 First meeting of the 2013-14 Common Council to order I'd like to start out and have the clerk read the quote Thank you, ma'am. I hope our achievements in life shall be these that we will have fought for what was right and fair That we will have risked for that which mattered that we will have given help to those who were in need That we will have left the earth a better place for what we've done and who we've been Thank you Next we'll go on to the roll call Ballinger here boran here Carlson Decker excuse Donahue Hammond here Heidemann here Herman Lassard here Lewandusky Maddocek feel van Akron excused van der Wiel Versi and Wolf 13 present Next we'll have the presentation of the colors by the Sheboygan police department's honor guard right shoulder arms ready cut freeze and Next we're gonna have a moment of silence for the Boston Marathon bombing victims. Please bow your heads Thank you. Next I'd like to ask the barbershop group vaguely familiar to come up and sing the national anthem for us And Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance Shoulder order Ready Cut ready to ready Ready Next for the invocation I'd like to call out pastor Todd Smith of First United Lutheran Church Let us pray Good and gracious God we give you thanks for the gift of life and for the gift of this day We ask that you please be with our brothers and sisters and fellow citizens out in Boston and for the victims and their families We pray God for this government body here For mayor like van der steen and for his leadership and also for the leadership of all the older persons in this room We ask that you would bless their families continue to guide their ways As they seek justice and fairness We pray God that you'd be with them throughout this year as they work together to Help our community to grow and to flourish So that you get all the glory and praise His name we pray. Thank you very much. Please be seated Next we'll proceed to the swearing in with the mayor elect and later the older persons elect by the way This is my wife Julie I Restate your name. I'm Michael van der steen swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States Swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of, Wisconsin The Constitution of the state of, Wisconsin and will faithfully and impartially will faithfully and impartially Discharge the duties of the office of mayor of the office of mayor to the best of my ability So help me God. So help me God Next if we could have the older persons elect come up, please I Swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States And the Constitution of the state of, Wisconsin and the Constitution of the state of, Wisconsin and will faithfully and impartially Discharge the duties of the office of all the person The best of my ability Next I need a motion to approve the adopting the rules of the common counsel Thank You mr. Mayor I move to adopt the rules of the common the common counsel Thank you for that motion and second. Is there any discussion? Seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye opposed motion passes Next we'll have the election of the president and vice president of the common counsel clerk Can we get nominations from the motion for nominations? Please? I move that nominations be received for the floor voting to be done by closed ballot And if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped on the list and balloting Continue until one candidate receives the majority Moved and seconded any discussion? Seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye opposed motion passes Carlson, thank you, mayor. I will nominate all the person Hammond for the office of president It's been moved and seconded. We have a nomination for Alderman Hammond for the office council president. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations any other nominations? move Accept the motion to close those Thank you I move this I move that the city clerk be instructed to cast the unanimous ballot for all the person Hammond for president of the common Council second has moved and seconded Any discussion seeing none all those in favor of the motion please signify by saying aye opposed passes I Guess we have to do this the old-fashioned way We have to hand out some ballots and you have to fill them in so we have a record of this So ballots will be coming I think the city attorney is overruling the clerk and she agrees so Congratulations Alderman Hammond and next will be the election for the vice president of the common Council Thank you I move that nominations be received from the floor voting to be done by closed ballot if more than two candidates are Nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting to continue until one candidate receives a majority That moved and seconded Any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor, please signify by saying aye opposed motion passes Alderman Hammond Thank You mr. Mayor. I move that Darryl Carlson be nominated for vice president of the council Thank you for that nomination. Is there a second? It's been moved and seconded Alderman Carlson is a candidate for this office. Are there any other nominations? Alderman height a man Okay, is there a second to that nomination second? It's been seconded by alderman born We have a second candidate alderman versey for the common council vice president. Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations any other nominations? Entertain a motion to close. Thank You mr. Mayor move that nominations for vice president be closed Thank you for that motion and second all those in favor signify by saying aye Aye opposed motion passes this time we will do ballots Alderman if you could please print your last name Because some of your signatures are not as legible as others not that I'm judging but That was Jada's favorite Yeah Alderman Carlson Congratulations. You're the new council vice president Next we'll move on to the election of representatives to serve on the city planning Commission The representative on the board of contract examiners and two representatives to sure to serve on the capital improvements Commission I move that not first for a city planning Commission I move that nominations be received from the floor voting to be done by open ballot And if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting to be To continue until one candidate receives a majority second Thank you for that motion and second all those in favor of the motion signify by saying aye opposed passes Then we'll go for nominations for these position on the city planning Commission Thank You mr. Mayor I moved that Scott verse he'd be nominated for city planning Commission Then moved and seconded that Scott verse he is a candidate for this Representative on the city planning Commission any other nominations Any other nominations Any other nominations Thank you. I move that nominations be closed and that the city clerk be instructed to cast unanimous ballot for all the person Versi for the representative on the city planning Commission Been moved and seconded all those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye opposed unanimous Congratulations Next we'll deal with the representatives on the board of contract examiners Thank you, I move that nominations be received from the floor voting to be done by open ballot And if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting to continue Until one candidate receives a majority second. It's been moved and seconded all those in favor of the motion Please signify by saying aye. Aye opposed passes nominations are open Thank You mr. Mayor. I move that Susie Lissard be nominated for board of contractor examiners Second Thank you for that nomination Are there any nom and other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Thank you I move that nominations be closed and that the city clerk be instructed to cast unanimous ballot for all the person Lissard for the for a representative on the board of contractors examiners It's been moved and seconded all those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye opposed Motion passes Congratulations Next we'll move on to the two representatives on the capital improvements commission Thank You again. I move that nominations be received from the floor voting to be done by open ballot And if more than two candidates are nominated the candidate with the lowest number of votes be dropped from the list and balloting to continue Until one candidate receives a majority second. Thank you for that motion in second all those in favor Please signify by saying aye. Aye opposed motion passes Under nominations Thank You mr. Mayor. I move that all the person Carlson and all the person versey be nominated to the capital improvements commission Moved and seconded we have two candidates for that position. Are there any other nominations alderman Heidemann Is there a second second We have three candidates alderman Bellinger is also a candidate any other nominations Any other nominations any other nominations, okay, we will begin the balloting Mr. Mayor I move that the nominations be closed and ballot or ballot be taken And Thank you for that motion in second all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye opposed passes So we have three candidates what we want you to do is on your ballot put two names down It'll move things along a little bit So you've got alderman Carlson if I'm correct You've got alderman versey and alderman bellinger between those you need to put two names down on your ballot Put two names down So it's Carlson versey bellinger put two of those down Extra You can announce one okay, we have one candidate that that was elected that's alderman Carlson We have a tie between alderman versey and alderman bellinger. They're gonna have to take another vote to break that tie So obviously now you're just writing down one name and The choices are alderman versey and alderman bellinger the Second alder person elected to the Kaplan improvements commission is alderman versey Next we're gonna take a short recess to elect the committee of the whole chairman So this is what the big chair feels like All right, we are going to Begin the nomination process so I would entertain a motion to open the floor denominations for committee of the whole chair Alderman versey We need a motion to open the floor denominations is there a second Motion in a second all those in favor say aye post Nominations are open, please There's a motion in a second to nominate alderman born for a committee of the whole chairman are there any other nominations Are there any other nominations Finally, are there any other nominations for committee of the whole chair Okay, hearing known that entertain a motion to close nominations Motion in a second to close nominations I would entertain a motion to instruct the city clerk to Cassie now is valid for Jim born as committee of the chair Committee the whole chair Mr. Gas, I'm never gonna live that down am I There's a motion in a second all those in favor say aye opposed Carries congratulations alderman born committee the whole chair will reconvene the meeting of the common council next Report by council president on the election of the committee of the whole chair person All the person Jim born. Thank you very much Congratulations alderman born Next the president of the council's message We'll do it from here I'll keep my message brief Four scores seven years ago today. I'm just kidding That was for Corey who brought up at Lincoln yesterday First I just want to thank everybody for their confidence last year was a fun, but interesting year We got through it Over the last three years that I've been on this body. We've come a long long way But we still have many things that we need to accomplish My focus has always has been on economic development and will continue to be and then finally the budget that we have to tackle 2015 is going to be a very interesting year for the budget and we need to work now to start putting things in place for the long term The one thing I'd asked for this council To wrap up is as we go forward There's gonna be many difficult decisions we have to make and I would ask that we put our personal agendas be set behind and Focus on what's best for the the greater good and for the long-term vision of the city Thank you again. Look forward to working with you. Thank you for that message Next to the committee ill hold chairperson's message alderman born. Thank you And Don told me his was going to be five minutes. So I scheduled mine for about 45 minutes First I'd like to congratulate Mayor van der steen Mike and I go back many years. I didn't talk to Mike about this But I think Mike remembers the days when he played softball for the shabuigan Jcs and I was the the manager of Dicks towers dicks tower in and GNL sports shop And I just reminded wanted to remind you Mike that I think we beat you every time we played the Jcs But I think I pirated all the good the the good athletes on the on the Jcs that you did And then a little more serious note back when I had my business. I served on the Chamber of Commerce Government and Public Affairs Committee. I believe it was called government and public policy committee from 1986 and Until I sold my business in 2006 and Mike attended most of those meetings I think first as a small business person like I was and then also after you got on the county board I would and I look forward to working with you Mike. I think it's I'm very excited about this council year I'd also like to congratulate the the alder persons that reelected especially my fellow alderman Joe Heidemann from the 8th district Joe and I have been representing the 8th district Together for six years, and I look forward to working with Joe during the next year a Special welcome to our new alderman Todd Wolf Mark Herman and Bill Thiel. I look forward to working with you gentlemen. I Would also like to think think alderman Hammond and alderman Carlson for stepping forward to assume the Leadership positions on the council president and vice president respectively. I Want to thank my fellow alder persons for electing me to the third term as your committee the whole chairman It's an honor and a privilege to serve you The mayor's Confidential secretary Mary Rachel rager will again assist me in preparing agendas taking minutes and Having the minutes published in a timely manner. I very much appreciate Mary's assistance. She has done an outstanding job for me For those new alderman and people at home and in the audience The committee of the whole is a committee where all the alder persons meet to discuss issues that usually require a fairly lengthy Discussion a longer more thorough discussion than we could possibly do at a regular council meeting Any matter that the committee of the whole votes on is then referred back to the council for final approval The committee of the whole meets Generally between six and ten times a year the committee of the whole may get referrals from standing committees Where that committee believes a more thorough discussion is warranted on the issue This year I would like to again Encourage the mayor the chief administrative officer the department heads and my fellow alder persons to contact me and refer any topics to me for the committee the whole to discuss I Promise not to meeting up. I promise not to meeting us to death But I am willing to meet whenever an issue is referred to us for discussion Just to give you a flavor of what's upcoming our first meeting will be held next week Or the following week on that will be an alter aldermanic orientation for the new alderman and the And a refresher for the other alderman. I Also plan to hold a meeting very early in May with our chief administrative officer Jim Amorio As Don was saying our budget is very important for 14 and 15 And I want mr.. Amorio to give the new alderman and the rest of the council an update on the budget for 2014 and 15 So that That is what we're going to be doing in the next few weeks I again want to thank thank you for electing me to this position and I look forward to working working with all of you Thank you Thank you for that message alderman born Next is the mayor's appointments pursuant to section 22 77 of the municipal code the Standing Committee assignments are made by the mayor on April 16th and subject to confirmation by the full council on April 22nd It's the mayor's responsibility to make the assignments that will best serve the interest of the city of Sheboygan Under the municipal code each other person will be appointed to at least one but not more than two standing committees I've got a spreadsheet that I gave you along with those committee appointments And I'm proud to say that 12 of the 16 alderman got their first choice in a committee assignment and for the 16 Got there second, so I hope that you will find those acceptable and look forward to The approval of those on the 22nd Steve please read those Thank You your honor hereby submit the following appointments for your confirmation To the finance committee Don Hammond chair Daryl Carlson vice chair Joe Heidemann John Bellinger and Todd Wolf Public Protection and Safety Committee Daryl Carlson chair David Van Akron vice chair Scott Fursi Susan Lassard and Maryland Donahue The public works committee Joe Heidemann chair Jim Boran vice chair Jeremy Decker John Bellinger and Mark Herman The souring grievance committee Maryland Donahue chair Jim Boran vice chair Don Hammond Jodi Vander wheel and Todd Wolf And on the law and licensing committee Jodi Vander wheel as chair Kevin Maddichek as vice chair Scott Lewandowski Susan Lassard and Bill Thiel signed by the mayor Thank you very much moving on My first proclamation of the new term is going to be a proclamation Honoring Sheboygan barbershop harmony week Just read this quickly the society through preservation encouragement of barbershop quartet singing in America Known as the barbershop harmony society as officially was organized on April 11th from 1938 in Tulsa, Oklahoma What began as a small group has steadily blossomed into the world's largest all-male singing organization an international organization of men from all stations of life and Whereas the barbershop harmony society is dedicated to the spread of harmony for the enjoyment of all people in the world through organizing and encouraging close harmony Singing groups and whereas the barbershop harmony society encourages harmony amongst all people of the world through universal language of music And whereas the barbershop harmony society has actively preserved and presented a distinct style of vocal music that originated in North America And whereas the barbershop harmony society is dedicated to sustaining and preserving an American tradition the barbershop Portet and whereas the barbershop harmony society promotes the musical education through music scholarships and other means and supports Charitable foundations and whereas the barbershoppers are engaged in laudable civic activities in the enrichment of our cultural life Through the fostering of traditional values and entertainment and community endeavors I therefore Mike van der steen mayor of the city of Sheboygan to hereby proclaim the week of April 14th through 20th of 2013 is barbershop harmony week The barbershoppers couldn't stay until we got to this point in the agenda because they have a practice for a performance at the Wild Center this Saturday, so if you're inclined, please attend and support them Next we'll go on to the mayor's message I want to thank the voters of the city of Sheboygan for the opportunity and privilege that they've given me to serve as your Sheboygan mayor. I'm humbled by the positive comments. I've received since the election I pledge to do my best to move Sheboygan forward in the coming years The previous council put a great deal of work into the drafting of the guiding principles for the mayor I appreciate the thought that went into this document and to that end as mayor I will do my best to live up to these expectations not only of the council, but of the community to accomplish this I have Yesterday resigned as the manager of Du Bois formal wire and I also resigned my seat as a county board supervisor Early on I was asked if I was going to continue the role as a supervisor And I want a little bit more time to think about it And as I thought about it I really thought that there would be some conflicts and I wouldn't have to make a decision Not to go to one meeting or the other where I was needed to vote on a committee So I made the decision to have a little bit more singular purpose and just Be mayor of the city of Sheboygan. I think the conflict would have presented some areas where I couldn't attend or Participate as a county supervisor and that's best to last and left to a new individual to assume those roles Today is a new day and we can all learn from the past to secure the future I've been reminded that leadership is the position is not a position, but rather action You have been elected as leaders of this community. Our responsibility is to help form the vision in the future of Sheboygan We need to carefully consider all available options and deal with the opportunities that are facing us and Realize that many times without compromise. Nothing will change change is difficult and sometimes painstaking But without change Nothing will ever change as we look at our community I believe that there are areas that we need to focus on first economic development I believe we need to work with our industries and businesses to grow and prosper here in Sheboygan In addition, we need to attract new businesses and good-paying jobs to Sheboygan to work towards that goal I will be accepting a board position that has been offered by the Sheboygan economic development corporation I want to be sure that we are represented on this board and getting the full value for the city investment in this partnership Some of the current activities were Undertaking a city staff in partner with the SCEDC is continuing to work with a number of local employers To bring their expansion plans to reality at this time approximately a hundred to hundred and fifty new Manufacturing jobs may be created as a result of these current projects city staff is working on development Opportunities at the former Shukrit property City development is developing new wayfinding signage plan for the city to provide a consistent sign Signage from the interstate to downtown districts and also to key attractions The bid and the city are working on a master plan for the business improvement district with an emphasis on downtown This plan will prepare a market study for the district and future business recruitment efforts as well as design guidelines for new downtown Development the bid and the city are also involved in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's connecting communities program That offers technical assistance and networking opportunities to local leaders interested in revitalizing our downtown This year we can celebrate the completion of the 30-year Sheboygan River dredging project marketing that has occurred went out to a thousand Great Lakes Yacht owners that Sheboygan now has deep water The future economic impact for the local business community is going to be great with the river being usable again Legislative agenda in the guiding principles. We talked about the mayor being Speaking for the the council on legislative matters And I really feel that we need to work to develop a legislative agenda with position papers to support those changes that we feel Necessary in the laws of the state and or the administrative rules of the state in order to accomplish this We need to include the alderman department heads in regular meetings with our state and federal legislators an agenda and schedule will soon be developed In sustainability, I believe that the Sheboygan sustainable task force with their help we can improve our sustainability Score after establishing a baseline we can chart our progress if we continue to make future improvements Sheboygan is one of the two communities in the state that is in the non-attainment status Our sustainability improvements can affect our return to an attainment status and allow us to reduce city operating expenditures And those expenditures of businesses that operate here the city of Sheboygan's regional wastewater facility was along with Donahue engineers was recently honored with the American Council of Engineers companies Wisconsin 2013 engineering excellence award which recognized the collaborative effort between Donahue and the city to improve energy Efficiency production and recovery at the treatment facility This project makes Sheboygan's wastewater facility the first in Wisconsin to regularly Produce more electrical energy than it requires exporting excess renewable electricity to the grid as The city replaces its fleet of garbage trucks There's the opportunity to take advantage the new newly available less expensive fuels and convert those trucks to burn CNG Compressed natural gas Converting the city-owned street lights to LEDs can also continue and this will lose much energy And most of the communities have done this have experienced payback on this investment in less than two years Investing in our infrastructure As we all know some of our roads have failed to endure a tough winter with the council's blessing we can Reprioritize enough budgeted funds to repair the roads that were damaged by the winter freeze-thaw cycle There are some major road replacement and repaving projects that are currently slated to start soon very soon Eisner Avenue Erie Avenue South Business Drive In addition to the road improvements there will be pedestrian improvements along Eisner Avenue The interurban trail from Penn Avenue to Martin Avenue will be constructed this summer and converted to a pathway that can be used by walkers and bikers Partnerships and recreation the quarry will get a new look as a Verona recreation company Partners with the city of Sheboygan to add inflatable play devices to JC Park quarry JC Park will again become the summer attraction. It had been before many years This new partnership will put lifeguards on duty at the quarry to assure the community of a safe experience at the summer playground Clean and safe neighborhoods our neighborhood pride program has brought several neighborhoods together to form neighborhood associations We will continue to grow as many associations as we can and support the ones that currently exist Since the beginning of the year city departments have been involved in approximately 25 neighborhood meetings across the city Participants of these groups may be interested in forming formal neighborhood associations or will just stay informal for the meeting maybe perhaps as a neighborhood party either way these efforts are a way of Allowing neighbors to get to know each other and I encourage all of you to attend these meetings in your district I've been to several of them and it's been a real eye-opening experience It's part of the ongoing neighborhood revitalization strategy Designation for the neighborhoods around Erie Avenue The city staff is working to repave Erie Avenue with federal dollars from North 8th to North 14th And if budget allows some LED lighting in the street lighting will also be added to this project Habitat for humanity the Gateway Neighborhood Association the city have partnered in an effort to reinvest in properties along Erie Avenue Design guidelines for the homes have been developed Lighted properties will soon be purchased and raised and in 2014 new homes can be constructed We also enhance the code enforcement with a partnership between the building inspection department and the police department Two days a week representatives from both departments are walking the neighborhoods and writing up properties and needed repairs The city is partnering partnering with the John Michael Kohler Art Center in the Worcester Collective Sheboygan project Some of the work can be seen in the hallways of City Hall Under this collaborative art will be taken out of the gallery and put on the street in publicly owned Buildings and spaces around the city visiting artists and area residents and participants across the country will create works of art That will celebrate Sheboygan's culture and people budget development During the coming term I will ask the County Council to evaluate and prioritize all of our city programs This effort when finished will help to guide the council's future budget deliberations Regional cooperation several cooperative efforts whether municipal neighbors have produced positive results for the city I will continue to look for new opportunities to bring to the Common Council for their consideration If our vision for vision for the future is to have more effective efficient government That serves the residents and the businesses of this community We could start now with teamwork communication at City Hall Between our employees and the elected officials if we can accomplish this agenda for progress It means having an open discussion Active debates and compromising to make everything work better. I remind you that leadership takes action Thank you very much Has anyone registered for the public forum? No not this evening Next is a resolution Requesting the mayor to reactivate various special committees in the 2013-14 council Thank You mr. Mayor. I move that we put the resolution upon its passage Thank you for that motion in second any discussion Seeing none all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. I opposed motion passes Entertain a motion to adjourn. Thank you mr. Mayor again Congratulations. Good luck, and I make the motion to adjourn It's been moved in second to adjourn all those in favor, please signify by saying aye Opposed we stand adjourned. Thank you very much