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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesPROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN O.IHKQ rH ON THE WATER REGULAR MEETING held Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Esslinger presided. PRESENT: Council Members Tony Palmeri, Steve Cummings, Jessica King, Steven Herman, Bob Poeschl, Burk Tower and Mayor Paul Esslinger ALSO PRESENT: Mark Rohloff, City Manager; Pamela Ubrig, City Clerk; Lynn Lorenson, City Attorney; and Dave Patek, Director of Public Works Council Member Palmeri read the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Nathan Becker, Joshua Tesch, and Delaney Osmond from Merrill Elementary School. CITIZEN STATEMENTS There were no citizen statements PUBLIC HEARING Ordinance 11 -37 Amend Chapter 27 Vehicles and Traffic to Create a Pedestrian Mall in a portion of Elmwood Avenue between West Lincoln Avenue and West Irving Avenue / UW- Oshkosh (Plan Commission Recommends Approval) FIRST READING; LAIDOVER UNDER THE RULES Joan Mueller, 1139 Cherry Street, was opposed to the closing of Elmwood Avenue. She was concerned not enough research had been done regarding traffic flow from the east side of the City to the west side if Elmwood Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic. Bernie Pitz, 617 W. Irving Avenue, was opposed to the closing of Elmwood Avenue to create a pedestrian mall. He stated neighboring property owners were not notified properly of the first official meeting to discuss the pedestrian mall. He was concerned that Wisconsin Street was already too busy and could not withstand more traffic. He state it was not fair to shift the vehicular traffic away from the university to other streets and neighborhoods. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Dennis McHugh, 1220 Greenfield Trail, was opposed to closing Elmwood Avenue. He stated Elmwood Avenue was designed to be a bypass around the university and closing it would result in traffic congestion of nearby streets not designed for heavier traffic. Aaron Campbell, 748 Algoma Boulevard, was an elected senator with the Oshkosh Student Association at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh. The Oshkosh Student Association supported closing Elmwood Avenue to create a pedestrian mall. He explained there were three dormitories which housed approximately one thousand students on the north side of Elmwood Avenue. All academic buildings, the commons, and other student facilities were located on the south side of Elmwood Avenue. He explained it was not uncommon for the students living in those dormitories to have to cross Elmwood Avenue five or six times day. Quinn (no last name given), 780 High Avenue, was a student and elected senator with the Oshkosh Student Association at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh. He explained being vision impaired he found it difficult to cross Elmwood Avenue. JoAnn Rife, 650 Witzel Avenue, representing the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, stated a neighborhood meeting was held November 22 and the 2010 version of the university's master plan was presented. She explained neighbors in the area were notified of the meeting by hand delivered invitations. She expressed the university had done a good job of seeking input from different groups as well as the public regarding the creation of a pedestrian mall. Council Member Palmeri asked if the primary reason for the pedestrian mall was for safety concerns, could traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, signals, or signage be used to accomplish the goal. Ms. Rife stated the university felt the best option was to close Elmwood Avenue and create a pedestrian mall. She explained the pedestrian mall would add to the cohesiveness of the campus. Council Member Palmeri asked if the ordinance was voted down would the university turn to traffic calming options. Ms. Rife responded that part of the proposal was an agreement with the City that, if in the future, an issue came about with the pedestrian mall it could be reverted back to a street. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Bills presented by the Finance Director. Receipt and filing of Library Board Minutes from January 27, 2011. Receipt and filing of Common Council Minutes from January 25, 2011. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Receipt of claim filed with the City's Insurance Company / Kelly Schwab for alleged damages to her vehicle as a result of hitting a piece of metal in the street Receipt of claim filed with the City's Insurance Company / Debra Boushley for alleged damages to her walker as a result of hitting a pothole Resolution 11 -38 Approve Dedication of Street Right -of -Way for Pearl Avenue, South Side, between Osceola Street and Wisconsin Street (Plan Commission Recommends Approval) Resolution 11 -39 Approve Privilege in Street to UW- Oshkosh to Allow Existing Parking Lot to Continue Within the Right -of -Way of Pearl Avenue, between Osceola Street and Wisconsin Street (Plan Commission Recommends Approval) Bernie Pitz, 617 W. Irving Avenue, questioned if the parking lot was in the right -of -way at the present time. Mr. Rohloff replied the existing parking lot was not currently located in the right -of -way. Resolution 11- 40 Approval of Initial Resolution for special Assessments / Paving, Sidewalk, Driveway and Utilities / Second Local Street Concrete Paving Program — South Side Resolution 11- 41 Approval of Initial Resolution for Special Assessments / Paving, Sidewalk, Driveway and Utilities / Third Local Street Concrete Paving Program — North Side Resolution 11-42 Approval of Initial Resolution for Special Assessments / Driveway — Packer Avenue Resolution 11-43 Authorize Jurisdictional Offers for the Quarry Park Landfill gas Venting System Project in the Amount of $292,000.00 Resolution 11-44 Award Bid to Laubenstein, Inc., for Single -Ply Roofing System for Transportation Department Building ($118,896.00) Resolution 11 -45 Approve Conditional Use Permit for a Motorcycle Service Facility at 222 Jackson Street Resolution 11-46 Approve Initial Resolutions Authorizing Not Exceeding $31,415,000 General Obligation Bonds 3 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Resolution 11-47 Approve Resolution directing the advertisement and sale of approximately $9,000,000 aggregate principal amount of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2011 -A, approximately $7,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Taxable General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2011 -B, approximately $11,015,000 aggregate principal amount of General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2011 C, approximately $7,070,000 aggregate principal amount of General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2011 -D, approximately $4,400,000 aggregate principal amount of Taxable General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2011 -E, approximately $15,915,000 aggregate principal amount of Storm Water Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2011, approximately $4,970,000 Sewer System Revenue Bonds, Series 2011 and approximately $4,335,000 Water Revenue bonds, Series 2011 Council Member Palmeri asked Finance Director Peggy Steeno to give details about the refinancing bonds. Ms. Steeno explained that refinancing the bonds allowed the City to take advantage of lower interest rates and would save the tax payers between $46,000 and $51,000 per year over the life of the debt obligations. Resolution 11-48 Approve Cancel Outstanding Checks; Write -Off Delinquent and Uncollectible Accounts Council Member Cummings asked Ms. Steeno to address the trends of the write -offs and uncollectible accounts. Ms. Steeno explained the ambulance bill write -offs were for a three year period from 2007- 2010, the delinquent invoice write -offs were from 2008 - 2009, and the bankruptcy write -offs were from 2009. The trend of the amounts increasing from the previous three year history was primarily due to the effects of a poor economy. Resolution 11-49 Approve Rescission of Property Taxes (Vector Electric LLC, City of Oshkosh Redevelopment Authority and City of Oshkosh) Resolution 11 -50 Disallow Claim by Kelly Schwab (for alleged damages to her vehicle as a result of hitting a piece of metal in the street) Resolution 11 -51 Approval of Operator Licenses and Taxi -Cab Licenses MOTION: ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA EXCLUDING RESOLUTION 11 -48 (Palmeri, second; Tower) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Palmeri, Cummings, King, Herman, Poeschl, Tower, Mayor Esslinger 4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Resolution 11-48 Approve Cancel Outstanding Checks; Write -Off Delinquent and Uncollectible Accounts MOTION: ADOPT (Palmeri, second; Cummings) CARRIED: Ayes (6) Tower, Palmeri, Cummings, Herman, Poeschl, Mayor Esslinger Present (1) King Ms. King stated she would abstain from discussion and voting of the resolution citing representation of clients. ACTION TAKEN ON ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Ordinance 11 -52 Approval of Traffic Regulations related to Traffic Signals on Highway 26 and Parking Regulations on Commerce Street MOTION: ADOPT (Herman; second, Tower) CARRIED: Ayes (7) Palmeri, Cummings, King, Herman, Poeschl, Tower, Mayor Esslinger Ordinance 11 -53 Approval of changes in Permit Parking Lot and Leased Parking in the Pearl Municipal Parking Lot FIRST READING; LAIDOVER UNDER THE RULES COUNCIL DISCUSSION, DIRECTION TO CITY MANAGER & FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A workshop would be scheduled for March 8 th regarding the Canadian National Railroad proposal to relocate the pre -1900 railroad swing bridge. A workshop would be scheduled for February 22 regarding standard road widths Council Member Palmeri would like the Sustainability Advisory Board to research the Green Tier Charter, referring to an article in the recent issue of Municipality. Mayor Esslinger questiond if tax payers could make their tax payments by electronic transfer from their banks. Ms. Steeno stated the City did not currently receive electronic fund transfers from banks. She explained the Oshkosh Central Credit Union and Associated Bank in Oshkosh (excluding Festival Foods) were collectors for the City; meaning a tax payer could pay their taxes at those locations. The collectors would in turn send one check to pay for all the tax bills paid at their locations. She stated the funds could not be received electronically by the City. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 8, 2011 CITIZEN STATEMENTS Patricia Diener, 1316 Broad Street, wanted to know how much snow there had to be in order for streets to be plowed. Mr. Patek stated per City policy, three inches of snow needed to fall prior to streets being plowed. Bernie Pitz, 617 W. Irving Avenue, was concerned about vehicles parked overnight in the parking lot at Carl Steiger Park. Mr. Rohloff stated he would research the issue of vehicles parking overnight in the parking lot at Carl Steiger Park. CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS & STATEMENTS Mr. Rohloff announced in preparation for 2012 street projects, a contract was awarded to AECOM for stormwater modeling. Also, a contract was awarded to AECOM for a three year leak detection survey of the City's water distribution system. MOTION: ADJOURN (Palmeri, second; Cummings) CARRIED: VOICE VOTE The meeting Adjourned at 7:01 p.m. PAMELA R. UBRIG CITY CLERK 0