Minutes 12-11-06.doc
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING
Approved: December 26, 2006
December 11, 2006
VOL. 57
NO. 21
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
December 11, 2006. The meeting was called to order by Council President Tim Wellnitz at 7:00 p.m.
Council President Tim Wellnitz led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Tim Wellnitz, Councilmembers Brien, Tom Wellnitz, Williams, Brunner,
DeGarmo, and Addie.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of November 27, 2006.
Minutes of the closed session of November 27,2006.
Minutes of the special meeting of November 29, 2006.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Appointment of election inspectors for 2007.
Authorization for the Administration to deny a liability claim for Judith E. Mcintyre in the amount of
$19,638.07.
Council President Tim Wellnitz stated that the Consent Agenda would be approved if there were no
objections. There were no objections.
Special recognition: A proposed resolution in commendation of John L. Schmidt's thirty-eight years
of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Williams moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Tom Wellnitz and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2006-363)
Special recognition: A proposed resolution in commendation of Jeffrey L. Dewitt's thirty-two years of
service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Brien moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Tom Wellnitz and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2006-364)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a public
hearing. There were none.
2. A proposed ordinance regulating chronic nuisance premises received its second reading and
public hearing. The hearing was opened. The following individuals spoke in favor of the proposed
ordinance: Jim Alverson, 225 Pease Court, Burdette Erickson, 115 S. High Street, lIah Hartung, 121
S. Academy Street, Kevin Fields, 2426 N. Sumac Drive, Gordon Lynch, 1807 W. Luther Road, Don
Allison, 731 N. Garfield Avenue, Margaret Delaney, 439 N. Jackson Street, Dianna Lund, 329 N.
Academy Street, Dale Hicks, 2221 E. Milwaukee Street, Kurt Linck, 118 S. High Street, Ron
Sutherland, 609 W. Court Street and William Truman, 360 Johnson Street. The following individuals
spoke in opposition of the proposed ordinance: Richard Frank, 1119 Elida Street, Fred Harmon, 717
E. Milwaukee Street, AI Lembrich, 541 Miller Avenue, Ron Stacey, 901 N. Martin Road, Mike
Scieszinski, 312 S. Wisconsin Street, Bill McMullin, 1306 Frederick Street, Dewane Block, 2114Adel
Street, and Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust Street. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember DeGarmo moved to adopt said ordinance and accepted two friendly amendments
which added the following language to Section 9.32.050 B. "The appeal shall be filed within 90 days
of the invoice from City Clerk" and deleted Section 9.32.010 (4)(w) "Worthless checks as defined in
JGO 9.68", as a nuisance activity. Councilmember Tom Wellnitz seconded the motion and it passed
by the following vote: Aye: Council President Tim Wellnitz, Councilmembers Brien, Tom Wellnitz,
Brunner, DeGarmo and Addie. Nay: Councilmember Williams. (File Revised Ord. No. 2006-352)
3. A proposed ordinance changing the speed limit on Beloit Avenue (Elliott Street to Delavan Drive),
Palmer Drive (Racine Street to Mohawk Road) and Mohawk Road (Palmer Drive to northern Palmer
Park boundary) received its second reading and public hearing. Richard Gerhard, 2317 Mt. Vernon
Avenue, spoke in favor of increasing the speed limits when children are not present. Chris Cass,
470 Mohawk Road, spoke against the ordinance. Councilmember Brien moved to deny said
ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2006-
350)
4. A proposed resolution awarding $5,000,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2006-A,
establishing interest rates thereon and levying taxes therefore. CouncilmemberTom Wellnitz moved
to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously. (File Res.
No. 2006-362)
5. City Manager's report.
Treasurer's Report: Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer, informed the public that the 2006 property
tax bills included erroneous check payment information. She requested that all taxpayers make their
checks payable to the Rock County Treasurer.
Snow Policies and Procedures: John Whitcomb, Operations Director, presented information
concerning the policies and procedures for snow removal. The goal is to have all streets plowed
within 10 hours of cessation of snow events greater than 2-3 inches. The City does not have a bare
pavement policy for residential streets.
Street Crimes Unit: Sergeant Steve DeWitt presented information concerning the mission of our
street crimes unit. He leads a 6 member team which conducts drug and gang investigations on the
street level.
Flood Plain Mapping: Brad Cantrell, Community Development Director, reviewed the new flood plain
map and highlighted the properties that were reclassified in to or out of the flood plain.
NEW BUSINESS
1. A proposed resolution adopting the written procedures as defined in the "Public Participation Plan
and Procedures: City of Janesville Comprehensive Plan". Councilmember Williams moved to adopt
said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Addie and passed unanimously. (File
Res. No. 2006-365)
2. A proposed resolution authorizing the assignment of the Golf Course lease from Crown Golf
Properties L. P. to CK Golf Partners L. L. C. Councilmember Williams moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2006-358)
3. A proposed ordinance rezoning property located south of Burbank Avenue along the southerly
extension of South Terrace Street from R3 and B2 to R1, was introduced, referred to Plan
Commission, and schedule for public hearing on January 8,2007. (File Ord. No. 2006-354)
4. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action. Bill
McCoy, 1326 Putnam Avenue, stated his first amendments were violated because the Janesville
Police Department ran a background check on him. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust Street,
stated her opinions on creating more committees, selecting committee members and posting
employee information on the City's website. Jeff Anderson, 936 Benton Avenue, expressed his
concern about inappropriate merchandise being displayed at the Spencer Gift store located in the
Janesville Mall. Richard Gerhard, 2317 Mt. Vernon Avenue, commended an unidentified Janesville
Police officer for his assistance during Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard's visit to the Dean Urgent Care facility
on December 8, 2006.
5. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Tom Wellnitz requested that the Administration
check to see if illegal drug paraphernalia was being sold at Smoker's World. Councilmember Addie
requested that a street light be repaired on Omaha Drive. Also, he asked why the police department
ran a background check on Mr. McCoy. Police Chief Mahan stated that there were threats of
violence concerning the then pending demolition of a shed located at 1402 W. Court Street. As a
result, background checks on known associates of the shed's owner were conducted.
Councilmember Williams requested that the Administration avoid scheduling multiple public meetings
at the same time. The Citizen Aquatics Committee meeting and the Comprehensive Plan-Public
Participation Plan and Procedures meeting were both scheduled at 6:30 p.m. December 14,2006.
6. Councilmember Tom Wellnitz moved to convene into closed session, pursuant to Wisconsin
Statute Section 19.85(1)( e) for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchase and/or sale of
public properties, the investing of public funds or conducting other specified public business,
whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically setting the
negotiation terms and conditions for the potential sale of certain TIF industrial sites on the City's
south side, potential purchase of land for other public purposes, and landfill disposal contract(s),
seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 10:58 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
City Clerk-Treasurer