Minutes 02-25-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: MARCH 10, 2008
February 25, 2008
VOL. 58
NO. 30
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on February 25, 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, Steeber,
Wellnitz, and Williams. Absent: Councilmember Truman.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of February 11, 2008.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee. (Refer to
separate agenda.)
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map 08005-C, Real Estates Equities,
1 lot on North Wright Rd.
Waiver of special assessment procedures for storm sewer, sidewalk, and street lighting
charges for Greenway Point – McClusky/Rick.
Waiver of special assessment procedures for storm sewer, sidewalk, and street lighting
charges for Quail Ridge Third Addition – Wright Family, LLC.
Financial statement for the month of December, 2007.
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 Jean E.
Schultz’s 42 years of service to the Hedberg Public Library. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Loasching and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-472)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a
public hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., expressed her concern that the
agenda materials related to the process to recruit and select a City Manager were not
posted to the City’s website for public review (New Business 4). In addition, she
requested that this agenda item be postponed.
2. A proposed ordinance amending the definition of electronic message signs and
establishing regulations for off-premise electronic message signs received its second
reading and public hearing. Shawn Murphy, representing Babcock Signs; and Brad
Yarmark, representing Lamar Advertising Company, opposed the ordinance as presented
and requested that the moratorium on regulating electronic message signs expire. In
addition, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Yarmark suggested the following amendments if the Council
decided to adopt the proposed ordinance: the 30 seconds message minimum be amended
to a 6 seconds message minimum and remove the distance requirements between
billboards. Karl Dommershausen, 103 S. Jackson St., suggested that the 30 seconds
message minimum be changed to 6 seconds and that strategically placed signs should be
allowed. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance and to amend the ordinance by:
changing Section V.D.12.d. to read “No message shall change in intervals of less than ten
(10) seconds.” and changing Section V.D.2. to read “All off-premises signs meeting the
definition of electronic message signs shall be spaced not less than 750 feet from any
other off-premises signs.” with the remaining language in that paragraph deleted. The
motion was seconded by Councilmember DeGarmo. Councilmember Williams offered a
friendly amendment to amend Section IV.C.10. to read “Tri-vision signs whose message
are on triangular louvered facings … that the time the message remains in a fixed position
shall be ten (10) seconds or more.” The friendly amendment was accepted. The motion
passed by the following vote: Aye: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers
DeGarmo, Steeber and Williams. Nay: Councilmembers Loasching and Wellnitz. (File
Ord. No. 2008-404)
NEW BUSINESS
1. A. Recommendation of the Plan Commission: A proposed resolution approving the final
plat of Sunset Meadows. Councilmember Wellnitz moved to adopt said resolution subject
to the conditions in the staff memo. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Steeber
and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-475)
2. B. Recommendation of the Plan Commission: A proposed resolution approving the final
plat of Conservancy Ridge, and waiver of special assessment procedures for storm sewer,
sidewalk, and street lighting charges for Conservancy Ridge – Maxine Austin.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution including the waiver of special
assessment associated with the plat. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
Williams and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-476)
2. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept a Fire Act
Grant. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-474)
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the acquisition of property along East
Rotamer Rd. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Wellnitz and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-477)
4. City Council review and action on a process to recruit and select a new City Manager.
Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the Parr Group as the City’s search firm and to
review and approve their proposed contract at a future Council meeting. In addition, he
moved to approve the tentative recruitment schedule. Councilmember Williams seconded
the motion and it passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers DeGarmo,
Loasching, Steeber, Wellnitz, and Williams. Pass: Council President Brunner.
5. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., expressed her concerns about the
Governmental Accountability Board fee schedule for a recount. In addition, she believes
every ballot placed into the voting machine should be hand counted. Helen Close, 227 Ba
Wood Ln., expressed her appreciation to the City Council, City Manager, and candidates
for their service and dedication. She requested that the Council address the parking
shortage problem at the Senior Citizen’s Center.
6. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Williams stated that the Alcohol License
Advisory Committee (ALAC) requested the owner of Super Beer Depot to appear at the
March ALAC meeting to discuss the deterioration and the abandonment of his property.
City Manager Sheiffer stated that the Administration would prepare a report addressing
this situation. City Manager Sheiffer stated that the City is changing internet providers and
the City’s website and email system may be intermittently unavailable for the next 24-72
hours.
7. Councilmember Williams moved to convene into closed session, pursuant to Wisconsin
Statute Section 19.85 (1) (e) for the purpose of considering compensation data of any
public employee (City Manager) over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or
exercises responsibility. The motion was seconded by Councilmember DeGarmo and
passed unanimously.
There being no further business, the Council convened into closed session at 9:03 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer