City Commission Minutes 07-09-2013

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     CITY OF MUSKEGON
       CITY COMMISSION MEETING
                          JULY 9, 2013
    CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS @ 5:30 P.M.
                               MINUTES

The Regular Commission Meeting of the City of Muskegon was held at City Hall,
933 Terrace Street, Muskegon, Michigan at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
Mayor Gawron opened the meeting with a prayer from Rev. Diane Stark from
the Unity Church of Muskegon after which the Commission and public recited
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL FOR THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING:
Present: Mayor Stephen Gawron, Vice Mayor Lawrence Spataro,
Commissioners Lea Markowski, Eric Hood, Willie German, Sue Wierengo, and
Byron Turnquist, City Manager Bryon Mazade, City Attorney John Schrier, and
City Clerk Ann Marie Cummings.
2013-57 CONSENT AGENDA:
     A. Approval of Minutes. CITY CLERK
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve minutes of the June 25th City Commission
Meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the minutes.
     B. “Development and Reimbursement Agreement” between the City of
        Muskegon Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and Terrace
        Point Landing, LLC (Jon Rooks).    PLANNING & ECONOMIC
        DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:         The DDA Plan Amendment and Brownfield
Redevelopment Plan Amendment and Resolution for Terrace Point Landing, LLC
have been approved by the BRA, DDA and City Commission. The last
document for approval is the “Development and Reimbursement Agreement”
(“Agreement”). The Agreement outlines the tax capture and reimbursement
process for the project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Future Brownfield Development (BRA) TIF capture will be

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directed to Mr. Rooks for reimbursement of loans he is securing for
redevelopment of the property.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To endorse the approval by the BRA for the
“Development and Reimbursement Agreement” between the City of Muskegon
BRA and Terrace Point Landing, LLC.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The BRA met on June 26, 2013, and approved
the “Agreement”.
      C. Restrictive Covenant Declaration. PUBLIC WORKS
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the declaration
of restrictive covenant at the public service building, 1350 E. Keating and
authorize Westshore Engineering to record said restriction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of recording which is estimated to be less than
$200.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign off on the
declaration as well as authorize Westshore Engineering to record the restriction if
approved.
      E. Consideration of Bids for Southern Avenue, Fifth to Sanford (H-1688).
         ENGINEERING
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Award the reconstruction contract for Southern Avenue
from Fifth to Sanford to McCormick Sand out of Twin Lake since they were the
lowest responsible bidder with a total bid price of $236,732.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The construction cost of $236,732 plus engineering.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Award the contract to McCormick Sand.
      F. Intergovernmental     Agreement     for   Traffic   Signal   Maintenance.
         ENGINEERING
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Endorse the Muskegon County Road Commission
(MCRC) selection of Windemuller Electric for the County-wide traffic signal
maintenance thru 2016. Windemuller was selected via public bids received by
MCRC.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Based on the historical data over the last four years, it is
estimated that the cost will be about $40,000/year.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:           Endorse the contract between MCRC and


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Windemuller Electric.
      G. Community Relations Committee. CITY CLERK
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To accept the recommendations from the Community
Relations Committee made at the meeting held on July 8, 2013, as follows:
   1. Remove two Target Area Representative Positions from Community
      Neighborhood Services Board and re-adjust members where applicable.
   2. Accept resignation of Norman Cunningham from Civil Service Board.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To concur with the Community Relations Committee
recommendations.
Motion by Vice Mayor Spataro, second by Commissioner Wierengo to adopt the
Consent Agenda as read except for item D.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gawron, Hood, Spataro, German, Wierengo, Turnquist, and
           Markowski
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2013-58 ITEM REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA:
      D. West Michigan Fossil Jewelry Business/Concession Contract for City of
         Muskegon Parks. PUBLIC WORKS
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff is asking permission to enter into a one-year
contractual agreement with Kevin VanBrocklin of West Michigan Fossil Jewelry
at Pere Marquette Park, located within the City of Muskegon, to sell various
jewelry items as outlined in the proposal.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Contract revenue will be 10% of gross receipts, per the
Business/Concession Contract.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize DPW staff to enter into a one-year
Business/Concession Contract with Kevin VanBrocklin of West Michigan Fossil
Jewelry.
Motion by Commissioner Turnquist, second by Vice Mayor Spataro to approve
the concession contract for West Michigan Fossil Jewelry at Pere Marquette
Park.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Hood, Spataro, German, Wierengo, Turnquist, Markowski, and
           Gawron


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            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2013-59 PUBLIC HEARINGS:
      A. Request for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate – Northern
         Machine Tool. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Pursuant to Public Act 198 of 1974, as amended,
Northern Machine Tool, 761 Alberta Avenue, has requested the issuance of an
Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate.   The total capital investment is
$1,150,000, which includes new personal property and real property
improvements. This request qualifies the company for a term of six years for
personal property and twelve years for real property.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City will capture certain additional property taxes
generated by the expansion.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the resolution granting an Industrial
Facilities Exemption Certificate.
The Public Hearing opened to hear and consider any comments from the
public. Stephen Olson, President of Northern Machine Tool gave an overview of
future plans. No public comments were made.
Motion by Vice Mayor Spataro, second by Commissioner Markowski to close the
Public Hearing and approve the request for an Industrial Facilities Exemption
Certificate for $1,150,000 which includes new personal property for six years and
real property improvements for twelve years.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Spataro, German, Wierengo, Turnquist, Markowski, Gawron,
           and Hood
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2013-60 NEW BUSINESS:
      A. CATV Franchise Agreement. CITY MANAGER
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The City’s 25-year cable TV franchise agreement with
Comcast expires August 2, 2013. Legislation adopted in 2007 generally takes
franchise negotiations out of local community’s control and, instead, requires
the use of a “Uniform Video Local Franchise Agreement”. Comcast recently
(June 20th) submitted a Uniform Franchise Agreement for the City’s
consideration. The City has 15 business days to respond as to the completeness
of Comcast’s Uniform Franchise application and 30 business days in which to
approve the application.


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The City of Detroit previously challenged the Uniform Franchise in federal court
and that court has generally found in favor of Detroit. However, final resolution
of the Detroit case is several months away.
Our legal counsel on this matter advises that it is in the City of Muskegon’s
interest to: 1) deny the Uniform Franchise as initially submitted by Comcast and
delegate authority to negotiate with Comcast to the City Manager by adoption
of the resolution and, 2) send the reply letter to Comcast.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate budgetary impact. The franchise fee
received by the City remains at 5%. Depending on the final outcome of
negotiations with Comcast and/or the Detroit litigation, the City may receive
additional benefits from the franchise renewal.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None at this time.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adoption of the delegation resolution.
Motion by Commissioner Hood, second by Vice Mayor Spataro to adopt the
delegation resolution.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Wierengo, Turnquist, Markowski, Gawron, Hood, and
           Spataro
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Public comments were received.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.


                                           Respectfully submitted,




                                           Ann Marie Cummings, MMC
                                           City Clerk




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