The Notes: Week of September 13 - September 17, 2021

Thank you, District 13 Neighbors, for joining me here again for the latest on Appleton city government.  We are in Full Council Week this week and there are a few items of interest on the agenda that I'll summarize below.  

Common Council Meeting - Appleton City Hall - Wednesday, September 09/15/2021, 7pm

From the Mayor's Office:

• The mayor and/or city staff will provide a library project update, a COVID19 update, a proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month, and a request for council approval of some mayoral appointments.

From the City Plan Commission:

• The final plat of Apple Fields (here in District 13) is up for full council approval.  I discussed this last week in my blog and am fully in favor of this.

From the Community and Economic Development Committee:

• As I also mentioned last week, there is a resolution in front of the council to support the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the Fox Cities/Appleton.  During the committee meeting last week, there was much discussion on whether this issue is truly in need of a resolution from the council or whether what would be better would be a proclamation from the council.  I suggested, in fact, a joint proclamation from the council and the mayor so that it can be seen as a very strong statement of support from the city for the safe resettlement of these refugees.  That notion, however, was summarily dismissed by resolution authors and other speakers present except Alderman Alfheim who agrees with me that this resolution is not one of action but more one of a strong statement of support.  Alderman Alfheim directly asked the city's Director of Community and Economic Development, Karen Harkness, whether the passing of this resolution by council would result in her department, or indeed anyone with whom her department works in the city, doing anything differently than they currently are doing or will do in the future in terms of this resettlement effort.  Her clear statement was that it will NOT change what has been done or what will be done.  To me, the answer on whether this is a time for a proclamation (a statement of support) rather than a resolution (a requiring of action that would not have been taken without the resolution) was made crystal clear with that response.
  
  There is a very thorough recap of the committee meeting here.  
  
  It remains my opinion that this resolution is not one of action and is unneeded (in the form of a resolution).  I am fully in favor of our city council and city departments continuing to do everything possible to both help in these efforts and to urge support from our constituents in this effort as well.  My blog post last week contained several links to resources which I would encourage all of us in District 13 and beyond to review and decide how each of us can best assist in this effort.  Director Harkness also provided this document to those at the committee meeting which supplements those links which I provided.
  
  I want you all to know that I do not intend to vote in favor of this resolution in full council simply because it is not meant to be a resolution.  However, I want to make it very clear to you all that I fully support the Afghan resettlement effort and the actions that the city has taken and will take in this process.  I simply feel that it is wrong to be bullied and intimidated into voting for a resolution which does nothing more than make a statement where a proclamation would be appropriate.  I am willing to take a stand on this as I think it important as we move forward in the spirit of cooperation as a city council.  You cannot have cooperation in a governing body if members are coerced or intimidated to take actions with which they are in procedural disagreement. 
  
  Many council members (including me) marched arm-in-arm for the city's solemn memorial service on 09/11/2021 to show our desire for Common Council cooperation.  I am hopeful that this was not simply a meaningless symbolic gesture as we move forward this week.  (Photo credit: Appleton Post Crescent online.)
  
  
  
  
  I look to you for your feedback in this regard.  So please email me with your thoughts.

 From the Human Resources and Information Technology Committee:

• This committee (on which I serve) voted to change the previously proposed salary increase of nearly 63% (to $10,125) which was approved by this committee with different membership in March 2021.  Instead, the now proposed increase is 8.5% (to $6750) starting in 2023.  Some will say that an 8.5% increase is also quite extreme.  So, please let me give you a bit of perspective:
  
  The alderman salary in the city has only been increased a total of 13.8% since 2003.  In contrast, the federal cost of living adjustment (COLA, which is the amount by which social security is increased each year) has gone up a total of 36.8% since 2003.  This Social Security website shows that the average and median net compensation in the US have also far outpaced the city of Appleton alderman salaries increases in the last 18 years. 
  
  The proposed 2023 salary is $1.34/constituent in the city.  The committee thought we it wise for the city to want the position of alderman to be something that is more inviting to a wider group of people. It’s still not a living wage by any means and it’s not meant to be. But it could entice a greater number of people who might otherwise feel unable to serve as an alderman to run for these positions. It’s still a position of *service* but this salary increase could bring a greater pool of individuals to the table to serve as aldermen. 
  
  Many committee members went into the committee meeting hoping to approve an "automatic" increase each year (1.5% or something close to COLA each year) so that this discussion does not have to take place annually and there will only be a nominal increase each year.  However, Attorney Darrin Glad from the city attorney's office announced at the meeting that there are state statutes and legal opinions which disallow automatic salary increases for elected positions.   
  
  It was a very good committee discussion and I expect that this item will be further discussed by full council this week as well.  I am generally pleased with and feel confident in voting for the 2023 salary as the committee recommends.  But we shall see what other discussion this item merits in full council.  I would love your feedback if you have other thoughts in this regard.  
  

In other news...

The Municipal Services Committee will meet before the full council on Wednesday night (at 6:45pm) to vote on a few items that also show up on the full council agenda.  Sidewalks in Linwood Park (which were approved in August by the Parks and Recreation Committee to take place when the roads adjacent to the park are reconstructed), a permit for dumpster placement in parking spaces on College Avenue for the reconstruction project at the Paper Valley Hotel, and the discussion of a contract for a new provider for the server for our public safety cameras will all be taken up at this protracted meeting.

The Library Board will also meet this week (Tuesday, 09/14/2021, 4:30pm) to discuss board committee assignments, the budget and financials, an update on the library project (which will no doubt be similar to what the full council will hear Wednesday night), and an update of the College Avenue North Neighborhood Plan.  My greatest concern right now with the library project is the plan for parking.  I will be interested to hear whether the Yellow Lot will be the ultimate solution (which I am not fully in favor of) or whether the building plans will be modified to allow for more lot/street parking on the south side of the building.  You and I will have to tune in online or join them at City Hall that day/time for more information, I guess.  

As always, I'm glad you joined me here today!  Let me know if you have any other items of concern or need a question about city government answered.  Tune in again next week for more... Until then, have a wonderful week!