June 2025
Potential Funding Solutions Presented to Sun Prairie City Council
During a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on April 22, the Sun Prairie City Council reviewed an options assessment report detailing the need for additional funding to maintain services and continue investing in service improvements. The report also identifies potential options for raising additional funds, including through a referendum to increase the property tax levy.
No decisions have been made about whether the city will pursue a referendum. The community will play a significant role in defining the city’s path forward, which is likely to be determined in late 2025 or early 2026.
In the months ahead, the City will continue engaging the community. In September, all households in Sun Prairie will receive a survey to gather input on preferred investments and approaches to funding local services.
Learn more about what’s ahead and how we’re planning for Sun Prairie’s future: https://cityofsunprairie.com/1997/Sun-Prairie-Proposed-Funding-Solutions
Interview with Aaron Oppenheimer, City Administrator
Phase 2 of the Library Expansion
Starting June 9 the library will begin the next phase of our Expansion and Renovation Project. The library will close June 9* and reopen on Tuesday, June 24* to allow for moving of collections and workspaces. Phase 2 will be June 9 – November 2025, and many familiar areas of the library will be inaccessible.
• No materials can be returned to SPPL June 9-23.
• No items will be due June 9-23.
• The last day to pick up holds before we are closed is June 8.
o We recommend suspending holds or selecting a different library to pick them up at while we are closed.
The drive-thru book drops will close June 9, until November 2025. Starting June 24, patrons will return items inside the library, to temporary bins.
We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Please visit our website for further information: https://www.sunprairiepubliclibrary.org/phase-2-library-expansion-and-renovation-project
We hope you are excited about our expansion as we are! When we reopen on June 24* you'll be able to see the fish, the new youth area, and more!
*Please note, dates are subject to change.
Interview with Svetha Hetzler, Director of the Sun Prairie Public Library, and Steev Baker, Head of Access & Circulation Services
LEED for Cities Certification Cohort
The City of Sun Prairie has been selected by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as one of 16 municipalities to participate in the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Cities certification cohort, an extension of the Local Government Leadership Program. The cohort supports local governments committed to advancing sustainability in their operations and striving to enhance the overall quality of life for the community.
The LEED for Cities rating system assists cities in assessing the performance and management of citywide sustainability efforts. To accomplish this, tools are offered to help evaluate usage of water, energy and waste systems. The program offers support to more than 300 communities globally while creating opportunities for peer-to-peer collaboration between local governments striving to advance sustainability in their respective communities.
Participation in the cohort kicks off with a multi-day orientation and training that involves city staff, elected officials, local stakeholders and community partners. This training will educate participants about the LEED rating system, certification process, goal setting and roadmap development.
Interview with Dr. Rose Daily, Sustainability & Resilience Manager
Sun Prairie Mural Fest
The Sun Prairie Business Improvement District is thrilled to announce the inaugural Sun Prairie Mural Fest, presented by Bank of Sun Prairie, from June 18 - 26, 2025. This exciting event will bring together talented local and national artists to create large, dynamic murals, transforming the downtown landscape into an open-air art gallery. Sun Prairie Mural Fest is a collaboration between Urban Art Bloom Inc., Downtown Sun Prairie, and Visit Sun Prairie. The goal of the event is to celebrate public art, foster community engagement, and honor the city’s heritage as the birthplace of Georgia O’Keeffe, a pioneer of American modern art.
Sun Prairie Mural Fest will feature several murals painted by a variety of talented artists, each bringing their unique style and vision to the event. With approximately seven (7) days to paint, these public artworks will transform the north-facing wall of the Washington Mills Ceramic Corporation Building, which is visible from the Public Parking Lot located at 251 E Lane St., into a vibrant outdoor gallery, showcasing the diversity and creativity of each artist.
Watch the artists work and enjoy live music on Saturday, June 21 during Make Music Sun Prairie, hosted by Prairie Music & Arts.
The finished murals will be revealed on Thursday, June 26th from 5 pm – 8 pm as part of the Downtown Sun Prairie’s annual Streets of Sun Prairie Community Art Making Project (CAMP) event. This year’s CAMP event will be set up as a block party, offering event attendees an opportunity to witness the finished murals and hear from the artists while enjoying an evening filled with live entertainment, community art making projects, family friendly activities, and more!
Interview with Mary D'Amico, Downtown Business Improvement District Manager
Natural Lawn Registration
The City of Sun Prairie has updated and simplified its Natural Lawn Registration process to make having a low-mow or pollinator friendly lawn an even more appealing option for residents!
What exactly is a natural lawn? It is an area in your lawn or your entire lawn that you transition from turf grass to low-mow and/or pollinator friendly plant species. They provide a variety of benefits such as reducing lawn maintenance time, costs, and carbon emissions as well as supporting pollinators.
If registering, it's important to know that:
- Permits are only required for lawns with vegetation that exceeds 8 inches in height.
- Residents must submit:
- Site diagram showing the area to be naturalized
- Planting timeline and species list
- Maintenance plan
- Natural lawns must be set back 5 feet from property lines and 3 feet from sidewalks or trails.
- Registration can be done online or by submitting a physical application at City Hall.
- There is a $50 application fee.
Click here to register!
Interview with Hannah Best, Sustainability Program Coordinator
Administration
Sun Prairie Climate Action Initiative
The City of Sun Prairie is taking significant steps to address climate change by establishing a comprehensive climate action initiative. With support from Blue Strike Environmental, a firm specializing in innovative sustainability solutions, the City will create a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, adopt 2030 and 2050 targets for emission reductions and produce a climate action plan. This initiative is funded by a $76,190 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant awarded to the City by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2024.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories
The first major action step is the development of a detailed greenhouse gas emissions inventories at both the municipal and community level. This inventory will provide a baseline of quantifying scope one (direct) and scope two (indirect) emissions to gauge the City’s impact on climate change.
The first inventory focuses on measuring emissions from the organization itself and municipal operations across various departments and divisions. The second inventory has a broader scope and includes capturing emissions from residential properties, transportation and other sources throughout the community. Once inventories are established, they will be monitored and updated to evaluate progress.
2030 and 2050 Emission Reduction Goals
With data from both inventories, the City will be able to adopt emission reduction goals for future sustainability efforts. The targets, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommendations and aligned with the Paris Agreement, will be formulated by considering multiple factors. In addition to the inventories, additional factors include Sun Prairie’s projected population growth, assessment of the United States Human Development Index and adherence to the planetary emissions carbon budget.
Climate Action Plan
The climate action plan will be comprised of actionable strategies connected to four key areas: urban design and transportation, buildings and energy, parks and greenspace, and waste and resource conservation. Each strategy will be designed to reflect community needs, increase resilience and promote environmental justice. With the goal of completion set for early 2026, the plan will serve as a guide for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Community engagement is critical to aligning the plan’s strategies with Sun Prairie’s values.
Community members can get involved by attending one of the upcoming input sessions scheduled for the following dates:
· Thursday, June 5 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Optional in-person attendance at City Hall (300 E Main St.) or virtually via Zoom.
· Thursday, June 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Optional in-person attendance at Sunshine Supper (1632 W Main St.). Free childcare will be available at this session.
In addition to the input sessions, community members are encouraged to complete a brief survey and offer insight on the climate action plan. The survey can be accessed by visiting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScL2TYz9Lro6wta0w9knsE-eKQD3Jib-7-CNKuVIss-l_cuMg/viewform To learn more about this initiative, please go to www.cityofsunprairie.com/ClimateActionPlan
For more information on Sun Prairie’s sustainability efforts, visit www.cityofsunprairie.com/SustainableSunPrairie
GET INVOLVED!
Earth Month Impact Report
Thank you to everyone who participated in Sun Prairie's 2025 Earth Month Program centered around the theme "Individual Actions Make a Community of Change." We look forward to organizing an even more engaging program for Earth Month 2026! View our one-page graphic impact report summarizing the positive impact our program had on our community by viewing the graphic below or clicking here.
City of Sun Prairie receives USDA grant to pilot compost program
The City of Sun Prairie is excited to announce the launch of the Food Residential, Event, and School Compost Undertaking (RESCU) pilot program. This program is made possible through a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreement.
In 2024, the USDA invested $7.5 million in 26 cooperative agreement awards, which included $109,000 to the City to launch the pilot program. The program’s mission is to divert food waste from landfills and raise community awareness about the benefits of composting. The food waste collected through the program will be processed into finished compost and distributed throughout the community. To achieve this, the City will partner with Green Box Compost, Sun Prairie Area School District, Sustain Dane, Sun Prairie Community Garden Organization, Sun Prairie Park Friends, Rooted, Neighborhood Food Solutions and Madison Area Food Pantry Garden.
Beginning in July 2025 and ending in December 2026, 150 households can opt-in to a subsidized curbside composting program at the cost of $10 per month. Participants will receive a biweekly compost pickup and periodic distribution of finished compost. Additionally, three Sun Prairie schools will be selected to pilot this program throughout the 2025-2026 school year.
Schools selected to participate will have the opportunity to implement lunchroom food waste diversion practices such as lunchroom composting options, food waste reduction competitions, compost for school gardens, tours of the Green Box composting facility and much more. Beyond participating households and schools, this pilot will create an impact that ripples across the community.
This year, food waste composting will be available at all major citywide events including Sun Prairie’s Juneteenth Celebration, PrideFest, Concerts in the Park Series, Sustainability Fair, Multicultural Fair, and Trunk or Treat. Finished compost from these events will be distributed to local producers, including community gardens and urban farms.
Based on community data, this project is anticipated to reach 12,000 community members while diverting 65,000 pounds of food from the landfill and producing 43,000 pounds of compost. The projected impact is expected to create a 27 metric ton reduction of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
Community members can get involved by sorting waste at community events with composting receptacles, attending future educational events and signing up to participate in the residential pilot at www.withgreenbox.com/residential. For more information about the program, please visit: www.cityofsunprairie.com/CompostPilot
Clerk's Office
New Meeting Management Portal Now Live!
Looking for meeting agendas, packets, or minutes? The best way to find them is still by visiting the City’s website and clicking the "Agendas & Minutes" tile from the homepage. Any previously saved shortcuts will need to be updated. The portal will look a bit different now, but the documents themselves will remain familiar.
Need documents from meetings that occurred before June 1, 2025?
No problem! Just click the "Legacy Agenda Online" link at the top of the new portal page.
We’re excited about this update and hope it makes accessing public information even easier for you! The City made the switch to OneMeeting, a cloud-based platform, which provides a more efficient and accessible user experience. For staff this will improve the process for generating meeting documents and running meetings.
Questions or concerns? Reach out to the City Clerk’s Office at clerks@cityofsunprairie.com or call (608) 825-1148.
Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Kids at the Park Summer Camp
Summer Fitness Classes!
Public Safety
Congratulations!
Last Tuesday Officer Odalys Gloria was recognized by the American Legion as the 2025 Officer of the Year!
Give Us Your Feedback!
In 2024, the City of Sun Prairie Fire and EMS Department began the accreditation process through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). This process yields significant benefits to a department and the community it serves by identifying areas of strength and weakness, providing greater community alignment, and utilizing data to make informed decisions.
As part of this effort, the City’s Fire and EMS Department would appreciate your feedback in identifying areas of strength, while also pursuing opportunities for growth. This online survey provides an opportunity for you to share your perception of the department and its services with the goal of improvement.
Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions. Your answers will remain anonymous and will support the continuous improvement of the department.
Take the survey here: https://form.jotform.com/251064129223044
To learn more about Sun Prairie's Fire & EMS Department, please visit:
Fire - https://www.cityofsunprairie.com/331/Fire
Sun Prairie Fire & EMS - Fire Division
EMS - https://cityofsunprairie.com/.../Emergency-Medical...
Welcome!
Chief Kevin Warych was officially sworn in as the new Chief of Police for the Sun Prairie Police Department. Chief Warych comes to Sun Prairie following a distinguished career with the Green Bay Police Department, where he served in various roles and ultimately held the rank of Commander. The department is excited for the future under his leadership and the continued growth of our partnership with the community.
“It is an incredible honor to be sworn in as Chief of Police for the City of Sun Prairie. I am deeply committed to serving this vibrant and growing community with integrity, transparency, and respect. Working alongside the dedicated members of the Sun Prairie Police Department, I look forward to building strong partnerships, enhancing public safety, and ensuring that every resident feels heard, protected, and valued.” – Chief Kevin Warych.
Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum
Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum
The Museum is open to the public Wednesdays 11:00am - 4:00pm and by appointment for research and events through the winter months. To learn more, visit www.cityofsunprairie.com/museum.
Staff can be reached by phone at (608) 825-0837 or by email at museum@cityofsunprairie.com.
The Historical Library and Museum is located at 115 East Main St. Sun Prairie with parking behind the building. Admission is always free.
Announcements:
Summer Historical Speaker Series
The Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum invites you to three public talks by experts in their fields. All talks are free to the public and require advanced registration due to limited seating. Please reserve your seat(s) at: https://form.jotform.com/SPPRF/sphlm2025speakers
- Saturday, June 14th at 10:00am “Georgia O’Keeffe’s Final Paintings” by Dr. Ann Daly (Virtual)
- Thursday, July 10th at 6:00pm “The 1924 Presidential Election” by Dr. Mike Jacobs (In-Person)
- Friday, August 22nd at 6:00pm “Sun Prairie Scandals” by Museum Staff & Volunteers (In-Person)
Preserving Pieces of Your Past
Learn from local Museum professionals about methods of preservation you can use at home for your family artifacts. Courses will guide participants through best practices for cleaning, digitizing, displaying, and preserving items commonly found in family collections and how to avoid deterioration. Courses can be registered for individually. Cost is $45 per session for residents, $65 for non-residents.
*The cost of this program includes sample preservation materials provided for participant use during the program that can be taken home. Materials vary between courses.
Photographs and Negatives: Tuesday, June 10 from 5:30-6:30pm
Books and Documents: Tuesday, July 8 from 5:30-6:30pm
Clothing and Textiles: Tuesday, August 12 from 5:30-6:30pm
Missing at the Museum!
A mystery is unfolding at the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum and we need your young detective’s help to solve it: one of the Museum’s prized artifacts has gone MISSING! Youth should bring their sleuthing skills to this interactive mystery where detectives ages 8-12 will find clues, unravel riddles and explore local landmarks to piece together this thrilling whodunit adventure.
Missing at the Museum will be held on Saturday, July 12 from 9:30-10:30am at the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum, located at 115 East Main Street and includes travel on sidewalks to historic landmarks within 0.5 miles of the Museum. Registration is $15 for residents, $25 for non-residents. Registration is through the Sun Prairie Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department.
Sun Prairie Public Library
Temporary Changes - Library Expansion & Renovation Project
City Services Guide
Have you ever wanted to learn more about the City's departments and the services they provide? Check out the new city services guide that will get you connected! Print copies will be made available in city buildings such as City Hall and the Westside Community Services Building. Click the graphic below to access the online version.
Dane County Active Transportation Plan
The Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking community input on how to improve Active Transportation in Dane County. The survey is live and open through July 1, 2025.
π Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dane-co-atp
π Leave a comment on the map: https://bit.ly/atp-comment-map
Prejudice in Places
Thousands of property deeds in Dane County still contain racially restrictive language—remnants of a discriminatory past that shaped where people could live and who was welcome in our communities. While these racial covenants are no longer legally enforceable, their legacy persists.
Now, there’s something you can do about it.
Join Dane County for the Prejudice in Places event on June 17 from 5:00–7:30 p.m. at the Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall. You’ll learn about the history of racial covenants in Dane County, find out if your own property has this language, and discover how you can formally renounce it.
https://www.danecountyplanning.com/Prejudice-in-Places
β Bring your ID
π Alliant Energy Center, Madison
π June 17 | 5:00–7:30 p.m.
Streets of Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie Pride Fest
Sun Prairie's PrideFest will be taking place on Saturday, June 28 at Sun Prairie West High School, located at 2850 Ironwood Drive. The event schedule and map will be available soon. Parking is available for all guests in the main student parking lot at West High School. If interested in volunteering, please contact Leticia at leticia@sunshineplace.org. For information about having a table at our Resource Fair, contact Sunshine at sunshinec.anderson@gmail.com. More details will be shared as the event approaches!
To learn more, please visit: https://www.sunprairiepridefest.com/home
Sun Prairie Juneteenth Celebration
The Sun Prairie Juneteenth Planning Committee is excited to announce that the annual Juneteenth Celebration will be held on Wednesday, June 19 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Wetmore Park. This event is centered on celebrating the emancipation of the last enslaved Black and African American people in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. This celebration will include a variety of family-friendly activities, performances, cultural vendors, and a free community meal.
The planning team continues to seek sponsorship for this event. Businesses and organizations interested in becoming sponsors are encouraged to reach out to Latoya Holiday at latoya.holiday@gmail.com
Organizations represented on the planning team include Sun Prairie Community Schools, Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, Sun Prairie Neighborhood Navigators, Sun Prairie Area School District, African American Parent Network, and the City of Sun Prairie.
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