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HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly newsletter Date: September 28, 2012 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: NEW PROPOSAL FOR AVIATION INDUSTRIAL PARK 1.: On Thursday evening, County Executive Mark Harris and I participated in a panel, sponsored by Citizens for a Strong Oshkosh, entitled, “Outlook Oshkosh 2013”. During Mr. Harris’ presentation on plans for 2013, he announced an initiative that he and I have been working on to regenerate interest in an aviation- themed industrial park on the city’s south side. Under the previous proposal, which failed to secure three-quarters of the County Board’s approval, the county had proposed to purchase the 80 acre Brennand farm off of Ripple Road. The proposal at that time was for the county to purchase the land, and the city would fund public improvements through a TIF District, after which the county would lease the property and use the tax increment generated to repay the public improvements. Mr. Harris has identified a way in which the county can fund a smaller portion of land acquisition that would only require a simple majority of the County Board, but would require that the city also participate in a portion of the land acquisition. In this scenario, the city would fund approximately $600,000 in land acquisition costs. This would be funded similar to other industrial park land acquisitions done by the city in which we would use the proceeds of subsequent land sales to reimburse the city for its investment. At the same time, the city would still need to form a TIF District to construct the road and utility improvements off of Ripple Road. This is nothing more than a proposal at this time, as the County Board must ultimately approve the county’s share of land acquisition, and the City Council must approve the land acquisition costs and proposed TIF improvements in the Capital Improvements Program. Furthermore, the City Council will also need to approve its portion of the land purchase, and go through all of the necessary steps to have a Tax Incremental Financing District reviewed and approved. Even though a great deal of reviews and approvals still need to be done, Mr. Harris and I have been working closely with the Chamco Aviation Committee, and we believe that the development of an Aviation Industrial Park presents a unique opportunity for the city and county to collaborate on a project that can attract aviation-based businesses to our community. If you have any questions concerning the conceptual proposal, please contact Community Development Director Allen Davis or me. Weekly Newsletter September 28, 2012 Page 2 HOTEL PARKING STRUCTURE 2.: As Council may recall, one of the items of unfinished business regarding the soon-to-be-redeveloped downtown hotel is the status of the parking structure, which is part of an unusual arrangement in which the city maintains the garage on behalf of the garage owner, the hotel. This is further complicated by the fact that the land underneath the garage itself is actually owned by City Center LLC, which owns the office complex adjoining the hotel. In order for the hotel to finalize its financing plans, the hotel needs to agree in principle with the city on how the garage will be maintained and funded. City Attorney Lorenson and I are working with the hotel’s legal representatives to work out these items in advance of bond financing that the hotel is seeking. Because of the timing, it is likely that we will be bringing this agreement to the Council for ratification at an upcoming meeting. As the details of this agreement unfold, staff will provide Council with a briefing on the details. If you have any questions, please contact City Attorney Lynn Lorenson or me. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATES 3.: Other items I’m enclosing with today’s Newsletter include brochures for the Granny Smith Fun Run & Walk, sponsored by the Oshkosh th Seniors Center. I am also enclosing the minutes of the September 18 Plan Commission meeting, th and the minutes of the September 4 Committee on Aging meeting. The last item I’m enclosing is the latest issue of the FOCUS newsletter, which features an article on college and career readiness. st UPCOMING MEETINGS 4.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of October 1 include the st following: On Monday, October 1, at 7:30 a.m., I will be meeting with Mayor Tower. At 1:00 p.m. on Monday, I will be participating in a conference call with Moody’s Investor Service and the city’s financial advisor, Ehlers Associates, regarding the upcoming general obligation debt issue for 2012. On Tuesday, at 7:30 a.m., I will be attending the Leadership Oshkosh Steering Committee meeting. On Wednesday, at 7:15 a.m., I will be attending the ThedaCare Annual Community Conversation at the Convention Center. On Thursday, at 1:00 p.m., I will be meeting with Miles Kimball CEO Vicky Updike. If you have any questions regarding my attendance at any of these meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me. MAR/jdc Enclosures