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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.27.24 Newsletter TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager DATE: September 27, 2024 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. STAFF REVIEWING SCOPE OF WORK FOR GRAND OPERA HOUSE ANNEX RENOVATION: As the Council may recall, the Grand Oshkosh Foundation approached the City in 2023 with a proposal to renovate the Grand Opera House to expand administrative and production areas. The Foundation estimated a $6M total budget for the project and proposed this budget be funded 50/50 between the City and Foundation fundraising. Placeholders for the project were placed in the capital improvement program (CIP) for 2025, 2026, and 2027, and the Council authorized funding for the design fees for the project. The design work and environmental assessment/planning began in early summer. Due to long-standing environmental concerns with the basement area in and around the Grand, the scope of the project will need revising. Staff has requested revised cost estimates so that Council will have more accurate information before Council approves the 2025 CIP budget. Staff has prepared the attached memo with a full recap of the current project status and proposed next steps. Please contact General Services Manager Jon Urben, Assistant City Manager/Director of Administrative Services John Fitzpatrick, or me if you have any questions after reading this update. 2. LIBRARY TO HOST FREE DYSLEXIA WORKSHOP ON OCTOBER 3RD: In an effort to enhance awareness and provide information for families and educators, Oshkosh Public Library will host a free Dyslexia Workshop on Thursday, October 3rd at 6:00 p.m. in the library’s lower level. The evening will feature dyslexia expert Kelly Steinke, M.A. Ed., NBCT, founder of READ Learning Educational Services. Dyslexia affects approximately one in five individuals and often remains undiagnosed until significant academic struggles arise. This workshop aims to equip participants with some essential tools for early identification and effective support strategies and will address common concerns parents face after a diagnosis, including how to navigate school systems and understand their children’s unique learning styles. For more information about the workshop and the library’s ongoing literacy initiatives, visit their website or call 920-236-5208. 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT’S HAZMAT TEAM ASSISTS WITH GAS LEAK: The Oshkosh Fire Department’s hazmat team recently assisted the Utica Volunteer Fire Department following a gas leak at an ethanol plant south of Oshkosh. You can read more about the incident at Seehafer News or WBAY. 4. GREAT WEATHER IN THE FALL HELPS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT COMPLETE PROJECTS: Summer is ending, but September temperatures have been outstanding, allowing patrons to continue enjoying the parks! At Rusch Park, approximately 700’ of trail along the east side from Newport Avenue to Ruschfield Drive was resurfaced and improved so that users could traverse the park. This project was completed through the cooperation between the Parks Department and Street Division teams. Be sure to visit the popular neighborhood park, the 44th Parallel Park located at 2230 Allerton Drive to watch the new playground equipment and resilient surfacing being installed. The Parks Department is committed to make improvements to playgrounds to provide vital safe spaces where children can be themselves and have fun while developing crucial cognitive, emotional, physical, and social skills. If you have any questions regarding park projects, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director, at 920-236-5080. 5. MENOMINEE PARK ZOO CLOSING FOR CLEANUP, THEN OPENING FOR LIMITED HOURS: The Menominee Park Zoo will close for cleanup this year and move the seasonal animals to their winter homes from September 30th through October 13th. The Zoo will reopen on Monday, October 14th and stay open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Admission is free. Due to the increase in visitors and their enthusiasm, it was decided to offer additional hours for the year-round exhibits, which include wolves, otters, eagle, foxes, and elk. Please stay tuned for news on the arrival of the bear or bears to take residency at the new bear exhibit. If you have any questions regarding the new hours, please contact Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director, at (920)236-5080. 6. ZOOLOWEEN BOO AND BREWS IN THE ZOO ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER: The cooler weather and leaves turning colors mean one thing to the Menominee Park Zoo: it’s time for Zooloween Boo and Brews in the Zoo. Zooloween Boo is a safe Halloween party for the entire family. There will be dozens of trick-or-treat stations operated by community organizations inside the Zoo grounds. The Zoo will have costume contests, entertainment, games, food trucks, and candy stops. The fun occurs on Saturday, October 19th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We encourage people to buy their tickets before the event (sales of tickets will begin on October 1st). Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event. Ticket prices are $5 for ages 13 and older, and children aged 2 to 12 are $3. Children one year and under are admitted for free. You may buy tickets at the City of Oshkosh Parks Department located at 805 Witzel Avenue during the regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Online ticket sales are also available. Don’t worry – we also have the adults covered the night before Zooloween Boo with the free Brews in the Zoo event on October 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It’s a fun craft beer and live music event inside the Zoo. This year’s band is Jet Pack Stereo – accompanied by the howls of the wolves – and, of course, there will be food trucks. Costumes are encouraged, and prizes are awarded for the following categories: Best Budget, Best Makeup, Most Creative, Best Group, Best Couple, and Laziest. These events are the largest fundraisers for Menominee Park Zoo, so we encourage you to participate and share with friends. If you have any questions about these events, please contact Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, at 920-236-5080. 7. SENIOR CENTER OBSERVES ACTIVE AGING WEEK NEXT WEEK: Active Aging Week, which celebrates older adults’ contributions and promotes healthy lifestyles through engaging in wellness activities, runs from September 30th through October 4th. The Oshkosh Senior Center understands that wellness can have barriers, including costs. If you haven't participated at the Center for over a year or have never come, you can try fitness classes and the Fox Fitness Center for FREE during that week. This is a great time to invite friends. If they have not visited the Center, come for a free test drive. During Active Aging Week, the Center hosts a Brain Fitness Fair on Wednesday, October 2nd, at the South Building. Come and meet community partners and attend speaker sessions related to brain health. On Tuesday, October 22nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we are hosting an open house. Activities will take place throughout the Center, and it's your chance to observe and get your questions answered about what it takes to stay active, stay social, and stay informed to age well. We look forward to seeing you soon! If you have any questions Senior Center programs, please contact Dan Braun, Seniors Center Manager, at 920-232-5300, or visit their website. 8. IT’S TIME TO TAKE A WALK FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Fall is in the air, and we will soon see the leaves beginning to turn. While the weather may be getting a bit cooler here in Oshkosh, we will continue to enjoy the outdoors at our special events. Don’t put those running or walking shoes away just yet. You may still enjoy a walk along the river with the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” or help kick off this year’s Wisconsin Herd season by participating in the “Run with the Herd” event! And don’t forget…the Oshkosh Farmers Market will continue on Saturdays through the end of October. The Farmers Market is the perfect time to shop for all those fall fun goodies! For more information on these and other exciting events coming soon, check out the Discover Oshkosh website or contact Kathy Snell, Special Events Coordinator, at 920-236-5080. 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. There are current openings on the following boards and commissions: BID Board Board of Review Board of Zoning Appeals Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Landmarks Commission Long Range Finance Committee Plan Commission Sustainability Advisory Board To learn more about the boards and commissions, or to complete an application to serve, visit our boards and commissions webpage. If you have questions about current openings, please contact the City Manager’s Executive Assistant, Kami Zuercher, at 920-236-5002 or kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov. 10. AGENDAS AND MINUTES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Upcoming board and commission meeting agendas can be found on our Meeting Notices web page. All meeting minutes are uploaded to the City’s page for boards and commissions upon approval. 11. LOOKING AHEAD: The meetings I have scheduled for the week of September 30th include the following: on Monday at 1:00 p.m., I will attend a planning meeting for Leadership Oshkosh’s Government Day, and at 3:30 p.m., I will meet with staff regarding the City Hall space needs assessment. On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., I will meet with staff and members of The Grand Oshkosh Board of Directors to continue conversations regarding the Grand Opera House’s annex renovation project; at 3:30 p.m., I will meet with members of SEPO’s Board of Directors to discuss their ARPA grant agreement; and at 5:00 p.m., I will attend Altrusa’s 75th Anniversary Event. On Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., I will attend East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s Economic Development Committee meeting. If you have any questions about my upcoming schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.