The Finance Committee met 04/07/2025. They had three action items on their agenda, two of which were approved unanimously and one of which was held until the 04/21/2025 committee meeting.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
ITEM 25-0340 Request to approve sole source contract with Truity Partners, LLC in an amount not to exceed $40,000 – The Finance Department has been experiencing staffing shortages due to medical leaves and vacant positions and has been using Truity Partners, LLC to provide a temporary staff member to assist with audit preparation and other duties. Staff was requesting approval to continue their existing agreement with Truity up to $40,000 using vacant salary dollars. The extension would last until around the end of May. The existing temporary works between 32-40 hours a week, has been doing a great job, and is knowledgeable about the city’s current software so required little training.
Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim (District 13) clarified that this was an extension of an existing agreement and not a situation that would have required competitive bidding. City staff noted that when they first sought a temporary worker, they did receive a couple different quotes and Truity’s had been the most reasonable.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the request.
ITEM 25-0344 Request to award Unit L-24 Site Improvements at 3001 E Glendale Ave to MCC, Inc. in the amount of $153,858.96 with at 5.2% contingency of $8,000 for a project total not to exceed $161,858.96 – This contract was for site improvements at an open lot just east of the existing Municipal Services property on Glendale Avenue. The work would be removing some foundations that are currently on the site, cleaning the site up, and installing some storm water infrastructure. The city had budgeted $200,000 for this project but the bid came in well below that for a total (with contingency) of $161,858.96.
Director of Public Works Laura Jungwirth indicated that when the consultant for the project had put the plans together they had estimated it would cost $250,000. At the time, city staff had felt that was high and budgeted only $200,000. Even that had ended up being higher than the final bid.
Alderperson Chris Croatt (District 14) was pleased that 3 of the 4 bids the city had received had been under budget. “I think it goes to show that it’s a competitive landscape there, because I think a couple years ago, we were talking about either limited bidding or very high bidding where we had to reject bids because it was so expensive to do this type of work.”
The committee voted unanimously to approve the request.
ITEM 25-0300 Request to approve 2024 – 2025 Budget carryover appropriations (Facilities Capital Project amounts of $127,631) – This item had been referred back to the committee by the Common Council. City staff wants to take $107,625 of funds left over from the 2024 Park Pavilion Roof Replacement Project and direct it toward hiring a consultant to create a sustainability and climate action plan for Appleton. They also want to take $20,006 left over from a furniture upgrade project and a fire station lighting upgrade project and put it toward new City Hall signage associated with the Fox Commons/City Center redevelopment project.
Director of Parks and Recreation Dean Gazza, who oversees facilities, was not able to attend the 04/07/2025 Finance Committee meeting. As a result, the committee voted unanimously to hold it until the 04/21/2025 committee meeting.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1283588&GUID=0C9D86F6-9F72-406D-A788-0CF362267053
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