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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.28.24 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: March 28, 2024 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. ARPA GRANT FUNDING SCORING SHEET: As discussed at the March 26th Common Council meeting, as a result of our most recent outreach efforts for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant proposals, the city received 51 applications, totaling over $12 million in requests, for the remaining $2.35 million in ARPA funds designated for non-infrastructure purposes. I worked with staff to develop scoring criteria based on the short- and long-term goals outlined in the ARPA Review Criteria that was shared with applicants during the application process. These criteria were based on conversations with Council, starting in 2021 and continuing through the present. The scoring sheet is being used by staff as a preliminary evaluation of the ARPA requests, and is similar in structure to the scoring sheet used to evaluate projects as part of our Capital Improvement Program (CIP), though it has been updated to capture information relevant to the objectives of the city’s ARPA grant program. It’s included in this newsletter as Attachment 1. I will continue to update Council on the status of these reviews throughout the process. Due to the volume of requests, I will not be able to make recommendations until after the new Council is seated. 2. SPRING ELECTION WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 2ND: Please visit myvote.wi.gov to find your voting location (polling place), district, and ward prior to the election, as they may have changed since the last election or since the last time you voted. The City will once again be using Badger Books, electronic poll 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 successfully by many communities throughout the state for several years. Please call the City Clerk’s Department at (920) 236-5011 with any questions. 3. THE CITY OF OSHKOSH HAS BEEN NAMED TREE CITY USA FOR THE 43RD YEAR: The City of Oshkosh proudly accepted the designation of Tree City USA in March of 2024. This is the 43rd year that we have received that honor. To qualify as a Tree City USA community, cities must meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. These standards were established to ensure that every qualifying community has a viable tree management program and that no community would be excluded because of size. Here are the criteria needed to become a Tree City USA community: • Maintain a tree board or department • Have a community tree ordinance • Spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry • Celebrate Arbor Day Cities and towns in the U.S. have both public and private property within their jurisdictional boundaries. Trees on public property are a public good, and caring for these trees is a vital element of the Tree City USA program. A public tree care ordinance or law forms the foundation of a city's tree care program, provides an opportunity to set good policy, and backs it with the force of law when necessary. This year's Arbor Day Celebration will occur on April 26th at Jefferson Elementary School. The day includes a presentation on the importance of trees. Afterward, the class moves outside to help our Landscape Operations Division staff plant a tree. If you have questions about forestry-related topics, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at (920) 236-5080. 4. OSHKOSH PUBLIC MUSEUM AND OSHKOSH AREA COMMUNITY PANTRY JOIN FORCES IN APRIL TO MAKE HUNGER HISTORY: The Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM) and Oshkosh Area Community Pantry (OACP) are proud to announce their partnership in the fight against hunger with the launch of the "Making Hunger History" campaign. This initiative aims to raise awareness about food insecurity in our community and provide essential support to those who need it most. As part of the campaign, OPM will be hosting a food drive to benefit the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry. Visitors to the Museum will have the opportunity to contribute to this important cause by donating new, unopened, non-perishable food or hygiene items. In exchange for their donation, visitors will receive complimentary general admission to the Museum, allowing them to enjoy the exhibits while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Additionally, OPM and the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry will be hosting a joint program to discuss the issue of food insecurity over time. Held on Thursday, April 18th at 6:00 p.m. at the Museum, this program will provide insights into the historical context of hunger in our community. OPM and OACP will be joined by Dr. Gabriel Loiacono, Associate Professor of History and Interim Chair of Social Work at UW-Oshkosh, in an interactive discussion with participants. For more information and to register, visit oshkoshmuseum.org. The "Making Hunger History" campaign will kick off on April 2nd and run through April 30th. For more information about how to get involved or to learn more about the campaign, please visit oshkoshmuseum.org or contact (920) 236-5799. 5. PUMP IT UP FOR PARKINSON’S: Let’s help raise awareness on World Parkinson’s Day! On Thursday, April 11th, the Oshkosh Seniors Center will join the National Institute of Fitness and Sport in Pump It for Parkinson's! Exercise can help ease the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, and we will be hosting a NuStep-A-Thon in the Fox Fitness Center, challenging everyone to achieve 30,000 "steps" on each of the five NuSteps at the Center. The nationwide goal is to reach 10 million steps, representing the 10 million people living in the world with Parkinson's. Anyone interested can sign up for 15-minute spots between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to help us reach the Center goal of 150,000 steps. There's a potential bonus for the Oshkosh Seniors Center: by participating, we become eligible to win a brand new NuStep, one of our most popular pieces of fitness equipment. Please invite your friends or assemble a team of five or fewer to help us reach our goal. If you want to sign up for a 15-minute slot for yourself or a team, please call Alec Jensen, Fitness and Wellness Coordinator, at (920) 232-5320 or ajensen@oshkoshwi.gov. This challenge and all of the Center's programs are included in "The Current," the monthly program newsletter, accessed online at https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/seniorservices/. For more information about the Oshkosh Seniors Center, please contact Dan Braun, Senior Services Manager, at (920) 232-5300. 6. ATTACHMENTS: • Attachment 1: Scoring Sheet for ARPA Grant Funds • Attachment 2: Public Invited to an Evening with the Library Director, April 16, 2024 7. 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/ 8. 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/ 9. LOOKING AHEAD: The meetings I have scheduled for the week of April 1st include the following: on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., I will attend the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s Economic Development Committee meeting. On Thursday at 8:00 a.m., I will attend a meeting of the Leadership Oshkosh Steering Committee. On Friday at 9:00 a.m., I will meet with a local business leader. If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.