Minutes 07-28-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: August 11, 2008
July 28, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 18
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
July 28, 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 July 14, 2008
Minutes of the special meeting of July 14, 2008
Minutes of the closed session of July 14, 2008
Minutes of the special meeting of July 15, 2008
Minutes of the closed session of July 15, 2008
Minutes of the special meeting of July 16, 2008
Minutes of the closed session of July 16, 2008
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Financial Statement for the month of June 2008.
Council President Loasching stated that all items on the consent agenda would be approved,
including an amendment to the Minutes of the Closed Session of July 16, 2008, item #28
(changing the seconder of the motion from Councilmember McDonald to Councilmember
Rashkin), 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. Roger Striech, 79 S. Huron Dr. and Brian Allen, 1610 Doubletree Dr.,
supported building the skate park at Palmer Park (New Business Item #1). Christine Wilke,
owner of flooded property at 1822 Charles St., objected to the low assessment value on her
property. As a result of the low assessed value, she must comply with the flood ordinance
regulations if the structure is rebuilt.
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Nancy Hansen-Bennett, 915 N. Garfield Ave., supported the Noxious Weeds
Ordinance (Old Business Item #4) and requested that the $50 fee be waived for Asbury United
Methodist Church. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., requested a committee be formed to
select and interview potential City committee members; opposed City employees enforcing
ordinance violations within 10 days of notice.
3. A proposed ordinance on revisions to the City of Janesville Floodplain Ordinance and
related Definitions, Chapters 18.60 and 18.20 received its second reading and public hearing.
Andreah Briarmoon, stated that timely information was not available to the public on this
ordinance and section 18.60.130 hhh should be deleted from the ordinance. Council President
Loasching stated that the City Council received a letter from the Brennan, Steil & Basting, S.C.
objecting to the revised FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Christine Wilke, restated her
objection to the low assessment value on her property. Council President Loasching
requested that the Administration provide the City Council with a definition on equalized value
and how it applies to the property owners with flood damage. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Brunner moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Steeber
and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2008-514)
4. A proposed ordinance on Noxious Weeds and Natural Landscaping received its second
reading and public hearing. Caroleen Brandeen, representing Ashbury United Methodist
Church, Chuck Campbell, 510 N. Oakhill Ave., and Nancy Hansen-Bennett supported the
ordinance. Andreah Briarmoon opposed the ordinance. Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave.,
requested that the ordinance address public terraces. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Brunner
and passed unanimously. (File Revised Ord. No. 2008-413)
5. Proposed amendment to Council Policy #81 (Sustainable Janesville Committee).
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said amendment to include nine (9) citizens and one
(1) Councilmember on the committee, seconded by Councilmember McDonald.
Councilmember McDonald offered a friendly amendment that the Councilmember on this
committee may only vote when there is a tie. The amendment was accepted by
Councilmember Steeber. The City Council voted on the amended motion and it passed
unanimously.
6. Committee appointments. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the City Manager’s
committee appointments: Scott Bordwell, Alcohol License Advisory; Jeffrey Clark, Leisure
Services Advisory; Mary Conway and Larry Cain, Golf Course Advisory; Nick Fitzgerald and
Bradley Reents, Transportation Committee; Julie Backenkeller, Alex Cunningham, Ann Hyzer,
Matt Mills, David Peterson, Camille Rammer, Nancy Sonntag, Daniel Swanson and Katie Udell,
Sustainable Janesville Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDonald
and passed with the following vote: Aye: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers
Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmember Truman.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Review of proposed skate site in Palmer Park. By consensus, the City Council requested
additional information on locating the skate park in a targeted area and the projected amount of
grant money available for building the park.
2. Action on a report on committee member appointment procedure. By consensus, the City
Council requested that a Committee Appointment Committee be established, the process the
committee would use for appointment recommendations and term limits. Also, they requested
information on the City of Beloit’s Committee Appointment Committee.
3. Authorization for the Administration to submit a Hazard Mitigation Grant application for
potential acquisition of flood damaged properties. Councilmember Steeber moved to
authorize the Administration to submit said grant application, seconded by Councilmember
Brunner. Councilmember Brunner offered a friendly amendment to include business properties
in the grant submittal. Councilmember Steeber accepted the amendment. The City Council
voted on the motion as amended and it passed unanimously.
4. Review of Administration’s Goals and Priorities and Annual Work Programs. City Manager
Sheiffer formally submitted the report. No action was taken.
5. A proposed resolution to adopt a Business Improvement District (BID) Operating Plan for
Downtown Janesville was introduced, referred to the Plan Commission and scheduled for
public hearing on September 22, 2008. (File Res. No. 2008-524)
6. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Truman inquired about the conversion of
Jackson St. from one-way to two-way. City Engineer Messer stated that the conversion would
occur in the near future. Councilmember Rashkin suggested that a City employee should be
assigned to promote the downtown. Councilmember McDonald asked when the City Council
would receive the downtown parking study and was informed sometime in August.
Councilmember Brunner informed the Administration that street cones are being knocked over
on Wright Rd. for amusement. Councilmember Truman stated the South Central Builders
Association has delayed building the Courthouse Park Pavilion because of funding issues.
7. 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; and (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 setting the negotiation/bargaining terms and conditions
for acquiring, selling, and/or leasing certain real public property. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 9:29 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer