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Week of November 10, 2025

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Dear Neighbors,

As we move deeper into November, I continue to be encouraged by the engagement and collaboration across our community. From recent discussions about transportation and safety to upcoming opportunities to connect with our Madison Police Department, your voices and participation continue to guide the work we do together in District 7.

Thank You for Joining Our Recent Lunch & Learn

Thank you to everyone who joined our recent Lunch & Learn session with the City’s Traffic Engineering Division. We had an insightful discussion about neighborhood safety, speeding concerns, and how residents can work with the City to bring forward traffic calming requests. These conversations help us ensure our streets are safe and accessible for everyone.

Join Us for the Next Session: Public Safety & Policing

Our next Lunch & Learn is coming up on Thursday, November 13, featuring Chief of Police John Patterson and West District Captain Timothy Patton from the Madison Police Department. This is a great opportunity to hear updates on public-safety, ask questions about traffic enforcement, and learn more about community policing initiatives.

📅 Event: Connecting D7: Learning Together with Alder Badri Lankella featuring MPD
🕐 When: Thursday, November 13, 2025
🔗 Details & Registration: Join the event here

Connecting D7: Learning Together with Alder Badri Lankella featuring MPD
Image credit: City of Madison

Focus on the Budget: What’s Ahead & How You Can Engage

Highlighting the Sessions

The following key meetings are coming up this week in relation to the City budget process:

  • Tuesday, November 11 at 5:30 p.m. – Madison Common Council budget meeting (hybrid format).
  • Wednesday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. – If needed: continuation of budget deliberations (hybrid).
  • Thursday, November 13 at 5:30 p.m. – If needed: further continuation (hybrid).

These sessions mark the culmination of the budget process and offer a pivotal opportunity for us to influence how City resources are allocated.

Resources & How to Use Them

I’d like to direct your attention to a recent blog post by our colleagues in District 10 their piece, titled “Let’s talk Budgets! Wow!”, provides a clear breakdown of the budget’s structure and key metrics, including revenue sources, the structure of the 2026 operating budget, and how the budget book is organized. City of Madison, WI
Some highlights from that post:

  • A balanced budget means expenses plus revenues equal zero, a useful concept when looking at how money is allocated. City of Madison, WI
  • Revenue sources for 2026: property taxes, intergovernmental grants/funds, fees, permits, fund balances. City of Madison, WI
  • The budget includes 137 services across all agencies, each service with descriptions, expenses, revenues, good model for transparency. City of Madison, WI

Although the District 10 post is oriented toward that district’s perspective, the materials and format are highly relevant for District 7. I encourage you to review this post as part of our own budget engagement. It gives us a framework for asking informed questions, understanding how services are funded, and how we as residents can participate.

Why It Matters for District 7

As Alder for District 7, I will be closely reviewing the budget to ensure our neighborhoods are represented: that resources for transportation, public safety, parks, housing, and other priorities are captured. We need to make sure that:

  • Our streets get the necessary traffic-safety investments.
  • Public safety supports (for fires, police, EMS) are properly funded.
  • Recreation, neighborhood services, and community facilities continue to be supported.
  • We maintain transparency so that you can see how your tax dollars are being allocated.

Your input matters. Ahead of the budget deliberations, please share with me your priorities: whether it’s traffic calming, senior services, youth recreation, library funding, neighborhood greening, or anything else. We’ll use them as part of our budget advocacy.

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of November 10, 2025

Updates and Notices

  • Public Health Offices Closed: Public Health Offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day). The City of Madison offices will remain open and operate regular hours.
  • Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings:
    • Common Council meetings as noted under “Focus on the Budget.”
    • If you’re interested in joining a board, commission, or committee — visit the City’s board page.
  • Public Information Meeting (PIM):
    • Elmside, Sommers, Center Reconstruction — Monday, Nov 10 at 6:30 p.m. (Zoom). Please fill out the project questionnaire by Nov 17.

Announcements & News Releases

  • Update: N Franklin Avenue & Lynn Terrace Reconstruction with Utilities Project — re-opening on Monday, Nov 10.
  • 2026 & 2027 Trash and Recycling Schedules: Now available.
  • Street Closures for Madison Marathon: Several streets in/around downtown closed for the race Sunday, Nov 9.
  • Temporary Perry Street Closure: From Monday, Nov 10 until Nov 11 for utility installation.
  • North Randall Avenue Reopened: Since Wednesday morning, Nov 5.
  • Madison Public Library’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations Wrap Up: Final exhibition & events announced.
  • Food Scraps at the Farmers Market: Season over — winter drop-off options available.
  • Gorham Street Lane Closures: Ongoing through approx. Friday, Nov 21.
  • Updates to Winter Alternate Side Parking Program: Review under way for improved safety and communication.
  • Put Your Pumpkins in Your Leaf Piles: Streets Division crews will collect pumpkins/yards waste — remove lights/candles.

Visit the City news webpage to stay up to date and subscribe for notifications of new releases.

Community Events

  • Wright Design Series – Designing Our Community: Monday, Nov 10.
  • Connecting D7: Learning Together with Alder Badri Lankella featuring MPD: Thursday, Nov 13.
  • Public Art Dedication at Parks Lakeside Offices: Friday, Nov 14.
  • Warner Family Fun Night: Friday, Nov 14.
  • T-shirt to Tote Workshop: Saturday, Nov 15.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures – Starkweather Creek Area: Saturday, Nov 15.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures – Warner Park: Sunday, Nov 16.
  • Winter Bike Fashion Show (RoundTrip): Sunday, Nov 16.
    More details can be found on the City Events Calendar.

Closing Thoughts

This budget session offers us a crucial opportunity to shape the direction of our city. I’m committed to ensuring District 7’s voice is heard and prioritizing the areas you care about most. Whether it’s safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, or more accessible community services, we’ll work together.

Thank you for staying connected, and I hope to see you at the upcoming Lunch & Learn or one of the many events this week.

Warm regards,
Badri Lankella
Alder, District 7
City of Madison

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)

Announcements and News Releases

  • Update: N Franklin Avenue & Lynn Terrace Reconstruction with Utilities Project: On Monday, November 10, N Franklin Avenue and Lynn Terrace will re-open to traffic after the concluding the replacement of aging and deteriorating utilities for N Franklin Avenue and Lynn Terrace. Learn more about this project on Engineering’s… [posted November 7, 2025]
  • 2026 & 2027 Trash and Recycling Schedules Now Available: Tired of being unsure if this week is your recycling week? Worried about mixing up those confusing holiday schedules? Are you just done with wondering if the neighbors you have been relying on to put out their carts first so you can follow their lead… [posted November 6, 2025]
  • Street Closures for Madison Marathon: Several streets in and around downtown will be closed for the Madison Marathon races on Sunday, November 9th. The races all begin on the Capitol Square with the full marathon course taking runners through the UW Arboretum, Vilas Park, around Lake…[posted November 6, 2025]
  • Temporary Perry Street Closure Begins Monday, November 10 : From Monday, November 10 until Tuesday, November 11, Perry Street will close between Jonathon Drive and Stewart Street by Homburg Contractors for utility installation. [posted November 5, 2025]
  • North Randall Avenue - Street Reopened: North Randall Avenue has been reopened to traffic between Campus Drive and West Dayton Street, as of Wednesday morning, November 5. The street had been closed to traffic since May for a UW/DOA utility installation project. [posted November 5, 2025]
  • Madison Public Library's 150th Anniversary Celebrations Wrap Up with 150 Artists x 150 Years Exhibition and Events : MADISON, WI –  The final celebration of Madison Public Library’s 150th Anniversary in 2025 will take the form of an art show highlighting literacy, history, and the wealth of local art connections the library has made over the past 12 years… [posted November 4, 2025]
  • Foods Scraps at the Farmers Market: Season Over and Goal Update: The ability to bring your food scraps to a neighborhood farmers’ markets has ended for 2025.For the winter months, you can use one of the Dane County Scrap Stops to drop off your food scraps. Visit the Dane County website to register for a kiosk… [posted November 4, 2025]
  • Gorham Street Lane Closures: Work began Monday, November 3 on W Gorham Street, between N Broom Street and N Bassett Street, and will last until approximately Friday, November 21. There will be lane closures and vehicle travel lane shifts in place to accommodate utility… [posted November 3, 2025]
  • Updates to Winter Alternate Side Parking Program: The City of Madison is reviewing its Alternate Side Parking Program to find ways to improve safety, efficiency, and communication during winter months. [posted November 3, 2025]
  • Put Your Pumpkins in Your Leaf Piles: Spice up your leaf piles with this season’s jack-o-lanterns. Streets Division crews will collect pumpkins, hay, corn stalks along with your leaves and other yard waste. Remove wires, candles, string, electric lights, and similar items from your… [posted November 3, 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

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

 

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District 7 - Alder Lankella

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Alder Badri Lankella

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