Week of December 15, 2025

District Niners,

Last week, the state, the city and District 9 lost George Meyer. During his tenure and beyond as Wisconsin's Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, George was a passionate, dedicated and defender of our natural and environmental resources. We are all the beneficiaries of his stewardship. To acknowledge his loss and stewardship, consider planting trees, contribute/donate to organizations in his name, become a steward and model his passion for our environment and natural resources that he championed.

Updates and Notices

John Nolen Drive Project: Get current information about road closures and construction updates for John Nolen Drive if you are heading in that direction. Plan ahead for delays.

Boards, Commissions & 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 special meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 16, at 6:00 p.m. in hybrid format. This is a special meeting to appoint election inspectors.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council – Discussion: The Common Council discussion will take place on Tuesday, December 16, immediately following the special meeting, which starts at 6:00 p.m., in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building. This is a discussion on City strategies to maintain and improve lake health.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, December 15, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, and 18.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

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)

• Far West Operations Building, Monday, December 15: A public information meeting is scheduled for this project at 6 p.m., Dec. 15, 2025, via Zoom. Registration prior is required.

Announcements & News Releases

• Love Our Lakes: City Strategies to Maintain and Improve Lake Health: The City of Madison Common Council will host a focused discussion titled “Love Our Lakes: City Strategies to Maintain and Improve Lake Health.” This conversation will highlight both ongoing and future initiatives to protect, restore, and enhance the… [posted December 12, 2025]
• Affordable Housing Fund to Support 400+ New Homes: The City of Madison’s Common Council has approved nearly $14 million from the Affordable Housing Fund to support the creation of approximately 425 new rental homes across the City, with more than 260 of those offering permanent affordability.
• Common Council passes third Housing Forward package of 2025 : The City of Madison Common Council approved two more housing-focused ordinances during its December 9 meeting, capping off a year of impactful policy changes to make it easier to build more homes across Madison.
• Streets Division Drop-off Sites on Winter Hours until April 11, 2026: The Streets Division drop-off sites at 4602 Sycamore Avenue and 402 South Point Road are now on winter hours. The winter hours began on Friday, December 5, 2025. The last day for winter hours is Friday, April 10, 2026.
• New Snowplow Trading Cards Now Available!: The City of Madison is proud to present a new set of trading cards featuring our named snowplowing fleet. The cards are available for free at any Madison Public Library location and from the Streets Division offices while supplies last.

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.

Events

• Conservation Volunteer Workday, Saturday, December 20: We invite volunteers to help make a difference in the health of our local environment by joining us for invasive species removal. These hands-on conservation efforts are essential in restoring native ecosystems and ensuring the vitality of our natural spaces.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, December 20: Holiday Nature Walk ~ Join Friends of Starkweather Creek for a healthy holiday walk outdoors to enjoy the beauty of winter along Starkweather Creek!  
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, December 21: Winter Solstice Walk ~ Join Naturalists Kathlean Wolf and Robin Kling for a fun free family and kid friendly walk on easy paths along Warner Pond Lagoon and through Warner Woods to the top of Sled Hill.
• Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Saturday, November 15, through Monday, January 5, 2026: Lighted holiday-themed displays set in beautiful Olin Park. Drive through from dusk until 10:00pm to enjoy this magical light show for free, brought to you by The Electric Group.

Your Well-being

You have probably been around individuals sniffing and sneezing (and want to get away).  If you have not been vaccinated (Flu, pneumococcal, Covid or RSV), it is not too late to get vaccinated.  Dress according to the weather and not for appearances.  Before venturing out, dress as if you will be stranded.

Until next time,

Be safe and be well

Joann