City Meetings and Updates Week of November 16

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  • City Meetings:
    • Plan Commission 11/16
    • Transportation Commission 11/18
  • Streets Division Fall Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Reminders
  • Madison Parks Bird & Nature Adventures at Starkweather Creek 11/21
  • 2027 Neighborhood Grant Program Idea Workshop Scheduled 12/3
  • City Engineering Posting Now Mow/Dump/Spray Signage Near Newer Stormwater Areas
  • Events & Announcements

City Meetings

Plan Commission

The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, November 16, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include 

Meeting info:

Transportation Commission

The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 18, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include:

  • Item 2: An update on the BCycle program in Madison
  • Item 3: Metro Transit Proposed Increases to Contract Rates for the Commute Card and Unlimited Ride Pass Programs. This file summarizes the proposal; this file shares the 2027 pricing across programs; this file explains in narrative text.
  • Item 4: Another round of Safe Streets Madison project approvals, here's a staff presentation about the proposed projects. The project list includes three projects within or on the edge of District 3:
    • Commercial Ave (County highway T) at Mesta Lane: Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon and continental crosswalk (high-visibility pavement stripes); this was the scene of a fatal crash earlier this year where a pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing Commercial Ave
    • Milwaukee Street and Wittwer Road: concrete median islands, continental crosswalk (high-visibility pavement stripes)
    • Cottage Grove Road at Ellen Ave: concrete ramps, Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon, continental crosswalk (high-visibility pavement stripes)

Meeting info:

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

Streets Division Fall Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Reminders

  • Scheduled Leaf Collection Ends in November: Make sure you know when you are scheduled to put out your leaves and yard waste for pickup. Get the set out dates for your home on our website or by calling the Streets Division at either 608-266-4681 or 608-246-4532.
  • It's Pumpkin Time: Remember, you can put your pumpkins and other compostable seasonal decorations (corn stalks, hay, etc.) out for pickup along with your leaves. Remove wires, lights, candles, and other non-compostables before putting them into the leaves.
  • Sign Up for Schedule Update Emails: You can be the first to know if weather forces leaf schedule changes or if it will allow for an extra pickup. Sign up to get Brush & Yard Waste Schedule Updates. When you sign up for this, you will get an email alert about schedule changes for these services.

Madison Parks Bird & Nature Adventures at Starkweather Creek Next Saturday the 21st

Join Master Naturalist John Newman on a fun educational ramble along Starkweather Creek for all ages. Enjoy the changing season and learn about what's happening with the trees, plants, creek and wildlife. 

Outings include nature walks, canoe/kayak adventures, bicycling tours, and more, and are sponsored by the Madison Friends of Urban Nature, Goodman Community Center, and the Friends of Starkweather Creek. Free, welcoming, healthy, fairly accessible, family and kid friendly, educational, no registration required, no pets. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

  • When: Saturday, Nov 21st at 10am-11:30am
  • Where: Meet outdoors at Goodman Community Center by the bike Path.

For more nature events, check out Bird & Nature Adventures. 

2027 Neighborhood Grant Program Idea Workshop Scheduled for December 3rd

The City Madison Planning Division will host the Neighborhood Grant Program again in 2027! They will be hosting a virtual Idea Workshop for interested residents and neighborhood leaders on December 3rd. Come share your project idea with other neighborhood groups and City staff to receive feedback and guidance.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

More information about the City Neighborhood Grants program is available on this City Planning webpage.

City Engineering Posting Now Mow/Dump/Spray Signage Near Newer Stormwater Areas

The City of Madison Engineering Division will be posting signage along property boundaries of stormwater ponds and greenways in District 3 reminding residents not to mow, spray pesticides, or dump yard waste, woody brush or other materials on stormwater land. Yard waste dumped on stormwater land can wash into waterways and clog outlets or cause flooding issues. Dumping, mowing, and spraying can also encourage invasive weed or algae growth, suppress native plant growth, and attract pests or further dumping. While mowing into greenways is allowed per MGO 8.15, it is specifically not allowed where signage prohibits this activity. 

Most of these signs are being posted along boundaries with newer stormwater land, particularly in newly developed neighborhoods (most within the last 10 years) where vegetation is still establishing and homes may be only a few years old. 

Native plants are the vegetation of choice for stormwater land because they provide superior structural and environmental benefits. City Engineering staff with backgrounds in ecological restoration maintain these areas with targeted conservation techniques such as invasive species control, prescribed burns and supplemental planting and seeding. Mowing, dumping or spraying native vegetation—particularly in the first few years of growth, while these plants are just establishing—has sometimes resulted in a failure of native vegetation to take hold. 

Detailed information on how Engineering manages stormwater vegetation can be found in the Stormwater Utility Vegetation Management Plan, linked here.

Events & Announcements

  • Wright Design Series: Envision Downtown Madison Plan, Monday, November 16: Downtown Madison has grown tremendously since the current Downtown Plan was adopted in 2012. The City of Madison has added over 9,000 new neighbors, 7,500 homes, and a rapid transit system, which are changing the face of downtown. How does the downtown stay vibrant and navigate housing demand, need for commercial services and open spaces and mobility? Envision Downtown Madison is a public-private partnership to guide the future of downtown and is seeking answers to these questions. This event is being held virtually and in-person on Monday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. Registration is required.
  • Police Civilian Oversight Board Hiring Listening Session, Thursday, November 19: The Police Civilian Oversight Board will be hosting a community listening session as part of the hiring process for the next Independent Police Monitor. This event will take place on Thursday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m. virtually and is open to the public and community members are encouraged to show up and share their thoughts on what they would like to see in the next leader of the city's oversight office. Registration is required.
  • Operations Begin Soon at Madison's New Regional Bus Terminal: Final preparations are underway at the City of Madison's new State Street Regional Bus Terminal, a transformative transportation facility which will serve regional bus carriers and passengers traveling to and from Madison. The community has shown… [posted November 13, 2026]
  • The Safe Nights Network Helps You Get Home Safely: The City of Madison's Impaired Driving Reduction program is launching the Safe Nights Network! This Vision Zero Program offers city-wide ride share vouchers on certain holidays and partners with a network of businesses to offer ride shares this… [posted November 12, 2026]
  • Annual Food Cart Review Results Finalized: The annual food cart review's final score rankings determine the order for vendors to pick their spots for the upcoming vending season. [posted November 12, 2026]
  • City of Madison Adopts 2027 Budget: The Madison Common Council has approved a capital and operating budget for 2027. [posted November 10, 2026]
  • Family Crafting at the Holiday Farmers Market, Saturday, November 21: Brighten your space with a handmade work of art! Join the first indoor Dane County Farmers' Market of the season on Saturday, November 21 at 10:00 a.m. and design your own faux stained glass. Using markers and transparent sheets, you'll create a beautiful piece of art to catch the winter's light.

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.

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