Appleton Common Council Meeting December 20, 2023: Budget, Cameras, and Parking Decisions
Appleton Common Council Meeting - December 20, 2023
The Appleton Common Council met on December 20, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included recognition of retiring Utilities Director Chris Shaw, presentation of Christmas parade awards, an update from the Fox Cities Chamber/Regional Partnership, public comments, and votes on several key items including ARPA funding for Flock license plate cameras, parking utility budget amendments, and alcohol license approvals.
Business Presented by the Mayor
- Recognition of Director Chris Shaw: Mayor Woodford presented a citation honoring Chris Shaw's 33-year career with the City of Appleton Utilities Department, highlighting his leadership and contributions.
- Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade Awards: Awards were presented for Best Commercial (Alliance Industries), Best Non-Commercial (Appleton Public Library/Boldt), and the Bernie Pearlman Award (Fox Valley Ballooning).
- Fox Cities Chamber/Regional Partnership Update: Becky Bartoszek (CEO) and Eric Broten (VP Economic Development) provided a Q4 update, including the successful recruitment of a direct flight from Appleton to Dallas, the launch of the Connect Free small business program (nearly 500 members), and efforts on childcare and housing.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Patti Heffernan (1622 S Jefferson St) spoke against Resolution #13-R-23 (ARPA funding for Flock cameras), arguing the funds should be used for violence prevention programs like CBI (Community Violence Intervention) that have proven results.
- Josh Peters (430 E Spring St) echoed concerns, stating the camera money does not address root causes.
- Jennifer Stephany (ADI) spoke on items 23-1476, 23-1426, and 23-1434: expressed board concerns about language in the parking study that could lead to selling off parking assets, supported the study for improvements; urged support for Fox Commons project items (no-build easement and CDI grant).
Discussion & Voting Items
- 23-1476 Resolution #15-R-23 Parking Facility & Management Study: Referred back to Municipal Services Committee by Alder Van Zeeland.
- 23-1471 & 23-1472 Houdini Plaza and Jones Park Rental/Fee Schedule Policies: Referred back to Parks and Recreation Committee by Alder Schultz.
- 23-1426 No-Build Easement (Fox Commons): Approved 12-0.
- 23-1434 CDI Grant Support for Fox Commons: Approved 12-0.
- 23-1436 McFleshman's Brewing Co. Class "B" Liquor License (Wine Only): Approved 11-0 with Alder Schultz abstaining.
- 23-1407 Resolution #13-R-23 ARPA Funding for Flock License Plate Cameras: Failed 4-8. Debate centered on whether the $125,000 (12.5% of the $1M ARPA wellness bucket) was appropriate; opponents cited Chief Olson's statement that cameras were not the top priority and that sufficient funding remained for mental health/violence prevention. Proponents argued cameras fit the community wellness/violence prevention categories and that the 10 additional cameras would save future costs.
- 23-1494 ARPA Budget Amendment for Parking Utility ($244,000): Approved 12-0.
- 23-1408 Resolution #14-R-23 Changing Budget Delivery Timeline: Failed 1-11 (notwithstanding vote). Alder Doran's proposal to move budget delivery earlier was opposed due to operational challenges.
Key Outcomes
- Parking Study: Referred back to committee.
- Flock Cameras Denied: Resolution #13-R-23 failed (4 ayes, 8 nays).
- Parking Budget Amendment Approved: $244,000 ARPA transfer for lost revenue (12-0).
- Budget Timeline Change Denied: Resolution #14-R-23 failed (1 aye, 11 nays).
- McFleshman's License Approved: 11-0 (one abstention).
- Balance of Agenda Approved: All remaining committee-recommended items passed unanimously (12-0) including Public Works fee schedules, landfill contracts, traffic control changes, alcohol code revisions, fireworks sales addition, towing fees, cardiac monitor application, various licenses (tobacco, taxicab, pet store, secondhand), CSM approval, Southpoint Commerce Park plat and trail dedications, Linwood Avenue relocation, water service change order, budget amendments for Jaycee Pavilion and K9 donation, Ellen Kort Peace Park fund, development agreement extensions, CDBG funding for Community Resource Navigator, stormwater consulting contracts, over-hire for property lister, silica safety policy, and transit inter-municipal agreements.
- Next Meeting: Adjourned at 8:21 PM; next meeting in January 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, December twentieth, two thousand twenty-three meeting of the Appleton Common Council. Tonight's invocation will be delivered by Alder Crope. Good evening, everybody. We gathered today together to listen and share, learn and educate, and to be granted wisdom and grace as we move Appleton forward in the best interest of our community. Roll call of Alders. And all are represented with the exception of Alderpersons Fenton, Hayden, and Jones, who are excused. Roll call of officers and department heads. And all are represented. Okay. Approval of previous council meeting minutes and a motion to approve the minutes. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes. Any discussion. All right, hearing none, uh, please cast your votes. Motion passes twelve to zero. The minutes have been approved. All right. Uh we're on to business presented by the mayor. Uh we have three items this evening, and if there are no objections, just gonna amend the order a little bit uh and we'll take up the uh downtown Appleton Christmas Parade Awards first. All right, hearing no objections. Uh Corey, come on up. Happy holidays, everybody. Uh thanks for having us. We had our uh 52nd downtown Appleton Christmas Parade on November 21st, and we had perfect weather. We had a huge crowd, and it was a huge success. It was our biggest parade ever, 85 units. Uh, and I can probably tell you that it will never be bigger than eighty-five units because we barely got it inside our broadcast window, but uh it was a great night. I want to thank the common council and the mayor for all of your support. I want to thank all the department heads. Uh it really is a team effort, uh, especially APD. Uh lots of hours go into the planning and um the security of the event. So thank you. We are here to award uh three trophies. We went to this uh fancy cup, traveling trophy. Uh I do need these back next year. Um some of you have had them before and uh want to hang on to them, but I do need them back at least temporarily. So let's begin with the Appleton Downtown Incorporated Best Commercial Entry. I saw Jennifer Stefani come in and I asked if she wanted to present, but she's got other Do you want to come up? She'll always come on. Um FRV is a great partner with the parades of soas Appleton Downtown Incorporated, uh Jennifer Stefani and Megan Warner, especially. So this award goes to for the second year in a row with this trophy, and they've won many more before this, Alliance Industries. Here's Kevin from Alliance. Good to see you. Bernie Perlman is one of the founders of the downtown Appleton Christmas Parade fifty fifty-three years ago, actually, because we did miss one. Um and uh Bernie is a legend in the downtown uh history, and we are really proud to give this to uh one of our most popular units of the last 15, 16 years, as long as they've been in the parade, the Fox Valley Ballooners. Congratulations. Our final award tonight is the Christmas parade trophy. It goes to the best non-commercial entry. And this year it was a collaboration between the public and the private. It goes to the Appleton Public Library and Bolt.
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