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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN REGULAR MEETING held Tuesday May 8, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Tower presided. PRESENT: Council Members Tony Palmeri, Dennis McHugh, Bryan Bain, Paul Esslinger, Burk Tower, Jessica King and Frank Tower ALSO PRESENT: Richard Wollangk, City Manager, Pamela Ubrig, City Clerk, Warren Kraft, City Attorney and David Patek, Director of Public Works Council Member Palmeri read the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by David and Ryan Kunkel from Oaklawn Elementary School; and, Alison, Lydia and Nicholas Rau from Emmeline Cook Elementary School. A proclamation was presented by Mayor Tower declaring the month of May 2007 "National Preservation Month" in the City of Oshkosh. A proclamation was presented by Mayor Tower declaring the week of May 13-20, 2007 "Americorps Week" in the City of Oshkosh. A proclamation was presented by Mayor declaring the week of May 20-26, 2007 "Emergency Medical Services Week" in the City of Oshkosh. Consent Agenda The minutes of the April 24,2007 meeting were presented as written. The Report of the City Manager was read. Candy Pearson, 543 Hazel Street, stated she was the owner of Apple Blossom Books and the representative of the Business Improvement District Marketing Consortium. She explained the Harry Potter's Oshkosh Main Street Magic Event. Council Member Bain questioned the street renaming request. Mr. Wollangk responded. The bills were presented in the amount of $4,586,808.66. The Report of the City Clerk was read. 1 Proceedings of the Common Council- May 8, 2007 Resolution 07-124 Grant Conditional Use Permit /1424 South Main Street and Portion of 1404 South Main Street Resolution 07-125 Award Bid for Public Works Contract No. 07-04 Concrete Paving / Utilities -Various ($5,752,856.20) Resolution 07-126 Waive Bids & Purchase Manhole & Inlet Castings for Public Works Department (Approx. $34,405.00) Council Member McHugh explained he would support the resolution, however he was concerned that there were no bids for the purchase. Resolution 07-127 Direct City Administration to Include River Mill Road in the 2007 Sidewalk Program ($3,413.00) Ken Bender, 806 Oak Street, explained sidewalks were a community safety issue. Robert Gluth, 1628 River Mill Road, explained his opposition to the resolution. John Dell'Antonia, 1768 River Mill Road, questioned the necessity for the resolution. He clarified information that was presented in the Oshkosh Northwestern and he explained his past actions as a Council Member. Council Member McHugh questioned the sidewalk ordinance and the necessity for the resolution. He questioned bicycle regulations. He questioned the amount of money available for the annual sidewalk program. He questioned previous ordinances that related to the subdivision sidewalk requirements. Council Member Bain questioned if there were other subdivisions that did not have sidewalks. He questioned the intent for monies in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). He questioned if there were any requests for the sidewalk or requests for other additional areas for sidewalks. He questioned if there would be direct access from the trail to the sidewalk. He questioned Council Member Esslinger's reason for the resolution. He questioned if the order would take away from other projects. Council Member Palmeri questioned what would happen to the monies if the resolution was not passed. He questioned why the sidewalks were not installed during the same time frame as Arboretum Drive. He questioned the procedures following approval of the resolution. He questioned the regulation regarding bicycles on sidewalks. He questioned if the installation of sidewalks would create an issue with water run off. He questioned the policy on tree removal. He stated that it was unfortunate that the Oshkosh Northwestern personalized the issue. He explained he would support the resolution because of the safety issue related to the WIOWASH Trail. He stated that the vote would not change the perception in the community that higher income citizens received preferential treatment. 2 Mr. Wollangk and Mr. Patek responded. Proceedings of the Common Council- May 8, 2007 Council Member King explained that she opposed the resolution because of the limited budget and the fact that researched priorities were established in 2002 that have not yet been completed. She stated that it was more important for sidewalk work to first be completed in high traffic areas. She stated that in regard to safety the arterial and collector streets served the majority of the community. Council Member Tower questioned who was responsible for sidewalk completion in new subdivisions. He questioned the legality of runners in the streets. He requested an updated priority list. He explained that the greatest good for the greatest number was to first address the arterial streets. Mr. Patek, Mr. Wollangk and Mr. Kraft responded. Council Member Esslinger