Two Resolutions Introduced At 06/07/2023 Common Council Meeting – First Asks For City To Join Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition, Second Would Require Creation Of City Ordinance Requiring “Bird-Safe” Glass

Two resolutions were introduced during the Common Council meeting on 06/07/2023.

Resolution 5-R-23, the resolution regarding joining the Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition (WLGCC) points to the City of Appleton’s history of focusing on environmentalism issues and would require the city to officially join the WLGCC.

The resolution was referred to the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Resolution 6-R-23, the Addition of Bird Safe Glass Requirements To Appleton Municipal Code, states that up to a billion birds die annually from collisions with windows in buildings and would require the city to:

• “develop and adopt new ordinance language to incorporate bird-safe glass building requirements and define acceptable window glass or glass treatments for any new construction of facades with a certain percentage of window area.”
• include educational information on the city’s website and to also compel certain business and property owners to also post that information on their websites.
• evaluate and identify all public buildings with windows that pose a danger to birds and perform abatement measures over time under certain circumstances.

The resolution also includes the text of the City of Madison’s “bird-friendly building ordinance” as an example.

The resolution was referred to city staff for review.