FM072298
FINANCE COMMITTEE - CITY OF MUSKEGO
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY, July 22, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 P.M. by Acting Chairman Mark Slocomb. Committee
members Ald. Sanders and Ald. Salentine were present. Also in attendance were Mayor David
De Angelis (7:15), Finance Director Dawn Gunderson, and those per the attached sheet.
Ald. Slocomb noted that the meeting was noticed in accordance with the Open Meeting Law on
July 20, 1998.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
The minutes of the previous meeting held June 17, 1998 were reviewed and corrections were
previously made as follows: Under Amann’s Beach Club - Blanket Dance Hall License, the
motion was seconded by Ald. Salentine. Under Discuss membership in MRA, the sentence
now reads “Due to the lack of a full-time human resource person, this company can provide
timely information at a “cost of 10 hours labor attorney time.”
REVIEW OF LICENSE APPLICATIONS
Ald. Salentine moved to approve Operator’s Licenses for Shirley Salmen, Joan Hayes,
John Romanszewski (Temporary License), Liane DeZur and Erin Grober, subject to
receipt of fees, favorable police reports and verification of schooling. Seconded by Ald.
Slocomb. Carried by all.
Mr. David Davidson was present to obtain an Operator’s License. Due several drug/alcohol
incidents on his police report, Ald. Slocomb moved to defer this issue, directing the Police
Department to provide additional data regarding all incidents. Seconded by Ald.
Sanders. Carried by all. If Police records are available for the Tuesday Finance Committee
meeting, Mr. Davidson will appear to be interviewed. The Mayor’s office will contact the
applicant if he will be asked to appear.
Temporary Operators License - Muskego Community Festival - Ald. Salentine moved to
approve Temporary Operators Licenses for Raymond Musolf, Robert Bankenbusch and
John Werderitch. Seconded by Ald. Slocomb. Carried by all.
LICENSE APPROVALS
Temporary Class “B”/Class “B” Retailer’s License - St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. - St. Paul’s will
be hosting an event on August 2, 1998 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Ald. Salentine moved to
approve the Temporary License for St. Paul’s for the above mentioned date/time.
Seconded by Ald. Sanders. Carried by all.
PERIODIC LICENSE REVIEW - Both Amy Sorensen and Lauren Cobabe have had no recent
incidents.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Review request for court reporter at Board of Review hearings - (Clerk-Treasurer) - Jean
Marenda, Clerk-Treasurer was in attendance to request a court reporter for certain Board of
Review hearings. If the taxpayer is not satisfied with the determination of the Board, the issue
can be submitted to Circuit Court. If this occurs, the court requires a verbatim transcript of the
hearing. The firm of Pruefert & Zimmerman have been used in the past. The cost is $30.00
per hour. The Clerk-Treasurer estimates that two objections may be submitted to Circuit Court,
Finance Committee Meeting - July 22, 1998 Page 2
with each hearing taking two hours (approximately) to complete. Ald. Sanders moved to
approve the use of a court reporter for certain hearings to be determined by the Clerk
and Assessor, at a cost of $30.00 per hour. Expense to come from Assessors Operating
Revaluation Budget, with any overage as a result of this expense to be transferred from
Contingency. Seconded by Ald. Slocomb. Carried by all..
Review release of cash bonds and acceptance of surety bonds- Warner Cable (Clerk
Treasurer) - During the annual audit it was determined that the City was holding two cash
bonds from Warner Cable (transferred from Ingersoll Cable). One $50,000 cash bond was for
Franchises and the $20,000 bond was for Road Restoration. Warner Cable is requesting to
change the cash bonds to a surety performance bond. The City Attorney is not opposed to
this action. Ald. Sanders moved to return $70,000 to Warner Cable from the cash bond
previously posted and replace that cash bond with a surety performance bond.
Seconded by Ald. Slocomb. Carried by all. Ald. Salentine questioned whether road
restoration bonds could be replaced with surety performance bonds. After review of previous
meeting minutes, it was determined that a “bond” and not specifically a “cash” bond was
required.
Review amendments to chapter 5, Municipal Code (Clerk-Treasurer) - The Clerk-Treasurer
provided review copy of the proposed amendment in strike-out/bold revisions. Discussion
regarding the “owner/keeper” of department specific materials and providing such
documentation for resident requester. This document has not gone to the City Attorney for
final review and revision. The Committee will be submitting any additional changes to Jean
Marenda for inclusion and review. Ald. Salentine moved to direct the Clerk-Treasurer to
forward document to City Attorney for review. Seconded by Ald. Sanders. Carried by all.
Review suggested modification to Muskego Police Assn., Contract (Police Chief) - The Chief
has requested that this item be removed until a later date.
Review amendment to Chapter 1, Municipal Code (Department of Engineering)- With the two
positions being combined into one, the Ordinance of the Municipal Code of the City of
Muskego needed to be revised. The new title of the department will be Engineering/Building
Department. After further review of the ordinance, Ald. Slocomb moved to clarify and
amend the ordinance to include Engineering/Building department where other mentions
within the ordinance fail to include either engineering or building within the department
name. Additionally, item (2)(d) shall now read “Shall oversee building Inspection and all
code enforcement; maintain official records of department; and whenever requested,
shall make a report of all the doings of building inspection to Public Services Committee
or Common Council”. Item (2)(e) shall now become item (2)(f) and item (2)(e) will state,
“Prepares budget for Engineering/Building Department”. Seconded by Ald. Salentine.
Carried by all.
Ald. Slocomb moved to approve amended ordinance. Ald. Salentine seconded. Carried
by all.
Review Lease Agreement - Thiesenhusen Park Arthur (Parks department) - The Committee
reviewed the lease agreement. The lease is the same as last year with no alterations. Ald.
Salentine moved to approve the lease agreement. Seconded by Ald. Sanders. Carried
by all.
Discuss intent of City of participate in TIF Funding - Parkland Mall Renovation - The Mayor
wished to discuss with this Committee their position on possible TIF funding for the Parkland
Finance Committee Meeting - July 22, 1998 Page 3
Mall renovation. A large packet of data was previously sent to the members for their review.
The Mayor does see some type of TIF funding for the project and the terms and conditions of
such funding is customarily established by the municipality. The Mayor posed the question to
the Committee, “Is the City interested in the potential of developing a plan for this site?” The
level of involvement can be very broad and far-reaching. Ald. Salentine questioned how
individual, surrounding landowners not interested in the development currently are included in
the renovation plan? The Mayor stated that the plan, as submitted, will have to go through
numerous iterations to arrive at the final design. TIF’s have not been done for any private
developer in the City. Ald. Slocomb indicated that he is in favor of a TIF that deals strictly with
public improvement that benefits the public as a whole and property improvements that make
the area a desirable place to develop. Ald. Salentine would like to have this issue sent to a
third-party legal council to determine the limits of the City’s involvement, as allowed by law.
The Committee directed the Mayor and staff to continue review of the economics of a TIF
project for this location, including involvement of the City’s Financial advisor, Dave Anderson of
Ehlers & Associates. The Mayor advised that he would schedule a meeting with Mr. Art Dyer
himself to discuss the proposal as presented and this Committees view on various TIF issues.
Ald. Sanders moved to approve the concept of TIF funding for the Parkland Mall for items
that benefit the public, i.e., storm water management, road alterations and possible
contaminant removal. Seconded by Ald. Slocomb. Carried by all.
Discuss hiring of attorney for upcoming legal issues - In a memo, the Mayor indicated that
there are three current areas where there are conflicts of interest with the City’s Attorneys:
most notably, Parkland Mall, Carity Land Development and Town of Vernon border agreement.
Two firms, von Briesen, Purtell & Roper, S.C. and Quarles & Brady have been suggested by
the City’s Attorney as capable of handling these cases. Attorney Michael J. Morse (von
Briesen, Purtell & Roper) would charge $125.00 per hour and is currently working on a TIF
program for the City of Menomonee Falls. Attorney James H. Baxter, III (Quarles & Brady)
would be able to utilize college interns for the month of August and could charge $100.00 per
hour and $160.00 per hour blended rate thereafter. Quarles & Brady is currently the City’s
bonding counsel and would be involved in any final TIF financing. During discussion of this
issue, Mr. Dyer called the Aldermen’s Room to inform the committee that he believed there
was a conflict of interest with Quarles & Brady. The Mayor advised Mr. Dyer that the
committee could not take telephone input during an open meeting. Ald. Slocomb questioned if
Quarles and Brady would be able to provide a cost benefit to the City if they were to handle
both the TIF program and the TIF bonding projects? The cost of the legal counsel would come
from the General Attorney Fees fund, if the project does in fact become a TIF, then,
reimbursement would be available from the TIF. Availability of both individuals was
questioned. Ald. Slocomb moved to have the Mayor’s office continue to pursue corporate
counsel for the Parkland Mall, Carity Land Development and the Town of Vernon cases.
The Mayor is to have recommendations available at the next Council meeting and will
provide availability and discounts (if available) from the firms. Seconded by Ald.
Salentine. Carried by all.
Review Budget Transfer - Public Works Department - In a memo, John Loughney is requesting
a budget transfer of $5,000. Ald. Salentine moved to approve the transfer of $5,000 from
account #100.5200.3411 (Road Oils and Asphalt) to account #100.5300.3414 (Signs,
Posts and Guide Boards). Seconded by Ald. Slocomb. Carried by all.
RELEASE OF FUNDS - Ald. Slocomb moved to approve the release of $494.28 for the
Lakewood Meadows #2 development. Seconded by Ald. Salentine. Carried by all.
Finance Committee Meeting - July 22, 1998 Page 4
FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT - The Finance Director reports that new budget calendars
were sent out today with important target dates and deadlines specified. She will be meeting
with department heads to provide assistance and direction for the next budget process.
COMMUNICATIONS AND ANY OTHER BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW - The Mayor
reports that the second interview for the Engineer/Building Director took place today.
Background check and financial negotiation will hopefully be completed by Tuesday’s Council
th
meeting. On August 10 the new Lakes Projects Coordinator will be starting at the City.
ADJOURNMENT - Being no further business to discuss, Ald. Slocomb moved to adjourn at
10:05 P.M. Seconded by Ald. Sanders. Carried by all.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Gulgowski, Recording Secretary