City Commission - Regular Meeting

The following program was produced by CTV Community Television with this body. Come up to the podium over here and give us your name and address and tell us what's on your mind. There'll be a couple times to do that. Uh before we do a vote, we'll give you time for that. And also under uh public comment number 10, we'll do uh three minutes on that if you would please. Can I have the roll call? Peter here. Dollar here. Hufa here. Leaport here. Council member Paul is absent. Both here. Wester here. Motion to excuse. Member Paul questions. All in favor say I. I.

I would like to amend the agenda will go under uh 5B or this resolution. uh the recommendation from the C super superintendent to uh pursue uh parcel bail authorization prepared an agreement for consideration for sale looking for a motion to add this yes I'll make the motion support questions all in favor say I I

opposed that'll be 5B please consent agenda a city council minutes of March 16th 2026 recommen recommendation approved. He's the dangerous building minutes of August 14th, 2025. Meeting recommendation received. C's the golf commission minutes of October 30th, 2025. Meeting recommendation received. B zoning board of appeals minutes of February 18th, 2026. Meeting recommendation received. And e uh regulation from dangerous buildings commission accept with regrets. Go ahead. Make a motion to accept all as presented. support questions. No. All in favor say I. I. Opposed.

We'll go to five ordinances of resolution. We have some budget amendments tonight. Mr. Duchaine.

Um, Mr. Mayor, members of council, we have before you the first budget amendment for 2526 fiscal year. Uh, as you know, the schedule that follows resolution indicates a few specific things. The uh revenue realignment projections for state shared revenue have been lowered to uh match the updated state schedules and there has been an increase in investment income uh due driven by recent market trends state reimbursement for small uh business tax. We the budget will now account for the department cadet program in the police department and reflect some changes were made to uh the budget for actual costs of health insurance. There is um been a winter recognition that winter changes have increased expenditure due to the type of winter that we've had. Uh I would also just highlight a few other things that the uh building department continues to see increased plan activity. Uh as mentioned street expenditures a little higher due to the anticipated uh unanticipated snow and ice removal costs are higher than anticipated. Water and sewer adjustments upward to reflect the current receipts. And there is now uh the uh city count has opened a dedicated historical building fund to process those uh uh contributions and the gifts of the uh to the historical commission for the museum project and that it's she notes here that it's a sinking fund drawn down over the life of the multi-year project. So well that said the general fund will remain healthy and amended budget will be a gain of $479,379 uh towards fund balance of revenues over

expenditures. Um so I recommend that the council approve the first budget amendment as presented. I'll make a motion to approve the amendments to the budget. Support made support of questions.

Just curious, what's the uh $25,000 in labor costs for cable programming? We are we have a little bit of under revenues over expenditures that we are watching carefully in that based on the actual activity. Um that will have to be watched through the balance of this year. So that is the activities that the uh uh the CTV department has been actively involved in. Some of which of course are reimbursed by other sources but it is running a little higher over than revenues right now portion. Call please. Koopa. Yes. Leaport. Yes. BS. Yes. West.

Yes. Gotler. Yes. Cedar. Yes. Resolution adopted. Thank you. We'll go to B. This is the proposal for uh agreement for the sale of property.

Mr. Mayor, members of council, I'm recommending recommending action to authorize the realtor uh St. Clair Realy to prepare sales agreements for the parcel between 1513 Vine Street and 1517 Vine Street. As noted in the memo provided uh later today, the uh realtor has worked with the property owners and found a com compromise between the two adjacent property owners. Uh however, I must note that this action only authorizes the preparation of a sales agreement and pursuant to charter 11 uh section 11.04, 04 the actual sale of the property will require five affirmative votes to sell this when it returns to council for final action. So this uh resolution does authorize though that that transaction be prepared by uh St. Clair Realy and our broker uh Jerry and it's so recommended. At some point will our attorney have a chance to look at this or has he looked at this and are we comfortable with that?

He has been uh currently sir he's been furnished with a copy before it's brought back to you. I will have him go over it completely and give an opinion as part of this action. Okay. So a yes today would allow this to go to the next step but there will be another vote where we'll have our attorney's opinion. That's correct. and the other parties will have agreed to it before it comes back to you. Okay. Thank you.

I'll make a motion to approve. I'll support the motion. May support questions. Will we need to do a parcel split and then recombine to make this? Is is this part will that be part of the second half of this as well? The second half of it will entail the property the prospective property buyers will be informed as the requirements to proceed on that basis and yeah they would have to file the property splitter re and that cost will be borne by the buyers correct not that is correct okay thank you

I have a quick question about paragraph five uh it says addition homeowner 1517 is requested to declare the area directly behind his residence that is not part of our motion tonight though It is it is part of to prepare the documents for it but still subject to uh a final agreement being reached. I feel like a couple years ago this that parcel came here and there was a glitch about it or something. Anybody remember that that parcel? No. All right. But Jim's going to look at this. Yes. All right. Yeah. Anybody else questions? Are you thinking of the parcel that was by the water plant? There was a There was one there with like having to leave the No. Okay. I don't think I

I think he's referring to the the multiple lot splits on the what we refer to as the gearing property. Okay. Any other questions? All right. Call the role, please. Leaport, yes. BS, yes. Wester, yes. Fatler, yes. Kufa, yes. Cedar, yes. Resolution adopted. Right. Thank you. Number six, ports administration. Mr. Duchain,

I just had one quick to note. Today, uh we began the program to permit uh residents to buy um or anyone to buy old street signs at a cost of $10. Uh we're taking reservations now uh for the sign and when they're made available, then we would take the the payment and provide the buyer with the sign. That would be any street sign. um they could be more than one and they would be a cost of $10 for that and any anyone who wants it shipped or mailed anywhere relatives or other that would be at their costs. We'll have more on that in the near future but we started the program today.

That's all I had. Mr. M. Anything for Mr. Duchain council? All right. Uh Mr. Downey is not with us tonight. Uh, city departments Andrea or I'm sorry, Annette. Andrea was

Andrea. Okay. Yes. A few quick things for everybody today. Another reminder that nominating petitions and affidavit of identities for the local election are due by 400 PM Tuesday, April 21st. The city will not be conducting a May 5th election because there's no applicable races or candidates um or proposals. So, just another FYI. Um, and lastly, but not least, the city will be hosting a community cleanout on Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for residents. And this uh waste management will be there and shred core will be there. So, this is an opportunity for residents to um dispose of bulk items or extra garbage bags and any paper documents for shredding. So, again, this is for city residents. We will be checking for proof of residency. Um, this event will be happening in the parking lot at Pine Shores Golf Course again Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. This is no cost to the residents. It's just u an opportunity to do some spring cleaning.

Thank you.

Any other departments, authorities, board, commission, committee chairs, council reps? No one finished business. Let's go to new business. A approve special event permit application be tourist in your own town. Chief, I'm requesting approval for a special event permit for the city of St. Clair community leadership team sponsored tours in your own town event. The event will take place on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th during the daytime hours. This event will highlight the many amenities and attractions the city has to offer. Some of the areas some of the areas the event will showcase the Slair Boat Harbor, Pine Shores Golf Course, the historical historical museum and the all new Kletcher Park, Palmer Park, the boardwalk, the historical Slair in and of course all the foods and shops of the Riverview Plaza. As part of this event, there will be also a special hillside cemetery tour to highlight its history and family ties to our community. I'm requesting approval for this permit as presented.

So move report questions. All in favor say I. Opposed. B. Special event speaker Chamber of Commerce Rock in the Plaza Chief.

I'm requesting approval for a special event permit for the Rock in the Plaza summer concert series to take place in the courtyard of the Riverview Plaza. Weekly concerts performed by various live bands are planned from the weekend of Memorial Day until Labor Day weekend. Uh Thursday S it's gonna be and Thursday Saturday Saturday 6 pm through 11 pm uh through Sundays 2 pm through 11 pm. Uh the chamber is also requesting extended extended hours for July 4th and July 25th, July 26 until 12:00 a.m. for each of these nights and and will be performed by a portable county stage that will be brought in. and equipment for each show will be dropped off at the courtyard after which their vehicles will be moved to the plaza parking lot as not to block the sidewalk in the front yard front yard of the courtyard. The chamber is also requesting special temporary sign permits for various sign banners to be displayed within the plaza to identify the top sponsors of the event. I'm requesting approval for this permit as presented.

So move questions. I have a couple things. chief. So, I'm just going to make sure that everybody understands Thursday through Saturdays, 11:00 stop time, 11:00 p.m. Other than those other three nights, July 4th, the 25th, and 26, it's going to go till midnight. So, July 4th and the boat race weekend. Okay, good. Part two. Um, every summer seems like I battle this when I go down there and somebody's yelling at me. When those guys and those mans park on that Yeah. You know what I'm talking about? that area right by the Yep. where they sat.

Yep. So, yeah, a lot of the bands um somehow they get an idea, they can park there. So, um if the citizens call us, anyone calls us, we'll go down there and address the issue and make sure they're moving their vehicles to keep the sidewalks open. So, that definitely is our top priority. So, any resident or council member has any issues, just please call us. The police department will address them. Thank you. Anybody else? All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Thank you, Chief. All right. Thank you. A recommendation of award DPS remodel. Mr. Duchain,

Mr. Mayor, members of council, this was delayed a little bit, but we began work because of the urgency of this situation in remodeling. RFPs were taken and received the low responsible proposals from Bluewater Building in the amount of 37,939 and this require a budget amendment in proportional amounts from the activities and accounts budgeted to support public works including streets parks, water distribution, sanitary sewer, fleet and and equipment management where balances permit. Over the years of neglect, this building has regressed and a few months ago, we began to review all of city facilities and the DPW and fire buildings specifically. Uh the review obvious and open building issues were further identified leading to a fi finding that the remodeling and removal of mold and red remediation efforts. Correct this low-level but important removal of certain types of mold be done as soon as practical. Um to decisively conclude the issue, I'm recommending that based on this RFP, the award be given to Bluewater Building LLC, River Road, Catraville, Michigan.

