COUNCIL AGENDA - July 28

CITY OF RIPON
COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers, City Hall
Monday, July 28, 2008
7:00 p.m.

I. Call to order/roll call

II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation

III. Public communications and comment

IV. Consent calendar (Unless the Mayor, Council or staff asks that one or more of the items listed below be pulled, this list may be approved with a single vote.)
1. Application for "Class A" intoxicating liquor license – Tango Uncorked, LLC, (trade name) Uncorked, 211 Watson St, Ripon, WI 54971, Lisa Diedrich, Agent, 944 S Grove St, Ripon, WI 54971.
2. Ordinance – vehicles in timed parking must be moved at least one block
3. Resolution – authorizing State Trust Fund Loan for Stoney Ridge Road
4. Request for street closures – Maxwell Street Day (August 1st)
5. Request for street closures & beer tent – Septemberfest (September 20th)

V. Other business
1. Request for changes in on-street parking restrictions – Ripon College
(Staff note: Ripon College wants a “loading zone” space at the northwest corner of Pickard Commons, but no parking is allowed on the south side of Congress Street. Staff supports a plan reversing parking restrictions, so parking is permitted along the south side of Congress, but prohibited on the north side. To gain more parking, the college wants some parking kept on the north side, west of the Merriman House driveway entrance.)

2. Request to close certain streets for 5K race on Sunday, September 14th

3. Mayor and Council input on goals and parameters for the 2009 budget
(Staff note: As in past years, City staff wants input from the Mayor and Council on the budget. Any goals and parameters - what new things you want to see done, what about the tax rate, etc. – will help as decisions are made on crafting the proposed 2009 budget for your consideration.)

4. Staff’s proposed 5-year financial plan (with financing) for 2009-2013
(Staff note: On July 8th, Council reviewed staff’s 5-year capital list, and no items were flagged. On Monday, a plan will be offered showing how these projects may be financed. Based on your response, staff will make any desired changes, and bring a final plan to you on August 12th.)

5. Review policy – prohibition against use of compost site by contractors
(Staff note: The City prohibits contractors from using its compost site, as these firms often collect yard waste from outside the City, and there’s no good way to track where the materials come from. It has been suggested that we review the policy, based on the idea that for yard waste collected in the City, it shouldn’t matter if a homeowner or a contractor brings this material to the compost site.)

6. 2008 Housing and Employee Attraction Program – Mayor Kramer
(Staff note: On July 8th, the Council reviewed a proposal from the Mayor to encourage employees of Ripon firms to live in the City. It would give TIF monies to companies when their employees establish residency in Ripon. The City Attorney reviewed the proposal, and the new version in the agenda packet reflects the minor changes made.)

7. “Class B” licensing requirements – Ripon City Code Chapter 6.36.050(I)
(Staff note: At our last meeting, and since then, concern has been raised about the length of time that a “Class B” license holder may not have the licensed premises open for business. As set forth in the attached code section, licensed premises must be open for 9 months of a licensing year. This raises the possibility that a business can be closed from April-June, get a license for the next calendar year, and remain closed through the end of September, without being in violation.)

8. Stormwater management warrant system; review of recent complaints
(Staff note: Due in large part to recent heavy rains, the City’s stormwater management approach is being called into question. The issue is: when should the City take an active role in complaints, and what is our role in addressing these issues. I’ve attached the warrant system adopted 3 years ago, along with a list of problem areas discussed at that time.)

VI. Mayor’s communications and appointments

VII. Agenda items for future Council meetings

VIII. Adjourn to closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(e) “Deliberating or
negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session”
RE: Possible purchase of land by the City for industrial purposes