The Appleton City Finance Committee approved two action items Monday: awarding the Parks and Recreation Facility Renovation Project contract to Blue Sky Contractors LLC for $1,073,103 with an 8% contingency of $85,848 (project total not to exceed $1,158,951), and adopting a revised park and open space special revenue fund policy. Both items passed unanimously, 5–0.

The parks contract (agenda item 25Dash1324) also included a budget amendment moving $86,000 from the 2025 Parks Hardscape Capital Improvement Program to the renovation project. The motion and second were recorded on the agenda; the transcript does not identify the mover or seconder. Alder Hartstein remarked on the price, saying “whew, that’s my comment,” and staff noted competitive engagement: the city received bids from eight general contractors and about 50 subcontractors, which staff said suggested the market was softening.

On the policy item (agenda item 25Dash1326), staff explained a wording change to the park and open space special revenue fund so the policy explicitly covers improvements to all park lands — not just newly acquired park land — using fund resources. The change was prompted by a long-neglected park called Longuard, which had been a park for 18 years with no improvements; staff said the fund could be used for improvements to existing parks as well as new park land.

Council discussion on the policy focused on restrictions for use of funds. One member noted the policy states the funds “may not be used for routine maintenance or major maintenance projects to existing facilities,” and asked whether donated money intended for maintenance could be used. Staff said such donations would likely be handled through a separate fund rather than this special revenue fund and that the policy language intentionally restricts routine and major maintenance from this fund’s permitted expenditures.

Both agenda items were approved by unanimous vote (5–0). The committee then moved to informational items and adjourned.