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SPECIAL
COUNCIL MEETING
City Water Department, 300 Bliss Avenue
July 1, 2002, 5:00 P.M.
Mayor Gary W. Wescott, presiding
1. Roll Call: Present: Ald. Sevenich, Filipiak, Seiser, Sowieja, Barr (arrived at 5:12 P.M.),
Molski, Nealis, Phillips, Moore
Excused: Ald. Walther, Rackow
Also Present: City Attorney Molepske, Clerk Zdroik, Director Gardner
Index of these minutes:
2. Conditional Use - SPASH parking
lot.
3. Motion to suspend Council rules
relating to reconsideration
motion at a Special Common Council meeting.
4. Adjournment.
2. Conditional Use - SPASH
parking lot.
Mayor Wescott stated this item is placed back before the Common Council as mentioned in the June meeting depending on what decisions are made by the School Board. If you concur with the decisions made by the School Board for the project, the action today will be to permit the Board of Education to proceed with making those changes like repaving the SPASH parking lot hopefully in time for the return of the students after Labor Day.
Ald. Seiser questioned the areas marked as entrance and exit now listed as alternate drive. Right now, there is an entrance into the parking lot from Second Street North. The Alderperson would like to know if that will remain the same?
Michael O'Meara, School Board member, speaking on behalf of the School Board, stated there is one entrance and one exit on the south and on the north right now. The alternate drive was in the initial proposal but the School Board is not sure if the money is in the budget. The School Board would like to build it in phase 2 or at the end of all the referendum spending. If there is money leftover, the Board would like to build the alternate drive, Mr. O'Meara said. He further stated that the School Board is not proposing to do that at this time.
Ald. Phillips asked if there is a need for the alternate drive or is it just setting up for future parking lots in the area?
Mr. O'Meara thinks the alternate drive will take care of a lot of the traffic congestion. He added that the alternate drive will take 60 to 70% of all the traffic and would simplify the bus drop-off.
Mayor Wescott reiterated that the alternate drive is not being proposed at this time.
Mr. O'Meara said they do not intend to build the alternate drive this summer but maybe next year.
Ald. Phillips voiced his concern about not having traffic input from the Police Department.
Mayor Wescott said the Police Department has reviewed the plan and it is acceptable to the Department.
Al Hetzel, School District Buildings and Grounds,
explained that if the alternate drive is built, the south entrance will be used as emergency only in case there
is an accident in the parking lot. He added the alternate drive was in the original plan.
Ald. Moore stated the Council is not voting on the alternate drive now. It is just in the picture because it is
the Board's wish to have it later on.
The Mayor said that is correct, the Council is not approving the alternate drive to Second Street North at John's
Drive and added that the Plan Commission at its June 2002 meeting authorized the Board of Education to resurface
the existing lot resulting in additional parking stalls plus the additional internal green space in the lot as
shown on the attached plan.
Ald. Filipiak moved, Ald. Molski seconded, for approval of the Conditional Use permit for the SPASH parking lot
as shown on the attached map.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.
3. Motion to suspend Council
rules relating to reconsideration motion at a Special Common Council meeting.
Mayor Wescott said we have before us today a motion to suspend Council rules relating to reconsideration at a Special
Common Council meeting. Standing Rule 2.32 of the Standing Rules for the Government of the Common Council provides
for how the Common Council may suspend the rules under which we operate. The Mayor explained that Ald. Phillips
has asked for a reconsideration of an action taken by the Council in June. According to Standing Rule 2.21, the
reconsideration of a question would have to occur at the next regular meeting of the City Council. Ald. Phillips
inquired as to how it could be added to our Special Council meeting agenda today. It is important to have the assent
of two-thirds of all members of the Council. Eight alderpersons have to vote to suspend the operating rule to allow
for the reconsideration. The first motion that will come before you is a motion to suspend Council rules relating
to reconsideration at a Special Common Council meeting.
Ald. Sowieja asked why we are suspending the rules?
Mayor Wescott explained that the reconsideration of a denial of an action by the Common Council from the month
before is permitted under the rules at the same or the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council. If
you wish to grant Ald. Phillips' request to reconsider at a Special Common Council meeting, eight alderpersons
have to vote in the affirmative today to suspend the rules. If you do not suspend the rules, then the earliest
Ald. Phillips can request reconsideration would be at the regular meeting in July.
Ald. Filipiak questioned the use of the reconsideration
motion, whether it is used in extra circumstances or what is the precedent at the City for using it. He feels the
reconsideration at the next regular Council meeting would be proper.
City Attorney Molepske said this had happened before where the Council suspended rules for certain things.
Ald. Nealis moved, Ald. Molski seconded, for approval to suspend Standing Rule 2.32 relating to reconsideration
at a Special Common Council meeting.
Ald. Filipiak stated at the June Council meeting, the vote was 6 to 5 on the issue which meant that all eleven
alderpersons were present. At a Special Common Council meeting it is more difficult to generate a full council.
Personally, he is not very comfortable voting on the suspension of the standing rule.
Ald. Nealis asked if it will come back either way?
Mayor Wescott said Ald. Phillips will have to ask for reconsideration at the regular July council meeting. There
will be no motion to suspend, just reconsideration.
City Attorney Molepske said any member who voted in the affirmative or any member who voted in the negative and
who is on the prevailing side can request reconsideration at the next Council meeting.
At 5:12 P.M., Ald. Barr arrived at the meeting. Mayor Wescott informed Ald. Barr where we were at the meeting and
explained the procedures to follow in suspending Standing Rule 2.32.
Ald. Phillips noted that if this passes, you will find the reason in the next item as to why we are doing it at
this Special Council meeting rather than at the next regular Council meeting.
Roll Call: Ayes: Ald. Sevenich, Barr, Molski, Nealis, Phillips.
Nays: Ald. Filipiak, Seiser, Sowieja, Moore.
Ayes - 5. Nays - 4. Motion failed.
4. Adjournment - 5:25 P.M.
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