City Of Muskegon Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat. N. Good evening, good folks, and welcome to the city of Moskegan city commission general session for this Tuesday, April 14th, 2026. To remind folks, we do have a few different public comment periods this evening. Um towards the beginning of the meeting, we have three public hearings. Um then we'll have public comment on agenda items, any of the remaining agenda items, opportunity to give input on those items. We'll also have general public comment at the end of the meeting. That's an opportunity for folks to give input to the commission on anything they wish to share. Um in any of these public comment periods, it's time to give input directly, not necessarily back and forth uh dialogue or Q&A. We can arrange that at a separate time if that's so desired. Everyone has up to three minutes to provide their remarks and we do take phone in comments. So you're not here in person. Uh we will welcome you to phone in. We do take public comments from in person first. However, if you do wish to give in person comment, I encourage you to complete the public comment form that's at the back of the room. Um please provide your name and home address. Note, I will not be sharing your home address and we're asking you to announce that. Uh that's for our records. I will be acknowledging if you're a city Michigan resident which neighborhood you're joining us from. if you're not a city resident where else you may be joining us from. Now, we will be starting our meeting with prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance. If you wish to join us in either of the activities, um actually I'm not seeing our uh faith leader um that was scheduled to join us this evening to lead prayer. So, we're going to be having a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance. Um if you wish to join us in either of those activities, I ask that you stand if you're still capable of doing so.

Thank you. 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.

May we have roll call, please. Commissioner St. Clair, here. Mayor Johnson, here. Commissioner Kilgo, here. Vice Mayor Kenir, yes. Here. Commissioner German here. Mr. Jackson here. Mr. Cochen here.

Thank you. We have four. All right. We don't have any honors awards and presentations scheduled for this evening. So, we're going to get started with our public hearings. Uh the first one is a regional consolidated plan for 2026 to 2030. Um we did hear from our community neighborhood services director John Carson last night at a work session uh presenting on this and so now this is the formal public hearing. Um and uh we're gonna have director Jack uh Ekholm uh lead this this evening. So good evening and welcome.

Good evening. Um Jake Ekholm, director of development services for the city of Mskegegan. Uh pinch hitting for director Carson this evening. So as was mentioned uh she did present in the work session last night but just for the public certification briefly. Um, we're going through a process that's required every 5 years by, uh, HUD, the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, uh, in order for us to continue to qualify for our community development block grant and home uh, investment partnership funds from the federal government. Uh, this is a three community regional plan, regional consolidated plan or con plan for short. Uh it's a document that receives public review, public input through surveys uh and focus group and uh citizen board uh feedback in order to sort of set the table for what types of eligible programming the communities may embark on with those annual allocations of federal dollars. Uh this is one of two required public hearings and we uh just closed our uh survey I think late last week and so yeah this is the opportunity for the public to give any review of the con plan. A draft of the con plan is available here at city hall as well as on the website. And I think that's a pretty good summary.

And public comments will be welcomed through May 7th, I believe. Correct, director. Once again, I'm sorry, May 7th. Public comments welcomed um on this plan through May 7th. Yes, thank you. Yep. The public comment period uh extends through the end of business on May 7th.

Okay. Excellent. Thank you. Uh, anyone in the audience wish to give input as part of this public hearing? Seeing no takers, we're going to go to the phones. This is specifically a public hearing with regard to a regional consolidated plan um that our community neighborhood services is submitting to HUD for the years 2026 through 2030. We're going to go to the phones. The phone number is 231724-6721. All right. Does not sound like we have any takers for this public hearing. Commissioners, I would entertain a motion.

Oh, sorry. I did that wrong. Just to close the public hearing. Yeah. Oh. Um, I move to close the public hearing. All right, we have a motion by Vice Mayor uh Kener, supported by Commissioner German to close public hearing. There's no disc. Oh, yes, Commissioner Kilgo. Thank you. Um, just a piece of discussion. I know we discussed last night, but there was some questions and different things. Um, just question for staff. This plan is submitted to HUD U for the 5-year plan. If there are adjustments that we see that we need to make over the next 5 years, that's something we can still do. Correct. As far as allocating of money.

Sure. And so I think that's a really good question to take the opportunity to explain the difference between the regional consolidated plan and each community's annual action plan. So Moskegan, Moskegan Heights, and Norton Shores join together in this consolidated plan to become eligible for the level of funding we receive. However, each community sets their own annual action plan and their own department budget at their own respective municipality. So, the program can and does change year to year. Um, yeah. So, absolutely over the course of the next several years um depending on the federal funding levels or a new need that we see take place in the community. Um, as long as it's an eligible use of those funds and can be tied back to one of the core points of the con plan, we can include it in an annual action plan.

Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. Great question. Thank you, Commissioner Ko. Thank you, Jack. Roll call, please. Vice Mayor Kenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen, yes. Commissioner St. Clair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Motion passes.

