Council - Regular Meeting

to do this.

Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Thank you, Scott. Welcome everybody to this regular city council meeting for Monday, February 2nd, 2026. Maria, would you please call the role? Fritz

here. Calio here. Lion here. Dora here. Manza here. Our invocation this evening is by Nathan Stum of the Great Haven Church of God. Would you please rise and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance?

Gracious heavenly father, we thank you for your presence with us tonight. Father God, we thank you for these leaders that you have brought together for such a time as this. We thank you Lord that you have given them your wisdom and that you have given them your guidance to lead them as they lead this grand city to take them further, Father God, as they take us further and as they do what is right and best for the people of the city of Grand Haven. Lord, we ask now that you will forgive us of our failures and our flaws and that Lord, you will lead us by your Holy Spirit to do what is in your will and way for this city. Help us, Lord, and lead us to do what is right. Help us, Lord, and lead us to always make the right decisions in accordance to your word and your will. We ask now, Father, that you would give each of these council men and women your power, your wisdom, your guidance. That Father God, every decision made here today will be one led of you. Bless this city. Bless this leadership. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. 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. Uh we have no appointments and reappointments. So it brings us to the approval of the consent and regular agendas. Can I get a motion on the agendas? So moved. Seconded. Okay. Motion by Fritz, second by Calio. Changes uh to the agendas. Yes.

If we could, I would like to move item 11F from consent agenda to item 14D of new business. That would be the budget budget amendments. Any others? Good. Can I get a motion to make that amendment? So moved. Second. Okay. Motion by Dora, second by Lions to amend the agenda. Why don't you please call the role on the amendment? Dora, yes. Lion, yes. Calio, yes. Fritz, yes. Manza,

yes. If there are no further changes to the agendas, can we vote on the main uh approval of the agenda of the agendas? Fritz, yes. Calio, yes. Lion, yes. Dora, yes. Manza, yes.

All right. Well, that brings us 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 has to provide their name and address be limited to three minutes of speaking time. Council will hear all comments for future consideration. Will not have a response at this time. Those not physically present who would like to call in may dial 616-9353203. We do have a public hearing this evening on the uh zoning amendment for the u the TI district to plan development. But that's a public hearing for that purpose. If you're here to speak to that, you can wait for that item. But otherwise, this is your chance to address council. Who would like to address council? No one. All right. Well, if no one is uh going to come forward, we're going to close the call to the audience. And this evening, we have three presentations. The first of them is a presentation of Black History Month proclamation. And John Simeon is going to introduce himself and read this read this proclamation to us.

Good evening. John Simeon with the human relations commission and I have a uh city of Grenhaven proclamation black history American African-American heritage month whereas it was a late great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who had a dream of equality and shared mutual acceptance for true freedom. And when this happens and when we allow freedom ring, we let it ring from every village, every hamlet, every state, and every city. And we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men, white men, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the Old Negro Spiritual. Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last. And so it is that we, the city of Grand, Michigan, does proudly acknowledge and proclaim that the month of February will herewith henceforth and forever be Black History African-American Heritage Month. And whereas Grand Haven vows to honor the many achievements and contributions made to our fair city by those citizens who are of African heritage in the area's civic duty, economic growth, and success along the contributions to grow and help diversify the overall culture of Grand Haven. And whereas black history in Grand Haven is not only reflected in national figures, but also in the lives of African-American residents who have lived, worked, raised families, served our schools, churches, businesses, military, and civic institutions, and whose perseverance and contributions are strengthened have strengthened the social, cultural, and economic vitality of our community across generations.

And whereas in the same manner that Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King proclaimed his great dream dream for this nation from our nation's capital, we the collective unifi unified body of Grand Haven do proclaim our continued support to the work of the and goal of the dream from our own city hall. And whereas as our growing city continues to diversify in its cultural makeup, it becomes imperative that the city of Grand Haven continues and improves its efforts to educate all members on the culture of our citizens of Africa African descent. We commit to the cultural education and support for our citizens of African descent. as we raise awareness and do the work necessary to route out all prejudice and discriminatory practices, no matter what form they may take. And whereas now comes the time that the city council of Grand Haven calls on his great citizensry citizenry to come together and hand in hand as Dr. King envisioned extending the hand of brotherhood and friendship, embracing with love and dignity the citizens in our city of African heritage as we commit to the dream of all people regardless of color or creed truly being free at last. And whereas in the celebrating of Black History, African-American Heritage Month, we are committed to the support and provision of advocacy for all citizens of African descent so that it may serve as an opportunity to strengthen the internal alliance of this city with all its citizens equally as we foster mutual acceptance for all. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city of Grand Haven does hereby proclaim the month of February is now and ends for it to be acknowledged as Black History African-American Heritage Month in support of all those of African heritage

who call this city of Green Haven home. Thank you, John. Thank you and and the Human Relations Commission for their hard work on this proclamation. And this will be on our consent agenda later. Next, we have a bird city a bird city designation presentation from Bruce Astrom of the Ottaban Society. Bruce, would you introduce yourself, please?

Yes, I'm Bruce Ostro. I'm um the board of directors of local Ottabon Club, the Washington Islands Ottabban Society, and we are working on getting uh Grand Haven and Fairiesburg and village of Spring Lake designated a bird city. So, be a tri city cities, bird city area. um as a requirement for that, we need a resolution um signed by each of those municipalities. And so I'm here to um I guess present this resolution and I hope that y'all will sign it at the conclusion of the consent agenda. Not quite sure exactly how it works, but um so I have this pro this resolution to read and I will uh do so. And uh this was uh actually language produced by the Bird City Network. So, I'm um just I fill it in the blanks with City of Grand Haven where necessary. Whereas birds are some of the most beautiful and easily observed wildlife that share our communities. And whereas many citizens recognize the value and value birds that are residents and those that pass through during their migration seasons. And whereas birds play an important ecological role in our community, controlling insect pests and contributing to pollination and seed dispersal. And whereas birds play an important play an important economic role in our community, attracting tourists and generating millions in recreational dollars statewide. And whereas migratory birds and their habitats are declining throughout the Americas, facing a growing number of threats on their migration routes and in both their summer and winter homes. And whereas public awareness and concern are crucial components of migratory bird conservation. And whereas since 1993, World Migratory Bird Day has become a primary vehicle for focusing public attention on the nearly 350 species of birds that travel between nesting habitats in our communities and throughout North America and their wintering grounds in South and Central

America, Mexico, and Caribbean, and the southern United States. And whereas through bird city network, hundreds of thousands of people will obser will observe world migratory bird day gathering in town squares, community centers, schools, parks, nature centers, and wildlife refues to learn about birds, take action to conserve them and simp and simply to have fun. And whereas cit citizens enthusiastic about birds informed about the threats they face and empowered to help address those threats can directly contribute to maintaining healthy bird populations. And whereas sound policies and practices enhancing natural ecosystems and reducing threats to birds also make healthier communities for people. And whereas bird city is an initiative to build relationships within local communities and guide action to protect and conserve birds. And whereas the city of Grand Haven finds that it is in the best interest of the community and its residents to show its support for the bird city initiative. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city of Grand Haven council as follows. The above recital are incorporated herein and made a part hereof. The city of Grand Haven by adoption of this resolution hereby shows its support of the bird city initiative. If any section paragraph clause or provision of this resolution shall be held invalid, said invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this resolution. This resolution will be in full force in effect upon its passage and approval in the manner provided by law. adopted by the city of the council of city of Grand Haven second day of February 2026.

All right. Thank you, Bruce. Thank you for bringing this forward. And this, as you noted, this is on our consent agenda. Next, we have a presentation by Ellen Peters, the director of the Low District Library.

Hello. Um, so I'm Ellen Peters, uh, executive director of the library, uh, LA district library, and with me is Nancy Collins, one of the, um, board of trustees who represents the city of Grand Haven. Burton Brooks is uh the other person who represents uh the city and he couldn't make it tonight, but he wanted to say that um he it's been his pleasure since 1972 to serve on the board and he loves the library. Um so I just uh you have the annual reports, you can just kind of peruse that. I'll just give you a few more highlights um uh to talk about. Uh we ran the millillage um a supplemental millillage in August of 24. Uh we started getting the funds in July. And so since then the library has been able to expand hours. We open an hour earlier every morning and we stay open till 8:00 p.m. each weekn night except for Friday. We added open hours to both of our weekend days. We added um both weekend and evening hours to our local history and genealogy department which is a beloved resource in the community. If you haven't used it, you should. It's a wonderful, wonderful resource. Um and we also began outreach in the community for the first time. So, we're now regularly going to 10 um assisted living centers, multiple preschools, and um participating with K through 12 school programs. Um we also recently acquired a tovertuffle pixie um out of Europe and were the first ones in North America to use it. Um it is a projector with software games that um project onto a table or onto a

floor and it's specifically made um for people with um dementia, Alzheimer's or adults with uh cognitive disabilities. And so um so far it's been really successful at engaging residents at the assisted living center. So we're thrilled about that. And um we're also talking to Gracious Grounds to start partnering with some programming with them. And um the games on there can also be used, kids can play them. So um that's really exciting. And um we're able to accomplish all of these goals um because the millillage allowed us to take um some part-time staff and make them full-time. And so that gave us that capacity. Um other things to note um in the annual report is that our digital download materials continue to rise as you know people are online so much um but our digital materials ebooks audio books and everything are free so um people are still reading books print materials um not as the same rate that they were it remains pretty steady um but even with that the number of people coming through our doors is increasing every year. Um, so last year we had over 165,000 visitors come to the library. Um, but aside from checking out the books, um, they're also using our public computers, our free Wi-Fi, printers, scanners, our fax faxing ability, our study rooms, and then they're attending a lot of our super amazing programs um that we offer daily. So, if you look at your annual report, you can see that we hosted 589 programs last year. Everything from story times to Sunday concerts to hiking in the Ottawa County Park trails to dance lessons, ballroom dancing. Um, and then today,

construction began on a new maker space and art studio in our lower level. And um that was made possible um that whole project through a really generous donation from the Wanderers Family Trust. Uh their parents were big library supporters. So um they came and talked to us and said, "How can we donate more and do something more impactful and and we started talking and this is what we ended up with." So we're really thrilled with that. And the community foundation kicked in some for furniture and equipment and and the whole project is covered. So, it's really amazing. And that's going to be open by June 1st for everybody, the whole community to come and use. And we'll have programming and and people can use also come in and use the equipment and stuff on their own. Um, in addition to all of that, we participate in local parades. We table at events here in town. We enjoy collaborating with a lot of businesses and organ organizations in the community. And we're also delighted to work really closely with the city in a number of ways with Ashley and Emily and we've worked with Bob. Um, you know, the staff here is amazing. So, we're really um thankful for that partnership. And then for the future, we're kind of right now we're kind of exploring the idea of maybe leasing some space further south um to have a branch library because the population down there is growing so much. Our space is getting tight and um we're thinking maybe to down near the schools down there. And so something that is kind of focused for the the students and their families and and residents who live further south. I don't know if anything will come of it, but um we just have ideas going all the time and we want to just keep growing and moving forward. So um that's kind of what I have for you tonight. If you have

any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Anybody have questions, comments? Yeah, more comment than anything. I want to come see that machine. You're absolutely welcome to. It's It's amazing. Like really interesting. What's that? It sounds really interesting having worked in long-term care and obviously with Gracious Grounds and Kenzies and everything else. Yes, it sounds Yeah, it it's really cool and just give me a call and we'll we'll arrange the whole thing. Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Anything else? No, thank you very much. All right. You're welcome. All you're doing,

thank you for having me. All right. Thank you, Ellen. And we all recognize that libraries are the cultural heart of any community and you do it very well. Thank you. And that brings us to our consent agenda. Marie, would you like to read that?

Item A, approve the regular council meeting minutes for January 20, 2026. Item B, approve the bill's memo in the amount of 1,86,11.14. Item C, approve Aan Marsh Consultants, Inc. to apply for a transportation alternatives program TAP grant for the Seventh Street Reconstruction Project. Item D, approve a resolution to file special assessment rule number 605 as certified by the city assessor with the city clerk for public inspection to set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026 to review said role and to hear any objections and direct that a notice of the public hearing be published in a newspaper of general circulation as well as mailing the notice to all property owners included on the assessment role. Item E, approve an election publishing services contract between the city of Grand Haven and Ottawa County with a term ending December 31st, 2028. Item F was moved to new business. Item G, approve a resolution designating the month of February's Black History Month in the city of Grand Haven. And item H, approve a resolution recognizing the city of Grand Haven as a bird city.

Can I get a motion? So moved and second. Motion by Dora, second by Fritz. Comments or questions on any of these items? If not, would you please call the role? Dora, yes. Fritz, yes. Lion, yes. Calio, yes. Manetsa, yes.

All right. So, that brings us to our public hearing for the evening. I'm opening a public hearing regarding the introductory resolution to approve the zoning change request from TI transitional industrial district to PD plan development district and associated preliminary development plan for a mixeduse development at 1500 ku women street parcel number 70-03-28-301-019. In opening the public hearing, I think I would ask um city planner Brian Urkart to introduce this item. Good evening, council. Brian Arkart, city planner. Uh what you have before you is a request uh to reszone 1500 Kyman uh from transitional industrial to plan development. So a little history behind this project. In September of 24, uh Mr. Dryer received site plan, special land use, and sensitive area approval uh from the planning commission for a mixeduse development on about 1.14 acre site which would be comprised about two buildings, a total of 12 units. Um at the time, one building was targeted for use as a contractor's establishment along with business and other residential uses. One business one building was targeted for use as a contractor's establishment. Um, in July of last year, 2025, the planning commission approved an amendment to the site plan, which they increased the size of four units in one of the buildings and changed the access drive. So, that was just a a procedure uh the planning commission is allowed to do uh when they kind of change the size of a building and access drives. Um, shortly after approval, they took site preparation took place, trees removed, um, some grading. There's a little small area wetland that was remained to be in the southeast corner of the site uh that was left undisturbed and then they did receive a building permit in September of last year. Shortly afterwards, Mr.

Dryer approached the city about reszoning the property to a PD plan development. The primary reason was because it was difficult for the possible owners to obtain a mo mortgage for their units. Um they expressed concern from the lending lenders have expressed concern about a residential loan when the zoning district includes industrial in its name. Do want to go and go back to why we have a transitional industrial. You know the intent of transitional industrial is to allow the transition from traditional industrial uses to commercial retail residential and some live work units. That's right out of our ordinance. Also, multiple family dwellings and mixed uses are also permitted in the TI district. So, procedurally, um they have to submit a uh application to reszone the um property and a preliminary development plan. Uh so, this request any property in the city, it can be qualified to become a plan development. Uh but there has to be some type of careful consideration when the city uh looks at that. So per our ordinance and per state uh mission zoning enabling act um is the preliminary development plan must demonstrate a public benefit to the users and to the community at large. Um in the case of this project of 1500 koi uh the development plan includes a wetland and a viewing platform in the southeast corner. Um there was some concern at least from staff perspective that the longevity of this how this be make known that this would be uh public. Um to address this concern a condition was placed in the motion for approval to ensure that the public area was specified in the master deed because this would become a condom a condominium unit. And so uh the planning commission held a public hearing last month. Uh

public comments that were in received in the uh um the meeting were all in favor. Um the planning commission uh of the members that were there a few of them did not feel that the resoning to a PD was warranted uh that the proposed public benefit was minimal. Other commissioners felt the plan development resoning approach would allow uses that comply with the master plan. And in the packet you can see uh in their submitted materials how that how this resoning would comply with the vision for that particular area on the future land use plan the master plan. They felt the additional residential commercial storage unit would provide a provide a benefit to the users of the development and the public with the wetland viewing platform. After discussion, again, a recommendation from the planning commission. It was a 4 to3 vote uh with the conditions listed in the staff report. Um we received one correspondence because we have you have to have a public hearing at the planning commission, a public hearing at city council. There was one correspondence from a neighboring property that was opposed to this development, feeling that residential uh uses and industrial um area would be hindering the industrial uses. But throughout the process, transitional industrial is just trying to achieve just that as a transition. I think that's the more of the key word in that zoning district versus industrial. And I get why there would be lenders and so um this project came forward. um it started, but this would be an opportunity to um utilize the plan development route at this time to allow for this developer or this development to move forward with a a public benefit and a benefit to the community for those residential storage and other mixed uses that are proposed.

All right. Thank you. Thank you, Brian. Would the applicant like to make a statement before we hear more from the public?

Good evening, council. Uh, my name is Todd Anths. I'm the attorney for the developer. I'm an attorney with Scolton Fant 100 North 3rd Street, Grand Haven. I'm also a city resident. This developer, I think it merits mentioning uh is also a developer on a related project, a completely unaffiliated legal project, but it was at 8:15 Hokes, which is which is just slightly uh north of the Kuiman development. right now. That too was a vacant lot that was not utilized at all, very underutilized. It was also polluted uh and uh had sat vacant for years. From that site, they have produced a development that currently has 3.7 million in taxable value and is generating about $160,000 in annual taxes uh for the city. So, uh, that's a huge win for, uh, the city, and they're attempting to do the same thing here from a an an empty lot. The lot was purchased from a neighboring property owner. It was wooded, uh, at the time. As Brian indicated, this is here from an approval by the planning commission to recommend a zoning change from transitional industrial to planned development. And I'm not going to go into a lot of depth tonight unless uh you ask uh for it uh in the way of questions or otherwise, but there were three council members at the planning commission uh meeting. So I think most of you are are pretty uh uh in tune with uh the request and the requirements. TI zoning in in the city has

kind of been a mixed bag. Uh it uh as Brian indicated is supposed to be a transitional uh district, but to the extent that any residential component is included in TI, there's really no chance of receiving any uh residential financing. uh and this development the the users are are calling for uh residential development. Their prior development was at a different economic time. Most of those uh units were sold for cash and we're in a starkly different economy right now and the end users are requesting that uh mortgage financing be available and without uh changing the zoning district that's going to be impossible. uh the mere reference of industrial in the zoning district uh is a dead stop with with every uh financing source. And the developer really learned of this when they did their prior development, but again that was a different economic time and the uh the market uh was was much different and the ca buyers were cash at that point in time. So they've found out through the development that that's not going to be feasible here. they have not sold any of of these units and they've had significant investment thus far uh in the site. So that's why uh they've they've come back to the planning commission to uh request the uh the zoning change which which was approved. the requirements for uh the change the the

the five requirements which I won't go into depth on uh have been found to be met by the planning commission but the the first factor uh about the the public benefit is important uh here not only is there a public benefit in the way of uh protecting some wetlands in making a uh a bird uh overlook. And now that we're a bird city, I think that you know that will make all of the Ottabon people very happy that they'll have yet another place to uh view birds. But the public benefit here, there's an emphasis on the enduser benefit as well, meaning the people who are going to benefit from the zoning has to be considered. and that hasn't been dealt with in depth at the planning commission. um they've focused kind of on the the benefit to the city here for the uh the the overlook and I just want to make clear uh for the record that the the endusers uh benefit needs to be considered too and this development is going nowhere fast unless they can change the zoning to a classification that will have mortgage financing uh looked at by uh for the for the purchase. Um, additionally, I would say that the change to uh zoning here uh to to PD is really much to do about nothing. It was anticipated in the city's master plan. It's explicitly referenced on pages 126 and 127 that within the transitional industrial zoning district that it's the

desire to move development through the use of PD and uh the planning commission is well aware of that that swayed the opinion of a lot of the commissioners that it was referenced in the master plan itself that this was a possibility. So, the developer is really just asking for the implementation of the the master plan here. And I think there's probably just some confusion in general about the the PD zoning district. Uh it's really a projectbased zoning classification. The hotel downtown was approved under a change to PD zoning. Grand Landing was was PD zoning. Uh the Robins Road Dake development is is PD zoning. The Reindeers senior living development uh is was was PD. And in a lot of other communities, uh instead of changing the zoning, they do an overlay district called a planned unit development. So for those involved in planning, it's it's almost synonymous that a PUD overlay uh when compared to the PD zoning district are are kind of the same thing. In the city of Grand Haven, you simply just change the underlying zoning. And I I would contend, and I don't know if that will ultimately happen, is the city has more control over the development through a PD than it does as it's approved now as a as a mixeduse development in TI. So, um, again, I don't think there's a big issue uh here. I think the planning commission was probably a little bit tired of seeing the developer coming back and asking for changes, but if the

development had sold out, so to speak, like his prior development had, then we probably wouldn't be having this discussion and uh it it's just not moving and they need some public benefit through the the change in uh zoning. So, uh, if you approve this, it'll go back to the planning commission for, uh, uh, some items and back through the planner again. And, uh, I think all the the the factors that are are necessary, uh, are will be complied with and and and found. So, uh, unless you have any questions, we would respectfully request the, uh, council to approve the zoning change from, uh, TI to PD. Thank you, Todd. All right, since this is a public hearing, we now invite the public to come forward with any comments on this uh on this resoning item.

Hi, my name is Jim Berdine. I'm the owner of Veron Manufacturing at 1417 Coyman Street. You know, several months ago when this was allowed to be mixed use, I had a hard time with residents living down there. Um, but I've came to realize that you got to pick your battles. Um, I don't want to be the one to get a in the way of progress uh for the city of Grand Haven, but at the same time um I do have to take into consideration the the effects that this type of stuff has on my business. And um Mike Wilson uh owns a SIMC at the end of the road. Um I have talked with Mike about this um even before he sold the property. Um, at this point he's kind of regretting doing it because it has impacted him already. Um, and not in a good way. Uh, probably about a month and a half ago, I thought a FedEx driver was going to have an aneurysm um, driving his truck down that road and we're only in the construction phase. Um there are large trucks that drive up and down that road that have to be able to turn around um get in and out of these businesses and this is definitely going to be a problem with that as well. So, um, about five times a year, I have to walk across the street to my neighbor who owns a door company or a construction, um, which just currently burned down, and I have to ask him to move his trucks and boats and trailers so that I can get trucks in and out of my business so that I can operate. Um, that's five times more than I really want to do that. And it's it is an industrial park. There are industrial businesses still operating on that road. Um, I don't think they're going anywhere

anytime soon. So, as far as the master plan is concerned, the it makes sense to me when the date corporation changes its plan development when it's on the outskirts of a transitional and you're going to put residential in that area and then you you feed it in. What we're talking about today is putting a a planned development dead in the middle of a transitional industrial which everything I've read is is in to some extent a conflict. Um it's incompatible land uses and it predominantly goes around um many factors. One of them in which is trucking. Now, I've noticed that um I can see that being a very big problem coming up if it gets changed to PD because according to what I'm reading, PD allows for single family homes, town homes, condominiums, and apartments. Now, I don't think that's Denny's intent. I think Denny wants to just sell his properties. But if you're allowing single family homes, town homes, condominiums, and apartments, there are a lot of cons to that in the middle of an industrial park. So, it's something to consider. Like I said, I don't want to get in the way of progress. If this is something that the city wants, then so be it. Give me the common courtesy if you're going to do this to put industrial no parking signs up and down the road so that I don't have to go out there because five times is going to turn into 20 times. Now, in the summertime, especially when you've got residents living down there and they're going to want to park on the street and these guys are like, "Well, it's just the road who nobody owns the road. I can park on the road." Well, I got a 53 ft trailer with a trucker who's obviously hot that can't get in and out of my building now. So, listen, I I

don't agree with this. And there's many reasons. If if you I like the idea of working the transitional from one end to the other but not right in the middle of it. It does affect the businesses that are currently there. Thank you. Thank you. Who else would like to address council? If anyone would like to address council during this public hearing, now is the time because when I close the public hearing, then it will be up to council to discuss this issue.

Let me just add in response to uh the comments from the prior gentleman uh there is no planned uh changes to the roadway uh at all. there is a turnaround uh circle that exists there now that's not being changed uh one one bit uh so I don't know of any issue that relates to the turn radius for trucks going uh down there and uh I'm also council for assemb uh uh property to to this developer and uh while I have not heard anything uh from that owner. I know of no complaints or objections to uh the development that is being uh proposed here.

Okay. Thank you, Todd. Yeah. If we have questions as we discussed, then we may may ask you to come back up.

Anyone else? All right. I'm going to close the public hearing. And at this point, Maria, would you read the next item? Consideration by city council of an introductory resolution to approve the zoning change request from TI transitional industrial district to PD planned development district and associated preliminary development plan for a mixeduse development at 1500 Kimman Street parcel number 70-3-28-301-019. Planning commission recommends approval. All right. Can I get a motion on this?

So moved. Second motion by Fred, second by Dora. All right. So, we've heard from the public and we've heard from the the item has been introduced by the planner. So, now it's up to us to discuss. Who would like to go first? Do you have history?

I was u one of the three people that attended the planning commission meeting when they had a pretty robust conversation uh over the subject several times. Um I did do some research into it as well. Um it was suggested it was supported by the master plan which I found that it was uh as well as the future land use also shows support for uh a PD in this area. Um, as for the, you know, public benefit, I guess that's determined by, you know, the gentleman who would love to watch birds would probably think that the public benefit is probably great. Um, someone else probably not so much, but it does have a public benefit and a portion of it does remain open for use uh as they wish. Uh there was also a benefit that um was brought up during the planning commission meeting of um mortgage rates that people purchasing this for these these properties for would have to pay. Um by it not having the word industrial in the uh in the term of it description and going to a plan development. I believe the number was somewhere in the neighborhood of about $140,000 people would save in their overall length of their mortgages. That seems to be a pretty considerable benefit to me as well. Um, as far as, you know, other other comments are concerned, you know, a plan development can be whatever anybody wants it to be. Um, it could be commercial, residential, it can be any number of things. That's why it's called a plan development. It doesn't just have to be what the developer is proposing in this particular case. It could be a large number of things uh of about any anything they wanted, which is why they called it a plan development. There basically are no rules that go along with a plan development. Um they're

decided by the planning commission as they look at at what is being proposed and what they decide to uh to build or not build. So, it's kind of a write your own rules. uh situation. So, it it could have ended up being anything. Um I'm familiar with Denny's stuff that he's done on Ver Hooks. Um I think those turned out fairly well. I I don't hear of anybody uh the city receiving too many complaints about anything around there. Um I'm probably going to support this. Um so I just I think it's a good good move for the people involved. for me. I guess I just um Thank you. And you have more background in this and and know this better than I do. Um the the 12 was it always going to be condos? Like 12 condos? Was that always the plan? It was So nothing has changed other than we're just asking to change from TI to PD. Nothing else has changed.

It was approved for mixed use. And if you're going to speak, please come to the microphone. Otherwise, people on radio can't hear you. Sorry. To answer your question, it was approved for a mixeduse development which included residential uh last year. So was it going to be like work live because there was like storage units included and in the language originally but

there is the availability uh under the zoning ordinance for live work as a use there. Um I think the uh initial thought was it may be uh commercial or contractors uh uh usage but that changed so much when the economy started to tilt down and more people said well we'd really like to have an opportunity to use it as a as a live work type of situation or at least have a residence there alone.

Okay. All right. And then I guess I mean I'm hoping then if we're I mean doing this I mean again as you say PD can be anything we want it to be that we're going to be respectful of our neighbors and we're going to figure out how to work together right if if our neighbors are worried about parking issues or traffic issues that we're going to do what we can to be respectful and work together with our neighbors and and have that relationship you know be friendly in the best ways we can figure out how to do that. Absolutely. Um change is can be difficult. Absolutely. Transition can be difficult especially when industrial is in the word. Yeah, absolutely. Done. Okay.

I have a couple questions actually. Um so questions of one uh probably Brian. Um okay. What I'm hearing is I wasn't at the meeting but I did watch it. Um and the TI to PD TI incor incorporates residential also. It also does. Yeah. So really it's a transition from kind of semantics at this point. Is that or is there a benefit to keeping it TI?

That is the question. Um so TI as um Todd had said Mr. Anths it's a mixed bag. I think the intent behind it again is to allow those uses and those industrial districts to continue but yet at the same um time realize that there may be an opportunity to redevelop that and then with this transitional industrial and the allowed uses and some of the more flexible component to it to come in with this particular case I don't think it went through a test as much as it is where you have a mixeduse component to it residential and through a lending process I I think it really hasn't gone through this. So, this is kind of like going through a stress test, if you will, an audit of the TI and revealing that there may be some changes that could be made. And if that change would be that everything that's allowed in the language of the TI district, we just changed the name, everything can still be accomplished without this barrier uh from an applicant and a buyer standpoint.

Okay. Um, and then is there any qualification or objective reasoning of saying benefit to the community? I mean, is there any kind of threshold to that? Um, and can, you know, taxable value, the fact that it was a polluted Yeah. lot, I mean, can those be incorporated as benefits to the or understood as benefits to the community?

Yeah. So, it's pretty broad. um state law, Michigan zoning enabling act mentions that you know where it's not feasible by traditional zoning um public benefit can be defined as you know preserving open space allowing for housing opportunities things of that nature in our ordinance it specifically doesn't say it but that it's kind of along those lines there's no numerical quantification of it I know to quantify what this would be but in general you could take a look at it as a planning commission or as a city council and say well we had a lot there that was split off and it was wooded which very nice. Is it better to kind of see this go through a plan development to have this opportunity to have a building in there occupied increase the tax space and preserve some of that open space, excuse me, woodland space and wetland space for a public benefit? That all fun falls under that. Whereas it could have been clearcut and then put some traditional industrial on it and you wouldn't have that benefit. Of course, you know, there's it's just allowing that flexibility and some kind of give and take and how you measure that really remains of the community and you can also look through, you know, other examples that have been done before versus where you just do a plan development is a way of a departure. It's not meant to be a departure like a variance. Mhm.

There has to be some type of benefit and that needs to be recognized and that's basically communicated from the applicant to the plan commission and then city council can confirm that based upon the foundation of our master plan and they I believe they prove that case in their application materials.

Okay. You know, I I really believe in the oversight of our planning commission and I believe in the oversight council. Um, I also understand that when things are procedurally so difficult to take steps forward that we're going to be faced with other um conditions and I'm concerned about that. I'm concerned about um developers that have already been put in a, you know, started a project and aren't supported in being able to make it financially viable are going to be asking our tax base to give back and I I'm concerned about that. I'm also concerned about the neighbors of the community and the neighbors of that area. So, um you know, along with Aaron, I I'm hopeful that there could be a resolution to um how that works together. But as I see it, I think mixed use in a lot of ways um is going to be really the next steps forward because we are so limited with property in this city. And um if we can be creative about our use, find ways to increase our tax base, um it sounds like a benefit to me. So I appreciate it.

Well, I am a neighbor. You are?

Yes. I'm a a property owner at 1320 Kyman and I I can attest to the traffic problems that we have there because we don't enforce our laws. We leave uh you can go down the streets and see trailers and boats sitting on any street anywhere you want. I mean, it's not just on Coyman Street, but it's all over town. We don't enforce it. Sometimes we do if we want to, but the thing of it is it happens all over town. I've seen trailers with extension cords just down on Taylor Street at one time. You know, they're staying in a trailer overnight and they've been there for a week or two. I it's it's a friendly community, you know, that's how I look at it as. But, um I look at the uh the project they had over in Ver Hooks over there and I see there's industry in there also. I see Marusa has what three units I think it is. Three. and they have three units and they do all the printing and stuff in there and is also residents there. I think Denny you have a place there if I remember correctly but uh it seems to be working out very well and it's this transitional when we first adopted it back then it was to transfer things you I mean go from residence to industry and that the wording is probably the wrong wording we used probably should have changed it to some other kind of wording by the transitional industrial which at the time it seemed made sense But I I think it's gonna be a good thing for it for the simple fact is if we do have residents down there right now, that's a dead end street down there. And you ought to see what comes down. I'm out there at sometimes 10, 11, 12:00 at night. I'm down there. You don't know what goes on down there. It's dark. It's down area. If you have residents down in there, you're going to see more traffic. You'll have more visibility. You'll have more uh protection pretty much from my

property down there. Um, I've had the next door neighbor, which is no longer there, but before that, they had breaking and enterings down there all the time. Storm locks, they've had damage done. Um, it's I I'm I'm well I'm welcoming it myself personally for my neighborhood. I think it'd be a great addition for us getting that and also a benefit for the whole town is what it's going to be in a long time. Okay. If you think I shouldn't vote, I mean, I'm I'm a neighbor, but if it is, it's a long ways down. It's at the end of the street. I'm at the other end. So, unless you're unless you're a participant in the I'm not a participant.

