Municipal Services Committee Approves $20,000 Increase To Alta Planning + Design To Perform A Complete Streets Plan Review Of Thrivent Development – Cost To Be Paid By Thrivent

The Municipal Services Committee met 05/12/2025. One of the items they took up was the request to approve an amendment to the contract with Alta Planning + Design for a Complete Streets plan review of the Thrivent Development. The increase is for $20,220 increasing to amount paid to Alta to $45,100 and the funds are to be paid from an escrow account into which Thrivent deposited $100,000 to cover the costs of various planning contractors.

The committee ended up voting unanimously to recommend the item for approval.

I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:

Deputy Director of Public Works Pete Neuberger told the committee that Alta was one of several contractors being paid through the escrow account funded by Thrivent. Money from the account was also being used to pay for planning services related to stormwater, flood plain, and dam permitting. $100,000 had been the initial amount Thrivent deposited into the account, but additional funds can be deposited as necessary based on the actual consultant fees incurred.

The original contract with Alta had not come before the committee because it had been less than $25,000, but now this amendment increased the contract amount to $45,100 so they were now seeking committee and Council approval.

Alderperson Chris Croatt (District 14) asked where they were at with the $100,000 in the account. Deputy Director Neuberger was not certain because at this point, they had only received one invoice of around $10,000 to be charged against the account, but he expected the $100,000 to be used up before the project review was complete.

Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim (District 13) was concerned that the contract with Alta had essentially doubled. She appreciated that the city could ask Thrivent to pay for it, but she was concerned that they were putting so much work on consultants.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend the item be approved.

View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1306263&GUID=A8CDACC2-AB6B-423D-B31F-9D907ACA2FC0