Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of October 26, 2026
postedIn the D19
- Wexford Village and Rough Lee Ct Re-Zoning: The Plan Commission on October 19 and the Common Council on October 20 unanimously approved the re-zoning of the Wexford Village and Rough Lee Ct planned developments to the most comparable standard zones. I abstained from both votes because of my long service on the Wexford Village board.
- In-Person Absentee Voting Began October 20: The City of Madison Clerk's Office is operating several early in-person absentee voting locations across the city. Voting locations include Alicia Ashman Library at 733 N High Point Rd. Hours are 11 am to 5 pm weekdays and 10 am to 4 pm Saturdays between October 19 and October 31. [posted October 19, 2026]
Updates and Notices
- Fall Leaf Season is Underway: Get the exact date when you should set out your leaves for pickup from the yard waste website.
- Drop-off Sites Reminder – Don't Get Surprised by Winter Hours Changes: Yard waste, electronics, and many other items are accepted at the Streets Division drop-off sites. And remember, the hours at the drop-off sites change for the winter months. Get the drop-off site information from the Streets Division 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 26, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include 2027 Executive Operating Budget deliberations.
- 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 Friday, October 30, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an examination of the Milwaukee Police Department's Body-Worn Cameras 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 Meeting (PIM's)
- Draft Data Center Regulation Framework Public Information Meeting, Tuesday, October 27: The City of Madison's Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development will hold a public information meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, to update community members on a draft framework for proposed zoning regulations for data centers within city limits.
- Transportation Commission Meeting – Public Hearing, Wednesday, October 28: On Wednesday, October 28, Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. to review and discuss proposed increases to the paratransit agency fare and contract rates for the Commute Card and the Unlimited Ride Pass programs.
- Public Listening Session on Body-Worn Cameras, Thursday, October 29: The President's Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures is hosting a public listening session regarding Body-Worn Cameras. This public listening session will be hosted virtually via Zoom at 4:30 PM on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
Announcements and News Releases
- President's Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures Hosting a Public Listening Session on Body-Worn Cameras: The President's Workgroup on Madison Police Department Use of Deadly Force, De-Escalation and Body-Worn Cameras Policies and Procedures is hosting a public listening session regarding Body-Worn Cameras. This public listening session will be hosted virtually via Zoom at 4:30 PM on Thursday, October 29, 2026. [posted October 23, 2026]
- Thank You, Madison: After much reflection, I have decided not to seek reelection in April. It has been a tremendous honor to be your Mayor. [posted October 23, 2026]
- Statement from PCOB Chair Devon Snyder: The Future of Independent Civilian Oversight in Madison: The Common Council's decision to remove Independent Monitor Meeka Glass has created significant uncertainty about the future of Madison's civilian oversight system and the Office of the Independent Monitor. While reasonable people may disagree with… [posted October 22, 2026]
- No questions asked: Drug Take Back Day offers free medication disposal: Madison, Wis. – The Madison Police Department is encouraging people to safely dispose of unneeded and unused prescription drugs during the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. There are collection sites across Wisconsin on Saturday,… [posted October 21, 2026]
- Metro Transit Public Hearing: On Wednesday October 28, Metro Transit and the Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing to review and discuss proposed increases to the paratransit agency fare and contract rates for the Commute Card and the Unlimited Ride Pass programs. [posted October 21, 2026]
- Madison Public Library's Period Party Series Returns November 2-21, 2026: MADISON, WI – Madison Public Library is hosting the annual Period Party series in partnership with Public Health of Madison and Dane County and University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.… [posted October 21, 2026]
- Office of the Independent Police Monitor appoints attorney to represent complainants before City's Police and Fire Commission.: For the first time in the history of the office, the Office of the Independent Police Monitor (OIPM) has appointed an attorney to represent a complainant before the Madison Police and Fire Commission (PFC). Sharon Irwin Henry, grandmother of… [posted October 20, 2026]
- Common Council President Sabrina Madison on Engaging in a Restorative Justice Process: In late July, I shared that Common Council Chief of Staff would reach out to the restorative justice facilitators recommended by the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) to arrange an initial consultation. [posted October 20, 2026]
- Mail Back Your Absentee Ballot: The City of Madison Clerk's Office strongly recommends mailing back your absentee ballot today to ensure it arrives before the November 3 election. [posted October 20, 2026]
- Police Civilian Oversight Board Completes Evaluation of Interim Independent Police Monitor: The Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) has completed a comprehensive performance evaluation of interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique “Meeka" Glass. While the City's ordinance does not require the Board to evaluate an interim Independent… [posted October 19, 2026]
- In-Person Absentee Voting Begins Tuesday: The City of Madison Clerk's Office is operating several early in-person absentee voting locations across the city. [posted October 19, 2026]
- Closure of Eastbound W Dayton Street between N Charter and N Mills Streets: Starting on Monday, October 26, Terra Construction will close eastbound traffic along W Dayton Street, between N Charter Street and N Mills Street to conduct work on the UW-Madison chilled water system. Westbound traffic will remain open. This… [posted October 19, 2026]
- Highway T Closure at Felland Road Begins October 26: On Monday, October 26, starting at 9:00am, Capitol Underground will close County Hwy T in both directions east of the intersection with Felland Road to complete utility work for a private development contract. The closure, part of a Dane County… [posted October 19, 2026]
- Urban Forestry Planting 1,000 Trees in Fall 2026: Urban Forestry's fall planting season begins today, Monday, October 19, 2026.Crews will be planting approximately 1,000 trees from 35 different species. The trees will be placed in the right of way space along streets throughout the entire City of… [posted October 19, 2026]
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
- EHS Feeder Program Fall Academy, Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (This event occurs on multiple dates): The Madison East High School Basketball Feeder Program Fall Academy is a six-week basketball development program Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 22, 2026 to October 22, 2026 (skip date October 8, 2026) for boys and girls in 5th–8th grade who plan to attend Madison East High School.
- Hayride Around the Capitol | Movie at the Top of State, Wednesday, October 28: We've partnered with Madison's Central BID for the Downtown Madison Family Halloween (external)to bring you back-to-back events! Take a haywagon ride around the Capitol Square and see a movie at the Top of State Street.
- Wright Design Series - The Frautschi Center: A Welcoming Gateway to the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Wednesday, October 28: The upcoming Frautschi Center is designed to be a doorway to UW–Madison's 300-acre Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Hanson will trace its design evolution from TKWA's pattern-writing process through community-driven site selection, threshold design, and the Living Building Challenge certification process.
- Warner Family Fun Night | Halloween Celebration, Friday, October 30: 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!
Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.