City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – NOVEMBER 5, 2025 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Jermaine Sullivan, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Julia Raddatz, Wesley Smith, Liz Laskey, Jermaine Sullivan, Kay Keck, James Grabowski, and Lani Rozga ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Bill Gambill, City Attorney – Blake Conklin, City Clerk – Heather Pefley, City Assessor – Molly Whetstone, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Community Development Director/Building Official – Jerry Bleau, Police Chief – Josh Glass, Fire Chief – Tom Hernden, and City Engineer – Lucas Richardson COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS Comments received by: - Carmen Kott, Manistee Chamber of Commerce, President – Sale of property/Fricano’s CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes October 21, 2025 Regular Meeting • Financial Reports Cash Balances September 2025 Revenue & Expenses September 2025 Balance Sheet September 2025 • Consideration of Tabling the Conditional Rezone from R-1 to C-2 for 555 First Street, Armory Youth Project. At its October 7, 2025 meeting, Council voted to table this item until the November 5, 2025 meeting as the Armory Youth Project (AYP) requested additional time to review the changes made to the conditional rezoning agreement. This item is still not ready to come before Council for consideration. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Smith to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga NAYS: None INTRODUCTION OF PLANNING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MADELINE KAZMIERSKI. Jerry Bleau introduced the newest employees of the Community Development Department; Jaclyn Van Allen and Madeline Kazmierski, Planning and Zoning Administrator. | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – NOVEMBER 5, 2025 CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES GRANT, PROJECT #TF24-0185, TO ACQUIRE PARCEL #51-51-260-710-07 ON MAN-MADE LAKE. In 2024 the City applied for and was awarded a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Trust Fund grant to acquire parcel #51-51-260-710-07 on Man-Made Lake. The parcel is surrounded by City- owned property and will help to ensure that the land is preserved for public outdoor recreation use in the future. MOTION by Rozga, second by Laskey to approve a resolution to accept a MDNR Trust Fund grant, project #TF24-0185, to acquire parcel #51-51-260-710-07 on Man-Made Lake; and authorize the City Manager to sign the grant agreement. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF THE SALE OF CITY MARINA PROPERTY TO FRICANO’S MANISTEE RIVER, LLC. Fricano’s Manistee River, LLC, owner of 440 River Street, would like to purchase a portion of the City- owned property that is beneath the attached deck, directly adjacent to the north and west side of the building. The land is unbuildable and has been assigned a nominal value by the City Assessor. A sale price of $375.00, representing half the cost of the updated survey, is proposed. The property, which includes this section, was acquired with a 1974 Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Trust Fund grant; the sale would trigger a conversion, requiring the City to complete a land replacement process or be penalized in future MDNR grant scoring. If approved, City staff will work with City Council and the MDNR to complete the conversion. MOTION by Smith, second by Raddatz to approve the sale of City property to Fricano’s Manistee River, LLC; and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute all necessary sale and closing documents on behalf of the City. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga NAYS: None CONSIDERATION TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR INVESTIGATION OF PFAS MIGRATION ORIGINATING FROM THE FORMER CITY LANDFILL SITE AND AMEND THE REFUSE BUDGET. The City submitted a Remedial Investigation Report to Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regarding groundwater contamination originating from the former City landfill site. City staff and Fishbeck met with EGLE in July to review the report. EGLE recommended additional delineation work to better define the plume boundaries. The next step includes Vertical Aquifer Profiling sampling in areas that appear to be outside the edge contamination to help confirm the plume boundaries. The estimated cost for this phase is $105,502. $90,000 was budgeted in the FY26 budget but sufficient funds are available in the Refuse Fund balance to cover the additional amount. | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MOTION by Grabowski, second by Smith to authorize additional funding for investigation of PFAS mitigation originating from the former City landfill site and amend the refuse budget accordingly. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. The City Clerk has taken action to advertise vacancies on the Airport Authority, Compensation Commission, Harbor Commission, Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Mayor 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 AIRPORT AUTHORITY – one vacancy, term ending 12/31/28. Purpose: this is the City’s nomination to the County Airport Authority for the 01/01/26-12/31/28 term; Mayor appointment. *George Becker – 565 Bryant Avenue Mayor Sullivan appointed George Becker, 565 Bryant Avenue, to the Airport Authority term ending 12/31/28. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Smith to support the mayor’s appointment of George Becker, 565 Bryant Avenue, to the Airport Authority term ending 12/31/28. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski and Rozga NAYS: None HARBOR COMMISSION – two vacancies, term ending 10/31/28. Purpose: advisory on Marina, harbor development issues; Council appointment. *Wesley Smith – 278 Third Avenue Rozga nominated Wesley Smith, 278 Third Avenue, to the Harbor Commission term ending 10/31/28. With a roll call vote this nomination was unanimously approved. SMITH Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski and Rozga OTHER: None | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – NOVEMBER 5, 2025 A REPORT FROM THE MANISTEE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND THE RAMSDELL REGIONAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS. Ms. Laura Heintzelman reported on the activities of Manistee County Community Foundation and responded to any questions the Council had regarding their activities. Ms. Laura Ortiz-LaVelle reported on the activities of Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts and responded to any questions the Council had regarding their activities. CITIZEN COMMENT Comments received by: - Dennis Skiera, Manistee OFFICIALS AND STAFF None. COUNCILMEMBERS Rozga, Grabowski, Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, and Sullivan made inquiries and provided comments. CONSIDERATION OF A CLOSED SESSION, ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION. Request to convene a closed session pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, PA 267 of 1976, pursuant to MCL 15.268(1)(h) to discuss attorney-client privileged communication dated October 31, 2025. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Keck to proceed to Closed Session. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski and Rozga NAYS: None Exited to Closed Session at 6:50 p.m. Returned to Open Session at 7:15 p.m. ADJOURN MOTION by Smith to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m. Heather Pefley, CMC / MiPMC III City Clerk | Page 4