No, there's no conflict of interest. I'm not a participant. No. Okay.

But I have great neighbors. I tell you what, uh, we got Kevin Bacon right across the street from us. He's got the industry on the corner, you know, and then also I got the roofing company, you know, but having more traffic and people living there, it makes it feel more safer. I would just I would say even for all the businesses and everybody else is down the store and locks, that's not the most prettiest site to see if you want to see some store and locks. But it's it's a business. us Americans got a lot of stuff we got to store it we never want to see again it's true but anyways I I'm probably in favor for this for sure I I think it's a good transition for us I just don't think we should probably look at future thing about transitional industrial we might want to see if we can change that to a different naming that helps everybody out

all right well I guess I was on the I was involved in the writing of the zoning ordinance in 2007. I was the chairman of the planning commission at the time and I was there when we adopted transitional industrial. It feels a little bit like no good deed goes unpunished. We we tried to create a district where industry and could continue to exist in in a district while other things were happening around it and while other land uses moved in as older industry moved out and especially in some of the smaller districts where you have small lots and smaller industries and mom and pop businesses that tend to move away or they go when the original proprietor goes. All those things were intended to be um the transitional industrial a transition which allows industry to continue while other things change and it's a natural evolution of the city. And so sorry if we got the name wrong but it just boggles my mind that that matters. But to to address partly to address the concern of the neighbor that um if there's a traffic issue, then DPS should probably take a look at whether we should have no park, no parking signs or more enforcement or whatever it takes to make that shared street work for everyone. I think that's an important point. Um as far as the PD, as Mr. Granthis commented uh plan development in in our zoning ordinance and this was very intentional on our part when we adopted it is its own district. It is not an overlay. It's not part of another district there. The underlying zoning is erased. And so it becomes its own district with its own defined set of uses. And can you have a lot of different uses? You can, but you can't have anything that you didn't define when you define the PD. And so the uses that were part of this PD can't be expanded. A whole bunch of other things. You have far more freedom in the general zoning district because there's a long

list of uses allowed in this zoning district. Most of them are not available at the PD. most the only thing available in the PD are the ones that were approved by the planning commission when they approved the preliminary development plan. So this is something that actually is very restrictive of the use of the land and while it makes it easier to have a particular use uh which was already implied in the overall in the original district you can't expand it to other things. So in that in that sense I think is more restrictive and more stable and and it does give the city a greater degree of control. If there are other changes that need to happen to that land it goes through an arduous process of revising the PD and basically the same process that took to create the PD in the first place. PDS uh they're they're valuable in many ways to the city. to give us a level of flexibility, an option that weren't envisioned in the original zoning. I think it's important to have them. They shouldn't be everywhere. You should have zoning which is sufficiently competent to guide the uh building of the city except for those instances where there's a good reason not to. That's where the PD steps in. I think this is a case where it makes sense. Uh if it could have been done under under general zoning, fine. Uh but it does create its own little district, its own little little district with strict rules and um I think that actually will serve everyone rather well because it gives you a very controlled quantity. If it works for the financing of the properties, great. It boggles my mind that this is an issue, but I'm not a lender. I'm an engineer. So I think like that. Um, I think that I think that going through this process, making the PD to solve this problem was a good application of it. And like I said, I think it'll end up in a good result. And I think that um the truth is

that these industrial areas, the reason they were transitional industrial is because they are evolving and they're slowly changing into other things other than industrial. And we don't want to we don't want the industrial to necessarily go away. are trying to accommodate all these things at once. That was the intent and this is now this appears to be the best mechanism to make this one work. So pulls it off TI, makes it into its own little district, but it solves that problem. And I think I think it still respects the intent of the district and the intent of the master plan. That's really what zoning is about. Zoning is based upon a plan. Are we advancing that plan? I think we are. and and I think in the long stretch of history of the city, the evolution of the uses that this is the right direction to go. So that's kind of where I feel about this. I was at the planning commission meeting. I listened to the arguments there. I was familiar with some of this already. And so I think that this is the right thing for us to do to approve this. My thoughts. Anyone else? I is the sole feedback that you guys have been getting from the people trying to get loans is that it being called transitional industrial district like a like a no-go like because industrial is in the name they've been pushed to a commercial loan.

That is correct. uh they the developer has uh seen this numerous times with numerous lenders and they will not even consider any type of residential financing where the mortgage is sold on the secondary market to Fanny May or or Freddy Mack and every time they've come back they have said that it's because of the industrial nature in the zoning in the than the naming of what we're calling

it's more than the name because they have a the lenders I never really get access to the underwriters at these financial institutions. But what I can glean from the uh loan officers and the bankers that I've talked to is that they they consider everything including what's in the master deed and everything else, but they cannot get by the fact that the development could have an industrial uh component or use within the development. Okay. So, it's not just the name because then, you know, we could rename it something other than that. Just, you know, scratch industrial district and look at I I don't

I don't know uh the answer to that. I I know that a number of uh feedback uh points that I received were that the name itself was troublesome. And when I would press them, they would say, "Well, it's it's in the name. It's industrial." I'm like, well, the master deed calls for a mixeduse development. I think you should look at that. Uh, and we it wasn't received very well. And and by the way, the developers not poking at TI at all. I mean, I think TI is a a great district. Uh, and our industrial base definitely needs to stay strong in this town because it supports the the schools and everything else. uh this is not a referendum on TI. This is just a procedural issue that can be remedied through the exact uh language in the master plan when who who whoever did that had a lot of foresight because they said that you're going to need to change TI through the use of of PD. So I don't know if that was you, Mr. Mayor, but

I'll take credit, but no, it wasn't. Somebody was paying attention. Somebody was a lot smarter than me. But just thinking in the future, right, as we think about this probably happening again in the future and instead of the name being a hurdle, is it the right name for the district, right? Like just does does TI have to be called TI? Is it just, you know, if like the name is the hurdle? Just internal thoughts. Completely speaking out loud.

I I I agree with you. I think the next planning process should examine the name and just see if it can be transitional something else. Uh so I think it would it would help. I mean even in a PD there's the availability for industrial uses not not in this one but um it it it's a it's a hard stop for these lenders and it's just uh we're in a tight market. Right. Thank you. Thank you. Well, there there again, the PD is defined uses and they're narrow.

Yeah, I'm just thinking just the title of it, right? That could be everything it is underneath just not be called that. I made that comment at the planning commission meeting as well, and I would like to see the planning commission think about that, but it's really throw that into AI and come up with something. Yeah. guidance on the zoning ordinance in general the province of the planning commission. So kind of kind of reflect that. Are you saying AI because the well I mean they can come up with something TI AI I mean they can come up with something fun. Okay. Any other questions or comments? Are we ready to vote on this? Oh did we even take a motion? We did.

Okay. Did I write it down? I did. Okay. There's a motion by Fritz. Second by Dora. All right. Are we ready to vote? I'm ready. Please call the role. Fritz? Yes. Dora? Yes. Calio? Yes. Lion? Yes. Manets? Yes. Now, this is subject to a second reading because it's an or amendment to an ordinance. So, we'll see it again at a future meeting, probably our next one. All right. That brings us to our new business for the evening. Marie, would you please Marie? Would you please read that?

Item A, consideration by city council of a resolution to approve a one-year proposal for funding with the Grand Haven Spring Lake Fairiesburg Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $5,000 for programs supporting business growth and development. Administration recommends approval. Can I get a motion? So move second. Motion by Dora, second by Lion. Ashley, would you like to explain this?

Yeah, happy to. So, in a um ongoing and continuous effort to improve and maintain our strong partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, we're jointly proposing the agreement that's before you this evening um to the tune of $5,000 to support chamberled efforts. And those include um the housing forum, boomerang, the career fair, um the economic forecasts, and the coming industry trends report that'll be uh coming this fall. Um so these are functions of the chamber that we've previously supported and are looking to formalize that support within the agreement that's before you this evening. Uh if you have any additional questions, I know Mark Allen, president of the chamber, is here as well.

Okay. Any questions for Mr. Allen? Uh the only question I have is uh are the other communities uh participating in this also? That is correct. I know some have adopted a variation of this agreement. Mark may be able to better address that.

