City Manager Interview Schedule

As reported by the Oshkosh Northwestern, the council decided on a city manager interview schedule, which will include a community forum with all six finalists. I have posted the interview schedule on my Web site.

There still are a few details to be worked out - I assume at Tuesday's council meeting - but I am pleased there will be an opportunity for citizens to meet the candidates, and I encourage people to attend, listen and participate.

For more information about the candidates, please check out my previous post.

-Bryan

City Manager Candidates

As most people know by now, the six finalists for the city manager position have been announced. They are:

Kevin M. Brunner, City Manager, Whitewater, WI
Lawrence M. Delo, City Administrator, DePere, WI
Bret A. Jones, City Administrator, Gillette, WY
Jeffrey B. Muzzy, Advisor/Consultant, International City/County Management Association
Gary G. Rogers, Jr., City Administrator, Waupun, WI
Mark A. Rohloff, Town Administrator, Grand Chute, WI

Mayor Frank Tower has indicated that a new manager could be hired as early as July. However, the council will meet at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20th at City Hall to discuss first how to proceed with the search process. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on how you would like to see us move forward. Feel free to share your comments here and/or contact the members of the council.

-Bryan

Orange Barrels

It has been said that there are only two seasons in Wisconsin - winter and road construction. Now that winter finally is over, it must be time for road construction.

In an effort to consolidate information, I have listed below links to three Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) projects in/around Oshkosh.

Wisconsin Street Bridge
US 41 expansion
US 45 expansion

There also are links on the city's Web site to keep you up-to-date on projects.

Ohio Street/Wisconsin Street Bridge
Traffic restrictions information and map (updated weekly)

The only road construction information I could find on the county's Web site is on the West Side Arterial Corridor Location Study Oshkosh Area. However, this is extremely important for the future growth of Oshkosh.

Finally, as most of you are aware, Oshkosh will become home to several roundabouts in the coming years, the first of which will be at the intersection of Jackson Street and Murdock Avenue in 2009. To help educate the general public, the WisDOT has a Web site dedicated to roundabouts, including a video on how they work and why they are beneficial.

-Bryan

Defender, Bystander and Enemy

State Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) was named a "Democracy Defender" by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a non-partisan political watchdog group. Based on his record of supporting reform, Rep. Hintz was ranked as one of only nine defenders of democracy, and the only Northeast Wisconsin legislator to be ranked a defender. Way to go, Gordon!

State Senator Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh) and State Representative Carol Owens (R-Oshkosh), whom both are retiring at the end of the year, were ranked as a "Bystander" and "Public Enemy," respectively.

-Bryan

April 29, 2008 Fifth Tuesday Forum

I am hosting a Fifth Tuesday Forum on April 29th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Oshkosh Seniors Center, 200 N. Campbell Rd., in the Willow North Room. All are welcome to attend.

Please contact me or post a message here if you have questions or comments about the forum, or suggested topics for it.

-Bryan

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!

Be sure to check out the Earth Week activities at UW Oshkosh.



-Bryan

New City Attorney

I received the following press release today from City Hall.

Oshkosh, Wis. – The City of Oshkosh has selected Lynn Lorenson as their new City Attorney. “After reviewing the applications received Ms. Lorenson was far and away the best choice for the position of City Attorney,” said Acting City Manager John Fitzpatrick. “Her educational background, practical experience and familiarity with the legal history of the City of Oshkosh distinguished her above all other applicants.”

Lorenson is currently the Acting City Attorney and since 1992 has been the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Oshkosh. Lorenson received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, studied at the University of Nottingham, England, and earned a bachelor of science in history with a psychology minor from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin. With each degree Lorenson earned, she received the distinction of graduating with the honor of Magna Cum Laude.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve the City of Oshkosh,” said Lorenson. “I’m proud to be part of the dedicated team committed to serving the citizens of Oshkosh.”

Lorenson will officially begin her new assignment as City Attorney beginning April 20.

For more information about the City of Oshkosh please visit www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us

Congratulations to Ms. Lorenson. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with her.

-Bryan

Council Organizational Meeting

The Organizational Meeting of the 'new' Oshkosh Common Council is 12:00 p.m. tomorrow at City Hall. Besides the seating of the new council, election of the Deputy Mayor and discussion of Council Rules, two additional items are up for discussion and action.

The first of the additional items is regarding the current "Council Member Statements" agenda item. As reported by The Northwestern, Acting City Attorney Lynn Lorenson has, on multiple occasions, advised us to be more specific with our agenda. I agree. The recommendations I will make during tomorrow's meeting are to:

• Change "Council Member Statements" to "Additional Staff and Council Member Statements and Discussion"
• Eliminate "Whatever Else is Pertinent and For the Good of the City"
• Add to the agenda "Additional Action Items"

I also am going to urge Mayor Tower to error on the side of caution (and open government) to not allow any action or discussion and statements that are not properly noticed.

The second additional agenda item is a proposal by Council Member Palmeri to create a Budget Committee, the specifics of which can be found here (page 2). This will be the second time Council Member Palmeri has introduced this proposal. You can read more about his proposal on his blog as well as what Miles Maguire had to say about it on his blog.

So, what are your thoughts? Should the "Council Member Statements" agenda item be altered? If so, how? Should we create a Budget Committee? I look forward to the discussion.

-Bryan

February 18, 2008 Fifth Tuesday Forum Notes

The notes from the February 18th Fifth Tuesday Forum are now available online.

The next Fifth Tuesday Forum is scheduled for April 29th at 6:00 p.m., location TBD. If you have a suggested location, please post it here or contact me.

-Bryan

Staggering Iraq War Numbers

Citizen Action of Wisconsin today released on WisPolitics.com state and local costs of the Iraq War. Below is the press release:

Citizen Action of Wisconsin: Releases state and local cost of war numbers on 5th anniversary of Iraq invasion
3/19/2008
Contact: Robert Kraig
(414) 322-5324

Brings Attention to Lost Opportunities to Invest in Wisconsin

Milwaukee: As the Iraq war enters its 5th year today, there is an overwhelming public consensus that the Bush Administration’s invasion has failed to achieve any of its major objectives. On top of the international relations disaster and the deaths of nearly 4,000 American troops and nearly 100,000 Iraqis the misguided invasion has wrought, there is growing public attention to the consequences of the war for vital domestic priorities such as health care and education.

To mark the 5th anniversary of the war, Citizen Action is releasing today estimates of what Wisconsin, and individual Wisconsin cities could have done in 2008 alone with their share of Iraq war spending. The data was obtained from National Priorities Project. Citizen Action is also holding events in Green Bay and Eau Claire later today to bring attention to the local cost of the Iraq war.

In 2008 alone, Wisconsin residents will pay an astounding $1.3 billion for additional proposed Iraq war spending. For the same outlay, 861,342 people could have received health care coverage; 89 new elementary schools could have been built, 198,642 college scholarships could have been given, and 29,904 public safety officers could have been hired.

As the following chart shows, these lost opportunities to invest in Wisconsin are significant at the local level.

2008 Iraq War Spending by Wisconsin Municipality

Milwaukee Area $203.7 Million
Madison Area $119.4 Million
Green Bay Area $59.9 Million
Racine Area $51.6 Million
Appleton Area $45.4 Million
Janesville/Beloit Area $39.4 Million
Wausau Area $32.3 Million
Eau Claire Area $20.8 Million
Manitowoc Area $20.4 Million
Oshkosh $13.5 Million
Sheboygan $11.6 Million
La Crosse $9.2 Million
Superior Area $8.7 Million

The local share of war spending could have been used to make major investments in the economic vitality and quality of life in Wisconsin’s major cities. For example, for Milwaukee’s share, 4,506 public safety officers could have been hired. In Oshkosh, 2,002 college scholarships could have been given, and in Appleton 3 new elementary schools could have been built.

“Five years of war in Iraq are five years too many,” said Linda Honold, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “With an economic recession making it harder than ever for Wisconsin families to make ends meet, the human and economic costs of the war in Iraq are unaffordable and unconscionable. Congress must reverse the administration’s upside-down priorities, end the war and invest in America’s future.”

-Bryan

Roessler Not Running

State Senator Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh) announced today that she will not seek a 7th Senate term. I join State Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) in thanking Senator Roessler for her years of service. Even though we disagreed on many issues, she remained professional, friendly and a helpful public servant.

Now the question becomes, "who will run?" We already know of one candidate, Council Member King, but I am sure this vacancy will bring out numerous additional candidates, especially Republicans. Any thoughts???

-Bryan

UPDATE: According to the Oshkosh Northwestern, Winnebago County Sheriff Michael Brooks and Fond du Lac City Councilor Tim Lakin have indicated they will seek the Republican nomination. State Rep. John Townsend (R-Fond du Lac) has not ruled out running for the seat.

New Transportation Director

I received the following press release today from Acting City Manager John Fitzpatrick.

City of Oshkosh names Strong as Transportation Director

Oshkosh, Wis. – The City of Oshkosh has selected Christopher K. Strong as their new Transportation Director. Strong will replace Mark Huddleston who retired on February 1, 2008, after 30 years of service with the City. In his new position, Strong will oversee the Transportation Department which includes the offices of Traffic Engineering, Transit, Sign and Electric.

“We are very pleased Chris Strong has accepted the Transportation Director position with the City of Oshkosh,” said Acting City Manager John Fitzpatrick. “Chris has a diverse transportation planning background in both the public and private sector where he has been involved with the latest developments in intelligent transportation system planning while producing programs for state DOT’s across the country.”

Strong is currently the Program Manager for Safety & Operations at the Western Transportation Institute located at Montana State University. Prior to 1999, Strong was a Transportation Planner for Wilbur Smith Associates in Lisle, Illinois. In 1996 Strong was a member of the Northeastern Illinois Transportation Planning Cadre for the Chicago Metro Agency for Planning in Chicago, Illinois.

Strong received his Master of Science in Engineering with a Transportation Concentration from the University of Texas at Austin. He has also earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a minor in Economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His family includes his wife Sunny and their two children.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve the City of Oshkosh,” said Strong. “I’m really looking forward to building on the good work that been done by Mark and his staff in developing and maintaining a strong transportation system.”

Strong’s official start date is April 5, 2008. Mark Huddleston has agreed to temporarily assist the city as Transportation Director until Strong is able to assume the position. “We are grateful for Mark’s commitment to helping us out during this transitional period,” said Fitzpatrick. “The fact that he is returning after 30 years of service and his retirement indicates the caliber of individual he is.” For more information about the City of Oshkosh please visit www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us

Congratulations to Mr. Strong. I look forward to working him in his new role as Transportation Director, particularly since I serve on the Traffic Review Advisory Board. I also want to congratulate Mr. Huddleston for his 30 years of service to the city. I wish him all the best in retirement.

-Bryan

New OCMS Web site

I encourage citizens to check out the new Oshkosh Community Media Services (formerly known as OCAT) Web site. Features of the new Web site include: Video Streaming of local government meetings and programs (including video archives), E-Update Service, Volunteer Sign up and much more.

Kudos to the entire OCMS staff, Friends of OCM and our city's IT Department for their work on this project. Oshkosh is extremely lucky to have this valuable service.

-Bryan

City Manager Search Progress Web site

For the most up-to-date information on the search for the next city manager, including profile information, the PAR Group's bid and the community feedback form (those are the items currently available), please visit the new "City Manager Search Progress" Web site. It is my understanding that an online version of the community feedback form is forthcoming.

-Bryan