Loading...
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 3/11/2004 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MARCH 11, 2004 5/13/2004 Mayor Slocomb called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM. Also present were Aldermen Petfalski, Patterson, Buckmaster, Damaske, and Schroeder, Finance Director Gunderson and Clerk-Treasurer Marenda. Ald. Madden and Ald. Salentine were absent. Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Clerk-Treasurer stated the meeting was noticed in accordance with the open meeting law, and read the Notice of Closed Session. Ald. Petfalski moved for approval of minutes of meeting held February 12, 2004. Ald. Buckmaster seconded; motion carried. TEEN ADVISORY BOARD Appointment and Swearing in of Second Alternate Members Ald. Schroeder reported last month five potential TAB members were interviewed, with two selected as regular members and three as alternate members. Two additional students are interested, and he recommended they be selected to serve as Second Alternate Members. Candidates Ryan Kowalski and Erica Koss told a little about themselves. Ald Schroeder moved to add Ryan and Erica as Second Alternates to the Teen Advisory Board. Ald. Petfalski seconded; motion carried. The Clerk-Treasurer gave the Oath of Office to the new members and presented a Certificate of Appointment to each. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Continue Discussion of Future Goals of the Council This item was put on hold until the May COW meeting. Discuss Status of Old Muskego Settlement Centre (Lease) The current lease with the Historical Society does not reflect the Old Town Hall moved to this site from Pioneer Dr. Mayor indicated there are other things that need to be updated in the lease as a housekeeping matter. Ald. Petfalski suggested a decision be made on what direction will be taken with the building before finalizing the lease. Mayor advised a Facilities Agreement was tabled and no agreement entered with the Historical Society as the building will be under the control of Parks and Recreation. Ald. Damaske expressed the concern if the Society is taking care of the buildings identified in the lease. He suggested a target date to complete the lease. The lease should exclude the Old Town Hall and the parking lot. Mayor will work on the lease with a target date for completion in June 2004. Discuss Status of Old Muskego Settlement Centre (Renovation) Ald. Buckmaster noted Parks and Recreation can’t use the building yet, and asked what options are available for the renovation. Mayor explained the alternatives presented to the Aldermen previously by Sean McMullen. At budget time it was decided not to spend the money at this time. Ald. Buckmaster said the Parks and Recreation Board had expressed a concern about having more space for programs and they were given the usage control of the Old Town Hall, but they can’t occupy it. They would like to use it for recreation programs. Ald. Patterson asked if Park Dedication funds could be used. Finance Director Gunderson cautioned that those funds can only be used for capital Committee of the Whole Page 2 March 11, 2004 improvements on parkland, and she was unsure if the center is classified as a park. Ald. Buckmaster stated he had asked the Board for a priority list for expenditure of park dedication funds and will ask if they are interested in spending funds so they can use the Old Town Hall. Ald. Petfalski suggested a review of the Parks and Open Space Plan. Ald. Damaske felt there was some obligation to make the building usable rather than have the Board be responsible for it all. Ald. Buckmaster will follow up with the Parks and Recreation Director and the Board at their next meeting to determine their interest. Ms. Gunderson said one of the programs the Parks and Recreation Director has indicated would benefit from the use of the Old Town Hall is the summer playground program located at Veterans Memorial Park. Continued Discussion on Durham Drive – McShane to 00 Mayor reported still waiting for the status of grant funding. Review and Consider for Recommendation 2004-2008 Capital Plan Ald. Buckmaster asked if the Old Town Hall renovation should be added. Mayor said when the report is received from the Parks and Recreation Board we can look at it. Ms. Gunderson said at the last meeting the discussion left off after the Fire Departments. Discussion continued with additional explanations provided by Ms. Gunderson on questions relating to the Fire Department. Ald. Patterson asked if the $400,000 for Decorative Street Lighting/Tess Corners under the DPW category could be split over two years and/or use some of the money from the decorative pavement project (included under Parks and Rec – Janesville Recreation Trail-$289,425). Ald. Buckmaster said he looked at the Tess Corners Historical District on Janesville Rd. and the proposed crosswalk stamping. Recreational trails will now access the area, Durham will end in a cul de sac, and the HC-1 zoning for Bushy’s has been done. He is concerned about pedestrian traffic in the area. Having the stamped concrete there gives a false security for crossing. If the intent of the District is to have an area where people can walk, where do they cross? The stamped concrete emulates a crosswalk. He would not have a problem not having the stamped concrete on either the Tess Corners or Durham areas, but have the lights define the area as a Historic District. Ald. Petfalski would like to keep the stamped concrete at Tess Corners, but could give up the one at Durham. Mayor will check if a change order can be approved as this was already bid. He will inform the aldermen. Ms. Gunderson continued with the Capital Plan for Parks and Recreation, noting the changes as shown on the handout. Ms. Gunderson stated the original budget was $289,000 for the Janesville Recreation Trail. But now the County is paying for portion with existing sidewalks and developers are paying for a portion. There was no money originally budgeted for the Tess Corners historic district decorative stamping. She noted money for the Janesville Recreation Trail line item has already been borrowed and can fund both the trail and the stamping. The rec trail is now estimated at $100,000. Ald. Buckmaster asked for the balance in the parks dedication account. Ms. Gunderson noted it was projected at budget time to be $332,000 at the end of 2004, but believe it has been noted by the Parks and Rec Board that this money is available for development of Park Arthur and acquisitions. Ald. Buckmaster requested the balance available in Parks Dedication for each year in the capital plan. Ms. Gunderson noted the items in the Capital Plan do not include costs to be paid by Park Dedication Fund. Committee of the Whole Page 3 March 11, 2004 Those items are taken care of in the Park Dedication Special Revenue Fund. Ald. Buckmaster will contact Ms. Gunderson if more information is desired. Ald. Petfalski asked if the new Park Dedication and Conservation fees have been implemented. Ms. Marenda advised the public hearing would be held at the March 23rd Council meeting and the ordinance on the fees would be introduced at that meeting. Timing for the implementation of the fees needs to be discussed regarding preliminary submittals that have already been made. Ald. Petfalski felt the fees should be implemented immediately upon adoption of the ordinance. Ms. Marenda was requested to obtain a legal opinion. Ald. Buckmaster requested the Idle Isle remodeling scheduled for 2007 be moved to an earlier date and is discussing with the Parks and Recreation Board. Ms. Gunderson continued review of the Parks and Recreation schedule and noted changes as distributed. No adjustments were noted at staff level to the Storm Water Management Fund and it stands as presented. Ms. Gunderson said in summary since the plan was reviewed in the fall, $296,289 has been moved out of 2005 to future years. The biggest reductions were made in the road program, which affects the operating budget. Mayor advised the projected numbers would be reviewed to make sure the decrease wouldn’t result in a decrease of our highway aids. Ald. Buckmaster questioned the status of the Phase II Durham project. Mayor noted we are trying to get a 90/10 grant. We’ll move the project out if funding is not available as there may be the possibility the grants may be used for the Marquette project in Milwaukee. Ms. Gunderson noted the capital plan is made up of projects supported by funding through the operating budget, debt borrowing, landfill, or some other resource such as grants. Mayor said we’d need to look to see how this plan fits in with our ability to pay at budget time. Mayor noted landfill revenues are way down so far this year. Ms. Gunderson noted this plan is a planning tool and will need to be adopted. He noted the May Committee of the Whole meeting typically discusses budget goals. The Department Heads would like to have that clarity early so they know what the limitations may be when putting together their budgets. Ald. Schroeder said he had two strong feelings on the proposed plan. One on the 2005 Police Department 9-1-1 Hardware for $120,000, and Fire Department TC 9-1-1 Dispatch Center Upgrade for $60,000. He suggested a hard look be taken to see if possible to push out, in order to see if Waukesha Consolidated Dispatch is an option for us. He expressed he is fully in favor of the lighting in the Tess Corners area, but we may want to look at just one intersection for the pavement stamping and coloring, or no intersections. Definitely not interested in both intersections. The savings for the stamping could be used for the lighting, which is more important than stamping to identify that area. Committee of the Whole Page 4 March 11, 2004 Ald. Damaske asked about adding funding for the Old Town Hall project. Ms. Gunderson said she would find out the dollar amount from Sean McMullen, and would add the amount to 2005. Ald. Petfalski said he has no issue with putting it in 2005 if the Parks and Recreation Board agrees to pull it out of Park Dedication fees. He stated he does have an issue of levying for it and raising taxes to do it. Ald. Buckmaster expressed some concerns. First, the Phase II Durham project to be sure if grant funds are diverted the project is pushed off. Mayor said if the grant funds are not approved the project will be delayed until grant funds are approved. Ald. Damaske suggested the legislators be lobbied for the funds. Second, referred to the Fire Departments – MVFC vehicle for $354,000 for 2005 and two vehicles in 2006, one MVFC and one TC, and would definitely like to look why we need both in one year. Ald. Patterson said let’s look at MVFC and TC doing four vehicles in three-year period and how we can move it around. Ald. Buckmaster said at the last budget session we kept having MVFC come back, and would like only one presentation, and would like the Mayor’s office to put together something on if there is seriously a need, not just a want. In absence of a citywide fire chief between two independent fire departments, the Mayor is the best person to discuss the requests with the departments before coming to the Committee of the Whole, and made a part of the administrative recommendation on the budget. Ald. Damaske thought if there wasn’t agreement after the fire departments made their presentation, he would like them to come back with the additional information requested. Ms. Gunderson said typically on every item that comes forward on Capital, the department makes their presentation and it’s not filtered by administration. Previously the departments presented to the Capital Budget Committee, and they made a recommendation to Council, and it was either accepted or rejected at that time. Ald. Schroeder said maybe some thought could go into the idea of a joint capital plan between the two fire departments. Since there will be no COW in April, the plan will go back on the agenda in May. Mayor said it would depend on what can be done internally to make the recommended changes and determine the impact. However, to give the department heads the list