City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL ‐NOVEMBER 7, 2018 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by his honor, Mayor James Smith on Tuesday, November 7, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Dale Cooper, Lynda Beaton, Roger Zielinski, Robert Goodspeed, James Smith, James Grabowski, and Erin Pontiac. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Thad Taylor, City Attorney – George Saylor, City Clerk – Heather Pefley, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Public Safety Director – Tim Kozal, and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS. Valerie Bergstrom, 1224 Critter Trail – DDA Board Member‐Treasurer/ spoke on behalf of the DDA to request approval from Council to appoint Tom Kaminski as interim DDA Director; gave background on Mr. Kaminski. Shelley Doyen, 421 River Street – Ideal Kitchen‐ Owner / spoke on importance of DDA and supports approval of Tom Kaminski for interim DDA Director. Nicole Knapp, 318 River Street – The Fillmore – Owner / spoke in support of Tom Kaminski as interim DDA Director. CONSENT AGENDA.  Minutes ‐ October 16, 2018 ‐ Regular Meeting  Financial Reports ‐ Cash Balances September 2018 ‐ Quarterly Financial Update ‐ Quarterly Investment Update  Notification Regarding Next Work Session – November 27, 2018 A discussion will be conducted on dogs in city parks; and such business as may come before Council. MOTION by Zielinski, second by Grabowski to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Grabowski, and Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 2019‐1 FOR FISCAL YEAR‐END JUNE 30, 2019. The City of Manistee is required by State law to ensure that actual expenditures do not exceed budgeted amounts. Over the course of the current fiscal year, unanticipated and unbudgeted events and/or Council approved expenditures have occurred. The proposed budget amendments address expenditures associated with these events to ensure compliance with State statute regarding appropriations. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL ‐NOVEMBER 7, 2018 MOTION by Zielinski, second by Goodspeed to adopt budget amendment 2019‐1 for fiscal year‐end June 30, 2019. Discussion included a review of the proposed amendments. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Grabowski, and Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION, VOGUE THEATRE LIQUOR LICENSE REQUEST. The Manistee Downtown Development Authority has submitted a resolution for Council to approve the issuance of a liquor license to the Vogue Theatre at 383 River Street from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission under the redevelopment program. This agenda item has been reviewed by the Public Safety Director who provided no objections to this request. MOTION by Zielinski, second by Goodspeed to approve a resolution supporting the application by the Vogue Theatre of 383 River Street for a liquor license through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Discussion followed. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Grabowski, and Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF INTERIM DDA DIRECTOR. The DDA Board of Directors voted and approved hiring Tom Kaminski as interim director and has requested City Council approval. MOTION by Zielinski, second by Cooper to approve the selection of Tom Kaminski as Interim Director for the Downtown Development Authority. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Grabowski, and Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MANISTEE CHIPPEWA 350 CLUB AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. The Manistee Chippewa 350 Club is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization. They have started the qualification process to be formally recognized by the State of Michigan as a local nonprofit organization. This recognition would allow them to apply for a raffle license through the Michigan Lottery Charitable Gaming Division. Prior to the State of Michigan issuing the license, the Manistee Chippewa 350 Club must qualify as a local nonprofit organization through recognition by the Manistee City Council. MOTION by Zielinski, second by Goodspeed to recognize the Manistee Chippewa 350 Club as a local nonprofit organization for the purpose of applying for a Charitable Gaming License through the State of Michigan. | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL ‐NOVEMBER 7, 2018 With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Grabowski, and Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF MODIFICATIONS TO COUNCIL POLICY CP‐23 RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY. City Council Policy CP‐23 Retiree Health Insurance Policy does not align with the current practice. When CP‐ 23 was adopted in February 1999, eligible retirees were required to remain on the City’s health insurance plan to receive a monthly stipend for retiree healthcare. In the intervening years, and contrary to the policy, eligible City retirees have been allowed to receive the monthly stipend without remaining on the City’s health insurance plan. When given the opportunity, all eligible employees elected to receive the stipend and purchase healthcare on the open market. Additionally, the stipend has been eliminated in the Fire and DPW contracts for future retirees and is a subject of binding arbitration with both police units. There are seven (7) retirees that remain on the city’s health insurance plan. Those employees should be given the opportunity to receive the monthly stipend and purchase health insurance on the open market. Staff believes that there are less expensive options on the open market for those retirees. MOTION by Zielinski, second by Beaton to direct staff to modify CP‐23 to align with the City’s current practice and allow the retirees currently on the City’s health insurance plan the opportunity to receive the monthly stipend and purchase health insurance on the open market. Discussion followed. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Smith, Grabowski, and Pontiac NAYS: None A REPORT FROM THE TREE COMMISSION. No report given. CITIZEN COMMENT. None. OFFICIALS AND STAFF. Middleton reported on progress for Rural Development 1 and Rural Development 2 projects. COUNCILMEMBERS. Cooper asked for update on the cleanup of the house on 11th Street that burned; thanked Mayor Smith for serving on Council. Beaton thanked the Fire Department for their quick response and assistance with recent event; thanked | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL ‐NOVEMBER 7, 2018 Mayor Smith for service to the community. Zielinski commented on DPW/Water Department; thanked them for their help resolving a recent issue and for their professionalism. Goodspeed wished Mayor Smith well. Grabowski asked if something could be done with the boarded windows on River Street. Pontiac thanked Mayor Smith for his service. Smith thanked the Clerk’s office and election workers for their efforts with the election; acknowledged EMS for quick response and professional service with a recent event; congratulated Mick Szymanski and all winners of the election; presented employee service anniversary card. ADJOURN. MOTION to adjourn was made by Goodspeed. Meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m. Heather Pefley CMC / CMMC, MiCPT City Clerk | Page 4