City Commission Minutes 11-13-2018

View the PDF version Google Docs PDF Viewer

     CITY OF MUSKEGON
       CITY COMMISSION MEETING
       NOVEMBER 13, 2018 @ 5:30 P.M.
   MUSKEGON CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
  933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440


                                   MINUTES
The Regular Commission Meeting of the City of Muskegon was held at City Hall,
933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Mr.
George Monroe, Evanston Avenue Baptist, opened the meeting with prayer,
after which the Commission and public recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag.
ROLL CALL FOR THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING:
Present:     Mayor Stephen J. Gawron, Vice Mayor Eric Hood Commissioners
Ken Johnson (arrived at 5:35 p.m.), Byron Turnquist, Debra Warren, Willie
German, Jr., and Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, City Manager Franklin Peterson, City
Attorney Brian Liebrandt, and Deputy City Clerk Kimberly Young.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
   A. City of Muskegon Employees – Years of Service Awards
 The Mayor and Commissioners congratulated and thanked city employees for
various levels of years of distinguished, loyal service. Certificates of Appreciation
were presented to those employees that were in attendance.
2018-80      CONSENT AGENDA:
   A. Approval of Minutes        City Clerk
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve minutes of the October 12, 2018 Goal
Setting Meeting and the October 23, 2018 Regular Meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:         None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:            Approval of the minutes.
   C. Purchase of 567 Leonard Avenue          Community & Neighborhood
   Services
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the purchase of home located at 567
Leonard Avenue in Jackson Hill Neighborhood for the price of $35,000.

                                          Page 1 of 6
After the sale, CNS will rehabilitate the single family dwelling as part of the HOME
funded Homebuyers Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:      The funding used for the purchase and rehabilitation
will come from 2018 HOME funds.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:            To approve the request to purchase the
property.
   D. Set Public Hearing for Amendment to the Downtown Development Plan
      and Tax Increment Financing Plan    Planning & Economic Development
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the resolution setting a public hearing for
an amendment to the Downtown Development (DDA) Plan and Tax Increment
Financing (TIF) Plan, and notifying the taxing jurisdictions of the plan amendment
including the opportunity to express their views and recommendations
regarding the proposed amendment at the public hearing. The proposed
amendment is to add certain properties to the tax capture.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:         None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:          To approve the resolution and authorize the
Mayor and Clerk to sign the resolution.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:        The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
unanimously approved the proposed amendment at their October 30 meeting.
   E. State Revolving Fund – Sewer Project Administration Assistance
      Department of Public Works
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Authorize staff to extend the existing engineering
services agreement with Prein & Newhof to provide administrative assistance
during the implementation of the State Revolving Fund (SRF) sewer projects in
2019 and 2020.
Prein & Newhof completed the preliminary plan for sewer upgrades that
resulted in funding through the MDEQ for approximately $7.7 Million in sewer
upgrade projects for 2019 and 2020. Staff would like to retain Prein & Newhof’s
services to assist in the administration and oversight of these projects to ensure
compliance with MDEQ requirements and successful implementation of the
projects.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:         $10,000
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:         Allocate an additional $10,000 to the already
existing engineering services agreement. This will be addressed in the 1st Quarter
Reforecast.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:         Authorize staff to extend the existing engineering
service agreement with Prein & Newhof.

                                          Page 2 of 6
   F. Replacement of Storage Area Network (SAN)           Information Technology
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Currently we have a Storage Area Network (SAN) array
that holds 50 virtualized servers covering all City functions. The industry standard
is to replace such critical SAN units every five years; currently, we are
approaching year seven.
We have spent months meeting with multiple vendors reviewing products and
associated quotes. We are recommending the Tegile array proposal for the City
of Muskegon. Of the three submitted, Tegile came in at the lowest price and
provides the best long-term value in features and performance.
Tegile units are also used in the Muskegon Central Dispatch datacenter and
having the same technology is beneficial to both.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:         $49,766.02
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:            Approve the Tegile quote for $49,766.02.
Motion by Commissioner Warren, second by Commissioner German, to approve
the consent agenda as presented, except item B.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gawron, Hood, Warren, German, Rinsema-Sybenga,
           Turnquist, and Johnson
             Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2018-81   REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA:
   B. Request for Authorization to Sign       Planning & Economic Development
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Request to authorize Mike Franzak from the Planning
Department to sign purchase agreements on closing documents for property
transactions on behalf of the City.
FINANCIALM IMPACT:        None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:            Staff recommends approval to authorize.


Motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga,
to authorize Mike Franzak from the Planning Department to sign purchase
agreements and closing documents for commission approved property
transactions on behalf of the City.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Hood, Warren, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist,
           Johnson, and Gawron
             Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
                                          Page 3 of 6
2018-82      NEW BUSINESS:
   A. Rezoning Several Properties       Planning & Economic Development
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff initiated request to rezone 372, 380, 388, 394, 398,
406, 414 Houston Avenue; and 1148 6th Street from R-3, High-Density Single-Family
Residential to Form Based Code, Urban Residential to allow for more housing
options.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:         None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          None
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:            Staff recommends approval of the rezonings.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:             The Planning Commission recommended
approval of the rezonings (plus the rezonings of 1246, 1252, and 1258 5th Street)
by a 7-1 vote, with one member absent, at the October 4 Special Planning
Commission meeting. Staff has recently recently recommended to remove 1246,
1252, and 1258 5th Street from the request due to comments from the public.
Motion by Commission Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner Johnson, to
approve the rezonings.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Warren, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron, and
           Hood
             Nays: German
MOTION PASSES
SECOND READING REQUIRED
   B. Parking Restrictions December 1 – April 1          Public Safety
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The Director of Public Safety requests that the
Commission approve the changes for Chapter 92, L09 of the ordinance
regarding the snow emergency parking between December 1 and April 1.
   •   Parking will be allowed between 5:00 am and 5:00 pm on odd or even
       calendar days based on the odd and even numbered street addresses.
   •   Between 5:00 pm and 5:00 am parking will be allowed on both sides of
       the street.
   •   Where parking is currently allowed only on one side of the street, parking is
       allowed, except between the hours of 2:00 am – 6:00 am.
   •   On Western Avenue, between 7th Street and Terrace Street, parking is
       allowed except between the hours of 2:00 am and 6:00 am.
   •   All signed parking restrictions apply all days of the week.
   •   This Section applies to every portion of every block of every city street.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:         None
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          None
                                           Page 4 of 6
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:         Staff recommends approval of the Parking
Restrictions changes to the Code of Ordinances.
Motion by Commissioner Warren, second by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga,
to approve the Parking Restrictions Changes to the Code of Ordinances.
      Motion to table this item until November 27, 2018 so that some changes
      can be made.
      ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson,
                 Gawron, Hood, and Warren
                   Nays: None
      MOTION PASSES
Original Motion not voted on.
   C. Short Term Rental Discussion    City Manager
City Manager Frank Peterson and Public Safety Director Jeffrey Lewis presented
information on a proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance. The Commissioners
were provided with a copy of the proposed ordinance for review. This item will
be considered in the near future.
   D. Disposition of 1021 Jefferson   City Manager
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff has received multiple purchase offers and
development proposals for the city-owned employee parking lot on the corner
of Apple and Jefferson. Staff is seeking permission to execute a Letter of Intent
to sell 1021 Jefferson Street to General Capital in anticipation of constructing a
73-unit housing developments focused on providing quality workforce housing.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:           Staff recommends approval of the request.
Motion by Commission Johnson, second by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, to
approve the request to execute a Letter of Intent to sell 1021 Jefferson Street to
General Capital in anticipation of constructing a 73-unit housing development.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Warren, German, and
           Rinsema-Sybenga
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
   E. Letter of Intent with Mart Dock City Manager
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff is seeking permission to enter into a Letter of Intent
with Mart Dock with the goal of determining the feasibility of swapping their
property commonly referred to as the Third Street Dock with our property
commonly referred to as Fisherman’s Landing. The goal of the swap would be to
relocate all of the Mart Dock’s shipping operations away from their downtown
location to the city property adjacent to the BC Cobb site. The downtown site
would be redeveloped into a mixture of public space, residential, and
commercial uses. This agreement does not commit either party to the sway, but
                                         Page 5 of 6
rather gives both parties time/access to study the feasibility of the complicated
transaction.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:          Staff recommends approval of the request.
Motion by Commission Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner Warren, to
approve the request to execute a Letter of Intent with Mart Dock.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Warren, German, Rinsema-Sybenga,
           and Turnquist
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:     Commissioner Warren is still interested in having a
meeting/workshop for the general public to learn how they can become
involved in local government and will be working with Ann on this matter.
Commissioner Warren also inquired about a Park inventory. LeighAnn Mikesell
indicated that she and Bernadette Young, Parks Supervisor, had recently
discussed the same and were preparing a prioritized list of wants and needs,
including some restructuring, etc.
Commissioner Johnson asked how things were going at McGraft Park in
reference to the disc golf course. LeighAnn Mikesell indicated that tree trimming
and pruning is under way and currently intends to be ready to re-open the disc
golf in the Spring of 2019.
Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga explained the Community Relations
Spreadsheet that was provided for review as the time to fill vacancies and make
appointments and re-appointments is drawing near.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Public Comments were received.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
                                             Respectfully Submitted,




                                             Kimberly Young, Deputy City Clerk




                                         Page 6 of 6

Top of Page


New Agenda Notifications

* indicates required