City Meetings and Updates June 9
posted- City Meetings:
- Finance Committee 6/9
- Plan Commission 6/9
- Board of Park Commissioners 6/11
- MPD Increasing Traffic Safety Enforcement to Address Traffic Safety Concerns
- 842 Jupiter Drive on the Plan Commission Agenda
- Reminder: Topic-Focused City Budget Engagement Events Continue on 6/11
- Goodman Pool Opens June 12!
- Events & Announcements
City Meetings
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, June 9, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing a contract with a consultant for the completion of a comprehensive plan for Olbrich Botanical Gardens and authorizing a loan to aid in the financing a portion of the new Eastmorland Community Center.
Plan Commission
The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, June 9, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include a handful of technical updates to the zoning code, one of which modifies restaurant and alcohol-related use rules to update and combine restaurant/tavern definitions in the code (I’m a cosponsor). Under this change, applicants seeking an alcohol license and entertainment license from the Alcohol License Review Committee would no longer also need to seek a Conditional Use Permit from the Plan Commission for live or amplified music. The agenda also includes two items related to a proposal at 842 Jupiter Drive in District 3, see more information in a below section.
Board of Park Commissioners
The Board of Park Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 11, at 6:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an informational presentation from staff regarding planning for the future of Olbrich Botanical Gardens with the completion of a comprehensive plan.
MPD Increasing Traffic Enforcement to Address Traffic Safety Concerns
From the Madison Police Department’s June 5th announcement:
“The Madison Police Department is launching a new data-driven traffic safety plan to help reduce dangerous driving. The proactive safety program runs now through September 1, 2025.
Department leadership will review crash data and pinpoint potentially dangerous intersections and sections of roads throughout the city. These areas will then receive extra patrols and additional enforcement. Problem areas will be identified each week.
“We’ve had an increase in community members reaching out concerned about traffic safety. This program was designed after hearing their concerns,” said Assistant Chief Matt Tye.
Drivers may see more speed enforcement waves as a result of this safety plan. The primary focus of this initiative is the enforcement of hazardous moving violations through the issuance of citations.
“Research consistently shows that citations are more effective than warnings in improving driving behavior. We hope through education and extra enforcement, people will be more mindful of their driving behaviors,” Tye said.
The Department will evaluate the data collected at the end of the summer and determine future plans.”
842 Jupiter Drive Proposal
Monday's Plan Commission agenda includes two items, 9 and 10, for 842 Jupiter Drive. WellBrook Recovery has purchased the Chamomile facility and plans to renovate to set up an inpatient addiction recovery center (called a “community living arrangement” that provides "community and counseling services in zoning-speak) with approximately 54 beds for inpatient stays. I hosted a neighborhood meeting on May 7th with the North Star neighborhood, as advertised in a previous blog post, and had postcard invitations mailed to residents of this area. We learned a lot more at the meeting, including about their typical patients: they have many Madison-area residents who currently need to drive to Brookfield for care, hence the applicant’s desire to expand to Madison. The applicant emphasized that the type of care they are licensed by the State of WI to offer is for pre-arranged, voluntary, inpatient stays (typically lasting 30-42) days and is not the police drop-off model of care. They can only take patients who can pay for their stay out-of-pocket or who have adequate insurance to cover a stay. Neighborhood residents who joined the May 7th meeting were eager to understand whether the applicant takes patients who committed crimes, and the applicant’s answer is that they consider accepting patients who committed minor crimes related to their addiction on a case-by-case basis, but not those who are violent or who pose a threat to others. They'll have around 15 staff during peak hours and 6 to 7 staff overnight. Regarding security: the renovation would add video monitoring cameras to halls and common areas, staff/patients would need a badge or fob to enter the building, residents’ visitors must be approved by patients’ therapist which screens out individuals who would not be helpful for their care, and the applicant has committed to sharing video footage with MPD if any incidents take place.
Here is the Planning staff report with more information, including a detailed project description on page 3.
The applicant currently operates a facility of the same model in Brookfield, WI and in Ohio. Upon learning about their proposal, Mayor Rhodes-Conway and I each reached out to our counterparts in Brookfield City government as well as Brookfield Police, Fire, and Zoning. We did not hear of any concerns from Brookfield with this operator and learned that the calls for emergency service are normal over the few years since they opened, some health incident responses and a microwave fire but “nothing criminal”. Here’s a link to the compiled correspondence with the Brookfield officials. WellBrook told the City and the neighbors who joined the May 7th meeting that their goal is to be “invisible” in the neighborhood.
Finally, a word about the proposed zoning change. The initial request was to amend the zoning rules for this parcel so that “residential living arrangements” would be a by-right use at this property (rather than a conditional use). I pushed to instead consider a change to the zoning rules that would make this use conditional here, meaning that in the future there is a built-in oversight and approval process for any new proposals that allows future City staff, the future alder, and the neighborhood to do their due diligence about an applicant like we’ve done here. That is why, in this case, the Conditional Use Permit that would be required for this applicant’s intended use under the proposed zoning change is also on the Plan Commission agenda. A significant benefit of the conditional use process is that the Plan Commission has what is called "continuing jurisdiction" over conditional use permits that it grants, meaning that if the use results in complaints, PC can revisit the approval. I am grateful that we’re considering making this a conditional use rather than a by-right use because I think that’s better for the neighborhood.
The Planning Staff report recommends approval of the zoning change and of the conditional use permit. If you have comments/feedback for the Plan Commission, you can either email pccomments@cityofmadison.com OR you can use this pubic comment registration link (842 Jupiter is agenda items 9 and 10), indicating “speaking” if you want 3 minutes to speak to the members of the commission via Zoom (it’s a virtual meeting) or “not-speaking” if you want to indicate your opinion but not speak at the meeting. District 3 residents can also email me directly at district3@cityofmadison.com. So far I have heard concerned questions from a couple of residents but the majority of comments to me have been cautiously supportive, usually paired with an acknowledgement of the need for this form of healthcare – especially given Wisconsin’s drinking culture.
Reminder: Topic-Focused City Budget Engagement Events Continue on Wednesday, June 11th
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City of Madison
The second public engagement event for the 2026 City Budget takes place this Wednesday, June 4th. This one will be at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center will feature an update of the 2026 budget process with City Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke and presentations on the City Administration agencies and City Facilities. 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.
- Where: Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Dr
- When: Wednesday, June 11th 2025 at 6pm
- Please register here.
Future budget engagement events include:
- June 16th, Sequoya Library, focus: Public Safety (event link)
- June 18th, Pinney Library (Eastside), focus: Transportation (event link)
- June 24th, The Hub/South Madison Black Business Hub, focus: Community & Economic Development (event link)
Image credit:
Madison Parks
Goodman Pool Opens Thursday, June 12th!
Get ready for a summer of fun in the sun with a season pool pass. The 2025 season begins on Thursday, June 12. Thanks to the Madison Parks Foundation, admission scholarships are available. See GoodmanPool.com for hours, prices and to complete your online application. Note: Lap Swim and Tot Time begin Friday, June 13, weather permitting.
Events & Announcements
- Wear Orange Weekend Honors Victims of Gun Violence, Calls for Change: Public Health Madison & Dane County, City and County leaders, and the Madison Police Department are joining a nationwide call to end gun violence with a series of “Wear Orange Weekend” awareness events. [posted June 6, 2025]
- Free Fun Weekend in Local Parks: Enjoy permit-free days to explore Madison and Dane County parks on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, 2025. No permit is required to try out a disc golf course, bring your dog to a park or access the lakes. Disc Golf A daily or annual… [posted June 4, 2025]
- Madison Fire Announces Free 'AED Library' Program: AEDs save lives! That's why the Madison Fire Department is making them easier to access through their AED Library checkout program. [posted June 4, 2025]
- Madison Public Library Announces 2025 Naturalist-in-Residence; Programs Begin June 16 [posted June 2, 2025]
- Madison Arts Commission Seeks Applicants for Teejop Community History Public Art Project: The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) is seeking artists to create temporary outdoor public art installations for the Teejop Community History Public Art Project (TCHPAP) during the Summer and Fall of 2026. [posted June 2, 2025]
- Concerts on the Rooftop: Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press (Dance/Rock n Roll Covers): 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. Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press is a peak experience band from Chicago, IL. With a focus on bone-crushing three-part harmonies and laser-sharp musicianship, this band is a live performance powerhouse! The band carefully curates each show from a truly eclectic and massive repertoire to cultivate an unclassifiable experience of joy and entertainment for everyone in attendance.
- Safety Saturday on the Square: On Saturday, June 14, join the Madison Fire Department, Madison Police Department, Madison Metro, and other community partners for Safety Saturday on the Square! Enjoy hands-on activities, demos, and fun for all ages at this free event.
- Bird & Nature Adventures | Warner Park: Imagine June 2054. Join Naturalist Kathlean Wolf for a talk a talk and walk on climate change. As summers heat up with climate change what will Warner Park look and feel like in 2054? What can we individually and collectively support and do to help mitigate those impacts?
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. Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.
