City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  July 18, 2006

Item No.:       

Recommendation:  That the Council authorize the City Administrator to negotiate an amendment to the contract between the City of Oak Creek and HNTB to allow for the continuation of development advisory services to the City in connection with the 27^th Street Corridor project.

Background:  Since August of 2005 the firm of HNTB has been providing development advisory services to the City as it relates to 27th Street, and the implementation of the 27^th Street Corridor and Urban Village plans.

At their last meeting, the Council was briefed on an opportunity that had arisen to explore moving up the date of construction of the Drexel & I-94 interchange, which was identified as an important element in both of those plans.  Based upon the feedback received at the meeting, staff had proposed that the contractual relationship with HNTB be extended to allow the City to be in a position to take advantage of the window of opportunity that may exist with respect to the Drexel & I-94 interchange.  As a consultant who is intimately familiar and involved with the I-94 project, HNTB would be able to provide the City with better access to the decision-making process to a much greater extent than staff.  Also, given that Planning staff is currently involved with several high level and ongoing projects (27^th Street, lakefront, CDA, Plan Commission, Common Council, CDBG, current development projects) and will be integrating zoning code enforcement activities into the department, it would serve the City’s interest to have a development advisor whose primary role is to coordinate 27^th Street activities on behalf of the City.

One of the rolls assigned to the development advisor would be the coordination of public information.  As such, it has been suggested that a public relations firm may be beneficial to the City in advocating its position to a number of parties, including WisDOT, elected officials, major landowners, as well as the press. 

While the details of the contract have not yet been worked out, the Council is being asked to authorize the City Administrator to negotiate an amendment to that contract, which would be presented to the Common Council for approval at a subsequent meeting.  Additional information regarding the structure of a proposed contractual agreement, as well as billable rates for both HNTB and a possible public relations firm are attached as part of this report.

Fiscal Impact:  As of May 31, 2006 a total of $38,875 remains in the 2006 Consulting account under the Economic Development Fund (Fund 31).  The initial proposal calls for initial funding not to exceed $20,000.   Any expenses beyond that would require additional allocation from the Common Council.  These expenditures may be reimbursable if a tax increment financing district were put in place in support of this project.

Prepared by: Doug Seymour, AICP Director of Community Development

Respectfully submitted, Patrick DeGrave City Administrator

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk