City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 17, 2013 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Colleen Kenny on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Colleen Kenny, Robert Hornkohl, Robert Goodspeed, Catherine Zaring, and Mark Wittlieff. ABSENT: Edward Cote and Eric Gustad. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Mitch Deisch, City Attorney – George Saylor, City Clerk – Michelle Wright, City Assessor – Julie Beardslee, Public Safety Director – Dave Bachman, and City Engineer ‐ Shawn Middleton/Spicer Group. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS. None received. CONSENT AGENDA.  Minutes ‐ December 3, 2013 ‐ Regular Meeting ‐ December 10, 2013 ‐ Work Session  Payroll ‐ Nov. 25 – Dec. 08, 2013 ‐ $ 131,116.69  Monthly Bills ‐ November 6, 2013 ‐ $ 332,211.82 ‐ November 26, 2013 ‐ $ 731,442.54  Notification Regarding Next Work Session – January 14, 2014 A discussion will be conducted on the Clerk/Treasurer White Paper, Project Updates; and such business as may come before Council. MOTION by Hornkohl, second by Goodspeed to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Hornkohl, Goodspeed, Zaring, Wittlieff NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF CONTRACT AWARD, SWIDORSKI BROTHERS, MUNICIPAL MARINA DREDGING. The City has received funding from the State of Michigan to dredge 300 cubic yards of material from the City Marina slips. This will allow for sufficient depth at our biggest docks to handle the large deep draft boats. All funding is coming from the State of Michigan and Swidorski Brothers is the low bidder. Work will be completed in the spring of 2014. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the contract. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 17, 2013 MOTION by Hornkohl, second by Goodspeed to award a contract in the amount of $48,500 to Swidorski Brothers to dredge approximately 300 cubic yards of material from the Municipal Marina boat slips. Brief discussion followed. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Hornkohl, Goodspeed, Zaring, Wittlieff NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A 100KW GENERATOR FOR CITY HALL. Grant funds in the amount of $20,718 have been awarded to the City from Region 7 Emergency Management toward a 45KW gas generator for police operations. A capital improvement amount of $15,000 has been budgeted to upgrade the project to a 100KW gas generator to run all of City Hall. The generator will be purchased from Graham Electric at a cost of $27,810. The State of Michigan is requesting that Graham Electric receive this bid. The electrical work will be performed by our Electrician of Record, Top Line for $5,600 and the gas work by Custom Sheet Metal, our Heating Contractor of Record for $2,100. Total project cost to upgrade to the 100KW is $35,718. MOTION by Hornkohl, second by Goodspeed to support and approve the purchase and installation of a 100KW natural gas generator for City Hall at a project cost of $35,718. Questions were raised about the bidding process. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Hornkohl, Goodspeed, Zaring, Wittlieff NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A RIVERFRONT LEASE, 556 FIRST STREET. Todd and Cynthia Lloyd have made an offer to purchase the property at 556 First Street contingent upon obtaining a Riverfront Lease from the City. The City has traditionally allowed a 30 foot Residential Riverfront Lease to adjoining property owners in this area. The current Riverfront leases are for a five‐year period (2013‐2017). Staff recommends that if Council were to grant a lease to Mr.& Mrs. Lloyd that it is for a four‐year period of time so that all of the leases maintain the same renewal dates. A lease has been prepared by the City Attorney. MOTION by Hornkohl, second by Zaring to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a Riverfront Lease with Todd and Cynthia Lloyd upon the purchase of the property at 556 First Street. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Hornkohl, Goodspeed, Zaring, Wittlieff NAYS: None | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 17, 2013 CONSIDERATION OF CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO APPROVE OF POVERTY EXEMPTION GUIDELINES (INCLUDING FEDERAL POVERTY INCOME STANDARDS FOR 2014 ASSESSMENTS AND ASSET LEVEL FOR 2014 ASSESSMENTS). The adoption of the Resolution of Guidelines for Poverty Exemption from Property Tax for 2014 Assessed and Taxable Values is required of the Manistee City Council in order for the Board of Review to grant poverty exemptions from property taxation. The homestead of persons who the Board of Review determines by reason of poverty to be unable to contribute to the public charge, is eligible for exemption in whole or in part from taxation under Public Act 390, 1994 (MCL 211.7u). The guidelines include, but are not limited to, the specific income and asset levels of the claimant and all persons residing in the household. MOTION by Hornkohl, second by Goodspeed to approve the Resolution of Guidelines for Poverty Exemption from Property Tax for 2014 Assessed and Taxable Value. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Hornkohl, Goodspeed, Zaring, Wittlieff NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. Mayor Kenny made the following Council Committee appointments: Alternatives for Area Youth – Deisch Auditing Committee – Kenny, Goodspeed, Cote Local Revenue Sharing Board – Kenny MRA Board – Deisch AES Board – Deisch Oil & Gas Investment Board – Kenny, Zaring, Bradford Ordinance Committee – Gustad, Wittlieff, Zaring Personnel Committee – Hornkohl, Kenny, Gustad Utilities Committee – Cote, Gustad, Hornkohl 911 Board Authority ‐ Goodspeed A REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER. The City Manager’s Office annually prepares a review of calendar year activities. That review provides City Council and the Community an opportunity to step back from day to day activities and take a longer look at what has been accomplished. City Manager Mitchell D. Deisch and Staff have compiled a comprehensive report on the 2013 Highlights for the City of Manistee. CITIZEN COMMENT. Ed Seng / Seng Dock & Trucking commented on the peninsula property; has an opportunity to re‐open | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 17, 2013 part for shipping pulp wood; opportunity for jobs and new businesses. Questions were asked about the amount of thru traffic; concerns voiced about the amount of money put into this location. This will be discussed further at the January 14, 2014 work session. Mark Solden introduced himself as the new Manistee County Road Commission Manager. OFFICIALS AND STAFF. Beardslee updated business owners on the personal property tax exemption. COUNCILMEMBERS. None received. ADJOURN. MOTION to adjourn was made by Goodspeed, second by Hornkohl. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Michelle Wright MMC / CPFA, MiCPT City Clerk/Deputy Treasurer | Page 4