Fitchburg Common Council Meeting – December 9, 2025

The Fitchburg Common Council met on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in regular session from approximately 6:36 p.m. to 9:34 p.m. The council made appointments, conducted four public hearings, adopted comprehensive plan amendments, approved the No Oaks Ranch preliminary plat, created a police facilities impact fee, and handled finance, public works, and year-end report items.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Hayden, 5855 Woods Edge Road, opposed the comprehensive plan amendments (Ordinances 2025-024 and 2025-025), arguing that the city is not following Wisconsin planning statutes or case law and that the plan elements are never updated to reflect amendments. He called the current approach the opposite of comprehensive planning.
• Hayden also opposed the No Oaks Ranch preliminary plat, saying the council lacked required floodplain/wetland evidence and that developers were being given procedural advantages not afforded to the public.
• Patrick Cheney submitted a written comment, read by Alder Maldonado, supporting repair of the Wildwood South tennis courts rather than demolition and asking that the McKee Park tennis/pickleball/archery court be resurfaced next rather than removed.

Appointment

• Erin Farrell Adamani was appointed to the Parks Commission for a term expiring April 2027, shortened due to a resignation. She said she has lived in Fitchburg for more than 20 years and wants to help preserve the quality of the city's parks. The appointment was approved unanimously.

Public Hearings

• Resolution R196-25, to discontinue and vacate a portion of Basswood Drive: no public testimony; hearing closed.
• Ordinance 2025-024, fall 2025 comprehensive plan amendment adding a medium-high density residential (MHDR) land use category: David Hayden spoke against it; hearing closed.
• Ordinance 2025-025, fall 2025 comprehensive plan amendment for property off Fitchrona Road: David Hayden spoke against it; hearing closed.
• Ordinance 2025-031, repealing the fire facilities impact fee and creating the police facilities impact fee: no public testimony; hearing closed.

Land Use and Plan Commission Decisions

• The council adopted Ordinance 2025-024 and Plan Commission Resolution PCR 04-25, adding the MHDR land use category at 9–15 dwelling units per acre and amending text on Map 4.3. Alder Jetzer voted no, saying the missing-middle range should go up to about 40 units per acre to support transit and neighborhood retail.
• The council adopted Ordinance 2025-025 and Plan Commission Resolution PCR 05-25, changing future land use at the Jamestown Quarry property from medium-density residential to high-density residential. Developer representatives Chris Downson and Cory Frank described a possible concept of about 300 market-rate units, with quarry elevation and berms screening much of the building from nearby single-family homes and stormwater managed on site. The Plan Commission had supported the change unanimously.
• The council approved Resolution R234-25, the preliminary plat for No Oaks Ranch LLC north of Lacey Road and west of Highway 14. The resolution cited 168 parcels including 141 buildable lots; the Mayor's later report cited 166 parcels and 147 buildable lots. The plan includes 123 single-family lots (79 alley-loaded T4 and 44 additional T4 lots) and 23 mixed-use T5 lots, plus outlots for open space, stormwater, and parkland. A tree survey found 216 desirable trees, with 15 to be removed. Developer Phil Svium said development would start on the south end and take about 8–9 years. The plat was approved.

Public Works and Infrastructure

• R191-25 accepted a public water main easement on Buds Drive; approved.
• R196-25 vacated a portion of Basswood Drive as the street is being closed and shifted roughly 90 feet west; approved.
• R228-25 rejected the sole audio/video bid for the police services facility because it was about twice the engineer's estimate; the council authorized re-bidding.
• R231-25, a final sidewalk assessment, was postponed indefinitely.
• R235-25 supported an STBG-TA grant application for a path connecting Post Road to Traceway Drive, with $760,000 in federal funding and about $500,000 in local match; approved.
• R220-25 granted an underground electric easement to MG&E for the new police services facility; approved.

Finance and Budget

• Ordinance 2025-031 was adopted, creating a police facilities impact fee and repealing the fire facilities impact fee. Fees are $861 per single-family home, $574 per multifamily unit, $0.19 per square foot for industrial development, and $0.30 per square foot for commercial development. Ehlers consultant John Cameron said the 20-year study projects about $5 million in collections against a possible $8 million.
• R215-25 reallocated 2024 debt proceeds to meet tax-exempt spending deadlines; approved by roll call, all ayes.
• R216-25 used about $1.075 million in early special-assessment payments and excess debt-service interest to reduce future borrowing; approved by roll call, all ayes.
• R217-25 amended the 2026 general fund budget, shifting money from a vacant code enforcement position and reduced planning intern hours to a finance specialist and up to 8 hours per week of LTE building inspector time. Alder Herbst initially voted no because of code-enforcement concerns in her district, but changed to aye after the city administrator said code compliance would remain a priority.
• R218-25 raised the maximum Healthy Neighborhoods Grant from $15,000 to $25,000 and added language to incentivize programming on Traceway Drive; approved.
• R222-25 approved a $48,000 replacement fire department response vehicle (gas-powered, through state contract); approved.
• R223-25 approved about $28,000 for radios and accessories for that vehicle; approved.
• R226-25 authorized transfer of city-owned DaneCom public safety radio equipment, about $2 million in capital value, to Dane County, saving $12,000 annually and future replacement costs. Transfer is effective Dec. 31, 2025, contingent on county board approval Dec. 18; approved.
• R229-25 authorized a $7,700 contract with the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) for facilitation of southeast Fitchburg development discussions; 50% will be reimbursed by the Village of Oregon; approved by roll call, all ayes.
• R225-25 expressed support for continuing exploration of a joint fire and EMS district. Mayor Radafrata said Verona is not currently participating but the door could remain open; Chief Sarver said Fitchburg firefighters are overwhelmingly in favor of exploring the concept. Approved.

Unfinished Business

• Ordinance 2025-032 was adopted, updating the Fitchrona EMS Commission composition to match the revised intergovernmental agreement and increasing Fitchburg commissioners from three to four. The mayor said appointments would be made on Jan. 13, including two aldermen.

Commission and Committee Reports

• The Park Commission reported approval of R213-25, amending the TID closure excess increment fund budget for Wildwood South tennis court crack sealing and resurfacing at a cost of $47,000. The council approved it by roll call, all ayes.
• CEDA presented the first draft of the housing plan (about 20 pages) and council members were encouraged to read it.
• The bike and pedestrian plan review was delayed to late January 2026 to allow additional committee reviews.
• The tree/urban forestry committee reviewed the draft urban forestry management plan; 115 ash trees on city terraces will be removed over the winter, with replacement funding available.
• The MPO Policy Board discussed the potential cost of fare-free transit, estimated at $8 million to $18 million per year, and approved a transportation improvement plan amendment including two EV charging stations.

Other New Business

• R230-25 appointed election inspectors for 2026–2027; the city has 221 trained election inspectors and 16 trained chief inspectors. Approved.
• R238-25 supported Ross Family Rentals LLC's application to WEDC for a Community Development Investment grant related to replacing the O'Cala/Fish Hatchery UPS store and potentially adding housing. Approved.
• R241-25 approved purchase of a replacement police squad after a Nov. 14, 2025 crash totaled the previous vehicle; insurance will cover replacement less the deductible. Approved.

Administrative and Mayoral Reports

• The city administrator announced upcoming deadlines and events: Festive with Agora on Friday, Dec. 12, 5–8 p.m.; Holiday Lights Tour on Saturday, Dec. 13 at a city fire station; Hub naming applications due Dec. 22 at 4 p.m.; McKee Park Ice Rink open; nomination papers for the April election due Jan. 6 at 5 p.m.; property tax bills mailed Thursday; City Hall closed Dec. 24, 25, and Jan. 1, and after noon Dec. 31; public access to the third floor ending Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. He also thanked highway and parks staff for snow response and said B-cycle expected to remove remaining e-bikes by Dec. 15.
• Mayor Radafrata presented 2025 accomplishments by the numbers: population approximately 36,000; operating budget almost $42.4 million; equalized value $6.7 billion; mill rate 5.42, described as down 6.4 from the prior year; average city tax on a $500,000 home about $2,737, or about $228 per month. Other highlights included 256 total employees, more than 20 new businesses, 552 housing units permitted, 432 trees planted, 2.75 miles resurfaced, completion of the South Syene Road project at more than $12 million, the new police facility and Eastwater Tower construction, continued transit expansion, and a new park and Hub/Traceway facility. Public safety figures cited through Oct. 31 included 10,775 citizen-generated police calls (down 8.4% from 2024), 12,284 officer-initiated calls, 2,689 fire calls, and 4,571 EMS calls. The Mayor said 2026 will include a comp plan and zoning code revision, housing initiative implementation, Fitchrona Road reconstruction, continued police facility construction, and further EMS/fire district exploration.

Key Outcomes

• Appointed Erin Farrell Adamani to the Parks Commission.
• Adopted the MHDR land use category and the Jamestown Quarry future land use change; approved the No Oaks Ranch preliminary plat.
• Created the police facilities impact fee and repealed the fire facilities impact fee.
• Approved re-bidding of the police facility audio/video package, Traceway/Post Road grant support, utility easement, fire department vehicle and radio purchases, and other finance and intergovernmental resolutions.
• Directed staff to continue joint fire/EMS district study work with the Village of Oregon and to keep the door open for Verona.
• The next Common Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026; the next Committee of the Whole is Jan. 28, 2026, with a planned presentation on passive house technology.