Evansville Common Council---February 2007

Common Council
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 13, 2007, 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: Dan Wietecha, City Administrator; Mark Kopp, City Attorney; Thomas Alisankus, Municipal Judge; Scott George, Water Light Superintendent; Mary Beaver, EMS Coordinator; David Wartenweiler, Public Works Superintendent; and Jim Beilke, Clerk/Treasurer.

Approval of Agenda
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Wessels, to approve the agenda as printed. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, to waive the reading of the minutes of January 9, 2007, regular meeting and approve them as printed. Motion carried.

Citizen appearances - None

Public Hearings
Dave Sauer from Foth Engineering gave a report on the 2007 Assessment for CTH M Improvements.

Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 6:47 PM. Mayor Decker read a letter from D&D Developments (attachment) requesting an amendment to the resolution to state all assessments will be paid through the Tax Incremental Districts 6 and 7. Randy Kyle from Landmark inquired about the City’s intent to pay for assessments using TID funding through developer agreements. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 7:00 PM.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Braunschweig, to adopt Resolution #2007-4, Final Resolution authorizing installation of sanitary sewer main, water main, and street improvements and levying special assessments against benefited property per Wis. Stats. 66.0703 and 66.0715. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Mr. Wietecha gave a report on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Citizen Participation. The grants relate to the Eager Building and biodiesel projects. The Federal Grants require public input, so that they know these projects are appropriate for our community.

Mayor Decker opened the public hearing at 7:13 PM. Ron Van Straten from Foth Infrastructure & Environment reviewed the Citizen Participation Certification checklist with Council. Mayor Decker closed the public hearing at 7:18 PM.

Evansville Community Partnership Report
Doug Zweizig, 6057 N Finn Road, reported the Chili Cook-off will held on March 3rd; the Energy Fair will be held on April 27th; and the 4th of July Celebration will run from Tuesday, July 3rd through Sunday, July 8th. He also reported ECP will be the fiscal agent for the Evansville Community/Senior Center, Inc.

SOLE Committee
Motion by Hammann, seconded by Sornson, to approve Resolution #2007-5, authorizing application for Federal Earmarked Funding for Restoration of Lake Leota. Motion carried.

Plan Commission Report - None

Finance and Labor Relations Committee Report
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, to approve Water and Light bills and authorize their payments of $595,805.11. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, to approve the City bills and authorize their payments of $1,790,512.14. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Roberts, to adopt Resolution #2007-3, Designating Authorized Parties to Sign for Transactions Involving City Bank Accounts and Investments. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Cothard, seconded by Sornson, to approve EMS Write-off of $10,325.52 of bad debts and $1,695.65 of hardship. Council questioned the new billing sevice recommendation to clean up the books so delinquent accounts several years old would not show as an asset. Motion carried on a roll call vote. Ald. Cothard, Sornson, Roberts, Braunschweig, Hammann, Juergens, and Wyse voted in favor. Ald. Wessels voted against.

Public Safety Committee Report
Mr. Wietecha led the discussion regarding Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. The vehicles would help Water and Light and Public Works departments do their jobs better. Staff will draft an ordinance.

Public Works Committee Report
Ald. Hammann reported Public Works will hold their February 28th meeting at the shop because of the renovation of City Hall. He also reported they will hold a meeting on March 6th to review bids for the Main Street Project.

The Council recessed at 7:56 PM and reconvened at 8:04 PM.

Water & Light Committee - None

Economic Development Committee Report
Motion by Wyse, seconded by Roberts, to approve Resolution #2007-6, Authorizing Application for a Matching Grant to Finance a Trade Market Analysis for Economic Development. Motion carried.

Motion by Wyse, seconded by Sornson, to approve Resolution #2007-7, Authorizing Application for CDBG Grant for infrastructure on County Rd. M to service North Prairie Productions. Motion carried.

Evansville Redevelopment Authority Report
Motion by Hammann, seconded by Sornson, to approve Eager Building Renovation Developers Agreement. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Cothard, to approve Resolution #2007-8, Administrator Services for CDBG for the Eager Building Renovation. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Parks and Recreation Board Report
Ald. Juergens reported the Board completed the final draft of the Five-year Park Plan and it meets the Department of Natural Resources standards. The Park Plan will go to Plan Commission for a public hearing and on to Council in March for their approval.

Historic Preservation Commission Report - None

Fire District Report - None

Unfinished Business - None

Communications and Recommendations from the Mayor
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Juergens, to waive the seven-day notice requirement on mayoral appointments. Motion carried.

Motion by Hammann, seconded by Roberts, to approve the mayoral appointment of Chad Rasmussen, 576 Garfield Avenue, as a High School Poll Worker for the February 20, 2007 Spring Primary Election. Motion carried.

Communications from the City Administrator
Motion by Juergens, seconded by Roberts, to approve Quarles and Brady’s review of North Prairie Developer’s Agreement. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Mr. Wietecha led the discussion regarding Ordinance #2006-42, Amending Chapter 130 of the Municipal Code by allowing motor vehicle storage yards in certain zoning districts provided certain conditions are met. The issue was an existing impound yard is adjacent to land that’s not easily accessible to the public. The owner asked if a fence is required around the perimeter where the adjacent land is not easily accessible to the public. The Council advised the owner to take his issue to the Plan Commission.

New Business - None

Introduction of New Ordinances
Ald. Braunschweig read the first reading of Ordinance #2007-1, amending Chapter 130 of the Municipal Code by allowing signs for nonconforming commercial land uses in residential zoning districts [sponsored by Ald. Hammann and Ald. Roberts]

Ald. Hammann read the first reading of Ordinance #2007-2, amending the Municipal Code relative to Truancy [sponsored by Ald. Cothard and Ald. Sornson]

Closed Session
The Council did not go into closed session because the trial for Deicher and Mezera v. City of Evansville was completed, and Mr. Kopp gave a brief update on the outcome.

Adjournment
Motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 PM. Motion carried.

Prepared by:
James Beilke
City Clerk/Treasurer

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