MINUTES
CITY OF OAK CREEK

AD HOC CIVIC CENTER DESIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 8, 2008, 6:30 PM

1. This meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
• Present were Committee members:  Fred Siepert, Isabel Haase, Cal Nowak, Sig Tomkalski and Sam Lenda.
• Staff present:  City Administrator Patrick DeGrave, City Engineer Wayne St. John, Information Technology Manager Caesar Geiger, Facilities Maintenance Manager Dick Kulka, Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Rosandich, City Librarian Ross Talis, Community Development Director Douglas Seymour, and Personnel Specialist Marie Kreif. 
• Mayor Bolender was also present.
2. Review preliminary information from Facility Space Needs Committee.
• F. Siepert distributed a handout summarizing his suggestions for the committee’s mission and goals.
• The group discussed general concepts including:
• the idea of a “city center” to include a theater, businesses and government
• the potential to move one or more of the existing functions to another site
• a multiple story building on the existing site - potential parking issues
• the cost to temporarily operate out of another facility while remodeling the current facility
• A public/private enterprise
• Move parking underground to maintain greenspace
• Ross informed the group that the library is considering a joint venture with MATC and expects a feasibility study to be completed with a report to the Common Council in a few months.
• Mayor Bolender suggested that the city needs efficient buildings that will save money in the long term and are expandable and that if a new building is constructed, it must not be extravagant.
• F. Siepert indicated that the Community Center is considering a theater for performing arts.  Weddings are booked out for two years and the center could lose money by closing to remodel.
• A temporary move of employees from the current site to another would be very expensive in terms of computer operations and communications (telephones, etc.).  The cell tower is vital to city-wide communications.  Could a temporary tower be installed elsewhere?
• T. Rosandich indicated that the City owns land at 13^th and Oakwood which was believed to be for the purpose of Fire Station #4 and that almost 40% of the fire calls are within 4 blocks of city hall.  He will ask Chief Satula to attend the next meeting.
• P. DeGrave suggested that a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification be considered for any future building.  We should set the example for other organizations in the community.  Information on LEED certification will be distributed to the committee.
3. F. Siepert, seconded by I. Haase, moved to adjourn this meeting at 7:10 p.m.  All voted aye.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, February 5 at 5:30 p.m.