City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 17, 2023 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Jermaine Sullivan on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 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, Cindy Lundberg, Jermaine Sullivan, Seth Pratt, James Grabowski, and Erin Martin Pontiac ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Bill Gambill, City Attorney – Timothy Figura, City Clerk – Heather Pefley, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Police Chief – Josh Glass, Fire Chief – Tom Hernden, Community Development Director – Theresa Waldo, and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton AMEND AGENDA MOTION by Grabowski, second by Pratt to amend the agenda to add item VIII. New Business e.) Consideration of the purchase of a 2023 Chevy Tahoe from Todd Wenzel Chevrolet allowing action by Council on this additional item. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None PUBLIC HEARING FOR ESTABLISHING AN OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION DISTRICT FOR 141 WASHINGTON STREET. A request has been received from 141 Washington, LLC to establish an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District for the property located at 141 Washington Street, pursuant to Public Act 146 of 2000 to facilitate the rehabilitation of this property. The affected property owner has received formal written notice of the public hearing, and the public will be provided with an opportunity to comment. Comments provided by: - Marc Miller, DDA / Chamber of Commerce - Mick Szymanski, 332 5th Street - Tracy Davis, Housing North Public Hearing Closed at 7:05 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING FOR AN OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE APPLICATION FROM 141 WASHINGTON, LLC. An application has been received from 141 Washington, LLC for an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate for the property at 141 Washington Street pursuant to Public Act 146 of 2000. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 17, 2023 No comments received. Public Hearing Closed at 7:06 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING FOR A MICHIGAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDING FOR CBDG HOUSING IMPROVING LOCAL LIVABILITY (CHILL). The purpose of this hearing is to seek community input regarding funding from a CBDG Housing Improving Local Livability (CHILL) grant that the City will be seeking to assist with homeowner improvement activity for those homeowners that qualify. The required notices of the public hearing have been completed, and the public will be provided an opportunity to comment. No comments received. Public Hearing Closed at 7:07 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS No comments received. CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes October 3, 2023 Regular Meeting October 10, 2023 Study Session • Financial Reports Payroll September 2023 Invoices September 2023 • Notification of next Study Session – Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. • Consideration of a temporary activity permit for temporary signage at 113 Cypress, for the grand opening of Wild Bill’s Tobacco. MOTION by Pratt, second by Grabowski to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING AN OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 141 WASHINGTON STREET. A request has been received from 141 Washington, LLC to establish an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District for the property located at 141 Washington Street, pursuant to Public Act 146 of 2000, to facilitate | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 17, 2023 redevelopment of the property. A public hearing on the request was held earlier in this meeting. MOTION by Beaton, second by Grabowski to approve a resolution establishing an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District for the property located at 141 Washington Street. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF AN APPLICATION FOR AN OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FROM 141 WASHINGTON, LLC FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 141 WASHINGTON STREET. An application has been received from 141 Washington, LLC for an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption Certificate for the property located at 141 Washington Street, pursuant to Public Act 146 of 2000. A public hearing on the request was held earlier in this meeting. This item could be considered if Council took action to establish the OPRA District in the previous agenda item. MOTION by Bachman, second by Beaton to approve a resolution to approve an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Certificate application from 141 Washington, LLC for the property located at 141 Washington Street. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CBDG CHILL GRANT AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION. On September 25, 2023, the City of Manistee submitted a Letter of Intent to MSHDA for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Improving Local Livability (CHILL) Program. MSHDA has since determined that the submission has met the threshold criteria to warrant an invitation to apply for further consideration for an award of CDBG CHILL grant program funding. The application requires a resolution to designate the City Manager as the Environmental Review Certifying Officer, the person authorized to certify the application, provide oversight of grant activities, sign the grant agreement and payment requests, and execute any additional documents required to carry out and complete the grant. MOTION by Pratt, second by Martin Pontiac to approve the Authorizing Resolution to apply for up to $500,000 in CBDG CHILL funds; and designate the City Manager William Gambill as the Environmental Review Certifying Officer, authorizing him to execute the application. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 17, 2023 CONSIDERATION OF ENTERING INTO A FOUR-YEAR INSTALLMENT PURCHASE CONTRACT WITH WEST SHORE BANK, TRUCK & TRAILER SPECIALTIES OF BOYNE FALLS, INC, AND D&K TRUCK COMPANY TO FINANCE THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PURCHASE OF A PLOW TRUCK AND RELATED EQUIPMENT. On April 4, 2023, Council approved the purchase of a plow truck and related equipment in the amount of $228,837. When approved, it was anticipated that financing arrangements would have to be made later due to the long lead time. The truck chassis is now done and has been delivered to the equipment vendor for assembly. The City solicited financing bids for the chassis and equipment and needs to close on the financing to pay the vendors. MOTION by Bachman, second by Martin Pontiac to adopt a resolution to enter into a four-year installment purchase contract with West Shore Bank, Truck & Trailer Specialties of Boyne Falls, Inc, and D&K Truck Company in the amount of $178,000 to finance the purchase of a plow truck and related equipment; and further authorize the Chief Financial Officer to execute any needed documents. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF THE PURCHASE OF A 2023 CHEVY TAHOE FROM TODD WENZEL CHEVROLET. The Manistee City Police Department maintains a fleet of police vehicles to serve City residents. Police vehicles are replaced as they reach the end of their life cycle; the purchase of a new patrol vehicle is in the current budget and warranted at this time. Vehicle pricing has been secured from Todd Wenzel Chevrolet through MiDEAL and three quotes were collected from upfitting companies with Tele-Rad being the lowest bid. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Pratt to authorize the purchase of a 2023 Chevy Tahoe from Todd Wenzel Chevrolet for $41,526 to be upfitted by Tele-Rad for $19,956.71, totaling $61,505.17. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Bachman, Beaton, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None A REPORT FROM THE RAMSDELL REGIONAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS (RRCA). Ms. Laura Ortiz-LaVelle reported on the activities of the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts and responded to any questions the Council had regarding their activities. DISCUSSION ON PROCESS FOR VEHICLE PURCHASING. Chief Josh Glass facilitated a discussion on the difficulties faced when trying to purchase new vehicles in the current market and the need to adjust the purchasing policy to help with this process. The City Manager and City Attorney will work on drafting a resolution or policy to address this issue for Council consideration at the next regular meeting. | Page 4  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 17, 2023 CITIZEN COMMENT No comments received. OFFICIALS AND STAFF Gambill provided updates. COUNCILMEMBERS Pratt, Grabowski, and Lundberg asked questions of staff and offered concerns and comments. ADJOURN MOTION by Grabowski to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m. Heather Pefley, CMC / MiPMC II City Clerk | Page 5