Please contact Voces De La Frontera with questions or concerns about ICE. Please set out yard waste in bags today if you live on N Franklin. Alcohol license for 7-11 neighborhood meeting tomorrow. Landmarks commission meeting tomorrow for 1716 Chadbourne

Hello neighbors,

You have probably already heard about some recent targeted ICE activity in the Madison area. Seven individuals were arrested, and there have been no reports of additional presence in the Madison area. The Madison Police Department (MPD) has confirmed that they were not involved. I know this is a challenging time for many members of our community.

It’s also important to be mindful about spreading misinformation. While this incident was real, there have been many social media posts about ICE activity in our area that turned out to be false. Voces De La Frontera has an emergency hotline available (1-800-427-0213) to vet information so community members know what’s accurate.

Additional resources:

• “Know Your Rights” materials Centro Hispano has put together
• The Dane County Immigration Affairs has links to immigration resources and legal services
• Every family should have a Safety Plan to protect their children, finances, and home in case an emergency occurs

The Streets Division will not be able to collect loose piles of yard waste during the first round due to the ongoing project.

Paper leaf & lawn bags are preferred, but you are allowed to use traditional plastic bags if necessary.  You must keep your bags open at the top so crews can see what is inside them.

If you have additional yard waste pickup questions, please contact the Streets Division’s west office.

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.

• Landmarks Commission: The Landmarks Commission will meet on Monday, October 6 at 5pm. Agenda items include new construction of an accessory structure at 1716 Chadbourne Ave.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 7, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include approving the employment of John Patterson as City of Madison Police Chief, reducing minimum lot width and lot area within certain zoning districts, updating the existing step-down rules for larger buildings when adjacent to a residential district, and allowing detached Accessory Dwelling Units to have two units.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, October 6, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include reducing minimum lot width and lot area within certain zoning districts, updating the existing step-down rules for larger buildings when adjacent to a residential district, and allowing detached Accessory Dwelling Units to have two units.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the Parks Lakeside Offices at 330 E Lakeside St. Agenda items include an informational presentation on the Parks Division 2026 Executive Operating Budget, as well as approving a number of 2026 proposed fees.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda

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 - Pontiac, Boston, Nokomis, and Rosewood Reconstruction – Monday, October 9: A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Oct. 6, 2025. Registration prior is required.
• Public Information Meeting - Mifflin and Carroll Plaza Design Concept Public Meeting – Monday, October 9: Please join City staff to discuss the latest design concept for the Mifflin and Carroll Plazas at the top of State Street. At the last meeting in June, staff presented three concepts for public discussion. The latest concept was shaped by public response to those three initial concepts. This hybrid meeting will have in-person and virtual options and will be held on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:30pm. Those who wish to attend in person can attend the meeting in Room 302 at the Central Library at 201 W Mifflin Street in downtown Madison. Those wishing to attend virtually can fill out the meeting registration form to receive a Zoom link to the meeting.
• Public Information Meeting - Warner Park – Thursday, October 9: With much anticipation, new, dedicated pickleball courts are planned for Madison's northside at Warner Park! The community is invited to attend a virtual public input meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Staff will provide an overview of the proposed plan, schedule and potential impacts to the park. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions. Located between the existing shelter and tennis courts in the southeast area of Warner Park, 8 pickleball courts will be constructed along with associated fencing and seating. Advanced registration is required.
• Public Information Meeting – Wingra Proper Watershed Study – Thursday, October 9: A public information meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Oct. 9, 2025, via Zoom. Registration prior is required.

