Minutes 04-28-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: May 12, 2008
April 28, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 2
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
April 28, 2008. The meeting was called to order by Council President Loasching at 7:00 p.m.
Council President Loasching led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance and requested a
moment of silence in honor of Worker’s Memorial Day.
Present: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber,
Truman and Voskuil.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of April 14, 2008.
Minutes of the organizational meeting of April 15, 2008.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Financial Statements for the month of March, 2008.
Council President Loasching 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. Margaret Vechinsky, 537 Muir St; Pam VanBrocklin, 6305 N. Lockwood Dr;
Mark Wopat, 35 Maple Ln, Milton; Kevin Hendricks, 1171 N. Parker Dr; Kim Hendricks, 2353
N. Parker Dr; Tim Rutter, 326 N. Terrace Dr; Karl Dommershausen, 2419 Plymouth Ave; and
Joe LeBeau, 2416 Riverview Dr. spoke in favor of reopening the wading pool, north restroom
and upper road of Riverside Park (New Business #4). Shirley Dyrud, 526 N. Palm St and Mary
Conway, 1731 S. River Rd spoke against reopening the upper road in Riverside Park. Julie
Backenkeller, 719 N. Grant St, spoke against Charter Ordinance 2008-01 (New Business #6)
and asked the Council create a process for citizens to apply for city committees.
Council President Loasching stated that the City Council would consider New Business #4
next.
4. Report and action on Riverside Park Projects. The City Manager presented an update on
Riverside Park and recommended the upper road be reopened one way and the Council wait
until August to decide whether or not to open up wading pool. Councilmember Truman moved
to open the upper road one way from the north entrance to Lilac Circle and two ways from Lilac
Circle south, seconded by Councilmember Steeber. Councilmember Voskuil offered a friendly
amendment to have the upper road opened one way north to south. The friendly amendment
was accepted by Councilmembers Truman and Steeber. The motion, as amended, passed
unanimously. Councilmember Truman moved to open Riverside Park wading pool and
authorize funding of no more than $50,000, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed
unanimously. City Manager Sheiffer informed the Council that at the next meeting they would
need to have separate votes to take action on the reallocation of capital money and a
supplemental appropriation resolution for operational expenses. Councilmember Truman
moved to reopen the north bathroom and work with “Friends of Riverside Park” to repair the
bathroom, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
Councilmember Truman left the Council table.
2. Action on the application of Quarna’s Tavern, LLC for a Class B Fermented Malt Beverage
and Intoxicating Liquor License Application. Councilmember Steeber moved to deny said
application based on the applicant’s arrest and conviction record, seconded by Councilmember
Voskuil and passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin,
Steeber, and Voskuil. Pass: Council President Loasching.
Councilmember Truman returned to the Council table.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a financial gain request from the United Arts Alliance to sponsor street performers
on public land. Councilmember Voskuil moved to approve the request, seconded by
Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
2. Presentation by AT&T on boxes in the public right-of-way. Scott Jansen, Regional Vice-
President of External Affairs, presented AT&T’s plans to upgrade existing fiber optic cables.
Councilmember Voskuil asked for quarterly updates from the Administration on the progress
being made by AT&T.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with
Janesville Youth Baseball, Inc for the operation of the batting cages. Councilmember Brunner
moved to approve said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-463)
5. Action on proposed amendments to Council Policy Statements #66-A (Alcohol License
Advisory Committee), #41 (Golf Advisory Committee), #49 (Leisure Services Advisory
Committee), and #43 (Transportation Committee). Councilmember Steeber moved to approve
said amendments, seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously.
Council President Loasching stated that the Council would consider New Business #7 next.
7. Committee Appointments. A. Council President. B. City Manager. Council President
Loasching stated that the previous agenda item changed the composition of Council
membership on committees and she revised her committee appointments as follows: ALAC –
Councilmember McDonald; Transportation – Councilmember Truman; Golf Course Advisory –
None; Ice Skating Advisory – None; and Parkland Acquisition – None. Councilmember
Steeber moved to approve the Council President’s revised appointments, seconded by
Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve
the City Manager’s committee appointments, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed
unanimously.
6. A proposed charter ordinance amending certain charter ordinance sections of the City of
Janesville was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on May 12, 2008. (File Ch. Ord.
No. 2008-01)
8. A proposed ordinance amending the zoning ordinance to allow hospitals as a conditional
use in the B4 zone district was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on May 27, 2008.
(File Ord. No. 2008-411)
9. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 Locust St, requested: AT&T guarantee citizen access
channels, Charter Ordinance changes be approved by referendum, the city give the “Friends of
Riverside Park” $15,000 to repair the north restroom, and the Council Chamber’s microphone
problem be fixed. She stated numerous agenda items were not available on the website.
10. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Brunner asked the administration to prepare
a resolution to adopt the Eco-Municipality Sustainable Guidelines. Councilmembers Brunner
and Steeber requested that the Green Committee be brought forward. Councilmember
Brunner suggested the City Council freeze all employment decisions until the new City
Manager was hired. City Manager Sheiffer explained all employment decisions are made by
the City Manager as authorized by City Charter and State Statutes and not by the City Council.
Councilmembers Steeber and Truman requested a report on increasing the quota of Class A
liquor licenses. Councilmember Truman informed the City Council that he accepted the
National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA and Growth Award on behalf of the City.
Councilmember Voskuil asked for a report on the communications protocol for citizens.
Council President Loasching confirmed that the City Council Study Session will be held on May
6, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. Also, she stated that the community should come together to support the
families that are affected by the elimination of the General Motors’ second shift.
11. 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 purchasing of
public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business,
whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically deliberating
upon and setting the negotiating/bargaining terms and conditions for: (1) potential acquisition
of certain downtown real property(ies) along North Franklin Street for various public purposes;
(2) two potential west side downtown TIF agreements, and one along Milton Avenue; (3)
potential upkeep and maintenance lease for private property; and pursuant to 19.85(1)(g) for
the purpose of conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or
written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation
involving: (1) alleged personal injury suffered by Ingrid Bartlemes-Fish; and (2) litigation
commenced by Local 580 and Matthew Simpson against the City and the Police and Fire
Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned into closed session at 11:00 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer