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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesDOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES January 19, 2010 PRESENT: David Sparr, Megan Lang, Todd Cummings, David Hetzel, Jeff Jahnke, Melody Wollangk, Jim Stapel, Candace Pearson EXCUSED: Mike Russell, Kurt Koeppler STAFF: Maureen Lasky, Jeffrey Nau OTHERS: Mark Rohloff — City Manager, Rob Kleman - OAEDC, Matt Kroening — OPD I - CALL TO ORDER Chair David Sparr called the meeting to order and a quorum was declared present. II - MINUTES OF DECEMBER 15 MEETING Chair Sparr requested that the November 17 minutes approved at the December 15 meeting be amended to include approval of the 2010 Operating Plan at the November meeting (staff reviewed the November 17` minutes and approval of the 2010 Operating Plan was included in the original minutes as presented). Melody Wollangk moved for approval of the December 15 minutes as presented. Megan Lang seconded the motion which passed unanimously. III - POLICING /TRAFFIC/PARKING ISSUES Matt Kroening reported no new issues on Market /Commerce Streets in relation to the Grand Opera House renovation. Sergeant Kroening informed the Board of graffiti at the Roxy. Maureen Lasky updated Chair Sparr about parking and snow issues on Market Street from the December meeting. IV - MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT Candace Pearson inquired about the expenditures to Blue Door Consulting. Maureen Lasky responded that those are billings received through November. Discussion followed on carryover amounts on various budget items. Candace Pearson moved approval of the financial report as presented. Jeff Jahnke seconded the motion which passed unanimously. V - BID MANAGER AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS BID Marketing Consortium - The BID will have a booth at the Oshkosh Business Expo at the Convention Center on January 28, 2010. The cost of the booth is $250 and will be funded by the Marketing Consortium Budget. - The Consortium will be organizing a ground breaking event for the Main Street reconstruction. The Consortium will also hold "Bounce Back" events to promote the downtown during construction. - BID Manager Lasky has contacted several service organizations to give an informational PowerPoint presentation about the upcoming construction. - Holiday decorations are coming down and Christmas window displays are being removed. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES January 19, 2010 2010 Committee BID Manager Lasky has set up several meetings with local advertisers to develop a program with the downtown businesses during the 2010 construction. Mrs. Lasky hopes to develop partnerships with local advertisers including The Oshkosh Northwestern and a few local radio stations. Part -time Position Update BID Manager Lasky is working with Jessica Pondell from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's College of Business to fill the part-time position made available for 2010. Mrs. Lasky feels this position is best suited for a college intern versus a nonstudent due to the possibility of losing the nonstudent employee if a better job opportunity comes along. Mrs. Lasky has several interviews scheduled in the next several days and hopes to have the position filled by early February. One task she plans for the intern is completing an email address database of the downtown businesses so weekly construction updates can be sent. VI - KING CLIFT PROPERTY — 547 N. MAIN STREET BID Manager Lasky referred to a memo from Bill Frueh that she sent to all of the BID Board Members proposing the City to acquire the former King Clift Auto Sales property for reuse as a public parking lot. Chair Sparr inquired what the BID's role was in this proposal. Mrs. Lasky responded that the BID would make a recommendation to City Manager Mark Rohloff either recommending for or against the City acquiring the property for use as a parking lot. Chair Sparr then opened the discussion for public comment. Randy Schmiedel, owner of 570 N. Main Street, expressed concerns about the lack of available parking in this area and supports the City acquiring the property. Chair Sparr commented that during discussions about the 400 Block East Parking Lot, some members of the Common Council hoped surrounding businesses would make financial commitments towards the lot's reconstruction. Mr. Schmiedel replied he was not aware of any meetings to discuss private funding, but would give $5,000 towards the cost of the project. John Karner, 456 Mount Vernon Street, owner of Crescent Moon, 558 N. Main Street, stated he owns the 60' x 120' paved area immediately south of the King Clift lot. He stated Mr. Frueh suggested that he donate a portion of his property to this project which he found offensive. Mr. Karner stated he generally supports the parking lot idea and may consider selling a portion of his property if the City were to approach him. He also expressed concerns maintaining access to his property. Jeremy West, tenant at 570 N. Main Street (Varsity Club), supports the parking lot proposal. Jim Reider, co -owner of the Roxy, 571 N. Main Street, stated his business's great need for additional parking and supports the parking lot proposal. Brian Hamill, 544 N. Main Street, supports the parking lot proposal. He feels this would help during the Main Street reconstruction. He suggested that