Minutes 04-13-09
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: April 27, 2009
APRIL 13, 2009
VOL. 59
NO. 49
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on April 13, 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 March 23, 2009.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Council President Loasching stated the alcohol license for Jackalope, LLC would be
removed from the consent agenda and the remaining items would be approved if there
were no objections. There were none. Councilmember Brunner moved to postpone action
on the Jackalope alcohol license for two weeks, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and
passed unanimously.
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Amy M.
Loasching’s service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No.
2009-595)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the agenda not requiring a
public hearing. Tim Rutter, 326 N. Terrace St., representing Friends of Riverside Park,
thanked the Council for their support. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., thanked
Council for looking into the litigation between the City and herself and requested a
variance for 332 S. Academy St.
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Billy Bob Grahn, 152 S. Locust St., opposed to alcohol license for the Ice Arena
(Old Business #3). Marie Updike, 120 N. River St., stated the police department should
place more emphasis on preventing and solving felony crimes and less emphasis on drunk
driving offenses. Billy McCoy, 1326 Putnam Ave., stated concern about the budget and is
opposed to a liquor license at the Ice Arena (Old Business #3).
3. A proposed ordinance permitting the lessee of the Janesville Ice Arena to apply for and
hold a Class B Combined Fermented Malt Beverage and Intoxicating Liquor Alcohol
Beverage License, with penalties and injunctive relief of violations thereof as set for in
JGO 5.046.470 received its second reading and public hearing. John Mauermann, 209
Sunset Dr., Jim Terrill, 503 E. Holmes St.; Dave Johnson, 3030 Whitetail Ln.; Chuck Elliott,
510 High Point Ct.; Kelley Kaiser, 2607 Plymouth Ave.; Larry Squire, 4245 Wilshire Ln.;
Kevin Smithback, 66 S. Ringold St.; Rick Mussey, 204 N. Wuthering Hills; Adam Briggs,
3832 Red Stone; Bob Mack, 3844 Red Stone; Bill McCoshen, Middleton, WI; spoke in
support of the ordinance. Marvin Wopat, 35 W. Maple, Milton, WI; Larry Butler, 208 Red
Apple Dr.; Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave.; Bill McCoy, 1326 Putnam Ave.; opposed the
ordinance. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
ordinance amended for fermented malt beverage only, seconded by Councilmember
Rashkin. Councilmember Brunner moved to amend the motion by prohibiting wine coolers,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and failed by the following vote: Aye:
Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, and Steeber Nay: Council President Loasching,
Councilmembers Rashkin, Truman, and Voskuil. The Council voted on the main motion
and it passed by the following vote: Aye: Council President Loasching, Councilmembers
Rashkin, Steeber, and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, and Truman.
(File Ord. No. 2009-432)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion on poverty issues in the community. Councilmember Voskuil presented
information on poverty and suggested creating a coalition and a resolution to address this
issue. Councilmembers Rashkin and Brunner supported a coalition and resolution. The
City Administration will draft a resolution for the Council’s review.
2. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a concession
contract with American Legion Baseball of Janesville, Wisconsin to operate a concession
stand at Veterans Field, Riverside Park. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No.
2009-594)
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with
Janesville Youth Baseball, Inc. for the operations of the batting cages. Councilmember
Steeber moved to postpone said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and
passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-593)
4. Action authorizing the City Manager to apply for grants through the COPS Hiring
Recovery Program (CHRP) and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
(JAG). Councilmember Steeber moved to authorize the City Manager to apply for the
grants, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously.
5. Action on a proposed intergovernmental agreement between the City of Janesville and
Rock County related to law enforcement services at the University of Wisconsin-Rock
County Campus and the distribution of payment for Municipal Services (PMS) Program
funding. Councilmember Voskuil moved to approve an intergovernmental agreement,
seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed by the following vote: Aye: Council
President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin, Truman, and Voskuil.
Pass: Councilmember Steeber.
6. Award of Contracts C2009-7 (Washington/Memorial Street reconstruction), C2009-8
(manhole reconstruction), and C2009-9 (landfill scale replacement) for Public Works Bid
Schedule “C”-2009. Councilmember Steeber moved to award contract C2009-8 (manhole
reconstruction) to Infrastructure Technologies of Rogers, MN in the amount of $179,355.,
to reject contract C2009-7 (Washington/Memorial Street reconstruction), and to postpone
contract 2009-9 (landfill scale replacement) for two weeks. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
7. Action on a proposed resolution approving a Tax Increment Finance development
agreement with HSI Aviation Holding, LLC Helicopter Inspection and Customizing facility
located in TIF No. 34. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded
by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-591)
8. Action on City Council confirmation of City Manager’s proposal to consolidate positions
for budget year 2009. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the City Manager’s
proposal, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed by the following vote: Aye:
Council President Loasching, Councilmembers Brunner, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman, and
Voskuil. Nay: Councilmember McDonald.
9. Committee appointments. Councilmember Brunner moved to approve the Council
President’s and City Manager’s committee appointments. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
10. A proposed ordinance regulating the display of material harmful to minors within the
City of Janesville was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on April 27, 2009.
(File Ord. No. 2009-430)
11. A proposed ordinance rezoning a small portion of Southern Wisconsin Regional
Airport property from Agriculture to M1, Light Industrial; and the area encompassing the
Glen Erin Golf Course located west of USH 51 from M1, Light Industrial, and Agriculture to
Conservancy was introduced and referred to Plan Commission for a public hearing on May
26, 2009. (File Ord. No. 2009-434)
12. Matters not on the agenda. Council President Loasching scheduled a City Council
organizational meeting April 21 at 7:30 AM. Councilmember Truman requested an update
on Riverside Park wading pool; stated 1608 Grant St. has had 25 inspections and all re-
inspections should be billed, stated Case Feed building should be boarded up to stop
deterioration; the City building at 2300 Kellogg Av. should be demolished; and requested
timely information on code and nuisance issues. Councilmember Voskuil requested
quarterly reports on the Sustainability Committee. By consensus, Councilmembers
thanked Council President Loasching for her service on the City Council. Councilmember
Rashkin stated JATV will be holding a volunteer class and commended JATV Station
Manager Judi Kneece for her work. Councilmember Brunner requested information on the
fiscal impact of the State budget on the 2009 and 2010 City budget; agreed that the
building at 2300 Kellogg Ave. needs to be demolished; and stated the building at 1953
Kellogg Ave. is vacant and needs to be boarded up.
13. Consideration of a motion to convene into closed session, excluding litigation, pursuant
to Wis. Stats. 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 for setting the negotiating and bargaining terms, conditions, and provisions for
various redevelopment alternatives for the GM property; and pursuant to Wis. Stats.
Section 19.85(1)(g) for the purpose of deliberating, potentially taking action on, and
conferring with legal counsel concerning litigation in which the City is involved, specifically
Janesville v. K. Andreah Briarmoon, Rock County Case No. 2008FO3264 for the property
located at 332 South Academy Street. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into
closed session for the GM property only, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil.
Councilmember Brunner offered a friendly amendment to confer with legal counsel on the
litigation but no deliberations or action would be taken. The friendly amendment was
accepted by the maker and the seconder. The amended motion passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 9:34 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer