The Meeting of the Common Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2006.  It was noted that the meeting had been announced and a notice posted at City Hall.

 

Roll call was taken, with the following members present:  Mayor Jim Bialecki, Ald. Mike Giese, Ald. Jim Olson, Ald. Diane Oldani Wulf, Ald. Gary Gonczy, Ald. Clarence Stellner, Ald. Kim Smith, City Engineer Jarrod Holter, Land Use & Development Director Jason Gilman, Financial Services Director Fred Buehler, City Secretary Elizabeth Eklund, Police Chief Randy Williams, Omni Center Manager Tom Hammill, Human Resource Specialist Elsa Ness and City Attorney Gerry O’Flaherty.

 

Also present:  Officer Dave Winjum, Barb Skogen of Omni Center Fund Raising.

 

Item 2 - Pledge of Allegiance

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was declared.

 

Item 3 - Approval of minutes from previous meeting.

 

Motion by , second by , to approve the minutes from the previous meeting as printed and on file in the City Clerk’s Office.  On voice vote, motion carried.

 

Item 4 - PUBLIC INPUT:  (limited to 3 minutes/individual)

 

Steve Mc Conaughey spoke about item J. of Plan Commission Section on the sidewalk on Marcou Road.   

 

Andrea Benco

816 Windhill Street

 

Ms. Benco spoke representing herself, Mike, many of their neighbors who could not be in attendance, and other folks around the city.  Ms. Benco said, “In regard to Item 10(L) under the Planning Commission, that's the building of the cell tower along the bluff line.  I would point out that there is a concept called NIMBY, and NIMBY stands for not in my back yard.   And this is actually not a NIMBY issue because you see that bluff line from here - you can see it actually from most of the areas in the city so it's not that I'm speaking as a resident of that area, but rather as a citizen of the city in general.  I'm here to speak against the construction of any towers on that bluff line that's adjacent to Menards.  I believe that any visible structures on the bluff are going to just mar the natural beauty, which if you go to our web site, it says, ‘Come See Our Beautiful Bluffs - We're Surrounded By The City And The Bluffs’.  And I think building a tower on that bluff is a bad idea if any of it at all is visible.  It sits at the doorway to our city.  There are several access points and that's one of them as you come off 53 North.  We have been sort of on the sidelines proposing ideas for development in that area because development is inevitable at the foot of that bluff, but some of the things that have been proposed have been limited stories - so single, maybe double, at most.  There has been discussion about perhaps multi trails through there - multi use areas so that you've got perhaps business on the ground story, maybe some residential up above.  It just seems like building cell towers as a backdrop for that sort of conflicts with the general idea of trying to leave that natural and maybe put some hiking trails up in there - educational trails.  Like I said, it's not a NIMBY thing - It's not, 'I don't want the cell tower in my back yard' - You can put it in Menards back yard if you'd like to, which is also my back yard.  You could put it in whatever the building is that sits right on Sand Lake Road at 53 and its got all the pallets - There is like a wooden pallet storage facility.  Why not put it back there?  It's just that that bluff line is really special, and I think that we need to preserve that for future generations.  We have seen at previous meetings some simulations that were passed out, and they show this nice narrow pole that rises up out of the bluff - And one of my concerns about the simulation is that in previous meetings we've also learned that the taller a tower is, the broader it's girth has to be.  And the Omni Center tower is shorter than any of the proposed towers, which means that the tower that they're proposing has to be a bigger tower than what's already at the Omni Center.  I'm not sure that was reflected correctly in the simulations where the tower is about the same diameter as the trees that are up there.  So, I think there are a lot of questions.  And I just think that a big tower going up out of the middle of the bluff and rising up perhaps as high as the bluff (depending on the proposal), is going to be a negative for our city.  So, I'm here to speak against it.  I hope that you will turn down this particular site and perhaps consider others that are less damaging.  Several concepts that came up during meetings that we've had with friends and neighbors include building them on top of some of the electrical poles, there are some tall wooden poles that run - there's not a conflict there from the electronic standpoint.  We've talked to people who build cell towers.  Perhaps its a sharing issue between electrical companies and cell companies.  And another proposal was perhaps we could put it at the top of the cross that sits on top of that bluff and somehow incorporate it in that way, but just not in the middle of the bluff where it's going to be a backdrop for all of the hopefully scenic development that's coming.  So, thank you”.

 

Laura Stegge

EZ Money Wisconsin, Inc.

 

Laura Stegge spoke on behalf of EZ Money Wisconsin, Inc.  Ms. Stegge reported, “My name is Laura Stegge and I'm here on behalf of EZ Money Wisconsin, Inc.  I have a little packet I'd like to distribute.  This is pertaining to Item A of the Planning Commission, item to be spoken about tonight.  EZ Money Wisconsin, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation under the parent company of EZ Corp., Inc.  The NASDAQ symbol is EZPW.  We are headquartered in Austin, Texas.  We satisfy the short-term need for cash for our consumers that they cannot elsewhere achieve through normal traditional forms of banking.  Our stores have bank-like atmospheres with a teller window and a waiting area.  We have highly trained employees and high computer systems.  The motto and the culture rather than the program of EZ is respect for our customers.  It is very important that our customers are seen as valued humans and valued customers to us.  On Page 4 it just kind of shows our Pledge.  This is something that we post in all of our stores to let the customer know just how very important they are to us.  Our customers are 100% employed.  The household income is $40,000 - And that mirrors the U.S. household median income.  100% of our customers have a banking/checking account and 58% have some sort of college education.  EZ Money is currently in 7 states with 245 store fronts.  Page 7 will show you a little bit about our store, our signage, and our store design.  As you can see we invest in our stores as well as in our employees and our customers.  We are licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.  We provide short term loans, up to $1,000, for our customers.  The application process is simple - new applicants are out of our office within 15 minutes; thereafter, it's cut down even more.  To qualify for a loan, a customer must have a bank account, proper identification, and like I said before, must be employed.  We typically have 2 to 4 employees and 1 to 3 customers in a store at any given time.  Our business hours are much like a bank - We're closed on Sunday, have limited Saturday hours, and on Friday from 9 to 7.   EZ Money is not a check casher nor is it an auto title loan.  Another thing I'd like to point out is that we provide our customers an opportunity to enhance their credit through the PRBC (I'm on Page 9 for those of you following along).  Only one other publicly traded corporation provides this to the customers, and what it does is it allows our customers to build their credit through reporting.  EZ Money will report both negatively and positively once checked or opted in by the customer, and this just allows customers to build their credit not using the traditional Equifax, the National.  Additionally, customers can report their own utility payments, rent to own payments, etc., to the PBRC and that helps assist with their credit scores.  And finally, I just would like to point out that EZ Money does comply with the CFSA, Best Practices Act.  Are there any questions”?

 

Mayor Bialecki expressed thanks to Ms. Stegge and complimented EZ Money’s brochure and well as Ms. Stegge’s comments with the Planning Commission in that they were well versed by all committee members.

 

Item 5 - REPORT FROM THE MAYOR.

 

            A.  La Crosse Area Health Initiative.

 

Mayor Bialecki reported that this group formed approximately 5 years ago, and there have been discussions going on since last fall about furthering the smoke free campuses.  Presently the drive is that both hospitals are going to do that in the City of LaCrosse, City Hall, as well as the County Courthouse, First Logic, and other business are looking at that.  Mayor Bialecki requested that this be referred back for consideration to the Administrative and Judiciary Committee.

 

            B.  Recognition of Fire Chief Paul Menches.

 

Mayor Bialecki recognized Fire Chief Paul Menches, “Paul, of course, this is his last month with us.  Would have been his last council meeting, too.  He is unable to be with us this evening in that he is at another training session.  But I do want to, for his benefit, thank him personally, for the 4 years of service that he has put here.  It's been a pleasure to work with him.  Truly Paul has been a leader.  He has also been a manager.  His strong firm commitment believed out of a sense of long term mission for that department - programming, staffing, as well as training.  And the other thing I'll always admire about him is that at budget time, not with just Paul himself, but with his key personnel and also the Fire Fighters Union, you could put them in a room and tell them what you need and they'd collectively come back with an answer.  I couldn't say much more to all of them about that.  But with that said, too, we also have a plaque here that we'll give to Paul”.

 

 

 

To Chief Paul Menches, Onalaska Fire Department - and the plaque reads:

 

‘In Recognition for Your Dedication To Our Firefighters, Citizens, and Their Families, We Honor You for Your Service and Commitment To Excellence.  Although We Have Had Such A Short Time To Experience Your Leadership, You Have Made Our Lives Safer and Our City Better.  Your Character, Leadership, and Friendship Will Be Sorely Missed.  We Are All Much Better for Your Understanding and Compassion for Our City, and We Wish You and Your Family Health, Happiness, and Success’

 

Mayor Bialecki said, “And that comes on behalf of myself, the Common Council, Police Department, City Hall Employees, and Citizens of Onalaska, and I will see that it gets to him.  So, thank you.  I'll pass that down if you would like to look at that”. 

 

            C. Accept donation from Firefighter's Association.

 

Mayor Bialecki reported, “The same department here has got one step ahead of us in that they're well on their way to completing their 2007 budget based on the information that they have.  I do want to recognize the fact that the Firefighter's Association has donated $3,000 for the following items:

 

A Leak Alert portable combustible gas monitor       $   375.00

Sterns Cold Water Ice Rescue Suits                          $   489.00

Low Angle Rescue Gear                                             $   300.00

CPR Mannequins (Various)                                       $1,756.65

Wireless Microphone for Training Room

 

These things originally were going to be placed in a cap request for the year 2007, but as a result of this donation from them, that won't be necessary, so I do want to recognize that donation from them”.

 

            D. Authorization to hire the Assistant City Engineer.

 

Mayor Bialecki turned the item over to Jarrod Holter:

 

Jarrod reported there were 4 candidates that were interviewed for the Assistant City Engineer position.  The position was advertised for $44,000 to $47,000.  Jarrod recommended hiring Mr. Matt Firehelm who has 7 years experience at a starting wage of $45,000 with two $1,000 steps. 

 

Motion by Ald. Gonczy, second by Ald. Olson, to hire Mr. Matt Firehelm for the position of Assistant City Engineer with a starting wage of $45,000 with two $1,000 steps.

 

Under discussion, Ald. Wulf questioned when the starting date would be for Mr. Firehelm.  Jarrod is waiting for approval from council before they contact Mr. Firehelm, but hopefully within 2 weeks.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

E.    Out-of-State seminar request for Officer Winjum to attend Internet Crimes Against Children/Investigative Techniques on June 26 - June 30, 2006, in Springfield, MA.

 

Mayor Bialecki turned the item over to Chief Randy Williams.

 

Chief Williams reported, “Thank you, Mayor.  I appreciate you getting this on the Agenda and to the council, and I appreciate your hearing the Ask For Permission to send Officer and Investigator Dave Winjum to this out of state training.  It came up after the Finance and Personnel Meeting, and that’s why it’s coming directly to you.  Two months ago, Investigator Winjum and I gave a presentation to F & P regarding the project and the program that he’s been working on, and it relates to Internet Crimes against children.  He and an officer from Holmen Police Department have created a Not for Profit Organization to help raise funds for equipment and training, and they are well on their way.  Back in April, you approved a 3-day seminar for him to attend out of state training in Alexandria, VA.  We’re back here - there’s a Phase I and a Phase II Training to this.  Phase I is a prerequisite to the Phase II training.  The Phase I training is investigative techniques and it’s a prerequisite to the second one.  What happened was these classes come up every month - they fill up very quickly because of the popularity and the necessity for this type of training in protecting our children due to Internet crimes.  To attend the second training, he needs to attend this one.  Back when we scheduled this on Friday of last week, our intent was to get this approved, and he would then be able to attend the second phase which would have been in Appleton, Wisconsin, which would have been nice because we wouldn’t have had to go out of State.  We just learned today that there has been a change in the procedures by the Federal Government in how they fill those classes, and, therefore, they could not save a spot for him in the Appleton training.  What I’m saying is regardless, he still needs this 5 days - 4 ½ days of training to participate in the 2nd Phase which he is applying for.  All training for the 1st Phase, the 2nd Phase, and the one that he’s been registered for is covered and paid for through the Federal Government and through the money that’s been raised by him and his group, except for the cost of his time to be there.  The total to attend the 1st Phase, the 2nd Phase, and the 3-day training, is a total of 13 days, but the benefits to this far exceed the value to directly protecting our children.  It also will allow him to perform other functions related to investigations, which include fraud, investigations, identity theft, counterfeit checking schemes, drug related investigations.  All of these things would be a benefit to this training and I see it as a great value to the city to allow an officer to receive the training and come to the level that Office Winjum will be when this training is completed.

 

Motion by Ald. Stellner, second by Ald. Gonczy, to approve the Out-of-State seminar request for Officer Winjum to attend Internet Crimes Against Children/Investigative Techniques on June 26 - June 30, 2006, in Springfield, MA.

 

Under discussion, Mayor Bialecki pointed out that occasionally these things come up and this request did come in one day after the last Finance and Personnel meeting.

 

Ald. Stellner indicated that it is his opinion that this is a good training program and the community needs training such as this.  

 

Chief Williams further stated that in cases such as this, the officers are not informed until one or two weeks before the training session.  All efforts will be made to bring it before the next F & P Meeting, however, it may be possible that the next round of F & P Meetings may be missed in which case the officers will be back next month to request approval of the 2nd Phase of training.  Chief Williams indicated that Officer Winjum is applying for them as soon as possible.  Officer Winjum expressed his appreciation to council for the approval of this training session.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

F.    Update on Omni Center

1.     Update on US Hockey League proposal.

 

Mayor Bialecki reported, “Most people here were able to attend that.  I do want to point out if there is anyone here of interest that was not able to attend that full presentation (meaning the one on June 2 for the Community Development Authority and the Common Council), I do have DVD’s available that you may take with you to review.  Anyone who wants that, please see me afterwards.  Where that sits right now, after that presentation, they have an opportunity to meet with the internal staff, Fred, Jason, Tom Hammill, and George, I believe sat in on that.  Also, George Osterhout from the CDA Board.  There are probably 3 or 4 issues that need to be brought back to Mr. Mervis in that one in terms of location, you could possibly take an existing building up.  There was a suggestion about possibly going westerly with that building.  That may not work in that the school district made it very clear that they are not necessarily interested in giving up any of their land.  And then there are also going to be parking issues - when and how would that happen.  Some discussion on a ramp that would be cost prohibitive, but there might be some other locations that could work.  And then the biggest part of that is that the cost to do that is estimated to be at $9 million, and at this time there is only $1 million on the table.  So the intention would be is to engage Mr. Mervis via telephone conference with those same people one more time letting him know what our concerns are, what else does he have to offer, and after that meeting is over, the subject in question here would be referred back to the CDA Board at their next meeting, which would be one week from tomorrow.  And I do this out of the essence of time here, too, because we have the original expansion proposal on line also.  So that’s just kind of an update.  Again, anyone needing the DVD, let me know”.

 

2.     Update on draft business plan/fundraising campaign.

 

Mayor Bialecki reported, “Item #2 has to do with the fundraising campaign and actually the facility.  Should # 1 not work that by the July council meeting, we’re prepared to move forward with completion of that building.  We have had the opportunity to analyze the fund raising efforts, plus the impact and increase of the room tax.  Tom has just about doubled his business plan, which would be to us in the month of July also, and I’m hoping that Tourism, too, would be ready to go with their marketing plan.  So, we should be pretty well on the way to lock in on that.  I think at one time there was a rush to get it all done by July, but we don’t have to do that right away.  In my conversations with Tom Hammill, if it has to keep until August or September, that’s okay.  For the work he needs done, it could be done during the day time, and it would not take away from any sort of ice programs in the winter months.  Is that accurate, Tom”?

 