Thank you. Uh, next public hearing is the request to establish an industrial development district at 331 West Lake Avenue. Good evening and welcome. Good evening. Joselyn Hines, economic development analyst here at the city of Moskegan. So, this is for us to host a public hearing to establish an industrial development district at the property 331 West Lake Avenue. This has been requested by American Fabricated Products. Um they um are a Spring Lake company that plans to move all of their operations here to the city of Moskegan at that location. And so establishing a industrial development district is the first step before they can apply for industrial facilities um tax exemption and the developer and consultants are also here if there are additional questions. All right. Uh this is a public hearing so we're going to open it up to any input from the audience and phone and then uh we'll go to the commission if the commission has any questions uh for staff or uh the applicant. So, anyone in the audience that wish to give input with regard to the establishment of an industrial development district at 331 West Lake Avenue? Seeing no takers in the audience, we're going to go to the phones. That number is 231-724-6721. This is an opportunity to phone in and give input specifically with regard to the establishment of this industrial development district. All right. Does not look like we have any callers for this public hearing. so that we may proceed with

deliberation. Can I get a motion? I move to close the public hearing and approve the resolution establishing an industrial development district at 331 West Lake Avenue and authorize the mayor and city clerk to sign. Support. We have a motion by Commissioner Cohen, supported by Commissioner St. Clair. Commissioner Cos, do you have anything to ask or add off the top? I do actually. Um but maybe not so much for staff, potentially more for the business owner. Okay, let's start with um the applicant. Um, the applicants in the room. Good evening. If you uh kindly introduce yourself. Hi, my name is Russell Glam. I'm the vice president of American Fabricated Products.

Thank you very much for coming out tonight, sir. Um, for the the folks at home, I'm kind of wondering um can you elaborate what type of business that you do and the number of jobs that you could bring to the city?

Yeah, absolutely. So, we're a full-ervice metal fabricator. We provide anything from sheet metal work to armor to, you know, pretty much anything you can build out of metal. We've been in business for about 18 years. We've been located in Spring Lake. We're a family-owned business. Right now, we have roughly 30 employees. Um, you know, we were given the opportunity to purchase the property where we're at. It wasn't really sizable for us, so we decided to take a look at Moskegan and, you know, move operations up here. So, we found a viable property. It's about twice the size of what we are now. So, it's about 65,000 square foot. Um, we're looking at creating around 12 to 16 jobs in the first 12 months. Uh, after that, the three-year plan is to add hopefully between 25 and 30 jobs. Uh, we have a lot of LTSAs we're looking at right now, long-term service agreements that would create a lot of opportunity for us as a company. Um, so that was a big determining factor on us wanting to relocate up here. Uh right now we're only a first shift company. So there's a lot of uh opportunity for growth and more um you know jobs and positions to open up as we hope to continue to grow as a business.

Absolutely. Um and can you talk a little bit about like the average pay scale for the employees? Yeah, so our base hire pay right now is right around 2150 an hour. Um you know so we we try to be as competitive as possible with pay wages. Uh you know really we're looking for hardworking people. We take the position that we can teach anyone anything, but we can't teach people how to work hard. So, you know, anyone that's really willing to take a shot at us, we're willing to take a shot at them. Um, you know, so we look to be competitive. We look to incentivize people to want to, you know, give to us what we think we we are entitled to give back to them, which is an honest pay.

Nice. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. I think that this could bring a lot of good jobs to people who have been looking around the city. So, I'm excited. and and you know it's we're we're really hoping to attract good talent, good labor. You know there's a lot of different positions we are going to be creating. You know there's going to be operator positions, engineering positions, administrative positions, just about everything. So wonderful. Thank you. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Coin. Commissioner Sinclair, anything to ask around in support of the motion? Not at this time. Commissioners, Commissioner German. Uh yes, thank you, Mayor, and thank you uh for your interest here in the city of Mskegeegan. My question is uh you say you're bringing about 30 jobs here. Yes.

Okay. And and looking to hire more um fair and equal opportunity uh hiring practices. Where are you at on that?

Uh right now we're pretty much working off of what the standard has always been for our internal policies, which is making sure we abide by all of those guidelines and we make sure that we give everyone an equal chance at any positions that we offer within our company. We're specifically interested in hiring out of Moskegan uh county and the city uh just because the labor pool has been very challenging for us as a manufacturer as a whole. Uh it's been a really hard hard time for us to fill the gap with the skilled labor that we need at our company and um it's been interesting because there's a couple manufacturing operations on the lake shore that are actually recently closing down. So, there's going to be a need for those jobs and those people that need jobs to hopefully come in, you know, get introduced to us and hopefully, you know, we can offer them a position at our company and, you know, help them transition into something new, whatever that may be next in their careers and hopefully it's with us.

