City-County Building
Common Council

Week of May 4, 2026

posted 

Hello neighbors,

As we move further into spring, there's a lot happening across Madison from important policy discussions at the Common Council to community events, planning updates, and seasonal reminders. Here's a summary of key updates, meetings, and opportunities to stay engaged this week.

🏡 Property Assessments & City Growth

Property assessment notices are arriving soon, and this is a good time to better understand what's driving changes in property values across the city.

The 2026 property assessments are now available on the City Assessor's website. Assessment notices were mailed on Friday to all property owners whether or not their assessment has changed from the previous year's value.

Information about the property assessment process in Madison is available in a  Madison Assessor's Office video.

As per state statute, a period for “examination of the assessment roll" - what is referred to as “open book" - is provided. This period of time is an opportunity to discuss property value and provide reason for changing value, if appropriate. This "open book" period is set aside for property owners to discuss their assessments with Assessor's Office staff prior to completion of the assessment roll. Property owners who wish to compare assessments may also view assessment data posted on the  Assessor's website. Available information includes owner's name, property address, legal description, sale information, and property characteristics.

The open book period will begin Monday, May 4 and close Friday, May 8 at 4:30 p.m. Property owners must initiate contact with the appraiser for their property in one of two ways:

Support staff fielding the initial contact will direct you to the appropriate appraiser and provide helpful information about the process and resources available. The appraiser will then contact you based on the initial information provided.

Owners who disagree with their assessment are encouraged to speak with the appraiser who established the value. If an error was made or if a property owner has evidence that the assessment does not reflect the actual fair market value of the property, the appraiser will take this information into consideration in setting the final assessed value. Appraisers welcome the opportunity to review all information provided. The best evidence of value is the recent sale price of the property or the sale prices of comparable properties.

After talking with the Assessor's Office, owners who still feel the assessed value of their property is incorrect may file a formal objection. The deadline for filing an objection form (or providing notice of intent) is Friday, May 15 at 4:30 p.m. If you miss the May 15 filing deadline, you will need to  request a waiver from the Board of Review.

If you have general questions concerning assessments, please contact the Assessor's Office at  assessor@cityofmadison.com or (608) 266-4531. The 2026 Property Tax Base Report highlights continued growth in Madison's overall tax base, driven by both new development and rising property values. This growth helps fund essential city services while also reflecting ongoing demand to live and invest in our community.

If you receive your assessment and have questions:

  • Review your property details carefully
  • Compare with similar properties
  • Reach out to the Assessor's Office for clarification or appeal options

I encourage residents to stay informed and engaged in this process, it's an important part of how we ensure fairness and transparency.

🗺️ Southwest Area Plan – Moving Forward

The final review process for the Southwest Area Plan begins this week. This plan will guide growth, land use, transportation, parks, and infrastructure investments in our part of the city for years to come.

This is a key milestone, and I encourage residents to review the draft and share feedback as the plan moves through the approval process. Your input has already helped shape the plan, and continued engagement is important as we finalize it.

https://www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/planning/plans-projects/area-plans/southwest

 

🏛️ Key Meetings This Week

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 & Community Conversations

  • MPD Community Conversation - Central District, Monday, May 4: Meet the officers serving the downtown area of Madison during this town hall discussion. Central District Captain Kipp Hartman and Madison Police Chief John Patterson will be available to answer questions and address community concerns about public safety.
  • West Towne Pond Improvements, Tuesday, May 5: The project consists of improvements to the existing West Towne Detention Basin on Madison's west side.  The primary goal of these improvements is to increase the stormwater storage capacity of the detention pond, thereby reducing future peak stormwater flood elevations in the area. Registration is required.
  • Southwest & Southeast Area Plans – Final Review Begins
    Final review and approval processes will begin next week for the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans. Drafts can be accessed here: Southwest Area Plan and Southeast Area Plan.  

