City Of Muskegon Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Heat. Hey, Heat. Okay. So it doesn't sound like I'm cracking open beer on the camera. Oh no, there's a camera. be more interesting.

Good evening, good folks, and welcome to the city of Moskegan city commission general session for this Tuesday, March 24th, 2026. Before we get started with our meeting, I want to share information about different opportunities to give public comment. Towards at the beginning of the meeting, we have three public hearings. Um, each of which is an opportunity for folks to weigh in on those particular items. Uh, we will accept in-person comment as well as by phone. Uh we also have public comment on agenda items. So that'll be um subsequent to the public hearings. Um that's an opportunity for folks to give input on specific agenda items. Um then we have a general public comment at the end of the meeting. It's an opportunity for folks to share um whatever they wish with the city commission. Um during public comment time, it's an opportunity to give input directly, not Q&A, back and forth dialogue. We can arrange that at a separate time if that is um desired. Everyone has three minutes to give remarks. If you are giving remarks in person, I encourage you to complete the public comment form at the back of the room is at that table. Um, please provide your name and home address. Note, I will not be sharing your home address and we're asking you to announce it. That's for our records. I will be acknowledging which neighborhood you may be joining us from if you're a city of Mosqu resident. If not a resident of the city, which other township, village, or city you're joining us from. Um, everyone has three minutes whether they're giving comments in person or by phone. I'm going to share that phone number right now just if you're ready, but please do not call just yet. The number is 231-724-6721. When we get to phone and comments, the phoneer will be scrolling at the bottom of the screen. Um, at that time as well, we are going to start the meeting with prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance. We're going to be led in prayer by Pastor Jeremy Leonards from First Wesley Church. If you wish to join us in either of those activities, I ask that you stand if you're so capable of doing so. Mr. Mayor, commissioners and fellow citizens, if it's your practice, I'd invite you to pray along with me. Your wise and loving father, thank you

for gathering us here today, for the countless blessings that you pour out, life, health, community, purpose, and the privilege of serving one another. Thank you for meaningful work, for responsibilities that shape the well-being of our neighbors. And above all we have through your son Jesus Christ um hope uh never ending. Your grace is abundant. Your love never fails. Lord in community our perspectives are diverse and tensions can run high. We ask for your steadying hand. Remind us that true leadership is an act of service and that every person in this room bears your image and is worthy of dignity, honor, and respect. Help us see one another not as rivals but as partners seeking the common good. Lord, we pray for our mayor and for each city official and for this council. Graciously grant them wisdom and discernment and courage um humility uh ability to work together, personal peace and resilience. Father, bless this agenda set before them here today. Guide their conversations in clarity, honesty, and mutual respect. May the decisions made here bring strength, hope, and well-being to all who live and work in our great city of Moskegan. We boldly ask that you would lead to help unity prevail. Not the unity that demands uniformity, but the unity that flows from shared purpose, shared humanity, and your steadfast love. We entrust this meeting to you. And we ask all these things in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, pastor. May we have roll call, please? Vice Mayor Kenir, here. Mr. German, here. Mr. Jackson, here. Mr. Coachin here. Commissioner St. Clair here. Mayor Johnson here. Commissioner Kilgo present. Thank you.

First up, we have a public hearing on Sappy PUD parcel acquisitions 2400 and 2850 Lakeshore Drive. Um, city manager, yes. Reporting out on this?

I am. Uh so this is a continuation of the discussion that we had in work session earlier this month uh about those parcels on the sappy property that we have a first rate of refusal on through uh the end of 2027. Um the I I do want to note in the uh memo I accidentally wrote that it closed on December 18th, 2026. It closed December 18th, 2025. Um obviously we have not had that date yet. Um so it's two years from that date is when the first rate of refusal um expires. Uh the the price uh per parcel was negotiated out as part of uh the PUB at 148750. Uh and as is noted that is a 15% reduction off the average sale price. Um which actually could increase in the future depending on how things go out there which will go very well. Um, so, uh, so the estimated total, uh, that we're asking for, uh, from the Michigan, uh, DNR would be 1.1 million with a 4.7 uh, $474,200 match from the city, which would, uh, we would project coming from the, uh, public improvement fund, 445. Um, and we would shift some money in there uh, over the next to this fiscal year, next fiscal year to make that work. Um, so this is a public hearing on this project. The commission's had a pretty good discussion on it earlier this month. Um, so just wanted to tee it up for anyone else who had comments. All right. Uh, this is a public hearing. So we're going to open up to the audience if there's anyone that wishes to uh give their input specifically with regard to uh the city's pursuant uh pursue um pursuing an MDNR natural resources trust fund acquisition grant for those parcels um at the Sappy site. Seeing no one in the audience, we are going to go to the phones. The phone number is 231-724-6721.

Uh this is a specifically public hearing with regard to a potential acquisition of up to 10 parcels at the SAPY site utilizing MDNR natural resources trust fund monies. Does not like we have any takers. All right. Uh, commissioners, I would entertain a motion. Move to close the public hearing and authorize staff to apply for the MDNR Natural Resources Trust Fund Acquisition Grant in the amount of $1,16,300 with a match commitment of $474,200 for the acquisition of 10 parcels on the former Sappi PUD subject to final appraisal due in October.

Support. We have a motion by Commissioner Sinclair, supported by Commissioner Kilgo. Uh, Commissioner Sinclair, do you have anything you wish to ask or add at this time? Um, we discussed this pretty thoroughly at the work session. I feel like I have a good understanding of the request and I am in support of it. Thank you, Commissioner Keo.

Yes, I was not at that work session. Um, and I have had conversations uh with staff with the manager um about this. So, I I'm pretty familiar with it. Um, also with my background in real estate, looking at other parcels, lakefront, it it may look expensive, but it's actually under um retail value of what we would be getting the parcels for. Not to mention, there's not a lot of Moskegan Lakefront um property for sale on the market. And I I feel like the city, if we if we are able to acquire this property, we're a part of what they're doing at the old Sappy site. um in the city can be a part of it and have um a park down there um that's right on the lake shore and kind of um intertwine with the growth that we're going to see down uh in this area uh through all three phases as they um turn what has been bacon and blate for years and years and years into something beautiful. So, uh, I'm looking forward to seeing construction and everything start down there. Um, with conversations with our environmental folks and Eagle and staff, I'm I'm pretty comfortable with us moving forward and trying to acquire the property.

Thank Commissioner Kilo, any anything else to ask or add, Commissioners? Commissioner Coachin. Yes, thank you. Um during that work session, I know that we had discussed uh kind of at length the concerns for the maintenance of the property and the costs that the city would have to incur of that maintenance. Did we have a conversation with the developer because I know we had kind of floated like would the maintenance be able to be covered by some of their maintenance team to help defer some of those costs? Did we have that discussion? So we we have had discussions about essentially what it would be is there there's an HOA that's going to be on that site. they would already have folks who would be taking care of um lawn maintenance and that we would essentially pay a portion of HOA dues as opposed to having staff do that. So,

can you elaborate again what the portion of the HOA dues would be for us? I don't know that. You don't know that. Okay. Yeah. Um so, I don't that has not been established on what their HOA dues will be there, but um the but they they're going to have park maintenance going on there in their own park areas. Um and it would be less expensive than for us to have staff there. plus the the frequency of the rotation would be more lined up. Uh and I think that the the neighbors who live in that area um in the HOA itself, it would be an easier maintenance uh um operation if it was all being done at the same time, which we wouldn't be able to guarantee through our coordination of our folks.

That was one of my other concerns as well. So, I appreciate you um addressing that. Thank you very much. Thank go. Anything else, Commissioners? do have a question. Uh Mr. Manager, uh given that we're going to be pres going for uh appraisal, we're going to find out um state requires us to get two appraisals for that. Um and in the event that let's say it appraises as we anticipate here um before the discount once we factor once we factor in the discount do we then that count as discounted land value that count towards the matching grant and that could potentially lessen the amount of actual dollars we need to kick in.

Uh well the um the amount that we have in here is is what's the agreed to amount with the developer. So that's so that's the agreed to amount that we're going to Yeah. What I'm what what I'm what I'm what I'm wondering is if the discount y because it's doing a 15% discount. So let's say it appraises that amount and it's 15% discount. We're going to still pay that amount, but that 15% counts towards the matching grant. I guess we don't need to answer that right now, but I think that there might be opportunity to to maybe to incorporate a discount land value as part of the match grant. I got what you're saying. Um, I don't know how to answer that question right now. Okay. Yeah. All right.

Well, we don't need to know the answer necessarily, but right this moment, but I think that could be an opportunity to potentially um reduce the actual outlay of dollars. Okay. For this. Okay. Thank you. Unless there's anything else. Roll call, please. Commissioner German. Yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Coochin, yes. Commissioner St. Clair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Kenir, yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Next public hearing is for a request to create a new neighborhood enterprise zone district at 2400 Lakeshore Drive. Good evening and welcome. Kindly introduce yourself and please report out on this item.

Absolutely. Isabella Gonzalez, development analyst for the city of Moskegan. So, this is a public hearing for a NEZ district request for 2400 Lakeshore Drive, also known as that sappy PUB parcel. Um, this public hearing is uh held to consider the establishment of their NEZ district request. Um, they intend to develop single family owner occupied units along 65.46 acres of the Sappi development. So inclusion in an NA district would allow eligible property owners in the future to apply for NE certificates which reduce residential property taxes on newly constructed housing. Um this is all in accordance with our NE act. Um notice of the proposed district was mailed to all affected local taxing jurisdictions on February 12th, 2026. And then uh per state requirements, a public hearing must be held within 45 days of the notice being sent and then the resolution establishing the district uh may not be adopted until at least 60 days. So this will return on April 14th, 2026. Um the state law allows up to 15% of a local government's total land area to be designated as NE district. Um and the city of Moskegan is currently at 13.34%. Um the addition of the proposed NE district would remain within the allowable statutory limit. We estimate that if approved that the district's total area will fall under 14.1% of the city's total acreage and we have the developers here to speak on its behalf.

Thanks Gonzalez. Um would the developer like to share anything before we open it up to anyone else wishing to give input as part of a public hearing? Sure.

All right. Yes. Please come to the podium and introduce yourself. Good to see you all again. Thanks for hearing us, mayor and commissioners and Isabella. That was a nice summary. Um, yeah, with this this is one of those projects uh that uh because it's so large, it requires pre-planning to be almost like 50% of the construction timeline. So, that's why you've been seeing us so much over the last couple years. But, this is the first time you've seen us since we actually closed. So, it's exciting to be back in front of you. Um, this project is much like S Shaw Walker in that in that in that scenario in the sense that we have to do so much pre-planning. Um, this is also one of those complicated projects that needs as many tools in the toolbox as are available and and the main tool that the city can provide is this NEZ district to help with the marketability in a marketplace where interest rates have doubled in the last 6 to seven years and construction costs have gone up 50% in the last 10 years to essentially equate to almost 300% of cost. when you look at the carry of a a piece of property that's purchased by somebody, especially when they have to build a new home and this abatement for property tax um still leaves them paying a lot of property tax. they still have to pay 50%. And you know, when you do the math and you do the numbers on the first phase only, there's 208 lots. And um the the velocity of these being sold fast is going to be great for the city in terms of property tax income, but let's not forget that each one of these families will pay city income tax to the city. And and that's your biggest line item of revenue in your budget. and you're going to capture all of that. And

the um uh uh the typical household has two income earners. So, uh you know, you could have 400 people paying additional income tax. Um we uh need them to sell and uh we are excited to do this project. Um and this is just one of those ways to help move it forward. So, we're here for questions. If there's any technical questions, we did ask our attorney who handles anything and everything to do with neighborhood enterprise zone, who you're very familiar with, Jared Bela. He's to my right in the blue suit. You could probably guess who he was. So,

thank you, Mr. Uh, don't go anywhere in case there are any questions before we go to um invite public comment for this hearing. Commissioners, do you have any questions for Mr. Rooks at this time? No. All right. Thank you. Thank you.

This is a public hearing. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to give input specifically with regard to the request to create a neighborhood enterprise zone district at 2400 Lakeshore Drive? Seeing no takers in the audience, we're going to go to the phones. The phone number is 231-724-6721. When you're calling in, please turn down any audio in the background. State your name and if you're City of Mine resident, which neighborhood you're calling from. All right. Does not sound like we have any callers. Commissioners, I would entertain a motion to close the public hearing for the NEZ district at 2400 Lakeshore Drive.

Close the public hearing for the NZ district at 2400 Lakes Lakes Shore Drive. Support. I've got a motion by Vice Mayor Keener, supported by Commissioner Kilgo. Unless there's any further discussion. Yes, I actually do. I was thinking that we would still ask questions afterwards. So, um I do have a question for the developer um and maybe potent potentially his legal counsel if uh they're available.

You want to pose your question and we'll okay figure out who needs to come up to answer it. Um so my question is in regards to kind of just an update for the general public. Um I know that there were last time you presented to us there were additional testing that was done on site for environmental reasons. I know it's a big concern of my constituents in that area. Um, so we would just like to hear kind of an update of where that's sitting and then um potentially from analyst Gonzalez uh what exactly is the thought process behind such a large space using up the NAZ? I know that um director Ekholm had previously spoken with one of the other commissioners about how it's beneficial but I think people would like to hear why because it's such a big area and it's going to take up a lot of NEZ slots and so I want to hear what that you know is basically

okay let's take Ann Gonzalez or director whomever wishes best answer that question but um and then we'll consider the the rest absolutely so um we were actually presenting this request uh from the developer um just to see what tax event incentives they were able to qualify for and after some discussion they ended up choosing to parcel off the single family home to homes along the shoreline um to eventually give uh those future property owners a tax incentive. So that's what I can speak on.

I pose a follow-up question before we go on. Anna Gonzalez to add some context is my understanding that initially there was a consideration of doing the entire site for NA but that after consultation with staff um that was scaled back to just select properties to minimize um how many of the NEZ slots um as Commissioner Coach was just speaking on um would end up being um locked in. Yes, you are absolutely correct. So that entire parcel would have far exceeded our NEZ district acreage um and that's why they were able to scale it down.

Thank you. And uh you prepare to Mr. Rooks or your team, are you prepared to address the environmental questions at this time? And note too that um the actual creation of the NEZ district will be coming later. We're not creating the district today. It's just a public hearing. So we'll have additional opportunity uh to get answers um or ask questions. So anything you're not able to share now, you know, we welcome, you know, at that next meeting when we uh actually consider approving the Naz district. But please proceed, Mr. Rooks.

Sure. Thank you. Um, and just to dovetail into uh Miss Gonzalez's uh summary, the the property, yes, we restricted it to the properties that would qualify for NZ benefits. It didn't make sense for us to present the entire 123 acres because that would have used up more of your percentage and it wouldn't have really done anything for us because unless you have retail in the bottom and some of these later buildings won't have retail in them, they won't qualify for NE. And so if that gets reconsidered uh and if there's room in your NE districts at the time, we would re-evaluate and come back. But at this point, we went we came here with the bare minimum. Um, and then to answer your environmental question, uh, yeah, we've got buyer engineering, uh, con continues to be our consultant and will continue to be our consultant throughout the entire project. And we have, uh, uh, meetings with Eagle on site or on, you know, team calls once a month. We keep them apprised of all our planning. Uh there's certain parts that get approval, you know, upfront like we have already received and then there's certain parts that get approvals as we turn in the necessary information. So, it's an ongoing process and it will continue to be an ongoing process throughout the uh entire developments development period. Um and you know, it's the same thing as an example with Shaw Walker. uh we have to follow all the guidelines. It's called do care obligations and then there's a a response activity plan and um you know it's it's expensive but we have grant money that's helping us out uh and it's going well. So that answers that part

and then Jared can address the other part of the question that was non non-environmental if that's okay. Thank you Mr. Rook. May you kindly introduce yourself sir. Uh Jared Belco with Warner Norcross here with the development team. Good to see everyone. Good evening and welcome.

Thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight. Just wanted to add um on to uh Miss Gonzalez's uh summary on the NEZ. We did meet with staff. They that that was raised as a concern initially on um we actually have some thoughts going forward how some of this could be um changed up in the future to kind of uh bring that percentage back down and allow for future development. some of it given the last time that the districts were amended, there's a timeline uh limitation within the act that says you kind of have to wait, but there are different types of districts that can be established too. So, we did meet with staff uh and kind of talk through how that can be addressed going forward to uh increase or I I should say decrease that percentage as you move forward and and have other opportunities come forth. But we did pair it down to just what is uh what would qualify for the NEZ. Uh and this would be just and I know it's not until the April meeting for consideration for establishment, but this is just establishing the district applications would still have to come back uh in in front of city commission for consideration for approval. Uh and as John had mentioned, uh the currently new construction non-homestead would not qualify for this without uh retail. So, um, obviously not knowing who's going to be acquiring this, just want to make it clear. I know there could be the perception that a second homeowner might take advantage of this abatement, but that's not allowed under the act currently. So,

thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Balcom. Commissioner Ker then Commissioner Kilg I mean sorry Vice Mayor Kener then Commissioner Kilg what is the the average price for the homes that are going to be built? The first question.

So uh that depends on the buyers of the lots. Uh but the lots will range from uh 150,000 to 299,000 depending on uh what they build on top of it. It will determine that final investment. Um, but we would expect it would be similar values that you've seen at Terrace Point Landing, um, which is next to the lakehouse. And which is about what? Uh, those homes range from 450,000 to 900,000 in value. Okay.

And um that's the waterfront. And then I should say that there's the other part of this property description has units that um now in today's market are considered affordable that are condominiums and buildings that have 10 units and they are um forale condominiums. That would be about 10 units to 12 units per building. And they would range in price for a small one for 250,000 to probably 450,000. But that's uh that's had less research and has had less comparable uh product on the market than what we did at Terrace Point Landing because we just did Terrace Point Landing a few years ago. Um, so I hope that answers your question.

It does answer my question slightly. So I I don't have any questions. You can feel free to sit, but I do have comment cuz at NEZ um and with my understanding is for distressed populations and for individuals that really need um that extra little help and support. And I just personally I'm not counting nobody's pockets or dollars, but it just would seem like if someone could afford a home on the lake, why would we offer a NEZ um if you have that kind of budget to do so? But that's just my personal comment. But thank you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Keener. And perhaps we can have a staff member address that um with regard to the the utility of uh the NEZ. But first, I'd like to or Mr. M you want to say that that the way the act is structured, it's not specifically for folks who are uh of any specific economic um situation. It's a tool that municipalities have at their disposal to uh incentivize development or to help with redevelopment. So th those are the standards that in place. It's not a specific to uh one economic wrong or another. So if this comes to um if this comes to us on agenda again, well it will come to agenda again,

then we would be looking at creating a new NEZ in this area. Is that what we're doing here? We're we're expanding the NEZ into this area. Yeah. Okay. Yep. And when you there's a attachment in the uh packet that has a map of the NE right now. Yeah. Like the blue and the orange. Um and so the the NEZ district is is broken up into kind of two areas that talks about uh the redevelopment area and the new construction area. This would be a new construction area which I think is orange in that y in that um map. So yeah. Okay. So thank you.

Yep. Thank you. U come back to Commissioner German. Uh first got Commissioner Kilgo over there.

Thank you. Um I do have a question for staff. Um if this NEZ district is created and um some of the properties that are built are going to be single family. Some of the properties that are built are going to be multi-units in a condo unit. For anyone that qualifies for homestead, like, hey, this is my full-time house. um that let's say are in the condo unit that will or won't affect the percentage once the district is created. Do you understand my question?

Yes, I believe so. So, um with condo units, they are owner occupied. They would fall under new construction. Um and those would uh attribute to, I guess, the NE district percentage and then overall get receive an NE district or NE certificate. So, I guess my question if by creating this we go from 13.34% to 14 1%. Mhm.

Um, and our cap is 15%. We'll still have about a percentage to be able to create any Zones hopefully in other parts of the city. And then in the future also some will age out of their NEZ so we can create more NEZ zones in different parts of the city. But I guess my question is if an over if an overwhelming number of the condo units were to apply for NE does that move that 14.1 percentage number? That would not because it is already included in this NE district. Okay. That that's what I was trying to figure out.

Okay. Um, and then I also, I guess, have a comment. Um, some of these parcels that are on the lake, they're going to be million-dollar homes. Um, these houses are being built regardless of if they get an NEZ zone or not. I don't think the NEZ's really help the developers. This isn't giving extra money to the developers. The NEZ is for whoever buys the property if they're going to have it as their full-time home and live there. Taxes are expensive. Taxes are more expensive on more expensive houses. We need to be attracting wealthy people to Moskegan also. So, if we create this zone, we'll still have room to put zones in other parts of the city and in the future create new NEZ zones. I think it's going to be really attractive to wealthier people who want to move to Moskegan and live near Moskegan Lake at this new development if we do create the zone because it's an incentive to come and live in in the city limits of Moskegan instead of North Moskegan, Norton Shores, so on and so forth, right? Some of our wonderful neighbors, love all of you neighbors. Um, but we want to attract those people to the city of Moskegan also cuz guess what? They're going to spend their money in the city of Moskegan and they're going to pay taxes in the city of Moskegan. So, I I definitely do understand like the NEZ zones can really help entrylevel homes that we're building in our next one on the agenda. Those prices are some of the lowest price point new construction houses in the city of Moskegan and it's great for us to have those, but I think it'll be a good idea

for us to incentivize higherend homes, too, because we want some of those people to move into the city limits of Moskegan also. So, we'll see how this goes when it comes before us again. Thank you, Mayor Johnson. Um, quick question. Um, Parkland's property u development occupies how much of the NEC acreage in their development? Can you tell me? Oh, with the uh Shaw Walker project?

Shaw Walker um um Terrace Point um Sappy all of that. you just an estimated um number. Without knowing the acreage of all of those parcels, I wouldn't be able to confidently give you a number. Um out of all the acreage total, there was 9,400 acres in the city of Moskegan. So 15% of that um uh is only touched if it's uh several hundred acres total.

Yes. And I heard uh Mr. Rrooks um mention some of the price points for those properties at Terrace Point. Um I believe I was on the commission when we first allowed those NEC certificates. Was that his project that we did the first NEZ certifications for? Okay. I guess 2013. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I just want to make sure. Um and um we've seen excellent results. Um the price point that he mentioned 300,000 400,000 maybe to 900,000 on some of them homes. Now um those NEZ certificates were about what 10 years 12 years those ones were I believe all applied for 15 years.

Oh 15. Okay. Now um question actually correction 12. It is 12. Okay. Yes you are correct. Yeah. Now, as for stipulations, um just say for instance, um um someone buys a property at Sappy, you know, condo or, you know, beautiful home on the lake with, you know, the grass and looking at the o lake out there and um drinking coffee in the morning and you just enjoying life. and they decide to sell that property with um under the uh NC herification uh years, is that transfer to the next tenant or is that not?

Yes, it would be able to transfer within that certificate timeline. Okay. But would it still equate to just the 12 years or would it exceed? It would be the remainder of the certificate. Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. All right. Yes. Vice May,

if staff could um at some point uh I would like to know how much um how many of the NZ is that Parkland does own as well as and this is outside of Parkland where other entities that have developers. Um if I could have that number of each developer that has gotten any Z's. Um I would really like to know that that's nothing that has to be done immediately but I would like to know that.

Thank just one um kind of caveat or clarification with regard to that is that the NC certificates are not um issued for the developer or parkland. These districts are created to support their development. So that number can be determined like how much is the acreage for Teres Point Landing, how much the acreage for um Shaw Walker, how much the acreage at um Sappy. Um, but I just wanted to to clarify that the certificates are not for the developer themselves. They're for the future homeowners. Yeah. Who who buying that. And I just uh also Commissioner Kilgo mentioned that this doesn't help the developer and in a sense it helps it because it helps improve marketability and sales of the property, but it actually takes money out of their pocket because the NEZ reduces the amount that gets paid by for property taxes and because it's an Brownfield reimbursement um that there's less money being collected that they could then pay themselves back for the eligible expenses.

Oh, I understand that. there are fewer dollars potent in a way. This is undermining the dollars that could be generated uh to pay them back for the eligible expenses. So, it's not a a windfall uh for for the developer. I just wanted to provide that clarification or or educ you know additional information for everyone. I totally understand it. I just still would like to know. Oh, certainly. Thank you, Vice Mayor Kainer. Any final thoughts before we go to roll call on closing this public hearing? This is going to be coming back in April for the actual creation of the district itself. All right. Roll call, please. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Coochin, yes. Commissioner Sinclair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Hill, yes. Vice Mayor Keenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes.

Motion passes. Thank you. Our next and final public hearing is with regard to the issuance of neighborhood enterprise zone certificates for 577 AMD Avenue and 723 Amity Avenue. Welcome back, Anna Gonzalez.

Absolutely. Thank you very much. Um, so Robert Mucci Builders LLC has submitted two applications for neighborhood enterprise zone certificates for the construction of single family homes at 577 and 723 Amity Avenue. Um, 577 will feature three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms in 723 AMD will have two bedrooms and one bathroom with the potential to add on an additional bedroom and bathroom. Um so the neighborhood enterprise zone act provides for the development and rehabilitation of residential housing located within um eligibly distressed communities. Um an approval of these applications would grant the future property uh owners a tax abatement that reduces their property taxes by approximately 50% for up to 15 years. Um and we do have the developer to answer any questions. Thank Gonzalez. Uh sir, would you like to come up and uh introduce yourself and uh share some insights about this?

Go to Bob Muci and we uh been building a few of the smaller infill lots in Moskegan. It's been going fairly well for us and so uh the NEZ has been helpful for for for us for um financing for the end buyer and so far so good.

Thank you, Mr. Missy. Um before we open up to the audience, commissioners, do you have any particular questions for Mr. Moosey? No. All right. Thank you, sir. This is a public hearing. Is there you can be seated if you'd like, sir. Um this is a public hearing. If there's anyone that wishes to give input uh with regard to the issuance of neighborhood enterprise zone certificates for 577 Amity Avenue and 723 AMD Avenue, you are welcome to the podium. Now, seeing no, is this specifically to this item? Uh, so we can't take questions, but if you have comments, we can take your comments. I I do need you to come to the um podium, introduce yourself.

Introduce yourself and um please give input specifically regard any just for point of clarification for myself. These districts are created because of socioeconomic a lot of things are taken into uh the racial all those things come into line when you're building these houses. Correct. to create these districts. This is not I'm sorry. This isn't a time for dialogue. I don't know. It's input directly on the the public hearing item. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. We're going to go to the phones. Phone number is 231 724-6721. This is an opportunity to give input specifically regards to the issuance of any certificates for 577 and 723 AMD Avenue. Does not sound like we have any callers for this public hearing. Commissioners, I entertain a motion. I move to close the public hearing and approve the neighborhood enterprise zone certificates for 15 years at 577 AMD Avenue and 723 AMD Avenue and authorize the city clerk and mayor to sign the applications and resolutions.

So move. We have a motion by Commissioner Coachin supported by Vice Mayor Kenir. Anything to ask or share? Yes, Commissioner Coachin. Um, Annel Gonzalez, I'm wondering if you can elaborate a little bit more on the projected price of the homes in the lots in this NEZ zone.

The uh the average price of the homes uh that we have that are going up would be 195. So, we have I have one for sale over on Isabella. Yeah. A new one. And I believe that one's at 191 right now. So, somewhere between 190 and 200 is our projected price. And can you elaborate on what the size of those homes are? They two bedrooms, three bedrooms, single use.

Yeah, most of them are by levels, which on the top level is about 980 square ft. There's two bedrooms, one bath, and it also leaves room downstairs for two more bedrooms, a bath, and a wreck room, which aren't finished in the original price. So, actually, they have the potential to get to four ba bedrooms, two baths in just shy of 2,000 square feet. So, uh we finished the basement for an additional 40ome,000. So for 230 you could be close to 2,000 square ft finished in the house. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Moosey. Thank you, Commissioner Kosan. Uh Vice Mayor Ker, as the support of the motion, do you have anything to share or ask at this time? No, I these are um NC I would love to see um to build up those communities right there. So, thank you, Vice Mayor. Very happy with this. Commissioner German. Uh yes, thank you, Mayor. Um to the developer, if you can come back to the podium, please. I appreciate it. Like musical cheers almost, you know. Get

Yeah. Thank you uh for being here. Um question. Um these uh properties are actually in ward uh two uh ward that I oversee as a commissioner and I walk that area quite often and I know exactly, you know, where these properties are. Um I noticed, you know, a lot of development going on. Um, we have a neighborhood association also, the Angel Neighborhood Association. And um, when you build these properties, are you having communications um, conversations with neighbors and also neighborhood associations? Yeah, I can't say we have any conversations with associations,

but the first thing I do before we get started is we introduce ourselves to the neighbor neighbors on each side. And um I'm not so much, but in the summertime there a lot of people walking around and I try to uh greet everybody I can who's close and in the neighborhood because they tell us that our sales mostly or can come from neighbors. So friends, family. So I can't say that we have much invol or have any involvement with neighborhood associations, but sure wouldn't be opposed to it. We have uh we're going to start some marketing programs. You know, we're going to probably do a little promotion at local churches, employers. So, we're going to start reaching out a little bit and um educate people on what it takes to get the grants from the city, what is the NEZ about, why it's a good time to buy a new house now, city of Moskegan.

Okay. Uh another question. Um when you purchased the property um was it surveyed? Yes. Okay. It was surveyed. So because one of the issues that um I have had you know with all this infield housing um these projects you know the encroachment on some of the other neighbors properties and that's been a huge concern and I've had to talk with staff and to make sure that we have a clear understanding and make sure that you know surveys and things um are accurate. Um, I just wanted to make sure those guidelines are being um um followed. Um, so that's good to know.

We generally have a surveyor come out and give us four corners. We take the house out, you know, on the lot usually because they're kind of boxes, so doesn't much it. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thanks. Commissioner Kilg,

thank you. I'm all set. Thank you. Um, I just want to make a comment. Um, uh, I've continued to and will continue to, um, be a proponent of home buyer education and want to continue to support home buyer education. At $190,000, someone could buy one of Mr. from UCI's new construction homes, depending on how much they put down for probably as low as $1,000 a month. People are charging rents way more than that. So, I think that we need to continue to have new home ownership opportunities in that price point for folks. And I'm I'm totally aware I see some of my unhoused champions. I'm totally aware that we have other issues. But for those people who are in the working class and you know they don't think that they can buy a home, work with a local lender, work with a local agent and see if you have an opportunity to get into one of these new construction homes because nowhere else in West Michigan are they building new construction homes at that price point. and we have old rentals that are beat up from the feed up that people are charging 134 $1,500 a month for. So, thank you, Mr. Mui, for you know, for coming to Moskegan and providing opportunities for affordable housing at that price point. And I hope that uh more people continue to seek out and find home buyer education opportunities so they can see how they can own a home because I think a lot more people can own a home than think that they can. But I would just encourage folks to talk to a professional to see how you could get that done. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Kilgo. Any other questions or comments to share? All right. Uh thanks Gonzalez. Roll call, please. Commissioner Cochen, yes. Commissioner St. Clair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Keenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Motion passes. All right. Thank you. Uh, that brings us to federal, state, county officials update. I don't think I've seen any of our partners in the room to share updates. So, then we're going to move on to public comment on agenda items. I've not received any forms. Have you received any forms, madam clerk? I have not.

All right. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to give comment on an agenda item or items this evening? We do still have general public comment at the end, but this is specifically to agenda items. All right, seeing no takers in the audience, we are going to go to the phones. Phone number is 231-724-6721. When you're calling in, please turn down any audio in the background. State your name and which neighborhood you're calling from if you're a city resident. And if you're not a resident, where else you're calling from? All right. Does not sound like we have any takers for phone and comments on agenda items. We move on. Commissioners, you have an opportunity to review the consent agenda. Are there any items that you wish to have removed for separate consideration and vote?

F and G. Commissioner Kilog assembly. Commissioner Cochen. Uh item L.

All right. If there are no others, I would entertain a motion to adopt the consent agenda as presented minus items B, F, G, and L. So move support. We have a motion by Commissioner German, supported by Commissioner Kilgo. There's no final. Roll call, please. Commissioner St. Clair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Kenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Item B, deficit elimination plan, Brownfield redevelopment activities. Commissioner Kville.

Yes. I I move to approve the deficit elimination plan and resolution for the Brownfield redevelopment redevelopment authority combine and direct staff to submit the plan to the state of Michigan. Support motion by Commissioner Kog supported by Commissioner Coachin. Good evening, sir. County7, please report out on this item.

My name is Kenneth Grant. I'm the finance director. Um the reason why we have this in front of you um is because um during the audit um we have we have a lot of brownfields in there combined. And so when we did our audit, um, we had a issue with one of the brownfields, especially LA Point. Um, because it was in the transition and we didn't know what to do with the tax dispersement, we held on to it. So, um, when the state of Michigan saw our audit, they saw that we had payables on the books that we should have paid out. Um, so we told the state of Michigan that we're going to pay them out before the We should have paid them out before the end of the last fiscal year, but we were in a transition because they were under receiverhip. So we did not want to disperse the money till we figured out where the money should have go. So um, we have the money, we just have to pay it out to the right person and and we're waiting on to find out what who to pay it to before we disperse it. So um, we want to definitely get it out of uh, off our hands before the end of this fiscal year. So this is why we're doing this.

Thank you, Mr. Keo. Any followup? Yes. Thank you. Um questions. So, so when I was reading over the deficit elimination plan, I just didn't understand it. But from what you just said, it sounds like we have to write the plan because it didn't get done and there's certain entities like the one you mentioned or reasons why, but we have the money. We just need to know where it's going to has to go so everybody gets their money properly. Right. Thank you so much. Thank Commissioner Kilgo, Commissioner Cochen.

Um I appreciate you that you explaining that because I also had that question as well. Um I guess the only question I would have is um do we do we have like a thought on a timeline of when we're going to be able to figure that out? Who that money goes to? Yes. Um we're working on that as you speak. Um the attorney is working on that tomorrow probably.

Yes. Uh we were able to have a productive conversation with the receiver last week. We have another larger conference call scheduled for tomorrow morning with the receiver. uh we don't believe it needs to go through the receiver, but given that these are some of the first interactions we're having with the receiver, we want to make sure that we're in staying in consistent communication with the receiver to make sure that there's no surprises or that they're not surprised, even if we're correct in who to disperse it to. Um so I would expect that after tomorrow's call, we'll have pretty good guidance to disperse that.

Okay. And just to follow up on that same train of thought, um can you explain why you think it's not going to go to the receiver? Uh it's our understanding it wouldn't go to the receiver because the agreements that were in place um between the developer and in this instance the Wisconsin public finance authority uh who entered into an agreement regarding the brownfield they entered into an assignment of a brownfield payments uh in exchange for funding. And so it's it's not even necessarily going to directly to the public finance authority. It's going to the original agreement was on the bank. They sold off their trust arms. Now it's Argent. Um and so our our conversation with the receiver is not to discuss whether or not it should go with the to the receiver or not. It's to confirm with them that we will be making the payment to uh pursuant to the agreements that were already in place.

Okay. And to argent just to clarify. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank coach and thank you counselor commissioners. Anything else to ask or add at this time? All right, roll call, please. Mayor Johnson, yes. Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Kenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen, yes. Commissioner St. Clair, yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Next item, mobile food vending ordinance update. Commissioner Kenir, I move to update article 278 mobile food bidding ordinance section 50304 regulations by adding subsection P as presented.

Support a motion by Vice Mayor Kener, supported by Commissioner Kilgo.

And our manager is reporting out on this. Uh so this is a follow-up from a discussion that we had at the uh December uh legislative policy committee meeting uh regarding adding in an exception to the mobile food vending ordinance during events. Uh so currently uh during an event uh mobile food vending can't exist within 1,000 ft of that event. Uh this creates an exception where if a um if a food vendor is on private property that has been improved to host food mobile food vending uh that's a a summary of the changes. Uh they would be allowed to u operate during an event. They would not be subject to that thousand foot excuse ex exclusion rule. Um there's some other criterion here. The property shall not be used as a commercial kitchen permitted um for the preparation of food um where such use constitutes more than 50% of the gross revenue. So what we're looking at here is that you wouldn't have a restaurant that would have another food vendor right outside of it um during an event. Um any water or electrical uh service uh utilized by the mobile food vendor shall be provided only through connections that have been installed for the use of mobile food vending in a lawful way. So, um, when you look kind of at mobile food vending courts, oftent times what you'll see is, um, almost like pedestals that you would see in a campsite where they can, uh, the mobile food vendor can come right in and hook up to water, power, um, one or other or both. Um, there's also a requirement that, uh, within the 30 days immediately preceding the event that mobile food vending has been going on there for more for 10 or more days in that time period. Uh, and that's just to show that that this is a constant um or a more regular feature of the brick-and-mortar business and not just something that that's a one-off to compete during the event. Um, and that the vendor is there with the express

permission of the property owner. So, you can't just go park on someone's property. So, um, so those were the changes. This is consistent with the discussion that the commission had at the LPC meeting um, back in December and is here for your discussion. Thank you, Mr. manager, Vice Mener.

I think Jonathan um he city manager, excuse me, he um explained it to me pretty well. I didn't really understand um the change for number one. Um it just I couldn't I just couldn't see that in my head what it was saying like the verbiage was not clicking for me and so I I understand it a little bit more. Can you give an example of um why we're adding this to like say if it was Rad Dad or something? Can you just give an example of what this would

Well, so in that instance it would be um that business would have u most likely I don't actually know what the breakdown between alcohol and um food is there, but um they're primarily a restaurant. Um, and so what what we're looking at is that this would be an enhancement to a non-rest type brick-andmortar business. Um, so like if it's a retail store that uh chose to put in a connection for a food a food vendor because it enhances their business and this is something that they would have on a regular basis, not just during events. Okay? So like for example like I take my food truck and I partner with one of the dispensaries.

This is what this Yeah. is the this additive is if a dispens you're I think you were going to explain what I was just about to explain. Yeah. Context too. No. And I think I think the additional context is this is only with respect to the thousand foot rule. So if there's not an event going on any other rules that would otherwise apply are still there. But the thousand foot is for if there's an event being held during those moments in time and it's designed in a way where for a business that has food trucks present has the improvements as an ancillary piece of their business routinely then they would be permitted to continue using that ancillary use

because under normal circumstances if there was a business that you know was routinely within a thousand feet of an event uh there would be times where then they wouldn't be allowed that maintain those food trucks like they normally would have hosted. Okay. Um, this doesn't have anything to do with any other times a food truck would be hosted if there's no event ongoing.

Okay. I just know I would get like probably a thousand questions after this. I just want to be clear when convers were you going to give the example because I was just going to give the example you know it's the the impetus for why we're you know updating this ordinance is there was a particular business downtown um who had purpose-built area to provide um accommodations for uh two food trucks you know being able you know they had um dedicated space water infrastructure utilities for those two um but the way that the ordinance is currently um prevents them from operating any food trucks inviting any food trucks there and and the facility, you know, it's the the corner that's already a collection of small businesses and they wanted more more small businesses, you know, with food trucks. Um, but anytime there was a special event within a thousand feet, the current ordinance precluded them from being able to operate. And so, basically, we're just updating this ordinance to say, hey, nope, you purpose-built area intended for this specific uh purpose of, you know, food trucks and um you're not going to be impeded by the thousand foot.

Okay, that makes sense cuz this was like looking like word soup to me. Yeah. I know. I get it. Now, um and and if I might want add one more factor that will be paramount to all this is that it's on the private property. It's not like it's not a food truck parked on the street or something like that. So, like it's actually pulling up on the property um and that they're there with the permission of the property owner. So, yeah. Thank you. Yep. Right. Thank you, Vice Mayor Keener. Anything else to ask or add? Commissioners? No. All right. Roll call, please. Mitcher Kilgo. Yes. Vice Mayor Keenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen, yes. Commissioner Sinclair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes.

Motion passes. Thank you. All right. Next item. G, street sweeping contract. Vice Mayor Kenir. Um, I move to authorize the staff to enter into a three-year agreement with Tri Services, Inc. to provide street sweeping services in the amount of $450,000 and 64 $450,645 per year for 2006 2007 and 2008 support. All right, we have a motion by Vice Mayor Ken supported by Commissioner German. Good evening, sir. Can you introduce yourself and please report out on this item?

Good evening, mayor, commissioners. Dan Vanderheight, director of public works for the city. Street sweeping uh is one of those things that we do that um a lot of folks don't have a great uh understanding of why we do it. So, I thought I would just uh take a chance to highlight that it's a really important part of our uh storm water management system and our environmental protection efforts. Uh preventing those items from entering our storm sewer and eventually our waterways is a really important part of um you know being good corporate citizens. uh but also uh our obligations to um MDOT, to Eagle, and to other various community partners. That being said, it is expensive uh and so we uh bid it out every 3 years. Um the current contract uh has expired and is up for bid. So uh staff issued uh reissued our typical bid for these services. We did receive two bids the same uh two companies that we received bids from uh in the previous contract. The the two bids that we received uh one is um from a company called SCA of Michigan. It was the lowest bid. Um staff expressed a little bit of concern with that bid. Um, it actually is the number on the screen there, $173,000 and change lower than their bid from 2023. And I'm not sure if you, like me, have experienced uh the price increases since 2003, but they've gone up typically, not down. That raised some questions for us. We've wondered about that. So, we called their references and uh we heard from a couple of our trusted partner agencies uh that that company has struggled a little bit to uh keep up

with uh the things that they um bid on. And so both of those uh partner agencies that we talked with that had hired SCA of Michigan have since uh terminated those contracts and gone back to try us which is the second bid that we received and the company that has been doing uh the city street sweeping for quite some time. So with all of that information as background uh staff is recommending that we continue with Trius. It is uh a large uh fairly significant amount of money uh more than SCA. There's a bid tab uh just a little bit further down in the packet and you can see uh the details of those, but it is about $150,000 uh per uh per year extra or or in addition to go with Trius. Um, however, staff feels uh quite confident that that is the right choice uh in order to keep receiving the service that we have. Um, so I welcome any questions, comments, or concerns with that.

Thank you, Janhood. Appreciate those insights and that explanation. Uh, Vice Mayor Kenir, I am so sorry. I'm high flashing. I'm so sorry. Um, you explained everything to me. That was going to be that was my question. and I wanted to know what the discussions were and so you answered everything for me. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner German.

Um yeah, just um first of all, thank you, Director Vanderhigh, for bringing this to the commission. Um and then um more of a comment because you um addressed some of the issues and concerns. But um you know over the years just sitting on this um commission you know I have a great appreciation for the services that the city of Moskegan provides um traveling around the country um just seeing other cities um and the hardship and the streets and some of the housing and and roads. I mean, it's very depressing and I could say um the beautifification that goes on here at the city in the city of Moskegan and the image that we maintain to try to keep our city not only clean but safe um deserves a huge um credit. So, uh, thank you and, um, you know, we just want to make sure that people are, you know, coming outside and can be able to have, you know, clean streets and, you know, drains not overflowing due to, uh, rain and and things like that. And if you look at it, you really appreciate it if you see some of the other cities and what they have to deal with and things like that. So, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner German, Commissioners, uh, Commissioner Cochen, and then Commissioner Kilg. Yes. Um, thank you very much, Director Vader Hyde, for breaking that down. I also was wondering, I was like, that seems like a no-brainer. Why would we not do that? Um, my question is in the breakdown um on page 168 of the packet. So, it lists first sweep, second sweep, third sweep, and fourth sweep. And I'm wondering if you can kind of explain what that means because one of the common complaints I hear from my constituents is, "We see the street sweepers once, maybe twice a year." So can you explain that a little bit more for me please?

Yeah sure happy to. So um one of the things so as that indicates we sweep each street in town four times a year. Um one of the common misconceptions is that uh the street sweepers will come through sweep the streets and then disappear for a while and then come back and sweep them again. In practice, what it means is um a certain number uh typically two or three street sweepers uh in Moskegan are sweeping continuously throughout the season and they get to each street four times. So the cost of those four sweeps is how we break down the contract and that has a little bit to do with the fact that we sweep um Apple Avenue and Shoreline Drive for MDOT and how we can get reimbursed for those services. But effectively we sweep each street in town four times a year and we have you know data and and and things that show that we do that. Whether the folks uh you know happen to catch the truck or not, you know, I can't comment. I will say that um often what will happen uh particularly on residential streets is a a vehicle will be parked on the curb and the sweet streer will have to skip that block or skip a portion of that block until they can come back later uh once those cars have moved or parked on the other side of the street because the leaves that hide under the cars and things are really what they're trying to grab.

So you may very well see a street sweeper, you know, come partway down the block or skip a certain block just depending on what it looks like to them. But they do mark down and have checklists and all that that they get to everything four times a year.

Okay. And I know in my neighborhood I see it right before the Fourth of July for sure and usually like beginning of fall time. Um and then sometimes earlier in in the springtime as well. Um do do we have like a specific timeline that they come on or is it just kind of random per neighborhood? Yeah, there are deadlines. So, each of those sweeps does have a deadline associated with it. Uh, so they have to be complete with, you know, the second time they've done everything by a certain date. Okay. Um, and each one of those uh sweeps contains a date. Again, some of that being tied to our reimbursements through.

Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Hey, Commissioner Goian. Commissioner Kville.

Thank you. Can I borrow $151,000, brother? I asked that because $151,000 is a lot of money. I think that the city of Moskegan can use $151,000 for things that we need in this city. I'm one of those I I I'm one of those people who thinks that we could have conversations. I get it. We called partners who've used SCA before. Their address on our paperworks Ohio when I was doing some research. They have services all over Michigan. They service parts of Detroit. They service Grand Rapids. They've acquired smaller sweet street sweeping companies. So it sounds to me like SCA of Michigan is a big company. A big company like that probably doesn't want a bad name. So I think that we could go with SCA and then talk or talk to SCA and then come back and say we're going to give you a shot to save $151,000. I see lots of I I see I see areas in our city where we could use $151,000 and not overpay for the com street sweeping company that we currently use. God bless them. I see them out all the time. I'm glad to see them. I definitely want to keep our streets clean. But if we can save $151,000 and still have a street sweeping company, I think that's the best route for the city of Mskegan to go.

Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Kog. Vice Mayor or Commissioner Sinclair. Thank you. Can you explain what the potential negative outcome is if street sweeping doesn't happen as it is supposed to happen?

Sure. Um so the um the ultimate outcomes really are two you know two broad categories. our storm sewer system um will take in additional sediment leaves, garbage, things like that that can contribute to clogs uh within the system and increased maintenance by city staff. So, we have the large vacuum truck and the and the pressure washer truck, right, and all the things the fun toys that we have. Uh they might be pressed into more service in the storm sewer system to clean those areas. um putting stresses on, you know, staff resources, taking time away from doing those kinds of things in the sanitary system, etc. Uh the other broad category would be those things then flowing through the storm sewer system to our waterways, um creeks and and various other drains and things, the bayus and eventually Moskegegan Lake. Um, it's not to say you're going to immediately notice, you know, piles of garbage along the shoreline, but, uh, the sediments, the oils, and the greases, uh, that ride along with them, and, you know, the styrofoam containers, the pot bottles, and all of those things do eventually make their way there.

Mhm. Okay. And, um, what would you say it costs to replace a sewer main? Is it more than $151,000, depending on uh, which one and and where? Yes. Um, usually if we're talking about a block more than 150,000. Yep. Thank Commissioner Sinclair, Mr. Manager, you have something to add. Yeah. Um, Director Vanderhyde, can you maybe give the commission some context on some of the feedback we got from the partner agencies that we talked to on why they switched back?

Sure. So, uh I I guess I um with without revealing too much about them, they're uh the two uh nearest large county agencies. Uh and the feedback that we got from them was just uh lack of equipment availability, lack of equipment quality uh and inability to meet the deadlines in the contract. One pretty vivid example, uh, we heard that, uh, they were requested to come out and sweep, uh, a certain neighborhood and they showed up with a tractor with a broom on the front.

Did you say that on the front? A tractor with a broom. That is what we were told. And and that was the the straw that broke the camel's back in the case of that agency. Uh, and they returned to try us. Wow. So, okay. I was going to ask if maybe they were intentionally uh, you know, undercutting it because they just wanted to establish the relationship with the city and then grow from there, but Okay. Um, before I return to you, Commissioner Kilgo, um, Commissioner Cochen.

Yes. Thank you. Um, just a quick question. I I don't know if my mind's been changed by that or not, but um the I if we were to say go with this other agency and um what like if we we're in year one and they show up with a broom, the tractor on it, uh what would there be would there be a penalty if we decided to discontinue the contract? uh not a penalty in terms of um anything that the city would owe SCA at least not not in the way that the contract is structured as I understand it.

Um a penalty in the sense that let's just say we were going to go back and ask Trios to to do it again perhaps a penalty and increased cost from them uh something like that. I'm not certain I'm not sure. Not certain. But, you know, there could be penalties of that kind, increased costs for other services. Okay. All right. Thank you. I guess to to clarify, we have the opportunity to sign up with Trius, you know, for this bid price right now. Whether that would be true, you know, 6 months or a year from now if we were to decide to make a change, that's what I'm not sure I can say.

Oh, one more question. I'm sorry to follow up with that. And that includes the cost of their gas, right? like we don't have to pay any additional for their gas. Correct. Thank you. Thank coaching. Um just want to give an opportunity to uh Commissioner Jackson before I return to Commissioner uh Kilgo. Do you have anything to ask at this time? No. Nope. All right. Followup. Commissioner Kilgo. Thank you. Um I don't want to waste anybody's time. I don't want it to like be petty that we're talking about sweep street sweeping, but like Commissioner Stlair said, they do an important job for our city.

Have we So, I have three questions. Have we talked to SCA or did we just do the bids, do our homework, and then we're choosing now? Uh, I personally have not talked to them. Uh, other staff at DPW uh did all of this research. I'm not sure specifically whether they reached out to SCA or not. So, we don't know if we reached out to them. My second question is, could we have chosen SCA? Like, we only received two bids and we're staff's recommendations that we choose TRA the one that we've been using. Correct. Correct.

And then my third question is um if we did choose SCA and they didn't perform because in my research, I didn't call or talk to them either. They don't look like they have tractors with brooms on the front of them. And I think a conversation needs to be had because it's a significant amount of money that we could use in the city. If we chose SCA and they did not perform adequately up to our contract standards, could we terminate the contract? We can terminate the contract. Yes. Thank you. Thank go.

Yeah. Just kind of some clarity on our bidding process. So, um, when we go out to bid for something and the bids are received in, um, the way we do the due diligence, uh, through the bid tab, but then through checking their references, um, and we check the references that the companies provide to us, um, and then make our recommendation, um, through our staff experience on what we think the best option is um, going forward. it it's generally not something where you're going to go back to one of the companies that bid to ask for additional information unless there's something that's um like very specifically odd about it. Um and since we were following up with the references that they gave us um that's the way that we can determine their performance if that's who they're telling us to talk to. Um and so then staff takes all the experience that they've had to then make the decision and recommendation um moving forward.

Thank you Mr. Manager. So this is going to be coming out of the sanitation fund. Um is there and you said there may be you know adjustments to the budget is necessary. Uh there are sufficient reserves in that fund to cover this and then is the revenue streams for the sanitation fund sufficient to cover it on an ongoing basis?

The the sanitation department exists within the general fund. So um there's you know there are no reserves specifically identified for sanitation. Um we have not been through the budget process completely yet. So we're not sure frankly whether uh the revenues will cover the expenses in this particular case. There's lots of expenses the sanitation department has including a republic contract as well. Um if you were if you are asking me do I think the sanitation fee will go up this year be if we hire Tri us versus SCA I think the answer to that is it is likely

I don't know to what extent okay a few contributing factors to that as well wouldn't necess just do this. I mean, costs are going up across the board. At the same time, this sanitation millage rate has been declining. Um, that's down. And, as I said, this isn't the only contributing factor, right? Um, as recycling uh across the city goes up, you know, so does our our bill for that. So,

things that that uh sanitation fee and sanitation property tax pay for. So in in the event of a sanitation fee increase, it could not necessarily pointed solely or put solely on uh to this contract as the reason for that. Um but if we were able to find cost savings with this, it could help limit um that fee adjustment. Um h do you know how long we've contracted with um the current vendor? uh over 12 years is what I understand or at least 12 years. Okay.

Yeah, I think we've been around for a long I think it's quite quite possibly decades that we've been using this this vendor. Um and it's important service. It's it's a very beneficial service that we provide. And I do hear from residents who appreciate that we do this. And I've heard from newcomers to to our committee like surprised that uh we do street sweeping and are very pleased that it's done. Uh so I think it's very important that we continue to do this. I do understand, you know, Commissioner Kilgo's um you know, concerns or reservations about the the heightened cost uh for this if we can realize cost savings. Um important that we do, you know, as to the greatest extent as possible since we are um stewards of public resources. But at the same time, you get the quality of service that you pay for. So, I'm a little torn on this. I certainly would like to see, you know, a cost savings. Um, but I also don't want to see a a dramatic drop in the quality of service that our community has become accustomed to expect. Um, so I'm inclined to defer to staff's recommendation on this and professional um, experience and expertise on the matter. Um because the concern is if we say hey let's roll the dice and go with um the lowest bidder in this case that if they don't perform then we then have to terminate the contract then have to put out another bid then um it's no guarantee that um you know our current vendor Trias is going to bid at the same rate. they might charge an even higher premium because of it being an you know unusual bid or having to rebid it or you know they've already started adjusting their service schedule um without us and now trying to incorporate

us back into us there could be you know even even higher costs there so some trade-offs to consider um so those are just my stream of consciousness thoughts at this moment return to Commissioner Sinclair

thank I think in this case the um SCA is not an unknown entity. I think sometimes we get we get somebody that that comes that we've never heard of and they're not familiar and and it might make sense to take a chance on a startup that um can undercut a a more seasoned entity because maybe their costs are less and maybe they're willing to run a smaller margin to to build out their model. It does not appear that that is the case with this and it also is clear that they have not provided good service to our neighboring communities. That's that's established. I think as as somebody who has um been in the business of of hiring staff for 20 plus years, I do a lot of reference checks and I do them um after I've interviewed because I want to get a different perspective on um on a candidate. And there have been lots of times over the years that I got a really different picture of a candidate from a reference check than I did from the actual candidate. But sometimes I got that same response from all three references. And that tells me something that I wasn't aware of that maybe that individual is a really good actor and they're um they're an excellent interviewer, but maybe they were not a good employee. Uh, and I've made hiring decisions based on what references have told me. And I think it's really important in this case, one to trust our staff. Like I'm not an expert on any of this. I know nothing other than it's really important to keep garbage and leaves out of the sewer system. And it's even more

important to keep it out of the waterhed. Um but I also know that um we have been told and I have no reason to doubt that this company has not performed in a satisfactory manner in neighbors to us that have the same kind of community needs that we do. So, I understand that we need to be good stewards of dollars, but I'm not sure that this would be being good stewards of dollars if we're saving a penny here to pay 10 bucks there because something gets broken because they're not doing what we need them to do. So, you know, I'm I'm comfortable with taking staff's recommendation. and we asked them to do hard work and I appreciate the the work that they put in with their recommendations.

Thank any uh final thoughts or questions before we go to roll call commissioner coachin and then commissioner kilg and then we'll I I just want a clarification um from you director Vanderhead. So, in the packet, it says that there's an additional $78,000 will be required this fiscal year. I'm assuming that's based on previous fiscal year's um contract with Tri City. Correct. Yeah, that's the difference in this fiscal year between what was budgeted, which was based on the last contract, and what the the new bid would be if if we went with Trius.

Okay. And I'm hoping this this question doesn't reveal your sources, but when SCA was partnering or contracted with these other entities, um, did they also come in really low like this to try to entice the municipality to switch to them? Yeah, I'm I'm not sure exactly what their motives were per se, but yes, the the main reason that those uh otheries went with SCA was due to their price. Okay. And the concerns have been recent and not years ago, correct?

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Coin. And Commissioner Kilgo. Yeah. I just had a quick question for the manager. Um, is it if we had two bids, in this case we have two bids. Is it against our rules? Now, once we have the bids, the bidding is closed and we open the bids and look at them. Is it against our rules to call and talk to the company specifically? I'm just wondering because if if if we if we choose Tri City, great. We we we we've been using them, so we kind of know that they're going to perform and I want them to perform. Yep.

But if we could save money, which I'm hearing is general fund money ultimately, and if we could save that money, isn't isn't a phone call worth us doing a little bit more investigation to save a little to save the city money that we could use in other areas?

So, so the general practice would be that you use the information that's provided in the packet um in the bid packet that that you have. Um, and if you start taking steps that are outside of the bid process, uh, you open yourself up to, uh, criticism, which this commission has received, the city has received in the past for not following the bid policies. Um, and so we we ask for specific information in the bids and we have to make our decisions based on what's in the bids. Um this this does and and to the other part of your question, this is general fund money. However, we have um the sanitation fee and tax um that residents pay uh that covers this as well as trash services and other things that the director was talking about. Um, so it could impact the general fund uh services a little bit, but there are dedicated funds that come into it. It's not an enterprise fund like some of our other funds. Um, but there are revenues that come in for this.

Thank you. Thank you, Mer. Thank you, Commissioner Kogo. All right. Go to roll call, please. Vice Mayor Kenir. Yes.

Should we get a another second? Because it was Commissioner German. Oh, because Commissioner German departed before we voted. Um, who would like to replace Commissioner German as the supporter of that motion? All right. Well, you made the motion. We'll go with uh So, we have the motion by Vice Mayor Kina, supported by Commissioner Sinclair. Thank you. Commissioner Jackson. Yes. Commissioner Cochen. I'm gonna need a second.

She needed a second. I'm going to say yes. Commissioner Sinclair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, no. Motion passes.

Thank you. All right. Final item from our consent agenda. Oh, I do wish to acknowledge that um item H had already been removed from the consent agenda when we uh approved it and adopted it. And so that's item H, invoice for maintenance of voting equipment. That was removed for staff request. Um so I wanted to acknowledge that that was not included in the consent agenda that we had adopted. Um I expect that we'll be returning to at some point uh for for consideration. All right. MDNR natural trust res natural resources trust fund grant application resolution commissioner coaching.

Um yes I move to approve the resolution of support as presented and authorize the mayor and clerk to sign support. We have a motion by commissioner coach and supported by commissioner kilgo.

Uh this is me. Uh so this is the the resolution for the public hearing that we had um earlier in the night. Uh just noting to the state that uh we're moving forward with the process commissioner coach. Um, and in case you're just to toting in, we're we're we're talking about seeking to purchase the option in the sappy site PUB to acquire 10 lakefront parcels on Lakeshore Drive um to increase it to be a green space that would be maintained by HOA fees and um the developer on site there and not from the city. So, I just wanted to pull it because I think that uh I wanted people to see if it was going to go through. Um I don't have any additional questions at this time. Um yeah, I don't have any additional questions.

Thank you, Commissioner Goen. Commissioner Kilo, anything to ask or add on this item? Thank you. All right. Uh Commissioner Sinclair, thank you. Just to clarify, we are not with this resolution voting to purchase this. We are voting to submit this application to apply for grant dollars at this time. Yes. Yep. Yes. Just so everyone knows the the act to actually purchase it wouldn't have to come back to the commission in the future for us to formally um adopt or approve. All right. All right. Unless there's anything else. Roll call, please. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen, yes.

Commissioner Sinclair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Keenir, yes. Motion passes. All right, that concludes our consent agenda. We do not have any unfinished business. We don't have any new business uh scheduled. Uh any other business pointing? Yes. on that. Um, I was going to have uh deputy manager Mike Sell give an update on the uh summer transit conversation. Good evening. Welcome. Sorry for the noise.

Um, yeah, I just wanted to come up and um share with you some information, some changes since the last time we spoke about the proposal. So, we have um received a draft contract and uh the attorney and I were just talking about it this afternoon. So, we will follow up on a few items and hopefully have that in front of you in the very near future. Also wanted to let you know u about some changes that we just we made um to the stops. So, the tan line which circulates around the beach parks. Um, I still am waiting for clarification on the adding the stop at Silversides. Um, so I will follow up with you once I have that. We did eliminate the stop at Woodlon, which is that tiny little street that we were a little bit concerned about sight distance for the town line that um goes well had gone from um downtown to the beach. Uh we did make some changes to that. We did add stops um on in the Jackson Hill neighborhood. What we decided to do is use some existing Matt's bus stops that are right near Amont Park. Um which kind of helps us out with the um ADA part of it too. Um I we still have two stops on Western, one in the third fourth area, one in the Sixth Street area. um don't have the stops at um Franklin and Michigan anymore.

No. Well, we talked about eliminating some so that we could add them to the east. I'll I'll reserve my comments to you, Donna.

Great. Um, we also, uh, I think I feel like there had been maybe three stops in Lakeside and so now we're down to two. Again, using an existing stop at Estus and then, um, using the a stop at Grand Trunk like we had before, um, which will be better now that the parking lot is being improved. Um we also have a stop at Lakeshore and Sharon which is essentially by Frosty Cove but we um found a way to do that um that was also going to be helpful with the ADA needs and then the last app would be Indiana. So the cost remains the same um with these changes. Um I also checked in with them on sponsorships. it isn't likely we will be able to do that because of federal guidelines, but they're going to look into that further for me. Um, and then they I also asked them about adding a route that goes down Lake Avenue and they said that they just don't have the resources to be able to do that this year. So, we can certainly talk about it if we think we might want to do it next year, but they will definitely need more time to plan for that.

Thank you, Deputy Manager. I appreciate uh those updates and uh I particularly appreciate you looking into sponsorship opportunities to help us defay those costs and um consideration of the potential lake in route. Um, with regard to Franklin and Michigan, we had our first of the year NIMS neighbor association meeting last night and I just shared with our NIMS neighbors that that this was in the proposal and this is what we were expecting because NIMS was left out last year and so it was exciting that NIMS is going to be included this year and NIMS is a Shoreline community, our Shoreline neighborhood. And so it's it's concerning to me that we're leaving we'd be leaving NIMS out again.

We're actually not. Um, and I just realized um the conversation that we had about the stops that didn't make it into the draft contract. Um, what we decided to do is use some existing stops that are at Lakeon and Henry. Um, and part of the reason that we wanted to eliminate the stop at Franklin and Michigan is the construction that's going to be happening. Um, it was kind of interesting. we were talking about this route and um so many places we got to it was like, "Oh, well, we're going to have this construction thing going on. Oh, well, now we're going to have this other thing construction going on over there." So, there was a fair amount of um conversation about how do we make this route still efficient. So, um that was our way of trying to still include NIMS um but stay out of the construction zones.

Okay. Thank you for your consideration and that understanding. I mean, I can understand maybe not an ideal spot and the uh well considerable construction's underway right there. Um I really would like, you know, in a future, you know, maybe next year um to have something at or close proximity to Hartorn Park and Marina. I think it's important that we have a stop there. Um, my original vision for the Shoreline Shuttle Service was to connect our uh neighborhoods and business districts and parks um so that our community can get around and also welcome guests to our community. So, um I'm happy that we at least have the stop at at Henry and Lake, but I really would like to um include Hart Shaorn um and the Nims neighborhood um in the future.

That would be our preference, too. It was really just construction that was going to be the problem this year. Thank you. Yep. You're welcome, Commissioner Kilgo. Thank you. Um, once the rest of the details come in from the contract with them, can you provide the commission with a map so that we can kind of see start to finish? Um because it sounds like to me like when they leave Western or when they leave downtown they'll come around Seaway to Lake instead of cutting through the neighborhood there. That's what it sounds like. That's likely. Yes.

So I just I think a map will help. And then also once we finalize it, then um I know that we have a great marketing department here with the city because one of our parts of our conversation from before was to try to get more participation this year so that it kind of pays off the per rider. If we can get a lot more riders, that per rider number will go down and so on and so forth. So, uh, thank you for your work on this and we can, um, this isn't specifically about the overall transportation. Um, we can have another conversation about that at a later time, but thank you for your work on this. You're very welcome.

Thank go commissioner Jackson, are you able to tell me what the closest stop to Moskegan High School and the middle school is? Um, probably something downtown, honestly. Um, we're starting at the Herman Ivory Terminal. Um, we really aren't getting deep into the Nelson neighborhood.

Okay. because I was just thinking if we're not going to be able to add anything onto Lake I mean obviously besides the Lake and Henry stop as far as marketing goes and we're trying to add more people so we lower our cost that way. The best way we can market it would be through the youth and getting them I mean 12 or higher with Right. That's the age. Um, good memory. Um, I feel like that would be the best way to go about. I know we're asking asking a lot, but maybe could we see if there's a way to add a stop in the Nelson neighborhood

close to the high school or Charles Hackley. We can certainly look into it. Um, you know, at some point we're going to have to finalize it. Um, that's something else from you guys. The um um the concern would be the amount of time that adds to the route. I I don't know that we could get over there just because there's nothing else on I mean since they say that it's hard to be on Lake but we're if we're doing Lake and Henry I mean that's at least like then you can hit like Marshfield they can cross over. Yeah maybe I wasn't clear. It's not that it's hard to be on Lake. Um they just don't have the resources to add another route. Yeah. Right.

Right. And so we had decided that we were going to go on the lake shore. So if we are going to deviate from that, we might want to rethink the whole route. To to piggyback on the train of thought though, if I may, um, where is the stop before you get to Henry and Lakon? What's that last stop downtown? Probably Western and Sixth. Okay. I'm just wondering if that were to come up um to Lake and perhaps catch before it goes down to Henry Lake. I'm just wondering maybe if that's a right. Right. We can talk about that. You know, efficient way to do I don't know. I'm just throwing that out there if that might be an opportunity just come up to Lake and catch the folks even if it's not at the you know middle school but you know closer to it. You know pick them up before they go further west on Lake. Just a thought.

Yep. All right. Uh Commissioner Sinclair I will just I'm sorry. Commissioner Commissioner Jackson are you done? Um do you have anything else to Yeah. Just trying to think of the most efficient way because obviously we want to focus on the lake shore but also having it be accessible to I say so many times that I hate using the term inner city but the folks who are not directly on the lake shore because transportation I mean when we were doing the road diet with Jackson Hill and the causeway and everything people were talking about how hard it is to cross that roadway so using the ability to take the transit like That's something that we need to focus on, too. Thank you, Commissioner Jackson. Yeah,

Commissioner Sinclair, I was just going to point out the fact that this only runs when school is out of season. So, um, having it in proximity to the high school or the middle school may or may not make sense. I don't know how many kids are kicking it around there in June or July. There might be more traffic than I'm thinking of, but um, there might be someplace else. summer. I mean, people do I know there's I know there's some stuff worth having to do, but it's not I don't know if it's I don't know how many kids are around there. I think that's worth thinking about just because they're someplace else in the summer often.

Thank you, Commissioner Sinclair, Commissioner Cochen, and then Commissioner Well, go to Commissioner Kgo. Commissioner Cochen.

Uh yes, thank you. Um, if we're spitballing right now, one of the things that comes to my mind about where we could potentially be picking people up, where we could increase wrership, would be right over there by the Boys and Girls Club um area, which has a very nice parking lot where we could, you know, potentially pick people up. So, that's just a thought that I had in my mind. You know, I appreciate Mr. Mayor's input about like the businesses because we want to increase that writership. Um, so we can continue this, but I do want to echo Commissioner Jackson's sentiment that the essence behind this is to connect people who traditionally have been disconnected to our lake shore. Um, and through purposeful planning, I will say, you know, um, so I think that that's something definitely to, you know, consider and I appreciate you, you know, getting the stop over there by Amont Park. Um, but I just wanted to echo those sentiments. Thank you.

Yeah, sure. I think the Western Avenue and Sixth Street stop probably isn't terribly far from the Boys and Girls Club. Thank you, Commissioner Kosh. Closest one for sure, Commissioner Kyo. And I really like the Amont Park stop by the way. Mr. Kilgill, I just have a question. Um, when is the Are we calling it the the town line? Yes. Sweet. What is the suggested hours of operation for days and hours of operation for the town line? Uh, I don't have that in front of me. I'm sure I could find it. I feel like it's about 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. something like that on Friday and Saturday and then 11 to 6 on Sunday on Sunday. I think that's

that's what I recall but my memor is not always great. So So we are just looking at weekend. So this is only a Friday, Saturday, Sunday kind of route, right? And our normal Matt system doesn't run on Saturday and Sunday, only Monday through Friday.

So, um, on Friday, I could live in lots of different places in town because all the buses go to the hub downtown here and then just like any other regular transfer, I could transfer and wait for the town line to come and go down to the beach. Unfortunately, that would only work on Friday and not Saturday and Sunday. So, it's still a larger conversation about revamping our transportation system. Um, but there are opportunities just like Wednesday is our free day at the beach parking wise still. Correct.

Okay. Um, maybe Friday can be our connection day where people can take the regular Matt's bus downtown and transfer to the town line if it's running well, it's going to run for longer than the Matt's bus runs cuz the regular bus stops at 5:50 p.m. Um, and depending on where you have to go on a route, that's probably like 5:00 p.m. So, but it's opportunity. So, I I do know that there's definitely a larger um conversation about transportation and this route is not going to be perfect for everyone everywhere. It don't touch my ward. So, I mean, I'm sure all the people in Ward One are like, "What about us?" Hey, come down. Well, you can't come down Apple Avenue this year, can you do?

It would be a terrible idea.

But, you know, like Sheldon Park, Steel, Marquette, wait, you know, parts of Marquette down, you know, depending. But, um, it's not going to be perfect, but step one, let's see if we can increase ridership. You know, maybe somebody can get a ride to the closest, uh, stop. Uh, and we really push for advertising and get ridership up this year. And uh maybe over the course of this year we can find a way to fund Matts to have other routes that are available and stuff cuz I don't know that it's Matts doesn't have the infrastructure to do it. They don't have the money to run a bus down Lake or they don't have money to run an extra route down Lake and stuff like that. So, uh, we have to find ways to save money in other places to or get a transit, um, authority together with our neighbors so we can fund and have transportation cuz people use it for more than just the beach. I know this is a beach conversation, but there's the hospital, there's schools, there's doctor's offices, there's jobs and work and everything else. So, uh, hopefully we can move the needle on that, too. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Commissioner Kilum. Right. Any final thoughts? All right. Thank you so much for providing those uh updates and insights.

You're welcome. And all your work on this uh initiative. All right. Is there anything else under any other business commissioners you'd like to uh raise? Commissioner Kilg? Yes. Um, so it um I think I'm going to have a conversation and I will bring it up at our next meeting. I think that's best. I'll have a conversation about what I was going to talk about. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Commissioner Kilg. Anything else, Commissioners? Commissioner Sinclair.

Thank you. I just wanted to recognize the Moskegan High School girls basketball team as our division one state champions for the first time ever. Hope that bring them in the way we did the boys football team when they won the state championship. Yeah, I already talked to city manager about arranging that at a future commission meeting. But I think it's particularly appropriate that that happened during women's history month. So I I love the girls making history. Go Big Reds. And not just the first time for Mskane High School, but the first time of any high school in Musk County. Yes.

Um we got a division one state champion. So many congrats to the lay reds and not only the players, but the staff and coaches and everyone involved with that program, parents. Yes. Dedicated support folks. And I believe they're having a celebration uh this Sunday at Mskane High School starting at 3M. Um double check that, but I think that's the case. Um so if y'all want to join and and celebrate. All right. Anything else uh commissioners for any other business? Nope. All right. We are going to go to public comment. Do you have any forms? No, I don't have any forms. Anyone in the audience wishes to give public comment at this time?

Oh, one form. Good evening, mayor and council. I'm Pat Jones, and I really want to say something because I was here last night and got stranded, but it was worth me to come back tonight uh because I want to let you know how my story ended. I'm again with KMG Prestige, who owns Jackson Hill Village, the B the Breen Ridge, K20, K whatever they come in here and they build all these new apartment complexes. And just as tonight you were approving these tax abatements and different things, you know, for these companies, make sure you follow up on them. Moskegan is a lovely community, but these Pakistanians have come in here and bought the community up, raise the prices, you know, and how long will we be a beach community? They don't give a damn about nothing but green. Okay? And that be money. The tax abatements, you know, they got a tax abatement from me. They told me the last time I come down here, you address the council again, we're going to throw your ass out. So I addressed the council again. I got through out, you know, but it's okay because no one would take my first amendment right, you know. And if you can't do anything about big brother, this is the only way the me as the public have any way to reach out and ask for help. And if no one will help us, what are we supposed to do if we're threatened by the people you let in to build these complexes to come back to you when they don't work, when the windows are boarded up, when the sinks are stopped up, if we can't come back to this board, where can we go, you know, without being threatened that again, we're going to be thrown out. So I did for for for Black History Month and and and Martin Luther King Day, I had all my furniture set out in the front yard in a blizzard. But uh just for the day, I'm okay with it

cuz I refuse to allow anyone to tell me, you know, I pay them $1,000 a month. I pay them what they ask for. You know, is that senior living? I don't think so. Because how many seniors have $1,000 to give up for an apartment a month? You know, I pay 100% more than my neighbor next door. Tell me how that works. But again, I came in under a different regiment, KMG, you know, they got a whole different ball game going. But if I can't come down here and make my knees known and there's no followup from this board to make them aware that our citizen citizens can always come and talk to their commissioners, then you're dropping the ball game. You you're dropping the ball and there won't be a ball game. See, it won't be a B lake shore. They don't give a damn about any of that. All they care about is what they want, money, you know. So when we bring these people in, let's hold them accountable because mist is going to hold you accountable, you know, and I just wanted to make sure I went on record. So when Mister comes and ask you where that's all they care about, those tax abatements and our tax credit. So when Mr. comes to the city, I went on record and at least you have knowledge of that they're taking this.

Please do something. Please do something. It's so great to see the women and people asking questions again. Oh man, getting stranded down here. Thank you, Miss Jones. Appreciate you joining us this evening. Thank you. Thank you for allowing me. Next up, we have John R. Allen joining us from the Nelson neighborhood. Good evening. You have three minutes to write your marks.

Good evening. Thank you for letting me speak. Um, I'm here to I was debating on even really bringing it up, but it's worth worth noting a very very troubling inconsistency in how our city continually defines integrity and especially compliance seems to get wishy-washy the more every week goes on. Recently, a general citizen requested a simple 96-hour administrative consideration for a seasonal deadline that was flatly denied from uh the top as I was told. The justification given by staff was that granting such a minor accommodation would be a bad look. If looks and integrity are now the primary metrics for city administration, we should reconcile that 96-hour denial with the following documented realities on city-owned property. The selective enforcement gap. The city's current posture towards its residents is one of zero tolerance almost always. Yet, its posture towards certain developers, especially at the end of Westwestern Avenue, is one of intrepid flexibility. Arbitrary rigidity. Denying a 96-hour window for a resident's logistical need while granting a six-month extension for a developer who was already who knows how far behind on those obligations is the definition of selective enforcement. And that list is much longer than this. Pretextual integrity. Claiming a bad look for a minor resident accommodation is a pretext when the city simultaneously allows the same developer to remain in 692day delinquency of the sand and muck that was uh abandoned at Hart Shorn Park. The retaliatory risk when the city is so ironclad for its critics, I guess that would be me, but flexible for its preferred partners, it moves from fair governance into the dangerous territory of First Amendment retaliation. the environmental and contractual look. Ignoring state orders, on May 6th, 2024, the Department of Eagle explicitly ordered the developer to remove at once

unpermitted structures misrepresented as vessels. The city was officially notified but allowed these structures to remain creating visible plumes of POS foam on public waters the entire year prior to any permit approval. This is also a breach of the CU uh CDUA, the cooperative development and use agreement, which also uh explicitly states that all improvements and work be done contemporaneously. Again, compliance deadlines, words that I have to follow, other people seem to have to follow, but no one else does. the safety look. This weekend, actually, I saw a post of the same forklift that has been an issue where it says no riders and they have posted a picture of them riding on it on city property. I've also been informed that no one has their uh forklift certification as we were told. So, you know, again, as far as rules applying to who and where, it only seems to apply to us as the citizens. And I I do hope that we take a very very inward look at ourselves and the way that we have approached compliance and integrity. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Appreciate you joining us this evening. Is there anyone else in the audience that wish to give public comment at this time? We're going to if you want to share something with us, uh please state your name and uh and your neighborhood you're joining us from if you don't mind.

Yes. My name is Martin Caukins. I'm uh president of Watches Go in Mskegegan here in Mskegegan, Michigan. Uh we take kids out on the lake and teach them how to kayak. Um and basically we've been uh taking pouring our own time, money, and resources into this for the last 5 years. Uh we are at a point right now where we just finally got our 305 or excuse me 305 C uh 503 C3 or C1. I'm not sure exactly. I'm sorry. We're a nonprofit organization. Uh and as of right now, we are just super blessed and we're super thankful to be to this point right now. Um and uh as of right now, we basically we're asking to uh be recognized by the city of Moskegan and so we can move further with uh our nonprofit and collecting donations because uh as of now, like I said, we've been pouring our own time, money, and resources into this program for the last 5 years. Um and we have some we have about 6,500 just in training this year. So with that being said, this would help out uh just being accepted and and basically the help from you guys uh move that forward. So basically we just appreciate it and uh we uh as of right now we've been doing weekly cleanups. Um this week we'll be at Pure Marquette Beach. Uh we're thankful for that. We're thankful for all the teammates to come out and help out. Uh in the prior weeks has been uh Nelson neighborhood was a we did a cleanup there. We did two cleanups at Smith Ryerson and then last week we did one at uh the park. Um it was in the Nelson neighborhood. Um anyways, with that being said, we got about 1,000 pounds of trash picked up on the city of Mskegegan already this year. Um so with that being said, I would just appreciate you guys uh recognizing us as a nonprofit and uh investing in our inner city youth and I appreciate you guys. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Caukins. Appreciate you joining us this evening. Mr. Mayor, point of information. Can I ask um so tonight um on our um uh agenda, they were approved for a charitable gaming license. Do you all have a date set for an event coming up here? Oh, this. Yes. Yeah. Would you please? All right. Yes. If you could state your name, this is going to be your public comment. If you could share information about how you plan on you because we already approved the charity uh license earlier or charity um gambling license. if you uh care to update us uh now under public comment on

I can I can use my comment to help answer that question but normally I wouldn't speak I actually wanted to get up here and talk so if you want me to do my comment and then address that at the end uh the last 12 to 18 months I've been working with watch us go boating mskegan we're really grassroots um so we're figuring all this stuff out we applied for the gaming license because we do plan on working with uh the Northway way lane poker nights. So that was what this was for. We're using that funding to really work on all of our initiatives and we've been writing grants like we've been doing all these things and figuring it out because this program's been going on for eight years and this is the first time that they're applying funds out of instead of out of their own pockets. We're taking this group of people that's going to go out there and they're just going to do it anyway. they've been doing it anyway. And now we are applying all of this political and um community organizational efforts and working on that. And with that, I wanted to apply this funny sanitation thing that just happened to be at the same night that we came in. It's really important actually. Um I'm a very curious person. I ask a lot of questions. So, on the cleanups that we've been doing, including street cleanups and trash, we do it every single week. It's an opportunity for people to come join us, do community service, and you guys are welcome to come out at any point. Ask questions about why it's important. And we worked with the Annis Water Institute. We I learned a lot when we went there. So, about how this stuff actually impacts the water. And don't ask too many questions if you go there, you guys. Uh, you might might not want to know. They

say don't go in the water after it rained. There's a whole it's a whole um there there's all this stuff. So, what you said you did some research on what the the lower bid company was all about. Uh, I'd hope you did as much research on how important it is if we go six months to a year without having proper sanitation removal and how those three, four times a year that the street is swept in addition to important community cleanups will help with that because we did we have some areas that just came off the contamination list.

So, there's a lot that goes into it. So, I'm kind of glad that I don't think you guys officially voted on We did. It passed. Thank you. Uh, could you please state your name? I don't know if we we Jennifer Evans from district 4, I think. Thank you, Miss Evans. Appreciate you joining us this evening. Is there anyone else in the audience that wishes to give public comment at this time? All right, we're going to go to the phones.

I think so. That number is 231-724-6721. This is an opportunity for you to give input directly to the city commission. Uh not uh Q&A or dialogue. We can arrange that um at a separate occasion if that's your interest. Um when you call in, please turn down any audio in the background. State your name and if you're a city Msine resident, which neighborhood you're calling from. Good evening. You're with the city of Mske City Commission. Yeah. Hi, it's Ann Vandermull from Roosevelt Park. Good evening. If three remarks,

okay, first of all, I'd like to thank any of the Moskegan police that helped with my student about 25 years ago. Unfortunately, there are many victims who are raped as ch uh as children uh boys or girls. Secondly, it's a crime to threaten to take someone's money even if your name is on their account. It's also a crime to say that the bank throws the account because someone isn't taking money out of someone's account. I've already wi written one police report on this person. Norton Shore should be invest in investigating this. Last time I talked about how my Miami Miami Vice had many on tops. There are four women on the Moskegan city commission. If they feel that there is any police officer not doing their job or possibly doing something illegal, I believe they could take take a vote to have that officer fired. I believe they could also start an internal affairs investigation on any officer in the county if they feel that officer is doing something corrupt. A man named Brad told me about something men in this community possibly want to do. If that's true, they are sick criminals. I'm not accusing Tracy Lorenz of this, but I believe sick people in his cult have tried to dig up dirt on me ever since I wrote that police report in the city of Moskegan 12 years ago. I wrote a stupid text four years ago to someone about my mom's having Alzheimer's because I wanted this person to stop bullying my mom about something. If my mom truly had it, the doctors would have found it by now. My mom is doing great and she writes her own bills every month, which means she is still mentally sound to take care of her own finances. I believe there are certain medical people doing illegal things in this community. If so, they should be in

jail. You cannot say someone has Alzheimer's unless they truly do. And I believe uh you know, I'm not suicidal. I've never tried to commit suicide and I don't plan on it. Depression does take a toll on your mind. But since I stopped talking to a major bully in my life, my mind has gotten much stronger in the last few years. It would be a crime for any doctor to try to institutionalize me like a friend of mine says the people I called CPS on want to do to me. I'm always going to stick up for children. And I, you know, I experienced what I experienced uh with my student many years ago and I'm always going to stick up for children. Um, child molestation and rape has got to stop. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Van. I didn't hear anyone else trying to call in during the Oh, we got someone.

There was somebody calling. Otherwise, okay, we'll give you a few more moments then. All right. Just now it's not like they're going to call us back. Maybe they're opting to email us instead. All right, commissioners. I would entertain a motion to adjurnn.

So moved. All right. Motion by Vice Mayor Ken, supported by Commissioner Kilo. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. All right. Same sign. Thank you. Take care and be well.