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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes_01.09.2024CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1-9-2024 CALL TO ORDER 6:01 pm ROLL CALL Present:Matt Mugerauer, Mayor; Lynnsey Erickson; Joe Stephenson; Karl Buelow; Paul Esslinger; LaKeisha Haase Absent:Mike Ford Staff Present: Mark Rohloff, City Manager; Lynn Lorenson, City Attorney; Diane Bartlett, City Clerk PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: CITIZEN STATEMENTS TO COUNCIL - none CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS Report of Bills by the Finance Director Receipt & Filing of Minutes - Library Board 10.26.23 (Regular Meeting) 11.07.23 (Special Meeting) 11.16.23 (Special Meeting) 11.30.23 (Regular Meeting) Receipt & Filing of Minutes - Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting 11.08.23 Receipt & Filing of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company - Gosh (Sanitation Department Crane Hit and Damaged Basketball Hoop) Receipt & Filing of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company - Cryan (Misc. Complaint) Res 24-02 Approve Labor Contract with Oshkosh Professional Police Association (OPPA) for Years 2024, 2025, and 2026 Res 24-03 Approve Amendment with AECOM for Former Sanitation Garage Demolition and East 8th Avenue Debris Pile Removal Oversight (+$47,000.00) Res 24-04 Approve Amendment No. 4 to Professional Services Agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for Water Filtration Plant Clearwells Replacement Final Design (+$905,585.00) Res 24-05 Approve Professional Services Agreement with Kane Communications Group for Department of Public Works 2024 Strategic Communications Plan Implementation Services ($269,834.10) Res 24-06 Award Bid for Public Works Contract No. 23-29 to Vinton Construction Company, Inc. for Building Demolitions ($367,065.74) Res 24-07 Approve CIP Budget Amendment and Change Order No. 1 (Final) for Public Works Contract No. 23-06 Concrete Sidewalk (New and Rehabilitation) / LaLonde Contractors, Inc. (+$288,799.48) Res 24-08 Authorize the Filing by GO Transit of 2024 FTA & WisDot Operating Assistance Grants As Well As County Transportation Assistance Res 24-09 Approve Amendment to 2023 Student Ridership Agreement with Oshkosh Area School District to Add Morning Transit Tripper Service for North High School Res 24-10 Approve Purchase of Security Cameras from Hunter Security & Surveillance for Fire Department ($85,058.03) Res 24-11 Approve Cooperative Purchase of 2024 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles from Ewald Automotive Group for Police Department ($421,170.00) Res 24-12 Approve Special Class "B" License - Fe Vida y Esperanza Inc Res 24-13 Approve Appointment of Member to Board of Zoning Appeals MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ABOVE Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger Second Joe Stephenson AYE:Mayor Matt Mugerauer, Lynnsey Erickson, Joe Stephenson, Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, LaKeisha Haase 6 - 0 Passed ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA Res 24-01 Disallowance of Claim - Cryan (Alleged Various Claims) PUBLIC SPEAKER Jane Cryan 1613 Western Street Oshkosh, WI 54901 Cryan claims neighbors are discharging sub-pump water onto her lot. She feels there has been zero response from the Mayor or Council in rectifying the ordinance. Since 2018, the Oshkosh Police Department has refused to stop the verbal abuse and property damages she has suffered from her adjacent neighbors. This is why she claimed monetary compensation. COUNCIL DISCUSSION Council Member Haase explains that for transparency, she believes she must inform the council that she had represented one of Ms. Cryan's neighbors who is mentioned in this complaint. She feels there would not be a conflict with her voting this evening. Mayor Mugereur gave a brief description of the claims process that the city follows. Council Member Esslinger states he would like the public to understand that, like most insurance carriers, if the insurance carrier feels the city is at fault, the claim will be paid/allowed. The council could review and go against the insurance's recommendation. However, if they do, the City is responsible for paying the claim, which is just under half a million dollars. Mr. Esslinger asked if that was a correct understanding, and City Attorney Lorenson stated that was correct. Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger Second Lynnsey Erickson AYE:Mayor Matt Mugerauer, Lynnsey Erickson, Joe Stephenson, Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, LaKeisha Haase 6 - 0 Passed NEW ORDINANCES No formal action was taken at this meeting on the items below / 1st reading *Ord 24-14 Approve Zone Change from General Agricultural Extraterritorial District (A- 2ETZ) to Single-Family Residence Extraterritorial District (R-1ETZ) for a property located at 4744 County Highway K in the Town of Algoma (Extraterritorial Zoning Committee Recommends Approval) 1ST READING *Ord 24-15 Approve Zone Change from Suburban Mixed Use District with a Planned Development Overlay (SMU-PD) to Institutional District (I) for the Property Located at 425 North Washburn Street (Plan Commission Recommends Approval) 1ST READING NEW RESOLUTIONS Res 24-16 Approve City Manager Performance Evaluation for 2023 and Goals for 2024 COUNCIL DISCUSSION Deputy Mayor Erickson read through the resolution, findings of the City Manager's review, and the goals set by council for 2024. Mayor Mugereuer thanked Deputy Mayor Erickson for leading us through the process and reiterated their satisfaction with Mr. Rohloff's performance. Motion To Approve Karl Buelow Second Lynnsey Erickson AYE:Mayor Matt Mugerauer, Lynnsey Erickson, Joe Stephenson, Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, LaKeisha Haase 6 - 0 Passed Res 24-17 Approve 2024 Fee and Charges Schedule Motion To Approve Karl Buelow Second LaKeisha Haase AYE:Mayor Matt Mugerauer, Lynnsey Erickson, Joe Stephenson, Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, LaKeisha Haase 6 - 0 Passed Res 24-18 Approve General Development Plan Amendment for Athletic Fields at the Lourdes Academy, located at 250 North Sawyer Street and 1100 Witzel Avenue (Plan Commission Recommends Approval) Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger Second Karl Buelow AYE:Mayor Matt Mugerauer, Lynnsey Erickson, Joe Stephenson, Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, LaKeisha Haase 6 - 0 Passed COUNCIL DISCUSSION, DIRECTION TO CITY MANAGER & FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 1. Public Education Campaign Regarding Proposed Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) and Utility Fees as Replacement of Special Assessments for Street Reconstruction Projects COUNCIL DISCUSSION City Manager Rohloff stated he included a memo in the Council packets of an overview of the features of the Vehicle Registration Fee as a partial replacement for special assessments. The number of vehicles that would be eligible for the registration fee would be 46,772 which we would have to increase the fee to $35.00 on each registration. The City is trying to recover about $3.75 million which we would no longer collect on special assessments. $2.25 million is through charging the appropriate utilities for their cost. The downside is the concerned cost of our utility fees and that is something that we have to keep track of. The average increase in cost for each utility is a quarter to one-half percent. We want to disclose that. Mr. Esslinger noted that in reading Mr. Rohloff's analysis, he is questioning why only vehicles under the weight of 8,000 pounds would be included with the fee. Wouldn't that be the vehicles that have the least impact on the road? Mr. Rohloff explained that it is the same concern that he has had with the fee. State statute exempts vehicles over 8,000 pounds. This points out the imperfection with vehicle registration fee. Finance Director Russ Van Gempel added that state statute outlines the ability of municipalities to collect a vehicle registration fee locally. The statute defines what we can or cannot have a municipality fee associated with. Council Member Esslinger asked about registration fees for other vehicles. Finance Director Van Gompel responded to Mr. Esslinger's inquiry above, noting that the fee would apply to motor/passenger vehicles only. Council Member Esslinger brought up the possibility of a new council in April, deciding to get rid of the proposed fee. City Manager Rohloff advised that this decision should not be taken lightly and council should make a decision that should have some "staying power". Council Member Stephenson stated he is in favor of this, stating that the council has been wrestling with the special assessments for two decades with no progress". While he agrees there are flaws in registration fees, he feels there are way more flaws in the special assessments. Any solution will be imperfect. That is the nature of government. Council Member Buelow feels in a system where everyone uses the roads, everybody pays a little bit more. Instead of the whole cost being put on the property owner that happens to be in front of that road. It makes sense to move forward with this relief, so homeowners don't see these huge assessment bills that sometimes put people out of their homes. He feels this is the best way to fund the roads we all drive on. COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS & STATEMENTS - none CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS & STATEMENTS Cooperative Purchase of 2024 Ford Explorer from Ewald's Hartford Ford LLC for Police Department ($39,656.00) Cooperative Purchase of 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pickup Truck from Napleton Chevrolet Columbus for Fire Department ($52,351.30) Cooperative Purchase of 2024 Network Switches from Vanguard Computers, Inc. for IT Division ($69,302.00) Outstanding Issues MOTION TO ADJOURN - 6:46 PM Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger Second Karl Buelow AYE:Mayor Matt Mugerauer, Lynnsey Erickson, Joe Stephenson, Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, LaKeisha Haase 6 - 0 Passed SUBMITTED BY DIANE BARTLETT CITY CLERK