Minutes 07-09-01PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, VVlSCONSIN
REGULAR MEETING
July 9, 2001
VOL. 52
NO. 8
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held in the Municipal Building on July 9, 2001.
The meeting was called to order by Council President Brien at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Council President Brien, Councilmembers Damron, Wdliams, DeGarmo, and Murphy. Absent:
Councilmembers O'Leary and Steeber.
CONSENTAGENDA
Minutes of the regular meeting of June 25, 2001.
Minutes of the closed session of June 25, 2001.
Licenses; and Recommendations of the Alcohol License Advisory Committee.
Action on a motion to approve final Certified Survey Map #01012-C, Don Lukas, 2 lots on Joliet and
Center Avenue.
Waiver of special assessment procedure for sewer main, water main, curb and gutter, and paving charges
for Certified Survey Map #01015, Steve Shaw, Academy, Inc.
Waiver of special assessment procedure for storm sewer, sidewalk and street light charges for Ninth
Addition to Fox Ridge Estates, Garmar, Inc.
Council President Brien stated that action on an alcohol license for Pinnacle LLC, d/b/a Halby's, would be
acted on separate from the Consent Agenda. He stated that if there were no objections, the remainder
of the Consent Agenda would be approved as recommended. There were none.
Council President Brien requested that the Administration review the property located on Certified Survey
Map 01012-C for compliance with the City's code.
Council President Brien opened a public hearing to discuss the application for a Class B license for
Halby's. Attorney Harry O'Leary, representing Jim and Rebecca Halbach, gave a detailed presentation
and spoke in favor of the license. The following individuals spoke in opposition to granting the license: Bev
Cranz, representing TriCo Credit Union, Pam Burr, 960 Industrial Court and Paulette Steinke, 977
Industrial Court. Council President Brien indicated that Dolores Toebaas, 426 W. Delavan Drive, had
talked to him previously and was opposed to the license.
Councilmember Wdliams moved to deny the alcohol license for Halby's. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Damron and passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Wdliams, Damron,
Brien and Murphy. Nay: Councilmember DeGarmo. For the record, Councilmember Murphy stated
Council Policy 66-A reads "and is applied in an uniform and equitable manner." The unprecedented public
outcry opposing Halby's is the reason the license was denied.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Requests and comments from the public on matters which can be affected by Council action.
Hope Langston, 1133 Columbus Circle, spoke regarding a sanitary sewer backup at her residence. The
blockage occurred at the connection between the main and lateral. She stated City Code is ambiguous
regarding who is responsible for this area and requested the City replace the connection. City Manager
Sheiffer indicated that the Administration would prepare a written report concerning the blockage and cite
the specific code that applied.
2. Continued public hearing and action on a proposed ordinance rezoning property located at the
northeast corner of Grant Street and Kellogg Avenue from B2 to R1.
Councilmember O'Leary arrived at 8:30 p.m. Council President Brien postponed action on this ordinance
until July 23, 2001. Councilmember Murphy moved to deny the postponement. Councilmember Wdliams
seconded the motion and it passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Damron, Wdliams,
DeGarmo and Murphy. Nay: Councilmembers O'Leary and Brien. Councilmember Wdliams moved to
deny said ordinance. Councilmember Murphy seconded the motion and it failed by the following vote:
Aye: Councilmembers Wdliams, DeGarmo and Murphy. Nay: Councilmembers Damron, O'Leary and
Brien. Councilmember O'Leary moved to postpone action to July 23, 2001 and to notify the applicant that
this is the final time this matter can be postponed. Councilmember Brien seconded the motion and it
passed by the following vote: Aye: Council President Brien, Councilmembers Damron, Williams, O'Leary,
and DeGarmo. Nay: Councilmember Murphy. (File Ord. #2001-80)
3 & 4. A proposed ordinance deleting and recreating Electoral Ward Boundaries received its second
reading and joint public hearing with the proposed resolution assigning wards to polling places.
Carolyn Brandeen, representing the League of Women Voters, spoke in favor. Councilmember DeGarmo
moved to adopt said ordinance and resolution. Councilmember O'Leary seconded the motion and it
passed by the following vote: Aye: Councilmembers Damron, Wdliams, O'Leary, DeGarmo and Murphy.
Nay: Council President Brien. (File Ord. #2001-87 and Res. #2001-175)
NEW BUSINESS
1. Committee Appointment. Councilmember Murphy moved to approve the appointment of Mark
Schroeder to the Alcohol License Advisory Committee. Councilmember DeGarmo seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously.
2. Action on a proposed resolution approving Janesville's participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm
System (MABAS) Agreement.
Councilmember Murphy moved to adopt said resolution. Coundmember DeGarmo seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously. (File Res. #2001-176)
3. Report to the City Council on the Public Safety Focus Groups. The most significant findings of the
focus groups were that people did in fact feel safe in Janesville and were most bothered by minor crimes
like vandalism. The drop in our feeling safe rating may be a result of regional and national media
coverage of higher crime municipalities, national trends and City growth. The focus groups recommended
the Administration address safety and crime issues at the neighborhood level and communicate crime-
related information to the public.
4. A proposed resolution vacating a portion of South Randall Avenue was referred to Plan
Commission and scheduled for public hearing on August 27, 2001. (File Res. #2001-178)
5. A proposed ordinance amending the Private Well Abandonment Procedures (Section 13.04.110)
was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on July 23, 2001. (File Ord. #2001-86)
6. Matters Not on the Agenda. Council President Brien requested clarification on the amount of time
that trailers are permitted to park on the street.
7. Councilmember Wdliams moved to convene into closed session pursuant to W~sconsin Statute
Section 19.85 (1) (e), for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties,
the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or
bargaining reasons require a closed session. Councilmember O'Leary seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously. There being no further business, Council convened into closed session at 9:40 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
City Clerk-Treasurer