Main Street Oshkosh

The Priority of Outdatedness

2008-08-31T21:13:00.004-05:00

This past Tuesday evening I was listening to the local WOCT show with Jon Urben and new city manager Mark Rohloff. Mark was reviewing that night's common council agenda.

The agenda for the evening's meeting contained, among other things , over 20 "disallow claims" in which Oshkosh residents were being denied any city assistance for the damages incurred during the June flooding. In addition, the agenda included a change to city ordinances specifically regarding the Energy and Environmental Advisory Commission (E&E).

When Jon and Mark got to the E&E resolution, Mark said that the language in the existing ordinance is outdated and the city was simply getting it up to date. Jon did not proceed to ask what that specifically means.

Immediately following the radio show was the council meeting, in which many residents made concerning statements regarding the flooding and their experience with the city. According to multiple residents, no one from the city nor the insurance provider ever looked into any potential causes of sewer water back-up into their basements (for those not aware, simply having extra rainfall shouldn't necessarily result in sewer water back-up). What may have been found had a review occurred remains a mystery, but the findings could have possibly included faulty sewer line work, damage to city sewer lines, questionable water line connections that pool storm water and sewer water, or others.

Just before the council arrived at the Disallow Claims portion, they discussed the E&E resolution. The resolution was brought by Jessica King, and was supported by Mayor Tower, who cast the lone vote in favor of it (all other councilors voted to send it to the E&E for review and improvement). Included in the "outdated language" was the following:
1. Advise the City Manager and/or Common Council on specific energy and environmental problems or concerns.
2. Review and advise the City Manager and/or Common Council on proposed or existing State and Federal laws and rules pertaining to energy conservation and their potential effect on the community.
3. Develop a comprehensive energy education plan, including emergency measures.
4. Advise the City Manager and Common Council on existing or proposed City ordinances which have energy and/or environmental implications. Serve as liaison on specific issues with Wisconsin Public Service, Advocap, Winnebago County, East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC), and other agencies as requested by the City Manager and/or Common Council.
5. Develop methods and procedures through which the City of Oshkosh can more efficiently utilize energy.

In reality, most if not all of the above five items are as important today as they were 30 years ago. In addition, it is probably very important that a third party review city actions to determine the environmental impact. This is called accountability and good government. What I suspect was the case is that numbers 1, 2, and 4 were a problem for particular city staff, since numerous times the E&E board had attempted to review other existing activities of the city only to be told "this is not your responsibility" by acting city manager Fitzpatrick, city attorney Lorenson, and others. The "don't question other municipal activity" didn't fit the reality, so it was determined that a change was needed.

My question is this: When huge portions of the city are significantly burdened by flooding, which partially MAY have been the result of negligence on behalf of the city, which has cost some families and business owners well over $10,000 that insurance providers won't cover, and in which NO review of the issue or useful feedback was provided by the city nor the city's insurance carrier, then why doesn't the city or the council attempt to modify a board, or modify current city staff responsibilities, or create a new emergency & disaster response team to include the responsibility of meeting with residents effected by an emergency / disaster, to hear their issues and claims, to gather documentation from local officials and from the damaged site, to review the information, and to provide a recommendation to staff and the council regarding how the issue can be resolved, who may be at fault, what they recommend for potential compensation, and what role the city can play in providing valuable customer service to distressed residents?

I guess I see the above as this: To increase accountability, or to remove it.

A "well done" to the councilors that did not support the E&E ordinance and instead provided support to the existing E&E board. Following an effective check of city priorities, maybe citizens, councilors, and staff can see how we can increase the accountability, effectiveness, and leadership of our municipal government. I think all of the council, significant quantities of Oshkosh residents, and hopefully some staff all feel that the city's response to the flooding displayed none of the above.

Labor Day Winnebago County

2008-08-31T08:30:00.003-05:00

Labor Day festivities in Oshkosh again will be held in Oshkosh's South Park from 10:00am to 4:00pm

Locally produced corn from the grill, burgers and brats, and soda and beer are all for sale at an affordable price. Remember to bring your bee swatter. Last year free books were given out to kids from a local union publisher. I'm guessing there will again be live big band music.

It should be great weather, so come on out.

A Near East Lack of Imagination

2008-08-24T15:50:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Jeff Bollier with the ONW for his work on the Near East side controversy. To recap the issue:

The city has the Near East side marked with a special attention for quality redevelopment with historic preservation a focus.
Advocap, a home-owner in the neighborhood, wants to spend roughly $30,000 on developing the exterior of the unit, but has no interest in historic preservation. Being a non-profit organization with limited funding sources, the decision by Advocap was likely based upon affordability, practicality, and feasibility.
The city has denied the permits for Advocap to complete the work, stating that the requested repairs do not fit the goals of the near east plan.
Some vocal city folks, including fellow bloggers and at least one council rep, are upset because they feel the city has overstepped its authority.

Here is my take:

The value of neighborhood re-development is greatly under-emphasized in Oshkosh, and the efforts currently underway are only touching the surface of options and tools that communities use.
Maintaining the history of the city and its neighborhoods is highly important, for reasons of cultural value, property value, aesthetic appeal, and historical preservation.
The idea behind the efforts to clean up, improve, and preserve the near east neighborhood is valid and a positive approach for the city to take.
The city is able to impose region-specific development criteria, as existing building codes simply equal the worst condition that a home can be developed, and do not take into consideration many contingent factors. An example of an area in which specific neighborhood development criteria would exist is along a water front in efforts to preserve and protect water quality and wildlife.

That being said, I believe the following:

The city should not be able to deny an effort to improve a property, so long as the improvements fit within municipal code, approved redevelopment plans that detail specific requirements, and the development does not create hazards (such as the above environmental hazard potential).
If the city is going to impose aesthetic and other requirements on a certain neighborhood only - to the point that plans not meeting the requirements are denied - they should offer an incentive to help pay for the imposed requirements. (Please note that these options may be available, as noted relatively unclear in the Redevelopment Plan - this assistance has not been mentioned so far in the news coverage nor in conversations I've had. Also, I'm not going to go too far into this, but I wouldn't be surprised if Advocap could qualify for CDBG funds or other redevelopment funds available through the Planning Svcs division of the city).

The possibilities for an incentive available to property owners attempting to meet the region-specific redevelopment requirements are numerous, including:

The city could work a system in which the increase in property value is reimbursed for a certain number of years. So if the annual taxes increase by $300 as a result of the improvements, these payments could be reimbursed to the property owner for 10 or more years, reimbursing the owner $3000 of the improvement costs.
The city could implement a system similar to the funding available to landlords for the redevelopment of blighted properties, in which a certain percentage of the improvement costs can be supported with redevelopment funds. For example, if the improvements fit into the redevelopment plan, then the property owner could apply for either: 1. A zero % interest loan, repayable over 10 or so years, in which 10% - 50% of the loan is forgiven upon completion of project; or 2. A targeted grant for the approved improvements equalling the greater of 15% of the project costs or $5000. The numbers can vary, but recognize that at current, landlords redeveloping blighted home rentals can qualify for a loan from the city's HOME Rental program in which upwards of 25% of the project costs are forgiven.

A parallel example of municipal funding can be found in our own state capital, in which the city of Madison provides facade improvement grants to businesses in certain city regions with the goal of "restoring or substantially beautifying, or enhancing the entire facade or elevation of a commercial building "

The examples listed above are just some of the alternatives that could be pursued through the redevelopment efforts of the city. What is required for anything to happen is a new direction for development, in which some dollars are moved out of the development of large complexes on dilapidated land and moved into funds for redeveloping our existing housing infrastructure.

Changing the direction of development to provide assistance to regular home owners would likely only happen with leadership from a unified and informed council, or through the hand of our new city manager. Lets hope in the meantime that the city doesn't give up on neighborhood revitalization, and lets hope that it doesn't take 10 more Advocap-dilemmas for the city to take action.

Back to School - Military Recruitment

2008-08-23T12:12:00.002-05:00

As School Begins, so does Military Recruitment

Do you know that our Pentagon/Military has access to your child’s school records and uses them for recruitment? The propaganda starts even earlier, however. My child is in Elementary School and at both Carl Traeger and Oakwood Elementary, where my child has attended school, there are books entitled, The US Army, The US Marines, The US Navy and the like. These books, written for the Armed Forces, glamorize the the weapons, vehicles and machinery of the armed forces. They show injured soldiers and in small print write "this is just a dramatization" (or something like that). In this age of violent video games where “war seems fun” , these books encourage our children to think about the armed services as cool. They encourage our children to this of others as them and possibly our enemies rather than another person. My child checks out one or two of these books at the beginning of the school year every year. You see, they are on display. I would not suggest censorship or removal of these books from the library, but parents/guardians should be aware.

Our military not only has books in our elementary school libraries, but uses registration from our high schools for targeted recruitment. You can elect out and protect your child from targeted recruitment by filing a form with your child’s high school. You can obtain a generic form at a couple of websites: (probably there are more than these): Leave my Child Alone at www.themmob.com\lmca or T.A.M.E. – Truth and Alternatives to Militarism in Education at www.tamewisconsin.org/Optout.htm Generally, the form is required to be filed at your High School by October. Check with your individual high school to see if they require that the form be filed annually. If they do, complain. Complain to the School, Complain to other parents, Complain to the PTO and complain to the School Board and Superintendent and then write your Congressional Representative.

Only by being aware, can we protect our children.

Oshkosh Collaboration Work Group

2008-08-22T08:32:00.002-05:00

The Oshkosh Collaboration Work Group will resume meeting the fourth Monday of September on the 22nd at 8:00-9:30am. Throughout this program year (September-June), they will be exploring the various indicators presented in the updated Local Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) report (Main Street Osh is still waiting for a copy). Meetings are at the J.P. Coughlin Building, 625 E. County Rd. Y, Oshkosh.

The Oshkosh Collaboration Work Group is made up of representatives of human/social services, health care, education, law enforcement, government and a variety of other related agencies and organizations throughout Oshkosh and Winnebago County, as well as dedicated and caring volunteer residents. Everyone who is interested in local issues is invited to join the group each month to share information and learn more about issues affecting the quality of life in Oshkosh and Winnebago County.

For more information, contact Dorry Wilner, Community Programs Coordinator with the Oshkosh Police Department: 420 Jackson Street Oshkosh, WI 54901. Ph. (920)236-5714 Fax.(920)236-5087. www.oshkoshpd.com

Becket's Restaurant Preview

2008-08-18T21:02:00.008-05:00

Becket's Restaurant officially opens its doors this Wednesday, August 20, 2008 in downtown Oshkosh at the City Center. The duo ownership team of Oshkosh native Chris Larson and head chef Mike Buckarama, along with a little design assistance from Oshkosh architect (and dad) Jim Larson, have combined to create a superb setting that is original, modern and intimate.

Beckets features a diverse menu rich in seafood choices, vegetarian entrees, steaks, and salads, as well as featured items including the mahi-mahi en papiotte and the slow roasted St Louis ribs. Appetizers range from the routine chicken tenders to grilled veggie quesadillas to a platter of home-made chips and fresh pico de gallo.

Wednesdays offer a special that appeals to those of us with little monsters, and was likely the result of intense pressure from sister and mother of two Jenna Larson, as Becket's provides free eats to children.

Indoor seating is available for 200, with an additional 60 outdoor seating along the Fox River. Banquet facilities are also available, with seating for upwards of 600.

The name Becket's comes from the original designer of the City Center, Welton Becket. Take a look at the menu for more information on Becket, the restaurant, and the food.

WPJC Planning Session

2008-08-13T18:20:00.005-05:00

Anyone interesting in improving the community is invited to the first ever strategic planning meeting of the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center. It will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at the Ability Resource Center, 115 Washington Avenue, Oshkosh from 6:00pm-9:00pm. There will be a meal served promptly at 6:00pm.

Business will begin at 6:30pm. Discussion will include the history, the current state and what the future holds for the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center. The group may be making consensus driven decisions that evening.

Anyone interested in attending should drop an email to jedmalirvlarpoe@gmail.com by the end of this weekend for timely distribution of agendas and food preparations.

The WPJC recently became a registered non-profit organization and is seeking greater participation in creating a sustainable path for the WPJC.

Family Services Oshkosh Fall Programs

2008-08-13T12:23:00.002-05:00

Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin provides valuable and important resources, training, and educational programming for children, parents, and families. Listed below is the upcoming Fall 2008 schedule of programming available to interested community members:

123 Magic
A behavior management program for parents of children 3-12 years, covering How to STOP behavior you don’t want, How to START behavior you do want, Avoid the talk-persuade-argue-yell-hit syndrome, How to handle misbehavior in public, How to deal with testing & manipulation
Date: Wednesdays August 20th & 27th
Time: 6-8pm
Site Location: Oshkosh Public Library 106 Washington Ave.
Fee: $10 per person Sliding fee scale available
Child Care available with pre registration (space limited)
Pre registration required: Call Angie @ 920-233-6630 ext 106 or e-mail at amccarthy@familyservicesnew.org

Within Our Reach
Building skills for positive/healthy relationships, focusing on building skills for positive/healthy relationships. For expectant parents or parents with a child under 1 year, unmarried & either currently in a relationship or single
Date: Sept 22nd, 29th, Oct. 6th & 13th
Time: 6-8 pm (A light meal is provided)
Site Location: St. Timothy Church 473 7th St. Menasha
Fee: Free *Must be a parent expecting or child under age 1 & unmarried couple
Child Care: Free with pre registration (Space limited)
Pre registration required: Call Megan McLachlan at 920-739-4226 ext 127

Birth- Twelve Nurturing Program
A family based program for families with children ages Birth -12 years - All members of the family & co-parenting the children should be part of this strength based program. Matching curriculum for age groups 4-7 years & 8-12 years of age. This approach solidifies the skills developed & implemented by the parents with the children, because the children have already learned these concepts in a safe environment by Nurturing staff before it is introduced at home. Parents must have access to their children for programming.
Summer Date: Tuesday’s Fall Date: Sept. 16th – Dec. 2nd
Time: 12 week program; evenings 5:30-8pm
Site location: First Congregation Church 137 Algoma Blvd. Oshkosh
Book Fee: $20 Sliding scale available
Child Care included
Intake & pre registration required Call Angie @ 233-6630 ext 106 or amccarthy@familyservicesnew.org

Active Parenting of Teens
Designed for families with children ages 13-18 years, discussing how to provide concrete steps for effectively handling family problems through clear, honest communication & respectful discipline.
Date: TBA Time: 6 week video based program;
Site Location: TBA
Fee: $40 Sliding scale available
Intake & pre registration required: Call Angie @ 920-233-6630 ext 106

Active Parenting Now
Designed for families with children B-12, focusing on how to develop courage, responsibility & character in children. Learn positive discipline & communication techniques.
Date: Wednesdays Sept. 17th – October 22nd
Time: 6 week video based program; evenings 6-8 pm
Site Location: Oshkosh Public Library 106 Washington Ave.
Fee: $40 Sliding scale available
Intake & pre registration required: Call Angie @ 920-233-6630 ext 106

Daddy Boot Camp
A program by dads for expecting dads – a three-hour class that gives expectant and new dads first-hand information to prepare them for the exciting and challenging new world ahead of them.
Dates: 4th Sat. of each month
Time: 9:00 am-12:00 noon
Site location: Aurora 855 N. Westhaven Dr.
Fee: $15.00
Registration: call Angie 920-233-6630 ext 106 or e-mail amccarthy@familyservicesnew.org

For additional information in the Fox Valley, contact Andrea Alpert-Buss, 1810 Appleton Road Menasha, WI 54952 920-739-4226 ext. 108, abuss@familyservicesnew.org.

In Oshkosh, contact Wendy Schwalbe, 400 Ceape Avenue, P.O. Box 1834, Oshkosh, WI 54903-1834, 920-233-6630, wschwalbe@familyservicesnew.org

Safe Routes to Schools Oshkosh

2008-08-11T21:48:00.004-05:00

The Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) movement is huge across the country, and it makes obvious sense - We want our kids to safely be able to get to school without the need for a vehicle.

Oshkosh planning has somewhat quietly been underway many months now, under the valuable leadership of Melissa Kraemer Badtke with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. As a partnership between the Oshkosh Police Dept, the Oshkosh Area School District, the City of Oshkosh, and the WI Dept of Transportation (funding grant opportunities), the program "encourage(s) children ages K-8 to walk and bike to school by creating safer walking and biking routes".

Extensive maps have been developed indicating areas that are in need of improvements, such as added signs, cross walks, bike paths, crossing guards, slower traffic, questionable neighbors, scary dogs, etc. An example of an area in great need of improved child safety is the corner of Parkway and Monroe, which serves as a child-traffic center with Head Start and the Boys & Girls club on the corner, in addition to Webster Stanley and Menominee Park nearby.

Missing from this corner is any indication that hundreds of kids cross this intersection each day, such as cross walks, a sign indicating a crossing, a bike lane, or even a speed bump.

The next meeting of the SRTS committee is Tuesday, August 12th at 9:00 a.m. at Jefferson Elementary School and is open to anyone interested in making this city a better and safer community.

An extra $15000 for the city?

2008-08-09T20:41:00.003-05:00

Many opportunities exist in which a municipality can take advantage of its existing activities by bringing in funds from the community. One example of this is advertising on the buses - in which an existing activity (transit system) is bringing in funds through advertising at no additional costs, effort, or conflict. Smart (note the difference between this type of endeavor versus privatization, exclusive rights, and other questionable activities often sought after by public programs).

The city sent out a wonderful calendar this past year, which included information on city services, garbage and recycling collection dates, and some municipal info. Great job on those that were involved in this project.

Next year, I suspect that the city could include one page with 30 slots - at a cost of $500 each - and open it up for individuals, businesses, non-profits, event groups, etc, to sponsor the community calendar by purchasing a slot. Not a bad deal for the purchaser - guaranteed to go to every household in all of Oshkosh. Not bad for the city, who snags an extra $15000 to offset some of the producing, printing, and distribution costs of the calendar.

Who knows, maybe the $15,000 can be saved annually until the city has enough funds to implement a blue-recycling-CONTAINER program, similar to that shown here, thereby eliminating the requirement of plastic bags.

The TIF for Everyone (At Least More)

2008-08-07T09:33:00.003-05:00

For purposes of this idea, the basis of a TIF is the following:
- Redevelopment occurs in blighted areas, as required by state law.

- TIFs in Oshkosh often focus on higher-end developments, including: higher-end condos, hotels, "luxury" apartments, class-A offices, and industrial park development. These developments are generally prosperous for developers, higher-income individuals who can afford higher-end apartments and condos, and business owners

- The benefits of the TIF are almost exclusively felt by the developer / owner, who often receives free or significantly price-reduced land as well as "reimbursement" funds for costs of developing and preparing the land. Sometimes, as we're seeing with the EAA development proposal, the request for "reimbursement" can go well beyond this. There is no direct evidence that these projects provide benefits to neighbors, or the rest of the community. While the statement "we're increasing our tax base" may be true, few in city hall and none on the council can articulate just exactly how that helps the average citizen, whose services haven't improved while cost of living (including property tax, water and energy costs, etc) continues to rise.

- TIFs in Oshkosh last up to 20 years.

- TIFs are not simply cookie-cutter tools, meaning that a city can tweak, alter, and improve the framework of each TIF as determined necessary to best serve the interests of the city and its residents.

With these points in mind, lets consider a TIF that occurs in a mixed-use neighborhood that includes residential and commercial development. The TIF project is used to develop a large commercial spot, taking a low property tax plot and transforming it into a high value plot. Meanwhile, the residential properties in this neighborhood receive little to no benefit. While the value of their home may rise, so would their annual property taxes. As this development is occurring in blighted areas, the residential property is likely owned by landlords (who pass the increased costs on to their renters) or low-income families living paycheck to paycheck.

In some communities, this scenario is unacceptable. Some communities have determined that if the city is going to be involved, then the benefits of the city assistance are going to affect more than just the developer/owner, by providing assistance to qualified homeowners, homebuyers, and even landlords.

