Committee Notes for the week of 1/10/22

If it seems like it's been awhile since there has been any council or committee action, that's because it has been! Our last meeting was Dec. 15th. A lack of agenda items and holidays that followed, pushed back any action until committee meetings that start up again this week. 

That said, there are still several meetings that are cancelled for this week due to lack of action items. Before we jump into the meetings that are happening, I want to give a special thank you to our men and women at the Appleton Police Department on this (Sunday) Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. 

Photo shared by the Appleton Human Resources Department on Facebook

Finance Committee

Monday 5:30 p.m. - Among the list of items are two that some of you may have remembered being discussed before. First is a request to award a contract for the construction of a pickelball complex at Telulah Park. 

A pickleball complex

A $500,000 donation for the project was made by Mary Beth Neinhaus in 2021 to fund the project. Only one company bid, but the staff reviewed the bid and felt it was fair, coming in just under $500,000.

The other item of note is a proposal for rebranding. The council approved setting aside $450,000 in excess general fund balance dollars from 2020. The first phase of the project would be the brand development phase and the second phase is the brand implementation. The development phase is crucial and will create the new brand for the city and a new logo, through research, focus groups and other design work. 

Current City of Appleton logo

The firm the staff recommended out of five who submitted proposals, is Unlisted, LLC., a local firm from Appleton. Having spent parts of two years advancing a branding project for the City when I was still working for the City, I've done a lot of research on this topic. I have a number of questions and some initial concerns about the firm selected. I'll be in attendance for the meeting Monday and hope to address those concerns and questions at that time. 

Utilities Committee

Tuesday 5:00 p.m. - The main agenda item for the Utilities Committee is to approve a lead service line replacement program. The ordinance language for the program was approved by the council last month.

A lead service line inside a home

Using ARPA funding, the city allocated $1 million to help homeowners who have lead water service lines running into their homes. These are generally older homes of a certain age and city staff will be reaching out to affected homeowners early in 2022. Homeowners can choose to replace the line themselves at their own expense within one year of notification, or participate in the city's program and receive funding to help with the replacement of the water line. Any property restoration is done at the homeowners expense. If a homeowner participates in the city's program, they must respond to the city within thirty days of notification.

This is a a good use of these ARPA funds to protect the health of our community and fits one of the limited uses ARPA funds can be allocated for. 

Board of Health

Wednesday 7:00 a.m. - The Board of Health will take up a resolution to make changes to the city's bee keeping regulations. Following introduction of the resolution to allow two additional bee colonies for the purposes of reproducing a new queen bee only, the city staff are recommending corresponding changes to the current rules that would allow for that to happen.

Plan Commission 

Wednesday 3:30 p.m. - The Plan Commission will hold two public hearings and accompanying votes on requests for special use permits for a new restaurant and amusement business. 

Community & Economic Development Committee

Wednesday 4:30 p.m. - The Community & Economic Development Committee will be asked to recommend approval of the second phase of a development agreement with Merge LLC, on a development on the site of the former Blue Parking Ramp north of the City Center. 

A rendering of the project. Phase one of the left was already approved. 

The second phase of this project is for a five-story development which would include a mix of 75 residential units and ground floor commercial uses. Under the agreement, the city will provide up to $2.16 million in incentives. The project is expected to be valued at $12 million. 

Safety and Licensing Committee

Wednesday 5:30 p.m. - The Safety and Licensing Committee will take up a request from the fire department to provide confined space emergency services to Purina Foods in Little Chute. This is a valuable service to an area business that not every area fire department can provide. I support these types of shared service agreements across municipal boundaries and hope we as a city can continue to find more of these beneficial opportunities. 

The Committee will also review a number of beer and liquor license requests. It will also hear an update from the City Clerk on the 2022 Spring Election. As it pertains to Appleton Common Council races, these are the people who will be on the ballot in the even numbered districts that are up for election in the spring. 

Screenshot of the council races from the Post-Crescent

On the topic of elections, I'll also just remind voters here in District 15 that I am on the ballot for the Calumet County Board, running to represent a portion of our district and a portion of the Village of Harrison as the 5th district supervisor. Also, fellow councilmembers Sheri Hartzheim and Michael Smith are running for seats on the Outagamie County Board. 

Get In Touch

I am always available to answer questions at district15@appleton.org or (920) 419-1360. As always, agendas can be found on the agenda and meetings page of the city website. Meetings can be viewed live on the website or watched at a later date. Meetings are also open for anyone to attend in person and all meetings take place in the Common Council chambers on the 6th floor of City Hall, unless otherwise noted.