City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 2, 2019 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by his honor, Mayor Roger Zielinski on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 7:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Dale Cooper, Lynda Beaton, Roger Zielinski, Michael Szymanski and James Grabowski ABSENT: Robert Goodspeed and Erin Pontiac ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Thad Taylor, City Attorney – Richard Wilson, Deputy Clerk – Lora Laurain, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Finance Director – Edward Bradford and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS Barry Lind, 532 – 4th St. / spoke about procedure for Council appointing the City Manager as the Executive Officer for the DDA Board; and voiced concern about language in the proposed Special Events Policy. CONSENT AGENDA  Minutes - March 19, 2019 - Regular Meeting  Financial Reports - Cash Balances February 2019 - Revenue and Expenses February 2019  Notification Regarding Next Work Session – April 9, 2019, 7:00 pm A discussion will be conducted on the 2019-2020 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan; and such business as may come before Council.  CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL TIGHT LINES FOR TROOPS EVENT The annual Tight Lines for Troops charity veterans’ event is scheduled for Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18, 2019. The event will take place at the public boat launch on First Street and utilize the parking lots, the ball diamond parking lot on Cherry Street, as well as the City parking lot at the Armory. This event will begin on Friday, May 17 at 4:00 pm and all areas will be cleared by Saturday, May 18 at 8:00 pm. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Beaton to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Szymanski and Grabowski NAYS: None | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 2, 2019 CONSIDERATION OF COMPENSATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL SALARIES Compensation for the Mayor and members of the City Council is established based on procedures in the Charter, State Statute and local ordinance. A fundamental point in these requirements is that the Mayor and Council may not approve changes in their own levels of compensation. Any change in compensation must take effect after the terms of all current Councilmembers have expired. Under established procedures, the City Council may not develop compensation rates even though the rates do not become effective during the term of the City Council. Rates are developed by an independent Compensation Commission which only meets every other year. The Council may accept or reject the Compensation Commission’s recommendations, they may not be modified. If the Council rejects the recommendation, they are returned to the Compensation Commission for further consideration. Rejection can only occur if a majority of Council, five (5) members, votes to reject the recommendations. If the recommendations are accepted, they will be implemented at the beginning of the year 2021, after all current Council terms have expired. The current salaries for the Mayor and City Council are $4,774 and $3,713 per year respectively. These rates have been in effect since January 2009. The Compensation Commission is recommending that these amounts be increased to $5,000 (Mayor) and $3,875 (Council). MOTION by Szymanski, second by Cooper to reject the Compensation Commission’s recommendations. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Szymanski and Grabowski NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF RECOGNIZING THE MANISTEE SAINTS BASEBALL CLUB AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION The Manistee Saints Baseball Club is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization. They are applying for a raffle license through the Michigan Lottery Charitable Gaming Division for a raffle as part of their 85 th Birthday celebration at Reitz Park this summer. Prior to the State of Michigan issuing the license, the Manistee Saints Baseball Club must qualify as a local nonprofit organization through recognition by the Manistee City Council. MOTION by Beaton, second by Grabowski to recognize the Manistee Saints Baseball Club as a local nonprofit organization for the purpose of applying for a Charitable Gaming License through the State of Michigan. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Szymanski and Grabowski NAYS: None | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 2, 2019 CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL EVENTS POLICY CP-39 Special Events Policy CP-39 stipulates the fees for City services used to support parades and special events sponsored by for-profit and non-profit organizations. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Cooper to approve Council Policy 39, Special Events. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Szymanski and Grabowski NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER APPOINTMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD Part 2 of Public Act 57, Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act, defines the Chief Executive Officer as the Mayor or City Manager. Also, the Act stipulates that the Chief Executive Officer is a member of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board. MOTION by Beaton, second by Cooper to appoint the City Manager as Executive Officer for the Downtown Development Authority Board instead of the Mayor. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Szymanski and Grabowski NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE MANISTEE NORTH PIERHEAD LIGHT DECKS AND HATCHES INTERIOR RESTORATION PROJECT The Manistee County Historical Museum wishes to submit a grant request in the amount of $27,200; $16,300 from grant funds and $10,900 from the Museum. The grant stipulates that the City must be a joint applicant. However, no City funds are requested for the project. In addition, the grant requires the City to approve a resolution of support and attest that no Federal or State Historic Preservation Tax Incentives have been or will be taken for the proposed work. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Szymanski to authorize the City Manager to sign the grant application on behalf of the City, and to authorize the Mayor to sign the required resolution and the Tax Incentive Certification form. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Szymanski and Grabowski NAYS: None | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 2, 2019 A REPORT FROM THE HOUSING COMMISSION Mr. Clinton McKinven-Copus reported on the activities of the Manistee Housing Commission and responded to questions the Council had regarding their activities. INTRODUCTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 BUDGET Administration has prepared the proposed 2019-2020 Fiscal Year Budget. The Finance Director gave a brief introduction of the City Manager’s budget recommendations to City Council and the Community. The public hearing to review these budget recommendations and receive public input has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 16. Various work sessions have been established: a regular work session on April 9; following the regular meeting on April 16; April 23 and April 30, 2019. CITIZEN COMMENT None OFFICIALS AND STAFF Mikula updated Council regarding a potential delay in construction for the marina docks due to the Corps of Engineers’ requiring approval by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office prior to issuing their permit. Lissette Reyes of Project Rising Tide urged Council and Manistee residents to complete their online survey as part of the Branding and Marketing initiative; and provided updates on Economic Development and local housing issues. COUNCILMEMBERS Grabowski encouraged attendance at the Manistee Area Public Schools meeting being held Thursday to discuss school buildings in the district. Beaton asked for updates on the proposed West Shore Community College purchase of the Glik’s building and the six other properties located in the City being purchased by investors. Taylor reported that all sales continue to move forward. Beaton also inquired about a report of trees being cut illegally in the Man Made Lake area. Zielinski thanked citizens in attendance and expressed appreciation for Mr. Wilson attending in Mr. Saylor’s stead. | Page 4  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 2, 2019 ADJOURN MOTION to adjourn was made by Grabowski. Meeting adjourned at 8:34 pm. Lora Y Laurain City Deputy Clerk | Page 5