District 6 Update for May 9, 2022
If only Saturday’s perfect weather could have carried over. I ran the Sole Burner 5K Saturday as part of the City of Appleton team and the weather made it almost OK for this confirmed walker to run. Thanks to the city staff members who volunteered to organize.
The Common Council meeting last Wednesday was short but not without some twists. Mayor Woodford was away, so Council President Van Zeeland chaired the meeting, during which a few of the iPads we used for voting, requesting to speak, etc., including mine, were malfunctioning. We made it work – kudos to President Van Zeeland, the City Clerk, and the City Attorney for thinking on their feet.
Since the mayor was out, the proclamations weren’t presented, but Alder Thao observed Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in her invocation by telling her personal story of fleeing Laos to a refugee camp in Thailand with her family at the age of three, her time in that refugee camp, and her early years in the United States. It was so moving to hear my friend and colleague tell her story and to note her achievements for her family and her community.
Only three items were separated from the agenda for individual consideration. The liquor license for Mill City Public House (at the site of the former Elks Lodge at 1103 W. College Avenue) was considered separately because the Mr. Leary, the owner, was present as he has been at every meeting where the item was considered. He shared his thanks for the help of staff and council members before the license was granted unanimously.
The list of alcohol license applications was separated to allow an alder who has an interest in one of the entities to abstain from voting.
The last item was the one that created the most discussion – a request to amend the contract between Valley Transit and Lamers Bus Lines for Lamers to operate the downtown trolley during the summer season. The original contract had an option for this year that allowed either party to opt out with 90 days’ notice and had a 2.5% escalation for each year. Much past the 90 day period (and such that we did not even have the written documents for either committee that considered this or for the Common Council meeting), Lamers notified Valley Transit that they could not honor the original cost and proposed an amended figure. Valley Transit was unhappy with the late notice, but recommend that the amendment be approved at an estimated $2000 cost to the city. The Fox Cities Transit Commission had recommended the request for approval via voice vote, and the Finance Committee had recommended it for approval 4-1 with Alder Siebers voting nay. After a fair amount of discussion, the council approved the amendment 11-4. We were united in our discomfort with the late notice, but those of us who voted in favor of the amendment felt that this service that so many residents enjoy during the summer months, especially during the various downtown and riverfront events, was something we did not want to lose. The route would have continued to be served by regular buses, but this is not as attractive an option, and Valley Transit is already short nine drivers and would be stretched even thinner by having to add this route. I have some sympathy for Lamers’ position – I don’t think many of us could have predicted the fuel cost and labor issues that we now face three years ago, but they should have responded much earlier to avoid the city having to make this decision at the last hour. We are also united as a council in our desire to explore alternatives for next year that do not involve Lamers.
Committee meetings this week:
Municipal Services Committee – Monday, May 9, 4:30 p.m.
- Soldier’s Square resolution calling for adding the revitalization project to the five-year capital improvement plan. This item was held from the last meeting so that city staff could present the cost of the three options that were proposed. As I have noted before, I really want the square to become something other than a parking lot with the memorial sitting next to a dumpster, but I am not sure we can allocate city funds for the renovation. I would love to see the efforts by concerned citizens coalesce into a robust fundraising campaign to develop the area, which could possibly be moved under the auspices of Parks and Recreation. City staff voiced concern over the plan to use the bricks that are part of a fundraising campaign in the street design, as they are subject to damage, especially from snow removal, but I hope we can find a way to incorporate those into some kind of memorial. I understand that a number of people plan to speak this afternoon, so I will be attending the meeting to hear everyone’s views.
- The committee will also be reviewing requests relating to street and sidewalk closures for the library project and reconstruction of the Lawrence University pedestrian bridge over Drew Street.
- Information items include the Bird Scooter report for April. There was one accident reported and three incidences of scooters on College Avenue reported.
Finance Committee – Monday, May 9, 5:30 p.m.
- The committee will receive a presentation from Baird on the 2022 General Obligation Notes and Sewer Revenue bonds.
- General obligation notes to be issued in the amount of $15,530,000 to cover the following - Interest rate of 3.24% :
- 2022 Capital Improvement Plan: $8,028,283 Fire Truck Purchase: $345,000 Library: $6,160,000 Stormwater (from TID): $222,650 Watermain (from TID): $581,750 Sanitary Sewer (from TID): $189,975
- Sewerage system revenue bonds to be issued in the amount of $11,460,000. Interest rate 3.88%
- Link to the full presentation:
- http://cityofappleton.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=b42fef21-4982-4213-b5f5-112eb6955c47.pdf
- Request to approve the application for a federal grant for the Valley Transit Whitman Avenue facility renovation ($18,000,000)
- Request to purchase electrical equipment (Current Transformer cabinet and switchgear) for the new library now to avoid 52- and 60-week (!!!) lead times on this type of equipment. $156,075 from Faith Technologies.
- Shifting the easement for a second raw water line. The owner of the property where the easement is located is reconstructing the parking lot and building a retaining pond, so the easement is being moved to the east of the current location.
We will also be voting on the dedication of land for the extension of N. Lightning Drive to the north. Information items include notice of the spring Neighborhood Program meeting on May 26 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Wilson Middle School (225 N. Badger Avenue). District 6 has the registered neighborhoods of Erb Park, Summit Park and Northland Downs. https://www.appleton.org/residents/neighborhood-program Community and Economic Development Committee – Wednesday, May 11, 4:30 p.m. The one action item is to approve a variance request by Farrell Investments, LLC for an expansion to their property in Southpoint Business Park. The work would require a variance to the deed restrictions and covenants within the business park. Staff has recommended approval of the variance. Safety and Licensing Committee – Wednesday, May 11, 5:30 p.m. - Redistricting options – the adoption of state legislative maps by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April requires that the City of Appleton adopt new maps to accommodate the new State Assembly and State Senate district lines. There are two choices – either create eight new wards to fit with the state districts, leaving aldermanic districts intact, or to create six new wards and revise the boundaries of aldermanic District 3 and District 4. Both options would add two new wards to District 6 – splitting the current Wards 17 and 19. Option 2 would require fewer different ballots within the aldermanic district.
- Resolution #14-R-21 relating to excessive vehicle noise – the Police Department and City Attorney’s office have conducted a review of the resolution as it relates to current law and enforcement. It appears that the resolution might have some overlap and/or inconsistencies.
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