Appleton Common Council District 6 Update for May 26, 2026
Greetings District 6 Neighbors,
I hope everyone enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend and that some of you got to see the parade or took a moment at 3:00 yesterday afternoon to remember those that gave their lives in military service to our country. We got a reminder because we were listening to the Brewer game and the game/broadcast paused.
While Memorial Day is supposed to mark the unofficial first day of summer, the weather app tells me that summer is here. Did we have spring? I’m glad I got all my flowers planted over the weekend when it wasn’t quite so beastly.
Did someone say “pool weather?” The Mead pool is having a bonus weekend this Saturday and Sunday, then both polls open for the summer on June 5. Summer swim passes are available online (new this year) or you can buy them at the customer service center at 1819 E. Witzke Blvd. (they have moved back into their permanent location after a stint at the Scheig Center during remodeling). Punch cards will be available at both pools after they open.
None of the agenda items at last week’s council meeting generated a ton of discussion. I expected that the resolution to increase the fees for cutting grass and weeds after a complaint is issued might, but it was referred back to the Community Development Committee by Alder Hartzheim, who had some questions about some of the details. Some of my colleagues have indicated that they think the increase is a burden for older homeowners or those who are physically unable to take care of their lawns. I sympathize with those people, but the fact remains that the municipal code requires homeowners to maintain the vegetation at a height under 8 inches and to remove noxious weeds. The owners of undeveloped property who are taking advantage of the city by essentially using city personnel as a lower-cost property maintenance service are making this change necessary. I will note that city policy is to issue an educational warning for the first complaint in order to allow a homeowner time to comply.
The item authorizing city staff to proceed with development of a final implementation plan for modification of Central Equipment Agency Funding Structure passed unanimously, with several alders noting that we expect to have another vote on the plan before budget time.
This week’s committee schedule is light due to the holiday which cancelled the Municipal Services, Finance and Parks and Recreation Committee meetings. The Utilities Committee has also cancelled their meeting due to lack of action items this week.
For the remaining committees:
Fox Cities Transit Commission – Tuesday, May 26, 2:50 p.m.
The Transit Commission will vote to approve the March and April payments and, on a recommendation, to award a contract for advertising sales (the signs on the buses) to Houck Transit Advertising. Houck was chosen from three proposals submitted in response to Valley Transit’s Request for Proposal. On-bus advertising is currently managed in-house, but VT determined that a contractor could more efficiently manage the resources. Houck has been a purchaser of many of the ads displayed on VT buses. The contract guarantees VT $49,992 in 2027, $49,992 in 2028, $60,000 in 2029 and $60,000 in 2030. If sales are higher than the minimum annual amounts above in 2027-2029, Houck will provide Valley Transit 57% (2027), 55% (2028), 52% (2029) and 52% (2030) of gross sales. Since the contract’s first year will begin in June, the revenue for 2026 will be based on 60% of gross sales.
Information items include the March and April financial reports, ridership reports and key performance indicator reports.
City Plan Commission – Wednesday, May 27, 3:30 p.m.
The Plan Commission will hold a public hearing and vote on its single action item – modifications to the municipal code relating to solar energy systems. The goal is to standardize the regulations across all zoning types and ensure compliance with the Wisconsin statute that outlines the extent to which local governments may stipulate solar energy system regulations. The updates will:
• Provide clear definitions for terminology specific to solar energy systems
• Permit solar energy systems as an accessory use in all zoning districts
• Establish consistent development standards for setbacks, height, and lot coverage requirements as based on accessory building or structure development standards of the underlying zoning district.
• Outline the building plan review and approval process
Community Development Committee – Wednesday, May 27, 4:30 p.m.
The committee will hold a public hearing on the 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This is a report that is required every year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that discusses activities that Appleton undertakes using CDBG funding allocated by HUD. The report is also presented to the committee as an information item. The report can be found here: https://appletonwi.gov/government/departments/community_development/planning_development/housing/cdbg.php
The committee will also take up the resolution to increase the fees when the city performs grass and weed cutting per complaints/citations issued to property owners. As noted above, the resolution was referred back to committee at last week’s council meeting.
Safety and Licensing Committee – Wednesday, May 27, 5:30 p.m.
As has become customary, we will start with three hearings on alcohol license demerits – two for selling alcohol to a minor and one for being open after legal hours.
We also have license denial appeals on the agenda. In these cases, two for bartender license and one for a commercial solicitation (door-to-door sales) license, the applicants have convictions that, under state law, do not allow them to be approved for a city issued license. In one case, the conviction was expunged, and the city attorney had some questions as to how the law applied, so we held it until this week to allow the attorney’s office to research further. These appeals always make me uncomfortable because there really isn’t anything we can do as a committee or council, unlike the situation where someone has a long-ago OWI where the state statute allows us to consider evidence of rehabilitation.
More normal agenda items include a number of alcohol license change of agent applications and late license applications.
The Appleton Fire Department is requesting approval to apply for a couple of grants:
- Assistance to firefighters grant for $770,900.00 which would be used to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to replace equipment acquired in 2013 which is now obsolete. This grant requires a 10% local match.
- WE Energies Rewarding Responders Grant for $2,000.00 to purchase some tools (cut-off saw, angle grinder). Local match is $284.00.
We will also vote on the renewal of the Urban Search and Rescue contract between AFD and the Wisconsin Emergency Management Division through 2028.
Information items include a discussion of the truancy ordinance. AASD presented at our last meeting and there were many questions from committee members and other council members present, particularly around the requests that the Common Council made of AASD for reporting, a task force of community members which would report to the AASD board and other requests specified in the language of the resolution creating the ordinance. If the council takes no action, the truancy ordinance will sunset on June 30. The city attorney’s office presented a document containing the options available to the council, including allowing the ordinance to sunset, repealing the effective dates to make the ordinance permanent, amending the effective dates to extend the sunset date, or amending the substance of the ordinance.
Honestly, I am disappointed with the response of AASD. They have presented regularly before the Safety and Licensing Committee with improved attendance statistics, but not in the format we asked for, and really not showing a significant improvement. One citation has been issued. Other requested information/action on the part of AASD has not been seen.
The assistant city attorney who is responsible for any prosecutions under the truancy ordinance issued a memo with some really helpful clarifications of terminology that have been used by both the public and council members as we have moved through this implementation process. I’ve linked it hear for those who are interested in some of the details.
The TLDR (too long, didn’t read) stresses the difference between a truancy “ticket” which is a municipal citation as opposed to a criminal charge. It also notes that AASD cannot issue a truancy citation; it can request one, but an Appleton police office must issue the citation. It is a seven-page memo, and many other items are covered. I would recommend reading it if you have heard lots of conflicting information.
The final information item is the monthly focused enforcement (noise violations, reckless driving, racing) traffic violations report.
Human Resources and Information Technology Committee – Wednesday, May 27, 6:30 p.m.
The committee’s single action item is a request to approve updates to the Salary Administration policy. Most of the changes appear to be administrative; there are some updates to on-all and emergency pay, along with updates for employees temporarily performing lead worker duties and those training other employees attempting to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License.
I want to close with a shout out to one of the organizations I volunteer with – The Marigold Mile. I’m the board treasurer and try to get out and plant/deadhead/weed when I get the chance. Anyone who drives down South Oneida in the summer sees the work of this volunteer organization. For people like me who haven’t been in Appleton since the Marigold Mile started in 1982, here is some history: History — The Marigold Mile
While Mayor Tim Hanna declared the marigold to be Appleton’s city flower in 2019 and the sign department produced the marigold street signs at the cross streets along S. Oneida, all the funding and all the work is provided by volunteers. The indomitable Mary Beth Neinhaus provided matching funds for three years, which has provided a solid foundation. Mary Beth even shows up every year to plant – this morning she rolled up on her bike! She and her group of gardeners plant satellite sites including Reid Golf Course and around the pickleball complex at Telulah Park. Menasha has gotten into the act, and Doty Island will have marigolds this year, as will Arbutus Park. Appleton Downtown, Inc. will plant marigolds around Houdini Plaza. The entire city (and beyond) will be awash in yellow and orange. If you’d like to plant some marigolds, check out the schedule and sign up for a shift. It’s pretty easy work; the holes are pre-dug and tools (including kneeling pads for those of us with not-so-young knees) ae provided. (end of shameless plug).
Have a great week!
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