City Highlights for the Week of April 1, 2024

posted March 29, 2024 - 10:33pm

Make a plan to vote on Tuesday! In addition to the presidential primary, there are two state constitutional amendments on the ballot, and elections for Court of Appeals, Dane County Circuit Court, Dane County Board and Madison Metropolitan School District.

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. City Highlights prepared by Council staff.

Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 3, in virtual format at 4:30 p.m. Agenda items include authorizing the Board of Public Works to advertise and receive bids for the Warner Park Community Recreation Center Expansion, as well as the acquisition of land interests required for the construction and maintenance of stormwater management facilities required for flood mitigation and restoration within the Old Sauk Trails Business Park Pond and Greenways portion of the Pheasant Branch Greenway.

Board of Park Commissioners: The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 3, in person at the Parks Division Lakeside Offices at 330 E Lakeside St at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include adopting the Lake Monona Waterfront Master Plan, the adoption of Park Development Plans in the Northeast and West planning areas, and authorizing the approval of the Carts in Parks program.

Public Information Meetings & Sessions

Community Meeting - Road Salt/Water Quality, Tuesday, April 2 (IN-PERSON): Please join us for a community meeting hosted by the City of Madison Water Utility and Streets divisions to discuss road salting application, including the impacts on infrastructure and our waterways, particularly our drinking water source.
Philosopher's Grove Redesign - Initial Public Engagement Meeting, Wednesday, April 3 (IN-PERSON): Please join City Planning and Design Staff OUTSIDE on the plaza site to share your ideas for the future of this important public space. Be sure to dress for the weather!
Open House: Park & Open Space Plan, Thursday, April 4 (IN-PERSON): The City of Madison Parks Division is updating its Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) and is seeking input from area residents on the plan! The purpose of the POSP is to guide and inform public parks policy and park facility decisions in the City of Madison. Parks, working with a consultant planning team led by MSA Professional Services, Inc., is hosting a series of open houses to introduce the project and gather input from attendees.

Announcements & News Releases

MPD reaches goal to make women 30 percent of recruit class: MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Police Department continues to be a national leader when it comes to hiring and retaining women.Three years ago, the department became one of the first agencies to pledge its support to the 30x30 Initiative, which looks…
Regent Street Closure – Crane Removal: Starting on Friday, April 5th at 6:00 am, J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. will close Regent St. from East Campus Mall to Park St, to remove the tower crane located at 832 Regent St.  This section of Regent St. will remain closed to thru traffic until 5…

Road Closure – N. Biltmore Lane: Starting on Saturday, March 30, Parisi Construction will complete a water main tie-in on N. Biltmore Lane, from Eastpark Blvd. to Buttonwood drive.  This section of N. Biltmore Lane will remain closed to thru traffic, with local access for residents…
Scheduled Brush Collection Begins Soon – Learn the Set Out Dates for Your Home Today: The first scheduled set out dates for this year’s brush collection by the Streets Division is fast approaching. Some neighborhoods’ first set out date is Sunday, March 31, 2024.  The first date for your neighborhood may be different.  You can get…
What's Your Vision for Parks and Open Spaces?: The City of Madison Parks Division is updating its Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) and seeking input from area residents. The purpose of the POSP is to guide and inform public park policies and park facility decisions in the city of Madison.  Parks…
RoundTrip’s Spring Roll Challenge to Celebrate Green Trips this Earth Month: RoundTrip, a transportation options program in Dane County, is launching the Spring Roll Challenge to encourage car-free and car-light trips throughout April.
Accessibility Options for Voting: The City Clerk’s Office want to make sure voters know about accessibility options for the April 2 Election.
Streets Division Drop-off Sites Hours Expand Starting April 1, 2024: Starting on Monday, April 1, 2024 the Streets Division drop-off sites at 402 South Point Road and 4602 Sycamore Avenue will begin their expanded summer hours.Also on April 1, 2024 the special drop-off site at 121 East Olin Avenue will open at 3:00pm…
Street Closure For Construction — Hammersley Rd: Starting on Monday, April 1st at 7:00 am, Capitol Underground will begin phase 2 of the Hammersley Rd project, from Gilbert Rd to the W Beltline Frontage Rd, to replace the underground utilities, reconstruct the roadway, and construct a multi-use…
Hospitalized Absentee Voting Began Tuesday: Today is the first day for hospitalized voters to have an absentee ballot delivered to them in the hospital. This process is available until 5 p.m. on Election Day. Hospitalized voters can initiate the process by appointing an agent and requesting a …
Road Closure Continues -- Pleasant View Rd: Hoffman Construction will close Pleasant View Road, between Quarry Rd and Pleasant View Golf Course, for another day this week: Thursday, March 28, from 9:00am – 2:00pmThe times above are approximations, as the road will open sooner if work concludes…
Mail It Back Monday – Make Sure Your Absentee Counts:The City Clerk’s Office has issued 17,499 absentee ballots for the April 2 Spring Election, with 7,660 returned to be counted.The Clerk’s Office strongly encourages absentee voters to mail back their absentee ballots today, if possible. By mailing…

Events

Spring Election Day and Presidential Preference, Tuesday, April 2: Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Yoga Core, Tuesday, April 2: Yoga Core is a great class to help build strength and body awareness. This class incorporates a wide variety of seated, standing, balancing, and mat-based yoga poses focusing on strength, stability, and mobility. Core-based practices can help enhance balance and stability and prevent falls and injuries as we age. All levels are welcome. Participants will need to be able to get up and down off the floor. Chairs or walls may be used for balance assistance.
Learn to Fall Safely, Wednesday, April 3: SAFELY Learn to fall safely and to get back up without injury. Falls are a leading cause of death for older adults in Wisconsin. We will use thick “crash mats” for practicing. Classes are progressive. Attending all 4 classes recommended. Scholarships available. 
Meditation At Monona Terrace, Thursday, April 4 (VIRTUAL): Life can be stressful, meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. All experience levels and drop-ins welcome. 
Yoga Core, Friday, April 5: Yoga Core is a great class to help build strength and body awareness. This class incorporates a wide variety of seated, standing, balancing, and mat-based yoga poses focusing on strength, stability, and mobility. Core-based practices can help enhance balance and stability and prevent falls and injuries as we age. All levels are welcome. Participants will need to be able to get up and down off the floor. Chairs or walls may be used for balance assistance.
Community Meet & Greet at The Heights with Alder Regina Vidaver & Dane County Supervisor Richelle Andrae, Friday, April 5: Join City of Madison Alder Regina Vidaver (District 5) and Dane County Board Supervisor Richelle Andrae (District 11) in the 6th floor Community Room at The Heights, 2206 University Avenue, for a special meet and greet for residents to meet their local elected officials and their neighbors in the surrounding community. This is an open community gathering, please come to socialize with your neighbors, ask questions, and provide feedback on issues important to you. Food and beverages will be provided.

Dog Park Cleanup Day 2024, Saturday, April 6: Do you love your dog park? Help clean up your favorite city of Madison off-leash dog park. Volunteers are needed to assist with picking up trash and scooping up dog poop. Madison Parks will supply trash bags, gloves, scoopers, and buckets. You may bring your own gloves, scoopers, and additional bags. Volunteers, a mask must worn and please practice social distancing from anyone outside of your household.
Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, Saturday, April 6: Nature-expert guided walks in Tenney Park along Lake Mendota and the Yahara River Parkway bike path through the Madison Isthmus are free, family-friendly and held the first Saturday of each month, from 2:30-4pm. The walk begins at the Tenney Beach parking lot, 1330 Sherman Avenue. No registration is required. No pets are allowed. Co-sponsored by Madison FUN Friends of Urban Nature, Madison Parks, Badgerland Bird Alliance Madison Audubon Society, Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association and Friends of the Yahara River Parkway.
Bird & Nature Adventures | Cherokee Marsh – North Unit, Sunday, April 7:  Cherokee Marsh is Madison’s largest conservation park with three units - North, South, and Mendota. Each month, year-round we explore the north unit's beautiful trails through the woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairies along the Yahara ‘Catfish’ River. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks, Friends of Cherokee Marsh, Sierra Club and Madison Audubon Society . Follow North Sherman Ave. to the parking lot at the end of the gravel entrance road. Free, family-friendly guided nature walks at Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park – North are held on the 1st Sunday of each month, year-round 1:30-3pm. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.