Week of October 20, 2025

Hello District 7 neighbors,

I hope everyone is enjoying the colorful fall season in Madison! The cooler weather brings not only changing leaves but also many opportunities to get involved, connect with others, and share your voice in city planning and neighborhood events.

Community Engagement and Upcoming Events

This week, there are a couple of great opportunities to connect with City leaders and learn more about key projects across Madison:

• Tuesday, October 21 – Virtual Public Information Meeting (Odana Road Corridor):
  Join District 19 Alder John P. Guequierre for an engaging discussion on how policy decisions can accelerate housing development in Madison, with a focus on the Odana Road Corridor.
  📅 Tuesday, October 21, 6:00 PM
  🔗 Register at cityofmadison.com/OdanaRd
• Friday, October 24 – District 17 Community Engagement Dinner:
  Alder Sabrina V. Madison is hosting her annual Community Engagement Dinner at Sandburg Elementary. Come enjoy a meal, connect with neighbors, and hear about district updates.
  🔗 Register at cityofmadison.com/D17Dinner
• Public Meetings on Area Plans:
  The City continues to engage residents through the Southeast and Southwest Area Plan public meetings this week. These sessions are important opportunities to review draft recommendations and share feedback that will shape future development.

City Meetings This Week

A few notable boards, commissions, and committees will meet this week. These meetings are open to the public, and participation, whether by watching online or offering comments, is always encouraged:

• Sustainable Madison Committee – Monday, October 20, 4:30 PM
  The committee will discuss updates related to the City’s Climate Forward initiative and sustainability goals. This is a great opportunity to stay informed about efforts to make Madison more resilient and environmentally responsible.
• Plan Commission – Monday, October 20, 5:30 PM
  Topics include development proposals in multiple districts.
• Transportation Commission – Wednesday, October 22, 5:00 PM
  Reviewing Metro Transit’s annual Safety Plan.
• Housing Policy Committee – Thursday, October 23, 4:30 PM
  Discussion on data for the 2025 Housing Snapshot Report.

For agendas, links to register for public comment, or to watch online, please visit the City Meeting Schedule.

News and Announcements

• Urban Forestry Fall Planting: Madison’s Urban Forestry team begins planting 850 new trees across the city this week, an exciting step in expanding our urban canopy!
• City Launches New Financial Transparency Tools: Explore Madison’s new online tools to better understand how your city tax dollars are being invested.
• White Cane Safety Day: October 15 marked this important day recognizing the rights and safety of individuals with visual impairments, thank you to all who promote accessibility and awareness in our community.
• Art in Darbo-Worthington: Local artist Jennie Bastian’s new public art project is transforming everyday spaces into community connections, definitely worth a visit!

Get Involved

If you’re interested in shaping city policies or learning how decisions are made, consider serving on a City Board, Commission, or Committee. More information is available here.

As always, thank you for staying engaged and informed. Your participation, questions, and feedback help strengthen our community and make Madison a better place for all.

Take care,
Badri Lankella
Alder, District 7

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, October 20, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 4, 8, 12, 16, and 17.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 22, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an annual review of Metro Transit’s Safety Plan.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Housing Policy Committee: The Housing Policy Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, October 23, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a staff presentation and discussion regarding data for the 2025 Housing Snapshot Report.
  • 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.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Southeast Area Plan Public Meeting: Virtual Option, Tuesday, October 21: 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.
• Southeast Area Plan Public Meeting: In-Person, Tuesday, October 21: 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.
• Public Input Meeting - Midtown Commons Park, Wednesday, October 22: Join us on Wednesday, October 22 at 6:00 PM for the second virtual public meeting for the Midtown Commons Park master planning process. Midtown Commons Park is expanding to include ~8.2 acres of additional park green space. During the meeting, Parks staff will share the results of the online survey and present a proposed master plan option based on the received community input.
• Public Information Meeting - Vilas Park, Wednesday, October 22: Madison Parks is holding a virtual Vilas Park Public Information Meeting on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 6:00 pm. Advanced registration is required.
• Southwest Area Plan Public Meeting: In-Person, Thursday, October 23: These meetings will provide an overview of issues and opportunities in the planning area and offer a chance to review and comment on draft plan actions. In-person meetings will have a short presentation followed by an open house.

Announcements and News Releases

• Draft Recommendations Published for Southwest and Southeast Area Plans: The City of Madison’s planning teams for the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans have published a draft of their proposed recommendations and maps, giving the community a chance to review them ahead of the next round of public meetings. [posted October 17, 2025]
• Packers Avenue Closure for Railroad Crossing Replacement Begins October 27: Starting at 6:00am on Monday, October 27, Packers Avenue (STH 113) will be closed to all traffic at the railroad tracks just north of International Lane to allow CPKC Railroad to replace the deteriorating railroad crossing. The closure is expected to… [posted October 17, 2025]
• Everyday places in Darbo-Worthington turned into points of connection through art: This fall, Madison-based artist and community organizer Jennie Bastian invites neighbors and visitors alike to experience a temporary public art project unfolding in and around Thurber Park in the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood. [posted October 17, 2025]
• After the SLAM: A Storyteller's Spotlight with Nestor Gomez and Araceli Esparza: Madison, WI -- Madison Public Library is hosting a special literary event featuring two celebrated storytellers: Nestor “the Boss” Gomez and Araceli Esparza. Come hear excerpts from each of their latest books during this free event on Saturday… [posted October 16, 2025]
• City of Madison Launches New Financial Transparency Tools : The City of Madison is proud to offer new tools to increase awareness and understanding of its finances. [posted October 15, 2025]
• White Cane Safety Day 2025: October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a nationally recognized day that supports and highlights the rights of those with visual impairments. Approximately one million Americans have blindness while another six million Americans suffer from vision loss… [posted October 14, 2025]
• When Plans Come Together: District 19 Alder Guides Residents through the Developments of the Odana Rd. Corridor: Join District 19 Alder John P. Guequierre for a virtual informative session on Tuesday, October 21, from 6 to 8 PM, where we will explore the series of actions that have transformed the Odana Rd corridor. [posted October 14, 2025]
• Urban Forestry Planting 850 Trees in Fall 2025: Urban Forestry’s fall planting season will begin on Monday, October 20, 2025.Crews will be planting approximately 850 trees from 28 different species along City of Madison streets. Planting is a team effort that takes a significant amount of Urban… [posted October 14, 2025]
• Madison Police Department and Community Partners Celebrate Completion of 2nd Annual Proximity Project: The Madison Police Department (MPD) proudly announces the successful completion of the 2nd Annual Proximity Project, a community-driven initiative designed to foster understanding, trust, and collaboration between officers and residents they serve.... [posted October 14, 2025]
• Capital City Trail Storm Sewer Replacement Project Update: Storm sewer work that will temporarily close the intersection of S Paterson Street at the Capital City Trail path will begin on Wednesday, October 15th. Work in this area will last for approximately 1 week. The currently closed section of the Capital…[posted October 13, 2025]
• Celebrate Native Nations with the Teejop & Beyond Program at Madison Public Library Beginning October 20: MADISON, WI – Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations, is returning to Madison Public Library this fall. The program is hosted in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison(link is external) and highlights both traditional and contemporary practices, stories, and community relationships. [posted October 13, 2025]

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

• Optimizing Your Home's Energy Performance by Project Home, Tuesday, October 21: Are you ready to lower your energy bills and create a more comfortable home? This course provides you with the knowledge and tools to achieve just that. Learn practical strategies for improving your home’s energy efficiency, from simple DIY projects to larger upgrades.
• Volunteer at The Glen, Saturday, October 18 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Volunteering at The Glen offers you a unique opportunity to contribute to your community, learn new skills, grow personally and professionally, and connect with like-minded individuals.
• When Plans Come Together: Transforming the Odana Rd Corridor, Tuesday, October 21: Join us for an informative session as we explore the series of actions that have transformed the Odana Rd corridor, which includes over 2,000 housing units that have already been built, are currently under construction, or are in the planning phase. We will also share updates on upcoming projects, community initiatives, and other relevant news.
• District 17 Community Engagement Dinner, Friday, October 24: Join District 17 Alder Sabrina Madison, Sandburg Elementary leadership, and invited city staff for an update on projects across the district. There will be an opportunity to share your feedback and concerns about the district. Please register in advance.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, October 25: Join a naturalist for an easy, family-friendly walk from Aldo Leopold Nature Center into beautiful Edna Taylor Conservation Park and enjoy a bit of nature education along the way.
• Sound and Sense Immersion, Sunday, October 26: Sound and Sense Immersion is a two-hour gentle and restorative meditation, light, aromatherapy and sound bath journey through the elements.

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