City Meetings and Updates Week of June 16

• City Meetings: Common Council 6/17
• You're Invited: Open House to Review the Parks and Open Spaces Plan (Draft) 6/26
• Reminder: Topic-Focused City Budget Engagement Events 6/16 and 6/18
• City/School Crossing Guards Needed for the Fall, Applications due 7/14
• Join a Make Music Madison Event Next Saturday 6/21
• Events & Announcements

City Meetings

Common Council

The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include:

• Item 2: An honoring resolution recognizing and commemorating June 19th as Juneteenth and Freedom Day in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Item 3: An honoring resolution honoring and celebrating the life and work of former Alder Joe Clausius. Joe served Eastside District 17 for eight years and more recently, following his Alder service, served on the Board of Public Works for eight years. Joe passed away on June 1st at age 78.
• A handful of items (5 through 9) that represent technical/non-substantial updates to the zoning ordinances based on issues that come up during routine project review. These were recommended by staff (I’m a cosponsor).
  • A resolution amending ordinances related to SR-C3 zoning district dimensional requirements to update lot area requirements. This staff memo explains.
  • A resolution amending ordinances to clarify conditional use approval language. This staff memo explains.
  • A resolution amending ordinances related to lakefront development and updating the lakefront setback requirements. This staff memo explains.
  • A resolution amending ordinances governing Employment zoning districts to allow Lodge, Private Club, and Reception Halls as conditional uses in Suburban Employment Districts. This staff memo explains.
  • A resolution amending regulations for “places of worship” in the zoning code related to their vehicular access requirements. This staff memo explains.
• Item 10: A resolution amending the zoning code to modify the definitions of and consolidate some restaurant and alcohol-related uses and eliminating the requirement that certain establishments get a Conditional Use approval by the Plan Commission for Entertainment Licenses, which are separately granted by the Alcohol License Review Committee, meaning we currently have duplicative approval processes that this item proposes to streamline. This staff memo explains. And here’s a handy chart of the use-types with more information about each, including the impact of changes proposed in this item, for those who are interested.
• Item 13: A resolution confirming the Mayor’s appointment of Christof Spieler to a five year term as the City’s Director of Transportation. Christof joins Madison after serving as the Vice President and Director of Planning at a consulting firm where he worked with Albuquerque, Boston, Houston, Dallas, and Philadelphia, and he is a Senior Lecturer at Rice University. Read more about Christof here.

• Item 14: A resolution confirming the Mayor’s appointment of Chad Ruppel to a five year term as Community Development Authority Housing Director. Chad joins Madison after serving as the Director of the Program Support Division at the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Read more about Chad here. 

  

  Image credit: City Engineering

• Item 22: A resolution authorizing an amendment to the contract with the firm conducting the Door Creek Watershed Study (I’m a cosponsor). City Engineering is proposing to amend the Door Creek Watershed Study contract so the consultant can complete additional analysis of the undeveloped areas north of I-94 within the watershed to better plan for future development with the City’s Planning Division. This will extend the contract through the summer of 2026. Following the additional modeling and analysis, the City will host a Public Information Meeting to present what conceptual stormwater solutions are needed to meet the City’s flood mitigation targets throughout the watershe (link to the map shown to the right). The meeting is anticipated to occur in spring 2026.  You can subscribe to updates on the Door Creek Watershed Study webpage to be notified when the meeting is scheduled.
• Item 29: A resolution authorizing a loan to aid in the financing a portion of the new Eastmorland Community Center (I’m a cosponsor).
• Item 32: A resolution authorizing a contract with a consultant for the completion of a comprehensive plan for Olbrich Botanical Gardens (I’m a cosponsor).
• Item 35: A resolution amending various sections of ordinance related to historic landmark buildings to update definitions and amend guidelines. This staff memo explains.
• Item 36: A “remand” of a 2024 rezoning decision for a housing development at 6610-6706 Old Sauk Road based on a court order.
• Item 49: A resolution repudiating racial and discriminatory covenants in Madison property records (I’m a cosponsor). From the resolution: “Racial covenants, also known as discriminatory covenants, were restrictions inserted into property deeds that prohibited purchase, rental, or occupancy of a residence based on race and other protected classes. They were used nationwide for most of the 20th century as an insidious tool to prevent non-whites, non-Christians, and other minorities at the time from buying or occupying land in America’s growing suburbs and residential neighborhoods” … [they] “are illegal and they are no longer valid or enforceable, they can still be found in the land deeds of almost every American community, including in Madison.” … “The legacy of these covenants remains in our communities in the form of entrenched segregation and lower rates of homeownership and generational wealth for people of color.” Dane County mapped these covenants, which you can find here. The County also put together this Property Owner Guide to Discover and Denounce Discriminatory Covenants.

Meeting info:

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment
• Watch Online

You're Invited: Open House to Review the Parks and Open Spaces Plan (Draft) Scheduled for Thursday, June 26th 

Image credit: Madison Parks

The City’s Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) guides policies, planning, and resource allocations that support decision-makers, staff, and residents. It informs park development, management, and system-wide strategies. Based on public input, data, and GIS analysis, the plan undergoes public review and is approved by relevant authorities. Updated every five years, the POSP ensures responsiveness to changing needs and is vital for securing federal and state grants critical to implementing its goals.

The City of Madison Parks Division invites the community to view the draft 2025-2030 Park & Open Space Plan. See the draft plan, explore the chapters and meet with staff. Drop in anytime on Thursday, June 26 from 3:30-6:30pm at Parks Lakeside Offices, 330 E. Lakeside St.

See the POSP project webpage for more information. 

Reminder: Topic-Focused City Budget Engagement Events June 16th and 18th

The second public engagement event for the 2026 City Budget takes place this Monday, June 16th and Wednesday, June 18th. These events will feature an update of the 2026 budget process with City Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke and presentations on the Public Safety (the 16th) and Transportation (the 18th). The goal of this public meeting series is to provide an opportunity for residents to speak directly with City staff about your ideas, concerns, and priorities for Madison’s future. 

For the Public Safety-focused event:

• Where: Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd
• When: Monday, June 16th 2025 at 6pm
• Please register here.

For the Transportation-focused event:

• Where: Pinney Library (Eastside), 516 Cottage Grove Road
• When: Wednesday, June 18th 2025 at 6pm
• Please register here.

The final budget engagement event will be on June 24th at The Hub/South Madison Black Business Hub, with a focus on Community & Economic Development (event link).

City/School Crossing Guards Needed for the Fall

City of Madison Traffic Engineering collaborates with the Madison Metro School District to provide crossing guards at busy crossings near eligible MMSD elementary schools. 

Image credit: City Traffic Engineering

Are you looking for part-time work? Enjoy working with kids, being outdoors, and are dependable? Consider applying to become a Crossing Guard and provide meaningful service with a smile to students each morning and afternoon.

Visit the  City of Madison Human Resources website to learn more. A summary is also below.

POSITION DETAILS:

• Pay: $20.86/hour (approximately $825+/month) plus regular raises
• Schedule: 10–15 hours/week, Monday–Friday (AMs and PMs)
• Flexibility required for MMSD early release Mondays
• Benefits Include paid holidays; earned sick leave; free annual Metro Bus Pass; $215 annual clothing allowance; no nights or weekends; summer, winter, and spring breaks off

Current vacancies are listed below (and in the job posting):

• West: Thoreau Elementary (10.0 hours per week), Orchard Ridge Elementary (10.0 hours per week), Van Hise Elementary (10.0 hours per week)
• East: Lexington Ave/N Fair Oaks Ave –Hawthorne Elementary (10.0 hours per week)
• Citywide: On-call/Substitute guards—work as needed at various locations

More information is available here. Apply by July 14!

Join a Make Music Madison Event Next Saturday, June 21st

The City of Madison is proud to support Make Music Madison, a valued partner of the Madison Arts Commission. Returning on Saturday, June 21, 2025, this free, citywide celebration transforms Madison into an open stage, featuring hundreds of live performances across parks, porches, restaurants, and public spaces. As part of the global Make Music Day—celebrated in over 1,000 cities worldwide—Madison’s event stands out, with over 600 performances in 2024, making it one of the largest in the U.S. 

Image credit: Make Music Madison

Check out the map of performers and venues and consider turning out and supporting some of the local bands. There are two Make Music Madison events in District 3 (and many more around the Eastside):

• Jazz and Blues from 3pm-7pm at “Tina’s House”, 601 Merryturn Rd in the Heritage Heights neighborhood
• Piano Party from noon-4pm at “The Backyard”, on Cameo Lane in the Rolling Meadows neighborhood (no house number given)

Events & Announcements

• The webpage regarding public comment on Chapter 71, Regulation of Icebound Inland Waters, is now live! A public information session, which will include time for public comment, has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 17th @ 6:00 pm. Public comments can also be submitted online through July 15th.
• 2025 Vision Zero Safe Streets and Speed Management Projects: Since 2020, Vision Zero Madison has implemented safety improvement projects and speed management projects every year to further safe travel on City streets. These projects focus on Proven Safety Countermeasures like high visibility… [posted June 13, 2025]
• Summer Fun for Kids, Sewer Explorers Event Friday: Does your little one love big trucks? Come be a Sewer Explorer and learn all about the City’s underground infrastructure directly from City Engineering Employees 1-2 p.m., June 13, 2025, at Hawthorne Library (mural alley), 2707 E Washington Ave.… [posted June 12, 2025]
• Mayor and Alders Introduce Steps to Create More Housing in Madison : These efforts are designed make it easier to build a range of smaller types of homes by expanding policies already in place in parts of the city and allowing property owners more flexibility. [posted June 11, 2025]
• New art installation added at UW-Madison Arboretum: The City of Madison Arts Commission is proud to announce the installation of Preserve, a temporary environmental art installation, which is now on display at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. [posted June 10, 2025]
• Mobile Madison at Warner Park | Moana 2, Tuesday, June 17: Join Mobile Madison partners for an evening of fun. Enjoy free snacks, books, art activities, fishing games, fitness and more. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for the movie in the park!
• Parks Alive at Warner Park (Trailsway), Wednesday, June 18, 2025: Parks Alive is back this year with more of what you love! Visit your local park and share fun, family-friendly activities while building connections with neighbors and creating memories with friends. As always, there will be free food, music and the occasional movie. Come out, get active and enjoy your local green space this summer. June 18 - Self-Care & Wellness.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, June 21: Edible Plants. Join Naturalist Sean Gere for a free fun family friendly educational guided walk along Starkweather Creek to look for and learn about native plants and ways that humans and wildlife have used them.  Please note that no foraging is permitted in Conservation Parks.  Limited personal foraging is permitted in non-Conservation parks but please only take a small sample to taste because birds, bugs and other wildlife need wild foods to raise their young and survive.

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