Alder meet and greet 2/23 6pm; New measles exposure; Public Information Meetings, events, announcements, and more!

Hello neighbors,

Don’t forget! The spring primary is THIS TUESDAY, February 17. Don’t know where to vote or what’s on the ballot? Find out! Information about the candidates is available from the League of Women Voters, and the City Channel Know Your Candidates.

I am looking forward to meeting you at a casual meet-and-greet alongside my other near-west side alders, Alders Tishler and Evers, on February 23 at 6pm at the Mid-Town police station on Mineral Point Rd. This is an opportunity to connect, share your thoughts, and engage. Light beverages and refreshments will be provided. Please register in advance!

Updates and Notices

Seed Grants – Due February 20: The Mayor's Office is now accepting applications for SEED grants. Any proposal that improves the local food system and makes food more accessible for City of Madison residents will be considered. Submit your application to the Madison Food Policy Council via email. 

There is a second Measles Exposure in Dane County. A traveler from out of state who stayed the night at a Madison hotel later tested positive for measles. The investigation identified the following Dane County location where people may have been exposed:

• Holiday Inn Express 
  • 5150 High Crossing Blvd., Madison, WI
  • Friday, February 6 from 12:01am to 12:00pm 

The Wisconsin Collaborative for Health Quality (WCHQ) has released county and zip-code level maps of overall measles vaccination status across Wisconsin. For herd immunity to measles, at least 95% vaccination coverage is required.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Madison-McFarland Intergovernmental Agreement Meeting (Madison residents), Monday, February 16: The City of Madison and the Village of McFarland are considering whether to enter into an intergovernmental agreement to address issues of mutual concern surrounding our shared border and to plan for how growth may occur in the future. The City and Village previously had an agreement in place that expired in 2018.
• Park Badger Redevelopment Community Meeting (Virtual), Tuesday, February 17: The Community Development Authority and its private partners have released updated designs for the Park Badger redevelopment project, located at the northwest corner of South Park Street and West Badger Road on Madison’s South Side. A virtual session will be held on Zoom from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Registration will be required to receive a link to the virtual meeting.
• Park Badger Redevelopment Community Meeting (In Person),Wednesday, February 18: The Community Development Authority and its private partners have released updated designs for the Park Badger redevelopment project, located at the northwest corner of South Park Street and West Badger Road on Madison’s South Side. The in-person session will be held from 12:30pm to 2:00pm at the Madison College Goodman South Campus on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Announcements and News Releases

• Hoyt Park Parking Lot reconstruction is out for bid: During the reconstruction of the Hoyt Park Parking Lot, roughly from May 5 to August 30, the main park shelter and playground will be closed. The rest of the park will remain open, but folks are encouraged to enter the park from Bluff St., or the sidewalk near Capital High.
• Building Community in Affordable Housing: Each year, the Community Development Division issues a competitive Request for Proposals to offer approximately $10 million in support to developers that aim to build affordable housing to serve Madison’s most vulnerable populations. In 2025, a total of 425 future rental homes received City subsidies, 260 of which will offer permanent affordability to those with qualified incomes. 
• Madison Fire Department Announces Timeline for Next Firefighter/EMT Hiring Process: The Madison Fire Department will be accepting applications for the position of Firefighter/EMT beginning April 1, 2026. The application period will close on May 26, 2026. 
• Intermittent Elevator Outages at Overture Center Garage on February 16: ProAxis will perform scheduled exterior maintenance on the elevator hoistway at the City of Madison Overture Center Garage on Monday, February 16, 2026, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. 
• City of Madison Celebrates Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week: The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has officially declared February 16–20, 2026, as Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week
• Community Development Authority updates plans for Park Badger redevelopment: The Community Development Authority and its partners have released updated designs for the Park Badger redevelopment project. 
• How to identify unmarked squad cars, officers: The Madison Police Department is making some changes to help members of the public identify staff as local officers. 
• Safer Internet Day: Being AI aware: The Madison Police Department is encouraging parents and guardians to talk to children about safe internet practices. In 2003, the European Union launched the first Safer Internet Day, and it has grown to more than 100 countries. 
• Share your thoughts on Public Art for the Far West Operations Facility: The City of Madison and the Madison Arts Commission are seeking community feedback on a design proposal by The Milligan Studio for the Far West Operations Facility at 402 South Point Road. 
• Two-Time National Book Award Winner Jesmyn Ward Headlines Lunch for Libraries on May 5: MacArthur Fellowship recipient and New York Times bestselling author Jesmyn Ward is announced as the speaker for Madison Public Library Foundation's spring fundraiser, Lunch for Libraries, which will take place May 5 at Monona Terrace.
• 2025 Housing Snapshot report published: The City of Madison’s Department of Planning, Community, and Economic Development has published its 2025 Housing Snapshot report, providing the latest insights into the city’s housing trends. 

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

• Wright Design Series: Innovations in K-12 Architecture Education, Monday, February 16: The next generation is becoming empowered to critically examine and actively shape the spaces around them. Discover how educators and designers are mentoring students across southern Wisconsin at this panel presentation. 
• Black Heritage Celebration, Madison Children’s Museum, February 19: Join Madison Children’s Museum on February 19, 5–8 pm, as we honor the contributions of Black people in our community with a celebration featuring Black artists, musicians, and leaders. Free admission begins at 4 pm, and activities continue from 5 to 8 pm. No event tickets required!
• Unjust Deeds: The History of Racial Covenants in Dane County, February 19: Racial covenants were made illegal with the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. Nevertheless, their impacts are pervasive and still with us today. This program, presented by local historian Rick Bernstein, will explore the history of racial covenants in Dane County and nationwide. Throughout the month of February, you can also learn about this through the traveling exhibit which you can view at the Central Library.
• Vaccine Clinic at Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School, Saturday, February 21: In partnership with Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School, Public Health is offering a variety of free vaccines on February 21, 2026 from 9am-11am. All vaccines are free for eligible individuals. Children six months and older who lack insurance, are under 19, and are either Alaskan Native or American Indian, as well as those with BadgerCare or most other types of insurance, can receive vaccinations at no cost.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, February 21: Winter Wildflower Seed Planting ~ Join Naturalist Tara Dary for a free fun educational family friendly hands-on activity to learn about native Wisconsin  wildflowers seeds and take some home.  Did you know native wildflower seeds need to freeze and thaw or "cold stratify" to germinate?  Learn how to make Seed Bombs to toss on the ground or on snow to help seeds get started when it thaws.
• The Wisconsin Book Festival has loads of events from February through May at various locations, including a presentation from the author of The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram, the queer, Black son of a housecleaner, who had nevertheless been decorated in the halls of Harvard and Columbia. The author introduces us to an unforgettable character who fled from country to country as fighting advanced, was captured by Nazis and outwitted them in a daring escape, and risked it all in a personal fight for a life of love, freedom, beauty and dignity in a world set against him.

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

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.

• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, February 16, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include financing the development of up to 27 affordable owner-occupied housing units and funding five homeownership service programs.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, February 16, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 2, 12, 15, and 19.
  • 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.

Be well,

Regina Vidaver