Week of April 6, 2026

District Niners,

Don't forget… the Spring Election will take place on April 7, 2026. All polling places in Wisconsin are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to find your polling location as well as candidates you will be voting for before entering the voting booth.

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.

• City-County Homeless Issues Committee: If you have a need to know about the status of the soon to open Bartillion Men's Homeless Shelter, do consider watching the meeting or registering to speak. The City-County Homeless Issues Committee meeting will take place on Monday, April 6, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online 

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Virtual Public Meeting to Discuss Draft Pedestrian Plan, Tuesday, April 7:  A public information meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00pm to discuss the Draft Pedestrian Plan. The meeting will include an overview of the planning process, key recommendations in the plan, a description of how the public can comment on the plan, and time for questions and answers. 
•  West Towne Shared-Use Path – Phase 2b, Thursday, April 9: The proposed project is a key segment for completion of the West Towne Shared-Use Path, which provides a safe, shared-use path facility for the growing west-side of Madison that connects the local area as well as a larger connection to regional paths in the Madison-area. A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., April 9, 2026. Registration prior is required. 

Announcements & News Releases

• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) Provides Decisions on Madison Water Utility's Rate Case: The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) recently provided a ruling on Madison Water Utility's (MWU) 2025 application to increase water rates (3280-WR-117). Madison Water Utility customarily files a new rate case every two years, and yes, if approved, expect an increase in your water utility bill.
• Ride The Drive 2026: If you have been a regular participant in the annual Ride the Drive event, there will be changes in the route due to construction on the  John Nolen Dr.  Madison Parks has announced the date and new route for Ride the Drive 2026 that is scheduled for August 9, 2026.  Anticipate a new scenic route with fun-filled free activities along the route. For more information about volunteering, vendors and exhibitors visit: Ride the Drive 2026.
• New Traffic Pattern for John Nolen Drive Construction : If you are a regular user of the John Nolen Drive, beginning Monday, April 6, southbound South Broom Street will close to traffic, between West Wilson Street and John Nolen Drive, as part of the next phase of the John Nolen Drive reconstruction project.
• Applications for next Youth Poet Laureate now open: The Madison Arts Commission and Madison Poet Laureate Steven Espada Dawson are pleased to announce that the fifth annual call for a Madison Youth Poet Laureate is now open for youth who have a way with words.
• Madison Fire Now Hiring for Firefighter/EMT Positions: Serve the City of Madison as a firefighter/EMT! Applications are accepted now through May 26, 2026. 
• Efficiency Navigator Providing Free Improvements for Affordable Apartment Housing:  The City of Madison, the City of Fitchburg, and Sustain Dane announced at a news conference that applications are now open for Efficiency Navigator in 2026. Efficiency navigator is a city-sponsored initiative that provides energy efficiency, health and safety, and other upgrades to small and medium sized apartment buildings; all designed to save energy, reduce operating costs for owners and lower energy bills for residents. Think of it as a rehabilitation program for older buildings to make them more efficient and inhabitable.
• Public Meeting to Discuss Madison Pedestrian Plan: The City of Madison is updating its Pedestrian Plan for the first time in nearly three decades! The new plan will provide policy and programmatic recommendations to improve safety, comfort, and accessibility for people walking in Madison. 
• OIPM Annual Report 2025-2026: The Office of the Independent Police Monitor has released the revised annual report for 2025-2026. This report covers the key activities, research findings and initiatives of the office over the last 12 months. Visit the OIPM page (appendix 3) for revisions to the report.
• 2026 Brush Collection Season Has Started; Get Your Brush Set-Out Schedule Today:  The 2026 brush collection season is underway for some neighborhoods. When you should set out your brush for pickup depends on where you live.  Each neighborhood has different set-out dates. Check your set-out dates for brush collection.

Events

• Wisconsin Virtual TB Summit, Tuesday, April 7: Join local, state, and national tuberculosis experts as they share their work to understand and improve care for people diagnosed with TB in our community. Increase your understanding of TB as an air-borne communicable disease that affects the lungs and spreads when a person coughs, speaks, spits, sneezes or sings. If interested visit: Wisconsin TB Summit pre-conference 2026 opportunity.
• MSCR & Madison Parks Hiring Fair, Thursday, April 9: Madison Parks and MSCR are hiring seasonal staff in aquatics, maintenance, conservation and more! Attend a Hiring Fair at Parks Lakeside Offices and apply and interview onsite! Make this a summer to remember! 
• Wright Design Series - The Wright Revival: Madison's Rediscovery of Frank Lloyd Wright, Thursday, April 9: This Zoom webinar will be presented by Anna Andrzejewski is the Frank Lloyd Wright Professor of Modern American Architecture at the Department of Art History at University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She teaches courses in the history of American art, architecture and material culture.
• Spring Home Maintenance, Thursday, April 9: Ready to tackle spring home maintenance like a pro? Our engaging course will empower you to confidently care for your home, inside and out! Learn essential skills, from maximizing your HVAC system efficiency and troubleshooting sump pump woes to prepping your roof and gutters for spring showers and revitalizing your outdoor spaces.
• Free Homebuyer Education Class (in person), Saturday, April 11: 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 the Southwest Madison Employment Center, 1233 McKenna Blvd, Madison, WI 53719 on Saturday, April 11, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm! Lunch will be provided.

The Birds are back in town!

• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, April 11: Pasture to Prairie History Walk ~ Join retired Madison Parks Conservation Manager Si Widstrand and Naturalist Eva Roos for a free guided nature walk to see farm fields and pastures that have been restored to native prairies and learn about their human and ecological history.  
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, April 12: Looking for Spring Ephemerals ~ Join Naturalist Jeff Nesta as we look for Trilliums and other beautiful early Spring Ephemeral wildflowers that take advantage of available sunlight before trees and bushes fully leaf out.  

Your well-being

Yes, it has been a bit gloomy during the last few days!  Remember, it's April in Wisconsin and that April showers bring May flowers and more reasons to exercise those facial muscles and activate your smile!

Until next time,

Joann