Minutes 03-24-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: April 14, 2008
March 24, 2008
VOL. 58
NO. 32
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on March 24, 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,
Truman, and Williams. Absent: Councilmember Wellnitz.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of March 10, 2008.
Minutes of the closed session of October 8, 2007.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee. (Refer to
separate agenda).
Financial Statements for the months of January & February, 2008.
Action on a financial gain request from the ALS Association of Wisconsin, Brookfield
Chapter, along with the Janesville Noon Lion to conduct a “Walk to Defeat ALS” on May
10, 2008.
Action on a financial gain request from the YWCA of Rock County to conduct a “YWCA 5K
Race Against Racism” on June 21, 2008.
Council President Brunner stated that all items on the consent agenda would be approved
if there were no objections. There were none.
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 amending Ordinance Chapter 9.32, Chronic Nuisance Premises,
received its second reading and public hearing. Tom Brien, 807 Kellogg Ave.; Margaret
Delaney, 439 Jackson St.; Herb Linck, 118 S. High St; and Burdett Erickson, 115 S. High
St. spoke in favor of the ordinance. Dale Hicks, 2221 E Milwaukee St; and Paul Dries,
2404 Lombard Ave spoke in favor of the ordinance but asked the council to adopt an
ordinance that would also hold tenants responsible for any financial penalties. Andreah
Briarmoon, 339 Locust St.; and Steve Shaw, 2707 Parkplace Ln. spoke against ordinance.
The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance,
seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2008-407)
3. A proposed ordinance amending establishing a re-inspection fee for nuisance violations
received its second reading and public hearing. Dale Hicks, 2221 E. Milwaukee St. stated
his prior comments about tenants paying financial penalties were in relation to this
ordinance (See Old Business #2). Andreah Briarmoon, 339 Locust St spoke against the
ordinance. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Truman. Councilmember Steeber offered a
friendly amendment to add “consistent with Federal and State laws” to section 8.60.030.
The amendment was accepted by Councilmember Truman. The motion, as amended,
passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2008-406)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Committee appointment. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the City Manager’s
committee appointment of Sylvia Moore to the Community Development Authority,
seconded by Councilmember Loasching and passed unanimously.
2. Action on a request to waive the special event fees for the 2008 Farmers Market.
Councilmember Williams moved to waive the special event fee in the amount of $525 and
the equipment rental fee in the amount of $1,600 for the 2008 Farmers Market season.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to acquire property at
937 S. Jackson St. Councilmembers Truman and Williams asked that the administration
continue to rent the billboard on the property instead of removing it. Councilmember
Williams moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Truman and
passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-459)
4. Action on a proposed resolution declaring the property at 2739 Beloit Avenue as
surplus land and authorizing the City Administration to sell the property. Councilmember
Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Williams and
passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-485)
5. Action on a proposed resolution approving a TIF development agreement with and
authorizing a $200,000 TIF development loan #2 to Tigre USA. Councilmember Williams
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber passed by the
following vote: Aye: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers Loaching, Steeber,
Truman, and Williams. Pass: Councilmember DeGarmo. (File Res. No. 2008-486)
6. Action on a proposed resolution approving a TIF development agreement with and
authorizing a $62,500 TIF development loan to National Freight Industries, Inc.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember
Williams and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-487)
7. Action on a motion authorizing the City Manager to sign a memorandum of
understanding with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to be part of the
Mercury Green Tier Charter. Councilmember DeGarmo moved to approve the
memorandum of understanding, seconded by Councilmember Loaching and passed
unanimously.
8. A proposed revision to Council Policy # 70 for Special Assessments. Councilmember
DeGarmo moved to adopt said revision, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed
unanimously.
9. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Tom Brien, 807 Kellogg Ave., spoke about numerous properties on the 600 and
700 blocks of Kellogg Ave. that may violate the Chronic Nuisance Ordinance (see Old
Business #2 and #3). He asked the administration to investigate these alleged violations.
Andreah Briarmoon of 339 S. Locust St. encouraged the city to find a use for the old Case
Feed Store building. She also expressed her concerns about the South Jackson St. bridge
falling into disrepair, the roof of the Senior Center leaking, and the police confiscating the
abandoned alcohol at Super Beer Depot.
10. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Truman asked the council to consider
amending the ordinance regulating traffic triangle setbacks at controlled intersections.
Council President Brunner requested the administration prepare a report for council review
addressing this issue.
11. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into closed session, pursuant to
Wisconsin Statute Section 19.85 (1)(c), for the purpose of considering employment,
promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over
which the government body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility; and (e), for the
purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchase of 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 a potential TIF industrial agreement. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Williams and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, the Council convened into closed session at 9:16 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer