Minutes 11-24-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: December 8, 2008
November 24, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 38
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on November 24,
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 closed session of August 21, 2008
Minutes of the special meeting of October 29, 2008 (amended)
Minutes of the regular meeting of November 10, 2008
Minutes of the special meeting of November 12, 2008 (amended)
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee, including a negative
recommendation for an operator’s license for Adam Giese.
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map 08009-C, Art Donaldson, 1 lot along
STH 11.
Financial statement for the month of October 2008.
Council President Loasching removed from the consent agenda the negative recommendation of an operator’s
license for Adam Giese. She stated the remaining items would be approved if there were no objections. There
were none.
Councilmember Steeber moved to deny a license for Adam Giese based on the materials presented, seconded
by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the agenda not requiring a public hearing.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., suggested placing the office of ward supervisors on the April 2009 ballot
and creating a Citizens Board of Review with the authority to overturn any determination made by a City
employee.
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action. Don Branz, 336
S. Harmony Dr., suggested various areas to review for potential cost savings and requested that only City
residents be hired for temporary and seasonal City positions. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., requested
that the new code inspector positions in the 2009 budget become employees of a new community center,
suggested eviction vouchers for landlords to assist in evicting tenants, and requested funding for a homeless
shelter and a boarding house.
3. The FY2009 proposed City and Library budgets received their continued public hearing. The public hearing
was opened. Rick Hartung, 121 S. Academy St.; Duke Ellingson, 17 S. Atwood Ave.; Pete Skelly, 3707 Ruger
Ave., Patrick Gasper, 202 Sinclair St.; Rich Fletcher, 1214 Ravine St., Deb Wood, 17 S. Atwood Ave.; and Sue
Conley, 202 Hillside Ct., requested the Council reconsider their amendment to reduce the Tallman House
subsidy. Helen Close, 227 Ba Wood Ln., suggested that a new Senior Center parking lot be built on the former
jail site. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., suggested the $500,000 allocated for blight removal be
reallocated to fund newsletters, leisure programs, listening sessions, Tallman subsidy, and a Citizen
Neighborhood Action team. For the record, Councilmember McDonald stated that the $500,000 was not in the
budget but was in the proposed 2009 note issue. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber
moved to approve the 2009 proposed City Budget, as revised by the City Council through November 12, 2008,
with a General Fund Budget in the amount of $41,623,684 and a tax levy (without) TIF in the amount of
$24,431,575, and directed the Comptroller to include these amounts in the 2009 appropriation and levy
resolutions. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Truman. Councilmember Voskuil moved to amend
the motion by increasing the Tallman Subsidy by $19,000, seconded by Councilmember Brunner.
Councilmember Brunner offered a friendly amendment to restrict the Tallman House subsidy to the Tallman
House only. The friendly amendment was accepted by the maker. The amendment passed by the following
vote: Aye: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, Steeber, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay:
Councilmembers McDonald and Rashkin. The Council then voted on the main motion and it passed
unanimously.
Councilmember Brunner moved to approve the 2009 Proposed State and Federal Grants Budget, seconded by
Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
Councilmember Brunner moved to approve the 2009 Capital Budget for JATV in the amount of $69,000,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Council President Loasching combined New Business Items 1 and 2.
1. Action on a request to waive the special event fee and changes of venue for the 2008 Parade of
Lights sponsored by the South Central Wisconsin Builders Association, Inc.
2. Action on a proposed resolution approving the FY2009 Action Plan for the Community
Development Block Grant Program and Rock County HOME consortium Submission. (File Res.
No. 2008-549)
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt New Business Items 1 and 2, seconded by Councilmember Truman
and passed unanimously.
3. A proposed ordinance amending the City’s Wastewater Facility and Sewer Use Ordinance in order to adjust
rates as set forth in Chapter 13.18 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Janesville was introduced and
scheduled for public hearing on December 8, 2008. (File Ord. No. 2008-425)
4. Recommendation of the Transportation Committee: A proposed ordinance revising the vision triangle sections
of the municipal code was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on December 8, 2008. (File Ord. No.
2008-424)
5. Matters not on the agenda. Council President Loasching scheduled a special Council meeting on December
1, 2008 at 7:00 AM. She requested the Administration prepare a memo evaluating a citizens’ suggestion box
and an employee suggestion program with incentives. Councilmember Brunner requested the Administration
research the use of LED lights for possible cost/energy savings. Councilmember Steeber stated that the citizens
should be thankful for what they have and to extend a helping hand to their neighbors. Councilmember
McDonald suggested the Council consider reducing the number of members on the Sustainable Janesville
Committee.
6. Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 8:10 PM. These minutes are not official until approved by
the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer