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Week of February 16, 2026

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Dear Neighbors,

As we move into the week of February 16, there are many opportunities to stay involved, from City meetings and community updates to public safety initiatives, local events, and an upcoming environmental panel discussion at the university. Below is a snapshot of what's happening this week and how you can stay engaged.

🌎 Community Spotlight — Environmental Panel Discussion at UW–Madison

Monday, February 16th 2026 - 6PM

UW-Madison Social Studies 406 - Room 5206, Madison WI 53706

I'm honored to be participating as a panelist at an upcoming environmental discussion hosted at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This event will bring together community leaders to discuss environmental issues, sustainability, and how we can work collectively toward practical solutions.

This conversation is especially meaningful to me given my long-standing work on sustainability initiatives and environmental planning here in Madison. I hope you will join us for what promises to be an engaging and informative discussion. For more details follow the page link here

🍂 Leaf Pickup Make-Up Attempt Begins Monday, February 16

I want to share an important update from the Streets & Urban Forestry Division regarding leaf pickup for residents who had a November 30, 2025 set-out date.

Because early winter weather prevented crews from completing collection last fall and a January make-up attempt was also interrupted by winter conditions the City will be making another attempt starting Monday, February 16.

Why this make-up attempt is happening

About one-third of Madison residents had a November 30 leaf set-out date. However:

  • Nearly one foot of snow fell on November 29, followed by freezing temperatures and additional snow.
  • The same crews and equipment used for leaf pickup are also responsible for snowplowing and winter response.
  • Snow and frozen ground made leaf collection unsafe and impractical.

A warm stretch in January allowed crews to resume collection and make progress, particularly on the north side and southwest side of Madison, but winter weather returned before work could be completed.

What’s the plan now?

  • Crews will resume from where they stopped in January.
  • Work will begin on the north side and southwest side before rotating to other areas.
  • This applies only to residents who had the November 30, 2025 set-out date and who were not reached during earlier attempts.

Will every neighborhood be reached?

Unfortunately, this cannot be guaranteed.

Collection depends entirely on weather conditions. Forecasts suggest colder temperatures and possible snow later in the week, and winter response remains the City’s top priority.

Crews will do their best to collect as much as possible while conditions allow.

What will be collected?

  • Accessible leaf and yard waste piles.
  • Some piles may need to be left behind if frozen, buried, or if collection risks damage to terraces or equipment.

How to check your set-out date

Residents can check by visiting the City’s yard waste webpage, entering their address, and selecting “All yard waste set out dates.”

Will there be leaf debris left in the street?

Possibly. In fall, street sweepers follow collection crews, but many sweepers are unavailable during winter due to scheduled maintenance and weather limitations.

A sincere thank you to our Streets Division staff for continuing to work through challenging winter conditions to provide this service whenever possible.

🍽️ Upcoming Virtual Lunch & Learn — Property Taxes

I'm excited to announce our next Virtual Lunch & Learn Session, will be on Monday March 9th 2026 at 12PM, focused on understanding property taxes and how local funding works.

Guest Speakers will include:

  • City Assessor staff
  • Madison Metropolitan School District representatives
  • Madison Public Schools Foundation staff

This session is designed to help residents better understand how property taxes are structured, how school funding fits into the picture, and what these dollars support across our community. More details and registration information will be shared soon. I hope you can join us!

⚡ Charge Up Dane County — EV Charging Opportunity for Community Sites

I also want to share an important sustainability opportunity being led by the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change through the Charge Up Dane County program.

This federally funded initiative is designed to expand affordable electric vehicle charging access especially for renters and residents in multifamily housing who may not have access to home charging.

Who can participate?

According to Program Director Kathy Kuntz:

  • The program is open to schools, multifamily landlords, faith communities, nonprofits, private businesses, and municipalities.
  • The most important factor is parking lot size, charging hubs typically require about 5–6 spaces (including one ADA-compliant spot).
  • Sites with larger parking lots tend to work best, often placing chargers toward the back or sides of lots to avoid impacting prime parking.

Key takeaway for potential site hosts

If you think your property might be a fit, please apply.

More than 90 sites applied, and over 50 are already moving forward. Hosts can always decide not to proceed later, but sites cannot be considered unless they apply.

The goal is to create convenient neighborhood charging options and expand access equitably across Dane County, including areas like Prairie Hills.

Thank you to Kathy Kuntz and the County sustainability team for coordinating with City staff and helping expand clean transportation options in our community.

🚸 Supporting Safe Routes to School

This week is also a great opportunity to highlight the City’s School Crossing Guard Program. Crossing guards help children safely cross streets, encourage active transportation, and serve as positive role models for pedestrian safety. The program plays an important role in supporting families who walk or bike to school.

February 16–20 has been recognized as Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week, please take a moment to thank the crossing guards in your neighborhood for the work they do every day to keep our children safe.

🚒 Public Safety Update — New Ladder Truck in Service

The City of Madison Fire Department recently placed a new aerial ladder truck into service on the west side. The new Ladder 2 entered service on February 12 and includes enhanced safety technology, a 105-foot aerial ladder, and equipment designed to improve emergency response capabilities for our community.

Investments like this help ensure our first responders have modern tools to protect residents while keeping firefighters safe during operations.

 

🩺 Public Health Alert — Measles Exposure Notification

Public Health Madison & Dane County has issued a community measles exposure alert related to a traveler from out of state who later tested positive for measles.

Exposure Location

  • Holiday Inn Express
    5150 High Crossing Blvd., Madison
    Friday, February 6 — 12:01 AM to 12:00 PM

Public Health is contacting known exposures, but a complete list of potentially exposed individuals is not available.

What residents should know

  • Symptoms typically appear 7–21 days after exposure.
    People exposed on February 6 could develop symptoms between February 13 and February 27.
  • Individuals who are fully vaccinated are very unlikely to become ill but should still monitor for symptoms.
  • Unvaccinated individuals or those without evidence of immunity may need to quarantine during the exposure window.

If symptoms develop

  • Stay home and avoid contact with others.
  • Do not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation.
  • Call your healthcare provider before visiting so precautions can be taken.

Questions about exposure can be directed to Public Health at:

The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine provides strong protection. Public Health offers free vaccines to uninsured adults and children, as well as children with Medical Assistance.

🌱 Updates and Notices

Seed Grants – Due February 20: The Mayor’s Office is now accepting applications for SEED grants. Any proposal that improves the local food system and makes food more accessible for City of Madison residents will be considered. Submit your application to the Madison Food Policy Council via email ( mfpc@cityofmadison.com). 

Near West Alders Meet & Greet: Join us for a casual meet-and-greet with Near West Alders Regina Vidaver (District 5), Tag Evers (District 13), and Bil Tishler (District 11), on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM. This event will take place in the community room at the Midtown District Police Station, 4020 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, WI 53705. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect, share your thoughts, and engage with your community leaders. Light beverages and refreshments will be provided. Please register in advance through Eventbrite! 

🏛️ Boards, Commissions & 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.

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)

đź“° City News & Announcements

  • Building Community in Affordable Housing: Each year, the Community Development Division issues a competitive Request for Proposals to offer approximately $10 million in support to developers that aim to build affordable housing to serve Madison’s most vulnerable populations. In 2025, a total of 425 future rental homes received City subsidies, 260 of which will offer permanent affordability to those with qualified incomes. 
  • Madison Fire Department Announces Timeline for Next Firefighter/EMT Hiring Process: The Madison Fire Department will be accepting applications for the position of Firefighter/EMT beginning April 1, 2026. The application period will close on May 26, 2026. [posted February 13, 2026]
  • Intermittent Elevator Outages at Overture Center Garage on February 16: ProAxis will perform scheduled exterior maintenance on the elevator hoistway at the City of Madison Overture Center Garage on Monday, February 16, 2026, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. The work includes replacing the header and window barrier on the… [posted February 13, 2026]
  • City of Madison Celebrates Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week: The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has officially declared February 16–20, 2026, as Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week. The City of Madison is proud to recognize the 65 crossing guards who faithfully serve at intersections… [posted February 13, 2026]
  • Community Development Authority updates plans for Park Badger redevelopment: The Community Development Authority and its partners have released updated designs for the Park Badger redevelopment project. [posted February 13, 2026]
  • How to identify unmarked squad cars, officers: MADISON, Wis.— The Madison Police Department is making some changes to help members of the public identify staff as local officers. Our department has received a lot of questions recently on how people can tell the difference between MPD officers and… [posted February 11, 2026]
  • Safer Internet Day: Being AI aware: The Madison Police Department is encouraging parents and guardians to talk to children about safe internet practices. In 2003, the European Union launched the first Safer Internet Day, and it has grown to more than 100 countries. The nonprofit… [posted February 10, 2026]
  • Share your thoughts on Public Art for the Far West Operations Facility: The City of Madison and the Madison Arts Commission are seeking community feedback on a design proposal by The Milligan Studio for the Far West Operations Facility at 402 South Point Road. [posted February 10, 2026]
  • Two-Time National Book Award Winner Jesmyn Ward Headlines Lunch for Libraries on May 5: MacArthur Fellowship recipient and New York Times bestselling author Jesmyn Ward is announced as the speaker for Madison Public Library Foundation's spring fundraiser, Lunch for Libraries, which will take place May 5 at Monona Terrace. [posted February 10, 2026]
  • 2025 Housing Snapshot report published: The City of Madison’s Department of Planning, Community, and Economic Development has published its 2025 Housing Snapshot report, providing the latest insights into the city’s housing trends. [posted February 9, 2026]

 

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.

đź“… Community Events

  • Wright Design Series: Innovations in K-12 Architecture Education, Monday, February 16: The next generation is becoming empowered to critically examine and actively shape the spaces around them. Discover how educators and designers are mentoring students across southern Wisconsin at this panel presentation. 
  • Vaccine Clinic at Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School, Saturday, February 21: In partnership with Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School, Public Health is offering a variety of free vaccines on February 21, 2026 from 9am-11am. All vaccines are free for eligible individuals. Children six months and older who lack insurance, are under 19, and are either Alaskan Native or American Indian, as well as those with BadgerCare or most other types of insurance, can receive vaccinations at no cost.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, February 2: Winter Wildflower Seed Planting ~ Join Naturalist Tara Dary for a free fun educational family friendly hands-on activity to learn about native Wisconsin  wildflowers seeds and take some home.  Did you know native wildflower seeds need to freeze and thaw or "cold stratify" to germinate?  Learn how to make Seed Bombs to toss on the ground or on snow to help seeds get started when it thaws.

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

Stay Connected

Thank you for staying engaged and informed. Whether you participate in meetings, volunteer, attend community events, or simply stay informed your involvement makes District 7 stronger.

As always, please reach out if you have questions, concerns, or ideas to share.

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

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District 7 - Alder Lankella

Portrait of Alder Badri Lankella

Alder Badri Lankella

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