City-County Building
Common Council

Week of March 23, 2026

posted 

Dear Neighbors,

As we officially welcome spring, there are many updates, meetings, and community opportunities happening across Madison and here in District 7. From the start of seasonal collection programs to important Common Council discussions and community events, this is a great time to stay engaged.

As always, I encourage you to participate, share your feedback, and stay connected.

🌿 Spring Seasonal Updates: Brush & Yard Waste Collection

Spring cleanup season is here, and with it comes the return of brush collection and yard waste pickup services.

  • Brush Collection Begins Soon
    Before placing branches or sticks at the curb, please check your neighborhood's set-out dates to ensure timely pickup.

    Get the set-out dates on the brush collection website.

  • Yard Waste Collection Also Starting
    Be sure to confirm your collection schedule before setting out leaves, weeds, or other yard waste. Setting materials out too early or too late may result in missed pickup.

Taking a moment to check your schedule helps City crews operate efficiently and keeps our neighborhoods clean and organized.

🚗 “20 is Plenty" Free Yard Signs Available

The City of Madison's “20 is Plenty" initiative is now rolling out across neighborhoods, lowering residential speed limits to 20 mph to improve safety for everyone, especially pedestrians and cyclists.

This program is part of our broader Vision Zero efforts to reduce serious crashes and create safer, more livable neighborhoods. Many of you have shared concerns about speeding on residential streets, and this is one of the key steps we're taking to address it.

To help spread awareness, free “20 is Plenty" yard signs are available in multiple languages for residents.

👉 If you're interested in getting a yard sign, please reach out to me directly. I'm happy to personally drop one off at your doorstep.

20 is plenty - slower is safer
Image credit: City of Madison

Together, small actions like these can make a big difference in improving safety across our community.

🗳️ Absentee Ballots Are in the Mail – April 7 Election

The City of Madison Clerk's Office has begun mailing absentee ballots for the upcoming Spring Election on April 7, 2026. If you previously requested an absentee ballot, it should be arriving soon.

If you plan to vote absentee, please remember:

  • Return your absentee ballot early to ensure it arrives in time to be counted.
  • Ballots must be received by the Clerk's Office by 8:00 PM on Election Day in order to be counted.
  • When returning your absentee ballot by mail, allow enough time for delivery.

Important Election Dates

  • March 18, 2026 – Deadline to register to vote online or by mail.
  • April 3, 2026 (5:00 PM) – Deadline to register in person at the Clerk's Office.
  • April 7, 2026 – Spring Election Day. Polls are open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

If you have not requested an absentee ballot, you can still check your voter registration status, request a ballot, or find your polling location through MyVote Wisconsin(link is external).

Voting is one of the most important ways we participate in shaping our community. I encourage all eligible residents in District 7 to make a plan to vote.

🏛️ 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.

  • Meeting with Mayor: I will be meeting with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway on Monday, March 23, at 4:00PM to review and discuss District 7 priorities.

    • These conversations are an important opportunity to:
    • Advocate for key neighborhood needs
    • Discuss infrastructure, housing, and transportation priorities
    • Align District 7 goals with broader City initiatives

    I look forward to continuing to represent your voices and ensuring District 7 remains a priority in citywide planning and decision-making

  • Sustainable Madison Committee: The Sustainable Madison Committee will be meeting this week on Monday, March 23, at 4:30PM in hybrid format to continue advancing the City's sustainability and climate goals
  • Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include extending the life of Tax Increment District #41 for one year for the purposes of the creation of affordable housing and improving City housing stock in the City of Madison
  • Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Commission: The Commission will meet to discuss ongoing operations, infrastructure projects, and environmental initiatives related to wastewater treatment and watershed protection. Residents can attend in person or virtually via Zoom, and meetings are also livestreamed with recordings available afterward.
  • Housing Policy Committee: The Housing Policy Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, March 26, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an overview of the 2025 Housing Snapshot Report.

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

  • MPD Presentation: Demonstrations and assemblies, Tuesday, March 24: The Madison Police Department is hosting a presentation on a person's rights during assemblies and demonstrations. Part of these presentations will cover the ever-evolving Madison Method, which is our department's nationally recognized philosophy for policing large events, crowds and protests.
  • Resurfacing Program 2026, Wednesday, March 25: The Annual Street Resurfacing Program is designed to improve the quality of your street and delay the need for total reconstruction. The City Engineering Division rates streets and curb & gutter every two years. A public information meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., March 25, 2026, via Zoom. Registration is required. 

📰 Announcements and News

  • Madison Community Transportation Academy, register by March 24:If you have ever wondered WHY our transportation system works the way it does or thought, there must be a better way, we encourage you to sign up for the Madison Community Transportation Academy. This free 10-week course is offered by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin to help bridge the gap between community members and decision-makers in transportation planning and provides participants with skills and knowledge to advocate for safe and accessible transportation solutions that work for everyone.
  • Register Now for the Spring Roll Challenge: The RoundTrip Spring Roll Challenge takes place every April in honor of Earth Month. This fun, free initiative encourages people who live and work in Dane County to swap solo drives for biking, riding the bus, walking, rolling, and carpooling more often—and celebrates those already choosing sustainable transportation year-round
  • Madison Madness Returns for Downtown Area Plan: The City of Madison Planning Division is bringing "Madison Madness" back as part of its efforts to collect community priorities and feedback for the Downtown Area Plan. [posted March 19, 2026]
  • Secure Drop Boxes Are Now Open: Madison's secure ballot drop boxes are now open for the April 7 election. [posted March 17, 2026]
  • Temporary Street Closure on Westbound North Shore Drive: Starting Monday, March 23, westbound North Shore Drive will close between John Nolen Drive and Bedford Street for reconstruction work as part of the John Nolen Drive reconstruction project. During this closure, no turns will be permitted from John… [posted March 17, 2026]
  • A New Version of LINKcat Will Go Live on April 17: LINKcat will be offline April 12-16 as new features are added and others are changed during a software migration. The new version of LINKcat will go live on Friday, April 17. [posted March 17, 2026]
  • MPD to host free spring break book fair for families on Monday, March 23: Madison, Wis. — The Madison Police Department's Community Outreach and Resource Education (CORE) team is inviting families and community members to attend a free book fair during spring break. The event is open to people of all ages and is designed… [posted March 16, 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.

🎉 Community Events

There are several great opportunities to get involved this week:

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

🚧 Looking Ahead

As we move further into spring, we'll continue to see more construction projects, community engagement opportunities, and seasonal programs ramp up. I will continue sharing updates specific to District 7 in the coming weeks.

Stay Connected

Thank you for staying engaged and involved in District 7. Your participation helps shape the future of our neighborhoods and our city.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas.

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

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Portrait of Alder Badri Lankella

Alder Badri Lankella

District 7
Contact Alder Lankella

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