Committee of the Whole

COLUMBUS COMMON COUNCIL – COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 – 6:45 PM COLUMBUS CITY HALL 1. Roll Call: Council President Gray called the meeting to order at 7:12 pm. Present: Council President Gray, Mayor Arnold, Alders: Albright, McCabe, Motiff, Pyfferoen, Reid; Staff: City Administrator Ellefson, City Clerk Goebel, City Attorney Johnson, City Engineer Lietha, Meyers, Lentz, Schreiber, and interested citizens. 2. Notice of Open Meeting: Noted as posted. 3. Approve Agenda: Motion by McCabe, second by Pyfferoen to approve the agenda. Carried voice vote. 4. Citizen Comments: Ron Curtis, Brookside Lane, stated he is in favor of the Stormwater Utility, but not special assessments. 5. Committee/Commission Minutes: placed on file: CHLPC 6/10/21, CWL 6/17/21, Library 6/15/21 9. Review & discuss Butterfly Trails Volunteer Park: Oddfellows member Winfield McDonald was present to answer questions and present an update to the park. The grass and plantings are coming along, they will take a few years to develop. Ideas for rock wall and senior exercise equipment were presented. A rough estimate for digging and creating paths was discussed. Oddfellows not receptive of moving the community gardens to the butterfly gardens, feels it would take away from the original idea of wildlife and butterflies. Consensus from Council was to start with grass paths, keeping maintenance costs at a minimum. 6. Review & discuss Awarding Bids for Crack Sealing: Ruekert Mielke recommends low bid from American Pavement Solutions in the amount of $9470. Forward to August 17 Regular meeting. 7. Review & discuss Awarding Bids for Street Repair: Ruekert Mielke recommends low bid from Northeast Asphalt in the amount of $46046. Forward to August 17 Regular meeting. 8. Review & discuss Storm Water Utility: Ellefson stated the utility would generate money to do stormwater projects. The estimated fees could range from $30-$60/year. Consensus to have staff continue reviewing the draft ordinance, create fee & credit structure, and prepare a task order for implementation. 10. Review & discuss Disposal of Assets Request by DPW: DPW Director Lentz requested to use Wisconsin Surplus to auction the items. Forward to August 17 Regular meeting. 11. Review & discuss Trick-or-Treating Date & Time: Date: October 31 from 3:00 – 7:00 pm. Forward to August 17 Regular meeting. 12. Review & discuss Amending Ordinance 98-81, Restricted Parking on Highways and in Residential Districts: The ordinance would restrict the parking of a motor truck, truck tractor, motor bus, trailer, travel trailer, camper, motorhome, or semi-trailer weighing more than 20,000 lbs. or exceeding 30 feet in length, on any state trunk highway or on any highway, street, alley, or public parking lot within the City without first obtaining a permit from the Police Department of travel trailers, campers, motorhomes, and any or allover 30 feet long, excluding a vehicle. Forward to August 17 Regular meeting. 13. Review & discuss Update on electronic agendas: Ellefson is looking to reduce the time and expense of creating paper council packets for each council meeting. He reported staff has viewed a webinar on electronic agenda software and are setting up several more webinars. He also was looking for consensus to purchase laptops for Council members to utilize and eliminate the need for paper packets. Return to a future COW but continue the research. 14. 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 Motiff to convene to closed session at 8:35 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 15. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Arnold to reconvene to open session at 9:09 pm. Carried voice vote. 16. Convene to closed session per § 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, specifically Finance Director recruitment: Motion by Motiff, second by Pyfferoen, to convene to closed session at 9:10 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 17. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Arnold, second by Motiff to reconvene to open session at 9:33 pm. Carried voice vote. 18. Adjourn: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Albright to adjourn at 9:34 pm. Carried voice vote. Submitted by: Pat Goebel, City Clerk