City Commission Minutes 11-25-2014

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     CITY OF MUSKEGON
       CITY COMMISSION MEETING
                     NOVEMBER 25, 2014
    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, MI at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2014.
Vice Mayor Spataro 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: Vice Mayor Lawrence Spataro, Commissioners Eric Hood, Willie
German, Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, Byron Turnquist, and Ken Johnson, City
Manager Franklin Peterson, City Attorney John Schrier, and City Clerk Ann Marie
Cummings.
Absent: Mayor Stephen Gawron (excused).
2014-89 CONSENT AGENDA:
      A. Approval of Minutes. CITY CLERK
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:          To approve minutes of the November 10th City
Commission Meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the minutes.
      B. Farmers’ Market – Fourth Amendment to Purchase Agreement.
         PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The City is waiting for the contractor’s lien period on the
Farmers’ Market to expire, so the property can be transferred from the DMDC to
the City free of any claims. This should occur in the near future. Therefore, a
Fourth Amendment to the Purchase Agreement is recommended to extend the
closing date. The Amendment allows for continued operation of the Farmers’
Market prior to the official closing on the property, with the City “fully responsible
for any and all liability related to operating the farmers’ market” during that



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time. The Closing is moved to December 30, 2014, or before.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the “Fourth Amendment to Purchase
Agreement” and authorize the City Manager’s signature (after the fact).
      C. Farmers’ Market Kitchen Operations Management Contract – First
         Amendment to “Contract”. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The City of Muskegon and Pioneer Resources, in
conjunction with the Muskegon County Health Department, entered into the
“Operations Management Contract Farmers’ Market Commercial Kitchen” on
May 20, 2014. Although the Kitchen has not opened yet (equipment still needs
to be purchased and installed), Pioneer and the Health Department have been
actively engaged in the process. Pioneer has been responsible for organizing
the Kitchen meetings and determining the best equipment to purchase. They
have also been instrumental in setting up the website (along with the Health
Department and the City IT Department). Therefore, we request that the original
Contract be extended for another six months. By the end of that time, the
Kitchen should be ready for operation. If any changes to the Contract are
needed at that time, they can be included into a long-term contract.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the “First Amendment to City of
Muskegon Operations Management Contract Farmers’ Market Commercial
Kitchen” and authorize the Mayor and Clerk’s signatures.
      E. Deficit Elimination Plan for Neighborhood Stabilization Fund. FINANCE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: At June 30, 2014, the City of Muskegon Neighborhood
Stabilization Fund had a deficit balance of $100,054. Act 275 of the Public Acts
of 1980 requires that the City file a Deficit Elimination Plan with the Michigan
Department of Treasury. Staff is requesting adoption of the Neighborhood
Stabilization Elimination Plan and Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:       As presented by the Deficit Elimination Plan, the
Neighborhood Stabilization Fund will no longer have a deficit by June 30, 2015.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adoption of the Deficit Elimination Plan Resolutions.
      F. Amendment to the Resolution Vacating Nims Street between Brunswick
         Street and Vulcan Street. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: This portion of Nims Street was vacated in January of



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2014; however, the wording in the resolution left a small portion of the street
intact. This resolution is to clarify the wording and to ensure that the entire
portion of the street is vacated.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:           Staff recommends approval of the revised
resolution.
      G. Computerized Tax Roll. TREASURER
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: This resolution will allow the City of Muskegon to upload
our tax roll along with other jurisdictions from the County electronically to the
State of Michigan for the next several years.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval recommended.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner Johnson
to approve the Consent Agenda as read minus Item D.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Hood, Spataro, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, and
           Johnson
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2014-90 ITEM REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA:
      D. Concession Contract for Concession Building at Pere Marquette Park.
      PUBLIC WORKS
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff is asking permission to enter into a three-year
contractual agreement for 2015, 2016, and 2017 with Morse Michael of Moji Inc.
for operating a Concession (“The Beach Cove”) at Pere Marquette Park.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Contract revenue for previous concession (“The Island”)
was $2,188 for the 2009 operating season, $3,625 in 2010, $1,830 in 2011, $1,296 in
2012, $1,380 in 2013 and then staff negotiated with “The Beach Cove”
Concessionaire for electrical upgrades to the building in 2014. Those costs
included around $2,200 in service panel upgrades in lieu of the normal 10%
commission and the Concessionaire also made an additional $1,800 in
circuit/receptacle upgrades as well. Concession revenue is normally 10% of
gross receipts. However, if approved by Commission, staff would once again
negotiate “in-kind” services/donation to Pere Marquette Park facilities or a 10%
commission of gross receipts for the length of this contract.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.


