Meeting Transcript

Director Stamp, I'll have you on audio only. Roll call of all. All are represented with the exception of Alder Person Heffernan, who is excused, and Alderpersons Wolf and Schultz. Roll call of officers and department heads. All right, uh, good evening and welcome. This is the public hearing on the proposed 2025 executive budget and service plan. And was this for the meeting, or is this just okay? Great. Uh so we we did have a sign-up, but no worries if you if you miss the sign-up sheet, we'll we'll have an opportunity for everybody to speak. So uh with that, we'll we'll get started with uh Janice Quinlan. And if you'd please state your name and address for the record. I'm Janice Quinlan, 322 South Court, Appleton, District 4. And I'm speaking for the League of Women Voters of Appleton Fox Cities. For many years, the League of Women Voters of Appleton Fox Cities has observed the city's budget process and spoken at these public hearings. Our statements cover issues we have studied and where we have reached consensus on the common good for Appleton's residents. First, we commend the City of Appleton on your budget process, which included a listening session with Mayor Woodford and virtual access to budget Saturday discussions available live and on recordings. We also commend the practice of including alder persons, budget questions with staff answers submitted before the budget Saturday. These printed questions and answers answer complicated issues in an efficient way and provide further insights into staff budget requests. Thank you all. On this day following the presidential election, our special thanks go out to our city clerk, her office, and her management of the volunteer pool poll workers. We appreciate the challenges presented by the high volume of voters yesterday and in the prior two weeks of early in-person voting. We have seen competence in all respects of our election, and we have trust in our election counts. As we all know, access to voting and fair elections is key to our democracy. There is much to commend in the specific program areas covered in the 2025 budget. In particular, the League of Women Voters of Appleton Fox City supports the 2025 opening of the new Appleton Public Library. After almost 20 years of planning, this new building will be a community center for gathering and lifelong learning. We appreciate the use of federal, state, and private funds, which have helped reduce the city's tax burden while creating what promises to be an extraordinary addition to our community. Valley transits, two new buildings, which include a new downtown regional multimodal transit center, and Whitman Avenue Bus Garage, which will provide enhanced mass transit services. These positions reduce homelessness and provide help for those who are unhoused, while working with nonprofit organizations and faith communities to address the special needs of this population. Recently we heard manager Steve Shraggy speak on the many initiatives, including the sustainable features of the new library, transit center, and Whitman Bus Garage. Community development, working with ADI to implement a straw, a small developer training network to build more housing units in Appleton. This initiative grew out of the collaborative task force on housing development and promises solutions to the lack of affordable housing in our community. Recycling incentives at the Glendale site, which have been positively received. And finally, the promise of a new City of Appleton website very soon, which will improve citizen accessibility and self-service. We greatly appreciate the Common Council, Mayor Woodford, and the City of Appleton staff making Appleton a great place to work and live. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. This is a public hearing. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to speak? This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to speak? Right. Hearing none, I declare this public hearing closed. And with that, we need a motion to adjourn. We have a motion and a second to adjourn. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you.