City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – JULY 19, 2022 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Lynda Beaton on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: David Bachman, Lynda Beaton, Jermaine Sullivan, Michael Szymanski, James Grabowski, and Erin Martin Pontiac ABSENT: Cindy Lundberg ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Bill Gambill, City Attorney – George Saylor, Deputy Clerk – Lora Laurain, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Finance Director – Edward Bradford, Planning & Zoning Administrator – Katie Mehl, Police Chief – Josh Glass, and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS None received. CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes July 5, 2022 Regular Meeting • Financial Reports Payroll June 2022 Invoices June 2022 • Notification Regarding Next Study Session – August 9, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. A discussion will be conducted on Council policies; and such business as may come before Council. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Martin Pontiac to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE For the approval of language developed to allow for a parcel to contain a small storage shed in addition to the number of detached accessory buildings allowed. In residential districts, this language would allow for a “storage shed” in addition to the one detached accessory building allowed. This request is also for the approval of language developed to incorporate a built-in two (2) year termination date for special land use approval when the use or construction has not commenced. As an ordinance two separate readings are required. If this ordinance is introduced at this time, it could be adopted at the next regular meeting. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – JULY 19, 2022 MOTION by Szymanski , second by Bachman to introduce Zoning Ordinance Z22-03 with proposed text amendments. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH GRANICUS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL ADDRESS IDENTIFICATION City Council expressed an interest in identifying the specific locations of short-term rentals in Manistee which may be helpful if Council decides to pursue a short-term rental ordinance. Granicus provides an address identification service and is recommended by several nearby communities. The annual fee for address identification is $8,460. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Grabowski to authorize an agreement with Granicus for short-term rental address identification and allow the City Manager to execute the agreement. Council participated in a Zoom meeting with Mr. Kester Bonsu of Granicus regarding the Host Compliance program for short-term rental address identification. With a roll call vote this motion failed, 2-4. AYES: Beaton and Szymanski NAYS: Bachman, Sullivan, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING MAYWOOD WATER TOWER CELL LEASE INCREASE T-Mobile representatives contacted the City requesting to modify the existing facilities on the Maywood water tower. T-Mobile agreed to provide an annual increase of $1,200. The City Attorney has reviewed the addendum. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Bachman to authorize Maywood water tower cell lease increase and allow the Mayor and Clerk to sign the third addendum. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A TEMPORARY ACTIVITY PERMIT TO ECHO HIS LOVE TO ALLOW FOR THE SHELTERING OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN THE CITY OF MANISTEE AT ONE LOCATION THROUGHOUT THE WINTER ECHO His Love is requesting a temporary activity permit to allow for the sheltering of the Manistee homeless in one location throughout the winter. This would allow for the City of Manistee homeless to be sheltered for five months from November 5, 2022 until March 31, 2023 at ECHO His Love main campus, | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – JULY 19, 2022 addressed as 525 Michael Street in Manistee, Michigan. The ECHO His Love staff are requesting a temporary activity permit to set up rooms for ten women and ten men, or seven women, seven men, and two families of three. Operations will run from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. in the winter months. Ms. Lisa Clarke was available to answer Council questions and concerns. Temporary activity permits are allowable via the zoning ordinance Section 522 and Section 507. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Grabowski to approve the temporary activity permit requested by ECHO His Love to allow for the sheltering of the homeless population in the City of Manistee at one location throughout the winter. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF MANISTEE TREE COMMISSION BYLAW UPDATES City Commissions review their bylaws on an annual basis. In January of 2022 the Tree Commission approved a set of bylaw revisions. City Council reviewed and approved the bylaw revisions in February of 2022; however, the Council approved version had omitted proposed changes to Section 2. Membership. The proposed changes to Section 2. includes qualifications for membership on the Commission. The proposed bylaw revisions were prepared by the City Attorney and approved by the Tree Commission. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Martin Pontiac to approve the Manistee Tree Commission bylaw amendments. With a roll call vote this motion passed, 4-2. AYES: Beaton, Sullivan, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: Bachman and Szymanski CONSIDERATION OF COMMISSION APPOINTMENT The Housing Commission has taken action to advertise among their residents the one resident vacancy, five-year term. The City has also posted the advertisement on the City website. This is a mayoral appointment which requires a motion, second and Council voted support. The following application has been received: *Incumbent *James B. Bond – 273 Sixth Avenue #303 Mayor Beaton appointed James B. Bond, 273 Sixth Ave, #303 as the resident member to the Housing Commission for a five-year term. MOTION by Martin Pontiac, second by Bachman to support Mayor Beaton’s appointment of James B. Bond to the Housing Commission for a five-year term. | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – JULY 19, 2022 With a roll call vote this motion passed, 4-2. AYES: Bachman, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: Beaton and Sullivan A REPORT FROM THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Mr. Bruce Banks reported on the activities of the Water Department and responded to questions the Council had regarding their activities. Mr. Rick Mohr reported on the activities of Utilities Department and responded to questions the Council had regarding their activities. Mr. Jeff Mikula reported on the activities of Department of Public Works and responded to questions the Council had regarding their activities. RECAP OF THE SMOKE ON THE WATER EVENT Police Chief Josh Glass and City Manager Bill Gambill recapped the 2022 Smoke on the Water event and responded to questions Council had regarding this event. The event was handled very professionally by the organizers, LARA reps were on site, there were 2 City police officers assigned to the venue, zero police service calls, and zero arrests were made. CITIZEN COMMENT Kathy Grabowski, 1235 Cornell Street / spoke regarding an issue with a neighbor. OFFICIALS AND STAFF Gambill reported meeting with Clinton McKinven-Copus regarding the Housing Commission RAD conversion; and thanked City staff, event organizers, and volunteers for the successful Smoke on the Water event. Glass reported the police department is now fully staffed at 13 officers; and an officer will be assigned to resume SSCENT duties to address drug issues in the near future. COUNCILMEMBERS Grabowski spoke regarding a neighbor issue. Szymanski made suggestions regarding the crosswalk near North Channel Brewery to improve safety. Beaton reported attending a recent Northwest Housing Zoom meeting and suggested the City of Manistee take a look at updating its Master Plan. ADJOURN | Page 4  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – JULY 19, 2022 MOTION by Grabowski to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 p.m. Lora Y Laurain, CMC / MiPMC Deputy Clerk | Page 5