explained that during his seven years of service on the Council citizens had contacted him several times in regard to the sidewalk issue. He explained that he had contacted Mr. Patek about the issue on two or three separate occasions and the issue was brought forward again recently by a citizen. He explained that the lack of sidewalks was a safety issue and that there was enough money in the budget to address the issue. He explained that it was important to negate the perception in the community that higher income people were treated differently. Mayor Tower explained that the vote would not change the community perception and he stated his support for the resolution. He requested that information on past ordinances be available to the Council in the future. Resolution 07-128 Approve Appointments Resolution 07-129 Approve Miscellaneous Licenses MOTION: ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA EXCLUDING RESOLUTION 07-127 (Esslinger; second, McHugh) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Palmeri, McHugh, Bain, Esslinger, Tower, King, Mayor Tower Resolution 07-127 Direct City Administration to Include River Mill Road in the 2007 Sidewalk Program ($3,413.00) MOTION: ADOPT (McHugh; second, King) MOTION: LOST: TABLE (McHugh; second, no second) LACK OF SECOND VOTE ON RESOLUTION: CARRIED: Ayes (5) Palmeri, McHugh, Bain, Esslinger, Mayor Tower; 3 Noes (2) Tower, King Proceedings of the Common Council- May 8, 2007 Action Taken on Ordinances and Resolutions Ordinance 07-130 Amend Room Tax Allocation Amounts FIRST READING; LAID OVER UNDER THE RULES Citizen Statements Ken Bender, 806 Oak Street, expressed various community concerns. Daniel Lynch, 310 S. Eagle Street, expressed various concerns related to underage smokers. Council Member Esslinger questioned if the police department could monitor the underage smoking issue and report back to the Council. Mr. Wollangk responded. Gordon Doule, 1225 Summit Avenue, expressed various concerns in the community. Mayor Tower reminded Mr. Doule to limit his discussion to issues that had an impact on the City of Oshkosh and that the Council could address at future meetings. Council Member Statements Council Member Palmeri urged Mr. Wollangk to include information in the Weekly Newsletter indicating who was involved in his scheduled meetings. He asked various questions related to the proposed chamber building purchase. He questioned the procedure for Plan Commission review. He questioned the intent to relocate. He questioned the possible loss of generated property tax. He explained that he did not support moving the item before the Plan Commission at this point in time. Mayor Tower questioned who could be involved in a workshop related to the chamber building. Council Member King questioned if the chamber building issue before the Council related to future road projects. She explained that it was important to evaluate the public endowment structure for entities where the City had a partnership with the Oshkosh Community Foundation and to find creative solutions to the existing budget issues. She explained that she was working on an educational piece regarding the eleven public endowments that supplement the current operational budget. She encouraged the public to donate to these organizations and to utilize the tax deduction for the federal government and she explained that would prove that citizens had the power to direct where the tax dollars could go to reduce the federal tax. She stated she would share future updates. 4 Mr. Wollangk and Mr. John Casper responded. Council Member Esslinger offered condolences to the Kaprelian family and friends. He explained he would request a future workshop related to a Citizen Advisory Committee. Proceedings of the Common Council- May 8, 2007 Council Member McHugh questioned if Mayor Tower requested committee reports. Mayor Tower requested a workshop be held June 12, 2007 for an economic development commission. He explained that he was also working on a workshop related to a task force on crime. He explained that he was not expecting a public report on committees, however a memo or letter would be appropriate. Whatever Else is Pertinent or for the Good of the City Mr. Wollangk announced that the school system would present a facility update at a Workshop on May 22,2007. He explained that there were three "Class B" Licenses that were not being utilized up for renewal and he questioned if the Council wanted the license holders to appear before the Council to state their intents. MOTION: CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE STATUS PRESENT AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE AFSCME 796, AFSCME 796B, AFSCME 796C, LOCAL NO. 316, I.A.F.F.PURSANT TO SECTION 19.85(1)(c) OF THE WISCONSIN STATE STATUTES (Tower; second, Esslinger) Ayes (7) Palmeri, McHugh, Bain, Esslinger, Tower, King, Mayor Tower CARRIED: MOTION: CARRIED: ADJOURN (Bain; second, Esslinger) VOICE VOTE The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. PAMELA R. UBRIG CITY CLERK 5