Minutes 05-27-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: June 9, 2008
May 27, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 5
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
May 27, 2008. The meeting was called to order by Council President Loasching at 7:00 PM.
Council President Loasching led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber
and Truman. Councilmember Voskuil arrived at 7:15 PM.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of May 12, 2008.
Minutes of the special meeting of May 6, 2008.
Minutes of the closed session of May 6, 2008.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Recommendation for denial of a bartender’s license for Lynette Ziegler.
Financial Statement for the month of April, 2008.
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map 080011-C, New Life Assembly of
God, 2 lots along Savannah Ct.
Action on a financial gain request from the Rock Aqua Jays, Crimestoppers and Mercy Health
Care System to conduct a “Rock, Roll ‘n’ Run” triathlon at Traxler Park on July 27, 2008.
Council President Loasching removed the recommendation for denial of bartender application
from the consent agenda. She stated the remaining items would be approved if there were no
objections. There were none.
Lynette Ziegler responded to City Councilmembers’ questions. Councilmember Voskuil arrived
at 7:15 PM. Councilmember Steeber moved to table the license application until a report from
Ms. Ziegler’s parole officer is received. He did not receive a second. Councilmember Truman
moved to approve the bartender’s license and restrict it to the VFW Club, seconded by
Councilmember McDonald. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: Council President
Loasching, Councilmembers McDonald, Rashkin, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmembers
Brunner and Steeber.
Authorization for the Administration to approve a settlement for a liability claim for Lorillee
Castiglioni in the amount of $23,000.00. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the
settlement, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed by the following vote: Aye:
Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman and
Voskuil. Pass: Councilmember McDonald.
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Judith Adler’s 29
years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously. (File Res. No.
2008-505)
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Myra Jensen’s 22
years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. (File Res. No.
2008-506)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a
public hearing. There were none.
Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Julie Backenkeller, 719 N. Grant Ave., expressed her concern about borrowing for landfill
projects in the 2008 note issue instead of using operating funds. Dan Cunningham,
representing Forward Janesville and Rich Gruber, representing Mercy Health System, stated
their support of the 2008 note issue. (Old Bus. #4). Alfred Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave.,
commended the Council for opening the Riverside Park road. Kevin Bishop, 1602 Liberty Ln.,
and John Graf, 1628 Newman St., supported the creation of a sustainable committee (New
Bus. #1). Also, Mr. Bishop offered to be a member of this committee. Ty Bollerud, 4608
Pendleton Circle, suggested the City create an electric company to generate hydropower.
3. A proposed ordinance amending the zoning ordinance to allow hospitals as a conditional
use in the B4 Zone district received its second reading and public hearing. No one spoke.
The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance,
seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2008-411)
4. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the issuance of $15,245,000 general obligation
promissory notes, Series 2008, and providing the details thereof. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-500)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Presentation and action on a proposed Sustainable Janesville Committee (Council Policy
Statement #81). Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt Council Policy Statement #81,
seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
2. Action on a proposed resolution adopting eco-municipality guidelines for sustainable
practice. Councilmember Brunner moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-508)
3. Wastewater Utility 2007 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-503)
4. Action on a request to authorize the placement of a subdivision entrance sign within the
public right-of-way at the northwest corner of County Trunk Highway E and Northridge Dr.
Councilmember Steeber moved to authorize the placement of the sign as requested, seconded
by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
5. A proposed resolution authorizing the release of a utility easement north of Mineral Point
Ave. for Mercy Hospital. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-498)
6. A proposed ordinance increasing the quota of Class A alcohol licenses was introduced and
referred to the Alcohol License Advisory Committee and scheduled for public hearing on June
9, 2008. By consensus, the City Council amended the proposed ordinance by increasing the
quota by changing one license per 3,000 population to one license per 2,500 population. (File
Ord. No. 2008-412)
7. Matters not on the Agenda. Council President Loasching and Councilmember Brunner
stated that they received complaints about fireworks and requested the Police Department take
appropriate action. Councilmember Voskuil asked where the proposed A.N.R gas line would
be located. City Manager Sheiffer stated that the pipeline is regulated by the federal
government and we plan to obtain outside legal counsel to determine our rights.
Councilmember Truman requested the removal of beehives near the play equipment at Peace
Park and thanked the volunteers who worked at Riverside Park. Councilmember McDonald
commended the Parks Department for cleaning up the lower Courthouse Park for Memorial
Day and asked the Police Department to look at the speed of traffic in Palmer Park. City
Manager Sheiffer informed the Council that the septic system works at Riverside Park and the
City has 14 City Committee vacancies.
8. Study session on City communication efforts with discussion. The City Council asked
various questions. Councilmembers Voskuil and Rashkin requested that the Community
Information Program ad hoc committee reconvene.
9. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin
Statute Section 19.85 (1) (e), for the purposes of deliberating and setting the negotiating and
bargaining terms and conditions for potential upkeep and maintenance leases for the Tallman
Museum. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned into closed session at 9:10 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer