Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of May 5, 2025

In the D19

• Sticker’s Pond Forebay Dredging: There will be a public information virtual meeting explaining the dredging of the Stricker’s Pond forebay dredging project at 5 pm on May 13. Immediate neighbors are receiving a postcard invitation. Others can register at the Stricker Forebay Dredge project page.
• Spring Harbor Park Water Fountain: An old water fountain was removed in 2022 when it developed a link that could not be fixed. The Parks Department informed me this past week that a new fountain will be installed in 2025, but a timeline has not been established yet.
• Common Council May 6 District 19 Items:
  • Item 35 (Legistar 87707) approves the chip sealing contract which includes Tomahawk Tail, Flambeau Rd, and Merrill Springs Rd. This was approved at the April 16 meeting of the Board of Public Works.
  • Item 43 (Legistar 87849) approves the plans and specifications for public improvements for the Stone House Development project at 66624 Old Sauk Road, if and when it is built. The City regularly establishes the details for public improvements to be completed by the developer of major projects. In this case they include a sidewalk and pedestrian crossing among others. This was approved at the April 16 meeting of the Board of Public Works.
  • Item 93 (Legistar 88059) approves the transfer of a Class B alcohol license held by Cocovaa, LLC from 1815 E Washington Avenue to Cocovaa’s new location at 10 Odana Court.
• Parks Commission May 14 District 19 Items:
  • A rare form of request has been received for a cultural bathing ritual at Merrill Springs Park. The application includes a request to conduct the event until 12:30 am. Events lasting past 10 pm require the approval of the Parks Commission.
  • The Parks Department has negotiated an amendment to a view preservation easement granted to 5050 Lake Mendota Drive when the City purchased a portion of that parcel as an addition to Merrill Springs Park. The amendment clarifies certain rights of the homeowner and City that were not established in the original easement. This is set for introduction at the May 6 Common Council, (Item 90, Legistar 88148) returning their on May 20.

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.

• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include assisting the development of the former Voit farm property, as well as adding disorderly conduct directed at a city transit officer to Madison General Ordinances.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 7, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include approving plans and specifications for public improvements required to serve Phase 1 of the Subdivision known as Starkweather Plat.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment

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

• N Shore Drive Path & E Madison Bikeways Projects: The first projects for the East Madison Bikeways and North Shore Drive Path will start on Monday, May 5th. Projects will include pedestrian and bicycle enhancements, as well as improved pavement markings. Expect minor traffic control changes… [posted May 2, 2025]
• City of Madison Kicks Off National Small Business Week with 2025 Familiarization Tour: We are thrilled to announce the highly anticipated 2025 Small Business FAM Tour! Join us on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m. as we kick off National Small Business Week with an inspiring welcome address by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. Following this, our… [posted May 2, 2025]
• WE READ Summer Reading Program Begins May 1 at Madison Public Library: Pick up the new WE READ Map, get your WE READ bag, and connect to books, literacy tips, prizes and more this summer at your local library. [posted May 1, 2025]
• Dane County Residents Make Big Impact Choosing Sustainable Transportation this April : Hundreds of Dane County residents participated in the RoundTrip Spring Roll Challenge this April, avoiding more than 15 tons of carbon emissions by swapping solo car trips for sustainable travel options. [posted May 1, 2025]
• Food Scraps Recycling Drop-off Returns to Westside Community Market on May 3, 2025: Free food scraps recycling drop-off returns to the Westside Community Market on Saturday, May 3, 2025.At the market drop-off site, you can bring us your spent coffee grounds, eggshells, and appropriate vegetable and fruit scraps so they can be… [posted May 1, 2025]
• What You Need to Know About Low Mow May 2025: The Building Inspection Division is again letting residents know that it will be suspending the enforcement of the City of Madison’s grass length ordinance during May as part of “Low Mow May” to help support the local pollinator population. [posted May 1, 2025]
• MPD captain honored among Wisconsin’s 25 Most Influential Native American Leaders: MADISON, Wis. — Madison Police Captain Diana Nachtigal has been honored as one of Wisconsin's most influential Native American Leaders for 2025.The award was presented by Madison 365 and recognizes elected leaders, business leaders and community… [posted May 1, 2025]
• Street Closures for USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships: Multiple streets in the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood will be closed on Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4th for the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships. Saturday, May 3rd: the 800 and 900 blocks of E Mifflin St will be closed… [posted May 1, 2025]
• City of Madison Celebrates New Affordable Homes : After developing 22 other homes in the Mosaic Ridge subdivision, the City partnered with Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development and Madison Area Community Land Trust to build two additional land trust homes. [posted April 30, 2025]
• MPD releases 2024 Annual Report: It is a long-standing tradition for the Madison Police Department to share its annual report with the community. In 2024, the MPD remained committed to our mission statement, “We, the members of the Madison Police Department, are… [posted April 30, 2025]
• How to Get Involved in Madison’s Next Economic Development Plan: The City of Madison’s Economic Development Division is working on an update to the Economic Development Plan and wants to hear from you as it works to refresh the nearly decade-old outline for economic growth. [posted April 28, 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

• FOOT - Free Concerts in Olin Pavilion, Wednesday, May 7 (This event occurs on multiple dates):  FREE concerts return to the Olin Park pavilion on Wednesdays in May from 6 to 8 PM. Slipjig with Daithi Wolfe - Irish 'trad' music on Wednesday, May 7.
• Warner Family Fun Night, Friday, May 9: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the game room or the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo!
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Owen, Saturday, May 10: Explore Owen Conservation Park on gentle trails through historic oak openings on a hillside with an Ice Age kettle and along restored prairies with beautiful vistas on this high point overlooking the west side of Madison.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, May 11: Month of Maying.  Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, let’s do it, let’s fall in love!  Join Naturalist Kathlean Wolf for a free fun family friendly outing to enjoy Spring birds, bugs, flowers, and the burst of life occurring around you.

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