For Immediate Release
May 28, 2024
Media Contact: Adam Sayre, Deputy City Administrator
Adam.sayre@fitchburgwi.gov
City of Fitchburg Launches First Strategic Planning Process; Encourages Community Input
FITCHBURG, WI – May 28, 2024. The City of Fitchburg is excited to announce the launch of the community’s first strategic planning process. The process includes robust community and government leader input gathering, the identification of community-facing issues and government operational issues, and the establishment of outcomes for the municipality over the next five years. The City seeks input from a diverse cross-section of community members to shape Fitchburg’s future direction and priorities.
As a part of this process, Fitchburg residents, business owners, and property owners are encouraged to engage with the Engage Fitchburg website. This site can be accessed online via at the following link: https://engage.fitchburgwi.gov/strategicplan
The website, hosted by community engagement platform Social Pinpoint, includes interactive exercises and a direct link to the strategic planning survey. The website is accessible in multiple languages, and the survey tool is available in English and Spanish. The survey will remain open for community feedback throughout June. The Engage Fitchburg website will feature regular project updates and avenues for community members to share their ideas. Individuals can sign up for email updates when new content is launched on the website. Further, the City will be hosting eight (8) focus groups located across the City where people will be able to share their feedback about the City. People can sign-up for the focus groups on Engage Fitchburg website.
“We are excited to launch our first strategic planning process, offering a valuable chance for the City to gather input from our residents. We encourage and invite residents from all Fitchburg neighborhoods to share their thoughts and feedback with us,” shares Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta.
The City of Fitchburg is working with woman-owned, Green Bay-area-based consulting firm Allyson Brunette Consulting on their strategic planning process. Founder Allyson Brunette shares: “In working in local government myself for a decade, I noticed how municipalities often excel at long-range planning but lack short to mid-term guidance on how staff and elected officials can process and respond to emerging issues. This strategic planning process will not only help staff and elected officials to unite in a common vision and priorities for the next five years but will help to ensure that the City stays the course over its next four budget cycles to ensure that funding aligns with plan priorities.”
City Administrator Chad Brecklin notes: “We are engaging our staff members and City Council in this process together and will be analyzing feedback from residents as participants utilize the Social Pinpoint website and participate in the surveys. This is an important opportunity for us to reflect on how to deliver City services that meet resident expectations and identify ways to deliver services more efficiently.”
Interested parties are encouraged to visit the City’s Engage Fitchburg website to learn more about the strategic planning process.