HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-151MAY 11, 2010 10 -151 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED 7 -0 LOST LAID OVER WITHIDRAWN )
PURPOSE: APPROVE NON - BINDING RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT/ VISION
OSHKOSH REPORT
INITIATED BY: CITY ADMINISTRATION
PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Approved
WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh, along with partners from the Oshkosh Area
Community Foundation, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Oshkosh Convention and
Visitors Bureau, University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, The Northwestern, Propel, Lutheran
Homes of Oshkosh, and Mercy Medical Center — Affinity Health Systems, enlisted the
services of A. Nelessen & Associates to conduct a community -wide visioning process;
and
WHEREAS, public participation from the Oshkosh community in the visioning
process was significant; and
WHEREAS, the visioning process resulted in a series of findings that address
priorities such as streets, buildings, pedestrian travel, riverfront development,
sustainability, health, and university relations; and
WHEREAS, the findings and recommendations identified in the Vision Report
generally enhance the goals, objectives, and actions identified in the City of Oshkosh
Comprehensive Plan, and such findings and recommendations will be utilized as an
additional resource in implementing the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Steering Committee that initiated the Vision Oshkosh Report
believes the visioning process validates the results and effort put forth by City staff and
volunteers in developing the Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of
Oshkosh that Council supports the City utilizing the findings and recommendations of
the Vision Oshkosh Report, on file at the City Clerk's Office, as a tool in implementing
and developing various community plans, including but not limited to, the
Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan,
Downtown Action Plan, Outdoor Recreation Plan, and Stormwater Management Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council supports the City's use of the Vision
Oshkosh Report as an additional resource in developing future updates to the
Comprehensive Plan and its annual Capital Improvement Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council supports the City's consideration of
the findings and recommendations in the Vision Oshkosh Report as it develops
amendments to its municipal code and develops plans for future development projects
and capital improvements.
.IHK 1H
ON THE WATER
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Darryn Buric
Director of Planning Services
DATE: May 6, 2010
RE: Approve Non - Binding Resolution of Support / Vision Oshkosh Report (Plan
Commission Recommends Approval)
BACKGROUND
The Vision Oshkosh Report was prepared last year by A. Nelessen Associates and contains
information that the City can use to help guide its actions as we move forward with our planning and
implementation efforts. Findings reflect a significant level of input received from the public on a
variety of topics through public participation tools such as the Visual Preference Survey,
Demographic /Market /Policy Questionnaire, and the Visual Translation Workshop. Over 2,300 persons
participated in the six week visioning process from which Nelessen Associates developed broad
recommendations on the following topics: streets, buildings, pedestrian realm, frontages, waterfront,
sustainability, health and the UW Oshkosh relationship.
ANALYSIS
The recommendations were prioritized by A. Nelessen Associates identifying a number of "first steps"
geared towards implementing the identified "Vision ", one being to adopt a non - binding resolution of
support to indicate the City's general support for the findings and recommendations identified in the
report. The resolution does not obligate the City to take any general or specific actions identified in
the Vision Report but the community may use it as an additional planning tool. A vast majority of the
recommendations support or augment actions items identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan, 2005-
2025 and the recommendations that do not correspond with the Comprehensive Plan, 2005 -2025 have
been included to initiate further discussion. The City may utilize findings and recommendations in the
Report at the time the Comprehensive Plan is updated as well as referencing it during the creation and
implementation of various other plans.
FISCAL IMPACT
None anticipated.
RECOMMENDATION
The Plan Commission approved this request at its May 4, 2010 meeting.
Approved,
City Manager
ITEM: NON - BINDING RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT REGARDING THE VISION
OSHKOSH REPORT
Plan Commission meeting of May 4, 2010
GENERAL INFORMATION
Action Requested:
Staff is requesting approval of a non - binding resolution of support for the Vision Report prepared
last year by A. Nelessen Associates (report included). The intent of the resolution is to indicate the
City's support in general for the findings and recommendations identified in the report.
The non - binding resolution is just that, non - binding. It does not obligate the City to take any
general or specific actions identified in the Vision Report and the community may use it as an
additional planning tool. Many of the recommendations actually augment actions identified in the
City's primary planning document, the Comprehensive Plan (2005). Some do not and have been
included to at the very least initiate further discussion. The City will begin the process of updating
its Comprehensive Plan within the next year or two and will utilize some of the findings and
recommendations in the Report.
The draft resolution recognizes the importance of the "Findings" in the Vision Oshkosh Report,
and it proposes the Report be utilized as an additional resource the Plan Commission, Council,
other committees and commissions, and staff can refer to as actions are taken to implement various
City plans such as the Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, Downtown Action Plan,
Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan, Outdoor Recreation Plan, Stormwater Plans, etc.
The Vision Report does not supplant these documents it should reinforce their various
recommendations as the City goes about implementing current plans and developing new
community plans.
The Vision Report has two important sets of information that the City can use to guide its actions
as we move forward with our planning and implementation efforts. One set are the "findings" that
reflect the significant level of input received from the public on a variety of topics (i.e. streets,
built form, pedestrian realm, etc.) through public participation tools such as:
The Visual Preference Survey
Demographic, Market, and Policy Questionnaire
Visual Translation Workshop
Over 2,300 persons participated in the six week visioning process in both community workshops
and using an online survey (survey results and questionnaire start in Appendix on page 73).
Demographic information (page 17) indicates that the vast majority of participants live in Oshkosh
(71 %) and were between the ages of 3 0-5 6 (59.9 %).
From the information received through the public participation process, Nelessen Associates
developed general recommendations for the following topics:
• Streets
o Commercial and Residential
• Buildings
o Built Form
o Commercial
o Parking
o Residential
• Pedestrian Realm
o General
o Commercial
o Residential
• Frontages
o Signage
o Landscaping
• Waterfront
• Sustainability
o Economic
o Environmental
• Health
• UW Oshkosh Relationship
The recommendations were further prioritized by Nelessen to identify a number of first steps
towards implementing the Vision (page 71). One of those priorities was to adopt a non - binding
resolution by the Plan Commission and Common Council, which request is under consideration.
RECOMMENDATION /CONDITIONS
Staff recommends approval of the non - binding resolution as requested.
The Plan Commission approved of the non - binding resolution as requested. The following is the
Plan Commission's discussion on this item.
Mr. Burich presented the item and explained that the Common Council and Plan Commission had
a joint workshop on this item last year to discuss the process however with the staff changes that
occurred, it was felt that the matter should be delayed until a new Community Development
Director was on board. He further stated that the Vision Oshkosh Report was distributed at the last
meeting and reviewed the project funding partners and the various methods citizen input was
gathered to obtain knowledge on how they wanted their community to look. Findings and
recommendations were prepared by Nelessen & Associates from the information compiled with
the first priority being to adopt a non - binding resolution of support. He reviewed the major
categories that the report was oriented to and discussed each category and the recommendations
that were compiled for it. He stated that for the most part, it reinforces the Comprehensive Plan
and some of the items that are recommended in the Vision Report that are not contained in the
Comprehensive Plan would at least initiate discussion. He further explained that the Vision Report
was an indicator of community preferences and could be used as a planning tool and that the non-
binding resolution was to show general support for the findings and recommendations contained in
the Report. The Comprehensive Plan would still govern what we do however the Vision Report
would serve as a tool for development of other plans.Mr. Bowen commented that this was an
Item — Non - Binding Resolution Vision Report
important document for us and questioned if the non - binding resolution also went to the Common
Council for approval.
Mr. Burich responded affirmatively.
Mr. Thoms questioned why other board and committees in the City are also not asked to approve
the resolution as well.
Mr. Burich replied that we are following the directive in the plan which recommends that the first
step being approval from the Plan Commission and Common Council with the second priority
being to distribute to all city boards.
Mr. Thorns commented that it should help create the leadership people are looking for in their
Common Council representatives and help guide us in future ordinance revisions. He felt it was a
step in the right direction.
Mr. Nollenberger stated that he was impressed with the process and that the Vision process results
conform to 95% of the citizen opinion surveys conducted by the University in 2009 and 2010.
Mr. Hinz inquired if there were any areas that the Vision Report directly conflicted with the
Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Burich responded there were no substantial conflicts and it should not complicate our efforts.
Eileen Connelly - Keesler, Executive Director of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, 230
Ohio Street, stated that their organization put a lot of time, funding, and energy into this effort and
really appreciate the support of the Plan Commission. The Vision Report has initiated the tree
project that is currently under way in the city and the riverwalk will be constructed this summer
which was another feature that 97% of respondents to the survey wanted to see. She stated that
she was very excited to see these projects happening in the community.
Mr. Thorns questioned when this process started, how it was actually done.
Ms. Connelly - Keesler replied that she and her associates all sent emails out to all their contacts
and the Oshkosh Northwestern assisted in the effort by continually placing it in the newspaper.
They also did surveys at the Seniors Center, UW -O and Lutheran Homes and networked as much
as possible with good results. There were also public workshops held on the issue.
Mr. Thorns also questioned if she considered 2300 responses out of a population of 65,000 to be
relevant.
Ms. Connelly - Keesler responded that 600 responses would have been considered a good result.
Mr. Palmeri stated that he has developed admiration for Nelessen Associates and feels they are a
knowledgeable firm but questioned the survey process as the number of surveys received was not
as relevant as whether the survey participants were chosen at random. He further stated that the
information compiled in the report was valuable information and the non - binding resolution puts
the pressure on staff, Plan Commission and the Common Council to take the lead on these issues.
Item — Non - Binding Resolution Vision Report
It also provides additional resources for comprehensive planning and reasonable compromise in
the language.
Motion by Bowen to approve the non - binding resolution of support regarding the Vision
Oshkosh Report as requested.
Seconded by Monte. Motion carried 8 -0.
Item — Non - Binding Resolution Vision Report
City of Oshkosh Plan Commission
Res. 10 -01
PURPOSE: NON - BINDING RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT / VISION OSHKOSH
REPORT
WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh, along with partners from the Oshkosh Area Community
Foundation, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau,
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, The Northwestern, Propel, Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh, and
Mercy Medical Center – Affinity Health Systems, enlisted the services of A. Nelessen &
Associates to conduct a community -wide visioning process; and
WHEREAS, public participation from the Oshkosh community in the Visioning process
was significant; and
WHEREAS, the Visioning process resulted in a series of findings that address priorities
such as streets, buildings, pedestrian travel, riverfront development, sustainability, health, and
university relations; and
WHEREAS, the findings and recommendations identified in the Vision Report generally
enhance the goals, objectives, and actions identified in the City of Oshkosh Comprehensive Plan,
and such findings and recommendations will be utilized as an additional resource in implementing
the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Steering Committee that initiated the Vision Oshkosh Report believes the
visioning process validates the results and effort put forth by City staff and volunteers in
developing the Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Plan Commission supports the City of
Oshkosh utilizing the findings and recommendations of the Vision Oshkosh Report as a tool in
implementing and developing various community plans, including but not limited to, the
Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan, Downtown Action
Plan, Outdoor Recreation Plan, and Stormwater Management Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Plan Commission supports the City's use of the
Vision Oshkosh Report as an additional resource in developing future updates to the
Comprehensive Plan and its annual Capital Improvement Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Plan Commission supports the City's
consideration of the findings and recommendations in the Vision Oshkosh Report as it develops
amendments to its municipal code and develops plans for fu development projects and capital
improvements. ZI ,-7
Approved this � day of 2010. ' q7Y"
Chairman, Plan
Item III — Non- Binding Resolution Vision Report