City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 18, 2022 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Lynda Beaton on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Lynda Beaton, Cindy Lundberg, 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, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Police Chief – Josh Glass, Fire Chief – Mark Cameron, and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS Mark Wittlieff, 363 Tenth Street / asked Council for support for the three incumbent Planning Commission members. Robert Slawinski, 256 Hughes Street / asked for Council support for the three incumbent Planning Commission members. CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes October 4, 2022 Regular Meeting • Financial Reports Payroll September 2022 Invoices September 2022 • Notification Regarding Next Study Session – Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. A discussion will be conducted on City Emergency Medical Services; 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: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None APPRECIATION TO DENNIS AND KATHY SCHNEIDER FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION TO THE CITY OF MANISTEE AND MANISTEE FIRE DEPARTMENT. Kathy Schneider spoke to the care she received from the City Fire Department this summer in response to a boating accident. Mr. & Mrs. Schneider presented the Fire Department with a donation of $25,000. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 18, 2022 INTRODUCTION OF TRACY DAVIS, HOUSING READY PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR MANISTEE COUNTY. Tracy Davis provided a brief introduction to Council and stated she is eager to get started and moving forward with this program. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING PROPOSAL FROM FISHBECK FOR PFAS REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FORMER LANDFILL SITE, PHASE 1 SHALLOW BORING WORK. The City was notified on March 2, 2022, by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that the City is liable for PFAS exceedances found at the former landfill site on Adamczak Road. Since receiving the notice from EGLE, the City has been working with Fishbeck to create a work plan to determine the extent of the contamination. The work plan was approved by EGLE on September 13, 2022; approval is contingent on the timely implementation of the work plan. The first step of the work plan is the shallow boring investigatory work. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Grabowski to authorize the proposal from Fishbeck for PFAS remedial investigation of the former landfill site, Phase I Shallow Boring work in the amount of $55,776. City Manager Bill Gambill and Fishbeck Senior Hydrogeologist Peter Lepczyk provided additional details on the proposal. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH HURON TACKLE COMPANY. The City owns and maintains a fish cleaning station at Douglas Park/First Street Beach. The City has contracted with Huron Tackle in the past to manage and remove the fish waste from the facility. The proposed agreement amends cleaning responsibilities and allows for storage of refrigerated trailers at the City Cold Storage area, with a reduction in cost. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement. MOTION by Martin Pontiac, second by Grabowski to approve a three-year contract with Huron Tackle Company for an annual amount of $5,000. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF A PARCEL SPLIT AT 99 ARTHUR STREET. The Society for the Preservation of the S.S. Milwaukee would like to split their parcel at 99 Arthur Street (51-51-101-275-02). The parcels meet the zoning requirements, and the City Assessor has | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 18, 2022 confirmed that the split is legal and allowable. The City of Manistee Planning Commission gave their recommendation to City Council for the parcel split request to continue at their October 6, 2022, meeting. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Martin Pontiac to approve the parcel split at 99 Arthur Street. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Beaton, Lundberg, 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 Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Compensation Commission, Harbor Commission, Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission, PEG Commission, Planning 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 HARBOR COMMISSION. Three vacancies – one (1) term ending 10/31/23 and two (2) terms ending 10/31/25. Two members can be non-residents but must own real estate or a business or profession having a licensed business location in the City. Council appointment. *Tyler Cook – 373 Second Street Szymanski nominated Tyler Cook, 373 Second Street to the Harbor Commission to the term ending 10/31/25. With a roll call vote this nomination passed unanimously. COOK: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac OTHER: None NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION. One vacancy – term ending 4/30/24. Applicants must be City residents or City property owners and at least one applicant should be a representative from a local service club organization. Council appointment. Kathleen A. Grabowski – 1235 Cornell Street Sullivan nominated Kathleen A. Grabowski, 1235 Cornell Street to the Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission to a term ending 4/30/24. | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 18, 2022 With a roll call vote this nomination passed unanimously. GRABOWSKI: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac OTHER: None PLANNING COMMISSION. Three vacancies – terms ending 10/31/25. Applicants must be City residents. Mayoral appointment. *Marlene McBride – 217 River Street *Robert Slawinski – 256 Hughes Street *Mark Wittlieff – 363 Tenth Street Kathryn Kenny – 429 ½ River Street Mayor Beaton appointed Marlene McBride, 217 River Street to the Planning Commission to a term ending 10/31/25. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Szymanski to support the appointment of Marlene McBride, 217 River Street to the Planning Commission to a term ending 10/31/25. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Mayor Beaton appointed Robert Slawinski, 256 Hughes Street to the Planning Commission to a term ending 10/31/25. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Szymanski to support the appointment of Robert Slawinski, 256 Hughes Street to the Planning Commission to a term ending 10/31/25. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Mayor Beaton appointed Mark Wittlieff, 363 Tenth Street to the Planning Commission to a term ending 10/31/25. MOTION by Szymanski, second by Grabowski to support the appointment of Mark Wittlieff, 363 Tenth Street to the Planning Commission to a term ending 10/31/25. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. | Page 4  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 18, 2022 AYES: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None A REPORT FROM THE RAMSDELL REGIONAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS. Mr. Xavier Verna reported on the activities of the RRCA and responded to any questions the Council had regarding their activities. CITIZEN COMMENT Mark Wittlieff, 363 Tenth Street / thanked Council for their support for reappointment of the Planning Commission members. OFFICIALS AND STAFF Gambill clarified the portion of property being sold with the parcel split at 99 Arthur Street and will also confirm with Planning and Zoning. Middleton reported there has been no CSO from the recent heavy rains. Mikula said Police, Fire, and DPW have been busy with down trees and power lines; brush crew will begin street by street clean up starting Thursday and the damaged flag at the Lions Pavilion will be replaced. COUNCILMEMBERS Martin Pontiac happy to hear the good news about the sewer operations. Grabowski offered appreciation for everyone’s work during the storm and thanked the Police Chief for placing the speed trailer on 12th Street to slow traffic. Szymanski inquired if there had been any updates on the Veterans Memorial Park grant application. Sullivan would like to have the Housing Commission back for the December study session for an update and requested a copy of their financials; stated Housing Commission staff should be able to manage the recording of meetings. Beaton thanked Council for their support for the reappointment of the Planning Commission Incumbents and spoke to their credentials. CONSIDERATION OF A CLOSED SESSION, UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. City Manager William Gambill has requested a Closed Session this evening as permitted by the Michigan Open Meetings Act, Section 8 (c) to discuss contract negotiations with the International Association of Fire Fighters. | Page 5  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 18, 2022 MOTION by Szymanski, second by Grabowski to proceed to Closed Session under Section 8 (c) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act. TIME: 8:05 p.m. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Szymanski, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Returned to regular open meeting at 8:16 p.m. ADJOURN MOTION by Szymanski, second by Sullivan to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 p.m. Heather Pefley, CMC / MiPMC II City Clerk | Page 6