Neighborhood Planning Council 11 - Lakeview east

Minutes Minges Brook/Riverside Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC) #11 Minges Brook Elementary School Library 435 Lincoln Hill Drive, Battle Creek, MI 49015 Wednesday – Feb 27th, 2013 1. 7:00 PM – Welcome and opening by Chairman Randall Champlin 2. Attendance sheet: Rudy Barda, Randall Champlin, Rick Baron, County Commissioner Jim Haadsma –arrived 7:40PM, Dave Hawks, Commissioner Jeff Domenico (Ward 5), Wendy Rominger, Ann Wyson, City Representative Susan Bedsole, Guests: Tim Martinovich, Jeremy Wilson (BCFD) , Commissioner Mary Lou Ramon (Ward 1), Assistant. City Manager Jim Ritseima , Karen Lynn Todd (Battle Creek Enquirer), Chris Love (BCFD), 3. Additions or deletions to this agenda – none 4. Approval of the January 2013 meeting’s minutes – Ann Wyson moved to approve with support Dave Hawks. The Motion passed. 5. Correspondence sent/received – Randall Champlin sent a note to Leona Parrish with the planning commission indicating the NPCs support for the planned changes to Willard Beach that Ted Dearing reviewed with the NPC in January. 6. City staff reports: 6.1. Police Department Report: No officer at the meeting 6.2. City representative Report - Susan Bedsole. 6.2.1. Susan reminded the council that we can get reports from the city’s web site: http://www.ci.battle- creek.mi.us/crimesearch/crimesearchframext.htm and that with the winter weather we need to keep walks clear of snow. Mary Lou Ramon mentioned that when on the city’s web site you can enter an address an see if there are any code issues. Tim Martinovich, Dave Hawks and Mary Lou noted a few places where there was snow causing problems travel or visibility issues and Susan noted these. 6.3. City/County Commissioners’ reports 6.3.1. Ward 5 Commissioner Jeff Domenico: - 6.3.1.1. Attorney Pat Herzl is starting a “Pay it forward”. The good deed cards are numbered. Jeff gave some interesting examples that other people have done. He would like to see this program grow in Battle Creek. The numbered cards would help quantify the “good deeds” that have been done. One of the goals is to set an example of service to the community and instill the desire to do the same in young people. 6.3.1.2. There will be a Crime and Perception workshop. Crime stats for Battle Creek. Community dialog on crime. The Workshop will be at 6:30 Monday March 18th. In the Department of Public Works (DPW) multipurpose room 150 S. Kendall. 6.3.1.3. Budget workshop on March 21st also at DPW multipurpose room 150 S. Kendall 6.3.2. Ward 1 Commissioner Mary Lou Ramon.. Mary Lou noted that Steve Gagnon (the BIG E) will put on a performance at 7:00 PM on Saturday, March 16th. at First Wes , 14425 Helmer Road South. Cost: Donation. All proceeds go towards Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference Scholarships. No ticket required.. 7. Committee reports: 7.1. Beautiful Battle Creek Award: Ann Wyson - 121 Briar Hill nominated The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon reasonable notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: City Clerk’s Office (269) 966-3348/TDD  7.2. Neighborhoods and Land Use: John Godfrey - not here this month. 7.3. NPC 11 Programs: Jim Haadsma – no report 8. Old business from previous meetings: None 9. New business: Program Topic : Jim Ritsema – 9.1. Mr. Ritsema provided a document summarizing the City’s financial health. Overall the City is in reasonably good financial condition due to 1) Good management 2) Moderate debt and 3) Stable economy with a potential for with new and expanded business. 9.2. Over the last ten years our revenue has gone up 10% but that barely keeps up with inflation. Over the same time period city employees have been reduced from 640 to 500. Reserves down from 25% to 11.5% of revenues. Reserves cover things like extraordinary storm damage … Rehmann Robson audit is part of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). It is available on-line and can be downloaded. http://www.battlecreekmi.gov/Assets/finance/audit+reports/FY+2010/2010+CAFR.pdf 9.3. Personal Property tax that business pay will start going away in 2014-2016. Exactly how this tax will be replaced is yet to be determined by the State government. 9.4. The city has had to defer a lot of maintenance on building and equipment. 9.5. The Debt - city 79% of debt retirement in next 10 years -- Street is 3.3 Million per year. 9.6. Battle Creek Municipal Employee Retirement funding is 72.4% funded. (research after the meeting shows that a 2012 report states that “Among the top 100 that Pensions & Investments tracks, the average funding ratio dropped slightly during the fiscal year, to 73.64% in 2011” 9.7. Police and Fire retirement system is 82.2% funded 9.8. Other post-Employment Benefits – Retiree Health Care – Limited Exposure. 9.9. Battle Creek’s Fitch rating is AA with stable outlook. AA is a long-term credit rating given to quality companies, a bit higher risk than the top rating of “AAA” 9.10. Some concerns – concentration of industry – such as automotive and food. We cold be more diversified. Also dropping property taxes – about another 3% reduction this year in taxable value. 9.11. Q&A 9.11.1. Jeff.. can Bonds with higher interest rates be retired? A: We keep looking at these and call any that would reduce cost to the city. 9.11.2. Randall: Are contractors replacing employees? A: No more than in the past 9.11.3. Tim Are we understaffed in police or fire? A: Don’t think so .. Emit township lost a few because fire keepers took some of that responsibility. 10. Public comments: None 11. Members’ comments: None 12. Next meeting: 7:00 March 27th, 2013. Disaster Preparedness and Fire Safety - Guest: American Red Cross - Adam Castle Family Preparedness & Disaster Planning. A representative from the BCFD has been requested. 13. Adjournment – 8:15 PM The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon reasonable notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: City Clerk’s Office (269) 966-3348/TDD