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Community Input, Partnerships, and Connection
- Make City Government Transparent
- Record and publish all City meetings.
- Use modern technology to create and post easy-to-read transcripts.
- Keep the option for residents to attend and comment via Zoom.
- Create a central location on the city website to show line item budgeting, city data, and committee reports.
- Guarantee a Stronger Public Voice
- Allow timed public comment on every agenda item at Common Council and committee meetings.
- Expand the online eComment system so residents can weigh in on any topic.
- Create dedicated email inboxes for each committee so community members can easily share feedback.
- Create participatory budgeting process for residents to have more input on where their money goes.
- Strengthen Neighborhood Partnerships
- Create a process for Neighborhood Association Steering Committees to be made aware of and review major development proposals early in the process.
- Require developers to meet with neighborhood representatives multiple times when projects seek exceptions to zoning or TIF funding.
- Ensure neighborhood associations can present to City committees with the same privileges as developers.
- Promote collaboration and common ground before projects reach final votes.
- Bring New Voices to the Table
- Small Business Owners Committee: Local entrepreneurs from across the city advising on policies that impact small businesses.
- Renter, Landlord & Affordability Committee: Residents focused on rental housing policy, affordability, and fair housing solutions.
Smart Planning & Housing That Works for Everyone
- Affordable Housing
- Expand “Missing Middle” housing options like duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, townhomes, and small condo buildings that fit naturally into our neighborhoods and provide attainable choices for working families, young professionals, and retirees.
- Encourage mixed-income developments so teachers, nurses, first responders, and seniors can afford to live in the community they serve.
- Support affordable condo and senior living options for residents who want to downsize without leaving Wauwatosa.
- Promote thoughtfully designed medium-density housing near neighborhood commercial areas to increase affordability while maintaining neighborhood character.
- Owner-Occupied Housing
- Prioritize development that builds long-term stability through homeownership opportunities, not just large-scale rental projects.
- Encourage housing policies that make it easier for families and first-time buyers to put down roots.
- Support diverse homeownership options, including condos, and townhomes.
- Promote development that strengthens neighborhood pride, investment, and long-term community connection.
- Planning for the Future
- Proactively research and forecast trends in commercial real estate and office parks so we can prepare for changing demand.
- Transform underused commercial properties into vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods with housing, small businesses, and gathering spaces.
- Integrate neighborhood-scale commercial spaces into new developments to support local entrepreneurs and walkable communities.
- Ensure growth is balanced, responsible, and aligned with the character and long-term vision of Wauwatosa.
Responsible and Transparent Finances
- Responsible Budgeting & Financial Transparency
- Use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) carefully and only when it truly benefits the broader community, not just large developers.
- Increase transparency and public input before approving any TIF projects.
- Require community input and multiple competitive bids for any development on city-owned property.
- Post clear, easy-to-understand reports on city spending on the City’s website.
- Review current lawsuits affecting the city and fix outdated policies where possible to reduce costly legal disputes.
- Explore hiring additional in-house legal staff if it lowers long-term spending on outside attorneys.
- Community Voice & Shared Decision-Making
- Provide residents with in-depth information on our budget, and honest options, and pros/cons for future budget decisions.
- Establish a participatory budgeting process so community members can directly help decide how a portion of city funds is spent.
- Create more meaningful opportunities for residents and citizen committees to share ideas and feedback during the budget process.
- Ensure budget decisions reflect the community’s long-term vision and values.
- Efficient, Accountable Local Government
- Hire an independent consultant to review city ordinances and internal processes to identify best practices and potential cost savings.
- Bring more work in-house when it makes financial sense instead of outsourcing to third parties.
- Regularly evaluate city operations to ensure we are delivering services efficiently and responsibly.
Innovation to help our Budget and Community
- Innovation for our Budget
- Bring more outside dollars into Wauwatosa by hiring a dedicated grant writer to secure state and federal funding for city priorities and reducing pressure on local taxpayers.
- Improve efficiency and cut waste by reviewing city ordinances and processes to ensure we’re using best practices and spending responsibly.
- Create overnight parking zones and permits to create a voluntary source of revenue
- Assist our Seniors
- Create a program to assist Seniors with their property tax bill. This program would be modeled after Madison's Property Tax Assistance for Seniors. Wauwatosa's version would be adjusted to meet the needs and desires of our committee and rely heavily on community input and guidance from Wauwatosa's Senior Commission. In addition, this program could partner with Wauwatosa's Housing Rehabilitation Program to further help Seniors.
Enhance Community Safety
- Safe, Walkable, Family-Friendly Neighborhoods
- Add stronger traffic-calming measures on routes to schools, busy pedestrian areas, bike routes, and high-accident streets.
- Install permanently protected crosswalk bump-outs and improved crossing lights along school crossing guard routes.
- Prioritize safe streets so kids, seniors, and families can walk and bike confidently in every neighborhood.
- Strong Support for First Responders
- Maintain appropriate staffing levels for police, fire, and EMS so response times remain fast and reliable.
- Protect and expand funding for mental health resources for first responders and community members.
- Ensure our emergency teams have the tools and support they need to stay safe while serving our city.
- Community Partnerships & Public Safety
- Strengthen collaboration between police, neighborhood associations, advocacy groups, and residents.
- Support community-based approaches that build trust and accountability.
- Encourage regular communication and partnership-driven solutions to prevent crime before it happens.
Protect & Invest in our Unique Assets and Infrastructure
- Protect and Grow our Green Spaces
- Commit to protect and recognize our parks and green spaces for their impact on our community and environment.
- Identify areas to plant more trees and native plants to keep our city green.
- Plan for the Future
- Study future use and impacts to better prepare our infrastructure for changes in population, environment, climate, and land use beyond our comprehensive plan.
Easily Accessible Reports, Data, and Scorecards
- Transparent Data
- Publish reports on city spending compared to budget estimates.
- Collect all citizen committee's year end reports and goals in one place.
- Create a self service data portal for residents to find city data.
- Public Goals and Scorecards
- Publish any and all committee, program, department, or city goals and show our progress towards to achieving them. Goals should be quantifiable and have a set time to be accomplished.