Minutes 09-08-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: September 22, 2008
September 8, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 23
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
September 8, 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.
Council President Loasching stated that the City Council has full confidence in Acting City Manager
Winzenz. She requested that if City employees had any concerns that they may forward them to
Mr. Winzenz. Anonymous complaints can not be handled properly. She emphasized employees
and management should work together as a team.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of August 25, 2008.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Council President Loasching stated that all items on the consent agenda would be approved if
there were no objections. Councilmember Voskuil requested that the minutes reflect that Andreah
Briarmoon shared her opinions about former City Manager Sheiffer’s retirement under Requests
and Comments from the public. The Consent Agenda was approved with the amendment.
Action on a proposed resolution proclaiming the Week of September 8 – 14, 2008 as “LIVE
UNITED” week. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-525)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the agenda not requiring a public
hearing. There were none.
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., commended the Council for looking at having the City
Attorney report to the City Council and creating a nominating committee for City committees;
suggested the Police Chief report to the City Council; believes TIF projects should pay for homes
taken by condemnation.
3. Recommendations of the Transportation Committee: Proposed ordinances requiring Lapidary
Lane to yield to Balmoral Drive (File Ord. No. 2008-414), and designating Sandhill Drive (N. Wright
Road to N. Harmony Town Hall Road) as a connecting arterial street (File Ord. No. 2008-415);
received their second reading and public hearings. No one spoke at the public hearing. The
public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt ordinance 2008-414,
seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. Councilmember Steeber moved to
adopt ordinance 2008-415, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
4. Action on a proposed resolution approving an amendment to the lease between the City of
Janesville and Rotary Gardens, Inc. Councilmember Brunner moved to adopt said resolution with
an amendment to 9.C changing the admission fee notification requirement from 90 days to 30 days,
seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously. (Revised File Res. No. 2008-
535)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Presentation by Forward Janesville on June 2008 community brainstorming session was made
by Richard Gruber and Dan Cunningham. They reviewed the highlights of the brainstorming
session and challenged the Council and community to use the information to plan for our short-term
and long-term economic future. In addition, they suggested a regional roundtable. Council
President Loasching thanked Forward Janesville for their efforts.
2. Presentation and action on a proposed Citizen Advisory Committee on Appointments (Council
Policy Statement #82). Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the proposed Policy Statement
and amend the appointment timeline from the second Council meeting in April to the first Council
meeting in April. Councilmember Voskuil seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
3. Report from the Administration on existing citizen committee term limits. By consensus, City
Councilmembers were satisfied with existing limits and no action was taken.
4. Committee appointments. Acting City Manager Winzenz informed the Council that Mike
Herman, Jerry Mekeel, and Robert Sperling were appointed to the Ad Hoc Citizen Advisory
Committee on Assessing.
5. Action on a proposed resolution to approve a sanitary sewer encroachment agreement with
Union Pacific Railroad. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve said agreement, seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-537)
6. Discussion of Personnel Policy Manual and organizational structure of city departments. Acting
City Manager Winzenz stated that the City no longer gives hiring preference to City employees’
children for seasonal positions and five consulting firms have been asked to submit proposals to
review our Personnel Policy Manual. The Council discussed the possibility of who should oversee
the City Attorney’s position. Council President Loasching requested information from peer cities on
their grievance process for non-union employees.
7. A proposed resolution for new sidewalk was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on
September 22, 2008. (File Res. No. 2008-536)
8. A proposed ordinance rezoning property located at 2304 and 2305 Fulton Street from M2 to B4
was introduced, referred to the Plan Commission, and scheduled for public hearing on October 13,
2008. (File Ord. No. 2008-416)
9. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Voskuil initiated discussion on FEMA
reimbursements and seeking outside legal counsel concerning the proposed ANR pipeline.
Councilmember McDonald requested information on recycling electronics; the Sustainable
Committee look at the feasibility of limiting or stopping businesses from using plastic bags; a
pedestrian crosswalk sign for the Willard St. and Mineral Point Rd. intersection for pedestrians
traveling east; and the crosswalk on Ruger Ave. be repainted for pedestrians going to St. John
Vianney School.
Councilmember Brunner initiated discussion on the construction on Wright Rd, how many trees
would be removed for the ANR pipeline, and requested the Summary Sheets reflecting City
Manager 2009 budget cuts.
Councilmember Rashkin announced his website “A Bigger Stage”.
Councilmember Truman announced the annual large item pickup is scheduled for September 20,
2008.
Council President Loasching encouraged the residents to vote on September 9, 2008 and
scheduled the following Special Council meetings to review the 2009 Budget: October 22, October
29, and November 5 (if necessary) at 6:00 PM. The Council waived notice.
10. Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed
with the following vote: Aye: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, Rashkin,
Steeber, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmember McDonald.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 8:56 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer