City Council - Regular Meeting

people, you know, in Tennessee. Oh, no. I'm not going to Tennessee. No, I'm saying in general because tonight's Thursday. Our our city council meetings in Tennessee were on Thursday. He's been waiting 10 years to get out of Tennessee. Why would he That's right. I'm good. Thursdays. No, we're Friday or Saturday morning. No, thank you. We're live and we're ready. Yeah, perfect. We're live. and load. Here we go. We're ready. Big four. Ready. Minutes. Oh, I have to go to the Yeah.

For the city of Pataskia, I call meeting of the city council for May 7th, 2026. And I ask that you rise with me for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. I pledge algiance 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. I didn't wear a tie because you didn't have a tie on this afternoon. Uh, so I went home and

let's wait for these gentlemen and ladies or gentlemen and man to come in. No drum rolls, but hello. Next, I'll go to roll with city clerk Beck. Deore present. Wilmont present. Ntrab present. Walker is absent and Murphy present. Exodus two proclamations. Is this going to be presented? Jane here in the county. You want me to read one of them or

you want to read it? Which one? Both of them. You want to read the first one? I can read it and you can present it if you want. Okay, that works. Let me read it. I got the second one. I'm all set. I memorized that. It's been so many years. Okay. Come on down. Let me know when you're ready. Yeah, there you go.

Where whereas the compost research and education foundation has declared the first full week of May to be the annual compost awareness week. And whereas composting is a way of returning organic resources to the soil to restore the health of the soil and enable its essential function in the carbon cycle. And whereas applying finished compost is a proven method of growing healthy food, conserving water, providing resiliency during flooding conditions, reducing water consumption and nonpoint pollution, decreasing the dependence on chemical fertilizers and decreasing erosion. And whereas the state of Michigan has established ambitious goals for for organics diversion and compost utilization through updates to part 115 materials management planning requirements applicable to all 83 counties recognizing composting as an effective strategy for resource recovery, waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and pollution prevention. And whereas materials such as yard trimmings, bioolids, food scraps, manurses, and animal bedding have all been composted and converted into a beneficial product known as compost. And whereas communities through their local governments, highway departments, soil conservation service and extension offices, and public works professionals can have significant impact on clean water, soil, climate change, and landfill diversion by using compost for public works projects. And whereas this year's theme is compost, feed the soil that feeds us. The 2026 theme was chosen with the goal of highlighting the benefits of composting and agricultural

agriculture and food production and its role in supporting healthy nutritious food and by extension healthy people and communities. Beyond responsible waste management, composting recognizes the interconnectedness between every person who eats the earth that provides all of our food as well as our agency in feeding the earth, our scraps, so that the soil may continue to provide for us abundantly. Compost grows healthy soil, healthy food, and a healthy Michigan. Now therefore, be it resolved, Mayor John Murphy, on behalf of the city of Paskki of the state of Michigan, hereby proclaims the week of May 3rd through the 9th, 2026 as International Compost Awareness Week. without messing up.

We're very uh we have a great opportunity and we have a great relationship with with all that you guys do over there and we appreciate, you know, I don't think we get a lot of calls that stuff isn't happening when you pick stuff up. You don't miss stuff. Thank you. And make sure and share that with the staff. Thank you. We look forward to continuing and expanding for the city of Tazi. Do you want to do a photo like a poster? Can we do that? Yes, sure. Yeah. Photo. You want me to keep that?

Did you want to leave that also at city hall? Okay, perfect. You just leave it on the table and we'll get it. You want it right in front of the Let's move. I don't want to be

I'm hiding.

Thank you. Is he tonight at a conference? Next proclamation is the Arbor Day proclamation. I'll be reading this f Saturday Saturday uh Saturday morning at the Arbor Day celebration. It's at the uh Arlington Park uh on 11:00 Saturday. Park or Pennsylvania?

Is it what? I think it's Pennsylvania Park, isn't it? Oh, they moved it to Pence. It was Arlington in the past. We're checking the place location. be Pennsylvania Park near the gazebo. Oh, it's where they're going to be set up at.

He moved it. It's always been Arlington. Okay. Proclamation. Whereas in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas the holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than 1 million trees in Nebraska. Whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, as well as lower our heating and cooling cost, moderate our temperature, clean our air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. Whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our city increases property values increase the economic vitality of businesses in the areas and beautify our community. And whereas trees, wherever they're planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. Therefore, I, John Murphy, mayor of city of Paskki, do proclaim May 9th as Arbor Day in the city of Paskki. I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support the efforts to protect trees and woodlands. I further urges urge our citizens to plant and care for trees to gladden the hearts and to promote well-being of this and future generations. I will say I looked up uh Nebraska and why they did this. At that time they had the fewest trees of any state in the country. To this day they still have the fewest trees of any state in the country as well. So kind of interesting for Nebraska.

But uh Mr. Mayor, yes. I understand they're giving out some flowering dog woods on Saturday as well. Yes, they are. So the first come first serve. come get a flowering dogwood to plant in your yard. It'll be a very short presentation there. I don't think it'll be real long, but you you have an opportunity to come in. Next is the consent agenda. I ask council to approve the following draft April

oh close draft April 20th 2026 regular sessions city council meeting and a close session meeting city council meeting for that day as well also acknowledge a receipt of report from the city manager concerning all checks that have been issued since April 20th 2026 for contracts and vending claiming 780 80,179,12 as well as intergovernmental claims of 24,262.39 and the April 2023 payroll of 2550,533,15 for a total of 1,54,974.70. cents as well as the design uh designate the locations for the 2026 ward and city conventions. Take this to council for questions, concerns, or possible adoption. Mr. Wilmont,

one quick question for the city manager um on page 20 uh on under Duncle Excavating uh and I know they do a lot of work for the city. instead of there's a $26,000 287 item, but it's it's uh it's under capital outlay as opposed to contracted services. And I was just wondering did we buy a piece of equipment from them or that should be for the uh parking lot um park garden parking lot project. So it comes out of capital outlay. The cap the capital outlay is $630. No, no. Um, this is Don

under under Duncle Excavating Capital Outlet $26,287 on P. Be another entry. Oh, I see it. Okay, got it. Thank you. I just curious why it fell into that category. That's all. Yep, that would be for that project. Okay, thank you. Uh then possible capital outlay is replacing meter not meters but boxes and things like that that wear out and we have to replace them. Does that fall under capital outlay or uh why is it capital out? Yeah, it's a capital project. Just mildly curious. All right.

It's a capital project. So okay. So with that I uh I offer a motion to accept the uh Oh, do we need a motion for the um I offer a motion then to accept uh the consent agenda support? Have a motion from I have a motion from Mr. Wilmont, a second from Mr. Nodrop. I go to city clerk back for roll. Wilmont Ira I. De Moore. I Murphy.

I motion passes 40. Please pass in your close session copy. Thank you. Is it on the agenda is public comments. This is your opportunity. If there's something that isn't on the agenda, I I'd ask you to wait until it is discussed. But if it's something you need to leave for, you have an opportunity to come forward, hit the green button on the speaker podium. Lectctor, uh, you'll have time to talk to council. You need to give us your first name, last name, as well as address council and not the public. Does anybody wish to speak at this point? Okay, there being none, next I go to city manager Shane Horns. managers report for this month.

Thank you, mayor, city council. Um, celebrating staff uh this month as this is our first meeting of the month. May birthdays for staff. April Sanders in the parking office celebrate our birthday this week on May 4. Ed Smith, parks and wreck uh department. May 8, Mary Bochamp at the library. May 17, Michael Dolan, public safety officer. May 18, uh Christine Hoff, parks and wreck, uh planning and public works, uh May 23rd, and Adam Climsa, public safety officer, May 23rd as well. May work anniversaries for staff this month. Missy Asavdo uh downtown celebrates her first year uh with the city. Adam Climza, public safety, two years. Uh Tony Belmonte, code enforcement, three years. Audrey Pla finance 11 years Gordon Standish water wastewater 20 years and Scott Goak public safety 28 years with the city this month.

Is that correct that Missy is put in a resignation for the DMV? Yeah. Thank you. That right?

Yeah. Okay. Just let you know there's a change there. um upcoming meetings this month or in the next couple weeks. Uh Monday night, youth advisory council meets for their regular meeting. Uh that'd be Monday, May 11th in this room at 6 o'clock. Uh parks and recck commission also meets Monday evening, May 11th at 6 in the community room. And then the art commission meets for their monthly meeting on Thursday, uh May 14th at 12:00 in the community room. this week, this next week. A few updates, uh, general updates. Uh, Chill Grant, we did get some good news, uh, finally on this grant. Uh, we were kind of going up against our, we had a May 31st deadline and we, um, as well as many other grant uh, grantees were struggling to get funds out the door very early on because this is a very bureaucratic uh, uh, process. when you deal with these type of federal funds. Um, so all of us were kind of pushing for additional time and fortunately we were all granted uh uh an extension uh to September 30th of 2026. So this will allow us to get projects completed uh which we're thankful for. We do have two completed projects uh that you can see there. We have a number that are in progress and then a few applications that are pending. Because of the reduced timeline, we will we will still accept applications, but really we're focusing on um I'll say more simple projects like roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, plumbing upgrades. If it requires any sort of abatement work, we will not have time to do that. So, we will still accept applications for what I just mentioned, roofs, HVAC improvements, plumbing, anything really

that doesn't require us to do environmental abatement work. Um, we will still accept applications. If if you total up this total with the pending, we'll be right around 300,000 out of our 500. So, we still have some room to get funds out the door. So, um, we would encourage folks to if you need those type of improvements and you qualify from an income standpoint, we would love to work with you. Is this a is this a grant that you're intending to um uh renew? Is it possible to renew it?

Um, well, not at this point. Now, if there's additional funds that are available, certainly we'll we'll look into that, but there is an ex expiration needs at this point, and I haven't heard of any sort of um additional funds. Okay. Thank you. at this point. Um,

that's fantastic that you guys have done that, Shane. Appreciate it. I know it was a big undertaking to take it on as as you did. Um, and again, I I'll give some great kudos to uh Northwest uh Michigan Habitat for Humanity. They've been a great partner uh helping me administer uh this opportunity. So, uh certainly appreciate that partnership. some updates on some spring our spring construction projects. Uh Howard Street uh this is Mitchell to Michigan. Uh sanitary sewer main work complete. Water main work will be complete early next week. Storm sewer replacement will be complete early next week as well. The intersection planter in front of the pennies has been removed and replaced. Uh sidewalks are going in, concrete sidewalks, curb work uh started this week. We are still on on our um task to complete this project by mid June um is our expected completion. Park guard lot reconstruction uh concrete work is in progress. Uh storm sewer infrastructure is complete. Irrigation and landscape work has begun. Grading and aggregate base uh started this week as well. And we are on task on schedule to pave early or or miday. So, in the next couple weeks, we will be uh paving that lot. Uh some additional project updates overall um of interest, I guess. Uh 441 445 East Mitchell. Um not much going on there. I did reach out to the county building official for any updates. um he submitted a letter to the building owner back in February asking for um additional detail and had I I confirmed with him that he's not heard anything back from the building owner. Um so I

have uh passed that information on to our city attorney and she will be um responding accordingly to try to spur some action additional action on that site. Um, Delray Apartments um they are accepting uh applications uh currently that project is wrapping up. That's nine units uh there um on the corner of EMTT and um Michigan.

Michigan. Thank you. Um JC Penney, I I did reach out to the owners there. Got a quick response back that uh progress continues on that site. you can all see kind of what they've uh been doing. There's still a significant amount of work remaining. I asked for an expected uh completion date. I did not get a response back, but from what I've been told, it will likely be another year before that project wraps up completely. Um so there's still a significant amount of work to do in the interior. Leo's project, I touched base with the building owner today. Um all his financing has been completed. Uh historical tax credits have been uh granted. Um he they are in a very good position uh financially for the project to move forward. They've done all their demo is complete. They've started some interior um uh walls going up uh for that project. So he had mentioned um briefly because he was out of town that we should see significant progress from here on forth um now that things are uh lined up. Um the financing is in order. Um dog park uh discussion. We did meet with the uh fence contractor yesterday. Kendall and I walked the site with the contractor. Um you may recall in the bid um we had put in the specifications a total of 1,200 linear feet uh of fencing for that project when we walked the site and he he obviously had his um measuring wheel with him and we walked the perimeter of the site and it ended up being just over 900 linear feet. So we will be able to save some cost just by the sheer um volume linear feet uh reduction. Um, we did get feedback from f folks that a

4-ft fence was not going to be uh sufficient for um for for dogs. They were concerned about dogs jumping over the fencing. Uh, in talking with the mayor, um, we went back to the 5- foot um fence height. Um, I still believe we're going to be able to get in under that uh bid amount that that you all approved. Um if I need to come back to city council, I will certainly do that. Um but that project uh is they'll be shipping materials up uh for this project. Fencing should be done uh in the early part of June. We do looks like we need need some uh reeding of that uh property. If you may recall we seated that fairly late in uh last year and uh irrigation is in. So that will certainly help uh uh growth as we move forward. But there is a lot of patchiness in that uh project. So we'll likely have to do some overseating here uh here shortly. Uh emergency shelter. The mayor and I had a meeting today with uh Paskki school superintendent uh Dr. Lesie and um uh Paskki school board member Mark Ashley um on using the middle school as a potential emergency shelter site. As you all recall, we very quickly transitioned this building to an to a shelter during the ice storm. While it while it worked, it wasn't ideal and it had a number of deficiencies that um we believe the middle school will will help us solve. concerning a uh cafeteria, a gymnasium where we'll be able to put CS, um shower facilities. So, we had a walkth through today uh with school leadership. Uh they're very excited about this partnership. We're excited about a

partnership. The the goal that we have to work on is finding funding for a generator that will run the facility during a a power outage or an emergency event. Um, so we'll we'll be we'll both be working on trying to secure funds for an emergency generator for the middle school, which again once we receive that and get it installed, uh that will become our emergency shelter uh in the event that we need we need something like that going forward. So I think that kind of checks a lot of boxes for for us and the school was very gracious with uh their facility. So we appreciate that partnership. the little Traverse Travis Traverse Wheelway bypass. Um we are still working with our vendor OM on a uh layout and design. We had a meeting today and those meetings will continue um with kind of by every two week updates. We'll we'll we'll have updates. We we have had surveying delays due to the flooding conditions that we've experienced in in our area. uh their surveyors had to pull away and address more pressing issues uh as a result of the flooding uh conditions. So, they'll be back on this site later this month. Um they're still planning on having us a concept uh by the end of uh July um that we will be able to talk through and and uh provide guidance on. So, that that progress is will be continuing.

A question I will a quick question about the about that. I see that uh they're doing some culvert work on the um underneath the eper curve there. Uh, is that is that the U Department of Transportation that's doing that? And um can that be of what they're doing down there will be of assistance to the the plans that we may have for

Yeah, it doesn't really have anything to do with the wheelway that was work that was have been has been scheduled for a couple years. They're lining the storm line that comes off of Eper. Um, so that work will be ongoing, I believe, until um the end of June. So, thank you. Y

I apologize. I left a slide in from uh previously, so you can ignore that one. Sorry about that. Um, just a reminder, our our rubbish collection program uh curbside kicks off next week uh west side of Howard on Tuesday, May 12th. and the following Tuesday, May 19th, and then East of Howard residents, uh, Wednesday, May 13th, followed by the following Wednesday, May 20th. So, certainly we encourage folks to clean up their properties and take advantage of that opportunity to have uh curbside collection. Again, small yard waste continues on Thursdays, curbside through the end of the month, end of May, and then brush chipping every Monday, first and third Mondays through the through November. We encourage folks to take advantage of those opportunities. Just an overall update on the election on Tuesday. I'll turn it over to our city clerk for uh for an update on that.

So, just a chart showing percentages of voters. uh overall turnout was 1,027 registered voters in the city. So that's 20.71% and out of that uh 200 were walk-ins on election day in person all day for all four wards. And then absentee voters uh 827 ballots were processed in our AV counting board. So um registered voters we have 4,959 as of Tuesday. And then also uh thank you to uh my or our election inspectors. I am going to read them off because I think they should have recognition. It's a lot of work. It's a long day. They do a great job and I am super appreciative of them. So the receiving board is a team of two uh an R and a D. and they check out uh all the wards at the end of the night to make sure everything balances um all the paperwork is done uh to make sure that uh precincts can be recountable. So, our receiving board, one team was Jill Thompson and Christine Ghard. The other was Rick Lloyd and Emily Meerson. Emily's in the audience. Thank you. Uh, our AV counting board that processed all absentee ballots, Jennifer Fordise was the chair, Rick Lloyd, Grace Ketchum, Lisa Lloyd, Charlie Wilmont, thank you, Charlie, Wanda White. Ward one, Barb Daniel was the chair, Sher McGuffin, Anna Belaloo, Cynthia McWaters, Emily Meerson. Ward two, Sue Moffett chaired. Norb Daniel, Susan Finn, Linda Vanderberg, Mary Oly Larson. Ward three, Nicole Kek was chair, Jill Thompson, Carol Jary, Kate Marshall. Thank you, Kate. Ward four, Patty McCleas was the chair. Linda Vanderberg, so she worked the morning shift and then switched over

to Ward Two to finish out uh the evening. Uh Donna Wlansky and Christine Gabard. And I'll only note that I will be putting information on the website. We have two more elections this year and I'm always seeking election inspectors. Uh so the application um I can get that out there in a news article that can go out in the newsletter but always seeking that. Um we have started doing split shifts so it's not a full 16 18 hour day. So I think that's helpful too. Um and then if any other questions I'm happy to answer. Questions council. Yes. more.

I've saved up my questions. So, I'll start with uh the beginning first. I want to extend kudos to the city manager because I had outreach from a constituent with a chill grant snafu and um it was a situation where they were going to lose the opportunity uh to do some work on the house because they had bids but just not enough time to get it accomplished. So, I appreciate you doing a full court press there, and it sounds like it was to the benefit of everybody who's trying to get the grant work done. So, that was number one. Um, number two, I had a couple questions on the project updates. one is not on the list, but I did understand that the location of the uh recovery alliance there between Bay and Lake Street was another building that Emma County has deemed cannot be occupied and I believe it's owned by the same uh individual or entity that owns 441 or 445 East Mitchell. Have we had any updates on that?

Yeah, that's an ongoing legal matter. Um the tenants actually reached out to us concerned about um the conditions of the building. So we went through uh from a code enforcement standpoint, IPMC standpoint and and had a list and then we also worked with EMTT County building department and they walked through as well uh which which resulted in the red tag condition of the building. So, it is the same owner as 441445. Um, and so we've turned that over to our legal folks um to seek appropriate court action as as needed.

Okay. Thank you for that update. And then relative to the emergency shelter, I was just curious, has there been any discussion about the use of syncing funds? I know um the Paskki schools were just successful in passing their syncing fund millillage and back in the day when I served it seems like that might be something that's in the lane of a sinking fund. I was just curious my head on that one.

I brought that up. Um they do have projects that they're aligned with right now. Um city as well as the school are looking for grants and opportunities to pay for this. First, they're going to get a price a cost on what it what would it cost for what type of generator, how big, working on that. They weren't real sure that that something could happen before this coming winter, but uh we we pushed for it to to have it done by winter.

Good. That's part of the discussion. Then finally, I just want to give a shout out to Sarah. Um, I've I've worked election voter protection for a number of years and I know that um sometimes when people come to vote they're confused about things. sometimes they're upset about things and I just want to say that I have um observed and learned in real time how well she deals with um those situations and she's to be commended for that because informing people makes all the difference in a calm way um to promote confidence in the election system. So thank you Sarah. Thank you.

I think we all feel the same way, don't we? We're all very appreciative of what you do. The hours, the time, the extra hours that you're there, evenings. Well, it may sound gratuitous since she's my boss, but yeah, she does a great job. Thank you. Got one more slide. I think

then just uh um as we've already talked the mayor and council member Wilmont. So, Saturday, May 9th is our Arbor Day celebration. This will be in Pennsylvania Park near the gazebo. Um so as as council member Wilmont mentioned, we will be giving away flowering dogwood trees um as supplies last. Um and we certainly thank um the Paskki Area Garden Club uh for this event and just the wonderful work that they do in our community. It's just outstanding the the amount of effort and the beauty that we get to all enjoy because of their work. So, thank you to the Bataski area garden club.

Anything else, Mr. Knob? Yeah, I also waited for the end, too. Uh, I have a several questions, Shane. Um, I was at the tail end of the chill grant process and the income base. Would you say it's a challenge in the income base? Is that targeted for low to moderate income? Yes. Not middle income. Right. Okay.

Yes. Uh second question on the J C Penney project. Um did we do we know that they have funding to complete the project or is this just a construction thing? My own intuition says there's something more to this than meets the eye and I'm just wondering do we know that they have funding one and then two did the city participate in providing any money on anything? Okay. Yeah. because it's not a city project, I really can't comment on their funding um capabilities and we did not provide any sort of incentives for that project. Okay. So, we have no control over anything really on that.

Okay. Um the my my favorite subject the uh the the um wheelway bypass the the state is doing some work, but I also understood and I actually sat there for a while just watching the cars again and and in the old days last year we had those little flimsy barriers and I understood that the state was going to put those back in. They're not going to put them back in. We put them in. The state doesn't do that. We So, we're going to do that this year. Yes. Okay. Yes. Do you know when that they'll be in before Memorial Day?

Perfect. Thank you. I think and I'll echo uh the compliments on on Sarah. I've been election uh person too and it's so interesting. She knows how to discipline us from conversations when we need to have be disciplined nicely. Right. Right. Nicely. And I can't imagine we had 20ome people sitting around all day for 200 voters. That had to be a very boring day. But you guys do you do a good job. Thank you.

Okay. Now we'll go to old business. It's the second reading and possible adoption of a proposed ordinance mending chapter 10, which is the fire prevention and control regarding uh fireworks. I'll turn it over to manager horn.

Thank you, mayor. We've had a couple uh looks at this. Uh our last meeting on April 20th, um city council suggested two revisions related to section 10-9 uh section E regarding dates and section 1019E2B adding a review u by the public safety department. We have included those revisions in this uh last update of this ordinance which again has been reviewed by our city attorney. So, I'm happy to ask or answer any sort of additional questions that you may have at this time. This is on for second reading and possible adoption. Any other questions? Council,

discussion. Mr. Wilmont, I'll get the ball rolling by proposing a motion uh to accept uh the ordinance to amend chapter 10 of the faskki ordinance, fire prevention and control. Support. I have a motion from Mr. will not second from Miss Dmore discussing council Mr. NRA. Uh yes, I I think I know how this is going to go, but um I would like to make a statement on on my own uh thoughts on this ordinance, please.

And I don't do well doing um doing it written, so I'm just going to read it. As I've reviewed this proposal, and I've been talking about it for a while, and I've been having a lot of consideration, I keep coming back to a simple question. Are we solving a real problem or are we creating new restrictions where none are truly needed? Michigan law already required Paskki to allow consumer fireworks on New Year's, Memorial, Independence Day, Labor Day. Yet, those are the fireworks most often used are most often used casually in neighborhoods, frequently louder, less predictable, and with greater safety concerns concerns. By contrast, professionally operated commercial-grade fireworks displays are conducted by licensed insured experts under controlled conditions. They are planned, supervised, and provide a shared community experience that many families enjoy. In my 30 years living in Paskki, these professional displays have been rare and generally limited to special occasions such as July 3rd and 4th at Bay Harbor and Paskki and also Harbor Springs with only in the last 30 years with only a handful of private events over over these 30 years. I am not aware except one last year that prompted this that was late and long. I'm not aware of these displays creating a widespread or ongoing problem for our city. It's very rare. This ordinance would impose stricter limits on the safest and most responsibly managed fireworks while allowing broader use of consu consumer fireworks under state law. This inconsistency for me is difficult to reconcile. I support a reasonable notice requirement so residents can prepare for noise concerns, but I do not support restricting professional displays more harshly than consumer fireworks that carry greater risk and less oversight. For those reasons, I'll I'll be voting no and I would encourage others to at least consider my thoughts. Thank you.

Question. Does this affect city manager? Does this affect uh was any actions taken last week uh like two weeks ago regarding the accepted fireworks? No. This has nothing to do with that one. No. Correct. That's what I wanted to make sure. I want to make sure that was understood. Anyone else wish to speak? It doesn't affect the one application, but I understood there was another one in process that it would affect. Is that correct, city manager? Yeah, it it would impact others going forward. That That's correct.

Other discussion. Does the public wish to weigh in on this? Being none, I'm going to go to Miss Beck for roll. Wilmont. Uh, yes. The more I back nay and Murphy. Yes. Motion passes 3 to one. Next second reading and possible adoption of proposed uh ordinance adding appendix D outdoor lighting ordinance to the zoning ordinance and I'll call on

um this is again a second reading and possible adoption. At our first reading on April 20th, uh, city council um suggested revising the definition of reconstruction, which is in article two under definitions. Uh, we did review this with our city attorney with our uh city planner. Um, and we have included that definition uh under article two for uh your consideration. There be there would no other additional changes to this ordinance from first reading. Mr. Moore, I was just going to make a motion, please.

I'm happy to make a motion um to approve the exterior lighting ordinance as set forth in the agenda. Support a motion from Mr. Moore, second from Mr. Wilmar. Other discussion, council, Mr. Knob,

I have I think it's great. I I think this they you guys did a great job on it. I really I'm excited for it. At the public comment last time, there was u the couple that was um implying that we were not doing consistent enforcement on the lights that were covered and not covered. Can you explain is any was that any any of that relevant? And does that any of his concerns get addressed in this ordinance? I didn't think it did, but you recall the the comments. Um I do. This was more about fair out allocation. I think the concern was the string lights um was was his concern and

shielded or not

shielded or non-shielded. Um, so I don't know, John, if you want to hit on that again, but um, mayor, mayor and city council, uh, the gentleman's concern was that when he, uh, contacted the zoning administrator to uh, discuss putting up the festune lights, the string lights, the current ordinance says that they have to be shielded. And a good example of that are the festune or the string lights over at Panera Bread. They're outside dining area. All the lights are shielded. He complained that, you know, Beards, for example, and a couple of the other restaurants that had outdoor dining did not have shielded lights. uh as a result of him making the complaint, uh the zoning administrator did send letters to those uh own property owners telling them that they were in currently in violation of the of the ordinance. Under the proposed ordinance, the shielding would not be required because the lights don't emanate that many lumens. Okay. So, we actually the proposed ordinance that's under consideration would correct the problem that we currently have. Thank you. You're welcome, Mr. Moore.

I just wanted to thank you, John, for the clarification on construction reconstruction. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Other questions, council. Does the public wish to speak on this? There being none, I'm going to city clerk Beck for a roll. Deore I. Wilmont, I. Navtra, I. Murphy, I. Motion passes 40. Next is the first reading, the proposed ordinance amending chapter 21, traffic and motor vehicle regulating bicycles. I'd turn it over again to city manager horn.

Thank you, mayor. So, we've had a few discussions on this topic as well going back to uh summer of 2025. Um we had another discussion on April 20th. Um, couple different variations of this has kind of been uh pushed out uh based on comments that I received from city council on uh April 20th. I I did put back in there the park uh reserve district as a section that would we would not allow uh bikes. Um, I did provide a couple options, recommendations for consideration, um, that you may or may not want to entertain. Um, you know, another compromise potentially that if you wanted to split it up a little bit, the section from from Bay to Lake, you we could uh continue the bike path there and then that remaining one block, they would have to find uh either step off their bike, walk it uh from from Lake to Mitchell and then get back on and get back on the greenway at that point or get on the road and and and and bike around. But as a reminder, the focus of this has always been um folks walking bikes in on the sidewalk in front of businesses. Um it's just has not been um a safe uh interaction amongst bikers and pedestrians uh as people are coming in and out of businesses. That's really been the focus um the whole time. And I certainly understand if if we don't allow bikes on the sidewalk, where can they go? And so I understand that the second part of that equation, if you will. Um, and so I'm c certainly open to uh city

council's direction, continued direction on this. I put this back on as first reading because I didn't feel we were quite quite ready to um uh formally consider this uh quite yet, but uh had some feedback. I've taken some feedback over the course of the last couple weeks um trying to find some compromise. We could we could entertain bringing a professional in to look at this um uh from a holistic uh approach if that's council's direction, but we are coming up against in the next month we will have a number of visitors join us in our wonderful community. So, the goal would be to hopefully have something in place before that influx and maybe it's a maybe it's we address the sidewalks in the central business district and we we see how that goes for the summer season and this is an ordinance that can be amended uh repealed um whatever council's direction may be in the future. But maybe we see how um address the core issue and um and then maybe come back and refine it as needed. Um we will be coming to city council in the next meeting or two with the uh Pennsylvania park master plan. They they've taken a um a review of of bicycling through the Pennsylvania park as well. So that would be part of that discussion and and presentation as well as the the community engagement that occurred out of that process. Um so we can certainly have that discussion at that meeting um when we present the master plan um or you could table it and wait for that as well. Um it's it's really up to you how you want to proceed. But again, we're we're going to be coming up against uh um our our visitors uh in the next month. So we're trying to get something facilitated and

implemented, you know, ahead of that time period. So certainly willing to pro take your feedback, your comments, uh make any revisions that you would like to see. Um uh this again is is first reading and and continued discussion. At this point,

I thought city council was pretty pretty consistent in stating no to bicycles through Pennsylvania Park and that and through that park area and that people would walk their bikes in the city of Paskki, not banning bicycles in the downtown, but simply protecting the walkers. Uh, and I felt that it was already a pretty much discussed, but councel, I'll let you take it over. Mr. WMA, um, I've had some feedback uh from, uh, constituents that I'd like to share with you. I I my I'm still consistent in my opinion from the last meeting, but uh in the meantime, one constituent was uh adamant that this initiative was coming from the staff of the DMB, not from the DMB themselves, that it's uh in in that person's opinion, it was out of process as a result, and that the DMB has never been given as an organization an opportunity to weigh in one way or the other on this subject on a formal basis. I don't know that to be the case. I'm just sharing that feedback. I also had uh another constituent who felt that it's uh any any regulation uh that prohibits riding the bike through that uh that one area um is the cart before the horse that we really should be developing a non-motorized transportation plan for the entire city, not just uh Pennsylvania Park, but for the entire city. and that a a satisfactory workaround uh if that's what we choose should be designated before we implement any restrictions. Uh and uh sharing uh their concern that uh it could result in indiscriminate

finding and penalties for uh for adults and children alike even on days when there was no crowds to be concerned about. Um, I I I continue to be of the opinion that number one is public safety and uh that a two a twob block walk of your bicycle is not the end of the world uh in those circumstances and that uh enforcability we can generally count on the fact that uh public safety won't be out there every day ticketing and looking for uh infractions, but uh to have it on the books as a uh uh as a a potent penalty for chronic offenders andor accidents I think would be a good thing for the city and for the citizen.

Mr. knob job.

Uh at the last meeting, I was supportive as well to a point. Well, I wasn't really supportive of of it, but I was going to go along with it. And my logic was and I think I said it in the meeting and was well, we'll leave it up to public safety to enforce it when it needs to be enforced and not when it doesn't need to be and use his discretion. And and I and I thought all week about this and I said, you know, why in the world would we be passing an ordinance? Why would I want to support an ordinance to completely restrict something that I'm hoping the um public safety isn't going to enforce except during the the peak visiting times and which doesn't make a lot of sense to me anymore. Um then I put on my hat of of a bicyclist. Then I also put my hat on as a as a business owner and a retail business owner. And and the reading of this is I know young usually young boys, teenage boys get aggressive and they don't think all right and and they might be zipping around crowds and stuff and not really paying attention. But the vast majority of bicyclists that I've seen, the vast majority of them are respectful. If there's a crowd, they're they're going to they're going to get off and either walk or they're going to get on the street and they're not going to cause a problem trying to run people down. And then as a as a retail owner, I wouldn't want my my I wouldn't want bikes just laying on the ground and parking and and obstructing my my retail front doors, but I wouldn't have a problem like the pretzel one. You know, my family goes out into the pretzel thing in the summer, the pretzel place, and they ride their bikes. Not anymore with because of the safety on that, but they ride their bikes and you know, my gosh, that's a family event. And you park your ride your bikes. It's a it's a very healthy thing. And I just don't think real business people would really object to that much because they would be a friendly and then you go into all

the environmental stuff. So to to your point, Charlie, I I'm I'm just questioning the validity of the real problem and and how we seem to make the way I've read it. We seem to be saying that it's these darn bikers that are just not respectful trying to mow people down and they're trying to run over people. And I just don't see that. I just don't quite get that. And and I would the other the other thing and I I'll stop. Um I'd like the Pennsylvania Park and I've been I've been one of those bikers that like to go into Pennsylvania Park and kind of go to the gazebo and gazebo gazebo and I like that. You know, that little sidewalk there is really convenient when there's no people. If it's not, I ride my bike off on the side and in the grass and I just don't have a problem with it. So, I would encourage us to rethink this a little bit to to make it not just restricted all the way around 365 days a year, but if and maybe we can't have more restrictions during the peak visiting shopping hours during the central business district and figure out a way to get through Pennsylvania Park. That's that's how my current thinking is. I I'm having a hard time just going along with what we said last last time right now.

Sorry. I apologize for the long-winded response.

So, I heard from constituents that were both bike riders and walkers. And in listening to that, I felt that there was consensus around bikes not being on sidewalks in the busy business area. That was my read from what I heard. Beyond that it becomes complex I think and requires more dialogue. But my thinking would be what about if we institute this relative to these busy locations in front of stores and take a look at how that works at the same time that we engage dialogue on these more complex issues. um like you know sure bikes can go between Bay Street and Lake Street but there's those big bushes there and people coming out of the parking lot. There's a number of complex issues that I know bikers can speak to in a better way than I can because I'm a walker. But for now, I'm wondering if there is possibly this point of consensus relative to downtown sidewalks adjacent to businesses that we could give a chance to try this summer and while the complex issues are being discussed and then perhaps revisit this all. So, I don't know how helpful that was. The only other thing I'd say, and I I mean this most respectfully, I think the folks that have come to talk about their biking practices are not the problem are not the people that are causing the problem. Like you just said, um my colleague, you know, people don't do that. But the people that are causing issues, um they're not coming to speak about it here. I would also say there's issues beyond this, like the use of electric bicycles. As a walker, I know I've shared this before. I've been

almost wiped out a couple times by regular and electric bicycles. So, I think those are all things that could be a part of um the dialogue. Thank you,

Mr. Rob. Tina, I I tend to I I I hear what you're saying and I the worry I have of creating a an interim uh ordinance with the idea then it would be perhaps looked at more comprehensively and modified is once the ordinance is in, it's going to be it's harder to just kind of get it switched. And so we we're we're taking we're taking it and just axing it completely out of the central business district. And in to your point, we're talking about some of the people that don't know how to do it, not the people that are the the regular bikers. And the majority of the people are the regular bikers. And I'm just I feel like you're just taking away a bike friendly town and we're sending the wrong message for the majority of it. I get the problem with the during the peak times of walkers. I get that. And I I just don't think we should say let's wipe it all out and then let's figure it out later and do a comprehensive review. I'd rather kind of take the re I wish we would have taken a more detailed review to begin with. But so that's I'm still having a problem of passing this as it is personally and then we all have a wink to the public safety that they're not going to do it, enforce it, and we're we're going to tell each other that we're going to take it up in a comprehensive review. Um, do we happen to know if the criticism that I heard from the one party today about the DMB not officially taking a position and making an official DMB recommendation, do we know if that is the factually accurate?

They have talked about it, but there's been no official recommendation to carry um forward to city council. So with other with other boards that uh that exist in our organization, we generally look forward to a recommendation from the board before taking up an action.

Is that correct? So one of the possibilities is we may may wish to throw this back to the DMB and say what is the recommendation for the DMB with regard to this proposed ordinance. I I would just take that a step further and also include the parks and recck commission in that review. Um it is a it is a park so it's under the purview of the parks and recck commission as well. So I would like to see if we're going to do that more so than DMB.

Yeah. Yeah. First first I would send it to parks and wreck and then on to uh DMB if if that's the perview of city council. So, my feelings are the DMB is going to save downtown from sitting in the discussions as a member of the board, but as long as you're willing to listen to it and say send it back. But if you've already made up your mind, Joe or Tina or anybody, then there's no sense in sending it anybody any place if you you've already locked in how you're going to how you feel about it. I would rather we I would personally rather if we're going to send it back be open-minded to hear what they have to say for both boards.

John, I'm not sure exactly what you meant by that, but I consider myself a pretty open-minded person and and you know, all I can you know, I didn't get much. I got a I got a couple calls. I got a call from a biker and I got a call from another individual. I wouldn't have a lot of calls. So, I'm just going on my own my own experience and love for going riding bikes in downtown Paskki. I love it. I like going to get a cup of coffee in the morning with my wife. I I just And I just see the the real risk areas are pretty small. So, I'm definitely open-minded about it. If the people that are really into this every single day and are are do the deep dive, if they have other thoughts, I'm totally open. I I will say I sat in on the DMV meeting last month, you know, last month. And uh when the downtown manager gave her report, including this, obviously those are all retailers around the table and they were all like that this is an issue um um that they were supportive of trying to get their heads around. But certainly we can get something formalized through through them um to come back here. Um, I would just say in Adrian where I grew up, uh, very similar case of, uh, traditional downtown. Um, we ended up putting in bike lanes in either direction downtown. Unfortunately, in talking to Jason, we just don't have the width to do that. Um, in our in our core downtown, but that was kind of a way we we pushed people off the sidewalk into those bike lanes. It's is it is it possible to create an ordinance that is restricted during certain hours during certain months and as opposed to you know somebody you know it on a in the fall when no one's here on a Tuesday riding their bike to work at 9:00 in the morning. Is there are we able to restrict hours and seasons? safety director stated at the one of the meetings that he addressed to us that that really is more confusing than

anything when you're saying this these days or these months but not this. It almost needs to be consistent across the board for it to for it to be fair to people understanding what the enforcement is. And I understand you're going to get I believe what was going to happen is we're going to get downtown management board people are going to have one opinion. You've got a couple bicycle people out here are going to have the totally opposite. So I think this is what no matter what you do, there's going to be a difference of opinion on bicyclists believing you can ride all over the place freedom and those that are concerned that are businesses that are worried about it. So I think you're going to see two different stories and I guess where we go from there. Mr. Wilmont.

Um I have not heard any concern from my constituents with regard to uh disallowing bicycles on the sidewalk generally. It's only been restricted to access through Pennsylvania Park. That seems to be the flash point in terms of the feedback I've been receiving. And yes, I have an open mind to that and would look forward to parks and recck weighing in on it and can giving us their uh recommendation to go forward. Uh they're uh more more heads are better than six. So uh uh that would be that would be uh your question that goes to the two boards and gets feedback from them. Is that what somebody you guys are requesting?

That's that would be my suggestion. Yeah, Mr. Moore. So, I'm I'm always open to input. I like constructive dialogue. I like different perspectives. I will say in this though, you know, we first talked about this last July. Not all of us. Not all. Some of us.

Um, and here we are again. And I just hope that whatever we do, we do promptly. Uh, because I agree with my colleague, Mr. Nocttra, public safety is our number one obligation here at the table and I would really hope that we not go through another busy season without coming to some degree of resolution on this perhaps on the more consensus aspects than the complex aspects. So that's my thoughts. My hope is that people that do ride bikes don't take this personal that we are anti-bikes in the city of Ataski. But we are looking out for public safety. We have the wheelway that we've supported and funded for the bike way coming north south going to Harbor Boy and South. And uh I think it I hope they look at it as this is not a terms to bicyclist but this is a looking at how to make it work for everybody. So I guess we'll send it to

ask that you put it on the city agenda for public comment. Yeah, we will. Oh, before you do before you do public comment, is it a possible for you to put it on the board's question? We'll have to amend their their agenda has already been released for Monday, but I can have Kendall amend it. Add this discussion item. Um, and then the DMV is uh third Tuesday, the 19th. The 19th. So, I'll get with Amy to add that agenda item. Yep. You got Mr. Wilma?

Yeah. in in an additional uh development. In reading this, I really take uh what Tina said is is is is it is very complex. The existing ordinance uh section uh article 7 roller skates, rollerblades, coasters, and scooters. Um we I'm not sure that that deals with those products as well as it could. Now that may not be a discussion for today but it doesn't for instance uh have any kind of limitation or prohibition for roller skates, rollerblades, coasters and scooters with regard to it doesn't say anything with regard to bike routes andor bike paths that exist and whether whether there are any limitations uh that are imposed. it just designates uh the same areas that are uh prohibited uses in this particular version under under bikes. But the other thing that I the differentiation between fully electric pedal assist u whether or not we should have a speed limit attached how penalties are going to be defined um it's a complex issue that is not fully resolved in this language at least we should discuss them whether or not we want to modify the language I don't know but they're they're subjects for discussion

more just adding to that is the issue of delineating lanes for walkers versus bikers. Again, just a topic of conversation that's a part of that. And I think we should address the bicycles that are uh not pedal assisted. Uh we were driving from Magnus Park. I picked the truck up to go in almost 30 miles an hour and I was passed by a guy on an electric bike going had to be 40 miles an hour. ran right through the stop sign and kept right on going up town and I put my car up to 30 to see how fast he was going and he passed me on the high on the on the roadway.

So I I do have concerns about the speed of uh of bikes and I I think that whole discussion has to include enforcement has to include monitoring such as u speed guns. Um, I think there's a whole thing that that opens up a can of worms of how we need to look at this whole piece of it. Much like we did the the lighting with John, uh, it's it's a big ball of wax and it's going to take time to unwind some of it. Mr. Knob, John, I I agree. It's gotten very complex. The technology, you know, when you you got the bikes, I like the idea with a pedal activated is much better than just pushing the button.

I get that because those are they're terrible. They can go up to 35 mph and you don't even know it. You have you have then you got scooters. The advancement of scooters and popularity of scooters, they just go and you just push the button and they go and some of them are super duper and some of them aren't super duper. So we got the same issue with that. But you can't pedal a scooter. So it it is a complex issue that has become very very popular to a lot of people. Mr. knob. No, no, sorry, Mr. Wilmont. Um, well, in addition, you've got, I think they're called airboards, which have the single wheel under them that can do 30 miles an hour also. Um, and great,

you know, I don't want to cloud the issue about bikes downtown. We do need to get that done before one way or the other before the season is upon us. But this is a this is a a can worms that needs further dialogue. Sounds like we have it. More, you have anything? Public wish to weigh in on this? Please come up. Push the button so it's green. Address city council, not the audience. First, full name, last name. When you have time to speak, I'll set the clock. How much time do I have? Minutes. Five minutes.

Okay. Good evening, everybody. Um, I think probably you all think I'm here as a cyclist. I'm not. I'm here as a downtown property owner and business owner. And I'm very upset and distressed about the process that has evolved around this biking issue. I'd like to read from you the downtown management board mission statement. a self-governing board dedicated to planning, promoting, and preserving the downtown business district, the hub of our community for the greater good of business, professional, social, cultural, and service activities located within the defined downtown area. Their mission statement includes a number of things, but the third one is serve as an advisory body to the city of Bataski in matters pertaining to the downtown business district. And then regarding open meetings, deliberations and decisions of the downtown development authority and the downtown management board shall be conducted and made at meetings open to the public as required by provisions of act 267 and public acts of Michigan. This issue was brought forward to you by Amy Tweeten who is the downtown development authority and management board administrator. This item was never on the agenda for the downtown management board. So, downtown business owners have been deprived of the opportunity to discuss, to weigh in, and to educate themselves and perhaps you all about the issues governing bikes. I can tell you that I have looked at every agenda and I have watched videos and it is true what Mr. Wilmont heard. There was no agenda item. So I think this is a broken process and

I think that we who pay the taxes downtown and our business people and recognize that this is a complex issue deserve and must have an opportunity to create a process that exemplifies good government because I think that's what we ultimately should care about. We're part of the process. So that's my first gripe. Um, my second thing is that and also Shane mentioned that uh the uh um parks and recck was going to talk about this. I looked at their agenda and when they talked about reviewing the plan downtown, they didn't mention bikes. They mentioned other aspects of the downtown plan, but cycles, you know, biking, cycling was not on the itemized. So if you were a person who wanted to talk to Parks and Wreck about this issue, you wouldn't even know that they were going to talk about it. And that meeting you said is coming up. So I hope that that would be clarified so that people know, oh, I have an opportunity to speak. Okay. The other thing is I feel the council had some very incomplete information that was given to you by um Amy Tweeden. She said in her presentation, one of the items was she knows that Traverse City, Holland, Michigan, and Madison, Wisconsin don't allow cycling in front of businesses. Okay, she's right. They don't. But I have called Traverse City and I have called the city of Holland and I have a son-in-law who recently spent three years there. They don't allow cycling in front of store owners, in front of stores. But what they do have are alternative paths. So there are bike lanes that get you downtown safely. I had a quite a talk with the fellow Jeff I think is his name who's the um street manager in in Traverse City. And I said, "Well, how does someone get to work if they work downtown and they ride a bike?" And he

said, "Well, Front Street has a lane going one way for cyclists and the block behind has a line going the other way." And so we just people rotate in and out around the town and if we see people who are on the sidewalks and that's usually tourists, we are politely asking them to please either use the bike lane or park their bike. The other thing is that's important to me is the value of cycling. Um, this council with the mayor's uh aggressive uh desire has uh a a desire to have uh re a renewable energy in the city in 2035. Is that correct? Right. You still have that. Um so one of the values of cycling is that it is low impact, low carbon. It is very environmentally friendly. So I think in some ways encouraging cycling and letting people ride to work is very consistent with um the policies you have environmentally. The other thing is that this council has worked very hard to support moderate and lowincome people. If you look at statistics, and I don't know if any of you have looked up the numbers about biking and why people bike, but one of the advantages for people riding to work on their bikes is especially true if you are in that category, that income, and you can't afford a car, you live downtown or close to downtown, and you are now able to live more affordably. that that might be able to be part of a discussion that the DMB has. But again, um I think that the process needs to be improved and everyone um needs to practice what we we say we believe in. So thank you for listening.

You're I just want to let you know I gave you an five hours and 40 5 minutes and 45 seconds. I believe it's important for you to speak. Thank you. Also, I would like to offer I'm I have an opening for we have an opening for the DMV since you are a property owner. If you are would like to fill out an application, I'm looking for another board member on the DMV. So, CBA. So, I think that um my slot is filled. I just removed. Okay. I know people who might want to be on,

but if your business, if you have somebody at your business, co-owner or anything like that that would like to be on the board, we have a I have a spot available. Just pass I'm just passing that on. I'm looking for one. If you know of anybody, anybody including council, please. Merson, did you wish to speak? Thank you, Emily Meerson. Um, I'm here. Uh, thank you all for your thoughts about this. I think I heard really good discussions and that that felt really good. Um, at the last meeting I heard a couple council people talk about like bikers like going super fast through Pennsylvania Park and how terrible that would be. And, you know, I agree that would be terrible. It's not it's not a bike trail. It's not like you're going to have people in a a line of bikes going through. It's just a transportation corridor. It's a connector. It's a way to get people through. And when I came and talked to all of you last July, we were talking about the need for a non-motorized plan. And I'm back to talk about it. Everything you were talking about, it's complex. It's not simple. How you get people around. You have bikers. You have walkers. Now you have electric bikes. You have electric scooters. You have the hoverboards. I mean, there's all these different things. The city is great. We have 300, I think, new apartments on one side of town, right on the greenway. How do they get across town? You have more people. Those apartments were approved with less parking. not two parking spaces per apartment, which is what they require, I think, in the county, but only one because they wanted people to bike and walk and not need a car, not have more congestion downtown. So, the need for non-motorized plan, I think, is really important. And I think making a law and hurting people who are doing

those things before you finish that plan, I think, is a mistake. the city built this incredible greenway and then ended it with two blocks in the middle and that wasn't the it's like so you bring the bikers in and it's like psych you can't get through and so I just think for now it's not ideal it's not perfect I think most of the most of the time I was talking 95% of the time you can get right through there without any problems and the 5% of the time you can't so you get off you go around it I I think to to create a law for that little bit of time is a mistake. To create a law that can be randomly enforced I think is a mistake and I just ask you not to do that. The pieces I staff brought it back this year because there's there's safety issues in front of the businesses which I have experienced that people opening a business door and they're talking and they're tourists and they run right into pedestrians. So if a biker was there it would be even worse. I mean, I've been run into as a pedestrian, so I could see that that would be an issue. But that piece of Pennsylvania Park and the ordinance that was brought forth to begin with to me was a really good compromise until you and then you can solve the problem and then maybe expand the law if it's still a problem once you have that transportation, that connection because we need our community connected and it's really important. So, I just ask you, it sounds like you're thinking holistically about this. I ask you to do that. I really would love to see a non-motorized plan done. It was done, I think, last in 2015. And things have changed a lot. We didn't have electric bikes. We didn't have hoverboards. We didn't have a lot of the things we have now. We didn't have the greenway, I don't think. So, there's a lot to go on. I think it really could help everyone in the community to get around better and help all of you make decisions. And it's not just about the greenway. I think it would help with some of the wheelway problems and help

in some of those um instances as well. So, thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak to council at this point?

Moving on. We go to just so I'm clear what direction. So, we're tableabling this. It seems to me that it's tabled in favor of uh uh responses from the two boards. Uh does that sound consistent?

That's I I support that. Although although I I I will say that the the comments about the non-motorized transportation plan is an excellent one, but that's a big project and something that uh probably will emanate from the planning commission, I would think, at some point in time while they have uh their current agenda is pretty full, but um if it's that's a project that ought to be on the drawing board. I agree,

Mr. Moore. I think for me the only postcript to this is that I would like to have that feedback from those two bodies at the earliest opportunity giving folks as well an opportunity to off their input so we can address this at least perhaps the portion that is not as complex. So that would be my only ask. All set chain on that. Yes. Moving on to discussion on city council meeting preparation uh procedures and policy.

There was a request to move this on the agenda. Do you still want to do that? Yes. I'd offered a suggestion that we move this to the end and deal with the other items on the agenda first and see what time allows for us to try to finish that up. Have a motion for that. Do I have a second for that? Support. I have a motion and a second to move uh old business D to behind new business just which will be number 10. New business. Yeah. C right. Well, it wouldn't be new business. It' be old business. No, it would be

old business 10 A. I go to 10 10 A just moves down to 11 A. 11 and 11 go. Discussion goes to 12 for agenda. What

can I just say two other things? One, I'm wondering do we want to move forward with this with um Miss Walker absent? Number one. And number two, since we have so sporadically been able to get at this, if there's any consideration to be given to set a special meeting just to sit down and try to uh blow through this, I I think it's hard over time to get your head back in this space or my head. I'll speak to my own head. Um so I don't know if others have thoughts about that. I'm wondering if we do it at n at five o'clock prior to a a city council meeting that is going to be a shorter meeting. Have it at 5:00. Um it's really boilerplate stuff. It is not I don't I I question how much public is going to weigh in on it, but it is available to them at 5:00 if they wanted to and it would move us forward and get this going because this seems to be kicked down the road. Yeah, you know, I'm talking

this ha half in half out. I I get prepared and I don't we take it off and and and it's it's really for me anyway. It's really hard to get focused on it because it's important, but it is a lot of boilerplate. There's a lot of nonsense stuff in there, too. But it's kind of important we get through it. And I'd rather do it all at one time and be done with it, whether it's a five o'clock thing or a special thing. But it it seems to me unwieldy to to get my head into it than out of it. and I said, you know, I wasn't in the mood to really get into it this time and tried to and but it's a waste of time the way we're doing it now.

I respectfully I would recommend we have this as a standalone special meeting. Um potentially an off Monday. Um, you I think we could well we're coming up against summer, so it I know everybody's gets busy in the summer, but I I like the concept of really focusing. This is our only topic. We'll dive into it with both feet. And but you were saying wait for the fall or do it. No, no, no. I'm not I'm saying open up your calendar books everybody and we will look at what's available for a off date Monday. I do a couple. Should we do this though at our next meeting with Lindsay? Yeah, Lindsay. I don't know what Lindsay's schedule is. Um, you can pick it up.

Pick it well around two meetings and the next meeting. Can't we propose a date and then ask Lindsay to weigh in on it and be a couple dates or give her a couple of dates? Then you guys talk about it at the next meeting. And the 25th is uh 25th of what? May. May. It's an off Monday. Yeah, I'm gone. Oh, that is I'm going to be allowed to be there. Sorry about that. That didn't city holiday. Oh, we don't give that holiday. So, you're thinking So, you're going to be here that day working your whole staff. I'm not going to be here. Yeah. It could be um

Yeah, I I you know, I look at it uh June 22nd 29. I'm gone that entire week of May that you're referencing the entire week or the title of Memorial Day. No, May 24th through May. Yeah, that's fine. I didn't I forgot that was the holiday week. Yeah, that's Where are we now? We're in June on the 8th, the 22nd or the 29th for me. All those dates were Thursday. I think I can those dates. Charlie, which which ones? June 8 22 29 fine eight

tell you what I'll have us do why don't we have Shane get with Lindsay Lindsay and pick one of those three dates and run with it. Is that good? And I'm going to double check my calendar too and I'll let Shane know if I have any conflicts but it doesn't look like it. Just a reminder that week of June 15th is fairly busy with convention. But he avoided that. He avoided that. I know, but I'm just saying that's a couple meetings that week. Three minions and a ribbon cutting for the passenger pigeons. So, we're busy. It would be a parks and wreck meeting June 8th. I don't know if conflict when wait a minute.

When's our meeting that month? The first and uh just the first. Okay, got it. person and do we have that might be a good month to have one on either 22nd or 29 right now we don't on the 15th probably do it that month because I'm not available hardly any of the Mondays once forth in July or August and it doesn't necessarily need to be a Monday either but that's up to you let's look at 22 and 29 I think that's a good idea we could push it to fall too 29 you make it false on my birthday I'm for pushing it for fall. But I will I will make any Monday you guys think work. Be nice to get this done. 22nd 29th.

So we need to withdraw the motion then just sooner the better. Get it firmed up. Yes. Yep. Or amend the motion. Charlie, would you would you uh amend rescend your motion? Consider it rescended. I don't even remember making it at this point. So yes, agenda. You support. Yes. We have a plan B. I have rescended the 22nd.

So until it happens, until she gets it, we're good with that. Okay. Next is new business. First reading of propos to proposed ordinance amended appendix A zoning map concerning zoning 22 4 Mitchell Michigan Street and the OS office services to V 2V Mix used corridor. Yes.

Can I please make a statement on the record before we go forward with this? I will abstain from voting on and participating in discussion on this resoning request and the following agenda item regarding the expansion of the parking exempt district due to a potential conflict of interest. as my husband and I own adjacent properties on the 200 block of Michigan Street. And as the next agenda item indicates, my husband Charlie Redstat offered input to the planning commission regarding his perspective on the proposed parking expansion. Thank you. Okay. So, will you be participating in discussion or not? Nothing at all. Just checking,

Mr. Knob. So given that and the fact that Lindsay's here, not here yet, she's not here. Does that impact There's only three of us. Just first reading. Just first reading. Okay, great. John, city planner, would you please?

Thank Thank you, Mayor, members of council. I put a the two requests are about this regarding the same piece of property. Uh the the requ and the the requests have come from the owner of the the new owner of the church at uh 42024 224 Michigan Street. I have the address is wrong. Um and that's Great Lakes Housing Preservation LLC. Uh they submitted a resoning request to uh change the zoning requesting a change of zoning from OS office service uh to B2B mixeduse corridor. Get the next slide Sarah for me. The uh the property is the former 7th day Adventist church and then after that it was the uh church of Jesus Christ of the Latterday Saints. Most recently, it was the Garrett Beck Law Offices and the professional collection services. Uh the the property is pretty much built out. It's almost a a zero uh the footprint of the church pretty much consumes about 95% of the lot. There is a onecar parking space in the back of the church that has a small curb cut uh on the street. The planning commission took a look at Flip the next slide for me, Sarah. The planning commission, this this shows you the location of the property. It's next to the across the street is the dry cleaner, the bank. Diagonally across the street is the Darling parking lot. Behind the uh the property is a small house. Then there's a parking lot that's associated with the uh Turkot office complex. Uh, as Councilman uh, De Moore had

mentioned, along Michigan Street in that neighborhood are a lot of uh, single family uh, homes, historic in nature uh, that have been part of the city for quite a while. You hit the next slide. The applicant is looking to do an adaptive reuse of the church to include residential units, studio or creative workspaces, public assembly, and small-cale commercial uses which would be allowed in the B2B mixeduse corridor district if reszoned. Uh, one of the aspects that the planning commission took a look at was the consistency with the 2021 livable Paskki master plan and portions of the master plan do support the uh the proposed resoning. There are a couple other provisions within the master plan uh that talk about things like, you know, associated impacts with businesses adjacent to residential, the need to make sure that those are handled appropriately and accounted for. Go ahead, Sarah. One of the things that the planning commission looks at as part of a reasonzoning is not the applicant's specific project, but when they're reszoning a piece of property, the planning commission needs to take a look at if they resone the property, what are the proposed permitted and special uses that would be allowed in the new district and would any of them have a potential uh to impact the neighborhood. This chart shows you the comparison between OS office service and the B2B mix corridor. You can see that many of the uses in the top part of the table. Uh residential office building, medical office, banks, credit unions, personal

service are the same in both districts. The OS district allows churches or other similar uses which would be an interpretation by the either by the zoning administrator or by the zoning board of appeals. The B2B district allows you know the same uses single family, two family, multi- office, medical, banks, personal but it also allows things like bakery, brewery, health and fitness, public assembly, bed and breakfast and hotel. And that was the reason for the request was to use the church as public assembly for events and other small commercial venues. Hit the next slide. the a couple of the planning commissioners we had at the meeting, eight out of nine. Two of the planning commissioners uh were uh concerned about changing the zoning from OS to B2B regarding the potential impact if there were a brew pub or food service in the church or a hotel because of the proximity to the adjacent residential neighborhood. So that was discussed by the planning commission as part of their deliberations. Next slide Sarah. Overall after that discussion, the planning commission voted to recommend to council the resoning and six of the members were in favor. Two of the members were against uh the resoning. So, that's that's a summary of the resoning issue uh with this piece of property. The next ordinance for consideration, and they're both linked, is the parking exempt district request. The property is diagonally across the street from the Darling lot. The church has no really physical