Announcements and News Releases

• Fall Leaf Collection Begins Week of October 5; Get Your Home’s Set Out Dates from Yard Waste Website: For some neighborhoods, the Streets Division’s fall leaf and yard waste pickup begins the week of October 5, 2025. Different neighborhoods have different set-out dates.
• Brush Collection Over for 2025; All Brush Set-out Dates Have Passed: All brush collection set out dates for City of Madison residents have passed. Do not set out brush for pickup after your set out date. There are no more guaranteed brush collection opportunities this year.
• Dane County Transportation Challenge Shows Big Impact: Hundreds of Dane County residents took part in a free transportation challenge this September—collectively saving more than $12,000 and avoiding more than 17 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
• Meet the Finalists Selected for Public Art at the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park: The City of Madison has invited four finalists to propose designs for the public art planned for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park, and you have a chance to meet them.
• Well Woman Program Enrollment Increases: More women than ever are getting connected to life-saving breast cancer screenings through the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP).
• Parking Division to Test New Meter Payment Equipment: Beginning October 2, the City of Madison Parking Division will test new parking space signage and payment equipment on the blocks of 300 N Henry and 200 W Gorham.
• Madison Investigator Recognized for International Case Leading to Conviction of Online Predator: Detective Sgt. Mark Hull of the Madison Police Department received the National Crime Agency (NCA) Award this week.
• Mayor Rhodes-Conway Investing in Imagination Center: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced funding for the new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park.
• Community Leaders & Disability Rights Advocates Unite for the ‘Week Without Driving’: Dane County communities and partners unite for the Week Without Driving, a challenge encouraging everyone—especially decision-makers—to experience life without driving for a week, a day, or even just one trip.
• Alicia Ashman Library to Celebrate 25 Years of Service On October 11 

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

• University of Wisconsin Homecoming, October 5-11. Please note there will be a fireworks display on October 10 over Lake Mendota.
• Financial Empowerment Series Part 1 of 3 – Tuesday, October 7: Do you have financial goals you are working to attain? Maybe you’d like to purchase a home, start your own business, or plan for retirement? The Urban League’s free Financial Empowerment series can help you build the budget to achieve those goals, understand and build your credit score, learn about other community resources that can help support your goals, and much more! For more information, call (608) 729-1222.
• Conservation Park Tour – Wednesday, October 8: Conservation Park Tours are educational staff-guided walks held at various conservation parks on the 2nd Wednesday, May - October. Topics vary and include highlights of the past, present and future of the land. This tour will be held at Turville Point Conservation Park from 5:00 – 6:30 PM on Wednesday, October 8.
• West High Homecoming parade, October 10, 2-3:30pm. Please be aware of street closures during this time!
• School Vaccination Clinics at Holtzman Learning Center – Saturday, October 11: In partnership with SSM Health, GHC, UW-Health, and Madison Metropolitan School District Public Health Madison & Dane County is offering vaccines at clinics. The vaccines are free and for school aged kids 5 and older. Appointments are strongly recommended.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen – Saturday, October 11: Finding Fall Colors ~ Let's look beyond the leaves! Join Friends of Owen Park volunteer naturalists Noelle Chambers, Sandy Geier and Jane Nelson Worel to seek out all the fall colors that abound in nature this time of year...in flowers, berries, insects, birds and more. A fun and engaging activity for kids as well as adults. See the Friends of Owen Park Facebook page for more information and find out what's happening at Owen Park! Explore Owen Conservation Park on gentle trails through historic oak openings on a hillside with an Ice Age kettle and along restored prairies with beautiful vistas on this high point overlooking the west side of Madison.
• Save the date: Science on the Square AND Madison Night Market, October 16, 5-9pm.
• Save the date: Vaccines: Dispelling Myths and Making Informed Choices, October 27, 7-8pm. Please join the Morgridge Institute for Research for a Fearless Science Forum webinar exploring vaccines. Morgridge Investigator Paul Ahlquist will be joined by Drs. Jorge Osorio, Nasia Safdar, and John V Williams to discuss how vaccines protect communities, how rigorous safety processes work through each stage of their development before and after release, and how to start separating credible information from misleading claims. Participants will leave with practical tools for evaluating sources and making informed decisions.
• Save the date: Halloween events abound!
  • Halloween on the Green, Sunday, October 26, starting at 4:30pm at Hillington Green triangle park.
  • Hilldale-O-Ween, Sunday, October 26, 3-5pm. Meet at the Green, outside the Apple store.
  • Halloween will be celebrated in the Shepherd Terrace cul-de-sac starting at 6pm on October 31. Please bring a dish to pass and your own family’s beverages. Please bring a donation for pizza!

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

Best wishes,

Regina Vidaver