🌱 Seasonal Reminders & Opportunities

đź“° City News Highlights

  • 2026 Property Tax Base of the City of Madison: The City Assessor is responsible for the assessment process including… [posted May 1, 2026]
  • Mayor Rhodes-Conways Signs Haymarket Declaration: Announced on May Day in Chicago, the accord is a joint commitment to use the power of cities to defend democracy, worker's rights, and the livelihoods of our residents. [posted May 1, 2026]
  • Dane County Residents Exceed 10,000-Trip Goal in Spring Roll Challenge: Dane County residents and commuters logged more than 10,700 car-free and carpool trips during RoundTrip Greater Madison's Spring Roll Challenge in April, saving over $13,900 and avoiding 22 tons of COâ‚‚ emissions. [posted May 1, 2026]
  • Snowy Winter Leads to Twice as Many Sidewalk Clearing Complaints: Several impactful snowstorms during the 2025-2026 winter season led to an increase in the number of sidewalk shoveling complaints received and citations issued. [posted April 30, 2026]
  • MPD releases Annual Report: MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Police Department is pleased to present its 2025 Annual Report.The report highlights our commitment to community outreach while providing high-quality police services. In 2025, the Madison Police Department invested in… [posted April 29, 2026]

  • Madison Fire Seeks Community Input During Hiring Process: The Madison Fire Department is hiring the next class of Firefighter/EMT recruits, and community involvement is an important part of the process! Sign up to be a part of our Combined Oral Board interview panels. [posted April 27, 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

  • Wright Design Series - When a Barn Isn't Really a Barn: Design Through Discovery, Tuesday, May 5: Paula Verboomen will explore how curiosity, deep listening, and iteration reveals clients' true needs. With this understanding, and a holistic approach to design, architectural solutions are a natural extension of the client and offer delight in unexpected ways. Her presentation will focus on a range of projects spanning her career, bringing to life her client-centric and collaborative approach.
  • FOOT Madison Irish Set Dance, Wednesday, May 6: Looks like we'll have a little more time to enjoy the wonderful dance floor in historic Normal Hall (the building we've incorrectly been calling the Olin Park Pavilion). Madison's Parks Division has delayed its renovations projects for a while, so we now can have a spring FOOT-Loose Dance Series.
  • Open House - Odana Hills Golf Course and Park, Wednesday, May 6 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm and Thursday, May 7 - 11:00am - 1:00pm: The City of Madison Parks Division is excited for the new partnership with Michael and Jocelyn Keiser and the Madison Parks Foundation. Through the Keisers' philanthropic vision and generous donation, we have an opportunity to reimagine, redesign and reconstruct Odana Hills Golf Course.
  • Free Homebuyer Education Class (in person), Saturday, May 9: Take the first step to owning a home and join us in this Home Buyer Education Workshop. This FREE Homebuyer Education workshop takes place in-person at a Madison area location to be determined on Saturday, May 9, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm! Lunch will be provided. Our first-time home buying workshops cover the following… 
  • Let's Get Growing, Saturday, May 9: Join the Dane County Cancer Coalition for Let's Get Growing, supporting cancer prevention and care programs.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, May 9: World Migratory Bird Day for Kids ~ Join Rebecca Gilman for a Kid-friendly Bird and Nature Walk as we look for migratory birds and learn about ways to help them during migration.  
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, May 10: Month of Maying ~ Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, let's do it, let's fall in love!  Join Naturalist Kathlean Wolf for a free fun family friendly outing to enjoy Spring birds, bugs, flowers, and the burst of life occurring around you.

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

đź’¬ Staying Connected

Thank you to everyone who continues to attend meetings, share feedback, and stay engaged. Your input helps guide decisions and ensures we are building a community that reflects our shared values.

If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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

Categories:

Tags:

Was this page helpful to you? * required
Portrait of Alder Badri Lankella

Alder Badri Lankella

District 7
Contact Alder Lankella

Categories