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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fitchburg Common Council Organizational Meeting - April 21, 2026

Common Council & City Boards — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodyFitchburg, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & City Boards
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 27:54

Original source
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 host for the program that's all about your city, Talking Pitchburg.

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 Talking Fitchburg 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

Speaker 1

0:20

Facebook, YouTube, and our video on demand service.

Speaker 2

0:23

This is your city.

0:24

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

Speaker 1

0:29

Get connected, Fitchburg.

0:31

We're launching Fitchburg Connect, the city's new monthly e-newsletter that keeps you informed about all the events, services, and updates that matter to you.

0:39

Get it in your inbox once a month.

0:41

Sign up today to get Fitchburg Connect.

Speaker 3

1:17

Please stand up for the place of allegiance.

1:37

So next we are gonna move to the uh swearing ceremony for uh the new and re-elected council members and mayor.

Unassigned speaker

1:56

What are

Speaker 4

1:56

we doing?

Unassigned speaker

1:57

Oh

Speaker 4

1:57

removing it?

1:58

Here, I'll get it.

2:02

That stays that one stays.

Speaker 5

2:29

Everybody good?

2:31

Okay.

2:32

Thank you, everybody.

2:33

We're gonna swear in the mayor first and then we'll swear in the altars afterwards.

2:37

Okay.

2:40

Ready?

Unassigned speaker

2:41

Yes.

Speaker 5

2:42

Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

2:44

I please state your name.

Speaker 3

2:46

I'm Julia Silvina Ratafratta,

Speaker 5

2:48

who've been elected to the office of mayor, who has been elected to the office of the mayor in the city of Pitchburg, Dane County, Wisconsin.

2:56

In the city of Fitchburg, Dane County, Wisconsin.

3:00

But I have not yet entered upon the duties

Speaker 3

3:03

thereof.

3:04

But I have not entered yet the uh duties upon therefore of the term.

3:10

Swear that I will support the constitution of the United States.

3:13

Swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States.

3:16

And the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin.

3:20

And the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin.

3:22

And we'll faithfully discharge the duties.

3:25

And we faithfully discharge the duties of set office.

3:29

To the best of my ability.

3:32

Congratulations.

3:33

Thank you.

Speaker 6

3:42

I did.

3:44

Yo, for indicate su nombre.

Speaker 3

3:47

Joe Julia Silvina Ratafrata.

Speaker 6

3:57

And La Ciuda de Fitchburg, Condado de Dane, Wisconsin.

Unassigned speaker

4:33

De

Speaker 6

4:33

dicho cargo.

Speaker 3

4:40

Gracias, Jake.

Speaker 7

4:49

We're doing it together, Tracy.

Speaker 8

4:53

All together now.

4:54

All right, in order.

Speaker 7

4:56

One, two, three, four.

Unassigned speaker

4:59

Line up on J.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

Wind up on J.

Speaker 7

5:00

Oh, Julia.

5:03

Sorry.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Public Safety████████████████17%
Strategic Planning███████████████16%
Public Engagement██████████11%
Economic Development██████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Fitchburg Common Council Organizational Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Fitchburg Common Council held its organizational meeting on April 21, 2026, at approximately 5:00 PM. The meeting included the swearing-in of Mayor Julia Silvina Ratafrata and council members, remarks from the mayor outlining her priorities, election of council president Gabriella Gerhardt, committee appointments, and passage of two resolutions. The meeting adjourned at 5:57 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Patrick Cheney spoke during Resolution R-72-26, suggesting an improvement to require printed copies of agendas be available in meeting rooms.

Election of Council President

  • Council member Joe Maldonado nominated Gabriella Gerhardt for council president. The nomination was seconded, and no other candidates were nominated.
  • Council President Gerhardt made remarks, thanking the council and outlining priorities including bus service, zoning, housing, parks, and the fire district.
  • A voice vote was taken, and the motion carried unanimously.

Committee Appointments

  • Council President Gerhardt announced standing committee appointments: Finance (Chair Mike Galace, Vice Chair Gerhardt, member Bill Jetzer), Personnel (Chair Donald Dansler, Vice Chair Joe Maldonado, member Jake Lepper), Public Safety (Chair Logan Ragstead, Vice Chair Dave Herbst, member Jake Lepper).
  • The council later confirmed these appointments by voice vote.
  • Mayor Ratafrata presented her appointments of council members to city commissions and committees, approved by voice vote. Appointees included Alder Dantzler Jr. (Aging Well, Community & Equity), Alder Gerhardt (Plan Commission, TTC), Alder Herbst (Tree Advisory, Public Works), Alder Jetzer (Public Works Board chair, Housing, RCC), Alder de Luce (CDA, ARG, Rural Affairs), Alder Lepper (CEDA, EMS), Alder Maldonado (Bike Parks, HI), Alder Ragstand (DTC, Library Board, Landmarks). Mayor appointed herself as Plan Commission chair.

Resolutions

  • Resolution R-71-26 designating the State Journal as official newspaper for legal notices was moved, seconded, and passed by voice vote.
  • Resolution R-72-26 designating official posting locations was moved, seconded, and after a public comment, passed by voice vote.

Council Member Comments

  • Alder Maldonado praised the council's civility and functionality.
  • Alder Dansler thanked voters and emphasized transparency.
  • Alder Lepper expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.

Key Outcomes

  • Swearing-in: Mayor Julia Silvina Ratafrata and council members sworn into office.
  • Council President: Gabriella Gerhardt re-elected.
  • Committee Appointments: Council president and mayoral appointments approved.
  • Resolutions: R-71-26 and R-72-26 passed.
  • Upcoming Meetings: Committee of the whole onboarding on April 22, 2026; next council meeting on April 28, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Hi, I'm Jeremy Crosby. And I'm Nick Boucher. We're your host for the program that's all about your city, Talking Pitchburg. 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 Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg and the issues affecting you and your neighbors. Get connected, Fitchburg. We're launching Fitchburg Connect, the city's new monthly e-newsletter that keeps you informed about all the events, services, and updates that matter to you. Get it in your inbox once a month. Sign up today to get Fitchburg Connect. Please stand up for the place of allegiance. So next we are gonna move to the uh swearing ceremony for uh the new and re-elected council members and mayor. What are we doing? Oh removing it? Here, I'll get it. That stays that one stays. Everybody good? Okay. Thank you, everybody. We're gonna swear in the mayor first and then we'll swear in the altars afterwards. Okay. Ready? Yes. Raise your right hand and repeat after me. I please state your name. I'm Julia Silvina Ratafratta, who've been elected to the office of mayor, who has been elected to the office of the mayor in the city of Pitchburg, Dane County, Wisconsin. In the city of Fitchburg, Dane County, Wisconsin. But I have not yet entered upon the duties thereof. But I have not entered yet the uh duties upon therefore of the term. Swear that I will support the constitution of the United States. Swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin. And the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin. And we'll faithfully discharge the duties. And we faithfully discharge the duties of set office. To the best of my ability. Congratulations. Thank you. I did. Yo, for indicate su nombre. Joe Julia Silvina Ratafrata. And La Ciuda de Fitchburg, Condado de Dane, Wisconsin. De

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