Minutes 02-22-10
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING APPROVED: March 8, 2010
FEBRUARY 22, 2010
VOL. 60
NO. 32
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
February 22, 2010. 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 February 8, 2010.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Authorization for the Administration to deny a liability claim from Brian Wolnick in the amount of
$30,000.
Financial statement for the month of December 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. Brian Garcia, 1132 Bruin Ln., spoke in favor of building new ice arena under original
plan, spoke against transferring ownership to Janesville Youth Hockey Association (JYHA) and
hiring a consultant. Carol Heimark, 2533 Wesley Ave., spoke against transferring ownership of
ice arena to JYHA. Alfred Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., spoke in favor of a new ice center if it is
privately operated. Kelley Kaiser, 2307 Plymouth Ave., asked that a consultant for the new ice
center get input from all user groups (NB #4). Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., requested
the new ice skating center be put to referendum (NB #4), asked the purpose of vacation of
undeveloped land (NB #5), and asked Council to review the process of denying claims
(Consent).
2. A proposed ordinance amending the regulations of prohibiting chickens within City limits
received its second reading and public hearing. Allison Rollette, 927 Industrial Ct., Tom
Chilson, 618 S. Locust St., Todd Chilson, 618 S. Locust St., Diane Vanhorn, 1212 Bennett St.,
David Innis, 320 Park Ave., Billy Bob Grahn, 152 S. Locust St., Kim McCay, 472 N. Palm St.,
Tabitha McCay, 472 N. Palm St., Gail Andon, 221 S. Terrace St., and Andreah Briarmoon, 339
S. Locust St., spoke in favor of said ordinance. Burdette Erickson, 115 S. High St., Kurt Link,
118 S. High St., Dale Hicks, 2221 E. Milwaukee St., Paul Williams, 2426 N. Lexington Dr., and
Alfred Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., spoke against said ordinance. David Atkins, 725 Cornelius
St., asked the Council to postpone decision if the current ordinance isn’t right for Janesville.
The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Perrotto moved to deny said ordinance,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed by the following vote: Aye: Brunner, Perrotto,
Steeber, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay: McDonald and Rashkin. (File Ord. No. 2010-450)
3. A proposed ordinance establishing Fire Department emergency response fees received its
second reading and public hearing. Paul Williams, 2425 Lexington Dr., Andreah Briarmoon, 339
S. Locust St., John Vanderhayden, 308 St. Lawrence Ave., Brian Garcia, 1132 Bruin Ln., and
Alfred Lembrich, 521 Miller Ave., spoke against said ordinance. Kay Deupree, 419 S. Franklin
St., expressed concern about people who can’t pay the fees. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said ordinance with an amendment to reducee
residents’ fees from $400 and $500 to $100. The motion died for lack of second.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance with an amendment to remove fees for
residents, seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed by the following vote: Aye:
Brunner, Steeber, McDonald, and Truman. Nay: Perrotto, Rashkin, and Voskuil. (File Ord. No.
2010-448)
4. A proposed ordinance amending the City’s wastewater facility and sewer use ordinance
(Chapter 13.16) in order to reduce the discharge of mercury into the sanitary sewers received its
second reading and public hearing. No one spoke. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin
and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2010-449)
5. A proposed charter ordinance amending the meeting time of regular Common Council
meetings from 7:00 PM to 6:30 PM on the second and fourth Mondays of the month continued
its public hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., spoke against said charter ordinance.
Scott Angus, representing the Janesville Gazette, spoke in favor of said charter ordinance. The
public hearing was closed. Councilmember Perrotto moved to adopt said charter ordinance,
seconded by Councilmember McDonald and failed by the following vote: Aye: Brunner,
McDonald, Perrotto, and Rashkin. Nay: Steeber, Truman, and Voskuil. (File Charter Ord. No.
2009-008)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Presentation by Census Complete Count Committee. Neil Duepree, Census Complete Count
Committee Chair made a presentation and distributed handouts. No Council action taken.
2. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the acceptance of an Assistance to Firefighters
Grant for the purchase of Fire Department communications equipment. 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 Resolution. No. 2010-676)
3. Action on a proposed resolution requesting the return of historic Parker Pen Archive to
Janesville. Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Steeber. Councilmember McDonald offered a friendly amendment to change
the wording “over 100 years” to “nearly 125 years.” The friendly amendment was accepted by
the maker and the seconder. The motion, as amended, passed unanimously. (Revised File
Resolution No. 2010-675)
4. Discussion of proposal to construct new Ice Skating Center, including authorization for the
City Manager to retain a consultant to evaluate current facility and feasibility of a new facility;
and possible action on a request to extend the March 1, 2010 deadline for fundraising.
Councilmember Steeber moved to retain a consultant to evaluate current ice center facility and
the feasibility of a new facility and extend the March 1, 2010 fundraising deadline to a new date
coinciding with completion of the report, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil. Councilmember
Voskuil offered a friendly amendment to limit cost of consultant to $10,000. The maker
accepted the friendly amendment. The motion, as amended, passed by the following vote:
Aye: Perrotto, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman, and Voskuil. Nay: McDonald. Pass: Brunner.
5. A proposed resolution vacating undeveloped portions of Riverside Street, Mill Street, South
Pine Street, and South Walnut Street was introduced, referred to Plan Commission, and
scheduled for a public hearing on April 12, 2010. (File Res. No. 2010-677)
6. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., requested Council authorize the Ice Center Committee
to appoint consultant (NB#4); asked if emergency vehicle sirens have volume buttons;
requested a citizen committee of attorneys be created to clean up ordinances; stated League of
th
Women Voters is celebrating 90 Anniversary; stated the City should purchase foreclosed
properties and sell properties back to owners on land contract.
7. Matters not on the agenda. Councilmember McDonald requested more clarification on
charter ordinance versus file ordinance for meeting time changes. Councilmember Voskuil
requested the Economic Development study session be rescheduled and requested the
Administration look at installing stop signs at Wuthering Hills and Enterprise Drive.
Councilmember Rashkin asked for the date of the first ice rink committee meeting and stated
th
there is a benefit concert for Haiti at JPAC on February 26. Councilmember Perrotto
supported Plan Commission’s work on the chicken ordinance (OB#2).
8. Councilmember McDonald moved to adjourn, seconded by Council President Truman and
passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 11:01 PM.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer