Minutes: Evansville Common Council: October 10, 2006

Common Council
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 10, 2006, 6:30 PM
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI

MINUTES

Mayor Decker called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Present were: Mayor Decker and Alderpersons Wyse, Roberts, Hammann, Cothard, Sornson, Juergens, Braunschweig, and Wessels. Staff present: Mark Kopp City Attorney; Eric Jepperson, Finance Director; Scott McElroy, Police Chief; Kathy Buttchen, Assistant EMS Coordinator; Scott George, Water and Light Superintendent; and Jim Beilke, Clerk/Treasurer.

Approval of Agenda
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, to withdraw agenda item 8(F)(8), Pre-annexation agreement and move agenda items 8(G)(6), Preliminary Resolution, 8(G)(7), Feasibility Analysis, and 8(I)(1), Sidewalk Assessments after agenda item 6, Minutes. The agenda, as amended, was approved.

Approval of Minutes
Motion by Juergens, seconded by Roberts, to waive the reading of the minutes of the regular meeting for September 12, 2006 and approve them as printed. Motion carried.

Motion by Juergens, seconded by Roberts, to waive the reading of the minutes of the special meeting for September 26, 2006 and approve them as printed. Motion carried.

Motion by Juergens, seconded by Roberts, to defer approval of minutes of the special meeting on October 5, 2006, to the next regular meeting on November 14, 2006. Motion carried.

Finance and Labor Relations Committee Report (as amended)
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Preliminary Resolution Levying Special Assessments for Public Improvements in the County Highway M south corridor. Motion passed on a roll call vote. Ald. Cothard, Juergens, Roberts, Braunschweig, Sornson, and Wessels voted in favor. Ald. Hammann and Wyse voted against.

Dave Wagner from Ehlers and Associates presented the Feasibility Analysis. They were hired to provide an analysis of the feasibility of creating a tax increment district #7 (TID) within an area for which an annexation petition has been filed southeast of the City. The general boundaries of the area consist of approximately 90 acres of land located east of HWY ‘M’ and south of the Union Pacific Railroad. He reported the City statutorily is able to create a tax increment district #7, and it is likely that the development of the TID #7 area would not occur without assistance from the City via a tax increment district. Based upon their information, the creation of a tax increment district would produce $16 million of taxable value with a tax increment revenue stream of approximately $6.7 million over the next 20 years, and the creation of TID #7 is feasible.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Roberts, to approve Feasibility Analysis by Ehlers and Associates, Inc. for TID #7 and to direct Plan Commission to conduct a public hearing on the Project Plan for TID #7. Motion carried.

Public Works Committee Report (as amended)
Tom Pfefferkorn from Foth and Van Dyke presented the Final Assessment for 2006 Sidewalk Project. Mr. Beilke noted the year 2005 should be 2006 on page 43.

Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 7:10 PM. The following citizens appeared and questioned the policies and procedures for noticing the property owners regarding the new sidewalks: William Michael Jr., 441 S. Second Street; Betty Fellows, 202 Fair Street, Walter Fellows, 202 Fair Street; Anne Bachhuber, 456 Longfield Street. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 7:13 PM.

The Committee reported the Public Works Committee reviewed the current policies and procedures for noticing the property owners for sidewalk assessments, and they made changes to accommodate the property owners’ requests.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, to approve the Final Assessment for 2006 Sidewalk Project and to amend the report by changing year 2005 to 2006 on page 43. Motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Citizen appearances - None

Evansville Community Partnership Report - None

SOLE Committee
Gilbert Wiedenhoeft, 256 W. Main Street, reported the Committee supports Finance and Labor Relations’ approval of the resolution authorizing the appropriations ($35,000) for cutting V-notch in dam.

Dean Community Center Advisory Committee (youth program operated by the YMCA of Dane County)
Tracy Schroeder, Director of the Youth Center, reported on the increased attendance of 4,132 kids using their facilities. Also, she reported on the activities integrating their operations from the YMCA of Dane County into the Janesville YMCA.

Primetimers/Senior Nutritional Center and Senior Transportation Program
Diane Skinner distributed and reported on a financial report for the Senior Center.

Plan Commission Report
Ald. Hammann reported on the amendment to the City’s Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan. He reported this ordinance would change future land use map by making J. Lindemann a major collector street, Brown School road a minor collector street, Water Street a truck route, Exchange Street a truck route, Porter road a minor collector from 5th Street to city limits, and Main Street a minor collector from 4th Street to city limits, and Cemetery road a minor collector from USH 14 to city limits.

Ald. Braunschweig noted this agenda does not state clearly what is being done in regards to changing certain streets to minor collectors, truck routes, etc. With this ordinance, some property owners on these streets with changes would be required to add sidewalks at sometime in the future. His concerns centered on the fairness to the property owners on the outcome of this ordinance.

Mayor opened the public hearing at 7:38 PM. Gilbert Wiedenhoeft, 256 W. Main Street, stated property owners on streets where sidewalk will be required with this ordinance should be noticed. Mayor closed the public hearing at 7:39 PM.

The Council discussed the notices regarding this ordinance. The Council noted there will be about 4 or 5 public hearings regarding the new sidewalks.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Juergens, to adopt Ordinance #2006-28, amending the future transportation map contained in the City’s comprehensive plan in response to application 2006-27. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Braunschweig, to adopt Ordinance #2006-30, amending the Municipal Code relative to requiring a traffic impact report for specified development projects. This zoning code text amendment relates to completion of a traffic impact report for development projects exceeding a threshold of 500 trips per day. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Braunschweig, to adopt Ordinance #2006-31, amending the Municipal Code relative to requiring a traffic impact report for specified land divisions. This ordinance is the same as the previous motion, but it is relative to specified land divisions. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to adopt Ordinance #2006-32, amending the Municipal Code relative to administrative review of certain changes to an approved site plan. The current policy is the Plan Commission is the only authority who can act on site plan amendments. This ordinance would allow the city planner to review and act on minor site plan amendments and report to the Plan Commission. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Juergens, to adopt Ordinance #2006-33, rezoning territory from Agricultural District One (A-1) to Rural Residential District (RR). This ordinance would change the zoning classification for 210 Cemetery Street from A-1 to RR. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Sornson, to adopt Resolution #2006-39, authorizing the purchase of real estate by the City of Evansville from Carolyn Butts. This resolution would authorize the City to purchase real estate, which is needed to obtain street right-of-way, so that the intersection of South Madison Street and Water Street can have wider turn lanes. Motion carried.
Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Sornson, to adopt Resolution #2006-40, authorizing the purchase of real estate by the City of Evansville from Stephen W. Fischer and Holly Fisher. Again, this resolution would authorize the City to purchase real estate, which is needed to obtain street right-of-way, so that the intersection of South Madison Street and Water Street can have wider turn lanes. Motion carried.

Finance and Labor Relations Committee Report
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Juergens, to approve Water and Light bills and authorize their payments of $776,224.61. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Juergens, to approve the City bills and authorize their payments of $549,407.56. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Resolution #2006-41, amending the City of Evansville’s fee schedule (Parking Violations). Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Sornson, to adopt Resolution #2006-42, amending the Adopted 2006 City Budget to increase the appropriation for cutting a V-notch into existing sluice gate and constructing a cofferdam in Lake Leota dam in the amount of $35,000. The Public Works Committee proposed the V-notch in the dam to get the lake bottom dry enough to dig out. Without this notch, the lake bottom might never get dry. The Department of Natural Resources proposed this V-notch idea, which is reversible. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Roberts, to adopt the 2007 City Operating and Capital Budgets and Tax Levies for publication only. The levy included in the proposed budget would result in a modest property tax rate increase of 0.41%. Under this scenario, the City tax on an average residential value would increase $8.61 from $993.46 to $1002.07 because of an increase in the average residential assessed value. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Common Council recessed at 8:14 PM and reconvened at 8:20 PM.

Public Safety Committee Report - None

Water & Light Committee - None

Economic Development Committee Report - None

Evansville Redevelopment Authority Report - None

Parks and Recreation Board Report
Ald. Juergens reported on the vandalism at the pool. The police department arrested three individuals involved in this matter.

Historic Preservation Commission Report
Mayor Decker reported the City received the grant for the Main Street Brick Project. Evansville ranked 13 out of the 26 projects that were funded. The money will pay for bricks on Main Street from the Grange Store to Maple Street. Fundraising efforts continue to raise additional money so that bricks can be installed from First Street to Railroad Street. The Commission has received a letter from the WI Historical Society inviting them to apply to be a Preserve America Community. This would make the City eligible to apply for additional grants. The brick project will make the city’s application very strong because it is a public-private effort.

Fire District Report
Ald. Roberts reported the Evansville Fire District is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner on October 15th.

Unfinished Business - None

Communications and Recommendations from the Mayor
Motion by Hammann, seconded by Roberts, to waive the seven-day notice requirement on citizen appointments. Motion carried.

Motion by Roberts, seconded by Cothard, to approve the mayoral appointments of the following Election Inspectors, as listed on the agenda, for a one-year term ending in 2007 pursuant to 2005 Wisconsin Act 451:
Ruth Connors, 111 N. Water St.
Carol Culbertson, 243 W. Main St. - Chief Inspector
John Decker, 143 W. Main St.
Sandra Decker, 143 W. Main St
Susan Deininger, 246 Lincoln St.
Larry Dobbs, 65 N. Sixth St.
Diana Eager, 245 Eager Ct.
Bonnie Evans, 352 W. Liberty St.
Marie Gallman, 26 Garrison Dr.
Robert Garbrecht, 469 Garfield Ave.
Marion Kosmala, 115 Countryside Dr.
Delores Leeder, 499 W. Liberty St.
Frank Martinez, 16 N. Second St.
Ed Mc Cartan, 39 N. First St.
Mary Mc Cartan, 39 N. First St.
Kimberli Miller, 309 W. Main St.
Ruth Montgomery, 419 Badger Dr.
Barbara Patterson, 134 Eager Court
Patricia Peckham, 21 School St.
Janis Ringhand, 412 Fowler Ct.
Jackie Sornson, 249 Franklin St.
John Sornson, 249 Franklin St.
Amy Tessman, 129 W. Church St.
Mary Wahl, 124 S. Second St.
Gilbert Wiedenhoeft, 256 W. Main St.
Barbara Willoughby, 15 Garfield Ave.
John Willoughby, 15 Garfield Ave. - Chief Inspector
Meg Wiltse, 27 Grove St.

Motion by Roberts, seconded by Braunschweig, to correct election inspector name (number 10) “Barbrecht” to “Garbrecht.” Motion carried.

The original motion, as amended, carried.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Sornson, to approve the mayoral appointment of Chad Rasmussen as a High School Poll Worker for the November 7, 2006 Election. Motion carried.

Motion by Braunschweig, seconded by Roberts, to extend the appointment of Consigny, Andrews, Hemming and Grant, S.C. as City Attorney though December 31, 2008. Motion carried.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, to extend the appointment of Civi-Tek Consulting LLC as City Planner though December 31, 2008. Motion carried.


Motion by Braunschweig, seconded by Roberts, to extend the appointment of Foth and Van Dyke as City Engineer though December 31, 2008. Motion carried.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Sornson, to extend the appointment of James Beilke as City Clerk/Treasurer though December 31, 2007. Motion carried.

New Business - None

Introduction of New Ordinances
Ald. Hammann read the first reading of Ordinance #2006-34, annexing territory to the City of Evansville, Wisconsin [This is an applicant-initiated ordinance]

Ald. Roberts read the first reading of Ordinance #2006-35, amending the City’s smart growth comprehensive plan in response to development application #2006-32 [This is an applicant-initiated ordinance]

Ald. Braunschweig read the first reading of Ordinance #2006-36, amending Chapter 130 of the Municipal Code relative to outdoor furnaces [sponsored by Ald. Braunschweig and Ald. Hammann]

Ald. Roberts read the first reading of Ordinance #2006-37, amending Chapter 130 of the Municipal Code relative to Board of Appeals so as to comply with 2005 Wisconsin Act 34 [sponsored by Ald. Braunschweig and Ald. Hammann]

Ald. Braunschweig read the first reading of Ordinance #2006-38, creating Section __ of the Municipal Code of the City of Evansville, Wisconsin, relating to the issuance of licenses and permits [sponsored by Ald. Roberts and Ald. Sornson]

Ald. Roberts read the first reading of Ordinance #2006-39, amending Section 6-37 (4)(e) of the Municipal Code of the City of Evansville, Wisconsin, relevant to the issuance of alcohol licenses [sponsored by Ald. Roberts and Ald. Sornson]

Adjournment
Motion by Braunschweig, seconded by Roberts, to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 PM. Motion passed.

Prepared by:
James Beilke
City Clerk/Treasurer

These minutes are not official until approved by Common Council at their next regular meeting.