The Neenah Common Council on Wednesday approved a slate of committee recommendations and contract awards. Major outcomes included receiving the Stantec Neenah Housing Study and Needs Assessment (9-0), adopting amended street-furniture regulations (8-1), and approving Board of Public Works construction and repair contracts, as well as several finance committee items.

Why it matters: The votes enact routine city business (capital contracts, budget housekeeping and regulatory updates) and also clear the way for staff and the Planning Commission to begin implementing parts of the housing study. The street-furniture ordinance updates will change how temporary business signage and sidewalk displays are regulated across the city right-of-way.

Key votes and actions
- Receive and place on file: Neenah Housing Study and Needs Assessment (Stantec Consulting). Motion by Alderman Mark Steiner; second by Alderman Ellis. Vote: 9-0. Effect: Council placed the report in the city record; staff and Planning Commission to review recommended zoning/code changes.

- Ordinance 2025-1 (amending Chapter 14, Article 7 — street furniture). Motion by Alderman Lundrum; second by Alderman Weber. Vote: 8-1 (Alderman Paul Knope opposed). Effect: Ordinance approved; establishes permitting and operational requirements for street furniture, sandwich boards, temporary displays and related insurance/certificate rules in the right-of-way.

- Board of Public Works contract awards (all approved 9-0):
• Contract 3-205 — Utilities and street construction on Caroline Street and Hickory Lane to David Tennant Corporation, $808,444.20. Motion by Alderman Hillstrom; second by Alderman Lundrum.
• Contract 8-25 — City services roof repair (fleet area) and alternate bid Park Shop area to JT Rams LLC, $91,549. Motion by Alderman Hillstrom; second by Alderman Lundrum.
• Final Payment No. 9, Contract 1-24 — Utilities and street construction on Belmont Ave./Belmont Ct./Cedar St./Steven St. to David Tennant Corporation, $366,480.90 (final payment). Motion by Alderman Hillstrom; second by Alderman Lundrum.
• Authorization for Neenah Police Department to contract with Bayland Buildings for a storage shed at cost not to exceed $331,365, funded with $214,162 from remaining building-addition project funds and $117,203 from the facilities fund balance. Motion by Alderman Hillstrom; second by Alderman Weber.

- Finance and Personnel Committee recommendations (all approved 9-0):
• Approve purchase of equipment and services to install a new air-conditioning unit in the primary data center, cost not to exceed $40,000 (funded from information systems capital equipment budget). Motion by Alderman Erickson; second by Alderman Boyette.
• Approve 2024 general fund operating carryforwards to 2025 as submitted. Motion by Alderman Erickson; seconded by Alderman Palno.
• Approve Ordinance 2025-O2 amending Chapter 13, Section 2 of the Special Assessment Ordinance. Motion by Alderman Erickson; seconded by Council President Borchard.
• Use of FY2024 general fund surplus of $191,967.04 to cover identified deficits: Municipal Court $21,705.91; Parking Utility $170,261.13. Motion by Alderman Erickson; second by Alderman Boyette.
• Approve updated travel policy. Motion by Alderman Erickson; second by Alderman Steiner.

- Consent and appointments (approved by unanimous consent): change-of-agent notifications for two Pick 'n Save locations and appointment of Rebecca Heidke Kwiatowski to the Sustainable Neenah Committee (three-year term ending December 2028).

Procedural note: Several motions were amended on the floor (for example, the wording to "receive and place on file" for the housing study was changed before final vote). A later motion to move into closed session to discuss the community development director position was made by Council President Borchard and seconded by Alderman Ellis; council recessed to closed session after a brief break.

Ending: Most votes passed unanimously or with a single dissent. The housing study receipt does not itself change city code; next steps named by staff include Planning Commission review of zoning and regulatory recommendations.