Minutes 11-22-10
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 12/13/10
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 22, 2010
VOL. 61
NO. 24
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
November 22, 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
Special City Council meeting minutes of October 26, 2010.
Regular City Council meeting minutes of November 8, 2010.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory.
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map 10018-C, City of Janesville, 2 lots on
Beloit Avenue.
Financial statement for the month of October, 2010.
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. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., stated the importance of the mutual agreement
between the City of Janesville and the Town of Rock as it relates to the PACE program (New
Business #5). Steven Brooks, 1616 Happy Hollow, stated concerns about debris in the streets
which has caused multiple flat tires on his bike and suggested harnessing the river to generate
hydro-electric power.
2. The FY2011 proposed City and Library budgets received their continued public hearing. The
public hearing was opened. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., suggested that the Council
restore money for Aquatics, Senior Center and the Library and to allow burning of leaves instead
of City crews picking them up. Helen Close, 227 Ba-Wood Ln., promoted purchasing books
written by local residents and sold at the Senior Center. The book sales profits are used to
purchase dictionaries for Janesville’s third graders. Shelly Crull-Hanke, 2713 Twelve Oaks Dr.,
suggested restoring funding and hours to the aquatics facilities. Barbara Jones, 28 Brakefield
Dr., and Sanford Gelso, 208 N. Main St., suggested restoring funding for existing JTS routes. Lori
Kobbs, 422 Rockport Rd., presented a petition to restore funding to existing JTS routes. Steven
Brooks, 1616 Happy Hollow, requested funding to repair Monterey Bridge. Fern Coopertino 2512
E. Racine St., opposed the mandatory Senior Center annual fee. The public hearing was closed.
3. Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the 2011 proposed City Budget as revised by the
City Council through November 8, 2010, with a general Fund Budget in the amount of
$41,598,244 and a tax levy (without TIF) in the amount of $25,437,644, and directed the
Comptroller to include these amounts in the 2011 appropriation and levy resolution. The motion
was seconded by Councilmember Brunner. Councilmember Rashkin moved to amend the motion
by adding $6,000 for wading pools and did not receive a second. Councilmember Rashkin moved
to amend the motion by reducing Senior Center annual fees from $25 to $15 and to not charge
programming fees with a fiscal impact of $5,000. He then withdrew his motion. Councilmember
Rashkin moved to amend the motion by restoring Westside bus service every half hour for the full
year at a cost of $15,125, seconded by Councilmember Brunner. Councilmember Brunner offered
a friendly amendment to increase the budget by $15,000 instead of $15,125, to decrease the
Police Department’s animal control budget by $25,000 and to decrease fund balance applied by
$10,000. The friendly amendment was accepted. The Council voted on the amendment and it
passed unanimously. Councilmember Rashkin moved to amend the motion by reducing Senior
Center annual fees from $25 to $15 and keep existing program fees with a fiscal impact of $7,000,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber. Councilmember Brunner moved to amend the amendment
by reducing the operating expenses by $7,000. The friendly amendment was accepted. The
Council voted on the amended amendment and it failed by the following vote: Aye:
Councilmembers Brunner, Rashkin and Steeber. Nay: Councilmembers Perrotto, McDonald,
Truman and Voskuil. Councilmember McDonald moved to amend the motion by adding $500,000
for street maintenance, postpone borrowing $475,000 for street maintenance and reduce
$500,000 in other programs. He did not receive a second.
The Council then voted on the main motion, as amended, and it passed with the following vote:
Aye: Brunner, Perrotto, Rashkin, Steeber, Truman and Voskuil. Nay: McDonald.
Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the 2011 Proposed Hedberg Public Library budget
with a tax levy (without TIF) in the amount of $3,207,919 for library purposes, and direct the
Comptroller to include this amount in the 2011 levy resolution. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
Councilmember Steeber moved to approve the 2011 Proposed Rent Assistance budget,
seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and approved by the following vote: Aye: Brunner,
Perrotto, McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber and Voskuil. Pass: Truman.
Council President stated the Council would meet on Monday, 11/29/10 at 7 a.m. to set the tax rate
and the Council waived notice of that meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Councilmember Rashkin left the meeting.
1. Consideration of Council Policy Statement #85 regarding the purchasing of property.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt Council Policy Statement #85, seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
2. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing a TIF Development Agreement with Wright Road
Property Group LLC and 3700 Racine Street LLC for the Home Health United, Inc. project.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Truman
and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2010-753)
3. Consideration and action upon a proposed motion to reconsider previously adopted File
Resolution #2010-749 concerning New Business Agenda Item No. 4. Councilmember Brunner
moved to reconsider the previously adopted resolution, seconded by Councilmember Perrotto and
passed unanimously.
4. Reconsideration and action upon File Resolution #2010-749 authorizing the City Manager to
sell property located at 189 South High Street in accord with the terms, conditions, and
empowerments set forth in Revised File Res. #2010-749, or as otherwise may be amended by the
Common Council. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said revised resolution without the
owner/occupant requirement with a “first right of refusal” for the City. The motion was seconded
by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. (Revised File Res. #2010-749)
5. Action on a proposed resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City
of Janesville and Town of Rock. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said resolution to
allow lands located west of the State Highway 11 Bypass to be eligible for the Rock County PACE
program, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2010-
747)
6. Action on a proposed preliminary resolution for assessable water main on STH 11 and
schedule a public hearing for the final resolution December 13, 2010. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolution, schedule a public hearing on December 13, 2010 and to express
Council’s intent to borrow $260,000, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2010-758)
7. A proposed ordinance amending Chapter 14 (Signs) of the Code of General Ordinances of the
City of Janesville with regard to on-premise wall signs in Sign District D and the designation of
street frontages for allowing such signs was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on
January 10, 2011. (File Ord. No. 2010-468)
8. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., suggested that the Council spend more time debating
large expenditures instead of debating small expenditures. Also, she stated that the City should
cut staff, allow leaf burning, have citizens mow neighborhood parks and eliminate two weeks of
recycling in a calendar year.
9. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember McDonald reported that the pedestrian flashing
light at Ruger Ave. and Ringold Ave. was flashing all the time instead of during school hours and
leaf collection costs are part of the storm water charges on the water bills. In addition,
Councilmembers McDonald and Brunner requested a review of our fund balance and borrowing
policies. Councilmember Truman stated that the sidewalk drops 3-4” at the corner of Main St. and
Van Buren St. and needs a temporary patch, the manholes on Milton Ave. are exposed and
should be reviewed, and complimented staff on preparing a good budget.
12. Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember McDonald and
passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 9:49 p.m. These minutes are not official
until approved by City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf, Clerk-Treasurer