Week of March 2, 2026

District Niners,

The presence of ICE (immigration and customs enforcement) has spawned fear and anxiety amongst many in our community given their use of unmarked cars. To alert Madison citizenry, (since late February 2026), MPD has added special, bilingual (English/Spanish) identifying placards to the front windshields of over 150 unmarked vehicles. Be on the lookout for tags which read "OFFICIAL MADISON POLICE VEHICLE" with the MPD logo which are designed to increase transparency and help residents distinguish local police from federal law enforcement (ICE).

On another note, the MPD has noted an uptick in the number of vehicles stolen.  These are crimes of opportunity.  Be proactive, lock your car(s) and keep your valuables out of sight or better yet, take them inside.

And, yes, speeding continues to be problematic for those who treat our roads, streets, avenues, lanes, boulevards, etc. as the Indianapolis or NASCAR Speedways.  If possible, capture an image of the car, license plate, time of day and use the Speeder's Hotline: 608-266-4822 or https://www.cityofmadison. com/ to report a problem to traffic enforcement.

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. Th

Finance Committee: Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, March 2, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include adding $4.0 million in TID 44-supported GO borrowing and authorizing the execution of a Purchase & Sale Agreement for the City to acquire property for the purposes of land banking in District 15.

• Meeting Details
• Meeting Agenda
• Register for Public Comment
• Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in Districts 1, 2, 12, 14, 15, 18, 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.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

Public Input Meeting - Marshall Park, Tuesday, March 3 (Virtual): The City of Madison Parks Division is improving the playground at Marshall Park and we want your input. At this meeting City staff will present revised playground equipment options from input gathered at the playground workshop. 

Public Input Meeting - Olin Park, Wednesday, March 4 (Virtual): The pavilion in Olin Park, known as the Monona Lake Assembly Normal Hall, is one of the most historic buildings owned by the City of Madison and one of the most popular park shelters in Madison. The landmark building requires substantial structural and exterior repairs happening in 2026. The community is invited to a virtual public meeting as Parks and Engineering staff will provide information on the planned rehabilitation work for the Olin Park Pavilion – Normal Hall. 

Announcements & News Releases

Women in Construction Week 2026 Stories Ahead: The City of Madison is proud to join the nationally recognized Women in Construction Week, March 1-7, 2026. A career in construction work is not just for men anymore. Just think about the opportunities to build and repair structures like homes, roads, using a variety of tools, machinery and equipment as well as working as a team and developing skills you can use for the rest of your life.  The benefits are many!

Common Council approves investments into affordable homeownership:  City of Madison Common Council approved more than $6 million of funding for several homeownership programs and new owner-occupied homes. ting 7:00 am on Monday, March 2nd, R. G Huston will begin the first phase of construction on Hawthorne Court.  This project will be completed in multiple phases and will impact University Avenue, N. Lake Street, and W. Dayton Street.

Mayor and Alders Propose New Funding for Utility Rebate Program.  Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and several members of the Common Council are advancing legislation to reduce utility bills for low-income families in Madison.

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

Vaccine Clinic at Leopold Elementary School, Saturday, March 7: 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.  Protect your child.

Tee Off Party, Saturday, March 7: We're teeing off the 2026 golf season with our Annual Tee Off Party at Odana Hills Golf Course!

Freeze for Food 5K/10K, Saturday, March 7: Lace up for the 45th Annual Freeze for Food! In partnership with Open Doors for Refugees (link is external), Freeze for Food raises funds for local food security initiatives and support refugees.

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

Your well-being

Concerned about falling?  Consider attending a participatory "Lunch & Learn" Fall Prevention workshop on Wednesday, March 11th at the Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St. from 12:00 -2:00 PM and remember: only leaves should fall.

Until next time, be safe and be well.

Joann