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CITY OF MUSKEGON
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 28, 2015
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, April 28, 2015.
Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga 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 Lawrence Spataro,
Commissioners Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, Byron Turnquist, Ken Johnson, Eric Hood,
and Willie German, City Manager Franklin Peterson, City Attorney John Schrier,
and City Clerk Ann Marie Cummings.
2015-29 HONORS AND AWARDS:
A. Deyonta Davis – Mr. Basketball Trophy.
Mayor Gawron and Commission presented Deyonta Davis with a Certificate of
Recognition of his multiple achievements in basketball this year. Deyonta Davis
was also presented with two street signs naming his many accomplishments.
2015-30 CONSENT AGENDA:
A. Approval of Minutes. CITY CLERK
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the minutes of the April 13, 2015 Commission
Worksession Meeting, and the April 14, 2015 City Commission Meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the minutes.
E. Cemetery Management System/GIS. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Authorize staff to contract with Johnson & Anderson
engineering services to design a cemetery management system for Restlawn
Cemetery. The system would be used for accessing records, plot and grave
space locations. City staff and the general public would be able to access
information through an integrated web portal.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $25,215 from the Cemetery Fund.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None at this time.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to hire Johnson & Anderson for
professional engineering services.
F. Agreement for Grant Management Services for United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Shoreline Cities Green
Infrastructure Grant Project. PLANNING AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The City of Muskegon has received a USEPA Shoreline
Cities Green Infrastructure Grant in the amount of $110,449. The West Michigan
Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) will administer the
grant, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
SAW NPS Stormwater Planning Grant which they received. The total project
amount for both grants is $221,897. The projects include installation of green
infrastructure in a 6.5 acre area (Beidler Street vicinity) that currently contributes
untreated stormwater to an underground pipe that discharges to Muskegon
Lake, an embayment of Lake Michigan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Project costs are covered by both grants. There is no cash
match from the City of Muskegon.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the “Agreement for Grant Management
Services” between the City of Muskegon and WMSRDC and authorize the Mayor
and Clerk’s signatures.
H. MUFD Equipment Request Five (5) APX6000 Portable Radios.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The Director of Public Safety requests that the
Commission authorize the amount of $13,500; for five (5) APX 6000 VHF MHZ
Model 1.5 Portable Radios (includes accessories, batteries, chargers & rugged
packages & high-viz color).
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A – Budgeted
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: Equipment was budgeted in 2014/15 budget cycle
to support the equipment replacement (Fire-5700- Fire – Capital Outlays Fund)
(Grant Match).
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of this equipment
purchase to enhance communications.
I. Approval of the Use & Maintenance of City Owned Property at 1499
Hoyt St. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the use and maintenance of the City
owned property located at 1499 Hoyt Street for a community garden. The
property is buildable and the City would retain the right to sell the property with
the community garden members having time to remove the garden prior to any
sales.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The city would save on the cost of the maintenance of this
property.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the resolution and maintenance
agreement.
Motion by Vice Mayor Spataro, second by Commissioner Johnson to approve
the Consent Agenda as read with the exception of Items B, C, D, and G.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Spataro, German, and
Rinsema-Sybenga
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2015- 31 ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA:
B. Special Event Request – Catamaran Racing Association of Michigan
(CRAM) – Request to allow overnight camping at Pere Marquette Park
(in conjunction with their annual Catamaran sailing regatta).
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: C.R.A.M. is holding their annual Catamaran sailing
regatta at Pere Marquette Park the weekend of August 14 – 16, 2015. They are
again requesting permission for their participants to camp overnight at the park,
as they have done in previous years. They would like to use the City-owned
parking lot across from The Deck restaurant for overnight camping, provided
that the Deck’s owners (Harris Hospitality) approve. If they are unable to use that
lot, they request to use the City-owned parking lot at Harbour Towne beach.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve overnight camping at Pere Marquette
Park for this event on August 14, 15, and 16, 2015, with an alternate location of
Harbour Towne Beach parking lot.
Motion by Commissioner German, second by Commissioner Johnson to
approve overnight camping at Pere Marquette Park for this event on August 14,
15, and 16, 2015, with an alternate location of Harbour Towne Beach parking lot.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Spataro, German, Rinsema-
Sybenga, and Turnquist
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
C. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance PLANNING AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff initiated request to amend Section 2313
(Community Gardens) of the zoning ordinance and replace it with an urban
farming ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the zoning ordinance amendment.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Commission recommended
approval by a 6 – 1 vote at their regular meeting in April.
Motion by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga, second by Commissioner Johnson
to approve the zoning ordinance amendment.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gawron, Hood, Spataro, German, Rinsema-Sybenga,
Turnquist, and Johnson
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
D. Consideration of Bids for: H-1697 GETTY ST., EVANSTON TO APPLE AVE.
ENGINEERING
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Award the H-1697 Getty Street, Evanston to Apple
Avenue Project to McCormick Sand Inc. out of Twin Lake, MI. McCormick Sand
submitted the lowest responsible bid of $808,844.50.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: As previously presented to the Commission, the State’s
participation is limited to 54% of the cost and is capped at $375,000 with the
estimated $500,000 remaining in costs, including engineering, is the city’s
responsibility.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRE: None at this time.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Award the contract to McCormick Sand Inc.
Motion by Vice-Mayor Spataro, second by Commissioner German to award the
contract to McCormick Sand Inc.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Hood, Spataro, German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist,
Johnson, and Gawron
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
G. Turnkey Network Solutions – METRO Act Permit. ENGINEERING
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Approve the request for a permit from Turnkey Network
Solutions and authorize the Mayor to sign the permit.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the permit and sign the documents.
Motion by Commissioner Turnquist, second by Commissioner Johnson to
approve the permit and sign the documents.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: German, Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron,
Hood, and Spataro
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2015-32 PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Public Hearing for 2015-2016 Action Plan. COMMUNITY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To conduct a public hearing of the 2015-2016 Action
Plan for public comments.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Action Plan establishes the 2015-2016 Community
Development Block Grant and HOME budgets.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None at this time.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To receive comments about the proposed 2015 –
2016 Action Plan at the public Commission meeting.
Oneata Bailey, Director of Community and Neighborhood Services spoke about
the 2015-2016 Action Plan. The plan is on-line and comments will be considered
through the deadline at midnight on April 30, 2015.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Vice Mayor Spataro, second by Commissioner German to close the
public hearing.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Rinsema-Sybenga, Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron, Hood,
Spataro, and German
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2015-33 NEW BUSINESS:
A. 2015-16 Healthcare & Wellness Program FINANCE DEPARTMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: It is time to renew the City’s healthcare coverage for
2015-16 plan year (June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016). Renewal premiums for
the City’s current healthcare program came in at a 9.95% increase over the
current year. Last year we experienced a decrease of 2.62% due to changing to
an 80/20 coinsurance plan and increasing the deductible from $1,000/$2,000 to
$2,000/$4,000. In 2013-14 the increase was 5.04% over the prior year. In
comparative terms, many employers have been experiencing sharp double-
digit rate increases for several years. Also, the City’s healthcare costs remain
below the “hard cap limits” set by Public Act 152 and remain cost competitive
with the standards set by the state for new hires. These are good independent
indicators that the City’s program is cost-effective.
For 2015-16, the City will continue to pay the HRA deductible if the employee
and spouse completed the four-step wellness initiative by March 31st; non-
participants in the wellness program will continue to pay the first $500
(single)/$1,000 (double/family) of the deductible.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Following is an estimate of gross premium costs for the
Priority Health HMO program compared with the current healthcare plan year:
Full-time City employees pay 10% of the above premium costs through payroll
deduction.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: Employee and retiree healthcare costs will be
included in the forthcoming 215-16 budget.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to execute documents with Priority
Health to renew employee healthcare coverage for the coming year.
Motion by Vice Mayor Spataro, second by Commissioner Rinsema-Sybenga to
authorize staff to execute documents with Priority Health to renew employee
healthcare coverage for the coming year.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Turnquist, Johnson, Gawron, Hood, Spataro, German, and
Rinsema-Sybenga
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Commissioner German spoke briefly about the EOC
Committee that he and Commissioner Hood are members of and mentioned
several companies that are hiring.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Marie Cummings, MMC
City Clerk