The District 3 Dispatch | Policing changes; Capital Improvement Plan released
By now, you've probably heard about the changes to police service in the city. The changes, which took effect earlier this month, shift our limited resources within the police department away from minor "nuisance" and low-level calls to prioritize more significant calls. The police department offers a good overview of what's changed and why on the city's website, but here are a few quick highlights:
Officers will generally only respond to alarm activations at banks and ATMs unless there is evidence that a crime is happening. Last year, officers responded to 425+ alarm activations and EVERY SINGLE ONE was a false alarm.
Animal nuisance calls will be handled by community services officers or Dane County animal control unless there is a threat to life, limb, or property.
Officers will generally not respond to minor calls about thefts FROM vehicles (for example, someone takes the change out of the cupholder of your unlocked car). They will still respond if a gun or license plate was stolen, and if the vehicle itself was taken.
Officers will generally not respond to minor crashes but will still respond to those involving disabling damage, injury, suspected intoxication, or road blockage. For the "fender benders," those involved will be instructed to self-report using a form from WisDOT.
Some of these changes will undoubtedly have more impact than others. And while the limited crash response in particular gives me pause, I understand the reality we face with limited resources.
These changes are the effects of the community's "no" vote on the referendum in late 2024. We heard you, our neighbors, and are "living within our means." Unfortunately, this is what "living within our means" looks like. Last year, we shifted our dispatch to Dane County, laying off staff for the first time in the city's history in the process. We have also reorganized other departments at City Hall to be as efficient with your tax dollars as we possibly can, but I expect there will be more changes to come. Just like each of our household budgets, a dollar doesn't stretch as far as it used to -- and there's only so much "fat" to cut.
You may be asking, then, why don't we just slash budgets elsewhere? The answer is not that simple. Take, for example, the library. Our library is required to meet certain standards related to hours/staffing, book purchases, etc. If we were to consistently cut the library's budget below the level needed to maintain those standards, we could end up having to pay the county library tax (which communities without libraries pay to help support the system) AND still have to pay to operate our library. In essence, we would be paying MORE and getting MUCH LESS. In other cases, money may be specifically allocated to departments or programs with no option to reallocate it.
Let me be crystal clear: Fitchburg is -- and will continue to be -- a safe city in which to live and work, thanks of course to our first responders. Our crime statistics are trending in the right direction, and I don't want to lose sight of that. But as we start the budget process, we're going to have to make even more tough decisions. Over the next few months, it's crucial that you get involved and share what services matter to you most -- and which you could live without. When we passed our budget last fall, there wasn't a single member of the public in the chamber; the year before, there was only one (me). We are going to need your input more than ever so that we can effectively represent your wishes.
The proposed capital (aka the "stuff") budget has been released (keep reading for more info), while the operating (aka the "people and services") budget will be released this fall. I encourage you to read both and provide your feedback. My door is always open -- by email, over the phone, or over a cup of coffee.
Yours in service,
-Logan
What’s “Growing” On
Here’s what’s being built in Fitchburg.
After years of construction, the Terravessa neighborhood is getting closer to completion.
Later this year, the last stretch of Lacy Road will be installed up to Larsen Road; when that happens, Lacy Road will officially run from the western boundary of Fitchburg to the eastern boundary (more than 6 miles)!
Progress on the Lacy Road extension as of late May.
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The next phase of the Highfield Reserve neighborhood is getting underway. If you've been seeing lots of dirt moving in the area, that's why. This phase consists of more single-family homes like those found in the rest of the neighborhood.
As of now, there is no immediate plan for construction on the large lot in the middle of the neighborhood (at the southeast corner of Fahey Glen and Nobel Drive), but that is planned to be multi-family housing and an "institutional" use (something like a daycare) in the future.
Highfield Reserve construction as of mid-May.
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A recent traffic impact analysis prompted by development on the eastern side of the city has justified the need for stoplights at the Highway 14/Lacy Road ramps and either stoplights or a roundabout at Lacy Road and Central Park Place. Turn lane improvements are also needed at the Highway MM/Lacy Road intersection. City staff are working on a cost-sharing agreement with the developers of three separate proposals in the area. Implementation will depend on the development timelines.
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On May 20, Agrace broke ground on the first phase of its dementia village development.
Left to right: City Administrator Chad Brecklin, Alder Logan Reigstad, Alder Bill Jetzer, Agrace President & CEO Lynne Sexten, Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, Alder Jake Lepper, and Alder Dave Herbst.
Working For You
Here’s how city staff and elected officials are working on your behalf to make Fitchburg a better place.
Mayor Arata-Fratta’s 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan proposal (aka the “stuff”/infrastructure budget) has been released. This plan outlines the city’s expected major infrastructure and other capital expenses for the next decade. Projects in the first five years of the CIP have generally had more vetting and planning work done; those in the back five years are generally placeholders for future priorities. Project timings can and do change with the community’s priorities.
This year, there are a number of changes to projects in District 3. Here is a high-level overview:
Extending Golden Gate Pass under Lacy Road near Highway 14
New project
Construction estimated in 2032
Total cost (including planning, design, and construction): $2,048,500 (funding sources include borrowing and water utility assessment)
Library first-floor refresh
New project
Work expected in 2027
Total cost: $70,000 (funding source is the library’s accumulated fund balance for equipment replacement)
County Highway MM resurfacing from McCoy Road to the Beltline
Delayed project
Construction expected in 2027 (previously planned for 2026)
Total cost: $565,000 (for Fitchburg’s portion; Dane County is leading this project)
Latitude 43 Street extension to Deer Valley Road
Delayed project
Construction estimated in 2033 (previously 2028)
Total cost (including planning, design, and construction): $720,000 (funding source is Tax Increment District (TID) 16)
Southdale bike connection
Construction expected in 2029
Total cost: $1,950,000 (funding sources include ~$1.3 million in WisDOT grants and Tax Increment District (TID) 16)
City campus facilities remodel
Expanded project (originally planned to be limited to the current police department space when they relocate to their new facility; the scope has broadened to include renovations at City Hall and the senior center/community center)
Work expected in 2027
Total cost: $12 million (increased from $6.5 million) (funding source is borrowing)
South Syene Road reconstruction (McCoy Road to northern city limits)
Delayed project
Construction estimated in 2031 (previously 2028)
Total cost: $3,120,000 (funding sources include borrowing and grant(s))
Irish Lane reconstruction (Fish Hatchery Road to South Syene Road)
Delayed project
Construction estimated in 2030 (previously 2029)
Total cost for the road reconstruction: $3,375,000 (funding sources include borrowing and grants)
Total cost for the sanitary sewer extension: $1,350,000 (funding sources include utility borrowing/assessments)
Total cost for the water main: $891,000 (funding sources include utility rates, assessments, and impact fees)
I am currently reviewing the CIP in fine detail to determine what amendments I plan to make. At this time, I plan to introduce an amendment to reduce the scale of the city campus project.
We will have public hearings on the CIP at our June 23 and July 28 council meetings, and we will likely approve the final version on July 28.
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Winter is in the rearview mirror, so that means it's Wisconsin's other season: road construction.
Summer road projects in the city have begun, and sidewalk replacement work should begin in July.
Meanwhile, there are two road closures in District 3 starting very soon:
Haight Farm Road will be closed between June 15-17 for sanitary sewer construction.
Larsen Road will be closed at Meadowview Road from June 22 through August 10 (due to the Lacy Road extension).
Reminder: Check out the city's new road closure map for updates on construction, event-related closures, and more.
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The splash pad at McKee Farms Park opened for the season on May 29, a bit later than hoped due to some leaks that needed to be fixed.
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The rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) -- aka pedestrian crossing light -- on South Syene Road at the Swan Creek Park path has (finally) been reinstalled! Shortly after it was first installed a couple years ago, someone hit it with their car and it needed to be replaced. City staff have been working with the contractor responsible for fixing it for quite some time, and the contractor has finally finished the work.
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Public works crews will be adding yellow paint on Country Rose Court in Southdale to address an issue with vehicles parking too close to sidewalks.
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The city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for 2025 has been released.
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Introducing Access Fitchburg! This new app keeps you connected to your city with recordings of government meetings, city-specific news updates, and much more! Download it for free in your phone’s app store and on your smart TV.
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Council Recap
On June 9, we:
Had a lengthy presentation and discussion of the policing changes mentioned at the beginning of this newsletter
Approved an update to the future land use map that changes two parcels on Ski Lane near Novation Parkway from general business to medium-high density residential. A development team is proposing a “cottage court”-style owner-occupied housing project, though details are still being worked on.
Approved an updated development agreement for the Bowman Plaza building highlighted in last month’s newsletter.
Approved a resolution authorizing both the Ho-Chunk Nation and Progress Pride flags to be flown at City Hall all year. Flags will (ideally) be donated.
On May 26, we:
Approved a resolution to end our automated license plate reader (ALPR) camera contract with Flock Safety. While I'm not fundamentally opposed to the underlying technology, I am opposed to spending taxpayer money with businesses that refuse to act in the interests of said taxpayers; Flock has repeatedly demonstrated that they are not interested in doing so.
Approved a development agreement for the Syncopation neighborhood along Highway MM. Since this site was used for many years to dump clean fill, city support was needed to make any development financially viable.
Granted an exception to a state law limiting the number of senior living facilities in an area to allow The Cesta development in Terravessa to move forward.
On May 19, we:
Approved a boundary amendment for Tax Incremental District (TID) 17 to support retail development in Jamestown Quarry near Target.
Looking Ahead
At our meeting on June 23, the Council will vote on whether to accept the bid for the Swan Creek Park tennis court renovation project. If approved, construction would start and finish this year.
Also at our meeting on June 23, we will consider a future land use update for a property at the corner of Lacy Road and Fahey Glen. The site is currently identified as neighborhood mixed-use and low-density residential; we will consider whether to update it to medium-high density. A developer that previously introduced a townhome proposal for the site has scaled those plans back somewhat, but design improvements are still in the works.
Get Involved
Concerts at McKee return to McKee Farms Park this summer! Youth band performances start at 6 p.m.; headliners take the stage at 7 p.m.
June 15 - Armchair Boogie
July 20 - Bumpus
August 17 - Chicago Latin Groove
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Night markets are coming to The Rusty Bee Lounge! Mark your calendars for the following dates:
June 18
July 23
August 27
September 24
October 22
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Fitchburg Farmers’ Market at Agora has returned for the season! Check it out from 3-6 p.m. weekly! (P.S. June 18’s market is Strawberry Fest!)
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Celebrate the Fitchburg Public Library’s 15th birthday with “Books and Brews: Chapter 15” on June 27. Tickets are available from the Friends of the Fitchburg Library.
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Community Night Out 2026 has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, at McKee Farms Park.
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Mark your calendar for the upcoming District 3 Listening Session with me, Mayor Arata-Fratta, and Alder Dantzler, Jr.
October 29, 2026
6-8 p.m.
Fire Station 3, 2950 S. Syene Rd.
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Fitchburg Chamber Events Calendar
