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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.16.25 Newsletter : TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Rebecca Grill, City Manager DATE: May 16, 2025 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. DOES YOUR UPCOMING PROJECT REQUIRE PLANNING & ZONING APPROVAL? Oshkosh staff recommend homeowners, contractors, developers and/or other applicants make an appointment with the Planning Division staff to discuss whether their next project will require the submittal of a planning application. Appointments can be arranged with the Planning Services Division by email (planning@oshkoshwi.gov) or phone (920-236- 5059). Staff will arrange to meet with residents in person, by phone, or virtually via Zoom, based on their preference. These meetings are informal and advisory only. No decisions are made and advice is not binding. Types of meetings: • General planning inquiries about city codes, policies, procedures, signs and residential projects (e.g., decks, patios, fences). • Pre-submittal Site Plan Review meeting, which provides an opportunity to meet with senior planning staff about a project – before or during creation of civil/architectural plans and drawings. Examples include new construction (e.g., commercial, industrial, multi-family), large additions, or change of use. Please have the following information prepared for the meeting: • Address and current zoning (this can be looked up by staff during the meeting) or can be found by using our GIS maps. • Detailed description of the proposed project, including any built improvements proposed and use of the site & building(s). • Attachments for planning staff to consider such as: site plans, elevation plans, pictures, and maps associated with the property Get a jump start on a project by reaching out to Planning Staff today! 2. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES TEAMS UP WITH FARMERS MARKET FOR CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: The City of Oshkosh Inspections/Weights and Measures staff has teamed up with the Oshkosh Farmers Market to inspect all devices used at the Market on Saturdays this summer. This is done as a convenience to vendors that take part in the Farmers Market to verify all scales have been calibrated properly to ensure consistency and fairness. Inspections staff performed 19 calibrations on vendor scales to ensure accuracy and issued the appropriate licenses. The Weights and Measures Program protects the consumers from being shortchanged by verifying the accuracy of measuring devices used in commercial transactions. Oshkosh Weights and Measures staff conduct inspections and testing of various devices, including scales, gas pumps and package net weight to ensure accuracy. The City of Oshkosh Inspections/Weights and Measures staff are working for your community to make sure consistency and fairness for all consumers. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mike Berndt, City of Oshkosh Weights and Measures Technician at 920-236- 5054. 3. TAKE THE COMMUNITY SURVEY: The City is one again teaming with Polco to provide the 2025 Oshkosh Community Survey, which is now open online. If you already received an invitation in the mail to complete the survey, and you have done so, you do not need to take the survey again. Please note that once you have answered the questions, you will be asked to provide your email and zip code. This is optional; however, registering will help us be sure we are hearing from each person only once and see which respondents live inside or outside of the City. Additionally, the City hopes to continually engage with the community and periodically ask for your input on pressing topics, new ideas and initiatives, or other important issues. For more information, contact the City Manager’s office at 920-236-5002. 4. STATE OF THE CITY PROGRAM NOW LIVE: Oshkosh Media has released the 2025 State of the City program. This year’s program, presented by City Manager Rebecca Grill, focuses on the importance of the City’s strategic plan, and spotlights specific projects and initiatives that City departments are engaging in that serve the plan. Click here to watch the State of the City program on the Oshkosh Media YouTube channel. You can also watch replays of the State of the City on Gov TV, which is available on Spectrum Cable channel 10, U-verse channel 99, and streaming for free on the Oshkosh Media apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and OshkoshMedia.org. For more information, contact Media Services Coordinator Jake Timm at 920-236-5261. 5. OPD HAPPENINGS: The Oshkosh Police Department welcomed new Police Officer Kyle Feucht during a Police and Fire Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Congratulations and Welcome to the OPD Team!! Kyle Feucht is originally from Neosho, Wisconsin, where he graduated in 2020 from Hartford Union High School. He completed his Wisconsin Law Enforcement Certification on December 9, 2022, from Blackhawk Technical College. Kyle is currently on track to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology in May 2025. Prior to becoming a Police Officer, Kyle was employed as a Campus Service Officer and a Police Officer with the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater Police Department. On May 15, 2025, the Oshkosh Police Department said goodbye to Officer Derek Sell who retired after proudly serving the Department and the City of Oshkosh for 29 years! During his tenure with the Department, he performed the duties of a Patrol Officer, a Drug Task Force Officer and a Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG) Investigator for 4 years, exceptionally well. He earned Distinguished Service Medals in 2006 and 2015, a Noteworthy Performance of Duty Award in 2017, a Department Commendation Award in 2021, along with several commendation letters and Supervisor’s Logs his commendable actions in the line of duty. Officer Sell served as a former Field Training Officer, Background Investigator, a former member of the SWAT and Mobile Field Force Teams, and an instructor in a variety of law enforcement tactics. We sincerely thank Officer Sell for his many years of exceptional and dedicated service to the Oshkosh Police Department and to the Oshkosh community. We wish him the very best for a happy and healthy retirement. Congratulations on your retirement Derek – enjoy your journey! 6. LAW ENFORCEMENT TRIBUTE: The Oshkosh Police Department held a Law Enforcement Tribute on Monday, May 12, 2025, in recognition of National Police Week (May 11-17). National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty serving and protecting others. The Oshkosh Police Department honored the Oshkosh Police Officers that were killed in the line of duty since 1853: Louis Hardy, George O’Connor and Walter Spiering. Officer Daniel J. Daley of the Beloit Police Department was also honored as one of the fallen officers in the State of Wisconsin in 2024. National Police Week is also a time to recognize the great men and women who serve and protect our communities each and every day. 7. OPD 9TH ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY: The Oshkosh Police Department held their 9th Annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the EAA Aviation Museum – Eagle Hangar. Department employees and citizens were recognized for their exceptional performance, achievements and service to the Oshkosh community during the 2024 year. The Awards Ceremony is about more than the reflection of the pride and dedication of those who strive to make a difference in our community. It is also about the strong partnerships that are built and recognized by our community businesses and leaders. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Tom & Penny Harenburg, EAA and 4imprint for their generosity and sponsorship in support of making the Annual Awards Ceremony such a success! More photos of the event can be found on the Oshkosh Police Department’s Facebook page. 8. 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 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, by email (kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov) or call 920-236-5002.