a first 100 days v.3

1128 words, a 5 minute and 30 second read

It’s one of those things that doesn’t get said out loud in public very often, but it’s an important conversation and one with many other implications, so I’d like to chat about it…here goes:

It’s harder to build things in Oshkosh than it should be.
It’s harder to build things in Oshkosh than in surrounding areas.

If that’s a sentiment you have never heard before, stop reading and pick up your phone. Call any plumber, electrician, contractor, framer, concrete worker, mason, HVAC installer, roofer, architect, engineer, or property owner who likes to do their own work that you might know…and ask if they think the above 2 statements are truthful.

I’ll wait.

Whether those two statements above are 100% fact is of some importance, but ultimately not as important as the perception of the folks you asked. Over the past couple of months, I have asked heaps of folks those same questions, and some do not believe the above are the case (though the majority absolutely do). Typically those who doubt it are involved in the city side of the operations to some degree, and I counter by asking the following (and you can do the same if you want to call your friends involved in those industries above again and ask a follow up):

If a contractor has a tougher time doing their work in your city, do they reach out to the city to ask why?

Everyone I spoke to said ‘no’. Those contractors want to continue to do work, and when they do, will have to go through the same processes again. So…nobody says much (except to each other and to their friends…like you and I…and THAT matters a lot…more on that in a sec).

Ultimately, whether the issue is functional or perceived does not matter much. I am convinced that the perception of the above is very real, and that is something we should discuss out loud (and maybe loudly) for a bit…candidly…no matter who shows up (get it? Say it out loud 3 times like beetlejuice, beetlejuice…beetle (you get it!)….)


(I really am trying to keep these newsletters sort of short, so if you’d like to hear more about my personal experiences physically building a few businesses in Osh, and working on some community projects, email me and ask about Becket’s Occupancy Permit, or Downtown Oshkosh overhead lights or blade signs. It’s a lot to type here, and recounting those stories will certainly raise my blood pressure…but will be happy to share some of my own experiences and focus on results here (highlighted links above already have subject lines in place ;) ) . )


One illustrative story that does not involve me:

At the restaurant I get to know lots of folks who are in town for shorter periods of time doing work. Last year, a fella came to lunch fairly often while he was here working on a multi-million dollar buildout as the super for a construction company that he’d been with for a couple decades. This was his first time running a project in Oshkosh. When he wrapped up, he stopped in for lunch and I asked how it all went. He said that this was hands down the hardest place he had ever had to work, that at every step there were other new hoops to jump though, and that he hoped he would not have to come back.

Now I do not know the specifics of what was tough for that project…but I DO know he will tell his company that same thing, and that they will not mention it to the City (for reasons above). But that they likely WILL mention it the next time a prospective client asks them about building something in Oshkosh.

Perceptions in these sorts of things are reality, and those realities hurt growth and prevent folks from making fun new things happen in your city, which ultimately impacts YOUR taxes, etc etc etc.

SO…I do think it’s important to have the tough conversation above.
AND (go figure) I have a few thoughts on things that could be implemented to improve both processes and perceptions.


so what do we do?

  • CODE AUDIT: Municipal building, use, sign & more ordinances need to be reviewed from time to time. Safety is important, as are the other items those sorts of things govern. Cities tend to add to their code in order to facilitate new things, but rarely (though they should) take a comprehensive look at how all codes work together toward a greater plan (or where they do not). I have not been able to get an answer as to whether or when this was done last in your city. It is not a lengthy or very expensive proposition and one that all cities should consider when promoting growth and implementing good practices. Here’s a good short description of what an audit does and why. And here’s a longer article describing the processes and reasoning. This link is from the firm that does lots of the development advising for the city already, and they have a great description as well (and I am certain they would do a GREAT job here, as they are already familiar with your city…hint hint).

    If elected, I will work as quickly as possible to start the process of auditing your code in Oshkosh. I believe that there are huge benefits to be found in evaluating our working documents, and also that the process will serve as a great demonstration that we CAN make proactive changes when needed to move things in a forward direction.

  • EMPOWER STAFF TO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS: The comments I heard most from developers on doing work in Oshkosh is that they would like to feel like they are working WITH the city and it’s departments. A spirit of cooperation rather than just enforcement would go a long way. Finding a way to say ‘yes’ more easily when new ideas come forward, and concise notice of what will and will not be possible in advance rather than at the last second would be beneficial.

  • ACTION: We’re good at asking questions. A comprehensive housing study wrapped up a few years ago, there’s a new Downtown Plan coming shortly. Hopefully the 2 points above will make acting on the information we gain with studies easier. For example, we should be able to incentivize and streamline the process for this wishing to build the types of housing our study says we need (more thoughts on that here). At times it feels like we put in the study work, and then put those books on the shelf instead of doing what they say. (LOTS more thoughts on housing coming soon…stay tuned to this page)

  • KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT: This is a big and important subject, and one that everybody should feel comfortable discussing. Nobody is to blame for the perceptions of what it’s like to develop projects on Oshkosh, but we can all help to make it better by having frank and open conversations about it. Like the other subjects I’ve been discussing, practice makes perfect, and the more we do the better we’ll be.

big subject this one! thanks for reading, and all comments welcome below as always. (click the button!)

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housing. part 1

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a first 100 days v.2