Community Development Committee - Regular Meeting

Hello, and welcome to this week's meeting of the Community Development Committee for Wednesday, 09/10/2025. I now call this meeting to order. Next, please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. All right. Let's start with a roll call

of membership to my left. Bered Meltzer, District 2.

Denise Fenton, District 6.

Baya Jones, District 10.

Josh Lindbergh, District 1.

And Alder Heffernan from District 8 is excused and on her way, one of the two. So let's go ahead and start with the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, item number 25, ten forty seven CDC minutes from eightthirteentwenty five. Do I have a motion?

Move to approve.

I'll second. We have a first and a second. Do we have any changes, corrections, thoughts? All right. Let's go ahead and vote. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed and those abstain. That is for nothing. Next, we go to our public hearings and appearances.

This is number 251048. Community Development Brock Grant, CDBG, notice of funding available and community needs for the 2026 program year fouronetwenty twenty six through threethirty onetwenty seven. This is also associated with item number two five one zero fifty one. Is there anyone here who wishes to speak? Is there anyone here who wishes to speak? And finally, this is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to speak? As there is no one here to speak, we'll go ahead and close that. Exciting. Next, on to action items.

Our first is 251049, request to approve updates in the art in public places policy as described in the attached document. Do I have a motion? Move to approve. I'll second. We have a first motion and a second. Do we have any information coming on that?

Moved. Lambert, second.

Oh. Oh. We're gonna take a moment for some bug removal.

If anybody has, like, an empty cup, I could catch you.

Who? There you go.

Poor wasp. Wonderful.

So we have the action on the table. Do we have anyone to speak to it or any Specialist Lily Paul. And I

don't have your microphone on because I am figuring out which one it is. There we go. Okay. Yeah. So you, Community Development Committee, is the committee of jurisdiction for the public arts committee. So we made some updates to their public arts policy or arts in public places policy. It's actually what it's called. Obviously, there's corrections in red that you'll see below. Couple things to point out are just let me get to it here. We're just taking out some, I guess, things that they'll be reviewing.

Some things are like benches, street furnishings. Department of Public Works, they're the ones that install usually, or they're the ones that, you know, with, like, lights or light poles and things like that, they're the ones that usually dictate that. Not dictate, but they're the ones that usually find the right things. And so that's not necessarily an art piece, so we took those things out. Did some other just, like, efficiency corrections as well, like seasonal seasonal decorations, kind of describing what that is when they recur each year during a certain time.

Otherwise, that's it. This was really spurred because we found a outdated banner policy through public works, so it hasn't been updated since 2002, I think it was. And that one actually had some, like, banner language in there, and so we decided that public arts should be the ones that should be reviewing banners. So that was also added into this policy language as well.

I do see that was a full page and a half struck out, the Exhibit A comprehensive plan references relating to the public art committee.

Oh, yes. Do you want to just follow-up on that? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So that specifically, since we are updating our current our comp plan, it is going to be updated. That will be outdated. And so we made a general statement saying let me find that. So in the goals slash focus areas on page three, number one, we just made a general statement that it will support the arts and cultural opportunities as identified in the city's comprehensive plan. Okay.

Anyone on committee have any questions? Alder Malzer?

Yeah. So I I think definitely just referring to the comprehensive plan instead of pasting that in, makes it, a better document. But, I don't understand, why the change in the notification. So that's on page six of the struck note. So there is no change, actually.

We originally had it struck note, and then the public arts committee said to keep it in.

Okay. So that's why it's yellow Yes. Highlighted instead of red like the other page? Correct. Okay. COHEN: Thank you.

That was my question, too. JULIET All right.

Yeah. Was kind of confused about that. Was like, are we just not going to notify people at all?

Or what does that mean? Okay. We will be notified when you see it going. It is still in there.

Thank you.

Any other questions? Any questions from anyone else? All right. We have a motion on the table. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That passes four-zero. Our next action item, two five one zero five zero, request to approve from Appleton Northside Business Association for light pole banners and seasonal decor installations located on Richmond Street from Northland to College And Wisconsin Avenue from Badger to Ballard based upon the guidelines outlined in the art in public places policy as described in the attached documents. Can I get a motion?

Move to approve. Oh, second.

Motion. Malter, second. Okay. Perfect. It's like

a race.

Specialist. Lily, would you like to go ahead?

Yeah. And so a public arts committee, they referred this again to a committee of jurisdiction, which is you guys. So they approved it, passed it on. And this is being reviewed in accordance with the updates to the policy that you just reviewed as well. So Appleton Northside Business Association, they're a group. I guess they're not a nonprofit. They are just an organization.

Association.

Association. Yeah. And they represent, like, Wisconsin Avenue, Richmond, kinda like the North Side Of Appleton. They currently, they are the ones that bought and sponsored the wreaths that go up on Wisconsin Avenue, Richmond. They did a planter program. I know they have a green space that they also do, so they do some beautification beautification projects. And so they were informed that the wreaths are to the point of not being repaired anymore. And so they are looking to buy new decorations. They landed on snowflakes. The snowflakes if Dave is gonna show them.

There it is.

Oh, cool. Okay.

That's the snowflake. And so this is more of a seasonal decoration. And so that's what they're gonna be replacing hoping to replace them with. In addition to the snowflakes, though, Appleton Northside Business Association is trying to get more recognition as an organization or association. And so they are proposing to also have banners installed.

These banners, these will be more of a filler decoration, and so this will be on the off season. So the snowflakes will usually go up in November, are taken down in March. The American flags are still in good shape. So those American flags go up Memorial Day, are taken down at the end of summer. And so this will be kind of in between the seasons and then potentially in addition to some of the the light up decorations as well.

I couldn't help but notice the cost on one of those. Yes.

So the actual cost, they have a quote, and I for some reason, it was not included. Either that was my mistake of not getting it. But the cost, actually so Apple and Northside Business Association, they have a community fund at the Community Foundation. And so they are the ones that purchase, and they are the ones that sponsor it and everything like that. And it's actually a little bit cheaper than what is shown on the screen.

So they are purchasing the decorations and the banners. Correct. Deputy director Kress, you are number five. Thank you. Go ahead.

Thank you, chair. Maybe just to add, Lily can touch on this as well, that the actual purchase, I believe, will be a request through our finance committee because of the nature of the organization and the funds.

Yeah. So to expend money from the community foundation, you have to be a five zero one c three. They are not. So in a future finance agenda item, there will be, like, a budget adjustment because we will receive the funds.

Like, we would be the fiscal

pass through.

Yes. Okay. And then, yeah, so we'll receive them and then spend them immediately, but the funds come from

So what will be seen, it looks like we are doing it, but we are for the organization. So they are paying for all of that. The city cost at the end is just the putting up

and the storage?

Yes. Correct.

Okay. And that's kind of normal. Okay. They're already doing it.

Any other questions? All right. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstentions?

That passes for nothing. All right. Next, 251,055. Request to approve the offer to purchase from Fox Cities PAC LLC and or assigns for a parcel located on Division Street between West Franklin Street and West Washington Street, tax ID number 3105600, at a purchase price of $1 subject to the common council approval of the land disposition associated with file number 250957CDC and file number 250915 CBC. Do I have a motion? Move to approve.

Second.

Move and Meltzer seconding. Alright. We have that on the table. And who's going to share with them? Specialist Lily, thank you. Thank you.

So this for this item, we just had Pine Commission about an hour ago, and they recommended approval of disposition of public property for this. So going into it now, this property is just north of PAC. It is city owned. We currently lease it to the PAC. This is where they do, I believe, the valet parking.

The we lease it to them for a dollar as well currently. And then we also have to take care of, like, the storm water costs as well. So they get to use it, and then we have to maintain it. So they present an offer to us, an offer to purchase, to purchase this property for a dollar. That would significantly reduce some of those annual stormwater utility fees that we have to do, and then they would be able to use this for any future uses that they see necessary.

There is some known, I guess, site assessments that will need to be happened on this property, so we can get into that a little more if you want, but we'll be helping them. There's some grants that only we can apply for as a city, and so there's some grants that will help them do some site assessments on it as well, which would be at no cost to the

city. Do we have any questions? Sounds like this is a win win. Just them

super quickly, just for anyone who may be listening right now, can you clarify the grant process? It was my understanding that these are grants that were already applied for. Oh. No, okay. I have not applied for anything

Okay, okay. Thanks for asking.

Okay, so clarify the grant process just a little bit.

Sure. Yeah. So there's two grants that we are seeking as the city to help the PAC just to do our due diligence on, you know, transferring this property to them if necessary, or if allowed, I guess. So there's the EPA brownfield site assessment grant through Calumet County. That's the coalition between Calumet County and Outagamie County.

So they identify brownfields, and then they give money for phase one, phase two assessments that way. And then there's also Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, WDC. They also have up to a $150,000 for site assessment as well. And that one specific or the EPA one through Kalamau County, you have to be a government entity. The WEDC, since we are the owners, you have to be the owner. And so we are going to start that if this offer to purchase goes through.

So this action item is approving the offer to purchase.

Mhmm.

One coming up is the associated funding with that. Correct?

Yes. Okay.

Yeah. So then we would need permission to apply. Yeah. But if we don't sell the property, then we don't need to apply for the money.

Can I follow-up, Chair?

I'll allow it. Thank you, Chair. And just to clarify, I know we've read the contracts. Just to clarify for anyone, again, listening, the city will have no liability for anything that's if the contract states that the PAC would take on any liability in excess of the grant funding. Correct. Yes. You.

Any other questions or follow-up? All right, let's go ahead and vote. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? That passes four zero. May I ask a question? Do we need to do this one so I don't need to address it? Wonderful.

We're gonna skip down to item number two five thousand nine hundred fifty seven, request adoption of resolution number 2020Five-eleven for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant via Calumet County's Regional Award U. S. EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Assessment Grant and or the WEDC Brownfield Grant for a parcel located on Division Street between West Franklin Street and West Washington Street, Tax ID 30001515006 associated with file number 2510555.

If you're all still awake, can I get a motion? Move to approve. Second. Okay.

Say that again, okay. And so this is just again a recap of the grants. So there are four grants listed, but the first two that I mentioned before, so that's the US EPA through Calumet County and then the W D EDC site assessment. If those show that any cleanup beyond that is, again, like, where we don't wanna take that on, the PAC doesn't wanna take that on, then the other two are unnecessary. So we will start with the first two in the amounts of 150,000, and then the allocation for the US EPA through Calumet County one, that one we're unsure of what the allocation would be.

So if anything beyond that is necessary, then we we would not be liable. And much like Alderfoot had pointed out earlier, the city will not spend any money on this that is not a federal or state grant.

Correct. Any other questions or comments? Aldeperson Hartzheim, you are number 13.

Thank you, Chair. May I address Lily Paul? Yes. You mentioned that we know that there is potentially some issue there. Do we have any idea what kind of dollar amounts would be available through this funding? Do we expect that it will cover what is going to be needed?

Yeah, we do expect. So like I said, the WEDC grant is up to 150,000. We are applying we we would apply for that entirety. And then the EPA one through Calumet County, like I said before, unsure of that, but potentially anticipating I would say maybe around like $40,000 so we would get just under $200,000 for that and that would be definitely enough to cover that.

For assessment only? For just

site assessment, correct.

Okay.

And then subsequent to that, it's just all up in the air just dependent upon what is found and what has to be done to address it. Correct. Excellent.

Thank you. Apologies for the interruption. Our fifth member is currently stuck in the elevator, and so we have sent Aldoperson Landmark to go rescue.

Also, I misspoke before. I'm reading now in my other memo. The WEDC one is municipality only. The US EPA through Calumet County can be a private entity, but you have to be the owner.

Further follow-up or questions? Alright, let's go ahead and vote. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstentions? That it go proves Voted four-zero. And let's move on to information items number 251,051, Community Development Block Grant, CDBG, Notice of Funding Available and Community Needs for the 2026 program year fouronetwenty twenty six threethirty onetwenty twenty seven.

So

moved. It's an information issue.

I'll wait.

That's so sorry. Was sassy. Nope. My bad. Sorry. Five. Deputy Director Kress, please.

Thank you, Chair. So this information item is associated with the public hearing that occurred a little while earlier. Really, this is the first of several opportunities to capture community input on the upcoming 2026 CDBG program year. There will be other opportunities along the way. Olivia's memo that is attached to the packet does a nice job of outlining what that process looks like.

But essentially, it's broken down into several waves, the first of which is an opportunity for what we call city or core programs to request funding from there. Any remaining balance would be made available to external community partners. So often, that takes shape in housing improvements or not for profit agencies that are doing social services within the community. But really, the purpose today is just to sort of kick off that public input process to allow community members, if so inclined, to weigh in. We'll also note that we have a recently adopted consolidated plan that went through community development committee just a month or two ago and we'll actively use that plan to inform some of the decision making surrounding allocation of funding going forward?

I was sitting in a board meeting the other day and the discussion of community development block grants came up. And one person said, Oh, they just keep all the money for the city. There's no money in it. And another person said, Well, it's way too hard. We just we could never do it. What would you I know that those aren't true. But what would you say to organizations who've thought about it but are scared away from what they've heard?

