Minutes 01-14-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED JANUARY 28, 2008
January 14, 2008
VOL. 58
NO. 27
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on January 14, 2008. 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, Truman,
Wellnitz, and Williams. Absent: Councilmember Steeber
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of December 26, 2007.
Minutes of the special meeting of January 7, 2008.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee. (Refer to
separate agenda.)
Council President Brunner stated the consent agenda would be approved if there were no
objections. There were none.
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Mark Shelton’s
33 years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember DeGarmo moved to adopt
said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Loasching and passed unanimously. (File
Res. No. 2007-458)
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Bradley Weins’
28 years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Williams moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. (File Res. No.
2007-461)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a
public hearing. John Schrader, 1344 Sienna Crossing, supported the temporary trail
easement with the Cross Pointe Condominium Association (New Business #3).
2. Public hearing and action on the adoption of a Pedestrian Transportation Network Map
and amendment to City Council Policy Statement #70. Al Lembrich, 514 Miller Avenue;
George Stone, 2027 Hubbard Street; Richard Carey, 2416 Cherokee Road; Ken Osborn,
2206 Garden Drive; George Mark, 206 Shady Oak Court; Richard Reinke, 1901 Rockport
Road; Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust Street; and Billy McCoy, 1326 Putnam Avenue;
opposed the Pedestrian Transportation Network Map and the proposed amendment to City
Council Policy Statement #70. Robert Yeomans, 2001 Ruger Avenue, opposed the $185
sidewalk permit fee for property owners who install their own sidewalk. Morgan Shepard,
457 N. Terrace Street, requested a sidewalk implementation schedule so property owners
could plan for the sidewalk expense. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Williams requested additional information on the proposed $185 sidewalk
permit fee including what our peer cities charge. Councilmember Wellnitz moved to adopt
the Pedestrian Transportation Network Map, seconded by Councilmember Truman and
passed by the following vote: Aye: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers
Loasching, Truman, Wellnitz, and Williams. Nay: Councilmember DeGarmo.
Councilmember Wellnitz moved to adopt the proposed amendments to Council Policy
Statement #70 with the implementation of the planned unfunded sidewalks (designated as
yellow lines on the map) in 2009 and to allow public safety sidewalks and petitioned
sidewalks in 2008. Council President Brunner seconded the motion and it passed by the
following vote: Aye: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers Loasching, Truman,
Wellnitz, and Williams. Nay: Councilmember DeGarmo. By consensus, the City Council
requested that the Administration postpone implementing a sidewalk permit fee.
3. Recommendations of the Transportation Committee: A proposed ordinance requiring:
A) Saratoga Drive to yield to Alpine Drive, B) West Holmes Street to yield to Linn Street,
C) Rock Street to yield to South High Street; received its second reading and public
hearing. No one spoke at the public hearing. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Williams moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember
Wellnitz and passed unanimously. (File Revised Ord. No. 2007-394)
4 & 5. Proposed ordinances annexing (2007-395) and zoning (2007-396) property located
at 4407 North State Highway 26 received their second reading and public hearing. No one
spoke at the public hearing. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Williams
moved to adopt said ordinances, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed
unanimously. (File Ord. Nos. 2007: 395-396)
6 & 7. Proposed ordinances annexing (2007-398) and zoning (2007-399) property located
at the eastern terminus of Falcon Ridge Drive received their second reading and public
hearing. No one spoke at the public hearing. Council President Brunner continued the
public hearing to January 28, 2008. (File Ord. Nos. 2007: 398-399)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Recommendation of the Plan Commission: Proposed resolutions approving the final
plats of: Greenway Point (2008-464), Quail Ridge Third Addition (2008-462), and Deer
Crossing Third Addition (2008-463). Councilmember Williams moved to adopt said
resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Wellnitz and passed unanimously. (File Res.
Nos. 2008: 462, 463 & 464)
2. Committee appointment. Councilmember DeGarmo moved to approve the City
Manager’s committee appointment of Lois Smith to the Library Board of Trustees,
seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a temporary
trail easement with the Cross Pointe Condominium Association. Councilmember
Loasching moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Wellnitz and
passed by the following vote: Aye: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers
DeGarmo, Loasching, Truman and Wellnitz. Nay: Councilmember Williams. (File Res.
No. 2008-460)
4. A proposed ordinance regulating skateboarding activity within the City of Janesville was
introduced and scheduled for public hearing on January 28, 2008. (File Ord. Nos. 2008-
402)
5. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust Street, requested: that more public notice be
given for the proposed skateboarding ordinance; that the Administration change the
process for appointing members to City committees; that the City Council meeting
materials, located on the City’s website, print properly on letter size paper; that City staff sit
at a separate table from the City Council; that the City Council increase their members
from 7 to 12; and that the City not implement the $185 sidewalk permit fee.
6. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Loasching asked about the implementation
of a Green Committee. City Manager Sheiffer stated that the Administration would develop
a City Council Policy Statement that names the committee, defines the membership and
describes the purpose of the committee. He anticipates that the proposed City Council
Policy Statement would be ready in a couple of months. Council President George
Brunner requested that the Administration review the City’s committee structures and make
recommendations to increase citizen members and decrease the number of
Councilmembers on the committees. In addition, Council President Brunner suggested a
joint study session with the Rock County Historical Society and City Council to discuss the
Tallman House operations.
7. Councilmember 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 of
public properties and/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 acquisition of certain downtown property for a variety of
potential public purposes. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Williams and
passed unanimously.
There being no further business, the Council convened into closed session at 10:22 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer