Common Council and City Leadership Seek Input on Draft Inclusivity Statement

In late 2016, the Common Council and the City of Platteville Leadership Team worked together to draft a strategic plan to guide decision making and actions for the upcoming 3-year period. A summary of the planning process is available on the City’s website at www.platteville.org/citymanager/page/values-and-strategic-plan. See document titled Strategic Planning Summary 2017-2019.

The City’s Strategic Plan is centered around six themes: business, marketing, connections, housing, employee relations and fiscal sustainability. Annually goals are established for each theme.

The following was included in the 2019 strategic goals in the connections theme: Begin inclusivity conversations with goal of developing an inclusivity plan. That strategic goal was carried forward to 2020; and, City Manager Adam Ruechel, during his initial months of employment, has been working to put the pieces in place for the development and implementation of an inclusivity plan. A first step: the creation and adoption of a City of Platteville Inclusivity Statement. Such a statement provides definition and guidance for the development of a plan’s strategies and goals. It helps to focus discussion and action. It’s a way to "get everyone on the same page".

The draft statement is included below. The Council and City Leadership are seeking input on the statement. You may contact us by using the email address cityofplatteville@platteville.org, by using the form on the City website Contact Us page, by utilizing the drop box outside of City Hall, or by mailing suggestions to City of Platteville, ATTN: Inclusivity Statement, 75 N Bonson St, Platteville WI 53818. Please include your name, address, and contact info so that we can connect with you again. We ask that you send your input by Friday, July 17, 2020, with council discussion to take place at the Tuesday, July 28, 2020 meeting.

Again, this statement is the City’s first step in creating an inclusivity plan. If you have ideas about specific themes or goals for the plan, those are welcome too. The Council and City Leadership will soon embark on a planning process to result in a strategic plan for the next 3 to 5 years. There is no doubt that inclusivity will continue to be a focus.

City leadership and council member contact information is available at www.platteville.org. It is by working together that we can strengthen our community and assure that it is a place where all have a path to a successful and quality life.

City of Platteville
Draft Inclusivity Statement

The City of Platteville is committed to inclusivity. Inclusivity work aims to remove barriers and eliminate social and economic disparities by focusing on and including those who have been excluded from the decision-making process. Inclusivity is the pursuit of equitable outcomes.

We acknowledge that inclusivity, particularly racial inclusivity, is essential to providing exceptional public services and to creating an inclusive and safe environment for everyone.

The City recognizes that people of color and other groups of people (i.e., communities) continue to be marginalized and excluded – both intentionally and unintentionally – from constructing the rules and principles that govern our lives and the services we depend on to protect our health, safety, and well-being. We further acknowledge that structural and cultural barriers impact access to, and representation in, city government.

The City of Platteville has a pivotal role in creating a sense of belonging for all people. We must be inclusive in developing and implementing policies to ensure that City services are responsive to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and other individual identities.

We acknowledge that without an intentional focus on inclusivity, we will continue to perpetuate and deepen inequities.

To realize our mission and core values, the City of Platteville commits to integrating inclusivity into the fabric of our organization and the delivery of public services in pursuit of equitable, fair, and just outcomes for all.