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STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize DPW staff to enter into a three-year
Concession Agreement with Morse Michael of Moji Inc., for a Concession at the
(concession/restroom/lifeguard) building at Per Marquette Park for 2015, 2016,
and 2017.
Motion by Commissioner Turnquist, second by Commissioner German to
approve the Concession Contract for the concession building at Pere Marquette
Park.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Spataro, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson, and
           Hood
             Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2014-91 PUBLIC HEARINGS:
      A. Request for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Port City
         Architectural Signage. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Pursuant to Public Act 198 of 1974, as amended, Port
City Architectural Signage, 2350 S. Getty Street, has requested the issuance of
an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate. The total capital investment will
be $200,000 in real property and will create up to five jobs. This qualifies them for
a tax abatement of 12 years.
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 for a term of 12 years for real property.
The Public Hearing opened to hear and consider any comments from the
public. No public comments were made.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner Hood to
close the Public Hearing and approve the request for an Industrial Facilities
Exemption Certificate for Port City Architectural Signage.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson, Hood, and
           Spataro
             Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2014-92 NEW BUSINESS:
      A. 2 a.m. – 6 a.m. Parking Restriction During Winter Months. ENGINEERING
This item was removed per request of staff.



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      B. Concurrence with the Housing Board of Appeals Notice and Order to
         Demolish the Following: PUBLIC SAFETY
         1338 Arthur Street
         1185 Kampenga Avenue
         430 Langley Street
         310 Larch Avenue
         1713 7th Street
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: This is to request that the City Commission concur with
the findings of the Housing Board of Appeals that the structures are unsafe,
substandard, a public nuisance and that they be demolished within 30 days. It
is further requested that administration be directed to obtain bids for the
demolition of the structures and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized
and directed to execute a contract for demolition with the lowest responsible
bidder.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: CDBG Funds.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:         To concur with the Housing Board of Appeals
decision to demolish.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner Hood to
concur with the Housing Board of Appeals decision to demolish 1338 Arthur,
1185 Kampenga, 310 Larch, and 1713 7th.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson, Hood, Spataro, and
           German
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion by Commissioner Hood, second by Commissioner German to concur
with the Housing Board of Appeals decision to demolish 430 Langley.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Turnquist, Johnson, Hood, Spataro, German, and Rinsema-
           Sybenga
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
      C. First Quarter 2014-15 Budget Reforecast. FINANCE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: At this time staff is transmitting the First Quarter 2014-15
Budget Reforecast which outlines proposed changes to the original budget that
have come about as result of changes in revenue projections, policy priorities,
labor contracts, updated economic conditions, or other factors.


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FINANCIAL IMPACT: Significant first quarter proposed adjustments to the
budget are as follows:
   •   The actual FY14 year-end fund balance for the General Fund was
       $5,796,097 as compared to the estimated $4,751,031 used in preparing the
       FY15 budget.

   •   General Fund revenues are reforecast to be $1,168,650 (+4.8%) higher
       than originally budgeted. This increase is primarily due to grants to be
       received from federal, state, and local sources for the Veteran’s Park
       improvements.

   •   General Fund expenditures are estimated to be $1,134,910 or 4.7%
       higher than originally budgeted. This increase is largely due to the
       Veteran’s Park capital project which is almost entirely funded by grants.

   •   There are a number of changes proposed for capital projects and include:
           ◆In the General Fund, Veteran’s Park upgrades as noted above,
             addition of $65,000 for City Hall elevator repairs needed, reduction
             of Pere Marquette Park playground equipment project from
             $220,000 to $20,000.
           ◆In the Major Streets Fund, proposed projects are now $6,825,000
             compared to $2,195,000 as originally budgeted, largely due the
             receipt of $3.3 million in grant funds for Muskegon and Webster.
           ◆In the Local Streets Fund, proposed projects were originally
             budgeted at $732,000 and have been reduced to $60,000.
           ◆In the Public Improvement Fund, the proposed beach warning
             system has been eliminated.

          ◆In the State Grants Fund, the two projects in the original budget
           have been moved to other funds.
          ◆In the Sewer Fund, adjustments have been made to reflect the
           SAW grant and the carryover of infiltration grant funds from the
           previous year.
          ◆In Marina Fund, the docks and building improvements project
           has been removed.
          ◆In the Equipment Fund, capital items have been adjusted to
           reflect revisions of needs versus available resources.


BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: City Commission approval of this reforecast will
formally amend the City’s 2014-15 budget.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.



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Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner Johnson
to approve the First Quarter 2014-15 Budget Reforecast.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Hood, Spataro, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, and
           Turnquist
           Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2014-93 ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Discussion was held on the Muskegon and Webster project. Consensus was to
leave the two lights in place at Third Street and Muskegon Avenue as well as
Third Street and Webster Avenue and synchronize those two lights and the one
on Clay & Third Street to facilitate the north-south traffic.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Public comments were received.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission Meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.


                                   Respectfully submitted,




                                   Ann Marie Cummings, MMC
                                   City Clerk




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