uh ability to accommodate off- streetet parking. It never has. Uh it's been used as a church obviously is an assembly use. So over the years there's been two churches there. There's been a law office, a collection agency, and people that have used the building have used either on street parking or they have used parking in the darling lot, which is a public lot diagonally across the street. Go ahead, Sarah. the the property has, like I mentioned, the small area behind a church, maybe for definitely for one, possibly for two vehicles if you really push them close together. The previous owners didn't have any off- streetet parking, relied, like I mentioned, on on street and off street. the prior owner did uh the uh the Beck law firm at one time did buy a piece of property across the street on Michigan tore the house down with the intent of building a parking lot but never did. So that lot has now been sold to an individual in town that's looking at building a house on that piece of property and as I had mentioned the subject property is diagonally across the street from the darling lot. So those are the two requests. One is to reszone to allow for an adaptive reuse. Uh to allow primarily for public assembly uh because it's not a church, it would be used for public assembly like small events, concerts, that kind of thing. I think I think recently the zoning administrator told me because we we've been watching the project that there was a dance class there some either this week or last week. So, it is being used to some degree, but we have to make sure obviously from a zoning point of view that the uses that are in the building are consistent with the zoning. The planning commission felt that the B2B mixeduse corridor provided a little bit more flexibility and latitude relative to uh to the mixed use. Um, regarding the the comment

uh from uh council person Deore's husband regarding the uh the parking which was he sent an email and this was presented to the planning commission regarding the exempt initially as part of the analysis. We were not only going to include the church as part of the parking district, but the dry cleaner and the bank because the dry cleaner is on a large piece of property, but it only has three parking spaces. And the bank, we looked at the bank and banks recently are coming and going, and those are two really nice redevelopment sites, and they're both across the street. However, the email was in was concerned about the incorporation of multiple pieces of property into the parking exempt district with a recommendation that at some point in time the city may need to take a broader look at overall parking, off- streetet parking, what the definite needs are in that particular area as a recommendation. that was presented to the planning commission as well. The planning commission decided just to focus their attention on this subject property. So, the dry cleaner and the bank are not part of the parking exempt district, just the church. And after deliberation and discussion, uh all eight of the planning commissioners were in favor of including this property into the parking exempt district primarily because there's really no other options for parking. Uh so uh that's that's the that's the summary of the two ordinances which are uh separate but they're definitely linked because they're they involve the same piece of property. So if you have any questions up be happy to answer.

Um thanks John. I had a a um have a couple of questions. the two that descented, if I heard you say that right, it was more that it was in the neighborhood proximity to a brew pub. Is that kind of what it was? Yeah, they were concerned that narrow that was this. Yes, they were concerned that a couple of the uses like the brew pub and the hotel uh could be uh could be impactful to the adjacent neighbor neighborhood. Do do we know if we have any group hubs, hotels that are also relatively adjacent to residential units and do we have any problems with them that you're aware of?

Well, the only one that I that comes to mind and it's it it's somewhat prox has proximity to residential neighborhood across the street and behind it is the Elder Piper. Oh, yeah. Uh group up. And I don't know, I'd have to ask Shane. I we haven't received any complaints in the planning and zoning office. I don't know if the city manager has. Nothing. Nothing at this point. Um no, that's it actually. Thanks, Mr. Wilmont.

How does this not constitute spot zoning? the the uh the ma the master plan uh has recommendations along that entire corridor for the evolution of that corridor to start to go from a mixeduse character for a combination of offices, commercial and residential developments. So that's that's what's in the master plan future land use map. So this is kind of like ad if if the council approves this, it's kind of advancing that along that in in that fashion. The the council is not privy yet to discussions that the planning commission has had regarding the proposed ordinance or the proposed zoning map, but the planning commission has been working on those. And one of the things that the planning commission is looking at is that there's a differentiation between corridor commercial which would be Mitchell Street for example US 31 Mitchell Street through the community over by Kilwins 31 north and the 131 corridor and what they call business neighborhood which would be pretty much like what you're seeing where you have the party stores down on EMTT Street the the Northern Express uh copy center which is right across the street from residential. You have the lofts at Lumber Square. You have Elder Piper. So, you're already starting to see within those neighborhoods a mixture of small commercial, residential uh and commercial uses. So planning commission was pretty comfortable with advancing the idea that this would be compatible with the current master plan uh as present or as as you know the 2021 livable Paskki plan the future land use map.

We'll follow up on that. So with with the potential changes that may be recommended by the planning commission with regard to the overall zoning review and updating. Uh this could all change in a several months depending on the recommendations they make to council and council's decision on the new zoning code. Y it could be expanded. It could be depending on the length of the council review. It could be a temporary situation. Yes. Just allows them in the meantime to expand their activities. Correct.

That's that's the position of the applicant. That's why they had asked for the change in their resoning because they currently are trying to lease up the property and utilize it without being in conflict with the current zoning code. But but similarly, if uh depending on the resolution of the zoning review and recommendations and city council's deliberations, it could be removed at that time as well. That's good. Yes, you're you're correct. It could turn into a bar, too, couldn't it? Well, in the ordinance, the way that the the B2B is set up, it it allows for a brew pup. Not a bar, but a brew pup, like a elder piper.

Define what's the difference between a bar and a brew pup? I don't I don't know the difference. Well, usually a brew pub just does one thing. They sell selzers and beer. They don't sell hard hard alcohol. That's usually the difference. That is the difference. That's usually is the that's usually the licensing difference. A brew pub is primarily beer and selzers and cers. This says brew pub. I'm sorry. What? I didn't say anything. Oh, I thought you said something. Council, anything else? questions.

I kind of felt like it was kind of spot zoning, but I understand. But I hope we have the flexibility if we're doing it here. I hope we have the flexibility on like dayc carees up by the college. Uh well, your honor, that that's that's you know, I'm glad you mentioned that because churches are, you know, unfortunately there's a there's a few you know, churches in many communities are being vacated. Okay. We had one over on the corner of Madison and Engles

okay which is a which was a church because of its zoning which I believe was RM2 they allowed as daycare as a special land use and that's being converted that church is being converted into a child care center. So it it it's you know to some degree it's trying to figure out what what what if there's flexibility in terms of trying to maintain the character of these neighborhoods by allowing adaptive reuse of some of these facilities. Um but I wanted to be perfectly upfront with you. I mean there was the plan we had eight at the planning commission two of the members were were concerned about two of the uses hotel and a brew pub. The other ones weren't a big issue because they're pretty consistent with what's allowed under the OS district, but that that's part of the planning process.

I I hotel has the requirement for parking. Is that correct? So, is this exempt them from that by because they have the across the street parking? It would that's because they the the building has no parking has had no parking. It's got a parking behind it, but it's not even really a lot. It's uh they pull off the driveway and it's kind of like a a gravel area behind the church. But the church is like takes up most of the lot. And that's what the planning commission's uh observation was was what options do we have for parking? There's no option for parking. Right. So, other questions? Mr. Drop

just my own observation and feelings about this is, you know, we have an owner that's bought it and trying to do something with it. Seemed like we want to somewhat encourage it. The planning commission did a deep dive in this and and evaluated it um which gives me a comfortable that they came came out with it um with six of two and I think we need to encourage it and I I generally am in favor of doing this as you got it done. Someone else wish to speak. The owner is The owner is online. But shall I have a motion or do you want to hear from the owners? I don't first read.

So, uh, does the public wish to weigh in at this point to city council? Okay. Right there. Maybe questions. Lindsay, I mean, do you want me to open it? I don't I texted her. doesn't have her hands.

Hello. Can everyone hear me? We can hear you, Lindsay. Yes.

Hi. Thank you. Um, your staff has very graciously outlined everything. Um, I I apologize for not being there in person. and I'm at the Edzel and Eleanor Ford House right now at a conference. So, um, but yes, I I appreciate you taking the time to consider the both of the ordinance changes um to give us a chance to breathe new life into uh significant historic property for the the city of Paskki. um allowing the the added flexibility will uh essentially allow us to be successful in this project. Um, and I will say that, uh, knowing from our realtor that we worked with when purchasing the property, there had been some folks that were considering a brood pub type use in the past, uh, that wanted to potentially purchase it, but didn't because of the site restrictions that we are talking about tonight. Um, not to say that that's not ever going to happen in the future, but um, some some people had considered that use in the past and and chose not to to move forward with purchasing the property. And so, um, essentially the goal for us as owners is to bring it back into the community as a space that can offer community events and, um, and hope to, uh, be good neighbors to everybody around us, including those who spoke against it during the planning commission meeting. Um, we're dedicated to being good neighbors and and uh, the the demand for parking. Um, I live on Michigan Street, so I see it day in and day out. Um, it the the parking issue year round, even in the summer months, is usually during um office hours during

the day, and most of our programming will be in the evening. So, um there there shouldn't be a huge concern with uh a lack of parking. Uh Darling Lot has 180 spots, I think. I could be wrong, but around there. um and and rarely is that lap full um even peak summer months. So, um I appreciate you considering the topic and we'll be happy to answer questions.

Public wish to weigh in. Thank you, Lindsay. Let's see if there's anybody else wish to speak. There being none, we will go for second reading in two weeks. Thank you, John. Thank you, your honor. City Council comments. I'll start with what? For both of them, right? For both of those. Yes. No addition. Yes. City council comments. Wo, Mr. Kn, Mr. Knobrop, about W three. We'll go three.

