Common Council Meeting - April 17, 2024
Common Council Meeting - April 17, 2024
The Appleton Common Council met on April 17, 2024, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, a sidewalk poetry presentation, presentation of the Housing Development Policy Guide, a public hearing on a rezoning, and approval of various committee recommendations. Three items were pulled from the consent agenda for separate discussion and votes.
Proclamations and Presentations
- Mayor presented proclamations for Golden Rule Day, Autism Acceptance Month, Library Week, Arbor Day, Earth Day, Public Health Week, and Hemophilia Awareness Day.
- Sidewalk Poetry Project: Over 150 poems were submitted, and five winners were selected. Four winning poets read their poems to the council.
- Housing Development Policy Guide: Mayor and Director Holman presented the guide, which includes recommendations in five thematic areas. The council received and filed the report after a motion by Alder Fenton, seconded by Alder Hartzheim.
Public Hearing: Rezoning #2-24 (E. Plank Road)
- Public hearing on rezoning from R1-A Single-Family to R-3 Multi-Family District.
- Supporting speakers: Jennifer Sunstrom (Realtors Association of Northeast Wisconsin) expressed full support for the rezoning as workforce housing and praised the housing task force. Eric Broden (Fox Cities Chamber Regional Partnership) supported the rezoning, stating workforce is the top issue for businesses and that every housing project helps.
- Opposing speaker: Carol Schubert (neighbor, 1912 Orchard Blossom Drive) spoke on behalf of herself and 30+ neighbors. She argued the project is for retirement condominiums, not workforce housing, and criticized the process as lacking transparency. She requested the council consider rejecting the rezoning or improving future processes.
- After the hearing, the item was pulled for discussion.
Discussion Items (Pulled from Consent)
- Rezoning #2-24 (item 24-0317): Director Holman explained that the decision is about appropriate zoning, not specific future use. City Attorney Barrens cautioned against contract zoning based on representations. Alder Van Zieland conveyed on behalf of absent Alder Doran that he believes the rezoning meets legal obligations and that concerns about runoff, noise, traffic are not considerations for rezoning. The council voted 13-0-1 (Alder Hefferin abstained) to approve.
- Street Occupancy Permit (item 24-0391): For the Boldt Company's Trout Museum of Art/Lawrence University project on College Avenue, Drew Street, and Kimball Alley through November 1, 2024. Director Block stated that weekend street reopening was not feasible due to construction impacts. Council approved 14-0. Alder Alfheim raised communication concerns with residents.
- Firehouse Sub Grant (item 24-0379): Chief Hansen explained the grant funds McGrath video laryngoscopes for paramedic upgrades. Council approved 14-0. The mayor thanked the department for pursuing grants.
Consent Calendar (Balance of Agenda)
The remaining committee recommendations were approved as a block (14-0), including:
- Municipal Services: Parking change on Maple Street (removal of 2-hour parking after six-month evaluation).
- Safety and Licensing: Urban Search and Rescue agreement (2024-2026), and "Class A" liquor license for True North Energy d/b/a True North #822.
- City Plan Commission: Lumbini Estates Preliminary Plat (recommended by Plan Commission).
- Parks and Recreation: Award of 2024 Highview Park Playground contract to Lee Recreation.
- Finance: Award of Unit H-24 parking ramp repair contract to Berglund Construction ($1,356,000 + 2.2% contingency, total not to exceed $1,386,000).
- Board of Health: Noise variance for sanitary and storm sewer CIPP liner (Unit O-24).
Key Outcomes
- Rezoning #2-24 approved (13-0-1).
- Street occupancy permit approved (14-0).
- Firehouse sub grant accepted (14-0).
- Housing Development Policy Guide received and filed.
- Ordinances #19-24 and #20-24 approved (14-0).
- All remaining consent agenda items approved.
Meeting Transcript
Here we go. Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 meeting of the Appleton Common Council. Tonight's invocation. Well, we didn't know what the council was going to do with the invocation, truth be told, so we didn't line anybody up to do one. So if the council will indulge me, I'm going to do one for you. So please rise. Seeing as we have uh poetry this evening, I thought I'd share one of my favorite poems. It's called To Be of Use by Marge Pearcy. The people I love the best jump into the work head first without dallying in the shadows and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight. They seem to become natives of that element. The black sleek heads of seals, bouncing like half submerged balls. I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, who pull like water buffalo with massive patience, who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, who do what has to be done again and again. I want to be with people who submerge in the task, who go into the fields to harvest and work in a row and pass the bags along, who are not parlor generals and field deserters, but move in a common rhythm when the food must come in or the fire be put out. But the thing worth doing well done, has a shape that satisfies clean and evident. Greek M4s for wine or oil, Hopi vases that held corn are put in museums, but you know that they were made to be used. The pitcher cries for water to carry, and a person for work that is real. May we, as a council and community, make the coming year one of work that is real. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. All are represented with the exception of Alderperson Doran, who is excused. Roll call of officers and department heads. Several proclamations to kick off the new council year. So ask that all of you review those proclamations. They're included in your materials. Peter. Great, thank you. Hello everyone. I'm Peter. I'd like to report that Sidewalk Poetry 2024 has been a great success. This is the 11th year our community has had this project in place. And it's the second year the library has been in collaboration with the Department of Public Works. This year we had 100, sorry, over 150 poems submitted. And those 150 poems were read carefully and thoughtfully by our team of curators who narrowed that list to 11 poems. Those 11 poems were then presented to the community for input. And through that input, our five winners were selected. Four of our winning poets are here tonight to read their poems. I invite them to come forward now. And while they come forward, I want to take a moment to thank the community of Appleton for supporting such a wonderful project. And lastly, I'd like to show my appreciation for everyone who submitted a poem this year. Poetry is an art form and it's an expression and it brings our community closer. And I thank everyone who shared their words with us. And now our poets will share their words here. Hi, I'm Brianne Getges, and my poem is titled Emotion Sickness. Our love makes people sick because it is syrupy sweet stomach ache from too much candy. Exit the tunnel of love blindingly. Swun on a carnival ride dizzy, through up disgustingly adorable. Not because we're queer. Hello, my name is Rochelle Isaacson. Can I hold this whole bit? You can, yeah, go ahead.
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