Happy to. Uh Mark Allen, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Grand Haven Spring Lake Ferrisburg at one South Harbor Drive. Um yes, um the other four municipalities have um all signed on in support and contribution to this. Some have taken this approach that's uh in front of you. Some have taken more of a general approach um as an economic development um investment. And it's not just for the programs as Ashley mentioned. It also um supports all the work that we're doing in talent workforce development connecting the businesses with um the schools and the tech centers. And as we further that um those efforts and going down those paths and getting students and employers connected and also um teachers and administrators um with the business community, that's something that we've heard loud and clear from the business community. Um and so we're increasing our efforts to accomplish all of those things.

Thank you. Any other questions for Mr. Allen? Outside of us doing this, is there any other way for us to invest 5,000 in the chamber that would be a better use of the funds? Is this I mean, is this the best way for us to invest in the chamber? I

mean, at the end of the day, um any investment supports the work that we're doing, right? Um we're just taking this and earmarking it in support um of these events and programs, specifically our forum events. Um the industry trends report in November. That'll be a new event and that is um in partnership with Lakeshore Advantage. Um and we'll continue our work on those forum series that have been very popular and convening those conversations around transportation, housing, education, child care, and we're bringing back healthcare as um it was a popular request from the membership in the the business community.

I have been making as many of the forums as possible and um they have been very educational. I would recommend that everybody in the city uh attend those if at all possible through their businesses, organizations. Um they it really is good to know what's going on in our community and where the holes are and how we can work on filling them together. Um they really have been eye opening, especially for somebody who doesn't have children and isn't worried about child care, but I mean the the job market, health care, child care, all of that really does work together. Um and when one falls they kind of all fall and when one rises they all rise. So, right,

um they it really has been educational and really really good information. And I would just add to it supports um our partnership as Ashley mentioned that we continue to work on growing and working together and doing business engagement and retention meetings with the business community. And we just did one with Dana and um Rob from the BLP last week with a business that's uh embarking on an expansion project. So, we want to make sure that we're continuing those efforts and and showing partnership together on those.

I would just like to second Aaron's comment about the value of the forums. Um, I thought they were very educational, the two I've been able to attend and um, yeah, made me very happy that we're no longer in need of child care because that is a very difficult thing. Yes, we're in a child care desert if you didn't know. Yeah. And so, uh, it's it's valuable to see, you know, to Erin's point, um, areas of this city that we might not, uh, identify with immediately, but, to hear multiple voices, um, and their their position on that, I think is really valuable. So, thank you for that. Thank you, Kevin.

Yeah, thank you as well for everything that you do. Um, just for the benefit of the public, um, this isn't $5,000 that we're just taking and donating it to the chamber, although it would be probably a valuable thing to do. Uh, a lot of these events are events that, um, council members, staff already attend um that we're currently paying for people to attend. Uh along with this investment comes uh a fair number of complimentary admissions to those events that the city no longer will have to pay for. So we are we are saving some money uh in in doing this as well. So it kind of benefits both of us. So appreciate that. Thank you.

Absolutely. We're happy to have your participation too. Okay. And I guess I would comment that um I've also attended various forums over the years and I intend to see listen to Mr. Paul Eley tomorrow morning. It's another one that's outstanding that the chamber hosts appreciate those things. I think that the uh

I think every community benefits when there's a good partnership between the chamber of commerce and the local government or the all the local governments. And so that needs to be a healthy relationship. And I believe we're members of the chamber anyway and have been forever. And so and I don't know what those dues are or anything. This would be supplementary to that. that this would support some specific things and with some specific trade-offs and such, but I think it's a good investment and it's I think it shows our faith in what you're doing and your appreciation of our participation as well. So, it's it's a mutual thing. So, I don't see any reason to have any issue with the amount or what it's being used for. I think those are all good things.

Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Ready to vote. Please call the roll. Dora, yes. Lion, yes. Calio, yes. Fritz, yes. Manza, yes. Next item, please. Item B, consideration by city council of a 12-month extension to the preliminary plan development approval of the Grand Landing Plan development for a hotel located east of Miller Drive and north of Adams Avenue pursuant to section 40-421.07 of the zoning ordinances. Planning Commission recommends approval and administration recommends approval. Can I get a motion? So moved.

Second. Motion by second by Calio. Uh Ashley or Brian, would you like either of you like to speak to this?

Happy to plan development again. Um so Grand Landing, as you know, has been an ongoing uh project for a long time. Um with this parcel, uh the area north of uh Adams, east of Miller, was proposed to be a hotel. January of last year, city council approved the preliminary development plan uh for this. Per the ordinance, it's its approval is valid for one year until the submittal until they have to submit a final development plan. So since that time, staff has been in commun continuous communication uh with Blake McCall of Elite Hospital Hospitality on when that final development plan would be submitted. Um, it wasn't, but they did submit a request to extend uh development uh for about extension, excuse me, for 12 for 12 months on the preliminary development plan. Um, Blake really wishes he could be here today, but he did submit in writing uh some of the reasons why he wasn't they're not able to move forward at this time and they would need additional time. Number one is they feel that con construction financing um hospitality construction financing has been quite challenging uh in today's environment. He also states that it takes a significant amount of time to secure that reasonable debt. Um they've been working him and his team has been working very hard to find a le lender that offers terms that we are comfortable with that they are comfortable with and they are making progress and hope to have something come in the coming months after speaking with some of the local lenders that they do business with and two the fact that construction costs have gone are rising. Uh the rough budgets come slightly higher than originally than what they expected. Um they're doing some value engineering to get the cost back down to expectations and that in itself according to Blake and his team that will require sufficient timing for us to be able to make that happen. Uh and

that's a normal uh fairly normal on many construction projects. Takes some time to shave the cost down to complete a competitive bid process and value engineering. So, they're asking again to extend this um preliminary development approval uh for 12 months. Council does not have to agree with that. I put out a couple options that are there where you could request a condition of these items uh of approval, a shorter period of time or deny the request. Um again, you know, city has been very much in contact hoping that they would come forward with a plan and there's just citing just because of the economic concerns that are out there and some of the construction costs and difficulty lending that they need a little bit more time uh to submit uh the final development plan. And again, he sends his regrets for not being able to be in attendance today.

All right. Well, thank you. Yep. So, who would like to begin on this? I'm I have no issue with uh with a 12-month extension at this time. It's not like there's bunch of people knocking on the door to do something else there. I'm willing to go another 12 months. Also, I I don't have any concerns. Um, unless there was a backlog of people that are waiting to develop that piece of property into something amazing. I imagine if there were, I'd have heard about it. We would have known if we would have known about it by now.

I mean, I guess for me, I mean, I I had said I'd rather have a six-month, but um I'd like some kind of check-in. I mean, I'd like to know three months from now that something I'd like more check-in, I guess, more I'd like him to have to check in with us more regularly that something is actually moving forward.

And I would agree with that. I I think maybe a quarterly progress report of some sort just so we know that something's going on. I mean, this is a private project on private property and um if we said no and it didn't it just disappeared, they would be basically starting over trying to find something to go there. So, I don't see any point in killing it, but I would like to know that it's they're truly are pursuing it and all the things he says are obstacles that they're working to overcome. So I would think that if you could arrange with them to get together on a regular basis and get you some good solid information as what's going on, we would appreciate that.

So if I just may ask like quarterly updates, have it written into to staff what's going on and then have it submitted to council for the record. Yeah, you can relay that to us. Yeah. Then we know then we know we know kind of what's going on because like I say, this is something that's a lot of effort has gone into getting to this point. They spent a lot of money on site site plan design and re redefining property boundaries and I don't know how much they've gotten into the environmental part of it yet but I know they're aware of it. So it's not like they've done nothing but but produce a drawing. They've done a lot of work and you know it's a shame to throw that away as well. Correct. But there's a lot of the other businesses in that area are also eager for them to

correct to build. So, I mean, I would I would I would think I don't know if we need to make that part of the motion or if you can just relay that to them. That just keep us That's our expectation. All right. I relay that information. Thanks, Brian. Thank you. Ready to vote. Please call the role. Fritz, yes. Calio, yes. Lion, yes. Dora, yes. Man,

yes. Next item, please. Consideration by city council of a resolution to approve a proposal from Aban Marsh Consultants, Inc. in the amount of 998,000 for engineering services for seventh for the seventh street reconstruction project. Administration recommends approval. All right. Can I get a motion on this? So moved. Second. Motion by Fritz, second by Lion, um Ashley, or is it Mike that's going to explain this to us? Or is it Dana? any number of us. Okay, somebody somebody can take the lead here.

I'll just very briefly introduce it. I mean, uh, we've discussed this project in a number of fronts, mostly in the context of, um, different grant opportunities we've pursued to try to draw down the project total. Um, but before you tonight, we're excited to take a big step forward um, with making the Seventh Street reconstruction and streetscape project a reality. Um, as a reminder to the public, that's um, from the stretch from Clinton to Beacon. Uh tonight's agreement as read in the resolution is $998,000. Um just again benchmarking that's approximately 13.5% of the project total. So we felt that was appropriate and in line um coming from our engineer of record um again with uh considering some efficiencies and how we might go out to bid with this with the Columbus Street project uh coming forward in the fall of 2027. We're confident in the pricing um and the project scope and we're excited as I said to move forward and we have representation here from Aan Marsh as well as our public works director if you have any technical questions.

All right. Thank you. Comments and questions from council. No a million dollars just seems like so much money but it seems average for the cost of the project in doing my research. That's not uncommon. It's the largest project we've had in quite some time. Yes. It's a little shocking to see. It's a little shocking. A little sticker shock. Just a little bit. So the Seventh Street So Seventh Street does this like right by what was Lemon Creek. Right. So is this part happening or is it the part that goes straight in front of Momentum Center? The

Right. I guess I'm I'll defer to Mike on this. Boulevard on. Are you talking to where the Coast Guard boat is right there? Yes. Um that has some of that stretch in there. Yeah. And then uh 31 in a grand scheme. There's been some conceptual designs in 28 that uh MD dot's going to be doing some improvements in that area also. Okay. So, and like Ashley said, me, Emily, and Dana, and Leah have been really working on crunching the numbers to make sure this looks good. So, you have a very good plan in front of you right now from Aban Marsh. Great. Thanks for all the hard work.

Yes, thank you for all the work on this. Um, so we just had a seventh street um and center town uh main street

build discussion. Um, and I just want to make sure that we're coordinating those because I know that we're in this proposal there's a design consideration and feedback from the the city and anything that we've gathered in in that discussion would be valuable in this also I would think uh between Shondi Brian and myself were making sure that there's coordination with that effort as well. so they're aware of the Seventh Street project as a whole and we've provided Adam Marshia's contact information as well so that they can speak to them directly about the work that they're doing um to ensure that there's um cohesion between those plans and if there's any opportunities to enhance the work that they're doing. Um we'll certainly look at that as well through the feedback we're getting with the vision plan as well.

Great. because there is definitely an an aesthetic component to even though this is right the nuts and bolts of it, we want to make sure there's not any kind of conflicting plan. So,

great. Thank you. I would have to agree with that as long as it um remains flexible enough that any changes that do come out of the group meetings and sessions and stuff with the folks, business owners and and people along Seventh Street uh can be taken into consideration. I I would appreciate that as well. And I did kind of reach out to Ashley earlier this week as it it seemed high to me. I mean, you know, this is the first one we've seen on council. It's like, wow, million bucks. And she's assured me that uh, you know, staff had considered it and looked it over very much and 13 and a half% of the averages is about what we normally see and that's a good price. So, I'm fine with that.

Thank you. Anything, Mike? Have nothing to add. Okay. Well, and I've seen I've seen quite a few projects come through. I'm not shocked. No, not many things are shocking. As long as I've been here, I mean, when we did Sheldon, it was it's about 13% also. So, it all comes up to about the same. Well, the infrastructure component of this is pretty intense. Yes, it is. This one is. Yes. Yeah. So, I mean, there's a lot that a lot below the ground, a lot that you don't see. Just we did on Sheldon, too, when we first started out back in 2003. Yeah.

And uh it was deep dig and intense and whole roadway and everything. That's why I was so protective of when they were doing the drillings for the uh cable companies, you know, and how they ruined our street for us. I was pretty upset about that because that's a lot of taxpayer money that would went into that and it was such a nice group was and unfortunately under state law we have to provide a lot of access to the cable companies but to uh to address Sarah's point I think Mike's as well the center town vision plan

timed as it is will inform some of the design work being done we had preliminary plans drawn up six years ago for uh seventh street, but now we're taking a new look at uses and aesthetics at some of the streetscaping, street furniture, those sorts of things, and what the property owners and the community at large would like to see there to enhance that. So, all these things can come together and feed into this project. So, I think that'll be a good synergy. I think that'll be something that's u we're glad we'll be glad we did it this way. Um yeah, my only question all along was uh A Marsh is our engineer of record. We have a contract with him to do this sort of work. I didn't know if there's some threshold at which you had to go out for bid, but I think under the arrangement we have in Marsh which we re we review periodically and compare them to other engineering companies but in the middle of this process is not probably not the time to do that. So we have an arrangement with ABN Marsh to do these projects and at some point that'll come up again for renewal and then if there's any concern about competitiveness we can address it then in the meantime nothing seems out of line especially with the complexity of this project. So those are my two cents on it. Any other questions? Call the role.

Fritz yes. Lion, yes. Calio, yes. Dora, yes. Manettza. Yes.

Okay. Last item of new business. Consideration by city council to approve the fisc year 2526 budget amendments for the general 101 major streets 202 local streets 203 special revenue 243 245 274 276 public improvement 401 harbor island remediation 410 infrastructure millillage 496 Nora 508 sewer authority 509 Now 510, airport 581, city sewer 590, city water 591, marina 594, boat launch 597, and motorpool 661 funds.

All right. Can I get a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by press, second by Dora. So I asked that this be moved so that we could get have an opportunity to ask a few questions and get a little good explanation. It's a lengthy budget adjustment enrolled into this as our concerns about the sidewalk plowing. And so Emily, would you like to give us a quick recap here?

Yes, I would. Um Emily Green, finance director. So bringing budget amendments forward tonight um as we head into the budget season. This is important just so that we have the current costs and budgets for this year to go into next year. Um to clarify, I just want to make sure you're aware that no net change to the general fund. Um so the revenue and expenses um and you'll notice on the backup documentation revenues and expenses on a lot of these um even out. So we were able to do no net change on all of the general fund and then all of the other funds except um the brownfield redevelopment fund. um it has an increase in expenses due to the MEEDC bar development fund contribution which is an annual contribution and then the the incentive policy revenue expenses um for projects are not that are not completed. So, you'll notice that the revenue on the on that fund, the expenses are over the revenue because of those two things. Um, with the expenses for the projects that are not yet completed that those will be reimbursed eventually, but the projects are in the works right now. So, we've been build for the third-party financial reviews, but we haven't been able to be reimbured for those yet. Um the 2015 bond fund, there was a transfer included for the major streets, Fulton Street project portion of that. The airport fund has additional expense for MDOT required tree trimming. And then to clarify for the sidewalk plowing, um we are moving $35,000 from the DPW miscellaneous that was in the public improvement fund um to local streets in the motorpool funds for clearing the snow from the sidewalks.

Other than that, there are no net changes. So the DPW miscellaneous fund line, did that have a specific thing was set aside for or was that for things like this? For things like this. Okay. So we anticipated a little bit of extra over the course of the year. Correct. And now it won't be available for anything else because we're going to spend it on sidewalks. Correct. Okay. Understood. Y. All right. I think there were some other questions. Um, what is the $12,000 under city council for special events requests? Yep. So, um, those, hold on just a second. Let me grab my

Those are often from our events like the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve where we have, for example, the fireworks display. Um, so there are certain levels of transactions and reimbursements that will take place for a good portion of that, but that's really the heft of it other than parades or those miscellaneous council pertinent items. And again, that $12,000 came from somewhere else in the general fund to balance that out. And then can you explain department 780, the Coastg Guard Festival, what those funds are, like what that is? So those for the Coastg Guard festival, those are all of the expenses that are the kind of the city has related to the Coast Guard to the city for the festival.

Correct. Correct. the foot. Anything else? You're studying pretty hard there. It's a lot. There's a lot here.

I'm just trying to find everything. I don't know. I think I'm probably okay. It is a lot. Well, it's important to keep these things current and that's the that's the point. But we did have some special things we took an interest in this time around. Mike, did you have any questions?

Uh, no. It is a lot of changes. It's lots of things that need to be evened out as Emily has explained. Um, I appreciate all of the time and effort that went into accomplishing that at no net change to the general fund balance. So, I appreciate that greatly and all the time and effort that went in by, you know, staff and all the department heads to make that uh to make that happen. So, thank you. Any questions, comments?

I appreciate um all of your work on this also and all of staff's work on it. And I know that the accuracy of this directly impacts um the budget that we create for next year and and that that's incredibly important obviously to be as accurate as possible. Um I recognize too that when we take money from one account and put it to another, we are choosing to limit um another account. But I believe strongly in the benefit of um the plowing of sidewalks and the movement of the city. And I also believe it really enhances our um snow melt which is a costly endeavor for the city and I think it it adds benefit to this. But I also want to thank DPW for the added um the added work that this will will cause and I appreciate all of your support and in general just all of the work lately. The snow is just doesn't stop and I very much appreciate um all the work that they're putting into it. So I know that this is an additional task that you're incurring and um so I think that it will be beneficial and I think um that it's important but I recognize also the um sacrifice of it. So thank you

Emily. I want to say thank you for all the hard work you do. I mean your whole staff and everybody I've seen through the years all the things you've done and how you have to change things. I appreciate all the hard work and everybody that's was involved in this. And as everybody else has echoed, we think as a group here, we think the snow the sidewalk plowing is a very detrimental thing for us. I've been trying for years to get it back on there since it was eliminated two years ago. I still think it was a good thing for us to have, but as budget restraints comes, you know, you do have to make decisions. And I did vote to have it cut back then because it was a budget time we had to do it. But I'm glad you could find some extra cash for us to do it in. And I think our citizens would be more appreciative. I mean, I I do my neighborhood. I I plow I not plow, I snowb blow quite a bit of it. I know Mr. Door does the same thing. Bob does the same thing. And I seen over by your place, it's all plowed up and everything else. So

tried. Yeah. Everybody tries so hard. So you know what? It's just a sidewalk so people can get converse and walk safely is what it's all about. So I appreciate it and I like I said I think it's it's a well done thing. So thank you so very much for all your hard work and bringing us all these adjustments. I know at the end of the year when they do the audit when I look it over it drives them guys nuts after a while some of the times we do it we have to do that in order to make sure we keep things in line for them. Thank you so very much.

All right. Yeah. And I just comment that a couple things. One is adoption of budgets and amendment to budgets are council responsibility and that's why you brought this to us rather than just saying well let's take care of it. It's important that we're involved in that process that we recognize what has to be done what has to be balanced. And as uh Sarah says, you know, there's trade-offs. There's things that open one door, close another that other options aren't available. But that's just in the nature of allocating our funds and our resources. So that's that's all good. Appreciate that you were able to make this piece of it happen. Again, you know, the discontinuing of the sidewalk plowing a couple years ago was something that was not not the best call, but at the time that seemed like the thing we needed to do. And now we're going to try to correct that. I don't know what the plan is, but I'm sure there's a plan in the works for making that happen after tonight because I'm pretty sure this is going to pass. Um,

yes, we have good staff and departments work together to make this happen, right? And I can do this without them.

Just so we're clear about sidewalk clearing responsibility. The ordinance does state that primary responsibilities on the property owners to clear sidewalks in front of their property, including the city and it in his properties. I mean, everybody is supposed to, but the reality is that u we're not going to go around writing tickets to everybody who doesn't shovel their sidewalk. If somebody puts their snow on the sidewalk, that's a different issue. But we really want people to be safe. We want people to be able to keep be out of the streets. And so the the city plows sidewalks as best we can when we can with the resources we have. That's how we've always done it. That's what we're going to be doing going going forward. And so it's still a shared responsibility and I think everybody needs to recognize that.

So thank you. Well, let's kind of put this one to bed now. So appreciate all the work. Thank you. Thanks. Any other questions, comments? Did you find anything else? There's lots of things, but there's lots. Well, and I think it is good to just make sure that people do know it is still the responsibility of the renter, the owner, the person living in the house to take care of their sidewalks. The city might not be able to get to every sidewalk every day. still shovel your sidewalks or snowblow if you are so lucky to have one and to have a snowblower. Um but you know it'll be nice that the city's going to be able to start doing that again. All righty to call the role. Fritz yes. Dora yes. Calio. Yes. Lion. Yes.

Vanetsa.

Yes. All right. That bring us to the end of our new business. That brings us to our report by city council. Who has a report this evening? I want to say that I visited um St. John's Episcopal Church on Saturday afternoon um for the opening of the soulbox presentation ceremony. I I I'm not sure what to call that. Um the reception. I would recommend that everybody go and check that out. Um I I guess I missed exactly what it was. They had used Java Space more than once to create this whole boxes and yet I still didn't know what they were doing. It is 146 handmade origami boxes. They are each decorated um and the 146 represents the average number of lives lost in the state of Michigan by gun violence every year. They are woven together to create what looks like um a quilt. Um it's absolutely beautiful. Uh and it is it's heartbreaking and moving and lovely. So if you have a chance, it is on display at St. John's Episcopal Church during open hours and anybody can just walk in and go check it out. Um it'll be moving to the Church of the Dunes, I believe, after that. um for it'll be on display there and then I'm not sure where it moves after that, but it is definitely worth going to like check out, read about, figure out the history of why it's there. It It's just really interesting. Very moving.

It is very nice. Thank you. Anything?

Uh no, just um again, thank you to staff and um DPW for coming up with uh with some funds so we can clear the sidewalks once again. uh and hopefully get those opened up so some people can start using them instead of the roadways. It seems to be a more common thing every day I'm driving and there's more and more people walking in the streets. So, um I've heard the mayor mention before that, you know, the sidewalks aren't a place for you to put your snow. Uh they're a place for you to keep clear of snow. Uh so I would ask uh those businesses and residents who have been looking for places to put their snow and have conveniently piled it up uh 8 foot high on top of the sidewalk to find a way to clear that off so that when does come through to clear sidewalks,

they have equipment that they can get through there with because it's going to be a bit of a challenge the first couple times they go to do it. I am sure from what I've seen around town. So, please get your snow off from the sidewalk so they can keep them clear for the rest of us. I'd appreciate that. Okay. Thank you. Anything?

Yeah. I just want to say thank you to DPW for all their hard work that they've been doing, especially the water main breaks and stuff like that. I tell you at this time of year when you have to deal with water, it's not the most comfortable place to be at right now. when it's spraying all over you and it's sub-zero weather. So, I got to say thank you for all their hard work and what and also for coming up with as everybody has said about the sidewalks. I appreciate that 100%. Um, but only thing I got to say is I got to mention Tigers. Let's let's sign school. Huh? I'm done. Awesome. We can't afford them. They can afford it.

Okay. Well, I appreciate everything that's been said today. I would like to propose that we invest in our very own groundhog because we need one that's more reliable and knows about shadows here. It's the someplace in Pennsylvania. But we are what we are. So I can bring you one. We got a bunch of them on the farm. Okay. I don't know if I'm allowed to have those in town. I can bring you one, Bob. All right. I'll turn it over to Ashley. I think that's a great note to end on. support that.

Okay. All right. So, brings us to u our second call to the audience. At this time, members of the audience may address council on any item whether on the agenda or not. If you do so, please give us your name, address, restrict your comments to three minutes. If you'd like to call in, call 616-935-3203. Who would like to address council? I don't see anybody coming up, so I'm going to close the call to the audience. And at this point in time, I will seek a motion to go into a closed session to consider a confidential legal opinion pursuant to 15.6268 of closed sessions under the open meetings act. And when we come out of close session, we will simply close our meeting. So, you're welcome to hang around if you like, but uh

Okay. Motion by Fritz. I'll support it. Second by Dora to go into close session. You call the role. Fritz? Yes. Dora? Yes. Lion? Yes. Calio? Yes. Manetsa? Yes. All right. Well, thank you everyone for coming.