Minutes 11-10-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: November 24, 2008
November 10, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 36
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
November 10, 2008. The meeting was called to order by Council Vice President Truman at
7:00 PM. Boy Scout Troop #405 from First Lutheran Church led the Council in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Present: Council Vice President Truman, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber,
and Voskuil. Absent: Council President Loasching.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the special meeting of October 22, 2008
Minutes of the special meeting of October 27, 2008
Minutes of the regular meeting of October 27, 2008
Minutes of the closed session of October 27, 2008
Minutes of the closed session of November 12, 2007
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map 08014-C, Steve Gardner, 2 lots along
Mount Zion Avenue.
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map 08016-C, Hendricks Commercial, 3 lots
along Fulton Street.
Waiver of special assessment procedures for sidewalk and street lighting charges for CSM 08016,
Hendricks Commercial Properties.
Council Vice President Truman 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. Dwight Brass, 17 East Valley Rd., Beloit, WI, advocated conservation instead of
building/expanding the Wastewater Treatment Plant and would petition the Department of Natural
Resources to oppose future expansion (New Business Item #2).
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Kay Deupree, 419 S. Franklin St., reported on the success of the Community Gathering Garden
project. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., suggested an aldermanic form of government;
commented the Citizen Advisory Committee on Appointments should be called “Citizen Nomination
Board”; commented the Zoning Board of Appeal should be administered by a citizens’ committee;
and commented the Municipal Building should be renamed City Hall.
3. Acting City Manager’s Report: (A) Winter Weather and Snow Removal. John Whitcomb,
Director of Operations, outlined goals and objections of the snow removal operations. He covered
anti-icing liquids, chemical application, plowing, public sidewalks, and public information.
4. The FY2009 proposed City and Library budgets received their public hearing. Duke Ellingson,
Rock County Historical Society (RCHS) President; Tim Maahs, RCHS Secretary, and Phil Shauer,
RCHS Board member, requested the funding for the Tallman House be reinstated. Andreah
Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., stated the need for a community center and affordable housing; and
suggested how federal and state grant money should be spent. The public hearing was closed.
Council Vice President Truman continued this item to the November 24, 2008 meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the Acting City Manager to make an application to
the County for an exemption from the Library tax levy. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt
said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
(File Res. 2008-553)
2. Action on proposed resolutions authorizing the Acting City Manager to proceed with
improvements to the Wastewater Treatment Plant and to apply for a Wisconsin Clean Water Fund
Loan and authorizing interfund borrowing to provide interim funding. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
(File Res. Nos. 2008-551 & 2008-552)
3. A proposed ordinance rezoning property located at 3828 and 3902 East Rotamer Road from R1
to R3 was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on December 8, 2008.
(File Ord. No. 2008-423)
4. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Brunner recognized Steve Eklund, an 8-year-old
who wrote a letter requesting the City Council be good stewards of taxpayers’ money.
5. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute
Section 19.85 (1)(g), for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body
who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect
to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved, specifically the claim and litigation,
concerning the Tripicchio Arbor Heights landslide by Kiwanis’s Pond, Rock County Case No. 2008
CV 1430. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 8:04 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
City Clerk-Treasurer