Minutes: Common Council: January 2013

Common Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 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, Cheryl Fuchs, Floyd Hayes, Barb Jacobson, Ben Ladick, and Josh Manring. Alderperson Jon Senn was absent. Others present: City Clerk Judy Walton, City Administrator Dan Wietecha, City Attorney Mark Kopp, Community Development Director Nicole Sidoff, Library Director Megan Becker, Assistant Library Director Laura Damon-Moore, Kelly Gildner of The Review, Greg Johnson and Maureen Manning of Ehlers and Associates, Pam Ascencio, Loren Larson, Jennifer Braun of BASE and her children, Lee Dammen, Jim Kopecky, and Gene Cratsenberg. 3. Approval of Agenda. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hayes to approve the agenda. Motion approved 7-0. 4. Approval of Minutes. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hayes to waive the reading of the minutes of the December 11, 2012, regular meeting and to approve them as presented. Motion approved 7-0. 5. Civility reminder. Monthly reminder that Council has committed to civility during meetings. 6. Citizen appearances A. Community Development Director Nicole Sidoff introduced herself to the Council. B. Gene Cratsenberg, 124 Highland Street, requested that Council reconsider the originally proposed ordinance relative to parking restrictions. C. Jennifer Braun of BASE spoke in opposition of proposed Ordinance 2012-23, which would change the liquor store morning opening hours. She cited alcohol sales statistics that she feels show that availability of purchasing alcohol is currently not an issue. She said people planning ahead for purchases would be better than changing the hours of sale. D. Lee Dammen, Cenex Convenience Store of Evansville, spoke in favor of proposed Ordinance 2012-23 as it would be consistent with state law. He added that it would benefit people that are leaving early in the day for vacations. E. Pam Ascencio, 441 Almeron Street, read a prepared statement which summarized her complaints for the last 9 months against her neighbor who she believes is running a boarding kennel. F. Loren Larson, 447 Almeron Street, asked the Council to visit her neighborhood when the weather is warm because of the odor she believes is being created by a number of cats and dogs staying at a neighbor’s residence. 7. Reports of Committees A. Library Board Report. Library Director Megan Becker reported that year end at the library went smoothly. She introduced Assistant Library Director Laura Damon-Moore. B. Youth Center Advisory Board Report. Ladick reported that things are going well. They are averaging 29 kids per night; they are looking to improve signage for the center; and year-end fundraising letters have been mailed. C. Finance and Labor Relations Committee Report (1). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to accept the City and Water & Light bills as presented in the amount of $742,923.21. Motion approved 7-0 on a roll call vote. (2). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to approve Resolution 2013-01, Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of $2,795,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2013A. Greg Johnson of Ehlers and Associates stated the winning bid was submitted by Bankers Bank out of Madison in partnership with Union Bank & Trust in Evansville, with a true interest cost rate of 1.1049%. The City of Evansville was the first competitive bond sale in Wisconsin for 2013. Issuance expenses are less than estimated which reduced the actual amount to $2,765,000. Johnson reported that the city received an A+/Stable rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. This is a strong rating for a first time rating and for a city our size. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hayes to amend the motion changing the issuance and sale amount from $2,795,000 to $2,765,000. Amendment approved 7-0. Main motion, as amended, approved 7-0 on a roll call vote. (3). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to approve Customer Agreement with United Mailing Services, Inc. Motion approved 7-0 on a roll call vote. (4). Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to approve non-represented employee wages as listed in memo with the exception that the 2013 pay rate for the Aquatics Director will remain the same as the 2012 rate. Motion approved 7-0 on a roll call vote. D. Plan Commission Report. No report. E. Public Safety Committee Report. Jacobson reported that there were 441 year-to-date 2012 EMS runs; numerous members of the Fire Department, EMS, and Police Department attended the visitation for Brooklyn Fire Chief Phil Mortensen; Police Department video cameras have arrived but are not installed yet; work on accreditation continues; and the Police Commission will be meeting February 9th. (1). Jacobson made a motion, seconded by Hayes to approve Intergovernmental Emergency Medical Service Contract. Motion approved 7-0 on a roll call vote. F. Public Works Committee Report. No report. G. Water & Light Committee Report. Brooks reported that at the WPPI Board of Director’s meeting they had re-estimated what we will be paying for purchased power in 2013 to just over half of what they had anticipated. Notice has been received that Evansville Water & Light has achieved the Reliable Public Power Provider rating from the American Public Power Association including receiving the second highest level with a score of 80 out of 100. H. Economic Development Committee Report. No report. I. Redevelopment Authority Report. No report. J. Parks and Recreation Board Report. Fuchs reported that everything is going swimmingly. There is still concern about over fishing on Lake Leota and there are signs posted requesting people voluntarily take lower than the limit. K. Historic Preservation Commission Report. No report. L. Fire District Report. Jacobson reported that the annual audit is scheduled for February 12, 2013; they are refinancing the building loan with Union Bank & Trust; they have hired a cleaning person, Engine #61 needed new batteries; and the fair representation by municipalities discussions are ongoing. M. Police Commission Report. Upcoming meeting on January 9, 2013. N. Energy Independence Team Report. No report. O. Board of Appeals Report. No report. 8. Unfinished Business A. Brooks presented the second reading and made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig to approve Ordinance 2012-21, Amending Chapter 62 of the Municipal Code Relating to Historic Preservation. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Ladick and Brooks]. Motion approved 7-0. B. Brooks presented the second reading and made a motion, seconded by Manring to approve Ordinance 2012-22, Amending Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code Relative to Animal Impoundment. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Brooks and Manring]. Motion approved 7-0. C. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to approve Resolution 2012-17, Amending the City of Evansville’s Fee Schedule. Motion approved 7-0 on a roll call vote. D. Braunschweig presented the second reading and made a motion, seconded by Hayes to approve Ordinance 2012-23, Amending Chapter 6 of the Municipal Code Relative to Liquor Store Morning Operating Hours. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Hayes and Fuchs]. Brooks said Jen Braun did a nice job of summarizing the global view of alcohol availability. He added that he doesn’t see the problems this ordinance would solve but does see the problems it creates. Jacobson agreed with Brooks and believes this should be re-visited. Manring said he doesn’t see a correlation between alcohol sales starting three hours earlier and underage drinking. Additionally, by passing the ordinance we would match state law. Braunschweig said he understands the role that BASE has taken but he doesn’t see the correlation either in those three hours. He added that numerous municipalities have changed their hours to match state law and if we do not change ours we are furthering our business people from healthy, fair competition. Motion approved 5-2 on a roll call vote with Brooks and Jacobson opposing. E. Hayes presented the second reading and made a motion, seconded by Fuchs to approve Ordinance 2012-24, Amending Chapter 82 of the Municipal Code Relative to Disturbance of the Peace with a Motor Vehicle. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Hayes and Fuchs]. Motion approved 7-0. F. Fuchs presented the second reading and made a motion, seconded by Jacobson to approve Ordinance 2012-25, Amending Chapter 122 of the Municipal Code Relative to No Parking Zones. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Jacobson and Fuchs]. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hayes to amend the motion with the following change: East Church Street, both south sides, from Enterprise Street to Allen Creek. Motion approved 7-0. G. Braunschweig presented the second reading and made a motion, seconded by Hayes to approve Ordinance 2012-26, Amending Chapter 122 of the Municipal Code Relative to Abandoned Vehicles. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Hayes and Jacobson]. Motion approved 6-0 with Ladick abstaining. H. Braunschweig presented the second reading and made a motion, seconded by Jacobson to approve Ordinance 2012-27, Amending Chapter 122 of the Municipal Code Relative to Winter Parking Restrictions. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Hayes and Jacobson]. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Brooks to amend the motion by changing days between November 15 and April 15 to days between November 30 and April 1. Amendment approved 7-0. Motion, as amended, approved 7-0. 9. Communications and Recommendations from the Mayor. A. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig to approve Resolution 2013-02, Commending Mary Libby for her Service to the Evansville Community. Motion approved 7-0. Decker stated there will be a reception for Mary on Thursday at Creekside Place. B. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig to approve the Mayoral appointments of Christina Slaback, Chamber Executive Director, for an unexpired term ending in 2013, to the Tourism Subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee. Motion approved 7-0. C. Decker reminded Council of the upcoming Ehlers Associates Finance Seminar on February 14-15. D. Decker reminded Council of the Activity Fair being held at Creekside Place on Saturday, January 19th. 10. Communications from the City Administrator. None 11. New Business. None 12. Introduction of New Ordinances. A. Braunschweig presented the First Reading of Ordinance 2013-01, Regarding City Administrator Position. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Braunschweig and Brooks]. B. Braunschweig presented the First Reading of Ordinance 2013-02, Amending Chapter 130 of the City Code Regarding Agricultural Service Uses in the Heavy Industrial (I-2) District. [Sponsors: Alderpersons Braunschweig and Brooks]. 13. Meeting Reminder. A. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 pm, City Hall. 14. Adjournment. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Hayes to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. Motion approved 7-0. Prepared by Judy Walton, City Clerk The minutes are not official until approved by the Common Council at their next regular meeting.