Minutes: Evansville October Common Council: 2010

Common Council

Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI

MINUTES

1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Sandy Decker.

2. Roll call. Members present: Mayor Sandy Decker, Alderpersons Mason Braunschweig, Jim Brooks, Todd Culbertson, Barb Jacobson, Janis Ringhand, Diane Roberts, Dennis Wessels, and Tony Wyse. Others present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha, City Clerk Judy Walton, City Attorney Mark Kopp, Kelly Gildner from the Review, Lori Allen, John Morning, Fred Juergens, Bridgit Larsen, Youth Center Committee Member Greg Kuelz, Dave Javan and Desh Moeller from the YMCA, and Francette Hamilton.

3. Approval of Agenda. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Roberts to move Item 8A to Item 5 and approve the agenda. Motion approved 8-0.

4. Approval of Minutes. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Ringhand to waive the reading of the minutes of the September 14, 2010, regular meeting and the September 20, 2010 special meeting and to approve them as presented. Motion approved 8-0.

5. Citizen appearances.
Fred Juergens, on behalf of the Friends of the Eager Free Public Library, was present to accept the Mayoral Proclamation, Friends of Libraries Week 2010, from Mayor Sandy Decker.

In addition, he extended a personal invitation to the Council for a celebration meeting and annual Friends meeting to be held October 22nd at the Library and to the ground breaking ceremony for Creekside Place scheduled for October 16th.

6. Reports of Committees.
A. Youth Center Advisory Board Report. Greg Kuelz, Youth Center Committee Member, reported that the Board intends to have the center open 3 hours per night. Attendance is between 25-30 kids per night. He stated that the Board is supportive of the proposed addendum to the agreement as well as to not renewing the agreement with the YMCA.

(1). Brooks made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig to approve Addendum to Agreement Between City of Evansville and YMCA of Northern Rock County for Operation of Youth Program. Motion approved 8-0 on a roll call vote.

(2). Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts to not renew Agreement with YMCA of Northern Rock County for Operation of Youth Program. Wessels reconfirmed with Greg Kuelz that the Advisory Board was supportive of not renewing the agreement. Mr. Kuelz added that citizen support for the Center continues to grow. Motion approved 8-0 on a roll call vote.


B. Finance and Labor Relations Committee Report.
(1). Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts to accept the Water & Light bills as presented in the amount of $1,077,252.42. Motion approved 8-0 on a roll call vote.

(2). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to accept the City bills as presented in the amount of $791,705.58. Motion approved 8-0 on a roll call vote.

(3). Discussion on 2011 Budget Proposal. Decker gave a brief reminder that no debating and no action will be taken on this item until the November meeting. Wietecha directed Council to information he prepared for publication in the Evansville Review. The article explains the budget process and describes the changes made by the Finance Committee.

(4). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Roberts to approve adoption of a $1,500 limit for the unreimbursed medical flexible spending account. Wietecha explained the program and the potential risk the city is exposed to without a limit. Council discussed the rules of the program and the proposed amount of the limit. Motion approved 8-0 on a roll call vote.

(5). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to approve Resolution 2010-11, Resignation from Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Relating to the Wisconsin Rural Water Construction Loan Program. Wietecha explained that the city was required to enter into this agreement in order to have access to the construction loan to start the Wastewater Treatment Facility. With the interim loan satisfied this is no longer required. Motion approved 8-0.

(6). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Roberts to renew engagement of Consigny, Andrews, Hemming, and Grant SC as City Attorney for two years through December 31, 2012, at an hourly rate of $120. Motion approved 8-0 on a roll call vote.

C. Plan Commission Report. Decker announced that there is going to be a Department of Transportation Public Information Meeting on Wednesday, October 27, from 4 – 7:00 p.m. at the high school. The topic is the Highway 14 Corridor Study between I-39 in Janesville through Evansville and up to Highway 92 in Dane County.

(1). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Roberts to approve the preliminary and final land division applications for Creekside Place. Motion approved 8-0.

D. Public Safety Committee Report. None

E. Public Works Committee Report. None

F. Water & Light Committee Report. None

G. Economic Development Committee Report. None

H. Redevelopment Authority Report. None

I. Parks and Recreation Board Report. None

J. Historic Preservation Commission Report. Decker stated that the Wisconsin Historical Society will be holding a meeting tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 8th at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall for homeowners of the proposed new historic districts. The applications for these two new districts will be considered by the State Review Board on November 19th.

K. Fire District Report. Jacobson reminded Council of the upcoming spaghetti dinner fundraiser being held on October 24th from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

L. Police Commission Report. None

M. Evansville-Union Implementation Committee Report. None

N. Energy Independence Team Report. None

O. Library Board/Liaison Report. Wyse stated the board is struggling with their budget. Wietecha added that they are reducing their hours and closing Monday – Thursday at 7:00 p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m.

P. Board of Appeals Report. None

7. Unfinished Business. None

8. Communications and Recommendations from the Mayor.
A. Mayor Proclamation: Friends of the Library Week 2010. (Moved to Item 5)

B. Decker directed Council to her Mayoral Proclamation: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

C. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Roberts to approve Resolution 2010-12, In Support of Be Bold Wisconsin Competitiveness Study. Decker explained that James Otterstein, from Rock County, requested that the city consider a resolution. Brooks stated his concern with supporting this proposal before seeing other proposals. Motion approved 6-2 on a roll call vote with Brooks and Wessels opposing.

D. Council discussed the proposed resolutions that will be voted on at the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Conference.

9. Communications from the City Administrator. Wietecha informed the Council that he received an open records request for all investigatory/disciplinary files of park employees since January 1st.

10. New Business. None

11. Introduction of New Ordinances.
A. Braunschweig presented the First Reading of Ordinance 2010-08, Adopting 2011 Operating and Capital Budgets and Setting Tax Levies.

12. Meeting Reminders.
A. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 9, 2010.

13. Adjournment. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig to adjourn at 7:33 p.m. Motion approved 8-0.

Prepared by Judy Walton, City Clerk

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