Fitchburg Common Council Meeting - April 14, 2026

The Fitchburg Common Council met on April 14, 2026, at 6:33 PM. The meeting featured proclamations for Arbor Day and Celebrate Trails Day, unanimous adoption of the consent agenda, and major policy approvals including the 2026 Comprehensive Housing Study and Action Plan and the Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan. The council also acted on numerous resolutions for equipment purchases, infrastructure projects, and operational updates. The meeting was briefly recessed due to severe weather and concluded with closed sessions on litigation matters before adjourning at 10:04 PM.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Patrick Cheney spoke in opposition to the Urban Forestry Management Plan (Resolution R6426), arguing that the plan would violate a prior compromise (R17-18) and lead to clearing of McGaw Park Woods. He requested amendments to continue the existing agreement and raised concerns about ordinance §54-80 regarding city forester authority. He noted that more than 20 emails were received in support of the plan and one against.

Proclamations

• Arbor Day: Mayor Rata Fratta proclaimed April 25, 2026 as Arbor Day in Fitchburg. The city maintains over 15,500 trees and has been a Tree City USA for 28 consecutive years.
• Celebrate Trails Day: The mayor proclaimed April 25, 2026 as Celebrate Trails Day. Fitchburg hosts over 50 miles of multi-use paths.

Discussion Items

2026 Comprehensive Housing Study and Action Plan

• The council considered Resolution R1926 approving the 2026 housing plan, presented by housing specialist Laureen Gog and consultant Dana Sarver. The plan was developed with extensive community engagement, including surveys and forums. Key goals include creating a dashboard, addressing fees, transit-oriented development, and financial readiness workshops.
• Council Discussion: Council members expressed support, noting the plan’s actionable goals and benchmarking against neighboring municipalities. Mayor Rata Fratta suggested adding the newly-signed SB 480 (residential TID bill) to the toolkit and called for a fee review during the 2027 budget process. The resolution passed unanimously.

Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan

• The council adopted Resolution R6426 approving the five-year urban forestry plan, drafted with assistance from Rich Howard of EOCN. The plan sets goals for metrics, industry standards, woodlot management, community involvement, and integration with city goals. Key data: Fitchburg’s tree canopy has grown from 18-19% to nearly 25%; the city has about 15,000 public trees and adds 400-500 annually; but the forestry budget is about one-third below peer communities.
• Council Discussion: Council members discussed the need for a woodlot management policy, clarification on ordinance §54-80, and the importance of proactive rather than reactive tree care. An amendment was made to add "wildlife" language in Goal 3.1. The plan was approved unanimously.

Public Works Resolutions

• Bobcat T7700 Purchase (R6526): Approved the purchase of a tracked vehicle for stump grinding at $85,000, with a $40,000 trade-in, budgeted.
• 2026 Street Resurfacing (R7326): Awarded a $1.5 million contract (including contingency) to Payne and Dolan for 2.6 miles of resurfacing and 0.3 miles of park pads. Also transferred $8,000 for a basketball court. Approved (roll call, 2/3 vote).
• LED Street Light Replacements (R7626): Authorized purchase of 171 LED lights for $62,000, with 80% covered by a carbon reduction grant. Approved.
• County MM Underpass (R7726): Amended the capital budget to transfer $9,600 for geotechnical services. Approved (2/3 vote).
• 2026 Street Tree Planting (R6726): Approved spring planting of 263 trees, many replacing ash trees removed due to emerald ash borer. Unanimous.

Finance and Operational Approvals

• Police Canine Vehicle (R6826): Approved $47,900 replacement vehicle, moved up due to mechanical issues. Unanimous.
• Firefighter Turnout Gear (R7426): Authorized $48,700 for 10 sets of gear on a rolling replacement cycle. Budgeted.
• Data Storage Expansion (R8626): Approved $96,600 for 175 terabytes of additional storage to handle digital evidence from police, funded from fund balance. Approved (2/3 vote).
• Digital Forensics Software (R9226): Accepted a Wisconsin DOJ grant of $10,000 for software and equipment to analyze cellular data for drug and violent crime investigations. Approved (2/3 vote).
• Joint Fire/EMS District Feasibility Study (R9926): Authorized a $65,000 contract with McMahon Associates (Fitchburg’s share: $50,000) to study forming a joint fire and emergency medical services district with the Village of Oregon. The study is expected to take 5-6 months. Approved.

Purchasing Process Streamlining Ordinance (2026-006)

• The council debated and approved an ordinance amending multiple sections of the city code to streamline purchasing processes, allowing staff to approve routine purchases without council action, while maintaining oversight through budget and CIP documents. The change is intended to reduce repetitive agenda items and save staff time. Some alders noted the loss of educational opportunities from routine purchases but supported the efficiency. The ordinance passed.

Closed Sessions and Legal Actions

• Partial Tax Refund Resolutions (R126 and R10126): The council held a closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding ongoing litigation with property owner Fred Elon. After reconvening, the council approved partial tax refunds for tax years 2023 and 2025 as recommended by the assessor.
• Tax Exemption Claims (MMS Treverton and MMS Chapel Valley): The council entered closed session to discuss litigation strategy for two properties seeking tax exemption that the assessor denied. Upon reconvening, the council voted to deny both claims.

Additional Reports

• Administrative Updates: City administrator Chad reported a voter turnout of 54% in the April 7 election, with 10,440 votes cast (3,300 absentee). He also noted severe weather awareness week and upcoming community events.
• Committee Reports: Various committees provided updates on pancake breakfast, recycling event (5.5 tons of paper collected), waterway cleanup, Eco Latinos fair, B-cycle data, and housing developments including Sunny Side Development’s purchase of a 16-unit building on Greenway Cross for permanent affordability.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: 2026 Housing Action Plan (unanimous).
• Approved: Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan (unanimous).
• Approved: Multiple public works and finance resolutions as noted.
• Approved: Ordinance 2026-006 streamlining purchasing processes.
• Approved: Partial tax refunds for Fred Elon properties (closed session, then vote).
• Denied: Tax exemption claims for MMS Treverton and MMS Chapel Valley.
• Next Meetings: Organizational meeting April 21, regular meeting April 28, Committee of the Whole April 27.