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Common Council

Week of May 18th

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Dear District 16 Neighbors,

I hope you've had a great weekend and braved the storms that passed through earlier today! As we head into the summer, there are so many wonderful events happening across our city. From the Madison Night Market to the Capitol View Farmers Market and the grand opening of the Madison Public Market on July 23rd, there are endless opportunities to get outside and be in community.

Thank you to everyone who came to the first planning meeting on improvements to our neighborhood and mini parks in District 16. If you were unable to attend or have additional thoughts you'd like to share, the Parks Department will be hosting a second meeting on Thursday May 28th from 11:30am-1:00pm. Be sure to RSVP ahead of time! 

Budget season is once again upon us. Participating in the city's budget process is one of the most impactful ways to shape the future of Madison. I hope that you'll join us at one of the three upcoming budget engagement sessions planned for June. You can learn more and register here. 

I hope to see you at one of the many events happening across the city! Please don't hesitate to say hi if you see me out and about! 

-Sean 

Southeast Area Plan

SE Area Plan Cover
Image credit: City of Madison

The Southeast Area Plan has begun its final round of approvals! Thank you to everyone who has reached out, attended public meetings, and shared your thoughts on the future of Southeast Madison. Over the next few weeks, you will have one final opportunity for input before adoption by the Common Council.

The final draft was introduced to the Common Council at its May 5, 2026 meeting. It was referred to the Boards, Commissions, and Committees listed below, which may propose changes to the plan before the Common Council makes a decision on final approval.

Southeast Area Plan Committee Schedule: 

Olbrich Plan Final Meeting

Olbrich Gardens will be hosting its final Public Information Meeting on their master plan! For the first time in twenty years, Olbrich Gardens has been working to update their master plan. Over the past several months, they have hosted multiple public information meetings and they are now ready to present the final design for community feedback. 

The meeting will begin with a presentation on the work that Olbrich has done up to this point. They will then showcase the final design, highlighting elements that are new to or will modify the existing gardens. The meeting will conclude with an opportunity for the public to view the design up-close and ask questions of the design team and Olbrich staff. 

  • When: Tuesday, May 20th from 12pm-1pm and 6pm-7pm
  • Where: Olbrich Botanical Gardens
  • RSVP: Register online

Coffee with a Cop

The Madison Police East District will be hosting Coffee with a Cop on Monday, May 18th at 9:00am. 

A note from Captain Ed Marshall: “I suspect that homelessness and development of the East Towne area will be hot topics. I also plan to discuss traffic enforcement going into the summer."

  • When: Monday, May 18th at 9:00am

  • Where: Mercie's Coffee, 1748 Eagan Road

Updates and Notices

  • Spring Yard Waste Pickup is Very Nearly Over:  Check the website before putting out yard waste for pickup.  
  • Recycling Tip – Black Plastic Plant Pots Go Into the Trash: It's the season to start your garden, so you will start getting plants in those little crinkly black plastic pots from garden centers.

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.

  • Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items of interest include
    • Item #1 - Recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month (I am a sponsor) 
    • Item #2 - Recognizing May as Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Heritage Month. (I am a sponsor)
    • Item #6 – Confirming Rachel Darken for a five-year term as Fleet Service Superintendent.
    • Item #43 - Approving an agreement between the City of Madison and Dane County related to the operations of the men's homeless shelter, located at 1904 Bartillon Drive, & authorizing the Community Development Division (CDD) to accept up to $1,148,000 from Dane County to help fund the shelter's operations in 2026
    • Item #45 - Office of the Independent Police Monitor Annual Report 2025-2026 (you can find the report here.)
    • Item #47 - Police Civilian Oversight Board Annual Report 2025 – 2026 ( you can find the report here.)
    • Item #48 - Chief of Police 1st Quarter Report & 2025 Annual Report: Chief John Patterson, Madison Police Department (you can find the report here.)
    • Item #52 - Supporting and approving the City of Madison's application to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) by the Vision Zero team for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Implementation grant. (I am a sponsor)

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)

  • Proposed Changes at The Edgewater: Virtual Meeting of May 18, 2026: The Edgewater, 1001 Wisconsin Avenue, proposes to make changes to their property in a phased plan over the next five to seven years. Phase 1 of the plan includes exterior shade structures and improvements to the sky bar roof deck as well as shade structures added to the first and seventh floor dining terraces, upgrades to restaurants and dining space, and adding a neighborhood grab-and-go market and coffee shop.
  • Envision Downtown Madison Open House (Virtual), Monday, May 18: If you missed the Envision Downtown Madison Open House that was held on April 30, 2026, this virtual event is another chance to learn more about some of the Big Moves and the Shared Vision being proposed as part of the City of Madison's Downtown Area Plan and Downtown Madison, Inc.'s Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy.

Announcements and News Releases

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

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

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Portrait of Alder Sean O'Brien

Alder Sean O'Brien

District 16
Contact Alder O'Brien