Minutes 04-27-09
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: May 11, 2009
APRIL 27, 2009
VOL. 60
NO. 2
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on April 27, 2009. The meeting was called to order by Council President Truman at
7:00 PM. Council President Truman led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Truman, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Perrotto,
Rashkin, Steeber, and Voskuil.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of April 13, 2009.
Minutes of the special meeting of April 21, 2009.
Minutes of the closed session of May 12, 2008.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Financial statement for the month of March 2009.
Council President Truman stated the alcohol license applications for Jackalope, LLC and
Taasbag, LLC would be removed from the consent agenda and the remaining items would
be approved if there were no objections. There were none. Councilmember Steeber
moved to table the application for Jackalope, LLC, seconded by Councilmember Brunner.
Councilmember McDonald offered a friendly amendment to postpone action indefinitely
instead of tabling the application. The friendly amendment was accepted by the maker
and the seconder and the motion, as amended, passed unanimously. Councilmember
Steeber moved to approve Taasbag, LLC without restrictions, seconded by
Councilmember Rashkin. Councilmember McDonald offered a friendly amendment to add
a restriction of no music. The friendly amendment was accepted by the maker and
seconder and the motion, as amended, passed unanimously.
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Action on a proposed resolution recognizing the week of May 10 as “National Police
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Week” and the day of May 15 as “Peace Officers Memorial Day.” Councilmember
Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-597)
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the agenda not requiring a
public hearing. Joe Hoppenjon, 1112 Burbank, asked Council to consider employing
disabled individuals to clean the city; Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., spoke about
the disconnect notices sent by Alliant Energy to City residents; Julie Backenkeller, 719 N.
Grant Ave., spoke against the increase in water rates (New Business #2) and the new
water tower (New Business #3).
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council
action. Bill McCoy, 1326 Putnam Ave., asked Council to prepare Lions Beach for use by
the homeless and to allow trailers on Harold Ave. for use by the homeless; Thomas Meton,
100 N. Franklin St., asked Council not to raise bus fares (New Business #8); Andreah
Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., asked Council to announce people who are appointed to
committees, spoke against new water tower (New Business #3), and asked Council to
create a panel of real estate agents to advise Council on what homes to purchase under
the Neighborhood Stabilization Grant (New Business #4).
3. Presentation by Interim Police Chief David Moore and Sheriff Robert Spoden on heroin
activities in Rock County. Barbara Tillman, Chief Deputy, spoke in place of Sheriff
Spoden. No Council action was taken.
4. A proposed ordinance regulating the display of material harmful to minors within the City
of Janesville received its second reading and public hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S.
Locust St., and Marc McCrory, 507 Apache Dr., representing Spencer’s Gifts, spoke
against said ordinance. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved
to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember McDonald. Councilmember Steeber
offered a friendly amendment to postpone action on said ordinance until May 11, 2009,
Councilmember McDonald accepted the friendly amendment and the motion, as amended,
passed by the following vote: Aye: Brunner, McDonald, Perrotto, Steeber, Truman, and
Voskuil. Nay: Rashkin. (File Ord. No. 2009-430)
5. A proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with Janesville
Youth Baseball, Inc. for the operations of the batting cages. Councilmember McDonald
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-593)
6. Award of Contract C2009-9 (landfill scale replacement) for Public Works Bid Schedule
“C”-2009. Councilmember Steeber moved to award Contract C2009-9 to United Scale and
Engineering of Madison, WI in the amount of $76,602 with the intent to include $90,000 in
the 2009 note issue, seconded by Councilmember Perrotto and passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a proposed resolution approving continuation of Worker Compensation
Limited Self-Insurance Program. Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-586)
2. Action to authorize the City Manager to file a water rate increase with the Public Service
Commission. Councilmember Steeber moved to authorize the City Manager to file a water
rate increase with the Public Service Commission, seconded by Councilmember Perrotto
and passed by the following vote: Aye: Brunner, McDonald, Perrotto, Rashkin, Steeber,
and Voskuil. Nay: Truman.
3. Action on proposed resolutions authorizing the City Manager to proceed with
improvements to the Water Utility and to apply for a Wisconsin Safe Drinking Water Loan
and authorizing interfund borrowing to provide interim funding. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed by the
following vote: Aye: Brunner, Perrotto, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay:
McDonald. (File Res. Nos. 2009-600 and 2009-601)
4. Action on a proposed resolution establishing the acquisition process for acquiring
properties under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Councilmember Steeber moved
to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
(File Res. No. 2009-592)
5. Action on a mutual cooperation agreement between the City of Janesville, the City of
Beloit, and Rock County under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Councilmember
Rashkin moved to approve the agreement, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and
passed unanimously.
6. Authorization to apply for funding through the COPS Secure Our Schools grant program.
Councilmember Brunner moved to authorize application, seconded by Councilmember
Steeber and passed unanimously.
7. Committee appointments. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the Council
President’s appointments, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
8. A proposed ordinance amending transit bus fare rates for the Janesville Transit System
with a penalty as set forth in JGO 10.76.030 was introduced and scheduled for a public
hearing on May 11, 2009. (File Ord. No. 2009-433)
9. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Brunner requested staff contact the
property owner at 443 N. Grant Ave. about sidewalk letter. Councilmember McDonald
requested salt shed be scheduled on May 11, 2009 agenda; stated a call for vote is a
motion to end debate which needs to be seconded and voted on. Councilmember Voskuil
stated she received an inquiry asking police to watch for drivers sliding through 4-way stop
signs; requested City Administration assign staff to pick up trash in pit behind the Wal-Mart
property. Councilmember Rashkin thanked staff for efforts to help families facing loss of
power; requested staff prepare a presentation on emergency preparedness. City Manager
Levitt congratulated new Police Chief David Moore and stated the compressor at the Ice
Skating Center is down and will be out of service for 3-4 weeks. Council President Truman
congratulated new Police Chief David Moore and scheduled a codes enforcement study
session on May 26, 2009 at 5:00 PM.
10. 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 concerning setting the negotiating and bargaining terms, conditions, and
provisions for: (1) potential acquisition of 107 South Locust Street for rehabilitation
purposes; (2) a downtown TIF redevelopment agreement; and (3) a TIF #29
redevelopment agreement. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into closed
session, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 9:56 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer