Minutes 10-27-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: November 10, 2008
October 27, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 34
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
October 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,
Truman, and Voskuil.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the special meeting of October 13, 2008
Minutes of the regular meeting of October 13, 2008
Minutes of the closed session of the regular meeting of September 22, 2008
Minutes of the closed session of the special meeting of September 22, 2008
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Financial Statement for the month of September, 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. Karl Dommershausen, 103 S. Jackson St., Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., Shannon Ahrens,
5645 S. County Road D, Rich Fletcher, 1214 Ravine St., and Jackie Wood, 119 S. Wisconsin St.,
all spoke against the demolition of the building at 101 North Franklin St. Harry O’Leary, 50 N. Main
St., spoke in favor of the demolition (New Business Item #2).
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Jon Wangerin, 1416 Mayfair Dr., thanked the Council and City staff for supporting the “Walk a Mile
in Her Shoes” fundraiser. Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., spoke in favor of the Council reducing
spending for special Capital Outlay projects. Theresa Huber, 1601 Clover Lane, representing the
Farmer’s Market, thanked the Council and City staff for their support of the Farmer’s Market during
the season that ended on October 25, 2008. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 Locust St., suggested that
City Council be structured into aldermanic districts, and is opposed to the demolition of the building
at 101 North Franklin Street.
Council President Loasching combined Old Business Items 3, 4, 5 and 6. They received their
second reading and combined public hearing. No one spoke. The public hearing was closed.
3. A proposed ordinance annexing a portion of Austin Road right-of-way between County A
and Mineral Point Road. (File Ord. No. 2008-418)
4. A proposed ordinance zoning a portion of Austin Road right-of-way between County A
and Mineral Point Road to R1 upon annexation. (File Ord. No. 2008-419)
5. A proposed ordinance annexing property along Austin Road north of Mineral Point Road.
(File Ord. No. 2008-420)
6. A proposed ordinance zoning property along Austin Road north of Mineral Point Road to
R1 upon annexation. (File Ord. No. 2008-421)
Councilmember Steeber moved adopt Old Business Items 3, 4, 5 and 6, seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Award of contracts C2008-18 (sanitary sewer lining) and C2008-20 (Youth Sports Complex site
improvements) for Public Works Bid Schedule “E” – 2008. Councilmember Steeber moved to
award the following contracts:
C2008-18 Visu-Sewer Clean & Seal $ 473,745.00
C2008-20 R.T. Fox Contractors $ 675,331.50
The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously.
2. Action on the demolition of the building located at 101 North Franklin Street. No action taken.
Council directed City Administration not to demolish until further direction.
3. Presentation of a proposal to establish an Educational/Workforce Training Center in downtown
Janesville and direction to staff on conducting a feasibility study. By consensus, the Council
directed the Administration to perform a feasibility study. Councilmember Rashkin asked for an
update on the study in 90 days.
4. Committee appointments. Councilmember Brunner moved to approve the Council President’s
committee appointments for the Citizen Advisory Board: Judith Deter-Moriarty, Shena Kohler,
David Riemer, Mary Willmer-Sheedy, Larry Squire, and Ron Combs. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
5. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Truman asked for an update on the farm house
located at 2739 Beloit Avenue, and reported there are streetlights out on Beloit Avenue and Ruger
Avenue. Councilmember McDonald asked for an update on the Truck Route Study. Council
President Loasching reminded city residents they can vote early at the Municipal Building.
6. 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, (1) setting the City’s
negotiating strategy for the retention of General Motors, and (b) setting the terms and conditions to
negotiate with investors to bring a North American Hockey League team to the Janesville Ice
Arena, and (c) deliberating upon and setting the negotiating/bargaining terms and conditions for
potential upkeep and maintenance lease for Oakhill Cemetery. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 8:45 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer