Appleton Common Council District 6 Update for February 9, 2026

Greetings, District 6 Neighbors,

I’m getting ready for this week after way too much TV time over the weekend between the Olympics and the Super Bowl. I’m hopeful that a few days of warmer weather will make getting outside less of an ordeal.

As expected, last week’s Common Council meeting was quite short, with only the Northland-Bellaire Flood Study proposal being separated for individual discussion and voting. The comments from council members were all supportive of the engineering study that would precede the work discussed in last week’s update. Even though the initial work would not make any changes to the infrastructure in District 6, we should benefit from the proposed Northland Avenue sewer improvements.

As we move into a committee week, Monday will be the only day with a full slate of meetings. The Fox Cities Transit Commission, City Plan Commission, Community Development Committee and Human Resources and Information Technology Committee will not be meeting this week.

Municipal Services Committee – Monday, February 9, 4:30 p.m.

The committee (along with the Finance Committee) will take resolutions related to assessments for sanitary laterals, storm laterals and storm main construction and for concrete pavement, driveway apron and sidewalk construction. These are standard resolutions that must be adopted for each year’s utility and street/sidewalk reconstruction. Sanitary laterals, storm laterals and storm mains will be replaced in 2026 ahead of street reconstruction in 2027 in these locations:

• Badger Ave (Spencer St to Pierce Ave)

• Eighth St (Pierce Ave to Badger Ave)

• Sixth St (Memorial Dr to State St)

• Dewey St (Kernan Ave to Walden Ave) • Walden Ave (Dewey St to John St)

• Brewster St (Durkee St to Drew St)

• Drew St (Brewster St to Circle St)

• Oklahoma St (Mason St to Richmond St)

• Rankin St (Commercial St to Wisconsin Ave)

• Lawe St (College Ave to Spring St)

 

Concrete construction will be performed in these locations:

• Baldeagle Dr (Osprey Dr to Lightning Dr)

• Harrier Ln (Osprey Dr to Kestrel Cir)

• Honeygold Ct (Lightning Dr to cds)

• Kestrel Cir (Baldeagle Dr to Baldeagle Dr)

• French Rd (Evergreen Dr to Applecreek Corridor bridge)

 

We’ll also vote on recommendations for a couple of parking changes – the resolution regarding Sunday morning parking on College Avenue in front of Memorial Presbyterian Church was held at the last meeting so that staff could draft the standard ordinance language. Committee members all agreed that the exception to the no parking ordinance was no longer necessary since the church has acquired additional parking, so I don’t anticipate any objections to this change. We’ll also vote on removing the two-hour parking restriction on the west side of McDonald Street between Randall Avenue and Woodland Avenue (just north of Appvion) after a six-month trial during which no community feedback was received.

The last item is a street occupancy permit for a dumpster on N. Superior Street as part of the ongoing work on the 222 Building.

 

Finance Committee – Monday, February 9, 5:30 p.m.

 

The committee will take up the finance reports for the water, sewer and storm main and concrete construction resolutions. The Municipal Services resolutions basically direct the Finance Committee to approve the amount of the construction and the total amount of the assessment. The individual property owner assessments are based on the actual water/sewer/storm main construction or the property frontage in the case of concrete construction. Homeowners are not assessed for street reconstruction or sidewalk repairs but are assessed for water/sewer mains and new concrete street construction.

 

We’ll also continue awarding contracts for 2026 budgeted projects:

• Jaycee Park Court Design Project – repair of basketball court and construction of tennis courts (McMahon, $36,876 with contingency)
• Unit W-26 Sewer and Water Construction (Kruczek Construction - $2,645,585 with contingency)
• Unit H-26 Northeast Sanitary Interceptor Sewer (PTS Contractors - $1,038,600 with contingency)
• Unit A-26 Concrete Paving (Vinton Construction Company - $3,810,429.12 with contingency)
• Unit DE-26 Miscellaneous Sidewalk and Concrete Street Repairs (Al Dix Concrete Inc. - $1,008,850)

 

I’m happy to report that the bids for all these projects were under budget.

 

The committee will also vote on a sole-source contract for furniture for the remodeled area of the Parks and Recreation Building (Nordon Business Environments - $96,265.20 with contingency). The sole source contract keeps all the furniture modules consistent across city facilities, allowing components to be relocated/reconfigured if necessary. Nordon is the authorized local provider for these modules.

 

Finally, the committee will look at the development agreement for the Comet Ridge Subdivision (just east of Richmond/47 between Evergreen and JJ). The council approved the final plat for the subdivision last December. The development agreement includes some changes designed to prevent past issues, including clarifying responsibility for the North Sanitary Sewer Project, requiring the developer to install gravel base for the 10-foot side paths so that property buyers will know that these paths will be constructed (this has definitely been an issue in prior developments), and clarification of responsibilities regarding cluster mailboxes.

 

Parks and Recreation Committee – Monday, February 9, 6:00 p.m.

 

The committee does not have any action items on their agenda, but they will receive the 2025 Annual Reports for the Grounds Division, Reid Golf Course and the Recreation Division. Take a look at these reports if you get a chance. Our well-maintained parks are a big part of our community’s quality of life, and the Recreation Division offers an amazing variety of affordable activities for people of all ages. Recreation Manager Niki Wendt was recently recognized for her 25 years of service by the Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association at their annual banquet. Recently retired Director Dean Gazza received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the same banquet.

 

Utilities Committee – Tuesday, February 10, 4:30 p.m.

 

The committee will vote on renewing the contract for Native Landscape Management around the city-owned stormwater ponds to NES Ecological Services ($193,052.01). In 2022, the city awarded NES a contract for 2023-2026, renewable each year if the company’s performance is satisfactory. Staff is recommending renewal of the contract for the fifth year of the agreement. The work includes:

 

• Native vegetation maintenance and new installations at City stormwater facilities.

• Provide vegetation inspections and recommendations.

• Provide invasive species and algae control through herbicide, mowing, brushing, and/or controlled burns.

• Provide preparation, seeding, planting, and erosion control at sparsely established areas and new sites.

• Maintain pond aerators.

 

Council members were able to tour the area around one of the stormwater ponds a couple of years ago with an NES employee as our guide to learn about the management of the native plantings around the ponds. I found the NES staff to be knowledgeable about the native (and invasive) plants, and I feel good about continuing this relationship.

 

The committee will also hear about the new Adopt-a-Pond program as an information item. The program would allow groups to “adopt” a stormwater pond for the purpose of litter removal, non-technical inspections and reporting of maintenance concerns.

 

Safety and Licensing Committee – Wednesday, February 11, 5:30 p.m.

 

It should be a shorter meeting than the last one, with only a couple of alcohol license demerit point hearings, a change of license application for a vape shop and a taxicab license for a limousine service on the agenda.

 

That covers the committee agendas.

 

Here’s another reminder to fill out the sustainability survey if you haven’t already done so.

 

Neighbors in Action workshops have started, but each one will be repeated later in the spring, so you can still sign up: City of Appleton Neighbors in Action Workshops.

 

If you are an Olympics fan like me, don’t forget Appleton native Paul Schommer (biathlon) will start what he says will be his last competition tomorrow. Here’s a cool story about Schommer and biathlon, which honestly sounds like someone just threw a bunch of sports into a hat and randomly picked out two to create an Olympic event. Appleton's Paul Schommer will compete in biathlon at Winter Olympics

 

 

Have a great week and Happy Valentine’s Day to all the sweethearts out there!

Denise