District 6 Items of Interest Week of April 21, 2025

Settling In

It’s been a busy start to my terms as alder with lots of meetings and introductions with individuals and groups in the district and city hall. Last week Congressman Mark Pocan met with the council and gave us an update. BRT funding for the North/South route may still very well come to pass. The courts may yet step in for the worst of it. But not much is likely to change in Congress until the mid-terms.

I had my first Sustainable Madison Committee meeting Monday and met the talented people who are a part of that body. Wednesday will be my first Urban Design Commission meeting. And next week the first full gathering of the Common Council!

Speaking of the North/South BRT route, Metro Transit will be holding several information meetings (one virtual, two in-person):

• Metro Transit North/South BRT Public Information Meeting (Virtual), Wednesday, April 30: Come learn more about a proposed second Bus Rapid Transit route proposed to run north to south through the community. South Park St. will also be reconstructed in conjunction with North-South BRT. Information will be presented on both projects.
• Metro Transit North/South BRT Public Information Meeting, Thursday, May 1 (UW-Madison Student Activity Center): Come learn more about a proposed second Bus Rapid Transit route proposed to run north to south through the community.
• Metro Transit North/South BRT Public Information Meeting, Thursday, May 1 (Warner Park Community Rec Center): Come learn more about a proposed second Bus Rapid Transit route proposed to run north to south through the community.

Updates and Notices

Farmers' Markets: Find the locations and schedules for farmers' markets near you!

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, April 28, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include approving the 2025 Neighborhood Grant Program recommendations, as well as an update on federal executive orders and directives to pause federal grants and loans.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include development-related requests in District 1, 4, 6, 9, 14, and 15.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

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

Announcements and News Releases

• City of Madison Honors Community Development Partners, 50 Years of Community Services: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Community Development Division Director Jim O’Keefe joined several alders and City staff in thanking the dozens of community non-profits for their work. [posted April 25, 2025]
• New Round of Youth Climate Fund Projects : The City of Madison is proud to announce funding for 17 new youth-led projects to address climate change, support grassroots community engagement, and spur innovation in the green economy. This second round of projects includes initiatives to create community gardens, educate students on bike repair, and reduce food waste. [posted April 24, 2025]
• How Community Development Block Grant and City Funds Have Supported Education Opportunities: Literacy and education have a direct, tangible effect on the health of a community. [posted April 24, 2025]
• How the Community Development Division Supports Local Childcare: The City of Madison's Community Development Division supports a variety of childcare providers across the city while also offering accreditation to offer a sense of trust and peace of mind to parents. [posted April 23, 2025]
• MPD adopts amnesty policy to prevent underage drinking citations during medical emergencies: MADISON, Wis. – The Madison Police Department is introducing a new policy that shields people from underage drinking citations if they call for help during a medical emergency. The Amnesty Through Responsible Action program goes into effect Tuesday.… [posted April 23, 2025]
• How Community Development Block Grant Funds Support Madison Homeowners: The City’s CDBG unit within the Community Development Division helps allocate those funds through a variety of contracts and programs that have benefited residents of all backgrounds across Madison. [posted April 22, 2025]
• Madison Arts Commission seeks community input on public art at Park Badger development: The Madison Arts Commission is inviting community members to share their vision for public art that could be incorporated into the Park Badger Redevelopment as part of the City of Madison’s Percent for Arts Program. [posted April 22, 2025]
• Food Scraps Recycling Drop-off Returns to Eastside Farmers’ Market on April 29, 2025: Free food scraps recycling drop-off will be back this year at the Eastside Farmer’s Market. The first date food scraps will be accepted is Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Look for the free food scraps drop-off tent at the market to drop off your coffee… [posted April 22, 2025]
• MPD hosts egg hunt, offers free family photos: MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Police Department hosted a special Easter egg hunt for kids who live at the Harmony apartments. Dozens of kids participated in the fun. Residents were also given the chance to have free, professional family photos taken… [posted April 21, 2025]
• City of Madison Celebrates National Community Development Week: The City of Madison is celebrating National Community Development Week (April 21-25, 2025), highlighting the impact that projects supported by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program has had on the Madison area. [posted April 21, 2025]
• City-Wide Youth Voices Writing Contest Returns May 1; Kick-Off Event Scheduled for April 26: MADISON, WI – The WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest will open for submissions on May 1, 2025 with the opportunity for youth 18 and under to get published and to win up to $500 in cash prizes thanks to support from the Madison Public Library Foundation(link is external). [posted April 21, 2025]
• Equipment Upgrades Occurring this Week at City-Operated Garages: Starting on Monday, April 21, contractors will be upgrading payment equipment at City-operated garages throughout the week.  Garages will operate as normal during the process though there is a potential for some delays during peak hours when… [posted April 21, 2025]
• Roots Cause Sanitary Sewer Overflow, City Teamwork Leads to Fast Cleanup : An area on the east side of the City of Madison is clean after 300 gallons of sewage overflowed Friday morning.   The City of Madison Engineering Division received a report of wastewater spilling from a sanitary access structure at the… [posted April 21, 2025]

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

• City Visioning for Economic Development Planning, Tuesday, April 29: Join the City of Madison(link is external), EQT By Design(link is external), and 4th Economy(link is external) for an interactive workshop reimagining economic development. We're shifting our approach to put community members' needs first while building an inclusive and sustainable vision for our shared economic future. Learn about our strategy and what lies ahead.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, Saturday, May 3: Nature-expert guided walks in Tenney Park along Lake Mendota and the Yahara River Parkway bike path through the Madison Isthmus are free, family-friendly and held the first Saturday of each month, from 1:30-3pm. The walk begins at the Tenney Beach parking lot, 1330 Sherman Avenue. No registration is required. No pets are allowed.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Cherokee Marsh, North, Sunday, May 4: Cherokee Marsh is Madison’s largest conservation park with three units - North, South, and Mendota. Each month, year-round we explore the north unit's beautiful trails through the woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairies along the Yahara ‘Catfish’ River.

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