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Home My WebLink Aboutnewsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: January 28, 2022 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. GO TRANSIT HEATED SHELTER: In response to a question brought up at Tuesday’s council meeting, I wanted to provide an update on GO Transit’s heated shelter at the downtown transit center. The heated shelter at the GO Transit downtown transit center was closed and remains closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The shelter is a small enclosed space with very poor ventilation, making it nearly impossible to socially distance. With the FTA mask mandate, we do not have staff to monitor and enforce the mask policy and/or capacity in the shelter. The situation is being continually monitored and the shelter will re-open when it is safe to do so. If you have further questions, please contact Transportation Director, Jim Collins. 2. YOUR VOTE COUNTS: The Spring Primary Election will be held Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Please note that the Voting Districts and Wards within the City of Oshkosh have changed. Every 10 years the County and Municipalities go through redistricting, which adjusts the geographical boundaries of electoral districts to account for shifts in population over time. Please visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to find your voting location (polling place), district and ward, prior to the election – as they have likely changed due Redistricting. In person, early absentee voting will be available at the City Clerk’s Department (Room 108) in City Hall (215 Church Avenue) starting Tuesday, February 1 from 8AM to 4:30PM, Monday through Friday, until Friday, February 11. If you requested an absentee ballot by mail, you should be receiving it shortly. Please call the City Clerk’s Department at 920-236- 5011 with questions. If you would like to help protect democracy, ensure equitable voting access, and serve your local community, please consider becoming an Election Inspector (Poll Worker). Please contact the City Clerk’s Department if you have any questions regarding this paid position. 3. CONGRATULATIONS: The Oshkosh Fire Department is proud to announce the following promotions that took place at the January 4, 2022 Police and Fire Commission:  Lieutenant Mike Bryan to Captain  Equipment Operator CJ Wedell to Lieutenant  Equipment Operator Ryan Koplin to Lieutenant  Equipment Operator Tony Montag to Lieutenant  Equipment Operator Mike Stephens to Lieutenant  Firefighter (FF) Chris Clark to Equipment Operator  Firefighter Joe Dutscheck to Equipment Operator  Firefighter Ben Schoenborn to Equipment Operator  Firefighter Mike Wos to Equipment Operator Congratulations and good luck in your new positions. 4. STILL DREAMING OF WHITE CHRISTMAS: If you haven’t been to White Christmas: The Exhibition at the Oshkosh Public Museum yet, you still have a chance! This fan-favorite will be up for only two more weeks, so don’t miss out! No advanced tickets required, but admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. And don’t forget your donation to Operation Waverly! Items will support the ongoing services of the Day By Day Warming Shelter. Donations brought through February 13th will be entered into a drawing to win two best-selling White Christmas ornaments, handmade by Heather French Henry! Click here to learn more! 5. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: The Parks Department volunteer recruitment has started off successfully in 2022 with all but two volunteer positions filled through the month of April. We can’t thank our community enough for their support of these fun, family- friendly events. Volunteers truly help us to make these events successful while allowing us to keep admission fees at a reasonable cost (or FREE for most of our department events). If you want to learn more about volunteering at Oshkosh Park Department events contact Kathy Snell, Special Events Coordinator, at (920) 232-5304. 6. LANDSCAPE WORK BEGINS ON SCHEDULE: The Landscape Operations Division is currently working on terrace tree pruning work pursuant to the 2022 pruning schedule. Work is taking place north of E. Irving Avenue and east of Broad Street to Lake Winnebago together with all areas north of E. Murdock Avenue. Arborists also continue to work on removing Emerald Ash Borer affected trees in several public areas. If you have any questions regarding the pruning schedule or tree removal please call Bill Sturm, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 7. WE’RE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL: Back to fundraising school that is… The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Community Impact Grants Committee awarded the Oshkosh Seniors Center and the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center a grant to participate in the Foundation sponsored “No More Duct Tape Fundraising School.” During this 6-month virtual learning program, which will start in January 2022, participants will have the support of fundraising experts to create or refine their:  Online fundraising technology plan  Case for support to inspire donors/foundations to give  Monthly giving program to raise recurring gifts  Board engagement plan to get board members fundraising  Virtual event/peer to peer fundraising project to raise $10k  12-month fundraising plan We are excited to be part of this skill-building opportunity. For 36 years, the Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center has been a valued partner of the Center. They have raised millions of dollars to support our mission of enriching the lives of older adults in our community. If you are interested in finding more information about the Center and our Friends group, please contact Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, at 920-232-5300. 8. THE 2022 SPECIAL EVENT YEAR BEGINS: Throughout the pandemic, event organizers have continually monitored their local situations and adapted as needed to host their events. Here’s a taste of things to come:  This year’s Memorial Day Procession will have a new staging area, starting location, and route due to the closure of Algoma Blvd. Stay tuned to the Oshkosh Media sites for more information.  Don’t miss the Otter Street Fishing Club Fisheree and Pond Hockey Nationals on February 5. Participate with your pond hockey team or come out and watch this unique sport on Millers Bay or get your ticket and register your catch of the day. Warm up in the heated tent and grab yourself lunch or dinner.  Sign up to “plunge” or just watch your friends and community members plunge for Special Olympics at the Polar Plunge on February 11 & 12. Again a warm tent, food and entertainment will be available for ALL to enjoy!  Complete your February adventures with some ice fishing at Battle on Bago. This two day fishing event is the largest in the Midwest and boosts over $275,000 in prizes awarded at random. Didn’t catch the biggest fish – no problem! Stick around under the heated tent and enjoy live entertainment, food and fun before finding out if you’re lucky #1! For more information on these and other exciting events coming soon, check out the Visit Oshkosh website at: https://visitoshkosh.com/ or contact Kathy Snell, Special Events Coordinator, at (920)232-5304. 9. REPORTS ATTACHMENTS UPDATES AND LINKS:  Oshkosh Public Library - January Highlights 10. 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/. 11. COVID-19 RESOURCE LINKS AND INFORMATION:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/  Wisconsin Department of Health Services: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/  Winnebago County Public Health Department: https://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/health/divisions-program-areas/communicable- disease/covid-19-coronavirus/wchd-covid-19-situation 12. LOOKING AHEAD: Among the meetings I have scheduled for the week of January 31 include the following: On Tuesday and Wednesday at 2:00 PM I will be meeting with potential Strategic Planning facilitators. At 10:30 AM on Thursday I will be meeting with county and city staff to discuss the Sawyer Creek Floodplain. On Friday I will be out of the office attending a meeting of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities’ Board in Stevens Point. If you have any questions about my schedule, please contact me.