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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.15.24 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: March 15, 2024 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. NEW MENOMINEE PARK BEACH HOUSE PROJECT: Included in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) approved by the Common Council is construction of a new Menominee Park beach house; the project is currently included in the 2025 CIP. Due to its condition, the existing beach house is unusable and has been closed the past few years. At the February 2023 Advisory Park Board meeting, it was the consensus of the Board that staff should continue to work with the architect on design options for a new, modern-looking beach house. At their September 2023 meeting, the Board provided input on the new design and suggested that staff continue to work with the architect to refine the design. As part of the process for this project, the next step is removal of the existing building and staff is working on plans for that to happen this spring. Prior to demolition, an asbestos assessment and potential abatement plan is necessary. Parks staff is working with Department of Public Works staff to demolish the building once all the preliminary work is completed so that the site can be restored and seeded prior to Memorial Day weekend. If you have any questions about this project, please contact Ray Maurer, Parks Director, at (920)236-5080. 2. 2024 STATE OF THE CITY VIDEO PRESENTATION COMING MARCH 27: On Wednesday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. the 2024 Oshkosh State of the City Address video presentation will premiere on the Oshkosh Media YouTube channel, as well as on Oshkosh Media Gov TV (details are below). The State of the City Address will be presented in a video format to increase its accessibility to members of the community. The presentation will be an excellent opportunity for local residents, businesses, and organizations to learn about the City’s achievements, upcoming projects, and future challenges and opportunities. The video will provide an overview of recent work that has been accomplished in the city while highlighting the principles that guide daily city operations. The presentation also includes a preview of 2024 capital improvements, city facility improvements, economic development projects, and a future outlook for the city. This presentation serves as an opportunity to celebrate successes and share exciting updates about Oshkosh’s future. Previously presented at in-person State of the City events, Citizen Service Awards and Community Partnership Awards will be presented at the Tuesday, March 26th meeting of the Oshkosh Common Council. Citizen Service Awards honor individuals who have achieved various five-year milestones serving on city boards and commissions, and Community Partnership Awards recognize organizations that have enriched the quality of life in Oshkosh through initiatives, programs and support. View the premiere of 2024 State of the City on these platforms at 6:30 p.m. on March 27th: • Oshkosh Media YouTube channel • Oshkosh Media Gov TV, available on Spectrum cable channel 10 & U-verse channel 99 • Oshkosh Media app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV streaming devices • Live streamed on www.OshkoshMedia.org • Available on-demand any time after March 27th on the Oshkosh Media YouTube channel For more information, contact Communications Coordinator Andy Radig at (920) 236-5269. 3. YARD WASTE DROP-OFF CENTER BEGINS SEASONAL HOURS APRIL 1ST: Seasonal hours of operation for the City’s yard waste drop-off center, located on 3rd Avenue between Idaho Street and Ohio Street, will go into effect April 1st. The operating hours will be from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Permits are required to use the drop-off center. The cost of a single vehicle permit for a City of Oshkosh resident is $25; the cost to a non-resident is $125 (including the Townships of Algoma, Black Wolf, Nekimi, Oshkosh, and Vinland). Permits are valid from January 1st to December 31st of the year issued. Permits can be purchased at the Collections counter at City Hall, located at 215 Church Avenue, or at Kitz and Pfeil Ace Hardware, located at 427 North Main Street. Yard waste from commercial operations, including tree trimmers, landscapers, and apartment buildings, is prohibited from the yard waste drop-off center per requirements of Municipal Code Chapter 23, Section 23-9, (K). All yard waste being transported in trucks or trailers to the drop-off center must be properly secured with a tarp. Please empty all bags and containers at the drop-off center. If you have any questions, please contact Interim Public Works Field Operations Manager Ryan Lemke at (920) 232-5380 or Public Works Sanitation Manager Eric Moran at (920) 232- 5383. 4. MONTHLY BRUSH COLLECTION BEGINS THE WEEK OF APRIL 1ST: Regular monthly curbside brush collection begins the week of April 1st. Curbside collection of brush is scheduled on the garbage collection day during the first full week of each month that does not contain a City of Oshkosh observed holiday, from April through December. The annual spring cleanup is scheduled for April 22nd through May 10th. Spring cleanup is an extended brush collection schedule to help residents dispose of yard waste. Brush is defined as tree branches, leaves, hedge clippings, and garden debris (no grass, dirt, root balls, or stumps). Brush must be placed in paper biodegradable bags and branches must be bundled and tied. Bundles can be no longer than four feet (4’) in length and have no branches greater than three inches (3”) in diameter. Bags and bundles shall not exceed fifty (50) pounds in weight. Place bags and bundles at least three feet (3’) away from the garbage and recycling carts on the terrace or driveway apron, no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Please be sure not to obstruct the sidewalk. Plastic bags, other containers, and loose leaves will not be collected during spring cleanup or monthly collection. The Sanitation Division does not pick up grass, dirt, root balls, or stumps at any time. If you have any questions, please contact Interim Public Works Field Operations Manager Ryan Lemke at (920) 232-5380 or Public Works Sanitation Manager Eric Moran at (920) 232- 5383. 5. SPRING ELECTION TO BE HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 2ND: Prior to the election, please visit https://myvote.wi.gov to find your voting location (polling place), district and ward, as they may have changed since the last election or since the last time you voted. The City will once again be using electronic poll books, called Badger Books, throughout the city on April 2nd. Badger Books replaced the paper poll books that were used in previous elections, but will not change the voting process. A voter will still state their name and address to the Election Inspector (poll worker), show the Election Inspector their photo id, and then sign the (electronic) poll book. Once the voter has completed this process, they will be issued a ballot. Badger Books make the process more efficient and less prone to human error. Please be patient with our Election Inspectors, as this may be the first election for some using the new technology. Although Badger Books are new to us, they have been used very successfully by many communities throughout the state for several years. In person, early absentee voting is available at 19 East Irving Avenue beginning Tuesday, March 19th through Friday, March 28th. See below for dates and times: • Tuesday, March 19th to Friday, March 22nd: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Monday, March 25th to Thursday, March 28th: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Friday, March 29th: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please call the City Clerk’s Department at (920) 236-5011 with questions. 6. MUSEUM OPENS NEW EXHIBIT: Now open at Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) is Sawyer Saga, Part I. The first of three unique chapters of the Sawyer family’s life and legacy, Sawyer Saga Part I delves into the stories of Philetus and Melvina Sawyer, from business to politics to family. This exhibition is part of “OPM 100,” a year-long series of exhibitions, programs, and events celebrating 100 years of the Oshkosh Public Museum, which opened to the public in 1924. 7. MUSEUM RECEIVES CENTENNIAL HONORS: OPM was honored by multiple elected federal, state, and local officials on Thursday, March 7th in celebration of our centennial year! Recognitions included a Senate Gold Seal from Senator Ron Johnson, a Congressional Commendation from Congressman Glenn Grothman, and commendations from Representative Lori Palmeri and County Executive Jon Doemel. OPM was honored to receive these recognitions to mark our centennial year. Thank you, Council members Joe Stephenson and Michael Ford, for also joining us. A video of the presentations was produced by Oshkosh Media and is available at oshkoshmedia.org. 8. OPD ANNUAL FULL-SCALE EXERCISE: On March 12th, the Oshkosh Police Department conducted a training of its Incident Command System to include administrative functions, SWAT, and crisis negotiations. The Police Department routinely tests procedures through scenario-based training to assure a high-quality response to emergency situations. The scenario is used to gauge what the department does well and to discover any improvements that can be made. This recent test of our Incident Command System was found to be successful and valuable to those involved. The Oshkosh Police Department would like to thank the Evergreen Retirement Community and staff for their collaboration in conducting this training exercise. 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 boards, commissions, or committees. To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, follow this link: oshkoshwi.gov/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: onboard.oshkoshwi.gov/ 11. LOOKING AHEAD: The meetings I have scheduled for the week of March 18th include the following: on Monday at 12:00 p.m., I will speak to the Rotary Club of Oshkosh regarding recent changes to pavement-related special assessments. On Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., I will meet with staff to discuss the ongoing annex project at The Grand Opera House. On Wednesday, I will present an update on the city at the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Community Address at 8:00 a.m., as well attending their Business Expo that afternoon. On Thursday at 9:00 a.m., I will meet with staff to get an update on the student bussing collaboration with the Oshkosh Area School District. If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.