Janesville City Council Regular Meeting - April 13, 2026
Janesville City Council Regular Meeting - April 13, 2026
The Janesville City Council met on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included recognitions for outgoing councilmembers, a check presentation for a mountain bike park, a city manager update on the Woodman Center, and actions on special assessments, annexation, and rezoning. All council members were present.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the March 23, 2026 regular meeting, licenses, financial statements for December 2025, January 2026, and February 2026, and a resolution proclaiming April 2026 as "Fair Housing Month" in the City of Janesville (File Resolution No. 2026-2409). All items passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the public comment period. Public hearings for the annexation and rezoning of property near Hemingway Drive were opened and closed with no speakers or written statements.
Discussion Items
- Check Presentation (3C): Katie Udell and Austin Watson of the Janesville Generations Fund presented checks to the Janesville Velo Club ($15,000 from the Esther C. Jeffs Advised Fund) and the City of Janesville ($6,875) for the Palmer Urban Mountain Bike Park pump track. The fund has given over $500,000 to community projects since 2007.
- City Manager Update (Item 5): City Manager Kevin Lair thanked staff for a smooth election, congratulated successful candidates, and recognized outgoing councilmembers Aaron Burdick and Paul Williams. He provided a detailed report on the Woodman Sports and Convention Center, which opened in September 2025. Key statistics: 140,000 square foot facility delivered within the $46.7 million budget; 25,000 guests across 22 events in the fourth quarter of 2025; 130 Janesville Youth Hockey home games; Jets attendance record averaging nearly 1,000 spectators; a 200% increase in Janesville-hosted events and 135% increase in tourism-related economic impact compared to 2024; room tax revenues up 25% year-over-year; Milton Avenue corridor valuation growth of 6% in 2024 and 8% in 2025. The partial-year operating loss was $82,951, which was 29% better than the projected $117,000 loss. Revenues totaled $922,000 (including $269,000 in facility rental and $202,000 in food and beverage sales) and expenses were just over $1 million. Lair noted higher-than-anticipated utility costs that have since been corrected. The old ice arena will be listed with a realtor shortly.
- Anthony Avenue Special Assessments (7A): Public Works Director Mike Payne presented a preliminary resolution to assess the full cost of public street and utility infrastructure along Anthony Avenue, a 500-foot gravel street with four property owners (six parcels). The resolution initiates the process to convert the street to an urban standard. Payne reviewed city policy and past practice: over the last 10 years, 13 special assessment projects levied more than $4.175 million on over 100 landowners, with $650,000 still on payment plans. The 2019 estimated cost for this project was $97,140, with the north-side manufacturing property owner paying half and the five south-side parcels paying the other half. Payment options include lump sum, within the first year of taxes, or a five-year plan with interest. Councilmember Miller expressed concern about placing the burden on residents who did not request the improvements, suggesting alternative options. The resolution passed 6-1, with Miller dissenting. The project will proceed to design and bidding, with a future public hearing for final resolution.
- Annexation and Rezoning (7B & 7C): Planning Director Dwayne Cherrick presented second readings and public hearings for ordinances to annex 12.8 acres of land between US Highway 14 and the northerly terminus of Hemingway Drive, and to rezone the property to R1 (Single and Two-Family Residence District) and B3 (General Commercial District). The petition was submitted by Advantage Homes (for a new single-family subdivision phase) and Compeer Financial (for a new office building). The Plan Commission recommended approval on March 16, 2026. Both ordinances passed unanimously after public hearings with no comment.
- Recognitions of Outgoing Councilmembers (3A & 3B): Resolutions were passed recognizing Aaron Burdick (File Resolution No. 2026-2434) and Paul Williams (File Resolution No. 2026-2435) for their service. Burdick served from 2022 to 2026, including as Council President, and contributed to initiatives including the Woodman Center, GM JATCO acquisition, and TIF district extensions. Williams served from 2000 to 2008 and again from 2016 to 2026, including as Council President, and was involved in downtown revitalization, transit improvements, and the Woodman Center. Both resolutions passed with 6 yes votes and the respective councilmember abstaining. Both made remarks thanking staff and citizens.
Key Outcomes
- Approved preliminary resolution for Anthony Avenue special assessments (6-1).
- Approved annexation ordinance (File Ordinance No. 2026-927) unanimously.
- Approved rezoning ordinance (File Ordinance No. 2026-928) unanimously.
- Approved resolutions recognizing Aaron Burdick and Paul Williams (each 6-0, with the honoree abstaining).
- The meeting adjourned at approximately [time not specified] following a motion by Williams and second by Burdick.
Meeting Transcript
All right, I'm gonna call to order the Janesville City Council meeting for Monday, April 13th of 2026. If you can stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation on their God, indivisible liberty and justice for all. All right, thank you. In case of emergency, use the stairs and not the elevator to exit. Walk to the north side of the police department and wait for further instructions. Item two, roll call. Council President Burdick. Here. Vice President Swired. Here. Councilmember Cass. Here. Councilmember Erdman. Here. Councilmember Miller. Here. Councilmember Nino. Here. Councilmember Williams. Here. Did I get everybody? Yep. Everybody's here. We do have a quorum. All right. Items three, recognitions. Um for items A and B. We're gonna move that to after item eight, new business. So we'll jump right to 3C, which is the check presentation to the City of Janesville and Janesville Vellow Club from the Janesville Generations Fund for the Palmer Urban Mountain Bike Park. If um come on up. Hi, I'm Katie Udell, and we have Austin Watson, and we're with the Janesville Generations Fund Board and wanted to present these checks tonight. Um Janesville is a growing and vibrant community in the Janesville Generations Fund, a component of the community foundation of Southern Wisconsin, was established to ensure we in sh we continue to thrive. Each year we fund projects that make Janesville a better place to live and ensure prosperity across generations. Since 2007, the Janesville Generations Fund has given over 500,000 to support community projects. It is the primary donor of the Palmer Urban Mountain Bike Park Pump. And in 2023, 20,000 was given for the pump project. In December of last year, a few months ago, we awarded two additional grants for the pump project. We're awarding 15,000 to the Janesville Vellow Club from the Esther C. Jeff's advised fund and 6,875 to the City of Janesville. Congratulations to the City of Janesville and the Velo Club for their work to create the Palmer Urban Mountain Bike Park. This amenity is a valuable addition to the Janesville community for years to come. Thank you. Thank you. Um are you gonna have some pictures taken? Do we have representatives from the how are we doing that, Nick? Velo coming up and parks. Yep. Thank you.
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