CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
01.14.25
 
               
  CALL TO ORDER - 6:00 p.m.
 
  ROLL CALL
Present: Kris Larson; Joe Stephenson; Karl Buelow, Deputy Mayor; Paul Esslinger; DJ Nichols; Jacob Floam
Absent: Matt Mugerauer, Mayor
Staff: John Fitzpatrick, Interim City Manager/Director of Administrative Services, Lynn Lorenson, City Attorney, Diane Bartlett, City Clerk, James Rabe, Public Works Director
  INVOCATION - VOTING FIRST  - Council Member Esslinger
 
 
  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  - Grace Lutheran School
 
  PRESENTATION
 
     Ieva Engel, Executive Director of the Oshkosh Area Humane Society   
 
  CITIZEN STATEMENTS TO COUNCIL

TJ Hobbs
520 High Avenue, Oshkosh
Hobbs spoke to the Council about opposing the new administration's proposed initiatives against DEI and the LGBTQ+ community.

Mary Callen
2524 B Village Lane, Oshkosh
Callen spoke concerning the recent property tax increase and the city budget for 2025. Callen serves on the board of directors for the Village Lane Condo Association. Callen is questioning how seniors and new families are supposed to afford these increases and taxes. Callen is also questioning the proposed updates/new city hall and feels that the city should cut employees and spend the money responsibly to avoid more debt. Callen is also against the city purchasing properties (Sawyer Ave and properties for developers) to make improvements and questions the city's priorities.

 
 
  CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
 
     Report of Bills   
 
     November 2024 Financial Report   
 
     Receipt & Filing of Minutes - Common Council   
 
     Receipt & Filing of Minutes - Library Board, 11.21.2024   
 
     Receipt & Filing of Minutes - Museum Arts and Culture Board, 11.13.2024   
 
  Res 25-01    Approve CIP Budget Amendment and Change Order No. 1 (Final) for Public Works Contract No. 22-01 Bowen Street Sanitary Interceptor Sewer and Storm Sewer Construction / PTS Contractors, Inc. (+$360,961.18)   
 
  Res 25-02    Approve Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services Agreement with Strand Associates, Inc. for Construction-Related Services for Sawyer Creek Watershed Rural II Detention Basin (+$250,000)   
 
  Res 25-03    Approve Professional Services Agreement with Donohue & Associates, Inc. for Wastewater Treatment Plant Tertiary Treatment Filtration Facility Design ($976,585)   
 
  Res 25-04    Award Bid to Martelle Water Treatment, Inc. for Rare Earth Chloride Solution for the Wastewater Treatment Plant for 2025 ($705,600)   
 
  Res 25-05    Approve Change Order No. 1 for Public Works Contract No. 24-21 Wastewater Treatment Plant Secondary Clarifiers No. 2 and No. 4 Improvements / August Winter & Sons, Inc. (+$120,341)   
 
  Res 25-06    Award Bid for Public Works Contract No. 24-17 and Assign Xylem Water Solutions USA, Inc's Public Works Contract No. 23-19 Equipment Purchase Contract to August Winter & Sons, Inc. for Water Filtration Plant Ozone and SCADA Systems Replacement ($12,482,271.24)    
 
  Res 25-07    Award Bid to Sure-Fire Inc. for Safety Building HVAC Improvements for General Services ($549,735.00)   
 
  Res 25-08    Approve Special Event - Otter Street Fishing Club to Utilize Menominee Park and Millers Bay for the Otter Street Winter Fisheree, February 1, 2025   
 
  Res 25-09    Approve Special Event - Battle on Bago Foundation to Utilize Menominee Park and City Streets for the Battle on Bago Fishing Tournament, February 14-15, 2025   
 
  Res 25-10    Approve Special Event - Bay Lakes Scout Council Twin Lakes District to Utilize Menominee Park for the Bay-Lakes, Twin Lakes District Cub Scout Fishing Event, June 7, 2025   
 
  Res 25-11    Approve Special Event - Wisconsin Area Literacy Council to Utilize Opera House Square for the WALC Yard Sale and Fundraiser, June 7, 2025   
 
  Res 25-12    Approve Special Event - Otter Street Fishing Club and Battle on Bago Foundation to Utilize Menominee Park and Millers Bay for the Otter Street / Battle on Bago Walleye Tournament, June 12 thorugh15, 2025   
 
  Res 25-13    Approve Special Event - Oshkosh YMCA to Utilize City Streets for the Oshkosh Century Bike Ride, June 22, 2025   
 
  Res 25-14    Approve Special Event - Otter Street Fishing Club to Utilize Menominee Park for the Otter Street Kids Fisheree, August 9, 2025   
 
  Res 25-15    Approve Agent Change - Kwik Trip   
 
  Res 25-16    Reassign Polling Place/District 13

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ABOVE		   
 
  Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger
  Second Jacob Floam
 
AYE: Kris Larson, Joe Stephenson, Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, DJ Nichols, Jacob Floam
6 - 0 Passed
 
  PENDING ORDINANCES
 
  Ord 25-17    Approve Zone Change from Institutional (I) District to Urban Mixed Use District (UMU) for Part of 240 Algoma Boulevard (Plan Commission Recommends Approval)   
 
  Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger
  Second Jacob Floam
 
AYE: Kris Larson, Joe Stephenson, Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, DJ Nichols, Jacob Floam
6 - 0 Passed
 
  NEW RESOLUTIONS
 
  Res 25-18    Amend Fee Schedule for Sanitary Sewer Use Charges for Hauled Waste Charges    
 
  Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger
  Second Kris Larson
 
AYE: Kris Larson, Joe Stephenson, Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, DJ Nichols, Jacob Floam
6 - 0 Passed
 
  Res 25-19    Approve Amendment to Agreement Between City of Oshkosh/GO Transit and Fox Valley Technical College Extending Term of Agreement for Student Ridership Through December 31, 2025   
 
  Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger
  Second Kris Larson
 
AYE: Kris Larson, Joe Stephenson, Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, DJ Nichols, Jacob Floam
6 - 0 Passed
 
  Res 25-20    Approve Preliminary Plat for the Creation of an 18-Lot Single-Family Residential Subdivision at the Former Washington School Property, 929 Winnebago Avenue (Plan Commission Recommends Approval)

The Council is very excited about this project, and how these homes will contribute to the tax base.		   
 
  Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger
  Second Kris Larson
 
AYE: Kris Larson, Joe Stephenson, Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, DJ Nichols, Jacob Floam
6 - 0 Passed
 
  Res 25-21    Approve Installation of New Sidewalk:
  • Bay Shore Drive, South Side, from Broad Street to Mill Street
  • Bay Street, Both Sides, from Bay Shore Drive to Lake Winnebago 
   
 
  Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger
  Second Kris Larson
 
AYE: Kris Larson, Joe Stephenson, Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, DJ Nichols, Jacob Floam
6 - 0 Passed
 
  Res 25-22    Determination of Necessity to Acquire and Approve and Execute Relocation Order for Partial Land Acquisitions of 3277 and 3290 Meadowbrook Road   
 
  Motion To Approve Paul Esslinger
  Second Kris Larson
 
AYE: Kris Larson, Joe Stephenson, Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow, Paul Esslinger, DJ Nichols, Jacob Floam
6 - 0 Passed
 
  COUNCIL DISCUSSION, DIRECTION TO CITY MANAGER & FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
 
  Discussion and Direction to City Manager
 
     West 7th Avenue Update

Public Works Director Rabe stated that the city has a scope of work from a consultant to help with this issue.  A proposal will be presented to the Council at the next meeting, but in the meantime, Council gave Rabe the approval to get started on resolving this issue. 		   
 
     Special Meeting with Oshkosh Taxpayers, Council, and City Staff Regarding Recent Property Tax Bill (Esslinger)
  • Councilor Esslinger feels that there is a lot of misinformation in the community and that the council owes them an explanation of what happened.  Esslinger would like to have a meeting with the council and residents to go over questions and the council could explain the process.
  • Councilor Floam agrees that a meeting like this is needed and believes the city must explain this to its residents.
  • Councilor Stephenson would like to be clear that if anyone comes... this would not change their taxes. The council cannot waive a magic wand or change their taxes. 
  • Councilor Larson feels that this is a good idea.
  • Councilor Nichols is lukewarm on this idea.  Rather than a meeting, Nichols believes a video or proactive campaign will be beneficial.  Nichols is bringing forward a resolution directed towards individuals in the state concerning the reliance on property taxes.
  • Councilors then discussed their dissatisfaction with the state and how to improve this process. Some councilors favor a community meeting, but residents can also see the process, watch budget hearings, and contact the assessor's office.  
  • Deputy Mayor Buelow does not think a meeting with residents will be beneficial or solve anything.  There is plenty of information available to the public, and they also have the opportunity to call the assessor's office and come to the council meeting and voice their concerns at every council meeting. The information is there.
  • Deputy Mayor Buelow and other councilors agree that the Mayor's input would be beneficial.
   
 
     Procedure for Council Members to Place Items on a Council Agenda (Esslinger)
  • Councilors would like a step-by-step process outlining how to get items on the agenda.
  • The Council will discuss this issue when the Mayor is present.
   
 
  Future Agenda Items, Meetings, and Workshops
 
  COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS & STATEMENTS
 
  CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS & STATEMENTS
 
     Cooperative Purchase of CAD Mobile Workstations for Various Departments ($25,110.00)   
 
     Cooperative Purchase of 2025 Desktop and Laptops for Various Departments ($73,698.00)   
 
     Professional Services Agreement with Total Security and Safety Inc. for Loss Prevention Services ($74,000.00)   
 
     Professional Services Agreement with AECOM for 2025 Pavement Condition Survey ($38,725)   
 
     Professional Service Agreement with GRAEF for the City of Oshkosh Sustainability Plan 2025 ($60,000)   
 
     Outstanding Issues   
 
  ADJOURN  7:46 pm
 
SUBMITTED BY DIANE BARTLETT, CITY CLERK




THE FULL AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE
THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MEETING IS AVAILABLE ON THE YOUTUBE PLAYBACK CHANNEL