HomeMy WebLinkAboutWeekly Newsletter
Date: April 19, 2013
To: Mayor & City Council
From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Subject:
OCMS RECOGNIZED BY PEERS:
1. I am pleased to announce that Oshkosh Community Media
Services (OCMS) was recognized by its peers in the Wisconsin Community Media annual
statewide competition. This year s competition was expanded featuring other Midwest states. Three
programs produced by OCMS staff were recognized for words in excellence including City
Managers Report Top 10 program, Your City at Work, which featured Nick Austin training at the
Fire Department and a feature on our river walk, and the OCMS website. Additionally, the Your
City at Work program also received the est in Show amongst all the entries for this
competition. Additionally, other award winning programs included 13 other shows either produced
by OCMS staff or other local producers. I am proud to say that I believe OCMS is probably the
best community media services outlet in the state, if not in the Midwest or the country. We are
consistently receiving awards in recognition of our community outreach to keep our public
informed. Congratulations to Gen eral Services Manager Jon Urben, Producer Andy Radig,
Communications Coordinator Nick Austin, Scott Williams, and all the volunteers and other staff
members who have helped make OCMS such a successful communications outlet for the Oshkosh
community.
PROPERTY ACQUISTITION FOR CENTRAL GARAGE CONTINUES:
2. Council Members
will notice in next week s council agenda that the
purchase properties that were identified on the master plan for the central garage campus. Staff is
working with a professional site acquisition specialist to contact affected property orders and
purchase these properties in accordance with state statute s. As you might expect with purchases of
this nature, there are a variety of people who either have a great deal of interest in selling these
properties, or no interest. In between there are people who are working t o achieve the best price
possible. Please be aware that staff is required to follow Chapter 32 of State Statutes in acquiring
appraisal done of their property ear from some property
owners who feel that they are not receiving a fair price for their property. Please be aware that our
staff and our consultant are fully aware of the requirements under state law and will make sure that
the property owners receive fair compensation for any purchases that the city makes. If you have
Works Director Dave Patek.
Weekly Newsletter
April 19, 2013
Page 2
OSHKOSH PREMIER WATERFRONT HOTEL RIBBON CUTTING:
3. On Tuesday agenda,
you may notice that the hotel group is seeking a special event permit for the ribbon cutting at the
hotel. Mr. Rich Batley and Daniel Sc he tter of the hotel have asked me to pass along an invitation to
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all Council Members to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 2.
Additionally, you may receive an invitation for another pre-opening event. I have asked City Clerk
Pam Ubrig to notice any ev ents that you may be invited to so that you are aware that the get
togethers have been properly notice. Furthermore, Mr. Sc hetter has assured me that the hotel and
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GroundRound restaurant will be opened for business on Monday, April 29. I know I speak for
everyone when I say that we are pleased that this project is finally coming to fruition. I appreciate
all the work of staff that have been involved in assisting the hotel to do what they can to get open in
a timely fashion.
4.OTHER ITEMS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR INFORMATION INCLUDE THE
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FOLLOWING:
Minutes of the Downtown Bid Board Meeting from March 19, at which the BID
Board indicated it willingness to contribute $5,000.00 towards a downtown parking study; Traffic
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Review Board minutes of their April 9 meeting; minutes of the March 6 Long Range Finance
Committee; and minutes of he April 10 Parking Utility Commission. Additionally, I am including a
notice being sent to residents along North Main Street from New York Avenue to Murdock Avenue
regarding the planned reconstruction of that street in 2014 or 2015. Finally, I am providing you a
copy of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance newsletter which addresses the topic of school options
in Wisconsin.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
5.: Among the meetings I have scheduled for the w eek of April 22
include the following: On Monday at noon I will be meeting with Mayor Tower to go over
for applying for additional grants for the riverwalk pr oject near the Boatworks property. On
Tuesday at 9:30 am, I am meeting with a local resident regarding a property matter. On Tuesday at
11:30, I will be attending an Employee Recognition event at the Parks Department. On Tuesday at
2:00 pm, I will be attending a meeting of the Economic Development Study Group. On Wednesday
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April 24 at 8:15 am I will be attending an Arbor Day event across from the Paine Art Center. At
11:30 on Wednesday, I will be attending the United Way Executive Board Meeting. On Thursday,
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April 25 at 7:15 am I will be attending the FVTC briefing to the community at the Aviation
Center. At 9:00 am on Thursday, I will be meeting with Councilor Fitzgerald to go over current city
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issues that he would like to be briefed on. I will be out o f the office on Friday, April 26. If you
have any questions regarding my schedule for next week, please do not hesitate to contact me.
MAR/jab
Enclosures