City Council - Regular Meeting

Call to order this meeting of the Escanaba City Council, September 3rd, 2026. Ms. Weiser, please call roll.

Council Member Beauchamp.

Here.

Council Member Dubord.

Here.

Council Member Flath.

Here.

Council Member Moore. Here. Mayor Emel.

Here. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

At this time, seeking approval and or corrections to the minutes of the regular meeting of August 20th, 2026. So moved.

Second.

Discussion? All in favor? Aye. Thank you. At this time, seeking approval and or adjustments to the current agenda as written. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. At this time, is there any conflict of interest needing to be declared by members of council pertaining to items on the agenda? Hearing none. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HEAR BRIEF PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. IF YOU WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME, PLACE OF RESIDENCE, KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS.

HI, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS NAOMI GREEN, AND I LIVE HERE IN ESCANABA. DO I NEED TO GIVE MY ADDRESS? 1600 SOUTH 30TH?

THANK YOU.

And I am here about the rezoning of the old Bertrand's building to be able to be used as a transitional homeless shelter. And I'm here because I'm in favor of this. I was homeless for four months in San Antonio, Texas, which is a truly terrible place to be homeless. I'm a recovering alcoholic and I have autism and bipolar disorder. I was a lucky person. I had supports, so therefore I was only homeless for four months. But there are plenty of people around, and I met one just today here in Escanaba, who don't have any supports, who don't have even the basic ability to attend their personal hygiene. let alone are getting the services that they need if they need services for recovery or for mental health issues. And I want to see this building as a successful transition I've seen this work for other people before, and there's somebody else here who's been through this, to help people get the support that they need and become a success story. That happens, and it happens because the support is there. The homeless people are here. Ignoring them isn't going to make them go away. And they're actually far less attractive when they don't get a chance to shower. so you know i guess i'm here i'm signed up to volunteer in whatever capacity that shelter needs uh one way or another i hope that we are going to succeed in opening a shelter somewhere here in escanaba and i think the bertrand's building which has been vetted very closely is a good location for it i watched downtown in Lansing, Michigan for 20 plus years with a homeless shelter right in the middle of it, go through economic swings and ups and downs just like any other city, whether or not there was a shelter there. And last time I was there, it was beautiful. And that's all I got to say. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Lydia Tutela. I live at 1805 10th Avenue South in Escanaba, Michigan. Thank you for allowing me to take this opportunity to speak to you about the homeless shelter. I'm in favor of it. Bear with me, I get nervous standing up in front of people. I used to be homeless, and I'd like to give you some insight of what it was like living in a homeless shelter. I think everyone could use very well insight and know what that's about. I'm originally not from Michigan. I was homeless, living in Ohio, no family, no support. I had just gotten out of a domestic violence relationship. I had endured abuse that I survived. I was able to get myself out of that situation and landed in a shelter. I was terrified. I was scared. I did not know anyone walking in. But when I walked in those doors, a lady named Pearlie met me, breathing me with open arms and said, don't cry, you're okay, you are going to be safe. She was the first person to make me feel welcomed, to make me feel like an actual human being again. Sorry, nervous. She took me into a room that was organized and donated by the locals who helped provide for us our basic needs, a shower caddy to help us with showers with their basic needs, shampoo, conditioner, washcloths, lofas, and flip-flops for the showers. The shelter was attached to a church. You had to attend church every Sunday, Bible study every Wednesday. Classes were provided for you to also attend. They brought classes to you, budget classes to learn how to budget your money. That way, eventually, you can live in your own home, whether it be lower class, and you also had to maintain a job. They also provided, if you were in domestic violence classes, counseling. You had to go see a counselor for any type of mental illness. Because yes, when you're in a shelter, there are various mental illnesses. But there are also wonderful people. Everyone looked out for each other in one way or another. And I hope we can all learn from this that if we come together as a community and help each other, it'd be more welcoming for people to come to Escanaba than saying, hey, look, there's a homeless person walking down the street. Let's ignore them. That's not inviting.

I will have to ask you to wrap up, please.

Yeah. I'm sorry.

Don't worry. You're very nervous.

