PHOTO: City of Appleton
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Last Wednesday was a busy night for the Appleton Common Council.
The council declined truancy citations, referred license plate reading camera oversight back to the committee level and approved all agenda items related to the Thrivent development on the north side 9-3.
Flock safety cameras
At its Wednesday night meeting, the Appleton Common Council voted to stop payments to Flock. Automated license plate reading (ALPR) camera guidelines listed below were sent back to committee.
Appleton officially ended its use of Flock safety cameras on June 30, placing bags around some cameras, with Flock taking down others. Flock safety cameras are automated license plate reading cameras, designed to help law enforcement track down criminals. Critics cite privacy concern as the primary reason municipalities should stop using the cameras.
“I’m also supportive of the use of automated license plate reader technology for law enforcement purposes,” Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford said in June. “However, we are also in agreement that there need to be robust policies and procedures in place and transparency.”
The ALPR standards discussed Wednesday night would require:
- A thorough report describing the technology
- Purpose
- Cost
- Types of data collected
- Data handling practices
- Safeguards
- Appleton Police Department policy that governs the use of the system
- Appleton Police Department annual report of any policy breaches or dispositions, evidence of impact on city service
Over a dozen area residents voiced opposition to any form of ALPR cameras in Appleton.
“I believe the trade-offs currently don’t outweigh the benefits that they provide,” said Brian Reimer of Appleton.
“There has been a tidal wave of news about ALPRs highlighting why taking a pause in the name of good governance is so important,” said Amanda Merkwae, ACLU Wisconsin Advocacy Director.
Truancy citations
Appleton’s Common Council failed to pass an ordinance to renew truancy citations for an additional year at Wednesday night’s meeting, with a 6-6 vote. Any resolution fails in the case of a tie.
Last October, Appleton Common Council approved tickets for truancy, meaning the Appleton Area School District could issue a ticket to students who were chronically absent or habitually truant. The district only issued one ticket in 2025-26. Attendance improved in 2025-26 with the district reporting that 52% of chronically absent or habitually truant students reported they were motivated to avoid a fine.
“We have a long process of support that goes into place when a student is missing school,” said Appleton Area School District Superintendent Greg Hartjes earlier this school year. “It’s working with our attendance team. We might assign a mentor. We might look at how transportation could support a student.”
Thrivent development
Common Council approved the development agreement, which includes the development plans and the city’s payment portion, whether to accept land for a new fire station and whether to approve the TID.
Thrivent Financial is preparing for a 580-acre development at its campus on Ballard Road on the north side of Appleton. Phase 1 (of 2) is set to include 500 housing units, a shopping area and a fire station. Construction would begin in late 2027 or early 2028.
The city says it will cover about $25 million ($11 million in direct borrowing and $14 million paid over time) of the infrastructure costs using tax revenue from the new development. It estimates Phase 1 of the plan would add about $57 million in tax revenue over the next 20 years, though that would instead be allocated toward development costs through the use of a tax incremental district.
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