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1987-10-19 Council MeetingPROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN REGULAR MEETING 19 OCTOBER 1987 VOL. 38 NO. 16 * Approved with amendment 2 November 1987 Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building, 19 October 1987 at 7:30 p.m. Council President Pulliam called the meeting to order. Present: Council President Pulliam, Councilmembers Mittness, Collins, Stockwell, Stehura, Pierson and McLean. The minutes of the regular meeting of 5 October 1987 were presented. Councilmember Stehura made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of 5 October 1987 as distributed. Motion seconded by Councilmember Pierson and adopted unanimously. The minutes of the study session of 7 October 1987 were presented. Councilmember Stehura made a motion to approve the minutes of the study session of 7 October 1987 as distri- buted. Motion seconded by Councilmember Collins and adopted by the following vote: Aye: Council President Pulliam, Councilmembers Mittness, Collins, Stockwell, Stehura and Pierson. Pass: Councilmember McLean. LICENSES Councilmember Stehura made a motion that the licenses, as listed on the license agenda and on file in the office of the City Clerk, be approved and issued as presented, except for bartender - original, Jeffrey Hansen. Motion seconded by Councilmember McLean and adopted unanimously. (All applications of licenses are on file in the office of the City Clerk and are incorporated by reference herein and may be examined upon request at all reasonable times.) OLD BUSINESS 1. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action. No one appeared. 2. A proposed revised ordinance establishing the rezoning of properties at 1044, 1050 and 1056 Jerome Avenue from R2 to M2 was given its second reading by title only and public hearing. Mary Larson of 1056 Putnam Avenue questioned what would happen to the residential value of property in the area and asked for clarification of the zoning. Brad Murphy, Plan- ning Director, responded to her questions. Councilmember McLean made a motion to adopt said revised ordinance as presented. Motion seconded by Councilmember Collins and it was adopted unanimously. (File Revised Ordinance No. 87-544) NEW BUSINESS 1. A proposed resolution stating the City of Janesville's opposition to the imposition of a federal fuel tax on this Municipality was introduced by City Manager Sheiffer. Councilmember Mittness made a motion to adopt said resolution as presented. Motion seconded by Councilmember Collins and adopted unanimously. (File Resolution No. 87-1030) 2. City Manager Sheiffer presented and reviewed the authorization to grant waivers of Special Assessment Procedure for construction of road improvements on Kettering Street and on Chaney Drive, for Tony DiChira and Gilman Engineering. Councilmember Pierson made a motion to grant the waivers of Special Assessment Procedure for construction of road improvements on Kettering Street and on Chaney Drive as follows: - roadway on Kettering St. - 24 ft. wide - assessed to Gilman and DiChira $6,525 each over a five-year plan with interest at 9.5%. - Chaney Dr. assessments - major entrance - to be paid by DiChira in an amount of $8,970 over a five-year period with interest at 9.5%. Motion seconded by Councilmember Stehura and adopted unanimously. 3. City Manager Sheiffer made a brief presentation while reviewing the City policy concerning assistance in set-up of holiday decorations and stated that the Council would need to provide the administration policy guidance on how to handle this matter. After some discussion, Councilmember Mittness made a motion that we appropriate these funds. Motion seconded by Councilmember Stehura. During discussion that followed, City Manager Sheiffer pointed out that the merchants could pay to have the work done, the City could do it, or it could be done as a voluntary project by firms in the area. It was pointed out that there are 21 decoration fixtures on South Center Avenue and the repair work was done by the Southside Business Associa- tion as well as helping in the installation at a cost of approximately $600. The fixtures in the downtown area (about 60) are very old. The repair and installation was done by the City at a cost of approximately $3400. Councilmember Mittness then changed his motion to include an amount of $4,000. There was more discussion, Councilmember Mittness withdrew his motion. Councilmember Stehura withdrew his second. Councilmember Stehura made a motion that would state that it is the policy of the City Council to support a business community in putting up and taking down Christmas decora- tions. Motion seconded by Councilmember Mittness and adopted by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Mittness, Collins, Stehura and McLean. Nay: Council President Pulliam, Councilmembers Stockwell and Pierson. 4. A proposed ordinance to protect the public water system from contamination by establishing programs for cross connection control and private well abandonment was introduced by Council President Pulliam and given its first reading by title only. A public hearing was set for 2 November 1987 at 7:30 p.m. (File Ordinance No. 87-542) 5. A proposed ordinance annexing territory in Section 8, T.3N., R13E., Town of Harmony, Rock County, Wisconsin was introduced by Council President Pulliam and given its first reading by title only. A public hearing was set for 30 November 1987 at 7:30 p.m. 6. A proposed ordinance, establishing the zoning classification of land located along East Rotamer Road and State Highway 26 within the City of Janesville was introduced by Council President Pulliam and given its first reading by title only and referred to the plan Commission for a report and recommendation. A public hearing was set for 30 November 1987 at 7:30 p.m. (File Ordinance No. 87-547) 7. The financial statement for the month of August 1987 was presented. Councilmember McLean made a motion that the financial statement be accepted and placed on file for audit. Motion seconded by Councilmember Stockwell and adopted unanimously. -2- 8. City Manager Sheiffer presented the 1988 Budget to the Council. During the review of the budget, he sited the "Goals": 1) Public Health, Welfare and Safety, 2) Physical Infrastructure, 3) Economic and Community Growth, 4) Limited Leisure and Human Services, and 5) Fiscal Realism. He also reviewed charts and graphs emphasizing that Janesville has one of the lowest tax rates. Councilmember Stehura made a motion that the Council accept the 1988 Budget and take it under review. Motion seconded by Councilmember Mittness and adopted unanimously. Council President Pulliam asked if the Council had any objection of proceeding as scheduled in the "Budget Review Process and Schedule". Since there were no objections, the Council will use the suggested schedule. Councilmember Stehura asked for the equation of one cent for the tax rate. Finance Director Stinski stated he would provide same. Council President Pulliam asked how the Council would like to handle the budget review process and whether or not straw votes should be used. Councilmember McLean was in favor of the straw vote, as used in some past years. Council - member Collins did not think there should be straw votes. He felt the entire budget should be reviewed first to make the votes regarding cuts or additions meaningful. Councilmember Stehura questioned whether the straw vote would be binding and if it would take five votes to override a straw vote. He was informed by Council President Pulliam and assured by the City Attorney that a straw vote means that it can be overruled in a simple majority vote, and that no extra motion is needed to rescind any previous action. Unless it is changed by another straw vote or by the motion to adopt the budget, the straw vote would stand. Councilmember McLean made a motion that the Council adopt a procedure of using straw votes which may be overridden by a simple majority vote, which will stand unless changed by another straw vote or the final motion adopting the budget, and which will not require a motion to rescind in order to be overturned by a subsequent straw vote. Motion seconded by Councilmember Mittness. Motion passed by the following vote: Aye: Council President Pulliam, Councilmembers Mittness, Stockwell, Stehura, Pierson and McLean. Nay: Council - member Collins. 9. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Pierson questioned the operation of the traffic lights at the corner of Wright Road and Brunswick Lane. Director of Public Works Rogers explained how this signal operates. Council President Pulliam asked for a motion to go into closed session under Wisconsin Statute Section 19.85 (1)(e) for the purpose of discussion of collective bargaining matters.* Motion seconded by Councilmember McLean and adopted unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m. to reconvene in closed session. These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council. Angelo Lamendola Deputy City Clerk * Councilmember Stehura moved that the Council adjourn and reconvene in closed session under Wisconsin statute section 19.85 (1)(e) for the purpose of discussion of collective bargaining matters. -3-