Week of August 3rd

Elvehjem Water Pipe Rehabilitation Project

I have seen questions relating to the construction taking place in the Elvehjem Neighborhood. The construction is due to Water Main lining to extend the life of our water pipes. 

The project is entering its next phase, as the construction of the excavation pits have been completed, crews are testing customer hook ups and water bypass systems. 

Due to the warm weather, water from the temporary bypass may feel warmer than normal. If this happens, residents can run cold water from a faucet inside the home for a few minutes to help circulate cooler water through the plumbing. The water is still safe to drink and use.

Customers connected to the temporary bypass will not be billed for water usage on their Municipal Services Bill while they are connected to the bypass. Please be careful around the temporary bypass hoses when doing yard work or parking in your driveway. Do not park on top of the bypass hose, as this could restrict water flow to your home.

If you notice any breaks, leaks, or damage to the temporary bypass system, please contact us so our crews can make the necessary repairs.

Park Development Plans

In June the parks department hosted a series of listening sessions in May to hear from residents on what investments they wanted to see in their Neighborhood and Mini Parks. From these community feedback sessions as well as an examination of the already existing needs of the parks, the Department created park development plans in coordination with the Southeast Area Plan (Note: that park developments plans for the rest of District 16 will happen in coordination with the Far Southeast Area plan which is expected to begin in 2030). 

• Acewood Park (Neighborhood Park)
• Droster Park (Neighborhood Park)
• Elvehjem Park (Neighborhood Park)
• Lost Creek Park (Mini Park)
• McFarland Park (Mini Park)
• Orlando Bell Park (Neighborhood Park)
• Owl Creek Park (Mini Park)
• Secret Places Park (Neighborhood Park)
• Veterans Memorial Park (Neighborhood Park)

Please submit comments to Brian Kowalski (bkowalski@cityofmadison.com) by August 11, 2026 to give staff time to take comments into consideration and make updates.

Door Creek Watershed Study PMI (August 25th)

The City of Madison is completing a watershed study in the Door Creek watershed which covers (Door Creek, Reston Heights, and the Meadowlands Neighborhoods). The City of Madison contracted with an engineering consulting firm to complete the study. The watershed study will identify causes of existing flooding and then look at potential solutions to try to reduce flooding. In the second public information meeting City staff presented computer models showing locations of potential flooding including on Havenswood Dr., Potawatomi Dr. The intersection of Dominion Dr. & Wyalusing, the intersection of Summertown Dr. & Wyalusing Dr. and others. 

The City will be hosting a third Public Information meeting on August 25th, 2026. Please check the project webpage for registration and zoom information which will be posted shortly!

If anyone has experienced flooding, and is willing to share with the City, please report it on the City's Report Flooding Portal.

Updates and Notices

• Officer-Involved Shooting on July 22: The City of Madison has published a FAQ page to address the common inquiries we have been receiving. We will be updating this page regularly.

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.

The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 4, at 6:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items of interest include:

• Item 2 - Presentation by Council President Sabrina Madison on next steps regarding the Police Civilian Oversight Board and Office of the Independent Monitor.
• Item 11 -The appointment of Charles J. Romines(external) for confirmation of a five-year term as Director of Public Works.
• Item 12 -The appointment of David Schmiedicke(external) for confirmation of a five-year term as Finance Director.
• Item 13 -The appointment of Christine Knapp(external) for confirmation of a five-year term as Water Utility Manager. 
• Item #71 - A resolution(external) approving a revised 2026 Resource Recovery Special Charge rate of $5.40 per month (up from $3.50 per month) beginning on September 1 through the remainder of 2026. 
• Item 74 -  A resolution(external) authorizing a contract for Strand Associates to perform recoating and other maintenance work on two Water Utility reservoirs, one of which is in District 3. 
• Item 80 -  The Mid-Year Appropriation Resolution(external), which the City adopts every year to amend the adopted 2026 City Budget. The objective is to transfer funds within and between agency budgets to move funds left over by underspending, or from the 2026 budget's contingent reserve, to areas that are projecting a shortfall. Here's the presentation(opens in a new window)(external)PDF that Finance staff gave to Finance Committee members at last week's meeting. The key issue here is that City spending remain under the State's Expenditure Restraint Incentive Program limit, which we must not exceed in order to avoid forfeiting several million dollars in vital State aid. 
• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda(opens in a new window)
• Register for Public Comment

• Watch Online

  Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 5, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing a contract for planning, public engagement, and engineering services related to intersection safety improvements.

  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Community Development Block Grant Committee: The Community Development Block Grant Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, August 6, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a staff update regarding the purpose-built men's shelter.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

If you would like more information about becoming a member of the City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Castle Creek Improvements, Wednesday, August 5: The Castle Creek Improvements Project is the result of recommendations from the Warner Lagoon Water Quality Plan and the Warner Park and Cherokee Marsh Watershed Study. The project will consist of tree clearing, removal of the concrete section of the existing channel, and regrading to widen and lower the existing channel. A public information meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Aug. 5, 2026, via Zoom. Registration prior is required. 

Announcements and News Releases

• Community Update from Mayor Rhodes-Conway (July 31): The occupation at the intersection of Williamson Street and Baldwin Street must end. [posted July 31, 2026]
• Intermittent issue with Legistar Insite Documents: Granicus, our Legistar vendor, is reporting an intermittent issue with accessing documents on Legistar's website portal.  This is affecting all Granicus customers. Their status page reports: “… intermittent issue impacting InSite where some… [posted July 31, 2026]
• August Moving Days: How to Set Out Appliances, Furniture, & Bags That Won't Fit in the Cart: The student move out collections run from August 3, 2026, until August 21, 2026, within the downtown student move out area. For the collection process in the in the move out area to be fast and safe for everyone, follow these guidelines… [posted July 31, 2026]
• July 30 update from Chief Patterson: As of Thursday night, there is no new information to share.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  I will continue to speak with DCI every day and share anything that… [posted July 30, 2026]
• Community Update from Mayor Rhodes-Conway: What's happening at the intersection of Williamson Street and Baldwin Street is not sustainable or safe. [posted July 30, 2026]
• Public Test of Election Equipment: The public is invited to observe the City of Madison test of DS200 tabulators this Saturday, August 1. [posted July 30, 2026]
• August Moving Days: Free Electronics & Battery Recycling : If you are a City of Madison resident, your personal electronics and batteries are accepted for free at the Streets Division drop-off sites.  Free electronics and battery recycling is not just for the August moving days. This is true… [posted July 30, 2026]
• July 29 update from Chief Patterson: As of Wednesday night, there is no new information to share.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  I will continue to speak with DCI every day and share anything that… [posted July 29, 2026]
• Road Closure – Felland Road and Blissful Avenue intersection: Starting Thursday, August 6, Capitol Underground will close a section of Felland Road at Blissful Avenue. The full closure of the intersection is part of a Veridian private development project that includes underground sewer work, electrical work,… [posted July 29, 2026]
• August 4, 2026, Common Council and CCEC Meetings in Virtual Format Only: Due to heightened security concerns, the August 4 Common Council and Common Council Executive Committee (CCEC) meetings will be held in virtual format to ensure the safety of community members, City staff, and elected officials. The Common Council… [posted July 29, 2026]
• August Moving Days: How Large Item Collection Works During the Move Out: If you live in the move out area,  the Streets Division large item work order rules will be different from August 3, 2026, until August 21, 2026.If you don't know if you live in the move out area, check our website to see the move out… [posted July 29, 2026]
• July 28 update from Chief Patterson: As of Tuesday night, there is no new information to share.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  I will continue to speak with DCI every day and share anything that I… [posted July 28, 2026]
• Community Update — July 28: We also continue to hear from residents in the Marquette neighborhood about the traumatic impact of another life lost, the desire for actionable and sustainable ways of remembering Corey Ruiz, and a way forward. [posted July 28, 2026]
• August Moving Days: Daily Cart Emptying in the Moving Days Area: Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday August 3, 2026, residents in the moving days area can place trash and recycling collection carts out for emptying each workday. Daily cart emptying in the move out area will end on Friday, August 21,… [posted July 28, 2026]
• North Shore Drive Closure at Railroad Crossing for Replacement: Beginning at 5:00 am on Monday, August 3, North Shore Drive will close at the railroad crossing on the curve where North Shore Drive transitions to Proudfit Street. The closure is necessary to allow Wisconsin & Southern Railroad to replace the… [posted July 28, 2026]
• July 27 update from Chief Patterson: As of Monday night, there is no new information to pass along.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) as the investigation progresses.  It remains an open and active… [posted July 27, 2026]
• Update for the Madison Community We know many are hurting right now. Our immediate concern right is the well-being of the community. [posted July 27, 2026]
• August Moving Days: Make a Plan & Donate: The annual August Moving Days for downtown Madison begins soon. The Streets Division will be providing more information in the coming days about our operations for the annual move out and what residents in the move out area… [posted July 27, 2026]
• Statement from Common Council President Sabrina Madison on amendments to the Office of the Independent Monitor and the Police Civilian Oversight Board ordinances: The shooting of Corey Ruiz by the Madison Police Department has caused immense pain throughout our community. My thoughts remain with Mr. Ruiz's family and loved ones. [posted July 27, 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

• Brat Fry Friday, Friday, August 7, 2026: Come join us for lunch at the links!  The grill will be fired up from 11am-3pm for a delicious afternoon treat.
• Live at The Glen | Vince Sweeney, Friday, August 7:Heavily influenced by the songs and songwriters of the 1970s, Sweeney performs an impressive blend of folk, rock, and country songs - some are familiar, others are hidden gems.
• Dane Dance, Friday, August 7, 2026: Dane Dances is a free, family-friendly event held every Friday evening in August on the beautiful Monona Terrace rooftop.
• Free Homebuyer Education Class (in person), Saturday, August 8: Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop takes place in-person at Sunshine Place, 1610 W. Main, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 on Saturday, August 8, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm!
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, August 8: Being in Nature ~ Join Naturalist Sheila Knerr for a wander about Owen Park as we use all of our senses to explore the land and share what we find. 
• Ride the Drive 2026, Sunday, August 9: Since its inauguration in 2009, Ride the Drive has continued to celebrate Madison's commitment to healthy living by focusing on the environmental and economic impacts and the importance of social integration. Imagine thousands of happy, healthy people coming together to experience parks and open streets in a single, one-day, free, community event.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, August 9: Summer Birds ~ Join Master Naturalist Jeff Nesta for a free fun family friendly outing for all ages and abilities.  We will follow cool shady woodland paths to look for bright yellow Goldfinches in the flowers, Woodpeckers in the trees, Owls in the pines, waterfowl on the lake and other birds that nest and raise young in Madison in the summer.

Parks Alive Dates!

Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you! Events start at 5:00 p.m.

• Parks Alive | Elver Park, Monday, August 3
• Parks Alive | Worthington Park, Tuesday, August 4
• Parks Alive | Meadowood Park, Wednesday, August 5
• Parks Alive | Penn Park, Thursday, August 6

Interested in volunteering for Parks Alive? Volunteers Welcome! Learn more and register online!

Movie in the Park Dates!

• Movie in the Park | Luca, Sunday, August 9

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