Appleton Common Council Meeting – November 19, 2025
Appleton Common Council Meeting – November 19, 2025
The Appleton Common Council met on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Mayor Jake Woodford presided, with 15 alderpersons present, one excused (Brad Firkus), and all department heads represented except the Library Director and Parks and Recreation Director. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, a public hearing on Plan Appleton, adoption of a comprehensive plan update, approval of a drainage study, and a contract for brownfield services. The meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Meeting Minutes Approved: The minutes of the November 5, 2025 Common Council meeting and the November 12, 2025 Budget Adoption meeting were approved by a vote of 14-0, with Mayor Woodford abstaining.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jennifer Sunstrom, Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs for the Realtors Association of Northeast Wisconsin, spoke in full support of the Plan Appleton comprehensive plan update. She praised the consultants, data presentation, housing focus, and extensive public engagement process, stating that no one could claim the plan was pushed through "in the dark of night."
- Abby Maslanka, a civil engineer from Menasha who works in Appleton, expressed support for the comprehensive plan. She commended the city's open-ear approach to stakeholders, noted she attended two public engagement events, and voiced support on behalf of residents facing housing cost burdens (paying more than 30% of income on housing).
Public Hearing
- A public hearing was held for the adoption of Plan Appleton (Item 25-1423). No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The mayor acknowledged that comments made during Public Participation counted toward the hearing record.
Discussion Items
- Plan Appleton – Comprehensive Plan Update (Item 25-1163): Alderperson Fenton thanked the community participants, city staff (especially principal planner Lindsay Smith), and noted the unified vision. Alderperson Meltzer described the process as amazing and the best during her council tenure. Alderperson Smith praised the public participation and product quality. Alderperson Schultz asked about outdated appendixes (Fox River Corridor Plan from 2011). Director Holman explained that implementation will be the priority, and updates to older sub-area plans will occur in future years. The motion to adopt Plan Appleton carried 14-0.
- Providence Trails Drainage Study (Item 25-1212): Alderperson Hartzheim thanked DPW staff and urged adoption of Alternative 3 as recommended by the Utilities Committee, calling it a balanced approach. Alderperson Meltzer commended Hartzheim’s advocacy and staff’s due diligence. The study findings and recommendations were approved 14-0.
- Brownfield Services Contract – Stantec Consulting (Item 25-1410): The council awarded a contract to Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. for grant writing services at no cost to the city and for grant-funded environmental testing and remediation not to exceed $190,000, contingent on securing EPA and WEDC grants. The motion passed 13-0, with Alderperson Jones abstaining and Mayor Woodford also abstaining.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted Resolution #2025-15 approving Plan Appleton (a complete update of the Comprehensive Plan) by a vote of 14-0.
- Approved Resolution to Change Aldermanic District 15 Polling Place (Item 25-1345) by a vote of 14-0.
- Approved Providence Trails Drainage Study Findings and Recommendations (Alternative 3) by a vote of 14-0.
- Approved Contract with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. for brownfield services with the noted conditions, by a vote of 13-0 (two abstentions).
- Approved the Balance of the Agenda (including minutes from committees, street design approvals, permits, contract amendments, and other routine items) by a vote of 14-0.
- Approved Ordinance #119-25 (Item 25-1422) by a vote of 14-0.
- Adjourned at 7:26 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and alcohol to order the Wednesday, November 19th, 2025. Please rise for the invocation, which will be delivered by Elder Smith. Oh, I give you the wrong four. Okay, my apologies. The past two weeks in a class, I've been working through the life and writings of Gandhi with students. To read about this nonviolent activist is daunting, as he single-mindedly dedicated his life to helping achieve Indian independence. But reading him, I find insights that apply to our time as well as his. It's a wisdom that's practical, not theoretical, always simple and always plainly stated. Gandhi confronted an India that had deep divisions between religious traditions between the majority population and those of a lower caste, the so-called untouchables. Considering the division of caste, Gandhi wrote the only way is to befriend the people of lower caste by going to their quarters, by hugging their children as you do your own, by interesting yourselves in their welfare, by finding out whether they get enough to eat, whether they get pure water to drink, whether they have the fresh light and air that you enjoy as a right. He wrote similarly when it came comes to healing religious divisions. Extending the personal hand of friendship to your neighbors is the only sure way to heal national divisions. This was seemed to indicate that the path to healing our own divisions isn't to say the right words on a national stage, but to meet people right here in Appleton. That is at least a piece of our role as alders to extend the hand of friendship to others. Another point Gandhi makes is the impossibility of limiting our love and affection to one level of social life. He wrote, one's respective duty towards oneself, family, nation, and the world cannot be divided into watertight compartments. The harm done to oneself or one's family cannot bring about the good of the nation. Similarly, one cannot benefit the nation by acting against the world at large. Thus, we must sacrifice ourselves to the interest of the family. The family must do so for the nation and the nation for the world. It's a picture of the duty of service that always moves upwards and out to a wider population. We can never rest with doing good to our people, our city, our state, or even our nation. Gandhi is popularly quoted as saying, be the change you want to see in the world. He never actually said that, but the sentiment is correct. According to him, we start with ourselves, then follow a duty of service and love. Right now, and in this council chamber, we serve the population of Appleton. In a moment, we'll reaffirm our duty to America, and in our hearts we'll know our service doesn't stop there. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. One nation individual with liberty and justice. Roll call of Alders. All are represented with the exception of Alder Person Firkus, who is excused. Roll call of officers and department heads. All are represented with the exceptions of Director, Library Director Rortbett, and Parks and Recreation Director Gaza, who are excused. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion of the minutes? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Motion passes 14 to 0. Those minutes have been approved. Next is 25-1420. Common council meeting minutes of the budget adoption on November 12th. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion of the minutes? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Motion passes 14 to zero. Those minutes have been approved. So we will move along to public participation. We ask that you limit your comments to five minutes. And we will begin with uh Jen Sundstrom. Good evening.
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