Resources for food insecurity; Seeking input on urban design; Water rates may increase; Crime levels dropping; Events & Announcements

Hello neighbors,

A huge thank you to everyone who stepped up to donate to the food drives at Franklin and Randall schools this week. Because of you, all needy kids at those schools went home with a backpack full of food for their 4-day weekend.

As you know, food insecurity is at an all-time high with the danger of SNAP (called Food Share in Wisconsin) benefits being delayed. If you have capacity to give your time or funds, every food bank and pantry can use your help:

• Second Harvest is our local food bank. Food banks gather bulk quantities of food to distribute to food pantries. If you have a business that can donate larger quantities of food, please get in touch with Second Harvest. They are always looking for volunteers too.
• Bayview Community Center and Neighborhood House are a couple of nearby food pantries. Both can use volunteers and food or financial donations.
• Public Health Madison & Dane County has compiled a list of a variety of food resources in our community.
• A new resource to connect folks with groceries to those without has cropped up: Madison Grocery Share
• Dane County Neighbors Helping Neighbors helps connect folks with needs to those who can help them (requests and resources go beyond food).
• In case you missed it, the Regent Neighborhood Association (RNA) has arranged for $100 gift cards for needy families to be available at the Regent Market Co-Op. Please contact RNA President Sam Crownover for details.

Updates and Notices

2026 / 2027 Trash and Recycling Calendars Now Available: You can contact the Streets Division to request one be mailed to you, or you can use our website and download your copy.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Southeast Area Plan Public Meeting: Virtual Option, Tuesday, November 4: Residents, community organizations, businesses, and others are invited to join in the second phase of the planning for the Southeast Area Plan with a series of public meetings in the coming weeks.

Announcements and News Releases

• Feedback Wanted for Urban Design Code Update Project: The City of Madison’s Planning Division is looking for public feedback as it evaluates the City’s decades-old urban design goals and guidelines.
• Public Notice to All Customers of Madison Water Utility: Madison Water Utility has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to increase water rates. The increase is necessary due to a 10.3% increase in gross plant investment and a 6.2% increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was implemented in 2023. Average customers will see an increase of $6.60 per month on their water bills. Reminder that low-income residents can apply for assistance with their water bills through the MadCAP program.
• Latest Housing Forward proposals adjust TOD requirements, allow new housing type: The latest measures being introduced to the Common Council on October 28 focus on creating a new option for the city’s neighborhoods and making more efficient use of Madison’s most-traveled corridors.
• Crime in Madison Continues to Decline: Police Chief John Patterson reports that in 2025 there have been “significant and impressive reductions” in all of the major crimes tracked by the Madison Police Department.
• Nakoma Road Sidewalk Project Update: Starting Friday, October 31, Nakoma Road will fully re-open to traffic, from Tumalo Trail to Manitou Way, by the end of the day.
• Closure of N 7th Street Starting Monday, November 3: From Monday, November 3 until Friday, November 7, RG Huston will close N 7th Street, between E Washington Avenue and E Mifflin Street, for utility installation for the development project at 2430 E Washington Ave.
• Madison Code Enforcement Officer Named State Fire Inspector of the Year: The Madison Fire Department celebrates the recognition of veteran Code Enforcement Officer Scott Strassburg as Fire Inspector of the Year.
• City of Madison Accepts Donation of Historic Mosaic Mural for Public Display: The "Wisconsin Landscape" mosaic will be displayed in the boardroom of the Parks Lakeside Offices at 330 E. Lakeside Street.
• Madison Region Awarded Catalytic Grant to Strengthen Equitable Access to Nature: The Madison region has been awarded a catalytic grant through the Nature Everywhere Communities initiative, a partnership of the Children & Nature Network, the National League of Cities, and KABOOM!.
• Join Alder Badri Lankella for an Engaging Lunch and Learn with Madison Police Department Leadership: Alder Badri Lankella invites you to a virtual lunch-and-learn featuring the newly sworn-in Chief of Police John Patterson and West District Captain Timothy Patton from the City of Madison Police Department.
• Results announced for 2025 City of Madison Food Cart Review: The City of Madison’s annual Food Cart Review, which helps determine where food vendors will be located for the next vending season, has been completed and the final scores have been tallied.
• Black Film Festival Coming to Three Madison Public Library Locations November 13-15: The Black Film Festival, created by the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, will be hosted within Madison Public Library locations for the first time this fall.

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

• Elver Bike n' Boogie - Southwest Area Plan!, Tuesday, November 4: The Southwest Area Plan is coming to the Park Edge/Park Ridge area to ask residents about public projects they'd like to see built in their neighborhood. We'll have bike games, bike repairs, a dance party and a Latinx style meal in the spirit of Day of the Dead.
• Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Training, Wednesday, November 5: You can make the difference in your safety and the safety of others in that first three minutes. Learn the principles of what to do if an active shooter incident happens and increase your chance of survival through the lessons taught during this free training.
• Wellness Talks: Getting Older – Should We Care More About Our Nutrition?, Wednesday, November 5: This talk will cover the evolving research on nutrition as we age. As we get older, we may think some changes in our health are inevitable. However, good nutrition and remaining active can help us keep strong enough to keep doing all the things we enjoy.
• Learn to Nordic Walk, Thursday, November 6: Turn your walk into a full-body workout with Nordic walking! We've partnered with Madison Nordic Ski Club (MadNorSki) for a free class.
• Understand and Maintain your Furnace by Project Home, Thursday, November 6: Don’t let a cold house or unexpected repair bills ruin your winter! This comprehensive course empowers you to take control of your home’s heating system. Learn everything from the basic components of your furnace to troubleshooting common issues.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, November 8: 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.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, November 9: Fat Bears and Chonky Squirrels ~ Join amazing wildlife Naturalist Kathlean Wolf for a free guided walk on easy nature trails at Turville Point.  Wild critters are busy fattening up and hunkering down as days gets colder.  Learn about wildlife and how they change their bodies and their environment in preparation for winter.

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

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.

• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, November 3, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in District 4 and District 14.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 5, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include reviewing the results of the test removal of the peak-hour travel lanes on Williamson Street.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Health for Madison and Dane County: The Board of Health for Madison and Dane County meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 5, at 5:00 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include restricting the sales of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to those under the age of 21 and prohibiting the sale of cats or dogs in retail pet stores.
  • 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.

Take care of one another,

Regina Vidaver