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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.17.25 Newsletter : TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Rebecca Grill, City Manager DATE: April 17, 2025 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. COMMUNITY SURVEY KICKS OFF: The 2025 Oshkosh Community Survey begins this week with random households throughout the city receiving postcards encouraging them to take the survey. The City is once again partnering with Polco to deliver the National Community Survey (NCS). Households who receive a postcard from Polco will see it has instructions on how to either take the survey online, or they can wait for the paper survey that will follow the postcard in the mail. Once the random sampling portion of the survey is complete, anyone who lives in Oshkosh can take the survey online during the open participation period from May 16th – 30th. Click here to go to the City’s Polco webpage to subscribe and get more info. Feedback collected from the survey is used to help make decisions for things like the City’s strategic plan. For more information, contact the City Manager’s office at 920-236-5002. 2. LAWN CARE UPDATES FOR SPRING – CITY DISCONTINUES “NO MOW MAY”: Winter is over and spring has sprung, so it is time to start getting those yards ready for the growing season. In previous years during the month of May, the City participated in “No Mow May,” where residents registered with the City to participate in the initiative and be exempt from the City’s Lawn Care and Weed Cutting Ordinance. This year, instead of “No Mow May,” the Sustainability Advisory Board would like to promote alternative methods to encourage pollinator-friendly habitats that are more impactful to this cause than simply not mowing. Therefore, the City has opted not to allow the code exemption for grass to grow over eight (8) inches but would like to encourage residents who are interested in promoting pollinator-friendly habitats to visit the Sustainable Oshkosh resource webpage. The City would like to remind residents that Chapter 17, within the Municipal Code, does not allow grasses, weeds, brush, or other rank or offensive vegetation to grow over eight (8) inches in height. Contact Assistant Planner, Emma Dziengeleski, if you have any questions at 920-236-5126 or edziengeleski@oshkoshwi.gov. 3. LIBRARY LAUNCHES NEW EVENING RULE TO SUPPORT YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SAFETY: Oshkosh Public Library has a new temporary rule regarding evening hours for minors. Beginning Monday, April 14, unaccompanied minors who need to use the library after 6:30 p.m. are required to check in at a Greeter Station, sign into the library, and show their student ID, state-issued ID, driver’s license or library card. The decision follows a recent increase in evening incidents involving teens who have repeatedly broken the library’s behavior policy. These disruptions have affected the library experience for other patrons and placed a strain on staff. Library staff have made ongoing efforts to engage teens in a positive and respectful way, encouraging them to follow the library’s Behavior Policy. While many young people use the library responsibly, continued behavioral issues in the evenings have prompted this temporary measure to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all. Library staff do not foresee the need for the measure to continue past the end of the current school year. Staff are available to answer any questions. Signs are posted on the main entrance doors, and information will be shared on the library’s Facebook page. Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss the new guidelines with their children. Exceptions will be made for library programs or outside events that specifically permit unaccompanied minors. 4. 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 Landmarks Commission Long Range Finance Committee Plan Commission 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, by email or call 920- 236-5002.