Appleton Common Council District 6 Update for the Week of May 13, 2024

My walking partner Saturday

Greetings District 6 Neighbors,

I hope you enjoyed the glorious weekend and that all the moms and mother figures enjoyed their special day. I was out and about before and after the Sole Burner race on Saturday and the smell of lilacs was everywhere! I also had the company of several large turkeys in the neighborhood around Memorial Park. Spring has sprung!

The biggest discussion of the committee week involved the overnight parking resolution submitted by Alder Siebers. After all of the holds, he and I worked together on an amended version that would allow alternate side parking other than in the winter months without a permitting system and called for an evaluation after a year’s trial. After an initial meeting with the Department of Public Works, it seemed that enforcement was the biggest barrier. We just don’t have the budget at this time for additional parking enforcement personnel, and we certainly don’t want to divert the police department into overnight parking enforcement. The Municipal Services Committee voted to recommend denial of the amended resolution and I would expect the full council to go along with that recommendation. We still have a parking problem, equally divided in my email and phone calls between people who want to be able park on the street overnight and people who are upset by the lack of enforcement of those who do. Director Block has mentioned budgeting for a study in 2025 of neighborhood parking. We know we have an issue downtown – and honestly in some areas of our district – of not having enough off-street parking, and with increased residential development in the College North neighborhood, the problem is not going to go away. I would support such a study. The parking utility should have increased revenues in the next year with the additional permits to be purchased by U.S. Venture and the repayment of TIF loans and could perhaps fund the extra enforcement resources.

Before we get to the full Common Council meeting on Wednesday evening, there are a couple of other meetings happening this week.

The Library Board will meet on Tuesday, May 14th at 1:00 p.m. In addition to approving the bill register, they will vote on approving the vendor contracts for communications technology for the new library. The Federal Communications Commission provides some funding to make these services more affordable for schools and libraries. The Board will also vote on the nominating committee for next year’s officers and vote on approving the updated City of Appleton Vehicle Usage Policy. Information items include the building project update. Note that you can get these updates emailed to you by signing up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/J6hxHFb/buildingemail

I meant to write in the last update about my “hard hat” tour of the library. It was pretty amazing to see what’s going on in the project, starting with the meticulously color-coded schedule of all the tasks to be performed by the seventeen or so subcontractors. Don’t worry – it’s all computerized as well. While budget constraints brought about by the post-pandemic inflation reduced the overall size of the project, the way that the space is being used is going to make the library seem far larger than the old building. I was particularly excited to walk around and visualize the children’s area and cannot wait to bring my granddaughters to see it. I’m really impressed with The Boldt Company’s project managers and the complete professionalism they bring to the project. It was also pretty amazing to stand on the upper level and see ALL of the work going on in downtown Appleton.

The Friends are less than $1 million from their $12 million goal for private fundraising for the library. You can donate here: https://friendsofapl.org/building-beyond-words-capital-campaign/

The Advisory Panel on Sustainability and Climate Resilience meets on Tuesday, May 14th at 3:30 p.m. at the Facilities and Grounds Operations Center at 1819 E. Witzke Blvd. (in Memorial Park).

https://www.appleton.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26511/638506709004330000

The Human Resources and Information Technology Committee will be having a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15th before the Common Council meeting. They are being asked to approve a contract for upgrading the Municipal Services Building’s fuel management system (EnergiTech and Faith Technologies - $39,587.20).

They will also be voting on approval of an organizational change that would move three customer service specialist positions from the Engineering Division to the Administrative Division to “improve operations and customer experiences within the department.” The reorganization does not have any fiscal impact.

During Wednesday’s Common Council meeting, the mayor will issue a number of proclamations:

  • Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day
  • Hmong American Day
  • Safe Boating Week
  • American Legion Poppy Day
  • Police Week

The mayor will also be presenting the Appleton Police Department Civilian Community Service award to Caleb Daguanno and Gio Sanchez and we will be observing the fifth anniversary of fallen Appleton Firefighter Mitch Lungaard.

Mayor Woodford is presenting two new appointments to the Advisory Panel on Sustainability and Climate Resilience. John Adams and Tanner Van Stippen both have impressive qualifications and should be great additions to the panel.

There is likely to be some discussion of the overnight parking resolution as noted above, but that is likely to be some alders just making their point again as the resolution will come to council recommended for denial.

None of the other action items generated much discussion at committee and I don’t anticipate that any will be separated for individual discussion at the full council meeting, but you never know…

A subject that’s been in the news lately that will not be on the agenda this week is the Bird Scooters. Adam Davis of Bird Rides appeared at the Municipal Services Committee meeting last week (an information item; there was no vote taken) to talk with the committee about measures that Bird could take to prevent improper parking. We received a presentation about these measures. While I don’t doubt Mr. Davis’s sincerity about the company’s desire to remain in Appleton, I was not convinced by the presentation. I think that some of the docking requirements might remove one of the advantages of the scooters – being able to get right to the door of one’s destination. At this point, I would not be supporting a return to Appleton by the scooters.

I hope everyone has a great week.


Denise

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