Total attendance: 14
Council members in attendance: Bain, B. Tower, F. Tower
Location: Oshkosh Public Library, room A
Next Fifth Tuesday Forum: May 30, 2006
Below is a list of topics and, if applicable, questions/concerns/issues raised within each topic. Responses are solicited from appropriate city staff and printed below. For more information about the forum or the items discussed, contact Oshkosh Common Councilor Bryan L. Bain at bbain@ci.oshkosh.wi.us or 651-9329.
TOPIC:
FIVE RIVERS RESORT AND CONVENTION
CENTER
|
Concern/Issue/Question |
Referred to, if applicable |
Follow up (as received), if applicable |
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Can the developer break ground and proceed with construction based solely on the term sheet passed by the council or will a developer agreement be required? If so, will the council be required to approve the developer agreement? |
No, the developer cannot proceed based solely on the Term Sheet document. Council approved a Resolution in October that authorized the City to enter into a Development Agreement based on the attached Term Sheet document. As long as the Developer's Agreement is consistent with the Term Sheet document, additional Council review of the Developer's Agreement is not required. |
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|
What would happen
if the developer gets the construction financing, begins construction then
runs out of money before completing the project? |
Construction
financing is only part of the equation in terms of financing. As
stipulated in the Term Sheet document, and as would be reflected in the more
detailed Development Agreement document, the developer is to "Present
final lender and equity commitments to City/RDA in form and substance
satisfactory to City/RDA." The City would not find only a
construction financing commitment satisfactory without permanent take out
financing also secured. |
|
|
Is the developer
free to discuss this project on his own with members of the media and general
public? |
I'm sure the developer does not wish to discuss the details concerning his negotiations on financing, that is why he has asked that this information be confidential at this time. However, as I indicated to the Council in January, we will be approaching a point where it will be appropriate to publicly discuss the financing plan. It's not the City/RDA's position to direct the developer to talk about or not talk about details of the project, other than that which has been brought forward. It should be recognized that there has, in fact, been a significant amount of information brought forward about this project and discussed in public forums (i.e., Redevelopment Authority meetings, Plan Commission, and Council meetings). Obviously, people are anxious to know what is going on in regard to the developer's efforts to secure final lender and equity commitments, because that will either enable this project to move forward or not. The Council will receive an update on these efforts in an Executive Session on Tuesday evening, February 14th. |
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|
What happens to
the current convention center if Five Rivers is completed? What happens
to it if Five Rivers is not completed? |
If the Five Rivers project is implemented, it would be our intention to immediately begin work with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, and the Chamber to undertake a study of the future of the existing Convention Center. If Five Rivers is not implemented, I believe it would still be appropriate to undertake a study of the existing convention center and its future. |
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|
There were several
attendees that recommend the city present information on this project to the
public via an open forum or town hall meeting. |
This will be shared with the city manager. |
N/A |
|
Concern/Issue/Question |
Referred to, if applicable |
Follow up (as received), if applicable |
|
Can the council information on the city's website include more information about council members? |
The answer is yes and it has been added to the web-site. |
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A suggestion for
an online discussion/bulletin board on the city’s website was discussed. |
This will be
shared with the city manager. |
N/A |
|
There was also
some discussion on how a lot of those in attendance feel the city’s website
is not user-friendly and needs to be updated. |
This will be
shared with the city manager. |
This is something
the council has discussed as a goal for the city manager. |
|
Concern/Issue/Question |
Referred to, if applicable |
Follow up (as received), if applicable |
|
Relating to budgets, do departments get rewarded for saving money or is this an incentive for finding new, innovative ways to "do city work" that saves taxpayer money? |
Departments are not rewarded for saving money but it is expected that all city employees would be always looking for ways to save tax dollars. |
|
Concern/Issue/Question |
Referred to, if applicable |
Follow up (as received), if applicable |
|
Could citizens start a binding direct legislation petition drive to get rid of the $10/month garbage and recycling fee? |
The short answer is "yes." Under present Wisconsin court decisions, direct legislation cannot be used to repeal existing legislation. Because the Council has to yet to formally adopt the fee, there is no resolution or ordinance "on the books." Merely passing the budget with the fee listed as revenue source, does not put the fee legislation into place; a separate action is needed for that. |
|
|
There was concern
raised regarding the new fee – most in attendance would rather see it as a
property tax than a fee – some other suggested volume-based vs. a flat fee. |
This will be
shared with the city manager. |
N/A |
|
Concern/Issue/Question |
Referred to, if applicable |
Follow up (as received), if applicable |
|
There was some discussion on how the previously proposed Iraq War referendum was handled and if council members would vote to place the measure on the ballot if the proper number of signatures were collected, and questions on whether they would be bound by statute to put it on the ballot. |
This will be shared with the city manager. |
N/A |
|
Concern/Issue/Question |
Referred to, if applicable |
Follow up (as received), if applicable |
|
There was some discussion about the need for an external productivity study/audit and an internal audit by the city manager. |
This will be
shared with the city manager. |
This is something
the council has discussed as a goal for the city manager. Council member Esslinger has also started
to collect information on an external productivity study/audit. |
|
Concern/Issue/Question |
Referred to, if applicable |
Follow up (as received), if applicable |
|
There were those in attendance that would like to see the city have more open forums/town hall meetings on the bigger projects and be more proactive in relaying information to the public and members of the council. |
This will be
shared with the city manager. |
N/A |
Upon completion, this
document will be available online at www.bryanbain.com
and through a limited number of copies at City Hall, 215 Church Ave. All council members receive a copy of the
completed document. No tax dollars have
been used to produce, re-produce or maintain this document.