Resources for food, emergency assistance, Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of November 17, 2025

Hi there,

Just a heads up that you'll get another newsletter from me on Thursday.  Also, I am taking a few days off and will not be on email today, November 17th through Wednesday, November 19th. If you need immediate help please contact Council staff at: Phone: 608-266-4071 or email council@cityofmadison.com . 

This newsletter includes: 

• Resources for food and emergency assistance
• Thanks to Alders for their visits to the District 17
• Meeting and event highlights for the week

Madison & Dane County Food Resources + Emergency Assistance

Image credit: Photo by Aaron Doucett

With all the chaos created around the SNAP program, I want to be sure you have this resource guide for food and personal essentials. 

Read it in English or Spanish. 

Gov. Evers: Suspends administrative rules to support Wisconsinites facing housing insecurity due to Republicans’ federal government shutdown

"MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed an emergency order to suspend Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) rules affecting emergency assistance for Wisconsinites facing housing insecurity or an energy crisis to ensure folks and families have the housing and utilities to be safe and well. Gov. Evers’ emergency order will help reduce red tape and barriers to ensure Wisconsinites facing homelessness or an energy crisis can access emergency resources through DCF’s Emergency Assistance program and get connected with more resources and support." Read more

" Individuals and families can learn if they are eligible for assistance by visiting DCF’s Emergency Assistance webpage here."

Thanks to the Alders who have made time to visit District 17

Image credit: WORT FM

During my first time I offered Alders the opportunity to take a tour of the most challenging area of District 17. I've offered again this term and have left that invite open for any Alders who'd like to the area and shelter. For these tours I also coordinated with Porchlight staff to get tours of the temporary mens shelter and/or meet with staff on site as guests arrived.  During these tours we've checked out the Sandburg area, the areas where you'll find extended stay motels, the location for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park (library), the East Towne Mall area, and of course the temporary mens shelter on Zier Rd.  

The tours and visits to the shelter provided Alders an opportunity to see for themselves the challenges I've been working with folks to solve.  It also helped them to understand exactly why it's been so important to support the Imagination Center at Reindhal Park, and the new mens shelter under construction.  It also helps them to see why it's so important that each of us prioritizes creating more actual affordable and attainable housing for residents across the City. 

Many thanks to Alders: Duncan (1), Martinez-Rutherford (15), O'Brien (16), Matthews (12), Guequierre (19), Field (3), Verveer (4), Vidaver (5). 

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of November 17, 2025

Updates and Notices

Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Saturday, November 15, through Monday, January 5, 2026: Lighted holiday-themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through from dusk until 10:00pm to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.

Yard Waste Collection: Look up your set out dates for leaf and yard waste collection.

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, November 17, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include approving the 2026 Urban Forestry and Resource Recovery special charges.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 4, 6, 10, 11, and 15.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Housing Policy Committee: The Housing Policy Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 18, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include allowing four dwelling units to be permitted throughout the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay District and prohibiting car washes, automobile sales and rentals, and standalone surface parking lot facilities as principal land uses within the TOD Overlay District.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 19, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include prohibiting car washes, automobile sales and rentals, and standalone surface parking lot facilities as principal land uses within the Transit Oriented Development Overlay District.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Disability Rights Commission: The Disability Rights Commission meeting will take place on Thursday, November 20, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include adopting the updated Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan.
  • 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)

• Public Information Meeting - Well 12 Reconstruction, Thursday, November 20: Madison Water Utility will be hosting a public information meeting for the Well 12 Reconstruction Project on November 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM at 4020 Mineral Point Road. All members of the public are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

Announcements and News Releases

• Engage with Madison's Downtown Alders at the Downtown Dialogue Meet & Greet: The City of Madison invites community members to attend an upcoming Downtown Alders Meet and Greet on Tuesday, November 18, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Madison Senior Center. This informal event provides residents, business owners, and visitors… [posted November 13, 2025]
• City of Madison marks World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims : In recognition of World Day of Remembrance on November 16th, the City of Madison has installed a memorial to remember the victims of traffic fatalities. [posted November 12, 2025]
• City of Madison adopts 2026 Budget : The 2026 City Budget has the lowest tax rate in at least 40 years. [posted November 11, 2025]
• City of Madison Interested in Expanding Market and Community Gardening : The City of Madison is seeking to gauge interest in utilizing city-owned land for market and community garden spaces. [posted November 10, 2025]
• Meet the Finalists for the State Street Campus Garage/Hawthorne Court Public Art Project: The City of Madison is inviting three finalists to propose designs for public art in the new State Street Campus Garage and adjacent Hawthorne Court. [posted November 10, 2025]
• Mayor Rhodes-Conway Proposes Amendment to Lower Property Taxes : Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Council Leadership are proposing an amendment to the 2026 Budget to maintain the historically low property tax increase proposed in her executive operating budget. [posted November 10, 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.

Events

• Building the Southeast’s Future: A Community Conversation w/ Alder Sean O'Brien, Monday, November 17: Come join us for a lively discussion with Alder O'Brien about the future of the Southeast community. This event will be held at City of Madison Fire Station 14, where we will talk about the plan to shape the physical aspects of our community, such as land use, housing, transit, streets, bike paths, and other community facilities. Don't miss this opportunity to have your voice heard and make a difference in our community!
• Downtown Dialogue: Meet Your Downtown Alders, Tuesday, November 18: Join us at the Madison Senior Center for a special event where you can meet and chat with your downtown alders! This is a fantastic opportunity to share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas directly with the representatives who serve you. The event invites residents, business owners, and community members to engage directly with their elected officials. Let’s foster meaningful conversations about the heart of Madison and explore how we can collaborate to improve our community. Don't miss this chance to connect with your local leaders! Please register in advance.
• Conservation Workday, Thursday, November 20 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Work off-trail alongside expert volunteers from the Friends of Cherokee Marsh, using hand loppers to help cut invasive brush to make room for native wildflowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs.
• Conservation Volunteer Workday, Saturday, November 15 (This event occurs on multiple dates): We invite volunteers to help make a difference in the health of our local environment by joining us for invasive species removal. These hands-on conservation efforts are essential in restoring native ecosystems and ensuring the vitality of our natural spaces.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, November 22 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Join a naturalist for an easy, family-friendly walk from Aldo Leopold Nature Center into beautiful Edna Taylor Conservation Park and enjoy a bit of nature education along the way.

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