the City could buy the lot and use it "as is" until the road construction is complete. Afterward, the City could reconstruct the lot. 2 DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES January 19, 2010 Mr. Reider stated he would contribute $15,000 towards the cost of the proposed parking lot. Mr. Reider also stated that he would be willing to remove the existing fence on his property and grant the City access to the Roxy property. Dennis Schwab, 601 Oregon Street, who has the property listed for First National Bank Fox Valley, stated the bank would lower the listing price $15,000 as its contribution. Mr. Schwab said he would forego the sales commission of $14,800 and put it towards the proposed parking lot acquisition/improvements. Mr. Schwab feels this would be a continuation of recent and upcoming improvements along Main Street. He also added that this is an opportune time for the City to acquire the property as the City would be able to purchase the lot for approximately $100,000 less than the appraised value. Rob Kleman, Executive Director, OAEDC, stated the Division Street TIF District could be expanded to encompass the King Clift property. The TID has approximately $360,000 available which could be used for purchase and site improvements for the lot. Chair Sparr opened up discussion to the BID Board members and consensus was that they would support the City acquiring the land for eventual use for a parking lot. Mrs. Lang inquired if the lot could be used for the upcoming Main Street Reconstruction. Mr. Nau stated that he would look into the feasibility. Mr. Nau also stated that this project would most likely cost more than projections provided by Mr. Frueh. The parking lot is a reuse of the property and would have to meet City code if reconstructed. Mr. Nau said he would prepare a memo to the City Manager from the BID stating its support of the parking lot proposal. Mr. Karner added if there is no deal between his business and the City, some type of separation would have to be provided to separate the lots physically. Melody Wollangk inquired if there were other options other than surface parking such as a multi -level parking ramp. She stated that the proposed 70 stalls would be an improvement to the parking shortage, but that would not adequately address the real need. More discussion followed that this is a great opportunity for the City to purchase this lot and should avoid the possibility of another developer purchasing the lot for an unknown redevelopment. Melody Wollangk moved approval for the BID recommending the City purchase the former King Clift property for use as a public parking lot. Megan Lang seconded the motion which passed unanimously. VII - 400 BLOCK EAST PARKING LOT FOLLOW -UP Mrs. Lasky stated that Mr. Nau, Transit Director Chris Strong, representatives from the Streets Department and herself met to discuss issues with garbage collection, use and monitoring of the new dumpster enclosures and owner /tenant responsibilities regarding snow removal. Mr. Strong has drafted a letter that will be sent to all of the affected owners sometime next week explaining the rules and responsibilities. 3 DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH BID BOARD MINUTES January 19, 2010 VIII — DISCUSSION ON 2010 N. MAIN STREET RECONSTRUCTIONBLUE DOOR PROPOSAL Chair Sparr stated this agreement was prepared to give the BID more control on how much they are spending. The agreement lists what services Blue Door will be providing and omits services the BID can complete in- house. Mrs. Lasky stated, "Main Street Marley" has changed to Main Street Max" with the tagline, "Maximizing Downtown's Potential ". Mrs. Lasky asked the BID to approve the agreement to authorize Blue Door to continue working on the deliverables. Mr. Jahnke inquired about possible copyright infringements if the BID were to modify or reproduce any of the deliverables. Chair Sparr said that should be looked into but they could still vote on the agreement. Discussion followed if caps on spending should be included in the agreement. It was recommended that a cap of $5,100 for labor and $5,000 for materials be included in the agreement. Jeff Jahnke moved approval of the Consulting Agreement with Blue Door Consulting, LLC with spending limits of up to $5,100 for labor and up to $5,000 for materials. Candace Pearson seconded the motion which passed 7 -0 -1 with Melody Wollangk abstaining. IX — SNOW REMOVAL ISSUES The weather has been cooperating; however there is concern that the City is still not hauling snow in a timely manner. X — SELECTION OF TREE GRATE MEDALLION DESIGN FOR NORTH MAIN STREET Mrs. Lasky displayed the two selected designs for the tree grates. She added that the "Community" design was preferred by both the 2010 Committee and the Parking Committee. One change both committees recommended is to remove one of the boat images and replace it with an image representative of the downtown. Discussion followed and the consensus was that a boat be removed and replaced with a downtown building. Mrs. Lasky said she would work with the artist and make the suggested changes. XI - ITEMS FOR FEBRUARY, 2010 MEETING • Market Street reopening /2010 Main Street Reconstruction ADJOURNMENT With there being no further business, Jim Stapel moved the meeting be adjourned. Megan Lang seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Jeffrey Nau Associate Planner 4