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HomeMy WebLinkAboutnewsletter DATE: June 5, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager SUBJECT: Weekly Newsletter 1. MINI MURAL PROJECT: The Public Arts and Beautification Committee would like to announce the upcoming public arts initiative happening in downtown Oshkosh. The mini mural project is an art installation that will be located on a 20 exterior walls on private properties in downtown Oshkosh. 20 pieces of art will be displayed that were created by local artists. With the permission of the property owner, vinyl printed sheets will be adhered to the approved walls. The original work of local artists will be digitally printed onto vinyl sheets displaying their work. The vinyl material is durable, weather resistant and can be easily removed, if needed, without damaging the wall surface. We will be using a high end material designed for clean removal from surfaces. The Public Arts and Beautification Committee has partnered with Art City Wraps to install the art free of cost to property owners. Mimicking a gallery experience, the works of art will be displayed at eye level with a separate plaque denoting the artist’s information. This project is organized by a group of partners including Art City Wraps, Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. The following states the project goals:  Goal 1: Introduce more art into downtown Oshkosh.  Goal 2: Create an opportunity for local artists to showcase their work.  Goal 3: Increase visits to downtown Oshkosh. June 6, 2020 is the launch date where the art will be available for public view. Property owners have been approached with the request of volunteering their exterior walls for the uses of this project. It is free to property owners, but they must agree to leave the art up for a minimum of three years. Please contact me, Alexa Naudziunas, at (920) 236-5126 or anaudziunas@ci.oshkosh.wi.us if you have any questions. Follow the link below to view the project website: https://www.visitoshkosh.com/mini-mural-project/. 2. DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH SEAGULL MITIGATION: The Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District (BID) has contracted with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services (USDA) to alleviate the growing population of Herring Gulls nesting on the rooftops of downtown businesses. The gulls have caused damage to property, leave City Manager • Mark A. Rohloff City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 920.236.5002 http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us feces/feathers/carcasses, and can show aggressive behavior towards the public. Herring gulls are classified as a migratory bird species and are protected by federal and state laws. This requires permitting from the USDA and following approved management methods that allow destruction of nests, removal or oiling of eggs, relocation of chicks and installation of deterrent devices. The USDA began their efforts in early May and have completed two sweeps focusing on buildings east and west of N. Main Street from the Fox River to Parkway Avenue. The following is a list of completed actions:  Convention Center/Hotel = 9 nests/50 eggs  200 Block – State Street = 3 nest/7 eggs/1 chick (found on the sidewalk)  200 Block – Main Street (East side) = 18 nests/88 eggs  300 Block – State Street = 1 nest/5 eggs  300 Block – Main Street (East side) = 6 nests/29 eggs/5 chicks  400 Block – Main Street (East side) = 0  500 Block – Main Street (East side) = 1 nest/5 eggs  500 Block – Main Street (West side) = 0  400 Block – Main Street (West side) = 1 nest/6 eggs  Division Street Block = 0  Algoma/Market Street Block = 1 nest/3 eggs  High/Market Street Block = 0  BMO Harris = 5 nests/26 eggs  200 Block – Main Street (West side) = 44 nests/190 eggs/20 chicks Totals = 88 nests/411 eggs/26 chicks Initial feedback from business/property owners and residents has been overwhelmingly positive with a very noticeable decrease in the gull population. This is intended to be a multi- year project and the BID will continue to contract with the USDA until the gull presence is no longer a public nuisance. If you have any questions, please contact Associate Planner Jeffrey Nau. 3. OSHKOSH PUBLIC LIBRARY UPDATES PLANS FOR SERVICE EXPANSION: The Oshkosh Public Library has developed a phased-in approach to expanding library services, using public health data to determine when increased levels of service can be offered in a way that is safe for the community and library staff. At this time, the library building remains closed to the public. Curbside pickup of library materials continues and staff is available to answer questions via phone, email and chat during regular library hours. A full menu of online resources for reading, learning and entertainment is available at https://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/. “Our plan is to implement a phased expansion of services, based on data tracked in the state’s Badger Bounce Back Plan,” Library Director Gilderson-Duwe said. “When public health data City Manager • Mark A. Rohloff City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 920.236.5002 http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us for our state shows a significant and sustained downward trend in COVID-19 cases, we will begin to offer limited services, with an emphasis on helping people who are recovering from the impact of COVID-19.” Guided by recommendations from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control, the library is doing intensive cleaning, ordering supplies and reconfiguring public spaces and work areas to accommodate social distancing. Updates will be shared on the library website, on social media and via the eNewsletter. Call the library during regular hours at (920)-236-5203 Public Services; (920)236-5205 Information Services; and (920)236-5208 Children’s & Family Outreach. 4. COVID-19 RESOURCE LINKS AND INFORMATION: o Citizen Covid-19 Information Site: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/covid19.aspx. o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/ o Wisconsin Department of Health Services: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ o Winnebago County Public Health Department: https://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/health/divisions-program- areas/communicable-disease/covid-19-coronavirus/wchd-covid-19-situation 5. ATTACHED REPORTS & UPDATES: The weekly Museum Board Memo, the Transit Advisory Board agenda for the June 17th meeting, and a copy of a letter received from USPS is response to the undelivered ballots. 6. MEETING MINUTES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: All meeting minutes are uploaded to the website upon approval. Please follow the link below for the most updated information & meeting minutes: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/BoardsAndCommissions 7. UPCOMING MEETINGS: On Monday at 8:30 AM I will be meeting with Mayor Palmeri to go over Tuesday’s agenda. At 10:30 AM I will be meeting with facilities staff to discuss logistics for Tuesday’s council meeting. The week of June 8th begins the annual CIP process with department heads. Therefore the remainder of the week I will be meeting with departmental staff regarding their proposed 2021-25 CIP projects. If you have any questions about my schedule, please contact me.