Common Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I now call to order the formal organizational meeting of the Appleton Common Council. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call of Alders.

All are represented.

Roll call of officers and departments.

We have representatives from community development, finance, police, and public works. All others are excused.

Okay. All right. This being our organizational meeting, we'll take care of our rules and the department committee functions, code of conduct, then we'll get on with elections. So first, proposed changes to the rules of counsel, one submitted ahead of time, twenty six-four ninety nine, regarding Rule three, Order of Business. And at this time, I'd like to recognize Alder Heffernan who submitted this one.

Thank you, Chair. While my sentiment, I feel, was well received by my colleagues and well respected due to the fact that we are flirting with some constitutionality on this rule, I, if there are no objections, would respectfully withdraw.

All right. Alder Heffernan wishes to withdraw. Are there any objections? Hearing none, the proposed rule change has been withdrawn. We'll move on now to the remaining rules of counsel. This is twenty six zero four seven three. Looking for a motion. We have a motion and a second to approve the rules of counsel. Is there any discussion on the rules? Hearing none, please cast your votes.

Motion passes 15 to zero. You have rules. Alright. We had no proposed changes to department and committee functions, so we're on to 26 Dash0474, department and committee functions. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, please cast your votes. All right, that motion passes 15 to zero. Department and committee functions have been approved. On to recommitting to the Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct reads as follows: Treat everyone with respect, be courteous, prepared, and on time, and accept differences. Be honest in all interactions and avoid surprises. Listen to all sides with an open mind and be understanding of different opinions. Agree to disagree. Remember that we are elected or appointed to serve the best interests of our community and act decisively and definitively on behalf of our constituents. We have a motion and a second to approve the code of conduct. Is there any discussion? Alright, hearing none. Oh, Alder Krott? Okay.

Thank you, Mary. I was in and then I wasn't. I'd I'd like to make a minor, but I feel important, change the last bullet point there. That's what we talked about last night, and it would be so that it reads, act decisively and definitively on behalf of all of our constituents.

Okay.

And and and the period. Yes. Oh. We'll include. Period. Okay. That's included in the motion to amend. We have a second from Alder Hartzheim on the amendment. Any discussion on the amendment? Hearing none, please cast your votes. This is on the amendment. Motion passes 15 to zero. The amendment has been approved. We're back to the item as amended. Any further discussion on the code of conduct?

Hearing none, please cast your votes. That motion passes 15 to zero. The code of conduct has been approved as amended. Alright on to appointment of committees and committee chairs. All right.

We need a motion on the appointments. We have a motion and a second to approve. Any discussion? Hearing none, please cast your votes. Alright. That motion passes fifteen zero. The appointments have been approved. Alright. Moving along. President.

So the way this works is we will open the floor for nominations. After nominations are are submitted and accepted, we will allow the opportunity. If someone wishes to decline nomination, they can certainly do that. But all those who are nominated will then and accept their nomination will then be allowed to address the council. We will then vote.

The voting is by secret ballot for the council officer positions. So we will you have your ballots and the clerk will describe the process for that in a moment. So at this point, we'll open the floor for nominations. First is Alder Krot.

Thank you, Mayor. I would like to nominate Alderman Brad Furcus for council president. Thank you.

Alder Furcus accepts the nomination.

Next is Alder Meltzer. Thank you. I would like to nominate Nate Wolf for council president. Do I say anything else at this point or is that No.

Alder Wolf? Alder Wolf accepts the nomination. Okay. Are there any other nominees? Alright. Hearing none, we will have remarks from the nominees and we'll take those up in the order the nominations were made. First will be Alder Fircus to address the council. Thank you, Chair.

Colleagues, I don't accept this nomination lightly. I know I have been here for a while. I've held a number of different positions, committee wise, leadership. I've been involved in a number of things with this body over the years. And if given the opportunity to serve in this capacity, I will continue to work my hardest.

You will get my full commitment to the job and the responsibilities. I will work with anyone as much as they want to, if they want a mentor, if they want somebody to bounce ideas off of. By the way, that option is always open regardless of title attached to any position. But my goal would be to try to work with everyone to be the best version of themselves that they want to be on this body. Thank you.

Alder Wolf, go ahead. Thank you

for the consideration and the nomination. I would say the same. I think that contested elections are important. So, either way, I think that you'll be well served, and we will both work to bring all thoughts to the table. Thank you.

All right. Clerk Molitor, would you just walk us through the process now?

Sure. So everyone should have in front of them a yellow ballot. That one is for common counsel president. Please write down who you are voting for and put it face down in front of you. I can come around and collect them when we're all finished.

Okay. Congratulations, Alder Furcus, on your election to council president. So at at our next meeting of the council, I'll have a recognition for Alder Van Zeeland's service as council president, complete with commemorative gavel. So engrave we that appropriately and present that to you at the next meeting. And just want to take the opportunity to thank you for your service in this role.

Right. We will present that gavel at our next meeting. All right. Moving along in our agenda. Let me get back to my agenda here.

This is the election of the Common Council Vice President, same process. Open the floor for nominations. Alder Meltzer.

I will nominate alderperson Nate Wolf.

Okay. And Alder Wolf declines the nomination. All right. Alder Stancil Martin.

I would like to nominate Alder Patrick Hayden.

All right. Alder Hayden accepts the nomination. Are there any other nominations? Alder Hartzheim.

Thank you, Chair. I would like to nominate Chris Krott.

Alder Krot. Okay. Are there any other nominations? All right. Hearing none, Alder Hayden. Thank you,

Chair. In accepting this nomination, I'm looking for an opportunity to expand my role that I serve here in council and grow as a member our body. What I think I bring is cohesive experience work and experience and working a cohesive cohesively across council and can bring an idea ideals of working efficient Lee and how we conduct our business here and I think I can help lead with purpose and help us kind of get where we want to go with the way that we handle the business that comes before council.

Alder Krott.

Thank you, mayor. First of all, thank you, Alder Hartzheim, for the nomination. I appreciate it. I don't take these responsibilities lightly. If I was to be elected to vice president, I would take the responsibility extremely seriously and work with Alder Fircus as the president. I nominated him because I felt like he was very qualified to lead this body. I would just provide guidance and input based on my experience on this body. I've been on for a long time. I've been council president a number of times. I've been chair of most committees.

Feel like I could help anyone that would need help with anything, whether it be mentoring, as was mentioned by Elder Fircus, or just someone to go to if you need help with something, a constituent concern you need help with, I would be available to anyone. But I would look forward to working with Alder Fircus if that was afforded. Thanks.

All right. Please cast your ballots. Congratulations, Alder Hayden, on your election to Vice President of Council. Next is election of the Common Council representative to the City Plan Commission. Is this still a secret ballot, is this one you put your name on it, I think?

Yeah, this one you put your name on it. We're not going to read your name or anything. It's just part of the process. All right. We'll open the floor for nominations. Alder Croats. Thank you, mayor. I'd like

to nominate Alder Hartzheim to the City Plan Commission.

Alder Fenton.

Thank you, chair. And thank you, stepping on my toes. I had planned to nominate Alder Hartzheim because the plan commission requires attention to detail. And after six plus years on it, I absolutely believe that she is capable and ready to do that job.

Alder Wolf.

JOSHUA I'd like to nominate Josh Lambert taking over for the Wise Bill Siebers. I think that he's shown a lot of interest in this community, both in DAY: stepping

up to do the things Bill was doing, really getting involved with people. And I think he would be a good choice. Alder Lambrecht, do you accept? All right. Are there any other nominations?

Hearing none, we'll allow for comment. Alder Hartzheim.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you first to Alders Kroat and Fenton, and thank you to Alder Fenton for all her service on City Plan Commission. She has done an excellent job, and I will gladly take her lead as a member of the City Plan Commission. I've been very interested in this since I was the chairman of the Community Development Committee and because there's a lot of growth on the North Side Of Appleton where my district is. So I'm excited to take this on, and I would ask for everyone's vote. Thank you.

Alder Lambrecht. Thank you, Elder Wolf,

for the nomination and also for Alder Fenton's long experience in serving on the committee. My background in both nonprofits and finance has given me a unique perspective into challenges and opportunities that city policies, codes, and zoning can have on our residents and businesses in our community. Housing has also been a passion of mine, knowing our community's needs three fifty new residences to keep up with demand. I look forward to the opportunity to work on and through these issues as the Northside development continues. As a representative of District 1, I'm also excited for the impact the comprehensive plan will have, not only on Wisconsin Avenue, but as a city as a whole.

I think the great aspect of this election right now is no matter who it is that you support, you're going to have a great individual to help support and move the city forward. So thank you for the nomination, and I want you to concern me, please.

Okay. At this time, please cast your ballots. You do. And that line says name. Congratulations, Alder Lambrecht.

And as the booby prize for your newly elected offices, you also have the pleasure of serving as representatives on the MPO policy board, so look forward to that. Ask your colleagues about those meetings. Forward to seeing you there as well, so congratulations. All right. Other business?

I don't have much for you all. Our committee schedule is a little bit wonky, so please check-in with your newly elected chairs who will be checking in with their staff liaisons just to get on track with committee meetings given the awkward timing of our meetings this month. And with that, I have nothing else. Alder Hartzheim.

Thank you, Chair. I apologize for not bringing this up when you distributed the appointments statement or The CDBG Advisory Committee, does that committee representative need to be on the Community Development Committee? I vaguely remember us having an issue with that prior to this, so I just didn't want us to get into that trouble. What

I recall is the Community Development Committee selects who they want their representative to be at their next Well, all

right.

Is that

But I will take a look at the CDB

Yeah, we'll verify that. And if I mess that up, I apologize. But we'll make sure that that's sorted out by the time the CDBG Advisory Committee meets. So thank you for pointing that out. We'll make sure we verify that. And I will make better notes on my appointments.

I didn't have notes on

So I

have a ready answer next time. Still relatively new structure for us. All right. Anything else? All right. That's it then. We've got a motion and a second to adjourn. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right. We are adjourned. Thank you.