming a new Artist-in-Residence at Central Library for the fall.
• Fall is Here: Mulch Leaves, Compost, Connect on Collection Times: MADISON, WI- The City of Madison is excited to kick off the fall season with reminders of all things leaves that every City of Madison resident needs to know, starting with mulching the leaves in lawns.
• Street Closure--East Washington Avenue (Pinckney St to Butler St): Starting at 9:00 a.m.
• Madison Public Library's Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations Program Returns for 2023 on Indigenous Peoples' Day: MADISON, WI -- Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations, a program created by Madison Public Library in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, will return to libraries across Madison on Indigenous
• Street Closure--Farley Avenue (Friday, 10/20 to Monday, 10/23): Farley Avenue will be closed at the intersection of University Avenue from 6:00 a.m. on Friday, October 20, until approximately 7:00 p.m.
• Get Your Fall Vaccines Ahead of Respiratory Virus Season: Public Health Madison & Dane County is encouraging everyone to get up to date on flu, RSV, and COVID vaccines ahead of respiratory season.

Events

• Meditation at Monona Terrace, Thursday, September 7, 2023 - 12:00pm to Thursday, December 14, 2023 - 12:00pm: Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. Anyone can practice; it is simple, inexpensive and does not require any special equipment. Join us virtually every Thursday, September 7 - December 14, for this free 45-minute program welcome to all levels. Advance registration for Zoom webinar is required.

• East Side Farmers' Market, Tuesday, October 17: The Eastside Farmers' Market is Madison Wisconsin’s finest weekday farmers' market. Our goal is to bring the freshest Wisconsin grown food direct to the heart of the East side. Our vendor members are agricultural producers and food artisans who make value added products from Wisconsin's agricultural bounty.

• Dane County Farmers' Market - Wednesday Market, Wednesday, October 18: The Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market is located on the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in between the Madison Municipal Building and the City County Building. While more intimate than the Saturday Market, you will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, bakery items, cut flowers, plants, and many specialty items.

• Cyclocross at The Glen, Wednesday, October 18: We've partnered with Capital Off-Road Pathfinders in offering a free, temporary cyclocross course to practice your biking skills. You will need a bike with knobby tires, such as a mountain bike style and a good-fitting helmet. Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing similar to cross-country running but on a bicycle. Courses feature wooded trails, grass, pavement, steep hills, and obstacles. Participants will need to stay on the clearly marked course at The Glen, which is temporary for this event only. The Glen House is open for refreshments.

• Fall into an Evening with South Police Department, Wednesday, October 18, 6-8 p.m.: Come and meet members of Amigos en Azul, Black Officer Coalition and the South District Community Police Advisory Board. Location: The Urban League, 2222 S. Park St.

• Madison Night Market, Thursday, October 19: Madison Night Market is a celebration of Madison's unique and inspiring creative culture. Vendors showcase handmade products, local art, artisan gifts, prepackaged foods and fresh produce. The event includes live music, artists, special visiting food carts and pop-up restaurant experiences. The Market is presented by Madison's Central Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the City of Madison. Partnerships with area arts and cultural organizations ensure this event is a city-wide representation of this community’s talent. The Office of the Common Council and members of the Common Council will have a resource table to speak with constituents and enhance general awareness about the City of Madison Common Council and ways to get involved with local government!

• Wisconsin Science Festival on the Square, Thursday, October 19: Join us for one fantastic night that blends science with downtown Madison businesses. Back for its fifth year, the ever popular Science on the Square event is a unique way to explore hands-on science activities while also supporting local businesses and vendors. Learn more about the science that surrounds us every day. Science on the Square is produced by the Wisconsin Science Festival and the Madison Central Business Improvement District.

• Moon Over Monona Terrace, Friday, October 20: Young and old alike are invited to the Rooftop Gardens to view the Moon and other celestial objects, such as Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn, through a multitude of different telescopes provided by the Madison Astronomical Society (MAS). Activities include short kid-friendly presentations about the moon and other celestial phenomena, plus a kids’ fun zone with educational games and prizes!

FREE ticket required for admission. Tickets are required for all attendees; subject to venue capacity and are issued on a first come first serve basis. There is a limit of 8 tickets per patron.

• Volunteer Day at The Glen, Saturday, October 21: The Glen Golf Park is establishing an ongoing volunteer program that helps volunteers learn, grow personally and gain professional experience.

• HUD-Approved Homebuyer Education, Saturday, October 21: Take the first step to owning a home, and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE HUD-Approved homebuyer education workshop takes place in person and lunch is provided. For more details and to register, follow link.

• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, October 21: Patterns in Nature with JoAnn Riecke ~ Nature's designs are fascinating as well as adaptive!  Join Master Naturalist Joanne Riecke or take a walk on your own any day in October to look for and learn about some basic design patterns you see in nature and explore the area for examples.  Take pictures or bring paper and a pencil to make drawings to share with others.

• Volunteer Workday | Edna Taylor Conservation Park, Saturday, October 21: Join the Friends of Edna Taylor Conservation Park to help clean up this conservation park. Trash bags and gloves are provided at the Femrite Rd. parking lot.

• Hayrides & Hikes, Saturday, October 21: Tour Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North Unit aboard a tractor-pulled hay wagon, enjoy nature activities, take a short guided hike, or do all! Plus, enjoy free hot cider, a campfire, and marshmallows to roast on the fire. Hayrides are $3/person (Free for children 2 and under). Volunteers from the Friends of Cherokee Marsh  lead free, short nature hikes. No reservations are needed. Visit any time from 1 pm to 3:30 pm.

Heads up!

• Madison Police Department- Public Records Presentation and Discussion, Monday, October 23rd, 5:30pm-7:00pm: There will be a presentation on law enforcement public records and the laws that govern their release. Additional presentation on what to expect when you make a public records request from the Madison Police Depart-ment. There will be time for discussion and questions. Former Town of Madison residents encouraged to attend. Presentation and Q&A from: Julie Laundrie, Madison Police Department Public Records Custodian

Date: Monday, October 23rd

Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm

Location: Madison Public Library, Goodman South Madison, 2222 S Park Street, Madison, WI 53713