Yeah. Well, that's great. Um because, you know, manufacturing is actually coming back and it's good to see it here in Moskegan. um fabrication, somebody has to have the skill set to do that work and instead of having it, you know, abroad overseas, um I would like to see that here for opportunities for workers who want to get into that uh field and learn that trade. So, yeah, thank you.

Yeah, it's and it's it's hard work. It's it's hard work and it's it's interesting. We're a younger shop, you know. Um honestly, it's it's it's energizing because a lot of our staff staff is younger individuals right now. They're between the ages of 22 and 40. Um, you know, we also employ some older individuals as well. But, uh, it's energizing having a younger a younger crew right now because it creates an opportunity and a path forward where there's going to be a lot of people transitioning out of manufacturing that have been doing this as a career for the last 30 or 40 years. And that skill gap, in my opinion, is only going to get broader. So I think, you know, with that that energy and that reinvigoration that we hope to bring as a company, we hope to attract a lot of people into manufacturing that might not be interested in it so much now by creating an environment that hopefully they want to join.

Yeah. And one last question. Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'm sorry. That's it. No, no. Um, you know, I work at Moss Community College and, you know, I work with students as they uh come to college to get a skill set or a pathway um to a career. Um, what about any type of internships maybe for like management, business or are you providing any of those opportunities? That's something we absolutely want to do. Um, that's something we're going to be working with GMAT and Apex and uh I forget the manufacturing scope here. I think it's M MMTC maybe. Um, we're going to be collaborating with them. you know, we we currently are listed on their job board. So, as far as the internship side of things goes, that's something we definitely want to pursue. Great. Okay. Thank you. Yeah.

Thank you, Commissioner German. Anything else to ask or add, Commissioners or ask at least of uh the applicant here? No. All right. Uh thank you so much for joining us and more of thank you for choosing to grow with Mskegee. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much. All right. Uh, commissioners, do you have any questions for staff on this item or any final thoughts before we go to vote? All right. So, this is the first step in establishing the district and um, the request for the issuance of the tax exemption will come at a future time. Um, but I fully support this and I think it's important we continue to support manufacturing here um, in Moskegan, foster a broadly diversified economy. It's a resilient economy. So, all right, roll call, please.

Commissioner German. Yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen, yes. Commissioner Sinclair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Keenir, yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Next public hearing is PA 198 industrial facilities exemption for 2246 Olaf Drive. Good evening. Can you introduce yourself and please report out on this item?

Absolutely. Isabella Gonzalez, development analyst with the city of Moskegan. So today we have a public hearing for an IFT uh abatement certificate. Um this is this has been requested by AB Electrical Wires. So AB Electrical Wires uh is a Moskegan uh business at 2246 Drive. They are located within our Port City Industrial Park which was designated as an industrial development district in 1983. Um the company is proposing an investment of approximately over $3.2 $.2 million to support the exa uh expansion of its existing facility um which will include an addition totaling 39,750 ft. Um so AB Electrical Wires specializes in the design, engineering and manufacturing of wire and cable harness assemblies and industrial control panel solutions which are used across a wide range of industries. The proposed expansion will in will support increased production capacity and continued growth for the company's operations. Um so in addition to the physical expansion, the company anticipates creating over 30 new jobs within the next two years. Um in addition to that, the company has signed the uh city's equal employment opportunity inclusive workforce development letter. Um and then in addition to that, they've also signed uh the uh tax abatement contract and uh have completed our uh summary sheet. So, um they have uh worked with both myself and the city's EEO and employee relations director um and we will continue to monitor their progress uh towards these workforce goals. So, after uh a the city's internal tax committee review, um we recommend approval of a 12-year abatement. So, that is what this hearing is for. Thank you, Ann Gonzalez. We're going to open up to public hearing first. Is there anyone in the audience that wish to give comment with regard to the issuance of this industrial facilities tax exemption? Seeing no takers in the audience, we're going to go to the phones. Uh that number is 231-724-6721. There's an opportunity for folks to

phone in um and give comments specifically with regard to the issuance of this tax facilities industrial facilities exemption certificate. All right. Do not sound like we have any takers for this public hearing. Commissioners, I would entertain a motion.

I move to close the public hearing and approve the industrial facilities exemption certificate for AB Electrical Wires, Inc. 2246 Alto Drive and further authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute the resolution and all related agreement documents as presented. Support. All right, we have a motion by Commissioner Coach and supported by Commissioner German. Commissioner Coachin, do you have anything to ask or share with us? I don't at this time. No. All right, Commissioner German in support of the motion. Anything to ask or share with us at this time?

Uh, no. All right, commissioners, opening up to everybody if you have anything to ask or add at this time. All right, no takers. Um, I'll just say uh thank you to AB Electric Wires for uh your continued investment and commitment to Moskegan. Um, and appreciate you growing with Moskegan. All right, roll call, please. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen, yes. Commissioner Stlair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Kenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes. Motion passes.

