City Council

CITY OF CHARLOTTE COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS 111 E. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813 (517) 543-2750 Regular Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. April 14, 2025 CALL TO ORDER: JoDee Pruden, resident. Spoke in favor of the updated city employee volunteer firefighter policy. By Mayor Lewis on Monday April 14, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: ROLL CALL: Motion by Duweck supported by Christensen to approve the Mayor Lewis, Mayor Pro-Tem Duweck, Council members, agenda as printed. Carried; Yea 6; Nay 0; Absent 1 Fullerton, Christensen, Rodriguez and Chin. A quorum was met COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS: City staff in attendance; City Clerk LaRocque, City Attorney Revore, and City Manager Hillard. DPW Director Whitney was a. City Manager Report in the audience The manager’s report was received, and a summary of the key INVOCATION: items was provided. Andy Shaver – Real Life Church b. Council member Committee Reports PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Christensen, the Planning Commission approved a rezoning which will come before the Council for approval. The Camp Led by Lewis Frances board is seeing positive changes with the management APPROVAL OF MINUTES: of DPW Director Whitney and are now focusing efforts on a. March 24, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Minutes community enrichment programs. He also provided the goals of the Downtown Quieting Committee. Motion by Chin supported by Christensen approve the March 24, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Minutes; Carried; Yea 6; Nay Chin, EATRAN is looking at budget cuts and are unsure of the 0; Absent 1 impacts at this time. ABSENCE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS: Duweck, The Housing Committee met for the first-time last week and worked on establishing their founding documents, Council member Scott objectives, and activities. Their mission is to put out the word Motion by Christensen supported by Chin to approve the that Charlotte is proactively working to grow housing efforts. absence of Council member Scott. Carried; Yea 6; Nay 0; Community Development Director (CDD) Benavidez is Absent 1 working to establish an inventory database. Interested parties should be directed to the office of the CDD Benavidez. PUBLIC COMMENT: CONSENT AGENDA:  a. Approval of Claims and Expenditures totaling BUSINESS AGENDA: $1,062,570.05 a. First reading and consider approval to set a public b. Approval of Employee Sick Time Act (ESTA) Policy hearing and second reading on April 28, 2025 for proposed ordinance 2025-03 an ordinance to amend c. Approval of Administrative Policy 2025-01 – Current section 68-172 – Prohibited Discharges – of Chapter 68 City Employee – Volunteer Fire Fighter Response – Utilities, Article IV Sewers, Division 4 Public Service (moved to business i (Chin). Use – of the code of the City of Charlotte by changing d. Approval of sealed bid contract with Real Green Lawn the permissible discharges of aluminum concentrations Care & Landscaping for code enforcement related from 2.1 MG/L to 34.2 MG/L within the City of mowing, trimming and weed abatement services Charlotte. e. Approval of Resolution 2025-10a for designation of Motion by Fullerton supported by Chin to approve the first Street Administrator for MDOT Act 51 reading and set a public hearing and second reading on April 28, f. Approval of Resolution 2025-10b for decertification of 2025 for proposed ordinance 2025-03 an ordinance to amend W. McClure St. and W. Foote St. from the Act 51 Street section 68-172 – Prohibited Discharges – of Chapter 68 – Certification Utilities, Article IV Sewers, Division 4 Public Service Use – of the code of the City of Charlotte by changing the permissible g. Approval of Resolution 2025-11 a resolution of the City discharges of aluminum concentrations from 2.1 MG/L to 34.2 Council of Charlotte, Eaton County Michigan, MG/L within the City of Charlotte. Carried. Yea 6; Nay 0; approving participation in the Eaton County Parks Absent 1 Community Grant Program and authorizing the submission of a grant application for the Camp France3s b. Consider approval of Resolution 2025-13 to approve the renovations creation of 2025 SAD – Fire Protection and set a date for the public hearing on May 12, 2025 h. Approval of Resolution 2025-12 a resolution of the City Council of Charlotte, Eaton County Michigan, Motion by Duweck supported by Fullerton to approve approving participation in the Eaton County Parks Resolution 2025-13 to approve the creation of 2025 SAD – Fire Community Grant Program and authorizing the Protection and set a date for the public hearing on May 12, 2025. submission of a grant application for the Oak Park Carried. Yea 6; Nay 0; Absent 1 engineering and renovation project c. Consider approval of Resolution 2025-14 a resolution i. Approval of Mayoral appointments affirming the City Council of Charlotte’s interest in traffic calming measures and requesting a meeting with Motion by Christensen supported by Fullerton to move item c the Michigan Department of Transportation to address to business item i and approve consent agenda items a, b, d, e, f 18-wheel truck activity in downtown Charlotte. g, h and i. Carried. Yea 6 Nay 0; Absent 1 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 14, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Motion by Chin supported by Duweck to approve Resolution h. Discussion – set a date for a budget workshop at 10 a.m. 2025-14 a resolution affirming the City Council of Charlotte’s on either April 23 or 24, 2025. interest in traffic calming measures and requesting a meeting Council members decided the meeting shall be scheduled for with the Michigan Department of Transportation to address 18- Thursday April 24 beginning at 11:00 a.m. wheel truck activity in downtown Charlotte. Carried by roll call vote: Yea 6 – Lewis, Fullerton, Christensen, Duweck, Chin, i. Approval of Administrative Policy 2025-01 – Current Rodriguez; Nay 0; Absent 1 - Scott City Employee – Volunteer Fire Fighter Response d. Consider approval to authorize city staff to apply to the Chin called to TABLE – FAILED by roll call vote; Yea (1) MDOT Transportation Economic Development Fund Duweck; Nay (5) Lewis, Christensen, Chin, Rodriguez, (TEDF) category F grant program Fullerton, Absent (1) Scott Motion by Rodriguez supported by Fullerton to approve and Motion by Fullerton supported by Duweck to approve authorize city staff to apply to the MDOT Transportation Administrative Policy 2025-01 – Current City Employee – Economic Development Fund (TEDF) category F grant program Volunteer Fire Fighter Response. Carried. Yea 6; Nay 0; Absent 1 e. Consider approval of submission for Combs industrial park road extension project to the FY 2026 Community PUBLIC COMMENT: Project Funding Request Cooper Frost, resident, inquiring on status of chicken ordinance Motion by Chin supported by Rodriguez to approve the STAFF COMMENTS: submission of Combs industrial park road extension project to the FY 2026 Community Project Funding Request No comments f. Consider approval of the 2025 Local Officers MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS: Compensation Commission policy Christensen thanked attendees and announced that Eaton County Motion by Duweck supported by Christensen to approve the will be holding a tire recycling event for city residents on August 2025 Local Officers Compensation Commission policy. Carried 9. Advanced registration is required, and additional details can by roll call vote Yea (4) Lewis, Fullerton, Christensen, Duweck; be found on his Facebook page. He also reported attending the Nay (2) Chin, Rodriguez; Absent (1) Scott Tri-County Regional Planning meeting recently which focused on walking trails; however, affected property owners expressed g. Discussion – MML September 17-19th Convention little interest in the project. (Cooper) Frost is currently seeking Council members interested in attending shall email the Clerk volunteers to assist with tree digging and planting efforts. who shall enroll members. Enrollment is not yet available for Activity at the Markdom (Combs Industrial) site remains steady this program. and in full swing. He also attended the recent Expo, noting that attendance appeared to be lower than in previous years. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 14, 2025 Page 3 of 4 Fullerton shared optimism regarding the city's prospects with the Eaton County Parks grant committee, referencing two recent applications submitted for Camp Frances and Oak Park. He noted the Housing Committee is progressing well and emphasized the value of the city’s previously established housing inventory, expressing satisfaction that efforts are back on track. He also reminded the Council that a motion to table an item requires a second. Duweck thanked Fullerton for stepping into the role of Council Parliamentarian, prompting some light laughter. Chin reported that EATRAN ridership continues to grow. Rodriguez and Lewis had no comments. ADJOURN: Motion by Lewis supported by Christensen to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Carried; Yea 6; Nay 0; Absent 1 Respectfully submitted, Mary LaRocque MiPMC, CMC City Clerk City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 14, 2025 Page 4 of 4