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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.02.2022 MinutesCITY OF OSHKOSH SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD Minutes May 2nd, 2022 PRESENT: Pat Dwyer Hallquist, Vic Oliver, Ken Osmond, Bradley Spanbauer, Aaron Wojciechowski (arrived at 6:17pm), Michelle Bogden-Muetzel (arrived at 6:03), Margy Davey EXCUSED: Eric Degroot, Lisa Marone, Bob Poeschl, ABSENT: STAFF AND OTHERS: Brandon Nielsen (Staff Liaison), Staff (Oshkosh Media), Mark Lyons (Planning Services Manager), Jim Feldman (UWO Professor), UWO Environmental Studies Students, I. Call to Order Chair Margy Davey called the meeting to order at 6:00pm and a quorum was declared present. II. Public Comment There was no one from the public to speak. III. Approval of Minutes, April 4th, 2022 Mr. Spanbauer motioned to approve the minutes. Ms. Oliver seconded the motion. The board approved the April 4th minutes 5-0 (Spanbauer/ Oliver). Motion by Mr. Spanbauer to accept the minutes as written Seconded by Ms. Oliver Motion carried 5-0 IV. UW-Oshkosh Student Presentations Professor Jim Feldman thanked the Sustainability Advisory Board and city staff for making the presentations possible and turned the floor over to the students. The first student group proposed that the City of Oshkosh Reduce Lot and Dwelling Size requirements in the zoning code. The group explained that, according to the 2021 housing needs assessment, Oshkosh is facing a housing crisis due to the insufficiency of affordable housing that is available. They proposed that a reduction in minimum lot size and dwelling size, along with creation of denser single family residential zoning districts, could help solve this crisis. The group contended that small homes can help increase people’s accessibility to housing because properties become more affordable if they are smaller. They explained how small homes have less of an impact on the environment and how they are economically sustainability. They shared comments from multiple stakeholders who explained the many benefits and current barriers of small homes. The group also shared the feedback they received from Planning and Zoning staff at Oshkosh and other Wisconsin cities. For instance, Madison staff shared with the group how they are approaching small home development and that 50% of Madison is now zoned to accommodate small homes through zoning code amendments. Questions: Ms. Dwyer-Hallquist asked if the group researched if apartment complex utilities are less expensive than small homes. The group did not research that comparison but stated home ownership was something they discovered as a want within their research. Mr. Osmond asked the group if they found a recommended minimum number of units needed to generate a sense of community and the breakeven point for utility infrastructure costs. The group did not know what that breakeven point was and did not find a specific number of units needed to generate a sense of community. Mr. Lyons asked if there were any state regulated building code constraints for minimum dwelling size. The group said they found regulations regarding lot size but did not find anything related to dwelling size. The second student group proposed that the City of Oshkosh create and hire a full time Sustainability Manger staff position. They described what a Sustainability Manger’s job duties could be and why this position is greatly needed if the City of Oshkosh believes in sustainability and wants to appropriately progress in all efforts related to sustainability. The group explained that in Chapter 5, page 36, of Oshkosh’s Sustainability Plan this idea is already listed and it says to seek creation of a position that is responsible for coordination of sustainable activities to report to the City Manager. They explained why more time and effort needs to be put into sustainability at a city staff level, showed example cities who have created and hired a sustainability position, and how these cities funded the additional staff position. The group finished with stating that if a full time sustainability manager position cannot currently be funded then current staff time should be better allocated to allow for more focus, and subsequent commitment, on sustainability within Oshkosh. Questions: Mr. Osmond questioned how other cities prevented administrative creep for a position such as this. The student group explained that some cities create green teams or groups of people from different departments who will focus on sustainability and can hold each other accountable. Mr. Osmond asked if this position would apply for grant opportunities and be held to a very descriptive job description. The group explained that in looking at Racine, WI’s sustainability manager job description that it was very descriptive and that yes this position would research and apply for grants associated to sustainable/environmental efforts. Mr. Spanbauer asked where a position such as this is housed under within a city. The group explained that it could be its own department because it will be helping in all aspects of city development. The third student group presented on an Urban Forestry proposal. They explained that about 18% of Oshkosh’s current land area is tree canopy and that the DNR suggests that an additional 49% is needed to reach the maximum benefits. Their proposal focused on strategically adding trees to the west side and south side of Lakeshore Park, following Duke’s Urban Forestry Protocol, and registering this area as a carbon sequestration zone. The group provided examples from other cities that have allocated funds for new trees to show the benefits those cities have experienced. Questions: Ms. Oliver asked what types of trees are recommended for Urban Forests and carbon sequestration. The student group said that elm and oak trees sequestrate the most carbon but location plays an important role on what should be planted. Mr. Osmond questioned city staff if there is an ordinance in place that requires tree canopies within new developments. Mr. Lyons briefly explained the landscaping ordinance and how the planting point systems functions within new developments. The fourth student group proposed and presented on a Community Sustainability Ambassador Program. They explained what the program could accomplish and how it would function by providing examples from other cities. These examples provided a framework for how Oshkosh could accomplish this program to meet the SAB goals. The group recommended that this program be paid for through a grant and could start with UWO students who are interested in sustainability. Questions: Mr. Osmond asked how a group like the ambassador program would interact and communicate with the SAB/public and the student group said they believe the ambassadors would be a conduit between SAB and the community, passing along ideas and thoughts regarding sustainable initiatives. Ambassadors could set up booths at public events to get the word out about their program and also have gatherings listed in the rec department’s program brochure. Ms. Davey thanked all of the groups for their presentations and congratulated them on their research. V. Menominee Park Shoreland Restoration Ms. Bogden-Muetzel said that a UW–Oshkosh geography class has been assisting with work being done at the park along with Ripon College students helping out with bird house repairs. She went through a number of items regarding the restoration project and the animals that are nesting in the area, accomplishing a lot of what this site was intended to do. She explained that the name of the group that runs this site has been changed to Oshkosh Ecological Restoration from Friends of Menominee Park Shoreland because they are doing work in places other than Menominee Park so the new name aligns more with Oshkosh as a whole. VI. Agenda Items for Future Meeting Snow Removal / Salting Ordinance – Mr. Nielsen explained that he received a draft version that Mr. Spanbauer put together with his edits and that those were reviewed by staff. Mr. Nielsen will finalize those comments and send the staff draft version to SAB later in the month and SAB can discuss those edits at the June meeting. Weed Cutting and Lawn Care Ordinance– Mr. Nielsen explained that he did not have time to meet with staff to discuss the SAB comments from April and that it will have to be on the June agenda. Marketing flyer for energy saving home improvements – Mr. Spanbauer said he plans to work on this during May and will try to have it ready for June. Ms. Dwyer-Hallquist said she would like SAB to recommend that the Parks Department apply for the DNR grant that is available in October. She would like this on the July agenda. Mr. Osmond said that in the near future he would like SAB to take action on recommending the creation and hiring of a Sustainability Manager position within the City of Oshkosh. Mr. Wojciechowski seconded this and would like to get a recommendation to council soon. There was loose conversation amongst board members about this staff position. VIII. Next Meeting, Monday, June 6th, 2022 IX. Adjournment The board voted 7-0 to adjourn (Osmond / Wojciechowski) Motion by Mr. Osmond to adjourn Seconded by Mr. Wojciechowski Motion carried 7-0 Recorded by: Brandon Nielsen, Assistant Planner