City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL - JULY 16, 2019 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by his honor, Mayor Roger Zielinski on Tuesday, July 16, 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, Robert Goodspeed, Michael Szymanski, James Grabowski and Erin Pontiac ALSO PRESENT: City Attorney – George Saylor, Deputy City Clerk – Lora Laurain, DPW Deputy Director – Rick Mohr, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Public Safety Director – Tim Kozal and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS Margaret Batzer, Manistee County Commissioner, spoke regarding the NorthFlight mutual aid agreement. CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes - July 2, 2019 - Regular Meeting - July 9, 2019 - Work Session • Financial Reports - Payroll June 2019 - Invoices June 2019 • Notification Regarding Next Work Session – Tuesday, August 13, 2019, 7:00 pm A discussion will be conducted on such business as may come before Council. • CONSIDERATION OF MANISTEE HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING PARADE A request has been received to hold the Manistee High School Homecoming Parade on Friday, October 4, 2019 commencing at 5:00 p.m. The parade would assemble in the former Eagles lot and parade down River Street to the City Marina fountain area. At this time Council could take action to support and approve the request to use City services, parks, and streets for the Manistee High School Homecoming Parade on Friday, October 4, 2019; subject to appropriate department approvals. MOTION by Goodspeed, second by Cooper to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Szymanski, Grabowski and Pontiac NAYS: None | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL - JULY 16, 2019 CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 2019-5 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 amendment addresses expenditures associated with these events to ensure compliance with State statute regarding appropriations. MOTION by Goodspeed, second by Szymanski to adopt budget amendment 2019-5 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Szymanski, Grabowski and Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION TO PLACE A CANNON IN VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK The American Legion Post 10 restored a Civil War cannon, valued at $90,000. The Legion would like to place the cannon at Veterans Memorial Park. Additionally, they would like the City to provide insurance coverage for the cannon in the event it is damaged. To provide insurance coverage the City must approve an agreement whereby it authorizes the placement of the cannon in Veterans Memorial Park and stipulates that the City will provide insurance coverage for the cannon. A signed agreement will allow the City’s insurance carrier to add the cannon to the City’s insurance policy. MOTION by Beaton, second by Szymanski to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the agreement. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Goodspeed, Szymanski, Grabowski and Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A DISCUSSION ON NORTHFLIGHT MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT The Manistee Fire Department is committed to being available 24 hours a day to provide emergency medical services and fire suppression. On January 1, 2019 the Manistee Fire Department renewed a mutual aid agreement with NorthFlight. This commitment and our commitment to mutual aid have been stretched. We are at a point that we need to start analyzing our availability to backfill and possibly turning down mutual aid requests. Discussion focused on EMS services in the City of Manistee and Manistee County provided by the City Fire Department and NorthFlight and the costs of providing these services. Both City Staff and | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL - JULY 16, 2019 Councilmembers are concerned with costs of overtime as well as the added strain this places on City Fire Department personnel. Council consensus was to direct Chief Kozal to schedule a meeting with City Staff, NorthFlight, Manistee County representatives and Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital representatives to continue the discussion on EMS services. A REPORT FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR / OIL AND GAS BOARD / BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Mr. Ed Bradford reported on the activities of the Finance Director / Oil and Gas Board / Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and responded to questions the Council had regarding their activities. CITIZEN COMMENT Dennis Skiera, owner of multiple properties located in the City of Manistee, complimented City DPW workers on keeping up the beaches and parks during this year’s Forest Festival; also spoke of damage done to the south ball field by large vehicles during the Festival. Jennifer Teller, 712 Harbor Drive, asked Council to direct DPW to trim a tree which is obstructing the lake view. Fred Walter, 315 St. Mary’s Parkway, spoke regarding EMS services. Jennifer Teller, 712 Harbor Drive, spoke regarding oil and gas funds. OFFICIALS AND STAFF Chief Kozal informed councilmembers that there is a plan in place to better manage the large vehicles at next year’s Forest Festival to avoid further damage to the ball fields. COUNCILMEMBERS Pontiac suggested a work session agenda item to discuss a tree trimming policy. Grabowski asked about costs of POAM/COAM contract negotiations; also stated that the recycling program needs to be addressed. Szymanski thanked City personnel and volunteers for their work on the Forest Festival; asked for a blight officer/issue update. Kozal indicated that a proposal has been presented to the City Manager and police officers are out on duty addressing blight issues. Bradford reported that a new feature was recently added to the City’s website to allow citizens to report blight issues to the Police Dept. Cooper asked if Council could help the resident who spoke about the tree trimming issue. | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL - JULY 16, 2019 Beaton stated she would like to see the tree trimming issue discussed at a work session; also wants Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital representatives to be included in future EMS service meetings. Goodspeed stated that he is not seeking re-election to Council and encouraged Fourth District residents to consider running for office. Zielinski stated he wants to see quality ambulance services throughout all of Manistee County; and thanked everyone for attending the meeting. ADJOURN MOTION to adjourn was made by Goodspeed. Meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm. Lora Y Laurain Deputy Clerk | Page 4