Fitchburg Resource Conservation Commission Meeting — August 10, 2026

The Fitchburg Resource Conservation Commission (RCC) met on Monday, August 10, 2026, to plan the fall 2026 electronics and paper shredding recycling day, Stormwater Awareness Week outreach, the 2027 solid waste and recycling calendar, a sustainability walking tour, and upcoming green film screenings. Staff and commissioners also delivered wide-ranging updates on stormwater infrastructure projects, the city's food scrap composting program, EV charging installations, and development activity. No members of the public appeared on non-agenda items, and no comment cards were submitted. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:16 p.m.

Public Comments & Testimony

• None. No comment cards were submitted, and no public appearances were made on non-agenda items.

Discussion Items

Minutes Approval

• Approval of the July 13, 2026 draft minutes was postponed because the minutes were not published in the meeting packet. The vote will occur at the next meeting, alongside approval of the August 10 meeting minutes. Commissioners praised the increased detail in the newer minutes.

Fall 2026 Recycling Day Event (September 19)

• Vendors are confirmed: Resource Solutions will handle electronics recycling and Pellitteri (referenced as "Pelletary"/"Politarian" in the transcript) will handle paper shredding. Event setup and traffic routing will remain the same as prior years.
• The event falls on a University of Wisconsin home football game day (11:00 a.m. kickoff) and the morning after the Pick Me Up at the Mortar Ride; several commissioners volunteered to help with the initial rush, but 1–2 more volunteers are still needed for paper shredding and to cover the first hour.
• Resource Solutions will mail approximately 1,000 flyers to selected neighborhoods; the city will promote via social media, City Hall campus flyers, and hard copies available on request.
• Staff reported receiving more resident phone calls than usual about acceptable items, suggesting a possibly busier-than-normal event.
• Commissioners suggested creating a quarter-page handout or QR code for cars waiting in line to promote the upcoming plastics recycling event, other city events, and the city e-newsletter signup. The idea was endorsed and linked to a future agenda item to finalize 2027 recycling event dates.

2027 Solid Waste and Recycling Calendar

• Staff will attempt to lock in 2027 electronics/shredding dates with both vendors before the calendar is published in the December issue of the Fitchburg Star; dates would be marked with a distinct color shape (e.g., blue box, triangle, or stripes) so they remain legible in black-and-white printing.
• Because July 4, 2027 falls on a Sunday, it will not be labeled as a holiday and will not affect collection schedules. The 2027 holidays affecting service are New Year's Day (Friday), Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• The draft calendar contains the same collection schedule as 2026: three fall yard waste days, two spring yard waste days, and 14 brush collections spread through the year; the last yard waste collection falls in late November into early December.
• Commissioners spotted a draft error in the December mini-calendar (dates skipping from December 26 to 30 and then back to 28–29) that staff agreed to fix.
• April dates will be harder to schedule because of Easter, Passover, Earth Day, tree planting, and waterway cleanup; Easter falls on March 28, 2027. Badger home games are scheduled for September 11 and September 18, 2027, so September 25 was floated as a possibility. Staff will poll vendor availability and bring proposed 2027 dates to the September meeting for confirmation.

Stormwater Awareness Week Planning (September 19–27)

• Wisconsin Stormwater Awareness Week aligns with the national stormwater awareness week this year. Two focus areas: the Adopt-a-Storm-Drain program and native plantings for infiltration.
• Three webinars are planned, including one by former environmental engineer Rick Eilerttson on residential native plant gardening; webinars start at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. A commissioner suggested and supported a watch party at the community center (which has AV equipment) for the rain garden talk, with native seed giveaways.
• Staff will send a proclamation template to Mayor Julia for announcement at a September council meeting.
• Staff proposed a goal of 20–25 new storm drain adoptions during the week; current adoptions are estimated at roughly 60–70 drains (not individual adopters). The program is administered through Dane County's Ripple Effects website, though one commissioner reported trouble finding the signup because the city website calls it an "app." Staff agreed to clarify the instructions; the county system also allows adopters to name inlets and report cleanings.
• Promotion will include a Fitchburg Star ad, social media posts using state-provided content, and inclusion in the recycling day handout.

