Council - Regular Meeting

Anybody?

All right. Hey Welcome everyone to this regular city council meeting for Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. Six. Marie, would you call the role?

Fritz here. Calio here. Lion here. Dora here. Manza here. Invocation this evening is by Tim Taylor. Is M. Is Reverend Taylor here? I don't see him.

Okay. Well, then please stand and join me in 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. Thank you. We have no appointments or reappointments this evening. So, it brings us to the approval of the consent and regular agendas. Can I get a motion for that, please? So moved. Second. Okay.

Motion by Dora, second by Lion. Uh changes to the ease the consent to regular agenda. I would like to suggest a change to the consent agenda. Um I'm just talking about the wording of item C. Um, I think that needs some clarification based on it's a five-year service agreement um in the budgeted amount of 26,49186, but that either needs to have an adjustment to add annually or put the actual 5-year service agreement total on it.

Would it be best to move this to new business so that we can discuss that at length? Okay. Okay. Sure. So, would you like to make a motion to I make a motion to move it to new business? So, so then it would become instead of 11 C, it would become 14A and then all the other items in new new business be renumbered. Uh, any questions on that? Is there a second for it? Second. Okay. Second by Lion. Let's vote on this amendment to the agenda. Please call the RO. Calio, yes. Lion, yes. Fritz, yes. Dora, yes.

Manza, yes. Other changes to the agenda? No. Okay. If there are no further changes to the agenda, let's vote on the amended agenda. Dora, yes. Lion, yes. Calio, yes. Fritz, yes. Manza, yes.

All right, moving on. We come to our first call to the audience. This is the first of two opportunities. At this time, members of the audience may address council on any item, whether on the agenda or not. Those addressing council asked to provide their name and address will be limited to 3 minutes of speaking time. Council, all comments for future consideration will not have a response at this time. Those not physically present who would like to uh call in may dial 616-935 3203. Who would like to address council? Good evening. Jim Hagen, 400 Lake. I had the opportunity last week to attend the uh uh BLP board meeting and they had a pretty lengthy discussion on the proposed solar at the airport. Um I was really happy to see that, you know, it had uh drawn so much attention and that the board was interested. One thing I I came out of it sort of confused. Uh the idea was floated to have a constant credit rate of 0.06385 per kilowatt hour for 20 years. Um and in today's environment with inflation pretty much we don't know what's going on. The cost of electricity we don't know what's going on. AI how that's going to impact. We don't know a whole lot of things. So I'd rather not have long length fixed rate credits for the participants. Uh to me that says that the participants will take on a whole lot of risk, right? And we we don't want that from a participant. This is a small project. They're talking now maybe 300 kilowatts instead of the 500. uh so if there's you know a little bit of uh unknowns around the budget and so forth it should be borne by the BLP not

by individual participants. So I think a a good solution to this is to uh look at another way of indexing this and I think a good way of indexing it would be to look at the basket of PPA contracts the uh power uh contracts that they're you know power purchase contracts that they have with a number of solar uh entities now and use those year-to-year you know have uh protection on upside downside, that type of thing. And that way, we'll see small changes and we won't go too far off from something that's fair to all parties. Uh, just to let you know, I went through the uh one one of the projects that was done previously, and this was 2015, was the East Lancing solar project, community solar, and they had 065 was their credit rate at a fixed rate of 2.3. And you'll see where that blue line ended up. uh as compared to the a fixed rate uh and that's 57% higher and lately I've read that you know rates are going to be higher maybe 3% you look at 3% and uh it's up in the 80% change so I I definitely feel we don't want to stay with a fixed uh rate of reimbursement so I guess I'm asking everybody to uh be aware of that the BLP strategic planning is going is starting. So, this is really a good time for the community to talk about what's important to us and, you know, what kind of risk we're willing to accept and our vision of what that project should look like. Thanks.

Thank you, Jim. Anyone else?

If no one else, then I'm going to close the call to the audience. We'll move on to our consent agenda. Would you please read that? Item A, approve the special work session and regular council meeting minutes for January 5th, 2026. Item B, approve the bills memo in the amount of 1,359,986.60. Item C has been moved to new business. Item D, approve the professional services proposal from Adam Marsh Consultants, Inc. for engineering services for the preparation of a project plan document for application to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energies, Eagle, DWSRF program in the not to exceed amount of $12,000. And item E, approve a grant agreement with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for redevelopment ready community technical assistance funds for the Centertown Visure Vision Plan update and authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute the necessary documents.

Can I get a motion? So moved. Second motion by Fritz, second by Lion. Comments or questions on any of these remaining items? If not, please call the role. Fritz, yes. Lion, yes. Dora, yes. Calio, yes. Manza, yes. All right. First item of new business. Consideration by city council of a resolution to approve a 5-year services agreement with Axon Enterprises in the budgeted amount of $26,49186. All right. Can I get a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by first. Second by Dora.

All right. Sarah, you asked for this to be moved. Would you please take it away? Yep. I think my only um comment was the wording of the actual agenda item and um I think that we either need to add annually after the 26,000 or put the total amount of the five-year contract. I think we need to put the total amount of the 5-year contract only because it's 5 years plus a few months of this year that are still not quite part of this. So I I would recommend that we do the 147,45926. is it's just the total contract amount. That's all I have.

Chief Chief, would you like would you like to talk about this? Hi, good evening. We're just trying to get the wording right. Yeah. No, absolutely. Um, you know, I think that's sometimes the confusion with these is you're not sure specifically should be in there, but um yeah, obviously we did our due diligence to try to make our services um cheaper, but at least meet our needs. um and we haven't been happy with our current uh provider for services. So, we're very thankful that we were able to get out of that contract and move into a much better product on top of adding services for around the same cost. So, um looking forward to moving ahead with this deal with Axon. Okay. Total amount.

Yeah. I think probably the best way to word is to total amount and so much annually is put both things in there. Mhm. I would think. Okay. I agree. So, so you're you're going to be more happy with the system than what you have now.

Well, we say that, right? Um but uh we've had nothing but problems since January of 24 um with our body cameras and incar camera system and um so we're really hoping with the uh improved technology and a lot of our systems with taser also are already with Axon. Um and so we're really hoping the onboarding with um evidence with the court and everything, it'll work a little bit better with our system. um plus actually get our interview room recording up and running um because we haven't had that through Motorola as well. So, we're pretty excited for the fact that we were able to get them down um about 300% off their first quote um when we first initially discussed this. So, um excited to do business with us as well. So,

and it sounds like other area municipalities are using them and you've Yeah. So, the Ottawa County um is now transitioning to Axon because they have incars and tasers as well. And that also has brought in the Ottawa County courts when we start to do um our um onbase with sending over videos. Um it sounds like Holland Police Department, uh Zealand and Grand Valley are also looking at transitioning the um Axon as well. So hopefully at the end of the day all Ottawa County be through an Axon enterprise. Great. So, okay. Very good. So, thank you.

So, let's have a motion to amend the agenda item to reflect the total amount and the annual amount. So, move a second. Second. You um motion by Kelly, second by Dora. Yep. To amend this agenda item. Can I get those amounts?

Maybe. So, the motion on the floor is to amend the contract amount to read $147,459.30 across the five years contract and annually. Are the numbers different? Oh, per year. No, it was 26. 26 whatever that is.

Sorry, I just left the page. It's only different for the first initial 15,000 for the first and then 20 26 49186 for the remaining five. So the total amounts more comprehensive. Yes. Yeah. But then you know it'll appear in different budget years as well. Mhm. So if we're doing all this, let's just spell it out. Okay. Yes. So to read that 147,000 amount for five years and 26 thou the 26,000 amount annually. That's what we want. Yeah. Okay. We understand that the first year will be prrated amount. All right. Can I get a Okay. Let's vote on that. Let's vote on that amendment. Calio, yes. Dora,

yes. Fritz, yes. Lion, yes. Manza, yes. Now, let's vote on the amended motion. Fritz, yes. Dora, yes. Calio, yes. Lion, yes. Manza, yes. Thank you. Now, it's clear to all. No question about what we voted on. All right. Next item, please.

