Oshkosh council hires Matrix Consulting to review inspection, permitting and fee processes

The Oshkosh Common Council on Feb. 11 approved a professional services agreement with Matrix Consulting Group to perform a review of the city's inspection, code enforcement, permitting and fee processes.

Council members and staff said the review is intended to identify inefficiencies and clarify when inspectors must respond to citizen complaints, after council members raised concerns that the complaint app SeeClickFix (also referred to as Connect Oshkosh) and other reporting channels are generating work that may not be the best use of inspectors' time.

Council Member Larson said the review was overdue. “I support this completely. I think it's always good to review our codes, our processes,” Larson said during debate. Kelly, a city staff member involved in inspections and permitting, told the council that staff treats “every complaint equally” and that the review should produce guidance for whether and when inspectors should be dispatched. Interim City Manager Fitzpatrick and other council members said a third-party audit would also help determine whether some reports are better handled in other ways and whether the city faces liability risks for not investigating certain complaints.

The contract authorizes Matrix Consulting Group to examine inspection procedures, permitting workflows, fee structures and related staffing practices. Council members said the audit will include opportunities for council input and at least two presentations to the council while the work is underway. Council discussion also noted a timing inconsistency in documents: a staff memo states a July 2025 target for draft findings while the contract statement of work lists August 2025 as the completion month; staff said they would clarify the schedule with Matrix.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25.6 — Professional services agreement with Matrix Consulting Group to review inspection codes, permits and fees: approved, roll-call vote 5–0. - Ordinance 02/1957 — Amend municipal code for weed cutting, lawn care and native landscaping areas: approved, roll-call vote 5–0. - Ordinance 205508 / plan development overlay at 536 Bayshore Drive: zone change and related approvals approved, roll-call vote 5–0. - Resolution 25.59 — General development plan and implementation plan for personal and professional service use at 536 Bayshore Drive: approved, roll-call vote 5–0. - Resolution 25.61 — Combination Class B beer and liquor license (reserve 1) to El Camadero Mexican Grill: approved, roll-call vote 5–0. - Consent-item contract — Agreement with Ramble Americas for an investigation of the Seventh Avenue culvert/project: approved as part of the consent agenda, roll-call vote 5–0.

Council members and staff said they expect the Matrix report to include recommended changes to complaint intake and triage, clearer definitions of matters requiring inspector site visits, and recommendations to reduce what some council members described as “mission creep” in inspections workloads. Staff said they will schedule presentations of interim and final findings for council review.