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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Janesville City Council Regular Session Meeting - August 10, 2026: QuickTrip Rezoning, Ice Arena Discussion, GEA TIF Approvals

Meeting Portal — Monday, August 10, 2026

BodyJanesville, Wisconsin

SessionMeeting Portal

DateMonday, August 10, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:24:56

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Clerk um we'll call the orderless to the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

0:05

Flag is right over in that side.

0:08

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:15

One nation on the indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:21

In case of emergency, please use the stairs and not the elevator to exit.

0:26

Walk to the north side of the police department and wait for further instructions.

0:33

Council President Squire.

0:34

Here.

0:35

Vice President Cass.

0:36

Here.

0:36

Councilmember Erdman.

0:38

Councilmember Miller.

0:39

Here.

0:39

Councilmember Nino.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Councilmember Poe?

0:43

Here.

0:44

Councilmember Seaman?

0:45

Here.

0:45

All are present.

0:46

We do have a quorum.

0:48

Very good.

0:48

Thank you.

0:49

Item number three of recognition.

0:50

There are no recognitions this evening.

0:53

Item four public comments on items on the agenda not requiring a public hearing and on matters which can be affected by council action.

1:01

Individuals wishing to address the city council are asked to complete a speaker form that's located on the table in the lobby and to keep comments under four minutes.

1:21

Speakers on that topic will have an opportunity to speak at that point in the agenda.

1:26

So Lori, what do we have?

1:28

I do have two.

1:29

First up is uh Debbie Ferlano.

1:40

Good evening.

1:42

I'm Debbie Ferlano of 4318 Braxton Drive, formerly 4298 Huntinghorn Drive.

1:49

I'm not here to say no to Quick Trip or Car Wash close by on McCormick and Highway 26.

1:56

I hear I am here to say that your traffic study that you've been given is incorrect.

2:01

There is no line addition for the children.

2:04

We have seen grow in to young adults who can now drive.

2:08

There is a home that went from three children when we moved in to parents and three drivers.

2:14

They now have five cars in their area.

2:17

There is also no addition for new homes and how many vehicles that is added.

2:23

We are not a percentage number to be added onto a line.

2:26

We are people.

2:28

From what was said at the planning commission meeting, those babies that I helped raise next door are not supposed to play in the street.

2:36

There are too many that enjoy walking in our neighborhood who walk on the sidewalks.

2:41

Those kids are polite and ride their bikes and scooters on the roads to each other's homes.

2:46

Why are they being penalized and told to stay in their yards per the planning commission?

2:54

Sandhill was put in so people can have access to shopping and dime from Wright Road to Deerfield.

3:01

Can we have access?

3:02

Why not have add access from Wright Road to McCormick to have a closer gas station, donuts, or any store allowed to open in the strip mall?

3:12

Has there been further discussion or plans for the city council to discuss with Milton School District for the buses that meet at the intersection of Braxton and Huntinghorn at any given time in the afternoon when the kids get off the bus?

3:25

There can be three buses that meet at that intersection with kids getting off buses, going to their parents' vehicles.

3:32

And lastly, I'd like to say quick trip.

3:35

You're more than welcome to move in.

3:36

I go there every day.

3:38

But please address the fact that this is not going to be a safe and livable area when you add cars going at such speeds.

3:49

As a matter of fact, think of the fact that on Huntinghorn there are two curves.

3:54

Imagine standing in your front yard watching a Jeep come down the road, no doors on, two young men, no seat belts.

4:02

They are going so fast that they don't realize there's a vehicle on the south side of the road parked.

4:07

They hit their steering wheel so hard they put that Jeep up on two wheels.

4:11

And you wonder, is this the time I'm gonna have to call the ambulance because we finally had our accident that is gonna claim a life?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Transportation Safety██████████████████████22%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████17%

Procedural██████████████14%

Community Engagement██████████████14%

Affordable Housing█████████9%

Economic Development████████8%

Public Safety█████5%

Personnel Matters███3%

Parks and Recreation███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Janesville City Council Regular Session Meeting - August 10, 2026

The Janesville City Council met on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a public hearing on a rezoning for a proposed QuickTrip gas station, a presentation on the former ice arena with council debate over its sale, and unanimous approval of a lighting contract and two tax increment financing agreements with GEA Systems.

Consent Calendar

Approved by unanimous consent: approval of minutes from July 27, 2026; licenses and recommendations; resolution recognizing August 11, 2026 as Carrie Jacobs-Bond Day (Resolution No. 2026-2450).
Item 6D (CSM 26009-C, DK Partnership LLP) was pulled from the consent calendar to be considered alongside rezoning item 7A.

Public Comments & Testimony

Debbie Ferlano (4318 Braxton Drive, formerly 4298 Huntinghorn Drive) expressed concern about traffic safety for the QuickTrip project. She stated the traffic study is inaccurate because it did not account for new young drivers in the neighborhood, new homes, and school bus activity. She urged the city to address safety on Huntinghorn Drive curves and not penalize children playing in the street. She noted that the planning commission told children to stay in their yards.
Ray Jewel addressed three topics: data center moratoriums in the county (several townships have or are working on a 12-month moratorium); the GM/JATCO site remediation cost (he claimed a consultant said the site does not need $30 million remediation but could be covered with concrete); and opposition to the November referendum, arguing it can be done incrementally and that business community claims are unsubstantiated.

Discussion Items

Former Ice Arena Update

Jennifer Petruzzello, Neighborhood and Community Services Director, presented an update on the former Janesville Ice Arena (closed September 2025, located on Beloit Avenue, ~4.75 acres). The council had directed sale of the property in October 2025 (motion: remove $690,000 demolition cost, pursue sale with caveat that building cannot be used as an ice facility, report back by July 31, 2026). Petruzzello explained that staff instead pursued a community engagement process through Stantec and KSU TAB at no cost to the city, including a survey (over 1,200 responses, 35% within half-mile). Survey results: 66% favored mixed-use redevelopment, 39% included housing, 48% preferred multifamily.
Several council members expressed disappointment that the sale directive was not carried out. Councilmember Miller noted the council's clear intention was to sell, and the process should have been followed. Interim City Manager Jay Chambeau acknowledged the directive and said staff would seek clear council consensus. Council decided to place the matter on the next agenda for a formal decision between listing the property for sale or continuing the community engagement process.

Rezoning & Certified Survey Map for QuickTrip (Ordinance No. 2026-936 & CSM 26009-C)

Dwayne Cherrick, Planning Director, presented the rezoning request for 4700 Milton Avenue (from A Agricultural and B2 to B2 Community Shopping District) to allow a QuickTrip gas station, convenience store (11,000 sq ft), car wash, and 10 fuel pumps. The plan commission approved a conditional use permit on July 20, 2026. The certified survey map would create three lots and one outlot along McCormick Drive and Huntinghorn Drive. Public infrastructure improvements (streets, utilities) would be funded by the landowner DK Partnership.
Public Hearing: Multiple residents spoke opposing the project due to traffic, speeding, and safety concerns. Speakers: Steve Smith (4306 Braxton Drive), Jason Tyler (426 Huntinghorn Drive), an unnamed resident (walking dog), James Bass (4224 Braxton Drive), Trish Bass (424 Braxton Drive), and Bill Mears (real estate broker for DK Partnership, spoke in favor). Residents described speeding (cars drag racing), narrow streets with parking on both sides, children playing, and lack of police enforcement. They urged connecting McCormick Drive to Wright Road to divert traffic. Bill Mears stated the developer has spent over a million dollars on a roundabout and right-turn-only exit to Highway 26 to control traffic.
Council discussed the need for a future connection to Wright Road. Mike Payne, Public Works Director, explained that the city cannot afford upfront infrastructure without special assessments, per council policy. He noted the Sandhill precedent where special assessments were levied. Council directed staff to: 1) work with police on speed enforcement in the neighborhood; 2) provide a cost estimate for extending McCormick to Wright Road using the Sandhill model (design, bid, then assess). Council also discussed potential traffic studies six months after opening.
Motion to adopt the ordinance and approve the CSM passed unanimously (7-0).

East Bank Riverwalk Lighting Upgrades

Brad Rentz, City Engineer, presented the award of a contract to Pre-C Construction for $277,110 for lighting upgrades along the East Riverwalk (from West Milwaukee Street to Centerway, including pocket parks). The project replaces high-pressure sodium lights with LED fixtures, funded through a federal Carbon Reduction Program grant. Only one bid was received but it was within budget. Council unanimously approved the contract.

TIF Agreements with GEA Systems North America LLC

Jim Zickuhr, Economic Development Director, presented two resolutions for property in TID No. 39 (3901 Enterprise Drive). GEA Systems proposes a 70,000 sq ft expansion (estimated $25.2 million investment, assessed value ~$7.7 million) on 13.94 acres of city-owned land, adding 52 full-time living-wage equivalent jobs (average salary $95,000/year).
Resolution No. 2026-2455: TIF Development Agreement – pay-as-you-go incentive totaling $928,900 over 10 years (includes land value of $672,000 and annual cash payments of $25,690, which is 66% of new increment).
Resolution No. 2026-2456: TIF Jobs Agreement – $618.50 per job per year, aggregate not to exceed $321,760.77 over 10 years.
Council approved both resolutions unanimously.

Key Outcomes

Rezoning & CSM for QuickTrip: Ordinance No. 2026-936 and CSM 26009-C approved (7-0). Staff directed to: conduct speed enforcement, provide cost estimate for McCormick-Wright Road connection, and consider speed control measures after traffic study.
East Bank Riverwalk Lighting: Contract awarded to Pre-C Construction for $277,110 (7-0).
GEA Systems TIF Agreements: Two resolutions adopted (7-0 each).
Former Ice Arena: Discussion deferred to next agenda for a formal decision on sale vs. continued community engagement.
Closed Session: Council unanimously voted to go into closed session for litigation strategy and city manager recruitment (not returning to open session).

Meeting Transcript

Clerk um we'll call the orderless to the Pledge of Allegiance, please. Flag is right over in that side. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation on the indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In case of emergency, please use the stairs and not the elevator to exit. Walk to the north side of the police department and wait for further instructions. Council President Squire. Here. Vice President Cass. Here. Councilmember Erdman. Councilmember Miller. Here. Councilmember Nino. Here. Councilmember Poe? Here. Councilmember Seaman? Here. All are present. We do have a quorum. Very good. Thank you. Item number three of recognition. There are no recognitions this evening. Item four public comments on items on the agenda not requiring a public hearing and on matters which can be affected by council action. Individuals wishing to address the city council are asked to complete a speaker form that's located on the table in the lobby and to keep comments under four minutes. Speakers on that topic will have an opportunity to speak at that point in the agenda. So Lori, what do we have? I do have two. First up is uh Debbie Ferlano. Good evening. I'm Debbie Ferlano of 4318 Braxton Drive, formerly 4298 Huntinghorn Drive. I'm not here to say no to Quick Trip or Car Wash close by on McCormick and Highway 26. I hear I am here to say that your traffic study that you've been given is incorrect. There is no line addition for the children. We have seen grow in to young adults who can now drive. There is a home that went from three children when we moved in to parents and three drivers. They now have five cars in their area. There is also no addition for new homes and how many vehicles that is added. We are not a percentage number to be added onto a line. We are people. From what was said at the planning commission meeting, those babies that I helped raise next door are not supposed to play in the street. There are too many that enjoy walking in our neighborhood who walk on the sidewalks. Those kids are polite and ride their bikes and scooters on the roads to each other's homes. Why are they being penalized and told to stay in their yards per the planning commission? Sandhill was put in so people can have access to shopping and dime from Wright Road to Deerfield. Can we have access? Why not have add access from Wright Road to McCormick to have a closer gas station, donuts, or any store allowed to open in the strip mall? Has there been further discussion or plans for the city council to discuss with Milton School District for the buses that meet at the intersection of Braxton and Huntinghorn at any given time in the afternoon when the kids get off the bus?

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