Minutes 12-12-11
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 1/9/12
REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 2011
VOL. 62
NO. 27
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
December 12, 2011. The meeting was called to order by Council President Steeber at 7:00 PM.
Council President Steeber led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Councilmembers Dongarra-Adams, Liebert, McDonald, Rashkin, Steeber and Voskuil.
CONSENT AGENDA
Special meeting minutes of November 11, 2011.
Special meeting minutes of November 14, 2011.
Regular meeting minutes of November 28, 2011.
Special meeting minutes of December 5, 2011.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee
Appointment of Election Officials for 2012-2013.
Council President Steeber stated that all items on the consent agenda would be approved 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., spoke against the purchase of farmland (NB #6).
2. A proposed ordinance establishing a vehicle registration fee (wheel tax) in the amount of
$10.00 per vehicle received its second reading and public hearing. Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S.
Locust St., spoke against the ordinance. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember
McDonald moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Liebert and passed by the
following vote: Aye: Dongarra-Adams, Liebert, McDonald, Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: Rashkin.
(File Ord. No. 2011-503)
3. Action on a proposed resolution establishing the relocation order for the right-of-way of the E.
Milwaukee St./Wuthering Hills Dr. intersection improvement project. Councilmember Liebert
moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and failed by the following
vote: Aye: Liebert, Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: Dongarra-Adams, McDonald and Rashkin.
Councilmember McDonald made a motion to do nothing at the intersection of E. Milwaukee St. and
Wuthering Hills Dr., seconded by Councilmember Rashkin and failed by the following vote: Aye:
Dongarra-Adams, McDonald and Rashkin. Nay: Liebert, Steeber, Voskuil. (File Res. No. 2011-
851)
NEW BUSINESS
1. City Manager’s Report - Snow Removal Operations. John Whitcomb, Operations Manager,
presented the goals and objectives of the City of Janesville snow removal program. No Council
action taken.
2. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the submittal of an amendment to the Lead Hazard
Reduction Demonstration Grant Program contract between the State of Wisconsin Department of
Health Services and the City of Janesville. Councilmember McDonald moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimiously. (File Res. No. 2011-
866)
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to proceed with the sale of
property located at 414 N. Washington St. through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
Councilmember Liebert moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and
passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-861)
4. Authorization for the City Manager to renew a lease of city-owned land at 700 S. Jackson St. for
two years with Cindy Pelton, owner of 708 Club. Councilmember McDonald moved to renew said
lease, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
5. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an intergovernmental
agreement with the City of Beloit to provide commercial plumbing inspection services to the City.
Councilmember McDonald moved to approve said agreement, seconded by Councilmember
Voskuil and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2011-868)
6. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to exercise a “purchase option” to
purchase an 84 acre site for an industrial prospect located at 4021 U.S. Hwy. 51 South, Rock
Township. Councilmember Rashkin moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember
Steeber. Councilmember Voskuil offered a friendly amendment to make the purchase contingent
upon an approved developer’s agreement which was accepted by the maker and the seconder.
The motion, as amended passed by the following vote: Aye: Dongarra-Adams, Liebert, Rashkin,
Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: McDonald. (File Res. No. 2011-865)
7. Appointment to the Board of Directors of Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties.
Councilmember McDonald moved to appoint Councilmember Liebert to the Board of Directors of
Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and
passed unanimously with Councilmember Liebert abstaining.
8. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to extend an existing landfill
disposal contract with Green County through 2013. Councilmember Liebert moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed by the following vote: Aye: Dongarra-
Adams, Liebert, Rashkin, Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: McDonald. (File Res. No. 2011-869)
9. Authorization to purchase equipment for ice center renovation. Councilmember McDonald
moved to proceed with the purchase of conventional geothermal ice making equipment, seconded
by Councilmember Rashkin and passed unanimously.
10. Discussion and possible action on a proposed red flag program. Councilmember McDonald
moved to authorize staff to implement a pilot program and work with a volunteer group to monitor
the program, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed unanimously.
11. A proposed ordinance amending the City’s solid waste ordinance to increase sanitary landfill
fees was introduced and scheduled for a public hearing on January 9, 2012. (File Ord. No. 2011-
505)
12. A proposed ordinance amending the zoning conditions of approval for property located the
southwest corner of Jerome Avenue and Delavan Drive was introduced, referred to the Plan
Commission and scheduled for a public hearing on January 23, 2012. (File Ord. No. 2011-504)
13. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Andreah Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., spoke against the Council submitting the application for a
lead hazard grant (NB#2) and the TIF funding of projects.
14. Matters not on the Agenda. Councilmember Voskuil requested that staff display the actual City
website when referencing that information during the Council meetings. Council President Steeber
scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, 12/22/11 at 7:45 am and Council waived notice.
Council Liebert requested staff look at the intersection of Crosby and Court Streets as a potential
crosswalk site. Councilmember Steeber stated that he canceled the Council meeting on December
26, 2011and wished everyone a safe and happy holiday. He also requested that the informal
listening sessions start at 6:30 pm and by consensus, the Council agreed.
15. Motion to adjourn. Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember
McDonald and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, the Council adjourned at 10:00 pm.
David T. Godek
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer