Week of June 2, 2025

Dear Neighbors,

As we step into June, I want to thank each of you for your continued involvement and support. It’s your engagement that fuels our collective progress in District 7. This past week featured key conversations about budget priorities, environmental resilience, and long-term development planning. I’m pleased to share updates from the week and preview what’s coming up.

Highlights from the Past Week

Tuesday, May 27 – Finance Committee Meeting
We took a closer look at the City’s financial outlook and department funding requests. I advocated for resources that will directly support District 7, especially in housing, youth services, and neighborhood infrastructure. We’re entering a vital phase in the budget process, and I’ll continue to ensure your priorities are front and center.

Wednesday, May 28 – Meeting with Mayor Rhodes-Conway
In our meeting, I emphasized the importance of sustainable and equitable growth across the district. We discussed strengthening support for small businesses, making headway on affordable housing goals, and improving public infrastructure. I deeply appreciate the Mayor’s openness to District 7’s needs and ideas.

Thursday, May 29 – MMSD Commissioner Meeting
This was my first meeting as a newly appointed commissioner, and I’m excited to be working alongside others committed to sustainable wastewater management and infrastructure resiliency. After the meeting, I met with MMSD staff to better understand project timelines and the staffing needed to meet growing regional demands.

Thursday 5PM – Meeting with Country Grove Neighborhood Leaders
I was fortunate enough to meet with Dave and Cindy Sieloff, one of the founding members of the Country Grove Neighborhood Association. We had a meaningful discussion about traffic safety, neighborhood improvements, and how to better support resident priorities in that area. I’m grateful for their decades of dedication and vision for a stronger, safer neighborhood.

Friday, May 30 – TID and Land Acquisition Meeting
I met with city staff to explore strategies for leveraging Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to bring more equitable development to underused areas in District 7. We also discussed opportunities to preserve and expand green spaces, crucial for environmental health and community well-being.

On the Horizon

Tuesday, June 4 – Common Council Executive Committee
🕓 4:30 PM | 📍 Madison Municipal Building, Room 215
We’ll review city governance operations and policy priorities. These discussions help shape how the Council functions and how we move forward with long-term planning.

Tuesday, June 4 – Common Council Meeting
🕕 6:30 PM | 💻 Hybrid (In-person at City-County Building and Online)
Key agenda items:

• Public hearings on proposed zoning changes
• Updates on Madison’s sustainability goals
• Affordable housing funding allocations
• Community outreach planning for the 2025 budget process
  View full agenda or register to speak: Common Council Meeting Info

Wednesday, June 5 – Board of Public Works
🕓 4:30 PM | 💻 Virtual and Room 108, City-County Building
This meeting includes review and approval of:

• Street and sidewalk improvement contracts
• Stormwater management updates
• Ongoing infrastructure projects across Madison
  I’ll be keeping a close eye on how these improvements support District 7 and ensure our neighborhoods remain well-served and resilient.

Saturday, June 8 – District 7 Listening Session (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, location: Verona Public Library)
Mark your calendars! I’m hosting a casual listening session where you can stop by, share your thoughts, and ask questions. Whether it’s housing, traffic, parks, or public safety, your input helps guide my work. I’ll send more details soon.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Your voice matters, and I’m here to represent you. If there’s something you’d like to see addressed in our neighborhood or if you just want to share a great idea please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Warmly,
Badri Lankella
Alder, District 7
📧district7@cityofmadison.com

Bike Week!

The first week of June is Bike Week, and there are events across the city to celebrate! I’m proud that Madison has continuously received the platinum designation for bike friendliness, but there is always more we can do to make it easier to get around. I’ll be celebrating by taking a bike tour of District 16 and parts of the Southeast Area Plan so I can get a better understanding of the infrastructure and upgrades that are needed on the far east side of Madison. To find a full list of events, visit www.madisonbikes.org!

Budget Engagement Sessions

The first opportunity to engage in the budget process is coming up this week on June 4th from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Central Library. This session will focus on the city’s public works, with presentations from Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke as well as the Engineering, Parks, and Streets Divisions. The city will be hosting additional budget engagement sessions over the next several weeks. You can find the full list below:

June 4th – Public Works  -Central Library - 6:00-8:00pm June 11th – Administration & Public Facilities - Warner Park - 6:00-8:00pm June 16th – Public Safety  - Sequoya Library - 6:00-8:00pm June 18th – Transportation  - Pinney Library - 6:00-8:00pm June 24th – Community & Economic Development  - The Urban League Hub - 6:00-8:00pm

Image credit: City of Madison

Additionally, as many of you may have heard, the county is facing a budget deficit as federal funding cuts loom. If you want to learn more, County Executive Melissa Agard is hosting a listening session on the County Budget on Wednesday, June 4th at 5:30pm at the Alliant Energy Center.

Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of June 2, 2025

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, June 3, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include recognizing June as Pride Month.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, June 2, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Agenda items include staff updates on the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans.
  • 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

• Madison police welcomes 71st recruit class: MADISON, Wis. —The Madison Police Department welcomed its 71st academy class this week. There are 35 recruits in this year’s class, including three accelerated academy officers. On Tuesday, they took an oath to serve and protect the people of Madison. [posted May 30, 2025]
• New Testing Sites Added as Public Health Beach Monitoring Season Begins: This week, Public Health Madison & Dane County kicked off its beach monitoring efforts in Dane County. [posted May 30, 2025]
• Walking Tour to Gather Business Feedback in Southeast, Southwest Madison: Teams of local business and local leaders will take part in a walking tour of the Southeast and Southwest Madison business community on Tuesday, June 3rd, from 9:00am – 12:00pm. [posted May 30, 2025]
• Madison Celebrates Nature Everywhere Day 2025 : The City of Madison continues its commitment to support the health and well-being of children, families, and the environment through equitable access to nature. [posted May 29, 2025]
• Free Food Scraps Composting Drop-off Returns to South Madison Farmers’ Market on June 3, 2025: Free food scraps recycling drop-off returns to the South Madison Farmers’ Market on Tuesday, June 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 29, 2025]
• Christof Spieler Selected as Madison’s Director of Transportation : Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is pleased to announce the appointment of Christof Spieler as the City of Madison’s new Director of Transportation. [posted May 28, 2025]
• Absentee Ballots Mailed for June 17 Special Election : The City of Madison Clerk’s Office has mailed absentee ballots to voters with requests on file for the June 17 Special Election to fill the District 1 seat on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. [posted May 27, 2025]
• Madison Fire Seeks Community Participation in Firefighter/EMT Interviews: Have a say in who serves you. Join a Community Panel to interview firefighter/EMT candidates! [posted May 27, 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

• Madison Bike Week, Monday, June (This Event Occurs On Multiple Days): Bike Week celebrates riding to work, to the grocery store, to a park, to the library—or biking just to feel the warm wind blowing through your hair. Events happen all week long at various locations throughout the city.
• RoundTrip Commuter Station — Bikes, Buses, and Treats!, Tuesday, June 3: Join RoundTrip, the Greater Madison MPO, Metro Transit, City of Madison Traffic Engineering, and Madison BCycle for an afternoon commuter station on the Cap City Trail! This event celebrates car-free mobility with plenty of resources, treats, and giveaways to support your ride.
• Black on the Wisconsin Frontier, 1725 – 1868, Wednesday, June 4: Presented by UW Madison Professor Christy Clark-Pujara. Black people have lived, labored, and raised families in the region that became the Midwest since the 16th century. They called the settlements and towns of Prairie du Chien, Racine, Green Bay, Lancaster, Milwaukee, and Menominee home. Yet their stories remain largely untold. Much of the historiography concerning the experiences of Black Americans has focused on the South, and large Northern and Midwestern cities, yet the full dimensions of the African American and American experience cannot be appreciated without reference to how black people managed their lives in places where they were few. This presentation will explore the histories of Black people in what became the state of Wisconsin, from the French colonial period in the 1720s through the American Civil War.
• 2026 Budget Engagement Meeting - Public Works, Wednesday, June 4: The meeting will feature an update of the 2026 budget process with Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke and presentations from the Engineering, Parks, and Streets divisions. The goal of this public meeting is to provide an opportunity for residents to speak directly with City staff about your ideas, concerns, and priorities for Madison’s future.
• Concerts on the Rooftop: Wheelhouse (Americana/Bluegrass), Thursday, June 5: Enjoy the unparalleled experience of sensational bands and breathtaking views at Concerts on the Rooftop! Dance the night away or just relax with family and friends, A truly unique Madison event. WheelHouse is a nationally touring Americana and bluegrass band hailing from Madison. As a full-time working band, they perform over 220 shows each year and have garnered attention from national labels. Featuring three- and four-part harmonies, fiddle and guitar leads, and driving rhythm of the upright bass, WheelHouse brings an energy and attitude unique to themselves.
• Wear Orange Weekend, Friday, June 6 (This Event Occurs On Multiple Days): Public Health Madison & Dane County is hosting a series of Wear Orange Weekend events raising awareness about the urgent need to end gun violence. Wear Orange Weekend is part of a nationwide campaign supporting Everytown for Gun Safety. It's an organization dedicated to ending gun violence, led by parents, students, survivors, educators, and more.
• Live at The Glen | Pecatonica String Quartet, Friday, June 6: Madison Parks Foundation is proud to present Live at The Glen! Enjoy live music on the patio at The Glen Golf Park. The Pecatonica String Quartet prides themselves on being able to delight audiences with their wide range of style and repertoire. From elegant classical compositions of Bach, Handel and Mozart to rockin’ Led Zepplin, Queen and Journey; you name it, they’ve got it. They play light jazz standards, classic oldies and many fun party hits of today.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Tenney Park, Saturday, June 7: Join Naturalist Robin Kling for a free welcoming family-friendly guided walk to look for and learn about native trees and plants at Tenney Park. The Tenney Lagoon borders and other areas are being restored with more native plants for pollinators, birds and wildlife. Native plants also have many human benefits. Long before synthetic drugs were created to combat illness and disease native plants provided chemical compounds used by healers and physicians to deal with heart disease, vitamin deficiencies and to fight bacterial infections. Learn to use the Seek app to identify plants and learn more about them.
• Bird & Nature Adventures | Turville Point, Sunday, June 8: Join Master Naturalist and avid birder Melissa Kesling for a free fun family friendly outing to discover beautiful winding nature trails leading to the central prairie past and old pine groves to views of Lake Monona and Turville Bay.

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