City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  December 20, 2005

Item No.:        

Recommendation:  That the Council endorse the concept of entering into a memorandum of understanding with the City of Franklin to cover one-half the cost of a streetscape plan for South 27^th Street.

Background:  The South 27th Street Corridor Plan, adopted by the Common Council on February 1, 2005 made specific recommendations with respect to implementation of the plan.  Among those were:

□          To coordinate with the WisDOT to implement streetscape and intersection improvements as properties along the corridor develop/redevelop

□          To begin a comprehensive signage plan for the corridor including (a) entry features; (b) street signs; and (c) wayfinding

□          To develop funding mechanisms to support provision of public streetscape amenities on local streets in commercial areas (e.g. special assessment districts, TIF, etc.)

The steering committee coordinating this project with the City of Franklin has been discussing the logical next steps to continue our cooperative efforts along the corridor.  A streetscape plan was viewed as a means of advancing several recommendations of the corridor plan.  In addition to initiating the recommendation of the plan specific to streetscape, the creation of this plan would also address signage and wayfinding along the corridor, in addition to making recommendations on entrance features.  It would also serve as a marketing tool for both communities to demonstrate the commitment that is being made to create 27th Street an attractive center of economic activity.

The vision statement in the adopted corridor plan also reinforces the need for a coordinated streetscape effort through statements such as:

“27th Street will consist of vibrant businesses and significant employment opportunities for good jobs. Its character will be shaped by high quality and attractive buildings from one end of the corridor to the other; significant landscaping and the integration of existing natural characteristics such as woodlands, wetlands, topography and more; first class signage; accessible and high quality open spaces and public areas such as the median, lighting, terraces, and street. This corridor will have its own unique identity that people are proud of and continuously attracts new businesses.”

It goes on to state:

“Cooperation between the Cities of Franklin and Oak Creek is vital to the success of the South 27th Street Corridor and will be achieved by whatever means necessary.“ 

The City of Franklin has been taking a lead role in the implementation of the corridor plan with respect to streetscape improvements.

To date, the Community Development Authority for the City of Franklin has taken the following steps:

□          Made recommendations on the elements to be included in a 27th Street streetscape conceptual design study

□          Made a recommendation to their Common Council of selected consultant(s) for the 27th Street streetscape conceptual design services contract (HNTB and Eppstein Uhen Architects)

□          Made a recommendation to their Common Council to expend TIF (TID No. 3 and/or TID No.4) funds for a 27th Street streetscape conceptual design services contract

□          Made a recommendation to the Common Council to authorize their City Attorney to draft a memorandum of understanding between the Cities of Oak Creek and Franklin confirming that Oak Creek will pay for the Oak Creek share of the expenses for the 27th Street streetscape conceptual design services contract when the City of Oak Creek approves the TIF district for the Oak Creek Urban Village

Recognizing that the timing of implementation activities and the allocation of resources for the corridor improvements are on different schedules, the City of Franklin has offered to front the money for the cost of the streetscape plan through their existing TIF district(s).  The City of Oak Creek would in turn reimburse Franklin for half of the cost of the study once a TIF district has been established for public improvements to the Urban Village in Oak Creek.  While the cost of the study has not yet been finalized, it is anticipated that it could exceed $150,000 (thus Oak Creek’s commitment would be half of that – or, under this scenario $75,000).  If the City were to establish a TIF district, the costs associated with this study could be included as a project cost within the district.

The details of that proposed arrangement are currently being drafted by the Franklin City Attorney into a memorandum of understanding between the two communities.  This document would be reviewed by our City Attorney, and would be presented in its final form to the Common Council at a later date.  It is important however that the the Council understand the essence of the Franklin proposal, and the commitment that would be made by the City of Oak Creek.

There are several examples of streetscape plans available for your review.  Please contact the Planning Department if you would like to view these examples.  There are also multiple examples available for review on the Internet.

The following items have been provided as an attachment to this report:

1.         27th Street Corridor Plan: Implementation Matrix

2.         27th Street Corridor Plan: Streetscape section

3.         27th Street Corridor Streetscape objectives (Joint 27th Street Steering Committee)

4.         27th Street – Ideas for Streetscape Plan (Joint 27th Street Steering Committee)

Fiscal Impact:  Under the proposed MOU, the City would be responsible for ½ the cost of the study.

Prepared by: Doug Seymour, AICP Director of Community Development

Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk