Minutes 08-09-10
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 8/23/10
REGULAR MEETING
August 9, 2010
VOL. 61
NO. 14
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building
on August 9, 2010. The meeting was called to order by Council President Voskuil at
7:00 PM. Council President Voskuil led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Voskuil, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Perrotto,
Rashkin, Steeber and Truman.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of July 26, 2010.
Licenses and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Council President Voskuil stated that all items on the consent agenda would be approved
as recommended 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. Neil Deupree, 419 S. Franklin St., requested that the resolution
on designating the urban reserve for the City of Janesville as it relates to the PACE
program be postponed in order to allow time to find common ground. Douglas Marklien,
representing South Central Wisconsin Builders Association; and Dan Cunningham,
representing Forward Janesville; supported the resolution designating an urban reserve.
Michael Saunders, 5601 Elm St.; Sharon Hargarten, 4904 S. State Rd.; Margaret Pulara,
9539 McFarland Rd.; and Julie Backenkeller, 719 N. Grant Ave. opposed the resolution
for designating an urban reserve. (New Business #1). John Loder, representing the Rock
County Towns Association, invited the Council to hear a political debate featuring
candidates from Assembly Districts 43, 44 and 45 and Senate District 15 on September 23,
2010. Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave, opposed the proposed traffic safety improvements to
East Milwaukee Street from Wright Road to Highway 14. He suggested a strobe light
system would be adequate. (New Business #2)
2. Public hearing and action on a proposed resolution vacating a portion of Pliny
Avenue south of Delavan Drive. No one spoke at the public hearing. The public hearing
was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously. (Revised File Res. No. 2010-717)
3. Action on a proposed resolution approving an agreement with Janesville Youth
Hockey Association for the operation of the concession stand at the Janesville Ice Skating
Center. For the record, City Manager Levitt stated that his son is not in Janesville Youth
Hockey. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said resolution with a revenue
payment of 9% of gross sales with a minimum floor of $5,000, seconded by
Councilmember Steeber. Councilmember Truman offered a friendly amendment that the
agreement be reviewed in one year. The amendment was accepted. The motion, as
amended, passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2010-720)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a proposed resolution requesting that the County Board exclude the City’s
“Urban Reserve” area on the map of eligible parcels for property right purchases, except
for portions of Target Area # 7 and # 8, and provide a means for municipal review and
comment authority on easement purchases within said Target Areas and Janesville’s
Extraterritorial Jurisdictions (ETJ) in the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement
(PACE) Program. Wade Thompson, Rock County Planner and Brad Cantrell, Community
Development Director presented information on the PACE program. Councilmember
Brunner moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber.
Councilmember Brunner offered a friendly amendment to direct the resolution to the PACE
committee instead of the Rock County Board. The amendment was accepted. The
motion, as amended, passed by the following vote: Aye: Brunner, Steeber, Truman and
Voskuil. Nay: McDonald, Perrotto, and Rashkin. (File Res. No. 2010-719)
2. Action on proposed traffic safety improvements to East Milwaukee Street from
Wright Road to Highway 14. Councilmember Rashkin moved to approve:
the current lane alignment be modified to two lanes, two bike lanes, and a center
two way left turn lanes to accommodate the car dealerships;
current at grade trail crossing between Wright Rd. and Shannon Dr. be improved to
include a raised median refuge island and a pedestrian actuated rectangular rapid
flashing beacon system
the previously allocated note funds be utilized for the total estimated cost of
$99,500.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed by the following vote:
Aye: Brunner, McDonald, Steeber, Truman and Voskuil. Nay: Perrotto and Truman.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding with Rock County for a direct access permit onto County
Highway J for Sara Investments. Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2010-721)
4. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development for a 2011 Community Challenge Grant.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember
Rashkin and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2010-722)
5. Award of Contracts C2010-11 (Sanitary Sewer Lining and Point Repairs), C2010-12
(Sanitary Sewer Lateral Lining) and C2010-13 (Sanitary Sewer Siphon Improvements) for
Public Works Bid Schedule “E” – 2010. Councilmember Rashkin moved to award the
following contracts and to include sufficient funds in the 2010 note issue:
Contract C2010-11 Visu-Sewer, Inc, $703,670
Contract C2010-12 Musson Brothers, Inc. $230,375
Contract C2010-13 R.T. Fox Contractors, Inc. $840,000
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed by the following vote:
Aye: Brunner, Perrotto, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman and Voskuil. Nay: McDonald.
6. A proposed ordinance for a comprehensive text amendment to change the zoning
and building codes with regard to detached structures was introduced, referred to Plan
Commission and scheduled for public hearing on September 27, 2010. (File Ord. No.
2010-459)
7. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by
Council action. Jon Wangerin, Chair of the YWCA – Walk a Mile in her Shoes benefit,
requested community participation to help support the YWCA Domestic Violence Program.
8. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Truman stated that the waiver of fees
for Family Fun Fest has not appeared on the agenda and recycling bins are needed at the
Ice Center and the parks. Councilmember Rashkin asked that the traffic signal at the
intersection of Main St and Racine St. be checked.
9. Councilmember Steeber moved to convene into closed session, pursuant to
Wisconsin Statute Section 19.85(1)(e), for the purpose of deliberating and setting the
negotiation terms, conditions, and parameters for the potential acquisition of: (a) right-of-
way and/or easement for bike trail and related public purposes for the “Spring Brook/Ice
Age Trail” project near Ruger Avenue from the Naatz Family Trust; and (b) 176 Lincoln
Street with General Fund Blight Elimination funds for demolition, since competitive and/or
bargaining reasons require a closed session. Councilmember McDonald seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 10:24 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer