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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWeekly Newsletter Date: May 18, 2012 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: TIF EXTENSION FOR HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE SUBMITTED 1.: This week we received acknowledgement from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue that the city’s request to extend TIF #6 to provide initial funding for the city’s Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative has been received. The state DOR requested a copy of the Council’s resolution and would accept it, assuming that the effective action of Council was prior to May 15, 2012. The DOR indicated to Community Development staff that we were the first community in the state to request this extension under the new law. As was mentioned at last week’s Council Meeting, this legislation enables the city to extend the life of a tax increment district by an additional year to provide funding for housing improvement programs. I discussed with Council Member Hall the concerns he had regarding the lack of specific details regarding the Healthy Neighborhoods Program. I certainly recognize that the details provided by staff regarding the program still need to be worked out. Our intent with having the Council approve this extension request was so that we could secure these funds for the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative. With these funds now secured, we can work on the appropriate details of this program and bring them back to Council. We are fortunate that our opportunity to succeed with this program will be improved by having a dedicated funding source for the program’s initial expenses. I recognize that the details regarding the Healthy Neighborhoods Program were limited at the Council Workshop. If you have any suggestions or questions regarding the final product for the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, please contact Community Development Director Davis and we will incorporate your comments into the final product for your consideration. CHAMBER DISCUSSES UTILITIES AND ASSOCIATED FEES 2.: On Monday, Public Works Director Patek, Finance Director Steeno, and I attended a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs Committee. Mayor Tower and Deputy Mayor Cummings also attended the meeting. Mr. Patek and I described the status of the city’s utility system, particularly as it related to managing storm events. Ms. Steeno was available to discuss the reasoning behind the proposed increases in storm sewer and sanitary sewer rates. The ensuing discussion highlighted some of the basic issues surrounding challenges to address our longstanding utility problems when it comes to managing storm events. There were several people in attendance who were concerned about the continuing problem of basement backups that are caused by clear water entering our sanitary sewer system. We explained many of the complicating factors that th contributed to this problem, similar to my presentation to the Council at your May 8 Council Meeting. That discussion about what the city can and cannot do is in large part why Deputy Mayor Cummings has an item on Tuesday’s Agenda to discuss clear water cross connections. Weekly Newsletter May 18, 2012 Page 2 At the same time, other members of the business community were also concerned about the continuing increases in our utility rates and the ability of businesses to absorb those costs. We responded by pointing out that our rates still remain below many of our surrounding municipalities and reemphasized the city’s continuing commitment to storm water and sanitary sewer improvements that will improve the flooding and basement backup situations that were described. rd One of the impacted people from the May 3 storm pointed out that inaction by the city only results in these costs of improvements being transferred to property owners in the way of increased insurance and cleanup costs. The argument was that it is better to fund improvements to our sewer system to limit the impact of storms on private properties. It was also pointed out that many of these areas in need of improvement are in relatively lower income areas, and the complications from placing these costs on lower income people has its own set of problems that need to be addressed. I think that the presentation served as a microcosm of all of the challenges affecting us, and I believe that those competing, complex problems are exactly the type of issues that we will need to overcome as we discuss the policies associated with storm water management. I believe that the discussion suggested by Deputy Mayor Cummings at Tuesday’s meeting can serve as a good springboard for future policy decisions by the Council. SIGNS IN RIGHT-OF-WAY 3.: With the seemingly never-ending election season upon us, staff has encountered numerous complaints regarding political signs in public right-of-way. This is not uncommon during any political season, but it certainly has increased given the constant pace of political activity in recent months. At the same time, it is also the season for yard sales, graduation parties, and other activities that sprout up homemade signs as well. With the exception of directional signs for businesses negatively impacted by road construction, my direction to staff has been pretty simple, that being that all signs in public right-of-way are inappropriate and should be removed. The responsibility for removing these signs may technically rest with Public Works, which is responsible for maintenance of public right-of-way, but I authorize all departments that see a violation of signs in public right-of-way to remove them as soon as practical. This typically includes the Departments of Transportation, Community Development, Police, and Parks. Regardless of our consistent policy, it is not uncommon for various political sides to have thoughts or suspicions that public employees are somehow “playing favorites” in sign removal. The reality is that sign removal is not a primary function of the departments, but they do know that they have the open authority to remove signs in right-of-way when necessary. Unfortunately, our enforcement often goes at the expense of removing the homemade signs for garage sales and other similar activities, as these are also prohibited in the right-of-way. There may be instances of lesser enforcement, for example on weekends when staff are not typically on duty or available to remove these signs. We have received numerous complaints in the weeks leading up to the state’s recall elections. Because we have no responsibility to notify people that we are removing signs from property that they do not own, we typically get complaints that we are not somehow ignoring due process to violators of sign placement. Because these signs are in the public right-of-way, there are no due process rights available to violators of this restriction. When we do enforce, there may be complaints of the city somehow “playing favorites”, followed by a list of other potential violators of signs in the public right-of-way. We take these complaints seriously and direct staff to investigate and correct any violations that may exist. Please understand that staff is only interested in enforcing our rules and insuring public safety by removing signs from the public right-of-way. While we may not catch 100% of all violations, we will address these issues as they are brought to our attention. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding my direction to staff in this matter. Weekly Newsletter May 18, 2012 Page 3 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATE 4.: Other items I’m enclosing with today’s Newsletter include the May, 2012 Sustainability Plan for the City of Oshkosh. I am also enclosing the 2011 Annual Report from the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau. The last items I’m rd enclosing are the minutes of the April 23 Housing Authority meeting; and the meeting notice, th agenda, and background material for the May 16 Transit Advisory Board meeting. st UPCOMING MEETINGS 5.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of May 21 include the following: On Monday, at 10:00 a.m., I will be meeting with Public Works staff to prepare for the th May 29 Workshop on special assessments. At 1:30 p.m. on Monday, I will be attending the DARE graduation ceremony at Washington School. At 3:00 p.m., I am meeting with Senator Jess King to discuss state issues that may impact the City of Oshkosh. On Tuesday, at 7:30 a.m., I am meeting with Mayor Tower to go over the Agenda for Tuesday’s Council Meeting. At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, I will be addressing a group of city and county managers in Stevens Point to discuss the city’s Classification and Compensation Study, as well as the pay for performance system that is being developed per Council’s direction. On Tuesday, at 3:30 p.m., I am meeting with Melissa Hunt, the new area representative from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Ms. Hunt will be introducing me to another WEDC staff member to discuss possible grants related to economic development. Ms. Hunt is formerly an employee of OAEDC, as well as a former intern in the city’s Planning Office, so she has a good working knowledge of our community and our economic development needs. I believe she will be a good resource for us in the future. On Wednesday, at 7:15 a.m., I will be attending an employee recognition breakfast at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. At 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, I will be attending a meeting of the Oshkosh Area Economic Development Marketing Group. This is the group that has been assembled to work on joint marketing efforts for our community. At 4:00 p.m., I will be attending the United Way Board meeting. On Thursday, at 7:00 a.m., I will be attending the Chamco Board meeting. Finally, at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, I will be attending the Leadership Oshkosh graduation ceremony at The Waters. Among this year’s graduates are Community Development Director Allen Davis, Deputy Mayor Cummings, Museum Director Brad Larson, and Parks Operations Manager Chad Dallman. th I will be out of the office on Friday, May 25. Due to my absence on that day, as well as my commitments for the week, I will likely not be producing a formal Newsletter next week. If there are any items that require the Council’s attention, I will have Jackie provide them to you in your weekly packet. If you have any questions regarding my attendance at any of these meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me. MAR/jdc Enclosures