Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of September 28, 2026

posted 
Kathleen Callen and Ben Lyman accepting the honorary resolution from Alder Tishler

At its September 22 meeting, the Madison Common Council officially recognized October 1–8, 2026, as Week Without Driving, a national challenge designed to increase awareness and understanding of the experiences and barriers faced by people who do not drive. 

Accepting the honorary resolution from Alder Bill Tishler were Kathleen Callen from the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired and Ben Lyman from the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Week Without Driving encourages participants to experience life without relying on a personal vehicle and to explore the transportation options available in their communities. An estimated 30–40% of Dane County residents live without regular access to a personal vehicle.  By taking part in the challenge, participants can gain a deeper understanding of the transportation challenges faced by many community members and contribute to conversations about creating a more accessible, equitable, and effective transportation system that works for everyone.

For more information about Week Without Driving and how to participate, visit the campaign's official website.

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, September 28, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include 2027 Executive Capital Budget deliberations.
  • Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 29, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Agenda items include an update on the data center moratorium. 
  • President's Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures: The President's Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 30, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include Madison Police Department's draft body-worn camera policy.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of the City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

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

  • Fall Home Maintenance, Tuesday, September 29: Is your home ready for winter's chill? Don't wait until the first snowstorm to discover a leaky roof or a frozen pipe! This Fall Home Maintenance class will empower you to proactively prepare your home for the harsh winter months, saving you money and headaches down the road.
  • Framing Our Future: Downtown Alders Meet & Greet, Tuesday, September 29: Come join us in person for a casual and fun Meet & Greet with the Downtown Alders! This is your chance to chat, share ideas, and get to know the folks shaping our community's future.
  • Fall Fun Series, Wednesday, September 30: Come for Ballet Folklorico Mexico and lessons in mountain biking, frisbee and social dance! A light dinner will be offered as well. Spanish interpretation provided.
  • Volunteer Workday | Owen Conservation Park, Wednesday, September 30: Join the Friends of Owen Conservation Park for a hands-on stewardship opportunity focused on removing invasive Porcelain berry. Porcelain berry is an aggressive vine that grows quickly and smothers other vegetation, severely decreasing diversity and number of native plants. 
  • Envision Downtown Madison Open House #3, Thursday, October 1: Join us Thursday, October 1, 2026, for Envision Downtown Madison's third public open house. Learn about potential public and private sector initiatives and ideas that could advance Big Moves and keep downtown Madison a thriving place, as well as the draft land use framework to guide future developments.
  • Week Without Driving,  October 1-8 is a nationwide challenge that invites everyone—but especially people who make transportation decisions—to learn what it can be like to get around without driving. Participants can take part for a full week, a single day, or even one trip.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, Saturday, October 3: Seeing the Small Stuff ~ Join Naturalist Julie Melton for a fun family friendly stroll to enjoy nature in early fall at beautiful Tenney Park by Lake Mendota.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park, Sunday, October 4: Weather Wisdom ~ Join UW Atmospheric Science emeritus professor Steve Ackerman for a free fun family friendly stroll on easy paths at Cherokee Marsh.  Enjoy early fall in the woodlands, prairies and marsh while learning fascinating facts about weather and climate change.

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

Was this page helpful to you? * required