City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 15, 2015 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Colleen Kenny on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Colleen Kenny, Lynda Beaton, Roger Zielinski, Robert Goodspeed, James Smith, Mark Wittlieff, and Eric Gustad. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Thad Taylor, City Attorney – George Saylor, City Clerk – Michelle Wright, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Public Safety Director – Dave Bachman, and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton / Spicer Group. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS. Josh Penland, chair of the Ad Hoc Deer Herd Committee – 815 Dinsen Street / stated he does not support a cull, it would be experimental in nature, thinks the $5,000 proposed should be put towards an aerial survey. CONSENT AGENDA.  Minutes ‐ December 1, 2015 ‐ Regular Meeting ‐ December 8, 2015 ‐ Work Session  Financial Reports ‐ Payroll ‐ November 9‐22, 2015 ‐ $ 105,091.45 ‐ Nov. 23 – Dec. 7, 2015 ‐ $ 147,051.61 ‐ Invoices ‐ November 5, 2015 ‐ $ 813,735.93 ‐ November 25, 2015 ‐ $ 626,534.61  Notification Regarding Next Work Session – January 19, 2016 A discussion will be conducted on strategic plan updates; and such business as may come before the Council. MOTION by Goodspeed, second by Wittlieff to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Wittlieff, and Gustad NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO CITY COUNCIL GUIDELINES. City Council Guidelines are reviewed annually at the Organizational Meeting in November. Council continued their review and discussion at the December 8 work session. Amendments under consideration include updates to reasonable meeting notice requirements, code of ethics, and the audit committee. Additional discussion anticipated on Councilmember participation on boards and commissions and any opportunity to combine or eliminate a board or commission at a future date. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 15, 2015 MOTION by Goodspeed, second by Beaton to adopt the amended City Council Guidelines. Questions were asked regarding details on the code of ethics section. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Wittlieff, and Gustad NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. Mayor Kenny made the following Council Committee appointments:  Alternatives for Area Youth – Smith  Auditing Committee – Kenny, Goodspeed, Gustad  Local Revenue Sharing Board – Kenny  MRA Board – Beaton  Oil & Gas Investment Board – Kenny, Gustad, Bradford  Ordinance Committee – Gustad, Wittlieff, Zielinski  Personnel Committee (appointed by City Manager) – Kenny, Gustad, Wittlieff  Utilities Committee – Beaton, Gustad, Smith  911 Board Authority ‐ Goodspeed CONSIDERATION OF BIDS FOR THE FIRE STATION EXHAUST REMOVAL SYSTEM. Earlier this year the City was awarded a federal grant in the amount of $47,620 to purchase and install an exhaust management system for the City fire station. Bids were solicited and received as follows: Diesel Exhaust: Ward Diesel ‐ $36,165.24 (only bid)* Gasoline Exhaust: Clean Air Concepts ‐ $13,782.00* AIRVAC ‐ $18,745.00 *Recommended bid. MOTION by Goodspeed, second by Smith to accept the bid of $36,165.24 from Ward Diesel for a diesel exhaust system, the bid of $13,782.00 from Clean Air Concepts for gasoline exhaust system; and a 5% local match of $2,381.00. Discussion followed. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Wittlieff, and Gustad NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION, 2015 MANISTEE COUNTY NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. The Emergency Management Coordinator for Manistee County has been working on a Hazard Mitigation | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 15, 2015 Plan for several months. The plan has been reviewed and adopted by the County; the next step is for the City and Townships to adopt it as well. By adopting the plan the City becomes an eligible partner with Manistee County to respond to and mitigate the effects of a natural disaster. In addition, it makes the City eligible to receive federal disaster relief through the County in the event of a natural disaster. MOTION by Wittlieff, second by Goodspeed to adopt the 2015 Manistee County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Discussion followed. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Kenny, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Wittlieff, and Gustad NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF DEER HERD MANAGEMENT. At the December 8, 2015 work session City Council was presented the Ad Hoc Deer Herd Committee Report and Recommendations. Committee recommendations are as follows:  Implement a feeding ban.  Reduction in the size of the existing deer herd.  Explore the contracting of the services of the USDA.  Ongoing analysis, annual survey to evaluate the public perception.  Provide public education via City’s website.  Appropriate resources to facilitate this process. Following discussion Council requested this item be placed on the next agenda for consideration and to set a spending limit of up to $5,000. MOTION by Beaton, second by Wittlieff to take action on the Ad Hoc Deer Herd Committee Report and Recommendations by providing direction to appropriate staff and setting a spending limit of up to $5,000. Question was asked about the cost of a non‐lethal method and the number of deer proposed if there is a cull. With a roll call vote this motion passed, 5‐2. AYES: Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, and Wittlieff NAYS: Kenny and Gustad A REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER, 2015 HIGHLIGHTS. The City Manager’s office annually prepares a comprehensive review of calendar year activities. That review provides City Council and the Community an opportunity to step back from day to day operations and take a longer look at what has been accomplished during the year. Copies of the Highlights were available for public review. | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – December 15, 2015 CITIZEN COMMENT. None received. OFFICIALS AND STAFF. None received. COUNCILMEMBERS. Zielinski wished everyone happy holidays. Goodspeed stated he and his wife are willing to donate money for the Boards & Commissions Meet and Greet, as proposed at last week’s work session, so no taxpayer money will be used. Smith also agreed with Goodspeed, stating it would be good exposure and a positive thing; wished everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year; thanked the public safety department for their work during the Sleighbell Parade. Wittlieff thanked the committee that worked on the purse program – 800+ purses were filled and donated for underprivileged women. Gustad congratulated Chief Bachman on the traffic flow during the Sleighbell weekend, wondered if there was a head count on the attendance; thanked Patrick Kay also for an incredible weekend; wished everyone happy holidays; and also would like to contribute towards the open house. Kenny welcomed new City Manager to his first official meeting; hopes everyone has a nice holiday and a prosperous new year. ADJOURN. MOTION to adjourn was made by Goodspeed, second by Smith. Meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. Michelle Wright MMC / CPFA, MiCPT City Clerk/Chief Deputy Treasurer | Page 4