City Commission Minutes 07-11-2006

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     CITY OF MUSKEGON
       CITY COMMISSION MEETING
                          JULY 11, 2006
    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 11, 2006.
  Mayor Warmington opened the meeting with a prayer from Elder George
Monroe from the Evanston Avenue Baptist Church after which the Commission
and public recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL FOR THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING:
   Present: Mayor Stephen Warmington, Vice Mayor Stephen Gawron,
Commissioner Kevin Davis, Clara Shepherd, Lawrence Spataro, and Chris Carter,
City Manager Bryon Mazade, City Attorney John Schrier, and Deputy City Clerk
Linda Potter.
   Absent: Commissioner Sue Wierengo (excused)
2006-60 CONSENT AGENDA:
      A. Approval of Minutes. CITY CLERK
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the minutes of the Regular Commission
Meeting that was held on Tuesday, June 27, 2006.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the minutes.
      B. Coagulant Model. WATER FILTRATION
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To purchase a coagulant model to assist the Water
Filtration Plant operators in chemical coagulant dosage for proper water
treatment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Coagulant model cost is $9,000.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:        None.    The coagulant model is budgeted at
$10,000.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends purchasing the coagulant model
from AY Consulting at a cost of $9,000.
      C. Defined Contribution Retirement Plan for New Hires (DPW 517M).
         FINANCE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The City Commission has previously approved a
contract with the 517M union that includes provision for new hires to be
members of a defined contribution retirement program in lieu of membership in
the defined benefit General Employees’ retirement system. The new DC plan
calls for a City contribution of 3%/6% and an employee contribution of 0%/3% of
wages. Present employees may also join the DC plan on an elective basis
during a window period.
Documents for this plan are the same as for the previous plan set-ups for
Clerical, Fire and non-union employees and are currently under review by the
attorney’s office. Because we are in the process of hiring several positions that
will be covered under the new plan, staff at this time is requesting authorization
to have the Mayor, Clerk and other required city officials sign the necessary
documents for implementation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Moving to a defined contribution plan will help stabilize and
better define the City’s annual pension costs. We are negotiating similar
arrangements for other employee groups. At this time, new employees in the
Fire, Non-Union, Clerical and 517M groups are covered by a defined
contribution arrangement. The status of this issue with the other employee
groups is as follows: Police Patrol (in arbitration); Police Command (to be
negotiated).
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None at this time.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval
(ORDINANCE REQUIRES SECOND READING)
      D. Signing of 2006-2007 Subrecipient and             Community Housing
         Development  Organization Agreements.                COMMUNITY    &
         NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To direct staff to have the Subrecipient Agreements for
the following agencies signed by the Mayor and Clerk. The funding allocations
were approved by the Commission in April of this year.
      1. American Red Cross                 $2,500
      2. HealthCARE                         $2,500
      3. Legal Aid of West Michigan         $2,500
      4. Love INC                           $2,500
      5. Sacred Suds                        $2,500
      6. West Michigan Veterans             $2,500
Also to have the Community Housing Development Organization Agreements
signed for the following agencies:
      1. Neighborhood Investment Corp. $70,000
      2. Habitat for Humanity               $35,000
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding will be allocated from the 2006-2007 Community
Development Block Grant/HOME Funds as directed by the City Commission.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To direct staff to have documents signed by the
Mayor and the Clerk.
Motion by Vice Mayor Gawron, second by Commissioner Carter to approve the
Consent Agenda as presented.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Gawron, Shepherd, Spataro, Warmington, Carter, and Davis
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
2006-61 NEW BUSINESS:
      A. Finance Division Reorganization. FINANCE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Staff is recommending the reorganization of the
Finance Division. The main elements of this reorganization are: 1) elimination of
the Revenue Collections Administrator position, 2) upgrade of the Income Tax
Administrator position and, 3) physical swap of the locations of the Income Tax
and Finance Departments.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed reorganization will save between $41,000 and
$55,000 annually (depending on whether a part-time position is filled). There will
be some one-time moving costs estimated to be no more than $5,000.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED:          We anticipate this reorganization to be
incorporated into the 2007 budget preparation process.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:          Staff recommends approval of the proposed
reorganization as described, including salary schedule adjustments.
Motion by Vice Mayor Gawron, second by Commissioner Spataro to approve
the Finance Division reorganization including salary schedule adjustments.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Shepherd, Spataro, Warmington, Carter, Davis, and Gawron
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
      B. Liquor License Request – CSTS, Inc., 2185 Henry (Pop-a-Top).        CITY
         CLERK
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:         The Liquor Control Commission is seeking local
recommendation on a request from CSTS, Inc., (Pop-A-Top) for a new Outdoor
Service (1 Area) to be held in conjunction with their 2006 Class C-SDM licensed
business with Entertainment Permit.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:          All departments are recommending approval
subject to final inspection.
Motion by Commissioner Spataro, second by Commissioner Carter to approve
the liquor licenser request from CSTS, Inc., 2185 Henry.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Spataro, Warmington, Carter, Davis, Gawron, and Shepherd
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
      C. Sale of Clay Avenue Parking Ramp. CITY MANAGER
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: To approve the sale of the City’s Clay Avenue parking
ramp to Press’s Development, LLC.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $100,000 to the City, plus the property will be placed on the
tax rolls.
BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: To approve the purchase agreement between the
City and Press’s Development, LLC, and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign it.
Motion by Vice Mayor Gawron, second by Commissioner Shepherd to approve
the purchase agreement between the City and Press’s Development, LLC.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: Warmington, Carter, Davis, Gawron, Shepherd, and Spataro
            Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: A Petition was given to Commission, and various
comments were heard from the public.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Commission Meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.


                                           Respectfully submitted,




                                           Linda Potter, CMC
                                           Deputy City Clerk

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