Citizens' Forum Results About 40 Oshkosh voters gathered at the Oshkosh Public Library Jan. 19 to talk about both sides of Oshkosh: what should be preserved and what should be improved. Naturally, not everyone agreed, but we have attempted to capture what was said as a starting point for further discussion and debate about what should be on the Oshkosh Agenda.. The discussion was focused in five areas: Jobs/Economic Climate, Quality of Life, City Infrastructure (Roads, parks, etc.), City Services and Government Accountability/Efficiency. We also opened the discussion up to a Miscellaneous category. For several weeks after that meeting, we invited continued discussion. All of the comments that were posted can be found at the “TagBoard” below.
Jobs/Economic Climate
What needs to be improved ?	What needs to be preserved?
Attract new employers Improve attitude about importance of attracting employers and attitude about community generally Expand labor organizing Riverfront, features and access Minimum wage Use of airport as economic development tool	Large employers in area Attracting new employers City council work on recruiting Reinvigorate Gateways plan Continue work on retaining college grads Expand union activity Expand high-paying jobs generally Expand on efforts to make communities attractive to new business Existing job base
Quality of Life
What needs to be improved ?	What needs to be preserved?
Character of neighborhoods Greater recognition of neighborhoods in distress Alternative transportation routes, such as bike lanes and later bus schedules Landscaping (large trees) Bring back public pool Promote cultural education (consider role Council should play Restaurants, food options Water quality Riverfront	Preserve safety in neighborhoods Preserve the arts, e.g. downtown revitalization of art galleries Parks and old trees (large trees in neighborhoods and downtown) Public pool Expand bike lanes as at UW Oshkosh Expand transportation system—bus routes in working areas Continue to focus on waterfront Facades
City Infrastructure
What needs to be improved ?	What needs to be preserved?
Water quality Expand Wiouwash Trail to downtown Fix the roads Focus on low and middle income housing Focus on 21/41 mess Bridge openings & traffic Education on the impact of new development on existing infrastructure	Water quality Expand/enhance trails Facades
City Services
What needs to be improved ?	What needs to be preserved?
Sewer/storm systems Public housing/funding programs Safety of children (schools) Make City Hall more accessible More citizen oversight (on boards) Regional planning & development (impact on sewer/storm systems, for example) Revisit user fees	Downtown development efforts Funded programs to rehab historic homes with better articulation and advertising Payment for some services through user fees Agreement with Town of Algoma
Government Accountabilty/Efficiency
What needs to be improved ?	What needs to be preserved?
Number of Town Hall meetings Begin budget process sooner Transparent budget document with greater detail and narrative Transparency re: spending Workshops for newly elected officials on responsibles under records and meetings laws Leadership role in healthcare policies Public hearing process Restructuring city government (strong mayor/aldermen)	City manager form of government
Miscellaneous
What needs to be improved ?	What needs to be preserved?
Greater community involvement in creating a vision for Oshkosh More emphasis on looking forward instead of back (but don't ignore past) Restroom facilities downtown Farmers market location Look to models in other communities the size of Oshkosh Grow university connection with city	Focus on the accomplishments of the last five years: EAA, waterfront, safety Continue to extend/foster relationships between university and city; student volunteers

Further discussion?

Here are comments that were posted after our forum. If you'd like to add to this discussion, feel free to use the Oshblog.

We've moved the message board to our endorsements page so that we can hear from citizens about whom they are backing in the election.

Miles Maguire: Thanks to everyone for your input. We will be moving this discussion board and focusing on candidate endorsements. Check back soon for more information.

Anonmous: I must have missed that- when did Paul Esslinger do that and why on earth would I want to pay for their streets?

Does of Reality: Paul Esslinger led the effort to have the city subsidize streets (Birnwood) for Town of Nekimi.

Future Oshkosh: Individual homeowners pay for the street improvements. Are past posts suggesting we change this?

Bryan L. Bain: I welcome any ideas or suggestions you might have as well.

Bryan L. Bain: There are no quick fixes; however, proper planning can, over time, save the city money and lead to the possibility of more road repairs.

Bryan L. Bain: One is to grow our economy and expand the tax base. Another is to plan w/ DPW to coordinate work so we don't "fix" a street only to rip it up for DPW projects a couple of years later.

Anonymous: Mr. Bain what is your proposal for getting the money needed to fix the streets once you identify them?

Bryan L. Bain: I have called for a map of ages and conditions of all city roads. Then the council can identify high need areas and work with the city and citizens to address them.

Truth_in_Osh: Too many neighborhoods were allowed to petition against their street being repaired. There comes a time when the city needs to say it's in the best interest of the entire city to fix this street!

Mike Howerton: I understand that past councils allowed the street deterioration. Why isn't more being done now?

Anonymous: And how do we keep that as a priority while still moving forward with important private/public projects that benefit all?

Anonymous: What were we doing with tax money 10 or 15 years ago that ALLOWED the roads to get in this condition?

Anonymous: Ironically enough, this council (which is taking so much heat for needs vs. wants) is only inheriting past councils mismanagement of road improvements.

Mike Howerton: Why does oshkosh have some of the worst streets in the Fox Valley?

Anonymous: I believe most of these candidates should have to pass a high school equivalency test before they run for council!

Anonymous: I don't know. Paul Esslinger also says he doesn't want anymore parks or "luxury" items. Wouldn't Bay Beach be both of those?

Anonymous: Paul Esslinger's "Bay Beach" type idea is not necessarily a bad one, but how does he plan on making it a reality, short of voting "NO" on any competing proposals?

Anonymous: Too many candidates in this election have vague notions of what they want, but no concrete plans (let alone the skills, financing or experience) to achieve them.

Anonymous: It is interesting to note that once the person was asked what their plan for a "family venue" was, there was no follow up.

matthew wilder: The city took a piece of contaminated property, cleaned it up, and receive a large amount of private financing that will benefit every taxpayer in Oshkosh.

Anonymous: But go ahead- what is your "family venue" proposal?

Anonymous: I would hadly consider a venue that will be hosting MANY different kinds of cultural events (Oshkosh Symphony, Outdoor Theater etc) an "outside bar".

Anonymous: Tax money for an outside bar vs. a family venue. That's on my agenda.

Anonymous: If you have nothing constructive to add other than your personal feelings about a non-issue such as "alcohol" I suggest you find a different venue for your comments.

Anonymous: The purpose of this message board is to discuss what we feel needs to be focus of the very important Spring Elections.

Anonymous: You can repay the taxpayers with the OWI money when citizens call crimestoppers to report them.

Anonymous: Again- alcohol is not an issue facing candidates in this election, so quite using it as an excuse. MOVE ON!!

Anonymous: You obviously have not been to the Grand since Prohibition ended, I see. A)They serve beer and wine at intermission and B)Their numbers have been steadily rising for last decade, i believe.

Family Planner: "Cultural Center"? ROTFLMAO!!!!No alcohol at the Grand-no crowd.

Anonymous: The issue here is whether or not the city council plays a role in the continued development of Oshkosh as a vibrant cultural center. I support them in that charge.

Anonymous: I hate to alert you all to this, but prohibition ended in 1933. Drinking alcohol is not illegal and is certainly not at the heart of this issue!

Family Planner: Have you been to the Thursday night drunk-a -thons? What a disgrace!

Anonymous: I would hardly think that they did it "so they had one more place to party".

Anonymous: Keep in mind, "the drunks" as you put it, were the ones who put in millions of dollars in private investment for the benefit of the our city.

Anonymous: "So the drunks have one more place to party?" Now that is a well thought out peice of political insight.

The Drunks: We pay taxes too. We also recognize that improving a once blighted area with beautiful place for music will benefit all of Oshkosh.

Anonymous: I think it's ridiculous that the city is spending tax generated money on the amphitheater just so the drunks have one more place to party.

Bryan L. Bain: The city can generate new revenue/tax base; increase taxes on current base; or cut jobs and services. I support investing in the future of our city!

Matthew Wilder: I agree completely. Candidates will be one of three: increase tax base; increase taxes on existing base; or cut services. We need the truth.

Anonymous: These are the questions candidates need to be answering, as opposed to simple carping about taxes and empty rhetoric decrying "special interests".

Anonymous: If we have to cut services, however, what can we possibly share with the surrounding counties or municipalities?

Anonymous: We are a big enough operation- there have to be some economies of scale that can be achieved by the city for some of our vital costs as opposed to simply cutting services.

Anonymous: In reality, taxes increased around the state due largely to macroeconomic factors such as a decrease in state revenue sharing coupled with a massive increase in fuel and health care costs.

Anonymous: Good point- I think there is a lot of noise being made about costs relating to "special interest" projects like the Amphitheater and Downtown Redevelopment.

Matthew Wilder: It is too easy to just campaign against taxes and not suggest which services to cut.

Matthew Wilder: taxes went up to pay for 1) increased utility costs (+10%)and fuel prices (.20/gl) 2) increased health benefits. More than 75 percent of the city's costs are labor.

Matthew Wilder: What are we providing too much of, and which city employees should be laid off.

Anonymous: Could that be clarified? The correlation is somewhat confusing.

A citizen: Candidates should discuss issue of taxes and spending together. No new taxes means layoffs.

Miles Maguire: Please add your comments under "Messages" below.