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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWeekly Newsletter Date: November 19, 2010 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: CITY TO RESPOND TO PROPOSED USPS FACILITY CLOSURE 1.: As the Council is aware, the United States Postal Service will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, November rd 23, at UW-Oshkosh's Reeve Memorial Union. I am enclosing a copy of the notice of the meeting, along with a summary of the AMP Feasibility Study. The timing of this public hearing coincides with the Council Meeting on that date, so I have directed Assistant City Attorney David Praska to make a presentation on behalf of the City of Oshkosh. Mr. Praska will be attending a tour of the Green Bay facility with USPS representatives and local Chamber of Commerce officials on Friday (today). Mr. Praska will also be meeting with our local group following that tour to prepare information to be presented at Tuesday's public hearing. At this time, I believe that our strongest argument is that the analysis done by the USPS to only consider the closure of the Oshkosh facility is flawed and should be reviewed. Mr. Praska may identify additional points he may wish to make at the hearing that may be relevant to the scope of the USPS analysis. For example, the fact that the USPS has not responded to our Freedom of Information Act request as of this time puts us at a disadvantage, and I believe that having that information for a period of time prior to our final comments would be most appropriate. I will have Mr. Praska report back to the Council and me following Tuesday's hearing. In the meantime, if you have any questions or items you would like to discuss concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Praska or me. OTS MISSES OUT ON GRANT FOR FOUR HYBRID BUSES 2.: We recently learned that the Oshkosh Transit System was unsuccessful in its application to obtain funding for up to four hybrid buses through the Federal Transit Administration's Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) grant program. This funding would have allowed us to purchase the new buses with a more favorable local share than we could obtain through conventional capital funding methods. Transportation Department staff have contacted FTA officials to learn what factors may have influenced this decision. The 2011 Capital Improvements Program includes funding for two buses since that would allow us to finish replacement of our 1997 buses. We have already secured funding for one bus, and will continue to pursue opportunities to fund the other bus. If you have any questions on this, please contact Transportation Director Chris Strong. Weekly Newsletter November 19, 2010 Page 2 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING ON CLOSURE OF ELMWOOD 3.: The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has invited residents in and around the University to a neighborhood meeting nd on Monday, November 22, at Reeve Memorial Union, at which time they will make a presentation about their interest in possibly closing Elmwood Avenue. A copy of the invitation is enclosed. The University will be providing information to make a case on how the closure of Elmwood would benefit the University in achieving its Master Plan. As I've previously reported, city staff met with University officials last week and discussed some of their ideas. Our concerns are dealing with traffic issues that extend well beyond the University's zone of influence. Specifically, traffic patterns that exist throughout the city, as both High Avenue and Algoma Boulevard are signficant thoroughfares throughout the city, and any change to Elmwood would be impacted by any subsequent changes to High Avenue and/or Algoma Boulevard. Our hope is that the residents attending the meeting on Monday can provide input, recognizing that this is a much larger issue than the University community itself. City Clerk Ubrig has noticed this meeting in case any or all Council Members are interested in attending. If you are not interested in attending, any thoughts you may have prior to Monday's meeting can be directed to either Transportation Director Chris Strong or me regarding those issues so we may share them at Monday's hearing. UPDATE ON TIPLER STORMWATER DETENSION BASIN 4.: We have received several inquiries concerning the Tipler stormwater detention basin. Public Works Director Patek has indicated that we had anticipated the removal of the temporary fence around the basin this fall. After the Public Works Department reviewed the condition of the new grass in the detention basin, it was determined that the temporary fence needed to remain until late spring of 2011. Because of the poor condition of the new seeding, the city will be scheduling additional seeding work in the spring of 2011. The temporary fence will need to remain to help continue to notify residents that this area is not open for recreational activities. If you have any questions concerning this issue, please contact Public Works Director Patek. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATES 5.: Other items I'm enclosing with today's Newsletter include two press releases. The first touts the free bus service that will be provided on th Black Friday, November 26, to safely transport riders during this busy shopping day. The second press release concerns no garbage or recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day. Collections for the remainder of the week will be one day late. Insofar as minutes are concerned, I'm enclosing th the minutes of the November 10 Parking Utility Commission meeting; the minutes of the thth November 9 Traffic Review Advisory Board meeting; and the minutes of the November 15 Grand Opera House Advisory Board meeting. nd UPCOMING MEETINGS 6.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of November 22 include the following: On Monday evening, I will be attending the informational meeting at UW-Oshkosh regarding the University's desire to close Elmwood Avenue. On Wednesday, at 7:30 a.m., I will be attending the monthly OAEDC Board meeting. At this time, these are the only major meetings I have scheduled for this week. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, and due to the fact that th Jackie and I will be on vacation on Friday, November 26, there will be no Newsletter next week. If there are any items that need to get passed along to Council next week, I will have Jackie forward it to you separately.