City Commission Meetings

REGULAR MEETING - STURGIS CITY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025 WIESLOCH RAUM – CITY HALL Mayor Perez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all present. The Invocation was given by Comm. Miller. Commissioners present: Mullins, Boring, Wickey, Smith, Harrington, Abbs, Miller, Vice-Mayor Bir, Mayor Perez Commissioners absent: None Also present: City Attorney, City Manager, City Controller, Community Development Director, Electric Department Superintendent, Facilities Manager, SYCA Director, Public Safety Director, Deputy Fire Chief, Deputy Police Chief, DPS Director, City Clerk Public Safety Director Ryan Banazak introduced Officer Alexander Klever and Firefighter Julian Alldredge. City Clerk/Treasurer Kenneth Rhodes swore in both. Moved by Comm. Harrington and seconded by Comm. Smith to approve the agenda as presented. Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED Moved by Comm. Smith and seconded by Comm. Boring to approve the Consent Agenda of June 11, 2025 as presented. 8A. Action of Minutes of Previous Meetings APPROVE the minutes from the May 28, 2025 regular meeting as presented. B. Pay Bills • AUTHORIZE the payment of the City bills in the amount of $1,728,213.28 as presented. C. Walking Along Suicide Prevention Annual 5K • APPROVE the request for the Walking Along Suicide Prevention 5K Walk on September 6, 2025 as presented. D. 2025 David Locey Memorial Sturgis Youth Triathlon • APPROVE the requests for the 2025 David Locey Memorial Sturgis Youth Triathlon on June 21, 2025 as presented. Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED Community Development Director Will Prichard provided information on the revisions to Zoning Ordinances related parking areas and accessory buildings and reviewed a policy related to enforcement. Discussion followed. Moved by Comm. Harrington and seconded by Comm. Smith to consider this the second reading of and approve amendments to City Zoning Ordinance Sections 1.0902(G)(2) and 1.1105(B)(5) effective July 1, 2025 as presented. Voting yea: Eight Voting nay: Miller MOTION CARRIED An ordinance to amend Appendix A of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Sturgis to provide for the modification of Articles IX - Off Street Parking and Loading Requirements for residential driveways and parking areas and an effective date of this Ordinance. WHEREAS, the City Commission, upon recommendation from the Planning Commission, has determined that it is in the best interest of the residents of the City to modify the Zoning Ordinance to provide for the modification of regulation of residential driveways and parking areas within the City; NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan ordains: Appendix A of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Sturgis, Article IX, Section 1.0902 (G) (2) is hereby modified to provide as follows effective as of July 1, 2025. Article IX. Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements … 1.0902 … (G) … (2) All new or improved driveways and parking areas shall be constructed with an approved surface. A solid surface material is required for any portion of a driveway or parking area located within the front yard. Acceptable solid surface materials include a minimum two-and-a-half (2.5) inches of asphalt or a minimum of four (4) inches of concrete. Bricks or pavers may be permitted if installed per the manufacturer's specifications for driveways or parking areas but may not be used in the right-of-way or sidewalk area. All work in the right-of-way or public sidewalk area must be permitted by the city of Sturgis engineering department. The portion of driveway or parking area located outside of the front yard may be constructed with a solid surface material or an approved aggregate material, provided it meets the following minimum standards: 1. Site Preparation. The driveway or parking shall not be placed on organic material, including topsoil and vegetation. A minimum of six (6) inches of compacted inorganic base material shall be in place before any aggregate surface is installed. Finish grade shall be even with remainder of site. 2. Base and Surface Requirements. Approved aggregate material surfaces shall consist of a minimum of four (4) inches of material. Acceptable aggregate materials include: o MDOT 21AA. o Limestone. o Crushed concrete (recycled and screened).  o Crushed granite or similar angular stone. o Crushed asphalt (reclaimed asphalt pavement/RAP) with a maximum nominal size of 1-1/2 inches, provided it is compacted to a firm, stable surface and does not produce dust or track material into the street. o Or other approved material by city of Sturgis Engineering Department. The following materials are not permitted: sand, rounded stone or pea gravel. 3. Edge Containment and Dust Control. Gravel or aggregate material shall be contained to the defined driveway or parking area with edging, curbing, or similar methods to prevent migration. Dust control measures may be required by the City as a condition of approval. Existing driveways and parking areas may be maintained with their current surface material, unless it is prohibited material. However, any expansion, alteration, or removal of a driveway or parking area requires permit review and approval by the City prior to the start of any work to verify compliance with City ordinance requirements. Exception: Existing non-hard surface driveways or parking areas permitted prior to 2011 may be expanded by up to two (2) feet in width without requiring this additional area to be constructed of solid surface material. This exception may only be utilized once and is subject to compliance with all other applicable requirements of this zoning ordinance. Edge containment will be required. Other Applicable Restrictions Property owners are advised that subdivision regulations, deed restrictions, restrictive covenants, or homeowner association rules may impose additional requirements beyond this ordinance section. Some of these may require the entire driveway or parking area to be constructed of solid surface materials. An ordinance to amend Appendix A of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Sturgis to provide for the modification of Articles XI – General Provisions for accessory buildings in a residential district and an effective date of this Ordinance. WHEREAS, the City Commission, upon recommendation from the Planning Commission, has determined that it is in the best interest of the residents of the City to modify the Zoning Ordinance to provide for the modification of regulation of exterior finish materials for accessory buildings in residential districts within the City; NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan ordains: Appendix A of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Sturgis, Article XI, Section 1.1105 (B) (5) is hereby modified to provide as follows effective as of July 1, 2025. Article XI. General Provisions … 1.1105 … (B) … (5) Accessory buildings shall be provided with exterior finish materials that are harmonious in color and design. Accessory buildings greater than 200 square feet shall also be designed to be harmonious with the principal structure. Facilities Manager Dan Root provided information on new HVAC controls for the auditorium. Discussion followed. Moved by Comm. Abbs and seconded by Comm. Smith to approve the proposal from Trane for the installation of building controls at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts in the amount of eighty-four thousand and ninety dollars ($84,090.00). Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED Moved by Comm. Abbs and seconded by Comm. Smith to approve a contingency for the building controls project in the amount of eight thousand four hundred dollars ($8,400.00). Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED DPS Director Tom Sikorski provided information on a SCADA system for the collection system lift station. Discussion followed. Moved by Comm. Abbs and seconded by Comm. Smith to approve the proposal from UIS SCADA for the collection system lift station in the amount of forty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty- nine dollars ($46,729.00) as presented. Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED Electric Department Superintendent Chris McArthur provided information on the history of the State required Energy Waste Reduction programs and options moving forward for the Electric Department. Discussion followed. Moved by Comm. Abbs and seconded by Comm. Smith to approve moving forward with the Michigan Public Power Agency on a contract for an Energy Waste Reduction program as presented. Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED City Clerk/Treasurer provided information on the required public hearing to set the millage rates for 2025. Discussion followed. Moved by Comm. Abbs and seconded by Comm. Smith to set the 2025 millage rate Public Hearing for the June 23, 2025 regular meeting and direct City Staff to include 11.5522 mils for Operating Millage and 2.9667 mils for Streets/Sidewalk Improvement Millage as part of the Public Hearing notice. Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED City Manager Andrew Kuk explained that St. Joseph County Road Commission has modified their procedures regarding County Road closures and requires these requests to be by an authorized official designated by resolution of the governing body of a city Moved by Comm. Miller and seconded by Comm. Smith to approve the resolution designating Andrew Kuk, City Manager as the Authorized Official to submit the road closure permit for the David Locey Triathlon, as presented. Voting yea: Nine Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m. Kenneth D. Rhodes, City of Sturgis Clerk/Treasurer  SPECIAL MEETING STURGIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025 WIESLOCH RAUM – CITY HALL President Andrew Kuk called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m. Commissioners present: Mullins, Boring, Wickey, Smith, Harrington, Abbs, Miller, Bir, Perez, Kuk Commissioners absent: None Moved by Dir. Miller and seconded by Dir. Smith to go into Closed Session to discuss the potential purchase of property. Voting yea: Mullins, Boring, Wickey, Smith, Harrington, Abbs, Miller, Bir, Perez, Bir, Kuk Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED Meeting recessed at 6:39 p.m. Meeting reconvened at 6:55 p.m. Moved by Dir. Miller and seconded by Dir. Smith to approve the real estate purchase agreement with Electric City ESS, LLC as presented and authorize President Andrew Kuk to sign all necessary documents. Voting yea: Ten Voting nay: None MOTION CARRIED Mr. Kuk adjourned the SHDC meeting at 6:58 p.m. Kenneth D. Rhodes, City of Sturgis Clerk/Treasurer