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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.24.23 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: February 24, 2023 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CLOSING THE “DARK STORE LOOPHOLE”: The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently issued a decision regarding property valuations for “big box stores”. For nearly a decade, big box retailers have used nearby empty or distressed stores’ valuations to argue that active properties should be valued the same. While municipalities are being forced to accept a lower property value for these properties, the tax burden ultimately gets shifted to home owners and small businesses. In the process, local municipalities have carried the load of unnecessary litigation and/or loss of lawful revenue. With the recent Supreme Court decision, big box retailers must pay taxes on the assessed value on their active properties. They can still seek a reduced value on those properties, but there is now legal precedent against their dark store claim. This is a win for fairness, and will ultimately have a favorable impact on residential property owners’ future tax bills. 2. CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN:  Wisconsin Street Reconstruction: The City of Oshkosh would like to notify residents that construction on one (1) of the 2023 street reconstruction projects is beginning. The general contractor for the Wisconsin Street Reconstruction Project is Advance Construction, Inc. (Advance). Advance plans to mobilize equipment the week of February 27th and begin construction the week of March 6th. The purpose of this Project is to reconstruct Wisconsin Street, from West New York Avenue to West Bent Avenue. Sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, and corresponding laterals will be installed, replaced, or repaired, as needed, and electrical work will be completed prior to placing new concrete pavement. If you wish to sign up for e-mailed construction updates for Contract 23-01, please send a blank e-mail to contract2301-subscribe@lists.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. You will receive an e-mail stating your subscription request has been received. You must reply to the message within five (5) days to complete the subscription.  East 9th Avenue Reconstruction: The City of Oshkosh would like to notify residents that construction of the East 9th Avenue Reconstruction Project is beginning. The general contractor for the East 9th Avenue Reconstruction Project is Advance Construction, Inc. (Advance). Advance plans to mobilize equipment on site and begin construction the week of February 27th. The purpose of this Project is to reconstruct East 9th Avenue, from South Main Street to the railroad tracks. Sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, and corresponding laterals will be installed, replaced, or repaired, as needed, and electrical work will be completed prior to placing new concrete pavement. If you wish to sign up for e-mailed construction updates for Contract 22-02, please send a blank e-mail to contract2202-subscribe@lists.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. You will receive an e-mail stating your subscription request has been received. You must reply to the message within five (5) days to complete the subscription.  Bowen Street Interceptor Sewer and Storm Sewer: The City of Oshkosh would like to notify residents that construction of a sanitary interceptor sewer and storm sewer construction project on Bowen Street is beginning. The general contractor for the Bowen Street Sanitary Interceptor Sewer and Storm Sewer Construction Project is PTS Contractors, Inc. (PTS). PTS plans to close Bowen Street, from East Murdock Avenue to Anchorage Court, and start construction on Monday, February 27, 2023. Advanced warning signs will be placed seven (7) days prior to the closure. The purpose of this Project is to construct a sanitary interceptor sewer on Bowen Street, from East Murdock Avenue to Anchorage Court, and storm sewer on Bowen Street, from East Murdock Avenue to Greenwood Court. Sanitary sewer and laterals, water main and laterals, and storm sewer and laterals will be installed, replaced, or repaired, as needed, prior to placing new concrete pavement. This Project will also include the decommissioning and abandonment of the Murdock Avenue Lift Station and the Bowen Street Lift Station. If you wish to sign up for e-mailed construction updates for Contract 22-01, please send a blank e-mail to contract2201-subscribe@lists.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. You will receive an e-mail stating your subscription request has been received. You must reply to the message within five (5) days to complete the subscription. If you have any questions regarding the above scheduled projects, please contact Construction Management Supervisor, Mike Blank. 3. WHO’S COMING TO THE SENIORS CENTER: New and younger people are joining the Oshkosh Seniors Center in 2023. It started with a successful open house in January. The Center did a marketing campaign and invited many community partners, such as the Oshkosh Fire Department, Oshkosh Police Department, and Network Health, to help us show off the Fox Fitness Center and wellness and fitness programs. One hundred twenty-three people attended the open house. These older adults are committed to being fit to avoid falls and continue doing the activities they love, like golf, gardening, boating, and much more. Fifteen people proactively signed up to take the Biodex Balance Test to understand their risk for falling compared to their peers. Twenty people signed up for a Fox Fitness Center equipment orientation so they could start their journey to strength train. Everyone who went through the equipment orientation received a free exercise band kit compliments of a community grant from 4imprint. The Center’s message to older adults is to be proactive because there are ways to reduce your risk of falling, starting with building your strength. In January, the Center saw 50 new participants; their average age is 68.4 compared to the average age of 70 in 2022 participants. 51% of our participants partake in our fitness offerings, and we will continue to add equipment and classes that keep them healthy. If you want more information about the Center, please call Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, at (920)232-5300. You may find the Center’s program newsletter on our webpage. https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/SeniorServices/ 4. WHAT’S NEW IN THE PARK: The season hasn’t been as cooperative for hosting winter activities, but has opened other opportunities for people to enjoy the parks and areas of the community. The trails have seen much more use over the season, both when snow covered and bare. The Menominee Park Zoo ice skating season was cut short as the most recent thaw has caused the ice to deteriorate on the surface for safe skating. We hope next winter season will be better as we received good comments about the lagoon, LakeFly warming shelter, concessions, and free skate use (compliments of Dr. Eric’s Skate Club). As we approach spring, we will be actively recruiting staff for the summer season ahead. . Should you have questions regarding seasonal staff opportunities in our parks, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director, at (920) 236-5080. 5. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OSHKOSH PARKS: With summer Parks programs and events being planned, the Oshkosh Parks staff will be reaching out to past volunteers, schools, businesses, service organizations and more. Opportunities will also be available for those looking to help with light landscaping and cleanup in our parks. Are you a business seeking an opportunity for a one day project and/or volunteer team building day? Do you, your family, and your friends enjoy our Parks? Consider volunteering. The programs and events hosted benefit the beautification efforts and maintenance of our park facilities. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with the Oshkosh Parks Department, please contact Kathy Snell, Special Events Coordinator, at (920) 232-5304. Hours will vary as we have various scheduled programs. 6. MEMBERS SOUGHT FOR AD HOC COMMITTEE ON CLEARWELLS AESTHETICS: The City of Oshkosh is seeking five to seven individuals from diverse backgrounds to serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to provide input for the final appearance of the reconstructed clearwell structures and landscape at the Water Filtration Plant (WFP) located at 425 Lake Shore Drive. This Ad Hoc Committee will be briefed by City staff and Jacobs Engineering on the issues and regulatory requirements related to the proposed work. The Ad Hoc Committee has been given five specific tasks: 1) Provide a recommendation for the architectural finishes of the proposed clearwell tanks and pump houses on the WFP site. 2) Provide recommendation for landscaping and planting WFP onsite areas along the right-of-ways of Lake Shore Drive, Washington Avenue, and Merritt Avenue. 3) Provide recommendation for landscaping and planting the Park area east of Lake Shore Drive. 4) Provide recommendation for landscaping and improvements to the right-of-ways adjacent to the WFP site. 5) Provide a recommendation on how to incorporate educational and/or historical elements relating to water into the final project. Interested individuals can submit applications on the City’s website at https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/BoardsAndCommissions/. Residents with questions about this committee may contact the City Manager’s office by phone at (920) 236-5002 or by email at citymgr@ci.oshkosh.wi.us. The group is expected to finish their work by August 1, 2023. 7. SAVE THE DATE: Oshkosh State of the City 2023 will be held on Monday, March 13 at the Oshkosh Convention Center (2 N. Main St.). Doors open at 6:00 pm and the program begins at 6:30 pm. Join your friends and neighbors for this is a FREE event! 8. GET INVOLVED: If you are interested in serving your community, please consider becoming a member of a Board, Commission or Committee. Follow the link for to apply: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/BoardsAndCommissions/ 9. ATTACHMENTS: Oshkosh Public Library February Highlights 10. LINKS: OFD Hot Topics: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/fire/Resources/HotTopics/Hot_Topics_February_2023.pdf 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. LOOKING AHEAD: Among the meetings I have scheduled for the week of February 27, include the following: At 7:30 AM on Monday I will be meeting with Mayor Palmeri to discuss Tuesday’s agenda. At 10:00 AM I am meeting with staff to discuss the outline for the next employee virtual meeting. At 2:00 PM I am meeting with Community Development Director Nieforth to discuss CDBG opportunities. On Tuesday at 8:00 AM I am doing the welcome message at the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance Conference at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Beginning Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday and Friday I will be attending the WCMA Conference in Fond du Lac. Although the conference is local, my availability will be limited during the day. If you have any questions about my schedule, please contact me.