Minutes 2-28-11
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 3/14/11
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 28, 2011
VOL. 61
NO. 32
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
February 28, 2011. The meeting was called to order by Council President Voskuil at 7:00 PM.
Present: Council President Voskuil, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Perrotto, Rashkin and
Steeber. Absent: Councilmember Truman.
CONSENT AGENDA
Regular City Council meeting minutes of February 14, 2011.
Special City Council meeting minutes of February 16, 2011.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Financial statement for the month of December, 2010.
Action on a financial gain request from the Boys & Girls Club to conduct a run/walk fundraiser
event titled, “Shamrock N Run For Kids”, on March 19,2011.
Action on a financial gain request from Janesville Craig High School to host a run/walk to
benefit Parkinson’s disease research on April 9, 2011.
Action on a financial gain request from River to Ridge Half Marathon to conduct a 5k, 10k and
half marathon on September 24, 2011.
Council President Voskuil removed the minutes from February 14, 2011 and February 16,
2011 from the Consent agenda. She stated that all other items on the consent agenda would
be approved if there were no objections. There were none.
Councilmember Perrotto moved to add the following comments to the February 14, 2011
Council minutes under Matters Not on the Agenda:
After Councilmember Steeber read his proposed letter to the Governor objecting to his
budget bill, Councilmember Perrotto said he felt insulted and appalled by the request to
send the letter. He stated 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 ad a non-partisan body.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDonald and passed unanimously.
Councilmember Brunner moved to approve the minutes from the 2/16/11 minutes as written,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
Donation from Janesville Conservation Club, Inc. Bill Boyd, representing The Janesville
Conservation Club, presented Council with a $500 donation for any Leisure Services’
conservation effort the Council deems appropriate.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a public
hearing. No one spoke.
2. A proposed ordinance amending the City of Janesville Subdivision Ordinance to change time
limit requirements for plats 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. 2011-474)
3. A proposed ordinance amending the City’s solid waste ordinance to increase sanitary landfill
fees 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. 2011-475)
Council President moved New Business item #3 next.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a waste disposal
contract with Town & Country Sanitation through December 31, 2013. Councilmember Steeber
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed by the
following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner, Perrotto, Rashkin, Steeber and Voskuil. Nay:
Councilmember McDonald. (File Res. No. 2011-778)
4. A proposed ordinance amending JGO Chapter 5.52 and Section 5.04.010 N. regulating junk
dealers, second hand jewelry dealers, and pawnbrokers in the City of Janesville received its
second reading and public hearing. No one spoke. The public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Brunner moved to adopt said ordinance with an amendment exempting
consignment shops from the electronic reporting requirement, seconded by Councilmember
Steeber and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2011-476)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a concessionaire
contract with the Friends of Traxler Park. Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brunner and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-
769)
2. Action on proposed preliminary resolution for Public Works Contract 2011-1 (street resurfacing
including curb and gutter, water, sewer, and paving) and schedule a public hearing for the final
resolution. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt the preliminary resolution and schedule a
public hearing for March 14, 2011, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed
unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-776)
4. Action on a proposed resolution supporting the elimination of the February primary and the
April general election in favor of consolidating elections in the Fall. Councilmember McDonald
moved to adopt said resolution with the last paragraph stricken, seconded by Councilmember
Steeber and passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Brunner, Perrotto, McDonald,
Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: Rashkin. (File Res. No. 2011-771)
5. Discuss and direct staff on proposed revisions to various Council Policies regarding public
improvements and special assessments (Council Policies #63, #70 and #78); and a new Council
Policy on payments of special assessments (Council Policy #87). By consensus, the Council
requested staff to work with local businesses on the proposed changes to the policies and
ordinance. Council President Voskuil scheduled action on the proposed amendments to the
policies on April 11, 2011.
6. A proposed ordinance eliminating the waiver of special assessment procedures as a means for
satisfying new developer/subdivider storm sewer, sidewalk, and street lighting payment
obligations received its first reading and was scheduled for a public hearing on April 11, 2011.
(File Ord. 2011-478)
7. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Rich Erdman, 1041 N. Marion Ave., stated that the public was unaware that the ordinance
amending the regulation of pawn and second hand dealers was scheduled for action at this
meeting (Old Business #4). Tim Weber, 1615 Newport Ave., thanked the Council for waiting on
approving policy changes (New Business #5) until April.
8. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Brunner stated that the Pawn Shop Ordinance
was modeled after numerous other City Ordinances in the State and that the Council was correct
in taking action. Councilmember Perrotto spoke about Project 16:49 which helps homeless
children in Janesville and asked citizens to help however possible. He also stated that he did not
attend the February 16, 2011 Council Meeting because he was opposed to the meeting and its
purpose and the fact that there was no public input.
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 negotiating and bargaining
strategies, terms, and conditions for a potential offer to purchase certain land for a potential
industrial/commercial TIF 22 project since competitive and/or bargaining reasons require a closed
session; and (c), for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or
performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has
jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDonald
and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 8:50 p.m. These
minutes are not official until approved by City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer