Minutes 02-14-05.doc
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING Approved: February 28, 2005
February 14, 2005
VOL. 55
NO. 28
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on February 14,
2005. The meeting was called to order by Council President Steeber at 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troops 539 (St
Williams), 562 (Moose Club), and 595 UAW led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Council President Steeber, Councilmembers Tim Wellnitz, Williams, Brien, Tom Wellnitz, DeGarmo
and Addie.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of January 24, 2005.
Minutes of the special meeting of February 1, 2005.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee (ALAC).
Recommendation for denial of bartender application.
Council President Steeber stated 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.
There were none.
New Business 1. Presentation by the Janesville Shade Tree Advisory Committee (JSTAC) on “Tree City USA”
Designation. Mary Ann Buenzow, 1071 Laramie Lane, representing JSTAC, explained criteria to obtain a
“Tree City USA” designation. Councilmember DeGarmo moved to approve said designation, seconded by
Councilmember Tom Wellnitz and passed unanimously.
2. and 3. Proposed ordinances annexing property within the 3400-3800 blocks of East Rotamer Road (2005-
254) and zoning upon annexation to R1 and agriculture (2005-255) were given their second readings and
public hearings. The public hearing was opened. Daniel Weitzel, 3933 Dorado Drive spoke in support of the
ordinance. David Bickle, 1732 Tamarack Lane, spoke in opposition to the ordinance. The public hearing was
closed. Councilmember Addie moved to adopt said ordinances, seconded by Councilmember Williams and
passed unanimously. (File Ord. Nos. 2005-254 and 2005-255)
4. City Manager’s Report.
City Manager Sheiffer stated the City has retained the Nowlan Law Firm to represent the City for the Wal-
Mart appeal. Also, he invited the Council to attend two scheduled events. The first event on Thursday,
February 17, 2005, at 4:00 p.m., the Council may tour the police department construction site. The second
event on Friday, February 18, 2005, at 4:00 p.m. Senator Robson will be discussing the Governor’s Budget at
the Municipal Building.
A) Metropolitan Planning Organization. Duane Cherek, from the planning department, gave a slide
presentation explaining the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Recommendation of the Plan Commission: Action on a proposed resolution accepting South Pearl Street
as a public street between Rockport Road and Riverside Street. Councilmember Williams moved to adopt
said resolution, seconded by Councilmember DeGarmo and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2005-134)
3. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to acquire property at 907 South Jackson
Street. Half of the purchase will be funded by a grant from the Janesville Foundation and the other half will
be funded by Community Development Block Grant funds. Councilmember DeGarmo moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Brien and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2005-131)
4. Action on a proposed resolution approving Amendment No. 1 to the TIF Development Agreement with Bliss
Communications, Inc. and extending an Option to Purchase an 8.0 acre industrial site in TIF No. 14 until
March 31, 2007. Councilmember DeGarmo moved to adopt said resolution, seconded by Councilmember
Williams and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2005-136)
5. Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the execution and delivery of an Agreement for Two Letters of
Credit for the Long-Term Care and Closure of the New Landfill. Councilmember Williams moved to adopt said
resolution, seconded by Councilmember Tom Wellnitz and passed unanimously. (File Res. No. 2005-140)
6. Review and approval of an Economic Development Grant to the Janesville Performing Arts Center, 408
South Main Street. Councilmember Williams moved to approve said grant, seconded by Councilmember
Addie and passed unanimously.
7. A proposed ordinance annexing property located south of East Rotamer Road east and adjoining the
Rotamer Ridge Estates Subdivision was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on March 14, 2005. (File
Ord. No. 2005-272)
8. A proposed ordinance zoning property located south of East Rotamer Road east and adjoining the
Rotamer Ridge Estates Subdivision to R1 upon annexation was introduced, referred to Plan Commission, and
scheduled for public hearing on March 14, 2005. (File Ord. No. 2005-273)
9. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action. There were
none.
10. Matters not on the Agenda. By consent, the Council authorized the Administration to create a general e-
mail address for all Councilmembers. This would be in addition to their individual e-mail addresses.
Councilmember Williams remembered former Councilmember Marion Noll who passed away last week.
Councilmember Brien requested more publicity on the Sharps Program and suggested that the Council
meetings be rebroadcast during the day. Council President Steeber suggested that the Police Department
watch Kennedy Road for speeders and the Administration consider lighting the bike trail tunnel under Highway
11.
11. There being no further business, Councilmember Williams made a motion to convene into closed session
pursuant to Wisconsin Statute Section 19.85(1)(e) for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchase
of public properties, the investing of public funds or conducting other specific public business, whenever
competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically the potential acquisition of certain
downtown real property for blight elimination, open spaces and/or other public purposes; and Wisconsin
Statute Section 19.85(1)(c), for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or
performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or
exercises responsibility. This is the annual evaluation of the City Manager’s performance for the previous
year, seconded by Councilmember Tom Wellnitz and passed unanimously. Council convened into closed
session at 8:06 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer