Plan Commission discussing two items in our District tomorrow; Upcoming meetings on road reconstruction projects; Announcements & Events

Hello neighbors,

The Plan Commission will meet Monday, January 12 at 5:30pm to consider two projects in our district:

• The Woodland Reserve in-fill development project
• Infill at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research

You can register for public comment, or send your perspectives to the Plan Commission via email.

Upcoming public information meetings

• January 21 at 5:30pm, on the reconstruction of Virginia Terrace and adjacent streets – registration will open soon!
• January 26 at 6:30pm, on the reconstruction of Regent Street. Please register in advance for this meeting.

Updates and Notices

Metro Transit Service: Riders can stay informed by signing up for Metro Rider Alerts. Watch for canceled trips in Metro’s bus tracker or on third-party apps like Google Maps and Transit. Also, feel free to contact our customer service staff with any questions.

Announcements and News Releases

• Seeking crossing guard for Edgewood Avenue and Monroe St: Our wonderful guard, Cece, retired effective this Friday, January 9th. Cece has proudly staffed that corner since 2018 and truly adores the students from both Randall Elementary and Edgewood Campus School that she’s had the joy of crossing each day. She will be greatly missed! If you have interest in keeping our community safe, and can accommodate a morning and afternoon work schedule, please apply for this opportunity by January 15!
• 2026 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award Honorees: Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway proudly announced this year’s recipients of the City-County Humanitarian Awards honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Lake Street Closure for Crane Removal: From Monday, January 12 to Friday, January 16, N Lake Street will close between University Avenue and State Street by Mortenson Construction to dismantle a tower crane.
• IM Report - Dec 17, 2025: During the December 17, 2025 meeting of the Police Civilian Oversight Board, Interim Independent Monitor, Meeka Glass provided an update to the board but was unable to share detailed information due to a technical issue. This report contains her initial update to the board as well as a 30-day plan.
• 2025 Housing Tracker Year in Review: New homes surpass annual average, focus on affordability: The City of Madison’s Housing Tracker shows steady progress toward the goal of adding 15,000 new homes of all types by 2030, with its latest update providing preliminary year-end totals for 2025.
• The Community Development Division Highlights How Neighborhood Centers Help Fill Food Gaps: The City of Madison’s Community Development Division works every day to ensure that everyone who lives in Madison has the opportunity to thrive and reach their highest potential. Through City levy, federal, and other funding sources, we support hundreds of programs and services delivered by nonprofit and community partners across the city. While this work often shows up as a line item in a budget, its impact is deeply human and felt in very real ways by residents across Madison.

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 District Coffee with a Cop, Monday, January 12, 9:30am: Join this opportunity for connection time between our officers and community members at the McDonald’s on Park Street (2402 S. Park St.)
• Community information session on becoming a trained volunteer literacy tutor for school-aged children: Tuesday, January 13, from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Goodman Community Center.
• Girls' Mentorship Group, Tuesday, January 13: Join Keena Atkinson of R'oujie Wellness on Tuesday evenings at Warner Park Community Recreation Center! This free series is designed for females aged 11 to 18. Pre-registration is requested but not required.
• Neighborhood Grant Program Workshop, Wednesday, January 14: The Planning Division will host the Neighborhood Grant Program again in 2026. If you have a project idea and want to ask questions or are simply interested in learning more about the program, please join us for this workshop! This will be a hybrid meeting.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, January 17: Otter Go Sledding Party ~  Join Naturalist Paul Noeldner and Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free family friendly sledding party and nature walk or go sledding on your own to embrace the joy of winter!  Some sleds will be provided, please bring a sled if you have one.
• Candlelight Snowshoe Walk, Saturday, January 17: Join Madison Parks, Friends of Urban Nature, Wild Warner and the Friends of Cherokee Marsh(link is external) in this free, family-friendly event at Warner Park. See the park by candlelight and warm up by the fire.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, January 18: Enjoying Winter's Art ~ Join Wild Warner Naturalist Kathlean Wolf for a free guided walk or take a walk on your own to enjoy contrasts in the landscape, fallen leaves exposing the shapes of trees, dried summer plants creating snow-capped sculptures and ice and frost forming fantastic scenes.
• Winter Salt Week, January 26-30: The week will include webinars and other events focused on salt pollution and reduction strategies.
• The Urban League of Greater Madison's Financial Empowerment and Homeownership Team will be hosting a First-Time Homebuyer Education Course, scheduled for February 3rd, 10th, and 17th, 2026. ULGM’s First-Time Homebuyer Education Course is tailored for aspiring homebuyers, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to navigate the path to homeownership. The course covers the entire process—from understanding the homebuying process and saving for a down payment to comparing lenders, evaluating mortgage options, and learning how to maintain your home long-term.

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

Take care,

Regina Vidaver