HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
CITY OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN
OfHKOJH
ON THE WATER
REGULAR MEETING held Tuesday, October 11, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers, City Hall.
Mayor Tower presided.
PRESENT: Council Members Steve Cummings, Steven Herman, Jef Hall, Deb Allison-
Aasby, Tom Pech, Jr, and Mayor Burk Tower
ALSO PRESENT: Mark Rohloff, City Manager; Pamela Ubrig, City Clerk; Lynn Lorenson,
City Attorney; and Dave Patek, Director of Public Works
Council Member Cummings read the Invocation
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Cummings
PROCLAMATION
A proclamation was presented by Mayor Tower declaring October as Wisconsin Disability
Employment Awareness Month in the City of Oshkosh.
NOTE: Council Member Poeschl arrived at 6:05 p.m.
CITIZEN STATEMENTS
Bob Cornell, 548 W. Smith Avenue, invited the community to celebrate the 150th anniversary
of Peace Lutheran Church on October 30th
Eric Delf, 860A Jackson Street, stated his concerns with the recent pub crawl on Main
Street and urged the Council not to allow pub crawls in the future.
Dennis McHugh, 1220 Greenfield Trail, stated his displeasure that the Council allowed the
pub crawl to happen and felt it made the City look bad. He recommended the Council not
approve a TIF or invest in the downtown hotel as he felt the hotel was doomed to fail
according to past precedence.
Kesha Haas, 860 Jackson Street, stated she was against having pub crawls and felt it
reflected badly against the City.
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL— OCTOBER 11, 2011
PUBLIC HEARING
Ordinance 11-447 Approve Zone Change from C-2 General Commercial to C-2 General
Commercial with a Planned Development Overlay / 1759 West 9th
Avenue (Plan Commission Recommends Approval)
FIRST READING; LAID OVER UNDER THE RULES
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Bills presented by the Finance Director
Receipt and Filing of Library Board Minutes from August 25, 2011
Receipt and filing of Common Council Minutes from September 13 and September 27, 2011
Receipt of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company / American Family on behalf
Steven and Lisa Buss for alleged damages to their insured's vehicle after being hit by a
Police Department Vehicle
Receipt of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company / Darrell Diestler for alleged loss
of bicycle due to it going in the river
Receipt of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company / Dorner, Inc. for alleged
damages as a result of hitting an unmarked water main on Algoma Boulevard
Receipt of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company / Laura Gray for alleged damages
to her vehicle as a result of being hit by a Parks Department vehicle
Receipt of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company / David Richmond for alleged
damages to vehicle as a result of hitting a manhole cover laying in the street at Pearl
Avenue and Dawes Street
Receipt of Claim Filed with the City's Insurance Company / Chris Schettle for alleged
damages to vehicle as a result of hitting metal objects on High Avenue
Resolution 11-448 Approve Settlement with Villa St. Theresa Inc.
Resolution 11-449 Authorize City Staff to Submit Certification of Intent to Comply with EPA
Order
Resolution 11-450 Approve Amendment to Previously Approved Planned Development to
Expand and Redevelop Existing Shopping Center / 1508-1550 South
Koeller Street (Plan Commission Recommends Approval)
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL— OCTOBER 11, 2011
Council Member Poeschl questioned what would happen to the stormwater management
activities in the area behind the shopping center.
Mr. Rohloff indicated the City was already acquiring property from the Armory to build a
retention pond and intended to combine that property with additional property on the east
side of the shopping center to build a larger retention pond than what was originally mapped
out.
Resolution 11-451 Award Bid for Replacement of Safety Building Condenser ($73,200.00)
Resolution 11-452 Award Bid for Replacement of City Hall Chiller ($88,500.00)
Resolution 11-453 Award Bid for City Center Parking Ramp Repairs ($69,934.40)
Council Member Herman asked Mr. Rohloff to clarify whether or not the City owned the City
Center parking ramp.
Mr. Rohloff explained there was an issue as to who owned the parking ramp. In the eyes of
City staff, the City did not own the parking ramp; however since the 1970's there was a
maintenance agreement that required the City to be responsible for the upkeep of the
parking ramp.
Resolution 11-454 Approve Employee Handbook Updates — Grievance Procedure
Retirement (WRS Contribution) — Inclusion/Exclusion
Mayor Tower stated he thought there were too many levels of review in the grievance
procedure. He also felt that the Council should not be included in the grievance process.
John Fitzpatrick, Director of Administrative Services, explained that the number of levels of
review for the grievance procedure mirrored what was currently in the collective bargaining
agreements. He further explained that state statute mandated the Council be included in
the grievance process.
Resolution 11-455 Approval Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement for Impartial
Hearing Officers
Council Member Hall questioned whether it was impartial enough to use the city attorneys
from the cities of Appleton, Menasha, Neenah and Fond du Lac as impartial hearing officers
when settling grievance issues.
Mr. Rohloff explained from an ethical standpoint through the code of ethics the attorneys
followed they would have to maintain some independence. He also explained the grievance
procedure allowed him to choose internal department heads as impartial hearing officers.
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL— OCTOBER 11, 2011
Resolution 11-456 Authorize $9,965,000 General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds,
Series 2011C
Resolution 11-457 Authorize $2,895,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series
2011D
Resolution 11-458 Establish Fee Schedule for Parking Utility
Resolution 11-459 Approve Special Event — Oshkosh Disc Golf Club / Utilize Red Arrow
Park for 2011 Discraft Ace Race October 22, 1011
Resolution 11-460 Disallow Claim by Kevin Abitz (for alleged damage from a sewer
backup)
Resolution 11-461 Disallow Claim by Darrell Diestler (for alleged loss of bicycle due to it
going in river)
Resolution 11-462 Disallow Claim by Norman Moss (for injuries from allegedly falling on
Skyview Avenue)
Resolution 11-463 Approve Special Class "B" Licenses and Taxi-cab license
MOTION: ADOPT CONSENT AGENDA EXCLUDING RESOLUTION 11-456 AND
RESOLUTION 11-457 (Cummings; second, Herman)
CARRIED: Ayes (7) Cummings, Herman, Hall, Allison-Aasby, Poeschl, Pech,
Mayor Tower
Resolution 11-456 Authorize $9,965,000 General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds,
Series 2011C
MOTION: ADOPT (Pech; second, Cummings)
CARRIED: Ayes (7) Cummings, Herman, Hall, Allison-Aasby, Poeschl, Pech,
Mayor Tower
Council Member Pech requested feedback from the Finance Director regarding the bonds.
Peggy Steeno, Finance Director, stated the rates on the bonds and notes were the highest
the City had gotten since 1988 excluding 2009 and 2010 which were extraordinarily high
due to the "Build America" stimulus bonds.
Resolution 11-457 Authorize $2,895,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series
2011D
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL— OCTOBER 11, 2011
MOTION: ADOPT (Pech; second, Cummings)
CARRIED: Ayes (7) Cummings, Herman, Hall, Allison-Aasby, Poeschl, Pech,
Mayor Tower
Council Member Herman requested an explanation of what the bonds were for.
Ms. Steeno explained fifty percent of the bonds were allotted for street improvements and
the other fifty percent covered TIF improvements and the riverwalk. The notes were
primarily for equipment and building/property improvements throughout the City.
ACTION TAKEN ON ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
Ordinance 11-464 Approval of Changes in Permit Parking and Leased Parking in the
Ceape Parking Lot
MOTION: ADOPT (Cummings; second, Allison-Aasby)
CARRIED: Ayes (7) Cummings, Herman, Hall, Allison-Aasby, Poeschl, Pech,
Mayor Tower
Council Member Herman questioned if the proposed changes in permit parking and leased
parking in the Ceape Avenue parking lot would have an adverse effect on the convention
center.
Chris Strong, Director of Transportation, stated the convention center was included in
discussions with the Parking Utility Commission and they were comfortable with ten percent
of the Ceape Avenue parking lot being dedicated as twenty four hour leased parking.
Ordinance 11-465 Designation of Bicycle Lane on Elmwood Avenue and Approval of
Parking Regulation Changes on Fugelberg Trail
MOTION: ADOPT (Cummings; second, Allison-Aasby)
CARRIED: Ayes (7) Cummings, Herman, Hall, Allison-Aasby, Poeschl, Pech,
Mayor Tower
Ordinance 11-466 Approval of Parking Regulation Changes on Smith Avenue
FIRST READING; LAID OVER UNDER THE RULES
COUNCIL DISCUSSION, DIRECTION TO CITY MANAGER AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Budget workshops would be held on October 17th, October 24th and November 16th
A workshop on the focus and long term goals of the Long Range Finance Committee would
be held after the budget was finished.
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL— OCTOBER 11, 2011
A workshop on the Health Department consolidation with Baker-Tilly was scheduled for
October 25th
CITIZEN STATEMENTS
Patricia Diener, 1316 Broad Street, questioned if there would be parking restrictions on busy
streets during leaf pick up times.
Mr. Patek explained if a problem arose where the leaf picker could not reach the leaves due
to parked cars; his department would communicate with the Police Department to rectify the
problem.
Ms. Diener was concerned that citizens were dumping leaves and debris on the railroad
property in her neighborhood.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND STATEMENTS
Council Member Herman stated with the budget workshops approaching he wanted to
remind everyone that the Oshkosh Civility Project was a community based effort to
encourage better practices of interpersonal communication.
CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS & STATEMENTS
Mr. Rohloff stated there would be a post event meeting held regarding the recent pub crawl
on Main Street. He reiterated the City did not condone the event which most likely would
have occurred whether or not a special event permit was issued.
Council Member Herman questioned if there was a legal way to stop the pub crawl from
happening.
Mr. Rohloff responded the City could not necessarily stop the event from happening but it
could address the symptoms of the problems of the event.
Council Member Cummings was disappointed that the pub crawl event organizer ignored
some of the things he was asked to do by the City in order to make the event safer.
Mr. Rohloff explained a TIF application was received and would be reviewed by City staff
regarding the City Center Hotel. He stated the first CVS Pharmacy neighborhood meeting
would be held on October 12th
Jim Bachhuber from AECOM, Steve Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works and James
Rabe, Civil Engineer II gave a presentation on the Libbey Avenue/Nicolet Avenue
Stormwater watersheds.
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL— OCTOBER 11, 2011
MOTION: TO CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS
BARGAINING OPTIONS, STRATEGY, AND PARAMETERS
RELATED TO THE NEGOTIATION OF COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL NO. 316, I.A.F.F.,
OSHKOSH FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF OFFICERS, OSHKOSH
PROFESSIONAL POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND
AFSCME 796 (TRANSIT) PURSUANT TO SECTION 19.85(1)(E)
OF THE WISCONSIN STATE STATUTES WHERE COMPETITIVE
BARGAINING REASONS REQUIRE A CLOSED SESSION.
(Herman; second, Pech)
CARRIED: Ayes (7) Cummings, Herman, Hall, Allison-Aasby, Poeschl, Pech,
Mayor Tower
MOTION: ADJOURN (Pech; second, Cummings)
CARRIED: VOICE VOTE
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
PAMELA R. UBRIG
CITY CLERK
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