Minutes 8-13-12
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN APPROVED 8/27/12
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 13, 2012
VOL. 63
NO. 13
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on
August 13, 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
City Council meeting minutes of: July 23, 2012 Special meeting and July 23, 2012 Regular meeting.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee. (Refer to separate
agenda.)
Council President Voskuil stated that all the items on the consent agenda would be approved if
there were no objections. There were none.
Council President Voskuil congratulated Paul Ryan on his Vice-Presidential nomination and
commented that Janesville is a great place to live and raise a family.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public regarding items on the Agenda not requiring a public
hearing. Rich Gruber, representing Mercy Hospital, spoke in support of the Tallman House
business plan, license and renovation (NB #4) and spoke in support of the downtown development
plan and the alternatives contained within the plan for the parking plaza (NB #2.) Larry Squire,
4245 Wilshire Ln., stated that the money allocated to the repairs of the parking plaza should be
reallocated to the downtown plan (NB #2). Bruce Seigfried, 509 Wuthering Hills Dr., spoke against
the sidewalk plan stating that the costs are too high (NB #5). Michael Reuter, representing the
Rock County Historical Society, spoke in favor of repairing the Lincoln-Tallman House (NB #4) and
supported the Class B and Class C licenses for this facility (NB #3). Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave.,
spoke against the General Fund paying for all sidewalks (NB #5), and requested a second opinion
on the parking plaza repairs (NB #2). Ed Pulliam, representing the Janesville Downtown
Development Alliance and the Hayes Block of Main Street; Carol Campbell, owner of Riverfront
Center; and Paul Lembrich, 102 N. River St. spoke in favor of keeping the parking plaza as long as
possible (NB #2). Tim Weber, 1615 Newport Ave., spoke in support of a downtown development
plan including the plans for the parking plaza (NB #2). Jackie Wood, Rock County Historical
Society President, spoke in favor of improving and implementing the Lincoln-Tallman House
business plan (NB #4) and spoke in support of removing the parking plaza once alternative parking
has been established (NB #2). David Howard, PO Box 681, Janesville, stated that the parking
plaza is important to downtown and it should be reviewed by a structural engineer (NB #2).
2. A proposed revised ordinance permitting the sale, possession, and consumption of fermented
malt beverages, fermented malt beverage based wine coolers, wine, champagne and intoxicating
liquor in certain designated areas at the Tallman House, Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center and
associated grounds received its second reading and public hearing. No one spoke.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Kealy and
passed unanimously. (File Rev. Ord. No. 2012-517)
3. Action on an application from the Rock County Historical Society (RCHS) for Class B Beer only
and Class C Wine licenses and to restrict the outdoor seating portion of the licenses as
recommended by the Alcohol License Advisory Committee (ALAC). Councilmember Steeber moved
to approve said application with the restrictions recommended by the Alcohol License Advisory
Committee which are: outdoor seating ends no later than 9:00 PM and temporary fencing be
required for all events with a projected attendance of 150 or more people. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Liebert and passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Presentation of awards by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Public Works Association.
Mike Lemens, President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Public Works Association
presented the project of the year award for the Janesville Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Lemens
also presented Carl J. Weber, Director of Public Works, the John W. Curtis Chapter Service Award
based on his service to the Public Works profession.
2. Presentation, discussion and direction to staff regarding the downtown parking plaza.
Councilmember Steeber moved to direct staff to prepare a plan to move forward on the strategies
outlined in the staff/City Manager recommendation, seconded by Councilmember Dongarra-Adams
and passed unanimously.
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign State/Municipal
agreements between the City of Janesville and State of Wisconsin for the design and
reconstruction of STH 26 (Milton Avenue) from Centerway to Kennedy Road and USH 14 (Humes
Road) from Lexington Drive to Pontiac Drive. Councilmember Steeber moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Liebert and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2012-
926)
4. Award of Contracts C2012-12 (Tallman House Improvements – Phase III) and C2012-13 (Sewer
System Improvements) for Public Works Bid Schedule “D” – 2012. Councilmember Liebert moved
to award the base bid plus alternatives 1, 3, 4 of contract 2012-12 to Gilbank Construction and
Contract 2012-13 to R.T. Fox Contractors and express the intent to include funding in the 2012
Note Issue in the amount of $185,000 for contract 2012-12 and $157,230 for contract 2012-13. The
motion was seconded by Councilmember Steeber and passed unanimously.
5. Discussion and possible action on Council request to review method of sidewalk financing.
Council President Voskuil requested that this item be postponed and discussed during a budget
study session. Councilmembers Farrell and Liebert, the requesting sponsors concurred.
6. Action on Council President recommended citizen and Council committee appointments.
Councilmember Steeber moved to confirm the following appointments
Ed Pulliam as a voting member of the Citizen Advisory Committee on Appointments
Catherine Myers as the alternate member of the Citizen Advisory Committee on
Appointments
Councilmembers Farrell and Kealy as Council representatives to the Janesville Innovations
Center Advisory Committee.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Dongarra-Adams and passed unanimously.
7. Schedule and waive notice study session meetings to review 2013 proposed City and Library
budgets. Council President Voskuil scheduled the following Special City Council meetings:
October 10, 6:00 PM; October 11, 6:00 PM; October 18, 6:00 PM; November 1, 6:00 PM. The
Council waived notice.
8. A proposed ordinance rezoning a portion of property located at 115 East Conde Street from M2
to B3 was introduced, referred to the Plan Commission and scheduled for a public hearing on
September 10, 2012. (File Ord. No. 2012-518)
9. A proposed ordinance amending the City of Janesville Sign Ordinance to allow the Plan
Commission to reduce the separation distance between off-premise electronic message center
(EMC) signs was introduced, referred to the Plan Commission and scheduled for a public hearing at
a time to be determined by the Council President. (File Ord. No. 2012-519)
10. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
James Pardee, 3703 S. Murray Rd. and Paul Lembrich, 102 N. River St., spoke against the Green
Tier initiative.
11. Matters not on the Agenda. Council President Voskuil praised National Night Out in Janesville
and the businesses and organizations who supported this event. She also reminded everyone that
the Rock Aqua Jays National Championship is this upcoming weekend and that August 25, 2012 is
trash pickup day at Wilson School. Councilmember Steeber asked for two councilmembers to
sponsor the reconsideration of renaming Joseph Street to Ice Age Road. Councilmember Liebert
stated that National Night Out was a success and encouraged voters to vote in the partisan primary.
Councilmember Farrell stated that the Turtle Creek orchestra would be at Rotary Gardens on
August 26, 2012. City Manager Eric Levitt stated that short term goals tied to the work program will
be on the next City Council agenda.
12. Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Dongarra-Adams and
passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Council adjourned at 9:26 PM.
Jean Ann Wulf
City Clerk-Treasurer