Week of February 2, 2026

District Niners,

If you have not ventured out within the last 24 hours, we are experiencing a Wisconsin winter heat wave, so get out there and enjoy it.

On tap for the February 2, 2026, Plan Commission meeting agenda (item 90803) an application has been proposed and submitted to construct a "Raising Canes" restaurant with drive through and a hotel/motel.  I have received comments from constituents opposing this project for various reasons ranging from conditional use issues and zoning as well as traffic "bottlenecks," safety and suitability at this site.    As alder...I do have deep reservations, but I do need to hear from you. 

Updates and Notices

The City of Madison, along with the Madison Arts Commission and the Bubbler at Madison Public Library, is inviting community feedback on design proposals for public art at the Imagination Center in Reindahl Park. For more information, please read the full news release in the "Announcements and News Releases" section.

Boards, Commissions & Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meet7ings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

• Common Council – Discussion: The Common Council will be having a discussion on Tuesday, February 3, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building. This will be a briefing on violence prevention initiatives.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, February 2, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include approving plans and specifications for the Capital City Path Extension and the Dane County led work on Underdahl Road for the Glacial Drumlin Extension.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, February 2, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 2, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 19.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • For more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Madison LakeWay Public Meeting, Monday, February 2: The community is invited to attend a virtual public meeting on the next phase of the Madison LakeWay! The project is entering the construction documents phase with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.

Announcements & News Releases

• Share your thoughts on Public Art Designs for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park: The City of Madison, the Madison Arts Commission, and the Bubbler at Madison Public Library are seeking community feedback on design proposals for public art at the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park.

  Common Council to Discuss Collaborative Approaches to Violence Prevention: The Madison Common Council will hold a discussion on Violence Prevention on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building. This event will feature presentations from several City agencies.

• Community Invited to Door Creek Park's Winter Celebration: The community is invited to a ribbon cutting and winter celebration at Door Creek Park on Sunday, February 1. Festivities begin with City leaders, partners and friends joining in a brief program and ribbon cutting at 10:00am.

  The 2026 Neighborhood Grant Program is Accepting Applications: The 2026 Neighborhood Grant Program invites organizations and groups of 5 or more residents that support neighborhoods to apply for its annual grant program.  

  Get ready for the February 17 primary: Get ready for the February 17 primary! Here is all you need to know to get involved. 

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

• Groove & Glide | Westmorland, Friday, February 6: Experience the fun and beauty of ice skating under the stars and lights with music and games.  All ages and experience levels are welcome. Groove & Glide events are free to attend and no registration is needed.
• Kiddie Basketball Clinic, Saturday, January 31 (This event occurs on multiple dates): This basketball clinic is designed for boys and girls in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Kids will learn the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting, passing and game-play. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, Saturday, February 7: Groundhogs in Love ~ Join Naturalist Paul Noeldner on a free fun educational family friendly guided walk to learn about Groundhogs, Muskrats, Chipmunks and other cute critters that sleep through most of Winter but sometimes wake up on warmer days to get a snack - or go Looking for Love!
• Family Winter Prom, Saturday, February 7: Put on your dancing shoes and join us at Monona Terrace for Family Winter Prom 2026! The evening will have fun music, light refreshments, crafts, and a photo station. Family Winter Prom is a dance perfect for children 13 and under with an accompanying adult. 
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, February 8: Animal Tracks ~ Explore beautiful trails at Turville Point by Lake Monona on a free guided nature walk with Naturalist Stephanie Briand!  Along the way we will look for and learn to identify animal tracks and other things we see.

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

Community Engagement Opportunities for February 2026

• Black History Month at the Overture Center: The Overture Center will host multiple family-friendly events in celebration of Black History Month with a mix of free and ticketed events. Events range from dance performances with traditional and contemporary African traditions that tell the story about the Great Migration, Kids in the Rotunda, Drum Power, a tribute to New Orleans Jazz and more.
• 2026 Winter Carnival, February 5 - 7, 2026: The Wisconsin Union's Winter Carnival is returning with a flurry of frosty fun and activities — including ice climbing, skating, ice fishing, craft-making, carriage rides, a freestyle ski and snowboard competition, fireworks, and, of course, Lady Liberty!
• The Fire + Ice Ball: Masquerade Edition, Friday, February 6: The Fire + Ice Ball: Masquerade Edition is the ultimate Madison Night Out — gourmet food, dancing, live music, cocktails, and just enough mystery to make it unforgettable. Join us Friday, February 6, 2026
  Because supporting a great cause should still be a good time.
• Art of Love Conference 2026, Saturday, February 7: The Art of Love Conference is an intentional one day gathering centered on honest conversation, community connection, and creative expression. Designed as both a pause and a push forward, ALC creates space for people to explore love in all its forms including self, community, relationships, and purpose through dialogue, art, and shared experience.
• The 30th Annual Souper Bowl will be held at Madison West High School on Saturday, February 7 from 11 AM: Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance! This community soup feast has become a Madison tradition since 1995 and is the largest fundraiser of the UW-Madison student chapter of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County. Last year’s event served more than 1,000 attendees over 200 gallons of soup!
• Superior Days 2026, February 9 at 10am to February 11 at 5pm CST: Join us for the 41st Annual Superior Days, a longstanding grassroots lobbying event that brings Northwest Wisconsin’s voices directly to the State Capitol. Each year, residents, local leaders, students, and business advocates come together to share regional priorities, build relationships with state officials, and champion policies that strengthen our communities.
• Landlord Laws & Legislation 101, Tuesday, February 10: Join us! This brand new foundational course is designed to help landlords and property managers confidently navigate Wisconsin’s complex legal landscape. This class takes a deep dive into Wis. Stat. Chapter 704, ATCP 134, and key Madison ordinances; breaking down what these laws mean in real-world property management scenarios and learning how to stay compliant. 
• Women of 608: Quiet Confidence, Loud Impact with Jazmynn Appleton, Thursday, February 19: Connect with Madison-area women and learn how introverts can build meaningful relationships with confidence and impact.
• Community Garden Summit, Saturday, February 21: Rooted and UW Extension are hosting our annual Community Garden Summit on February 21st at the Badger Rock Neighborhood Center in South Madison. There will be presentations and discussions on soil fertility, weed control, donating food, new garden development, and more. The summit is open to all, non-gardeners and current community gardeners alike.
• 15th Annual Wear Red Day Observance & Awareness Celebration, Saturday, February 21st at 11:00am: Join us for our 15th Annual Wear Red Day Observance & Awareness Celebration! We will be back at the beautiful Goodman Community Center - Brassworks Building (214 Waubesa St. Madison, WI). Come in your red workout gear and get ready to put your heart health into action during this lively, life-saving event! Registration is now open! You won't want to miss this memorable milestone moment!
• Minding My Black-Owned Business, Saturday, February 21: The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce brings another opportunity to highlight its member businesses. Minding My Black-Owned Business will feature more than 40 local Black- and Brown-owned businesses in a pop-up shop style market. It will also feature a raffle every 30 minutes that includes items donated from its vendors and gift cards. Minding My Black-Owned Business will be held Feb. 21 at the Elver Park Neighborhood Center, 1201 McKenna Blvd., from 12-3 p.m. It is free to attend; no registration is required.
• Weather in a Changing Climate, Saturday, February 24: Join us for our February Sustainable Breakfast Series as we explore how climate change is reshaping our weather. We’ll hear from Amanda Latham, Climate Outreach Specialist for the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, for an approachable look at the science of weather, , a historical context, and the factors that impact weather systems . She’ll also offer insights into how climate scientists and forecasters are adapting, and what communities should be paying attention to in the years ahead.
• 8th Annual Black Business Awards Recognition & Exhibition, Thursday, February 26: We warmly invite our community, partners, and supporters to step into the promise of the next era. For nearly a decade, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce has been a trusted force in advancing Black-owned businesses—creating access, elevating visibility, and building pathways for sustainable growth. The ERA’s Ball marks a defining moment in that journey: where past progress meets future possibility.
• Best of Business Awards 2026, Friday, February 27 from 11am to 1:30pm CST: Join us for the 25th anniversary business lunch! We’re celebrating our milestone year with four leaders who have found steadying wisdom to keep them on course in a fast-paced business world. Join us in honoring these Best of Madison Leadership Award winners who have demonstrated commitment to helping Madison grow, alongside our newest class of Best Places to Work in Madison.
• Black History Month Festival, Friday, February 27: The Madison Senior Center will host its second-ever Black History Month Festival near the end of February. It adds programming relevant to Madison’s elderly Black population with activities, food, performances and resources/

FAST FORWARD to MARCH

• A Conversation with Kamala Harris, Sunday, March 01, 2026, 1:00 PM: Doors at 12:00 pm | Show at 1:00 pm.  Join former Vice President Kamala Harris for an afternoon of surprising and revealing insights inspired by her #1 New York Times bestselling book, 107 DAYS. Tickets on sale now.