City Council

MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 8, 2019 The Manistee City Council met in a work session on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 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, Department Directors, and Public Public Comments John Mencarelli, 305 Gloria Lane, Lions of Manistee / asked for clarification whether the Lions Club would need to complete a special event application and pay fees under the new system for their annual Fish Boil held during the Forest Festival. Tom Bultema – Labor Fest / commented on the costs proposed for special events. Diana Wall, 215 – 7th St., Chamber of Commerce / informed Council that funds raised through the Forest Festival are donated back to the community. Delaney Bachman – Manistee Jaycees / remarked that the goal of the Jaycees is to better the community of Manistee and urged Council to keep nonprofit organizations in mind when deciding whether or not to impose fees for special events. Ann Vadeboncoeur – Manistee World of Arts & Crafts / commented that her organization needs to know costs this week for their event in order to finalize plans for 2019; all proceeds generated are donated back to the community. Discussion on Special Events – City Manager Thad N Taylor – City Manager Thad Taylor led the discussion on Special Events. Thad explained that a new application form with associated costs has been created to be used in planning for special events and that event organizers are asked to submit those applications 90 days in advance of the planned event. DPW Director Jeff Mikula indicated that the proposed new fees are being met with resistance. DPW has absorbed event costs and has been able to greatly reduce overtime costs by planning in advance. Discussion also included regulations for spending public funds, other municipalities’ special events policies, case law and the desire to maintain special events. CONSENSUS: Council indicated that there will be no charges for special events held in 2019. In the future if Council decides to implement event fees there will be adequate notice given to event organizers. Council directed staff to research other communities’ special events policies and bring back to a future Work Session agenda. Council Work Session – January 8, 2019 Page 1 Discussion on Deer Cull – Public Safety Director Tim Kozal – Public Safety Director Tim Kozal led the discussion on a deer cull. It is possible for the USDA to conduct a deer cull which would be permitted by the Dept. of Natural Resources. Permission has been granted by the Manistee Golf and Country Club for the cull to be held on its property as well as on City owned property from Cherry Street South to the wells close to Manistee High School. USDA cost is $10,000 and includes four USDA employees for three nights and harvesting a minimum of 20 deer. Additional funding would be needed to process the deer and the meat would be donated to local food banks. USDA recommends a multiple year project. Fund balance may possibly be used to cover the costs. CONSENSUS: Council directed staff to move forward with a deer cull. Discussion on Provisioning Centers – Mayor Pro-Tem Lynda Beaton – Mayor Pro-Tem Lynda Beaton led a discussion on provisioning centers. City Manager Thad Taylor presented information on the process for allowing provisioning centers which included: ordinance updating, defining provisional centers, amending Use Table & Zoning Map, creating application, looking at acceptable locations, licensing, complying with all state and local regulations, buffer zones and possibly public input. Taylor suggested changing sunset clause in proposed ordinance from 4/1/19 to 7/1/19 to allow for notifications and public hearings. CONSENSUS: Council directed staff to continue working on ordinance language for both medical and recreational use of marihuana. Adjourned at approximately 8:29 pm. Lora Y. Laurain Deputy Clerk Council Work Session – January 8, 2019 Page 2