Ordinance would regulate Spencer Gifts
JANESVILLE — The Janesville City Council will hold a public hearing Monday on a proposed ordinance requiring businesses to keep “harmful” sexual material away from minors.
The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 18 N. Jackson St.
Council member Russ Steeber contacted the city manager’s office because he is concerned that sex toys and other novelties are on open display at Spencer Gifts in the Janesville Mall.
The store does not violate the city’s ordinance that regulates adult-oriented businesses because the sexual material is less than 10 percent of its merchandise, according to a memo from Peter Riggs, assistant operations director for the city. Those businesses can allow minors in their stores.
A business that displays “harmful materials” in areas that are accessible or can be viewed by minors, however, could violate state statutes, Riggs said.
The proposed ordinance is modeled after one adopted in Milwaukee.
It requires that “harmful materials” be displayed so minors cannot view them, such as in a separate, adults-only rooms or by covering the materials so the “harmful portions” cannot be seen by minors. It would be the business’s job to monitor the minors.
The fine for violating the ordinance is not less than $100 but not more than $500 a day.
Other items on the agenda include:
-- Council action on a contract with Janesville Youth Baseball so the group can operate Swinger’s batting cages at 937 S. Jackson St. The lease would cost the city $1,000 a year for a building-repairs contingency fund.
-- Authorization for the city manager to file a request with the Public Service Commission for a 14.75 percent rate increase for the water utility. The amount is included in the 2009 water utility budget. The increase is necessary because of a decrease in water sales—General Motors has closed—an increase in operating expenses and capital improvements, according to a city memo. Currently, the average residential customer’s quarterly water bill is $40, which is a $35.10 charge for water and $4.90 for public fire protection. That would increase to $40.28 and $5.62 for a total of $45.90.
-- Action to proceed with plans to build a 1.5-million-gallon water tower on the city’s northeast side and a large diameter water main to connect the existing 24-inch mains on the city’s east and west sides. This is expected to cost about $7.15 million and is being pushed now to take advantage of possible stimulus funding. According to the memo, additional water storage is needed to meet existing demands.
Apr 28, 2009 at 6:07 p.m.
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Well, obviously he had enough votes to be elected. Did ya'll actually vote???
Apr 27, 2009 at 11:10 p.m.
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I can't believe the Gazette would print such obvious lies! $40 water bills~ where? My water bill has been consistantly between $80-$90 for almost 10 years, and even after my roomate left it stayed that high (and he showered twice A day everyday!) What the heck color is the sky in their world? As far as Mr Steebers problems with Spencer Gift Store, give me A break Mr. Steeber, is this really what you consider to be Janesvilles biggest problem right now?, or are you just trying to devert our attention from your real agenda, and if so we need to know what that is! I guess as long as he is feuding with Spencers he will leave our homes alone........ Yet again I ask HOW DID HE GET RE-ELECTED??????
Apr 27, 2009 at 9:49 p.m.
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I know plenty of adults who prefer to buy their bedroom products at Spencer's, rather than Shockwave, Naughty But Nice, etc. They feel that a lot of creepy people visit the adult stores, but not so much Spencer's. Some of them are even embarrassed to buy those products at an adult store where *everybody* would know WHY they're there. But if you shop at Spencer's, it's not necessarily because you want to buy merchandise for the bedroom.
Apr 27, 2009 at 7:40 p.m.
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Well, ya'll ought to live here in Milton. We used to be billed quarterly, at about $80 a quarter at my house, with 2 kids and a garden I watered regularly in the summer.
Now I have monthly bills of $70 monthly and we have NO children living here! We do not have a swimming pool and I don't bother watering my lawn which is now more green weeds than grass.
Then, they are quick to slap on that $5 late fee if you blow the 10th by a day.
Welcome to MY world!!!
Apr 27, 2009 at 11:34 a.m.
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citymanager@ci.janesville.wi.us Here's Eric Levitts e-mail his office phone number is 755-3177
This is just the start. The next thing will be to jack up home assessments. Drive up debt and taxes then run is his MO.
Apr 27, 2009 at 11:06 a.m.
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Oops, the article does say $40 per quarter! I agree with whoanellie, I've never seen one that low.
Apr 27, 2009 at 11:03 a.m.
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Isn't the water bill quarterly making a $90 bill = $30 per month?
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:37 a.m.
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I don't know where the people live that gave the $40. water bill but it's not Janesville. I've lived here for 17 years and not one bill was that low!! mine are alway around$90.00! The city council needs to look at their own bills and maybe they would have a clue! Or maybe if you're on the council your water bill gets a cut rate?
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:07 a.m.
Apr 26, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.
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Isn't it a parents responsibility to worry about their child-not the store or the city?
Apr 26, 2009 at 7:05 a.m.
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Thanks for telling me about Spencers now I have a reason to go to the mall.
Apr 25, 2009 at 9 p.m.
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spencers is a dodge to take our minds away from the out of control spending and tax raising in this corrupt city.
Apr 25, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.
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I have a rental house that was vacant the last quarter and the water bill was about $40.00. They must mean average "connection fee" or something.
Apr 25, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.
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If water rates need to be raised due to the decrease in demand because GM closed, then why do we need to build even more water storage capacity than we already have now? Won't this new, and apparently unnecessary storage capacity eventually increase the costs of water even higher in the future. Has anyone on the city council discovered this obvious contradiction?
Apr 25, 2009 at 6:52 a.m.
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Theres so much more things to worry about than the stupid stuff Spencers sells. Most if not all of these 'questionable" items are in the back of the store anyways. Steebler needs to pull his head out of you know where and get a life. Whats he gonna complain about next? Victoria Secrets putting lingere up in the front windows? Dont want your kids to chance seeing stuff at Spencers, then keep them the heck out of there. Better yet, just enact an ordinance prohibiting anyone under 18 at the mall without parental supervision.
$45/qtr for water? HAHAHA what are they smoking? Try $145/qtr.
Apr 25, 2009 at 6:38 a.m.
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Huh? Average water bill $40 quarterly? How about $110-$120 during non-summer months.
Apr 25, 2009 at 4:19 a.m.
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BS!!!!! My water bill has been between $85 and $95 for years! Why should I pay more now because GM left Janesville? I didn't cause this to happen, get A bail out from Obama.
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