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HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly newsletter Date: March 8, 2013 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AWARDS GRANTS 1.: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded two storm water quality construction grants to the City of Oshkosh. The Wisconsin Urban Non-Point Source Pollution Abatement & Storm Water Management Grant Program is administered by the DNR to provide funding support for projects that reduce the amount of pollution that discharges from urban runoff into waters of the state. The grants are for the City Hall Underground Storm Water Detention th System and the 9 and Washburn Street Area Wet Detention Basin. The formal grant award paperwork was received by staff within the past week. Each of these two grants provides a maximum $150,000 toward the construction of the two projects. The City Hall Underground th Detention Project is currently under construction. The 9 and Washburn Area Project is scheduled for construction in 2014. In addition to these two DNR grants, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) previously awarded a $1,806,646 grant through Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) for the construction of the Armory Area Wet Detention Basin. The Armory Area Project is scheduled for construction in 2013. The city also received a previous grant for the Oakwood Road Detention Basin. FOLLOW-UP LATE CHARGES FOR LANDLORDS IN REGARD TO UTILITY BILLS 2.: This item is a follow-up to Councilor Hall's question, at the February 12th Council Meeting, regarding landlords being unknowingly penalized due to their tenants not paying their Utility bills in a timely manner. Staff was able to speak with Councilor Hall, and through that discussion, it was determined that the Utility, due to being regulated by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and the need to equitably charge interest to all customers that do not pay timely, cannot forgo the charging of interest to landlords. However, it is important to note that landlords, at anytime, can request duplicate copies of bills and late notices, as well as inquire about the account balances of their tenants. The inquiry of the account balances can be done by calling the Utility office during regular business hours, or through the city's website at any time. Please contact Finance Director Steeno or me if you have any questions or would like additional information on this item. CITY HALL UNDERGROUND STORM WATER DETENTION PROJECT UNDERWAY 3.: As you know, the City Hall Underground Storm Water Detention Project is underway and I’m enclosing three informational drawings for your information. These are also posted on our website. The first explains parking during the construction, the second shows the Division Street watershed, and the third diagrams the project. We are addressing unanticipated parking issues as they arise, particularly for our neighbors impacted by vehicles parked in front of their properties. Construction is expected to be completed in November. Weekly Newsletter March 8, 2013 Page 2 LIQUOR LICENSE FEES - MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 4.: Earlier this week, I received calls from several tavern owners in town, inquiring about a rumor they were told that the city was going to increase its Class B liquor license fees by five times their current amount. The tavern owners were told that this initiative was coming directly from my office, so I was quite surprised to learn about it in this manner as this topic hasn’t even been discussed by staff to my recollection. In reality, the city is currently charging the maximum amount permitted by state statute for these Class B licenses (currently $500 per year). Apparently, this rumor began to get circulated by a reporter with WBAY, who later clarified to me that this was a proposal from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, not the City of Oshkosh. However, business owners stated that the reporter represented that this was a City of Oshkosh initiative. As the Council is aware, I am currently on the League’s Board of Directors, and the League has a rather extensive legislative agenda. The League philosophically takes the stand that cities should have greater flexibility to determine fees and charges, be they liquor licenses, building permits, or other fees and charges for services. As a League Board Member, I’ve expressed concerns to the League that we need to be more strategic in our legislative agenda, and the current legislative agenda contains many items, including a provision that would give cities greater flexibility to increase their liquor license fees. For Council’s reference, I am enclosing a copy of the entire League’s legislative agenda for 2013- 2014. As a member of the Board, I’ve asked the League to prioritize its top legislative agenda items, which are included on the top of the agenda. Inside the League’s legislative agenda is this reference to liquor licenses. I have to take ownership that I did, in fact, vote for this; however, this does not mean that I am advocating or even thinking that our own liquor license fees need to be increased. Furthermore, the League is not putting any effort into pushing this legislation through, as our top legislative priorities require the full attention of the League staff, and they have not found a sponsor for this legislation for many years. I had an opportunity to speak with Pat Purtell, President of the local Tavern League, and he understood the difference in my position as City Manager and my role on the League Board of Directors. Meanwhile, the reporter from Channel 2 still wants to do this story over what I consider a non-issue. If you do happen to hear about this issue through the rumor mill, I wanted you to be aware that this is not an issue of the city. You can reassure our tavern owners that nothing is being proposed to raise Class B liquor licenses, as we are already at the state maximum. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me. MOBILE VENDING ORDINANCE 5.: Last summer, staff received many complaints, questions and concerns regarding mobile vendors in the city, particularly in the downtown area. Complaints were from restaurant and café owners that thought the food vendors were encroaching on their potential business. Staff has reviewed several area mobile vendor ordinances and has prepared a draft ordinance. Staff has also distributed the draft ordinance in preparation for a public meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2013, at the Seniors Center. The meeting invitation and draft ordinance was sent to all downtown establishments serving food, mobile food vendors that staff has had contact with within the last year, the BID Manager, and the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. I am also enclosing a copy for your information. Staff anticipates bringing a mobile vending ordinance forward to Council in the next month or so. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (PE)/[PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE (PFP) UPDATE 6.: On th March 26, I had an opportunity to meet with the PE/PFP Team, which consists of 7 employees across the organization, to receive an update on the work they had made to-date. I am very happy to report that the group has hit several milestones including a draft Performance Evaluation process for my review. They are also well on their way to drafting a Pay-for-Performance Policy. Weekly Newsletter March 8, 2013 Page 3 The team’s process has consisted of reviewing current policies and procedures, gathering research from numerous private and public sources, assessing the organization’s needs and culture, and developing recommendations to assist in developing a more performance-based culture. In accordance with several guiding principles for our Strategic Plan, including being Accountable and Transparent, the team has also developed an internal team website that contains their meeting agendas, notes, research, and proposals so that all employees have the opportunity to participate and provide feedback during the development process. Council should expect to review this policy th at your May 14 Council Meeting. This group is just the beginning of our efforts to engage employees in developing policy recommendations, which, as you may recall, is an internal priority goal in our 2012-2014 Strategic Plan. When I met with the employees, I could sense their enthusiasm and pride associated with working on a project that will help better the organization. I am confident in the work that this team has done to-date, and know that the success of this group has put us on the path to being a higher performing organization. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATES 7.: Other items I’m enclosing with today’s Newsletter include the highlights of the Oshkosh Public Library for the month of February, 2013. th Insofar as minutes are concerned, I’m enclosing the following: The minutes of the January 9 th Board of Appeals meeting; the minutes of the January 9 Long Range Finance Committee th meeting; the minutes of the February 4 Sustainability Advisory Board meeting; the minutes of thth the February 5 Committee on Aging meeting; the minutes of the February 5 Police & Fire th Commission meeting; the minutes of the February 13 Landmarks Commission meeting; the st minutes of the February 21 Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting; the meeting th notice, agenda and background material for the March 12 Traffic Review Advisory Board th meeting; and the meeting notice, agenda and background material for the March 13 Parking Utility Commission meeting. I’m also enclosing the Annual Report of Trust Funds from our Finance Department. The last items I’m enclosing are the new Go Transit route map and user st guide, along with a card on how to use Google Transit. The new routes go into effect on April 1. These maps and cards are now available on city buses and at www.rideGOtransit.com. th UPCOMING MEETINGS 8.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of March 11 include the th following: On Monday morning, March 11, at 7:30 a.m., I will be attending the Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee meeting. At 9:00 a.m. on Monday, I am meeting with Mayor Tower to discuss the upcoming Council Agenda. As an aside, I am not planning to attend Tuesday evening’s Council Meeting. Mr. Fitzpatrick will be sitting in my place, and staff is prepared to address Agenda items that may require their additional attention in my absence. On Tuesday, th March 12, at 8:30 a.m., I will be meeting with a local contractor regarding an issue with a recent th city project. On Wednesday, March 13, at 2:00 p.m., I am meeting with the Economic Development Study Group that is working on visioning and goals for an Economic Development Plan. On Thursday and Friday, I will be in Madison to attend meetings of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance Company and the League Board of Directors meeting. As a result, I will be unavailable during most of these days. Depending upon my availability earlier in the week, there may be a smaller version of a Newsletter next week. If you have any questions regarding my attendance at any of these meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me. MAR/jdc Enclosures