City-County Building
Common Council

Week of June 29, 2026

posted 

Dear neighbors,

As we welcome July and prepare to celebrate Independence Day, I hope everyone is enjoying the summer season and taking advantage of the many opportunities to connect with neighbors, attend community events, and enjoy our parks and public spaces. Congratulations again to all students and families celebrating graduations and the end of another successful school year.

The Common Council recently approved both the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans, an important milestone that will help guide future growth, housing, transportation, and infrastructure investments throughout our city. Thank you to everyone who participated in these planning efforts and shared your input over the past several years.

Below are several meetings, public engagement opportunities, and community events taking place this week.

Summer activities are now in full swing across Madison. From Parks Alive programs and outdoor concerts to neighborhood events and recreational opportunities, there are many ways to connect with neighbors and enjoy our parks and public spaces.

🎥 Lunch & Learn: Conversation with the Independent Police Monitor

Thank you for attending the “Connecting D7: Questions and Answers with the Independent Police Monitor, Aeiramique Glass" event with Alder Badri Lankella.

If you missed the session or had to leave early, you can watch the recording here. We encourage you to share this recording with your colleagues via email and on your social media accounts. The recording includes department updates from Glass, as well as a Q&A session with attendees. 

Here are some resources that were mentioned during the session:

Some of the questions and comments from attendees included, but were not limited to:

  • Have you (Aeiramique Glass) met with the Dane County District Attorney, and could the DA play a role in the OIM's mission of a fairer police department and more equal justice for Madison?
  • I can't see how the city attorney can represent both the OIM and MPD.
  • Why are we seeing the usage of a disorderly conduct charge so high compared to other cities?
  • What is going to happen at the next PCOB meeting?
  • Regarding your recommendations from the recent Johnson case, have you done an assessment on how many resources, police officers, fire, EMS, etc., would be needed to carry those out? And what impact that would have on the operating budget? 
  • What date will the Police Civilian Oversight Board meeting that was cancelled be rescheduled to?
  • In terms of the OIM/PCOB's work, what does success look like in terms of reforms to the criminal justice system in Madison, say, five years from now?
  • As you know, Madison has police arrest and citation racial disparities that are worse than Wisconsin's as a whole, which are worse than the average disparities nationally. Can the OIM's work potentially decrease the racist pattern of Madison policing through casework or through recommendations to MPD and the city council?
  • Do you support the Chief's position regarding body cameras?
  • Can you speak to the difference between Disorderly Conduct as a state statute and as a City Ordinance, passed by alders, to divert people from the criminal justice system? Most other cities don't have that option. 
  • Has our DA ever charged law enforcement for any misconduct?
  • With the release of findings on June 15th, is the status of OIPM's investigation reference the in-custody death of R.L. Johnson now closed or does it remain an open investigation?

Please send any additional questions directly to Alder Badri Lankella at District7@cityofmadison.com, or to Aeiramique Glass at aglass@cityofmadison.com or at oim@cityofmadison.com.

Please watch for the next Connecting D7 session coming soon. Residents can also sign up for District 7 email updates here. 

🚸Rescheduled: City Budget Engagement Session – Public Facilities & Services

One of the most important opportunities for residents to help shape Madison's future is through the annual budget process.

The second of three City Budget Engagement Sessions will focus on Public Facilities & Services.

When: Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Where: Vel Phillips Memorial High School

This session provides residents an opportunity to:

  • Learn about the City budget process
  • Speak directly with City staff during an open house
  • Hear a presentation from Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke
  • Participate in a Q&A session with Alders
  • Share priorities and feedback for future budget decisions

Featured departments include:

  • Assessor's Office
  • Clerk's Office
  • Engineering
  • Fleet Services
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Madison Public Library
  • Monona Terrace
  • Parks Division
  • Streets & Urban Forestry
  • Water Utility

I encourage District 7 residents to attend and help shape our community priorities.

🌿 Madison Police Summer Traffic Safety Initiative

Residents concerned about speeding and traffic safety in their neighborhoods can utilize the City's Speeds & Speeders Hotline.

In an effort to reduce speeding and dangerous driving, the Madison Police Department is once again launching a summer traffic safety initiative.

The proactive safety program will run now until Sept. 1, 2026. As in past years, officers will focus on speeding, reckless driving and violations at traffic lights and stop signs.

"When we looked at our data from last year to this year, we had a reduction in traffic crashes overall. But we've seen an increase in more serious injuries," said Madison Police Assistant Chief Matt Tye.

Drivers will see more speed enforcement waves as a result of this safety plan. Officers will concentrate enforcement in areas where crashes and dangerous driving are most common, such as the Beltline, East Washington Avenue, Mineral Point Road and the intersection of Gammon and Watts roads.

MPD leadership will also review crash data weekly and make any necessary enforcement changes based on that information. These newly identified areas would then receive extra patrols and additional enforcement.

“We've had an increase in community members reaching out concerned about traffic safety. This program was designed after hearing their concerns," Tye said. "We need everyone to do their part, make good decisions and slow down when you are behind the wheel."

Research consistently shows citations are more effective than warnings in improving driving behavior.

Community members are encouraged to share their traffic concerns with officers online at the Madison Police Department website(external)(external).

View full news release(external)(external)

🌱 Updates and Notices

  • Payment Systems Scheduled Maintenance: Municipal Services Bill, Property Taxes, and General Billing Invoice payments will be down for maintenance beginning 9pm on Wednesday, July 8 through 8am on Monday, July 13.

🏛️ 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.

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

  • Parman Terrace, Tuesday, June 30: A public information meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., June 30, 2026, via Zoom. Registration is required. 
  • Public Input Meeting - Odana Hills Golf Course and Park, Tuesday, June 30: The Parks Division is continuing to refine the Master Plan conceptual Clubhouse and Odana Hills East Park Master Plan.  Since the April 30 Public Information Meeting and June 2 site tours, staff have further investigated implications of utility easements within the park and have determined that adjustments are necessary from the preferred conceptual design.

📰 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

Parks Alive Dates!

Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the summer. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you! Events start at 5:00 p.m.

Parks Alive | Galaxy Park, Monday, June 29

Parks Alive | Sandburg Park, Tuesday, June 30

 

Interested in volunteering for Parks Alive? Volunteers Welcome! Learn more and register online!

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

💬 Looking Ahead

As we approach the Independence Day holiday weekend, I encourage everyone to safely enjoy the many community events, concerts, and park activities taking place throughout Madison.

Thank you for staying engaged and connected with District 7. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or ideas. I appreciate hearing from residents and look forward to continuing our work together to make District 7 and the City of Madison an even better place to live, work, and play.

Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July week.

Sincerely,
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