On this Tuesday evening, Mayor Lois called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. starting with roll call. Roll Call: Robert Prailes, Peter Girolamo, Steve Rauch, Robert Miller, Kent Strong, Katie Simenson, Thomas Vos and John Thate. Also present were: Police Chief Scot Eisenhauer; Department of Public Works – Streets and Parks Supervisor Larry Gobel; Fire Chief Dick Lodle; Department of Public Works Utility Manager Connie Wilson; Building Inspector / Zoning Administrator Patrick Scherrer; Budget Officer / Treasurer Bridget Lois; City Engineer Tom Foht, Kapur and Associates, Inc; Linda Fellenz, Kapur and Associates, Inc.; Attorney Tom Kircher and Building Inspector / Zoning Administrator Patrick Scherrer.

Citizen Comments – Mr. Jay Askins, 272 Gardner Avenue, City of Burlington, questioned if it was possible to force any sexual offenders that are residing in Burlington to register the make, model, and color of their vehicle with the Police Dept. Police Chief Eisenhauer stated that the Police Dept. works in partnership with the Probation / Parole Dept. to keep books on file of the sexual offenders and those on probation / parole for other offenses. He noted that he was not sure if their vehicle information is given in these reports; however he stated that he would look into obtaining that information for the future.

Mr. Stan Heiligenthal, 800 Crestwood Drive, City of Burlington, expressed his disappointment with the pickup of leaves throughout the City, particularly in the Shiloh Hills area. Department of Public Works – Streets and Parks Supervisor Larry Gobel stated that the Street Dept. is continuing to battle with the leaves. He noted that the plows have been going around the leaf piles if noticeable and would be working on getting back around to pick them up in the coming days.

Ms. Judith Schulz, 433 Milwaukee Avenue, City of Burlington, informed the Council of the Christmas Open House in downtown Burlington this weekend.

Approval of Minutes – Alderman Girolamo moved and Alderman Strong seconded to approve the minutes of November 20, 2007. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Presentation from Partners 2 – Mayor Lois and the City Council listened to a presentation from Ms. Christina Weigler from Partners 2 regarding a brief overview of the group’s activities. Ms. Weigler, 317 Randolph Street, City of Burlington explained that she is the Community Organizer for the Partners 2 organization. She thanked the Council for their efforts to prevent underage drinking in the community and the Burlington Area School District for the use of their space. She explained that Partners 2 is a network of parents, schools, and their staff, students and members of our community that have made a commitment to advocate and engage the youth in our community to help our youth feel supported by the community that they live in and serve. The Partners 2 focus is to create cultural change by preventing the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drug use by our youth. She further explained that over the last 11 months, Partners 2 has gained support from all private, public, intermediate, middle and high schools throughout the community. She noted that Partners 2 and the Burlington community has been selected as a participant in the National 2008 "Take it Back" community briefing. Ms. Weigler closed by stating that Partners 2 is an organization of innovation that is just beginning to spread their wings of change in the City.

Resolution 4182(77) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to a resolution approving an agreement between the City of Burlington and the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) for 2008.

Mr. Gordy Kacala, RCEDC, explained to the Council that the cost of the RCEDC assistance in 2008 is divided into two components. First, for economic and community development assistance, the cost is $40,000 which is included in the 2008 budget and paid in quarterly payments. Second, the cost for administration of the City’s revolving loan funds to local businesses is $14,809.26, which is based on ten percent of the incoming loan payments and may change should additional loans be approved by the Council. He wanted to inform the Council of the change on page three, item #10 regarding the new Developing Racine County to Innovation, Vision and Entrepreneurship (DRIVE) program which would allow RCEDC to develop a regional marketing branding initiative, business growth strategy, business attraction, talents attraction and technology transfers.

This issue will move forward to the December 18, 2007 City Council meeting for consideration.

Ordinance 1850(23) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to an ordinance to consider approving a Text Amendment to Section 315-26B and 315-26D of the Municipal Code to include "Fitness Centers" and "Tanning Salons" as Permitted and Conditional uses in accordance with the size of the building, in the B-1, Neighborhood Business District. This text amendment would be consistent with what is currently present in the B-2, Central Business District.

This issue will move forward to the December 18, 2007 City Council meeting for consideration.

Ordinance 1851(24) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to an ordinance to consider approving a Text Amendment to Section 315-130.1 of the Municipal Code to change the allowable size of a building from 60,000 feet in area to 80,000 feet in area before a Conditional Use Permit would be required.

Alderman Simenson questioned if there would be any negative results from this change or any liability for the City in the future. Mayor Lois stated that there would be no negative affect on the City by changing this. He further noted that by changing this section in the code it would allow a building of this size to be more adaptable in the future.

This issue will move forward to the December 18, 2007 for a Public Hearing and City Council meeting for consideration.

Ordinance 1852(25) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to an ordinance to consider approving a rezone request from Gries Architectural Group, LLC to rezone 980 Milwaukee Avenue from B-1, Neighborhood Business District to B-1 / PUD, Neighborhood Business District with a Planned Unit Development Overlay. This PUD is being requested in order to develop retail stores, shops and restaurants, including the Kohls Department Store.

Mr. Curt Mauer, Commercial Horizons, gave a presentation to the Council regarding the Kohls development. Mr. Mauer explained that this development would be broken down into phases with Phase One to be the Kohls department store with the projection for Phase Two being a retail store next to Kohls and Phase Three being a multi-tenant facility. Mr. Mauer informed the Council that the Kohls building would be 68,900 square foot building with an Option to Purchase Land Agreement being worked on with the City to allow for the developer to purchase some of the City property in addition to the existing site to accommodate a potential tenant that is larger than 24,000 square feet. He also noted that this Kohls store would be comparable in size to the store located in Delavan. Mr. Mauer further explained that discussions have been ongoing regarding access and an easement to the Kmart parking lot.

Mr. Mauer stated that the developer would like to begin construction in the middle of February 2008 with Kohls anticipated opening in October 2008.

This issue will move forward to a Public Hearing at this evening’s meeting and to the December 18, 2007 City Council meeting for further consideration.

Resolution 4184(79) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to a resolution approving a Certified Survey Map (CSM) for property located at 980 Milwaukee Avenue. The site is proposed to be combined into one business parcel equaling approximately 16.85 acres to be used as lands for the Kohls Department Store, along with retail shops and restaurants.

This issue will move forward to the December 18, 2007 City Council meeting for consideration.

Resolution 4183(78) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to a resolution approving a detailed Site Plan from Gries Architectural Group, LLC for the development of a Kohls Department Store, retail shops and restaurants.

This issue will move forward to the December 18, 2007 City Council meeting for consideration.

Resolution 4188(83) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to a resolution authorizing an increase in pay for City of Burlington Poll Workers. The last wage increase for the City of Burlington Poll Workers was provided in 2003 and due to the scheduled increase in the minimum wage in the coming years, an adjustment in their wages should be made. The hourly wage that is being requested is less than a three percent increase per year.

Mayor Lois confirmed that this increase would mean that the poll workers would now be paid $7.00 per hour and the chairperson of each polling place would be paid $8.50 per hour.

This issue will move forward to the December 18, 2007 City Council meeting for consideration.

Resolution 4187(82) – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to a resolution authorizing the acceptance and execution of an Offer to Sell for the purchase of the Sawall Trust property for land required with the Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion.

This issue will move forward to the December 4, 2007 City Council meeting for consideration.

Motion 07-586 – Mayor Lois and the City Council gave consideration to a motion approving the booking and payment of 50% to Bartolotta Fireworks Company, Inc. for the fireworks display at Echo Park on July 4, 2008. Bartolotta has offered the City a ten percent discount if the City books the display before January 1, 2008 with a 50% deposit as well as the same contract price from 2007 of $3,500 with ten percent more product with the City’s commitment now.

Alderman Simenson questioned if in the future the City should look into having other service organizations paying for the fireworks to save City dollars.

This issue will move forward to the December 4, 2007 City Council meeting for consideration.

Discussion regarding building permit fees – Mayor Lois and the City Council discussed waiving the building permit fees for non-profit groups.

Alderman Girolamo voiced his concern that if by allowing this waiver for the Veterans building permits and other non-profit organizations there could be a great loss of building permit fees. Mayor Lois noted that the reason that this issue was brought forward for discussion was because this building is and would continue to be a community building and by possibly waiving these fees it could aid in the construction process.

Other Matters – None.

Adjourn – Alderman Girolamo moved and Alderman Strong seconded to adjourn. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Recording Secretary – Angela M. Hansen