Committee of the Whole

COLUMBUS COMMON COUNCIL – COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 – 7:09 PM COLUMBUS CITY HALL 1. Roll Call: Council President Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:09 pm. Present: Council President Ryan, Alders Adams, McCabe, Pyfferoen, Reid, Thom; City Administrator Ellefson, City Attorney Johnson (via Zoom), City Clerk Goebel, City Staff Navin, Schreiber. Excused Gray. 2. Notice of Open Meeting: Noted as posted. 3. Approve Agenda: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Adams to approve. Carried voice vote. 4. Citizen Comments: None 5. Committee Minutes: placed on file: Cable Commission – 7/1/20, CDA – 6/15/20, CWL – 07/16/20, HLPC – 8/13/20, Lifestar – July 2020, Plan Commission – 7/9/20, Recreation – 3/9/20, 6/8/20, 7/13/20, Tourism – 6/1/20 6. Review & Discuss Sidewalk Policy: DPW Director Navin presented a draft policy for 5-year sidewalk replacement program. Consensus to have Safe Step do an estimate. Return to COW. 7. Review & Discuss Transferring Title of Firemen’s Park Ball Field to School District: Discussion of long-term lease with the Columbus School District. Return to COW. 8. Review & Discuss WI DNR Urban Forestry Grant: Apply for a 50/50 match grant to replace trees which are diseased or otherwise need removal. Resolution states City will budget for the match. Forward to Regular meeting September 15. 9. Review & Discuss Crop Lease Renewal with Hein Farms: Current lessor seeking another leasing contract for the land. City looking at term clause. Return to COW. 10. Review & Discuss Solar Array Ordinance: Consensus to forward to Plan Commission for review and recommendation. 11. Review & discuss Resolution #15-20 Exemption from Columbia County Library Tax for 2021: Forward to Regular meeting September 15. 12. Review & Discuss Proposed CAEMS Contract for EMS Service: Recommendation to stay with Lifestar and extend contract 5 years; includes 2 additional municipalities: Reeseville & Lowell. No other changes. CAEMS will meet September 2 for discussion. Return to future COW. 13. Review & discuss the vacation of Right of Way for sections of S Spring Street and W Fountain Street for the Columbus Elementary School: The school requests the vacation of ROW that runs through their school parking lot. Forward to Regular meeting September 15 to introduce a Resolution to vacate the right of way. 14. Convene to closed session per §19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investment of public funds, or conducting other public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically to discuss potential developments in the City of Columbus: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Adams to convene to closed session at 8:27 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 15. Reconvene into open session per § 19.85(2): Motion by Thom, second by Pyfferoen reconvene to open session at 9:02 pm. Carried voice vote. 16. Convene to closed session per § 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Adams to convene to closed session at 9:03 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 17. Reconvene into open session per § 19.85(2): Motion by Thom, second by Pyfferoen reconvene to open session at 9:31 pm. Carried voice vote. 18. Adjourn: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Adams to adjourn at 9:31 pm. Carried voice vote. Submitted by: Pat Goebel, City Clerk