Minutes 7-25-11
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 8/08/11
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 25, 2011
VOL. 62
NO. 10
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on July 25,
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,
and Voskuil. Absent: Councilmember Steeber
CONSENT AGENDA
Regular City Council meeting minutes of July 11, 2011
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee including the
Anyvirkamal Bopari and Sarbjit Bopari appeals for an operator’s license. (Refer to separate
agenda.)
Financial statement for the month of June, 2011.
Council President Brunner removed the appeals for Anyvirkamal Bopari and Sarbjit Bopari from the
Consent Agenda. He stated that all other items on the consent agenda would be approved if there
were no objections. There were none.
Council President Brunner stated that #6 would be considered next.
Special recognition: Action on a proposed resolution in commendation of Mark J. Mackinnis’ 24
years of service to the City of Janesville. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said resolution,
seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-822)
Based on information provided to the Council, Councilmember McDonald moved to approve the
operator’s licenses for both Anyvirkamal Bopari and Sarbjit Bopari, seconded by Councilmember
Voskuil and passed by the following vote: Aye: Dongarra-Adams, Liebert, McDonald, Rashkin and
Voskuil. Nay: Brunner.
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., asked the Council to use the code of conduct to limit
Councilmember terms on a board (NB #5), spoke against TIF #22 development agreement (NB #7)
and thanked Rock 5.0 for helping to mentor small businesses.
Council President Brunner combined the public hearing and action on NB #2 and NB #3.
2. & 3. Proposed ordinances annexing property (2011-487) and zoning property (2011-488) located at
2120 E. Delavan Dr. to R1 upon annexation received their second reading and public hearing. No one
spoke. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said ordinances,
seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously. (File Ord. Nos. 2011-487 & 2011-488)
4. A proposed ordinance prohibiting the possession of any firearm in any City building or structure
except as allowed by law for sworn law enforcement and peace officers received its second reading and
public hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., spoke against the ordinance. The public hearing
was closed. Council President postponed action on said ordinance until August 22, 2011. (File Ord. No.
2011-493)
5. Discussion and action on a proposed City Council policy establishing a Code of Conduct for members
of the City Council; and Commissions, Committees, and Boards. (Revised Council Policy No. 88)
Councilmember Voskuil moved to adopt said policy, seconded by Councilmember Dongarra-Adams.
Councilmember Liebert stated for the record he was voting against the policy because it was not the best
use of the Council’s time. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: Brunner, Dongarra-Adams,
McDonald, and Voskuil. Nay: Liebert and Rashkin.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Recommendation of the Transportation Committee: Public hearing and action on a proposed
resolution authorizing the removal of traffic control signals at Academy St. and W. Milwaukee St.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., suggested that the traffic signal be replaced with four-way stop
signs. Dianna Lund, 329 N. Academy St., Burdette Erickson, 115 S. High St., and Morris Olson, 1814
Rockport Rd., spoke against the resolution. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Liebert
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Rashkin. Councilmember Liebert offered a
friendly amendment that the City install signage informing motorists they must yield to pedestrians which
was accepted by the seconder. The motion, as amended, failed by the following vote: Nay: Brunner,
Dongarra-Adams, McDonald and Voskuil. Aye: Liebert and Rashkin. (File Res. No. 2011-825)
2. Award of Contracts 2011-14 (Evonik Shoreline Restoration), 2011-15 (Sanitary Sewer Lining & Point
Repairs), and 2011-16 (Monterey Park Concrete Flatwork) for Public Works Bid Schedule “D” – 2011.
Councilmember Rashkin moved to award the following contracts to the low bidders with the intent to
include funds for contract 2011-15 in the 2011 Note Issue:
Contract Company Amount
2011-14 Valia Excavating, LLC $ 63,150.00
2011-15 Utility Services Authority, LLC. $609,581.00
2011-16 J.B. Johnson Bros. LLC. $ 43,193.15
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Liebert and passed unanimously.
3. Update and possible action on proposed business incubator. Councilmember McDonald moved to
approve increasing the City’s matching funds for the construction of a business incubator by $562,000,
seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
4. A proposed ordinance amending the City’s Sign Code to allow electronic message signs within Sign
District E under specific situations and if approved by the Plan Commission through a conditional sign
permit was introduced, referred to the Plan Commission and scheduled for a public hearing on
September 12, 2011. (File Ord. No. 2011-494)
5. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., asked the Council to earmark Community Development authority
grant money to help individuals maintain their homes.
6. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Rashkin encouraged citizens to “like” the City of
Janesville’s Facebook page.
7. Councilmember Voskuil 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 site TIF #22 development agreement, since competitive
and/or bargaining reasons require a closed session. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
McDonald and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 8:38 p.m.
David T. Godek
City Deputy Clerk-Treasurer