The Notes: Week of July 7 - July 11, 2025

Hello again, Neighbors!  It's back to business for the City of Appleton Common Council this week with another Committee Meetings Week.  There are some meeting cancellations to report but other than that, we'll just move right into your regular update for the week.

The following committees have cancelled meetings for the week:

• Fox Cities Transit Commission
• Board of Health
• Appleton Redevelopment Authority
• City Plan Commission
• Human Resources and Information Technology Committee

Monday, 07/07/2025

Municipal Services Committee - 4:30pm  The first two items on the agenda impact District 13 neighbors as they deal with the replacement of the French Road overpass over the the freeway (Highway 41).  Yes.  The bad news is that it must be removed and rebuilt to accommodate the expansion of the freeway.  There is a municipal/state construction project agreement to approve which says that state tax dollars will pay the majority of the project ($10.5M).  But the city will be responsible for ~$165,000 and the county will foot a much smaller bill of ~$5,700 for "overpass items."  There is no specified timeline for this complete dismantling of French Road over the freeway.  But it can't possibly happen before the new Ballard Road/I41 overpass is completed.  The second agreement to be approved deals with the continued maintenance of the bridge once it is complete:

Other items on the agenda include 

• a request for an occupancy permit for an "in memory of" sign on a bench outside of Heid Music on College Avenue,
  
  
• a request to approve a revision of an earlier inter-government project agreement -- the reconstruction of the Lawe Street Navigational Canal Bridge -- due to some higher design costs than originally anticipated.  The additional costs will increase the city's investment in this project from ~$347,000 to ~$403,000,
  
  
• a request to approve the design contract for the Lawe Street bridge mentioned above (the total of which is nearly $440,000 towards which the city will contribute ~$88,000), and
  
  
• a request to approve the seasonal placement of the Appleton Downtown, Inc (ADI) temporary parklet again on the northwest corner of Washington Street and Appleton Street.

Finance Committee - 5:30pm  This committee will review and look to approve a number of contract awards and a couple of sole-sourcing requests.  Here's the short list:

• approval of an engineering contract for a water tower booster pump improvement project for the city.  The proposed contract will be approximately 6% of the total budget for the project when most engineering contracts are nearer to 15% of a project budget total.  So this is, I suppose a "deal" at $30,800 (including contingency),
  
  
• approval of an under budget grading and capping project at the Mackville Quarry (for the city's stormwater utility),
  
  
• a sole-source request to approve Baycom/Motorola for replacement of 115 portable radios for the Appleton Police Department (APD).  Sole-sourcing in this case would save the city about $1,000 per radio with some promotional pricing being offered by the supplier,
  
  
• another sole-source request to use one provider for the city's wastewater treatment facility's phosphorus analyzers.  This sole-source provider is the only dealer authorized to sell the highest-rated analyzers (as determined by an internal team of city employees most familiar with the use of said devices), and
  
  
• a request to approve an under-budget contract for construction work at the city's Summer Street Lift Station.  The budget remaining for construction on this project is ~$1.4M and the lowest responsible bid to be approved would be ~$1.2M with a ~$89,500 contingency, for a total not to exceed ~$1.3M.
  

Parks and Recreation Committee - 6pm  Members of this committee will be asked to approve one action item.  It's the same thing that was approved by the city's public arts committee last week -- placement of a non-permanent pinecone-based natural sculpture in Memorial Park.  

Tuesday, 07/08/2025

Utilities Committee - 4:30pm  These committee members, too, have only one action item on their agenda: to approve the low bidder for an egg-shaped digesters project at the Appleton Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWWTP).  

Wednesday, 07/09/2025

Community Development Committee - 4:30pm  There will be an official public hearing on the first item up for approval by this committee.  Some 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the city were allocated for "homebuyer assistance and homeowner rehabilitation" with the Appleton Housing Authority (AHA).  AHA has not yet used those funds for said purposes and is now requesting that the city allow the amount as yet unspent -- $37,000 -- to be used instead for "rental rehabilitation."  The funds would then go towards rehabilitation of rental homes for low- and moderate-income renters. 

Committee members will also look to approve a covenants variance for a change in required parking setbacks in the business park near Goodland Drive and Conkey Street.  Fifteen feet is required per covenants; but the applicant is asking for eight feet instead.  The proposal is to use this lot for a medical facility versus an "industrial" use.  As such, the city staff recommend that the variance be allowed.  The parking areas on this lot will be required to meet minimum city ordinance requirements as far as landscaping buffering.  

Safety and Licensing Committee - 5:30pm  There are three alcohol license demerit points hearings scheduled to start this committee meeting.  Foxtrot Saloon was convicted of serving alcohol to a minor and received 80 demerit points.  Lindo Michoacan received 40 demerit points for serving alcohol with no licensed operator on site.  And also for selling alcohol with no licensed operator on site, the Walgreens on West College Avenue received 40 demerit points.  Representatives from all three establishments are required to appear before this committee and make note of what changes they are making to ensure that no further violations take place.  There is, however, one catch: there is no penalty for not showing up for these hearings.  So... there may or may not be any hearings at all.

In action items, the committee will look to approve a 2025-2027 hazmat response services agreement between the city and the State of Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, some Art at the Park and Mile of Music temporary premises amendments and full service retail outlet licenses (ie - parking lot liquor service and beer trailers), a couple of smoking/vaping device license renewals and pet store license renewals, and a change of agent request.   

In information items, there are a number of other licensed establishments noted for demerit points for selling alcohol to minors: Walmart on Calumet Street, Scuba's Pourhouse, Rascal's Bar and Grill, and Appleton Liquor on Meade Street.  The Fire Chief will give a couple of departmental updates.  And the committee will perhaps hear a bit more on the process surrounding the Appleton Area School District request for a city truancy ordinance.  

And with that, the week's meetings will come to a close.  Do you have any questions or concerns about any of the above items?  Please reach out to me with anything you might want to know more about or about which you have concerns.  I am always happy to hear from you!  

I hope that you all have a great first full week of July!  Meet me back here next week for more on the goings on in your city government.  Thanks for reading today!