It's OK. All right. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Dennis Bittner, the owner of the property of concern. Purchased that property back when it was a vacant grocery store. We were able to utilize it to have had a engineering practice here in Escanaba for decades. close to 40 years and we worked over there and the staff was up to between 25 28 people at one time so we it was a big boost to the to the community to see that building sitting empty now a large building huge parking area very sound building To me, it's unthinkable that somebody would deny the proposal that the prospective buyer is looking at doing there. I've seen enough. I grew up in a small grocery store out in the country here. We fed a lot of people that didn't have food on the table and so forth. My mother and dad were very caring people. My dad went to school to the eighth grade, but he achieved an unbelievable amount of success in helping people in a number of ways. The building is very sound and so forth. And when I see all the marijuana operations in the vicinity there, look at my building there, some of the paint that's going up there in the building, people taking paint, full language on there. brush it off some time, paint it and so forth. And then the number of marijuana shops in this area, it's just unthinkable. I think having a building like this better of it because I think right now, of course, you've got a lot of nice things. You have the park and the beach and all that, but the downtown area is not, I wouldn't feel safe even walking down there at night, just the way people kind of randomly march around and so forth. So I think it's a good operation. I'VE TALKED TO THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER A NUMBER OF TIMES WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, AND I THINK IT'S A NEED THAT'S NEEDED IN THE ESCANABA AREA, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS AND GIVE YOUR SUPPORT TO IT.

Hi, my name is Jim Galing. I am not from Escanaba. I'm from Ford River. You might say, well, that doesn't concern me anymore. The homeless shelter doesn't concern me, but my taxes pay for your library. My taxes also help your data bus. And you are the county seat. And as such, you get a lot of help from a lot of folks in the county. Also, all of the federal buildings are here, the state buildings are here, the county buildings are here, the colleges here, all of the aid societies are here. As the county seat, you get a lot of benefits and you do a lot with those benefits. But we also have some concerns. These good people are not asking you to man the shelter. They're not asking you to fill the shelter with furniture. They're simply asking you to stop standing in the way And I use the word stop standing in the way. I came here about 30 years ago. This is the 23rd house I've lived in. So I've been to a lot of different communities, small communities, rural communities, southeast Chicago metro area. And I know this city is an awesome place. I'm really surprised at what you people have done. But these people need you to stop standing in the way. The 30 years I've been here, various people have come before this council and talked to the people in the seats you're sitting in, and they all say the same thing. Yes, we need one, but not here, not there, not here. There isn't a better building. The building they want is close to the services, is just exactly what they need. All they're asking of you to do is stop standing in the way. You've done it for 30 years. Enough. Really. Is this who you are, that you're going to stand in the way again? Let these people do help their, let the least of our brethren They don't need your help. They just need you to let them do it. That's not asking too much. And as far as property values, the Salvation Army is out there in the High Grand District. They have homeless people there every day. Vinnie's is feeding people right in your downtown area. It hasn't affected anybody's property. It's just part of being the county seat. You're going to have homeless. You have homeless in this building. I've gone to your restroom and seen people taking a sponge bath or brushing their teeth. I've seen people sitting on your bench by the library or in the library. The homeless are in this building. Wouldn't it be nice if they had somewhere to go instead of this building? These good people just want you to do that. Thank you, guys. Do the right thing.

Hi there. My name is Logan Treest. I own the building of 919 Ludington, the building directly behind the proposed homeless shelter. I was a paramedic for 12 years. I did over five years in Marquette City. So I'm well familiar with the problems that both the warming shelter and the Jansen house bring. I strongly oppose the shelter going in the business district. I don't oppose help, but bringing it into a failing place or a struggling place, it'll be the 100% black eye of downtown. I came in two years ago, I moved everything that I had down here. And I bought the building behind there. And now, I would have never bought that building, assuming that a homeless shelter is going in my backyard. That's all I have.

Lori Caskey Hammer, DVM, 14th Road, Escanaba. I'm here to discuss the zoning change request for 113 South 10th Street. Transitional housing is allowed now in Zone C in Escanaba with no restrictions. I can buy any building, house, or land in Zone C in Escanaba and start a homeless shelter. We looked, we discussed the needs and the goals of a homeless transitional shelter and realized a house would be probably too small and too closed in and too close to its neighbors for the ideal situation. We found a building adjacent to C, which is in E, in the commercial district, which is actually multi-use district. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THIS REQUEST, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON PAST MEETINGS REVIEWED. CHANGING THIS BUILDING TO C IS NOT A BIG LEAP AS THERE IS MULTI-USE IN THE WHOLE AREA ON THE CORRIDOR OF C. C OFFERS COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND NEEDED RESOURCES CLOSE BY. THE BUILDING HAS BEEN VACANT SO UTILIZING A VACANT BUILDING IS A GOOD THING. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE DECISION OF THE BUILDING IN QUESTION. The city council declines changing the zoning to C. We will be moved forward with the house in C that we are in the process of purchasing and utilize the building at 113 South 10th for the remainder of the services we want to offer. So either way, we'll be in one location or two. We are concerned that the city will try to do text amendments to change the zoning ordinance to be by special use permit or other restrictions like parking spaces, et cetera. This is a city problem. This city is not addressing it. We are a group of citizens working together to help where there is a need. I have asked the city repeatedly since 2023, 2024, and again in 2025 to aid in land search, to give direction to offered land, to look at buildings, and all has been denied or turned a deaf ear. I would think the city would want to care for the people. All counties have a shelter, a safety net for its citizens. And I want to ask, if council members would have stated publicly that they are opposed to this, why are they allowed to vote? Because that does not seem right because they're already prejudiced against it.

Thank you.

Jim Sankovich, 29, 16 or 29, 68, 14th road Escanaba. I'm here for, I lived in this community for, I don't know, 60 some years. The next door to one of the members here in the board grew up with their family looking over the fence, like a tool type. They had, I had a lot of respect for everybody that lived in this town, but we're trying to. create a homeless shelter for people that are in need. Trying to give them some education, trying to get the education out there. I see the people, I sat in a quick trip parking lot yesterday, just watching people. I watched three people walk across that parking lot with bags in their hands, running, walking towards behind Walmart. Where were they going? I have no idea. Did they have shelter for the night? I have no idea. I know we can't cure all the problems. But we've been working on this, as Laurie said, for a lot of years. And if you all had any questions over it, the zoning board was right there. They had all the paperwork. They know that we were in touch with you. So it's not just last year or whatever that you've been sitting on this. You know that the problem is there. I know the building, the zone that we are able to be in, I don't want to be right next to a neighbor, but if that's what you guys are pushing us to, that's what we will do. The thing is, is it your neighbor? Is it your neighbor? Is it your neighbor? We don't know. Whatever house comes up, that's what we will do. The building that's there is sitting vacant. It's been sitting vacant for a couple of years now. You have two pot shops that you put on main street downtown where they should be out on the highway, not in city, you know, for everybody. Was it easier to walk to get that? Is that supposed to be like a candy store? Like Gus asked used to be, we used to go there and buy quarter suckers or whatever. You know what I mean? It just, it's not the place for that, but you're telling me that building there is not the place for the shelter for these people. And I was here having a meeting for housing and Karen Moore was at that meeting. And she said to me, absolutely not in this town. So if you are voting today, I do not want her vote to come because she's already prejudiced over this. That's all I have to say.

My name is William Gassman. I'm a lifetime resident of the Spine City of Escanaba. I am in favor of what's proposed here today. The biggest reason is I also know some of the homeless people. The homeless people that I know, to my knowledge, they are not second-class people. Why in some degree are we kind of treating them as second citizens, second class citizens? That's pretty sad. I also know the gentleman brought up the pot shops. You all know where I sat at that particular topic at one time. I cannot believe, that there's all you council people approved those pot shops. At that time it wasn't even on that particular meeting agenda and it was passed. Now I cannot believe that you can support something like that, a business on Main Street, our beautiful new Main Street by the way, when you can support 100% of those shops that are on Main Street. Some of them are making it, some aren't. That's beside the point. They are not second-class citizens that go into those shops and buy their products either, but they're here. Yes, they're a different business, and yes, there are two sides to every story, every situation. Again, I cannot believe that this city council puts up against something. I've got another example where down the street several blocks that way. There was a business owner that at that time there was a different building proposed as what we're trying to deal here. And that particular business person said, I don't want them people across the street from my business establishment. Now, again, what the hell? Are these second class citizens? I don't think so. I know a few of them. You all know a few of them. They're human beings. They're human beings that are in a bad need of what this building will provide. Thank you very much for your time and your consideration of listening to me. Thank you.

Christa Salvo, 620 South 9th Street, Escanaba. I think you all know already how I stand. I've made it very publicly known. And I'm going to ask again to please think again how you vote, because I know you all better than this. And I know that you care. So use your conscience when you vote, not what somebody else is trying to shove down your throat. Not that we need the most perfect city, the most beautiful city, and it can't be tainted with homelessness. Those people are amongst us. And I know people right on this board who have needed support and gotten it. Not everybody can have the best job and the best pay and keep a job and have not had things go out in their life that changed their situation. It happens to anybody, any time. And we can have both. And I think if this group would agree with me, you wanna know how it's gonna turn out? Come and be a part of it so they can show you that it's not gonna taint your building over there anymore. They don't want it to look like a slum. It's gonna be made so people feel like they have a home. and they can feel confident and start looking for work and raise them up, get them out independent. Be the part of the solution, not the problem.

Thank you.

Further public comment at this time? Hearing none. We currently have no public hearings on the docket. We have no unfinished business on the docket. Moving on to new business item number one. Paint the exterior of the Catherine Boniface Civic Center. Recreation.

Administration is seeking City Council approval to retain Bosque Paint and Sandblast of Escanaba, Michigan to paint the exterior of the Catherine Boniface Civic Center at a cost of $38,640. $35,000 has been budgeted for the fiscal year 26-27. Kim Peterson is here to answer any questions, but this is to prep and paint the metal panels and soffits that go around the exterior of the building up near the roof.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMOUNT OF $38,640. SUPPORT. DISCUSSION.

MS. WEISER, PLEASE CALL RULE.

COUNCILMEMBER DUBOURG? YES. COUNCILMEMBER FLOCK? YES. COUNCILMEMBER BOSHOP? YES. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? YES. MAYOR YAMAL?

YES. NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL, PAINT THE EXTERIOR OF THE MARINA. MARINA.

Administration is seeking City Council approval to retain Craig's painting of Escanaba, Michigan to paint the exterior surface of the marina facility at a cost of $2,665. This is for prepping and painting the fascia and soffits only of the marina building.

So move approval. Support.

Discussion? I have one question. Are we changing the color or is it staying the same? I have no opinion and I think we should trust the Harbormaster's opinion on this one. Further discussion on this item? Ms. Weiser, please call roll.

Council Member Flatt?

Yes.

Council Member Beauchamp?

Yes.

Council Member Dubourg?

Yes.

Council Member Moore? Yes. Mayor Hamill?

Yes. New business item number three, approval, special event application, annual Oktoberfest celebration, city manager.

Administration is recommending City Council approval of a special event application submitted by United Way of Delta County to host Oktoberfest in Ludington Park on Saturday, October 10th, 2026. Administration is recommending approval of the request contingent upon the following. Proper insurance is provided naming the City of Escanaba as an additional insured, and event sponsors provide all labor, materials, and cleanup at the conclusion of the event.

Motion to approve along with the two stipulations. 4 discussion.

All in favor I thank you. New business item number 4 first reading of ordinance number 1328. The residents see ordinance of 2026 and to set the date of Thursday, October 1st, 2026 for the second reading public hearing. And adoption. Planning and zoning note. Council will not. BE TAKING ANY KIND OF DECISIVE ACTION ON THIS ITEM. THIS IS A FIRST READING ONLY. THE AGENDA ITEM IS TO SCHEDULE THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.

THE COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE OPTION TO.

THE COUNCIL WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY DECISION TONIGHT BECAUSE WE WILL SCHEDULE THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.

Administration is requesting city council to consider this the first reading of ordinance number 1328, residence C ordinance of 2026 and set October 1st, 2026 for the second reading public hearing and adoption of ordinance number 1328.

Could you pull up the zoning map, please? The ordinance amendment in front of the council tonight is to rezone a parcel 113 South 10th just off of Ludington. Tammy is pulling up the map for me. I'm going to go and point it out just so everybody knows what we're talking about. The planning commission voted unanimously to recommend denial to the city council. Their primary reasoning was based on the master plan. The master plan does acknowledge. community concerns regarding homelessness, drug use. To quote directly from the master plan, many in the community stated that combating social issues like drugs, homelessness and crime while enhancing public safety, healthcare access and resources for youth and families is critical for creating a future that they want to live in. The master plan doesn't provide any policy guidance or land use guidance on where we provide those services. So the Planning Commission has to base their decision on the policy guidance for that area, that neighborhood. We have a description of that neighborhood in our master plan and it's our downtown district. I will read from that portion of the master plan. Leadington street has some of the most potent tax generating properties in the city, however, there are vacancies and underutilized properties throughout this quarter, which are primed for new uses. Based on public input the Community desires to see this data historic downtown area transformed into a revitalized vibrant mixed you Center by filling voids with shops restaurants and enhanced public spaces. These potential new uses and public improvements will make this central core once again a place where city and regional residents as well as tourists are drawn to the special part of town that has been a prideful part of Escanaba for 150 years. The site for the rezoning has things going for it and things going against it. I have met extensively with Lori primarily and the group for well over a year, pretty much since I've been in this job, and they have done everything right. They listened to my guidance when we thought that they were going to go about this one way, and they changed course when we found that it was allowed as a use by right in C. The Planning Commission denied it based primarily on land use considerations. What it says in the master plan, the fact that we would be taking away a big chunk of commercial property right on that commercial corridor offshoot of Ludington, the fact that it was within the downtown TIF district. As far as a zoning and land use decision, it's not a very good case for a rezone. As far as use of the building, It's been vacant for a long time. Does that mean it cannot be utilized as it stands? No. When considering this, we just have to look at what we have in the master plan, because it's our only guiding document for making land use decisions. I did not think that it aligned with our master plan, and the Planning Commission chose to deny it unanimously. That's all I've got.

SEEKING A MOTION TO SET THE SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1328 FOR OCTOBER 1ST OF 2026. SECOND IT. I'M SEEKING THAT.

SUPPORT. OH, YOU'RE SEEKING IT. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO SCHEDULE THE SECOND READING FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 1328 FOR OCTOBER 1ST OF 2026. SUPPORT. DISCUSSION.

I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE, SO I WILL SUPPORT THE SECOND READING. THANK YOU.

MR. WEISER, PLEASE CALL ROLL.

Council Member Duborn? Yes. Council Member Flach? Yes. Council Member Beauchamp? Yes. Council Member Moore? Yes. Mayor Amell?

Yes. New business item number five, approval city manager contract, administration.

Administration is requesting city council to review the proposed employment agreement negotiated by the hiring committee with Danielle Tiedemann and consider taking formal action contingent upon the results of the pre-employment physical and psychological evaluation. The contract was included in the backup. It was negotiated with the committee and we're making steps toward getting her all of her background and everything done at this point and just looking to formally approve the employment agreement.

Motion to approve the City Manager Employment Agreement. Support. Discussion?

Question. Was there anything significant that was changed from any of the prior contracts that we drafted?

Nothing significant beyond the initial year includes three months severance. if termination is enacted for any or no reason at all.

All right. Thank you.

Further discussion? Ms. Weiser, please call roll.

Council Member Dubourg? Yes. Council Member Flath? Yes. Council Member Beauchamp? Yes. Council Member Moore? Yes. Mayor Emel?

Yes. NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER 6, APPROVAL, SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION, RACE-DRIVEN LEADINGTON STREET GRAND OPENING. CITY MANAGER.

ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY CURT SPALDING, OWNER OF CATMAN DOES, for the closure of Ludington Street from 13th to 14th Street for race-driven Ludington Street grand opening on September 25th, 2026. Administration is recommending approval of the request contingent upon the following. Proper insurance is provided, naming the City of Escanaba as additional insured, and event sponsors provide all labor, material, and cleanup at the conclusion of the event. Mr. Spaulding was not available to be here tonight, and he said that he was sending Diane in his absence. Oh, so she's here to answer any questions that you may have about this event.

Please, please.

May I ask the administration, when is Ludington Street scheduled to open?

Oh, Jeff is not here, and I'm going to put the date out there, and he's not going to be happy. It is scheduled, assuming the striping is done, the 12th to the 15th, somewhere in that time frame.

Okay.

Okay, do we really need to close 14th Street in Ludington?

So just the block between, so 14th to 13th on Ludington, the only reason is they want to have a band there in front of Katz, and there's really nowhere else to put a band.

Would it be acceptable to close the side street alongside of Katmandu's?

Well, that's their only parking. They're super limited parking. So that doesn't really give an option.

Here's just my thought. We are now reopening Ludington Street. Now we're still going to choose to shut it down for an event. You know, traffic's going to start flowing again.

Right, but not a whole day thing. Just so you know, it's that particular band would just play between 8 and 10, but they need setup time. So we figured if we just closed it between 6 and, you know, it'd be a finishing up you know roughly 10 30 you know where they've done tearing down and stuff so yeah so it shows closing 5 p.m closing the road and then yeah and actually six six is actually they could keep it open until six that would still give them enough time to set up so and this is just for a grand opening it's actually an open house that was kurt's error sorry okay yeah so it's a catmandu's open house So the whole premise of this is race-driven, and Catman have joined hands and collaborated, wanted to do kind of a, you know, yay, the streets are opening back up kind of a celebration. So they're doing two bands. They're doing, like, they'll have, like... There's only one band, though? The other band will be at the Marketplace, and that's Grand Design. So they'll be earlier. They'll be playing six to eight.

So the other band's going to be between 13th and 14th?

You know where the marketplace is, the stage there? They'll be playing in that area.