Thank you. That concludes our public hearing. Now we have time for our federal, state, county, and and indigenous government partners. If there are any in the audience, I don't see any. You might be hiding behind the pillars. All right. Um, now we're going on to public comment on agenda items. I've not received any forms. Uh, madam clerk, have you received any forms? All right. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to give comment on an agenda item or items?

All right. I see no takers. Uh we're going to go to the phones. That phone number is 231-724-6721. This is an opportunity for the public to call in comments specifically with regard to an agenda item or items. Um when you call in, please turn down any audio in the background. State your name and which agenda items you're speaking on. Um and if you are city of Michigan resident, which neighborhood you are calling from. All right. No takers for phone and comments on our consent agenda items. Commissioners, you've had an opportunity to review the consent agenda. Are any items you wish to have removed for a separate uh discussion and vote? Commissioner Kilgo.

All right. Uh Commissioner Cojan. Yes. Um H as in Henry. All right. If there are no others, uh, commissioners, I would entertain a motion to adopt the consent agenda minus items H and K. So move support. All right. We have a motion by Commissioner Kilgo, supported by Commissioner St. Clair. There's not any discussion. 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. Thank you, Mr. All right. If you don't mind, just one moment. I I just want to highlight item M. With the consent agenda passing, um the city of Moskegan has a new partnership with the Soore program and Cornerstone University, which provides um eligible city employees and their immediate family members with a flexible online degree programs and up to $1,950 in annual scholarship support. I just we didn't speak on it. I just wanted to highlight it because I think that's awesome. Yeah. Thank you. I'm promoting that. And um are you something as well.

It's still early. It's still early on, but but there Yeah, there there's another institution. Okay. There's another educational institution that we may be working on that similar partnership as well. Something forthcoming. All right. Uh, Commissioner Coen, amendment to the zoning ordinance for establishing maximum lot widths in our districts. Yes. Um, I move the request to amend section 404 of the zoning ordinance to establish maximum lot widths in our neighborhood residential districts be approved. support. All right. Motion by Commissioner Coachin, supported by Commissioner Kilgo. Good evening. Please introduce yourself and kindly report on this item.

Good evening. Mike Franzac, the planning director. Uh so currently in our zoning ordinance and the formbbased code, which is more near the downtown area, we have uh maximum lot widths of 60 ft for uh single family duplex developments. We don't have that in the rest of the R zones, but it was called out as a goal in the master plan. Um, if you saw the attachment uh where it goes over the goal and it shows a few examples, what we kind of show some super lots, you may call them, where uh over the years they may have acquired some from the city or the county before we had stricter regulations or private lots where they may have seven or eight lots with only one house on them. And you know being an urban city with all the infrastructure we have to pay it for that it's really not feasible for you know the city to um be able to to pay for this infrastructure when we have lots that big without development in the traditional sense where there used to be eight houses. Now it's been cut down to just one paying for those taxes. So this is um an idea we have to implement to uh to meet this goal and to make sure that um we have the size lots in the city.

Thank you Director Franzik. Commissioner Koshan.

Yeah, thank you. Um, I appreciate you explaining that, um, Director Franit, cuz I think there's a lot of questions out there about, you know, why should I not be able to buy my lot next door, you know, after my neighbors move out and they don't want to have the house there anymore or something or the house burns down. Um, one of the things that I do also kind of wonder is how would that impact um, our ability to get like ADUs? So, say I lived next to a house and that was there's a vacant lot there now and I wanted to get an ADU. Well, my lot's too small currently. So, if I purchased the lot next door, then I would be able to get an ADU, which would provide cheaper housing for an individual, potentially a family member. Um, I'm just kind of wondering how that's like going to work.

Sure. So, uh, we are seeing ADU development on lots as small as 30 foot wide. Uh, one of the requirements is they are in the backyard, so you could not put it necessarily to the side. I mean, I suppose you could if it was behind the front building line. Um, but there's still opportunities for people to do that if they need extra space. Um, some lots are only 30 foot wide, so they could combine two of them or, you know, they may only need to purchase a portion of the property from their neighbor. And we do that often. Sometimes, you know, we'll get requests to sell a vacant lot from the city to someone. And, you know, we can't sell them the whole lot if they're not going to develop on it. But if they need a little extra space for a building addition or a garage, we'll sell them a portion of that property as long as it doesn't take too much away from the other property so we can still develop a house on it. So they'll still have options for that.

Okay. All right. Thank you for explaining that. I appreciate it. Thank go. Thank you. Um Director Franzac, so there are some let's say 100 foot lots in the city privately owned that there may be a house on correct. Let's say unfortunately one of those houses burned down. Now we have a lot and the person doesn't want to rebuild. They sell their lot to someone and now it's a 100 foot lot. Um would they have to now come in front of the planning commission and try to get an exemption to build on that lot?

No. It's a great question. They are considered legally non-conforming, also known as grandfathering. And once you're approved for that lot size, we can't make you decrease it. So, you're allowed to do it. You're just uh legally non-conforming, meaning um you know, you couldn't do that today, but since it exists, you could develop that house back on that large lot.

Okay. And I know that you're an expert. You may not know every single parcel in the city, but you're familiar with the majority of them currently. Are there any lots that the city owns that are outside of what we would be approving here outside of that 60 foot width that are are that are non um multif family ones? I understand like some bigger ones or industrial ones might be bigger but just residential lots that are Yeah. So we have some that are we make it our policy that we will not sell it unless we can maximize

the splits the development in the splits. Okay. Unless there's some reason you can and it just doesn't make sense. So um have that going on. And then my final question would be if one of those lots a developer came to the city and said hey I got a great idea for X Y or Z and they wanted to go outside of this. they would just have to apply for a a variance a variance

possibly. Uh what I'd also like to mention is we do have other options that would let you get around this such as um our cottage court development. If you're going to do a cottage court, you can have it larger. You can I think it's a minimum of 100 150 ft you have to have. So if you want to do something with multiple buildings, we have those options for you. Uh if you have some if you don't want to do that and you have another idea, we're definitely willing to sit down and talk to you on options and a variance could be a potential option. Awesome. Thank you.

Thank you, Commission. Commissioner Kilgo, commissioners, anything else to ask or add? Um I'll just share because I asked this question of um director Franzac at the planning commission when we were reviewing this as to um what happens when you do have those larger lots and they for instance I grew up in Sheldon Park neighborhood and a lot of the area south and southeast of Sheldon Park um have larger lots and where I grew up in the Pomona Park subdivision not commonly known most people know the subdivisions I didn't even know this but the Pomona Park subdivision um you know my childhood home was on an 80ft lot um across the street was 120 foot lot right next door was 140 foot lot. Behind the alley was 120 foot lot. Next door was another 80 foot lot. So like all around me were these larger lots and I wondered like well what if someone that has 120 foot lot ends up wanting to like uh separate into a new 30 foot lot and 190 foot. Um and director Franzik had shared that from his perspective at zoning administrator that's moving closer to conformance with this change and that um from his perspective as I remember it that's that would be permissible. Um,

yes. So, if you had a 100 foot wide lot, you wanted to sell your neighbor 30 foot, you'd still be 70 foot, which is 10 foot over, but you're going closer to conformance. So, we would approve that. Thank Director Franzac. All right. If there's nothing else, roll call, please. Mayor Johnson, yes. Commissioner Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Keenir, yes. Commissioner German, yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Kosan, yes. Commissioner Sinclair, yes. Motion passes.

Thank you. Next item. Item K, soccer in the Sand. Commissioner Kilgo. I move to approve the soccer in the sand tournament to be held on July 25th and 26, 2026 at Pier Marquette, provided that the event works with the city staff to cover the cost of additional shuttle hours. So moved by Commissioner Kilo, supported by Vice Mayor Keenir. Good evening, sir. Kindly introduce yourself and please report out on this item.

Good evening, mayor, commissioners. Dan Vanderhy, director of public works for the city. I'm here uh covering this event tonight. Um we had uh this item came before you uh about a month ago. Uh we had uh a wide-ranging discussion, but just to uh make sure everyone's on the same page, this is a request uh for a variance to the city's policy that there be no more than one event on the beach on any given day. And uh this is a request for soccer in the Sand to be able to schedule their event on the same day as Inside Out volleyball tournament. Uh we talked last time about several things, but one of the most specific that I can confirm uh as you heard in the motion, uh the the bus system, the Matt's bus system that's running the shuttles this year confirmed that they can and will uh start those beach shuttles earlier if the city so requests and the event has indicated that they're willing to cover those costs. event is here tonight and so uh if there's any you know specific questions about how that might work or any of the other things that we discussed last time I would uh defer to them.

Thank you Director Vanderhid. Commissioner Kilo.

Yeah I don't know that I have as many questions as I do just wanting to see this event be able to take place uh at Pure Marquette. Um, again, in my opinion, this is just my personal opinion, Pure Marquette Beach, the best beach in in West Michigan. So, I understand that it's popular and we're going to have some busy weekends, but the visitors that come visit our beach and our city, um, sometimes they stop at other businesses. Now, they're supporting other businesses. They come downtown, they see different parts of our city. Some people end up, you know, moving here, some people end up coming back here again to come visit us again. So, um, I I just wanted to make sure that the event organizer now has everything set so that they can keep with their timeline of the 25th and 26th of July.

Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Kyo. Vice Kener, he's in support of the motion. Anything to ask or add at this time?

Um, not too much to add. It's just I'm glad that we do have the shuttles available cuz that is a super always a super busy weekend and it would get frustrating at times when you would try to go and could not find any parking. But it is a very enjoyable event. Um I know my kids love to watch it. I love to watch it and I just enjoy that we have so many participants that um that come on out and enjoy our our lake with us. But I'm just really excited about the shuttle being able to provide um them opportunity to get there and hopefully free up some parking for our local residents as well.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Commissioners, anything else to ask or add? Commissioner Coach?

Yes, thank you. Um, Director Banderhyde, in the packet, it notes that the competition dates um and times the time specifically start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. Um, I didn't see it outlined in here on what time the shuttle would be starting, and I'm assuming that people would be arriving earlier before 9:00 a.m. Did we have a discussion with um the people running the the organ the the event about what time people are typically getting there and did we coordinate that with Matts to make sure that we were making the shuttle available before the event starts?

Um I wasn't part of the specific discussion with Matts, but I understand that um they essentially said, you know, as long as you're paying for it, we're able to to accommodate it. So, we can work with the event, you know, as the motion says, and set that up at a time that makes sense for folks that are coming in, whether that's 8 a.m., 7 a.m., something like that. Okay. So, we don't know for sure if we've had that conversation about what time they're coming in, but we're planning on it. Definitely. Okay. Thank you.

Well, we do have the applicant. Maybe he's been part of that conversation. Have you settled on um what time that you anticipate uh if you'd like to come up to the uh podium and introduce yourself, sir.

Hi, I'm Scott Lame uh owner of Soccer in the Sand. Uh yes, we will have the shuttle one hour before kickoff, all the teams to be at the beach 30 minutes before their first game. They do like an official check-in. Um that also be communicated. We have here so like the communication that goes out to the participants when they apply the this shuttle is going to be part of that communication before they're even accepted into the event. That's where I think we can capitalize on the communication. um after they're accepted into the event, they get the same um communication that with the maps and the start times and stop times of the shuttle. This is the number one easiest way to free up traffic flow and get to the beach. Um we also have co-hosts and our customers, 70% repeat customers. They value making the event long lasting, not just going to happen for one summer. Um, and that's our goal as a

and long term is what we want. That will definitely be one hour before our first games kickoff, the shuttle will be done uh or we'll we'll be operating and then at the end of the day giving one hour on the back end so that you can collect everything and exit the beach and still not miss your shuttle. Um, this might be a question for Director Vanderhid or maybe uh city staff. Um, but since we're utilizing the shuttle, the it's it's every half hour, isn't it?

Um, the town line. Town line is, I believe, once an hour. Once an hour. Was it once an hour? I thought we're doing every half an hour. Yes. Oh, okay. Okay. And um Director Vanderhid, what's the capacity on the shuttle? Uh I believe they will be 16. 16 people.

Okay. So, in my mind, I'm thinking that there needs to be more time um or maybe an increase. I don't know if that's an option and like we can run it every half hour or something because um you know especially since this is specifically for this event in those extra hours in the beginning um they're going to need more time to get people to the event. Like if I'm a mom and I got my kid an hour, that window is too short to be able to get there, get unloaded, get my kid, you know, signed in and everything. So, I'd like to see, you know, more than an hour available. And if we can increase maybe the amount of time or decrease the amount of time, but increase the amount of trips from the beach and back during that special window, I think that would be helpful. And then maybe increasing it to two hours after. Um, and the deputy manager may be able to help me with this, but because this is starting several hours before our regular service, it would not be running the whole route that takes an hour. It would just be going back and forth.

That's what I was thinking. So, we would be able to do that then? It'll just be going back and forth. Okay. Yeah. It's not So, it won't start until 11:00 that it'll be doing the longer route. Yeah. Okay. I just want to make sure Matt is on that same page. We are on the same page. the soccer folks are on the same page. Yes.

So, we don't have any more hiccups. Um, but I I think maybe towards the end there, we might need an extension in that time because an hour to get everybody off, I don't think is going to work. And if I see that, I'm going to go, "Oh, well, I'm just going to take my car." Like, so that's just some of the thoughts that I'm thinking about at this moment. Um, I don't think I have any additional questions at this second. Thank you, Commissioner Cochen. Uh, Commissioner Sinclair,

thank you. I uh appreciate all of the work that you have done on trying to to make this event meet our many, many, many asks. Um, I know it's probably pretty logistically taxing and unfortunate that you have to jump through these hoops at all. If you moved your event one week before or one week after, we would not be having this conversation. And I I think it's important for us to remember that um that the reason why this is a problem is because there is another event, but that event is small and is not impacting what is happening at the beach um very much. You know, that's 200 people or less. And um I can appreciate the challenge that having this big of an event, this popular creates for the rest of the community. Um and that is in part the price we pay for having such a fantastic location. And and um I again am am appreciative of all of the work that staff have put into this and all of the work that the um event organizers have put into this to make sure that it runs as smoothly as possible. And there will be hiccups and that is like there there will be people who choose not to ride the shuttle, but there will also be community members who can ride the shuttle instead of driving down there and um trying to find parking. And I would encourage our residents to also take advantage of the free shuttle um so that you don't have to to fight to park down there either. and

folks that uh you know want to get down there have have opportunities to do so. Um and uh you know I'm I'm I'm glad it looks like that we have found a resolution and uh um am looking forward to a successful event. Thank you Sinclair.

Yes, Mr. Lay. Yeah, if I can respond to that, I just want to say thank you. And we run eight events every summer nationwide, and they all have different challenges. Um, Commissioner Kilgo said it's it's the most beautiful beach um on the lake shore, I think, in the country. Um, that's why we're so excited about it. Um, challenge is traffic flow and every concern. We are consciously going to work with great team to do everything we can to minimize the traffic flow. It's going to be a busy weekend. Um, but taking on the shuttle hours and our communication from before you're accepted into the event, even on the day of the event, um, registration tool and scheduling tool software that we use allows us access to every person that's on the beach that registered through soccer on the sand. So, we're always working with them. and the 70% of our customers are repeat customers that they're going they they're learning and educated and trying to help as well.

Thank you, Mr. Lame. Uh any additional uh comments before I uh to follow up? Commissioner Kilgo, um I'll share that I'm keen on continuous improvement and that's what I'm seeing here is that effort and I appreciate the um improved communications and how you practice communicating that. Um and I appreciate having the earlier hours for the shuttle as well. Um it's not perfect, you know, but it is improving. Um and so we'll see how see how I'm comfortable with moving it forward and seeing how um it functions this year and then looking at how we can maybe continues to improve it. You know whether that is trying to get um greater frequency of the shuttles during the event or getting a larger capacity um you know vehicle or having um a a special dedicated route from say getting securing the Mor Street parking lot that big expansive parking lot downtown and having just a direct back and forth from there. Um, so I think there may be opportunities to to look at for continuously improving, but I don't think those all need to be um hashed out right now. We've already delayed this and asked for changes and improvements to be made. Um, you've done so. Um, you've worked with our team. Um, and so I'm comfortable with moving this forward. Um, and and next year too, we'll have about 80 extra parking spots um over at at the beach as well. So that that should help out. Um, I say followup, Commissioner Kilgo.

Yes. Um, just two quick things. um and ask for staff and the organizer if between now and the event in mid July or late July if we could find out from Matt's because these are earlier hours is this just going to be from the event to the more street parking lot downtown. Um, if so, NATS could probably provide us then with a better timetable of frequency. So, we're not guessing is it 30 minutes, is it an hour, is it less than that. Um, and then the second thing is tonight on our consent agenda, we passed the actual paying for the beach shuttle service, the town line and the tan line. Um, and us just making sure I know that, um, uh, staff in the room here does a great job with communicating with the public and us just getting that information out about the new stops because there aren't all the same old stops on this map as there were last year. Um, and just letting people know that that um, town line service, what the stops are, and even the tan line service because maybe I can park at one end of the beach and just catch the tan line if I want to go to different parts of the beach. I think between those two things we can up that ridership this year and ma it then it makes more sense per rider and the numbers amount of money that we're spending and help with traffic uh reduction. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Kilo. Any final thoughts commissioners or questions before we vote? Seeing none. Thank you Mr. May. Thank you Director Vanderhid. Roll call please. Commissioner Kilgo. Yes. Vice Mayor Kenir. Yes, Mr. German. Yes, Mr. Jackson. Yes, Mr. Cochen.

Yes, Commissioner St. Clair. Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. All right, that concludes our consent agenda. We do not have any unfinished business. Item A uh has been pulled from the agenda. We may be getting updates next month on that. Um but there's some movement on some of the priorities. So um no need for us to entertain concurrence with the housing boards on that at this meeting. Um all right, commissioners. Any other business to bring up this evening? Commissioner Kilgo,

I would like to shout out a special young man who's in the audience who was elected uh to his student council in his school. My son Antoine is in the room and he's following in some footsteps with student council. So, thank you for showing up today. I appreciate you. Congratulations everyone.