I actually do. And I actually have a little prepared statement. So again, I apologize for my prepared statements this week. This time, um, last week I read the article in Paskki News about uh, it kind of hit me hard. Um, apparently realer.com listed Paskki as a luxury real estate market. And in reading the article deeper, I I read that the realer.com defines this basically as as all or most of the homes listed for sale exceed $1 million. This caused me to to kind of think in two parallel paths as a as a council member of Paskki and and and I'm kind of asking this for all of us to to think about it. Number one, um we're blessed with a great tax base that should allow this council to think long term with the with how best to utilize our resources. Not to tax more, but to plan long term for what we need to do to s to sustain the next 50 years. a community that continues to thrive and us not be afraid to make long-term commitments to achieve this. Thinking strategically, past councils, in my opinion, have done a pretty good job of being fiscally responsible and have built a decent balance sheet. We need to be bold in our long-term objectives. This doesn't mean to go out and buy a bunch of new parks or how to figure out how to give more how to give money away or discounts. It involves an investment in our infrastructure, however we define infrastructure, such as a high-speed internet, more bike friendly routes, uh partner with the private sector to encourage investment in rebuilding our downtown for the next 50 years. We have so many parcels down here that are garbage that we need to think long term about that and to balance the importance of tourism to our community with the needs of our yearround and part-time residents and taxpayers. I'm not saying

go out and increase tourism is the right thing and I'm not saying that we just do everything uh to to kick the tourists out, but we need to think long term and we have the financial wherewithal and the stability. I believe that we can consider that. Two of my favorite quotes that come to mind, I might have I've said it before. Managers do things right, leaders do the right thing, and the other one is don't confuse efforts with results. We need to do the right thing for the residents and taxpayers of Paskki and to get the the right results for the long term. That's one line of thinking is to think long term with our our what I believe is we have a solid financial footing in in this to think long term and make long-term commitments. Number two, we have this luxury designation designation in part due to a limited middle income real estate. I believe we need to encourage middle inome residents to invest in housing that they can afford. very different from lowincome or affordable housing. I think we've done a reasonable job of that. Uh I see two small ways that this city could do this and be fiscally responsible. Number one, we have a number of city-owned residential lot parcels that we've taken back for a variety of reasons. We should ask Shane to look at these lots and create a plan to provide waiverss if needed to allow people to own these lots and build middle-income homes. And I'm focusing middle income right now to live and not to be landlords to rent but to live as residents in the Paskki in the middle income area. We can give these lots for free or better yet give them a forgivable loan that is that once they build the the uh homes and they occupy it and live in it, not rent it, it's forgivable. This has a a numerous double whammy impact. It increases our housing stock for middle inome families and puts these back these parcels back into our tax base. We have thousands of people coming through the city of Paskki that don't pay anything.

they're just passing through and and I think middle inome people living here is is is a big would help us a lot. Then the second thing is to ask Shane I brought this up before I'm going to ask again but to ask Shane to look at a lowinterest loan program orable maybe partially forgivable loans for people to upgrade their homes to be more attractive to middle inome families to live in our beautiful city as homeowners not as lifelong renters. We could we have the funds to to do this in my mind on a small basis and make a make an impact and not only the fancy houses up Mitchell Street or near nearby houses. We need to build middle inome homes for people to live here and I think we could participate and take a leadership role in that. I'm hopeful that the council would support these ideas or some variation of that and we actually take action to think strategically and not spend a lot of time creating regulations that restrict otherwise peaceful behavior and I'm not meaning that as any anything just thinking strategically. Thank you.

Word two, Mr. Mr. Wilmont.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um, since the last meeting, I reached out to uh both the lofts at Lumber Square and the block because I was curious to see what their lease activity was like uh what the response of the citizenry is to the uh to these two developments. And um Lofts at Lumber Square responded to me with head spinning uh efficiency. And uh as of the 25th of April, they had of the 60 units, for your information, they had 47 units leased with seven additional households approved uh their applications uh and scheduled to move in by the end of this month. That brings it to a total of 54 units or approximately 90% occupied or pending and 12 applications for the remaining six units. Um, but even further, I asked them to if they could to give me some description as to who was actually leasing these units and uh they they gave me a spreadsheet um that gives a lot of information and the bottom line of the spreadsheet which I'm happy to distribute if you wish is that only one person was relocating from outside the immediate northern Michigan marketplace and that person was from Kalamazoo. to getting divorced and starting over again in Paskki. So, I was very pleased to hear that uh that the leasing activity at the lofts is really addressing the market we hoped it would be addressing and not an outofstate or downstate market that uh uh of of wannabes for a piece of Paskki. Um, interestingly enough, just this afternoon before the meeting, I got a a message from uh from

the block saying of the 204 units there, they now have a total number completed of 120. And to date, 90 of those are occupied and 60 units pre-leasased. So, they actually have more leased units than they have currently available. Um, but they're they're moving quickly, so that's not really a big issue. And of the current residents, 69% are from the local and surrounding counties with 31% relocating to Paskki for work or other reasons. I I I I hope to delve into that a little bit more to understand other reasons. uh just out of curiosity to to make sure that this is still targeted at people who want to who really want and need to live here in Paskki and have been unable to find it. And of the pending residents, 60% um are from the local and surrounding community and 40% are relocating to Paskki for work or other reasons. So on the surface of it, it appears that uh the the response to these two new developments is right along the lines that we had been very hopeful to target, which is uh the the local populace as opposed to um summer residents and and other vacationers. So uh and certainly no uh uh no activity with regard to uh Airbnb or that kind of thing. So, I I I was very pleased about that. Um, in in addition, I just had a couple of quick questions for the city manager. Have you heard from Parks and Wreck when we might be given a list of projects that uh uh that they'd like to see at Winter Sports Park that uh we might be able to engage in 2026 still with some budget amendments? There was another thing I think council discussed in terms of potential budget a amendments. I can't remember what that project was. It

wasn't winter sports park, but then the question was how did you want to deal with potential amendments to the 2026 budget and when? Yeah, we'll have that ready for the next meeting, May 18th. Um, and I I would probably recommend we make any sort of amendments at that time, uh, versus waiting till the end of the budget cycle. So, if you want to make any amendments to any single project for that facility, I would recommend we go ahead and make the amendments at that time. That makes sense.

Terrific. Yeah. So, noted. Um, and then finally, I know that uh there's been some discussion about bringing back the uh rental inspection ordinance, proposed ordinance for discussion and and potential future implementation, and I was wondering if you had any updates on that.

Uh, yeah, just try we we've had some heavy agendas with ordinances uh really trying to do some load management uh for you all. Um, it's it's certainly I I need to send that on to our current city attorney. Uh, previous city attorney did review it, but our current city attorney has not gone through that process, so I need to do that with her. Um, but yes, that will be forthcoming very soon. Thank you. Ward one, Miss.

So now, just a point of clarification, followup. It was my understanding that the recommendations regarding the winter sports park were going to be a part of the master planning process. Did I misunderstand what was just said? Well, there were, as I recall, there were two two discussions.

Most of the major elements were going to be uh uh moved forward or already incorporated in the CIP in one form or another. However, there were uh some items that could be implemented like maintenance and repair items or the patio that could be moved up into 2026 and be more responsive to community requests for further development of the park. But um there the the big questions that they wanted to move to the 2027 master plan were the questions about um snow making uh the the the tow rope um and uh covering the ice rink.

I don't recall the delineation of the two, but I'll look forward to our discussions at the next meeting. um relative to the information you obtained regarding the lofts and maple block. If you could share that with Shane, I would be very interested to be able to see it. Shane could distribute it. I have an adjunct question. However, what's missing from that information is um within this allowable spreads of 80 to 120% AMI. Um what are the spreads uh in terms of the occupied units? I'd be very interested to know that and I'd note on the record I have before that I think part of the reason the lofts um has had success is they did some real targeting in their application process. For example, applicants who currently live in EMTT County or work at a business located in EMTT County receive one priority point placing them higher on the weight list. Generally, applicants can't currently own a home unless a sale is pending with a signed purchase agreement. And yes, the apartment must be your full-time primary residence for a minimum of 10 months for you per year. So kudos to them for those enhanced requirements which I think drove um the kind of outcomes that you were presenting

which I don't I don't believe those same parameters are part of the uh the blocks approach to applications but I I can ask yeah I don't believe so assuming I'm not stepping on any any toes not they are not yeah assuming I'm not I'll be happy to ask those questions assuming I'm not stepping on any toes uh Shane And no, step away. That's fine. Step away. And um step on. Yeah.

I just wanted to acknowledge we had two Youth Advisory Council members here tonight who left because they're allowed to at a certain time to get homework done. That was um both senior Sam and Senior Arv Gandhi. The application process for 2026 2027 membership on the council is currently underway and you can all expect they'll be making a presentation to you at the outset of the next meeting. There are 16 of them. I told them they have a minute each so I've done my best. Thank you.

Okay. Uh I attended uh a meeting at the tribe on Monday for several hours. Uh meeting the new chair and the vice chair. Uh also sat in on a bridge magazine came to photoi through the chamber and was a half meeting or so at the Carnegie building yesterday for that. Uh there was a question you mentioned properties might fill you in now. Uh we've already we already put up a bunch of properties back uh three or four years ago. Two of them, one on Washington Street that now has a house on it that was moved from another location. So we really didn't gain any housing on it. The place it came from up on Lake or Summit, uh wherever it came from, they they put a garage up. So we did not gain that at all. The other one is on Clarion Avenue. Um he built a house on Claron Avenue. It was these are both city lots that we sold. We'd offered four lots, three lots. Uh the other two lots are really not buildable. They're on Claring Avenue and they're on the west side and they are uh springfed coming down through them. So they really aren't buildable at all as as we understood it. But we really don't have any city owned property that I know of that we can sell.

I got a list from you. There's more than two. Yeah, there'll be there'll be a there'll be some where we have utilities um on like utility easements that go through parcels. But certainly I think we could come up with more properties. More properties. Okay. um custom dice on it that you Yeah, there there's not a huge list, but um we had covered them, but we sold the last two for $5,000 a piece, I believe, is what it was.

We do have uh a property on that's Engles as well. Um that we that we cleaned up um very small um yeah, very small lot. We we were working at one point with Habitat. They had expressed some interest in it. Um it's just not a big site. Pretty small house. Um but I can I can take a look at that list again and and bring that forward. Sure.

I I I don't even think we need to sell it. I mean, if we if you if we encourage it, if we get the list and we encourage it and and give it to them, if they provide, you know, what what I've done, what I've seen done is you have a mortgage on it that's forgivable once it's built and they do what they say they're going to do. You just don't give it. Yeah. I I think we have more to gain than the probably the value of the lots. So I I would only say again I'm not the attorney for the city, not my lane, but I'm not sure about if we can just give prop. Yeah, we would have to go through a process. Yeah. Yeah.

Bid process is what it started as a closed bid process. Nobody came through. One gentleman expressed an interest and we came up with the price of were you here then? 5,000. Clary and I was here. Yeah. But you you don't necessarily have to go with the high bid. maybe their use uh someone's use is better than the other person's use or maybe their timeline is quicker. So just like we don't always have to go with the low bid, you don't have to go with the high bid in that case either. Um but there is a process that we need to go through. No further business come before this council.