100 North Appleton Street  
Appleton, WI 54911-4799  
www.appletonwi.gov  
City of Appleton  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Common Council  
Wednesday, April 15, 2026  
7:00 PM  
Council Chambers  
CALL TO ORDER  
INVOCATION  
A.  
B.  
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Woodford at 7:00 p.m.  
The Invocation was offered by Alderperson Smith.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG  
ROLL CALL OF ALDERPERSONS  
C.  
D.  
15 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Present:  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt, Alderperson Denis Dougherty and Mayor Jake  
Woodford  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
Excused:  
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS  
E.  
F.  
All Departments were represented.  
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES  
26-0451  
Common Council Meeting Minutes of April 1, 2026  
Attachments:  
CC Minutes 4-1-26.pdf  
Alderperson Hartzheim moved, seconded by Alderperson Croatt, that the  
Minutes be approved. Roll Call. Motion carried by the following vote:  
14 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt and Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
Excused:  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Abstained:  
BUSINESS PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR  
G.  
26-0471  
Proclamations:  
- Autism Acceptance Month  
Attachments:  
Autism Acceptance Month.pdf  
26-0467  
Board, Committee, & Commission Reappointments  
Attachments:  
Reappointment Memo 4.15.26.pdf  
Room Tax Commission Reappointment.pdf  
Alderperson Fenton moved, seconded by Alderperson Smith, that the  
Appointments be approved. Roll Call. Motion carried by the following vote:  
14 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt and Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Excused:  
Abstained:  
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION  
H.  
The following spoke on Item 26-0418 Special Use Permit #1-26 for a Shelter Facility  
at 314 N. Appleton Street:  
Steve Wuerger, 813 W Bent Oak Lane  
Vince Salvia, 4021 E Benvalley Drive  
Marissa Downs, 2520 E Apple Hill Blvd  
Katie Olson, 1720 W Reeve Street  
PUBLIC HEARINGS  
I.  
SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS  
J.  
K.  
ESTABLISH ORDER OF THE DAY  
26-0418  
Request to approve Special Use Permit #1-26 for a year-round shelter  
facility located at 314 North Appleton Street (Tax Id #31-2-0433-00),  
as shown on the attached development plan and per attached plan of  
operation, to run with the land subject to the conditions in the attached  
staff memo and approve attached Resolution (2/3 vote of Common  
Council required for approval)  
Attachments:  
StaffMemo_314NAppletonSt_SUP1-26_For4-8-26.pdf  
Email from Rookies Bar and Grill 4-6-26.pdf  
Alderperson Van Zeeland moved, seconded by Alderperson Fenton that the  
Special Use Permit be approved. Roll Call. Motion carried by the following  
vote:  
14 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt and Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Excused:  
Abstained:  
26-0419  
Request to approve the Glenmore Park Final Plat as shown on the  
attached maps and subject to the conditions in the attached staff  
memo  
Attachments:  
StaffMemo_GlenmorePark_FinalPlat_For4-8-26.pdf  
Alderperson Hartzheim moved, seconded by Alderperson Hayden, that the  
Glenmore Park Final Plat be approved. Roll Call. Motion carried by the  
following vote:  
14 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt and Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Excused:  
Abstained:  
26-0433  
Resolution #3-R-26 Expressing Support for Ranked-Choice Voting in  
Municipal Elections  
Attachments:  
3-R-26 Ranked-Choice Voting.pdf  
Alderperson Wolff moved, seconded by Alderperson Meltzer, that the  
Resolution be held until the next regular Common Council meeting. Roll Call.  
Motion carried by the following vote:  
14 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt and Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Excused:  
Abstained:  
Request to approve the purchase of the Meridian Rapid Defense Group  
barrier system.  
26-0445  
Attachments:  
Memo- Recommendation to Acquire Meridian Rapid Defense Barrier  
System.pdf  
Meridian Rapid Defense Group Quote.pdf  
Meridian Handout 4.15.26.pdf  
Alderperson Fenton moved, seconded by Alderperson Van Zeeland, that the  
Meridian Rapid Defense Group Barrier System Purchase be approved. Roll  
Call. Motion carried by the following vote:  
13 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson Christopher Croatt and  
Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Nate Wolff  
Nay:  
Excused:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Abstained:  
COMMITTEE REPORTS  
L.  
Balance of the action items on the agenda.  
Alderperson Lambrecht moved, Alderperson Croatt seconded, to approve the  
balance of the agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:  
14 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt and Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Excused:  
Abstained:  
MINUTES OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE  
1.  
Request to Approve ADI College Avenue Banners  
26-0428  
26-0429  
Attachments:  
ADI College Ave Banners.pdf  
This Report Action Item was approved.  
Request to Approve Long-Term Temporary Occupancy Permit for ADI Farm  
Market Dumpsters in Allen Street through October 23, 2026  
Attachments:  
26-026-T.pdf  
This Report Action Item was approved.  
Request to award contract with Van Ert Electric Company, Inc. for after-hours  
responses to electrical emergencies for a one-year period beginning May 1,  
2026, in an amount not to exceed $57,000.  
26-0430  
Attachments:  
Van Ert Electrical Emergencies Award.pdf  
This Report Action Item was approved  
MINUTES OF THE SAFETY AND LICENSING COMMITTEE  
MINUTES OF THE CITY PLAN COMMISSION  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE  
MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE  
Request to award the 2026 Appleton Wastewater Tunnel Painting Project  
contract to Howard Grote & Sons, Inc. in the amount of $189,985 with a  
contingency of 5 percent for a project total not to exceed $199,484.  
26-0435  
26-0436  
26-0437  
Attachments:  
2026 AWWTP Tunnel Painting Project.docx  
This Report Action Item was approved.  
Request to award the Appleton Wastewater Treatment Plant M-K Tunnel  
Roofing Project contract to Crafts Inc. in the amount of $137,665 with a  
contingency of 10 percent for a total project cost not to exceed $151,432.  
Attachments:  
2026 AWWTP M-K Tunnel Roof project.docx  
This Report Action Item was approved.  
Request to approve FCEC MOU, between City and Driftwood Hospitality.  
Attachments:  
Memo_FCECManagementMOU_04022026.pdf  
FCEC MOU - 3.30.26.pdf  
This Report Action Item was approved.  
Request to approve Unit W-26 Sewer and Water Reconstruction Change  
Order #2 as a Contract Amendment in the amount of $40,000 for a new  
not-to-exceed contract total of $2,718,100 and an unchanged contract  
contingency of $60,000.  
26-0442  
Attachments:  
Unit W-26 Change Order No 2_final.pdf  
This Report Action Item was approved.  
MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE  
MINUTES OF THE UTILITIES COMMITTEE  
6.  
7.  
8.  
MINUTES OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY  
COMMITTEE  
MINUTES OF THE FOX CITIES TRANSIT COMMISSION  
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH  
CONSOLIDATED ACTION ITEMS  
ITEMS HELD  
9.  
10.  
M.  
N.  
O.  
P.  
ORDINANCES  
LICENSE APPLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS REFERRED TO  
COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION  
RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED BY ALDERPERSONS REFERRED TO  
COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION  
Q.  
OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS  
CLOSED SESSION  
R.  
S.  
26-0472  
The Common Council may go into closed session pursuant to State  
Statute ยง19.85(1)(e), deliberations or negotiations on the purchase of  
public properties, investing of public funds or conducting other specific  
public business when competitive or bargaining reasons require a  
closed session, for the purpose of discussing a memorandum of  
understanding and future management agreement related to the Fox  
Cities Exhibition Center, and then reconvene into open session.  
The Common Council did not convene into Closed Session.  
ADJOURN  
T.  
Alderperson Hartzheim moved, seconded by Alderperson Wolff, that the  
meeting be adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Roll Call. Motion carried by the following  
vote:  
14 - Alderperson Josh Lambrecht, Alderperson Vered Meltzer, Alderperson  
Brad Firkus, Alderperson Martyn Smith, Alderperson Katie Van Zeeland,  
Alderperson Denise Fenton, Alderperson Patrick Hayden, Alderperson  
Patti Heffernan, Alderperson Alex Schultz, Alderperson Vaya Jones,  
Alderperson Nate Wolff, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim, Alderperson  
Christopher Croatt and Alderperson Denis Dougherty  
Aye:  
1 - Alderperson Adrian Stancil-Martin  
1 - Mayor Jake Woodford  
Excused:  
Abstained:  
Amy Molitor, City Clerk