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Mayor· 2020-04-21 – 2028-04-30 (current office record start 2020-04-21 and end 2028-04-30 per Legistar OfficeRecords for the Common Council body [cityofappleton.legistar.com], published by the City Clerk)

Jake Woodford

Appleton

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Apr 30, 2028.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
33
Total speaking time
6:08:44
Avg per meeting
11:10
Segments
5483

Want every word Woodford has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Woodford said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

high↑Aug 2026[95]

Citywide 2027 budget approval

The combined budgets cover essentially all city spending for the coming year, which drives the property tax bill for every Appleton homeowner.

high↑May 2026[89]

Increased Penalties for Unnecessary Noise

Affected drivers could pay roughly $483 to $1,176 per citation once court fees are added.

high↓Jun 2026[58]

Excessive vehicular noise data collection

Unknown until staff return with cost options in 90 days.

high↑May 2026[57]

Resolution #16-R-26: Limits on ALPR cameras

Any expert analysis would likely be paid from ARPA funds on a not-to-exceed hourly basis, with substantial costs going through the finance committee.

high↑Sep 2026[50]

Private School Voucher Funding Transparency

No direct cost — it's about disclosure of the existing school levy on tax bills.

medium→Jan 2026[43]

Alcohol license violation convictions — five establishments

Potential license suspensions could affect the businesses involved.

high↑Jun 2026[43]

Lead Water Service Line Replacement

$78,500 max, mostly covered by a state grant rather than local taxes.

medium↑Sep 2026[38]

Veterans Park Renaming

Mostly signage and administrative costs, if any; no major dollar figure given.

high↑Jan 2026[36]

Wastewater Treatment Plant Building R Renovation

Contract total not to exceed $198,490, funded by shifting $100,000 within the wastewater utility — no new money from taxpayers.

high↑Jun 2026[32]

COPS Technology and Equipment Grant

Roughly $450,000 in federal grant funding for police equipment, with no local match indicated.

high↑Oct 2026[30]

2027 Health Department budget and federal grant cuts

Unknown — budget materials weren't available.

high↑Feb 2026[28]

2027 CDBG funding and community needs

Federal CDBG allocation amount for 2027 hasn't been set yet.

high↑Sep 2026[26]

Chapter 17 Subdivisions Code Rewrite

Testimony noted stormwater engineering costs have jumped from roughly $500 to $3,000 per lot since 2017, and approvals that took 4-6 months now take a year or more.

high↓May 2026[25]

Roosevelt Street 2028 Reconstruction Design

Part of the city's 2028 paving program; narrowing the street is a cost-saving measure.

medium↑Aug 2026[25]

Alderperson salary adjustments

A freeze would save budget dollars; any raise would take effect for future terms, not current alders.

high→Aug 2026[25]

2027 Library Budget

Library operating funding stays flat in the 2027 budget, with no added dollars for staff development.

high→May 2026[24]

Zoning Code Overhaul Including ADUs and JADUs

Expected to grow the property tax base through infill development without expanding city footprint.

medium↑Jun 2026[24]

Reid Golf Course September finances

The course is about $60,000 ahead of last year in gross revenue, easing pressure on city support.

high↓Aug 2026[23]

Hyperscale AI data center moratorium

Unknown for now — the moratorium is just headed to committee for study.

medium↑Sep 2026[23]

Denial of Operator's License for Christopher T. Routh

Decisions during term (672)

Recorded while Woodford was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approvedVoted yes7-0Oct 28, 2026

Approval of minutes from October 14, 2026 meeting (26-1326)

tabledVoted yes7-0Oct 28, 2026

Hold action on Chapter 17 Subdivisions rewrite (26-1328)

approvedVoted yes7-0Oct 28, 2026

Street Naming and Renaming Standards Policy (26-1329)

approvedVoted yes7-0Oct 28, 2026

Building Addressing Policy update (26-1330)

approved7-0Oct 28, 2026

Adjournment

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Approval of minutes from previous meeting (26-1357)

approved3-1Oct 28, 2026

Alderperson salary increase to $7,091 (26-1112)

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Adjournment

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Approval of CDC minutes from 10-14-26 (26-1332)

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Amendment setting January 1, 2027 effective date for Chapter 4 text amendments (26-1333)

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Recommend approval of Chapter 4 Buildings text amendments (26-1333)

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Recommend approval of Preliminary 2027PY CDBG Core and City Department Program Funding (26-1334)

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Recommend approval of CDBG Policy amendments (26-1335)

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Adjournment

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Approval of minutes from previous meeting

approved4-0Oct 28, 2026

Approval of minutes from October 14, 2026 meeting

tabled4-0Oct 28, 2026

Hold operator's license application of Brandon B. Renier (26-1245)

denied0-4Oct 28, 2026

Recommend denial of operator's license application of Jessica Wells (26-1302)

approved3-1Oct 28, 2026

Amend Resolution #14-R-26 noise penalties to $250/$400/$800

approved3-1Oct 28, 2026

Recommend approval of Resolution #14-R-26 as amended

Voting record (235)

63 yes0 no172 abstained

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

that the Minutes be approved

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

that the meeting be adjourned at 3:53 p.m.

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

that the repeal and recreate of the Building Addressing Policy be recommended for approval

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

that the repeal and recreate of Chapter 17 Subdivisions be held until the next Plan Commission meeting

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

that the repeal of the Street Name Standards for New Streets and the Street Renaming Procedures and replace with the Street Naming and Renaming Standards Policy be recommended for approval

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

Approval of minutes from October 14, 2026 meeting (26-1326)

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

Hold action on Chapter 17 Subdivisions rewrite (26-1328)

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

Street Naming and Renaming Standards Policy (26-1329)

Voted yesOct 28, 2026

Building Addressing Policy update (26-1330)

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

that the meeting be adjourned at 8:46 p.m.

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

that the Ordinances be approved

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

that the Minutes be approved

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

that Resolution #16-R-26 be approved as amended in Committee

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

that the Changes to W Hawes Ave/N Summit St Intersection Traffic Control be approved

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

to approve the balance of the agenda

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

Approval of Previous Council Meeting Minutes (26-1301)

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

Resolution #16-R-26 Limiting the Use of ALPR Cameras

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

Changes to W Hawes Ave / N Summit St Intersection Traffic Control (26-1277)

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

Balance of the Agenda (26-1274, 26-1275, 26-1276, 26-1278, 26-1247, 26-1263, 26-1296, 26-1280)

AbstainedOct 21, 2026

Ordinances #99-26 to #101-26 (26-1310)

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

that the meeting be adjourned at 3:38 p.m.

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

that the Minutes be approved

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

that Rezoning #5-26 be recommended for approval

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

that the 09.09.2026 Board of Health Meeting Minutes be approved

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

Approval of September 9, 2026 meeting minutes (26-1166)

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

Adjournment

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

that the meeting be adjourned at 7:20am

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

Approval of minutes from September 23, 2026 meeting

Voted yesOct 14, 2026

Rezoning #5-26 — 2320 South Memorial Drive (Item 26-1263)

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

to approve the balance of the agenda

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Resolution be approved

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Ordinances be approved

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Sole Source Acquisition of Network Equipment & Services be approved

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Minutes be approved

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Text Amendments be approved

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Special Event Application be approved

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the meeting be adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Resolution be approved

AbstainedOct 7, 2026

that the Request to Approve Free Parking for Small Business Saturday be approved

AbstainedSep 16, 2026

that the Temporary Premises Amendment be approved

AbstainedSep 16, 2026

that the Appointment be approved

AbstainedSep 16, 2026

that the Full Service Retail Outlet Transfer Application be approved

AbstainedSep 16, 2026

that the Minutes be approved

AbstainedSep 16, 2026

that the Counter-Offer to Purchase be approved

AbstainedSep 16, 2026

to approve the balance of the agenda

AbstainedSep 16, 2026

that the meeting be adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Voted yesSep 9, 2026

that the Resolution #12-R-26 Rules Governing the Presence of Dogs in Taverns and Rules Governing the Presence of Dogs in Taverns associated with Resolution #12-R-26 were approved.

Voted yesSep 9, 2026

that the meeting be adjourned at 7:25am.

Voted yesSep 9, 2026

that the 08.26.2026 Board of Health Meeting Minutes be approved.

Voted yesSep 9, 2026

Approval of minutes from previous meeting