Minutes 10-26-09
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: November 9, 2009
OCTOBER 26, 2009
VOL. 60
NO. 23
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
October 26, 2009. The meeting was called to order by Council President Truman at 7:00 PM.
Council President Truman introduced Boy Scout Troop #405 and they led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Truman, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin, Perrotto,
Steeber, and Voskuil.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the special meeting of October 8, 2009.
Minutes of the regular meeting of October 12, 2009.
Minutes of the special meeting of October 13, 2009.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map 09010-C, Dean Health Systems/SSM
Healthcare, 2 lots along STH 11.
Financial statement for the month of September 2009.
Council President Truman 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. Margaret Vechinsky, 537 Main St., opposed to using the space south of Jackson
Elementary School and west of Beloit Ave. for a new ice rink (Old Business #3). Andreah
Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., opposed to note issue (Old Business #4), stated citizens did not
have enough input on CDA budget (New Business #5), spoke against the acquisition and
demolition of properties for redevelopment (New Business #1), and requested Council budget
money for a community center instead of two code inspectors.
2. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Steven Walker, 513 Oakland Ave., spoke in favor of new ice skating center (Old Business #3). Kim
Burkhalter, 120 N. River St., Apt. 104, spoke in favor of expanded public transportation. Andreah
Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., requested Council allow Citizens Nomination Committee to appoint
citizens to committees instead of making recommendations to the City Manager; and requested
Council remove the police officer position added to the 2010 budget. Kevin Speich, 1129 E.
Milwaukee St., asked Council if the former City Manager, Steve Sheiffer, was still employed by the
City. City Manager Levitt responded he is not an employee or consultant.
Council President Truman changed the order of Old Business items #3 and #4.
4. Discussion/possible action on a request from Janesville Youth Hockey (JYH) Building Committee
for City Council consideration on City providing funding to build a new ice rink. Councilmember
Steeber moved for the City to provide $2 million to fund a new ice rink if JYH can raise $1.5 million
in funds by March 1, 2010. Councilmember Perrotto offered a friendly amendment stating funding
for a second sheet of ice would be at the City’s discretion and the City would use either the
Eastside location or the Southside location for building the new ice center. The friendly
amendment was not accepted. Councilmember Steeber offered a friendly amendment for the City
to provide $500,000 to fund a second sheet of ice upon JYH raising sufficient funds to build the
second sheet of ice. The amendment was accepted by the seconder. The motion, as amended,
passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Steeber, Truman, and
Voskuil. Nay: Councilmembers Rashkin and Perrotto. Councilmember Rashkin moved that the
Council’s preferred site for the new ice arena be the south side of the City in TIF #22, seconded by
Council President Truman and passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner,
McDonald, Rashkin, Perrotto, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmember Steeber.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the issuance of $16,405,000 in promissory notes for
financing various public purposes and $9,065,000 in promissory notes to refund existing debt.
Councilmember Rashkin moved to remove $1 million in borrowing for the new fire station,
seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers
Brunner, McDonald, Rashkin, Perrotto, Steeber, and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmember Truman.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, as amended by Council, seconded by
Council President Truman and passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner,
Rashkin, Steeber, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay: Councilmembers McDonald and Perrotto. (File Res.
No. 2009-642)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the acquisition and demolition of real properties
located at 1722 Charles St., 1109 Elgin Ave., 1715 Joseph St., 1809 Joseph St., 1815 Joseph St.,
1821 Joseph St., 1903 Joseph St., 1921 Joseph St., and 809 S. Jackson St. for open green space.
Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber
and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-650)
2. Award of Contract 2009-26 (Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade and Expansion) for Public
Works bid Schedule “J”-2009. Dan Lynch, Utility Director, told the Council that certain energy
enhancement activities included in this project are only economically viable if the City receives the
incentive grants from Focus on Energy. Without those grants the energy enhancements would not
move forward. Councilmember Steeber moved to award said contract to C.D. Smith Construction,
Inc. of Fond du Lac, WI, for $27,330,000 and includes funding as follows: previously borrowed
general obligation notes, Wastewater Utility Replacement Fund, State of Wisconsin Clean Water
Fund Loan Program, Focus on Energy Grant Program, and other funding sources that may become
available, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a Brownfield Site
Assessment Grant for property located at 803 S. Jackson St. Councilmember Steeber moved to
adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res.
No. 2009-651)
Council President moved New Business item #6 next.
6. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the Wisconsin
Historical Society for a 2010 Historic Preservation Grant. Councilmember McDonald moved to
adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously. (File Res.
No. 2009-649)
4. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Janesville and Rock County.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and
passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-646)
5. Action on a proposed resolution approving the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan and 2010 Annual
Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program and Rock County HOME
Consortium Submission. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2009-647)
7. Confirm City Manager appointments to the Community Development Authority and Library
Board. Councilmember Rashkin moved to approve the City Manager’s committee appointments to
the Community Development Authority and Library Board, seconded by Councilmember Steeber
and passed unanimously.
8. A proposed ordinance authorizing the Parks Director to designate pet exercise training areas
was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on November 9, 2009. (File Ord. No. 2009-440)
9. A proposed ordinance amending the regulations on the placement of leaves and grass on public
streets was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on November 9, 2009. (File Ord. No.
2009-441)
10. 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 a public hearing on November 9, 2009. (File Ord. No.
2009-442)
11. Council President Truman scheduled a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy
Board meeting for November 23, 2009 at 6:30 PM.
12. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember Perrotto asked the Police Department to enforce
sign ordinance more aggressively. Councilmember Rashkin stated the skate park was left out of
the note issue, but should not be forgotten. Council President Truman stated the municipal
building is open to all citizens.
13. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statute
Section 19.85(1)(e) whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session: (1)
specifically setting the negotiating and bargaining terms and conditions for potential purchase of
certain residential real property in the Fourth Ward for rehabilitation purposes; (2) for the purpose
of deliberating and setting the negotiation and bargaining strategies, terms, and conditions for
separate potential development agreements in TIF 22 and 23 since competitive and/or bargaining
reasons require a closed session, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 10:24 PM. These
minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer