State of the City focuses on success in housing, business
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Growing the single-family housing stock, spring boarding off the success of the Innovation Center and addressing aging infrastructure were among the issues Whitewater’s top leader discussed during a recent State of the City address.
For the third consecutive year, City Manager Cameron Clapper provided a snapshot into decisions concerning municipal issues in Whitewater. He gave his address at the local chapter of the League of Women Voters’ first organizational meeting of the 2015-16 season.
To provide a backdrop of some of the unique issues Whitewater has long faced, Clapper shared the city’s Census data, which has held steady at just under 15,000 people. The city’s median age, data reveals, is lower than average at 21.9 years old.
Crunching the data further, Clapper said the city’s so-called traditional population of year-round residents comprises 37.4 percent of the community. The balance of 62.6 percent falls into the classification of non-traditional residents, many of whom are students at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
While the city has long enjoyed hosting college-aged students who are getting their first taste of adulthood, Clapper said the scenario provides some unique challenges, particularly from a budgetary standpoint.
Municipal services, including police, are needed for off-campus housing. For this reason, the city has historically leaned more heavily on intergovernmental revenue, including state aid, as a way of funding the city’s operating budget. While property taxes also are an important source, the city’s largest magnet — the university — does not offer funding through this revenue source.
In his address, Clapper combed through a series of strategic goals that have been implemented in recent years during summer planning retreats. One goal that is beginning to go under the microscope concerns the city’s single-family housing stock.
While no firm announcements have been made out of city hall concerning growth efforts, Clapper said it remains an issue of importance to city leaders.
Speaking to the overall strategic goals, Clapper said, “We try to make them our mantra each year as we plan within the different departments.”
In terms of future decision-making, Clapper said he hopes to get the community’s pulse on important issues by way of a citywide survey. The last one was administered in 2005.
“There is a real need to get out and engage, face to face, with our residents,” Clapper said.
In terms of short- and long-term capital planning, Clapper said the city continues to work to address aging infrastructure and parking, particularly in and near the campus and in the downtown shopping district.
Clapper also discussed some of the successes in the community, including the revelation the new Innovation Center that is run jointly between the city and UW-Whitewater is at full capacity.
“The Innovation Center is the fruit of some of our partnership with the university,” Clapper said.
But the celebratory milestone has also posed challenges for a city linked with a higher-education facility known to foster entrepreneurial efforts.
“We have businesses that cannot fit into (the Innovation Center) at the moment,” Clapper said. “We’re looking to have them locate downtown or in the business park. It’s a big issue right now for us.”
