City Council

MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF JUNE 12, 2012 The Manistee City Council met in a work session on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 7: 00 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee MI 49660. MEMBERS PRESENT: Colleen Kenny, Beth Adams, Catherine 'taring, Bob Hornkohl, Ilona Haydon, Alan Marshall, Sid Scrimger MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Department Directors and Public Discussion on Fertilizer Applications. In response to a request from Polly Schlaff of 506 Third Street, Council and City Staff researched various options to use organic products in place of synthetic products. Based upon the research, three options were identified. Those options and associated costs are as follows: mom, t Status Quo Continue to receive three applications of synthetic fertilizer $ 6, 800 and weed control. Organic Fertilizer Three applications of 100% organic fertilizer on City $ 21, 100 property. This application does not include weed control. Hybrid Option The hybrid option consists of using organic fertilizers ( again $ 18, 800 no weed control) on youth recreation areas; while the remaining public grass areas ( City Hall, DPW, Fire Station, etc.) would receive the same fertilizer / weed control as we have in the past. Discussion was held among all Council on what was the best course to follow. Staff felt that more research was needed before a long term solution was made. Councilmember Haydon would like to see more statistics on how fertilizer / herbicides impacted individuals. Staff and Council agreed that we need to keep herbicide use to a minimum, provide adequate signage of herbicide and fertilizer application use and work with recreation leagues ( MRA, Little League, etc.) to minimize contact between people and lawn applications. MSU Extension can provide a good starting point for review. Consensus: After discussing the issue, Council chose to support placing the final two applications as we have done in the past and continue to research different alternatives. City will coordinate applications with youth recreation leagues to minimize contact. Council Work Session - June 12, 2012 Page 1 2012 Capital Project Update. Mitch Deisch, City Manager presented updates on the First Street Reconstruction, First Street Pavilion, Fish Cleaning Station, and the Maple Street Bridge. Regular updates will be made to Council throughout the construction season during work sessions. Staff went in greater detail with the Fish Cleaning Station and the First Street Beach Pavilion. Fish Cleaning Station bids came in over budget. The construction estimates for the Beach Pavilion are coming in under budget. Based upon the best information that we have available at this time; staff recommends rejecting bids for the Fish Cleaning Station and rebid both projects together to obtain a greater economy of scale; with the goal of bringing both the Fish Cleaning Station and the Beach Pavilion in at or under the total budget of$650, 000 for both projects. This will require that the Capital Improvement Fund amounts dedicated for both projects to be flexible on how they are used. Councilmember Scrimger commented that he feels the community will understand that the Fish Cleaning Station may come in a bit over budget and the Beach Pavilion may come in under budget; but combined both projects will be on total budget. What citizens do not want is another project going significantly over budget. Consensus: Council supported staff recommendation of rejecting Fish Cleaning Station bids, rebidding both projects together and agreed to be flexible on how Capital Improvement Funds are used for both projects. Staff also discussed with Council harbor dredging, installation of swim buoys at Fifth Avenue Beach and Local Revenue Sharing Board capital projects that will occur this year. Adjourned at 8: 35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, n Mitch Deisch, City anager MDD: cl Council Work Session - June 12, 2012 Page 2