JUNEAU — A resolution to waive the city's residency requirement for a sole employee stalled Tuesday night at the regular meeting of the Juneau City Council.
The proposal waiving the requirement for current recreation director Kevin Lauer, "and any future Recreation Director," was moved for passage by second ward alderman John Schuster and seconded by third ward alderman Clarence Chase.
Schuster withdrew his motion in the face of a later motion by first ward alderman Dan Jahnke to refer the matter to the council's personnel committee.
Jahnke's motion was carried unanimously by the six-member council presided over by council president and second ward alderman Robert Affeld, in the absence of mayor Ron Bosak.
City ordinance 2.12.070 requires all, full-time city employees to live within a three-mile radius of the corner of Main and East Oak streets. The provisions of that ordinance also are incorporated into the city's work agreement with its employees.
According to Juneau clerk/treasurer Dennis Sheldon, a city ordinance cannot be overridden by a resolution, but must be amended in accordance with procedures also set out in the city code.
Bosak has, in the past, expressed his support for the resolution and for removal of the residency requirement.
Prior to business at city hall Tuesday, four people addressed the council attesting to the good job done by Lauer, who was hired to replace former recreation director Shelli Fernstaedt, who resigned roughly two years ago.
Sheldon said an e-mail and a letter, both of which praised Lauer's performance, also were read into the record.
"That has never been an issue," Sheldon said. "Everybody would like to retain Kevin and thinks he does a fine job."
City employees have a year within which to move into the area designated in the ordinance that includes the entire city and reaches beyond city limits.
Sheldon said Lauer earlier was granted a six-month extension of the one-year deadline.
City records indicate Lauer has not moved into the circle described by the ordinance.
Another ordinance, this one raising sewer rates, received its first reading Tuesday night. The proposal to increase most monthly sewer-usage charges to $5.41 per 1,000 gallons and to raise the base rate charged to all customers to $13.95 per month will stand for a second reading at the council's Aug. 11 meeting before enactment later next month.
The ordinance modifies a Juneau Utility Commission proposal that would have increased base charges from the current $13.75 per month to $19.60, but would have dropped the per-1,000-gallon charge for most residential users from the current $4.86 to $4.41.
Parking tickets will increase in Juneau sometime after July 23, and could result in suspension of violator's registrations due to council approval of an ordinance modifying existing forfeitures Tuesday night. The ordinance states parking forfeitures paid within three days of issuance will rise from $10 to $20 and those paid after the third day and before the 10th day of issuance will increase from $20 to $30.
Tickets more than 10 days old shall forfeit $40, according to the revision to the city code which also bears new language stating: "The city of Juneau police department shall at the maximum time send out two notices to the registered owner to pay for the fine at which time should the registered owner not pay, an automatic suspension of their registration shall be filed with the Wisconsin Traffic Violation and Registration Program and that the cost of this suspension shall be $60."