City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 1, 2022 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Lynda Beaton on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Cindy Lundberg, Lynda Beaton, Jermaine Sullivan, Michael Szymanski, James Grabowski, and Erin Martin Pontiac ABSENT: David Bachman ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Bill Gambill, City Attorney – George Saylor, City Clerk – Heather Pefley, Finance Director – Edward Bradford, Planning & Zoning Administrator – Zachary Sompels, Detective Sergeant – Kirsten Goodspeed, Fire Chief – Mark Cameron, and City Engineer Representative – Lucas Richardson CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS None received. CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes February 15, 2022 Regular Meeting • Financial Reports Cash Balances January 2022 Revenue & Expenses January 2022 • Notification Regarding Next Study Session – March 8, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. A discussion will be conducted on the economic development intake process, sign ordinance, Bird Scooters, and Smoke on the Water event; and such business as may come before Council. • Consideration of Ordinance 22-01 to amend the City of Manistee Codified Ordinances to add Chapter 275 Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission. • Consideration of Text Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance adding language addressing viewshed. • Consideration of Text Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance adding language addressing storm water and lot coverage. Grabowski requested to remove item VII. a.) Consideration of Ordinance 22-01 to amend the City of Manistee Codified Ordinances to add Chapter 275 Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission from the Consent Agenda. MOTION by Martin Pontiac, second by Szymanski to approve the Consent Agenda with the removal of remove item VII. a.) Consideration of Ordinance 22-01 to amend the City of Manistee Codified | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 1, 2022 Ordinances to add Chapter 275 Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 22-01 TO AMEND THE CITY OF MANISTEE CODIFIED ORDINANCES TO ADD CHAPTER 275 NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION. As an ordinance two separate readings are required. This ordinance was introduced at the February 15, 2022, meeting and could be adopted at this time. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Martin Pontiac to adopt Ordinance 22-01 amending the City of Manistee Codified Ordinances to add Chapter 275 Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission. Discussed the process for filling membership vacancies and enforcement for blight violations. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF LOCAL REVENUE SHARING BOARD GRANT APPLICATIONS. The Local Revenue Sharing Board (LRSB) distributes 2% money from the Little River Casino. The deadline for 2022 Cycle I applications is Friday, March 11, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. City staff has prepared two grant applications for submission to the Local Revenue Sharing Board. This agenda item will include two separate motions, one for each grant application. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Martin Pontiac to authorize the submission of a grant application to the Local Revenue Sharing Board for the Fire Department in the amount of $9,317.75 for ESO software. Fire Chief Mark Cameron gave an explanation of the ESO software and how it would benefit the Fire Department. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None MOTION by Szymanski, second by Grabowski to authorize the submission of a grant application to the Local Revenue Sharing Board for the Police Department in the amount of $9,394.00 for a radar trailer. Detective Sergeant Kirsten Goodspeed explained the features of the radar trailer and how it will be used. | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 1, 2022 With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A 4-YEAR LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH RJ II ASSOCIATES, LLC. RJ II Associates, LLC has requested to place a sign advertising The Bluff’s on Manistee Lake on City- owned property at the southeast corner of the M-55/Eastlake Road intersection in Manistee Township. The City Attorney has prepared a 4-year license agreement; the initial annual fee is $600, with a 3% annual escalation, which is in line with other similar license agreements the City has entered into. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Lundberg to approve a license agreement with RJ II Associates, LLC and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS The City Clerk has taken action to advertise vacancies on the Compensation Commission, Harbor Commission, Historic District Commission, PEG Commission, and Tree Commission. Mayoral and Manager appointments require a motion, second and Council voted support. Nominations for Council appointments do not require a second. After all nominations are made, Council votes on the nominees until one nominee receives majority support. The following applications have been received: *Incumbent Historic District Commission. Two vacancies, terms ending 2/28/25. Applicants must be City residents; one member is desired who meets professional qualification standards for archaeologist, architect, architectural historian, historian, or historic architect; Council appointment. *Dennis Otto – 333 Fifth Street *Ron Helmboldt – 252 Lighthouse Circle Szymanski nominated Dennis Otto, 333 Fifth Street, to the Historic District Commission, term ending 02/28/25. With a roll call vote this nomination passed unanimously. | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 1, 2022 AYES: Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Grabowski nominated Ron Helmboldt, 252 Lighthouse Circle, to the Historic District Commission, term ending 02/28/25. With a roll call vote this nomination passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Tree Commission. Two vacancies, terms ending 12/31/22; Mayoral appointment. Dennis Otto – 333 Fifth Street Mayor Beaton appointed Dennis Otto, 333 Fifth Street, to the Tree Commission, term ending 12/31/22. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Grabowski to support the Mayor’s appointment of Dennis Otto, 333 Fifth Street, to the Tree Commission, term ending 12/31/22. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Lundberg, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None A REPORT FROM THE MANISTEE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. Ms. Stacie Bytwork, Mr. Marc Miller, and Ms. Kristina Bajtka reported on the activities of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, and the Downtown Development Authority and responded to any questions the Council had regarding their activities. CITIZEN COMMENT Jen Teller, 712 Harbor Drive / commented on sound for recorded DDA meetings, grant writing services for the City, combining City Commissions, keeping the downtown clean, and no smoking at City parks/playgrounds. Patrick Wilson, Bear Lake / offered apologies to City Police for comments made during call to dispatch. OFFICIALS AND STAFF Gambill stated the North Riverwalk MDNR grant application is due April 1st; a public hearing and request for approval is scheduled for the March 15 Council Meeting. He also thanked the Chamber for organizing the recent trip to Muskegon to meet with the City Manager for discussion on housing. | Page 4  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 1, 2022 Richardson stated the leadership program Big Day of Serving is scheduled for June 11 th and more information is available on the Manistee Chamber of Commerce website. He also stated there was a bid opening last week for the Quincy/Cleveland Street project and Council can expect to see this item on a future agenda. Sompels notified Council that he has accepted another position with the City of Petosky and will be leaving Manistee. COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmembers congratulated Zach Sompels on his new position and thanked him for his service to the City. Grabowski inquired if the City has a grant writer; asked Fire Chief about outdoor burning complaints. Sullivan asked the City attorney the process for ticketing for blight and how fees are incurred. Szymanski stated he is very pleased with the work being done by the Chamber of Commerce and with communication between the Chamber, DDA, and City. Beaton spoke on the importance of Ad Hoc committees and thanked the Blight Ad Hoc Committee for taking on the challenging job; extended appreciation to the Chamber for their presentation. ADJOURN MOTION by Szymanski to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. Heather Pefley, CMC / MiPMC II City Clerk | Page 5