Minutes 12-08-2008
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: December 22, 2008
December 8, 2008
VOL. 59
NO. 40
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on December 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 welcomed new City Manager Eric Levitt to the meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of November 24, 2008
Minutes of the special meeting of December 1, 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. 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., spoke in favor of purchasing
the property at 189 S. High St. (New Business #4).
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. None.
3. Acting City Manager’s report: (A) Code enforcement process. Acting City Manager
Winzenz explained code enforcement is primarily complaint driven and there have been
some recent changes to the process, including the chronic nuisance premises ordinance,
re-inspection fees, and abatement for property maintenance. Council President Loasching
asked the Administration to evaluate the permit process and see if it can be simplified.
Councilmember Steeber asked the Administration to develop a plan to educate residents
about when permits are needed, to evaluate the cost of permits, to create a system that
allows people who build without a permit to receive “amnesty” and an inspection, and to
defer revaluing the property assessment for the improvements to property.
4. A proposed ordinance rezoning property located at 3828 and 3902 East Rotamer Road
from R1 to R3 received its second reading and public hearing. Tim Weber, 1615 Newport
Ave., spoke in favor of changing the zoning to give Huntington Place the ability to increase
services (i.e. barber shops, laundry, consumables) to residents. The public hearing was
closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by
Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2008-423)
5. A proposed ordinance revising the vision triangle sections of the municipal code
received its second reading and public hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 Locust St.,
spoke in favor of revising the ordinance. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember
Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed
unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2008-424)
6. 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 received its second reading and public hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 339
Locust St., spoke against the ordinance and shared her thoughts on the city budget and
expenditures. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt
said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously. (File Ord.
No. 2008-425)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Public hearing and action on a proposed resolution adopting the Look West and Old
Fourth Ward Neighborhood Revitalization Plan as a component of the City of Janesville
Comprehensive Plan. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., spoke in favor of adopting
the resolution but requested the Council to add a $1,200 eviction voucher to the plan and
to hold tenants accountable for violating chronic nuisance ordinances. Burdett Erickson,
115 S. High St.; Margaret Delaney, 435 N. Jackson St.; Kirk Link, 118 S. High St.; and,
Dale Hicks, 2221 E. Milwaukee St., spoke in favor of the plan. The public hearing was
closed. Councilmember Truman moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-559)
2. A presentation was made by ANR Pipeline on a possible natural gas pipeline expansion.
Phillip Bohanan, Project Manager, discussed ANR Pipeline’s route plan located nine miles
north of Janesville and presented three alternative routes. No Council action taken.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt New Business Items #3, #5, #6, and #7,
seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed with the following vote: Aye: Council
President Loasching, Councilmembers McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber and Truman. Nay:
Councilmembers Brunner and Voskuil.
3. Action on the Lincoln-Tallman House property lease agreement.
5. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the creation and maintenance of a third
deferred compensation plan. (File Res. No. 2008-550)
6. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental
agreement for the creation and operation of a stormwater education program.
(File Res. No. 2008-554)
7. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for the 2009
Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence Grants for an Energy Independent
Community 25x25 Plan. (File Res. No. 2008-562)
4. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the acquisition of 189 South High Street.
Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember
Steeber and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2008-561)
8. A proposed resolution vacating a 30-foot wide alley adjoining properties along the south
property line of properties located at 1801, 1831, 1901, 1909, 1917, and 1933 West Court
Street and intersecting with South Arch Street was introduced and scheduled for public
hearing on January 26, 2009. (File Res. No. 2008-560)
9. Amendment No. 2 to the project plan for TIF District No. 26 was introduced and referred
to the Plan Commission to schedule a public hearing, and complete its review and
recommendation. (File Res. No. 2008-557)
10. A proposed ordinance rezoning property located at 1917 West Court Street from M2 to
B3 was introduced, referred to Plan Commission, and scheduled for public hearing on
January 26, 2009. (File Ord. No. 2008-428)
11. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Steeber suggested Councilmembers
return introductory agenda information to the Administration for future distribution.
Councilmember Voskuil asked the Administration to put frequently asked questions on the
website. Council President Loasching and Councilmembers Brunner, Truman, and Voskuil
addressed snow plowing issues. Councilmember Truman asked citizens for help with the
UAW-EAP food drive on December 20, 2008 at 5:30 AM. Councilmember Rashkin
welcomed new City Manager Eric Levitt to Janesville and thanked Acting City Manager
Winzenz for his work; suggested citizens attend the Townhall Christmas show on Friday at
JPAC to support the Historical Society. Councilmember Steeber asked people to help their
neighbors during the holiday season. Councilmember McDonald thanked the
Administration for fixing the traffic lights at Racine Street and Palmer Drive. Council
President Loasching requested a report concerning the Zoning Board of Appeals and the
citizen’s appeals process by February, 2009.
12. 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 setting the negotiation/bargaining terms and conditions for acquiring certain
real property for public purposes from Mike Morris. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 9:20 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer