New Police Services Facility Process

03-21-2024

New Police Services Facility Process

Overview

The City of Fitchburg is in the planning stages of a new police services facility. This page has been created to share information and updates about the process.

Currently, the Police Department occupies 1.5 levels of the City Hall building located at 5520 Lacy Road. Plans are moving forward to construct a standalone police services facility on a site at the intersection of Fish Hatchery Road and Lacy Road.

Space Needs Study

In 2014, the City of Fitchburg commenced an analytical study of future staffing and space needs for departments located at the City Hall building, including the Police Department.  The study analyzed space and staffing needs for a 5, 10 and 20-year horizon. 

The study identified that a standalone facility should be 60,240 square feet to adequately accommodate forecasted personnel and vehicles in 2020, 68,280 square feet* in 2025, and 78,874 in 2035. The current police department space is 17,783 square feet. By moving the police department to standalone facility, the 17,783 square feet  can be remodeled for the necessary expansion of other city departments located in the City Hall complex. 

Several immediate space needs were identified in the study, including:

  • Inadequate space for Evidence Storage, Secure Evidence Storage, Evidence Lab, Evidence Processing.
  • Inadequate ventilation system in the Evidence Storage and Secure Evidence Storage.
  • Inadequate space in the existing Armory.
  • Need for office space; many offices are double-occupancy causing lack of privacy, lack of meeting space with staff, inability to work on sensitive projects, and disruption.
  • Need for additional conference rooms. One former Police Department Conference Room has already been converted to office space, causing police supervisory staff to use conference space elsewhere in City Hall.
  • Vehicle engines, electronics and equipment are exposed to climate extremes when not in use. Current indoor parking facilities are inadequate, especially during inclement weather, also causing excessive “idling.”

Space Needs Study

*Gross Square Footage includes non-usable space

Square Footage Needs Graphic

Benefits of a New Police Services Facility 

police facility_overview

2023/24 Timeline

Police Facility Oversight Committee

An ad-hoc committee has been created for oversight of the police facility process. The committee is comprised of elected officials, community members and department representatives. Meetings are open to the public and noticed in advance with agendas similar to all other city meetings. 

The first meeting was held on July 24.

View the July 24 Meeting

View the October 10 Meeting

View the November 27 Meeting

View the February 1 Meeting

Project Update to Common Council

On August 22, an overview and update was presented to the Common Council. You can view a copy of the presentation here Project Update to City Council Project Update to City Council Project Update to City Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common CouncilProject Update to Common Council. A video recording of the presentation is available here Version OptionsNew Police Services Facility ProcessHeadline Project Update to City Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common Council Project Update to Common CouncilProject Update to Common Council

November Public Information Meeting

A public information meeting was held on November 27. 

You can view a copy of the presentation here Version OptionsNew Police Services Facility ProcessHeadline. A video recording of the presentation is available here.

Updated Presentation to Common Council

During the December 12 Common Council meeting, an update was provided on the design and budget estimates.

You can watch the presentation and discussion here Version OptionsNew Police Services Facility ProcessHeadline. You can view a copy of the presentation here Version OptionsNew Police Services Facility ProcessHeadline.

Schematic Design and Current Budget Estimate

FGM Architects, through collaboration with police department workgroups and the Police Facility Oversight Committee, has developed a schematic design to meet program and space needs. The design includes:

  • 74,560 square feet
  • Purpose-built and police-specific components, including booking/processing, dispatch, evidence, and training areas (defensive and arrest tactics/D.A.A.T, multi-purpose room, tactical training bay with live fire capabilities)
  • Multi-purpose space that can host department and community events and can also be reserved for public use

Front page of design presentation Opens in new window

(Click to view the design presented on 12/12)

C.I.P. Funding

Funding for the police facility project was first included in the 2017 Capital Improvement Plan (C.I.P.) Budget. $25 million was the initial amount included in 2017. In 2020, the amount increased to $35 million for a 75,000-square-foot facility. The 2021 C.I.P. budget for the project was reduced to $25 million for a 50,000-square-foot facility. The 2024 C.I.P. Budget increased the amount back to $35 million.

Current Budget Estimate

On December 12, the Common Council was presented with the current budget estimate of $49.2 million. This estimate includes a $2.5 million allowance for yet-to-be-determined sustainability features. See the slides below for a comparison to the current budget estimate and the 2015 study estimate.

Budget Comparison to 2015 Study

The Common Council was presented with three budget options at the December 12 meeting.

PSF Budget Options

January Public Information Meetings

Follow the links below to view public information meetings held in January 2024. While similar content was presented at all meetings, additional content was presented at the 1/4 and 1/6 meetings. 

January 2, 2024, Public Information held at the Catholic Multicultural Center

January 3, 2024, Public Information Meeting held at the Park Bank Center

January 4, 2024, Public Information Meeting held at Fitchburg Fire Station #3

January 6, 2024, Public Information Meeting held at Blackhawk Church Fitchburg

Slide Deck from January 6 Public Information Meeting

Update to Common Council - January 10

On January 10, 2024, members of the design team and police department shared additional information and answered questions from the Common Council. The link below starts the recording at the beginning of the update.

January 10 Common Council Update

State Grant Submission and Letters of Support

On January 31, the Department submitted an application for a State of Wisconsin grant program to aid non-state organization construction projects. The grant application requested funds to support the costs of the training components of the building project. The grant could potentially fund up to $6.7 million dollars for the three training components included in the current schematic design. 

As part of the grant application, letters from community organizations and agencies were submitted to demonstrate community support for the project. 

Letters were submitted by: Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, Fitchburg Common Council Members (see letter), Members of the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association (see letter), Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Dane County, NAACP of Dane County, Madison College, United States Attorney's Office, A.T.F., Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Wisconsin Police Executive Group, Wisconsin Command College Alumni Association, Cities & Villages Mutual Insurance Company.

View the Letters of Support

February Public Information Meetings

Follow the links below to view recordings of the two public information meetings held in February.

February 6, 2024, Public Information Meeting held at Doxa Church

February 8, 2024, Public Information Meeting held at Leopold Elementary School 

Slide Deck from February 8 presentation

Upcoming Common Council Action

A resolution approving the schematic design of the building and an associated budget amendment is scheduled for council action at the February 13 Common Council Meeting. 

View the Resolution

Public Feedback

Comments and feedback regarding the facility process can be shared with the project team at: policefacilitycomments@fitchburgwi.gov

You can also submit feedback and comments by completing the form available through the link below:

Police Facility Comments and Feedback

Comments will be compiled and shared with the oversight committee and Common Council. 

Updates

Sign up for project updates here Version OptionsNew Police Services Facility ProcessHeadline Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates Updates UpdatesUpdates