Common Council Meeting July 16, 2025: Appointments, Awards, and Operational Approvals
Appleton Common Council Meeting - July 16, 2025
The Common Council met on July 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM with Mayor Jake Woodford presiding. 12 alderpersons were present, 4 excused. The meeting included appointments, flag day parade awards, several operational approvals, and a public hearing with no comment.
Business Presented by the Mayor
- City Clerk Recommendation (25-0817): Approved appointment of Amy Molliter as City Clerk. Vote: 11-0, Mayor abstained.
- Police and Fire Commission Appointment (25-0829): Approved appointment of Sherry Coley. Vote: 11-0, Mayor abstained.
- Proclamations: Children's Week (July 20-26) and Parks and Recreation Month were proclaimed.
- Flag Day Parade Awards: Parade Committee Chair Corey Otis presented awards to winners: Neenah-Menasha Honor Guard (Mayor's Trophy), Military Support Foundation (Rayburn Kaufman Memorial Award), City of Appleton/Klemme Floats (Patriot Award), and NEW Apple Corps FIRST Robotics Team 93 (Bud Otis Memorial Award).
Public Participation
- No members of the public signed up to speak. No comments.
Public Hearings
- 25-0578: Public hearing for Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment #1-25 for 0 E. Goodland Drive (Business/Industrial to Commercial). No one spoke; hearing closed.
Discussion Items and Approvals
- 25-0786: Approved permanent street occupancy permit for Heid Music bench placard in Durkee Street right-of-way. Vote: 11-0, Mayor abstained.
- 25-0507: Approved ordinance changes for parking on 500 block of W Johnston Street following a 6-month evaluation. Vote: 10-0, with Alderperson Schultz and Mayor Woodford abstaining.
- 25-0789: Approved long-term temporary street occupancy permit for a modular parklet by Creative Downtown Appleton Inc. and Appleton Downtown Inc. on Washington Street through October 31, 2025. Vote: 10-0, with Alderperson Schultz and Mayor Woodford abstaining. (Item was separated from the balance of the agenda at the request of Alderperson Meltzer.)
Committee Reports (Balance of Agenda)
The following items were approved as part of the balance of the agenda (motion carried 11-0, Mayor abstained):
- Municipal Services Committee: Parking ordinance changes on 300 block of W Foster Street (Foster Elementary School) after 6-month evaluation; pavement marking contract to Crowley Construction Corp. ($42,386); temporary generator exhaust line occupancy permit in Superior Street; State/Municipal agreements for IH 41/French Road Overpass; Lawe Street Navigational Canal Bridge agreements and design contract (City cost share $87,931.17).
- Safety and Licensing Committee: Hazardous materials response service agreement; McFleshman's retail outlet transfer for Art at the Park; license changes for Hank & Karen's Pub & Grill; pet store license renewals for Wild Habitats and PetCo; tobacco/vape license renewals; new liquor license for Ninja Sushi & Hibachi; temporary premises amendments for Mile of Music event (Wooden Nickel, Riverside Bar, Jim's Place); taxicab company license renewal for Dynasty Limousine.
- City Plan Commission: Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment #1-25 (same as public hearing) and Rezoning #4-25 from M-1 to C-2 for parcel at E. Goodland Dr and N. Conkey St.
- Parks and Recreation Committee: Approved natural sculpture request for Veterans Memorial Park.
- Finance Committee: Sole source contracts for water tower booster pump improvements (McMahon, $30,800), Mackville Quarry grading & capping (MCC, $150,795.19), 2026 sole source for portable radios (Baycom/Motorola), phosphorus analyzer for wastewater plant (William Reid, $49,845), Summer Street Lift Station replacement (Advance Construction, $1,283,550).
- Community Development Committee: Release of deed restrictions for two parcels in Northeast Business Park; variance to allow 8-foot setback to parking for proposed medical facility on E. Goodland Dr; substantial amendment to CDBG 2021 Annual Action Plan reallocating $37,000 to rental rehabilitation.
- Utilities Committee: Sanitary & storm sewer cleaning contract (Green Bay Pipe & TV, $307,500); contract amendment for solids dewatering equipment (McMahon, deduct of $5,461); digester cleaning contract (Staab Construction, $140,990).
- Fox Cities Transit Commission: Award for full fleet CAD/AVL system hardware upgrade and software subscription extension.
Ordinances
- 25-0743: Ordinances #71-25 through #92-25 were approved. Vote: 11-0, Mayor abstained.
Key Outcomes
- All appointments and operational items were approved with majority votes, mostly 11-0 or 10-0 with abstentions.
- The meeting adjourned at 7:21 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, meeting of the Appleton Common Council. Tonight's invocation will be delivered by Alder Jones. Please rise. Let us take a moment to pause and reflect with gratitude. Tonight, our meeting falls on National Cherry Day. A tribute to the beauty, bounty, and symbolism of one of nature's most cherished fruits. The cherry, small yet vibrant, reminds us of life's sweetness, the rewards of patience, and the importance of cultivating growth with care. May this meeting be filled with the spirit of renewal, cooperation, and appreciation for the land that sustains us, for the hands that harvest, and for the communities that come together in shared tradition. Let our discussions bear fruit, just as the cherry tree does with purpose, color, and care. Let it be so. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic, which stands. Roll call of Alders. All are represented with the exception of Alder Persons at Van Zelen, Fenton, Hayden, and Heffernan who are excused. Right. Roll call of officers and department heads. All are represented. Thank you. Need a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. We have a motion and a second to approve. Any discussion? Seeing none, please cast your votes. Aye. All right. That motion passes 11 to 0. The minutes have been approved. Before we handle the uh parade awards, we've got a piece of business that is rather important, and that is item 25-0817, city clerk recommendation. Need a motion. All right. We have a motion and a second. We're good. We got the second. Thank you. It's doing the thing. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve any discussion. Hearing none, please cast your votes. That motion passes 11 to 0. Congratulations, Amy Molliter, our new city clerk. All right. We have a clerk. Congratulations. Really, really excited to be working with you in this capacity, of course, as you continue your service here at the City of Appleton. So we'll have a familiar face up here on the dais for our meetings and uh look forward to the great work ahead. Congrats. All right. Uh, next, I want to welcome up Corey Otis to present awards for the flag day parade. Good evening to everybody. My name is Cory Otis.
openpublica.com