HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-20-21 Meeting Minutes
Downtown Oshkosh BID Board Minutes
July 20, 2021
Present: Marlo Ambas, James Evans, Sandra Prunty, James Stapel, Jill Anderson, Chanda
Anderson, David Krumplitsch, Barb Nelson, Megan Lang, Carrie Olson, Derek Mulloy
and Aaron Armstrong.
Excused: Autumn Urban and Kris Larson.
Staff: Jessica Meidl – BID Manager, Kelly Nieforth – Economic Development Services
Manager, Sean Fitzgerald – Economic Development Specialist, and Jeff Nau – Associate
Planner/GIS Specialist.
Others: Amy Albright – Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, Michael Cooney – Oshkosh
Farmers Market, Mike Nelson, Anthony Kanter, Jessica Graf and Kaitlyn Scoville.
I. Call to Order
Chairperson Lang called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. A quorum was declared present.
II. Approve Minutes of the June 15, 2021 Meeting
Prunty moved to approve the minutes of the June 15, 2021 meeting, second by Jill Anderson. Motion
passed unanimously.
III. Approve July 2021 Monthly Financial Report
BID Manager Meidl discussed the financial report as presented in the packet. Nieforth explained the
MemberCo checking account has now been set up through the city’s finance department. Prunty
moved to accept the financial report, second by Olson. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Policing/Traffic/Parking/Enforcement Issues
Sgt. Pettit was not available to discuss policing matters downtown since the last meeting.
Cooney explained the board of directors for the farmer’s market has adopted official rules of conduct
for the event which enables police officers to enforce those rules when an attendee creates a disturbance
in violating the rules. He indicated those rules will be open for revision in the future.
Nieforth explained staff has communicated with the transit department about traffic calming measures
in the downtown, and mentioned that crosswalks have been recently repainted for the year. She said
she would discuss with the transit department about having crosswalks painted earlier in the summer
next year.
Fitzgerald reported that Transportation Director Jim Collins provided a price of $9,000 for a set of
rapidly flashing beacon lights, but strongly advised against implementing such lights downtown
because he doesn’t believe it will be any more effective than the existing bump outs. Collins indicated
he felt it may be more of an enforcement issue. Members of the board discussed the matter and felt the
concern isn’t as much of a vehicular speed issue but a crosswalk visibility issue. Nieforth said staff will
have further discussions with Sgt. Pettit regarding enforcement options.
V. Approve Retention Fund Grant for the amount of $1,000.00 to Caramel Crisp
and Café LLC, 200 City Center D, 101 Commerce Street (Caramel Crisp Corner)
Chanda Anderson from Caramel Crisp explained the improvement project has already been completed
at her retail shop. Meidl explained the grant was vetted and approved by the BID Beautification
Committee. Motion by Jill Anderson to approve the grant, second by Evans. Motion passed 11 to 0,
with Chanda Anderson abstaining from the vote.
VI. Approve BID Mural Grant application for the amount of $1,000.00 to Emma Daisy
Gertel for a mural at 438 N. Main Street
Meidl explained not all the material to process the grant request has been received, yet, and that
approval would be tabled to the August 17, 2021 meeting of the board.
VII. CVB Roger Brooks Update
Nieforth provided an update on city staff initiatives related to the Roger Brooks presentation to the
Oshkosh Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in June. She said the proposed blade sign initiative has
been vetted through various city departments and the city will provide a brochure with standard
guidelines for necessary permits and encroachment agreements for the signs.
Chanda Anderson asked about variances for the required 8-foot clearance for the height of the signs.
Nieforth explained it’s an Americans with Disabilities Act regulation and there are no variances to
allow lower sign heights. Albright recommended soliciting a sign company to design a standard
template for blade signs in the downtown. Lang suggested the pilot program for the blade signs be
extended to the retailers along Waugoo Avenue.
Nieforth proceeded to report ongoing discussions with the city’s public works department regarding
opportunities to place items such as flower planters in the right of way on the sidewalk without
violating ADA accessibility guidelines. She said the city is willing to conduct a pilot program for a term
of one year on the 400 and 500 blocks of North Main Street. The pilot program would be limited to just
planters and flower pots right up against the building. The pilot program would not include benches.
Committee members expressed concerns that other communities are allowing multiple items on the
sidewalks in front of stores in their downtown areas, and that the City of Oshkosh is misinterpreting
the federal ADA law. Members cited examples of heavily decorated sidewalk right of ways in
downtown Rhinelander and Ripon. Lang advised board members wishing to challenge this guidance
to check with communities allowing various items on sidewalks and ask how they received approval.
Each participating individual business owner or building owner will need to sign an encroachment
agreement with the city as part of this sidewalk decoration pilot program.
Albright provided an update on her promotion of the Roger Brooks recommendations across various
groups in the community.
VIII. Recommended projects for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding
Meidl explained she and Fitzgerald prepared a grant request and project proposal seeking $5 million in
ARPA funding to assist with the construction of a downtown public plaza.
Fitzgerald explained the grant application deadline had been extended to July 30, 2021, and the city
council will be evaluating all of the proposals received later this year.
IX. Seagull Wrap up
Prunty reported the seagull consultant retained by the BID oiled a total of 867 seagull eggs and
attended to 400 nests throughout the downtown during 2021. The project is wrapped up for this year
and will resume with the 5-year effort next spring.
X. Scooters in Downtown
Planning Director Lyons explained the council adopted an ordinance earlier in the year regulating the
use and rental of electric scooters. He explained city staff is working on developing a pilot program for
electric scooter rental in the community. City staff also plans to network later in the fall with officials
from other communities which allow “dockless” scooter rentals to learn about issues they faced and
potential solutions those communities are considering.
Anthony Kanter of Komoto Electric Scooters explained some components of his business model.
XI. 2021 Holiday Season Campaign and Events
Meidl indicated planning efforts for the holiday parade on November 18 are underway. The campaign
for this coming season will be “Downtown for the Holidays.” Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel is
considering taking over the “Breakfast with the Grinch” event this coming season. “Reindeer in the
Square” event will occur on December 11.
XII. BID Manager and BID Committee Reports
Events
MemberCO
Beautification
Marketing & Communications
Meidl provided her management and committee report as presented in the packet and offered an
update of her activities in the office during the past month. She explained the detail of the proposed
themes for upcoming First Friday events in August, September and October. Meidl also provided a
draft version of the downtown directory she’s creating for publication later this year.
Lang mentioned Jazz in the Square will occur every weekend in September and will start August 25 to
kick off the local jazz festival weekend.
XIII. Other Business (Items not listed on the BID Board meeting agenda)
Evans mentioned the public parking lot on the 400 block between North Main and Jefferson is looking
bad, particularly the condition of the storm water drain ditch. Nieforth explained there have been
discussions with the city’s public works department about cleaning up the rain garden in that area to
make it more presentable. Nieforth said funds have been budgeted for maintenance of the area in
future years, but she will push for a solution to clean up the area yet this year.
XIV. Identification of Agenda Items for the August 17, 2021 Meeting
No specific items of note were identified as agenda items for the August 17, 2021 meeting.
XV. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Jill Anderson at 9:24 a.m., second by Armstrong. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sean Fitzgerald
Economic Development Division
Economic Development Specialist