Yes. I guess I heard two points in there that I'll try to react to, the first of which can say over the past several years there has always been some remaining balance that's made available to external community partners. Now that actual amount does vary year over year. This past year for the 2025 program year, it was less than what we've seen in previous years. If you may recall, some of that was due to us working on, I'll say, replenishing the housing rehabilitation loan program.

They have requested $200,000 In most years, it's probably more in the 50,000 to $75,000 range. So there was a modification for the 2025 program year that may have resulted in some of that sentiment. But point being, there still is usually somewhere in the $100,000 to $200,000 range that is made available competitively for those external partners. And we anticipate being in that range again for the 2026 program year. In terms of the complexity that comes along with utilizing federal funding, we'll acknowledge that there is some nuance there. But we have staff members

But more legwork and collecting things versus difficulty, maybe?

Yeah, I'd just say that there are some additional parameters that need to be met to be deemed eligible for the CDBG funding. We do actually require a training before applying for the funding so that folks are going into it eyes wide open, fully understanding what is going to be required. But we'll also point out that Olivia Galleon on our team is very well versed in this topic and is here to help anyone who is contemplating applying for the funding. We do also have a really good working relationship with HUD field office based in Milwaukee. If necessary, we pull them into conversations to better understand the do's and don'ts of utilizing CDBG funding.

So while I will acknowledge that there are some complexities that come along with it, I would hope that folks aren't overwhelmed by it or if they're on the fence and considering applying to reach out to us and we can walk them through it and hopefully put them at ease to help them better understand the program.

Perfect. And then just like getting the information out there, I've had another individual concern that we, as a city, give these funds to the same organizations every year. You guys are recruiting. You are educating. You are doing everything you can. At the end of the day, whoever applies is what you have to work with. Is there anything else you'd like to elaborate on that?

I think that that hit it right on the head.

Okay.

Yeah.

So we want more applications.

Of course, we always do, right. End of the day, we are tasked with reviewing the applications that come in and making a recommendation on the strongest applications to the CDBG Advisory Board, which then turns the recommendation over to CommDev Committee before it proceeds to to Common Council. But of course, we want it to be a competitive process. We want to cast a wide net. So we're actively promoting it throughout the year to let folks know that there is funding available that can be used to do good things in the community.

Perfect. Any other questions? Just have one

quick question. Remind me, for CDBG, that can be just a community business. It doesn't have to be a nonprofit. Is that correct?

So it doesn't necessarily need to be a not for profit. I think really it's more about the activity proposing to undertake and whether or not that can meet one of the national objectives that's stated within the CDBG criteria. So on its face, I wouldn't say that a business would be excluded applying, but we would need to know what activity they're proposing to undertake and whether or not that's eligible.

Right. Okay. Thank you.

Any other questions or comments?

All right. Wonderful. We will head on to the next information item, 20Five-ten65, Inspection Division Permit Summary Report ending EightthirtyOnetwenty5. I'm just going to share anything on that one.

Yeah, I can take that one. So I'm probably accustomed to seeing these at this point now that the Building Inspections Division is fully integrated within our department. We tried to bring these monthly reports to CommDev Committee just to keep you aware of status, kind of finger on the pulse, of what we're seeing in building permit world. I will note that compared to earlier this year where we had seen revenues sort of fall behind 2024 numbers, now 2025 receipt revenue numbers are very, very close to where they were at, at this time in 2024, and 2024 was a strong year. So I feel really good about the gains that we've made in recent months, and it's pretty much back on track to aligning with 2024.

Alderperson Hartzheim. Thank you, Chair.

May I direct to Deputy Director Cress? Question for you in regards to your last statement. I see that the building permit count is up, but the total estimated cost is down. Is that just because there are smaller projects being undertaken by builders in the city? Is that where that comes from?

Yes. Just in general, I think that's a good way of describing it. Yes.

And then do you feel that the gains in the receipt amount, as you mentioned before, are kind of coming clear, coming to fruition? Do you feel that some of that and I guess I know the answer to this question, but I'm wondering your thoughts on this is that because of the increased permit costs?

That is definitely part of it. So you may recall through the budgeting process in recent years, we have made some strategic increases in certain building permit application fees. So yes, some of that is associated with the increases that we've been seeing.

So it's partially both? Yes. Excellent. Thank you.

And I think I speak for myself and Alder Hartzheim when we say the font looks great.

You. Glad to hear it. Thank you.

All right. It looks like it's time for number eight.

Move to adjourn.

Second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Five nothing. We are adjourned. Thank you.