The Appleton Common Council met on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM. The meeting included an invocation by Alder Smith, approval of previous minutes, a reappointment to the Public Arts Committee, an update on the I-41 construction project, public participation concerning a liquor license denial, and action on several committee items including a liquor license denial (2-13), decorative light poles for College Avenue bridge (12-3), July 4th celebration MOU (15-0), EV grant budget amendment (14-1), TID consulting services (15-0 after amendment), cost reimbursement agreement with Thrive Financial (15-0 after amendment), and noise ordinance updates (15-0). A resolution on emissions reduction targets was referred to committee.
Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 meeting of the Appleton Common Council. Please rise for the invocation, which will be delivered by Alder Smith. This term I'm teaching a course on the Hebrew Bible, and we've spent some weeks reading through the great writing prophets. This time around, I read them with the experience of living in a time of change, and as I participate in the work of leading this city. I thought I'd draw out three universal statements, sentiments. Within the camp within the campus of the United Nations is a statue of a muscular man swinging a hammer. He aims to strike with that hammer an object that looks like a sword as he holds it in his one hand, but on the ground we see it transforming into something else. The statue makes sense as we read the lines on its base from the prophet Isaiah. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. The prophets spoke out against what they saw as injustice. The prophet Amos leveled the sharpest critique against the injustice he saw in his society. And as a result of that, he spoke these words. My final example is from the prophet Jeremiah. At several points, the prophet breaks away from his subject and into something more like personal reflection. Scholars have labeled these sections the confessions of Jeremiah. At one point, Jeremiah appears to regret the social isolation that he experienced because of his pointed and critical message. God speaks to him. It's they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you. May that be a reminder to us that there are principles that are larger than our small moment in time. And when it comes to those principles, we should ourselves be fortified walls of bronze. Join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. And to for which it stands. All are represented, and Alder Person Alfheim is joining us virtually. Roll call of officers and department heads. All are represented. Right. Need a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion of the minutes? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Okay. That motion passes 15 to 0. The minutes have been approved. All right. On to business presented by the mayor. If it's all right, let's take care of the administrative item first. Uh there's no objections. Okay. This is item 24-0108, Appleton Public Arts Committee reappointment. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Gotcha, Alder Alfheim, thank you. Alder Van Zeeland, how do you vote? All right, that motion passes 15 to zero.