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Portage commission authorizes CNG negotiations with Ozinga, advances design and title work for Promenade West
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Summary
Commission authorized the mayor to negotiate a public–private CNG fueling station agreement with Ozinga, approved a DLZ design agreement for relocated youth baseball fields, and approved up to $15,000 for title searches on Promenade West parcels.
At its April 23 meeting the Portage Redevelopment Commission authorized the mayor to negotiate and sign an agreement to pursue a public–private compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station with Ozinga and advanced several related development and real-estate steps.
Chair (S1) described two site options Ozinga proposed — near the street department on Hamstrom Road or on city-owned property on Route 12 — and asked for authority to negotiate terms. The commission approved a motion authorizing the mayor to negotiate and sign on behalf of the commission by voice vote. Chair argued a public–private approach would shift construction costs from the city to the private partner, saying the arrangement "takes the cost essentially off the city" provided negotiating terms are satisfactory (S1).
Other decisions: the commission approved a professional services agreement with DLZ to produce 30% design and construction estimate documents to support relocating downtown youth baseball fields from the Promenade West area. Staff also requested and the commission approved a worst-case authorization not to exceed $15,000 to obtain title searches for roughly 27 parcels associated with the Promenade West/Portage Mall area; staff said they expected the actual cost to be lower, possibly around $5,000, but requested the higher amount as a contingency to cover complex chain-of-title work.
Real-estate motions: the commission also authorized execution of the annual Ewing Farm lease (total payment this year recorded as $2,599), approved $3,800 for two appraisals on the Garrington School parcel contingent on legal review, and authorized staff to complete and list two new commercial lots in the Old Porter Road subdivision with an estimated potential revenue of roughly $180,000–$200,000 for the commission.
Next steps: staff will begin negotiations with Ozinga and return with proposed terms; DLZ will proceed with initial designs; staff will coordinate title work and bring results back to the commission for any necessary follow-up approvals.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 415 — topfinish SEG 939.
