Snow info you can use; Submit your ideas for signs along the shared use path; Olbrich Gardens wants your input; Common Council discussion on sustainability...and more!

Hello neighbors,

I sincerely hope this message finds you safe and warm! City of Madison snow plowing crews will be out plowing salt routes, and will only plow residential streets after the snow has concluded, if there is more than three inches of accumulation. Please park on the even side of the street overnight tonight to ensure our plows can be most effective. Note that Madison public schools, and all activities within their buildings, are cancelled for tomorrow. If you do not need to commute tomorrow (Monday) morning, please do not. 

Also, today is the last day to submit your ideas for signage to reduce bicycle/pedestrian conflicts on our shared use paths to the Regent Neighborhood Association. Please submit your ideas for shared-use path etiquette signage. These should be short, four- or five- stanza semi-poetic signs, for example: 

• In a hurry? Join the club. But flying past is just a snub. 
• Fido’s walking. Good for you! But keep that leash to a foot or two. And scoop the poop, like good folks do! 

Send submissions to Charlie Peters TODAY for a chance to win prizes, such as a $30 certificate for bike accessories, and $20 and $10 Ice Cream Social certificates. 

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Sherman Ave, N. Sherman Ave, and McGuire Street Reconstruction, Monday, March 16: The City is planning reconstruction of Sherman Ave from McGuire St to N. Sherman Ave/Fordem Ave, N. Sherman Ave/Fordem Ave from Northfield Pl to Erie Ct, and McGuire St from Sherman Ave to Fordem Ave in 2026. A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., March 16, 2026, via Zoom. Registration is required. 
• Public Input Meeting - Newbery Park, Tuesday, March 17: The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Newbery Park and we want your input. At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from input gathered at the playground workshop. 
• Olbrich Botanical Garden Comprehensive Master Plan, March 17, noon and 6pm, and March 19, 6pm: This is a pivotal point in Olbrich's history, and the opportunities are boundless. We're excited to imagine together what Olbrich Botanical Gardens could become in 20 years and to start planning how to get there. The purpose of the comprehensive plan is to help align our mission and vision with the city of Madison's larger, long-term goals. Please register in advance for the March 17 noon or 6pm meeting, or the March 19, 6pm meeting.

Announcements and News Releases

• Building a Greener Madison: Common Council Holds Discussion on the City's Sustainability Plan: The Madison Common Council will hold a discussion on City sustainability initiatives on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM in Room 201 of the City-County Building. 
• Eastbound University Avenue Temporarily Reduced to One Lane: Starting at 9:00 am on Friday, March 20th, Interstate Demolition will reduce a section of eastbound University Avenue to one lane, east of Midvale Boulevard, to complete the first phase of utility work for the private development project at 3535 University Ave.
• 2026 Brush Collection Schedule is Now Available: The 2026 set-out date schedule for the Streets Division's brush schedule pickup is now available on the brush collection website. 
• Spring Yard Waste Collection Set-Out Date Schedule for 2026 Now Available: The 2026 set-out date schedule for the Streets Division's springtime yard waste collection is now available on the yard waste website. When do I put out yard waste for pickup? Go to our yard waste website. Enter your address into the form. 
• New Central Drop-off Site at 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway Opens on April 11, 2026: The new centrally located drop-off site for the Streets Division will open on April 11, 2026.The address of the new location is 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway. 
• Absentee Ballots Are in the Mail: The City of Madison Clerk's Office has begun mailing absentee ballots for the April 7, 2026, election. 
• CARES Teams Acquire Long-Awaited Response Vehicles to Better Support People in Crisis: CARES will now respond to non-violent behavioral health emergencies in specialized Ford Transit vans outfitted to allow personalized care. 
• Rachel Darken Nominated for Fleet Service Superintendent: Mayor Rhodes-Conway has nominated Rachel Darken as the City of Madison’s new Fleet Service Superintendent within the Public Works Department. Her appointment will be voted on by the Common Council later this spring.   
• Charlie Romines Nominated for Public Works Director: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is pleased to announce the nomination of Charlie Romines to the position of Public Works Director. His appointment will be voted on by the Common Council later this spring.   

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

• MSCR & Madison Parks Hiring Fair, Wednesday, March 18: Madison Parks and MSCR are hiring seasonal staff in aquatics, maintenance, conservation and more! Attend a Hiring Fair at Parks Lakeside Offices and apply and interview onsite! Make this a summer to remember! 
• Learn & Ride: Junction Road Park & Ride, Thursday, March 19: Join Metro Transit staff to learn how to ride the bus, navigate routes and stops, and feel confident getting where you need to go with Metro!
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, March 21: Equinox Walk ~ Join Noah Edelstein with Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free fun educational family friendly walk along easy paths to the beautiful Starkweather Creek greenway.
• Safe Gun Disposal, Saturday, March 21: Focused Interruption is joining St. Paul A.M.E. Church and Messiah Lutheran Church for a Safe Gun Disposal Event from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Paul A.M.E. Church (4525 Diamond Dr., Madison, WI), followed by a public forging demonstration from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. This event is free, confidential, and open to all community members.
• My Brother’s Keeper Spring Break Gaming & Coding Day, March 25: The Annual Spring Break Game Design & Coding Day event is part of the Madison My Brother’s Keeper initiative. It will be an interactive journey exploring opportunities across the areas of game design and coding. The 2026 Game Design and Coding Day will be held from 10:30am-3:30pm at the MYArts Building. This event is free and open to all middle and high school students in the Greater Madison area.

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 discussion will take place on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 201 of the City-County Building. This discussion will cover City of Madison sustainability initiatives.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Watch Online
• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, March 16, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include the extension of Tax Increment District 41 for 12 months.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, March 16, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 1, 2, 15, 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