Minutes 6-27-11
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 7/11/11
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 27, 2011
VOL. 62
NO. 8
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on June 27,
2011. The meeting was called to order by Council President Brunner at 7:00 PM.
Present: Council President Brunner, Councilmembers Dongarra-Adams, Liebert, McDonald, Rashkin
Steeber and Voskuil.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the special City Council meeting of June 7, 2011.
Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of June 13, 2011.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee. (Refer to separate
agenda.)
Motion to approve final Certified Survey Map #11002-C, Marklein and Bever, 1 lot on Sandhill Drive.
Financial statement for the month of May, 2011.
Authorize the Police Department to apply for the 2011 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance
Grant (JAG) Program.
Council President Brunner stated that the items on the consent agenda would be approved if there were
no objections. There were none.
Council President Brunner changed the order of #8 & #9.
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Melvin R. Walker’s eleven
and one-half years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-819)
Review and accept 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). Councilmember Steeber
moved to accept the CAFR, seconded by Councilmember Liebert and was accepted unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a public
hearing. Tom Jones, representing Rivers Edge Bowl, spoke in favor of option #3 for the River St.
reconstruction (NB #4). Bill Isermann, representing Agrecol, spoke in favor of the bike trail extension
(NB#1) and donated $10,000 of in-kind for native plants and seeds for use by the Parks Department. Bill
Graham, representing the Graham Martin Foundation, donated $10,000 for the bike trail extension (NB
#1). Dean Paynter, representing the Rock Trail Coalition, spoke in favor of the bike trail extension (NB
#1). Frank Perrotto, 4512 E Milwaukee St., spoke against converting Milwaukee St. to a two way street
(NB #3) and spoke in favor of a code of ethics (NB #8). Neil Deupree, representing Friends of Rockport
Park, spoke in favor of the bike trail extension (NB #1) and suggested that the ethics policy (NB#8) limit
Councilmembers to five minutes to speak on agenda items. Kay Deupree, 419 S. Franklin St., spoke in
favor of River St. reconstruction (NB #4). Jim Alverson, 225 Pease Ct., Jackie Wood, 119 S. Wisconsin
St. and Ben Shult and Karl Dommershausen, both representing the Downtown Development Alliance,
spoke in favor of converting Milwaukee Street to a two way street (NB #3). Mick Gilbertson, 3400 N.
Edgewood Dr., and Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., spoke against converting Milwaukee St. into a two way
street. K. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., spoke against the Ward Supervisors ordinance change
(NB #9).
2. A proposed ordinance rezoning a portion of property located at 3400 County Highway F (Rock
County Institutional Complex) from M1 to O1 received its second reading and public hearing. Sherry
Gunderson, representing Rock Haven, spoke in favor of rezoning the property. The public hearing was
closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Liebert
and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2011-481)
3. A proposed ordinance rezoning property located at the southwest corner of Sandhill Dr. and N.
Wright Rd. from R1 and R3 to O1received its second reading and public hearing. Marcia Wingington,
representing Hospice Care, and Doug Marklien, 3919 Dorchester Dr., spoke in favor of rezoning the
property. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance,
seconded by Councilmember Dongarra-Adams and passed unanimously. (File Ord. No. 2011-484)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a proposed resolution approving the acquisition of abandoned railroad grade from Mr. Mike
Morris for bike trail purposes as an extension of the Peace Trail. Councilmember McDonald moved to
adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Steeber. Councilmember Steeber offered a friendly
amendment to change the funding to $10,000 from the Graham-Martin Foundation Inc., $10,000 from the
Rock Trail Coalition and $25,000 from the Parkland Acquisition Fund. The friendly amendment was
accepted by the maker. The motion, as amended, passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-817)
2. Action on transfer of $13,000 from TIF IX funding to DDA for façade improvement project.
Councilmember McDonald moved to approve the funding transfer, seconded by Councilmember Steeber
and passed unanimously.
3. Presentation and action on alternatives to Milwaukee St. and Court St. two-way traffic conversion.
Councilmember Rashkin moved to convert Milwaukee St. from Main St. to midblock between Locust St.
and the Five Points Intersection to two-way when the street is programmed for resurfacing or
reconstruction. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
4. Review and approve proposed plans for reconstruction of River St. from W. Racine St. to W. Court
St. Councilmember Rashkin moved to approve the plans for the reconstruction of River St. from W.
Racine St. to W. Court St. as presented and including Option 3 for parking alignment, seconded by
Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
5. Authorize City Manager to enter into a mutual cooperation agreement between the City of Janesville
and the City of Beloit for the Neighborhood Stabilization 3 Program. Councilmember Steeber moved to
authorize said agreement, seconded by Councilmember Dongarra-Adams, and passed unanimously.
6. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a developers agreement
with Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development for the Neighborhood Stabilization 3 Program.
Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil, and
passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-813)
7. Authorize City Manager to proceed with improvements to the public safety radio system.
Councilmember Steeber moved to authorize said improvements with the intent to include up to $800,000
in future note issues, seconded by Councilmember Liebert and passed unanimously.
8. Action on proposed Council Policy Statement #88 on Code of Ethics and Conduct. Councilmember
Rashkin moved to create a Council Committee to review and present a policy to the Council, seconded
by Councilmember Liebert. The maker and seconder withdrew the motion. Councilmember McDonald
left the Council Chambers at 11:12 p.m. By consensus the Council provided direction to the
Administration to revise the policy and bring it back for Council Action. Councilmember McDonald
returned to the Council Chambers at 11:15 p.m.
9. A proposed ordinance repealing the current “ward supervisors” ordinance 2.08.080 concerning
members-elect of the Rock County Board was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on July 11,
2011. (File Ord. No. 2011-483)
10. A proposed ordinance deleting and recreating electoral ward boundaries was introduced and
scheduled for a public hearing on July 11, 2011. (File Ord. No. 2011-492)
11. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action. William
Hein, 1128 Grand Ave. and Arlene Hensley, Footville, asked that the Council extend the hours at
Rockport Pool. Councilmembers Steeber and Rashkin sponsored an agenda item to discuss pool hours
at the July 11, 2011 Council meeting. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., asked the Council to
engage citizens on ways to save money.
12. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmembers Liebert and Rashkin asked that an ordinance on
concealed carry be brought to the council on July 11, 2011. Councilmember McDonald asked the
Administration of the status of: the design of the Ice Arena; the financial policies discussed at the April
27, 2011 study session and; asked if the flashing lights by the schools be turned off in the summer. City
Manager Levitt stated that an Ice Arena design should be completed by this fall, financial policies will be
brought to the Council in August, and that staff will investigate flashing lights by schools.
Councilmember Rashkin stated that there are food pantry and shelter resources available on his website.
Councilmember Voskuil stated that community resources are available on the City website, and
requested that the Administration contact the owner of that the flag on the cell tower near the interstate
because it is in disrepair. Council President Brunner asked if the conditional use permit changes that
Sneakers Bar has requested will come to the Council for action. City Manager Levitt indicated that staff
will review the item and provide Council an answer.
13. Councilmember Liebert moved to convene into closed session, pursuant to Wisconsin Statute
Section 19.85(1)(e), for the purpose of deliberating and setting the negotiation and bargaining strategies,
terms, and conditions for a potential industrial development agreement within a half mile of TIF #26,
seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 11:43 p.m. These minutes
are not official until approved by the City Council.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer