City Council - Regular Meeting

You can read the proclamation when you want me to

nothing but net this way. We're live. You never heard me. You never heard. Well, is that how we want to do this from now on? I mean, seriously, two calls, messages. Come on. Come on. No. We're good, gentlemen.

I call to order for the city of Batasi City Council for April 6, 2026. I ask that you rise with me for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. I pledge allegianc 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. City clerk Beck, would you please call roll? Moore is absent. Wilmont here. Here, present. Murphy

present. This is a proclamation. Whereas sexual assault awareness month is recognized nationally each April to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of sexual violence. And whereas sexual violence remains prevalent in one in four women and one in 26 men having experienced completed or attempted rape in this country. Whereas communities across our nation, including our rural areas, play a crucial role in fostering environments that are safe, supportive, and connected. And whereas the strength of our community lies in the bonds we share and by creating strong connections, we can work collaboratively to reduce the likelihood of sexual violence. And whereas the residents of our community deserve to live in an environment that values empathy, understanding, and support of the survivors of sexual assault. And whereas recognizing the importance of addressing sexual assault and creating a safer community requires a collective efforts from individuals and organizations and local leadership. Now therefore, I, John Murphy, Mayor of Paskki, do proclaim April 2026 as sexual awareness month in our community. And I urge community members, organizations, and businesses to join in raising awareness, cultivating strong and community connections in working together towards the prevention of sexual assault. Together, we can create a community where everyone feels safe, respected, and support. This date, April 6, 2026.

I'm sure every one of us knows somebody that has had to deal with that. Next, I will go to the council and ask for the consent agenda. There's a lot on this consent agenda. the April 2nd regular session city council meeting minutes. Acknowledge a receipt of a report concerning certain administrative transactions since March 2nd, 2026. Acknowledge a receipt of the February 2026 revenue and expenditures report. authorized contracting with David Hoffman Landscaping and Nursery of Paskki to plant a variety of tree and street and park trees. Authorized contracting with EF Wilkerson and Sons of Shboan for the Howard and East Mitchell road construction project. Authorizing contracting with Guno Excavating of Paskki for the Park Garden parking lot improvement project. Authorizing contracting with Peerless Midwest of Ionia for Limekill Wellhouse Improvements. And authorizing contracting with various forms of firms for various uh installations of concrete structures based on biders filed. uh unit price quotations in their schedule availability.

Uh I move for acceptance of the consent agenda. Do do a second and then I'll do the questions. I support. Okay. Council, you have questions or comments first? City manager or public? Yes. I just have one on the uh the tree um contract with uh Hoffman. Yep. the spread in the bids were wild differences. And in my own experience, that means that generally means there's a scope difference. Something is a little off when there's a goes from low bid ofund or 59,000 to 180 and 174,000. Just widespread. I'm just kind of curious.

Do we know why the spread was there? Do we are we sure that the the scope of all the bids were exactly the same? I'm going to bet it's on location when some of some of the things Hoopersville and Indian River. I'm going to ask uh Kendall, could you make any comments on this? Or is it Jason Parks and Wreck? Is that Yes. So, what you're seeing are the bids. Kendall, can you turn the mic on, please?

I'm out of practice here. It's been a bit. Um what you're seeing are the bids that were red. Once we went through and we looked at the unit cost particularly for draws, there was a significant um math problem on their end. So that's where that bit that's where that difference came in. Um and like the mayor said, Wolf Creek is from Cooperville. I mean, just the mobilization to come up here for trees is is quite expensive. So the dross, you're saying Dross made a made an error in the bid. Correct. And we don't give them an opportunity to fix it. It is what it is.

It is what it is. Even after we did the um we went through and verified, they were still not um they were not close. All right. Thank you. Yep. Thank you. Other questions, Miss Walker. Thank you, Mayor. Um, can you tell me, Shane, what is budgeted for 2026 for the replanting of trees in the city's annual budget? Um, you have that Kendall or Jason? It's split between street trees and and parks, but

I'm not 100%. 150 rings a bell. 150,000 in that though is tree removals and replacement. So this the bids that we received for the street trees are are well under what we had actually budgeted. I know that. Yeah. And in the past we've been 90,000. I know we've had okays for 90,000 for trees at at last few years ago. So this is probably in line was better than that even, isn't it?

Yeah, it's in line. And what we did with our budget for 2026 is knowing that we had the ice storm in 25. We knew we were going to have trees that we had to take out last year because they were a safety issue. We wanted to have, you know, start replacing those. We know we can't do them all at one time, but we beefed up the budget in 26 to to accommodate, you know, replacements. So recently, um, Dross was awarded the bid in a previously for the taking down and the cleaning up of a lot of those trees. So, I'm assuming that's a different scope of work, but the budget would be allotted out of both DPW and parks and recreation depending on what's happening. Okay. Correct.

And then I have another question if I may. M um so in regards to the Howard and East Mitchell Street reconstruction project, um the farmers market begins at the end of uh May um for the city of Basky Farmers Market. So, is there a tentative like secondary location that the farmers market will be held in the interim until the Howard Street reconstruction project finishes?

Yeah, with the delay, the weather delay and of course the delay from our cancellation of last last meeting, we were hoping to be underway with construction by now, but um we're not. So, we know that we're going to be probably two to three um farmers market events delayed. And so Kendall and I had talked with the farmers market and together and in the past we've utilized the greenway space just uh east of the darling lot to accommodate that that event. Excellent. So as as we finalize things and and things get solidified, we'll we'll coordinate that better with them. Anything else, Miss Walker?

Um sure. I do have a question about the um check register and I'll get right to that page.

I'm assuming a lot of the expenses um for some of our subcontractors like Dunle Excavating what page are you on? 16. Everybody turn to 16. Whereabouts on the PLA page are you talking towards the bottom? There's a section of about 13 line items totaling about $25,000. I'm assuming all of that is snow and ice removal and sidewalk maintenance.

Yeah, a good majority of that is snow hauling and removal. There may be um they also assist us with uh excavating water mane um repairs. So there I think there's one uh we had a water main break uh on that Elizabeth Street Jason um they assisted us with that as well but most of those are related to uh snow events. Okay thank you. I have another question page 20 page 20 what number? 20 20

about threequarters of the way down. It's Peerless Midwest under distribution system for a total of almost $150,000. This is the same vendor that we are approving tonight for the lime kiln uh distribution um pump house. And so I'm assuming this is the distribution. Is this also for water related? Is Peerless Midwest a water infrastructure company? Yeah, they're hydrogeeologist and well drilling firm. Yes. Okay. So, the distribution system would have something to do with like a capital improvement for our water um systems. That's right. Which which well is this one, Jason?

This was uh for one of our wells up at the Northman site. So, um, last year we had two wells that just unexpectedly went down. And so once we started to pull it all apart, we had to rebuild the entire thing. This year we experienced the same thing. So the $150,000 is to to rebuild the entire well. So essentially we have a new well that'll last us another 10 to 15 years.

Thank you. I have one more question. Mayor, if I may, page 21, about twothirds of the way down as well, to the Argent Institutional Trust Company, a principal payment and an interest payment of somewhere close to $21,000. Is that for some kind of building? That is a What is that for? Um, that like the Midwest sighting heard. Let me see. respond to.

It is a bond payment. Um, I will let you know. I'll text uh Audrey right now. I think she's still downstairs.

Thank you. And I believe that is the end of my questions. Thank you. Anybody else? I'd like to say Jason, thank you for your department for what you've done because had we had a well go down because you guys have looped this whole system all the way around the city, we can lose a well, still not lose water into one district or area. So you, Mike Robbins, thinking and working ahead over the years, that's really fulfilled a lot for the citizens to allow nobody is out of the water. So, thank you for your future planning on that. I go to Miss Beck for roll.

Hold on. Uh, Wilmont, yes. NTRAB, I. Walker I. Murphy. I. Motion passes. 4 Z. This is your opportunity if there's something on the agenda that you would like to address council with. What you would do is come up, make sure it's on, address city council, give us just your first name is all you have to do. Do you want to give more? I we're fine, but whatever. But the other part of it is is if you talk to council, you're addressing council. You're not talking to the audience. Is there anybody that wishes to address council at this point? Please come forward, sir.

Ethmons, 1034 Wazoo. Uh, road construction, not Michigan to Mitchell, Howard Street. What's left over from last year? I assume they're going to pick that back up. Yes, sir. Um, I made a plea last month to keep the road width at 35 ft and I It is at 35 ft. Whatever it was, it's going to be the same. Okay. Because there's a few bumpouts that they left from last year that so I can trust your word on that.

From Fton to Jennings, that section from Pton to Jennings, we're going to bid it out at full width. Thank you. Yep. Anyone else has sir, please come forward. Give us your name and the mic is yours.

Hi. Uh my name is Michael Walter. I am the CEO of Grain Train Natural Foods Cooperative. Uh we are a 55year-old food co-op uh with stores here in Paskki and also Bo City. Uh we are owned by over 3,800 households uh in this community and other nearby communities. And in 2025 we did 8.5 million in sales and we employ about 52 people right now. Um and in the next year year and a half we're going to be really pursuing an expansion project here in in Paskki. Um I am uh 16 months into my role and I had the opportunity to read Paskky's uh strategic plan and the master plan and really delighted in the fact that it aligns so closely with grain trains mission and values and strategic plan as well. Uh particularly in strengthening our community in uh a variety of ways. Uh being a cooperative, we are quite literally owned by our membership and they provide the equity to fuel our co-op. Uh and so what we do is we sell food. Uh we are a full-ervice grocery store here in Pitaski. And uh that is uh the means uh by which we're able to meet our ends. And to summarize, our ends are basically about strengthening our community again through being a good employer, through selling delicious food to people in our community, and uh being accessible to everyone in our community. And um I look forward to the opportunity later this year and in the coming months to have an opportunity to talk with city leadership a little bit more one-on-one, introduce myself a little bit more, and talk about uh Grain Trains uh expansion project and how we can align with city leadership to really make our downtown a great place to visit, great place to shop, and to really strengthen the community. Uh and

we look forward to a partnership. So, thank you for your time. Appreciate it. Thank you for introducing yourself and yeah, we appreciate that. Anyone else wish to speak to council at this point? Is there anybody on the line? Any hands? No. Okay. Again, thank you to the public for stepping up and taking the opportunity to address council. Next is city manager update and I'll turn that over to city manager Horn.

Thank you, Mayor. Um few uh highlights for from staff's perspective as this is our first meeting of the month. Uh I want to highlight our our staff that are celebrating birthdays and work anniversary for the month of April. And the electric department Pat McGinness celebrates a birthday this month. Brad Cooper water wastewater April 8th. Stacy Cox at the library April 15. Cherylyn Greenwell and finance department April 22nd. Nissa Kesler, library, April 23rd. Lisa Blair, finance department, April 24th. And Alexis Steel, public safety officer, April 28th. As well, April work anniversaries for staff. Um, a couple first year anniversaries. Justin Botham in public works and Max Hungo in public works celebrates their first year with us um in public works. Stacy Cox at the library, three years. um at the library and Megan Goge uh 10 years at the library this month. Few meetings this sorry struggling with a cold. Um a few meetings this week in the coming um days. Uh art commission meets this Thursday uh April 9th at their normal uh noon time. We have a special zoning board of appeals meeting on Friday. uh they will go into uh close session with our city attorney reviewing a current legal case. Um as well the election commission does meet as well on Friday uh April 10th at 12:30 uh in the afternoon uh preparing for the uh May 5th um election. Uh parks and recck commission next Monday, April 13th at 6 o'clock um in the community room. Youth Advisory Council meets as well on April 13th here in this uh room

and then the planning commission the following Wednesday, April 15th at 6:00. So, as Jason mentioned, our our spring construction schedule is getting started um a little later than we would have liked, but uh I think we still have a good plan in place to uh hopefully wrap things up and and get out of the way by mid June to allow our visitors and and residents to enjoy our our wonderful community. So, set to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7th. Again, this is weather permitting. uh if we we don't get any uh additional weather uh moving into the community uh that we're scheduled to start tomorrow. Uh on this is Howard and East uh Mitchell. Uh this is a reconstruction project. So this project will include new water man storm sewer sanitary sewer replacement and new pavement and subgrade new curbon gutter, new sidewalk landscaping and restorations as well. This will also include concrete work in and around the uh chamber building um as well as around the new Christmas tree with a um a concrete pavers around the Christmas tree, a little hard surface and and benches uh for that area. Uh this is expected to be completed by uh mid June. As I said, all businesses will remain open. There will be impact to on street parking. um that's that will be adjacent to these closures as well as the park garden lot improvement project that's also set to begin on Tuesday, April 7th. Um this includes storm sewer replacement, uh new pave pavement and subgrade, new curb and gutter, uh replacement of sidewalk, uh lighting, landscaping and restorations. This project is expected to be uh completed by uh end of May.

Uh, just wanted to let folks know when we pushed this out on our on our social media and website, um, the art commission has a current call for artists out. Um, this would be the Wheelway, I guess, what we're calling the Wheelway Outdoor Art Walk. Yeah. Um, something uh like that,

something like that. So essentially what we're looking to do is kind of uh uh brighten up the the wheelway kind of where the retaining wall is along the bay front. Um we kind of wanted to be able to attach art to the retaining wall. That was quickly uh because we don't own that retaining wall. It's an MDOT uh infrastructure. They did not want us attaching anything to their retaining wall. So, we're going to improvise and and essentially put art just in front of it with with some 4x4s. And so, this would be looking at initially looking at 20 um artists. And we're really trying to look at local artists u from EMTT and Charavoy County. Um, essentially they get a a prepared 4x4 sheet of um of plywood that's been um primed and treated uh ready for outdoor use and then let them use their creativity and put um uh some art along that area. So, this will be something that the art commission will authorize and approve the submissions um and and kind of score the the the uh those that apply. Um so, between March 27th and a and May 10th um is the submission window. We have a platform that we use for folks to go in and provide um examples of their artwork and uh after that May 10th uh submission window, the art commission will then um select 20 and this will this is go ahead. They will what they will do is they will uh their submission for the window will be they will send in one piece of art that they believe they want this 4x4 to look like along with one other piece of

art. The arts council will sit down and there probably more than 20. They will select out of that 20 of the artists that they wish to move forward with. You will end up getting a prepared 4x4 piece uh PL it's a good better than plywood. You'll receive that. You'll have two and a half months to paint what you said you would do on this board. We will then uh seal coat it and we will have it up and going. And I think we I actually did a ribbon cutting date. Is that right, Kendall? We we did a ribbon cutting for the end of August on the 28th. So there are flyers that will be spread out. Crooked Tree has gotten notifications. Some schools uh it's Shallow and EMTT. So EMTT comp Shalloway uh our uh association uh East Jordan will receive it. Pelston will also be flyers around other areas. We're going to make sure everybody in the city knows. The reason we're doing this is there were people disappointed that their art was not accepted or chosen for the tunnel and we felt that there were a lot of good pe presentations of local artists for that. So, we're going to make this so that we can have 20 artists having the first time or maybe a multiple time they've done this uh like a public showing. They'll be able to put this on their resume, but they'll also be able to have this up and running. It models after the Chicago uh cemetery which is called uh Graceand Cemetery. Uh if you pull that up, you'll see that there's there's a hundred or more and they've been doing this for six or seven years. So, we're patterning it after that. And Kendall and Shane have jumped on to this and said, "Yes, let's do this." Uh artists will be paid $400 that are selected will get $400 stipen. Uh, and I think this is a real hats off to let's

see what our local artists can can come up with locally in the neighborhood. You can do it if you live in Charie Emtt County or if you work in char or work in Paskki. The other piece of it is is uh if uh you grew up in Paski, we felt it was important. I know we've got some local artists uh that are gone working in Detroit and so we felt that it would be important to include those that have gone to school here and are call this home. Thank you Kend Shane. Sorry for the

Yeah. No, that's good. Appreciate that. Um one other thing to highlight um tomorrow night in the um Kendall is hosting a Riverbend skate park uh design workshop. This is this is geared to be a virtual meeting with our consultant. Um, however, if if you cannot join virtually, you we will be set up in the community room. Folks can come to the community room tomorrow at 6:00 to further kind of um provide guidance and input on the Riverbend uh skate park design. So, again, that's tomorrow night at six o'clock for another design workshop for that facility. Um, a few things that I have done recently. The mayor and I presented to the um Oh, did you want to

Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Sorry I talked over you, but you didn't.

Um, so the mayor and I annually have had the opportunity to present to the um leadership little traverse uh class on on their government day, which was last month. So we spent an hour or so talking about kind of local government and so it was a good good class, good discussion. Um always always fun to engage with that group. And then I I was also part of a panel with with Nikki and Sheriff Larstein and um uh emergency manager Ble with EMTT County um as we kind of reflected back on the one-year anniversary of of this ICE event in 25. So that was a good discussion. Um just I guess it's always good to to look back and my my point of emphasis was let's not as difficult as that time was let's not waste that and not learn from it things we can do better things that if this is ever repeated it seems like we have more and more of these 100-year events these days um so I'm not sure why we call them 100year events but um so let's learn from that how thing what were things that we could do maybe improve on what were things that we did well, what were some of our deficiencies. And so I think we all had very open discussion on things that we probably could have done better and things we learned from, things that uh we'll take with us and and try to improve going forward. So it was good good discussion. Um and that was that was the end of end of March. So I appreciated that and just uh again kudos to to Jason, Kendall, Matt, and and all of our staff. We've had a significant winter. I I shouldn't I don't know. Maybe it's not significant for some. Maybe it's more of an average winter. I don't know. But to me, it's been a significant winter in a lot of different aspects. Uh so kudos to our staff who

have put a lot of time, effort, and miles on in vehicles. Um we learned a lot from this last 26 in event. Um, number one I think probably is our our snow sidewalk snowblowers were um a little undized for that type of event. Um, we had quite a bit of challenges, quite quite a few breakdowns. Um, so when you think of things that we are learning, um, that's something we've learned from. our our mechanic was like uh was begging us not to send him out even because we were he was finding metal shavings in oil pans and transmission pans and it was just tearing our equipment up. But we thought we had to at least try to make a dent in this and slowly try to get through it. But uh we have demoed some some new equipment. Uh so we'll likely come back to this body with some recommendations uh on how we learn from this and maybe move forward with some

equipment that can equipment that can do the job uh in an event like that and and maybe we will never have one in the next 10 years. Who knows? But um I think we we always need to look and see how we can improve how we deliver services. So, thank you to all of our staff for again a very challenging winter season, but I think we we tried to make the best of it in a lot of ways and uh we're never never perfect, but that's what we we strive to be.

Thank you to the staff and Shane and you guys for what you've done with the sidewalks and the roads, too, because uh you have schools that are closed for four or five days and we still managed to try and get everything open. uh city manager and I have met with uh uh the superintendent of public schools. We're looking at working with them to get a generator in the middle school so that we will not be having people sitting up here and under tables sleeping throughout this place. If we have another one like that, we'll have a place that will have a gym, a cafeteria, room to sleep, uh plenty of room up there. So we're we're working with uh the schools to to get a generator in that school so that we will have a backup. So kudos to Paskki school for working with us.

Two things. Uh number one, didn't the city receive an award recently that should deserve some recognition? Yeah, it's in the truck. Thank you for that. Um, I may have a picture I'll bring up if just tell us what it is. You represented the city. Went to Detroit and the uh um MEEDC gave the city an award for the unbelievable quality of and addressing workforce housing with the lofts as well as the block. Uh, you have a picture of it? I do. No, you don't want it.

Go. I don't keep talking. And uh I was opportunity to go down there and accept this award for the city. Um was pretty impressive. Uh it was a short two-hour thing, but uh it was interesting to see what's going on around the state. And I felt that we were had our heads high because uh for two 300 housing units that we're doing here for a city of 6,000, it stood out percentage-wise over everybody. Detroit, Lancing, Grant, all those other cities. Our percentage of what we are doing here was way above percentage-wise in any of those other locations. So, did they give us any money?

When I ups here, I look for the check and they said there would be no check. I will bring the trophy and it will sit down over here next meeting. Major award. It is. It's it has written in my truck for two for a month because I wanted to bring it to this meeting and we had it canceled two weeks. So, I will get it up here.

Um my second question if if I may is um perhaps Jason you can address this the best. Uh how are we going to manage the intersection the the Mitchell Street intersection? How are you going to manage traffic flow through the reconstruction of that intersection? So Mitchell from Wakazoo or I'll start um from Paskki Street to Wakazoo division will be closed. Oh okay.

So we we do have to close the entire intersection in order to uh to minimize impact being that Mitchell intersection is part of the work zone. We're going to utilize the space around that intersection for staging and lay space for the contractor and not impact Michigan Street in the school zone area there by St. Francis and the businesses there. So, and is that going to be for the entire duration of the construction period or just one segment of it? Probably the entire duration. We're meeting with the cont.

Yes, we're meeting with the contractor tomorrow morning to to finalize before they start tipping up signs. So, initially it may be open, but when we talked internally this morning, we said, "Let's just close it all, give them their space so they can start ripping and tearing and and go at it and get it done quicker." So, Howard will be closed at Lake Street then, too. Howard will be closed from Lake to Michigan. Yes. How long will that be? Two months.

Two months. Yeah. And we're going to we're going to focus on utilities first and then work sidewalks and minimize sidewalk impact. So our intention is to not rip out all of the sidewalks at one time. We'll start in quadrants and rip remove it and then try to replace it and then move to the other side of the street and then over by the chamber building. So am I also to assume that there will be no parking on Michigan on Mitchell from uh Paskki Street to Wakazoo as well as no parking on that block of Howard Street as well?

We will allow parking. There's going to be space adjacent to the construction closure that we will allow for turning movements so people can turn around but try to give a space to to people to park in front of businesses. Thank you. What's your goal for completion? Uh it was Memorial Day, but um early June.

Yep. And we've got good contractor on on board. We've already met with them, had lots of discussions on how they plan to approach it. And then we interjected on how we thought it should be approached and um we actually aligned pretty well with our thoughts. And so we're very um uh energetic about this project and and hope that when they start things will go well. You'll be will you end up opening some street some sections or blocks at a time or will it closed the whole thing? We'll have to keep it all closed the entire time. Yeah. Yeah. And the reconstruction of the intersection will include the removal of the planter in front of the old Penny's building as well as the replacement of it. Is that correct?

Correct. Good luck. Thanks. Behind you. Thank you. Way behind. Anyone wish to speak? Uh, else walker. Thank you, mayor. Oh, thank you, Shane, for your presentation. Did I have one answer to your question? Sorry. Um, your question on the check register item that is a bond payment for the Bear River uh valley uh project. continuing to pay that off. Yeah. Bond payment, premium and and the principal and interest. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Did I what did I say? Um right.

Thank you. Um so I just wanted to say thank you for making the design workshop for the Riverbend skate park so accessible to folks. Um I did try to do some promotion on social media as well. So I appreciate that that's happening both remotely and if you can't do it remotely, you could come here in person. So um and then I had a second question in regards to the both the yeah the Howard Street reconstruction between Michigan and Mitchell if most of Mitchell will be closed off from Howard Street to Waka Zoo. I'm just wondering in terms of service providers like how that will work for both refu recycling and composting collection for commercial and residential customers. So in that section uh most of it serviced up the alleys.

Correct. So a part of our project work is some of the alley work adjacent to the Penny's building up to Clifton Clifton lot. Um so contractors part of their contract is that they have to move those bins to an agreed upon area uh to to service those. So, tomorrow if you've got any anything to pick up tomorrow, it's not going to be impacted. We'll get you in and out. But beyond that, um Matt is working with your group to coordinate along with businesses to coordinate the best locations for these.

Okay. So, it will be designated aggregated areas for collection and Matt's the one to talk to about that. Yep. Okay. Thank you so much. Uh that's it. Anyone else? Thank you. Just just briefly uh Shane, I had a question on is there actual any communication between us, the city and the state of or MDOT on anything to do with the temporary wheelway issue on 31. I got a couple of emails urging us to do that. I'm just kind of curious what what are we doing this year for that

if anything in communicating with MDOT? We've already had discussions with MDOT on that project. They're very supportive of it. Um they obviously will have to utilize their right of way to a large degree through there and they're more than happy to support that project. Um so we've we've had our initial uh meeting with them and we'll have ongoing meetings as this evolves going forward. So we have opened that uh communication window with MDOT. In part B of that same of that question on the same area.

What we've allocated money for some design work. C can you give any update? Is there is there anything being done? Have we are we spending money a contract signed? any timing of of expectation of bringing anything back to here?

We are we do have a proposal right now that we're reviewing internally. It looks like it's underneath the uh purchasing policy. So, we can probably go forward with that um without having to come back here unless you want it back here for any reason. But we're ready to probably proceed this week with authorization for surveying and a a layout of that area. um both a topo survey and a um and just a layout of a of that trail section through there to see kind of how that would look and obviously we'll keep you updated on how that goes. But the proposal that we have in front of us is with OM they're anticipating a kind of end of July uh they'll have their design complete. So we would obviously come back at that time.

Thanks. Perfect. This will not be a total this is what it's going to look like as much as this is just a rough

it'll it'll be conceptual for for a large degree but obviously the surveying is what we need the most. Um so they're they have in-house surveying. Uh so we'll kind of keep it under that their umbrella. they they understand what they'll what they need to do for the Eper curve with some sort of retaining wall or structure through there uh to to get off that curb uh curve. So they understand the scope and have uh uh delivered a proposal which I we think is something that we're ready to proceed with. So,

uh, next month, uh, the, uh, actual, uh, wash out trail will be on the agenda in two weeks, just to let everybody know. Uh, any anything else? C, does public wish to express to council anything on the what was presented by the city managers? Okay, moving to appointments. I want to consider appointments to two boards. One's the parks and wreck and the other is the zoning board of appeals. And I bring forward to you two people. I bring forward to you. Jennifer Buchanan, parks and wreck. Uh she has served on the parks and wreck. uh and uh had the background in landscaping architect was involved with the water uh

water wershed council involved. She knows about park design and natural resources. And she also when uh it those neighborhood gatherings at locations, she showed up at a couple of them to help do a survey of of citizens on what did you want for your park. So she's very much involved. So I bring her forward to you and ask if you would consider Miss Walker. Mayor, I'd be happy to make a motion to approve Jen Buchanan to reappoint to the parks and rec commission. I support. Have a motion for Miss Walker, a second from Mr. Wilmont. Any other discussion? I go to city clerk back for roll. Walker. I

congratulations Jennifer. The next is Kate Marshall. Uh she wants to reup for the ZBA. She brings a wealth of experience. Uh I can say that she's been on she was the mayor. her pictures up there in the wall just to the left of Kendall. Uh she sat up here here and over there and uh she said that she would like to it's very important for us to keep on the ZBA somebody with some experience that have been on the ZBA and has been knows what planning is about zoning and so I bring you forward her name for possible considerations.

I u um make a motion to um put her on We'll second the motion. Motion from Mr. Knobro, a second from Miss Walker. Any other discussion? I go to city clerk Beck for roll. Act. Walker. I Mark I. Next is the adoption of and this is old business. Go. Oh, last but not least, there's a third one.

Oh my gosh. I'm sorry, Mr. Bear. I was wondering why you were here. Bring forward Mr. Joe Baird. Uh he also has sat up here representing W one I believe or two and uh has a lot of experience in zoning. I bring him forward as well. Mayor, I'll be happy to make a motion to approve Joe Bar to the zoning board of appeals. Support motion from Miss Walker, second from Mr. Knobrop. I go to Miss Beck for roll. Walker. Hi. Hrab. Hi. Wilmont. Hi.

Murphy. Hi. Mr. Beard is right over here. If you would like to see him in persons, would you wave? There you go. I think it's I think it's great that you come and people can get a look at who you are in case they have to call you or want to talk. Next is old business adoption of proposals resolution that would approve parks and recck commission's recommendation for Winter Sports Park. master plan. I take it to Shane. Do you want to do this?

Yeah, I can start. Kendall can chime in. Um so ba back going back to the February 16th uh meeting uh there was a resolution passed by uh city council um essentially to have parks and wreck consider the pavilion project as part of the winter sports park master plan as well as snowmaking chiller and groomer since these are high ticket items and to collect data as they see fit and provide city council with recommendations and priority sequencing. That was essentially the resolution that was passed at that meeting. Um Kendall and the parks and recreation commission um reviewed that request at their March 9th uh meeting. Um, the parks and recck commission recommend to city council that additional public input and data collection for the winter sports park master plan be incorporated into the parks and wreck 5-year master plan renewal process beginning in the fall or winter of 26 with anticipated adoption in fall winter 27 and request input from city council regarding scope items, outcomes and processes to be identified prior to any public input. So essentially what their request is from parks and recck commission is to incorporate the bigger scope of the winter sports park master plan items into the overall parks and recck master plan. There'll be significant uh public engagement throughout that process. So that would be a a time to really open up the dialogue again with folks and really engage them in a way that provides that input that I think some are seeking. Um, so that's the recommendation of the parks and rec commission. So happy to answer uh any questions or feedback from city council at this time.

You have any questions, Mr. Knob? Uh, was the uh was the recommendation unanimous or was there a lot of debate against? Um, I don't know, Kendall. What? It was a sorry was a unanimous um there was quite a bit of discussion but but at the end the uh parks and recck commission feels that this is the best way to to uh to go considering that we are going to go through this process anyway u to update our five-year master plan. Thank you Miss Walker.

Thank you mayor. Um, so then that would look like so the winter sports park master plan from 2025 2026 would be a revised addition for 2027 2028 and then any any monies that we've allotted for 2026 in terms of upgrades to the winter sports park are already budgeted and will plan to be done in the calendar year of 2026 and then another budget for 2027 which would reflect both this and the future uh master plan with the new additions.

Well, we didn't have monies budgeted for the five-year this year, but I've done the last two um and and can certainly get get it off to, you know, a productive start. And if we decide that we would like to do a portion of the five-year plans with um with a consultant, then we can we can approach that in 2027. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other discussions or a possible motion, Mr. Wilmont?

Yes. I move that um that the uh council repeal the motion and action of the winter sports uh master plan uh that was presented at the February 16th meeting and direct staff to move this additional community engagement to the winter sports master plan in uh parks and recreation master plan renewal beginning in the fall of 2026. Do I have a second? I'll second the motion. Mayor, I have a motion for Mr. Wilmont. Second from Miss Walker. Any other discussion? Councel Mr. Knob. Just this is we're doing exactly what is being recommended. Yes.

With that motion. Yeah. Another question. To weigh in. I have Okay. Go ahead. Mr. Wilmont.

Um considering there's nothing in the budget for Winter Sports Park this year, is there um a recommendation? Did did anyone in the in the commission make a recommendation for something that should be done sooner than 2027? Uh is there anything more that we should be doing in Winter Sports Park this year even though it's not currently budgeted? I rely a lot on the capital needs assessment for for projects because those are maintaining and improving what we currently have. Um, you know, we have put on a new roof, we put in new windows. Um, we we um we need to work towards getting a new deck designed. We should seriously consider um painting or sealing the outside of the of of the um the lodge. So there's certainly no lack of projects to do. Um and and we did at the end of last year put in three new furnaces uh as of as of an expenditure for the for the ARPA um as part of the ARPA grant. So there are certainly there are things that we could do um relative to the capital needs assessment and you know those would be items that we would have to discuss you know with Shane or or finance to see if we could if what we could get done this year

of of those you talk of the deck which probably is it's more expensive it's more tying into other stuff out out in the decan area, right? It's it's it's expanding the current footprint um to consider. Right now, you know, the boards are are are there areas where the boards are rotted through? I mean, to me, nobody fall through then. Um, no.

Okay. How about this though? Do you have any ideas of the cost of of staining or of winterizing the outside? Because to me, maintaining the outside of that building is is a priority that should happen to keep up with we don't want to have to have damage or just uh rotten sills, etc. Is there some Do you have any do we have an estimate on the cost to paint and stain and do that finish and stuff? I I have an estimate that we can get to you. I don't off the top of my head, I can't remember how much it costs. We we got an estimate for for um siding last year and we've followed up with an estimate for um for stain. So, but I don't know that off the top of my head. I personally am interested in seeing that and working with this with the staff and with you to make that happen this year because I feel that's maintaining stuff. It's not starting something new. It's not building something expanding, but I think we need to take care of the building. We've got new windows in there. I I don't know council how you feel about that, but I'd ask that you bring forward with Shane you guys work on this and get it back to council. We'll find the money for that. Okay, I would agree.

Yes, Mr. I I wanted to just say that I would support recommendations for moving forward in 26 certainly with ming maintaining, but if there's a high priority item also on the list that can be moved down uh beyond just the maintenance items, I' I'd embrace that as well. So, uh look forward to seeing those recommendations. So it would be appropriate then for for Shane and I to work together to provide you all with the list of priorities that perhaps we can in order of recommended priority would be excellent. Yes. And with the cost estimates. Yes. Sure. Mr. Miss Walker.

Thank you. Thank you mayor. Thank you Shane. And thank you Kendall. Excuse me. Um, so I was wondering if maybe the bathroom renovations at the Winter Sports Park would also fall in rank of priorities just because you do have the summer programming for the camp there. So would bathrooms potentially fall on a higher priority list?

The problem with the current bathrooms we have based on the feedback from the needs assessment is they do not meet current ADA standards. So we would have to be very creative on how those bathrooms would look without moving walls. So that would require an architect to you know to come in and and you know get um get some designs for for to upgrade those bathrooms. The concession stand is also an area that is is not ADA compliant. Um, and at some point will need to be will need to be addressed.

Thank you. I I leave it up to you to prioritize. You you you guys are out there. You know what's there. Prioritize it to for for us. Mr. N. Um, this is kind of a a related question. You know, we had we got reimbursement for the FEMA 800 800 and some thousand dollars that was not budgeted. I remember clearly Audrey saying we're not going to budget that in the year in the year. So we it it it seems to me that we have some My question is are we going to rep prioritize because we're going to have a surplus most likely because of this $800,000. We've we've also had very expensive winter. Not $800,000.

No. No. So what my my question is seeing is and this this relates to either the water parks opening up some some money for some reexamining the capex items if there's anything that we want to do beyond the water park. I'd be curious to see if there's any other I keep saying I keep saying okay winter park sorry I keep that wrong but there are there other areas that we put off into 27 that we should be considering that have a priority as well that's just an open question. Just remember though that that 850ish thousand is not all general fund. Um majority of that goes back to the street fund um electric fund um which are we know how much out of the general

I let him let them work on this and bring it back to us and I I don't feel it's fair to put it on you guys on the spot with how you know good point we can let you know that bring it back to us so we do have some idea how's that the next meeting or yeah we could put it on the agenda for the next meeting. Thank you. Yeah I appreciate that. Is is two weeks not enough time for you guys really to kind of No, we have a lot of that. We just have to put it all together. Okay. And as well as some priorities, you two weeks enough for you or three, whatever it is. Yeah. All right. Look forward to working with you. Thank you. You go to Miss Beck for roll. Then

just to clarify, let me clarify. Does the public wish to weigh in on this? Thank you, sir.

Keith Mson, um, seems like we've been doing years and years of surveys and community input on this and there's so much data, there's been so much money spent on surveys. Uh, I just see this as more wastefulness to proceed with this. Um, every time I go to the winter sports park, there's signs there for fundraising and it just uh reminds me how much money's been wasted, how many times the ropetoe could have been rebuilt over and over with that money. So, I can't speak to anybody behind me, but I'm asking council uh mayor, city manager, if you would express to Mr. Clingelith that I think those signs have worn out their welcome and they should come down. Far as wasting money on surveys, Mr. Mson, it's uh follows that good democracy involves the public bringing in on opportunities to express just like you did just now. And I think you just heard city council right here is asking staff to bring forward something without going back to the public and letting them weigh in on it. So I think this city council right here working with staff is moving forward on stuff without a survey. That's

wrong. I read the material on this. It sounded like another survey. So I read it wrong. That's he's talking about the resolution, but you understand the resolution was changed.

U the the resolution simply expands the next survey to include the questions the council raised previously. That survey will take place as a matter of course anyway in the 5year or sevenyear cycle, whatever it is. So rather than have any special survey to extrapolate on the questions that city council had, my understanding is that those questions will be just what what remaining questions they there may be at the time will be roll rolled forward into the next master plan review. So there there won't be any un unnecessary expense at this point in time.

I'm totally pushing that we get stuff going in the winter sports park. I don't wish to wait five years, three years to get stuff going for skiing, sledding, safety, restructure of the hills and I don't think the council here is is is wishing to do that as well. We wish to move forward with this and that's why we have expressed what we're how we feel about this and in our actions just now. Anyone else wish to sleep the council? There being none, we go to the next piece and that's we got a vote got a vote on

I'm just going to clarify Wilma, you re your motion was repealing the resolution from the February 16th, 2026 city council meeting and authorizing approval of the parks and recck recommendation resolution that was in the packet that was provided. That's correct. I took it from the now therefore be resolved. Yep. Okay. But repeal the resolution. Yes. Okay. Thanks. Seconded by Lindsay. Correct. Wilmouth. Yes. Walker. I tribe. Ian Murphy.

Hi. Motion passes 4 Z. Next on the agenda, we have now we have new uh new business. We have three things left. Adoption of a proposed resolution authorizing a mortar pool purchase. I go to city manager Shane Horn for or I thought it would. Yeah.

So, I'm bringing this forth in this manner because it's a slight deviation from what was presented in the CIP and the 2026 budget. Um, a replacement for one of our public safety patrol vehicles was in the CIP. Uh, it was to replace uh a sedan type vehicle. So, we currently have uh three Dodge Chargers. Uh the vehicle slated for replacement is seeing uh in the neighborhood of every two to four weeks it's in the shop for somewhat some major major issues. So we're ready to uh get rid of that. However, we cannot get a replacement Dodge Charger. Um Dodge put their uh efforts into electric and now they're retooling and trying to get uh chargers back online. And so the state police still has not uh reviewed and approved the new chargers for resale. So in the meantime, we're requesting the purchase of a Tahoe that was not budgeted. So, the difference in cost from what was budgeted to what we anticipate the the new Tahoe to be uh upfitted with and painted is going to be approximately an increase in 24 of $24,000. Um, so that that's the ask today is to to approve the purchase of a dowel.

Mr. Walker, thank you. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Jason. I had a question. So you're asking so initially the budget allocated to buy the charger was $65,000. 65,000 for charger and then the proposal for the Tahoe is 539 but then there's a vehicle outfitting so like computers all the bells and whistles that a police vehicle would need to an additional $35,000. So that's the the um the a lotment that you're asking for a small increase would be whatever the discrepancy is between $65,000 and $88,000. Correct. Thank you. I'd be happy to make a motion. Mayor, please make a motion. Yes, I'll make a motion to approve.

I support a motion from Miss Walker, second from Mr. Wilmont. Other discussions council the public wish to weigh in on it? There being none, I miss Beth Walker. I Wilmont I Do I Murphy I motion passes four or zero. Next is the ordinance amendment chapter 21 traffic and motor vehicles clarify vehicle towing authority and I will turn it over to city one.

I'll have our downtown manager Amy Tweeton come up and kind of give a background and overview of the ordinance and then kind of start our discussion. Good evening. Uh the ordinance is really a cotification of um direction that council gave in 2024 um and turning that resolution into an ordinance and putting it in the code um clarifying that parking services at the direction of the city manager is authorized to have vehicles tow. Again, this was one of the mechanisms that we requested to deal with chronic offenders and we continue to have some. I think overall our compliance rate is about at the end of last year was 96% of people who receive tickets do pay them. Uh but we do have some that that have started payment plans after different actions taken whether it was court action or small claims. They start on a payment plan, they fail the payment plan, they continue to get tickets. Um so this is um not a tool we intend to use often but we do feel that it is an important deterrent uh particularly based on our discussions with Traverse City Parking Services and with the materials just included um some background information on the process parking services does go through. Um the staff does try very hard to educate people. They work with people that have fallen behind with their payment plans. Make the effort to call

them every month and remind them. Um really go above and beyond and try to make it as personal as possible. Uh but at some point people don't pick up the phone, don't return calls. And initially when the discussion of towing came up, I think the concern was it would be a bad image for downtown that it would chase away visitors. But what we know is this is not visitors. This is people that live and work in downtown that benefit from the services that the parking fund actually provides, which is snow removal, um, streetscape amenities, all the things that are paid for by people paying for parking benefits, the very people that, uh, few people that choose not to pay for parking. So, I'm happy to answer any questions. I have just a few. Um, but

I I'm looking the last time you were here, you came to council after discussion with approve of the barnacle. Is that correct? Correct. Can you give us how that barnacle has worked? We didn't end up implementing the barnacle for a few reasons. Did you purchase it? No, it was we had a loner and it was going to be a contracted service and we did not move forward with the service. Okay. And what happened to it?

Uh we did not move forward partly because many of the chronic abuser uh windshields were compromised. So our concern was putting uh basically a suction cup on windshields that were not stable. Um, and then there was also we needed to find a good location for where people would return so they would get a code once they paid, remove the barnacle and then have to bring it to a dispensary and finding a location um that was secure. Best location would be outside of city hall that was there was a distance from downtown for that. So for those reasons, we didn't move forward with the barnacle. Okay. I wish you would have brought it back to us so we would have at least got given us at some point feedback from the DMV that it was dysfunction. It didn't happen because I I kept looking for them and never saw them. Um so you have contracts with these people to pay you correct? Uh the

I have a contract with you and you don't pay me to you bought my car or something and you did not pay me the monthly payment, I would go to court and the judge would order you to pay the contracted amount. Is that correct? Are you talking about the contracts we have with Yes. the uh we have gone governors. Yes. Yes. We have gone to court with some of them and uh we have gotten judgments. They start on their payments and then they at least two of them have stopped their payments.

So you take those two and you go back to court and aren't they found in contempt by the judge and could actually be arrested before the judge again?

I don't have an answer to that. they they would be because they defied a court order. If you defy a court order, they call you back in in front of the judge, it's a bad ne deal for you. So, I would suggest for those two people that you go back to the court and tell them you did not that you court ordered them to pay and they didn't and let the let this court system be involved with those two. That's okay. So, how many I'm looking for the numbers of how many people You don't have statistics here, do you? On Sure.

Is this uh It says examples of citations with balance due. Is this This is This is ours. Yes. This is ours. Yes. Um you have failed plan. Failed plan. Failed plan. What are you doing about the failed plans? Uh we continue to reach out to them. You haven't gone to court and got We haven't gone to court again. No. Because

because uh we seem to get into this cycle of going to court, getting judgment, and then it it uh moves forward for a while, and then they stop payment. And if you go, you didn't though. You didn't go back to the court. We have not gone back to court.

Okay. I would highly suggest that. Um I would highly suggest that. I know one thing you had talked about and I thought that was discussed by the DMV or yourself when you guys came forward was it wouldn't look good to be towing cars in downtown. I I think I'm sure we could pull out wording from that from the past, but now you've changed your mind that towing is good. We believe towing is a effective deterrent that once the word comes gets out that we are serious, we will tow your vehicle. Okay. You will get a change of behavior.

I'm going to turn it over to somebody else. Did you uh have you examined uh booting? I'm sorry. Booting. Booting. Boot on a car.

Yep. that that was um discussed for several years and there's that part of that was the appearance of the booting was not um well thought of and just the the actual boot itself and that the um what you need to put a boot on. typically um you have uh the police department involved with that. Um and so with we have not moved forward with the boot with booting that that was what the management board had decided not to move forward with. Being an afficionado of parking wars, I can assure you that the courts are the first rule, the first layer, and going back, as the mayor suggested, and taking it back to court if the if you've got someone who's not uh completing their contract is absolutely a requirement, but booting is a very effective tool, and I don't think it represents any kind of image problem for the city. Towing then becomes the third most extreme layer of of of enforcement. But there are liability issues to the city as it pertains to towing with potential damage to cars. Even though the first line of defense is the towing company, the city is still liable for that. So I would encourage you to follow the mayor's advice with regard to the courts and taking taking these uh what are they called? Scuff laws or

people that avoid judgment. Scuff laws. Yes, take the scuff laws back to court, but I would also encourage you to booting is something you can do in all kinds of climates, all kinds of weather. And I don't know if the city manager and the director of public safety can support it, but there should be uh some way to support it even by contract uh through a towing company. So

that's how the uh wars do it. They do not use the public safety because they end up having to call public safety when somebody gets routed. But I do know that it really makes attention because having you've watched it. I'm sure you've all seen it that the crowd show up across the street and watch a car get booted and somebody come out and just lose it. I I just it gets their attention. Yeah.

Miss Mr. Knob. Um, I have a couple I'm I'm kind of shocked at the dollar amounts on on on this and it it seems like it's we're going after the abusers and and I have an old saying, remember the golden rule. He with gold rules to to me you get these people that are the abusers as you got set up and and if they're owing owing a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand dollar that's one thing. When you get to $30,000 it's kind of crazy. But it would seem to me that something is screwy with me. If we got judgments, you ought to be able to collect on those judgments and not even have to go back to court. If you know these people, if they're all working in living here, I mean, you got to you got to know who they are and you know where they work. You know, if you have a judgment, you can go into their what bank are they using, get a judgment against against their bank account. Garn and Shima and there's a lot to do with that that's pretty simple. Mhm.

They the state actually made changes to the law dealing with during COVID of what you can and cannot garnish wages for and parking is one of the things you cannot um then I would tow the daylights out of the abusers and if you take their car that's why I say the golden rule you with gold rules if if you're not going to pay your little parking be fee then I'm going to take your your car away from you and until to get it paid. I mean, we're talking about eight or nine people, 94%. I'd be really upset. I mean, I'm kind of upset now what this 100 I mean, this is kind of crazy if they were this.

But if they're not going to go any place and you don't have to worry about it from there on, yeah, I they're done. I don't know how to I don't know how you're going to tow a car and when in summertime we've got car car. How are you gonna get the middle car out of there going sideways? Nobody knows how to They know how to do They know how to do it. I I'm I'm with Mr. Knobro and I feel booty is the way to go. Miss Walker,

thank you. Um Amy, I do appreciate all of the research that you folks did. I know that your staff went down to Traverse City. you looked at like how Traverse City was doing it, comparing and contrasting with why they've been so successful. So, I I I I'm following to a tea like all of the all of the things you've been doing to make that happen. And I guess I'm just wondering if there's a way, Shane, that our legal council could provide more consultation to the downtown management board in terms of like a directive like this is how we should pursue these folks. And I feel like towing, if you feel like towing is the best option, considering that the barnacle didn't work, that Traverse City's got an immaculate record, and I remember back in 2024, the total of past due tickets was around the $300,000 mark. Has that shifted at all? Um, is it less than $300,000 now or is that amount of pass due tickets?

That because a lot of that it it expires after so long. So, a lot of that is um lost

money we will not recoup. But I do want to address um Councilman Noctrab's comment. These numbers got high because of how the late fees had been structured. And so that was one of the main things in 2024 we restructured it because once people get to certain point it just I mean it's a car. It it's not going to happen. Um, and that's what we want to do is wake people up sooner than later because constantly adding late fees is not a solution. And there's

Yeah, I'm sorry. in this um in the spreadsheet that you've created like the person that owes the highest amount of $29,000 has given has been given $260 notices um in the duration of whatever time that was to to come correct and they have a payment plan it says in the comments but obviously and then the others preceding that so any and these are just examples that you've given us so I'm assuming the total amount the total amount due I would be interested to know and then um some kind of strategy for everybody above like the $5,000 mark um from legal counsel and and maybe there needs to be there needs to be some kind of conversation with the judge. I don't know how that works either, but yeah. Thank you.

I I have a question. Uh what legal counsel is it that represents us in these uh court appearances? It's the same as the city legal council.

And really that that's really not a decision for the city attorney. They're looking at the legality. Towing is legal, booting is legal, barnacle's legal, all those things are legal to do. It's really a business decision of DMB, city council on how you want to proceed. I asked the question I to uh understand if the city attorney is recommending that we go back to court as as the mayor has proposed for some of these uh major offenders and take further action and asking for contempt of court or whatever the case might be whe what what our city attorney has recommended in that regard.

Yeah, I mean I really see this as a multi-layered approach. This is just another tool. Be a to be able to tow is just another tool in our toolbox. I think still going to court, getting back in the courts certainly something we need to continue to pursue. But towing is just that thing. If if we need to use it, boom, we're there. We can do it and address it. Just we need a multi-layered approach to this issue. I think I'm I'm for going to the boot rather than the towing. They're not going to leave any place and go any place. So,

I I think it seems like we have two issues. We have what's all what we have in front of us, but we also need to nip it in the bud and and and seriously enforce the boot or the thing way way before. And the way you have it lined up is cool. If you if you're on the list and you've been doing this for four or five times, you're gonna get you're going to get your car taken away. The the other side is on these all these judgments and and and the the failed plans. When you're getting this kind of high number, we don't have a debtor's prison in this country anymore. So, that went out a long time ago and and I can and I suspect that many of them can't afford it. I suspect that's what's going on. And and have you considered you know I've seen some cities over the over the around the country have have given kind of an amnesty program that if you pay if you pay by X date you will have an X program forgiven like if you have 50 50% or you 75% will be forgiven if you if you get it all done by X date. Have we ever considered that kind of a incentive to get rid of the

we have used that with payment plans. So if you can pay so much now and get on a payment plan, your total amount will be reduced. But um I guess moving forward knowing you know if city council gives the city manager direction on what level is it that we just are going to say this is it. But if that individual continue, you know, continues to get tickets, then they're probably going to go to the top of the list for additional action.

Amy, correct me if I'm wrong. I was obviously out of the state for a period of time there. So, I may be incorrect, but I believe we we lost the ability to collect fines when you read when you renew your license at the Secretary of State. We used to be able to zero the balance there, but we don't have that ability since COVID. Is that correct? But we do have courts. Yep.

I feel all of these people that have a contract have violated the contract and especially if they're a court ordered already, go get them. I I think that the comment about a layered approach is the one that I would support and uh a full court enforc court court enforcement would be number one. Number two would be some kind of a device like a boot and number three I I if you're at that point I would go for towing but only in limited extraordinarily extreme circumstances. So to move directly to towing in the ordinance seems to me to be premature. I won't vote in favor of towing at this point. I feel there's other means that I feel better about I'm just going to tell you right now. I won't I will not be supporting towing at this point. maybe in the future, but right now I feel we haven't tried revisiting the courts or contract uh violations. We haven't tried booting and I think those two things should go first followed by if you want to after this it doesn't work come back to us. Let's talk more about booting. But that's that's where my or towing that's where my stand is. Miss Walker.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I disagree. I I would um if staff believes that focused towing of chronic abusers is necessary for behavior changes, I would support that. You know, just the benefit of towing versus booting, in my opinion, is you you you get the vehicle out. You're in and out instead of people walking by and seeing a boot on a car that could be sitting there for days on end. is showing what they do what they do on the TV or in in the parking wars. You get a boot and then they later on come back and pick up your vehicle.

Yeah, they they will tow you if you haven't for several days and I'm in favor of those are bigger cities than Traverse City too that use the boot. Do do I understand that Traverse City does not do any booting as an Yes, they do boot. They do boot. They do boot. 120. Why Why are we deciding to move past booting directly to towing? Part of the issue with booting is the logistics of the boot mechanism itself and the staffing that we have. But again, that could be contracted with a towing company.

We can look into it. That's how they do it in cities.

But I do support pursuing this aggressively. You want time to pick them out till his next meeting or somebody wants to make the motion. Mayor, if I understand correctly, this is just a first reading and there is a proposed language in this ordinance. Um, so it's first lead, right? Okay. Any other comments from council on this? Otherwise, I'll take it to the public for comments. Mr. Nrop,

I I'm This is a question for clarification. So, we're doing the first reading. The first reading is is adding section 2140 that paragraph. Correct. Yes. Is that what the is that what are we actually? Yes. Okay. So, if we want to say let's do BERT, you know, booting at best because I I have I feel booting at best too. Booting at best. Um, I mean, are we looking to put that in a motion or are we what what are we not right now, but I guess if uh we're gonna have to probably have a

Yeah, another we're going to have to come back with a different ordinance um if that's the desire of DMB and uh have the city attorney look at alternate language. Well, and this language says if you have more than $100 in tickets, you'll get towed. Yeah, you'll get towed. Yeah. So there's no there's no interim there's no interim punishment. So you have three people talking. So I guess I say take it back to take it back and if you want to take it back to the DMV, come back to us uh next month uh for a first reading on booting first or if you a phased approach phased approach.

Okay. Thank you. wish to weigh in on this being. Next, we go to the arts commission structure award uh adoption of proposed resolution that would authorize a 50% deposit to Reed and Madden red and authorize a professional services agreement for an art installation at Sunset Park. right?

You become a real art expert in the city. Uh the total price of the art was 60,000. Uh deposit of 30,000 uh is required. Once the clay mold is approved, the artist would then cast the bronze and the artwork would be installed in the fall of this year. at their special meeting. Arts Commission reviewed agreement and unanimously voted uh to recommend to the city council for the approval of this. This is at Sunset Park. Uh there is a Is there a picture of it? Yeah, lot of pictures. Yeah, there's a picture of it. I don't have it for though, do you?

Page 97. It's uh basically it's five long. Do you have it? No. Yes, we have for the public. We'll have to pull it out. It's it's basically uh appears to be sales large sales um with uh the need for contra concrete which would be contracted labor to there it is. Um it's designed to look like a riata out on the water. Um, is that a stained glass or that a no a bronze?

It was going to be glass and it's now a acrylic due to the size they felt that if something happened, it fell it would be t bad. This is much more durable, keeps its color um, easier for them to work with. This was the winning piece out of 73. Yeah. A lot of lot of one was narrowed down. Mr. Wilmont, I I think it's terrific. I support it. My only question is the rough surface where the masks go into the is that a potential issue with children to have that rough surface?

It's going to look like water, like waves, uh colored concrete. Correct, Kendall? You guys are going to I'm just worried about the rough surface being someplace a child could get hurt. That's But we're in the opinion that they'll stay on the sidewalk and not not get onto. Not designed to climb on. It's not that type of It's too too steep and hard for them to climb on. It's uh 3 in.

I'd be glad to make the motion to um proceed. And just so council knows, our city attorney has uh put these art installation um uh professional service agreements together. We did it for uh the bench project and uh so this has been put together by our city attorney. Uh typically, as you can probably understand, an artist doesn't want to get started until there's some sort of deposit or commitment to pay to be paid. So that's what this agreement is authorizing me to execute a deposit to get this um uh art in to start the process of of putting the art together.

I Oh, sorry. Thank you, Miss Walker. Yeah, thank you, mayor. I Thank you, Shane. I just wanted to ask because there's 58,000 in the budget and it's a 60k project. So, where would the extra 2,000 come from? Yeah, the budget didn't anticipate. We we did get um 16,000 in in grant funds uh that are not in that uh memo. So, we we do have funds that will offset that difference. I I believe Mr. Mr. Noctra has made a motion which I support.

Any other discussion? Council, does the public wish to weigh in on this? being I go to Miss Lawson. Um, so the site prep, there was option one and option two. Did you choose which one you wanted to do like the boat dock versus the notbo dock? That was part of the

And you decided to go with the acrylic versus the what is that word? It's a really cool word. Dicry glass. That's a Yes. Okay. I'm sorry. Option one or option two for the site planning? I'm not following where you're at. Okay. So, on page 90 100 100 at the bottom it says site preparation option one without boat deck. Option two with boat deck. Yeah, it would be option two to Thank you, sir.

Yep. Anything else? Council public wants to weigh in. I go ahead and respect the role. Uh, Naktra I. Wilmont. I Walker. Hi. Hi. Sorry. A lot of us up here have coals. So, you may not want to come up and give us all. No hugging. Nothing tonight. Okay. I don't have a cold. I'll take all the hugs. Hello. We're just trying to blame who gave it to who? The three of us. All have been sick. So anyway,

I hope you weren't violating open meeting act. No. Uh, city council comment ward four, Miss Walker. Um, no comments, Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Kn. Yes. I'd like to request no more north winds. Second that. Good luck. North winds. Northman. I know. I know. Mort two, Mr. Wilmont. All right. We're good. Thanks.

And all I'd like to say is there's a basketball on tonight and it's probably two hours away now or so. So uh that's uh that's it. Be there or be square. Uh no further business come before this council.