Minutes: Evansville Common Council: Sept 13, 2005

Common Council
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 13, 2005, 6:30 PM
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI

MINUTES

Mayor Ringhand called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Present were: Mayor Ringhand and Aldpersons Aikman, Cothard, Kooyman, Roberts, Anderson, Hammann, Sornson, and Wessels (arrived at 8:10 PM). Staff present: Bill Connors, City Administrator; Holly Jensen, City Attorney; Bridget Rolex, Library Director; Mary Beaver, EMS Director (arrived at 8:12 PM); and Jim Beilke, Clerk/Treasurer.

Approval of Agenda.
The Agenda was approved as printed.

Approval of Minutes.
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Cothard, to waive the reading of the August 9 and 29, 2005, meetings and approve them as printed. Motion passed.

Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed.
Betty Ahner, 20 S. First St., appeared and spoke in favor of the TID No. 5 amendment.
Joseph Vaughn, 313 Higgins Dr. #24, appeared and spoke in favor of stop signs and speed bumps near the intersections of Higgins and Badger and Higgins and Lincoln.

Committee Reports:
Evansville Community Partnership Report. None.

Plan Commission Report.
Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to approve Resolution #2005-46 amending, describing and making certain findings and approving Project Plan and Boundary Amendment for Tax Incremental District No. 5, City of Evansville, Wisconsin. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Ordinance #2005-28, amending the Municipal Code relative to community living arrangements. Ald. Hammann reported the ordinance would allow community living arrangement facilities to be located as close as 500 feet to each other, rather than 2,500 feet, which currently is the required minimum distance. This ordinance would allow community living arrangement facilities to be located in additional zoning districts, either by right or as a conditional use. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Ordinance #2005-29, amending the Municipal Code relative to electronic message signs.

Mr. Connors reported that ordinance in Council packet is an earlier version than what Plan Commission approved. To make motion clear, Mr. Connors recommends that the Council amend the motion to include the amendments by the Plan Commission.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to include amendments from Plan Commission. Motion carried.

The original motion, as amended, carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Ordinance #2005-34, amending the Municipal Code relative to sandwich board signs on public sidewalks in front of businesses, as amended by Plan Commission. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Ordinance #2005-35, amending the Municipal Code relative to off-premises signs in public rights of way during street construction projects. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Resolution #2005-49, designating the location where sandwich board signs may be placed on public sidewalks during the 2005 USH 14 reconstruction project. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to approve a final certified survey map for Ace Hardware parcel on Brown School Road. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Roberts, to approve the final land divider’s agreement for Grand Orchard Estates subdivision. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to approve the final plat for Grand Orchard Estates subdivision. Motion carried.

Finance and Labor Relations Committee Report.
Motion by Aikman, seconded by Roberts, to approve W&L bills and authorize their payments of $586,409.91. Motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Cothard, to approve the City bills and authorize their payments of $394,099.33. Motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Cothard, to adopt 2006-2010 Five-year Capital Plan.

Mr. Cothard asked what equipment will be in the New Park – Westside. Mr. Kooyman reported that the park layout will be determine at the next Park Board meeting on September 19th. With the layout, Park Board will then look at the equipment and landscaping going into the west-side park. Mr. Kooyman reported that the total cost for the skateboard park would be $20,000.

In regards to the Library Building Addition, Ms. Rolek reported the $25,000 is for an architect to draw presentation renderings of an addition to the Library for use in fundraising, which would be used only if the city is able to acquire an option to purchase the building currently occupied by the post office.

Mr. Connors reported the capital projects under Water & Light Utility No. C626, C627, and C628 could be pushed back until year 2008.

Motion by Ald. Hammann, seconded by Kooyman, to amend 5-year Capital Plan in project C602 -skateboard park, to increase existing funds from $10,000 to $15,000 and decrease unallocated park and pool projects funds from $10,737 to 5,737. On a roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.

On a roll call vote, the original motion, as amended, carried unanimously.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Resolution #2005-41, amending the Adopted 2005 City Budget to Increase the Operating Appropriation for the Emergency Medical Services Act 102 Expense. On a roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Resolution 2005-42, amending the Adopted 2005 City Budget to Increase the Capital Appropriation for the Emergency Medical Services Defibrillator and Increase the Operating Appropriation for EMS Transfers Out, with the amendment of the $10,032 in lines 1 and 2 to be changed to $1,032. On a roll call vote, the motion, carried unanimously.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Resolution #2005-43, amending the Adopted 2005 City Budget to Increase the Capital Project.

