City Council

MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF November 27, 2018 The Manistee City Council met in a work session on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 Maple Street, Manistee, Michigan 49660. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dale Cooper, Lynda Beaton, Roger Zielinski, Robert Goodspeed, Michael Szymanski, James Grabowski, and Erin Pontiac ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Thad Taylor, Finance Director – Edward Bradford, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Public Safety Director – Tim Kozal, City Engineer – Shawn Middleton, Deputy Clerk – Lora Laurain, Public and Media Motion by Goodspeed, second by Beaton to amend the agenda to add a closed session under Section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Szymanski, Grabowski and Pontiac NAYS: None Public Comments. Maralee Cook, 373-2nd Street – presented information on the use of recreational marihuana. Discussion on Dogs in City Parks. Zielinski led the discussion on dogs in City parks. Discussed current ordinances, enforcement and possible new regulations and costs. Consideration should be given to specific areas such as Marina and Riverwalk, posting of fines as a deterrent, leash length and what other cities’ ordinance language includes. CONSENSUS: Staff to research Ludington and Frankfort dog ordinance language and send this issue to the Ordinance Committee. Discussion on Recreational Marihuana. City Manager Thad Taylor presented information on recreational marihuana and the recent election. City of Manistee voters mirrored State of Michigan voting results in passing the recent marihuana proposal. Discussion included rules for usage, commercial aspects and communities’ ability to opt out of the commercialization. CONSENSUS: Staff to prepare language for a six month moratorium on recreational marihuana in the City of Manistee to be presented as an agenda item at a future Council meeting. Council Work Session – November 27, 2018 Page 1 Discussion on Blight in the DDA District. Beaton led discussion regarding blight located in the DDA District which included 347-349 River Street and how it affects the image of the City. In September the Historic District Commission issued a six month permit to the owners with the stipulation that significant progress be made. CONSENSUS: Zielinski will present this discussion to the DDA and ask how this issue is being addressed. Staff. Mikula reported that a section of the Riverwalk from Cherry Street to Cedar Street has been damaged by weather and is closed off for repairs. Consideration of a closed session, union contract negotiations. City Manager Thad Taylor has requested a Closed Session as permitted by the Michigan Open Meetings Act, Section 8 (c) to discuss contract negotiations with the Police Officers Association of Michigan and the Command Officers Association of Michigan. Motion by Grabowski, second by Szymanski to proceed to Closed Session under Section 8 (c) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Time: 7:54 pm. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Szymanski, Grabowski and Pontiac NAYS: None Motion by Goodspeed, second by Szymanski to return to Regular Work Session. Time: 8:10 pm. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Szymanski, Grabowski and Pontiac NAYS: None Motion to adjourn was made by Goodspeed. Meeting adjourned at 8:11 pm. Lora Y Laurain City Deputy Clerk Council Work Session – November 27, 2018 Page 2