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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.22.25 Newsletter : TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Rebecca Grill, City Manager DATE: August 22, 2025 RE: Weekly Newsletter 1. NO GARBAGE OR RECYCLING COLLECTION ON LABOR DAY: Due to the City’s observance of Labor Day, there will be no garbage or recycling collection on Monday, September 1, 2025. Collections for the remainder of the week will be one day later. Garbage and recycling collection scheduled for Friday, September 5th moves to Saturday, September 6th. Regular services will resume on Monday, September 8th. Additionally, the City’s yard waste drop-off site located on West 3rd Avenue (between Idaho Street and Ohio Street) will be closed for the holiday on Monday, September 1st. The drop-off site will reopen on Tuesday, September 2nd. Residential curbside brush collection for September will take place on the regularly- scheduled garbage collection day the week of September 8th through September 12th. If you have any questions, please contact Public Works Field Operations Manager, Ryan Lemke or Public Works Sanitation Manager, Larry Wilkins. 2. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT! Kudos to the City’s Sanitation Division team members who recently helped a young resident celebrate his 2nd birthday. As stated in the Department’s post, connecting with the community is one of the best parts of what we do. Check out the City of Oshkosh Department of Public Works Facebook page for more photos and some sweet video of the celebration! 3. PARK SITES UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION: In addition to the Siewert Trail reconstruction in Menominee Park that was reported in last week’s newsletter, other park sites are also currently experiencing construction activity. • Reconstruction is currently underway at Stevens Park to enhance the tennis and basketball courts for future use. This project is expected to conclude in late September. • At 44th Parallel Park, reconstruction is underway and is expected to be finished by late September. The tennis courts will be reconstructed to accommodate both tennis and pickleball. 4. URBAN FORESTY SURVEY: The Oshkosh Forestry Division is seeking your input on all aspects of our urban forest. We value your opinions regarding tree canopy cover, species diversity, tree care, and your overall feelings about trees in our community. Your input will help us develop our Urban Forest Strategic Plan and Urban Forest Management Plan effectively. Please help by taking the online survey. For further information, please contact Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager, at 920-236-5080. 5. “EVENT SEASON” CONTINUES IN OSHKOSH: As summer winds down and school resumes, "event season" in Oshkosh continues with plenty of activities for all. A variety of exciting events are on the horizon, including music, arts and crafts, runs/walks, sporting events, and more. Jambalaya Arts will continue to host events for artists to showcase their work, while Opera House Square will be a buzz with arts, crafts, and music throughout the fall. Outdoor and sports enthusiasts alike can look forward to plenty of events leading up to the Herd basketball games in October. The Waterfowl Hunters Expo, a vendor show for duck hunters, will be hosted at Sunnyview Expo Center. Sunnyview Expo will also be the site for a live rodeo coming to town! Folks can also look forward to INB International Boxing at Oshkosh Arena. Music lovers won't be disappointed either, as they can enjoy two fantastic free concert series: Brews by the Waterside and Live at the Leach, both organized by the Oshkosh Parks Department. Downtown, the sounds of Music on Main and the Oshkosh Jazz Festival will fill the air. For those who enjoy staying active, events like Pedal Out Hunger and Race the Lake offer great opportunities for running, walking, or biking. Oshkosh truly has something for everyone. Learn about all the exciting upcoming events on the “Let’s Talk Events” monthly podcast or Discover Oshkosh’s events page. For further information, please contact Kathy Snell, Special Events Coordinator, at 920-236- 5080. 6. CHECK OUT THE SENIORS CENTER’S FALL PROGRAMS: The Oshkosh Seniors Center is preparing for a busy fall season starting in September with popular activities like ukulele, choir, fitness class, balance screenings, and open hours for woodshop and stained glass. All programs are designed to promote engagement and vitality! In addition, the Seniors Center is accepting bookings for weekend rentals. Spaces are available for birthday parties, bridal or baby showers, retirement parties, meetings, and more. To make a reservation, contact the Senior Services Manager (information below). Lastly, the Brain Health & Wellness Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10. The event is free and will feature a variety of speakers, community partner booths, and hands- on demonstrations in the South Building. In the afternoon, enjoy a concert in the North Building from the J+ Band, featuring popular hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Tickets for the concert are $8 and can be purchased at both front desks. For further information, please contact Dan Braun, Seniors Services Manager, at 920.232.5300. 7. NEW AMUSEMENT TRAIN CONSIDERED FOR 2026: Following the community discussion earlier this year regarding amusement train operations at Menominee Park, the Parks Department has been working in collaboration with various community partners to consider an on-land, wheeled train to replace the current tracked train (example above). Discussions have included insights from some individuals who publicly advocated for the return of the amusement train this year. Discussions have also included Discover Oshkosh, the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, and other community partners. Efforts are underway for a public/private partnership to raise funds for the new train and enhance the zoo and park. An on-land, wheeled train, capable of traveling throughout the majority of the park, has been proposed. Staff believes this type of train will require considerably less maintenance than the current track and train system, since it will be operated on park paths and roadways. Additionally, staff believe that an extended train ride would offer an opportunity to share the park’s history through a narrated tour by the train conductor, as well as give visitors a chance to see more areas of the park, such as the beach and Ames Point areas. The Advisory Park Board discussed this at the meeting held on August 11, 2025, and unanimously recommended moving forward with the on-land train option for 2026. As 2026 operating budgets are currently being developed, an expanded train operating schedule, allowing operations daily from 12 to 7 pm, is proposed in the Parks Revenue Facilities budget for the Common Council to consider. Train hours depend on the hiring of necessary staff. Ticket sales are anticipated to occur at the Lakefly Café window, located on the park side of the café. Funding required for the train purchase is expected to come from fundraising efforts in collaboration with community partners, while ride ticket revenue will support ongoing operations. For further information, please contact Ray Maurer, Parks Director, at 920-236-5080. 8. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HIRING! The Oshkosh Fire Department is excited to announce that we are seeking dedicated individuals to join the Oshkosh Fire Department as Fire Cadets. Cadets will complete the State of Wisconsin Firefighter I Certification and, on non-class days, complete in-house training. Upon completion of the course and passing the test, we will recommend you to the Oshkosh Police and Fire Commission to receive Firefighter pay and benefits and become part of a highly respected team dedicated to public service, representing the City of Oshkosh and the State of Wisconsin with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Visit the City’s Employment Opportunities page to apply and start your journey today! 9. OFD RESUMES CAR SEAT CLINICS: After a brief hiatus due to a retirement, the Oshkosh Fire Department recently partnered with the Winnebago County Public Health Department and offered their first combined car seat clinic on August 13th. Car seat clinics will be held at Station 15 (101 Court St.) on the second Wednesday of every month from 1 – 4pm. Call 920-232-3000 to schedule an appointment! 10. LIBRARY DELIVERING SERVICES OUTSIDE THEIR WALLS: Oshkosh Public Library brings library services out into the community and our newest site is City Hall. Afternoon sessions twice a month make it convenient for city staff to learn about library services, update their library cards, get help downloading digital services such as Libby and Hoopla and get easy access to what’s new at OPL. Community Engagement Librarian Sandy Toland will be in Room 203 at City Hall on the first Tuesday of each month from 2-4 p.m. and the third Wednesday of the month, from 1-3 p.m. Stop by and talk books, offer feedback and connect with all that the library has to offer! 11. GET INVOLVED IN A BOARD OR COMMISSION: If you are interested in serving your community, 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 Transportation Committee 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, the process of appointment, or need more information about a particular board, please contact the City Manager’s Executive Assistant, Kami Zuercher, by email (kzuercher@oshkoshwi.gov) or call 920-236-5002.