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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.06.23 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: October 6, 2023 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. MENOMINEE PARK ROAD WORK COMPLETION DELAYED: Reconstruction of Menominee Park’s Pratt Trail has been underway since August, and scheduled completion will be delayed due to state-mandated archaeological work that is taking place at the site. In planning for the project, the City of Oshkosh engaged with the Cultural Resource Management program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM), the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Tribal Nations to ensure compliance with state laws that protect our state’s heritage, including archaeological sites. UWM has been active at the site since before the beginning of the road work. The project area is known to be coincident with an extensive pre-contact Native American village that dates from circa AD 900 to 1600. UWM identified evidence of this during the initial phase of work and before road work began. Through consultation with the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as well as Tribal Nations, UWM developed a plan to ensure protection of these archaeological items of significance during the road construction work. During the plan implementation, which, in part, entailed on site monitoring of the existing road bed removal, UWM confirmed to the City that the historically-significant village site has been preserved intact beneath the road bed. The City asks that visitors to Menominee Park respect the restricted areas of the park to allow the archaeological teams to complete their work, which is ongoing. The area is under surveillance to ensure compliance with federal law, which forbids unauthorized entry. Numerous fall and winter events in Menominee Park are being relocated due to this ongoing project. Please check with event organizers for details on changes to their events. For more information about this archeological site, please contact Jennifer Haas, Director of the Archaeological Research Laboratory Center at UW Milwaukee, at (414) 251-8853. 2. UPDATE ON GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM: The Great Neighborhoods Program provides the opportunity for recognized neighborhoods to propose projects that enhance quality of life through strategic improvements to the public realm. Projects are intended to improve the image, market, and physical conditions of Oshkosh neighborhoods. Every year, staff provide recognized neighborhood associations the opportunity to apply for funding to support capital improvement projects within their neighborhoods. In 2022, three projects were supported and funded through the Great Neighborhoods Program: the installation of two fountains in the Menominee Zoo Lagoons; updating equipment at the Roe Park Playground; and installing utility box wraps within the Midtown Neighborhood Association. All three projects have been completed and are ready for enjoyment! The 2023 program cycle has been in full swing and project proposals are going to Common Council on October 10, 2023 for consideration. These projects are comprised of a gathering- space improvement for a City-owned vacant lot within the Bent Woods Neighborhood Association, the completion of The William Waters Gazebo in the River East Neighborhood Association, and the installation of a new bus shelter in the River East Neighborhood Association. Staff looks forward to the continuing support of more neighborhood enhancement projects through the Great Neighborhoods Program. If you have any questions about the Great Neighborhoods Program, or if you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Associate Planner Brandon Nielsen at (920) 236-5061. 3. LIBRARY CALLING FOR TWO-SENTENCE SCARES! Crisp, fall air and long, dark nights usher in the return of the Two-Sentence Horror Story Contest to haunt the halls of Oshkosh Public Library. The contest challenges participants to craft their spookiest narratives using only two sentences. New this year, the library invites both teens and adults to spin an original, bone- chilling tale. Submissions will be accepted from October 1st – 23rd. Prizes will be awarded to one winner in two age divisions: ages 13 to 17, and ages 18 and older. Details at https://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/two-sentence-horror2023. 4. LIBRARY STILL ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR F STOP PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST: The Library’s annual F Stop Photography Contest is made a return this fall, inviting teens and adults to capture the essence of Oshkosh. Launching on September 18th, this year’s theme is “Iconic Oshkosh.” The F Stop Contest is a celebration of the city’s unique identity and its residents’ creative spirits. From serene lakeshores to historic landmarks, participants are encouraged to use their cameras to capture what truly makes Oshkosh an iconic place to live, work and play. The contest runs from September 18th to October 16th and will honor the top three photographers in two divisions: ages 13-17 and ages 18 and older. For more information, visit https://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/. 5. OPD CONGRATULATES OFFICER ED SKEELS ON RETIREMENT: On Monday, October 2, 2023, the Oshkosh Police Department said goodbye to Officer Ed Skeels, who retired after proudly serving the Department and the City of Oshkosh for 26 years. During his tenure with the Department, he performed the duties of a Patrol Officer exceptionally well, earning numerous letters of recognition from citizens as well as Supervisor’s Logs for his commendable actions in the line of duty. Throughout his career, Officer Skeels served as a Background Investigator, a member of the Bike Patrol Team, and a member of the Crash Investigation Team, where he also served as a Crash Reconstruction Expert. We sincerely thank Officer Skeels for his outstanding service and dedication to the Oshkosh Police Department and to the City of Oshkosh. Congratulations on your retirement Ed; we wish you the very best for a happy and healthy retirement! 6. POLICE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES NEW EMPLOYEES: This week, the Oshkosh Police Department welcomed Corinna Lundquist to the position of Community Service Officer and Melody Bragdon to the position of Crime Analyst. Congratulations, and welcome to the OPD team! • Corinna Lundquist currently resides in Sherwood, WI. Corinna is enrolled at Fox Valley Technical College in the Criminal Justice Program. Prior to becoming a Community Service Officer, Corinna worked as a Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Affiliated and was a business owner. • Melody Bragdon is originally from Elmwood, Illinois. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminology from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in 2022. She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Criminology, graduating in May 2023 from the University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia. Prior to being employed with the Oshkosh Police Department, Melody worked various campus jobs while attending the University of Pennsylvania, including internships with two police agencies, where she performed duties related to research and data analysis. 7. OPD ATTENDS HIGH SCHOOL CAREER FAIR: On Monday, October 2, 2023, Oshkosh Police Detective Chee Vang and Recruitment Team Officers spent time with students from Oshkosh West High School and Oshkosh North High School at the Pointters Community Intiatives’ Career Focus Program. Students were able to explore various career opportunities. The Oshkosh Police Department taught students about fingerprinting, SWAT equipment, and how detectives process a crime scene for a burglary. 8. LIBRARY OFFERS FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Have you ever wondered how to protect your family’s future and ensure your hard-earned assets are secure? A series of estate planning workshops offered at the Oshkosh Public Library will shed light on the essential elements of a solid estate plan. Presented by Attorney Aaron Haller from Levine Eisberner LLC, workshops will be offered on three consecutive Tuesdays starting October 10th: • Oct. 10: Advanced Healthcare Directives (Living Wills) • Oct. 17: The Importance of Powers of Attorney (Financial and Healthcare) • Oct. 24: Special Needs Trusts for Adult Children All sessions take place in the Library’s Lower Level at 2:00 PM. Light refreshments will be available. For questions, please call (920) 236-5205. Details at www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org. 9. GET INVOLVED IN A BOARD OR COMMISSION: If you are interested in serving your community, please consider becoming a member of one of the City’s citizen advisory board, commissions or committees. There are a number of openings, including on the following: Board of Zoning Appeals; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; Landmarks Commission; and Plan Commission. To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, follow the link below: 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 October 9th include the following: on Monday at 11:00 AM, I have a virtual meeting with the Wisconsin City/County Manager Association’s Conference Committee to plan for our upcoming conference, and at 3:00 PM I will meet with Finance Director Van Gompel to discuss the 2024 budget. On Tuesday at 11:00 AM, I will meet with Fire Chief Stanley regarding an updated contract for EMS services with various municipalities; at 3:00 PM, I will meet with staff to plan for strategic planning in 2024. Wednesday at 8:30 AM, I will meet with a community organizer regarding events and activism. I will attend the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Commission’s Executive Committee meeting on Thursday at 7:30 AM, and on Friday at 4:00 PM, I will attend the Oshkosh Fire Department’s graduation for new recruits. If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.