Committee of the Whole
Regular MeetingOconomowoc, WI · October 20, 2020
Minutes
JOINT COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING
October 20, 2020
Mayor Magnus called the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Members Present: Aldermen Kowieski, Rogers (6:13 pm), Rosek, Zapfel, Ellis, Spiegelberg, Mulder and
Schellpeper
Staff Present: Mayor Magnus, Duffy, Sullivan, Frye, Lam, Timm, Coenen and Dehnert
Others Present: Atty Riffle and Chief Bowen
Blaska called the Community Development Authority meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Members Present: Chairman Blaska, Magnus, and Manke
Members Excused: Mooney, Carlson and Kozinski
Discussion/Presentation: Olympia Fields Update – Wangard Partners: Duffy reported he has been working
with the property owner, Wangard Partners, on the proposed Olympia Fields project. Matt Moroney of Wangard
explained the benefits, challenges and opportunities of the property and provided a history of Wangard’s
involvement and the City’s most recent actions on the parcel. He showed plans for new infrastructure and focused
on three main areas: 1) a new roundabout at the entrance into the development; 2) the connection with Regent
Road; and 3) bike trails around the property. He considers the whole area blighted along with the pond. The
southern half of the development will consist of new retail (in place of the Kmart which will be demolished) and
some existing stores. Moroney showed pictures of proposed retail shops, noting the development was designed to
be a community within a community. They expect to create jobs, need financial assistance with demolition costs
and installation of appropriate infrastructure, and want problem solving assistance, open communication and a
partnership with the City. Council questioned if there was going to be housing for various life stages; will it connect
to the bike path; will the architecture be cohesive between the buildings; is retail realistic at this point; how long
will the project take; and why financial assistance for the developer at the expense of the taxpayer. Moroney
explained there will be 180 luxury units for workforce housing; connection to the bike path through an easement;
retail facades will be different but the rest of the development will be cohesive; having a plan for retail will create
certainty in a project; this is a desirable location and 5 different financial groups are working with Wangard; the
hotel will be demolished first, then they plan to start the multi-family housing right away followed by marketing the
area by the former Kmart; they must have approvals by the City before they can start marketing; and they did their
due diligence and their plan has been to ask for financial assistance because the property is blighted. CDA
members questioned if the residential units will be multi-story or single, and Moroney explained most of the
residential will be one-story single-family homes. Council also commented this has a similar feeling to other
projects in the City; happy to see development here but concerned if it is really viable; trying to understand logic
on retail as most are changing and there is a higher demand for drive-thru’ s and outdoor seating; starting with
residential makes sense and gives the rest time to catch up to determine where retail will go; and thinks the
roundabout should be on HWY 67. Moroney clarified the WDOT determines where the roundabout is to be located
and the other option is a traffic signal which he believes will cause issues. Riffle noted updated infrastructure
benefits the area to the west and there is very little risk to the City on this project. Motion by Kowieski for the
COTW to go into Closed Session; second by Ellis. Motion carried 8-0. Motion by Blaska for the CDA to go into
Closed Session; second by Manke. Motion carried 3-0. Closed Session commenced at 6:54 pm.
Chris Dehnert, Deputy City Clerk
S:\Committees - Commissions\Community Development Authority\Minutes\2020\10-20-20 Jt COTW-CDA.doc
Agenda
City of Oconomowoc
Joint Committee-Of-The-Whole
and
Committee Development Authority
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 - 6:00 PM
City Hall - Council Chambers
(or immediately following Finance Committee)
Notice: If a person with a disability requires that the meeting be accessible or that materials at the
meeting be in accessible format, call the City Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to request
adequate accommodations. Tel: 569-2186.
1. Call to order and confirmation of appropriate meeting notification
2. Committee Business
a. Discussion/Presentation: Olympia Fields Update - Wangard Partners
b. Closed Session:
Per Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(e) “Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties,
the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever
competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. (Redevelopment Plan, Blight
Determination & Potential Tax Incremental Financing for Olympia Area)
3. Adjourn
________________________________
Diane Coenen, City Clerk
City of Oconomowoc
Notice is hereby given that a majority of the Common Council will be present at the above scheduled meeting to gather information
about a subject over which they have decision-making responsibility. This constitutes a meeting of the Common Council pursuant to
State ex rel. Badke v. Greendale Village Board, 173Wis. 2d 553, 494 N.W. 2d 408 (1993) and must be noticed as such, although the
Common Council will not take any formal action at this meeting.
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MEMORANDUM
Date: October 12, 2020
To: Committee of the Whole
Community Development Authority
From: Bob Duffy, Economic Development
Laurie Sullivan, Finance Director
Re: Olympia Fields Redevelopment Update
RELATES TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Goal: Strategic Goal- III Focus on Economic Development
A. Research and Plan for Development
11. Promote Development of the Olympia Resort Area
BACKGROUND
City Staff has continued our public/private partnership efforts to promote and encourage development and
investment opportunities for the 50 acres controlled by Wangard Partners. Wanted to bring both the CDA and
Committee-of-the Whole together jointly to allow Wangard Partners the opportunity to share an update on their
development plans progress.
When authorized and empowered, the CDA is the body to identify, and plan for blighted areas in need of blight
elimination and carry out urban renewal projects as described in ss. 66.1333(6)(b). The City Council by resolution
on September 15th, authorized City Staff to take the next steps in preparing documents necessary to establish
boundaries, develop a redevelopment plan, and establish the area as blighted.
It is our intent to also have a Closed Session with the two bodies to share the status of the necessary documents
should the City consider the potential acquisition of property to accommodate utility and roadway infrastructure.
In addition, City Staff has been working with Ehlers in structuring a Tax incremental Financing District plan for the
implementation of infrastructure and the capture of development increment to cover those costs through the life
of the district. It is our intent to have Ehlers share the financial structure to allow this opportunity to move forward.
Since both the CDA and City Council are involved in these process, wanted to share the information collectively, and
gain consensus and understanding of the potential next steps if there is interest in moving forward.
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