Dr. Seiferts presented the Q3 2025 Appleton Health Department quarterly report, highlighting several operational changes and public‑health observations.

Inspections and short‑term rentals: Dr. Seiferts said environmental public‑health inspections rose sharply in 2025 largely because of the department’s tourist rooming house (TRH) short‑term rental program. "When going into this would have been July 2024, we had a total of 76 licenses. We are now up to 127," he said. He added about 48 previously noncompliant short‑term rentals have returned to the long‑term market or been sold rather than operate as short‑term rentals. The department has folded the newly instituted annual chicken‑keeping license inspections into regular operations after staffing increased in 2024.

Overdose prevention: The department led installation of two OAK overdose‑aid kits (naloxone plus test strips), one on City Hall’s first floor and another on the library’s second floor, described by Dr. Seiferts as a "risk reduction model, evidence based there." A board member asked about AED availability; Dr. Seiferts confirmed "there's an AED on the 1st Floor, by the OakBox," and staff said the library has multiple AEDs.

Homelessness counts: Dr. Seiferts reported the department’s point‑in‑time count increased to 249 people (January and July 2025), up from 183 in 2024, and said the department will have better trend data after three years under a revised methodology. Alderperson Wolf asked why the school district reported 638 students experiencing homelessness while the HUD‑based point‑in‑time figure showed roughly 200–250 people; Dr. Seiferts explained that the HUD point‑in‑time count is a physical observation of people sleeping in places not meant for habitation (cars, parks, unsheltered locations) and therefore does not capture students staying temporarily with relatives or moving between households. A staff member added that school‑district data capture housing instability that HUD point‑in‑time methodology does not.

Rabies and respiratory monitoring: Dr. Seiferts said there have been no confirmed rabies infections this year and that the department is refining notification procedures with Appleton police for suspected cases. Respiratory illness and statewide COVID indicators were low, and current wastewater monitoring covers COVID only; the measles dashboard is not yet active. A board member confirmed these data and reports are generated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Other items: Dr. Seiferts said there were two dangerous‑animal declarations in Q3; neither was challenged or brought to the board. Alderperson Jones asked about noise‑variance fees and whether local venues were paying unnecessarily; staff said variances are issued when amplified sound exceeds ordinance levels. The department’s newsletter and emergency‑communications volunteers (ARES/ham radio) were noted for helping information flow in outages. Alderperson Jones also praised the restarted Age Friendly Appleton project and staff leadership.

The board raised multiple clarifying questions during the report; no new regulatory actions were taken during this item.