The Municipal Services Committee is meeting 06/10/2024 at 4:30PM.
They have a very full agenda that includes two resolutions, action regarding the ongoing Bird scooter discussion, multiple requests for various street occupancy permits, and a request to update the design parameters for the Morrison Street reconstruction project.
Resolution 4-R-24 would stop the City of Appleton government from purchasing or utilizing certain chemical pesticides listed in the resolution or from allowing contractors to utilize those chemicals on public property. This resolution was introduced back in March by the then-alderperson of District 4, Israel Del Toro, who is no longer serving on the Council as well as Alderpersons Vered Meltzer (District 2) and Alex Schultz (District 9).
City staff is recommending against approving the resolution and submitted a 125-page memo to support that recommendation.
Per the cover memo by Mayor Woodford, “Any suggestion that the use of pesticides and herbicides by the City is not handled with the utmost attention to mitigating adverse effects on the people, flora, and fauna of our community does not take into account the information provided in this report. While we agree that minimizing use of chemicals that, used carelessly and inconsistently with product specifications, can and do harm the natural environment, the City of Appleton stands behind our processes and practices, which seek to avoid such harm in our community.”
Additionally, he notes that city staff has organized an educational opportunity for alderpersons to meet with staff in the field and learn more about their management practices. “All alders are strongly encouraged to participate in this opportunity.”
They will also be taking up the resolution to rescind No Mow May. One of the reasons given in this resolution for rescinding No Mow May is that it has led to increased work for the city’s inspections division.
Per a memo from city staff, they received an average of 85.2 weed complaints in the month of June in the 6 years prior to No Mow May. In the 4 years since No Mow May was first piloted, that average has increased to 116.3, and there was a very large jump in the number of complaints received in 2022 as compared to 2023, going from 115 to 151.
The committee will also be voting on further action pertaining to Bird scooters in the city. Based on committee discussions, staff is recommending not continuing negotiations with Bird but “exploring creating a dockless mobility program based on findings from the past three years”. That will take time to develop, and in the interim the committee may want to update the Municipal Code to prohibit dockless mobility systems in the city.
View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1204510&GUID=F1ACC645-005B-418E-A37A-22C88BE54C67
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