City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: July 17, 2007

Item No.:       

Recommendation:  That the Council adopt Resolution No. 10772-071707 accepting the donation of the 4.828 acre property at 250 W. Drexel Avenue.

Background: The four (4) owners of the vacant property at 250 W. Drexel Avenue are offering to donate the parcel of land at 250 E. Drexel Avenue to the City of Oak Creek, conditioned upon the municipality’s agreement to assume all delinquent taxes and assessments against the property.  The owners wish to dedicate the property because the significant amount of floodplain and wetlands present make this property very difficult, if not impossible to develop.  In 2002 the owners of this property offered to sell this parcel to the City of Oak Creek.  The Plan Commission recommended that the Common Council purchase the property however the Council decided not to pursue the purchase.  This time the owners are offering to donate the property. 

The City’s Comprehensive Plan recommends that the City preserves lands designated as resource protection or limited development areas through either regulation or acquisition.  The Comprehensive Plan also recommends acquiring areas with floodway present to preserve their function in stormwater conveyance. Acquiring this property, which has significant floodway and has been designated as a resource protection area on the future land use map, will help implement the City’s goals relating to natural resource and open space preservation. 

The decision as to whether to accept the terms of the dedication, which include the City assuming the delinquent taxes and outstanding assessments on the property, will need to be made by the Common Council.  According to the City Treasurer, the outstanding taxes for 2007 are $422.50.  This does not include delinquent taxes from previous years, which are handled by Milwaukee County.  According to the Milwaukee County Treasurer’s Office the balance due as of June 7, 2007 is $3,408.59.  Combined with the outstanding 2007 taxes due to the City, the total amount of unpaid taxes with penalties is $3,831.09.  According to the City’s Finance Manager, RoseAnn Underberg, there are no outstanding or contemplated special assessments for this property.

The Plan Commission has reviewed this request and recommended that the Common Council favorably consider accepting this donation.  If the Council concurs with this recommendation, and proceeds to accept this dedication, it should do so contingent upon the review of a Phase I Environmental Assessment.  The City should also consider designating this property (should they choose to accept it) as a natural area, to reduce the maintenance costs associated with the mowing of this property.

Fiscal Impact:  The property has an estimated fair market value of $11,300. If the City should decide to accept this donation we will be responsible for the outstanding taxes of $3,831.09.   The City would also be foregoing its portion of the $428.39 annual property tax for this parcel. 

Prepared by: Doug Seymour, AICP Director of Community Development

Respectfully submitted, Patrick DeGrave City Administrator

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk