COUNCIL AGENDA - February 10

CITY OF RIPON - COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
Conference room, City Hall - Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 6:00 p.m.
1. Call to order/roll call
2. 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: Proposed new developer’s agreement for assistance in TIF District #7
Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(c) “Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility”
RE: City Administrator’s performance review
3. Adjourn (6:55 p.m.)

CITY OF RIPON - COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
Council chambers, City Hall - Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 7:00 p.m.
I. Call to order/roll call
II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation – Pastor Geoff Arnold
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. Reports from standing committees and staff
a. Cable TV Advisory Committee minutes – December 8th
b. Historic Preservation Commission minutes – January 5th
c. Fire District minutes – January 6th
d. Special Plan Commission minutes – January 7th
e. Common Council minutes – January 13th & January 26th
f. Board of Zoning Appeals minutes– January 21st
g. Plan Commission minutes – January 21st
h. Ripon Public Library Board minutes – January 27th
i. Park & Recreation Committee minutes – January 28th
j. Ripon Taxi – December
k. Building Inspector’s report – January
l. EMS report – January
m. Police Department report – January
n. Fire District report – January
o. Public Works report – January
p. Senior Center report – January
q. City Administration reports
· Treasurer’s report – January
· Budget report – January
· Check register – January
2. Change of Agent: Kwik Trip East #770, 545 East Fond du Lac Street, Ripon, Thomas A. Hultman
3. Resolution – writing off loan from the City’s revolving loan fund

V. Other business
1. Receive report – cash shortfall of the Ripon Area Fire District - (Staff note: The fire district has a cash shortfall of about $32,000. The board is asking municipalities to pay their respective shares. Chairman Pape and Chief Fredrick will explain how the shortfall occurred, and what measures are being taken to address this concern in the future.)
2. Possible restructuring of the Public Works Department - (Staff note: Mayor Kramer asked that Council discuss restructuring to eliminate the DPW Director job, and have a Superintendent of Public Works and a City Engineer, as it was before 2005. Funding is an issue, but for now, staff seeks direction on whether to explore this further.)
3. Proposed plan for expenditures under TIF District #8 – Mayor Kramer (Staff note: With TIF District #8 in place, Mayor Kramer is proposing moving ahead with the attached expenditures to increase development downtown. The likely financing tool would be a State Trust Fund loan. Staff will bring information on terms and interest rates to the meeting.)
4. Review final list of goals/timelines, and approve City’s 2009 workplan - (Staff note: Based on our last meeting, the attached is our list of goals. On Tuesday night, staff will offer a prioritized list, with timetables, for your review and consideration as our 2009 workplan.)
5. Park & Recreation Committee minutes – January 28th
a. Request to install walkway and benches by statue in Barlow Park - (Staff note: Terry Hansen is asking to install a walkway from the sidewalk along Griswold Street to the new statue in Barlow Park, and to put benches on each side. All labor would be donated, and the materials cost can be covered with 2007 budget surplus funds not needed for the dugouts. A sketch is attached for your review.)
6. Updates
a. Parking and traffic flow in the areas around Ripon College - (Staff note: At the Mayor’s request, Chief Lukoski prepared the attached report on parking and traffic around Ripon College, now with parts of Seward and Elm Streets vacated, and new parking restrictions in place. Let staff know if you have any questions.)
b. Use of 2007 budget surplus monies for approved projects - (Staff note: Attached is an update on use of 2007 budget surplus funds for certain projects. Staff will keep this on the agenda for the first monthly meeting as we work to complete these projects.)
c. Staff report – changing mayor’s term of office from 2 to 4 years - (Staff note: Councilmember Luskey inquired about amending the mayor’s term of office to 4 years. The City Attorney advised that this requires approval of a charter ordinance, but no referendum is needed. If the Council wishes to pursue this, staff recommends that a public hearing be held before any action is taken.)

VI. Mayor’s communications and appointments
VII. Agenda items for future Council meetings
VIII. Adjourn