CITY OF WATERLOO COUNCIL MINUTES

COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING – 136 N. MONROE STREET

Thursday, August 3, 2006

1.  CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL.  Mayor Edward Klug called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at approximately 7:00 p.m.  Alderpersons present – Putzke, Perry, Wolfgram, Van Holten, Forman, and Kent with Hennessy absent.  Others present – Mayor Klug, Herb Lenius, Public Works Director Gary Yerges, Katie Linder of the Courier, Becky Thielke of the Watertown Daily Times, Police Chief Thomas, and Clerk/Treasurer Hansen.

2.  APPROVAL OF THE JULY 20, 2006 COUNCIL MINUTES.  Motion:  Moved by Putzke, seconded by Kent to approve the minutes as presented.  Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Putzke, Perry, Wolfgram, Forman, and Kent. Noes – None with Van Holten abstaining and Hennessy absent.  Motion passed.

3.  CITIZEN INPUT.  None.

4.  MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS

a.  Shared-Ride Taxi Update.  Presentation: Van Holten reviewed the ridership figures presented in the packet.  He noted that ridership was up and expenditures were down.  He stated that a new service provider would need to be identified as Brown Cab had chosen to no longer act as the service provider.  He noted that greater participation by Marshall citizens was needed and would benefit the program.  Hansen noted that the three months prior to June showed record ridership and June had the second highest ridership ever.  Van Holten asked that the issue of a 2007 Shared-Ride Taxi service be placed on the August 17 Council agenda.

5.  COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND BOARDS RECOMMENDATIONS

a.  Public Safety & Health Committee – Resolution #2006-48 Installation of Uniform Traffic Control Devices – DeYoung Farm Phase 1.  Disccussion:  Forman summarized the resolution as providing for a 25 mile per hour speed along South Monroe Street near the new residential development. Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Kent to approve Resolution #2006-48 as presented.  Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Putzke, Perry, Wolfgram, Van Holten, Forman, and Kent. Noes – None with Hennessy absent.  Motion passed.

b.  Comprehensive Planning Committee – Resolution #2006-49 Approval Of Planning Public Participation Plan.  Discussion:  Forman stated that state law required the Council to approve a plan as part of the Comprehensive Planning process.  Motion:  Moved by Forman, seconded by Van Holten to approve Resolution #2006-49 as presented.  .  Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Putzke, Perry, Wolfgram, Van Holten, Forman, and Kent. Noes – None with Hennessy absent.  Motion passed.

c.  Plan Commission – Conditional Use Permit – Matthew McCunn, 940 Herron Court.  Discussion:  Putzke stated that a public hearing and Plan Commission meeting had taken up this request for an additional garage, and no opposition had been  presented.  He further stated that the garage would not be visible from the street.  Motion:  Moved by Putzke, seconded by Kent to approve the Conditional Use Permit for Matthew McCunn as presented. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Putzke, Perry, Wolfgram, Van Holten and Kent. Noes – None with Forman abstaining and Hennessy absent.  Motion passed

d.  Public Works & Property Committee – Resolution #2006- 50  Approval Of Sale Of Lots 1 & 2 Of The East Side Industrial Park.  Motion:  Moved by Wolfgram, seconded by Van Holten to approve Resolution #2006-50 as presented.  Discussion:  In response to a question, Hansen stated that the 50-foot setback from Highway 19 would be deeded back to the City and a future building would have to meet the standard setback requirements from the new property line.  Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Putzke, Perry, Wolfgram, Van Holten, Forman, and Kent. Noes – None with Hennessy absent.  Motion passed.

6.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS.  None.

7.  NEW BUSINESS

a.  #2006-51 Gay Marriage Amendment Resolution.  Motion:  Moved by Kent, seconded by Putzke to approve Resolution #2006-51 as presented.  Discussion:  Hansen noted that Alderman Hennessy called earlier stating that he would not be able to attend due to family obligations at the Milwaukee airport.  Hansen noted that Hennessy requested that it be stated that he supports the resolution opposing the Constitutional Amendment to define marriage.  Hansen stated that four individuals had called to register their opposition to the resolution: Robert Thompson, Vern Butzine, William Springer and Karen Scheel.  Kent stated the resolution relates to the measure before the voters in November.  Kent stated that the current issues related to gay and lesbian rights is our equivalent to civil rights issues of the 60’s.  Kent stated that the gay marriage is a hot button issue because of the word marriage.  He described marriage as a religious sacrament and a legal status.  He said there is no role for the state in telling religious entities whom they can and can’t marry.  Kent said he was addressing the legal status of marriage by authoring this resolution.  He stated that the Constitutional Amendment would prevent the idea of civil unions, which many view as an appropriate compromise.  He stated that the Constitutional Amendment was somewhat mean spirited and presented for political expediency at the state level.  Kent stated that for future generations in Waterloo, he would like to be on the record stating that the right path was taken on this issue.  Putzke stated that a number of labor unions have opposed this issue.  He stated that hatred and bigotry was not a family value.  Putzke stated that he was galled when Representative Ward chose to spend time advocating for the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage when before the Council rather than taking the time to address serious budget issues before the state.  Forman stated that he didn’t think the local jurisdiction should be involved one way or another.  Forman stated that he hadn’t heard from his constituents on the matter, and he said they can vote in November.  Kent stated that the resolution is not binding.  Kent did not understand why gay and lesbian citizen were being singled out.  Van Holten stated that a citizen is a citizen and sexual orientation is none of the government’s business.  Perry stated that the Constitutional Amendment was not just about gay marriage and stated that unmarried men and women in civil unions with children would be affected.  Wolfgram stated that the issue is on the November ballot.  Klug stated that he had received calls.  He stated that he has nothing against gay people. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Putzke, Perry, Van Holten and Kent. Noes – Wolfgram and Forman with Hennessy absent.  Motion passed.

8.   FUture agenda items and announcements.  # Putzke thank citizens for the quality sidewalk repair.  Putzke stated that he was enthusiastic about the Van Holten expansion.

9.   ADJOURN.  Motion:   Moved by Van Holten, seconded by Kent to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously.  Time of adjournment was approximately 8:30 pm.

Morton Hansen

Clerk/Treasurer