Good evening.

I now call to order the Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 meeting of the Appleton Common Council.

Please rise for the invocation, which will be delivered by Alder Schultz.

It happens in this job.

The occasional constituent requests that makes you turn your head like a quizzical puppy.

Do what now?

You want me to ask APD to stop chasing and catching wild turkeys?

Is that what you said?

Did you ask to see if I get rid of all the terrorizing woodchucks coming into your yard from the neighboring property?

Because odd as some of these things we get asked to do are, they are no less relevant and worthy of our attention.

Even if this just to say I'm sorry, there's not much Nyline or staff can do to help you manage this, might I suggest.

So it's so.

In fact, sometimes that's all our constituents need to hear that we listened and offered what assistance or staff redirect we could.

Of course, community problems tend to be far more significant.

Flooded basements, industrial noise pollution, tree removals due to street reconstructions, true and street court, and the like.

And sometimes these issues engulf this deliberative body and test our personal views as we are votes to balance them against the needs of the greater community good.

But we have that responsibility.

And it's good to remind ourselves that there are many places around the world where our little city democratic process is still just a dream.

We are so fortunate to live in a community where differences can be voiced without violence, where neighbors have many backgrounds, traditions, and perspectives, can share our public spaces, our incredible parks, our workplaces.

This is not something we should ever take for granted.

In fact, it's the strength and foundation for a peaceful and welcoming city.

And one we must protect and nurture.

So no matter how odd the request or how heated or challenging the council deliberation and decision is in front of us, let's endeavor to recognize that the spirit of peace is not only beginning in treaties or world assemblies, it begins in small moments like these.

In councils like this one, where diverse voices come together to find common ground.

When we practice empathy with one another, we mirror what we wish to see on a global stage.

Dialogue instead of silence, compassion instead of suspicion, cooperation instead of conflict.

After all, isn't this our golden rule?

Our shared imperative and how we get this job done.

Working together to help our constituents and our great community as we would help ourselves.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance.

Roll call of Alder Persons.

All are represented with the exception of Alder Person Hafernan, who is excused, and Alder Person Smith.

And roll call of officers and department heads.

All are represented.

Right, need a motion on the minutes of the previous meeting.

We have a motion and a second to approve.

Any discussion on the minutes.

Hearing none, please cast your votes.

All right, that motion passes 13 to zero.

The minutes have been approved.

All right, on a business presented by the mayor.

Uh just a number of proclamations uh to share with you this evening.

Uh recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Appleton.

Uh, the day of peace celebration is coming up.

It is also childhood cancer awareness month.

We'll be recognizing literacy week.

And it is suicide prevention awareness month in the city of Appleton.

Uh all of these proclamations can be found in the materials for this meeting, and we'll be making presentations uh at various events throughout the community over the course of the month.

I have no other business to present to you, so we'll move on now to public participation.

We have one member signed up, uh, one member of the public signed up to speak.

Again, these are an items that appear on the agenda.

We ask that members of the public limit their time to five minutes uh or less, and uh we will help you keep track of time.

Again, we have one member of the public signed up to speak, and uh so we'll welcome Sarah Leet, who has two items she wishes to speak on.

Welcome, Sarah.

Thank you, Mary Woodford.

My name is Sarah Leet, and I live at 1027 West Oklahoma Street.

My comments tonight are related to the world peace event and the park naming policy.

I think in my statements tonight, uh, talking again about the themes of communication, particularly in situations where there is an artificially compressed timeline.

Again, I find this unacceptable.