Minutes 2-14-11
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 2/28/11
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 14, 2011
VOL. 61
NO. 30
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
February 14, 2011. The meeting was called to order by Council President Voskuil at 7:00 PM.
Present: Council President Voskuil, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Perrotto, Rashkin,
Steeber and Truman.
CONSENT AGENDA
Regular City Council meeting minutes of January 24, 2011.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory
Committee. (Refer to separate agenda.)
Motion to approve final CSM 11001-C, Al Draper, 2 lots on West State Street.
Council President Voskuil removed the application for a Youth Entertainment Center License for
Decisions Teen Lounge from the consent agenda. She stated that all remaining items on the
consent agenda would be approved as recommended if there were no objections. There were
none.
Donta Evans discussed his business plan for Decisions Teen Lounge. Councilmember McDonald
moved to approve said license, seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
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., suggested the City stop borrowing money and
suggested biweekly trash collection to eliminate the trash collection fee. John Mauermann, 209
Sunset Dr. and Mark Cullen, 220 Jefferson Ave., spoke in favor of option 3 to upgrade the
Janesville Ice Skating Center (Old Business #2).
2. Discussion/possible action on proposed renovations to Janesville Ice Skating Center.
Councilmember Brunner moved to design long term option 3 with intermediate option 2 included
as an alternate in the design, seconded by Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously.
Councilmember Rashkin requested a cost estimate to build a sidewalk between the Armory and
the Center. By consensus, the Council requested the Administration to continue with assisting in
fund raising efforts for the Center.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Motion to approve proposed 2011 Sustainable Janesville Award program. Councilmember
Steeber moved to approve the Award Program, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed
unanimously.
2. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the Wisconsin
Department of Commerce for Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3 (NSP3) grant funding.
Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber
and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-773)
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing a 2010 General Fund supplemental appropriation.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Perrotto
and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-772)
4. Action on proposed Council Policy Statement #87 for special event permits. Councilmember
Steeber moved to adopt said Policy, seconded by Councilmember Perrotto and passed by the
following vote: Aye: Brunner, Perrotto, McDonald, Steeber, Truman and Voskuil. Nay: Rashkin.
5. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for the 2011 Paint Your
City Green Grant. Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by
Councilmember Truman and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-774)
6. Action on a proposed resolution adopting Rock County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
updated September 2010 to 2015. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-775)
7. A proposed ordinance amending the City’s Solid Waste Ordinance to increase sanitary landfill
fees was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on February 28, 2011. (File Ord. No.
2011-475)
8. A proposed ordinance amending JGO Chapter 5.52 and Section 5.04.010 N. regulating junk
dealers, second hand dealers, second hand jewelry dealers, and pawnbrokers in the City of
Janesville was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on February 28, 2011. (File Ord.
No. 2011-476)
9. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Sam Liebert, 234 N. Terrace St., disagreed with Governor Walker’s budget bill and encouraged
the Council to send a letter to the State showing their opposition. Jim Naughton, 1059 N. Randall
Ave., requested that Council review City ordinances, and to makes changes if necessary, to allow
low speed vehicles on all Janesville streets. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., suggested
giving the Ice Arena to the Janesville Jets and let them upgrade and operate the facility. In
addition, she agrees with Governor Walker’s budget repair bill.
10. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember McDonald thanked Marshall Middle School
students for their communication with the Council. Councilmember Perrotto commended City
Services for doing an excellent job on snow removal and stated that the Council is not the forum
to respond to the State on Governor Walker’s budget bill. Councilmember Steeber requested that
the Council send a letter to our State representatives expressing their disapproval with Governor
Walker’s budget bill. The City Attorney stated that action could not be taken because it was not
on the agenda and would violate the open meetings law. After Councilmember Steeber read his
proposed letter to the Governor objecting to his budget bill, Councilmember Perrotto said that he
felt insulted and appalled by the request to send this letter. He stated that the letter is highly
prejudicial, self-serving and politically biased. The Council should avoid making statements or
taking actions that would even hint to partisanship. Letters to the Governor should be sent
individually, not as a council. The Council should always represent itself as a non-partisan body.
Councilmembers Steeber and Rashkin scheduled a Special Council meeting for Wednesday,
February 16, 2011 at 8:15 a.m. Councilmember Perrotto objected to the meeting.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed
unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 9:42 p.m. These minutes are not official
until approved by City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer