Rake leaves out of streets; VOTE Tuesday; Near West Area Plan meetings start this week; Events & Announcements

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Hello neighbors,

Have you ever wondered if there's one small thing you can do to help the health of our lakes? Well, now's your chance! Please, rake the leaves out of the street surrounding your properties before the rain starts tomorrow. More than 50% of the phosphorus that runs into our lakes comes from leaves. Rain running through the leaves creates a “leaf tea" – we don't want that to get into our lakes! Our Streets Division does a great job of street sweeping frequently, but they can only get to so many streets each day, so your help is greatly appreciated!

Updates and Notices

  • Make Your Voice Heard – Vote on November 3rd! Election Day is November 3, 2026. Voting is an opportunity to participate in shaping the future of our community and the decisions that affect our daily lives. Make a plan to vote, encourage your friends and neighbors to participate, and make your voice heard!
    • For Madison residents, polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can find your polling location, check your registration, and review your ballot at  MyVote Wisconsin. Wisconsin also allows same-day voter registration at your polling place
  • It's Pumpkin Time: Remember, you can put your pumpkins and other compostable seasonal decorations (corn stalks, hay, etc.) out for pickup along with your leaves. Remove wires, lights, candles, and other non-compostables before putting them into the leaves.

Public Information Meeting (PIM's)

To request interpretation, translation or a disability-related accommodation at no cost to you, contact 608-266-4635 or  NearWestPlan@cityofmadison.com

Not coming to a meeting? Share your thoughts on the Near West Area Plan -  Your Ideas Map.

  • Public Meeting - Odana Hills Golf Course and Park, Thursday, November 5: The community is invited to attend a virtual public information meeting as Parks staff provide an update focused on the park and clubhouse improvements.
  • The Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is updating  Pathways to 2050, the region's long-range transportation plan. The plan will help guide transportation investments and priorities across the Greater Madison area for the next 20–30 years, including roads, public transit, biking, and walking. It also looks at how our transportation system can keep up with a growing population and changing needs. Consider joining the MPO for one of two upcoming virtual public meetings! You'll hear what community members have shared so far and how that feedback is helping shape the plan, and what's coming next.

Both meetings will cover the same information, so choose whichever works best for your schedule!

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

  • Period Party Series, Monday, November 2: Public Health Madison & Dane County is partnering with Madison Public Library to host their annual Period Party event series in November.  
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, Saturday, November 7: Waterfowl Wonders ~ Join Naturalist Paul Noeldner for a free family-friendly guided walk on easy paths along Lake Mendota, along the Lake Mendota shore, Tenney Lagoon and Yahara Riverway. Bring binocs or a camera! We will look for Canada Geese, Mallards and other waterfowl gathering for migration.
  • Inspired by Wright, Sunday, November 8: Dive into “Inspired by Wright," a hands-on experience where you'll explore how geometric shapes influenced Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic architecture.
  • Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, November 8: Fat Bears and Chonky Squirrels ~ Join amazing wildlife naturalist Kathlean Wolf for a free guided walk to explore beautiful nature trails at Turville Point.  Wild critters are busy fattening up and hunkering down as days gets colder.  Learn about wildlife and how they change their bodies and their environment in preparation for winter. 

Parks Alive Fall!

Parks Alive builds stronger neighborhoods and connects neighbors to their parks through fun, family-friendly activities, music and free food. Events are held in parks across the city and throughout the fall. Connect with your neighbors and engage with your community at a Parks Alive event near you! 

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

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.

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

In community,

Regina Vidaver

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