How? Simply by requiring that as little as 5% of the incoming TIF funds be available for affordable housing development in the form of partially forgivable loans to qualified homebuyers, homeowners, and landlords with property within the TIF area. The details of the funding could vary, but could look like this: zero % interest loan payable over 10 years following initial 2 year no-payment period, with 1/2 of loan forgiven following successful repayment of initial 1/2.

Homebuyer: Home ownership is a value to a community and an individual/family. The community benefits from individuals taking ownership and responsibility for their property, reduced crime, stronger community neighborhoods, and more. The benefits of home ownership to the individual are asset accumulation, freedom to improve house to meet needs, often times a yard, etc. Funds can be used for down-payment assistance or initial rehab costs (including lead abatement, heating, electrical, etc).

Homeowner Rehab: Rehabs of homes improves the living setting and often safety of the dwelling. In addition, it may eventually increase the value of the home. Funds can be used for rehab costs on projects approved by the program guidelines established, which may include lead abatement, heating, electrical, etc.

Landlord: Rehab of rental properties is something drastically needed in Oshkosh, for reasons including safety of renters, health of environment, appearance, and health of neighborhood. By accepting funding, the landlord then agrees to maintain an affordable rent level, similar to the existing rental property development program administered by the city. Funds can be used for rehab costs on projects approved by the program guidelines established, which may include lead abatement, heating, electrical, etc.

In conclusion, the way in which the city approaches development can be expanded to provide benefits for all members of the neighborhood, while still providing the city with significant gains in property value, stronger more attractive neighborhoods, reduced crime, and more. The extensive use of TIFs in Oshkosh provides numerous opportunities for development and improvement of the housing stock in these neighborhoods, while providing residents the opportunities to own a home, to improve the safety of their home, to create a better neighborhood, and more.

Why something like this could pass: Bain, King, and Palmeri all should be in support of housing programs that support low to moderate income families simply based upon their social and political values. Mchugh and Esslinger often state that they are for the average citizen, in which this type of program directly benefits. Businessman Burk should understand that development for a few is not as beneficial to an economy or community as the development of many. Mayor Frank would never vote no if everyone else supported it.

Why something like this couldn't pass: Odds are we would either see a direct split between the "pro-business-welfare alliance" and the "common joe alliance", or we'd see 1-6 with only Palmeri supporting a progressive community-oriented notion such as this. The reasons are that this type of proposal would likely be opposed by the community development staff as well as all of the business men you see at council meetings begging for handouts. In addition, I suspect staff would not be very proactive in providing valuable and usable examples of these types of programs currently being administered in communities across the country, which would result in a rather vague, uninspiring idea that is easy to ignore or vote down. Finally, it would take a sort of collective leadership that we haven't seen in this council - working together to creatively and proactively develop a community program that benefits a significant and important population of Oshkosh.

Second Annual Oshkosh Night Out

2008-08-05T07:06:00.001-05:00

The community is invited to the Second Annual Oshkosh National Night Out. This free, alcohol-free event is scheduled for tonight (Tuesday, August 5), 4:00-8:00pm at the South Park Pavilions. Oshkosh will join over 30,000c ommunities across the United States to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this Town Watch/Neighborhood Watch event.

The purpose of the event is to celebrate community, increase crime prevention awareness and enhance the relationship between citizens, law enforcement and other first responders. Last year's event attracted over 300 people. This year's event includes music by Rosewood, food, children and family activities, a mini-community resource fair, martial arts demonstrations by American Black Belt Academy, face painting, a fishing tournament for kids, a show-up and play 3 on 3 basketball tournament for all age brackets, dunk tank, pie-throwing, jail and bail and door prizes.

Sponsors include Oshkosh Corporation, Southwest Rotary, West Pointe Bank, Target, Lowe's, Bergstrom Oshkosh, Beck's Meats, Pepsi, Festival Foods, Kitz & Pfeil True Value Hardware, University Bookstore, KB Toys, Wisconsin Public Service, Oshkosh Correctional Institution, Tews Two Sporting Goods, Waterfest, Oshkosh City Parks, Police and Fire Departments and Associated Bank. Participating agencies include: American Red Cross, Oshkosh Public Library, and the United Way.

How Walkable is your neighborhood?

2008-08-04T09:39:00.005-05:00

This website: http://www.walkscore.com/ allows you to enter your address and find out just how walkable your neighborhood is. Using information from Google Maps, Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating the nearest stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc, and gives the address a rating:

* 90–100 = Walkers' Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
* 70–89 = Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car.
* 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
* 25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
* 0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

Now of course not all of the categories are relevant to everyone, and it is easy to question some of the information, and it doesn't take into account where you work, but it does create a decent baseline survey of an address and its "walkability". If you are house hunting, this could be a very valuable tool if you want to reduce your dependence on $4+ per gallon gasoline.

My house on N. Main St. for example scored a 48, "Car Dependent". While we are only 3 or 4 blocks from several grocery stores, bars, restaurants, a school, drug store and coffee shop, we were hurt by greater distances to parks, movie theaters, libraries, book stores, and retail shopping. In truth, we are pretty car dependent, although we made it 8 days last year without a car thanks to bikes with buggies and a dead battery.

How do our Oshkosh Common Councilors residences score for "walkability"?

Tony Palmeri
212 W. Parkway Avenue
91 of 100 - A "Walker's Paradise", Tony practically lives downtown. Now if only his neighborhood were just a wee bit nicer...

Mayor Frank Tower
1369 W. South Park Avenue
60 of 100 - Not bad! That's assuming anyone would walk on Koeller I guess!

Dennis McHugh
1220 Greenfield Trail
60 of 100 - Wow! Westhaven is more walkable than I thought!

Bryan Bain
1121 Rugby Street
45 of 100 - South side needs more retail! And a library!

Paul Esslinger
2350 High Oak Drive
42 of 100 - you know you are in trouble when the closest restaurant is Friar Tucks...

Jessica King
1523 Hazel St
32 of 100 - yikes! Across from a school but warm up the car for anything else!

Burk Tower
933 Starboard Court
20 of 100 - You can't get much further away from anything. The closest school is almost a mile away and is slated to be closed down. Waah.

How walkable is your neighborhood?

No Calls from Telemarketers

2008-08-03T09:01:00.005-05:00

Telemarketing ranks as one of the most annoying professions, right up there with mainstream media television "news" "reporters", insurance agents, and slumlords. Thankfully, you can register your numbers to have them added to the no-call list - including your cell phone.

For this registering period, you have until the end of August 08. You can visit THIS SITE to register. Consumer Protection offers this PDF on how to stop unwanted telemarketing phone calls.

I suspect a far more effective way at removing the bothersome and annoying calls would be to create a yes-call list, in which only the folks that take the time to register their numbers for a telemarketing list could be called. This would probably also save state tax dollars by essentially eliminating the need for staff time on this issue.

Do We have a Health Problem?

2008-08-02T22:03:00.006-05:00

I have been working on the city environmental website this evening, and stumbled across this crazy image: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead/Maps/jpg/city/Oshkosh.htm

About 3 years ago, the city would at least send a health professional over to your house to conduct a free lead test. Now, they refer you to their website, which I suspect has had little to no effect on the hazardous status of lead throughout old Oshkosh. The other option available is to apply for the hard-to-get Development Grant in which the city checks out your home and loans you the funds to get EVERYTHING completely up to code (for those Westsiders, old Oshkosh homes fail on the foundation, electrical, heating, lead, and probably things I haven't heard of) which can easily exceed $20,000 - a lot to put into an $85000 home. Advocap, which lists that it offers a Lead Hazard Reduction Program, doesn't currently offer a Lead Hazard Reduction Program.

Note that no meaningful fingers are being pointed yet, as this could be the result of Tom Petri and his Washington pals or maybe Jimmy Doyle and the State budget experts (the legislature) or maybe our local gov. Then again, if I was mayor, I would be embarrassed that 30 years after Lead was banned in the US, we still have a significant problem in Oshkosh with little to no effort put forth to resolve the issue.

The lead campaign is going to be my next endeavor, as I'm just about to begin the formal campaign to push the city to take responsibility for testing, at a minimum, the beach at Menominee Park that is used by thousands of folks annually. If you didn't know, the city doesn't test the water in any location, including Lake Winnebago and the Fox River, despite the health risks contaminated water posses to the masses of children and families that frequent the beach daily. The County tests at numerous sites, but not within the boundaries of Oshkosh (unless citizens request accountability, the city says no, and the county steps in and tests anyway).

Anyway, the next campaign following our success with the beach testing is to take on the serious and significant issue of lead in Oshkosh. I recently attended a conference that included staff from the WI Dept of Commerce, Division of Health, and healthy homes advocates that addressed Lead issues. We were able to discuss Oshkosh's history of action (and inaction) on this subject, and shared contact information to ensure that the issue of Lead is dealt with. More on that later.

But to leave with a nice image... to all of those who still don't think the Menominee Park beach is a beach, my wife took this scandalous photo from within Menominee Park the day after my talk with the council on beach testing:

Parks

2008-07-27T22:53:00.002-05:00

My grandchildren and I are working on a project to visit all Oshkosh parks that have playgrounds. Then we'll share our opinions with you. The Parks dept. sent me a map of the parks and another list of parks with the features of each. Those aren't available on their web site but Trish Wendorf will kindly send them to you - snail mail. We started this week with Westhaven Circle Park. WE LOVED it!
Here's what Max thinks (he just turned 7). "I like it becasue it has a giant hill. I rolled down it so fast. I like surfing on the teeter totter. I like the picnic tables. Somebody wrote "oompa loomp" on one of the tables. That's funny!" Ellie (4) says, "I like the pretend store. I have never seen one before."
I say it's a GREAT park. Equipment is new, the layout is beautiful. It's quiet and there's a sledding (or rolling) hill! Who knew? There are nice bathrooms close by too. We could not find any trash cans (bad thing) or any geese or gulls (good thing) near the playground or picnic area. We give that park a 3 thumbs up!

Post Flood Sickness?

2008-07-26T12:18:00.002-05:00

Did anyone notice their children or pets getting sick or having gastro-intestinal problems (diarrhea, etc) in the week after the flood? What about other people's kids or animals? One of my daughters and another 5 year old I know took a high fever and had diarrhea about a week after the flooding. I heard from someone that there had been some small pets that had gotten sick.

I ask because I also heard (rumors! rumors!) that some other communities in the area had tap water warnings asking residents to boil their water for consumption by small animals and children. Why? Because the high volume of water overwhelmed the sewer system resulting in a high probability of raw sewage entering the water supply.

We already know that the River and Lake were contaminated from both farm flood run off as well as raw sewage, leading to the city of Oshkosh to close the public beach at Menominee Park. Oh, waitaminute, they didn't close it because there is a "swim at your own risk" sign and besides, it may not be a beach despite the sign that says BEACH next to it.

So - how was the health of your small people and animals that were drinking tap water after the flood?

It's Official: China 1 Worst Delivery in Oshkosh

2008-07-18T21:19:00.004-05:00

China 1, located at 1138 S. Koeller Rd, Oshkosh, is officially the worst restaurant delivery in Oshkosh.

Sure, we all know their food sucks, but we order it anyway because we are gluttons for punishment and too lazy to pick up GOOD food from Bangkok Thai Cuisine (80 Wisconsin Ave, call 232-0120 for the best damn food around but you have to pick it up).

But tonight it took them THREE HOURS to deliver our order! I'm not kidding! We placed our order at 6:06 p.m. tonight, and to kill time we all went and played out front while we waited for the food. Well, by 8:15 - no food! I didn't even realize it had been over two hours. So we called, and they said "So sorry, we're very busy, we'll be their in 5 to 10 minutes..." I said "It's been two hours!"

So the food finally arrives around 9 p.m. I called them back to tell them that we would never order from them again. "We're so sorry, we lost your ticket..."

"Then you LIED to me when you said you were busy!" All the more reason never to order from China 1. They offered me a six dollar discount, they wanted my address. "It isn't worth it. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. Besides, my address is on the order ticket, unless you lost that..." Ten dollars? "That meal should have been free. Three flippin hours for crappy food and your person lied to me to boot."

So sorry so sorry.

So China 1 is on notice that they are officially the worst restaurant delivery in Oshkosh.

So all you EAA people coming in, please try:
Bangkok Thai Cuisine 232-0120 but they don't deliver (pick it up, its worth it)
Li Yang, on Murdoch (North side) 233-9999
China King, 280 S. Koeller, for buffet food on site but I don't think they deliver.

So there you go - Li Yang, by default, becomes Oshkosh's #1 Chinese Food Delivery Service!

One last note: China 1's menu prominently displays a No MSG symbol. A Former employee of China 1 has told me that that is a Big Fat Lie. They put MSG on Everything. I've never cared because I happen to like MSG, but I bet the Better Business Bureau might give a rat's gas.

[bitch session now over]

Oshkosh Cell Phone Recycling

2008-07-14T23:05:00.002-05:00

Before discarding your old cell phone please read on. The College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) Alumni Association Chapter at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has kicked off of a new cell-phone fundraising program. Proceeds from the collection of used cell phones will be applied to education scholarships to help continue the University's legacy of producing graduates who will lead the state and nation in the fields of teaching, counseling and human services.

"Donating a used, unwanted cell phone allows members from the community, campus and students to donate to an important cause without reaching into their wallets," said Jim Hoffman, COEHS Alumni Association Chapter president. "The fundraising potential is almost limitless."

The COEHS Alumni Association Chapter at UW Oshkosh has partnered with Shelter Alliance (www.shelterallianc e.net), a Miramar, Fla., firm that specializes in the logistics and underwriting of fundraising programs that incorporate the collection and responsible recycling of used cellularphones. Shelter Alliance currently works with more than 2,000 social service organizations in 50 states and has contributed more than $5 million to participating organizations.

Cell phones and cell phone batteries can be brought to drop boxes at the following Oshkosh locations during business hours:

* Titan Central, Reeve Memorial Union, 748 Algoma Blvd.

* Choice Bank (concierge desk), 2450 Witzel Ave.

* Choice Bank (customer service), 2201 Jackson St.

Founded in 2006, the COEHS Alumni Association Chapter, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Alumni Association, promotes the mission and goals of COEHS and the University. The chapter serves the needs of COEHS alumni in such areas as programming, personal and professional development, continuing education, and relations among alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of COEHS. The first scholarship fund for COEHS students was founded in 2007.

~ email received from Annette Larie on the collaboration list serve Jul 9, 2008.

International Happiness Day

2008-07-10T05:59:00.002-05:00

It's International Happiness Day. The goal is to have 1,000,000 people in the world happy on the same day. Try it, you might like it and have a better day in the process.

http://www.internationalhappinessday.com/

Menominee Vs Whitefish

2008-07-06T23:08:00.003-05:00

Menominee Park Beach in Oshkosh - DANGER!

(sign that might be seen by beach-goers, located on two walls of the shower / changing station at the beach.)

- VS -

Whitefish Dunes Park Beach near Whitefish Bay in Door County - Safety

(anyone that enters the beach walks past this large sign, with additional safety notices located along the way)

Park Sundial or Better

2008-06-16T21:39:00.011-05:00

As you are aware, a little controversy has brewed over the past month as a result of a very small number of individuals not wanting to have the Sun Dial placed back up after it had been removed for the filming of the Public Enemies movie. The city has since reinstalled the donated structure. (pic below of sundial in evening with candles remembering the fallen troops in Iraq War, pic by A Sabai)

I, like most who frequent the park regularly, enjoy the structure, and believe it has become a permanent structure and staple of the park. I suspect that the individuals who don't like the dial are those who simply drive by and do not utilize the park, and also those less interested in unique and interesting concepts and more focused on practicality. (pic below of sundial, by C Crowley)

So, for these later individuals, I have developed a replacement proposal for the sun dial that serves the following practical notions:

1. We are able to recall a clear example of an abuse of power from an elected representative.

2. We are able to reference what not to base policy on.

3. We are able to laugh at the amazingly ridiculous ideas that people can come up with.

4. We see a clear example of when less government is best.

And the replacement proposal is....

A Cottonwood Tree McHugh Memorial - complete with four cottonwood trees and a picture plaque dedicated to Oshkosh Common Council rep Dennis McHugh, who 1 year ago in July proposed to ban the planting of Eastern Cottonwood trees in Oshkosh because “It’s a pesky thing. You can’t vacuum it, you can’t rake it. It’s just a pest.” Folks at Babblemur had said following this logic the city should, "ban lake flies, drunk drivers, and moronic city ordinances for the same reasons."

Below you will find some nice images of the Eastern Cottonwood from Oregon State University:

Run the County and Get Paid Well Too

2008-06-13T22:24:00.003-05:00

County positions are up for election this year. The pay is good:

2009 - $62,346
2010 - $64,216
2011 - $66,142
2012 - $68,126

They also include full benefits.

All positions are partisan; currently held by Republicans. Each of these positions have staff that assist in the duties and are managed by the office holder.

The positions are:

County Clerk: The County Clerk is the chief election official for Winnebago County and is responsible for the election process in Winnebago County.

This includes: Registering candidates running for county offices, Coordinating election programming information between municipal and school district clerks, Coordinating voting equipment vendor and printer
Setting up and preparing ballots, Providing election forms and supplies to municipal clerks, Recording election results on election night and maintaining records of same, Conducting county canvass of elections
Preparing and filing appropriate election reports with the State Elections Board, Maintaining election and financial records of candidates and election committees, Provide Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS) services to county municipalities, Updating and maintaining voter records and running poll lists and various SVRS reports

Issue and file documentation including: Work Permits for children between the ages of 12 and 17, Hunting/Fishing Licenses for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Dog Licenses

Other services provided by the County Clerk’s Office: Secretary to the County Board, Prepare/Publish Legal Notices, Document Retention
Customer Service, Official Directory

County Treasurer: Duties include the following"

Tax Collection, Assist public for tax requests and inquiries, Receipting of postponed and delinquent property tax payments
Agricultural use penalty, Verification of taxes paid for plat maps and CSM's, Tax Settlement - Receive collection data from municipalities
Upload and verify collection data, Pay all taxing jurisdictions

Foreclosure , Issuance of tax certificates, In-Rem tax foreclosure, Preparation and sale of foreclosed property

Register of Deeds Duties include:

Land Records: Record, index, and preserve all properly prepared documents for recording and/or filing. Provides assistance to the public, title companies, attorneys and other county offices with searching real estate documents

Vital Records: File, index and accurately preserve all birth, death, marriage and military discharge records, Assists genealogists, Collects fees on behalf of Winnebago County and the State of Wisconsin Works to protect the public from identity theft and fraud

Universal Commercial Code: Record, index and preserve copies of all realty related Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) documents

Child Support Lien Docket: Record, index, and preserve copies of child support arrears

Smart Choices, Safe Rides

2008-06-13T21:27:00.002-05:00

I came across this in an email recently, and was highly impressed that our community offers this valuable service. Well done to everyone involved in making something like this happen. You'll note that they also are often accepting volunteers:

Safe Rides for Youth in Oshkosh: Friday and Saturday Nights, 10:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. 920-236-2646 (Teen Safe Rides number)

Safe Rides is designed to provide a free and confidential safe ride home to any student who is not in a condition to drive safely. Or any student who wants to avoid being a passenger in such a situation, or who just needs a safe ride home.

Sitters may find themselves in the unpleasant position of accepting a ride home from a parent who has returned home partially intoxicated. Date difficulty, fights, or simply being left behind all can leave a teen without a ride home.

Oshkosh Teen Safe Rides needs adult volunteers to act as a supervisor and provide assistance. You need to be 21. Volunteer shifts are Friday and Saturday from 9:45 pm to 2:30 am. Youth volunteers are needed to be receivers, dispatchers, navigators, and drivers. Shifts are the same as adults. You can work once a month if that fits your schedule.

For more information, Peg Larson at (920) 231-3005.

"Natural Step for Communities" Authors to Speak in Appleton

2008-06-11T11:24:00.002-05:00

The authors of the Natural Step for Communities book -- Sarah James and Torbjorn Lahti -- will speak in Appleton on Wed June 18, 6:00-8:00 pm, at the Appleton Public Library. This event is free and open to public.