Tom reported, “A couple of months ago I was asked to put together a business plan, and actually its taken two months to gather the information, and even at this point, we came up a little short on some of the deadlines that we wanted to get.  The information you have in front of you that you were handed tonight, is all the information we have given to the CDA Board that they’ve reviewed.  What they haven’t seen is the final draft that you have in front of you, and we’ll be taking that to them next week at the CDA meeting and reviewing it.  The cash flow statement and the balance sheets were the only two that we were waiting on some outside information that we didn’t get prior to the printing of this.  So we hope to have a supplement to add to this as well.  But basically what the plan does is it offers you a $5 year revenue and expense layout in regards to the building in its existing condition a well as finishing off the second building.  It gives you a written description of our current operation and also our past three years’ history.  Unfortunately, those three years were a little tougher for us, but it also shows the fact that there is a need to finish the second building and get it done so we can get that behind us and move forward.  So the plan is pretty in-depth.  I was pretty happy with how it came out.  Sometimes you get surprised, and I was making a lot of changes, and I know Mike went through it with a fine tooth comb, and we sat down and made some adjustments - And Fred and I sat down for a few hours and reviewed financial numbers, so I think it was pretty good on that standpoint.  Our business is unique compared to a lot of places, because every year we lose probably 35 to 40% of our business just in area rentals and we have to go out and recruit that and at the same time, we have to project that revenue.  So when we’re looking out 5 years, we’re ‘guess-timating’ that we’re going to bring in X number of businesses to run events, and that’s our goal by the end of the year is not only to meet that but to exceed it.  So, it’s very challenging when you lay these reports out, because you don’t know who’s going to be knocking on your door or who isn’t going to be knocking on your door from year to year, so it does make it a little more challenging.  But our biggest challenge is not necessarily the general operating expenses, it’s the unexpected expenses that we get with a building that’s 13 years old.  So in a sense, it’s fun putting it together, but hopefully we can live by it and exceed a lot of the goals in regards to revenue and at the same time keeping your expenses down to have a long-range success story for the building.  Some of my board said in the past when I handed out the 5-year plan that I was a little conservative on my revenue.  When you lose that much business, you have to be a little conservative.  I don’t want to over-inflate numbers and find out that we’re falling short from year to year, so I would rather be a little conservative and offer you conservative revenue numbers and at the same time, inflate my expense numbers on the premise that utilities are going to go up or we come up short on certain building repairs.  So, that’s what’s reflected in the report, and hopefully, it will give you an accurate picture of where we’re at.  But our goal is always to exceed our revenues while holding down expenses, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that for you.  So it looks good on paper, but we actually want to do better than that.  So, all we need is a second building done, and we’ll go from there”. 

 

Mayor Bialecki replied, “One other comment I think at the last council meeting or perhaps the one before that we talked about maybe Tom giving us a monthly report rather than the CDA members telling us about events, but rather than doing it monthly, I think every 3 months would be sufficient if that’s all right with everybody”.

 

Tom recognized, Barb Skogen, the Omni Center Campaign Chairperson and requested she give a report on the success achieved in our campaign this year and future goals of the campaign. 

 

Barb reported, “Mayor Bialecki, council members:  As chair of the final phase campaign for the second building of the Omni Center, I’m proud, in spite of unfavorable conditions (such as the economics and competing campaigns - fundraising campaigns), that the committee was able to raise $830,000.  That’s short of the $2 million goal, but we did face some challenges - the first two were the economics and the competing fund-raisers.  The second challenge was it’s always more desirable to put your money into a brand new building, such as the Y, such as the Amy Mathey Center, such as the Family Children’s Center, etc., and the Omni Center is an existing building.  And another obstacle or challenge we faced that I was approached and asked many times when I asked for money, was that the Omni Center is a city owned building.  But in spite of these challenges, the committee did come forth with $830,000, and we just received a very nice pledge today, so money still is drippling in a little bit.  So hopefully we want to get to the million dollar goal if we can.  So I do encourage you to move forward in a relatively fast speed, which Mayor you have indicated hopefully by July 1, so that we know where we’re going to be going with these pledges.  We did raise $830,000, and I’m proud and very thankful for all those who committed their time in raising this money and also those who contributed toward this capital campaign”. 

 

Mayor Bialecki extended appreciation to Barbara and many others that have worked together on the fund-raiser indicating the awareness of council on the amount of time required to make the campaign a success.

 

G.   Couleecap Housing Rehabilitation - Onalaska.

 

Mayor Bialecki reported, “I’ve received correspondence and had conversations with the Couleecap Program that’s based out of Westby, but basically serves Western Wisconsin.  And their interest is to work with low to moderate income families that are in need of housing - to be rehabilitated and in some cases to provide assistance for first time home buyers.  This is kind of interesting because in all the years I’ve been involved with the City, which is over 21, I’m not aware that they have had to come in and work within Onalaska.  But, just like your food baskets, other things are changing here too.  And at this time that they’ve identified Onalaska to have 2,109 individuals that could be deemed low to moderate income that would qualify for this program.  And so what they’ve asked me to do and I have done and that will make this point is that at no cost to the city is signed on with them to write a letter of support to obtain a $500,000 community development block grant.  They do have a list of individuals in the city that would be served by that.  So, I’m happy to see that they’ve taken an interest in the city, and in fact that there are grant dollars out to help out with that.  Question or concerns on that”?

 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL AND/OR POSSIBLE ACTION FROM THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS/BOARDS:

 

Item 6 - Finance & Personnel Committee

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE:

 

      A.  Vouchers.

 

Ald. Smith reported, “The following is a list of monies. (Voucher #1102 thru Voucher #1399) expended since the last Common Council meeting of May 9, 2006.  The total is $1,496,763.80”.

 

5/12/06            V-1102 - City Payroll                                                 $     94,381.41

                        V-1103 - City Payroll - Firefighters                          $       6,984.17

                        V-1104A - City Payroll Withholdings                       $     52,746.53

 

5/18/06            V-1106 thru V-1135                                                   $     10,963.73

 

5/26/06            V-1136 - City Payroll                                                 $   102,584.12

                        V-1137 - City Payroll Withholdings                         $   108,290.01

 

5/31/06            V-1104 - V-1105 and V-1138 thru V-1144               $       3,105.48

 

6/9/06              V-1148 - City Payroll - Firefighters                          $       6,812.94

                        V-1149 - City Payroll                                                 $     98,948.95

                        V-1150 - City Payroll Withholdings                         $     54,826.55

 

6/13/06            V-1145 thru V-1147 & V-1151 thru V-1399             $   957,119.91

 

                                                                        TOTAL                      $1,496,763.80

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Olson, to approve Vouchers No. 1102 through No. 1399, expended since the last Common Council meeting of May 9, 2006, in the amount of $1,496,763.80.  On voice vote, motion carried.

 

B.    Authorization for signage/park improvement costs from park fund for waterfront park not to exceed $5,000. 

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Stellner, upon recommendation from the Finance Committee to approve this expenditure for signage/park improvement costs from park fund for waterfront park not to exceed $5,000.

 

Under discussion, Mayor Bialecki questioned if the letter that was forwarded from Ald. Gonczy had been looked into.

 

C.    Disposition of two city vehicles to Holmen Auction.

1.     #541 - 1996 Ford Crown Victoria car (Board of Public Works).

2.     #137 - 1995 Ford Crown Victoria car (Board of Public Works).

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Stellner, upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to approve disposition of these vehicles to the auction.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

D.   Agreement with Grant Thornton to audit rebate compliance with arbitrage requirement to the following bond issues at (not to exceed) $1800 each annually.  (Subject to IRS rebate compliance)

1.     2002 General Obligation Refunding Bonds - Hold.

2.     2003 C.D.A. Lease Revenue Bonds - 2 ½ years = $4,500.

3.     2005 Water/Sewer Revenue Bonds - Hold.

4.     2006 General Obligation Bonds - Hold.

5.     2006 Water/Sewer Revenue Bonds - Hold.

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Stellner, upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to approve the above listed bonds and proceed with the agreement with Grant Thornton.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

Under discussion, Ald. Giese questioned it being $1,800 annually times the number of bonds for the period of years. 

 

Fred explained, “As we described in the Finance and Personnel, not each one of these are done annually, each year.  So we won’t be looking at for example, #1, until probably next year.  Then we’ll be able to wrap it up as a one shot.  For example on #2, we need to do it in a 2 ½ year schedule and then again 2 ½ years from now.  And so we kind of play it by what kind of activity is going on in 2006 - we don’t expect to do it for 2 ½ years.  But the reason we put them all on here because otherwise you’re going to see this quite often during the course of the year rather than the way we’ve bottled it all together.  He gave a very, very attractive rate to do that in saving sufficient dollars”.

 

Ald. Smith added that the cost would be locked in if it is done now.

 

In response to a question of Ald. Giese, Fred responded the aggregate cost would be $800 each annually.  For example:  On that 2 ½ years - that’s $4500.00.

 

E.    Resolution 22 - 2006 - To Transfer $6,743 from Undesignated General Fund Dollars to the Community Development Authority - Parking Ramp Fund.

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. 22-2006

 

            A RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE DOLLARS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - GUNDERSEN/LUTHERAN PARKING RAMP IN 2005.

