Maurer's Urban Market is Open, Dane County Housing Survey, Leaves & Yard Waste Collection, and More Highlights for the Week of October 12

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Hi Everyone,

Maurer's Urban Market, located at the corner of S. Park and Cedar Streets is open for business. I was out of town for Saturday morning's grand opening, but I was told it was a wonderful event! 

I encourage you to check out the store. It's a beautiful shopping experience, with lots of natural light and open space. I'm so proud of Kristie Maurer, the store's owner, and am incredibly grateful to Mayor Satya for her firm commitment and to Dan Rolfs from the city's Real Estate Division for all the hard work to bring this to fruition!

Maurer's Ribbon Cutting
Image credit: Maurer's Ribbon Cutting

City of Madison – Dane County Housing Survey

Rents Apparently are Decreasing...Let's Find Out For Sure

 The City of Madison and Dane County are collaborating on a Market Rent Study to support an appeal of HUD's proposed 2027 Fair Market Rents for our area. HUD is projecting a rent decrease of nearly 8 percent in Dane Co—a change we believe does not reflect local rental costs or the experiences of families across our community. This decrease could reduce funding and purchasing power for critical rental assistance programs, including Housing Choice Vouchers, Continuum of Care homeless assistance, and Emergency Solutions Grants. We are challenging the proposal by submitting local data gathered through this Market Rent Study.

Starting around October 14, approximately 30,000 randomly selected renters across Dane County will receive a survey. If you receive one, please take a few minutes to complete it. Your response will help provide an accurate picture of local rents and support efforts to protect federal housing assistance. Because participants are randomly selected, many renters will not receive a survey. But it is important for those who receive it to fill it out and return it.

More Housing Leads to Lower Rents

New Housing Completions Surpass 2025 Total: The latest update to the City of Madison Housing Tracker shows a total of 2,424 net new homes of all types have been completed through September 30, 2026, compared to 2,328 net new homes completed in all of 2025. [posted October 7, 2026] 

For questions, please contact the Madison Community Development Authority at 608-235-9507.

Fall Leaf & Yard Waste Season Begins

The first leaf & yard waste set out dates for neighborhoods started earlier this month.  Curious when yours is?   Get the dates for your home from this 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, October 12, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include budget hearings for agencies within the Administration, Public Works, and Public Health and Safety groupings. 
  • Meeting Details 
  • Meeting Agenda 
  • Register for Public Comment 
  • Watch Online  
  • Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 13, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include budget hearings for agencies within the General Government, Administration, Public Facilities, Public Health and Safety, PCED, and Transportation groupings. 
  • Meeting Details 
  • Meeting Agenda 
  • Watch Online 
  • Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 14, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an annual review of Metro Transit's Safety Plan. 
  • Meeting Details 
  • Meeting Agenda 
  • Register for Public Comment 
  • Watch Online 
  • President's Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures: The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 14, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a discussion of the Police Executive Research Forum's report: Body-Worn Cameras A Decade Later. 
  • Meeting Details 
  • Meeting Agenda 
  • Register for Public Comment 
  • Watch Online 

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) 

  • Public Meeting - Garner Park, Tuesday, October 13: The City of Madison Parks Division is proposing several improvements for Garner Park in 2027 and 2028.  These include reconstructing the parking lot, repaving some park paths, relocating the pickle ball courts, upgrading the lighting system, and regrading the south play fields. 
  • Attic Angels Greenway Repair, Thursday, October 15: The Attic Angels greenway between Blackwolf Drive and the ponds has sections of badly eroded channel. The City has tried to do spot repairs that have not been sufficient to address the problem, but these areas are getting larger. Therefore, the City is planning to repair the channel with a project in the winter and spring of 2027. 

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 

  • Bartillon Men's Shelter Public Art Celebration, Wednesday, October 14: The City of Madison and the Madison Arts Commission invites the public to attend a dedication and celebration for a public art installation at the new Bartillon Men's Shelter.   
  • School Vaccination Clinic: La Follette High School (Madison), Wednesday, October 14: 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, Quartz, GHC, or Dean insurance. 
  • Moon Over Monona Terrace, Friday, October 16: Young and old alike are invited to explore the surface of the Moon and view other celestial objects through a multitude of different telescopes provided by the Madison Astronomical Society (MAS) on the Monona Terrace Rooftop. 
  • Volunteer at The Glen, Saturday, October 17: We seek passionate individuals and groups committed to giving back to the community and connecting with the City of Madison golf courses.  
  • School Vaccination Clinic: Holzman Center (Madison), Saturday, October 17: 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, Quartz, GHC, or Dean insurance. 
  • Volunteer at Odana Hills, Sunday, October 11: Join Madison Parks for a large-scale seed collection event. Volunteers will help support the City's ecological restoration efforts by collecting seeds from native plants. This event is ideal for volunteers who enjoy hands-on work, exploring a natural area, and contributing to the long-term health and diversity of Madison's parks. 
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Starkweather Creek Area, Saturday, October 17: Starkweather Fall Phenology ~ Join Master Naturalist Jeff Nesta and Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free family friendly guided tour along bike paths next to Starkweather Creek. 
  • Hayrides & Hikes, Saturday, October 17: Tour Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North Unit aboard a tractor-pulled haywagon, enjoy nature activities, take a guided or self-guided hike, participate in the scavenger hunt or do it all! 
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park, Sunday, October 18: Reflections and Changes ~  Join Master Naturalist Lynn Persson for a free family friendly guided nature walk on easy paths along the Warner Lagoon, quiet trails through Warner Woods, and follow the bike path to Sled Hill for a beautiful view of the Wild Side of Warner Park! Enjoy the honking of geese, native plants going to seed, and the colors changing in the trees. 

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

Lastly....

Some of you have asked for my position regarding the resolution to rescind the extension of the Interim Independent Monitor's hiring agreement which was  introduced by District 2 Alder Will Ochowicz at our last Common Council meeting. 

I fully support this resolution and am listed as a co-sponsor. Council will be voting on the resolution at our next meeting on October 20. 

My colleague District 5 Alder Regina Vidaver effectively laid on the rationale for this move in a recent blog post. I will be offering my own thoughts later in the week.

Please feel free to share your thoughts with me by emailing me at district13@cityofmadison.com.

That's all for now.

Take care and stay safe,

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