Tuesday is election day! Public meeting on pedestrian plan. Brush set out dates available. New John Nolen Drive traffic pattern. Events & Announcements galore!

Hello neighbors,

Tuesday is election day! Thank you to everyone who has already voted absentee in-person, or by returning an absentee ballot you received through the mail. Over 30,000 absentee ballots were requested, and more than 25,000 have been returned. And, over 12,000 people voted absentee in-person already! If you're waiting for election day to vote, all polling places will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to find your polling location and learn about your ballot.

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. 
• Public Involvement Meeting (PIM) for the US 51 (Stoughton Road) North Project:  When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 5 to 6:30pm. Where: Madison College - Truax Building (Conference Room D1630), 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704 
• 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 and News Releases

• Capital High School Program featured: By focusing on "the four pillars" of success: mentorship, leadership, college readiness, and career readiness, Improve Your Tomorrow aims to shift attendance in the first year, behavior the second year, and grades in the third and final year of the program.
• Email Phishing Scam Involving Planning and Zoning Applications and Permits:  The City of Madison is aware of fraudulent emails circulating locally.
• New Traffic Pattern for John Nolen Drive Construction: 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.
• 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.  
• 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). Rates will rise beginning May 1.
• 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.
• 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.
• Madison Area Community Land Trust has a three bedroom house for sale: Households at or below 80% of the area median income for Madison are eligible to apply to purchase this 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom home for under $200,000.
• Ride The Drive 2026: Madison Parks is excited to announce the date and new route for Ride the Drive 2026! With RTD's signature route along John Nolen Drive under reconstruction, we have an exciting new route for this year's event.
• Efficiency Navigator Providing Free Improvements for Affordable Apartment Housing:  The City of Madison, the City of Fitchburg, and Sustain Dane announced that applications are now open for the Efficiency Navigator program in 2026.
• 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. 
• City to Host Second Round of Public Meetings for Perry Street Study:  The City of Madison invites community members to participate in the second round of public information meetings for the Perry Street Reconnection Study.

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

• 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. 
• 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. Dr. Andrzejewski teaches courses in the history of American art, architecture and material culture, and formerly chaired Madison's Landmarks Commission.
• 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.
• Building Unity potluck, Friday, April 10: Community room at The Heights, 2206 University Ave, 6pm. During these challenging times, it is vital for those who believe in peace, justice, sustainability, and democracy to come together and support one another as we work toward a better world. All are welcome to join us. Call 608-630-3633 for more information.
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, April 10: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo! 
• 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.
• 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.  

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.

• City-County Homeless Issues Committee: The City-County Homeless Issues Committee meeting will take place on Monday, April 6, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an update on the Men's Shelter.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include construction management in Districts 1, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, and 20.
  • 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.

Best wishes,

Regina Vidaver