The Appleton Common Council met on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. Mayor Jake Woodford presided. Thirteen alderpersons were present, three were excused, and Mayor Woodford abstained from most votes. The meeting included the appointment of a new Parks and Recreation Director, approval of multiple proclamations, public testimony on an operator license denial, and votes on fee schedules, policy updates, and various licenses.
The following items were approved without separate discussion as part of the balance of the agenda (motion carried 12-0):
Good evening. I now call to order the Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 meeting of the Appleton Common Council. Please rise for the invocation, which will be delivered by Elder Sansel Martin. Thank you, Chair. As many of you know, I am a student, and recently I've been spending a great deal of time studying the 1968 election for a paper that I've been writing. It was a year marked by a war, by political division, social unrest, and a common feeling among many Americans that their institutions were failing them. Electives and citizens alike sharply disagreed over the direction of their country, and constituents often questioned whether their leaders on the local, state, and federal level were even listening. Studying the late 60s reminds me that moments of uncertainty are not new. Democracy has always been tested by conflict and frustration. Yet through difficult times, communities endure because people continue to participate, to organize, to speak out, and to believe that a better future is worth striving for. A lesson that I, as a student, have learned from my studies is not that division is something to fear. In a society like ours, disagreements are inevitable. Rather, the lesson is that resilience matters. Progress is made when people remain engaged despite setbacks. Progress is made when they defend the principles of fairness and dignity. Progress is made when people refuse to give up on the institutions and the communities they call home. As we gather tonight to conduct our business, may we approach our discussions with humility and mutual respect. And as we begin Pride Month, we are reminded that many of the rights and opportunities enjoyed today by countless Appletonians were secured because ordinary people had the courage to be visible, to advocate for themselves, and to persevere in the face of adversity. The people who came before us are a testament to the strength and power of civic participation and engagement. Thank you. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call of Alders. All are represented with the exception of Alder Persons Ferkas, Heffernan, and Jones who are excused. Alder Person Crote is joining us virtually. Thank you. Roll call of officers and department heads. All are represented. Okay. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion of the minutes? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Motion passes 12 to 0. The minutes have been approved. On a business presented by the mayor, uh 26-0738, a recommendation for our next parks and recreation director. I am pleased to recommend Tom Flick to serve as the next parks and recreation director for the city of Appleton. Mr. Flick has more than 29 years of professional experience in parks, recreation, and facilities management. He served as the Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Appleton since 2015 and most recently is the interim director since January of 2026. He holds a bachelor of science degree from University of Wisconsin LaCrosse and is both a certified facilities manager and a certified parks and recreation professional. Prior to joining the city of Appleton, he held several leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. His experience includes staff leadership and supervision, budgeting, parks and recreation planning, and facilities and construction project management. So it's my honor to make this recommendation to you this evening. And I'll also note that this recommendation comes after a competitive search process. We uh conducted our customary search uh for department head positions, sought applications, and held a competitive interviewing process. Uh and I'm bringing forward this recommendation to all of you tonight. So I'm looking for a motion from uh the council. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, please cast your votes. I thank you.