City-County Building
Common Council

Week of March 9, 2026

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Dear Neighbors,

Over the past week, I had the opportunity to connect with residents, listen to community concerns, and continue working with city staff and partners on issues that matter to District 7. I appreciate the many neighbors who continue to stay engaged and share their perspectives.

Neighborhood Conversation: Supporting Families and Sharing Resources

This weekend, I joined a neighborhood meeting organized by community members to discuss concerns related to immigration enforcement activity and its potential impact on families.

I want to thank Mai See Thao and the entire group of neighbors who helped organize and participate in the conversation. It was very encouraging to see how engaged and thoughtful the group already is in supporting one another and sharing reliable information within the community.

Many participants expressed interest in understanding what policies and resources the City of Madison has in place and what steps may be taken if there is increased enforcement activity in the region. These conversations are important because they help ensure residents have access to accurate information and know where to turn for support.

I shared that the City of Madison has long-standing policies focused on maintaining community trust and ensuring residents feel safe accessing city services. Conversations like this also help me better understand what neighbors are experiencing so I can continue working with city staff and community partners to provide updates and resources when available.

I will continue to stay in communication with city staff and share relevant updates with the group as information becomes available.

Thank you again to the neighbors who took the time to organize this meeting and to everyone who participated thoughtfully.

Connecting D7 Lunch & Learn: Understanding Property Taxes

Our next Connecting D7 Lunch & Learn session will take place on Monday, March 9 from 12:00–1:00 PM via Zoom.

This session will focus on understanding property taxes and assessments, an issue many residents have questions about. We will be joined by Michelle Drea from the Assessor’s Office and David Schmiedicke from the Finance Department, who will explain how property assessments relate to property taxes and answer questions from residents.

Virtual Lunch & Learn with Alder Badri Lankella
Image credit: City of Madison

These sessions are designed to provide a space for residents to learn more about how city processes work and connect directly with staff experts.

Updates and Notices

Elections & Voting: Register to vote, vote absentee, and find your polling place.

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: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include adding $4 million in TID 44-supported GO borrowing and authorizing the execution of a Purchase & Sale Agreement for the City to acquire property for the purposes of land banking in District 15.
  • Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include construction management and approvals in Districts 3, 5, 14, 15, 16, and 19.

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)

Orton Park Playground Improvements

Public Input Meeting - Orton Park, Monday, March 9

The Parks Division is improving the playground at Orton Park and is seeking public input. Staff will present revised playground equipment options based on feedback gathered during earlier workshops.

Moorland Road Shared-Use Path

Moorland Rd Shared-Use Path, Wednesday, March 11

The proposed project includes construction of an approximately 0.6-mile shared-use path on the south side of Moorland Road from Wayland Drive to Raywood Road/South Towne Drive, including a connection to the Capital City Trail.

Heifetz Park Playground Improvements

Public Input Meeting - Heifetz Park, Thursday, March 12

The Parks Division will present updated playground equipment options based on previous community input.

Announcements and News Releases

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.

Community Events

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

Staying Engaged in District 7

One of the most valuable parts of serving as your alder is hearing directly from residents. Over the past week, many neighbors have reached out with questions about development, transportation, neighborhood safety, and city services.

Your feedback helps guide my work at the Common Council and on the committees where I serve. Please continue to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or ideas for how we can continue improving our neighborhoods.

Thank You for Staying Connected

District 7 continues to grow and evolve, and the strength of our community comes from neighbors who care about one another and stay involved.

Thank you to everyone who attends meetings, shares feedback, volunteers in the community, or helps neighbors stay informed.

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out anytime.

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

District 7
Contact Alder Lankella

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