City Meetings and Updates Week of April 27
posted- City Meetings:
- Finance Committee 4/27
- Plan Commission 4/27
- Urban Design Commission 4/29
- Update: Proposed Changes to OIM Ordinances and Next Steps
- Please Help the City's Recycling Program by Taking a Survey!
- Events & Announcements
City Meetings
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, April 27, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing a contract between the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department and the City of Madison Fire Department for lake rescue and emergency medical services support.
Plan Commission
The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a development-related request in Districts 3: a request to divide and rezone and divide a 0.35-acre lot at 822 Pulley Drive in the Burke Heights neighborhood. The existing property is approximately 111 feet wide. The rezoning would change the minimum lot width from 55 feet under current SR-C1 zoning to 50 feet in the requested SR-C2 zoning, allowing the new split lot (50.7 feet) to the south to host another house.
Here is the Planning Staff memo and analysis, which recommends approval based on consistency with the 2024 Northeast Area Plan and on the City's applicable standards for approval of rezoning and Certified Survey Map changes. That recommendation is subject to public comments and to conditions recommended by City agencies, which can be found on pages 4 through 7. Legistar attachments to this item include the applicant's Letter of Intent, plus public comments which primarily share neighbors' concerns about whether smaller lots and houses placed closer together are appropriate for their neighborhood. Burke Heights is generally characterized by large lots based on the original 1960 subdivision plat, plus duplexes and small-scale multifamily buildings in other parts of the neighborhood.
Urban Design Commission
The Urban Design Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 29, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a development-related request in District 3: an alteration to a previously approved Planned Development for the Capitol View at Oak Park in Grandview Commons, to be located on the currently empty block at 5817 Halley Way. I previously wrote here about this project when the applicant presented their designs to the Urban Design Commission on February 4th. The design renderings can be found on page 30 in this file. Here is the Urban Design Commission staff report with analysis of the building design and materials and a recommendation of approval. The contact for this project is Scott Frank, sfrank@oakparkplace.com or 698-254-6181.
Update: Proposed Changes to OIM Ordinances and Next Steps
Last Tuesday's Council meeting agenda included the proposed changes to the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM) and Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) ordinances. The Council heard six hours of public comment, questions for public commenters, and some discussion of this item but the majority decided not to act on the proposal in that meeting. Most concerns were about whether these changes (i.e. following City administrative policies) could subvert the independence of OIM's investigations or findings. The proposal does not change the independence clause of the ordinance.
When I wrote about this in a blog post last weekend, I included links to a City memo and to email correspondence attached to this resolution in Legistar that documented MPD's concerns about an OIM staff member's handling of sensitive data. I then editorialized with my own concerns about the alleged mishandling of data. This OIM staff member testified during public comment at Tuesday's Council meeting that the data they analyzed was not as sensitive in nature as MPD's memo suggested, that the data has since been destroyed, and they described how those and similar claims were used to criticize them in news and social media. The OIM staff member asked me to share this information in a follow-up post and I agreed – hence this update.
The Council referred the item back to the PCOB for its June 17th meeting for more discussion before coming back to Council on August 4th. My sincere hope is that PCOB members will engage with and discuss the pros/cons of the specific provisions of the proposal and share their feedback and suggestions. The sponsors may use that feedback to make changes to the proposal, and other alders may work on a different version for Council to consider in August.
Stay tuned!
Please Help the City's Recycling Program by Taking a Survey!
The City Streets Division has been working with an intern from UW-Madison on a recycling education survey. They want to know where people are getting their recycling information, and what kind of education efforts they would like to see from the City.
Thee survey is also linked on the City's Recycling page. It will be open over the next couple of months.
Events & Announcements
- Public Information Meeting - Eastmorland Park, Thursday, April 30: At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from manufacturers and seek input from the neighborhood. Attend the meeting to let City staff know which options you like best.
- Public Input Meeting - Odana Hills Golf Course and Park, Thursday, April 30: The City of Madison Parks Division is excited to announce a new partnership with Michael and Jocelyn Keiser and the Madison Parks Foundation. Through the Keisers' philanthropic vision and generous donation, there is an opportunity to reimagine, redesign and reconstruct Odana Hills Golf Course. As part of the planning process, the community is invited to provide input.
- Safety plans in place for Mifflin Street Block Party: MADISON, Wis. – Multiple city agencies are working together ahead of this year's Mifflin Street Block Party. Around 10,000 people are expected to attend the annual celebration. Building Inspection building inspectors started checking the area in… [posted April 23, 2026]
- Food Scraps Recycling Drop-off Returns to Madison Eastside Farmers' Market on Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Free food scraps recycling drop-off returns to the Madison Eastside Farmers' Market for the 2026 season! The first date food scraps will be accepted is Tuesday, April 28, 2026.Look for the free food scraps drop-off to drop off your coffee… [posted April 22, 2026]
- The Recycle Better Class Returns for 2026: The City of Madison Streets Division has partnered again with Sustain Dane to offer the Recycle Better class. The first class begins on May 6, 2026.By taking the recycling workshop, you can help your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers learn… [posted April 22, 2026]
- MPD hosting series of community conversations on public safety: MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Police Department is hosting a series of town hall meetings in every patrol district across the city. The goal is to directly connect community members with the officers and commanders who serve their neighborhood. [posted April 21, 2026]
- Alder Sabrina Madison and Alder Carmella Glenn Will Serve as New Council Leadership: Today, the Madison Common Council smoothly transitioned to new leadership with a single nomination for both President and Vice President. Outgoing President Alder Regina Vidaver nominated Alder Sabrina Madison from District 17 for President, and… [posted April 21, 2026]
- Earth Day Events This Weekend: This weekend join Madison Parks in celebrating Earth Day across the city. [posted April 21, 2026]
- Public Memorandum and Press Statement: Formal Response to Documented Misinformation, Continued Opposition to Proposed Ordinance Amendments to MGO 5.19 and 5.20 and Formal Notice of Active Violations of MGO 5.19(6)(b). [posted April 21, 2026]
- Common Council Welcomes New Members Committed to Serving Madison's Future: On Tuesday, April 21, the Madison Common Council is excited to welcome two new alders: District 8 Alder-Elect Ellen Zhang and District 14 Alder-Elect Noah Lieberman! Both successfully won their campaigns in the spring election on April 7, 2026. [posted April 20, 2026]
- Public Art Installations continue at Madison Public Market: When these installations are complete, the Madison Public Market will showcase a vibrant collection of public art that reflect the diverse voices, histories, and cultures of the Madison community. [posted April 20, 2026]
- City-Wide WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest Returns May 1[posted April 20, 2026]
- Virtual Open House | District 15 Parks, Wednesday, April 29: Madison Parks is holding a series of virtual public input sessions for the Southeast Park Development Plan process coinciding with the City Planning Division's Southeast Area Plan. The meetings will include an overview of the planning effort's goals, a review of the neighborhood parks included, and an opportunity for area residents and park visitors to share their thoughts on future park improvements. The engagement sessions are organized by alder district, and the second series of meetings will focus on the neighborhood parks in District 15.
- MPD Presentation: Demonstrations and Assemblies, Wednesday, April 29: The Madison Police Department is hosting a presentation on a person's rights during assemblies and demonstrations. Part of these presentations will cover the ever-evolving Madison Method, which is the department's nationally recognized philosophy for policing large events, crowds and protests.
- Envision Downtown Madison Public Open House, Thursday, April 30: Envision Downtown Madison is a strategic partnership between the City of Madison and Downtown Madison, Inc. that will guide the future of Downtown through two documents – the new Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy and the City's update to the Downtown Area Plan. Join Envision Downtown Madison on April 30th between 5:00 and 7:30pm at the Madison Municipal Building to discuss the draft Shared Vision and Big Moves for the Envision Downtown Madison joint planning effort. Registration prior to attending is requested.
- Great Strides Madison, Saturday, May 2: Join Great Strides Madison for a day of celebration, community and fun! Bring hope and joy to those affected by CF and work towards a future where everyone can breathe easier.
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.
