Fitchburg Healthy Neighborhoods Advisory Committee – December 10, 2025

This summary covers the December 10, 2025 meeting of the Fitchburg Healthy Neighborhoods Advisory Committee, called to order at 5:35 p.m. and adjourned at 6:37 p.m. The committee approved prior meeting minutes, discussed a proposed microgrant program, received an update on the Healthy Neighborhoods Strategic Plan, reviewed a tentative 2026 meeting and grant schedule, and approved a Dane County navigator funding contract.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of October meeting minutes: motion by Hamilton, seconded, and carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No formal public appearances were made for non-agenda items. Jill, a city staff member, said she was attending to learn following a departmental restructuring; as of Monday she is working under the new Community Service and Recreation umbrella.

Discussion Items

Microgrant Program Proposal

• Staff presented a preliminary idea to launch a microgrant pilot in 2026 by reallocating roughly $4,000 from the current larger grant program, with about $1,000 tentatively allocated per priority neighborhood. The proposed program would use a rolling application process and fund resident-led initiatives such as community meals, craft nights, neighborhood signs, beautification, health and safety activities, educational programs, and similar grassroots efforts.
• Staff stated the goal is to give residents more autonomy and remove barriers, potentially allowing applicants without 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Staff noted legal questions remain and no documents are finalized.
• Caitlin supported the concept but asked how it would differ from current grants, whether nonprofit status would be required, and whether criteria should prevent well-funded applicants such as HOAs from applying. She later suggested tracking applicant satisfaction and using brief sign-up sheets or simple survey tools at events.
• Mark asked where funding would come from and suggested a simple year-one structure of up to $1,000 per neighborhood. He noted navigators, hubs, and neighborhood groups could help spread the word. Mark also said the committee gave a positive thumbs-up to the concept and encouraged staff to develop it and bring it back.
• Sharice supported broad allowable uses, including beautification, health and safety, education, and family initiatives. She emphasized the need for creative outreach, easy applications, and enough time for residents to learn about and apply for the grants.
• Some members supported measuring success through the number of applications received, resident engagement at funded projects, and applicant feedback. One member cautioned against requiring formal surveys because residents are already asked to complete many city surveys.
• No formal vote was taken; staff said the discussion was meant to gather feedback before drafting materials.

Healthy Neighborhoods Strategic Plan Update

• Staff reported that no draft was ready for this meeting. Community engagement inputs have been compiled and data work is ongoing; a rough draft remains a priority and will be brought back to the committee for red-line edits.
• Members raised concerns about scheduling enough time for plan work and about duplicating review if the plan also goes to the Community Equity Committee. Staff noted the plan is expected to go to the Community Equity Committee after this committee.

2026 Meeting Schedule and Grant Timeline

• Staff presented a tentative 2026 schedule shifting meetings to the second Wednesday of the month. Key dates: January 14 review of grant application materials; February 11 to be determined; late March applicant presentations; April 8 grant review and approval discussion; May and June 2025 grantees present final projects; October mid-year check-in summary; November to be determined.
• The tentative grant timeline includes applications opening January 16 through February 20, council referral of grants on March 24, and council approval on April 21. Staff noted this is a few weeks later than in prior years.
• Members discussed whether a subcommittee could review applications to save time; the chair noted meetings are public and recorded, so some work may need to remain visible.
• Caitlin and Mark asked for clearer grant review criteria. Staff proposed adding a ranking question from one to X to grant evaluations and discussing it on January 14. Jill suggested using community engagement data from the strategic plan to help prioritize applications.
• There was discussion about whether changes to grant priorities or the strategic plan require Common Council approval; staff said they would check with council leadership and communicate back.

Resolution R23625 – Dane County Neighborhood Navigator Funding

• A motion was made and seconded to approve Resolution R23625 accepting 2026 Dane County neighborhood navigator funding. Staff explained the contract provides roughly $24,000 for the navigator salary and the program is moving from two part-time navigators to one navigator doing 10 to 20 flexible hours per week. A member expressed support for the navigator position serving citywide. The motion carried unanimously.

Department Report & Announcements

• Staff reported that the Common Council approved modifications to the grant program the previous evening. The maximum grant amount was raised to $25,000 to reduce staff time needed to manage a larger number of grantees, roughly 14 grantees this year, and to allow larger impacts. The grant materials may also incentivize programming at the new hub in the North Fish Hatchery neighborhood, but staff stated this does not mean all funded programming must be at the hub, and equitable neighborhood service remains a priority.
• Staff announced upcoming neighborhood meetings: Allied Dunns Marsh Neighborhood Association, Thursday, December 18, 5-6 p.m. on Zoom; Allied Dunns Marsh Neighborhood Resource Team, January 1, 4-5:30 p.m.; and Leopold Neighborhood Resource Team, January 14, 2-3 p.m. on Zoom.

Key Outcomes

• Approved October minutes unanimously.
• Approved Resolution R23625 unanimously.
• No formal decision was made on the microgrant proposal; committee feedback was positive and staff will continue drafting the program.
• The Healthy Neighborhoods Strategic Plan remains in progress; no draft was presented.
• The 2026 meeting and grant timeline was treated as tentative; no formal vote was taken.
• Meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.