Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF WESTON MEETING MINUTES Meeting of: BOARD OF TRUSTEES Members: White {c}, Berger, Ermeling, Jaeger, Porlier, Schuster, Ziegler Location: Weston Municipal Center (5500 Schofield Ave); Board Room Date/Time: Monday, August 4th, 2014 @ 6:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order. 1.1 Pledge of Allegiance. 1.2 Roll Call of Attendance. White called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Present: White, Schuster, Berger, Ermeling, Jaeger and Ziegler. Porlier was absent and excused. Administrator Guild, Director of Public Works Donner, Director of Finance Jacobs, Clerk Weinkauf, Technology Director Crowe, Director of Planning and Development Higgins, Director of Technology Crowe, Park Superintendent Osterbrink, Taxpayer Relations Coordinator Hodell, Deputy Director of Public Works Wodalski, Deputy Fire Chief Meilahn and Chief Sparks were also present. There were 25 audience members present. 2. Comments from the public. White asked for comments. Marlene Pohl, Amhurst Junction, WI, said she supports funding towards public transit. There are a lot of people without vehicles and this is how they can get to places. Beth Bye, Town of Weston, indicated she is a special education teacher and over the years has worked with a wide range of students with disabilities. She has also been responsible for their transportation. She asked the Board to consider the needs of all the citizens in the community. Sharon Thomas, Birnamwood, said she is speaking on behalf of her daughter, who is a bus rider in Weston. She would like to see the bus continue to run. Gary Anderson, Siberian Dr., Weston, said the people at the bus stops are our fellow citizens and they depend on the elected officials to take care of them and make a good decision on their behalf. Ted Sanders, Mesker St., explained his own physical conditions and said it has not been easy. He is not looking for sympathy. He said he relies on public transportation. A lot of people in this community depend on the bus service. He asked the Board to not think of public transportation as an expense, but to think about it as helping the fellow citizens. He asked the board to please reconsider keeping this bus service going no matter what. The Board recessed at 6:19 p.m. for five minutes. 3. Communications. 3.1 Recommendation from Clerk to acknowledge and place on file meeting minutes from all standing and non- standing committees, commissions or boards. *M/S/P Schuster/Ziegler: to acknowledge the Committee meeting minutes and place on file. 4. Consent Items for Consideration. 4.1 Approval of prior meeting minutes of 07/21/14 4.2 Approval of Vouchers. 4.3 Recommendation from Chief Sparks to approve operator licenses. 4.4 Recommendation from Village Clerk to approve Kriston Koffler as Agent for Kwik Trip 356, 5603 Bus. Hwy. 51 4.5 Recommendation from Village Clerk to approve request for Class B Beer and Class B Liquor License for Kim’s Wisconsin, LLC, Pine Ridge Family Restaurant (3705 Schofield Avenue), with contingency as listed in the attached Request for Consideration. 4.6 Recommendation from Finance Committee to approve an amendment to the FY2014 budget to continue Clerk Department Administrative Assistant position funding partnership with the WI Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation at the expense of not to exceed $1,200. 4.7 Recommendation from Finance Committee to approve budget amendments to Room Tax Fund 29 and assign and increase expenditure authority in FY2014. 4.8 Recommendation from staff to approve Change Order #1 from Fahrner Asphalt Sealers for crack sealing on additional streets for an amount up to $14,800. 4.9 Acknowledge Contract With American Asphalt to Re-pave Community Center Drive Resulting From Water Main Break in June. 4.10 Recommendation from Rib Mountain Metropolitan Sewerage District (RMMSD) Manager to Re-appoint Thomas Wittkopf to the RMMSD Commission. 4.11 Acknowledge Letter from State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services for Meeting Fluoride Standards. 4.12 Recommendation from the Director of Planning & Development to approve the conditional use permit request as recommended by the Plan Commission through the attached conditional grant determination by the Village of Weston Plan Commission document and the draft Conditional Use Permit #CU-3-14-1432. *M/S/P Jaeger/Schuster: to approve Consent items 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.6 and items 4.8 to 4.12. Ermeling asked the Board members if they had any questions on item 4.7 regarding the Room Tax Fund. There were no questions. *M/S/P Jaeger/Berger: to approve the budget amendments to Room Tax Fund 29 and assign and increase expenditure authority in FY2014.  Sparks said he made contact with Allison Borchardt regarding the correction needed on her Operator license application. As of today she has not stopped in to correct it. *M/S/P Schuster/Ziegler: to approve all the Operator license’s (item 4.3), except Allison Borchardt’s. *M/S/P Schuster/Ermeling: to approve the Class B Beer and Class B Liquor License for Kim’s Wisconsin, LLC, Pine Ridge Family Restaurant, (Item 4.5), contingent on the applicant meeting with Chief Sparks to correct the application. 5. Reports from Staff. 5.1 Clerk/Employee Resources Manager Weinkauf reported the public testing of the Village’s voting machines is scheduled for tomorrow. She has elections workers assisting in the public testing process. The Partisan Primary Election will be held next week Tuesday. 5.2 Deputy Fire Chief Meilahn said he would have the SAFER stats for the next meeting. 5.3 Parks Superintendent Osterbrink reported the last teen night will be held this Friday. August 24th is the last day the aquatic center will be open for the season. 5.4 Aquatic Center Manager The stats were attached to the meeting packet. 5.5 Plan/Dev Director Higgins said there is an ETS meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 12th. 5.6 Police Chief Sparks will have a Department report for the next meeting. 5.7 Public Works Director Donner asked for questions. There were none. 5.8 Finance/Assessor Jacobs reported the State released the preliminary 2014 equalized valuation for the Village and two TIF Districts. The total equalized valuation for the Village increased by 4.5 million. The 2014 equalized valuation increased by $10.8 million for TIF District #1 and 1.5 million for TIF District #2. He also said there will be a huge deduction in the NTC equalized tax rate because the state is now providing a dollar-for-dollar reduction in property tax funding with an increase in state aid funding. Jacobs also reviewed the Village budget tax levy limitations for the 2015 budget. 5.9 Technology Director Crowe asked for questions. There were none. 6. Business Items for Consideration. 6.1 Review recommend from CLPS Committee endorsing a modification to Section 10.300 governing hunting within the Municipal Code of Ordinances at the request of Chief Sparks. Sparks explained the new law on bow hunting. He also pointed out the changes on the proposed ordinance. *M/S/P Schuster/Berger: to approve an ordinance revising 10.300 Hunting within the Municipal Code of Ordinances, per the recommendation of the Community Life and Public Safety Committee. There was a short discussion on the map. White asked for the Safety Committee references in the ordinance to be changed to the Community Life and Safety Committee. 6.2 Review recommendation from CLPS and Finance Committees to rescind Section 63.100 regarding Public Transportation from the Municipal Code of Ordinances. *M/S/P Jaeger/Schuster: to rescind Section 63.100 regarding Public Transportation from the Municipal Code of Ordinances. 6.3 Review recommendations from Wausau Transit Commission, Community Life, and Public Safety, and Finance Committees regarding whether the Village of Weston continue to provide public transit services through Metro Ride throughout FY2015, revising the current route to establishing a new Route K (Scenario 6) with 8 or 9 trips daily through the Village from NCHC. Schuster said the only way he would agree to continue financing for public transportation is by holding a referendum. He feels we have an unanswered issue. He is looking out for the taxpayers of Weston. The Village’s budget has decreased. There is now less revenue stream. If the citizens want public transportation and are willing to pay for it, he has no problem continuing this service. The current bus route only covers 20 percent of the Village of Weston. This means 80 percent has no access to the bus service. He feels his job is to take care of the majority of the taxpayers. White said if this is sent to referendum the question needs to include increasing the tax rate. Schuster said if the original public transportation referendum questions would have included asking the taxpayers to pay for it, he feels the outcome would have been very different. Jaeger said this service is expensive and there should be another alternative. Ermeling said when preparing the referendum question we need the actual 2015 expense and not the 2014 expense for bus service. She would also like to see better participation on the bus. She also understands that those who use the service actually need it. She proposes that the Board look at a new route K scenario with 8 or 9 trips, depending on the cost, and also put this to referendum. She also she wants to know what will happen with the money being used out of the tax roll to fund the bus if the Board decides to go to referendum. If that money remains in the transportation utility fund budget, she would not be in favor of this going to referendum. If the referendum passes, and this is put on the tax roll, she wants to see the money in the transportation utility fund at zero or eliminated. Berger is supportive of the bus, but was disappointed with the ridership when he rode the bus. He recommends for 2015 the 8 trips  daily, but with a caveat that some metrics are put in place to increase ridership. *M/S/P: Schuster/Ermeling: to approve this matter go to an advisory referendum, with the understanding the question includes raising the levy to pay for the cost of the bus service. Q/Guild recommended this be a binding referendum. Schuster and Ermeling withdrew the original motion. *M/S/P Schuster/Ermeling: approve this matter go to a binding referendum, with the understanding the question includes raising the levy to pay for the cost of the bus service. Q/Guild indicated a resolution needs to be drafted with the projected costs in preparation of the question going on the ballot. Ermeling said the route information should not be included in the resolution. Guild said having a route endorsed will help in calculating a cost. He said the referendum outcome, if passed, will allow the Village to raise the tax levy. This does not create direct legislation and if need be the Village could make changes to the route. It was indicated the referendum would be on the November ballot. Jaeger and Berger were both opposed. Motion passed 4 to 2. The Board took a short recess at 7:00 p.m. 6.4 Review recommendations from Finance/Park & Rec Committee to approve creation of a Community Bike Rental Partnership Program with Sprocketz Bike Shop funded through FY2014 Room Tax dollars. Guild said this item has been reviewed by both the Park and Recreation Committee and Finance Committee. *M/S Jaeger/Berger: to approve the creation of a Community Bike Rental Partnership Program with Sprocketz Bike Shop funded through FY2014 Room Tax dollars. Q/White asked if this was a three year contract. Guild said it runs through the end of 2016. Ermeling asked why no one else has done this. She has concerns with this. Both Ermeling and Ziegler said if this is such a good program why do we not see this more often. Guild said you see these kind of programs mostly sponsored through municipalities. Schuster, Ziegler and Ermeling voted no. Motion was defeated. 6.5 Review recommendation from CLPS Committee to rescind plans for an advisory referendum regarding prohibitions against the use of cellphones while operating a motor vehicle and table consideration of action on this subject indefinitely. *M/S/P Jaeger/White: to rescind plans for an advisory referendum regarding prohibitions against the use of cellphones while operating a motor vehicle and table consideration of action on this subject indefinitely. Q/Schuster asked for clarification of this motion. White said the original proposal was to institute a cell phone ban while driving. The initial reaction was to have a referendum on this, but after additional discussions by the Community Life and Public Safety their recommendation is to discontinue any efforts related to the cellphone advisory referendum. It was indicated this motion would be reversing the original motion made previously by the Board. White said the Board can adopt ordinances regarding a cellphone ban without going to referendum. The Board members have concerns with leaving in the statement “and table consideration of action on this subject indefinitely”. Jaeger and White withdrew their original motion. *M/S/P Jaeger/Ermeling: to rescind plans for an advisory referendum regarding prohibitions against the use of cellphones while operating a motor vehicle. 6.6 Review of recommendation from Park/Rec Committee to not have an ice rink facility at the Weston Warming house and investigate the possibility with the school district to take over the facility. *M/S/P Jaeger/Berger: to not have an ice rink facility at the Weston Warming house and investigate the possibility with the school district to take over the facility. Q/Osterbrink explained the staff recommendations from his request for consideration, which was attached to the meeting packet agenda. 7. Report from the Administrator. Guild said this week Village staff will participate in the International Council of Shopping Centers conference in Wausau. 8. Remarks from Trustees. No comments. 9. Remarks from the President. No comments. 10. Adjourn. White adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m. Respectfully, Sherry Weinkauf Village Clerk