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Week of October 13th

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Dear Neighbors,

I wish I was starting this blog on a happier note, as I usually try to do. Unfortunately, our community and neighbors are reeling from an act of violence that occurred Thursday evening. Madison Police received a call for shots fired in the Dutch Mill Trailer Park on the Southeast side of the district. Upon arrival, they found an individual down and the shooter had fled the scene. The police are conducting an ongoing search for the individual, and the incident is still under investigation and it is important to allow law enforcement to do their jobs. 

I am in close communication with Captain Ed Marshall, and the folks at the East District, well as our partners at Public Health. 

If you have information on the incident, please call the Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014. If you or a loved one needs support in the aftermath of this incident, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Public Health Madison Dane County. 

No family deserves to be ripped appart by an act of violence, and my thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of the victim. I am frustrated with the over-proliferation of firearms in our communities, as well as the failure of higher-level policymakers to address the ongoing epidemic of gun violence. Any act of violence goes far beyond the family of the victim – it touches everyone in the community. While I cannot alone enact policy change, I can offer community and support and encourage you to reach out to our partners at Public Health if you are struggling. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if there are ways that the city or I can be of assistance. 

In community, 

Sean 

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South East Area Plan Events

Residents, community organizations, businesses, and others are invited to join in the second phase of the planning for the Southeast Area Plan with a series of public meetings in the coming weeks.

Since the Southeast Area planning processes began in 2024, City staff have received community feedback through survey responses and interactive mapping comments, as well as during in-person and virtual meetings. Now, residents have another opportunity to connect at the next set of virtual and in-person meetings to see what the City has heard so far during the planning process.

These meetings will provide an overview of issues and opportunities in the planning area and offer a chance to review and comment on draft plan actions. Presentations at the virtual meetings will be followed by discussion and feedback. In-person meetings will have a short presentation followed by an open house.

Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
12:00pm – 1:00pm
RSVP to receive Meeting Link

In-Person Meeting
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave.

Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
6:00pm – 7:00pm
RSVP to Receive Meeting Link

Executive Operating Budget

Earlier this week, the Mayor released her Executive Operating Budget for 2026. The operating budget appropriates funding to City agencies (departments and divisions) to pay staff salaries, fund community-based organizations that deliver services on behalf of the City, and pay for other costs such as supplies and equipment. Core services funded by the operating budget include police, fire, emergency medical services, library and park programs, garbage and recycling collection, snow and ice removal, and more. I am still reviewing the full budget and will have more thoughts to share soon. But I do want to highlight a few key parts:

1)    A historic investment of $1.7 million for the operations of the permanent men’s homeless shelter.

2)    Allowing for full staffing of the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park on the east side. 

3)    A tenth ambulance for the city and an additional 9 full-time paramedics to help keep response times low.

Additionally, this budget represents the hard work of collective bargaining with the Teamsters, as well as the Police and Fire unions to make sure that our employees are fairly compensated. 

I would encourage you to read the Mayor’s Executive Budget Summary, which includes a breakdown of the Expense Restraint Incentive Program on page 18, as well as a projection of estimated spending and the fiscal outlook for the city through 2031. The outlook for our city’s finances are stronger than the last budget with the increase in Municipal Service Payments from the state.

John Nolan Drive Reconstruction 

The reconstruction of John Nolan Drive will begin the week of October 13th with construction work beginning Monday (10/13) at the earliest. Construction will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction – if you use the causeway on a regular basis, you should expect delays. 

This is the first phase of the project and includes the reconstruction of the six bridges on the causeway, including the addition of three separated for cyclists and pedestrians, improvements to the storm sewers, traffic calming measures, and updates to traffic signals and lighting. You can learn more about the reconstruction here.  

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.
  • 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 comment will not be taken at this meeting.
  • 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.

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)

Announcements and News Releases

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

  • 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!

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

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District 16 - Alder O'Brien

Alder Sean O'Brien

Alder Sean O'Brien

District 16
Contact Alder O'Brien