OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Appleton Common Council Meeting April 2, 2025: Budget, Parking Study, Departing Alders

Common Council — Wednesday, April 2, 2025
BodyAppleton, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council
DateWednesday, April 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:17:25

Transcript — Verbatim
0:13

Yep.

0:17

Good evening.

0:18

I now call to order the Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 meeting of the Appleton Common Council.

0:23

I'll please rise for the invocation, which will be a moment of silence.

0:39

Thank you.

0:40

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:42

I pledge allegiance of the United States of America and to the requirement.

0:48

Which stands one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:04

All are represented with the exception of Alderperson Sievers, who is excused.

1:08

Roll call of officers and department heads.

1:10

All are represented.

1:11

All right.

1:12

Need a motion on the minutes from the previous meeting.

1:15

We have a motion and a second to approve.

1:18

Is there any discussion of the minutes?

1:23

Hearing none, please cast your votes.

1:38

That motion passes 14 to 0.

1:40

The minutes have been approved.

1:43

All right, on a business presented by the mayor.

1:46

First is item 25-0319 Board of Zoning Appeals reappointments.

1:54

We have a motion and a second to approve.

1:57

Any discussion.

2:02

Hearing none, please cast your votes.

2:11

Motion passes 14 to 0.

2:14

Those reappointments have been approved.

2:16

And want to thank Paul and Karen for continuing in their service.

2:20

It's an interesting assignment, and we're grateful that uh they they seem to enjoy doing it, or at least they don't say no.

2:26

So we we're we're appreciative in any case.

2:29

All right, moving on to 25-0320.

2:33

Fox City's Transit Commission appointment.

2:36

Need a motion.

2:39

We have a motion and a second to approve.

2:43

Any discussion.

2:48

Hearing none, please cast your votes.

2:56

Motion passes 14 to 0.

2:59

Uh my is no stranger to us, uh, so we're we're excited to rope her back into some city service, and uh we appreciate her willingness to serve.

3:09

Uh so looking forward to getting my US started on the Fox Cities Transit Commission.

3:14

Thank you for approving her appointment.

3:18

All right, moving along to public participation.

3:22

We're gonna just check our sheet here.

3:25

We also do have a public hearing this evening, so if you are here to talk about the special resolution 2P25 concrete pavement, sidewalk construction and driveway aprons.

3:37

Uh that'll be coming up here in a moment.

3:48

All right, as a reminder, public participation is limited to items which appear on the agenda, and we ask speakers to limit their comments to five minutes or less, and I will help you keep track of time.

3:59

Uh we didn't have anyone sign up ahead of time, but uh want to just check and see is there anyone from the public who wishes to speak.

4:06

Please step up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record.

4:11

My name is Ron Jones.

4:13

I live at 1125 North River Cliff Drive in Appleton.

4:18

And I am here tonight to speak to the finance committee minutes.

4:21

Item number 25 uh-030.

4:26

That is the denial of a request to utilize carryover funds from a capital project to hire a consultant to prepare a sustainable sustainability master plan for the city of Appleton.

4:38

I am a member of the Appleton Sustainability Advisory Panel, and I would like to go on record supporting that proposal, the fund, a hiring of a consultant to develop the sustainability master plan for the city.

5:00

You need to understand that Appleton Sustainability Advisory Panel is made up of volunteers with varying experiences and expertise in environmental and sustainability issues.

5:07

We meet for one hour a month and then individually spend time between studying and working on various issues.

5:16

Steve Schraggy, the staff person who relates to our panel, has his time limited to 20%.

5:24

Not much.

6:27

If the initiative is funded this fiscal year with carryover funds, I'm sure it will be put, if it is not funded this year, I'm sure it will be put in next year's budget, which I will suspect this council will support.

6:44

The advantage of utilizing these carryover funds now rather than waiting for the future budget is that we will get a year's jump on the process of developing a sustainability master plan which will enable Appleton's sustainability advisory panel to advance actionable sustainability projects to the for the council at a sooner and a much at a sooner pace.

7:11

In my view, time is of the essence in climate change.

7:14

Ten of the warmest years on record have occurred in the last 15 years, with the last two years being the warmest on record.

7:24

As you are well aware, the federal government is taking huge steps backwards on climate change and initiatives.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parking Management█████████████████████21%
Personnel Matters███████████████████19%
Procedural███████████████15%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Technology and Innovation██████████10%
Finance and Budget███████7%
Sustainability Initiatives█████5%
Public Transportation█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Appleton Common Council Meeting - April 2, 2025

The Common Council met on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of routine items, a public hearing on street construction, debate over a $200,000 parking study, referral of a sustainability consultant budget item back to committee, and recognition of three departing alderpersons. The meeting adjourned at 8:21 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of March 19, 2025 meeting minutes (14-0).
  • Reappointment of Paul and Karen to the Board of Zoning Appeals (14-0).
  • Appointment of My to the Fox Cities Transit Commission (14-0).
  • Approval of Final Resolution 2-P-25 for concrete pavement, sidewalk construction, and driveway aprons on multiple streets (14-0).
  • Approval of 13 ordinances (#29-25 to #41-25) (14-0).
  • Approval of numerous committee action items, including:
    • Long-term temporary occupancy permits for Holton Brothers, Hoffman, and Blue Sky Contractors.
    • Parking changes on Durkee Street by Einstein Middle School.
    • Easement release for I-41 water main and sanitary sewer relocation.
    • Sole source request for Axon Air/DroneSense ($42,322.16).
    • Several alcohol license amendments, changes of agent, and temporary permits.
    • Secondhand dealer license renewal for GameStop.
    • Full service retail outlet request for Hammen Family Winery at Farmer's Market.
    • Special use permit for a parking lot at 131 North Appleton Street.
    • Approval of budget carryover appropriations – Items not under contract ($13,811,792).
    • Approval of special consideration items ($1,015,502) after referral back of facilities capital project ($127,631).
    • Several contract awards: sidewalk sawcutting (ASTI Sawing Inc, $30,000), mini storm sewer (M&E Construction, $250,000), lead service replacement (Scott Lamers Construction, $486,212.08), parking structure repair (Restoration Systems Inc, $1,388,594.50).
    • Acceptance of DNR Safe Drinking Water Loan ($618,975) for private lead service line replacement.
    • Change orders for W-25 sewer/water construction and generator control equipment.
    • Award of wastewater treatment hardscapes and truck scale project (Vinton Construction, $1,575,627.56).
    • Authorization for transit commission maintenance support vehicle purchase.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Participation: Ron Jones (1125 N Briarcliff Dr) expressed support for funding a sustainability master plan using carryover funds, arguing it would accelerate actionable projects; he noted the Appleton Sustainability Advisory Panel is composed of volunteers with limited staff support and that time is critical given climate change and federal inaction.
  • Public Hearing (2-P-25): Kevin Kerstner (2205 W Charles St) raised concerns about tree stumps left after removal on his boulevard, roots that may be cut during sidewalk construction, and a citation he received for connecting a downspout to a storm sewer lateral after following a city letter – he is now facing a court date. He also mentioned issues with water bill classification of gravel vs. blacktop and a special use permit for his business. The Mayor directed staff to follow up on tree and other issues.

Discussion Items

  • 25-0300 Budget Carryover Appropriations – Special Consideration Items: Alderperson Van Zeeland moved to refer back the sustainability consultant portion ($127,631) from the special consideration category for more thorough committee discussion. The Council agreed, referring that amount back to the Finance Committee. The remaining special consideration items ($1,015,502) and items not under contract ($13,811,792) were approved.
  • 25-0297 DPW Parking Utility Strategic Planning and Marketing Study ($200,000): Alderperson Fenton urged approval, noting the 2015 study is outdated, parking conditions have changed significantly (e.g., 400 new downtown residents, 650 more daily workers at 222 building), and the study would evaluate EV charging, wayfinding, and marketing. Alderperson Hartzheim opposed, citing high cost, concern over government involvement in EV charging, and limited scope to downtown. Alderperson Schultz and Alfheim supported, arguing the study is needed for data-driven decisions on downtown growth and EV infrastructure.
    • Amendment: Alderperson Doran moved to strike several bullet points from the scope (analysis of existing parking supply, evaluation of marketing/wayfinding, evaluation of EV charging, and $95,143 for strategic planning/marketing). The amendment failed (2-12).
    • Main Motion: The original motion to approve the parking study passed (10-4).

Key Outcomes

  • Budget Carryover Referral: The facilities capital project amount of $127,631 for the sustainability consultant was referred back to the Finance Committee.
  • Parking Study Approved: The contract with Walker Consultants for $200,000 for a parking utility strategic planning and marketing study was approved (10-4).
  • Consent Agenda Approved: All remaining committee action items were approved (14-0).
  • Ordinances Approved: 13 ordinances were approved (14-0).
  • Departing Alderpersons Recognized: The Council recognized departing members William Siebers, Kris Alfheim, and Chad Doran for their service. Several alderpersons and the Mayor offered tributes.
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:21 PM (14-0).

Meeting Transcript

Yep. Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 meeting of the Appleton Common Council. I'll please rise for the invocation, which will be a moment of silence. Thank you. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance of the United States of America and to the requirement. Which stands one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All are represented with the exception of Alderperson Sievers, who is excused. Roll call of officers and department heads. All are represented. All right. Need a motion on the minutes from the previous meeting. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion of the minutes? Hearing none, please cast your votes. That motion passes 14 to 0. The minutes have been approved. All right, on a business presented by the mayor. First is item 25-0319 Board of Zoning Appeals reappointments. We have a motion and a second to approve. Any discussion. Hearing none, please cast your votes. Motion passes 14 to 0. Those reappointments have been approved. And want to thank Paul and Karen for continuing in their service. It's an interesting assignment, and we're grateful that uh they they seem to enjoy doing it, or at least they don't say no. So we we're we're appreciative in any case. All right, moving on to 25-0320. Fox City's Transit Commission appointment. Need a motion. We have a motion and a second to approve. Any discussion. Hearing none, please cast your votes. Motion passes 14 to 0. Uh my is no stranger to us, uh, so we're we're excited to rope her back into some city service, and uh we appreciate her willingness to serve. Uh so looking forward to getting my US started on the Fox Cities Transit Commission. Thank you for approving her appointment. All right, moving along to public participation. We're gonna just check our sheet here. We also do have a public hearing this evening, so if you are here to talk about the special resolution 2P25 concrete pavement, sidewalk construction and driveway aprons. Uh that'll be coming up here in a moment. All right, as a reminder, public participation is limited to items which appear on the agenda, and we ask speakers to limit their comments to five minutes or less, and I will help you keep track of time. Uh we didn't have anyone sign up ahead of time, but uh want to just check and see is there anyone from the public who wishes to speak. Please step up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. My name is Ron Jones. I live at 1125 North River Cliff Drive in Appleton. And I am here tonight to speak to the finance committee minutes. Item number 25 uh-030. That is the denial of a request to utilize carryover funds from a capital project to hire a consultant to prepare a sustainable sustainability master plan for the city of Appleton.

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