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HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly newsletter Date: May 17, 2013 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: BUSINESS SURVEY COMPLETE FOR NON-BID COMMERCIAL ZONES 1.: Council may recall that staff was asked to survey businesses in areas that are not currently a part of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) to gauge their opinions on issues of common interests in their respective areas. The University of Wisconsin-Extension, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, and our Community Development Department have worked together to identify conditions and goals for businesses located in two commercial areas in the city – North Main Street (north of Irving to New York), and Oregon and South Main Streets. The team developed a survey for distribution to owners and renters in the commercial spaces in these areas. UW-Extension staff compiled the survey results. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for Monday, June 17, 2013, at 6:00 p.m., at the Oshkosh Convention Center. The meeting agenda will include a UW-Extension presentation and discussion of the survey results. A WEDC presentation will be given of best practices for commercial areas and a discussion will take place on a range of options for the business representatives to consider for the future. All Council Members are invited to attend, and City Clerk Pam Ubrig will notice the meeting in the event that a quorum is present. If you have any questions concerning this meeting, please contact Community Development Director Allen Davis. GOSS COURT IMPROVEMENTS 2.: Council may recall some testimony that was given at the public hearing regarding the special assessments for improvements on New York Avenue, near Algoma Boulevard. Specifically, residents who make use of a private alley known as Goss Court had questioned why the city had initially informed residents that they would be improving this alley, but later changed their mind. Following the public hearing, Council had asked staff to meet with the Goss Court residents and see if these issues could be worked out. Public Works Director Patek, Assistant Public Works Director Gohde, and I met with Goss Court area residents this past week. The meeting was cordial and productive, and we addressed many of the concerns and issues that have been raised by Goss Court residents. Based upon staff’s research, there is clear evidence that the area known as Goss Court is a private alley and has been so since the 1890’s. This is evidenced by several legislative actions made by Council over the past century, including improvements in 1938 that were acknowledged as improvements to a private alley. Goss Court residents have acknowledged that they have done some improvements to this lot by themselves over the years. However, one of the residents did receive a letter back in the 1990’s that Goss Court was a city alley. However, there has been no legislative action ever taken to turn this private alley over to public right-of-way. Weekly Newsletter May 17, 2013 Page 2 Be that as it may, the confusion certainly left an impression with the residents that the city was going to perform this work. As a private alley, the city has no responsibility to improve this area. However, with the confusion that took place, I was willing to give the residents some assurances that we could work with them to get these improvements done, but I formally stated the city’s position that this area remained a private alley. The residents requested that the city construct the improvements, and also asked for our assistance in working through these ownership issues, as the original plat does not describe how ownership issues work in this area. I agreed to work with the residents to get the improvements done and charge 100% of the costs back to them. I also agreed to enlist the assistance of our City Attorney’s Office to prepare documents that will better clarify how this private alley is to be maintained. I requested that the residents meet privately and jointly tell us what provisions they would like in this document. I believe that we can get these issues worked out rather easily and put this issue to rest without any litigation over ownership of the alley. Meanwhile, I have asked Public Works staff to work with the residents to identify the improvements that they would like in this alley, particularly drainage issues that have caused flooding in this area. I believe that we worked through a solution that is agreeable to everyone, while maintaining this property in private ownership. If you have any questions regarding staff’s solution to this issue, please contact Public Works Director David Patek or me. HIGHWAY 21 CORRIDOR PRESERVATION PLAN 3.: Over the last few years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) has been working on a corridor preservation plan for Highway 21, between Highway 41 and Omro. The goal of this type of process is to ensure that future development doesn’t interfere with what the highway may need to look like as traffic volumes increase in the future. Staff has been attending these meetings over the last couple of years, as some corridor alternatives may have changed access within the city limits, and because of Highway 21’s connection with the future West Side Arterial. The DOT will be hosting a public st meeting on Tuesday, May 21, at 5:30 p.m., at Oakwood Elementary School, to discuss the current alternatives. In brief, the alternatives are identical from the city’s perspective. Each alternative preserves full access to Highway 21 at both Washburn Street and Westhaven Drive, and is within existing right-of-way. Each alternative would include sufficient space to support both sidewalks and bicycle lanes in both directions. Each alternative also shows the West Side Arterial connecting to Highway 21 between Clairville Road and Sand Pit Road. No construction is scheduled at this time. However, this type of coordination is important to allow us to make informed decisions regarding future land use, and road planning and design. If you have any questions, please contact Transportation Director Chris Strong. RIVER WALK SIGN 4.: As you may know, the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Board has agreed to sponsor/purchase one sign for the new River Walk. The signage would designate a William Steiger Park Zone, with the topic of fishing described therein. The Foundation will be paying $5,000 for the sign and they will be taking the money from the Taking Root Fund, which was started for the trees and signage in the community. We appreciate the Foundation’s initiative in sponsoring this sign, which we hope is the beginning of many more signs along the River Walk. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATES 5.: Other items I’m enclosing with today’s Newsletter include the latest Inspection Services Newsletter, which is sent electronically to all contractors that are on our e-mail address list, and it is also posted on our website. I am also enclosing the 2012 Sustainable Oshkosh Annual Report for 2012. This report highlights our sustainability efforts. Weekly Newsletter May 17, 2013 Page 3 st Insofar as minutes are concerned, I’m enclosing the following: The minutes of the February 21 thth and March 14 Storm Water Utility Committee meetings; the minutes of the March 25 Housing th Authority meeting; the minutes of the April 16 Downtown BID Board meeting; the minutes of thth the May 7 Plan Commission meeting; the minutes of the May 8 Parking Utility Commission th meeting; and the minutes of the May 14 Traffic Review Advisory Board meeting. th UPCOMING MEETINGS 6.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of May 20 include the th following: On Monday, May 20, at 7:00 a.m., I will be attending the Employee Recognition Program for employees at the Central Garage. At 8:15 a.m. Monday, I will be on WOSH Radio with Bob Burnell for my monthly interview with him. At 12:00 noon, I will be attending the Employee Recognition Program at the Public Museum. At 2:00 p.m. on Monday, I will be meeting with staff to discuss the recently opened bids for the Central Garage Project. At 5:00 p.m. Monday, I will be at Muza Metal Products to attend the public open house for Wave Robotics. Council Members should have received some type of e-mail invitation over the last few days. I would encourage Council Members to attend this demonstration if possible. At 7:30 a.m. on st Tuesday, May 21, I’ll be attending the annual United Way breakfast. At 10:30 a.m., I will be participating in a phone conference for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance Company. At 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, I will be meeting with Jack Pelton, the interim CEO of EAA. At 3:00 p.m., I will participate in a phone conference with David Ward to discuss our report back to stakeholders regarding the Economic Development Study Group that was formed following the release of the Prager Study. We are anticipating a meeting with the stakeholders to take place on th June 4. More details to come on that. At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, I will be attending the Fox Valley Technical College Board meeting with community members at the Riverside Campus. On nd Wednesday, May 22, at 7:00 a.m., I will be attending a meeting to discuss the draft strategic plan for the Oshkosh Area School District. Beginning at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, I will be in Madison to attend the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Legislative Luncheon, at which Governor Walker is scheduled to address the group. Following that meeting, I will be attending a rd meeting of the Wisconsin Urban Alliance. On Thursday, May 23, at 6:45 a.m., I will be attending the Employee Recognition Program at the Water Filtration Plant. Finally, at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, I will be attending the Leadership Oshkosh graduation event, at which several city employees will be participating. If you have any questions regarding my attendance at any of these meetings or events, please do not hesitate to contact me. MAR/jdc Enclosures