Official Site of the Government of Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Meeting Minutes
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Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
December 20, 2004, 7:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, County-City Building
Mayor Gary W. Wescott, presiding
Roll Call: Present: Ald. Sevenich, Walther, Markham, Wiza, Sowieja, Barr, Rackow, Molski,
Stroik, Barber, Moore
Also Present:
City Clerk Kranig, City Attorney Molepske, Comptroller/Treasurer Schlice, Directors Gardner, Schrader, Euclide,
Halverson; Police Chief Morris, Fire Chief Barnes, Transit Manager Lemke, Administrative Assistant Ostrowski, Kelly
McBride (Journal), Gene Kemmeter (Portage County Gazette), Jerry Walters, Tony Patton, Bill Berry, Hans Hartleben,
Pat Bruckhart, George Rogers, Roger Trzebiatowski, Mike Phillips, Tim Schertz, Suzanne Walther, Eric Berens, Reid
Rocheleau and C. J. Robinson
Index to these minutes:
2. Salute to the flag and Mayor's opening remarks. 3. Approval of the minutes of the Special Common Council meetings of November 15, 2004
and November 29, 2004, and the Regular Common Council meeting of November 15, 2004. 4. Persons who wish to address the mayor and council on specific agenda items other than
a "Public Hearing" must register their request at this time. Those who wish to address the Common Council
during a "Public Hearing" are not required to identify themselves until the "Public Hearing"
is declared open by the Mayor. 5. Plan Commission meetings of November 22, 2004 and December 6, 2004. 6. Public hearing - amending Zoning Ordinance which would classify 1301 DuBay
Avenue as "R-5" Multiple Family II from "M-1" Light Industrial Zoning. 7. Ordinance on the above. 8. Public hearing - request of William Yudchitz, 1301 DuBay Avenue, for a single
family residence in a Multiple Family II Zoning District, and more than one building on a lot as a conditional
use. 9. Resolution on the above. 10. Joint Board of Water and
Sewage Commissioners/Board of Public Works/Finance
Committee meeting of December 13, 2004. 11. Public Protection Committee meeting of December 13, 2004. 12. Board of Public Works meeting of December 13, 2004.
2. Salute to the flag and Mayor's
opening remarks.
Mayor Wescott said it is fitting at the end of the year to reflect on the hard work of the alderpersons, and acknowledge
another productive year for the city. He listed a number of completed projects, among them are 164 families with
CDA assisted home ownership, 210 rehabilitated owner-occupied homes, $2.1 million renovation of Hi-Rise, Well Water
#8, Whitetail Trail Subdivision, Hub Plaza rebuilt, and new community signage.
3. Approval of the minutes
of the Special Common Council meetings of November 15, 2004 and November 29, 2004, and the Regular Common Council
meeting of November 15, 2004.
Ald. Barr moved, Ald. Stroik seconded, for approval of the Special Common Council minutes of November 15, 2004
and November 29, 2004, and the Regular Common Council minutes of November 15, 2004.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
4. *Persons who wish to address
the mayor and council on specific agenda items other than a "Public Hearing" must register their request
at this time. Those who wish to address the Common Council during a "Public Hearing" are not required
to identify themselves until the "Public Hearing" is declared open by the Mayor.
Tony Patton Item #12 - Board of Public Works meeting of December 13, 2004
3917 Jordan Lane
Stevens Point, WI 54481
George Rogers Item #13 - Finance Committee meeting of December 13, 2004
1032 Ridge Road
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Pat Bruckhart Item #13 - Finance Committee meeting of December 13, 2004
1748 Briggs Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Bill Berry Item #13 - Finance Committee meeting of December 13, 2004
1973 Strongs Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Mike Phillips Item #13 - Finance Committee meeting of December 13, 2004
3225 Mary Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Reid Rocheleau Item #10 - Joint Board of Water and Sewage Commission/
408 Cedar Street Board of Public Works/Finance Committee meeting
Whiting, WI
5. Plan Commission meetings
of November 22, 2004 and December 6, 2004.
Ald. Sowieja moved, Ald. Markham seconded, for approval of the Plan Commission minutes of November 22, 2004 and
December 6, 2004.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
6. Public hearing - amending
Zoning Ordinance which would classify 1301 DuBay Avenue as "R-5" Multiple Family II from "M - 1"
Light Industrial Zoning, was declared open by the Mayor.
As no one wished to speak, the Mayor declared the public hearing closed.
7. Ordinance on the above.
Ald. Wiza moved, Ald. Sevenich seconded, for adoption of the ordinance.
8. Public hearing - request
of William Yudchitz, 1301 DuBay Avenue, for a single family residence in a Multiple Family II Zoning District,
and more than one building on a lot as a conditional use, was declared open by the Mayor.
As no one wished to speak, the Mayor declared the public hearing closed.
9. Resolution on the above.
Ald. Rackow moved, Ald. Molski seconded, for adoption of the resolution.
10. Joint Board of Water
and Sewage Commissioners/Board of Public Works/Finance Committee meeting of December 13, 2004.
Reid Rocheleau, 408 Cedar Street, said the Council should reconsider their action in approving this recommendation.
He agrees with Whiting that the hook-up charge is excessive. Park Ridge pays much less. The Stevens Point plant
has lots of capacity, and will wear out from age rather than use. He wants the city to forgo the hook-up fee.
Ald. Rackow asked if the recommendation from the joint meeting was final, or can it be adjusted.
Mayor Wescott said we have been engaged in the process since 2003, and this is not final. The Council is not negotiating
these figures tonight, but merely providing information to Whiting and the DNR as they both requested.
Ald. Markham asked if the letter precludes us from later negotiations. She would like to see a committee established
with Whiting and Stevens Point officials to discuss this, and wants it so stated in a letter to Whiting. The door
is open to negotiations.
Ald. Barber agrees with Rocheleau, the price is too high, but it is good for the city and the area to have just
one plant.
Ald. Stroik asked how the dollar figures were arrived at.
Director Halverson said it is a formula used by the consultants that considers the debt service already paid by
Stevens Point residents and the use of existing capacity, which impacts the length of time before a replacement
is needed.
Ald. Moore moved, Ald. Walther seconded, for approval of the Joint Board of Water and Sewage Commissioners/Board
of Public Works/Finance Committee minutes of December 13, 2004.
11. Public Protection Committee
meeting of December 13, 2004.
Ald. Rackow moved, Ald. Wiza seconded, for approval of the Public Protection Committee minutes of December 13,
2004.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
12. Board of Public Works
meeting of December 13, 2004.
Mayor Wescott called on Tony Patton, who asked the Council to think of the airport like the downtown, which received
state money for improvement. It needs to be consumer friendly and competitive, and will attract more business.
Ald. Rackow commented on a memo distributed this evening that recommended the minimum standards for general liability
insurance be increased to $1,000,000 in all categories, saying that the increase is appropriate.
Ald. Stroik moved, Ald. Rackow seconded, for approval of the Board of Public Works minutes of December 13, 2004,
including the general liability insurance be increased to $1,000,000 in all categories.
Ald. Sevenich said she wanted to clear up a misunderstanding. The downtown did not receive any state money, only
technical support.
13. Finance Committee meeting
of December 13, 2004.
Ald. Barr moved, Ald. Sowieja seconded, for approval of the Finance Committee minutes of December 13, 2004, with
items #2 and 3 pulled for further discussion.
Ald. Barr moved, Ald. Barber seconded, that Mr. Filtz be required to submit a plan for building on property purchased
from the City not later than April 1, 2005 or the City will enforce the restrictive covenants on the property which
is located in the City Industrial Park on Krebs and Heffron Court.
Several speakers appeared on item 2, purchase of easements on Plover River.
George Rogers, 1032 Ridge Road, said there is a potential for damage to city wells from septic effluent and lawn
fertilizer run-off. Iverson Park would be affected. We don't realize what an asset we have, and surrounding cities
would "kill" for this water asset.
Patrick Bruckhart, 1748 Briggs Street, urged the Council to support funding this easement. A clean water supply
is important to the community.
Bill Berry, 1973 Strongs Avenue, supports the easement. He was a member of the committee which developed the long-term
plan for room tax usage, and still feels this is an important expenditure. He pointed out that conservation easements
are being worked on across the country because of the shortage of water. We can join the partnership to protect
our water as many other cities are doing the same thing. It is not inexpensive, but it is priceless.
