Memorial Day activities and closures; Public meetings on the 2026 budget; Announcements & Events

Hello neighbors,

There are many events to commemorate Memorial Day on Monday, including a performance by the Capital City Band from 9:15-11:00am at the Forest Hill Cemetery. There will also be a color guard, made up of individuals sporting uniforms from a variety of eras.

Street Closures for Monona Memorial Day Parade: Multiple streets, including Monona Drive, will be closed on Monday, May 26th for the annual Monona Memorial Day Parade. The parade route runs from Monona Grove High School to Sennett Middle School. Street closures will begin at 9am with the parade beginning at 10am, concluding by noon.

Updates and Notices

• The City of Madison will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Observance of Memorial Day.
• No Streets Division Collections on Monday, May 26, 2025 in Observance of Memorial Day: There will be no recycling, trash, brush, or large item collections performed by the City of Madison Streets Division on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. The Streets Division drop-off sites will also be closed.
• Metro Service Reduced on Monday, 5/26: Due to the holiday, buses will follow Sunday schedules.
• Email Scam (Phishing Attempt): We have heard about emails requesting payments for Conditional Use Permits that are pretending to come from the City of Madison. These emails are a scam (phishing attempt). The City of Madison will always send emails from “cityofmadison.com.” If you get an email from any other domain it is fraudulent.

Public Information Meetings

The City of Madison is hosting five budget engagement sessions in June. Each meeting will focus on a different aspect of local government and the city services provided to residents. The goal of these public meetings is to provide an opportunity for you to speak directly with policymakers about your ideas, concerns, and priorities for Madison’s future.

• June 4 - Public Works at Central Library
• June 11 - Administration & Public Facilities at Warner Park Community Recreation Center
• June 16 - Public Safety at Sequoya Library
• June 18 - Transportation at Pinney Library
• June 24 - Community & Economic Development at the Hub

You can also check out the new About the City Budget Webpage. This new website has an updated information series that explains the fundamentals of the City budget.

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 Tuesday, May 27, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an overview of 2026 Capital Budget requests.
  • 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.

Announcements and News Releases

• Information on Special Election for Dane County Supervisor District 1 : A Special Election is being held on Tuesday, June 17 for the District 1 seat on the Dane County Board of Supervisors.
• Lake Vista Café Opens for the Season: Enjoy casual gourmet fare and drinks and sprawling views of Lake Monona and downtown Madison at Lake Vista Café on the Monona Terrace Rooftop.
• Madison Police Department invites students to join the 2025 Black Youth Academy: The Madison Police Department is proud to announce the return of the Black Youth Academy, a free, weeklong summer program designed to build trust, leadership and life skills among Black youth in our community.
• How to watch the 2025 MPD Awards Ceremony: The Madison Police Department is hosting its annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday. The event is a way to honor officers, professional staff and community members for their bravery and commitment to public safety.
• Royal Thai Pavilion Earns 2025 Historic Preservation Award: The Royal Thai Pavilion is the 2025 Historic Preservation Award Recipient for its meticulous revival at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
• Madison Water Utility Releases Annual Drinking Water Quality Report: The report provides an overview of the tens of thousands of drinking water quality tests conducted in 2024.
• Announcing Madison’s First Art Trucks: The City of Madison now has two collection vehicles that have been transformed into rolling murals.
• Metro Transit and MMSD Partner Again for Free Summer Passes: The Summer Youth Pass allows students to ride Metro FREE all summer long, making it easier to get to jobs, athletic camps, and other fun summer destinations around Madison.
• Ordinance Change Proposed to Streamline Entertainment License Process for Local Businesses: A group of alders is introducing a set of changes to the City of Madison’s ordinances to streamline the process for local businesses seeking an Entertainment License for indoor live music.
• 2025 Property Tax Base of the City of Madison: Locally assessed real estate increased 9.1% for 2025. Commercial assessments increased 10.9% and residential assessments increased 8%. New construction accounted for over $1 billion of the base value. Steady growth and continued development contributed to the increase.

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

• South Madison Farmer's Market, Tuesday, May 27: The Greater Madison MPO will be at the South Madison Farmer's Market sharing information about the Active Transportation Plan for Dane County, which focuses on improving biking, walking, and rolling across the region.
• FOOT - Free Concerts in Olin Pavilion, Wednesday, May 28 (This event occurs on multiple dates): FREE concerts return to the Olin Park pavilion on Wednesdays in May from 6 to 8 PM. Mark Croft duo - Americana with fiddlin' on Wednesday, May 28.
• Basic Household Plumbing by Project Home, Wednesday, May 28: Ever wonder what’s really going on behind your walls when you flush the toilet or turn on the tap? Demystify your home’s plumbing system with Basic Household Plumbing! This hands-on course will take you from clueless to confident, covering everything from how your plumbing works to tackling common repairs like toilet and faucet replacements.
• Yahara Fishing Club Kids Fishing Day, Saturday, May 31: The first 300 kids receive a free fishing rod and bait along with help from Yahara Fishing Club members. The day coincides with the Wisconsin “free fishing weekend”, so adults can fish without a license. A free lunch of hot dogs, chips, and soft drink will be provided after the fishing.
• Gratitude in Nature: Goats and Yoga, Sunday, June 1 (This event occurs on multiple dates): We've partnered with the Friends of Olin Turville (FOOT) for a unique experience blending yoga, goat education, and volunteerism! Stretch, learn about goats, and contribute to local conservation efforts. This event offers something for everyone—yoga lovers, animal enthusiasts, and nature advocates alike!

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

Happy summer!

Regina Vidaver