The Appleton Common Council is set to review recommendations from Mayor Jake Woodford’s administration in the wake of incidents in the community involving firearms and disturbances.
The recommendations range from upgrades to lighting in the area around College Avenue and Walnut Street, to consideration of new requirements for security cameras in certain establishments.
Chief of Police Polly Olson of the Appleton Police Department said, “We will not tolerate the continued violence associated with our taverns and other licensed establishments. Through these proposed amendments to our municipal code, we aim to reduce crime and cultivate a safer environment for residents and visitors to the city of Appleton. Our community must take an active role in ensuring safety for everyone.”
City officials cited a pattern of incidents and feedback from the community, including downtown business owners, as instrumental in informing the recommended approach. There have been two deaths involving firearms in or around bars and nightclubs in the city in recent months, and several disturbances involving physical confrontations in the downtown district.
Woodford asked city staff to identify potential refinements to policies and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategies to mitigate concerns. Through collaborative discussions with local businesses and residents, several enhancements have been identified to improve safety within specific corridors of the city.
This package of considerations will be presented to multiple committees for further discussion this week. The proposed recommendations include:
- Amending the permissible hours for Food Trucks in the Central Business District, requiring Food Trucks to end service by midnight rather than the current time of 4 am. This will be presented as an action item to the Municipal Services Committee.
- Adding street lighting along sections of the Walnut Street corridor to enhance visibility and deter potential criminal activity. A portion of ARPA funds will be allocated for this purpose, pending approval from the Municipal Services and Finance Committees.
- Introducing a new requirement for all Class B establishments to install operable security cameras at customer entrances and exits. Under the proposal, such establishments would also be required to produce requested footage to law enforcement in a timely manner. This proposal will be presented as an information item for discussion at the Safety and Licensing Committee.
Additionally, the Appleton Fire Department will conduct random fire code capacity inspections for establishments operating during late-night hours to ensure compliance with posted limits.