Mike Phillips, 3225 Mary Street, said he voted on approval of this when he was an alderperson, but thought it would
not be so far out of town. He wonders why the property is on the "other side of the river from the wells."
Realtors in the area say the price is too high. He displayed a map with a pink dot, saying the dot is relative
to the size of the property on the map. There are houses on the parcels, and feels there are too many unanswered
questions. He feels the room tax dollars should stay in the city, and the city should install a nitrate system
when needed.
Tom Schrader, Parks Director, said the DNR needs a full narrative appraisal for a conservation easement, which
was done by Becker Hoppe. No one in this area is qualified to do this type appraisal. This easement is in perpetuity,
not for a limited time. All future owners of the property will be affected by the easement. Any management plan
must go through the DNR. The Community Foundation had the appraisal done, not the city.
Ald. Moore asked what rights the owner maintains with this easement. Do we have a site plan, and what area is conservancy?
Mr. Rogers responded that the owner cannot develop, but can hunt, and forestry is allowed. The owner may also post
the land. If we ask for public hunting we would never get an easement.
Director Schrader said this is similar to steps taken by the City with the Boy Scout property and the Isaak Walton
property. Hunting is not allowed there.
Ald. Markham said hunting and fishing would be nice, but the balance between that and safe water is not worth the
risk. Nitrate removal is much more expensive.
Ald Sowieja agrees with the idea but feels it is unrealistic. The Plover River has 180 miles of shoreline, and
two 40's would be needed on either side of the river to make sure there is no effect on it. It would take 197 years
of room tax money to fund this. We cannot protect the river by spot easements. This is a band-aid for hemorrhaging.
The County is very interested in this but does not contribute anything.
Director Schrader pointed out the progress that has been made in property and easement acquisitions north of Iverson
Park. Most land to Jordan Park is now in public ownership.
Ald. Barr commended George Rogers and others on the Plover River Alliance Committee for their work on protecting
this valuable resource.
Ald. Wiza said some of this land would be developable, and we are saving at least 17 or 18 acres from development.
This is a small price considering the easement is in perpetuity.
Ald. Walther reluctantly supported this in the past, and will do so again tonight. He prefers to have room tax
money spent in the city.
Mayor Wescott said this is first and foremost an environment issue. The City has made a commitment previously.
Ald. Barber moved, Ald. Markham seconded, to approve the purchase of the easement on the Plover River.
18. Board of Water and Sewage
Commissioners meeting of December 13, 2004.
Ald. Rackow moved, Ald. Stroik seconded, for approval of the Board of Water and Sewage Commissioners minutes of
December 13, 2004.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
19. Reports:
Police and Fire Commission meeting of December 14,
2004.
Statutory monthly financial report of the Comptroller-Treasurer.
Transportation Commission meeting of November 17, 2004.
Ald. Walther moved, Ald. Markham seconded, to accept the reports and place them on file.
Ald. Rackow cited the figures on the U-pass usage.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
20. Mayor's appointments
-
Director of Community Development
Director of Parks and Recreation Services
Director of Public Works
Director of Water and Sewage Treatment
Ald. Stroik moved, Ald. Sevenich seconded, for confirmation of the appointments.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
21. Election of Assessor.
Ald. Molski moved, Ald. Walther seconded, to nominate our present Assessor, Carol Kuehn for the ensuing two year
term.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
22. Appointment of Election
Officials for 2005-2006.
Ald. Rackow moved, Ald. Sevenich seconded, for confirmation of the appointments of the Election Officials for 2005-2006.
Roll Call: Ayes all.
Nays none. Motion carried.
23. Persons who wish to
address the mayor and council for up to three (3) minutes on non-agenda item.
None.
24. Adjournment - 8:15 P.M.
The meeting minutes reproduced
on this website are derived from the computer files used to produce the official minutes for the City of Stevens
Point, but are unofficial. The minutes on this web site cannot be certified under
s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables,
maps, and other documents that are a part of the official minutes are not included in the files reproduced on this
website. Please consult the printed minutes, available in the City Clerk's Office,
for the official text. The decisions made by City of Stevens Point boards, committees, and commissions (other than
the Police & Fire Commission) are advisory only and are not binding on the city until affirmed at a meeting
of the Common Council. Some of the minutes on this web site might not be approved by the Common Council as of today.
