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City of Muskegon
City Commission Meeting
Minutes
May 9, 2023, 5:30 pm
Muskegon City Hall
933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, MI 49440
Present: Mayor Ken Johnson
Commissioner Rachel Gorman
Commissioner Rebecca St.Clair
Vice Mayor Willie German, Jr.
Commissioner Michael Ramsey
Commissioner Teresa Emory
Absent: Commissioner Eric Hood
Staff Present: City Manager Jonathan Seyferth
City Clerk Ann Meisch
City Attorney John Schrier
Deputy City Clerk Kimberly Young
1. Call To Order
The Regular Meeting of the City of Muskegon was held at City Hall, 933 Terrace
Street, Muskegon, Michigan at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
2. Prayer
Vice Mayor Willie German, Jr. opened the meeting with prayer.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited by the Commission and the
public.
4. Roll Call
As recorded above
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5. Honors, Awards, and Presentations
6. Public Comment on Agenda Items
Public comments were received.
7. Consent Agenda
2023-59
Motion by: Vice Mayor German
Second by: Commissioner Emory
To accept the consent agenda as presented, minus item 7F and 7H.
7.a Approval of Minutes - City Clerk
Approve the Minutes of the April 10, 2023 Worksession and the April 11,
2023 Regular Meeting
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the minutes.
7.b Muskegon Lighthouses Ownership - Development Services
Staff has researched the process of transferring the two Muskegon
lighthouses from the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy to the City of
Muskegon, the first phase of the south break wall lighthouse restoration
and future city stewardship responsibilities and liabilities. Staff seeks City
Commission support to pursue ownership of the lighthouses.
Staff was at the March 2023 work session outlining the request of the
Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy for the city to take over the ownership
and stewardship of the two lighthouses in the Muskegon Harbor at Pere
Marquette Park. Staff research and work with the MLC shows a Federal
Lighthouse Preservation Act application to the National Park Service and
a new 25-year lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would be
needed. Federal approvals could take up to a year to secure. In the
meantime, staff is working with the MLC leadership to begin the
restoration of the south break wall lighthouse as transfer of ownership is
pursued. Staff estimates that the annual maintenance of the two
lighthouses would average $10,000 based upon other municipal
lighthouse stewardships. Staff is exploring private, philanthropic revenue
options including public donations through Pere Marquette parking kiosks
and a lighthouse fund with the Community Foundation for Muskegon
County. The community would need to develop a Friends of the
Lighthouses support group to assist with future lighthouse tours,
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programing, gift shop and fundraising. The city has a 10 percent
administrative fee ($80,000) in a $800,000 state lighthouse restoration
grant to cover costs of the lighthouses transfer of ownership.
AMOUNT REQUESTED: Remainder of funds will be privately raised.
AMOUNT BUDGETED: $800,000 (first $400,000 received) in a MEDC
lighthouse restoration grant.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To formally endorse the South Breakwater
Light Acquisition Project due diligence process, and to direct staff to return
to the City Commission for final approval of purchase.
7.c Sale of 909 Washington Avenue - Planning
Staff is seeking authorization to sell the City owned vacant lot at 909
Washington Avenue to Aleschia Loughridge.
Ms. Loughridge would like to purchase the City owned buildable lot at 909
Washington Ave. for $3,675 (75% of the True Cash Value of $4,900) plus
half of the closing costs and the fee to register the deed. Ms. Loughridge
will be constructing a single-family home on the property.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To authorize the Code Coordinator to
complete the sale of 909 Washington Ave., as described in the attached
purchase agreement and to have the Mayor and Clerk sign the purchase
agreement and the deed.
7.d Gaming Resolution - City Clerk
Muskegon Pride is requesting Recognition as a non-profit in the City of
Muskegon for the purpose of obtaining charitable gaming licenses for
raffles to raise money.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the request from Muskegon
Price to be recognized as a non-profit operating in the City of Muskegon
for the purpose of obtaining a charitable gaming license.
7.e Electric Demand Response Agreements - DPW
Consumers Energy has provided contracts for the water filtration plant,
City Hall, and the Central Fire Station that allows them to suspend
electrical service under certain peak conditions at which time these
facilities would operate under generator power.
Consumers Energy would retain the right to suspend electrical service to
the Water Filtration Plant, City Hall, and Central Fire Station under certain
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peak conditions. These occurrences are limited to five (5) occurrences
annually each not to exceed 4 hours. Consumers Energy will compensate
the City for enrollment in this program. Staff has reviewed the contract
and confirmed generator capacity to ensure compliance with the
agreement. Staff is recommending the 2 year option, which includes a
combined annual payment in the amount of up to $20,000 in year one of
the agreement, and up to $22,500 in year two.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To authorize staff to enter into agreements
with Consumers Energy for Demand Response at the Water Filter Plant,
City Hall and Central Fire Station for a period of 2 years.
7.g Police Vehicle Purchase - DPW
Equipment Division scheduled public safety vehicle replacement. The
Equipment Division is seeking permission to purchase 3 new police
cruisers. This purchase will be through Berger Chevrolet the Mi-Deal State
contract holder. These vehicles will replace cruisers coming out of service.
Purchase will include (3) 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe Police cruisers for a total
of $119,958.00. The car prices came out slightly higher than the budgeted
amount as shown below, but to be able to order the cars at the MiDeal
pricing in this difficult supply environment is crucial and staff recommends
we proceed.
AMOUNT REQUESTED: $119,968.00
AMOUNT BUDGETED: $117,000.00
FUND OR ACCOUNT: Equipment Fund 661-563-978
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To authorize staff to proceed with purchase
of three 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Cruisers.
7.i Social District Permit Recommendation - Rake Beer Project, LLC -
City Manager
The City Commission must recommend approval of the Michigan Liquor
Control Commission permits of participating licensed establishments in the
Downtown Muskegon Social District. With the establishment of the
Downtown Muskegon Social District, participating licensed establishments
must receive a Social District permit from the Michigan Liquor Control
Commission. The MLCC must first receive a recommendation for approval
from the City Commission before granting the permits. Rake Beer Project
LLC has been a social district participating licensed establishment at its
former location at 794 Pine Street. With the move to 800 W. Western
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Avenue, Suite 200, Rake must receive a new social district permit with its
new MLCC license for that location.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the resolution recommending
Michigan Liquor Control Commission approval of Social District permit in
the Downtown Muskegon Social District for Rake Beer Project LLC and to
direct the City Clerk to certify the City Commission action with the MLCC.
7.j Community Relations Committee Recommendations - City Clerk
To concur with the CRC recommendations on the following removals,
appointments, and amendments to meeting frequency on the CDC-CDBG.
The CRC recommends:
Removals and Appointments:
- Removing Ron Hayward – Neighborhood Association Member – Term
Expiring 1/31/2025 from the Citizen’s Police Review Board.
- Appointing Faye Redmond – Citizen At-Large – Term Expiring
1/31/2025 to the Citizen’s Police Review Board
- Appointing Faye Redmond – Citizen/Interest in District – Term Expiring
1/31/2027 to the Local Development Finance Authority
CDC-CDBG Meeting Frequency Amendment:
- Amend the meeting frequency for the CDC-CDBG from monthly to four
times per year.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To concur with the recommendation of the
CRC to make the above appointments, removals, and amendments to
meeting frequencies.
7.k Community Relations Committee Recommendation for Ordinance -
City Clerk
To concur with the CRC recommendations to approve the ordinance and
establish the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee.
The Community Relations Committee recommends approval of the Parks
& Recreation Advisory Committee. The CRC also recommends that the
Commissioner serving on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
serve as the Committee’s Chairperson.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To concur with the CRC recommendations
to approve the ordinance and establish the Parks & Recreation Advisory
Committee. SECOND READING REQUIRED
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2023-60
7.f New Year's Eve Ball Drop - DPW
Lakeshore Legacy Project is proposing a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop on
Western Ave. Since the noise ordinance would be broken after 11 pm,
commission approval is required.
Lakeshore Legacy Project applied to have a special event on New Years
Eve. The event would begin at 8 pm and includes a stage with a few DJs
until midnight. At midnight there will be a ball drop and a one-minute
firework display. The event would end before 12:30 am.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the Lakeshore Legacy
Project’s New Year’s Eve ball drop event.
Motion by: Commissioner Ramsey
Second by: Commissioner St.Clair
To approve the Lakeshore Legacy Project's New Year's Eve ball drop
event.
Ayes: (6): Mayor Johnson, Commissioner Gorman, Commissioner
St.Clair, Vice Mayor German, Commissioner Ramsey, and Commissioner
Emory
Absent (1): Commissioner Hood
MOTION PASSES (6 to 0)
7.h ARPA Community Grant Review Committee-Manager's Office
Members of the City’s ARPA Community Grant Review Committee have
been identified and approval for the formalization of the committee is
being requested. On February 14th, 2023 the City Commission authorized
the dedication of $1.6M from the City’s remaining allocation of American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal stimulus funds for the creation of a city-
sponsored ARPA Community Grant program. https://muskegon-
mi.gov/cresources/ARP-001-Grant-Application-Program-
Guidelines.2.16.pdf
An ARPA Community Grant Review Committee has been established to
review eligible applications and submit recommendations to the
Commission. The Commission will review and make funding decisions at
a Regular Committee Meeting in June.
The Review Committee is comprised of (6) members: one representative
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from each of the (4) City Commission Wards, the City Manager and the
Director of the Community and Neighborhood Services Department. Two
representative(s) from local Community Based Organizations will be
included to act in an advisory capacity.
Ward 1 – Lawrence Baker / Ward 2 – Leon Howard / Ward 3 – Jennifer
Sanocki / Ward 4 – Nina Leask
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the proposed representatives
from each of the (4) City Committee Wards as part of the ARPA
Community Grant Review Committee.
Motion by: Commissioner Ramsey
Second by: Commissioner St.Clair
To approve the proposed representatives from each of the (4) City
Committee Wards as part of the ARPA Community Grant Review
Committee.
Ayes: (6): Mayor Johnson, Commissioner Gorman, Commissioner
St.Clair, Vice Mayor German, Commissioner Ramsey, and Commissioner
Emory
Absent (1): Commissioner Hood
MOTION PASSES (6 to 0)
8. Public Hearings
9. Unfinished Business
10. New Business
11. Any Other Business
11.a Update from Community Engagement Manager
There will be Short Term Rental engagement meetings taking place in
different locations in the city the week of May 15, 2023. Information
regarding these meetings is available on our website by using the link in
the Connect Muskegon banner at the top of any page.
Meetings will also be held to discuss Housing Needs Assessment in
different neighborhoods, more information is available through the
Connect Muskegon link on the city's website.
12. Public Comment on Non-Agenda items
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Public comments were received.
13. Closed Session
14. Adjournment
The City Commission meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m.
Motion by: Commissioner Ramsey
Second by: Commissioner St.Clair
To adjourn.
MOTION PASSES
_________________________
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC - City Clerk
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