By Joe Bachman
Multimedia Editor

STEVENS POINT — Public Protection officials discussed the potential creation of an appeals board on Monday, July 8.

This comes in light of recent discussions by city officials regarding how residents can better appeal a violation. Currently, any resident who violates a city ordinance has the ability to appeal the ruling in person. During the Public Protection meeting on June 10, District 9 Alderperson Polly Dalton felt that current regulations put an undue hardship on income-restricted individuals, or those without the flexibility to attend a nightly city meeting.

City Attorney Andrew Beveridge brought forth a version of an appeals ordinance adapted from Madison.

Discussion was held on the make-up of the board, which could include members of the public, and not just elected officials and city staff. The board could better accommodate residents who receive ordinance violations who wish to appeal at various times of the day.

“I still feel one of the problems is we’ve noticed is that people would like to come but they don’t have the opportunity at the times we’re meeting.” said District 3 Alder Cindy Nebel.

Mayor Mike Wiza believes that appointed members to an appeals board should be non-elected officials to maintain non-bias.

“One of the things that occurs to me is that it might be best to have non-elected serving the role of this committee,” said Wiza. “Not only are you taking the personal and-or political aspects out of it, but there have been occasions where elected officials get a notification.”

However, District 10 Alder Mike Phillips is against the idea of an appeals board. He believes charging a flat fee for an appeal is the first step in pushing individuals to show up for their appeal. He doesn’t want too many layers of government for this process.

“You mentioned meeting in different places to accommodate the perpetrators — okay, we’re going to meet at the perpetrators garage this afternoon at 3 o’clock. I can see all this taking place,” commented Phillips.

“A baby step right now is to just charge a fee for the appeals and leave it the way it is. A lot of frivolous appeals will go away. Try that first, and if that don’t work, then go to this.” he added.

Andrew Beveridge issues a quick response to Phillips’ comments.

“Due process certainly can be tedious, however, it is guaranteed, and that’s the reason why Chapter 68 exists — to ensure that independent of what communities write in ordinances, there is a backstop of state statute that sets up a framework for due process.” said Beveridge.

Beveridge believes that an appeals board would streamline the process and potentially make it more efficient. As a note, Phillips stated that we would be for the appeals board if taxpayers did not have to fund it.

Staff will continue to work on an official ordinance to create an appeals board and likely bring it back to city officials next month.