Then the other band's going to play on a block that neither of those two businesses are on then, right?

The other band would play in front of Kathmandu's in the intersection.

In front of Kathmandu's.

In the intersection?

Yeah, the closing Ludington Street from 13th to 14th.

How far down Ludington will we need to go to keep people from driving up to the 13th?

We'd have to go up to 12th. When they've done these events in the past with the classic car and bike nights, they traditionally block from 13th to 12th.

And if you leave 12th open, then I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm sure most people have noticed that Everybody has driven all the way up to the barricades. A few folks have decided that those weren't for them and they've gone through them. I would be concerned about safety with people driving in that area. My recommendation would be to move it to the side street where he's had successful events in the past and the parking wouldn't be more than made up for by being on the street, because the street's open, we could park in all these spaces. And it gives more access to everybody and it allows traffic to flow through so more people can attend. That's just a suggestion. everyone's been right.

And just so you know, both business owners do not want to shut anybody down. I mean, they just they wanted that to be first and foremost that, you know, they're, they're certainly just as excited as everybody else to be open again. So.

So one last thought can't race driven has a big parking lot or big open space right there on the corner. Why can't the band play there?

Well, the premise is to get some of that business that's coming with the two businesses joined together down to cats and some of it. And so that the later business will go to cats.

because the band will be down there the earlier business will be at race driven okay i just i'm just saying that they do have a social district permit as well that you can get an adult beverage if you choose at camp man news and still walk over to see the band it doesn't change that factor because the same thing is if i grab a social district drink and walk outside to see the band i'm still doing the same thing right but the one band is playing six to eight at the marketplace and nobody would come back down to race

driven to Kathmandu's if the band is at the marketplace. Yep.

That is, the social district does allow us to have people walk from Kathmandu's all the way to the marketplace. Is that correct, Mr. Warple? I think I saw your head back there. Yep. So that is, we can go to Kath's, get a beverage, and come all the way down to the marketplace and hang out?

Yes.

Okay.

I guess I would not like to close Ludington Street, and then if they can close off that one way, because people can still park on Ludington Street, so that'll be open.

Would that be an acceptable workaround? I just, I don't know. I believe the DDA had considered closing the street at one point in time for a celebration as well, and after much rumination in the meeting, they decided not to. Just the general consensus that I think everybody's pretty anxious to just get rid of the orange. I think everybody's least favorite color. I don't think anybody's going to be excited about deer season this year.

I would agree. It's a shame to close it once it's open, but keep in mind this is after business hours, 5 o'clock. I would agree with Ron.

Right. I think the only one that would, you know, you've got Ernie's on the corner. They would have business after that time. And then you have maybe late customers at Delta Hair Company, but they have a rear access. And I really, I don't think of another business there that would be affected.

I don't have the application in front of me. We did. I'm looking at it, but I don't have it. I know there does need to be notification of all of those neighboring businesses that it's going to be OK with them to do this as well. I don't know if that was included. I did not memorize the packet. I apologize. I don't know if any of you have that.

They're supposed to notify neighboring businesses.

Within 14 days in advance of the event?

Yes. Correct.

Craig, did you want to comment on this?

if you want me to.

No, I guess we're looking for support information for this.

I talked to both Kurt at Katz and Brian at Race Driven today about what it is that they're doing. I wasn't aware about the street closure until today. I didn't know about the event because obviously they're using the marketplace. So it is an open house for race driven. They've done this multiple years. This is a bigger event this year because they've collaborated with Curt. I don't know the where fall, how that all happened, but that's kind of why it's a bigger event this year. So they are using the marketplace for the band, but also display of some products and things like that throughout the day on that Friday. So they'll have a band there from 6 until 8. They'll have a cookout. They're using the grill and things like that as well. Then the idea is to walk down to Katz and be a part of that there. It is after hours, and it is one block. It's very similar to what Katz does with their car show. But I did talk to Kurt that the idea here is not to cut off the area as much as he does with the car show. because the alcohol thing has changed with the social district now, because you could go to South City Pub and get a beer and come up to the area as easily as going into Katz or walking up to the marketplace with it. So that's kind of how the social district works. He has to follow the rules on that. So it's not an area that's closed off selling alcohol within that area.

Will there be activities in the closed street area? Is there, it's an open house, are they putting somewhere?

So I'm unclear with that and maybe she can help with it. My discussion with Kurt was that they were gonna have some equipment in that block as well. I'm talking to Brian. HE DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT LATE IN THE EVENING. IT'S AN OPEN HOUSE TO TRY TO SELL SOME OF THEIR MERCHANDISE BEFORE THE FALL SESSION.

I WOULD HATE TO BLOCK OFF THE STREET FROM EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO DRIVE ON THE STREET BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE STREET IS FOR. STRICTLY TO MAKE A WIDER SIDEWALK NEXT TO THE BRAND NEW SIDEWALK THAT WE JUST

Right.

I'm sorry, this hurts my brain.

Black parties are certainly a part of a vitalized downtown, and certainly we look forward to being able to do that in the future. And Kurt does have another car show that's coming up that's going to be able to use that section of the road rather than what he was trying to do on First Avenue South, which you can certainly say was very difficult.

Okay. Just as a Thought here. So if we deny this, then moving forward, is this gonna be difficult for other groups?

So Karen, I think the concern here is the fact that the street is opening. So Mark asked me, you know, is the DDA gonna be upset because they decided not to do something and now somebody comes along and wants to close it. I view them as two different things. The frustration of not knowing when the street was going to open and trying to plan a celebration around that was immensely frustrating. okay this is an event based on the sales event and so that would happen whether or not the street was closed open two years from now or whatever so i view them as completely different um and but the frustration here is that we've been closed for such a long time in such a large area people are tired of it so do we want to close it now compared to later next year, I don't think we will have that kind of a concern. Obviously the DDA has two major events where we closed down Leadington Street. Curt certainly has some events. So there are some other ones as well. uh but the other ones happen in the park or in their parking lots um boniface has theirs tomorrow night it's a public parking lot and the city council has approved the closure of that um so i tried to use the side streets that mark suggested and i do recommend that if when you do vote on this if you do that you include 15th street by race driven closed from Ludington to the alley. So that provides a safe transfer back and forth between the business and the marketplace. And if you do close the 11th Street, that it'd be from Ludington to the alley again there. And I agree that there's more than adequate parking within the area of Katz to be able to handle that situation. Whether or not it handles the celebration that he is envisioning, That's something that you have to decide. I have no issue with closing Leadington Street for that, if that is of interest to you. I wouldn't be upset by it. But I do understand the concept of closing the street down after opening it up. I certainly joked a lot about that over the last few months.

Thank you. Karen, my answer to your question would be I don't think it's going to make the process any more difficult for approving any other events because if we were going just by that, I would look at the packet and say that I don't see a copy of the insurance and I do not see the map drawn and those are some of the required articles that need to be in there for us to approve something. Based on that alone, I wouldn't approve it just because there is no drawn plan of what's supposed to happen and we do not have a copy of the insurance that is supposed to be submitted.

I like the idea of more events happening. There's no question about that. But I think that closing Main Street probably is not the best in our right now. I think if we put it on a side street, I think it'll work out great. And I think there's ample parking. So I think that's where we need to go.

So I'll make that motion, if I can. Is that OK?

I know, but I'm just saying, that's what I would do. On Cat's side street. It's not my advantage. No, I know. I'm asking Diane.

Are you saying you want to approve the side street by Cat's to be the location? Yes. I mean, let's just do that, and then we'll continue to brainstorm, and we'll try to work something out there.

We would like to include 15th Street as well, between Race Driven and the Marketplace. Yes. If that makes sense for council. If it's an open house for their business and they're using the marketplace across the street.

So you're suggesting Ludington Street stays open? Correct. Just the side streets from Ludington to the alley by Kathmandu's and Race Driven between Race Driven and the marketplace? Yes.

That makes a safe passage for the folks for the open house and it still gives you a nice outdoor area right by Kathmandu's.

I think that sounds like a very fair compromise. That's fair.

And then everybody else that wants, and you better all get in your cars and drive on the street. This is gonna look real silly. And walk the sidewalks and go into the business. Yes.

That's your motion? That's my motion. I'll second your motion.

Do you have that, Tammy? Yes. Sort of, more or less. Well, contingent to the two requirements. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Much ado. Moving on to appointments. Okay, on the very top, we have the Escanaba Tree Advisory Board. There are three vacancies available. We currently have three applicants for three vacancies, and we have postponed this twice now. Seeking council's advice, would we like to approve the three applicants that are on file? One signed up in May, one signed up in June, one signed up in July. We have delayed this a couple of times. I move forward with their application.

Okay.

Okay. Appointed by me, guess what folks, you're on. That would be Benjamin Martin Norman and Glen Vandewater. Let's see here. The representatives from the following departments will also be on the Escanaba Tree Advisory Board. Kent Dubord from the Department of Public Works, Jeff Lampe from the Water Wastewater Department, Andrew Kolich from the Electric Department, and Craig Warple from the DDA. Housing Commission. We have two applicants, Linda Heitman and Diana Moyle, and we have two vacancies. Council?

So this is the concern we have. I brought it up previously, but we have. Have we not resolved this yet? If Laura's on and she wants to clarify, maybe she can. So the Housing Commission Board requires five members. It requires one tenant. from the Harbor Tower, okay? The two applicants here are two members of the Harbor Tower, but I already have another Harbor Tower person on there. That'd be three. According to HUD guidelines is HUD does not want a super majority of tenants on the council, on the board, because it goes to special interests usually. So what we're trying to do is figure out can we do that? And if Laura is there, she can answer. Can we do that or do we have to take them?

I don't know the answer to that off the top of my head. I don't disagree with you looking as quickly as I can at HUD's materials that you're right. They generally oppose that super majority position, but I probably would need to look at that. I apologize. No, I probably should have let you know earlier.

That's my bad. Laura, we're going to postpone this to another meeting. We'll wait until you have a chance to go through this.

I'm often good at knowing them on the fly, but that one I don't.

We appreciate your tenacity, but we will give you some time on this. Thank you.

I appreciate that. Thank you.

Sure. Sue Parker, who is chair of the Escanaba DDA, has appointed Rebecca Bender to serve on the tree committee rather than me.

I'm fine with that. Okay. Okay.

Says the scout master. Yeah. That's a tree and that's, I see how you are. If you are feeling even friskier than you already were by coming here tonight, you could take one vacancy on the planning commission. or you could take one or two alternate vacancies on the Zoning Board of Appeals. All kinds of ways to participate. Moving on to Board, Commission, and Committee reports.

I have none.

Top of the month. Top of the month.

Craig, did I miss anything from the DDA meeting? You guys made your schedule and you talked about flowers and watering again. Okay, got it covered, great. You would not believe what a hot button item that is. At this time, we hear general public comment. If you wish to make public comment, please approach the podium, state your name, place of residence.

Hi, good evening. Kelly Vangenhoven, Delta County Commissioner, District 4. Two updates for City of Escanaba residents. The Opioid Task Force has decided to delay the application deadline until September 25th. So if there are any community organizations, not-for-profits, local law enforcement, or any entity that feels that they could use our Opioid Task Fund funds that we have, please go to our county website. It is www.DeltaCountyMI.org, and you can fill out an application. We are accepting grant applications up to $30,000. The Opioid Task Force will review those grant applications in its meeting the first Friday of October at 10 a.m. Public is always welcome, and those are at the service center. Second of all, many of you probably already know, our county clerk of over two decades, Nancy Pisrocki, has announced her retirement. She is retiring officially October 1st. We will be holding a reception for Clerk Pisrocki after our county board meeting. It will be on September 15th, our board meeting. it's usually a little longer than city council meetings we start at 5 15. we'll try and make the agenda light so that we can have refreshments afterwards the county board of commissioners will be hosting this for nancy so please join us on september 15th as we wish her well in her retirement thank you kelly that technically falls under announcements but moving on to announcements um

Labor Day?

Yes. Would you like to speak? Yeah, if you don't mind. So Labor Day Monday on the 7th, we're going to have our sixth annual Labor Day event in the park. So it'll start about noon. We've got three bands and a face painting, bounce houses, lots of things for the kids, and a lot of food trucks. So if you get a chance, top down.

Great. Mr. Vlata, I have a question. Yes, your question. Is there a parade?

There's a parade. Where's the parade? Parade is starting at the Bandshell. We're going to go down the bottom of the park this year because we weren't sure where the orange markers were going to be.

So we're going from the Bandshell to the Municipal Dock, all along Lorne Jenkins Drive. And can Peterson request that you kindly not to park on the grass? Of course, he'll give you a mean look. That's enough.

Further announcements. The Boniface Arts Center is doing the Raise the Roof fundraiser.

Tomorrow starting at five. Yep. Five o'clock. And if you want to make a small donation to them, you can win the chance to pie Mr. Dubord in the face. Oh, they canceled that. What? They canceled that. What? We'll arrange it some other time. So yeah, they canceled that fundraiser. They couldn't get enough money. Now you have to sneak up and hit them for free. Anything else other than we're all just gonna cross our fingers for the 12th and the 15th and hope it's the 12th for the street. Thank you all for being patient and kind and patient, but it's gonna look nice when it's done. Seeking a motion to adjourn. So moved.