HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.18.20 NewsletterCity 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
DATE: September 18, 2020
TO: Honorable Mayor and Common Council
FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager
SUBJECT: Weekly Newsletter
1. JULY DASHBOARD POSTED TO CITY’S WEBSITE: Previously, the Finance Department
reported to City Council regarding the posting of monthly dashboard information. Each
month the Finance Department will post a financial picture of the current revenue and
expenditures. The July information has recently been posted to the website. You can find
the information under the “Government” tab under Budget and Financial Resources. The
dashboard includes a Revenue Variance (YTD), Expense Variance (YTD), and a Detail
Variance Report. To click on the various tabs, there is a ribbon toward the top of the screen.
Please contact Finance Director Russ Van Gompel if you need assistance or you have any
questions.
2. INITIAL SIDEWALK AND DRIVEWAY APPROACH REHAB LETTERS MAILED:
Letters are being sent this week to property owners and residents in 2021’s Sidewalk and
Driveway Approach Rehabilitation area. These letters explain that the City’s Water Utility
staff have completed locating the water curb stops. The Utility marks the curb stops with
blue paint and places a blue “X” on the street or sidewalk to note the location. A City staff
member is walking the program area and is preliminarily marking any defective sidewalk
sections and driveway approaches with fluorescent green paint. Staff will inspect the
sidewalk again in the spring to determine if corrective action is needed for the sidewalk and
driveway approaches. Issues that will require repairs include cracks, raising, settling, or
incorrect cross slope.
Additional information will be mailed to property owners in the spring. The information
will include repair options, the City’s Contractor’s information, and cost estimates. For
reference, the approximate cost to remove and replace a typical 5’ x 5’ section of 4” thick
sidewalk in 2020 was $220. If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Division
Manager / City Engineer, Justin Gierach.
3. SOUTH MAIN STREET RESTRIPING DELAYED: As council is aware, we are planning to
restripe South Main Street between 8th Avenue and South Park Avenue to add parking and
calm traffic as part of the Sawdust District master plan. This will be a short term measure
until the road can be reconstructed in the future. South Main Street is connecting Highway
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45 therefore, Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) support is needed to
proceed with this project. WisDOT has requested an operations analysis of the signalized
intersections that are impacted by this proposed lane configuration change. In consideration
of this, the City has hired KL Engineering Services to help with this analysis. Assuming the
analysis shows minimal traffic impacts, staff plans to bid the line removal and restriping
with a 2021 project. If you have any questions about this, please contact Transportation
Director, Jim Collins.
4. CONSTRUCTION ACCESS AGREEMENTS: The Department of Public Works has mailed
information to property owners on the proposed 2021 street and utility reconstruction
projects. The property owners are being provided a Construction Access Agreement to sign.
The Construction Access Agreement allows the City and its contractors to perform
investigation and construction activities on private property. These activities will include,
but are not limited to, televising of laterals; installation of new or relayed storm, sanitary, or
water laterals; removal and installation of sidewalk and driveways; root pruning; grading
operations; lawn restoration; and installation of sidewalk curb, if necessary. Access onto the
property for investigation allows for more accurate construction plans, reducing costs and
construction time. Access onto the property during construction will also allow for the
installation of new laterals beyond the right-of-way. This will reduce the likelihood of
property owners needing to remove and replace concrete in the right-of-way if they need to
perform work on their private laterals. Property owners on the following streets are being
notified:
Street Reconstruction Projects
Ceape Avenue – Bowen Street to Lake Street
Infrastructure Improvement Projects
Fond du Lac Road – West 28th Avenue to Waukau Avenue
Oregon Street – West 28th Avenue to West Waukau Avenue
Waukau Avenue – Fond du Lac Road to Lake Winnebago
Utility Relay/Installation Projects
Knapp Street – Osborn Avenue to West 18th Avenue
Erie Avenue – Knapp Street to Rugby Street
Florida Avenue – Knapp Street to Sanders Street
Rugby Street – West South Park Avenue to Florida Avenue
Sanders Street – West South Park Avenue to Florida Avenue
If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Engineering Division
Manager / City Engineer Justin Gierach.
5. NEW HISTORY TIMELINE AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT: A display of the long history
and diverse services of the Oshkosh Fire Department will soon grace the entryway of the
Ceape Street Fire Station. The story is drawn from and illustrated through the Oshkosh
Public Museum’s rich collections. The timeline reveals the story of service from the early
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days of volunteer companies, through major changes in the 20th century, to the multi-faceted
department that serves today’s Oshkosh. The narrative and photographs are posted on the
Fire Department’s web site, with some historic images shown for the first time. The chronicle
of service was researched, developed, and written by Museum Registrar Emily Rock, with
graphic work by Museum Designer Daniel Fiser. The display will be installed later this
autumn.
6. A POSITIVE RETURN: With the weather turning a bit cooler the Oshkosh Seniors Center
is planning to cautiously expand indoor programming in October! The phased opening in
August and September was very successful, the Center served nearly 700 visitors in August
alone! Our goal is to keep participants and staff safe while slowly welcoming participants
back to the Center.
In accordance with CDC COVID-19 guidelines we will continue limiting the number of
participants, as well as practice recommended cleaning, and hygiene protocols. Please
understand the situation relating to COVID-19 is fluid and these plans are subject to change.
Here’s what participants can expect to see in October:
Beginning October 5 exercise classes will be moved indoors with a maximum capacity
of 12 persons. Face coverings and physical distancing will be required.
Connect through Tech one-on-one sessions and classroom offerings will be increased.
Nail care through VNA will continue to be offered.
An increase in educational and art program offerings. Class participation limits will
be listed in The Current, the Center’s program newsletter. The newsletter is available
at https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/SeniorServices/
The Oshkosh Seniors Center is a crucial safe haven for older adults in our community to stay
active, stay social, and stay informed. If you are interested in additional information please
contact Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager at 920-232-5300.
7. 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
8. ATTACHED REPORTS & UPDATES: Attached is the weekly Museum Board Memo.
9. 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://onboard.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/.
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10. UPCOMING MEETINGS: The meetings I have scheduled for the week of September 21
include the following: On Monday at 8:30 AM I will be on WOSH radio doing my monthly
interview with Bob Burnell. At 9:00 AM on Tuesday I will be meeting with Mayor Palmeri to
go over the agenda for the evening council meeting. At 3:00 PM I will be attending the
Lakeshore Riverwalk Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. At 7:30 AM on Wednesday I will be meeting
with Mary Ann Dilling of the Oshkosh United Way and Molly Butz of the Day by Day
Warming Shelter to discuss future plans for the shelter. At 9:00 AM on Friday I will be
meeting with Chief Stanley and other community leaders to discuss community risk
reduction/fall prevention. Throughout the week I will also continue to meet with department
heads regarding their 2021 operating budgets. This process should be complete by next
Friday. If you have any questions regarding my schedule, please contact me.