While many University of Wisconsin students and Madison residents will not begin thinking about the annual Mifflin Block Party until winter is over, some city officials are already starting to plan for the event.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, will be holding a meeting tonight with the Madison Police Department and Mifflin residents to discuss concerns regarding the annual party.

According to Verveer, one of the concerns both he and Mifflin residents share about the block party is the number of arrests that follow the celebration. In recent years, the number of arrests has increased from just seven in 2003 to over 430 last year.

“The sheer numbers of arrested people is obscene,” Verveer said. “I’m not saying I don’t want cops to arrest people this year, I’m just saying it’s ridiculous to have this event where nothing seriously goes wrong … and yet over 400 people are arrested. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Most of the arrests are for alcohol violations, including underage drinking citations and violations for having an open intoxicant on a sidewalk or street, Verveer added.

Quoctrung Bui, a UW junior who lives on Mifflin, agrees the number of arrests each year is detrimental to the event.

“I think it’s unfair,” Bui said. “What they try to do because they can’t control or dismiss the party is try to deter as many people as possible from participating since it’s not an official [university] sanctioned event.”

Although a similar meeting is held each May before the party, Verveer said by moving the meeting earlier, he hopes to increase resident input and improve both the quality and safety of the party.

Additionally, Verveer said there is a possibility of adding music to the party, which will also be discussed at the meeting.

“Bringing back music would be a cool thing. … It would take some of the focal point away from alcohol, which is what the party is to most people,” Verveer said.

After the 2008 block party, the owners of the Majestic Theatre talked openly about possibly sponsoring a musical act, though it is unclear if they are still interested.

Verveer said by bringing in sponsors and musical acts, the party could have a setup similar to Freakfest on Halloween each year, though he does not want to fence off the street or charge students admission.

Bui also agrees that sponsoring the party either by adding music or increasing university or city involvement would make the event more enjoyable for everyone.

All Mifflin residents have been formally invited to the meeting, however, all members of the public are welcome to attend.

The Mifflin Street Block Party will be held on May 7 and will mark the 40th anniversary of the event that started in 1969.

The meeting will be held at the Madison Senior Center, located at 330 W. Mifflin St. at 7 p.m. today.