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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.03.22 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: June 3, 2022 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. TINY HOMES VILLAGE UPDATE: Last week city staff met with Tiny Home Village representatives and discussed their proposed project on W. Packer Avenue. Oshkosh Kid’s Foundation and their partners have continued to work with city Police, Fire, and Community Development staff on their 31-unit Tiny Home Village that will house homeless families in our community. The Oshkosh Kid’s Foundation and their team have implemented multiple site design improvements that city staff has requested and have had constructive dialogue with city protective services regarding the on-site programming that Oshkosh Kid’s Foundation and their partners will offer to tenants. The Plan Commission will review the rezoning, GDP, and SIP applications on Tuesday, June 7 and Council will consider Plan Commission’s recommendation at the June 14 meeting. The applicant is requesting that the second reading for the rezoning be waived by Council on June 14 and approved at the same time as the GDP and SIP. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Community Development Kelly Nieforth. 2. HELP US HELP YOU: The Parks Department staff has been busy getting the parks ready for the summer season. However this spring since opening facilities on April 16th, the park restrooms at various locations have experienced significant vandalism which has added to many repairs from various city departments to ensure the facilities remain functional and safe for public use. We are asking for help from residents to keep an eye out for suspicious activity in the parks and contact the Police Department non-emergency number at 920-236-5700. Additionally, as you get around the community, plan to visit Riverside Park as the gazebo installation is nearing completion. This will be a nice addition to the park for public use and events at the Convention Center. This is a project that was funded by a request from the River East Neighborhood Association through the Great Neighborhoods Program. If you have any questions regarding park facilities, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director, at (920) 236-5080. 3. EVENTS HOSTED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT: The LIVE at the Leach Concert Series sponsored by Verve a Credit Union will kick off on Tuesday, June 7th at 6pm. Gates will open at 5:30pm for the public to come down for some family entertainment and to grab a bite to eat at a food truck. These concerts will take place every other Tuesday night until August 16th. There will be plenty of fun for the children to enjoy as well with the return of our face painter and the bounce house. Brews on the Bay events will return on Wednesdays throughout the summer as well. These events will begin on Wednesday, June 15th and will run every other Wednesday throughout the summer until September 14th, 2022. Come on down and enjoy some LIVE music, food trucks as well as some tasty beers from our local breweries. We hope to see you out in the parks this summer! If you have any questions regarding these events, please contact Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, at (920) 232-5319. 4. TIS THE SEASON FOR PLANTING: The Landscape Operations Division has been very busy planting the flower pots and flower beds around the City, installing memorial trees throughout the park system, and preparing the grounds at Riverside Cemetery for the processional and ceremony that took place on Memorial Day. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 5. SUPPORT THE SENIORS CENTER: The Friends of the Oshkosh Seniors Center is a group of community volunteers that commits to fundraising for the Oshkosh Seniors Center. Recently they sponsored a shared event at the Center that raised funds and provided a service to Center participants. The event raised $750 and resulted in over 270 pounds of food donated to a local food bank. The Friends largest fundraiser of the season is just around the corner. This summer, Food Truck Fridays in South Park has two dates, June 17 and August 19. Please support the Friends and the Oshkosh Seniors Center by attending the Food Truck Friday events. It's the most effortless support you'll ever give! Spend a summer evening in South Park while you enjoy the live entertainment of Kitty Corona and Got Wisco! There is plenty of ice-cold beverages and your choice of tasty food from a variety of food trucks. We encourage you to check out the Center's online newsletter at: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/SeniorServices/Newsletters/May2022.pdf The Oshkosh Seniors Center enriches the lives of thousands of older adults from our community. If you are interested in finding more information about the Center and what we can do to help you age well, please call Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, at (920) 232-5300. 6. A COMMUNICATION BLITZ: Recently the Parks Department was facing a seasonal employee shortage that could have resulted in limited hours at some of the city’s most popular attractions. But, newspaper articles, social media posts, and a flyer in utility mailings were instrumental in a wave of new applicants and the hiring of enough staff to open the facilities as planned. The Parks Department continues to ask the community to spread the word about the remaining open positions that may be found here; https://bit.ly/OshkoshEmployment The good news is the all-out community effort has helped us sufficiently staff so we can deliver summer fun. Pollock Community Waterpark opens June 8 and the Menominee Park Children’s Amusements Center opened for the season on May 28, 2022. Operating hours for the Amusements Center are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 7pm. If you have additional questions, please contact Jenny McCollian, Revenue and Facilities Manager, at (920) 232-5319. 7. FESTIVITIES FOOD & FUN: Saturday, June 4 will kick off the Oshkosh Downtown Farmers Market. Named as one the best Farmers Markets in the state by “Best Things in Wisconsin”, the market will once again be hosted on Saturday mornings through the end of October. Be sure to stop and pick up your meats, cheeses, veggies, flowers and more! Another recurring event that will kick off on June 9th will be the Waterfest concert series hosted at the Leach Amphitheater on Thursdays. Featuring the Vic Ferrari Farewell Tour, Hairball and the Beach Boys to name few. Check out the Waterfest.org website for a complete lineup and pricing details. For more information of 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. 8. SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: Make the Library part of your summer to remember by joining the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge! Registration starts June 1. Register at: https://oshkoshpubliclibrary.beanstack.org/reader365 you can use the handy Beanstack app or pick up a paper reading tracker at the library. The program runs through Aug. 13. Throughout the summer readers can unlock virtual badges, receive reading recommendations, write reviews and earn prizes. Help us achieve our community reading goal of 1 million minutes! This year’s Kickoff Event is at Menominee Park on June 3 from 2 – 6 p.m. Kids ages 3 – 17 who sign up for the program at the event will earn a free day pass to Pollock Community Waterpark (while supplies last). A new Storywalk® will be on display for young children and their grownups to read together. Adults and teens can enter raffles for gift cards to Marcus Theatre, Starbucks and Downtown Oshkosh. Get more details and check out our full schedule of summer programs and events at: https://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/ 9. REMINDER - JACKSON/OREGON STREET BRIDGE INPUT MEETING: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) Northeast Region is seeking input and a recommendation for the Jackson/Oregon Street Bridge Project from the City of Oshkosh Common Council. WDOT will have a staff member present at the June 14, 2022 Common Council meeting to answer any questions that the Common Council may have. There will not be a presentation made at the June 14th meeting. The March 22, 2022 Common Council workshop on this project was recorded by Oshkosh Media and is available for viewing at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8uC7p77UH0 The April 4, 2022 WDOT Public Information Meeting on this project was recorded by Oshkosh Media and is available for viewing at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHG2J_HkkaI&t=11s More information regarding this project may be found on the WDOT project webpage:  https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/ne/oshkoshbr/default.aspx The general public is encouraged to submit comments and recommendations for the Common Council to consider during their discussion and deliberation on June 14th. Please submit those comments no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 8, 2022 to citymgr@ci.oshkosh.wi.us. The general public may also register to speak to this agenda item through the normal speaker registration methods prior to the Common Council meeting on June 14th. If you have additional questions regarding this project, please contact Director of Public Works, James Rabe. 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 12. LOOKING AHEAD: Among the meetings I have scheduled for the week of June 6 include: Beginning at 9:00 AM on Tuesday I will be meeting with various ARPA applicant/representatives to discuss their initial ARPA application. At 1:30 PM I will be meeting with staff and local business owners to discuss the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) proposed pilot program. It is our plan to have this subject on the June 14 agenda for council discussion and direction. I will be out of the office beginning Wednesday afternoon, through Friday, attending the WCMA Summer Conference. If you have any questions about my schedule, please contact me.