Minutes 06-23-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: July 14, 2008
June 23, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 11
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
June 23, 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
Truman, and Voskuil.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of June 9, 2008.
Minutes of the special meeting of June 12, 2008.
Minutes of the special meeting of June 15, 2008.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Financial statement for the month of May, 2008.
Council President Loasching stated the consent items would be approved if there were no
objections. There were none.
2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Report on Internal Controls.
Councilmember Steeber moved to accept the 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
and Report on Internal Controls and to place it on file, seconded by Councilmember Truman
and passed unanimously.
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Faye Ball’s 27 years
of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-504)
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Martin Altstadt’s 30
years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No.
2008-513)
Action on a proposed resolution requesting General Motors Corporation to reconsider their
decision to close the Janesville Assembly Plant in 2010. Councilmember Truman moved to
adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously. (File
Res. No. 2008-516)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the agenda not requiring a
public hearing. Alfred Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., objected to all four alternatives proposed for
the pedestrian crossing of the bike trail at the Wright Road and Milwaukee Street intersection
(New Business #2). Ron Combs, 109 W. Milwaukee St., supported the wavier of special
assessment in its entirety (New Business #5). Richard Frank, 1119 Elida St., believed that
Councilmember McDonald understands City Manager and Councilmember roles: the City
Manager acts on the direction of the City Council.
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Carolyn Brandeen, 2020 S. Crosby, Charles Campbell, 510 N. Oakhill Ave., and Cindy
Giesing, 2005 Moreland, representing Asbury United Methodist Church at 1810 Kellogg Ave.,
requested a variance to allow a prairie on the one acre of open space on their property. Ty
Bollerud, 4608 Pendleton Ct., suggested using Monterey Dam for hydropower and turning it
over to General Motors.
3. Action on a proposed resolution awarding $15,245,000 general obligation promissory notes,
series 2008, establishing interest rates thereon and levying taxes therefore. Councilmember
Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-501)
4. Action on proclamation of emergency. City Manager Sheiffer suggested the proclamation of
emergency expire June 30, 2008 at midnight. Councilmember Steeber moved to extend the
proclamation of emergency for seven (7) days to expire June 30, 2008 at midnight, seconded
by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
5. Amendment to Council Policy #81 (Sustainable Janesville Committee). Councilmember
McDonald moved to amend Council Policy #81 to add one (1) Councilmember to the
Sustainable Janesville Committee, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed
unanimously. Councilmember Brunner moved to approve Tom McDonald’s appointment to the
Sustainable Janesville Committee, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed
unanimously.
6. Update on city manager recruitment process. Sue Musick, Director of Human Resources,
updated the Council on the recruitment and said a press release will be going out this week on
the final candidates.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Report and recommendation on East Milwaukee Street and Wuthering Hills Drive
intersection. Councilmember Steeber moved to authorize the installation of traffic signals
without turn lanes, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin. Motion withdrawn. Councilmember
Steeber moved to authorize a roundabout and short-term fixes on East Milwaukee Street and
Wuthering Hills Drive, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed with the following
vote: Aye: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin,
Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmember Truman.
2. Report on East Milwaukee pedestrian crossing alternatives. Councilmember McDonald
moved to authorize an underpass, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil, and passed by the
following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: Council
President Loasching, Councilmembers Rashkin and Truman.
3. Public hearing and action on a proposed resolution authorizing the removal of traffic control
signals at South Franklin Street and West Racine Street. No one spoke. The public hearing
was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed with the following vote: Aye: Council President
Loasching, Councilmembers McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman and Voskuil. Nay:
Councilmember Brunner. (File Res. No. 2008-515)
4. Location of 2008 fireworks. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the use of the Youth
Sports Complex for the Jaycees’ Fourth of July 2008 fireworks, seconded by Councilmember
McDonald. Councilmember Truman offered a friendly amendment to stop music at 10:00 PM.
The friendly amendment was not accepted. Council President Loasching offered a friendly
amendment that property owners must be notified and grant permission. The friendly
amendment was accepted by the maker and seconder. Council voted on the amended motion
and it passed unanimously.
5. Waiver of special assessment procedures for storm sewer, sidewalk, and street lighting
charges for Emerald Estates First Addition–Roscoe Development. Councilmember Truman
moved to approve the waiver of special assessment procedures for storm sewer, sidewalk, and
street lighting charges for Emerald Estates First Addition–Roscoe Development up to
$600,000, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
6. A proposed ordinance on revisions to the City of Janesville Floodplain Ordinance and
related definitions, Chapters 18.60 and 18.20, was introduced, referred to Plan Commission
and scheduled for public hearing on July 28, 2008. (File Ord. No. 2008-514)
7. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember McDonald requested discussion on narrowing
Milwaukee Street be placed on the July 14, 2008 City Council agenda. Councilmember
Truman stated 114 Academy Street needs mowing and inquired about manhole covers. City
Manager Sheiffer stated new manhole covers are replaced on an “as needed” basis.
8. 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
governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, in particular, reviewing and
considering applications for the position of city manager. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 9:27 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer