Another round up of city and county announcements, newsletter and other interesting tidbits not worthy of a full blog post!
DEMOLITION NOTICE
This is a notice that Michael Graybar will be filing a demolition permit application. The application will be submitted around November 10, 2025 or later. The applicant seeks to demolish a Single-Family House. The address is 3706 Eliot LN Madison, WI 53704.
The City’s Landmarks Commission provides an advisory review of all demolition applications. The Landmarks Commission will determine if the building has historic value. If it has historic value, then the Plan Commission will review the application. The Plan Commission will hold a public hearing when they review the application. If it has no known historic value, the Director of Building Inspection may approve the application.
For more information about this application, please contact the applicant, Michael Graybar, Graybar, 3706 Eliot LN Madison, WI 53704 at graybarfamily@gmail.com or (608)422-4993.
Applicant’s Comments:
Communicating my intention to apply for demolition approval for the first floor of my single-family home at 3706 Eliot lane Madison Wi.
I intent to submit by the 10th of November for review on December 8th.
The first floor will be converted from 2×4 construction to 2×6 and a second story will be added.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Mike Graybar
UPCOMING DETOURS – MADISON METRO
Routes J and O – Begins Monday, 10/20 Brooks St. is closed due to construction.
Route O – Begins Monday, 10/20 (NEW) New routing due to Brooks St. closure.
METRO UPDATES
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND UPDATES
Southwest and Southeast Area Plan Public Meetings, Public Art in Darbo Worthington, and More
Southwest and Southeast Area Plan Public Meetings
The Southwest Area Plan and Southeast Area Plan draft actions are now available on the city’s website for review and comment. City staff will present draft action highlights for additional review, feedback and questions at the following public meetings:
Southwest Area Plan Public Meetings
- October 23, 6-7:30 p.m., Chavez Elementary School Gym, 3502 Maple Grove Dr. – no registration required.
- October 29, 6-7:00 p.m., virtual – registration required.
- October 30, 12-1:00 p.m., virtual – registration required.
Southeast Area Plan Public Meetings
- October 21st, 6-7:30 p.m. Olbrich Botanical Gardens – no registration required.
- October 21st, 12-1:00 p.m., virtual – registration required.
- November 4th, 6-7:00 p.m., virtual – registration required.
Please join us and help craft these important growth and development plans!
Everyday Places in Darbo-Worthington now host Public Art
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This fall, Madison-based artist and community organizer Jennie Bastian (she/her) invites neighbors and visitors alike to experience THE SUN WILL FIND US(link is external), a temporary public art project unfolding in and around Thurber Park in the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood.
At the heart of the project are 13 hand-sewn banners, each featuring a section of a longer poem written by Bastian. The banners are installed across 10 outdoor locations throughout the neighborhood. These banners transform familiar, everyday places into points of reflection, connection, and care.
“My time at this artist residency has deepened my commitment to creating work that is outward-facing, publicly-engaged, and often made in collaboration with others,” Bastian said.
The project is the result of months of collaboration with local residents who contributed in meaningful ways such as donating bed sheets, cutting and sewing fabric squares, hosting banners on their homes and in their yards, and even helping with installation.
After the SLAM: A Storyteller’s Spotlight with Nestor Gomez and Araceli Esparza
Madison Public Library is hosting a special literary event featuring two celebrated storytellers: Nestor “the Boss” Gomez and Araceli Esparza. Come hear excerpts from each of their latest books during this free event on Saturday, October 25 from 12–2pm in the Community Room at Hawthorne Library.
This program celebrates storytelling as a powerful tool for healing, resilience, and connection. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear readings, ask questions, and purchase signed copies of the authors’ books.
Event Details
- Date/Time: Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 12–2pm
- Location: Hawthorne Library(link is external), Community Room
- Admission: Free and open to the public
No registration is required; Recommended for ages 16+.
Streets & Urban Forestry Updates
- Time is Running Out for Food Scraps Composting at the Farmers’ Markets: There’s only a couple weeks left before the market season comes to a close, so your chance to bring your scraps to one of the three market sites will also be ending soon. The locations and hours of the sites can be found on the Food Scraps website.
- Fall Tree Planting Season Starts Next Week: Urban Forestry’s fall planting season gets underway the week of October 20. Crews will be planting right around 850 trees throughout Madison. If you’re one of the lucky hundreds to be getting a tree on the terrace this fall, make sure you are using the new tree resources on the Urban Forestry website.
- Fall Yard Waste Pickup Continues: Don’t miss out on your pickup chances. Get the set-out dates for your home on the yard waste website.
- New Urban Forestry Newsletter: This week we started a newsletter for Urban Forestry news and updates. It’s something we plan on sending out about quarterly, or thereabouts. You can sign up for these free email updates on the Urban Forestry website.
- How to Recycle Your Batteries: Our modern world is putting batteries in everything. You can even buy heated insoles with lithium batteries in them! So what do you do with all these batteries since they can be a serious fire hazard? Take them to a reputable battery recycler, including the Streets Division drop-off site. You can learn more on the battery recycling page.
PROJECT UPDATES
Rutledge Street Reconstruction
Location: 1833 Rutledge St
Estimated Schedule: April 1, 2025 – July 29, 2025
October 17, 2025 Update
The Contractor finished the repair for the water service leak at 1808 Rutledge St and final paving on the spots on Yahara Pl. A mill and overlay would be schedule for the section of the street on Rutledge St in the next couple of weeks and final work will be removing the inlets protections.
The City Inspector, Pual Lauby, plauby@cityofmadison.com, 608-261-9678 and Troy Vant, tvant@cityofmadison.com, 608-266-4914. They will be the best on-site contact throughout construction work.
South Charter Street Alley
Location: 1219 Regent St
Estimated Schedule: April 27, 2026 – June 29, 2026
October 16, 2025 Update
The City will begin public engagement in the fall of 2025.
Yahara Hills Maintenance Facility
Location: 7051 Millpond Road
Estimated Schedule: August 7, 2025 – March 31, 2028
October 15, 2025 Update
Quarter 4 Update
RFP #14049-0-2025-BP Proposals for A/E consulting and design services were received on September 05, 2025 for the Yahara Hills Maintenance Facility project. The A/E proposals are currently under review by the City evaluation team. Design is scheduled to begin in January 2026.
Bolz Conservatory Repairs
Location: 3330 Atwood Avenue
Estimated Schedule: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028
October 14, 2025 Update
Quarter 4 2025 Update
The consulting team has worked through the pre-development design phase and has developed a scope of work that is critical as well as additional options to consider.
Rutledge Street Reconstruction
Location: 1833 Rutledge St
Estimated Schedule: April 1, 2025 – July 29, 2025
October 13, 2025 Update
The Contractor finished the work on lowering the two sanitary structures on Yahara Place. Paving for the spots on Yahara is schedule for tomorrow Oct. 14, 2025 if the weather is in good conditions.
A potential small leak was found on the water service for 1808 Rutledge Street, the Contractor is going to start the repair in the next two weeks. This work includes excavation, repairing the leaking service, back fill, curb & gutter replacement, pavement patching and depending of the extends of the work a full width mill and overlay me be necessary.
The City Inspector, Pual Lauby, plauby@cityofmadison.com, 608-261-9678 and Troy Vant, tvant@cityofmadison.com, 608-266-4914. They will be the best on-site contact throughout construction work.
Madison Municipal Building Flagpole Replacement
Location: 215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Estimated Schedule: December 2, 2024 – December 31, 2025
October 13, 2025 Update
Quarter 4 2025 Update
The City received one bid that was not opened and will rebid the project in early 2026.
SOUTHEAST AREA PLAN DRAFT ACTIONS AND MAPS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW
Draft Southeast Area Plan actions and maps are available for review and comment! For an overview please see our new storymap, which walks through draft action and map highlights. The full set of draft actions and maps, which allow for commenting and feedback, are available here. Those who would prefer to provide feedback or learn more about draft actions in-person or via a virtual meeting can attend one of the following meetings:
October 21, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Olbrich Botanical Gardens
October 21, 12:00-1:00 p.m., virtual – registration required.
November 4, 6:00-7:00 p.m., virtual – registration required.
For more on the Southeast Area Plan, including background maps, summaries of past feedback, and results of past surveys, please visit the project website.
SOUTHWEST AREA PLAN DRAFT ACTIONS AND MAPS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW
Draft Southwest Area Plan actions and maps are available for review and comment! For an overview please see our new storymap, which walks through draft action and map highlights. The full set of draft actions, partnerships, and maps, which allow for commenting and feedback, are available here. Those who would prefer to provide feedback or learn more about draft actions in-person or via a virtual meeting can attend one of the following meetings:
- October 23, 6-7:30 p.m., Chavez Elementary School Gym, 3502 Maple Grove Dr. Short presentation at 6:15, with open house format following.
- October 29, 6-7 p.m., virtual – registration required (both virtual meetings will have the same format/info).
- October 30, 12-1 p.m., virtual – registration required (both virtual meetings will have the same format/info).
For more on the Southwest Area Plan, including background maps, summaries of past feedback, and results of past surveys, please visit the project website.
DANE COUNTY BUDGET – UPCOMING STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
The formation and review process of the 2026 Dane County budget continues as the county board’s standing committees meet to discuss and consider amendments to the county executive’s budget proposal. The county board will also hold a public hearing on the county executive’s budget proposal.
| Date | Meeting Body (Meeting Time) | Location | |||
| Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 | · Personnel & Finance Committee (5:30 p.m.)
· County Board Hearing on Executive Budget Proposal (7 p.m.) |
City-County Bldg. | |||
| Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 | · Public Works & Transportation Committee (5:30 p.m.)
· Public Protection & Judiciary Committee (5:30 p.m.) |
City-County Bldg. | |||
| Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 | · Environment, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee (5:30 p.m.)
· Health & Human Needs Committee (5:30 p.m.) |
City-County Bldg. | |||
| Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 | · Executive Committee (5:30 p.m.) | City-County Bldg. |
Each standing committee agenda will include a section titled “Budget Discussion and Amendments.” Any proposed amendments can be viewed in each committee’s individual action item files accessible at the bottom of this webpage: https://board.danecounty.gov/budget
Committee meetings and public hearings are open to the public and conducted in a hybrid format. Instructions for streaming via Zoom are available in the posted agendas.
Complete agendas are available at: https://dane.legistar.com/calendar
MADISON PARKS – HAYRIDES AND HIKES/VOLUNTEERING
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PHOTO AFFAIR
The numbers vary depending on what you read, but approximately 90% of adults in the United States have smartphone. Twenty-five years ago, 90% of households had a camera. Very few people carried their camera with them unless they were going to an event or special gathering. Fast forward to 2025, and people are taking pictures of everyone, everything and everywhere they go.
Digital photography is fast, convenient and has built in technology to make almost everyone’s pictures look great. This leads to the question of “What is the difference between taking snapshots and photography?” The main difference is that a snapshot is a quick, casual, and unplanned photo, while photography is a more deliberate, intentional process that involves careful consideration of composition, lighting, and other technical aspects.
Even when using a smartphone, a photographer is thinking about the light, where people are standing, background distractions, and numerous technical aspects that go into creating a photograph vs. taking a picture. Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either digitally or by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is a creative and technical field that can be used for artistic expression, documentation, and communication.
Perhaps you are the person who usually has the best pictures of an event. You probably get asked how your phone or camera takes such good pictures. The reality is that you are the reason the pictures are great.
The Madison Senior Center (MSC) Photo Affair is your opportunity to show off a few of those photographs that are hiding in your phone or camera. Get a few of your favorites printed, frame them, and enter Photo Affair. You don’t have to spend a lot on the frame or have the picture matted. Your work will be displayed for six weeks in the MSC for six weeks, and you can bring family and friends by to see it.
Photo Affair is open to adults age 55 and better. All skill levels are welcome, but professionals should not enter. The photos will be judged and hung on the 2nd floor of MSC. The grand opening of the show will be during MMOCA’s Community Gallery Night on Friday, November 7, 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Why not give it a try? The entry fee is $10 for one photo or $25 for three photos. If the fee is a barrier just let us know when you drop off your pictures. Photo drop-off is Tuesday, October 21, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm or by appointment.
The subject matter is your choice: nature, wildlife, grandchildren, travel, architecture – you decide; share the beauty that you see around you. Perhaps you prefer to make a statement with your photographs or document current events as you see them. The point of Photo Affair is to express yourself and share your what you create with the community.
This content is free for use with credit to Madison Senior Center.
WELCOME TO THE FORESTRY NEWSLETTER!
Greetings, Arboreal Madisonians!
This is Bryan Johnson, the Recycling Coordinator and Public Information Officer for the Streets and Urban Forestry Division.
I wanted to give you all a quick thank you for signing up for our new Urban Forestry email list.
Over 200 people have signed up for these emails since just yesterday (October 13) when it was first announced. And I am really floored by the show of enthusiasm, truly.
The City of Madison Forester Ian Brown is toiling away at the first proper email update for this group. We aim to have updates go out around once a quarter, or close to that.
However, since we did publish a news release today announcing our fall planting plans, it felt appropriate to be sure the release was shared directly with you as well.
Here you go:
Urban Forestry Planting 850 Trees in Fall 2025
Urban Forestry’s fall planting season will begin on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Crews will be planting approximately 850 trees from 28 different species along City of Madison streets. Planting is a team effort that takes a significant amount of Urban Forestry staff so the trees are planted as efficiently as possible.
The species for the planting sites were selected by the City’s trained arborists. Trees are picked to ensure a diverse and resilient canopy able to withstand challenges brought on by our changing climate and our urban environment.
The fall planting will occur all throughout Madison, and the work will continue into November.
Upon the conclusion of the fall planting work, Urban Forestry crews then return to pruning and other tree care operations through the winter months.
In the spring of 2026, there will be a new round of tree planting.
New Tree Care in the Fall
Follow the new tree care advice on the City of Madison Urban Forestry website.
In the fall, it is important that you continue to water the tree until the ground freezes.
You can help your tree survive by keeping it properly watered before winter hits.
Approximate Planting Map
The yellow dots show the the location of where trees are likely to be planted this fall. We can’t guarantee that each of these sites on this map will absolutely get a tree (unforeseen circumstances do crop up) but it does a good job showing just how widespread the plan for fall planting is.
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A Couple Tree Photos
Here’s some of the young trees we have waiting to be planted.
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Here’s one of some of the trees being delivered early one morning. We did not include this photo with today’s news release, so it’s a little bonus for the subscribers.
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In conclusion…
Thank you all, again, for being among the first to sign up for this email list.
If you have any questions about Urban Forestry, please give us a call at 608-266-4816, or visit us at the Forestry website.
Bryan Johnson
Recycling Coordinator & Public Information Officer
WATER MAIN FLUSHING PLANS BEGINNING OCTOBER 20TH
(all flushing is daytime unless otherwise noted)
MAP: https://www.cityofmadison.com/
East (Area11) – West of Olbrich Gardens between the railroad tracks and Lake Monona AND between Commercial Ave. and Milwaukee St. east of E Washington Ave.
East (Area15) – West of Portage Rd. and north of E Washington Ave.
West (Area12) – South of the Beltline and west of Whitney Way
West (Area16) –South of Mineral Point Rd. and east of High Point Rd.
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Questions: Shayne Santi, 261-9128
Flushing Information Line: 261-9178
DETAILS:
Area 11 (East): 4-6 runs per day
Run ID Run Description
8911 Emmet St
8912 Lindbergh St
8913 Buena Vist St
8914 Atwood Ave from Maple Ave to east of Sugar Ave
8915 Garrison St
8916 Sugar Ave
8917 Ryan St
8918 Fairview St and S Maruqette north of Fairview
8918.2 Marquette St.
8919 Dixon St
8920 Atwood Ave from Maple Ave to Ohio Ave
8921 Maple Ave
8922 Oakridge Ave from Maple to Welch
8923 Oakridge-Welch-Lakeland from Atwood to Elmside
8001 Oakridge (Welch – Miller)
8002 Oakridge Ave – Atwood Ave
8003 Sugar Ave. (Atwood – Union Pacific RR)
8004 Atwood Ave – Fair Oaks Ave (Oakridge to Buena Vista)
8005 Welch Ave. (Oakridge Ave – Ludington Ave)
8006 Center Ave (Atwood – Elmside)
8007 Welch Ave. – Lakeland Ave.
8008 Ludington Ave (Atwood Ave – Oakridge Ave)
8010 Oakridge Av – Dunning St (Elmside to Lakeland)
11301 N Fair Oaks Ave to Gannon
11302 Wells Ave and N Bryant St
11303 Chicago Ave and N Bryant St
11304 Commercial – Fair Oaks to east of Jacobson
11305 Webb Ave east of Fair Oaks
11306 Christianson Ave
11307 Jacobson Ave
11308 Commercial Ave – Fair Oaks Ave to Clyde Gallagher
11309
11310 Powers – Worthington – Memphis
11311 Memphis Ave
11312 Rethke – Worthington – Memphis
11313 Webb Ave – Rethke to E Washington Ave
11314 Rosemary – Worthington
11315 Darbo Dr
Area 15 (East): Conventional flushing opening multiple hydrants over a large area.
Area 12 (West): Conventional flushing opening multiple hydrants over a large area.
Area 16 (West): Conventional flushing opening multiple hydrants over a large area.