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Home My WebLink Aboutweekly newsletter Date: November 11, 2011 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: JOHN ZARATE APPOINTED CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL 1.: I am pleased to report that Building Inspector John Zarate has been appointed the city's new Chief Building Official (CBO) effective November 7, 2011. Mr. Zarate has been serving as temporary CBO since Kevin Ciabatti left the city in late September to take a promotional opportunity with the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. Zarate has been with the city since 2002, and has been working in the building inspection trade since 1993. John recently took a lead role among inspections staff with the city's Continuing Improvement (CI) program to streamline the review process for single and two-family developments. John demonstrated a great deal of insight into ways in which all departments could better cooperate and facilitate the approval process for these types of developments. I've been impressed with John's "can-do" attitude toward resolving building issues, and I'm sure he will share that enthusiasm with his new staff. It will be my intent to formally introduce John to the nd Council and the community at the November 22 Council Meeting. Meanwhile, Mr. Davis and I are evaluating options that may exist in the organization as a result of Mr. Zarate's vacancy. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Zarate on his appointment and wish him the best of luck in moving the Building Inspections Division forward. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF CITY TIF PROJECT AREAS 2.: During Tuesday's Council Meeting, Council Member Hall referenced an analysis of the financial performance of the city's TIF Districts. Finance Director Steeno, Community Development Director Davis and I had not yet had an opportunity to put this information together in a format for Council to review until now. I am enclosing a copy of this financial analysis for your information. The analysis demonstrates that mature TIF projects, such as TIF #7 (Southwest Industrial Park), have been performing at a very high level from a financial standpoint. At the same time, other newer TIF Districts, such as Southshore Redevelopment and Marion Road, have some significant upfront costs and have yet to reach their financial potential. As a result, staff has viewed all the TIF Districts as one economic development "portfolio" that must be viewed in their entirety. The analysis also demonstrates why it is necessary to keep TIF #7 open until its scheduled closure in 2016. Many of the TIF Districts are relying on TIF District #7 for cash flow purposes, and the analysis also indicates that certain TIF Districts may require some donor assistance sometime between now and 2015. Therefore, it is imperative that we keep TIF #7 open. Mr. Hall mentioned the funding that may be available in TIF #6. Staff is actually evaluating 2-3 districts that could be considered for early closure, although the use of these funds after closure is subject to debate. If you have any questions regarding this TIF analysis, please do not hesitate to contact either Ms. Steeno or Mr. Davis. Weekly Newsletter November 11, 2011 Page 2 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM MAPS 3.: As was reported during a previous discussion of the Capital Improvements Program, staff has placed maps regarding our Capital Improvements Program (CIP) on the city's website. These maps identify the various capital projects planned for 2012, along with maps for subsequent project years. As a courtesy to Council Members, we are including a copy of these maps in your weekly packet. I encourage you to bring these to Wednesday's Budget Workshop on the CIP if you care to refer to them. If you have any questions regarding the Capital Improvements Program, please contact Public Works Director David Patek or me. ARMORY RETENTION POND UPDATE 4.: As you will recall, on Tuesday, Council approved the purchase of property from Alexander & Bishop behind the Best Buy Store on Koeller Street. This property is proposed to be combined with property that the city is purchasing from the National Guard Armory for purposes of constructing a storm water retention pond in this area to benefit the Campbell Creek watershed. Staff has looked at various design options, and has also identified the need for an overflow area that would continue to move water down stream in the event of this proposed pond overtopping its banks. As a result of this analysis, we have met with various neighbors that back up to the proposed pond. We explained the situation to the residents, and expressed our interest in acquiring one of the residential properties for purposes of developing an overflow channel that would flow into the street and downstream. The neighbors seem to understand the need for this storm water overflow area and the need for the city to acquire one property. We explained to the neighbors that any purchase would require the city to follow Chapter 32 of state statutes with respect to acquiring property. We did not ask for any resident to express their immediate interest in selling property, but wanted the neighbors to be aware that we were interested in acquiring one of several possible parcels. The neighbors asked very good questions and left the meeting with an understanding of what the city's needs are in this situation. We will follow up with these residents in the next couple of weeks to determine if any of these property owners are interested in selling their residence to us, thereby avoiding the need to go through more formal eminent domain proceedings, which we would like to avoid if at all possible. Meanwhile, the city is still finishing up discussions with the National Guard over acquiring the Armory parcel as well. Assuming that all three acquisitions are in place, we will begin design of the retention pond over the winter, with construction anticipated for late spring, 2012. If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Storm Water Engineer James Rabe or Public Works Director David Patek. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATES 5.: Other items I'm enclosing with today's Newsletter include the latest report on the hotel/motel room tax for 2011. Insofar as minutes are th concerned, I'm enclosing the following: The minutes of the September 26 Urban Wildlife st Committee meeting; the minutes of the November 1 Plan Commission meeting; the minutes of thth the October 18 and October 25 Downtown BID Board meetings; and the meeting notice, agenda th and background materials for the November 16 Transit Advisory Board meeting. The last item I'm enclosing is the Neighborhood Meeting Notice for the potential church use on Parkway and th Evans. As you can see, the meeting will be held next Thursday, November 17, at 6:30 p.m., at the church location. A listing of the notified property owners in the area is attached. Weekly Newsletter November 11, 2011 Page 3 th UPCOMING MEETINGS 6.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of November 14 include the following: On Monday, at 7:30 a.m., I will be making a presentation to the Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee on the 2012 city budget. At 9:00 a.m. on Monday, I will be meeting with Jason Lindemann regarding Sweetwater Motor Sports plans for their area and the city's plans to construct the riverwalk in that same area over the next couple of years. At 5:00 p.m. on Monday, I will be meeting with the CVS Working Group to discuss their concerns regarding challenges facing various land uses at this location, particularly a drug store. On Wednesday, th November 16, at 11:00 a.m., I will be participating in Leadership Oshkosh Government Day here at City Hall. At 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, I will be meeting with Chamber and OAEDC representatives regarding the City Center Hotel. At 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, I will be attending the CIP Workshop with the Council. On Thursday, at 7:30 a.m., I will be attending the Chamco Board meeting. At 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, I will be meeting with Archie Stam of Oshkosh Corporation regarding their company's interest in selling us refuse trucks, particularly with the possibility of automated refuse in mind. If you have any questions regarding my attendance at any of these meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me. MAR/jdc Enclosures