Week of August 3, 2026

🤝 Standing Together

As we begin another week, I want to thank everyone who has continued to engage respectfully, support one another, and remain involved in our community during a difficult time for our city.

Recent events have affected many members of our community in different ways. While we may not always agree on every issue, Madison has always been strongest when we listen to one another, show compassion, and work together toward solutions. I encourage everyone to continue looking out for your neighbors, extending grace, and staying informed through reliable City communications.

As always, I remain committed to representing District 7 with transparency, accessibility, and thoughtful leadership. Please don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.

🏛️ Common Council & Committee Updates

Common Council Meeting – Tuesday, August 4

The Madison Common Council will meet Tuesday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m. Due to heightened security concerns, both the Common Council meeting and the Common Council Executive Committee (CCEC) meeting will be held virtually only.

Among the agenda items will be a presentation from Council President Sabrina Madison regarding next steps related to the Police Civilian Oversight Board and the Office of the Independent Monitor.

If you would like to watch the meeting, register to speak, or review the agenda, please visit following City's Meeting links.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment
• Watch Online

Board of Public Works

As your representative on the Board of Public Works, I'd also like to highlight Wednesday's meeting, which includes consideration of engineering and public engagement services related to future intersection safety improvements across Madison.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment
• Watch Online

👮 Mayor & Police Chief Community Updates

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Chief Patterson continue providing regular community updates regarding the July 22 officer-involved shooting and the ongoing Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigation.

Mayor Rhodes-Conway has emphasized the importance of restoring public safety while supporting peaceful expression, and Chief Patterson continues to provide daily updates as the independent investigation proceeds.

I encourage residents to follow official City communications for the latest verified information.

❓ Officer-Involved Shooting FAQ

The City has created an Officer-Involved Shooting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page to answer many of the questions residents have been asking regarding the July 22 incident.

The FAQ will continue to be updated as additional information becomes available through the independent investigation. If you have questions, I encourage you to review this resource before relying on unofficial information circulating online.

❓ Officer-Involved Shooting FAQ

🗳️ August 11 Fall Primary Election

Election Day is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you are in line by 8:00 p.m., you have the right to vote.

Vote Early (In-Person Absentee)

If you'd like to vote before Election Day, early in-person absentee voting is available through Sunday, August 9 at locations throughout Madison.

For many District 7 residents, Meadowridge Library (5726 Raymond Road) is one of the most convenient early voting locations. It is open:

• Weekdays (July 28 – August 7): 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays (August 1 & August 8): 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Remember, you may vote at any City of Madison early voting location, regardless of your Election Day polling place. Be sure to bring a valid photo ID. If you need to register or update your voter registration, you may do so with proof of address through Friday, August 7.

Find Your Polling Place

Before heading out to vote, I encourage you to visit MyVote Wisconsin to:

• Verify your voter registration
• Find your Election Day polling place
• View your sample ballot
• Track your absentee ballot

Whether you vote early or on Election Day, I encourage every eligible voter to make a plan to vote. Civic participation is one of the strongest ways we can help shape the future of our community, and every vote matters.

🚛 August Moving Days

If you have students, renters, or neighbors preparing to move this month, please help spread the word about these important services.

🛋️ Large Items, Furniture & Appliances

The Streets Division has begun its annual August Moving Days collection program. Residents in the downtown move-out area should follow the City's guidelines when placing furniture, appliances, mattresses, and bags outside for collection to help crews work safely and efficiently.

For the collection process in the in the move out area to be fast and safe for everyone, follow these guidelines for large items and bags of extra material that can't fit into the carts.

Rules for Setting Out Furniture, Appliances, and Other Large Items 

• If your situation requires it, make sure you have a large item work order and the item is out on the date you picked
• Keep items 5 feet away from fire hydrants, utility poles, street signs and other obstructions.
• Do not place items under low-hanging wires and low tree limbs, or other overhead obstructions
• Keep your large item piles tidy.  
  • For example, if you have taken apart a desk, stack the pieces neatly. 
• Keep metal items and appliances separate from wood items and furniture.  
  • This helps us collect the metals and appliances for recycling.

Extra Bags of Trash & Recyclables Outside the Cart

• Use bags for small things that can't fit in the carts. 
• No loose heaps of trash, clothes, recyclables or other scattered debris on the ground.
• Overflow recyclables must be in clear bags so crews can see what is inside of them, and stack the extra bags of recyclables near recycling carts.  
  • Follow the recycling rules for what belongs in the recycling cart (and bags). 
    • And follow the guidelines for extra cardboard that can't fit into the recycling cart. Do not stuff small boxes into one large cardboard box. 
• Do not pile bagged trash or bagged recyclables on top of large items or appliances.

Don't live in the moving days area, but still have extra bags of trash & recycling? 

We have a household cleanup webpage that explains just what you should do.

Make Collections Faster and Safer for Everyone

When you set the items out within these guidelines, you create a safe environment for our staff. And you help everyone in the  student moving area by allowing us an opportunity to work quickly.

Some items are collected by a truck-mounted crane. This is why you should never place items under low-hanging wires and branches.  You help keep our operators safe, and you help save us time so we do not have to drag items away from overhead obstructions before we can safely use the crane.

We also use two-person crews to lift things from the curb by hand.  And this is why you should keep your large item piles tidy and organized. The less time our crews have to spend gathering scattered items, the faster we can work.

Use the Drop-off Sites

All Madison residents can bring large items to Streets Division drop-off sites.

Excess trash and recycling can also be taken to the drop-off site,  along with many other items.

Be sure you know the hours, locations, and restrictions of the sites before loading your vehicle. 

  Check the Streets Division's drop-off site page for more information.

Additional Information

If there are questions, all residents are encouraged to  contact the Streets Division. 

Additional information can also be found on the  Streets Division's Moving Days website,  the Streets Division's electronics recycling website, and the Recyclopedia.

🔋 Free Electronics & Battery Recycling

City residents can recycle personal electronics and household batteries free of charge at Streets Division drop-off sites. This free recycling program is available year-round and is especially helpful during the August moving season.

🌳 Public Information Meeting

Castle Creek Improvements

Residents interested in watershed restoration and environmental improvements are invited to attend the virtual Public Information Meeting regarding the Castle Creek Improvements Project on Wednesday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m.

The project includes channel restoration, water quality improvements, and habitat enhancements identified through previous watershed planning efforts. Registration is required.

📢 City News & Announcements

Legistar InSite Document Access

The City's legislative agenda system (Legistar InSite) is currently experiencing intermittent issues due to a vendor outage affecting Granicus customers nationwide.

If you experience trouble opening agenda documents, please be patient and try again later while the vendor works to restore full functionality.

Granicus, our Legistar vendor, is reporting an intermittent issue with accessing documents on Legistar's website portal.  This is affecting all Granicus customers. Their status page reports: 

“… intermittent issue impacting InSite where some users may receive a 'This document has been removed' error when attempting to access agendas, agenda packets, attachments, and supporting documents." 

They offer this workaround while they address this issue: 

• Affected users can restore access by clearing their browser cache and fully restarting their browser.  
• If the issue reoccurs, repeating this step should allow temporary access.  
• Use Firefox as an alternative browser, which has not been impacted by this issue.

They have not offered an estimate of when this will be corrected. 

This is the August 4, 2026 Common Council agenda if you are unable to access it via Legistar. 

• Community Update from Mayor Rhodes-Conway (July 31): The occupation at the intersection of Williamson Street and Baldwin Street must end. [posted July 31, 2026]
• Intermittent issue with Legistar Insite Documents: Granicus, our Legistar vendor, is reporting an intermittent issue with accessing documents on Legistar's website portal.  This is affecting all Granicus customers. Their status page reports: “… intermittent issue impacting InSite where some… [posted July 31, 2026]
• August Moving Days: How to Set Out Appliances, Furniture, & Bags That Won't Fit in the Cart: The student move out collections run from August 3, 2026, until August 21, 2026, within the downtown student move out area. For the collection process in the in the move out area to be fast and safe for everyone, follow these guidelines… [posted July 31, 2026]
• July 30 update from Chief Patterson: As of Thursday night, there is no new information to share.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  I will continue to speak with DCI every day and share anything that… [posted July 30, 2026]
• Community Update from Mayor Rhodes-Conway: What's happening at the intersection of Williamson Street and Baldwin Street is not sustainable or safe. [posted July 30, 2026]
• Public Test of Election Equipment: The public is invited to observe the City of Madison test of DS200 tabulators this Saturday, August 1. [posted July 30, 2026]
• August Moving Days: Free Electronics & Battery Recycling : If you are a City of Madison resident, your personal electronics and batteries are accepted for free at the Streets Division drop-off sites.  Free electronics and battery recycling is not just for the August moving days. This is true… [posted July 30, 2026]
• July 29 update from Chief Patterson: As of Wednesday night, there is no new information to share.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  I will continue to speak with DCI every day and share anything that… [posted July 29, 2026]
• Road Closure – Felland Road and Blissful Avenue intersection: Starting Thursday, August 6, Capitol Underground will close a section of Felland Road at Blissful Avenue. The full closure of the intersection is part of a Veridian private development project that includes underground sewer work, electrical work,… [posted July 29, 2026]
• August 4, 2026, Common Council and CCEC Meetings in Virtual Format Only: Due to heightened security concerns, the August 4 Common Council and Common Council Executive Committee (CCEC) meetings will be held in virtual format to ensure the safety of community members, City staff, and elected officials. The Common Council… [posted July 29, 2026]
• August Moving Days: How Large Item Collection Works During the Move Out: If you live in the move out area,  the Streets Division large item work order rules will be different from August 3, 2026, until August 21, 2026.If you don't know if you live in the move out area, check our website to see the move out… [posted July 29, 2026]
• July 28 update from Chief Patterson: As of Tuesday night, there is no new information to share.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  I will continue to speak with DCI every day and share anything that I… [posted July 28, 2026]
• Community Update — July 28: We also continue to hear from residents in the Marquette neighborhood about the traumatic impact of another life lost, the desire for actionable and sustainable ways of remembering Corey Ruiz, and a way forward. [posted July 28, 2026]
• August Moving Days: Daily Cart Emptying in the Moving Days Area: Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday August 3, 2026, residents in the moving days area can place trash and recycling collection carts out for emptying each workday. Daily cart emptying in the move out area will end on Friday, August 21,… [posted July 28, 2026]
• North Shore Drive Closure at Railroad Crossing for Replacement: Beginning at 5:00 am on Monday, August 3, North Shore Drive will close at the railroad crossing on the curve where North Shore Drive transitions to Proudfit Street. The closure is necessary to allow Wisconsin & Southern Railroad to replace the… [posted July 28, 2026]
• July 27 update from Chief Patterson: As of Monday night, there is no new information to pass along.  I remain in daily contact with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) as the investigation progresses.  It remains an open and active… [posted July 27, 2026]
• Update for the Madison Community We know many are hurting right now. Our immediate concern right is the well-being of the community. [posted July 27, 2026]
• August Moving Days: Make a Plan & Donate: The annual August Moving Days for downtown Madison begins soon. The Streets Division will be providing more information in the coming days about our operations for the annual move out and what residents in the move out area… [posted July 27, 2026]
• Statement from Common Council President Sabrina Madison on amendments to the Office of the Independent Monitor and the Police Civilian Oversight Board ordinances: The shooting of Corey Ruiz by the Madison Police Department has caused immense pain throughout our community. My thoughts remain with Mr. Ruiz's family and loved ones. [posted July 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

There are many great opportunities to get out and enjoy Madison this week.

Highlights include:

• Brat Fry Friday, Friday, August 7, 2026: Come join us for lunch at the links!  The grill will be fired up from 11am-3pm for a delicious afternoon treat.
• Live at The Glen | Vince Sweeney, Friday, August 7:Heavily influenced by the songs and songwriters of the 1970s, Sweeney performs an impressive blend of folk, rock, and country songs - some are familiar, others are hidden gems.
• Dane Dance, Friday, August 7, 2026: Dane Dances is a free, family-friendly event held every Friday evening in August on the beautiful Monona Terrace rooftop.
• Free Homebuyer Education Class (in person), Saturday, August 8: 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 Sunshine Place, 1610 W. Main, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 on Saturday, August 8, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm!
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, August 8: Being in Nature ~ Join Naturalist Sheila Knerr for a wander about Owen Park as we use all of our senses to explore the land and share what we find. 
• Ride the Drive 2026, Sunday, August 9: Since its inauguration in 2009, Ride the Drive has continued to celebrate Madison's commitment to healthy living by focusing on the environmental and economic impacts and the importance of social integration. Imagine thousands of happy, healthy people coming together to experience parks and open streets in a single, one-day, free, community event.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, August 9: Summer Birds ~ Join Master Naturalist Jeff Nesta for a free fun family friendly outing for all ages and abilities.  We will follow cool shady woodland paths to look for bright yellow Goldfinches in the flowers, Woodpeckers in the trees, Owls in the pines, waterfowl on the lake and other birds that nest and raise young in Madison in the summer.

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 | Elver Park, Monday, August 3
• Parks Alive | Worthington Park, Tuesday, August 4
• Parks Alive | Meadowood Park, Wednesday, August 5
• Parks Alive | Penn Park, Thursday, August 6

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

Movie in the Park Dates!

• Movie in the Park | Luca, Sunday, August 9

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

I encourage everyone to take advantage of these wonderful community events and support our local organizations.

📬 Stay Connected

As always, thank you for staying engaged and involved in District 7.

As our city continues to navigate a challenging and emotional time, I encourage each of us to lead with compassion, patience, and understanding. We may come from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, but we all share a common hope for a safer, stronger, and more united Madison.

Healing takes time, and meaningful progress happens when we listen to one another, engage respectfully, and work together for solutions that strengthen our entire community. Small acts of kindness, empathy, and civic engagement can have a lasting impact on those around us.

I invite each of us to be part of the greater good to support our neighbors, uplift one another, and continue building a community where everyone feels heard, valued, and safe.

Thank you for your continued engagement, your thoughtful conversations, and your commitment to making District 7 and the City of Madison a place we are all proud to call home.

In solidarity,

Badri Lankella
District 7 Alder
City of Madison