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Hi,

I'm Jeremy Frosby, and I'm Nick Boucher.

We're your hosts for the program that's all about your city, Talking Fitchburg.

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Underall authorities.

Thank you.

Next roll call, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Mayor Radafrada.

Here.

Alder Dancer

Junior.

Here.

Alder Garhard.

Here.

All their herbs.

Here.

Alder Jeff sir.

Here.

Here.

Alder Leper.

Here.

Alder Maldonado.

Here.

All

the Rings said

here.

We do have a quorum mayor.

Okay, thank you.

So next is item four is public appearances for non-agenda items and new appointments and neighbor proclamations.

We have a couple of proclamation tonight.

And we are going to start with recognizing September 15th through October 15th, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month.

Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month, observed nationally from September 15th through October 15th, provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures, traditions, achievements, and contributions of people whose heritage connects to Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Spain, and the many indigenous, African, European, and other peoples whose histories have shaped these diverse communities.

And

whereas the city of Fitchburg is strengthened by its Hispanic and Latino residents, families, entrepreneurs, educators, students, civic leaders, public servants, artists, workers, and community organizations whose cultures, languages, traditions, knowledge, leadership, and experiences enrich the everyday life of our city, and

whereas Hispanic and Latino communities are not a single culture or experience, but represent a rich diversity of nations, races, languages, indigenous identities, histories, traditions, and lived experiences that contribute to the cultural fabric of Fitchburg and our broader community, and

whereas Hispanic and Latino residents are an important and growing part of Fitchburg, contributing to our schools, neighborhoods, businesses, workforce, civic institutions, community organizations, and local economy, and helping shape our city current and future.

And

whereas Hispanic Heritage Month is also an opportunity to recognize that many Hispanic and Latino families have deep roots in the United States, spanning generations, while others have come to our community as immigrants or refugees seeking opportunity, safety, family, reunification, education, and a place to build their lives and

whereas at a time of heightened national attention on immigration and increased uncertainty and fear within many immigrant and refugee communities.

And to experience a genuine sense of belonging to our community and

whereas the city of Fitchburg has committed to advancing equity and inclusion and to examining city policies, programs, investments, and community engagement through an equity lens, with particular attention to residents and neighborhoods that have historically experienced barriers to opportunity or have been underrepresented in

public decision making.

And whereas celebrating diversity must be accompanied by continued action to ensure equitable access to opportunity, meaningful language access, culturally responsive engagement, representation in civic leadership and decision making, support for locally owned businesses, welcoming public welcoming public spaces and opportunities for all residents to participate fully in a civic, educational, economic, and cultural life of Fitchburg, and whereas we recognize that this work remains ongoing and that achieving equity requires us to listen to communities most impacted by inequity, understand and remove barriers to participation, examine disparities in outcomes, and continue investing in neighborhoods and communities where resources and opportunities have not always been equitably available.

Historically experienced barriers to opportunity or have been underrepresented in public decision making and whereas celebrating diversity must be accompanied by continued action to ensure equitable access to opportunity, meaningful language access, culturally responsive engagement, representation and civic leadership and decision making, support for locally owned businesses, welcoming public welcoming public spaces and opportunities for all residents to participate fully in the civic educational, economic, and cultural life of Fitchburg, and whereas we recognize that this work remains ongoing and that achieving equity requires us to listen to communities most impacted by inequity, understand and remove barriers to participation, examine disparities in outcomes, and continue investing in neighborhoods and communities where resources and opportunities have not always been equitably available, and whereas Hispanic Heritage Month month invites all Fitchburg residents not simply to celebrate the food, music, art, language, and traditions of Hispanic and Latino cultures, but also to learn from their histories, recognize their leadership and contributions, support Hispanic and Latino businesses and organizations, build relationships across cultures, and strengthen our shared commitment to a city where everyone can thrive.

So now therefore I Julia Aratafrata, mayor of the city of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, together with the Fitchburg Common Council, do here by proclaim September 15th to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month and Mes de la Irense Hispana in the city of Fitchburg, and encourage all residents to celebrate the extraordinary diversity, histories, culture, contribution, and leadership of our Hispani and Latino communities to support the businesses, organization, educators, student family workers, and civic leaders who threatened Fitchwork every day, and to join us in continued the work necessary to make Fitchwood a welcoming, equitable, inclusive, and thriving community where every resident has the opportunity to belong, participate, and succeed.

This is proclaimed today, September 22nd, 2026.

Okay, so I'm going to call for

meet the picture.

Anybody who would like can join us in the photo.

So the next proclamation is recognized in October 1st to the 8th of 2026 as a week without driving.

Whereas week without driving is a national challenge to increase awareness and understanding of non-drivers and the barriers they face in our communities, which the City of Fitchburg has joined alongside other Dane County communities, organizations, local champions, and policy making bodies in recognizing annually since 2024, and whereas access to mobility is fundamental to thriving health, safety, economic opportunity, and community connection, enabling residents of Fitchburg to reach essential needs, including education, employment, medical care, food, recreation, faith communities, and social social networks, and whereas an estimated 30% of Wisconsinites, 30 to 40 percent of Dane County residents, and at least 40 percent of Dane of Fitchburg residents of all ages are non-drivers, including aging adults, youth, students, low-income individuals, people with physical, mental, or intellectual or developmental disabilities, and those who choose not to drive, and whereas transportation is the second largest household expense for most families, and the American Autobile Automobile Association estimates that the average cost of owning and operating a vehicle exceeds twelve thousand dollars per year, placing a particular financial strain on low and moderate income households, and whereas transportation costs are directly tied to housing and land use decisions, and communities that lack affordable housing near jobs, schools, health care, and essential services often require residents to travel farther and rely more heavily on costly car ownership, and whereas nearly one-third of people in the United States do not have a driver's license due to age, disability, income, immigration status, health conditions, or other barriers, and many others face temporary or permanent circumstances that prevent them from driving and whereas an estimated 20,000 653 households in Dean County do not have access to a vehicle, and whereas not all neighborhoods in Fitchburg have safe sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, protected bike infrastructure, reliable public transit, or land use patterns that allow daily needs to be met within a reasonable non driving distance, and whereas transportation is a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and is responsible for an estimated twenty nine percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.