Oshkosh advisory board backs updated fee-in-lieu formula for parkland dedication

The Advisory Parks Board of the City of Oshkosh voted to recommend moving forward with updated fees in lieu of parkland dedication after a consultant presented a revised formula based on current land values.

John Cameron, senior municipal adviser with Ehlers Public Finance Advisors, told the board the city’s current fee schedule — $400 per single‑family lot and $330 per multifamily unit — is based on an ordinance last updated in February 2003. Using January 1, 2024 assessment values provided by city staff, population data from the U.S. Census and the city’s comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, Ehlers calculated a land cost per capita and applied a multiplier to derive new fee levels. Cameron said the recommended fees are $798 per single‑family dwelling unit and $665 per multifamily unit (assuming 2.5 residents per multifamily unit).

Ray (Parks Department staff) said the updated fees would be payable at the time of final plat or building permit as the current ordinance directs, and noted the planning staff intends to include clear code references when they bring zoning code updates forward to the Plan Commission and Common Council.

Board members asked whether the higher fees would deter developers. One board member said the proposed increase “would not make developers not want to work here,” while staff and the consultant said they expect developers to raise concerns but that the fee remains modest relative to overall development costs. The consultant also noted the city’s current dedication requirements were on the low end compared with surveyed peer communities.

The board voted to recommend advancing the revised fee schedule to the Plan Commission and Common Council for further consideration.

The recommendation now goes to the Plan Commission and then to the Common Council for final action; the advisory board’s vote was a recommendation only.