Notes of 06-19-12 Retreat
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT NOTES JUNE 19, 2012
ROTARY GARDENS
JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 7/9/12
VOL: 63
NO: 7
Special meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held at Rotary Gardens
Janesville, Wisconsin on June 19, 2012. The meeting was called to order by Council
President Voskuil at 8:00 AM.
Present: Council President Voskuil, Councilmembers Dongarra-Adams, Farrell, Kealy,
Liebert, Severson and Steeber.
City Manager Levitt introduced Diane Pillard, Former U.W. Rock County Dean. She was
there to facilitate and assist the Council in accomplishing their retreat goals. He stated
that the goals to be accomplished were:
Overview of retreat objectives
1. Establish short-term and long-term goals.
2. Establish Council objectives for the upcoming 2013 budget and review the macro
financial projections for the General Fund.
Action to establish Council short term and long term goals
Council established their short-term goals in priority order as follows:
1. Jobs: Create an environment to bring jobs to Janesville.
(9 points)
2. Human Capital and Resource Allocation: Review human resources and resources
available and allocate them to accomplish Council’s goals.
(6 points)
3. Strategic Plan: Develop a Strategic Plan for the City.
(4 points)
4. Infrastructure Maintenance and Capital Projects: Develop a fiscal strategy to
maintain our infrastructure with a reasonable annual debt service cost.
(4 points)
5. Partnerships: Embrace public and private partnerships for the betterment of the
City.
(4 points)
6. Service Levels: Establish and maintain quality service levels.
(4 points)
7. Benefit levels and union contracts: Review existing benefits and contracts and
develop an acceptable level of benefits.
(3 points)
8. Neighborhood Restoration: Stabilize our neighborhoods that have deteriorated or
are at risk of deteriorating.
(1 point)
As an overall strategy to accomplish these goals, the Council will be looking for public
engagement to assist them in making decisions.
Council established their long-term goals in priority order as follows:
1. Facilities: Review proposed major capital improvements; initiate
comprehensive facility maintenance and replacement program.
(14 points)
2. Economic Development: Encourage businesses to expand or relocate to
Janesville.
(13 points)
3. Downtown and Riverfront Development: Continue to systematically enhance
our downtown and riverfront assets.
(8 points)
4. Neighborhood Services: Allocate resources to enhance our community
neighborhoods.
(5 points)
5. Lowering Debt Service: Systematically develop a plan that would lower the
City’s debt service costs over time.
4 points)
(
,
6. Develop and Implement Plans: Sidewalk Plan Brownfield Plan
(4 points)(2
and Sustainability Plan
points), (1 point)
As an overall strategy to accomplish these goals, the Council will develop a strategic plan.
Action to establish Council objectives for upcoming General Fund budget:
City Manager Levitt reviewed the street rehabilitation work that has been competed over
the last 6 years. The number of miles rehabilitated has fallen from a high of 12.7 miles to a
low of 5.1 miles . The City is not keeping up with the scheduled maintenance and the
Council should review the resources allocated to this program. He discussed various
funding strategies with Council in order to address this situation. The strategies include:
reduce mileage of streets built, borrow more money, develop a savings program for street
maintenance, assess it back to the property owners and apply for State and Federal
funding.
City Manager Levitt reviewed the macro projections for the proposed 2013 General Fund
Budget which includes $0 wage adjustments and a 0% increase in health insurance.
General Fund/Operating Budget:
Revenue Changes ($ 362,000)
Expenditure Changes $ 820,000
Projected 2013 Deficit for Operations without Tax Levy Inc.: $1,182,000
City Manager Levitt stated that the Administration would begin preparing the budget in
August for distribution to the Council in late September or early October.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Kealy and
passed unanimously.
There being no further business, the Council adjourned at 2:50 PM.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer