HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.07.2021 MinutesCITY OF OSHKOSH SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Minutes
June 7th, 2021
PRESENT: Eric DeGroot, Lisa Marone, Margy Davey, Bradley Spanbauer, Vic Oliver, Aaron
Wojciechowski, Michael Beardsley
EXCUSED: Pat Dwyer Hallquist, Michelle Bogden Muetzel, Bob Poeschl
ABSENT: Ken Osmond
STAFF AND OTHERS: Brandon Nielsen (Staff Liaison), Staff (Oshkosh Media)
I. Call to Order
Chair Margy Davey called the meeting to order and a quorum was declared present.
II. Public Comment
III. Approval of Minutes, May 3rd, 2021
No board members had any revisions for the minutes so the board approved the May 3rd
minutes 7-0 (Spanbauer / Oliver).
Motion by Mr. Spanbauer to accept the minutes as written.
Seconded by Ms. Oliver.
Motion carried 7-0.
IV. Solar Panel City Comparison
Lisa Marone began her presentation explaining that the City of Oshkosh permits residential
solar panels conditionally. She explained that the conditional use permit costs $450 dollars and
takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the process to be complete, which creates an expensive and long
wait time for residents to receive their building permit. Ms. Marone explained that this was by
far the most expensive process for residential solar permitting in the fox valley area.
Ms. Marone continued her presentation showing how other cities in Wisconsin permit solar and
how they educate their residents on the permitting process.
Mark Lyons explained the brief history of solar permitting in Oshkosh and said we can now see
that Oshkosh is an outlier in how that process is handled. The next step is for this presentation
to go to plan commission to seek their recommendation in amending the zoning code to allow
residential roof mounted solar panels by right, removing the conditional use permit
requirement.
Brad Spanbauer asked if both the SAB and Plan Commission are on the same page does that
create a new pathway for residents to get a permit for solar at a cheaper cost. Mr. Lyons
explained that the pathway does not change but it will be cheaper because the zoning code will
be amended, no longer requiring a conditional use permit be had; which is where the majority
of the costs came from. Mr. Spanbauer asked if the city will be adding solar information to the
city website so interested parties can easily determine what needs to be done in order to install
solar on their home. Mr. Lyons and Brandon Nielsen explained that the planning and zoning
department has quick guide brochures for other permits and plan to create something similar
for solar panels, as well as getting that information on the city website.
Margy Davey questioned city staff what SAB can do to show they support this zoning text
amendment. Mr. Lyons stated that voice vote or something similar would be sufficient.
The board members were asked to raise their hand if they were supportive of the text
amendment. All present board members (7) raised their hands in support of this zoning code
change.
V. Urban Permaculture/Orchards
Jenn and Adam Sattler from 2614 Harrison St in Oshkosh began their presentation on Urban
Agriculture, explaining the benefits and adaptations they would like the City of Oshkosh to
consider. Mrs. Sattler provided everyone with a background of her and her husband Adam,
explaining they grew up on small family farms in Wisconsin, that she holds a biology degree
from UW Oshkosh, that they are one of founding members of the Oshkosh Food co-op, that she
spent three years working for Growing Oshkosh, and that currently she serves as the science
technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) teacher at the Davis Child Care Center in
Oshkosh. Mrs. Sattler added that she is also a certified permaculture designer. Mr. Sattler added
that he has an environmental studies degree from UW Oshkosh with minors in geography and
sustainable management, and has worked in the Land Conservation Department at Outagamie
County as well as a small dairy company over the past six years.
Mrs. Sattler explained what Urban Agriculture means according to www.epa.gov and what the
social, economic, environmental, and sustainable benefits can be. Mrs. Sattler went over the
challenges with urban agriculture in the City of Oshkosh explaining that current code and
regulations do not really allow for this type of use to be conducted on a residential property,
and that even though this can be permitted conditionally, a conditional use permit would not
allow for the interactive public experience that an urban farm promotes.
Mrs. Sattler shared a case study from St. Paul, MN which showed zoning code and application
examples for an urban farm. The Sattler’s proposed that the City of Oshkosh Sustainability
Advisory Board work with them to recommend a change in the zoning code, which could then
be presented to Plan Commission and City Council. They would like the city to adopt an urban
agriculture definition and all the language for standards and conditions that St. Paul, MN has in
their zoning code regarding urban agriculture.
Mr. Spanbauer asked Mrs. Sattler if she had found any information from any other Wisconsin
cities. Mrs. Sattler said that she found some information from Milwaukee and Madison but
would need to reach out to the city planners to better understand what their codes state.
Lisa Marone said that she also did some research on this topic and, in talking to an
environmental planner, she discovered that municipal codes for this land use are simply not
created yet and are rare to find.
Ms. Davey asked Mr. Lyons if this topic is something that the SAB could work with the Sattler’s
on further. Mr. Lyons explained that definition provided earlier in the presentation targets
vacant properties and, if adopted, would not change much in the City of Oshkosh because
vacant lots can already have community gardens on them, which would support urban
agriculture. Mr. Lyons continued, saying that if the goal here is to have an urban farm on a
residential property that has an existing home on it then yes, more work will need to be done.
Mrs. Davey asked what steps need to be taken for this. Mr. Lyons explained that this topic
would definitely need to be reviewed by Plan Commission and City Council and described the
complexities of maintaining compliance with regulations when a something is permitted by
right in comparison to conditionally.
The board entertained hearing a public comment at this point in the meeting.
Misty McPhee from 1019 Jefferson St. made a comment showing support of this idea and
initiative.
Aaron Wojciechowski stated that he feels like there may be some unnecessary or burdensome
regulations in the City of Oshkosh and would like the SAB to consider looking into this topic
further. Ms. Davey stated that she feels like this topic should be explored more at the SAB level
too.
VI. Menominee Park Shoreline Restoration Report
Ms. Davey shared with the board that Michelle Bogden Muetzel send her an update on this
project and it said that they had cleared the trails and laid new wood chips on the west end of
Millers Bay Trail and around the memorial tree. There are tree swallows nesting in two of the
three nest boxes. This Saturday, 6/12/21, they will doing some trimming on the Millers Bay side
from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
VII. APRA Recommendations
Mr. Lyons explained that the City is asking all boards and commissions to start a discussion
about potential uses for the APRA funding. The forms where displayed for the board to review.
Mr. Nielsen encouraged the board members to come up with ideas and get back to him with
those. There were no questions.
VIII. Meeting in person or virtual?
Ms. Davey asked the board if they wanted to continue to meet virtually or to resume meeting in
person, with the next meeting being in August. Mr. Spanbauer stated that he would like to meet
in person but did not like voting without all board members being present. Mr. Wojciechowski
said that the last council meeting was in person and it went well. Ms. Marone also voiced her
support for meeting in person.
Mr. Wojciechowski motioned to return to in-person meetings starting in August Mr. Spanbauer
seconded the motion. (Wojciechowski / Spanbauer)
Motioned carried 7-0
IX. Agenda Items for Future Meeting
Menominee Park Shoreline Restoration, Solar Permitting Process, SAB Goals/Accomplishments
X. Next Meeting, Monday, August 2nd, 2021 (No meeting in July)
XI. The board voted 7-0 to adjourn (Marone / Degroot)
Recorded by:
Brandon Nielsen, Assistant Planner