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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Fitchburg Finance Committee Meeting - October 14, 2025

Common Council & City Boards — Tuesday, October 14, 2025

BodyFitchburg, Wisconsin

SessionCommon Council & City Boards

DateTuesday, October 14, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 35:21

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Hi, I'm Jeremy Crosby.

0:01

And I'm Nick Boucher.

0:02

We're your hosts for the program that's all about your city, Talking Pittsburgh.

Speaker 2

0:06

Every weekday, we pull together the news, events, and information you need to stay on top of what's happening in the city of Pittsburgh.

0:12

Find

Speaker 1

0:12

Talking Fitzburg on Cable TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and our live stream on the web.

0:18

Plus, you can find all our headlines and stories on Facebook, YouTube, and our video on demand service.

Speaker 2

0:23

This is your city.

0:24

Keep up with Talking Fitzburg and the issues affecting you and your neighbors.

Speaker 3

0:30

Want to know what's happening in your city?

0:32

Get notify me messages from the city of Fitchburg.

0:35

Visit Fitchburg WI.gov on your computer or mobile device and select the big notify me button on the left.

0:41

Enter your email and or phone number, whichever is best for you to get notifications.

0:46

Scroll down the list and select all the topics you're interested in to receive email or text messages about.

0:51

You'll be notified every time one of your topics is updated.

0:54

Sign up for Notify Me.

0:56

One more way to keep up with your Fitchburg government.

Unassigned speaker

1:21

I

Speaker 4

1:21

call to order the meetings of the finance committee on October 14, 2025 at 5 31 p.m.

1:26

First item of business is the approval of minutes.

1:28

I'll first need a motion on the draft minutes of the September 23rd, 2025 finance meeting.

1:33

Motion to approve.

1:34

Motion to approve by Alder Jetzer.

1:36

Comments or questions.

1:38

Seeing none, all in favor of accepting the draft minutes of September 23rd, say aye.

1:42

Aye.

1:43

Motion carries unanimously.

1:45

Next, I'll need a motion on the draft minutes of the September 30 and October 1, 2025 finance meetings budget presentations.

Speaker 5

1:51

Move to approve.

Unassigned speaker

1:52

Motion

Speaker 4

1:53

to approved by Alder, let us say.

1:54

Any comments or questions?

1:56

Seeing none, all in favor of the approving the minutes from September 30 and October 1 say aye.

2:02

Aye.

2:02

Motion carries unanimously.

2:04

Next is public appearance for non-agenda items.

2:07

We have no one online or in chambers for non-agenda items.

2:10

So we can move on to item four finance director report.

2:13

Misty.

Speaker 6

2:14

Thank you.

2:15

So budget status.

2:17

So tonight at council, we have our first of two budget public hearings, uh, which has been published and put out on newsflash.

2:25

Uh so after the public hearing tonight, council amendments then are due on Thursday at 4 30 in the format, the electronic form that I provided.

Unassigned speaker

2:35

Uh

Speaker 6

2:35

so make sure you get those submitted.

2:37

We will then turn those around in about a week.

2:40

A packet goes out to the public to let everybody know what the council proposed amendments are to the 2026 budget.

Unassigned speaker

2:47

The

Speaker 6

2:47

committee of the whole meeting was moved to the fifth Wednesday of October.

2:52

So on October 29th, we'll have our conversation where we'll discuss all of the proposed amendments.

2:57

No voting, just discussion.

3:00

Then the following council meeting, November 11th.

Unassigned speaker

3:03

Uh,

Speaker 6

3:03

there'll be another public hearing.

3:05

That's where the public can weigh in on those council proposed amendments.

3:08

And then at the end of the regularly scheduled meeting, we will go through the amendments one by one, amend them as you see fit.

3:16

Vote on them as you see fit, and at the end of that night, hopefully have a budget and a property tax levy that we can then move on to the next stage of the process.

3:25

So kind of in the finishing wrapping up stages, um, but your guys' important part is coming up real soon.

3:30

So again, amendments are due on Thursday.

Unassigned speaker

3:34

And

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%

Parks and Recreation███████████████15%

Arts And Culture██████████████14%

Public Engagement████████████12%

Economic Development███████████11%

Budget Equity Analysis███████7%

Public Transportation███████7%

Police Department███████7%

Procedural██████6%

Summary of Proceedings

Fitchburg Finance Committee Meeting - October 14, 2025

The Fitchburg Finance Committee convened on October 14, 2025, from 5:31 PM to 6:05 PM. The committee unanimously approved seven resolutions, including 2026 solid waste collection rates, a design agreement for the County MM underpass, an engineering amendment for Fitchrona Road, a community history exhibit, lighting for the Magaw pickleball courts, a strategic plan update, and the purchase of a police vehicle for a new Detective Sergeant position. The committee also received an update on the 2026 budget process.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: Unanimously approved draft minutes from the September 23, 2025, finance meeting and the September 30/October 1, 2025, budget presentation meetings.
Review of Bills: Reviewed checks issued from September 16-30, 2025, totaling $2,668,857.90, and ECH payments from September 1-30, 2025, totaling $677,724.23.

Public Comments & Testimony

Aaron Scheder, representing the Magaw Pickleball Advisory Committee, spoke in favor of the pickleball court lighting project. He detailed the sport's 45.8% year-over-year growth, Magaw Park being ranked fourth in the nation for National Pickleball Day attendance, and the need for evening play to serve working adults and youth.

Discussion Items

Finance Director Report: Misty Dodge informed the committee that the first budget public hearing was held that evening. Council amendments for the 2026 budget are due by Thursday, October 16. A Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss the amendments is scheduled for October 29, with final adoption set for November 11.
Resolution R133-25 (Solid Waste Rates): Ben presented the 2026 solid waste rate of $236, designed to apply roughly $11,000 from the fund balance while keeping it at a healthy 29.1%.
Resolution R161-25 (MM Underpass Design): Tim presented the award of a $205,018 design contract to MSA for a bicycle/pedestrian underpass. Funding is tied to a federal grant requiring project progression.
Resolution R163-25 (Fitchrona Road Engineering): Tim detailed Amendment 2 with AECOM for $58,410, adding sanitary sewer design to the project, a need identified during the South Stonery neighborhood study.
Resolution R169-25 (Community and History Exhibit): Mike presented a $37,400 contract with local firm ZebraDog to design and install an exhibit at City Hall. Discussion covered digital content integration and tariff-related contract terms.
Resolution R171-25 (Pickleball Lighting): Following public comment, Adam reviewed a $146,000 change order to add lighting to the courts, with installation targeted by the end of December. A switch to control lighting zones was included from a contingency fund.
Resolution R178-25 (Strategic Plan Update): Mike presented a $77,400 agreement with Vanderwall Associates to update the City in Motion economic strategy. Funding combines city ARPA and CETA dollars with chamber resources.
Resolution R193-25 (Police Vehicle): The Captain presented a $44,000 purchase for a Chevy Traverse for the new Detective Sergeant position, with minimal required outfitting.

Key Outcomes

Unanimous Approval: All seven action items were approved by unanimous voice vote.
Budget Amendment Deadlines: Council members were directed to submit amendments to the 2026 budget by Thursday, October 16 at 4:30 PM.
Future Meetings: The Committee of the Whole will discuss budget amendments on October 29. The final budget adoption hearing is November 11. The next regular finance meeting is October 28, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Hi, I'm Jeremy Crosby. And I'm Nick Boucher. We're your hosts for the program that's all about your city, Talking Pittsburgh. Every weekday, we pull together the news, events, and information you need to stay on top of what's happening in the city of Pittsburgh. Find Talking Fitzburg on Cable TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and our live stream on the web. Plus, you can find all our headlines and stories on Facebook, YouTube, and our video on demand service. This is your city. Keep up with Talking Fitzburg and the issues affecting you and your neighbors. Want to know what's happening in your city? Get notify me messages from the city of Fitchburg. Visit Fitchburg WI.gov on your computer or mobile device and select the big notify me button on the left. Enter your email and or phone number, whichever is best for you to get notifications. Scroll down the list and select all the topics you're interested in to receive email or text messages about. You'll be notified every time one of your topics is updated. Sign up for Notify Me. One more way to keep up with your Fitchburg government. I call to order the meetings of the finance committee on October 14, 2025 at 5 31 p.m. First item of business is the approval of minutes. I'll first need a motion on the draft minutes of the September 23rd, 2025 finance meeting. Motion to approve. Motion to approve by Alder Jetzer. Comments or questions. Seeing none, all in favor of accepting the draft minutes of September 23rd, say aye. Aye. Motion carries unanimously. Next, I'll need a motion on the draft minutes of the September 30 and October 1, 2025 finance meetings budget presentations. Move to approve. Motion to approved by Alder, let us say. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor of the approving the minutes from September 30 and October 1 say aye. Aye. Motion carries unanimously. Next is public appearance for non-agenda items. We have no one online or in chambers for non-agenda items. So we can move on to item four finance director report. Misty. Thank you. So budget status. So tonight at council, we have our first of two budget public hearings, uh, which has been published and put out on newsflash. Uh so after the public hearing tonight, council amendments then are due on Thursday at 4 30 in the format, the electronic form that I provided. Uh so make sure you get those submitted. We will then turn those around in about a week. A packet goes out to the public to let everybody know what the council proposed amendments are to the 2026 budget. The committee of the whole meeting was moved to the fifth Wednesday of October. So on October 29th, we'll have our conversation where we'll discuss all of the proposed amendments.

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