Plastic Recycling Event Recap (July 23)

• Commissioners described the event as a strong success with an engaged audience, though attendance estimates varied: Commissioner Kim estimated approximately 45 attendees, while staff estimated 25–30.
• The presentation covered curbside recycling, the new plastic drop-off site (including styrofoam and various plastics), plastic's impacts on soil, water, and health, recycling facts and myths, wish-cycling, and where recycled materials go. A sustainable swap table displayed reusable laundry, cleaning, and beauty items, and a raffle gave attendees sustainable products.
• Some potential attendees were lost because the event was not listed on the library calendar in time (a three-week lead time is required), and staff discussed holding the next event at Hosta Hochi instead.
• Staff proposed presenting Fitchburg's community recycling outreach at the Wisconsin Integrated Resource Management Conference (WIRMC) at Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva, February 22–26 (the transcript gives conflicting dates of February 22–24 and February 24–26). Chris will draft the abstract, which is due August 28, and may partner with Pellitteri and include the sustainable swap concept.
• A follow-up plastics recycling event is planned for October, November, or December; a venue and date will be confirmed by the next RCC meeting.

Green Thursday Film Series

• The next film, "Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food," is scheduled for September 3, and "Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy" is set for November 5. Both screenings are expected to start at 5:00 p.m. (staff will confirm consistency with prior events).
• Commissioners discussed handing out quarter-page flyers at the August 31 Movie in the Park at Southdale to promote the film series, and noted Ian's Pizza sponsorship now requires at least three weeks' notice. For the "Poisoned" screening, food should be chemical-free; the popcorn used previously is local, salt-only popcorn, served with compostable plates, napkins, and paper cups.

Fitchburg Star Articles

• Chris's compost article should appear in the upcoming Friday edition, unless bumped by election-related content. He also briefed the Rotary Club of Madison's going-green group on the food scrap program.
• Commissioners agreed to submit drafts about a week before the first Friday of the month to allow peer review; the October article assignment (likely energy efficiency by Diana) will be finalized at the next meeting.

Sustainability Tour Planning (September 27)

• The tour will be held Sunday, September 27, at approximately 2:00 p.m. (mid-afternoon, since the Packers play Thursday that week). Attendees will meet at Forest Edge School in the Terravasa neighborhood.
• The roughly two-mile walking route includes the school's sustainability features, infiltration features and native plantings in the neighborhood, the playground, and the marsh, ending with an optional Q&A at Toddy coffee shop. Rob (from the original Terravasa development) agreed to speak.
• The tour intentionally focuses on Terravasa, with the boardwalk/springs visit deferred to a later event. The tour aligns with Stormwater Awareness Week.
• Additional ideas included an outdoor wheelchair, possible tri-shaw accompaniment through Cycling Without Age (Mark Wilkerson), and a possible stop at a net-zero ready house in the neighborhood featured on Focus on Energy's YouTube channel.
• A flyer will be developed and coordinated with Stormwater Awareness Week promotion through the community outreach subcommittee.

Ryan's City Update

• The UPS Store south of McKee on Fish Hatchery Road will relocate to North Fish Hatchery Road (under construction, moving by March 2027); Bowman Plaza, across from the new store, is progressing and will become Fitchburg's tallest building.
• Whalen Road shoulder work and citywide sidewalk replacement are expected to begin this month; road resurfacing is underway, utility work in Bell Mar is complete (resurfacing in progress), and Tower Hill utility work continues before resurfacing.
• The temporary roundabout at Greenway Cross and Coho — previously the city's most crash-prone intersection — has made a positive difference over roughly a year, and a permanent installation is expected.
• Under the Efficiency Navigator program, a new agreement ensures rent limits (HUD limits for five years) at naturally occurring affordable housing properties run with the land, so a new owner cannot raise rents if the property is sold within that period.
• Ribbon cuttings were held in mid-July for the Promega boardwalk and the Chicory Meadows pickleball/basketball/tennis courts. The Kiss Crossing public information meeting drew comments, and the comment period closed August 5; concerns remained, including comments at the Parks Commission meeting.
• A rental policy was approved for the Hosta Hochi park shelter. Upcoming dates: voting day is August 11; Community Night Out is Wednesday, August 12, at McKee Farms Park; the final McKee concert is August 17; and the Southdale Movie in the Park is August 31 (film title undisclosed due to copyright).
• The library adopted an AI section in its collection management policy, allowing it to exclude fully AI-generated works and manage human/AI co-authored works.
• A draft RFP was issued for the Community Action Safety Plan, a first step toward Vision Zero. The River Food Pantry will hold a clothing/back-to-school event at Hosta Hochi on August 20, 4:00–6:00 p.m. The city adopted the 2027–2036 Capital Improvement Plan.
• The Swan Creek Monitoring Station data is now linked from the city website (Government → Public Works → Stormwater → Swan Creek Monitoring Station) to the USGS gauge page.

Ben's Staff and Commissioner Updates (including Phil's items)

• The 2026 Bell Mar and Tower Hill utility improvements are nearly complete: Bell Mar storm sewer work is done, with paving and restoration remaining; Tower Hill is finishing water service replacements, curb and gutter, and driveway aprons. Crescent Road stormwater work should be substantially complete by August 14, with new large cast-in-place inlets (the largest roughly 30 feet long by 8 feet wide, with a 30-foot curb opening and vertical safety bars). The project is partially grant-funded.
• The city's inlet inspection program began; an intern completed much of Harlem Hills, Seminal Estates, and Wildwood South. Many older concrete adjustment rings under cast-iron frames are cracking and failing. Inlets are depreciated at 50 years but expected to last about 75; repairs cost roughly $600 each and are tracked through GIS work orders.
• A flood study will be conducted at the Syene/Irish Road intersection after water overtopped the road and entered first floors of nearby homes during a 3–4 inch rain event two years ago. The tributary runs through the Greenfield neighborhood to Swan Creek. The city lacks much land in the watershed, so storage/attenuation options will be modeled, with the model expected by the end of the year. Syene Road was resurfaced south of Lacey without culvert changes.
• The McKee Farms Park headwall replacement project is underway: one of three culvert headwalls under the driveway has failed (cracked and causing a recurring sinkhole) after roughly 40 years. The replacement is thicker with a different rebar design. Permitting includes endangered resource review, wetland identification, and a DNR general permit due to the navigable waterway.
• The 2027 pond dredging project will target Business Park A and Business Pond (west of Seminole Highway, near Sub-Zero); one pond's outlet structure will be replaced to improve TSS and phosphorus reductions. Sediment sampling results are pending to determine landfill versus reuse.
• Food scrap composting: as of August 1, 2026, 14,450 pounds (over 7 tons) have been collected, with more than 100 new registrations in July and 447 total registrations. July was the best month by weight. Staff will prepare a one-year summary press release around late October and will compare participation with other Dane County programs (Middleton cited as the leading program).
• The solid waste rate increase resolution will appear on the next meeting agenda.
• Phil's updates: the Charge Up Dane County EV/transit grant remains delayed by litigation over federal contracts under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; the McKee Farms Park EV charger installation is now hoped for 2028, with late 2027 a best case. The city's sustainability story map is being rebuilt by the GIS specialist. The Level 3 EV charging partnership with MG&E is near completion — site visits are done, MG&E electrical work is expected by September, and chargers could be operational later this calendar year. Fitchburg will receive recognition from the Dane County Climate Champion Awards this fall, possibly two awards relating to the police station and the solar array on the public works building (which is a net exporter of electricity).

Other Commissioner Updates

• Four solar farms (O'Brien, Strike, Sunny Side, and Taito) cover 335 acres taken out of agricultural production; the land remains classified as undeveloped agriculture, so there is no effect on the city's TMDL. Taito has a grazing program, and the other sites are planted with native, pollinator-friendly vegetation. Commissioners discussed agrovoltaics (e.g., raspberries under solar panels) and a resident who earlier expressed interest in donating farmland, though the note could not be located.
• Commissioners urged the public to complete the Greater Madison MPO "Pathways to 2050" survey and comment map by the end of the day (August 10) at Greater Madison MPO.org.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes: July 13, 2026 draft minutes approval postponed to the next meeting.
• Recycling day (September 19, 2026): Vendors and setup confirmed; volunteers identified, with 1–2 more sought for paper shredding; a QR code/quarter-page handout for waiting vehicles was endorsed.
• 2027 calendar: Staff will confirm 2027 recycling event dates with vendors for confirmation at the September meeting; the December 2026 draft calendar error to be corrected.
• Stormwater Awareness Week: Proclamation to be sent to Mayor Julia; goal of 20–25 new storm drain adoptions; watch party at the community center under consideration; promotional materials to be shared.
• WIRMC conference: Chris will draft and submit the presentation abstract by August 28, with a potential joint Pellitteri presentation.
• Next plastics recycling event: Date and venue (Hosta Hochi under consideration) to be finalized by the next RCC meeting.
• Green films: September 3 ("Poisoned") and November 5 ("Buy Now") screenings confirmed; flyers to be distributed at the August 31 Movie in the Park.
• Sustainability tour: Set for September 27 at 2:00 p.m., starting at Forest Edge School; flyer and outreach to follow.
• Solid waste rate increase: Resolution to come before the commission at the next meeting.