I'll make a motion to approve. Motion's made support questions. Call RO, please. Bless. Yes. Wester, yes. Batler, yes. Hua, yes. Leaport, yes. Cedar, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Go to D. Purchase of 2006 Chevy Silverado 1500 water treatment plant. Mr.

Mr. Mayor, members of council, as you know, and have passed out some information to completely revamp our fleet and vehicle equipment replacement program. Um, the good news is we're very close to finalizing that. It's been very exhaustive and it will now be done on a points rating system, a use rating system, hours, engine life system and and other factors that go into it. I'm hoping to present the full um capital equipment program and capital improvement program to council in the next 30 days. What you will see in it is they are pre presently these two vehicles this one and the one that follows become a base that'll be in service for various departments for the next 7 to 10 years. With this there is only one other piece of equipment that I would propose to be buying in this fiscal year or next fiscal year. So for two fiscal years these will be the only uh vehicles that we purchase. of course given there's no damage loss or other uh un unforeseen circumstances. So with that I am uh recommending the purchase of the one uh under state bid my deal contract uh to replace the one vehicle at the water uh plant and as the other vehicle comes offline that will this will be re remaining there to service the various needs and as we reconfigure water service in the city uh that should be sufficient to uh meet the needs in the foreseeable future. What are the needs for this truck for the water department?

The parts that will be both the meters, equipment, people go to check various the uh shore wells, the other pertinances of the system as well as large meter transit transport port and any other duties that would fall upon moving the supplies or materials back and forth with the water system. And what's the fleet that the Warrior has now? That had two vehicles. One vehicle was recently in and that vehicle has been recommended not to be fixed anymore, repaired. Is that the Explorer? Excuse me. Is that the Explorer? Uh, yes. Yes. And then what's the other vehicle? The other vehicle is

a truck. Yeah, it's a truck. I forget. I think it's in there. Older or no? We have it. Yeah, we have it in 22. Oh, well, they would now have two pickups if you replace the Explorer with this.

Yeah. And then when the other one comes offline, I don't see we'd be in need of another one. The current vehicle has the WP2. Is it labeled 2016 Explore body style, SUV, etc.? It's um right now in our scoring system 100 points is what totals to replace it. 104,000 mi engine hours 14,000 age 10 years.

This truck's not going to go home then, right? It's going to stay in the city. it. Well, unless authorized that the supervisor on call was going to be if we were going to provide that as a vehicle for him to be on call, it could go home in that case, but I haven't made it. How often is he on call? I guess one could argue all the time, but I wouldn't say that's practical. So, if the employee lives in Elgenac, Yeah, I believe so. That could a lot of miles. That's a lot of miles to go back and forth. I will have to review our vehicle and take home policy. Yeah. I

mean, we're not providing vehicles for anybody else to take home, right? I mean, there's no Well, I could get that be an issue, though. This is a whole separate issue aside from this truck, but I just recently found out there's a employee taking a vehicle home every day to Algenak because he's on call and it's a city vehicle. Yeah. I don't think that's good practice. I'd rather pay an employee mileage. I agree. Yeah. Instead of wear and tear are now for the use of the vehicle, right? They have to be if they're given the vehicle and it's used, it is a a mus such as that except public safety people are the only people that are exempt from um taxation on the use of the vehicle.

Is that something we can look into to uh create a better Sure. No, there I'm It's on the list. All right. I was shocked to hear that. I got one more question. Do we have any cop cars coming off the line that still have time left? I know we bought new ones, right?

Uh I I I'd prefer I didn't bring my whole report down on that vehicle listing. I have to go back to that now. Um see where they are. And again, my preference is if we're going to reset the whole fleet, this is the year to do it when you don't have a lot of immediate purchases u staring you in the face. So we can take a look at that when we review it. I'd like to review that all with council though and see the whole fleet so that it that we can get everybody's feelings known and their perspective on what's best to operate there. I'm uh I am not a fan of the old police cars for much. I'll be honest with you. They they seem to come back and bite you at the worst times.

