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CITY OF MUSKEGON
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
January 3, 2024 @ 5:30 PM
MUSKEGON CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
MINUTES
Call to Order
The Organizational Meeting of the City of Muskegon City Commission was held
at City Hall, 933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, Michigan at 5:30 PM, Wednesday,
January 3, 2024.
Present: Mayor Ken Johnson, Commissioners Rebecca St.Clair, Rachel Gorman,
Jay Kilgo, Willie German, Jr., Destinee Keener, and Katrina Kochin. City Manager
Jonathan Seyferth, City Attorney John Schrier, City Clerk Ann Marie Meisch, and
Deputy City Clerk Kimberly Young.
Oath of Office Ceremony
Karen Buie, Muskegon County Clerk, issued the Oath of Office to each of the
Ward Commissioners, swearing them in for a term expiring December 31, 2027.
The Mayor provided welcoming comments.
2024-01 Election of Vice-Mayor
Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner Kilgo, to appoint
Rebecca St.Clair as Vice Mayor.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, Gorman, and
Kochin
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2024-02 Setting Commissioner Meetings - 5:30 pm - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each
month
Motion by Commissioner German, second by Vice Mayor St.Clair, to set the
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regular City Commission Meeting for 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of
each month.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, and
Gorman
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2024-03 Setting Worksession Meetings - 5:30 pm - Mondays preceding the 2nd
Tuesday each month
Motion by Vice Mayor St.Clair, second by Commissioner Keener, to set
Worksession Meetings for 5:30 p.m. on Mondays preceding the 2nd Tuesday
each month.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, and
German
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2024-04 Appointment of City Officials
o Appointment of City Manager - Jonathan Seyferth
o Appointment of City Clerk - Ann Marie Meisch
o Appointment of City Treasurer - Sarah Wilson
o Appointment of City Auditor - Kenneth Grant
o Appointment of City Assessor and Deputy Assessor - County Equalization
Director Donna VanderVries and Deputy Director, Dan VanderKooi
Motion by Commissioner German, second by Commissioner Keener, to Appoint
Jonathan Seyferth as City Manager, Ann Marie Meisch as City Clerk, Sarah
Wilson as City Treasurer, Kenneth Grant as City Auditor, County Equalization
Director Donna VanderVries as City Assessor and County Equalization Deputy
Director Dan VanderKooi as Deputy Assessor.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson, Kilgo, and
Keener
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2024-05 Designation of City Fund Depositories
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Motion by Vice Mayor St.Clair, second by Commissioner German, to designate
Fifth Third Bank (Main Depository), Huntington Bank, and Michigan Class as city
depositories.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Keener, German, Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, Johnson and
Kilgo
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2024-06 Designation of Firm to Act as Legal Counsel - Parmenter Law
Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner Kochin, to
designate Parmenter Law to act as Legal Counsel.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Kilgo, Keener, German, Gorman, Kochin, St.Clair, and
Johnson
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2024-07 New Business
A. CRC Appointment Recommendations Meeting Manager's Office
Create a Special CRC Meeting on Jan 22, 2024 for Board Appointments
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Set a Special CRC meeting on Monday, Jan. 22,
2024, for board appointments.
Motion by Commissioner Keener, second by Commissioner German, to set a
Special CRC meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 5:30, for board
appointments.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Kilgo, Keener, German, Gorman, Kochin, and
St.Clair
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
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Mayor Committee Appointments
o Mayor Johnson made the following appointments to various boards and
committees listed below:
o Farmers Market Advisory Board - Vice Mayor Rebecca St.Clair
o Historic District Commission - Commissioner Katrina Kochin
o Equal Opportunity Committee - Commissioner Willie German, Jr. and
Commissioner Destinee Keener
o Zoning Board of Appeals - Commissioner Willie German, Jr.
o Downtown Arts Committee - Commissioner Rachel Gorman
o West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission -
Commissioner Rachel Gorman
o Land Bank Authority - Commissioner Jay Kilgo
o Housing Code Board of Appeals - Commissioner Jay Kilgo
o Citizen's District Council - Commissioner Katrina Kochin
o Housing Commission - Vice Mayor Rebecca St.Clair
o Planning Commission - Commissioner Destinee Keener
o Community Relations Committee Chair - Vice Mayor Rebecca St.Clair
Create a Committee to Review the Process of the City Manager's Annual Review
Mayor Johnson appointed Vice Mayor Rebecca St.Clair, Commissioner Rachel
Gorman, and Commissioner Willie German, Jr. as a Committee to Review the
Process of the City Manager's Annual Review.
Any Other Business
Commissioner Keener appreciates the opportunity to serve and encourages
constituents to reach out with concerns.
Commissioner German congratulated newly elected commissioners and
encouraged the new commissioners to stay the course when things become
difficult.
Commissioner Kochin thanked constituents for being elected and wants all to
know she is available to hear concerns.
Commissioner Kilgo also encouraged constituents to reach out with concerns
and will be focusing on educating the community in any way he can,
encouraging transparency, and growing all parts of Muskegon.
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Public Comment
Public comments received.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC
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