Make a plan to support your neighbors, and to vote; PIM on LakeWay project 2/2; Virginia Terrace assessments mailed; Watch an overview of transportation in Madison, and much more!

Hello neighbors,

I want to begin by acknowledging the fear and uncertainty across our community, given what is happening in our neighboring state of Minnesota. I know that many are asking what we, as a local municipality, are doing. The short answer is, it’s complicated. Yesterday, the Wisconsin State Journal ran an article that, while it focuses primarily on Milwaukee, does a wonderful job summing up the issues facing every city. As a reminder, the City has also created a Know Your Rights page, for ease of access to a variety of resources.

The number one thing we’ve learned from Minnesotans is the power of mutual aid. This is an opportunity to get to know your neighbors. Do you know who has children or pets who might need care if their loved ones are detained? Do you know which elderly neighbors have home health aides who might not be able to get to them in an emergency? Do you have capacity to pre-cook and freeze meals, to have at the ready for neighbors or other community members who may need them in a pinch? These are all things we can be doing right now to keep our community strong and resilient.

It is also critically important that you have a plan to vote. You can order an absentee ballot, whether or not you are able to get to the polls. I recommend using our City drop boxes rather than the mail, given recent issues with USPS delays. We also always need poll workers!

Construction Updates

The expected assessments for construction on Virginia Terrace and adjoining streets have been mailed. This project will come before the Board of Public Works on February 11 at 4:30pm. If you haven’t received the mailing yet and want to get a jump start on financial planning, email me and I can tell you your planned assessment amount.

The recording of the public meeting on Regent Street reconstruction is now available. You can also review the slides presented. Currently, the proposal is planned to be presented at the Transportation Commission on February 18 and March 4, at the Board of Public Works on March 11, with a final decision by Common Council on March 24. These dates are subject to change.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Madison LakeWay Public Meeting, Monday, February 2: The community is invited to attend a virtual public meeting on the next phase of the Madison LakeWay! The project is entering the construction documents phase with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.

Announcements and News Releases

• Share your thoughts on Public Art Designs for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park: The City of Madison, the Madison Arts Commission, and the Bubbler at Madison Public Library are seeking community feedback on design proposals for public art at the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park.
• Common Council to Discuss Collaborative Approaches to Violence Prevention: The Madison Common Council will hold a discussion on Violence Prevention on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building. This event will feature presentations from several City agencies.
• City of Madison Transportation Director Christof Spieler provided a comprehensive overview of how and why decisions are made around transportation issues in the city – I highly recommend watching this!
• The 2026 Neighborhood Grant Program is Accepting Applications: The 2026 Neighborhood Grant Program invites organizations and groups of 5 or more residents that support neighborhoods to apply for its annual grant program. 
• Get ready for the February 17 primary: Get ready for the February 17 primary! Here is all you need to know to get involved.
• The Madison Metropolitan School District has announced renderings for the Phase 1 schools that are being remodeled.
• The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has put out a consumer alert about Wisconsin consumers, businesses, and government entities targeted by scammers who impersonate local government entities and officials. The scammers are attempting to deceive individuals, businesses, and other organizations into wiring them money for fake tax bills and other fees, such as building permits or zoning submissions.

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

• Rise and Reset Virtual Chair Yoga, February 2, 8-8:45am. This is a gentle, beginner-friendly chair yoga and breath work class designed to help you wake up your body and ease into the day. The practice is fully chair-based, with no floor work, and focuses on simple movements, light stretching and strengthening, and balancing breath work.
• Free Homebuyer Education Course, February 3, 10, and 17. Join this free First-Time Homebuyer Education Course, a three-part series designed to walk you through the homebuying journey and connect you to resources that can make homeownership more affordable and achievable.
• Groove & Glide | Westmorland, Friday, February 6: Experience the fun and beauty of ice skating under the stars and lights with music and games.  All ages and experience levels are welcome. Groove & Glide events are free to attend and no registration is needed.
• Regent Neighborhood Association neighbor weekend, February 6-8 at the corner of Regent and Allen. Participating businesses will have specials!
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, Saturday, February 7: Groundhogs in Love ~ Join Naturalist Paul Noeldner on a free fun educational family friendly guided walk to learn about Groundhogs, Muskrats, Chipmunks and other cute critters that sleep through most of Winter but sometimes wake up on warmer days to get a snack - or go Looking for Love!
• Family Winter Prom, Saturday, February 7: Put on your dancing shoes and join us at Monona Terrace for Family Winter Prom 2026! The evening will have fun music, light refreshments, crafts, and a photo station. Family Winter Prom is a dance perfect for children 13 and under with an accompanying adult. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, February 8: Animal Tracks ~ Explore beautiful trails at Turville Point by Lake Monona on a free guided nature walk with Naturalist Stephanie Briand!  Along the way we will look for and learn to identify animal tracks and other things we see.

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.

• Common Council – Discussion: The Common Council will be having a discussion on Tuesday, February 3, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building. This will be a briefing on violence prevention initiatives.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, February 2, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include approving plans and specifications for the Capital City Path Extension and the Dane County led work on Underdahl Road for the Glacial Drumlin Extension.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, February 2, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 2, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 19.
  • 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,

Regina Vidaver