 

TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ONALASKA, WISCONSIN

 

WHEREAS, The City of Onalaska General Fund has an undesignated fund balance:

 

WHEREAS, There funds are to be a transfer in 2005, and:

 

                        Transfer to C.D.A. - Parking Ramp $6,743

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Onalaska, Common Council hereby authorize the transfer of $6,743 from the General Fund Undesignated Fund Balance to the Community Development Authority/Gundersen Lutheran Parking Ramp.

 

                        Transfer from City General Fund Undesignated Fund Balance $6,743.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                    James S. Bialecki, Mayor

 

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                         Caroline Burmaster, City Clerk

Passed:

Approved:

Published:

 

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Olson, upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to approve Resolution No. 22 - 2006.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

F.    Unanticipated legal costs for 2006.  For information only.

 

Ald. Smith reported, “We’ve incurred some unanticipated legal costs for 2006.  Our budgeted amount was $100,000, and so far through April, we have spent $65,000.  Any questions or further information requested on that”?

 

Mayor Bialecki replied, “No, we’ll just keep track of that and that will be back in the fall”.

 

G.   Emergency Operations Plan.

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Stellner, upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to receive the Emergency Operations Plan as draft.

 

Under discussion, Ald. Giese questioned per the minutes from the Finance Meeting that there will be an opportunity for review of the draft by the council and that will be a meeting to be scheduled.

 

Chief Williams indicated that it was presented at the A & J Meeting and the F & P Committee meeting last week to give it the first go around and they were anticipating final approval at the next set of meetings, to be presented for final approval at the council meeting in July.

 

Ald. Smith said, “Actually it was my understanding that if, in reviewing that document, you had comments, you should forward them to Chief Williams as soon as possible so they can be incorporated into the final draft”.

 

Ald. Giese stated, “I misunderstood that - I thought we were going to actually have a meeting to make those comments, so I should just forward those to you directly”?

 

Chief Williams answered, “Yes, and any time if you want to sit down and talk about the recommendations that you have, please do so.  For example:  Mr. Gonczy proposed some issues related to the ordinance and how we’re structuring (having a recall list for the council).  And through the direction of the Mayor, I know that we have that in place - the recall for the council members and a request for changing one of the ordinances as it relates to Wisconsin Stat. 66.325, Emergency Powers.  And that was again shared and in the minutes of the last two meetings for A & J and Finance and Personnel”.

 

Ald. Gonczy stated, “Mike if you would like at A & J because we don’t have to have an ordinance change, so we’re planning on coming out of A & J and our report is just to deal with it next month due to the ordinance change and giving its first, second, and third reading and then bring a recommendation.  So in July we can do final approval by council”.

 

Chief Williams recognized Patricia Savage who has been working with Chief Menches on the Emergency Operations Plan.  Ms. Savage is an Ameri-Corp. representative and a volunteer that has worked on this plan.  Chief Williams said, “She truly was a driving force at the direction of Chief Menches, and we’ve got a product that I think not only can the City be proud of but its residents as well.  There is a component in here for education, there is information about family planning, school planning, business planning, and this entire package is endorsed by the County, emergency management coordinator, Keith Butler.  The school district has looked at it, and we’re very pleased that Ms. Savage was instrumental in helping us get this organized and getting the format that we did.  So thank you Patricia”.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

H.   Ameri-Corp Grant for 2006-2007 for Joint Municipal Court.

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Stellner, upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to approve this grant application, and it is for a cash match of $1,875.00.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

I.      Crack fill/seal coat/re-striping City Hall and West parking lot not to exceed $3,500 and funds used will be from the 1998 Capital Improvement Funds.

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Stellner, upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to approve this expenditure.

 

Upon discussion, Ald. Gonczy clarified that would come out of the funding that was left over for the buildings.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

J.     Consider a concept with a local vehicle dealership to provide grant initiatives for future vehicle purchases.

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Olson, upon recommendation of the Finance Committee to direct Chief Menches to enter into discussions and possibly prepare a written agreement with a local vehicle dealership.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

Item 7 – PERSONNEL COMMITTEE:

 

A.   Personnel Policies:

1.     CIB (Crime Information Bureau)/NCIC (National Crime Information Center) Responsibilities.

 

Motion by Ald. Smith, second by Ald. Stellner, upon recommendation of the Personnel Committee to accept this CIB and the NCIC responsibilities policies.

 

On voice vote, motion carried.

 

1.     TIME (Transaction Information Management Enforcement) and Criminal history Checks.