Last Tuesday's Council Vote, Vilas Park Update, and More

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Hi Everyone,

As you're no doubt are aware, last Tuesday's Council meeting lasted over 12 hours. By a vote of 14-6, Council members voted to terminate the interim independent monitor. I voted with the majority. I stated my intention to do so in my blog post on October 17 and invited those who wish to discuss the matter with me to please reach out. 

That offer still stands. Where there is disagreement I'm committed to hearing you out. However, while I've received many supportive emails, I've also received several that were abusive and threatening, and so have my colleagues. This is a growing pattern, one that played a role in the Mayor's decision not to seek re-election, and it has to stop.

Again, if you have questions about my vote last week -- or any other vote, for that matter -- please reach out to me at district13@cityof madison.com.

On to this week's updates:

Vilas Park Update

On October 15, local residents met with Parks staff to review new information regarding Vilas Park. 

Ann Rivlin, one of those residents at the meeting, recently shared the following, which I've quoted in full:

Hi Everyone,

I am writing to report on a meeting the Parks Department requested with Alder Evers and that included Jim Lorman from Greenbush and me (representing Vilas as one of the VNA liaisons for Vilas Park). They have very strong concerns about ice skating safety this year that are related both to the long-range weather forecast for the year and concerning developments with the lagoon.

First, we may have a very mild winter. It isn't a guarantee, but current projections are for a warmer winter. This on its own will affect ice skating on the lagoon in Vilas Park.
Second, Dane County is no longer able to get a permit from the DNR to remove weeds in the Vilas Park lagoon. The lagoon is now too shallow to receive a permit. Weeds remaining in the lagoon makes it harder for the lagoon to ice over to a thickness that is safe for ice skating.

The Parks Department has the following plan for this coming winter. They will set up the hockey rink and the figure skating rink between the shelter and Lake Wingra as usual. They anticipate that if the lagoon has ice that is safe for skating anywhere, it will be in the speed skating section between the bridges and the zoo. If that part of the lagoon has ice that is deep enough for ice skating, they will prepare that ice for skating (note: this is the opposite end of the lagoon to what is usually used for ice skating). Skate rentals will still be out of the shelter, but there may be a different point to enter the ice. They will not cut down vegetation around the full perimeter of the lagoon in an effort to keep people off any ice that forms on the section they anticipate will not be safe. They plan to place signs warning people to stay off any areas of the ice that are unsafe.

This inability to get a permit for weed removal is not a development that anyone anticipated, including at any time during the Vilas Park master plan process. Parks is now going to determine what would be required to dredge part of the lagoon, which would reduce the weeds in the lagoon, help the fish population and facilitate ice skating in the future. Dredging the lagoon will be an expensive effort, particularly if tests of the lagoon show that sediment in the lagoon is contaminated. The Parks Team believes that if dredging happens, it would make sense to conduct it in combination with a building a new shelter. I asked if there would be a year-round benefit to the dredging or if it would solely be helpful for ice skating. It does sound likely that there is a year-round benefit, but given that Parks is in the early stages of figuring out what is possible, they did not want to be too confident on what will happen or the effect it could have.

In other Vilas Park news, the national archeology firm hired for the study required by the cultural resource plan for Vilas Park abruptly went bankrupt. It was completely unexpected. This article has the story: https://www.inc.com/lucia-auerbach/largest-archaeology-firm-abruptly-shut-down-600-plus-layoffs-arent-biggest-concern/91416381
Parks has determined that the archeologist who took the core samples in September still has the core samples, and they are figuring out how to ensure the work moves forward. I will keep checking in to find out what progress has been made, but it is an unusual situation that will take some untangling.

I'm sorry to not have good news to report, but Vilas Park is facing some unusual challenges.

Best,
Ann
Co-liaison for Vilas Park

I realize what goes on at Vilas Park does not affect everyone in District 13. But, given the many questions I've received about delays in the implementation of the Vilas Park Master Plan, I nonetheless thought it helpful to include this in my update. (This will be updated as we get into the winter months.)

Updates and Notices 

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.  
  • 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 workgroup's next 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. 
  • Meeting Details 
  • Meeting Agenda 
  • Register for Public Comment 

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) 

Announcements and News Releases 

  • 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 WednesdSaturday…r 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] 
  • 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] 
  • 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 

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

That's all for now.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag

 

 

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