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HomeMy WebLinkAboutnewsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: July 22, 2022 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. PARKS DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS RELOCATION: In preparation for the new Parks Administration and Operations Building construction to begin, the Parks Department office will be closed on Wednesday, August 10 so office operations can be relocated to the Water Distribution building at 757 W. 3rd Ave. The Parks Director Maurer and Administrative Assistant Stacy James will operate out of the Water Distribution building throughout the construction project that is anticipated to last 12-13 months. Assistant Parks Director Chad Dallman, Landscape Operations Manager Travis Derks and field staff will relocate to the balcony area in the Public Works Field Operations Facility at 639 Witzel Ave. The main office phone number for the Parks Department will remain the same (920)236-5080. If you have any questions, please contact Ray Maurer, Parks Director. 2. STARTING WITH A BANG: July started off with a great BANG on July 4th with a very successful Festival Foods Fireworks display at Menominee Park. Despite the wavering weather for day time activities at the park, it pulled through and provided a great experience for spectators to relax, visit food trucks and nestle in for the spectacular show by evening. We appreciate the continued support of Festival Foods. If you took a different view of holiday activities, we hope you have taken the time for a walk along the Riverwalk to see the completed gazebo at Riverside Park and new lights and bollards along the recently completed Pioneer Road section. If you have questions regarding activities in parks, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director, at (920) 236- 5080. 3. TIME FLIES WHEN WE YOU’RE HAVING FUN: It is a busy time at the City of Oshkosh Parks Department with lots of events and activities going on at many different facilities. In the zoo you can join us daily for programming that is put on by the Zoo Education Coordinator and interns. You can find the schedule posted each week on the City of Oshkosh Parks Department Facebook page. On Wednesdays at the Menominee Park Zoo, we bring in programs for our Wildlife Wednesday’s from outside sources, which are always a big hit! If you have questions regarding the programs or zoo operations, please contact Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, at (920) 232- 5319. 4. FREE SUMMER CONCERTS CONTINUE: Tuesday Night Concert Series at the Leach Amphitheater and Brews on the Bay at Menominee Park are in full swing! These free concerts alternate so each week you have the opportunity to gather up the family, get some good food from our food trucks, take part in family-friendly activities and watch a FREE concert. We would love to see you at some of these great outdoor family events. For dates and details please visit our Oshkosh Parks Department Facebook page for details. If you have questions regarding these free, family-friendly events, please contact Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, at (920) 232-5319. 5. BE ON THE LOOKOUT: Adult Japanese beetles have emerged from the ground and can be seen feeding on the leaves, flowers and fruit of over 300 different species of plants. A few of their preferred plants include rose, grape, linden, apple, crabapple, cherry, plum, raspberry, and soybean. They feed on the tissues of the leaves leaving the veins and giving it a lacy, skeletonized appearance. Most of this damage is aesthetic and mature plants will be able to survive a couple of seasons, though for young or struggling plants it may be deadly. The larva of the Japanese beetle are destructive as well. They winter as a white grub in the ground and feed on turf grass roots. If you would like more information below is a link to the USDA Homeowners handbook to managing Japanese beetle. If you have questions regarding city trees, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/jb/downloads/JBhandbook.pdf 6. YOUR DIGITAL LITERACY I.Q. MATTERS: Everything we do usually involves being able to use a computer or other digital devices. Imagine your frustration level if you are not that computer savvy – banking, healthcare, shopping, communicating with family, and even operating your smart TV could be challenging or impossible. For the last two years, the Oshkosh Seniors Center has offered personalized technology training for adults aged 50 and older. People can bring their computer, tablet, or phone and meet with an instructor to get any of their questions answered. In addition to the one-on-one instruction, we hold a group class to explore ways older adults can Connect through Tech! Bader Philanthropies, Inc. is currently funding the program. The program results reflect the needs of community seniors. Our current attendance has reached 2,828 visits to sessions and classes, and we have served 518 individuals. The average number of visits to the program is 5.6 times. Digital literacy is emerging as a basic need. It is a person’s connection to the modern world. Lacking the ability to use digital technologies means that there are many things you cannot do or access. The Seniors Center is helping break down the barriers that affect a person’s quality of life. If you are interested in finding more information about the Seniors Center, please call Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, at (920) 232-5300. 7. CITY EMPLOYEE SELECTED AS A FESTIVAL JUDGE: After a 3 year hiatus, the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA) Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards are once again being hosted. This is an opportunity for Cities, Chambers of Commerce, Parks & Recreation Departments, Vendors & Suppliers, Universities and more to be internationally recognized by their peers for their outstanding efforts in the festival and events industry. In addition to 73 Pinnacle Categories, entries are divided into four budget categories to ensure like-sized festivals and events compete fairly. Through her participation in the IFEA Affinity groups, our own Special Events Coordinator, Kathy Snell, will be one of 21 judges for this year’s Pinnacle Awards. Her role is to review all of the entries in categories assigned to her to determine a Gold, Silver, and Bronze award winner. Entries have been submitted from across the globe! She is honored to have been invited to be a part of a panel of judges made up of IFEA industry leaders and peers. The IFEA is a not-for-profit organization, overseen by an independent, international Board of Directors, and represented globally by affiliate regional organizations, each with their own boards and staff representatives. IFEA Affinity groups were borne out of the need for top professionals in the events industry to keep connections, brainstorming and networking going through COVID and have continued as a great resource for IFEA members to connect and share ideas world-wide. If you have questions regarding this group, please contact Kathy Snell, Special Events Coordinator, at (920) 232-5304. 8. AIRVENTURE & MORE: If you haven’t already noticed an increase in plane and vehicular traffic, you soon will. EAA AirVenture will officially begin the last week of July. Did you know…AirVenture is not only a “bunch of cool airplanes and jaw- dropping air shows” but includes a variety of other events, including a Runway 5K, Aviation Job Fair, Veterans Parade, and a four-day GirlVenture Camp introducing young women to the possibilities an aviation career holds. While some may not be as passionate for aviation as others, the night shows on Wednesday and Saturday are sure to impress onlookers with a combination of pyrotechnics and drones! Check out all that AirVenture has to offer at: https://www.eaa.org/airventure. Though many locals feel that once AirVenture is over the summer is coming to an end, that is just not true for events here in Oshkosh. You can experience live music every Thursday at Waterfest, Tuesdays at the Live at the Leach concert series, and Wednesdays at Menominee Park for Brews on the Bay! Food Truck Friday will return on August 19th with over a dozen food trucks and Oshkosh Jazz Festival will return for the second year on Main Street on August 27th. And that’s not all…fishing tournaments, bike races and rides, and so much more are also happening right here in Oshkosh! For 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. CITY MANAGER’S TOP WEEKLY READS: please find below links to news articles that may be relevant to us.  A “TUF” Dilemma Over Local Transportation Funding: https://wispolicyforum.org/wp- content/uploads/2022/07/Focus_22_14_TransportationUsageFees.pdf 10. ATTACHMENT:  OPL’s June Highlights 11. 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/. 12. 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 13. LOOKING AHEAD: Among the meetings I have scheduled for the week of July 25 include: On Monday at 7:30 AM I will be meeting with Mayor Palmeri to discuss Tuesday’s agenda. At 8:00 AM on Tuesday I will be attending the Joint Review Board meeting. At 9:30 AM I will be meeting with staff to prepare for Tuesdays closed session. If you have any questions about my schedule, please contact me.