Appleton Common Council District 6 Update, November 22, 2021
Good morning District 6,
I had intended to start this update with some thoughts about Thanksgiving and gratitude in general, but the tragic event in Waukesha last night is all I can think about right now. I am trying to stay off of social media and wait until the authorities finish their investigation, but I can’t help thinking about all the parades I marched in as a band kid, and the ones where I watched my daughters’ dance groups perform. My heart is broken for the families and the community.
As of this writing, the Appleton Christmas Parade is still scheduled to begin at 7:00 tomorrow night. More information, including parking restrictions and street closures, can be found HERE:
With the adoption of the 2022 budget on November 10, we begin to wrap up the year at City Hall. I was comfortable voting for the budget as presented by the mayor and city staff, as I think it shows strong support for the library project and appreciation for city employees who keep our community running, while putting us on a path to keep debt for capital improvement projects at a more sustainable level.
At the Common Council meeting on November 17, we voted to approve the hiring of a new Information Technology Director, Corey Popp. His resume is impressive, and I will look forward to working with him in my role as chair of the Human Resources and Information Technology Committee.
During the COVID update from Interim Health Office Jensen, we heard that our case numbers have increased to a level we have not seen since January. You may have also seen the story in the Post-Crescent last Thursday noting that all ICU beds in the Fox Valley are full:
Per the story “…people 45 to 64 who aren't vaccinated are 13 times more likely to be hospitalized and 33 times more likely to die from the virus than those in the same age group who are vaccinated. Children 12 to 17 who aren't vaccinated are eight times more likely to test positive…”
All of this is disturbing given the expected amount of travel and large gatherings for the holidays. The CDC has now approved booster shots for everyone over 18 and the Pfizer vaccine is now approved for children aged 5 to 11. The Appleton vaccine clinic in the former Best Buy on S. Kensington is not open this week for the holiday but will resume the Thursday/Friday schedule next week.
The rest of the council agenda was relatively light. We voted on the resolution establishing the new polling places after redistricting. District 6 will vote at the Scheig Center in Memorial Park – 1313 E. Witzke Blvd. As with other polling locations, this one is not actually located in the district any longer. The City Clerk’s office has to assign polling locations based on availability, and there is not always a location available in the district. I would personally like to see a location that is walking distance from more residents in the district.
For those of us in the “even” districts, nomination papers for the April 5 election were left on our desks before the meeting. We can start gathering signatures on December 1 and they have to be submitted by January 4. I do plan to run for re-election, but after this notification, I won’t be using this or my “official” social media platforms for anything involving the campaign. We did get notifications from Alderperson Joe Martin in District 4 and Alderperson Joe Prohaska in District 14 that they will not be running for re-election. Those of you in the current Ward 17 will be in District 14 starting in January.
The extensions for the sculptures in Jones and Vulcan Heritage Parks were extended for a year, and the more controversial work on E. College was extended for six months, with no further opportunity for extension.
I requested to refer back a change to the ordinance regarding food trucks in the downtown area. Although I voted for the change to raise the allowable number of food trucks to eight and to remove some restrictions about their location in the Municipal Services Committee last week, I thought more about the testimony from Appleton Downtown, Inc., and talked to some colleagues about the potential effect on a couple of downtown businesses I hadn’t considered and realized that I wanted to get some more input. It’s on the agenda for this afternoon, but we will likely hold it until December 6 to allow input from staff and the local business community. I love food trucks and I know that it’s often a step toward opening a brick-and-mortar business, but I also don’t want to hurt businesses that have more overhead. I am confident that we can come to a solution that works for everyone.
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday and the Christmas Parade, the only committee meetings this week are this afternoon. All other committees will resume the week of December 6.
Municipal Services Committee – Monday, November 22, 4:30 p.m.
- Design hearing for paving projects:
- Lawrence Street from Appleton Street to Durkee Street
- Oneida Street from Lawrence Street to College Avenue
- Morrison Street from Lawrence Street to Washington Street
- Durkee Street from south of Lawrence Street to Washington Street
Among the changes is straightening out Lawrence St. (finally!) and a number of improvements to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, although as someone who rides a bike downtown a lot, I would have preferred dedicates bike lanes to the bike/car shared lanes in the current design.
Description of the changes:
http://cityofappleton.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=f8795610-d907-4e67-930c-e1506af3ba5f.pdf
This is just a hearing, so no votes will be taken. If you have thoughts on the projects, please share them with me.
- Approval of amendment to 2021 materials testing contract and approval of the 2022 materials testing contract. These tests are conducted to meet safety and Department of Natural Resources requirements.
- Changes to Municipal Code relating to street vendors – as noted, I expect to hold this item until the December 6 meeting.
Finance Committee – Monday, November 22, 5:30 p.m.
- Awarding contracts for lighting at the Wastewater Plant and the Green Parking Ramp
($83,450 and $84,500 respectively).
- Request to write off obsolete inventory of parts from the Utility Department.
- Information item – Library Project Update. This is the item that will generate the most discussion. The city issued a press release last week:
CITY OF APPLETON PREPARES FOR PANDEMIC-INDUCED INFLATIONTO AFFECT COST ESTIMATES OF LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT
Appleton Taxpayer Portion Remains Set At $26.4 Million
APPLETON, Wis., Nov. 19, 2021 – The City of Appleton is actively preparing for inflationary trends and project scope to increase library building project cost estimates. Project Manager and Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Management Director Dean Gazza will present an update to the Finance Committee at their meeting on Monday, November 22.
“While it’s unusual to share cost estimations publicly at this early stage of a project, we want to be sure the community has information at every step of the process,” said Mayor Jake Woodford. “There is still a lot of work to be done to secure outside funding and, if we have to, to reduce the cost of designs.”
The City has budgeted $26.4 million for project costs spread across three years as follows: $2.9 million was approved in the 2021 budget and a 2021 budget amendment for design services; the Common Council recently approved $10 million in 2022 for construction; the remaining $13.5 million will be budgeted to complete construction in 2023. Additionally, the Common Council approved a $2 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds for broadband network infrastructure in the library, which could bring the total funding secured for the project to $28.4 million.
“This is a library for everyone,” said Finance Committee Chair and District 1 Alderperson William Siebers. “This transparency is appreciated and important to demonstrate respect for our taxpayers.”
The total building project cost is currently estimated at $39 million according to a jointly-produced estimate by architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and construction manager The Boldt Co. (Boldt).
This figure considers pandemic-induced cost increases of labor and materials, as well as community input of priorities. This estimate comes prior to any significant cost reduction exercises across various components such as technology, aesthetics and quality of finishes.
“It is important to note that this cost estimate is preliminary and generally considered a target until further design is developed,” said Gazza. “These estimates include features and systems that stakeholders have expressed should be a community priority. While undesirable, if needed, many of these items can be modified or eliminated without changing the core vision and goals of the project.”
The City is also pursuing additional funding to include state and federal grants and philanthropic support.
Appleton has applied for Wisconsin’s Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant and could receive up to $11 million for this “shovel-ready” project that would support underserved individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
“While timing for this project has resulted in additional inflationary challenges, timing is also ideal to pursue external funding that is usually never available to library capital projects,” said Library Director Colleen Rortvedt.
Friends of Appleton Public Library is planning a fundraising campaign to support the project.
“Friends of Appleton Public Library stands ready to coordinate private support for the project,” said Don Hietpas, President of Friends of Appleton Public Library. “The current concept will enhance the library’s service to the citizens, make an awesome statement about the community, and create a catalyst for revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood. We are looking forward to working with the City to ensure the success of this project.”
Ultimately, the library design will be scaled to fit available resources without increasing the existing commitment from Appleton taxpayers.
For the latest updates on the library building project, visit apl.org/planning.
As I noted in a response to question regarding this press release, it is disappointing but not shocking that the cost estimates are increasing given the price increases that have been affecting both residential and commercial projects. The project update notes that the city’s borrowing commitment remains the same at $26.4 million. I am sure that there will have to be modifications to the project to save costs and that there are areas where costs can be reduced if we do not make up the whole gap with private fundraising and any grants that might be obtained. I do hope that in making these decisions that we keep in mind areas of the project that might cost more initially but will have a great impact on future operating costs and sustainability in the future.
As always, you can see committee and council agendas and minutes and watch full meeting videos here:
I leave you today with best wishes for a safe and happy holiday. Safe travels to those who will be on the road or in the air, and for those who are hosting – may your efforts put every TV chef to shame!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Comments
Post a Comment