Minutes 6-25-12
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 7/9/12
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 25, 2012
VOL. 63
NO. 8
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on June
25, 2012. The meeting was called to order by City Council President Voskuil at 7:00 PM. Council
President Voskuil led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Voskuil and Councilmembers Dongarra-Adams, Farrell, Kealy, Liebert,
Severson and Steeber.
CONSENT AGENDA
Regular City Council meeting minutes of June 11, 2012.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee. (Refer to separate
agenda.)
Authorization for the Administration to deny a liability claim from American Family Insurance Group
(insured Danna Helgerson) in the amount of $5,250.00.
Financial statement for the month of May, 2012.
Council President Voskuil stated 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. Peter Apted, 324 Academy St., Jack Leeder, 1205 Randolph Rd., Carie Kendrick, 12
Krause Ave., Ruth Fiege, N3108 Hwy 89, Jefferson, Sandy Basich, 1025 Edgewater Rd., Fort
Atkinson, Delores Gates, W8231 Lake Terrace, Lake Mills, James Pardee, 3703 S. Murray Rd.,
George Frank, 1502 Buena Vista Dr., Sun Prairie, Irene Stewart 4404 N. River Rd., Georgia
Janisch, 1514 Dayton Dr., Patricia Schuler, 1126 Woodman Rd., Richard Schuler, 1126 Woodman
Rd., Ross Walcott, 1307 Blaine Ave., Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., Kirsten Lombard, representing
the Wisconsin 9/12 Project, Paul Lembrich, 102 N. River St. and Miriam Williams, 651 Park St.,
Beloit, were opposed to the Green Tier project, (NB #1.) Julie Backenkeller, 719 N. Grant Ave.,
spoke against increasing the tonnage cap at the landfill (NB #4.) Burdette Erickson, 115 S. High
St., Margaret Delaney, 439 N. Jackson St. and Kurt Linck, 118 S. High St., spoke in favor of the
sale of property at 212 Madison St., (NB #2.) Diana Lund, 329 N. Academy St., spoke in favor of
the sale of property at 212 Madison St., (NB #2) and spoke against the Green Tier project (NB #1.)
Daniel Howard, 635 S. Main St., Neil Deupree, 419 S. Franklin St., spoke in favor of the Green Tier
project (NB #1.) Dan Swanson, 3035 S. Parker Dr., spoke in favor of the sale of property at 212
Madison St., (NB #2) and spoke in favor of the Green Tier project (NB #1). Andreah Briarmoon,
339 S. Locust St., spoke against the Green Tier project (NB #1) and against the sale of 212
Madison St., (NB #2.)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City of Janesville to enter into an agreement
with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to become a Green Tier Legacy Community.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Liebert.
Councilmember Steeber offered a friendly amendment to enter into a Legacy Charter agreement
only for sustainability which was accepted by the seconder. The motion, as amended, failed by the
following vote: Aye: Farrell, Liebert, Steeber. Nay: Dongarra-Adams, Kealy, Severson, and
Voskuil. Councilmember Severson made a recommendation to ask the City Attorney to research
the penalties and the risk to the City of Janesville if we entered into this agreement, seconded by
Councilmember Steeber and passed by the following vote: Aye: Farrell, Kealy, Severson, Steeber
and Voskuil. Nay: Dongarra-Adams and Liebert. (File Res. No. 2012-917)
2. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to sell the property at 212
Madison Street through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Councilmember Steeber moved
to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember Dongarra-Adams and passed unanimously.
(File Res. No. 2012-921)
3. Discussion of the management structure for the Janesville Innovation Center (JIC) and direction
to staff. Councilmember Steeber moved to authorize staff to prepare the paperwork, for Council
review, to create a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation for the JIC, to prepare the corporate by-laws and
articles of incorporation, and to recommend the board of directors composition. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Liebert and passed by the following vote: Aye: Dongarra-Adams,
Farrell, Kealy, Severson, Steeber and Voskuil. Nay: Liebert.
4. Discussion on projected 2012 landfill waste flows and direction to staff. John Whitcomb,
Operations Manager presented the fiscal impact of increasing Town & Country’s cap for landfill
tonnage. Councilmember Steeber moved to authorize the City Manager to exercise an existing
provision in the City’s contract with Town & Country Sanitation, amending the 40,000 ton maximum
landfill tonnage provision to 60,000 ton maximum landfill tonnage provision in 2012 and 2013. The
motion was seconded by Councilmember Liebert and passed unanimously.
5. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Andrea Briarmoon, 339 S. Locust St., asked whether the City of Janesville was charging fair market
value at the landfill; suggested that the landfill increase their fees for deer carcasses; suggested
that Janesville Sand & Gravel should pay for mining rights; stated that there should be a public
hearing policy and stated that the City of Janesville incurs all the liabilities at the Janesville
Innovation Center.
6. Matters not on the Agenda. City Manager Levitt stated that the grant money that would have
been spent on the Green Tier Legacy initiative will now be spent on other sustainable projects.
Council President Voskuil requested information on the number of staff hours that were spent on
the sidewalk project.
7. 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
terms and conditions for the potential acquisitions of real property located at 55 South River Street
and/or 202 Riverside Street for public purposes, since competitive or bargaining reasons require a
closed session. The motion was seconded by Council Kealy and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Jean Ann Wulf
City Clerk-Treasurer