News Flash

City Administrator’s Corner

By: Aaron Oppenheimer, Sun Prairie City Administrator 

As the season comes to a close, we want to thank our residents for another fantastic summer here in Sun Prairie. From the opening of our newly-renovated Family Aquatic Center, to the second annual Mural Fest, and numerous family-friendly events such as Concerts in the Park, National Night Out, Downtown Night Market, and more, this summer was truly one for the books! We are grateful to have such an enthusiastic and engaged community. 

Looking forward, we are entering budget season. City staff and elected officials are hard at work determining how we can continue meeting the needs of our community while navigating the financial challenges created by state levy limits. Mayor Stocker’s proposed budget will be presented to the Common Council on October 6, with budget workshops to follow in the weeks ahead. The 2027 Budget Public Hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27. Residents are welcome and encouraged to attend to share their thoughts on budget priorities and allocations. 

In August, we launched the new Sun Prairie Home Repair Loan Program. This program is administered by the non-profit Project Home, and is designed to support low-to-moderate-income residents. Loans administered through this program are 0% interest, deferred-payment financing options meant to help homeowners complete critical property repairs. By making necessary repairs more accessible – particularly for homeowners on fixed incomes – the program can help more residents maintain safe, stable homes, and remain in the community. Funding for the program is made possible through the City’s Affordable Housing Fund.

At the September 1 Common Council Meeting, the Council approved a resolution establishing a 12-month moratorium on data centers in Sun Prairie. The vote follows work done by the City’s Data Center Workgroup, which was charged with researching the potential impacts of data centers, evaluating existing regulations, and developing recommendations for the Common Council’s consideration.

With the moratorium now in place, the City will not accept, process, or approve zoning permits for data centers larger than 10,000 square feet during this 12-month period. The moratorium is intended to provide time for the City to thoughtfully evaluate its policies and regulations before considering future data center proposals.

During the moratorium, the Data Center Workgroup will continue its work to better understand the potential impacts and develop recommendations regarding appropriate standards, regulations, and approval processes. This time will also provide opportunities for public education and community engagement.

We will continue to keep the community informed as this work moves forward. Please stay tuned for updates and opportunities to learn more and share your feedback.

To stay informed on city happenings, please follow City of Sun Prairie, WI, USA on Facebook, subscribe to TextMyGov by texting “SPNOTIFY” to 91896 and sign up to receive our monthly Big 5 e-newsletter by visiting www.cityofsunprairie.com/stayconnected. 

City Administrator’s Corner 

By: Aaron Oppenheimer, Sun Prairie City Administrator

August is a special month here in Sun Prairie – the long-awaited Corn Fest season is upon us! But, while there is always time for the festivities, your City Staff is hard at work behind the scenes. Read on for a few kernels of news fresh from City Hall.

As a reminder, Council recently adopted an ordinance adjusting our polling locations from eight to four, one in each district. This change goes into effect starting with the August 11 partisan primary election. To see your polling place and learn what is on the ballot, visit MyVote.wi.gov.

We are excited to announce that we have appointed Penny Holler, MPA, to serve as Assistant City Administrator. Throughout the recruitment process, Penny distinguished herself as an experienced, intelligent, and collaborative leader. Her background in municipal operations, economic development, and organizational leadership, combined with her genuine commitment to public service will make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team. We are looking forward to welcoming her in September.

Last fall, the Council directed City staff to review the City’s ordinances and policies related to potential data center development. In response, we created a cross-departmental Data Center Workgroup to research the potential impacts of data centers, evaluate existing regulations, and develop recommendations for Council’s consideration.

To be clear, there are no proposed data center developments in Sun Prairie at this time. However, as data center development has expanded across the country, and as several high-profile proposals have emerged in our region, the City has decided to take a proactive approach to understanding what a future data center development could mean for our community. The goal of this workgroup is to establish clear policies, expectations, and thoughtful decision-making framework in advance.

The Data Center Workgroup is beginning report-outs to committees and commissions this month. Residents are welcome to attend to learn more about the status of our findings and next steps. The first presentation will be at the Sun Prairie Utilities Commission Meeting on Monday, August 17. To learn more and make plans to view or attend an upcoming meeting, visit the city website.    

