City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – DECEMBER 19, 2023 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Jermaine Sullivan on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Wesley Smith, Cindy Lundberg, Jermaine Sullivan, Seth Pratt, James Grabowski, and Erin Martin Pontiac ABSENT: David Bachman ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Bill Gambill, City Attorney – Tim Figura, Deputy Clerk – Lora Laurain, City Assessor – Molly Whetstone, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Community Development Director – Theresa Waldo, Police Chief – Josh Glass, and Fire Chief – Tom Hernden CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS Sammie Lukaskiewicz, 315 – 5th Ave., provided comments. CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes December 5, 2023 Regular Meeting • Financial Reports Payroll November 2023 Invoices November 2023 • Notification of next study session – Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 7:00 p.m. A discussion will be conducted on the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse and 2024/2025 Fiscal Year Budget priorities, TIP/CIP presentation; and such business as may come before Council. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Lundberg to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING 2024 POVERTY EXEMPTION GUIDELINES AND NEW FEDERAL INCOME GUIDELINES AS APPROVED BY THE STATE TAX COMMISSION The adoption of a resolution establishing poverty exemption guidelines for exemption from property tax contributions is required in order for the Board of Review to grant poverty exemptions. The homestead of persons who the Board of Review determines by reason of poverty to be unable to contribute to the public charge, is eligible for exemption in whole or in part from taxation under Public Act 390, 1994 (MCL 211.7u). The State Tax Commission requires that the City of Manistee adopt this resolution every year and approve the income guidelines, adopted by the State Tax Commission. The resolution states that we use the Federal Income Guidelines and updates that reflect changes from Public Act 191, 2023. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – DECEMBER 19, 2023 MOTION by Grabowski, second by Martin Pontiac to approve a resolution establishing 2024 Poverty Exemption Guidelines. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF UPGRADING TO BS&A CLOUD ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE AT A COST OF $80,430, PAYABLE OVER TWO CITY FISCAL YEARS; AMENDING THE FY 2024 BUDGET TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION The City's BS&A enterprise software operates on a 15-year-old .NET platform. BS&A is no longer developing any new features or enhancements for this version. BS&A CLOUD is the next generation software, released in 2021, and will be the product BS&A sells, supports and enhances moving forward. It provides greater functionality, security, and productivity. In addition, the CLOUD product is needed to support field inspections for zoning, building, rental, blight and fire. The software has been reviewed by management and staff and they recommend making the upgrade to this version. MOTION by Lundberg, second by Grabowski to authorize upgrading to BS&A CLOUD enterprise software at a cost of $80,430, payable over two City fiscal years; amend the FY 2024 budget to support the acquisition; and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR EVENT MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Section 13-16 of the City Charter allows for the creation of special committees to make recommendations to City Council. Recently the City was informed by the Sleighbell Committee, that the Ramsdell Reginal Center for the Arts (RRCA) will no longer act as the fiduciary for the Sleighbell event going forward. The City could create an ad hoc committee to make recommendations to ensure that larger City events, such as Sleighbell continue in the future, and other major events, as they present themselves, are properly considered with the City serving as fiduciary. The City Manager is also requesting that Council provide a representative to participate in the committee. MOTION by Lundberg, second by Grabowski to establish an ad hoc committee for the event management recommendations. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Mayor Sullivan nominated Lundberg to serve on the ad hoc committee for event management recommendations. With a roll call vote this nomination passed unanimously. | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – DECEMBER 19, 2023 AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS The City Clerk has taken action to advertise vacancies on the Board of Review, Compensation Commission, Downtown Development Authority, PEG Commission, Tree Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. 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 the majority support. The following applications have been received: *Incumbent Board of Review – Two vacancies, one alternate member term ending 12/31/26 and one term regular member ending 12/31/26. Purpose: hears property valuation appeals. Council appointment. *Gerald R. Haw – 421 Cedar Street Grabowski nominated Gerald R. Haw as a regular member to the Board of Review term ending 12/31/26. With a roll call vote this nomination passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Downtown Development Authority – One vacancy, at large member, term ending 06/30/26. Purpose: Central Business District and Tax Increment Financing Authority. Manager appointment. Paul DuFresne – 490 Fourth Street Sammie Lukaskiewicz – 315 Fifth Avenue Manager Gambill appointed Sammie Lukaskiewicz, 315 Fifth Avenue to the DDA term ending 06/30/26. MOTION by Martin Pontiac, second by Smith to support the manager’s appointment of Sammie Lukaskiewicz to the DDA term ending 06/30/26. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None PEG Commission – Four vacancies, two terms ending 12/31/24 and two terms ending 12/31/26. Purpose: oversees operation of Manistee Public Access. Council appointment. *Al Gorman – 406 Third Street | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – DECEMBER 19, 2023 Pratt nominated Al Gorman, 406 Third Street to the PEG Commission term ending 12/31/26. With a roll call vote this nomination passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Tree Commission – Six vacancies, one term ending 12/31/24, two terms ending 12/31/25, and three terms ending 12/31/26. Purpose: oversees public (parks/boulevards) tree program. Mayoral appointment. *Sam Coram – 615 Broad Avenue *John Helge – 450 Cedar Street *Gerald R. Haw – 421 Cedar Street Mayor Sullivan appointed Sam Coram, 615 Broad Avenue to the Tree Commission term ending 12/31/25. MOTION by Lundberg, second by Martin Pontiac to support the mayor’s appointment of Sam Coram to the Tree Commission term ending 12/31/25. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Mayor Sullivan appointed John Helge, 450 Cedar Street to the Tree Commission term ending 12/31/25. MOTION by Smith, second by Grabowski to support the mayor’s appointment of John Helge to the Tree Commission term ending 12/31/25. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None Mayor Sullivan appointed Gerald R. Haw, 421 Cedar Street to the Tree Commission term ending 12/31/24. MOTION by Lundberg, second by Smith to support the mayor’s appointment of Gerald R. Haw to the Tree Commission term ending 12/31/24. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Manager Gambill appointed Sullivan, Grabowski, and Bachman to the Council Personnel Committee. | Page 4  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – DECEMBER 19, 2023 MOTION by Lundberg, second by Sullivan to support the manager’s appointment of Sullivan, Grabowski, and Bachman to the Council Personnel Committee. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Smith, Lundberg, Sullivan, Pratt, Grabowski, and Martin Pontiac NAYS: None CITY COUNCIL CORE VALUES EXERCISE Fire Chief Hernden presented and reviewed a summary of Council’s common ground core values and priorities. Hernden also asked Council to list 3 wishes/aspirations for the City and 2 possible obstacles to achieving those 3 wishes/aspirations. CITIZEN COMMENT None OFFICIALS AND STAFF Gambill thanked Chief Hernden and Council for their work on the Core Values Exercise; and announced the DNR Trust Fund will award the City a $300,000 grant for North Riverwalk improvements; and stated Council is scheduled to discuss the TIP at the January study session. COUNCILMEMBERS Grabowski asked about an ambulance and the CIP. ADJOURN MOTION by Lundberg to adjourn the meeting at 7:23 p.m. Lora Y Laurain, CMC / MiPMC Deputy Clerk | Page 5