Appleton Common Council Meeting - May 1, 2024
Appleton Common Council Meeting - May 1, 2024
The Common Council of Appleton, Wisconsin, met on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Mayor Jake Woodford presided, with 15 alderpersons present and one excused. The meeting covered proclamations, committee appointments, several debated license items, and a series of routine approvals.
Proclamations and Appointments
- Mayor Woodford proclaimed May 2024 as Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Municipal Clerks Week, Nurse Appreciation Week, Public Service Recognition Week, and Teacher Appreciation Week.
- A committee appointments amendment (24-0524) was approved 14-0, adjusting aldermanic committee assignments.
- Rick was confirmed to the City Plan Commission (24-0539) by a 14-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak.
Discussion Items
- OB's Brau Haus Premise Amendment (24-0237): The Council approved a Class "B" beer and liquor license premise amendment for NAC LLC d/b/a OB's Brau Haus at 523 W. College Avenue. The City Clerk clarified that the street occupancy permit (sidewalk café) requires service to end by 9:30 p.m., rather than the 10 p.m. listed on the application. The amendment was approved 13-1, with Alderperson Siebers voting nay.
- Miguel Hulke Operator License (24-0327): The Council debated a recommended denial from the Appleton Police Department for an operator's license for Miguel Hulke, who has five OWI convictions and two related felonies. Proponents cited rehabilitation and support from his employer (Sarah Gregory of Sangria's); opponents cited the APD's recommendation, the pattern of offenses, and public safety. The license was approved 8-6, with Alderpersons Van Zeeland, Fenton, Hayden, Heffernan, Schultz, Wolff, Siebers, and Meltzer voting in favor; Firkus, Jones, Alfheim, Hartzheim, Croatt, and Doran opposed.
- Special Use Permit – Tavern at 1201 N. Badger Avenue (24-0442): The Council approved a special use permit for a 521-square-foot tavern within an existing storage garage. The vote was 14-0. Alderperson Schultz noted that community members were present to observe the outcome.
- Emerald Valley Subdivision Street Design (24-0495): New roadway design parameters were approved for Emerald Valley 8, 9, and 10 subdivisions (streets including Oceanpearl Court, Providence Avenue, Aquamarine Avenue, Jasper Lane, and Plamann Place). Alderperson Hartzheim highlighted that some streets will have one-sided parking and a 10-foot sidewalk. Approved 14-0.
- Downtown Parklet Installation (24-0498): A request from Creative Downtown Appleton, Inc. and Appleton Downtown, Inc. to install a parklet on the north side of Washington Street (parking stall #289) was amended to allow installation as soon as all requirements are met, rather than starting May 30. The amendment and the amended item were both approved 14-0.
Key Outcomes
- Vote tallies:
- 24-0237 (OB's Brau Haus): 13-1 in favor.
- 24-0327 (Miguel Hulke Operator License): 8-6 in favor.
- 24-0442 (Special Use Permit): 14-0 in favor.
- 24-0495 (Emerald Valley streets): 14-0 in favor.
- 24-0498 (Parklet): 14-0 for amendment and 14-0 for amended approval.
- Redistricting ordinances (21-24 through 31-24) were approved 14-0 as part of the consent agenda. The City Clerk explained that due to Wisconsin Act 94 (state redistricting), ward boundaries within aldermanic districts are being adjusted, requiring more wards and ballot styles.
- Other routine approvals (balance of the agenda) included: a street occupancy permit for Chandelier LLC (tables/chairs at 215 W. College Ave.); temporary Cinco de Mayo alcohol amendments for Tipsy Taco & Tequila Bar and Sangria's Mexican Grill (both on May 5, 2024); a sanitary/storm sewer CIPP lining contract to Insituform Technologies ($384,975.43); a generator replacement contract to Van Ert Electric ($320,366 total); a sole-source engineering contract to McMahon for clarifier rehabilitation ($66,585); and a paratransit services contract with Running Inc. (five-year with three one-year options). All were approved.
- Parks & Recreation Committee start time was set at 6:15 p.m. (approved 14-0).
- Resolution #5-R-24 (Wheel Tax increase) was introduced by Alderperson Wolff and co-signed by Alderperson Firkus; it was referred to the Finance Committee.
- Meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 meeting of the Apple and Common Council. Tonight's invocation will be delivered by Alder Hartzheim. Hello and welcome to our first open mic night of the 2424, 25 year of the Appleton Common Council. It's my pleasure to kick off this season with my not officially timed less than two minutes of invoking a higher power to help guide us in the meeting to follow, because that's what the word invocation means. We had a great season last year with our We Gather Together Recited Invocation, in which no one alderman took the soap box to talk at length about a pet project, a political initiative, or any poll polarizing social issues, instead of invoking a higher power to help guide us in the meeting to follow, because the latter is what the word invocation means. Regardless, in taking advantage of the free reign offered by all Alderman this season, and while firmly adhering to the definition of the word invocation, I offer the following prayer. Gracious God, help us to always remember that being a member of the majority doesn't necessarily make us right. Just part of a group that thinks alike. As we work together on behalf of all who live in this city, may we draw strength and encourage encouragement from you, Lord, and from one another through compassion, listening, and reason. Amen. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance of the United States of the American. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call of officers and department heads. And all are represented. Need a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. We have a motion and a second to approve any discussion of the minutes. Hearing none, please cast your votes. Regarding the tablets, we've noticed that we seem to have some issues on startup just about every meeting, and then eventually they sort of get worked out. So this is something that we'll be talking a little bit more about between legal services and IT and my office. So after the meeting, if you have any insights for us about what seems to happen on your end of things, we we don't think it's a hardware issue, and uh so we're we're just looking for any any insight if you've noticed the pattern with your own tablet. Please don't hesitate to share that with us. Uh we'll continue to work at that and try and get it ironed out because after we get through like the first few agenda items, it just seems to resolve. Um so if there's something we need to do or maybe start up earlier or make sure we're logged in right away when we get here, we'll we'll we'll try and keep working at it. But it doesn't go on notice that there's some issues at the start of the meeting. So sorry about that, and we'll keep working at it. And I have uh a number of proclamations to share with you. We'll just make note of the proclamations because there are many. Um we we made a uh joke about uh the number of proclamations in April and we we continue that trend in May. Uh lots of things happening in the community and and days to recognize. I would also uh like to make note of the fact that today is also law day. We did not issue a proclamation recognizing law day, um, but but those working in the legal profession. Uh so to uh my colleague attorney Barrens, uh, who will be maybe a little embarrassed by this, uh, also want to recognize the start of his new term uh as city attorney. So congratulations again and uh happy law day to all who celebrate. Um with that we'll move along. Uh I have a committee appointment, uh committee appointment amendment uh for your consideration, item 24-0524. Need a motion. A motion and a second to approve any discussion. Hearing none, please cast your votes. That motion passes 14 to 0. Thank you for approving that. And I'd also like to uh thank Chair Hartzheim uh for working with us on this change. Uh I I did not fully communicate this with the committee chair uh before talking to the folks that would be involved in in the switch. Uh and and uh I I do apologize for that, but I appreciate her understanding and uh helping us get this all sorted out so we can uh we can get going with committee business. So thank you again for that approval. Next is item 24-0539 confirmation of appointment to the city plan commission. A motion and second to approve. Any discussion hearing none, please cast your votes. All right, that motion passes 14 to 0.
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