City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – May 18, 2010 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Ilona Haydon on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Colleen Kenny, Ed Cote, Ilona Haydon, Hank Yonkman, Richard Mack, and Alan Marshall. ABSENT: Robert Hornkohl. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Mitch Deisch, City Attorney – Bruce Gockerman, City Clerk – Michelle Wright, City Assessor – Julie Beardslee, Community Development Director – Jon Rose, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, and Fire Chief – Sid Scrimger. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS. None received. #10‐58 AMEND AGENDA. MOTION by Kenny, second by Mack to amend the agenda to include Item VIII. b.) Discussion on Appointment of an Interim Fire Chief. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Cote, Haydon, Yonkman, Mack, Marshall NAYS: None #10‐59 CONSENT AGENDA. Consent agenda items include: ƒ Minutes ‐ May 5, 2010 ‐ Regular Meeting ‐ May 5, 2010 ‐ Work Session ‐ May 11, 2010 ‐ Work Session ‐ May 11, 2010 ‐ Special Meeting ƒ Payroll ‐ May 3 – 9, 2010 ‐ $ 55,002.57 ‐ May 10 – 16, 2010 ‐ $ 55,522.97 ƒ Cash Balances Report ‐ April 2010 City Council Minutes Page 1 May 18, 2010 ƒ Notification Regarding Next Work Session – June 8, 2010 A discussion will be conducted on such business as may come before the Council. MOTION by Mack, second by Kenny to approve the Consent Agenda as stated. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Cote, Haydon, Yonkman, Mack, Marshall NAYS: None #10‐60 CONSIDERATION OF A CONTRACT, ARTHUR STREET LAUNCH RAMP. Bids were advertised and received for the Arthur Street Boat Launch project. Seng Crane and Excavating was the low responsible bid in the amount of $284,106.32. This bid is recommended, however costs exceeded engineer estimates due to a requirement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to add a retaining wall at the water’s edge and the Planning Commission requirement for placement of a sidewalk along US‐ 31. City Staff continues to work with Abonmarche on value engineering to bring the total project cost more in line with the original estimated engineering costs. Final project costs could be discussed at this time. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the contract, pending value engineering adjustments. Mayor Haydon informed Council that the State of Michigan has requested that this item be removed from the agenda because not enough information is available at this time. MOTION by Kenny, second by Mack to table this item until a future meeting. Discussion followed regarding why the State wasn’t comfortable with the project and the Planning Commission’s sidewalk requirement. With a roll call vote the motion to table this agenda item passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Cote, Haydon, Yonkman, Mack, Marshall NAYS: None #10‐61 DISCUSSION ON APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM FIRE CHIEF. Fire Chief Sid Scrimger has tendered his resignation/retirement notice effective May 31, 2010. The Council Personnel Committee met to discuss the possible appointment of an Interim Chief; and as a result the City Manager and Council Personnel Committee recommends the appointment of Fire Captain Timm Smith as Interim Fire Chief. MOTION by Kenny, second by Mack to support the City Manager and Council Personnel Committee recommendation to appoint Fire Captain Timm Smith as Interim Fire Chief, pending the completion of mutually agreeable terms and conditions, effective June 1, 2010. Discussion followed on how this came about; options available; direction Council wanted to proceed; and noted that no offer has been made at this time to Captain Smith. It was recommended that the issue be further discussed at the next work session on June 8th. Deisch stated that he would like to use the Personnel Committee to review the package that will be put together and be comfortable with the proposed offer. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. City Council Minutes Page 2 May 18, 2010 AYES: Kenny, Cote, Haydon, Yonkman, Mack, Marshall NAYS: None A REPORT FROM THE PEG COMMISSION. Mr. Keith Brown was scheduled to report on the PEG Commission, but was unable to attend. CITIZEN COMMENT. Fred Walter, 315 St. Mary’s Parkway, asked that a large patch of poison ivy on the riverwalk be taken care of. Ray Fortier, 367 – 11th Street, spoke in reference to the fire department, stating he had trusted the Council because it seemed they were doing things how the public wanted it done; keep the fire department. He also stated that citizens were willing to pay more taxes to keep the police and fire departments separate. Greg Ferguson, 196 Washington Street, questioned the Personnel Committee and its members. Carol Pasco, 610 Spruce Street, appreciated what the Council has done; doesn’t want taxes raised; look at ways to hold the line. Robert Turner, 27 Clay Street, hates to see we are losing our fire chief; blamed City Council. Ron Cowden, 305 Lighthouse Way, does not want taxes raised; have to look at tough ways to control spending; congratulated City Manager, his job is to run an efficient City; need to look at the big picture to plan for our future. Robert Lux, 65 Greenbush Street, commented on the fire department, feels like Chief Bachman has already been selected as public safety director, that the decision has already been made; asked Council to be extremely honest with the public and give the public a chance to voice their opinion; need to generate a plan that will fit the entire City; and stated that Deisch will end up being the scapegoat on this no matter how it turns out. Shirley Lidtke, 341 Fourth Avenue, said Council is ignoring education and experience of the fire chief; she is speaking out because knowing the chief’s education/experience makes her feel safe; very foolish to give it to someone with little training; and also said this was tried in the 90’s and it didn’t work. OFFICIALS AND STAFF. Deisch stated the June 8th work session will have further discussion on public safety and have a budget re‐ cap ‐ what worked and what didn’t, how to make the process easier. Gockerman commented on the budget process and the amount of hard work that went into it, the effort put into informing the public, there were 11‐12 work sessions plus a public hearing, doesn’t know what else could be done; applauded Bradford and Deisch stating they are just as dedicated as the firefighters City Council Minutes Page 3 May 18, 2010 are; also thanked everyone that voiced their opinion. Beardslee informed Council that Manistee County has hired a new Equalization Director, Roger Elbers. Scrimger thanked City Council and the community for the opportunity to serve them for 15 years. Timm Smith stated the City Manager asked for his input after the resignation was received, his goal would be to keep the fire department strong and work out the various issues. COUNCILMEMBERS. Cote stated he is not happy with what is going on right now; said Sid did a nice job, there are big shoes to fill. Yonkman said he was told there was a contract assessor in the City today. Beardslee responded that it would have been a contract employee that has been used since 1992. She looks at every parcel every 4‐5 years and catches a lot of unpermitted construction in the City. The State requires that 20% of the City parcels be looked at every year Mack congratulated Chief Scrimger, good job, and wished him and his family well. Haydon also thanked Sid for his service; thanked staff and Council for work done on the budget, it has been very emotional; and thanked the community, stating we do listen to you. ADJOURN. MOTION to adjourn was made by Mack, second by Kenny. Meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. Michelle Wright CMC/CPFA City Clerk/Deputy Treasurer City Council Minutes Page 4 May 18, 2010