As students count down the days until Saturday's Mifflin Street Block Party, city officials will work to inform residents of their expectations for the weekend.

This evening at 7 p.m. the city will hold a meeting at the Madison Senior Center, located at 330 W. Mifflin St., to provide an opportunity for anyone interested to ask questions and communicate with representatives from the police and fire departments about the upcoming party.

"I definitely encourage all Mifflin-area residents to attend the meeting," Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. "[We] will discuss issues of mutual interest … from everything about fire porch safety and issues of alcohol [to] other city ordinances."

According to Verveer, the meetings gather around 50 to 100 people each year.

Verveer said he has hosted the meetings ever since "horrific" riots occurred at the party in 1996, and said serious incidents have not occurred since then.

Madison Police Capt. Mary Schauf added the meeting is also a chance to educate students on this year's enforcement policies regarding alcohol and other issues.

An important issue police will address Monday night will be the regulations for those throwing house parties, Schauf said.

"It's really more of an alcohol-focused party now," she said. "We have significant safety issues because, essentially, you are opening your house to strangers."

Verveer said last year, the police had cracked down in an "unprecedented" manner with alcohol violations.

"Last year, for the first time in a long time, [the cops] did take a harder line approach to both music and alcohol," he said. "So we really need to take the time … to try to figure out what exactly will and will not fly."

But Verveer said the "vast majority" of the police force are cooperative with partygoers and still will be willing to pose for photos with students.

In an effort to limit underage drinking and over-consumption, Schauf said the police will work to enforce policies similar to last year and will be emphasizing those policies to students at the meeting.

"There are always questions about alcohol [at the meeting]," she noted. "But the city doesn't suspend alcohol violations for one day."

Another big problem police will speak about, according to Schauf, will be the regulation of illegal taverns, as many residents will try to charge partiers for alcohol.

"We know most of the tricks, whether it's selling directly or taking donations," she added.

Discussion at the meeting will also help set various ground rules for partiers and party hosts alike, Verveer added.

"We also try to decide when partygoers will have to get out of the street so the cops can go home," he noted.

In the past, Verveer said residents have agreed to wrap up musical acts or DJs around 8 p.m. and to clear the streets around 10 p.m.

Schauf said representatives from the fire department also plan to talk at the meeting about overcrowding of porches and other potential safety hazards.

Holding such a meeting is beneficial to inform students before the block party, which has averaged nearly 20,000 in the two-block residential area in the past few years, Verveer said.

"The meeting is open to the public, so anyone that has an interest in the block party is welcome to attend," he said. "I believe that the meeting has been very helpful to both residents and the city officials alike."