Appleton Common Council Meeting Summary: February 7, 2024
Appleton Common Council Meeting Summary: February 7, 2024
The Appleton Common Council met on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 7:37 PM in the Council Chambers. Key actions included the approval of the new Utilities Director, a demonstration on the Stop the Bleed program, and the approval of an Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant resolution after a failed amendment. A resolution to study parking facility management was denied.
Business Presented by the Mayor
- Utilities Director Recommendation: Mayor Woodford recommended Chris Stempa as the new Utilities Director, citing 17 years of experience with the Appleton Department of Utilities. Stempa was approved unanimously (13-0).
- Proclamations: The Council recognized Black History Month, Burn Awareness Week, and Go Red for Women.
- AFD Stop the Bleed Demonstration: Lieutenant Ryan Lee provided an overview of the Stop the Bleed program and demonstrated the contents of newly installed bleeding control kits in city buildings, emphasizing their importance for life-threatening hemorrhages.
Consent Calendar (Items Approved En Bloc)
The following items were approved in a single motion (13-0) as part of the balance of the agenda:
- Municipal Services Committee: Approval of a street occupancy permit for Boldt Company (Fox Commons) until July 1, 2024; an ice carving permit for Appleton Downtown Inc.; a sole source purchase for traffic equipment; and a single source contract with Star Protection and Patrol for parking ramp security services (not to exceed $57,000).
- Parks and Recreation Committee: Award of a contract to ISG for Phase II design services for Lundgaard Park (not to exceed $71,500); adoption of revised rental fee schedules for Jones Park and Houdini Plaza.
- Finance Committee: Award of Unit W-24 Sewer & Watermain Reconstruction contract ($2,989,994.96 total); approval of Change Order #1 for Project Z-23 Water Reconstruction ($335,035.04 increase, with budget amendment passed by 2/3 vote).
- Community and Economic Development Committee: Approval of preliminary 2024-2025 CDBG Community Partner Allocations for non-public services; reallocation of $28,981.24 among public service applicants.
- Utilities Committee: Sole source engineering contract to McMahon Associates for aeration process upgrades (not to exceed $72,240); award of final clarifier tank underdrain rehabilitation contract to Sabel Mechanical (not to exceed $51,073); sole source purchase of pumps and fittings from Quality Flow Systems (not to exceed $94,460).
- Fox Cities Transit Commission: Purchase of access control for the Whitman Construction Project from Faith Technologies.
Discussion Items
- Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Resolution (24-0061): The proposal to apply $134,180 in grant funds to the Appleton Public Library building project for energy-efficient design sparked debate.
- Amendment: Alderperson Hartzheim moved to amend the resolution to specify that the grant would not expand the library project scope and that taxpayer debt savings would be applied to other budgeted city projects. The amendment failed (2-11).
- Original resolution: Alderperson Van Zeeland moved approval. The resolution passed (11-2), allowing the grant to be used for the library project to reduce the need for contingency funds.
- Parking Facility & Management Study Resolution (23-1476): The resolution sought to authorize a study of the parking utility, including potential sale or lease of facilities.
- Amendment: Alderperson Doran moved to restore the original resolution language (including the sale/lease provision). The amendment failed (5-8).
- Denial: Alderperson Fenton moved to deny the resolution. The motion carried (10-3, with one later correction), effectively killing the study.
Key Outcomes
- Passed: Appointment of Chris Stempa as Utilities Director (13-0). EECBG grant resolution (11-2). All consent calendar items (13-0).
- Failed: Hartzheim amendment to EECBG resolution (2-11). Doran amendment to parking study resolution (5-8).
- Denied: Parking Facility & Management Study resolution (10-3).
- Other: The Council approved the previous meeting minutes (13-0). The meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, February 7th, 2024 meeting of the Appleton Common Council. Tonight's invocation will be delivered by Alder Meltzer. We gather 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. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance through the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Roll call of Alders. All are represented with the exception of Alderperson Jones and Alderperson Croat, who are excused. All right. Roll call of officers and department heads. And all are represented. Thank you very much. In a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Point of order, Alder Meltzer. It says there's no seconder on the screen. Mover, Sherry Hartzheim, second or none. Must have dropped the seconder. Can anyone second yet? Okay, we have a second from Alder Van Zealand. Thank you. Thank you, Alder Meltzer. All right, that motion passes 13 to zero and the minutes have been approved. All right, move on out of business presented by the mayor. First, just want to this is not on the agenda, but just wanted to uh make note of uh Allie Petrie's attendance. She's the new executive assistant in the office of the mayor. Allie, if you just wave for everybody. Uh so Allie's been with us uh about four weeks now. So uh if you haven't heard from Allie yet, you you will when we start scheduling our uh Alder one-on-ones, and uh as always, if you need anything from the mayor's office, please feel free to reach out to Allie and uh we're glad to have her with us. All right, uh so next, I have a recommendation for a new utilities director. Uh and I I shared a memo with you, uh, but I'll just I'll just read that for you now. Uh the utilities director position was vacated by retirement on January 3rd, 2024. And I'm pleased to recommend an exceptional candidate for the role, one who brings 17 years of professional experience within the Appleton Department of Utilities. A licensed certified wastewater and municipal waterworks operator, candidate holds a BS in waste management from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Since 2010, he has served in the City of Appleton's utility department as deputy director. The candidate has deep knowledge of the city's treatment facilities and takes the initiative to drive projects to completion. He has been actively involved in developing strategic initiatives to meet regulatory requirements, managing and reporting annual budgets and supervising support staff within the utilities department. It is my honor to recommend for your consideration Chris Stempa to serve as a City of Appleton's next utilities director at his resume. Need a motion. We have a motion and a second to approve. Now everybody's seconding. All right. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Motion passes 13 to zero. Congratulations, Director Stempa. We're thrilled to welcome uh Director Stempa to the leadership team. Uh he's really hit the ground running, uh, serving in an interim capacity, and uh just just look forward to many years of work ahead.
openpublica.com