You know what the points is on the truck he has now? Point system on the other truck. Uh oh. On the other one? The one we have over there? Yeah, the one we're keeping for now. No, I don't I don't I have it upstairs, but I don't have it with me. It's a pretty new truck. The last, right? I don't know how we need two over there right now if I mean all the water. We were reading the meters, but that's going to be obsolete pretty soon. So, how many trucks do we need? I

I really couldn't answer without interviewing them and finding out their hours and needs. That's true. Well, could we do that interview process table this for now and then go through the process of finding out and having a clear policy about the usage of that truck for the future? I would like to do that. Uh other than just throw it off the table with a no, but I'd like a little a little bit more about the situation with other truck and agree. The need for the second truck and the policy of taking it home. Yeah.

Okay. I'll make a motion to table this. I'll support that. All right. The motion made to table. Any questions? Call the role, please. Yes. Wester, yes. Fowler, yes. Hua, yes. Leaport, yes. Cedar, yes. Motion carried. Thank you. Let's go to EU. I would I would suggest I might as well not address. We need a motion to table that. A motion to table that. I'll make a motion to table. I request you table that. I might as well, right? Yeah. Yeah. I'll need support to that motion by Mr. West.

All right. So, the motion is made supported again to table this one. Uh questions? Pass it. 1374 South Riverside. I just got a question. If you do buy them, what funds would uh would be paying for these vehicles? One be the water fund and the other one being whoever the other truck gets?

The um if I may, I I'll answer that now if it's okay with council. the the first one would be uh the water uh fund would be the primary contributor to the motor pool which is actually the one who owns the vehicle as well as the other one owned by the the motorpool would be distributed based on the actual usage of the various funds. So it could the other one could be parks and grounds. It could be other operational aspects wherever it assists across streets uh both major and locals. And uh again, wherever the use comes is where it would be charged.

All right, the motion's made supported. Call the roll, please. To table, yes. Table, sorry. Kufa, yes. Leaport, yes. Bulls, yes. West, yes. Cedar, yes. Motion carries. All right. Both trucks tabled. Number nine, claims the council March 1815, April 1, 2026. I have just one question. Um, I see we we're buying uh equipment for Pine Shores Golf Course. It looks like it's coming out of general fund. Can you just tell me how that money or how that works in this that when we have a separate enterprise fund for the golf course? How does that work? When do we realize that money coming back into the general fund?

Could you tell me which what that is? I'm sure. Sure. Uh 32526 check number 3 63395 is about $2,500 worth of resale stock for from Tailor Made and it says Pine Shores. That should come from Pine Shores. I'll check into that tomorrow. That there there really no lend lease program on golf balls. Yeah, that that one should be a proprietary fund cost. Okay. It's budgeted for that. So that applies to the marina too then when we see the

Yeah. to the to the greatest extent possible. The only time you would really generally see a a charge outside of fund I would assume would be when it's a a fleet or a piece of equipment coming from the motor pool fund. Like for example the golf course we have, you know, planned this year a $15,000 payment on the mower that was purchased. Um, so after audit, uh, we were going to examine that and see if we can pay that back faster or do something like that. But otherwise, those operating supplies should come from that that fund. We'll look into that tomorrow. I have the right people here for that. Thank you.

If nothing else, I'll I'll suggest we approve them reports as presented. support questions. All in favor say I. Opposed. Number 10, public comment. Public questions. Anybody have anything for the good of the group? Three minutes, please, if you would. Go down to number 11. Mayor and council. Any announcements? Mr. Anything about Marble Eye or anything?

Uh, yeah. We're moving forward. 25th anniversary. Uh, the Marble Eye tournament coincides uh as it has for the last couple years with the tourists in your town. So that would be Friday the 15th I believe is the first day and it will end at noon on Sunday. So you can get $10 tickets as always whether you're a fisherman or not because we have all kinds of prizes for non-fisherman uh at several locations throughout town from Rude's Barber Shop to the boat harbor war um and a few throughout the along the river from Alganac to to Porton but in St. and Claire, we've got some spots. Uh or myself. Um I have them available. And if you'd like to come down and volunteer and help out for a few hours, we could use a few people to help wave fish and keep an eye on stuff. So, it's a lot of fun. Reach out to myself or Chris Paul and 25th anniversary this year.

Thank you. Thank you. One more thing, Mr. Mayor. The 1926 yearbook of Sinclair High School indicates that that was the first year they had a band in the in this school. And so on April 12th of 1926, they put on their first concert. This coming April 12th on Sunday at 2:00, we're putting on a concert 100 years to the day following that first concert at Slair High School at 2 p.m. If you'd like to attend, we'd love to have you there. Mr. Bob Wheeler is going to conduct the band again and we've invited uh any alumni and friends of the band program to come back and take part in the performance as well.

Good. Anybody else? Nothing. Hearing nothing else. I make a motion to adjurnn. All in favor say I. Oppos. Thanks for coming everyone. Be careful out there. Be safe. Be nice. The preceding program was produced by CTV Community Television. CTV Community Television is supported by the cities of Marine City and St. Claire, East China Township, Carterville Township, and the East China School District.