Minutes 02-23-09
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: March 9, 2009
FEBRUARY 23, 2009
VOL. 59
NO. 45
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on February 23, 2009. 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 regular meeting of February 9, 2009.
Minutes of the closed session of February 9, 2009.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Financial statement for the month of December 2008.
Authorization for the Administration to accept a liability claim from Jeff Hunt in the amount
of $6,450.
Council President Loasching stated that all items on the consent agenda would be
approved if there were no objections. There were none.
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Kevin M.
Murray’s 28 and ½ years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-575)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the agenda not requiring a
public hearing. Billy Bob Grahn, 152 S. Locust St., Mardel Wien, 1202 N. Washington St.,
Kelly Kaiser, 2307 Plymouth Ave., Cheryl Blohm, President of the Janesville Figure
Skating Club, Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., Debra Swanson, 1514 Mineral Point
Ave., Neil Deupree, 419 S. Franklin St. all spoke against the lease for Wisconsin Hockey
Partners (Old Business #5); Harold Hanouska, 4835 Bingham Rd., Town of Harmony,
spoke against the Comprehensive Plan (New Business #2); Rich Gruber, 3212 Orion Dr.,
spoke in favor of suspending City Ordinance 2.04.090 (New Business #1); Margaret
Puleva, and Julie Backenkeller, 719 N. Grant Ave., spoke against suspending City
Ordinance 2.04.090 (New Business #1).
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., stated the City Attorney should not interpret
ordinances and the intent of the ordinances.
3. A proposed final resolution for Public Works Projects included in Bid Schedule “A”-2009
received a public hearing. Joyce Archer, 22 N. Oakhill Ave., stated her curb and gutter
was repaired in 1992 but that she is happy with the recommended credit and the customer
service she received. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to
adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
(File Res. No. 2009-581)
4. Award of Contracts 2009-1 (street surfacing), 2009-2 (landfill phase 3 construction), and
2009-3 (intermittent curb replacement) for Public Works Bid Schedule
“A”-2009. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve said contracts as follows:
Contract 2009-1 Rock Road $1,752,170.16
Contract 2009-2 Iverson & Sons, LLC $ 774,670.45
Contract 2009-3 Yeske Construction Co. $ 691,888.75
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed with the following vote:
Aye: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman,
and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmember McDonald.
5. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a use
agreement with the Wisconsin Hockey Partners, LLC and provide funding for Ice Center
modifications up to $200,000. Councilmember Truman moved to table said resolution for
two weeks, seconded by Councilmember McDonald. Councilmember Truman offered a
friendly amendment to table until such time that all requested materials were available.
The friendly amendment was accepted by Councilmember McDonald. The motion as
amended passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-569)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Motion to suspend City Ordinance 2.04.090 requiring two separate readings of an
ordinance adopting the City of Janesville Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Steeber
made a motion to suspend City Ordinance 2.04.090, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil.
The motion failed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner, Steeber, Truman,
and Voskuil. Nay: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers McDonald and Rashkin.
2. The proposed City of Janesville Comprehensive Plan ordinance was introduced and
received a public hearing. Julie Backenkeller, 719 N. Grant Ave., Alex Cunningham, 623
Court St., and Margaret Puleva, W9539 McFarland Rd., Darien, spoke against the plan;
Neil Duepree, 419 S. Franklin St., stated there has been a lot of public input but there is no
urgency to pass within the next two weeks; Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., stated
there was not enough citizen input; Doug Marklein, 3919 Dorchester Dr., Dan
Cunningham, representing Forward Janesville, and Scott Beaver, 921 Thornecrest Dr.
spoke in favor of the plan. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember President
Loasching scheduled a second reading and continued public hearing on March 9, 2009.
(File Ord. No.
2009-431)
3. Action on a proposed resolution granting easement rights to ANR Pipeline company for
construction of a natural gas transmission line across City-owned property.
Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember
Steeber and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-580)
4. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Administration to expend additional
funds in response to the 2008 flood event in the City of Janesville. Councilmember
Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-583)
5. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Truman requested a study session with the
Codes Department to discuss ordinance enforcement and requested more proactive
enforcement of snow emergency ordinances. Councilmember McDonald asked
Administration to look into an unshoveled sidewalk at 202 St. Lawrence. Councilmember
Voskuil stated a fire hydrant was damaged on Milwaukee St., between Lexington Ave. and
Pontiac Dr.
6. Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Truman and
passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 11:14 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer