City Commission - Regular Meeting

Call to order the December 15 city commission. Please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. 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, city clerk. Uh, roll call, please. Commissioner Davis, here. Commissioner Gotautle, here. Commissioner Hanley, here. Commissioner Larson, here. Commissioner Mayor, Mayor Prom Ottawa here,

and Mayor Schlaggel here. Um, do we have a motion to excuse Commissioner Mayor? Uh, Commissioner Hanley. I move that we excuse Commissioner Mayor for personal reasons. Second, please. Commissioner Gotautle. Second. Uh, any discussion? No. Okay. Hearing none. Um, all in favor, please say yes. Yes. Opposed? No. Motion passes six to nothing. Uh we are we have an agenda in front of us. Uh do we have a motion? Commissioner Gotale. Um I'd like to move uh item 4D, new liquor license application to new business, please.

Okay, we will move that to just that be considered new business 5 A. Okay. Just five. Just five. Okay, great. Um, hearing that, can we get a motion to approve the agenda as amended? Mr. Gotley, I move to approve the motion as the agenda as amended. Promot. Any discussion? None. Okay. All in favor, please say yes. Opposed? No.

Motion passes 60. Uh, moving on. to announcements. I don't have any announcements tonight, so I think we'll just kind of keep things humming along. We got a pretty light um agenda this evening, so if it's all right, we can just move on to boards and committees. We have a number of appointments to do tonight, which was exciting. Can I get a motion, please? Commissioner Hanley.

I move that we appoint Hunter Vulkmar to the LDFA for an unexpired term ending 81 of 2028. Mark Miller to the MBR for an unexpired term ending 2127. Emerson Graves to the PAC for an unexpired term ending 22627. And Brian Glit to the DDA for a term ending 112030. Thank you. Is there a second, please? Commissioner Davis. I'll second the motion. Any discussion? I'm just very excited to see a lot of people joining these boards and committees. We still have a lot of spots to fill if anyone else is interested, but it's thank you to these people for stepping up.

Anybody else? Okay, thank you very much. With that, all in favor, please say yes. Yes. Opposed? No. Motion passes six to nothing. And we have one reappoint. Is there a motion? Motion for that, please. Commission Prom Ottawa. I move to reappoint Chris Derley to the DDA for a term ending 11 2030. Second, please. Commissioner Larson, I'll second that. Any discussion? No thanks. Okay, hearing none. Uh, all in favor, please say yes. Yes. Opposed? No.

Motion passes six to nothing. Uh, great. We are on to our first public comment. Public comments cannot exceed three minutes per person. Please state your name and physical address when making public comments. Is there any public? Sorry, I'm just getting over a cold. Matt Blondo, 2352 Warner Street, Marquette.

So, I'm the guy that's applying for the liquor license for the Kingcoin location. So, um, what I'm trying to do is the the the building, it's in a, you know, it's a big building just for a laundromat on Third Street. So, what I was going to do is kind of shrink the the laundry mat down a little bit and put a bar on the inside. Um, I was going to sink a lot of money into the property and just fully renovate everything, fix the problems with it, just renovate the inside, put all new machines in, and just make it something nice for Third Street. Um, but also it'll be attended, which I would think that, you know, it's a good thing to have that building attended because there's been a lot of problems there, especially late at night. Um, but it'll be something a lot different, too, having a bar laundromat. The only other one is in Grand Rapids, so this will be the second one in Michigan. Uh, but then also what I was going to do, I don't know what info you guys had on this whole thing, but the north wall um at the intersection here, all of the stuff I was going to I I was still working with Andrea Landers on a few things to see, you know, there's a few issues with the lot line behind. I did buy the house behind also, but there's some issues um because one's in the DDA and one is not. But um we're going to try to figure out a way to make this work. But I want to try to clean up the north wall and remove this chimney um the um gas meter and also this old Bilco door that actually encroaches into the rightway. So the idea was going to be to put everything on the back side of the building and cut windows in on the north wall. Um that way it's just a lot cleaner. And um potentially I I don't know for sure yet. I I there's still a little ways to go, but I might put rooftop seating on the building also. Um until I have plans drawn by the architect, um I I don't know for sure, but that is something that I would like

to do. I think it would be neat. It would look good on Third Street. And um but that that was the plan is to make this thing something unique and clean it up and and have it attended and cut down on on any of the problems that we've been having. So, um, and then I don't know if you got a copy of this, but this was just a preliminary plan of the bar. We were going to move all the washing machines to the, uh, to the back wall to the west side and then put a big wraparound bar on the around where the the support posts are on the inside. And I was going to get rid of the two doors in the this is there's a few changes from the drawing, but the doors facing Third Street. We're going to get rid of the two and put one in the front and put a stage over here for for music cuz so because we were were required to have entertainment there. So it would be something a lot different and I don't know I would like to do it. So yeah. So that's all I have to say right now. So thank you. Um you'll be able to speak at that uh when when we get to it on the agenda as well. Okay. Uh any other public for public comment? Seeing that there is no other public for comment, we will move on. Our next is our presentation. Uh it's in regards to the market area wastewater treatment advisory board. Deputy Sean, Deputy Manager Sean Hobbins is going to lead us through this one. Thank you.

Yep. Thank you. Yep. So, it's my pleasure to update this board once again on uh the going ons of our Marquette area wastewater treatment advisory board. Um, as a reminder, this advisory board is made up of appointed members from the city of Marquette, Marquette Township, and Chlay Township. Um, so that's our our membership uh uh roster. Um, currently Chris Lucas from Chocolate Township is our chair. Um the city has the most members and I think we establish a nice balance by asking one of the townships to to chair it usually. Um but since I am an appointed city representative in addition to being the deputy city manager of the city, I was asked to come present to this board tonight. Um we do meet the third Thursday of each month. So that does mean we are meeting this week if anybody's interested in coming and hearing our deliberations at 10:00 am at the wastewater treatment plant. Um you are you are most welcome to that open board meeting. Um the meetings usually do not last very long. Um the MAB as we lovingly refer to it uh was established in 1977 through an intergovernmental agreement. Um, we serve as the contract, the city of Marquette serves as the contract operator of the facility. Um, and the board oversees the operation of the facility under the provisions of that agreement. Um, basically we uh take a look at all the projects proposed uh to us by the um municipal municipal municipal utilities director. Um, and we review the budget each month. um we see um the status of the operations um and the other uh partner um municipalities have a chance to hear just what's going on. Um

some history of our our plant. Um the initial planning for the treatment plant started in 1941. Uh, as I might remind you of my comments last year before this, we didn't necessarily have a good place for treatment and most of uh, Marquette sewage was pumped into the lake. Uh, and my understanding was it was pumped into lower harbor and that water doesn't actually get much movement. So, you can only imagine way the way that used to smell and it probably u helps us understand the way Marquette's downtown was built up around the harbor um, instead of as a part of it. Um but the initial treatment for the primary treatment plant uh initial construction for the primary treatment plant started in 1951. There was another upgrade in 1978. We did a large redesign in construction in 2008. And then we have just recently completed our solid handling upgrade um this board approved um a couple years ago now um to be able to take in um a significant amount of material and and provide the correct amount of storage. Um, our highlights from the past year, um, we're treating 967 million gallons of wastewater, uh, maintaining a stable budget, uh, incurring minimal permit violations. Um, kind of one of the interesting things I feel like about the more you learn about this plant is there's going to be a permit violation somewhere. Uh, the weather and waste doesn't really seem to always want to comply. Neither do the living organ or organisms um or bugs uh that we use to treat the waste. Um but we always seem to um maintain a minimal number of permit violations and keep everything running really well. Um and our solids handling project was completed and is $500,000 under budget. How often do we get to say that in city government? Um, this project was a $14 million project funded with a state of Michigan

clean water lowinterest loan uh that included $5.8 million in loan forgiveness. Um, the project came in on time and under budget. Um, and included a high strength waste receiving station of receptives, grease, and portaotty waste. Um, to date, the high strength waste we've taken in has generated $178,000. that was part of the proposition for this plant was that it was actually going to make us be able to accept more waste and turn this into revenue. Um it also included several improvements. It added bioolid storage so we meet the required 180day level of storage. Um it added a new belt filter press. Um it uh allows us to increase revenue and increase bio gas production. um and several several other very very technical uh improvements um that allow our our waste water plant to operate uh to its fullest extent. Um here is some pictures. I'm sure if anybody would like a tour um Director O'Neal would be happy to give you one. Uh it's it's a really fascinating part of our city. It's it's honestly if you're going to get a tour of anything, this is one of the most fun things to go get a tour of in my view.

Uh but I am on the board so I'm a little biased. uh septage receiving. And then our focus for 2026 um will just be optimization of the new process equipment from this project. Um looking for more land application sites. So more places that we can put the uh in material that wasn't broken down um and that we need a place to store. Uh we're always kind of looking for a place to put that material. Um we're going to continue updating the asset management and capital improvement plans. Um, we're going to work on rebuilding the reserve replacement fund and then promote staff development and succession planning like any other department. That's all I got. Any questions?

That's a lot. Yeah. Commissioner here. Commission. Yeah. Yeah. Sean, you touched on it a bit. Um, I know when we the couple tours we had with Mark, one of the things they had talked about was um just the the off-site storage, bringing it typically to farms and things like that. How does that look right now? I mean, have we been able to find anything uh recently to to add to the stock of where we can bring that stuff? Are we are we thinking that we're going to be, you know, running out of positions to find places? Uh my understanding is the farms we're currently utilizing are able to accept what we are producing, but I would defer to Mark.

Uh yeah, we're always looking for new sites. We have a couple fields that we've have on the radar. Uh we have to do some field work uh to get them into our program, but we could always use more. Okay. The good the good news is Cleveland Cliffs uh there's a ton of land out there that we could always use. But uh yeah, I don't I don't think we're at a crisis point uh of needing more sites by any means. We're just continuously planning. Yeah, with the farmers fields that we have right now, we have all the uh capacity that we need. And is that something typically we just like to find some closer? Excuse me. No, you're fine. Yep. Is that something typically that is costing us money to be able to dump those things?

Yeah. So, it for us it's all about hauling transportation cost. Uh we don't pay anything to dump it. Uh the alternative is if we're not allowed to bring it out to a farmer's field or Cleveland cliffs, then we have to take it to the landfill, then we have to pay the tipping fees on it. Okay. And that would be extremely expensive. Absolutely. Thanks, Mark. Yep. John, Commissioner Gota. Um, thank you. Uh, Sean, I I have a two questions. One is quite technical. What is high strength waste?

Septage, household septage from, you know, if you're not connected to a municipal system, uh, portaotty waste, grease trap waste, that sort of stuff. We weren't set up to take it before. So, this project, we put that in. I'm delighted to hear the city doesn't have any major um permit violations. You did mention there were a number of minimal violations. I'm wondering how does that compare to other municipalities of our size, less than, equal to, greater than how are we standing? I don't know what minor permit violations means in terms of regulation. Is this something horrible?

No, I think we're in really good shape actually. Uh, you know, it all comes down to design of treatment plants, how old they are. Um, a lot of treatment plants have combined or cities have combined sewer systems. So, the storm water goes in there, especially in the Detroit area where they overload the the sewer system, the treatment plants, and that results in many more violations than we've ever seen.

When we have significant wet weather events, I think is kind of the the thing that pops up in my mind. Um, you know, when the UP had that May snowstorm a few years ago that dumped on us and then everything melted all at once, everybody up here was overloaded. Um, and I think we were able to handle it the absolute best. It was it was a given to me that there was going to be a permit violation just because of how overloaded everything was. Um, but we are able to treat and process everything at a much higher rate. Um, and and suffer less of a permit violation. It's it's just a matter of if with some of these, but we're able to mitigate, you know, the worst of things could from happening.

We were able to get the treatment plant back in um compliance within a day and a half. We have a wet weather plan that we initiated. Other treatment plants just don't have the capability for it. If that doesn't sound impressive, it's actually incredibly impressive and a testament to Mark's staff.

Thank you. Uh I don't have any questions, but just more comments. you know, I I uh surprisingly follow this this uh structure the the the process that we've been using over there kind of weirdly a little bit too much than I probably should. But um fact is is that we have what in my opinion um and from what I've been told one of the one of the highest performing um you know facilities uh around and we should be really proud of it. Uh I was down at uh two different MML events and I've spoke with many other communities, a couple of let me put it that way, two or three other communities that um asked us spec asked me specifically about our waste treatment and I was able to talk to them about you know the the co-gen system and and how we uh we put in you know the processing uh this pastime through and uh and they were really jealous that that you know we're they're sitting there years and years behind us. Uh and it's just quite impressive to to think and and we're very fortunate especially living here on the shores of Lake Superior to be able to handle this uh the materials as the best that we can. So,

and just to restate, I mean the challenges that our staff are able to overcome, the equipment they're able to rebuild and rebuild and rebuild and the the ability to diagnose issues and get things back up and running. I mean, our we truly have an amazing talented staff over there um both, you know, working and supervising. So, Excellent. Thank you. Thank you, Deputy City Manager. Okay. Um, that brings us to our consent agenda that has been amended. Um, is there a motion? Commissioner Larson? I move that we accept the consent agenda as amended. Is there a second?

Commissioner Gotley. Second. Uh, any discussion? Okay. Hearing none. Uh, all those in favor, please say yes. Yes. Opposed? No. Motion passes six to nothing. Okay. Our new category, new business tonight that we didn't have before, but we will gladly take on is uh the new liquor license application. And we can get some background, please. Uh, city clerk.

Thank you, mayor. Uh, Sips and Suds LLC is planning to apply to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for a new on- premises class C development district DDA license for an establishment to be located at 629 North Thirdrd Street. Owner Matt Blondo has indicated that he plans to renovate and improve the subject property, creating a combination laundromat and bar at the site. Uh, per state regulations, in order to qualify for a development district license, an establishment must be located within a downtown district established under part two of the state's recodified tax increment financing act. A development district license may be issued in excess of the liquor control commission's quota limits, but requires a specific investment threshold to qualify. The license cannot be transferred to another location once issued, and the establishment must be open a minimum number of days and hours each week. The state requires applicants for a development district license to obtain an affirmative recommendation from the local legislative body prior to making application. This application has been reviewed and approved by the city police, fire, community development, and finance departments. Fiscal effect none by this action. Recommendation approve the attached resolution recommending Michigan Liquor Control Commission approval of a new development district liquor license for Sips and Sids LLC at 629 North Third Street. alternatives as determined by the commission.

Thank you, city clerk. Uh we'll start with the quester if you don't mind, Commissioner Gota. Oh, I guess yeah, we do need a motion first, right? Okay. Motion, please.

I move to deny the attached resolution recommending uh Michigan Liquor Control Commission approve approval of the new development uh district liquor license for Sips and Suds LLC at 629 North Thirdrd Street. until one, we know that the address is in an area zone for this use. Two, we hear more details with regards to what specific investment thresholds need to be met to qualify as mentioned in the background information. And three, assuming that the city commission does ultimately pass a supporting resolution and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission approves it, we know if there will be an opportunity for the public, the planning commission and or the city commission to have uh concerns addressed about this type usage at this location.

Is there a sec? Second for the motion.

Second for the motion. Commissioner Prom Otawway second discussion.

Um, thank you, Mayor. Uh, basically I would like to I don't have any major personal issues with this. I like to drink when I do laundry because it gives me something to do. However, I am uh would like some more information about uh this location and I think this is our opportunity, if I'm not mistaken, to get some more information before it is approved. Uh, hence my motion. I really would like to know u what Andrea and Dave Stensis is this falling within the zoning. Will the public have any uh uh space for comment on it before it's approved? And I don't understand what requirement for a specific investment threshold is and hoping somebody can explain that.

Promot. Yeah. Um I know obviously city manager is not here but the deputy city manager is. Um typically when we get things like this that have been you know provided from uh you know our planning folks and Andrea that's all been vetted and and there are questions that um you know Commissioner Gotautle has that I feel like typically already answered by them um before they get here. So, I'm assuming all of that stuff has been vetted and I'm hoping uh the deputy city manager may be able to touch on that a bit. I'm going to defer to the city attorney first.

So, this is a little bit different than the normal ones that you see simply because this is a new license, not a transfer of license. And frankly, most of the time you don't even see or have the chance to approve these. In this particular instance, you have to approve it before he can even go to the state and apply for the license. So if this is approved then he can go to the state. He can apply for the license. He has to meet all that criteria of the state. None of that involves us. The amount of investment doesn't involve us. It doesn't involve zoning. That is purely a mechanism with the state of Michigan through the liquor control commission. Um and he can't build it or do any of the work unless it meets zoning. Um he still has to meet all those other requirements. So this is really I mean this is your only opportunity but the only reason you even get an opportunity is because he's seeking a new license under the development district uh licensing. Um and really your your role is to determine whether um there is a reason he should not be eligible for a license. For example, if he already has liquor licenses and we have a problem with um compliance and we know there's a lot of violations um or things like that that would make him not a good candidate, but everything else really is in the hands of zoning or the liquor control commission.

Thank you. Uh and I can answer um the some of these questions we might have to go back through them a little bit more. Um, but in terms of uh the investment that's required, um, so they are charged a $20,000 fee. Um, and they have to do at least a $75,000 capital investment uh into the structure. Um, so it's they have to put money into the building. That's part of it being the development area um liquor license. Um in terms of discussions with the planning commission or um you know planning zoning we have the land development code that dictates how these things go through it. It wouldn't get any sort of special review. It would follow the established procedures and normal regulations that we already have set out. So I I I am not the planning or zoning official. Um but I believe this is an allowed use within this district. Uh not a special use. um it would only rise to the planning commission if there was some sort of special use or exemption that they were they were applying for. Um but this is just the liquor license uh approval um to go to the state like this. The attorney stated further questions.

Okay. Do you have something Commissioner Davis? Yes, please. Yeah. I, you know, I'm um actually would be pretty excited to see that building um improved and I'm not real sure when you said that there's been problems there. I'm not real sure what those are, but I assuming that our our chief of police knows and he nodded when you said that. So, I'm assuming they were significant enough. I see no reason to deny this. So, if this is a motion to deny, I guess I would vote no on this particular motion. Anyone else? I Commissioner Hley,

I also agree with Commissioner Davis. I think this is great. And I also I really like to look at the fact that this is not about technically what he's doing with the building. This this what we have in the agenda is about the liquor license itself. Has nothing to do with the building or anything past that. So, I see no reason to debate that at this point.

Okay. Anyone else? Okay. Um, from my perspective, I think what we're doing here is we're checking off the box that is our responsibility and we're leaving the details up to the people that are in are supposed to be handling those details, especially when it comes to the state and uh and then our our land use uh to our land development code and to our planners. So, I don't see a reason to deny this, but I do appreciate Commissioner Gotautle's concern. um and desire to discuss this. Um I I think that uh you know for what we're responsible for doing is uh everything appears to be in line in my my opinion. So I will vote this down. Anything else? Okay, let's uh bring it to a vote then. All those in

It's a roll call vote. Oh, I'm sorry. That one is Yes. Roll call vote, please. City clerk. Question from Suzanne first. Oh, if we vote this down, do we then have to do a different motion to approve it? That is correct. Okay. Thank you. And and I also want to note that if you vote in favor of this motion, we're going to need some clarification because the resolution specifically requires the reasons for disapproval, not conditions, but the reasons why it was denied. So, if you're going to vote in favor of the motion and deny the resolution, we're going to need some clarification as to what that reasoning is. Okay. Thank you. Roll call.

Commissioner Davis, no. Commissioner Gotautle, no. Commissioner Hanley, no. Commissioner Larson, no. Mayor Prom Ottawa, no. Mayor Schel, no. um that it gets voted down 0 to six. With that, we're looking for a motion on the original topic. Promot I move to approve the attached resolution recommending Michigan Liquor uh control commission approval of a new development district liquor license for Sips and Suds LLC at 629 North Thirdrd Street. Is there a second? Commissioner Davis. I'll second the motion.

Thank you. Conversation. any uh discussion? No, I think we we already discussed it, but I will jump off of uh uh Commissioner Davis who was speaking about the the actual site itself. Um I will say, you know, from my perspective, I've driven past that laundry mat for, you know, no less than, how old am I now? 30 years wondering why one of the greatest corners uh in a a business district is only a laundromat. So, I appreciate the idea that you're going to do something else with that. Uh hopefully if if we can get through that um and look forward to seeing what that becomes. Thank you. No further comments. Anyone else? Okay. Thank you. Uh we'll take that to roll call vote, please. City clerk. Commissioner Davis,

yes. Commissioner Gotautle, yes. Commissioner Hanley, yes. Commissioner Larson, yes. Mayor Prom Ottawa, yes. And Mayor Schlaggel, yes. Motion passes six to zero. Thank you. Good discussion. Um, brings us to our second public comment. Again, comments cannot exceed three minutes per person. Please state your name and physical address if you have not already done so. Leave public comment. If you want to say something, now's your chance.

Matt Blondo, I just I wanted to clear a couple things up and it probably doesn't matter anymore, but I do have another liquor license in the city. I own the liquor store on Fourth Street. And I brought this in just to show we don't have any violations and we do have past control buys done by the state on our store. So we do we do try to keep everything you know in order and not have violations and we want to you know just keep everything on the good side I guess.

Um and also back to the zoning as I did talk with Andrea Landers you know quite a few times and it since it is zone T5 it is a permitted use the the whole thing can be done with a simple zoning permit. it wasn't a special request or anything. Um, so just to clear that part up that I did I looked into all the stuff before I even applied for it just to make sure that I wasn't, you know, going to go down a path where it would hit a dead end. Um, so I just wanted to let you guys all know that, I guess. So, and I appreciate it. So, thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else for public comment? Third and final call. Thank you. Public comment is closed. Uh, comments from the commission. We're going to start on the far end down there with Commissioner Davis, please. Okay. Um, have a safe and happy holiday. That's all. Commissioner Gotautle. Good. Commissioner Hley, Commissioner Larson, Pro Tim.

Uh, great job by Commissioner Gotautle once again. uh just bringing up uh something out of, you know, a question in his head and making us actually think about it and discuss it. I think that there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. And I think it it really leads to us actually understanding our our role as a commission uh even further. So, thank you to Commissioner Gotautley for that. Happy holidays to everyone else. Thank you.

I said thank you to you. Thank you. Yes. Happy holidays. Um, you know, if you're out there making a purchase, I've said it, I think pretty much every week in the last few few meetings, but please try and keep your uh your dollars local and uh don't forget to help out your neighbors. There's a lot of people in need out there. So, please uh consider making a contribution in whatever capacity you can to somebody that can get it in the right uh get it in the right hands. So, with that being said, deputy city manager, do you have anything?

Uh just happy holidays. I ask everyone in the community to be the considerate of our public employees who are working even on those holidays um and contributing to their community and good luck to our city manager who's giving an address to the economic club right about now. So that's all I got. Thank you. With that we are adjourned at 6:33.