of items that the Council approves for 2005, the plan will have to be adopted. If they come up with another ‘need’, they can move one or more of their items to the future, or trade with another department. Ms. Gunderson said if the intent is not to borrow any money in 2005, we need to know that early on. In May, the department heads need the direction on the limits on their budget requests. Update on Proposed Development at Valley Sand & Gravel Site Ald. Petfalski reported the City of New Berlin Plan Commission passed a resolution without multi-family for this area. The developer is submitting responses to their many concerns and the Council will continue review and send to their CDA. Today staff looked at sewer and water capacity and planning. The staff and R & M will meet again in about three weeks. If the New Berlin Council turns it down, we’ll only be doing our own planning for that area. Committee of the Whole Page 5 March 11, 2004 Tess Corners Historical District: Pedestrian and Vehicle Traffic Options. General Discussion on Project Philosophy, Planning and Progress. Ald. Buckmaster said he touched on it during discussion of the Capital Plan. His concern was that as Janesville Rd. gets done there are committees that will need to look at the speed limit on Durham, and as businesses filter in on Janesville Rd. look at a recommendation to the County about the speed limit in the historical district. If the philosophy is going to be that we want people to walk around, then a 35 mph road with almost 1 mile between controlled intersections is rather tough to get people across. Ald. Schroeder added his surprise that the stretch of Janesville from Bay Lane to Princeton continues to stay at 45 mph. The traffic count is going up, and it would help the 35 mph limit in the Tess Corners area for traffic not to be coming out of a 45 mph limit when traveling east. A consistent speed is needed between Hales Corners and District 5. Ald. Patterson reported the County did a traffic study on Janesville west of Moorland and lowered the speed to 45 mph and the rule of 85% is about 51 mph. Lowering to 35 mph was not warranted by the study done by the County about a month ago. They will do a more extensive study in the spring. Ald. Buckmaster felt strongly the speed limit should be reduced to 35 mph along the current 45 mph stretch of Janesville Rd. Mayor noted the City cannot control the speed on a County road. Ald. Schroeder noted there has been some discussion of a controlled intersection at Martin and the expense of that as opposed to a possible speed reduction which may assist people making left turns, wouldn’t make sense if new speed signage would do the trick. Ald. Buckmaster said if the Council would approve a recommendation to reduce the speed, he would present it to the appropriate County committee. Ald. Schroeder said he would agree to bring it to the Common Council through committee. Moorland Corridor – Discuss Alternative Options to RSA Zoning Ald. Buckmaster said he is looking for options for the RSA zoning, specifically on the east side of Moorland. His impression from the public hearing is that multi-family is opposed by many people. Mayor Slocomb disagreed. RSA includes two-family, which is not considered multi-family by the State. The condominiums south of Janesville do not fit the historical definition of multi-family. Ald. Buckmaster said that doesn’t mean it may be more appealing to Muskego. Ald. Petfalski and Mayor strongly disagreed. Ald. Buckmaster said his main concern is he doesn’t understand why we have to put RSA on either side as a buffer. We already have ten single family units on the east side and then 29 RSA. Why don’t we keep it all single family with OPD? It’s clearly the buffer that surrounding properties want. Don’t think there should be any RSA and multi-family in this area. He asked Jeff Muenkel how much RSA and multi family have come up since 2000, and is waiting for that report. Mayor advised good planning suggests you have transition areas. Ald. Petfalski agrees we need transition. Maybe some type of zoning that allows two-family attached. If not, is there a legal way of keeping from the residential component before the business gets developed to avoid the residential complaints? Mayor thought it could be done only if done by one developer, otherwise probably not. Ald. Buckmaster asked if there is anything else besides RSA as a transition like a PUD. We have too much multi-family and RSA in this area. Ald. Patterson agreed with transitional type zoning. People are confused with RSA and RSM zoning. What is the worst-case scenario with RSA zoning? Why can’t you add more residential and less RSA? Committee of the Whole Page 6 March 11, 2004 Review of City Committees Mayor Slocomb presented the current list of Boards, Commissions and Committees. Ald. Schroeder asked if one is to be eliminated, it could be Public Services Committee. Ald. Buckmaster moved to disband the committee effective with the new Council, with issues to be divided between Public Works and Finance Committees. . Ald. Petfalski seconded. Ald. Schroeder commented this has no reflection on the services of Ald. Patterson as Chairman of the committee. Motion carried 4-1, with Ald. Patterson voting rd “no”. An ordinance will be introduced at the March 23 Council meeting on the change of the committee structure. Ald. Petfalski moved to convene into closed session pursuant to 19.85 (1) (c) Wis. Stats., Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, more specifically filling the Community Development Director position. Action may be taken in closed session. The Committee of the Whole will then reconvene into open session to continue with agenda items. Ald. Patterson seconded; motion carried 5-0. Ms. Gunderson was present for the closed session, and Ms. Marenda was excused. Ald. Damaske moved to reconvene into Open Session. Ald. Petfalski seconded; motion carried 5-0. Ald. Petfalski moved to adjourn. Ald. Damaske seconded; motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Jean K. Marenda, CMC Clerk-Treasurer