To stay informed on city happenings, please follow City of Sun Prairie, WI, USA on Facebook, subscribe to TextMyGov by texting “SPNOTIFY” to 91896 and sign up to receive our monthly Big 5 e-newsletter by visiting www.cityofsunprairie.com/stayconnected. 

City Administrator’s Corner 

By: Aaron Oppenheimer, Sun Prairie City Administrator 

As the season heats up, there is so much to celebrate right here in Sun Prairie. Last month, Visit Sun Prairie hosted the second annual Mural Fest, bringing nine vibrant new murals to our downtown. These incredible works of art add color, character, and energy to our community – giving us all just one more reason to love Sun Prairie!  

Another exciting project will come to life this weekend as the newly renovated Family Aquatic Center (FAC) celebrates its Grand Re-Opening on Saturday, July 11. Since the close of last season, the FAC has undergone a significant transformation. Residents can look forward to an updated bathhouse, more modern amenities, expanded shade and seating, and energy efficiency. All designed to create a more comfortable, enjoyable experience for families for years to come.

If you haven’t yet, mark your calendars for the upcoming Partisan Primary Election on August 11. This election will be our first with the newly established polling locations. In June, City Council approved the consolidation from eight polling locations to four, with one in each district. This change is being made in response to the increase in absentee voters combined with our staff’s increased efficiency and familiarity with voting technology. Moving forward, District 1 will vote at the Sun Prairie Utilities Building, District 2 at United Methodist Church of Sun Prairie, District 3 at the Sun Prairie Public Library, and District 4 at the Westside Community Services Building. More information can be found on the City’s website. 

Finally, I would like to acknowledge that July 10 marks the eighth anniversary of the downtown gas explosion that forever changed our community. Sun Prairie lost a lot that day – most tragically Fire Captain Cory Barr, who gave his life in the line of duty. 

As I reflect on that day, I can’t help but also feel a sense of pride. On Sun Prairie’s darkest day, our Fire, Police, EMS, and municipal teams responded with extraordinary courage, professionalism, and compassion. Neighbors supported neighbors, rallying around one another to offer comfort and hope when it was needed most. And it was during that difficult time that the phrase Sun Prairie Strong became a reflection of who we are as a community.   

To this day, that spirit continues to define us. While our community, like any other, faces challenges and differing perspectives, I remain confident in our shared commitment to the future of Sun Prairie. 

As we remember July 10, 2018, may we also recommit ourselves to the values of service, resilience, and unity that carried us through one of the most difficult chapters in our city’s history. 

To stay informed on city happenings, please follow City of Sun Prairie, WI, USA on Facebook, subscribe to TextMyGov by texting “SPNOTIFY” to 91896 and sign up to receive our monthly Big 5 e-newsletter by visiting www.cityofsunprairie.com/stayconnected. 

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (September 21, 2026) – For a sixth year in a row, the City of Sun Prairie has been recognized as a Climate Champion. This recognition, presented by Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and the Office of Energy and Climate Change, highlights our commitment to advance sustainability throughout our state and our city with significant efforts in reducing carbon emissions.

Achieving this status follows efforts associated with the City's RESCU food waste compost pilot. This USDA grant-funded project in partnership with Green Box Compost, Sustain Dane, and the Sun Prairie Area School District (SPASD) has offered discounted curbside compost services to over 140 households, at 10 city-wide events, and three Sun Prairie schools. In the schools, this project established composting at the West High School production kitchen in addition to lunchroom composting and share tables to redistribute uneaten food at two Sun Prairie elementary schools.

As part of this project, students engaged in educational opportunities associated with composting, nutrition, regenerative agriculture, and more. Learning opportunities extended beyond the classroom, with field trips for the two participating elementary schools to visit the Green Box Compost facility.

Compost produced as a result of this pilot is being distributed to Sun Prairie Community Gardens, SPASD, Liberty Park, food pantry gardens, and to other community partners for use in their gardens.

Combined, these efforts have diverted nearly 60,000 pounds of food waste from the landfill, produced more than 40 cubic yards of compost, engaged over 3,000 people with composting resources and education, and avoided an estimated 31 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions.

“This pilot shows the impact community-scale composting can have on waste diversion and emissions reduction,” said Hannah Best, Sustainability Program Coordinator. “We are proud to be recognized as a Climate Champion and look forward to continuing to expand composting opportunities in Sun Prairie.”

For more information about Sun Prairie’s sustainability efforts, please visit www.cityofsunprairie.com/SustainableSunPrairie.

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (September 18, 2026) – The City of Sun Prairie is excited to host its annual Multicultural Fair on Saturday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sun Prairie Public Library, 1350 Linnerud Drive. This event celebrates the many cultures of Sun Prairie through dynamic performances, food trucks serving a wide selection of international cuisine, and cultural exhibitors and vendors.

The purpose of the fair is to provide attendees with opportunities to connect, learn about a variety of cultures, and appreciate the diversity that strengthens the Sun Prairie community. Attendees can look forward to performances, activities, and food representing countries and cultures from all around the world such as Africa, Central America, India, and more.

The Multicultural Fair is grateful to recognize the Bank of Sun Prairie and Sun Prairie Utilities as their platinum sponsors.

For more information about the 2026 Multicultural Fair, including updates on activities, performers, vendors, and more, please visit https://www.cityofsunprairie.com/1182/Multicultural-Fair or check out our Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/2053387465565702.

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (September 16, 2026) – The City of Sun Prairie and the Sun Prairie Police Department announced today that the City will not renew its existing contracts with Flock Safety. Six current Flock cameras are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026, with the remaining three cameras expiring on March 31, 2027.

The police department plans to present a contract to the Public Safety Committee on October 7, 2026 regarding the use of Axon Outpost cameras as the department’s future automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology.

This decision reflects the police department’s responsiveness to considering resident feedback, evaluating our practices, and ensuring that public safety technology is used in a manner that is consistent with the law, operational needs, and the expectations of the community we serve.

The police department recognizes residents have legitimate questions and concerns about ALPR technology, including how information is collected, retained, accessed, and shared. We have heard those concerns. Policing requires more than simply explaining what we do. It requires us to listen, consider different perspectives, and evaluate public safety needs. 

“License plate reader technology can be a valuable tool for our officers and investigators,” said Chief Kevin Warych. “It can assist in locating stolen vehicles, identifying vehicles associated with serious crimes, and developing investigative leads that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. At the same time, we have a responsibility to the community to ensure this technology is used lawfully, that access and information sharing are appropriately controlled, and that data retention practices are clearly understood.”

The Sun Prairie Police Department is grateful for the City Council’s support of the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan approved September 15, 2026. Beginning in 2027, the city of Sun Prairie plans to partner with Axon to support a more integrated public safety technology platform that will include data management and storage, body-worn cameras, and TASER devices.

A primary consideration in moving toward the Axon platform is the opportunity to consolidate multiple public safety technology systems and vendors. A more integrated platform is expected to improve operational efficiency, simplify data management, reduce administrative demands, and provide long-term value to the city while maintaining modern technology for our officers.

The platform also provides important safeguards for public safety data:

• Purpose-Built Security: Axon has nearly two decades of experience securely managing sensitive public safety data, including body-worn camera footage and public safety records.
• Agency Ownership and Control: The city retains ownership and control of its data, including how it is accessed, managed, and exported. Data remains under the city's control and is accessed only as authorized by the city.

“We appreciate the residents who continue to ask questions, challenge us, and engage with us on difficult issues,” says Chief Warych. “We may not always agree, but we have an obligation to listen and have the conversation. Those conversations make us better. Our goal is to provide effective public safety while earning and maintaining the trust of the people we are privileged to serve.”

Residents are welcome to attend the October Public Safety Committee on October 7, 2026, at 7:00 PM in council chambers to learn more about the Axon Outpost proposal. Can’t make it in person? The meeting will be streamed live to www.sunprairiemediacenter.com or on Spectrum channel 983, or TDS channels 983/1983. It will also be available for on-demand viewing at a later date.