Minutes 10-08-2007
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING Approved: October 22, 2007
October 8, 2007
VOL. 58
NO. 16
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
October 8, 2007. The meeting was called to order by Council President Brunner at 7:00 p.m.
Council President Brunner led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers DeGarmo, Loasching, Steeber, Truman
and Williams. Absent: Councilmember Wellnitz.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of September 24, 2007.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee including a negative
recommendation for Quaerna’s Bar. (Refer to separate agenda.)
Council President Brunner removed the Class B alcohol license application for Quaerna’s Bar,
and the Electrician license application for Christopher Dewitz, from the Consent Agenda. He
stated the remaining items would be approved if there were no objections. There were none.
Council President Brunner stated that the electrician license application for Christopher Dewitz
would be tabled.
Council President Brunner asked if anyone wished to comment on the negative recommendation
for Quaerna’s Bar. No one appeared. Councilmember Steeber moved to deny the Class B
alcohol license application for Quaerna’s Bar based on the negative recommendation from the
ALAC and the applicant’s arrest record, seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed by the
following vote: Aye: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers DeGarmo, Loasching, Steeber
and Williams. Pass: Councilmember Truman.
Special recognition: A proposed resolution in commendation of Rosemary Kealy’s thirty-two and
one-half years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Loasching and passed unanimously. (File Res. No.
2007-432)
Special recognition: A proposed resolution in commendation of Karen Campbell’s eighteen years
of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2007-433)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a public
hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 332 South Locust Street, requested that City Council agenda
packets be made available to the public at City Council meetings. In addition, she requested that
all special council meetings be televised. Joyce Shea, 706 Prospect Avenue, stated that the topic
of televising budget meetings was requested at a previous Council meeting and Community
Development budget meeting.
2. A proposed ordinance amending the sign ordinance to allow 75 square foot monument style
signs in Sign District D and to allow electronic message signs in Sign District D if a conditional
sign permit is approved by the Plan Commission, received its second reading and public hearing.
The public hearing was opened. Duffy Dillon, representing Janesville Performing Arts Center,
spoke in favor of the ordinance. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Williams moved
to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously. (File
Ord. No. 2007-382)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Annual Report of the Downtown Development Association (DDA). Chad Karl, Chairman of
DDA, provided the Council with an overview of the services and activities offered by the DDA.
2. Motion to approve a street name change from Racine Court to Kerwin Matthews Court.
Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the street name change, seconded by
Councilmember DeGarmo and passed unanimously. Councilmember Williams suggested a
formal process be developed to change street names. City Manager Sheiffer stated the
Administration would provide information to the Council to formalize the process.
3. Award of contracts 2007-17 (utility SCADA enhancement project) and 2007-18 (sanitary sewer
siphon improvements) for Public Works Bid Schedule “G” – 2007. Councilmember Williams
moved to reject said bids based on the recommendation of the Committee of Public Works,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
4. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 South Locust Street, requested that the City hold a referendum on
whether to proceed with a new aquatics facility.
5. Matters not on the Agenda. City Council President Brunner scheduled a public hearing for the
sidewalk plan and the proposed sidewalk map for January 14, 2008. City Manager Sheiffer
informed the Council that the 2008 Proposed City Budget would be distributed no later than
October 18, 2007.
6. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into closed session, pursuant to Wisconsin
Statute Section 19.85(1)(e) for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public
properties or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining
reasons require a closed session, specifically: (1) the potential acquisition of additional real
property for green space; and (2) setting and negotiating bargaining terms and conditions for two
potential TIF 14 Capital Circle industrial lot sales to different local private industries. The motion
was seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 7:58 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
City Clerk-Treasurer