New business B. Consideration by city council of a resolution to approve the principal shopping district to continue the program established by special assessment districts 597, 601, and 604. The results of which were submitted to the city council on October 19, 2015, November 2nd, 2020, and January 19, 2021. Administration recommends approval. Can I get a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by Fred, second by Calio. You want Ashley or Shawni to address this? Yes.

Hi, good evening. Um, this is just the I believe the third or fourth step, fourth step um in approving the city council or the resolution for um the renewal of the principal shopping district. Um this step authorizes the county to do the role for the parcels which we'll have at the next council meeting public hearing um for those parcels. So this is a pretty easy step but um seems to be things are moving fairly well for it. So any other questions? Okay. Questions? Anything to add Ashley? Nope. Just following the uh stepby-step process. Yep. Questions? No.

Let's call the roll. Fritz, yes. Calio, yes. Lion, yes. Dora, yes. Manza, yes. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Next item, please. New business C. Consideration by city council of a resolution to approve a two-year lease agreement renewal between the city of Grand Haven and Aban Marsh Consultants, Inc. with a term beginning January 21, 2026. Administration recommends approval. All right. Can I get a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by Fred, second by Dora, Ashley or Dana. It's me, Dana.

Uh good evening, council. Uh so tonight before you, we're asking for you to approve a 2-year lease extension with Marsh. Uh they've been tenant of ours uh in the space below the Department of Public Safety for four years now. Um, so we're looking to extend it for another two years with an option um by either party to extend it uh for another two years or upon agreement of both parties for another two years. Um, we I do want to point out that I did have a minor error, not in the lease, but in the memo. Um, the square footage is 2,640 ft. So, it's correct in the actual lease agreement. Um, I sometimes get numbers transposed, so I apologize about that. So, all the numbers are right, they're just not in the right order. um in the memo. Uh so I apologize about that, but um we are recognizing um an a necessary increase, a CPI increase in the lease agreement, which is consistent with our other license and lease agreements. Um so we've been very happy with the arrangement. It's been mutually beneficial and uh we're asking you to to extend that for another two years.

Questions, comments? Do we not expect to do any buildout of that building in the next two years? I just I we don't have a timeline yet and I'm just Right. We don't have an exact timeline. I mean, I know that staff um is working on that. Um we didn't see that that would interfere with the work um on public safety. Um and we do both have options for getting out of the lease if necessary and and they're aware of our plans and our intent to eventually use that space. Yeah, I think to the extent we would look to release the RFP, go through that process, award and get the appropriate approvals and then begin the construction process, I think that buys us a a fair amount of time where we're comfortable with the arrangement.

Okay. Yeah. I would think that two years would be reasonable time before you'd want to act on that space if you need. I assume at some point we're going to reclaim that space and make it part of public safety. That just seems realistic to me. Yeah. Yeah, it's just going to take some time to get there. Have to figure out what we're going to do with the financing because this money will roll in slowly from the millillage. Yeah, absolutely. And we hope to be back before you very quickly with a more formal plan to present publicly on the next step in that process.

Right. Yeah. I know we we passed those understanding our needs, but now with all the details worked out. So now now that's the point we're at. But the the lease is reasonable for for the for the current situation and they've been a good tenant. We've been glad to have them there. I agree. Any other comments? Call the role. Fritz? Yes. Dora? Yes. Lion? Yes. Calio? Yes. Manetsa? Yes. Next item, please.

New business D. Consideration by city council of a resolution to approve the 2026 2027 municipal joint early voting site agreement between Spring Lake Township, city of Grand Haven, Grand Haven Charter Township, Robinson Township, and the city of Frisburg and Ottawa County and authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute the necessary documents. And I get a motion. So moved. Second. Motion by Fred, second by Lion. Maria, would you like to tell us about this?

Yes. So, as you know, starting in 2024, uh, local jurisdictions are now required to provide 9 days of early voting be for all state and federal elections. For the 2024 2025 contract years, um, the city of Grand Haven was part of a countywide contract with Ottawa County. In January of 2025, Ottawa County decided that they were no that they would not be interested in doing that going forward. So, uh, myself and the other clerks in the Tri Cities Northwest area of the county decided to get together to create our own joint municipal agreement. The main goal is just to cost share and then also share the workload of early voting.

Okay, questions, comments? Looking at the numbers of 2,000 hours. I mean, I know it was countywide. Are we confident that with everybody in our municipalities working together that we can do this reasonably? And I mean, I know it's it's putting a lot of work on a few people's shoulders.

So, the part of the reason why there were so many hours is it was the first time it had ever been done in the state. And then also the county traditionally this is not their area of expertise and requirements when it comes to elections. Um polling location management worker recruitment location setup man all of that is handled by the locals. So we already have enough infrastructure training materials experience to be able to handle it better by ourselves. Um, so it would not be as labor intensive for us to handle that compared to the county when they had to start from scratch. The county also had a lot of brand new employees at the time who'd never worked an election. So it that's kind of compounding why they had so many overtime hours.

Okay. Well, I appreciate all the work that I know that went into this and the collaboration in our area that is doing this together to make sure that this is going to happen for us. Okay. Anything else? Call the roll. Fritz, yes. Lion, yes. Dora, yes. Calio, yes. Manza, yes. And that brings us to report by city council. And I think we'll go to Mr. Dora first.

Yeah. I would like to uh go first if I could. When we had our initial goals conversation, there was some talk about um possibly re-implementing the snow removal from city sidewalks. I know a lot of the fellow council members had nodded and agreed that that would be a thing to do. Um, and I would like to propose, if everyone is in agreement, um, that we resume removal of snow from the city sidewalks as soon as possible and, uh, request for the remainder of this fiscal year, uh, and request staff to prepare a budget adjustment and present to council at the next meeting for so, which would be February 2nd. Okay. And so, yeah, I don't think this requires a formal motion. I think it requires us to have a consensus that we want to see a proposal from staff as to what it would take to do that.

Yep. That'd be great. Doesn't hurt to see what what it looks like, right? I I agree with you, Mike, 100%. Um, I've been adamant for having sidewalks plowed anyways because we have an aging populace here and it's very difficult for a lot of them to get out there in the snow and plus it's such a hazard right now. If my wife is a good example, she went to the post office today and and she had to walk in the street to get there. So, I mean, if we can do what we did before, I I don't see no reason why. It's the taxpayers money that we're spending on it. So why not use use their money?

Yeah, I think that and I and I agree with not not plowing the sidewalks was never never a good idea. We did as a budget adjustment two years ago. We didn't fix it last year. We're in the middle of this fiscal year. So it would take a budgement. So we we should entertain that adjustment, see what it would take and then have a formal vote on it. So they can bring us back the information there. Again, I don't think we need to vote to ask for that information, but we will need to vote to adjust the budget. Make sense? Heard Senator T. Ashley, do you need anything else from us? Nope. We'll have something for you to consider at your next meeting.

Okay. And hopefully we can get people off the streets and on the sidewalks. That would be perfect. Okay. Anything else, Mike? No. I just Everybody dress warm. It's going to get cold. No. If you're going down for Winterfest, make sure you you wear layers, bundle up, enjoy enjoy it, and we'll see you there.

Yeah. I was just say anyone who uh missed their day of service for um in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday, I hope they found a unique way to give back on a very cold day or find a way to give back um as things thaw out in the future. Um and just to honest keep in keep in your thoughts those those that are unhoused in times um like this specifically in ways that we can give back and bless people. Um, and again, yes, Winterfest is this weekend. It's their 50th, so come down and celebrate. Bundle up. It's winter in Michigan. Let's have some fun and celebrate it. Get being over. That's what Kevin said. We're celebrating the end of winter. So, this is it. They get it gets one last harrah.

This is it. You got to order in for one more. Yes. This is it. Okay. I'll hold that. Thank you. Sure.

So, wow, a lot of snow. And it's not that we're not used to it, but I'd like to thank the DPW for working very hard and I'm sure a lot of hours right now um clearing us out enough so that we can still operate and uh in honor of um the observation of Dr. Martin Luther King yesterday. I know our nights are long right now and um I think it's a good reminder to you know even though things feel very dark probably figuratively and literally in a lot of people's lives right now um we can also remember uh one of his quotes which was only when it is dark enough can you see the stars so let's try to find things to celebrate and winter fest coming up would be a great one so thank Thank you.

Thank you very much. It was very good. Um, yeah, Winterfest. Dress warm. It's going to be really cold. Uh, definitely. And also remember, we do have some warming places. I think the community center is open for the Central Park, I should say, is open for a warming center during the day. And also our public libraries. And also, if you want to go into the post office and stand in there, you can stand in there. Also, they have a warming spot. If anybody out there has a chance, if you see someone that really needs to get warm somewhere, help direct them to a place that they can get inside and get some heat because it's to be I know there's some people in town here that they're homeless and they they live in different places and it's if you see them, try and encourage them to get to some place where they can get warm. Um, and always remember no matter how well we you have it yourself, somebody else is not that well. So, please go out and do your best to help someone cuz you're right. It is dark times sometimes right now. So, anyways, but it's going to get cold. It's going to get real cold. So, and I got to say thank you to DPW cuz I tell you what, salt don't work very good out there right now. It's just like glass. So, if you're out there driving, drive very, very safe. I don't want to see you at my shop. I want you to I'd rather see you at Meyers or someplace else. I don't need to have you come down to my shop with your vehicle. So, drive safe, take your time, and plan ahead for a long drive if you're going somewhere. Thank you, Mike. Yeah, I echo all that. The uh it's winter time. We most most of us were raised here. We understand it, but you have to be reminded every year. Sometimes we have to relearn how to drive every year. Well, we get there. drive carefully. Uh and again, as as was as was said very thoughtfully, there are people we live in our in our comfortable

homes, but there are those who who don't have those necessities, those comforts, and we should always be thinking of them, thinking of how we can be helpful and where we can be of benefit. So, all excellent thoughts. Thank you everyone. And at this point, I will turn it over to city manager for some project updates. And I will now turn it over to Dana who oversees our economic de development function to give some timely project updates.

Yes. Good evening again. Uh it has been a little bit since we've shared some updates with council formally and to the public. So um Ashley mentioned at the last meeting uh we would be sharing an update and I've got five or six projects here that I I want to share some updates on. Uh the first being uh the South Village project off of Robins Road. uh the former Dake project site. Um we are working with the development team on the preliminary site plan um approval followup. Uh so they've already been to the planning commission if you recall initially and had a um a site plan approval um and Brian is working with them on kind of checking off the different aspects of the conditions of that approval. Um so they're getting closer to coming back to the planning commission this spring. Um we're anticipating that. In the meantime too, they had an initial uh request to the EDCBR uh regarding a housing tiff. Uh that board did have some questions and and additional items to follow up on. So we are working through that list of questions before bringing that back to the EDCR for consideration of that incentive before you all see it. Um, so we're expecting that in February and it'll come before you after that point, um, should it get approved at the February meeting. Uh, regarding the Shinook Pier project, um, while we were hopeful that we would have a groundbreaking this spring uh, in April, um, because the soil sampling results have taken longer than we expected uh, from the labs and from Eagle, um, we're still waiting for some of those results. We have one more test before a formal report is issued at the first week of February. Um that has pushed back their timeline. So right now they're looking at after Coast Guard um to get started. So they told it gave us kind of a a

month time frame within August um with no specific groundbreaking date yet. Um so we have been in touch with the farmers market. Uh they do plan to operate in their existing location until such time that they need to move. um and they'll be coming back with a formal request for a different location. So staff had been working with them on an alternate for this season and so we've got some of that already in the works. Um but for now they're going to stay where they were and then start communicating where they're going to be to their customers as needed. Um, in addition, uh, the festival will be able to continue to have the carnival there for this season, uh, and mini golf as well, which we're coming up with a plan for for that because we had anticipated that, um, not being in operation this season. uh the Grand Landing Hotel. Um the representatives of that development did reach out to our staff and request an extension uh to their request for their um PD and that will be before you then again at the February 2nd meeting as that is a council request um that needs to occur. So you'll be considering that request uh for an extension um for a year. Uh the diesel plant uh the development team has encountered some challenges with the feasibility of developing the site as originally planned. Um but they are working through the different options. Um but they at this time haven't uh submitted a site plan application to the city and we really don't have a confirmed timeline um while they look into those different options. Uh, Grand Haven Jewelry. It's been some time since you've had an update on that building. Um, we have not had any recent updates from the developer. Um, so the staff is requesting a letter of intent from the property owner as well as addressing code enforcement issues uh with the building in the meantime. Uh,

then finally on my list, I have the downtown hotel at 233 Washington. Uh this week we are expecting the ATM building off of Columbus to be um demolished. Um so that is owned by the same property owner um with asbestous abatement taking a little longer than they anticipated over the next few months. So they're looking to demolish the other structures on Washington in March. So there is like a two-month delay um behind the original expected timeline. Um, and as we know with construction, you don't entirely know how that'll play out, but they're looking to be open uh for the summer season in 2027. So, there's the project updates.

All right. Thank you. Questions, comments? Lots of appreciate obviously lots going on. Um, and it looks like uh we've solved some problems by one being a little bit late. So, that'll work out, I think, for all the best. Yeah. In the meantime, while we wait for soil samples and things for Shanook Pier, I mean, we're still waiting for design and all that stuff to come to us. So, I'm hoping those plans are still going to be in the works. So, when August is coming, we can

they're looking at coming forward to for preliminary planning commission discussion yet in this first quarter. Um, so other aspects of the project are moving along behind the scenes. Um they're also working on finalizing letters of intent for their tenants. So there's different parts and pieces moving. We've been in discussions with uh the MEEDC regarding some of their programming and getting that in front of their leadership as well. So there's a lot of moving parts that are happening at the same time. We're not simply waiting for soil results only. Yeah, it's a bummer, but thanks. Yep. No problem. So when we uh agreed to the ground lease,

Yes. At that point in time, we said we we still need to execute a development agreement, and I assume that we'll be seeing that relatively soon. Yes. Um I we don't have an exact meeting date, but we can work on getting that for you so you know when to expect that with uh Copper Rock. That's another piece that has to fall into place. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Yep. Anything else? All right. Well, thank you for the update. That's Ashley didn't have anything else. Nope. That covers it.

That was it. Okay. Well, then that brings us to our second call to the audience. This time, members of the audience may address council on any item on whether on the agenda or not. You're limited to three minutes. Please state your name and address. If you want to call in, dial 616 9353203.

Good evening again. Jamaican 400 Lake. Um the uh diesel plant discussion reminded me I had uh submitted uh an email to the city a number of people about the hazard associated with those steps and during the summer I've seen people stepping on them and you know they're broken up people can fall and really uh you know get hurt their heads etc. So, I think somebody needs to correct that situation. Put a barricade, put tape. You know, for a city like Grand Haven to allow that kind of thing to go on and on and on is we shouldn't see that. Thank you. Thank you, Jim. Thanks, gentlemen. Anyone else? Well, if there is no further business, then we are adjourned.