Ald. Sornson and Cothard expressed concerns about the high maintenance costs for an old building, when this money could be used for more worthy projects. Mr. Hammann stated only one vendor submitted a bid for replacing the roof, and he would like to see the City try again to solicit more bids. Mr. Connors reported Mr. Wartenweiler called roofing companies all over southern Wisconsin and received only one bid by a vendor who specializes in shingling high, steep roofs. Mr. Connors reported the roof needs to done this year and soliciting more bids may delay this project until next roofing season. The consensus was to do the roof this year, but Mr. Connors should instruct Mr. Wartenweiler to obtain at least one more bid before awarding the contract.

On a roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Resolution #2005-44, amending the Adopted 2005 City Budget to increase the appropriation for the Baseball Program. On a roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Resolution #2005-45, amending the Adopted 2005 City Budget to increase the appropriation for the Solar Paneling at the Pool Project in the Capital Projects Fund. On a roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Resolution #2005-47, making a Preliminary Declaration of the Common Council’s Intent to Levy Special Assessments under Municipal Police Power under § 66.0703, Wis. Stats.

Ald. Hammann raised the issue of waiving or deferring assessments for hardship or houses in poverty. The Council instructed Mr. Connors to review this matter and report back at the next Council meeting.

Motion by Hammann, seconded Kooyman, to change the date in paragraph 9, in the second to last line where it reads “January 1, 2005,” should read as “January 1, 2006. Motion carried.

The original motion, as amended, carried unanimously.

Motion by Aikman, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Resolution #2005-48, amending the adopted 2005 city budget to increase the appropriation for park maintenance expenses. On a roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.

Public Safety Committee Report. No report.

Public Works Committee Report.
Motion by Hammann, seconded by Sornson, to adopt Ordinance #2005-30, amending the Municipal Code relative to stop sign locations and in line 14, changing “Court” to “Drive.” Motion carried.

Water & Light Committee Report. No report.

Economic Development Committee Report. No report.

Evansville Redevelopment Authority Report. No report.

Parks and Recreation Board Report. No report.

Historic Preservation Commission Report. No report.

Fire District Report. No report.

Unfinished Business. None



Communications and Recommendations from the Mayor.
Mayor presented the Mayoral Proclamation - Congratulations to Claude E. Willoughby on his 100th Birthday.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Roberts, to waive the seven-day notice requirement and approve the mayoral appointment of the following people to an ad hoc committee on regulations regarding “big box” retail stores:
Sandy Decker
Rebecca DeMarb
Karen Aikman
Chris Eager
Bill Hammann
Dean Arnold
Becky Heimerl

Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Roberts, to waive the seven-day notice requirement and approve using Foth & Van Dyke as City Engineers until December 31, 2006. Motion carried.

Communications and Recommendations from the City Administrator.
Mr. Connors distributed his report.

New Business.
Motion by Roberts, seconded by Sornson, to approve Resolution #2005-40 Commending Paul R. Forstrom for his Years of Service for the City of Evansville. Motion carried.

Introduction of New Ordinances.
First reading of Ordinance #2005-41 correcting rezoning of lots in Grand Orchard Estates subdivision.

First reading of Ordinance #2005-37, amending the Municipal Code relative to requiring sidewalks in site plans and vehicular access in the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 and O-1 zoning districts.

First reading of Ordinance #2005-38, amending the Municipal Code relative to two-family dwelling units in Residential District One (R-1).

First reading of Ordinance #2005-39, amending the Municipal Code relative to repeal of LL-R12A, LL-R12B, LL-R12C, LL-R15A, LL-R15B, R-1A, R-1B and R-1C zoning districts.

First reading of Ordinance #2005-40, amending the Municipal Code relative to buffer yard requirements.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Roberts, to convene into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. Sec. 19.85(1)(e), deliberation or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reason requires a closed session, and Wis. Stats. Sec. 19.85(1)(f), considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations, and will not reconvene into open session. The Council will discuss the potential sale or other disposition of property owned by the city the potential acquisition of property elsewhere in the city for, among other things, an expansion of the Eager Free Public Library, a new youth center, new senior center, or new police station. In addition, the Council will discuss a conduct issue involving a city employee. On a roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Roberts, seconded by Wessels, to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 PM. Motion carried.

Prepared by:
James Beilke
City Clerk/Treasurer

The Common Council Minutes are not official until approved by Common Council.