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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.12.23 newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: May 12, 2023 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. WCHD AND ESTHER SUPPORT STAFF PLAN TO CONTINUE FREE BUSING FOR OASD STUDENTS: On Wednesday, the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) and the non-profit group, ESTHER, presented a study they had commissioned from the Whitburn Center at UWO to review the free Go Transit busing program for OASD students. City staff attended the presentation to gain insight into this study, after which City staff reported to the group that City and OASD leadership had already reached a tentative agreement on a plan to continue the program. Please find attached the information prepared by the two groups to encourage the Council and School Board to approve the respective staffs’ recommendation. I am making you aware of this in case you get calls or emails on this topic. We will be preparing the revised agreement for council consideration at an upcoming meeting. 2. START OF CONSTRUCTION FOR WEST LINCOLN AVE AND MCKINLEY ST: The City of Oshkosh would like to notify residents that construction on another one of the 2023 street reconstruction projects is beginning. The general contractor for the West Lincoln Avenue and McKinley Street Reconstruction Project is Carl Bowers & Sons Construction, Inc. (Bowers). Bowers plans to mobilize equipment the week of May 15 and begin construction the same week. The purpose of this project is to reconstruct West Lincoln Avenue, from Elmwood Avenue to Jackson Street, and McKinley Street, from West Lincoln Avenue to Scott Avenue. Sanitary sewer and laterals, water main and laterals, and storm sewer and laterals will be installed, replaced, or repaired, as needed, prior to placing the concrete pavement. If you wish to sign up for e-mailed construction updates for Contract 23-02, please send a blank e-mail to contract2302-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 days to complete the subscription. If at any time you wish to unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to this address, contract2302-unsubscribe@lists.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. If you have any questions, please contact Construction Management Supervisor, Craig Ramthun. 3. PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP – READ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PILOT: The Oshkosh Fire Department is partnering with Read Elementary School because of their challenges with current fire safety protocol, opportunities to increase fire prevention strategies in student homes, build relationships between first responders and students, and create employment opportunities for kids in the future. As part of this partnership, Oshkosh Fire Department will: • Create a video on how to safely play on playgrounds (which also can be used at other parks and playgrounds to teach kids safe playing). • Work with students on quicker response to fire evacuation both in the school and at home. • Teach kids other fire prevention strategies that can be used at home. • Read with students monthly to promote literacy and build relationships. • Have lunch with students monthly to continue to break the silos between first responders and kids in our community. The Oshkosh Fire Department is also supporting an effort to replace the Read School playground with a fire department-themed play apparatus. This playground will create an alternative safe place for students, a place for kids to socially connect and use their imagination, a place to address the physical and mental wellbeing of students while reducing trauma, and a place that can bring pride to the surrounding neighborhood while creating stronger partnerships between school and community. With the help of Oshkosh Fire Department and this new playground at Read Elementary School, we can save the day and give these kids the playground of their dreams! 4. OSHKOSH FIRE DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONS: On May 2, three Oshkosh Fire Department members were promoted: Bret Krajnik was promoted to Captain, Mike Wos was promoted to Lieutenant, and Jamie Campbell was promoted to Equipment Operator. Congratulations to all three! Best wishes in your new positions effective June 4! 5. SPRING TERRACE TREE PLANTING: This spring the City of Oshkosh will be planting 225 trees in the terraces throughout the city. Eleven different species, such as: London Plane Tree, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Ironwood, Eastern Redbud, State Street Maple, and Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry and others, will be used to help promote a diverse tree canopy throughout the City. The trees will be planted toward the middle of June, weather permitting. If you have any questions regarding this or forestry-related topics, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 6. KEEPING YOU CONNECTED WITH AFFORDABLE INTERNET: AT&T visited the Oshkosh Seniors Center on May 11, 2023 at 1:30 PM to help people learn about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP is a low-income internet program from the federal government that can help eligible households pay for broadband. Eligible households could decrease their bill by up to $30/mo., or up to $75/mo. off your bill if you live on qualifying Tribal Lands. Older adults are underserved when it comes to access to broadband and technology. According to a study conducted by the Older Adults Technology Services from AARP (OATS), 22 million U.S. seniors lack broadband internet access at home. OATS estimates that approximately 40% of older adults could not access needed online services from their homes during the pandemic. Connectivity issues have existed for many years, but the pandemic brought the connectivity crisis to light. In the past, many people viewed the Internet as a way to stay connected with friends or as a hobby; however, during the pandemic, it was clear that the Internet has become a lifeline for much-needed services such as ordering groceries, accessing benefits from Medicare or Social Security, and visits with health professionals through video calling. For more information about this program or the Oshkosh Seniors Center, please contact Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, at (920) 232-5300. 7. MEMORIAL DAY PROCESSION & SERVICES: The Oshkosh Patriotic Council will once again be hosting the annual Memorial Day Procession. This year the Procession will move back to its usual start, beginning on Algoma Blvd. in front of City Hall and ending at Riverside Cemetery. Algoma Blvd. will be closed to traffic beginning at 7:30 AM. Participants will be staged in the City Hall parking lot and along Algoma Blvd. Both the Reading of the Names at South Park War Monument and laying of the wreath at Riverside Park for those lost at sea at will take place as is customary. 8. LINKS: OFD Hot Topics: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Fire/Resources/HotTopics/Hot_Topics_May_2023.pdf 9. GET INVOLVED: If you are interested in serving your community, please consider becoming a member of a Board, Commission or Committee. Follow the link below to apply: https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/BoardsAndCommissions/ 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. LOOKING AHEAD: Among the meetings I have scheduled for the week of May 15, include the following: On Tuesday at 9:00 AM I will be meeting with Parks Director, Ray Maurer, to discuss the implementation of the Committee on Aging, as discussed at Tuesday’s Council meeting. At 10:00 AM we will discuss future plans for the Menominee Park Beachhouse. At 2:00 PM I will be participating with Finance, Public Works, and Community Development staff, along with Ehlers Associates, for our rating call with Moody’s Investors Service. I will be on vacation the remainder of the week, but will be available by phone if necessary. If you have any questions about my schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.