PRESENT: Chairman Barr, Ald. Rackow, Phillips, Molski and Walther

ALSO PRESENT: C/T Schlice; Mayor Wescott, City Clerk Zdroik; Admin. Assistant Gebert; Directors Euclide, Gardner, Halverson, Schrader; Fire Chief Barnes; Capt. McCulley; Ald. Sevenich, Seiser, Moore, Sowieja, Markham, Stroik; Kate Garsombke (Stevens Point Journal); Norm Barbers; Mike Worzalla; Ron Blaha; Dan Johnson

Index of these Minutes:

1. Assessor's Report.
2. Claim for recovery of unlawful taxes.
A. Wyndmere Estates.
B. Stevens Point Housing.
3. Airport Remediation.
4. Main Street program resolution.
5. Approval of payment of claims.
6. Adjourn into closed session (at approximately 6:50 p.m.) pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 19.85(1)(e) for negotiation of purchase of 2416 Bush Street.
7. Reconvene into open session (approximately 5 minutes after adjourning into closed session) for possible action on above.
8. Adjournment.

1. ASSESSOR'S REPORT

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Phillips to approve the report of the Assessor and place it on file.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

2. CLAIM FOR RECOVERY OF UNLAWFUL TAXES

A. WYNDMERE ESTATES B. STEVENS POINT HOUSING

This agenda item was pulled at the request of the City Attorney.

3. AIRPORT REMEDIATION

C/T Schlice stated that the Board of Public Works recommended approval for the next phase of about $24,000 with funding coming from contingency with approval.

Ald. Molski questioned if this remediation would be eligible, in the future, for some type of reimbursement.

C/T Schlice stated that is being looked at.

Motion made by Ald. Molski, seconded by Ald. Walther, to approve the remediation proposal.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

4. MAIN STREET PROGRAM RESOLUTION

C/T Schlice stated basically this would be indicating our support for the program and allow the application process to begin.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Barr, to approve of the Main Street program resolution to authorize $15,000 for the 2004 budget.

Ald. Phillips questioned if the private sector can only come up with $20,000, would the City still responsible for $30,000.

Mayor Wescott replied that you can see in the resolution that it authorizes an appropriation for 2004 of $15,000 and we will have a clearer handle on an answer to the question when we hit the budget cycle this fall when we need $30,000 for 2005. The request that has been approved in his office is what is in the resolution here and no one has questioned if there is a short fall somewhere else, can the City make up the difference. That has never been approached.

Chairman Barr replied that it is not part of the resolution.

Ald. Phillips stated that his question is not about making up the difference, it is if they do not do their part, why should we have to do our part.

Mayor Wescott stated he has no reason to believe they are not going to do their part. He stated that he has never seen in his career at City Hall, a more organized group than the Association of the Downtown Business District. We have had several false starts dating back a few Mayors ago, but this group is energized, organized, they are planners and have worked very hard with Commerce Department officials to secure a Main Street designation for the City of Stevens Point which brings with it a lot of things that we have discussed and he has no reason to believe they are not going to be anything but terribly successful downtown and he will support them and say our commitment is in downtown Stevens Point. He has never seen such a effort on their part in the last year.

Ald. Phillips agreed, but questioned if their leadership falls apart and goes down the tubes, are we still obligated for the $30,000 a year.

Mayor Wescott replied no. What is being done tonight is that the City of Stevens Point joins the partnership of those who are working in the downtown.

Ald. Markham states she thinks this is a very valuable program but he does agree with Ald. Phillips that this resolution is unclear where it says that the City's 1/3 share...and later in the same sentence says an annual amount of $30,000. She stated that it should state one or the other, either 1/3 or $30,000 because it may not be the same.

C/T Schlice replied maybe it should say 1/3 to a maximum of $30,000.

Ald. Phillips questioned if it would be fair if we do 1/3 and they are doing 2/3's, would that be fair.

Mayor Wescott stated before we get to many years ahead, keep in mind that every year during the Finance Committee's budget deliberations, that this will be before you. This resolution is a sense of the Council and where we are today and if they are so successful that in the year 2006 and they have a $200,000 budget, that is still subject to public policy debate for the 2006 budget. You cannot commit the City Council to pay 1/3 of a budget of 2006. He agrees with Ald. Phillips and Markham that the resolution is not clear in that area. In the "be it resolved" it says $15,000 in 2004 and then it is $30,000 in the "whereas, the City's 1/3 share" paragraph, it states $30,000. He suggested the whole paragraph be taken out and he asked the City Clerk to amend it.

Ron Blaha stated the Downtown Business Association will be going ahead with this project, as sometimes it takes two to three years (like Wausau) to gain approval for this program.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

5. APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Barr, to approve the payment of claims in the amount of $620,544.15.

The claims were discussed.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

6. ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION ( AT APPROXIMATELY 6:50 P.M.) PURSUANT TO WISCONSIN STATE STATUTE 19.85(1)(E) FOR NEGOTIATION OF PURCHASE OF 2416 BUSH STREET

Motion made by Ald. Phillips, seconded by Ald. Rackow to approve adjourning into closed session at 7:00 p.m.

Roll Call: Ayes: Ald. Barr, Rackow, Phillips, Molski, and Walther
Nays: None Motion carried.

7. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION (APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER ADJOURNING INTO CLOSED SESSION) FOR ACTION ON ABOVE

Motion made by Ald. Barr, seconded by Ald. Rackow, to reconvene into open session at
7:10 p.m.

Roll Call: Ayes: Ald. Barr, Rackow, Phillips, Molski, and Walther
Nays: None Motion carried.

Motion made by Ald. Molski, seconded by Ald. Rackow, to approve the purchase of the property at 2416 Bush Street for the appraised value of $75,000.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

Adjournment at 7:12 p.m.

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