[Introductory paragraph] The Janesville City Council held a regular session on Monday, August 24, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting covered public comments on several topics, a city manager recruitment update, unanimous approval of the consent agenda, a detailed discussion on the future of the former Ice Arena property, and adoption of the 2027 budget development timeline.
City Council meeting uh for Monday, August 24th. Uh, if we'd stand uh for the Pledge of Allegiance. I guess we should do that. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands with liberty and justice for all. And 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. Uh will a clerk please call the roll. President Squire here. Vice President Cass. Here. Councilmember Erdman. Here. Councilmember Miller. Here, Councilmember Nino. Here. Councilmember Pope. Here. Councilmember Seaman. Here. All are present. We have a quorum. Very good. Item number three for recognition. There are none tonight. Item four public comments on items on the agenda not requiring a public hearing and on matters which can be affected by council action. So individuals wishing to address the city council are asked to complete a speaker form that's outside in the lobby and provide it to the clerk. And then please keep your comments to under four minutes. I have one, and it looks like we have two coming up here. So we'll start with Ray Jewel. Name is Ray Jewell, 624 Cherry Street. First of all, I want to thank once again all of you council members, our interim city manager, our city attorney, and our city clerk for your dedicated service to the city of Janesville. Your jobs are often a thankless one, and having been a pastor, I know what that means. And I do appreciate the time commitment and the stress that your position can bring. I would also like to thank your families for the sacrifice they make that allows you to be here. This evening I want to share with you an alternative that I've raised before concerning the GM Jacko site. Listen to these comments from uh Melissa Song Ko, Chief Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity, Walkershaw, Jefferson and Rock Counties. I found this saw this on Indeed this morning. It's been sweet to be completing Dominica Park and celebrating the milestone of our first ever subdivision in the city of Walkershaw. Boy, did we learn a lot. I compare my feelings to those of raising a child, and now they're going off to college. Now the thing about habitat, they continue to be on the cutting edge of housing opportunities for those who cannot afford affordable housing, as defined by the government in the housing industry. They are expanding their horizons by building subdivisions, and I think that's a wonderful idea. This is an idea that merits an examination when we consider the Jack Ho site part of the GM Jacko site project. Habitat does an excellent job of getting volunteers for labor and donations for materials, often at uh low cost or no cost. Their philosophy is a hand up, not a handout. The people who live in these homes have to put in a certain amount of sweat equity as the purchase price of the home. I know that because I served as an exec director down of Habitat down in Illinois for a while. Now I believe this would solve a couple of issues here in Janesville. First, we need to do something with the jackal part of the site in question. Many want to see some form of housing go in that place, and Habakat can do that.