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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWeekly Newsletter Date: January 14, 2011 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: RECONSTRUCTION OF ELMWOOD AVENUE 1.: During discussions at Tuesday's Council Meeting, I was asked how delaying a decision on the possible closure of Elmwood Avenue near UW-Oshkosh would impact the reconstruction of Elmwood this summer. Staff has had internal discussions regarding how the bid package will ultimately be put together due to the unfinished plans for the section of Elmwood in front of the University. While staff would prefer to have absolute certainty in putting the bid documents together, there are ways in which we can prepare the bid documents to maintain our flexibility while minimizing the risk for unnecessary cost increases. Staff will be preparing the bid documents with these uncertain issues in mind. As a result, I can assure you that change orders will take place. Our actions will help minimize the final cost. Please be aware, however, that the documents that go out to bid may not necessarily reflect what will ultimately be constructed along Elmwood, nor does it necessarily reflect staff's own opinion on what may or should be done on Elmwood Avenue. That issue remains a policy issue for the Council. The bid documents will reflect what we believe will enable us to have the project completed at the least cost possible, given the uncertainties at this point. Of course, our other motivation is that we want to make sure that this project gets completed in a timely fashion during the 2011 construction season. If you have any questions about this project and how we are planning it, please contact Public Works Director David Patek. ROUNDABOUT ANALYSIS 2.: Please find enclosed a report from Police Chief Scott Greuel regarding accident data and enforcement activity for the new roundabouts that were installed this past year. As the report indicates, the majority of the accidents are located at the Jackson and Murdock intersection, followed by Washburn and Witzel. At the same time, the Police Department continues to make a presence at these locations to make traffic stops, issue warnings, and ultimately issue citations for unsafe traffic behaviors. Police continue enforcement activities at these intersections, but these activities must be balanced with enforcement needs elsewhere. It should be noted that of all of the accidents that have occurred at these intersections, only four accidents of the total involved any injuries. As was discussed when the roundabouts were proposed, the severity of these accidents is much less than what would take place with a signalized intersection. If you have any questions after reviewing this report, please contact Police Chief Greuel. Weekly Newsletter January 14, 2011 Page 2 SOUTHWEST INDUSTRIAL PARK 3.: This past week, Public Works Director David Patek and I met with representatives of Olson Mills regarding the railway improvements they would like to make near their mill that adjoins the Southwest Industrial Park expansion that is planned for 2011. One of our roads, Global Parkway, is planned to cross the railroad tracks near the location where Olson Mills is installing railroad spurs and sidelines along the tracks so that they may load and unload rail cars. We are pursuing options with them so that they may maximize their flexibility for loading their rail cars, while minimizing any inconvenience to traffic that may be entering and exiting the industrial park. The city's plan is to install the road that will enter the industrial park on STH 91 and loop through the industrial park to the north, and ultimately west out to Clairville Road. Our plan is to have the road constructed in 2011 and make the land available for sale in late 2011/early 2012. If you have any questions regarding this industrial park expansion project, please contact Public Works Director Patek. STATE OF THE CITY/SAVE THE DATE 4.: Please find enclosed a "Save the Date" card for the st annual State of the City and City Expo, which is scheduled for Monday, March 21, at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Without revealing too much, our focus will be on our Strategic Plan that was recently adopted by Council, and our efforts to fulfill the strategic goals that are contained in the plan. We also plan to recognize groups and individuals that have helped the city, in addition to our traditional recognition of board and commission members. I appreciate the support of Council Members for this event and the feedback that you have given me on ways to improve it. If you have any other thoughts on State of the City, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued support of this community event. DEPARTMENT REPORTS & UPDATES 5.: Other items I'm enclosing with today's Newsletter thth include the minutes of the January 4 Plan Commission meeting; the minutes of the December 8 st Landmarks Commission meeting; and the minutes of the December 21 Downtown BID Board meeting. th UPCOMING MEETINGS 6.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of January 17 include the th following: On Monday, January 17, at 11:00 a.m., I will be meeting with Building Inspection and Information Technology staff on ways in which we can use technology to improve our field reporting capabilities for building inspectors. This is part of our continuous improvement project and our goal to improve processes that support business development. At 5:00 p.m. on Monday, I will be attending the annual Martin Luther King Celebration at UW-Oshkosh. At that time, the Police Department will be recognized for their Team Policing efforts with the University and throughout the community. On Tuesday, at 11:30 a.m., I will be meeting with Community Development Director Allen Davis to discuss the creation of a committee to assist the redevelopment agency in implementing some of its plans, particularly in the south shore area. On Tuesday, at 1:30 p.m., I will be meeting with a representative of an engineering firm that is interested in assisting us with design work for the central garage renovation. On Wednesday, th January 19, at 8:00 a.m., I will be participating in Leadership Oshkosh Economic Development Day, at which time partners in development in the city will be discussing economic development issues with the Leadership Oshkosh class. Weekly Newsletter January 14, 2011 Page 3 On Wednesday, at 1:00 p.m., I will be attending the ceremony at which Oshkosh Corporation will be delivering its first FMTV vehicle to the Army. This event will take place at the National Guard Armory. Following that meeting, new Oshkosh Corporation CEO, Charlie Szews, and I will meet to get acquainted and discuss future initiatives between the city and Oshkosh Corporation. On th Thursday, January 20, I will be meeting with staff to discuss ways we may improve our commercial development review process. At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, I will be meeting with Winnebago County representatives to discuss Health Department consolidation issues. If you have any questions regarding my attendance at any of these meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me. MAR/jdc