City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MAY 6, 2020 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by his honor, Mayor Roger Zielinski on Tuesday, May 6, 2020 at 7:00 pm remotely as authorized by Executive Order of the Governor. PRESENT: Dale Cooper, Lynda Beaton, Roger Zielinski, Jermaine Cipcic, Michael Szymanski, James Grabowski and Erin Martin-Pontiac ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Thad Taylor, City Attorney – George Saylor, City Clerk – Heather Pefley, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Planning & Zoning Administrator – Rob Carson, Detective Sergeant – Josh Glass, Deputy Fire Chief – Mark Cameron, and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton The following update was provided by Mayor Zielinski: As an important step in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, our Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, issued an Executive Order authorizing public boards in Michigan to conduct their meetings remotely. This is a critical step to help stop the spread. All aspects of how this meeting is being run is in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, as modified by the Executive Order, and has been reviewed by the City Attorney. The City of Manistee is taking various steps to do our part during this pandemic, and this is one of them. We need to keep members of the public, our City Council and City Staff healthy. Therefore, no members of the public, City Council or City Staff are present in the Council Chambers. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS All individuals in attendance of the virtual meeting were in a virtual waiting room, with their microphones muted. When it came time for public comment, each person waiting in the virtual waiting room was called individually by the City Clerk by the last four digits of their telephone number. Individuals were asked if they had a comment or if they were passing. Mayor Zielinski reviewed the items on the agenda for those in attendance that did not have a copy of the agenda. Richard Albee, 365 Lighthouse Way – encouraged Council to pass the Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Resolution. Aaron Pryor, 225 Second Avenue – spoke in favor of the Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Resolution. Caitlyn Berard, Manistee DDA Director – notified Council that she was available for any questions on the DDA Budget. Jeanne Butterfield 2264 Merkey Road – spoke in favor of the Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Resolution. Linda Karle-Nelson, 5030 W. Fox Farm Road – expressed support for the Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Resolution. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MAY 6, 2020 Bruce Allen, 74 Pine Street – thanked everyone for their work on the Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Resolution. Lisa Allen, 74 Pine Street –spoke in favor of Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Resolution and urged Council to support. CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes - April 21, 2020 Regular Meeting & Work Session - April 28, 2020 Work Session • Financial Reports - Cash Balances March 2020 - Revenue & Expenses March 2020 - Quarterly Financial Update - Quarterly Investment Report • Notification Regarding Next Work Session – May 12, 2020, 7:00 pm A discussion will be conducted on Downtown Rentals; and such business as may come before Council. MOTION by Cooper, second by Beaton to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Cipcic, Szymanski, Grabowski and Martin-Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING THE 2020-2021 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND APPROVING THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020- 2021. Under Section 7-4 of the Charter, the annual budget must be adopted before May 15 of each year. The budget has been the subject of multiple work sessions and a public hearing. Additionally, the City of Manistee is required by state statute to approve the budget of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) before it can be adopted by the Downtown Development Board. The DDA’s proposed budget was presented to City Council at the April 14, 2020 City Council work session. If approved by Council, the Downtown Development Authority Board must still hold a public hearing on their budget and vote to adopt it. MOTION by Beaton, second by Szymanski to adopt a resolution approving the 2020-2021 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Manistee and approve the Downtown Development Authority’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. Discussion included advertising for the budgeted police officer position and plans for the vacancy created by the departure of the Public Safety Director. Councilmembers expressed their appreciation to staff for their work on the budget. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MAY 6, 2020 AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Cipcic, Szymanski, Grabowski and Martin-Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF MEDICAL CARE COVERAGE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021. The City was presented two options, through our insurance broker, for medical care coverage for the next fiscal year. Our current provider, Priority Health, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). The BCBSM rates are slightly lower than those offered by Priority Health, however the rates are not guaranteed until underwriting review. Given Priority Health’s excellent coverage and service, coupled with the uncertainty associated with the BCBSM rates, it is recommended that City Council continue medical care coverage through Priority Health in the next fiscal year. MOTION by Beaton, second by Grabowski to renew our medical care coverage with Priority Health for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021. Discussion included rate increases and how they are allocated. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Cipcic, Szymanski, Grabowski and Martin-Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A CONSENT AGREEMENT WITH ONEKAMA MARINE, INC. Onekama Marine, Inc. entered into a Commercial Riverfront Lease agreement with the City of Manistee on February 16, 2018 for the riverfront property adjacent to their two separate landward parcels 540 Water Street and 522 Water Street. They currently own and operate a private marina on the lands described in their lease. At this time, Onekama Marine is marketing the property at 522 Water Street for sale. However, they wish to continue the Lease and retain the right to lease all of the land presently described in the Lease, including the property adjacent to 522 Water Street subject to the written consent of the new owner/purchaser of 522 Water Street. The City Attorney has drafted a Consent Agreement to allow Onekama Marine to continue to lease all the property described in their Commercial Riverfront Lease. MOTION by Szymanski second by Grabowski to approve the Consent Agreement and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the documents. Discussion followed. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Cipcic, Szymanski, Grabowski and Martin-Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF NOTICE OF INTENT RESOLUTION FOR ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS. The City has a number of time-sensitive capital projects that it needs to fund over the next three years. These projects were identified in the proposed FY 2021 budget. Administration and the City's advisors recommend issuing general obligation, limited tax capital improvement bonds to finance these projects. The first step in issuing these bonds is to adopt a Notice of Intent Resolution declaring the City’s intent to | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MAY 6, 2020 bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000. The purpose of the Notice of Intent is to inform the electors of the City and give them a chance to petition for a referendum on the bond issue. The public has a 45- day period in which to gather signatures of not less than 10% of registered electors, in order to force a special referendum election on the issue. Once the 45-day period has expired, the City can proceed with the bond issue. MOTION by Cooper, second by Szymanski to approve a Notice of Intent Resolution for the issuance of limited tax general obligation capital improvement bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000. City Manager Thad Taylor explained the difference between the budgeted amount for the capital projects and the not to exceed bond amount of $6,000,000 was for additional shoreline erosion issues. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Cipcic, Szymanski, Grabowski and Martin-Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING THE RACIAL JUSTICE, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY RESOLUTION. City Council, staff and a community group have worked on several drafts of a Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity resolution. A final draft was developed that reflects input from all parties and is now presented to Council for their consideration. MOTION by Beaton, second by Szymanski to adopt Resolution 20-10, a resolution for Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Cooper, Beaton, Zielinski, Cipcic, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin-Pontiac NAYS: None CITIZEN COMMENT Every person waiting in the virtual waiting room was called by the last four digits of their telephone number. Richard Albee, 365 Lighthouse Way – thanked Council for passing the Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Resolution. Linda Karle-Nelson, 5030 W. Fox Farm Road - thanked Council for passing resolution for Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity. Robert Goodspeed, 301 Cypress Street – thanked Council and Staff for their work on the budget. OFFICIALS AND STAFF Bradford thanked Council for approving the budget and stated that as more information unfolds on the state of the economy, we will need to be flexible over the coming months. | Page 4  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MAY 6, 2020 Pefley gave Council an update on the election that took place on May 5th . COUNCILMEMBERS Beaton asked that discussion be added to the upcoming work session on regulations for placement of election campaign signs. Szymanski stated he was very impressed with the number of people involved with the resolution for Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity. Grabowski asked if there was an update on the Forest Festival. Taylor stated the determination has not yet been made by the Chamber of Commerce. Zielinski thanked staff for their work on the budget and thanked citizens for taking precautions to protect each other during this pandemic. ADJOURN MOTION to adjourn was made by Cooper. Meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Heather Pefley CMC/CMMC, MiCPT City Clerk | Page 5