Thank you, Mr. Kilgo. Vice Mayor Keener. Um, two things. First, Healthy Kids Day is in Moskegan at McGrath Park, April 17th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Um, for the first 50 families, you can get a $150 meal kit. So, if you can get on out, 5 to 7:00 p.m. McGrath Park, April 17th. Additionally, um I had an opportunity to participate in the people's table and I kindly I kindly um would love for our citizens to participate whether that is through um coming in with your time, talent or treasure um because they have a very very super small budget and um when um country my business country cook and served it was well over 100 people that we served and they get even more people as the summer comes. So, even if you have clothing donations and things like that, um it's very well um needed. And it's right on Houston Street every single Sunday. Starts at 3:00. Free meal. Um or you can pay what you can donate, but typically free for everyone. And um I'll be there again on Sunday after next. So, come on out again every Sunday. Contact the people's table because it's a a a huge need in our community. Excellent. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Commissioner.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just wanted to uh give some information out about beach passes. I've been getting calls. Um, and I reached out to the city manager because I wanted to make sure I got the right information. So, city manager, if you can just kind of talk about that because they they can get the stickers and go with the plates.

Yeah. So, our our preference is that you go with plates. Um, we're changing over to a license plate reader system, but there are still stickers. So, if there's a reason that you need a sticker, you can get those. Um, but the preference is for ease of use for our team that we go with the license plate reader. We're getting new equipment on our vehicles that just lets them drive by and read the license plate. It makes it much more quicker and efficient. Um, but there are um that option is available, but we're going to ask that you go to the license plate and there and we will get to a point in time when we required to do that, but this is the first year. So, this is a transition year. city manager, do you still have to come in to even for the license plate reader? Is that available? You can do the license plate registration online.

Oh, yay. That does. So, it it's not instantaneous if you're a resident because we have to confirm your residency. Um, if you're a non-resident, you can go online, pay it. It's it's instantaneous, but the there is a a confirmation process, I guess, for lack of a better term. Uh or you can come into the windows here uh Monday through Thursday uh 7:30 to 5:30 uh and one of the ladies at the window would be happy to help you. Um you you do need to know your license plate number so they can confirm that. Did I miss anything, Chief? Okay. Great. Thank you. That sounds convenient. Yeah. All right. Yes, Commissioner Coach.

Yes. Thank you. Um I did have a couple of things. I just needed a minute to look it up. So, uh, this Sunday at 8:30 a.m., the Mskegeegan Lake Wershed Partnership is going to be hosting their Moskegan Lake annual spring cleanup at the CIO Hall downtown. So, that's this Sunday at 8:30. And then the third street cleanup is happening on April 22nd at 4:30 p.m. Um, and they're going to have some music out there and they're going to make it a really nice fun time for everybody. So, it's very family friendly. And then there is our youth soccer league starting in May um on Tuesday, May 5th at 5:00 p.m. And if you haven't signed your kids up yet, I highly recommend it. I've signed my little one up last year and this year and I'm going to be coaching, too. So, it'll be fun. Um but yeah, it's low pressure, nothing crazy. There's not any crazy travel leagues or anything like that. It's just good family fun. So hopefully people sign up.

Thank you, Commissioner Goen. Yes, Commissioner Sinclair.

Thank you. Uh we do not have another commission meeting this month because there will be early voting happening in the commission chambers. And I just wanted to mention um on that ballot is a bond proposal for Moskegan public schools. If you are unfamiliar with that, I would direct you to the mskeganschools.org org website, there is a page at the top called bond and that will give you good information about what that bond proposal suggests and um what they would like to do with a continued um it's not expected to be an increase but a continuation um so that you can make an informed decision.

Thank you, Commissioner Sinclair. and make sure you get your ballots in or show up May 5th to vote. Anything else, commissioners? Spring up for any other business. Seeing nothing. Uh, else we now go to general public comment. I don't have any forms. Madam clerk, any forms you received? I have not.

All right. Anyone in the audience that wishes to give public comment? All right. Seeing no takers from the audience, we're going to go to the phones. That number is 231-724-6721. Uh this is time for folks to call in and give input for up to three minutes directly with the city commission. Uh not a dialogue, Q&A back and forth, anything like that. Uh we can arrange that for a separate time if that's desired. When you do call in, turn down any audio in the background, state your name, and if you're a city of Moskegan resident, which neighborhood you are calling from. Hey, good evening. You're with the city of Michigan City Commission.

Hi, it's Ann Vandermull from Roosevelt Park. Good evening. You have three minutes to give your remarks.

Okay. As I said last night, I thank Marsha Hubby Wright and Melinda Reese PGO for letting me speak at Democrat and Republican party meetings. I have nothing against the former city attorney, but I ask you to strongly reconsider naming the roundabout for Marshia Hubby Wright or Commissioner Rebecca St. Claire, I think that would speak volumes to the condition of women. My older cousin, Peggy Smith, was born and raised in Lakeside. She was a true Lakesider, but had to move to Chicago to sing opera there. Many people in the community still remember her. About 10 years ago, she wrote a book called Beware the Tentacles of Fate. It's about what she experienced in her life in Chicago in the 1970s. It tells how this man was in a sex cult with powerful leaders around Chicago. This man would invite powerful people to sex parties and secretly record them so he could bribe them later. My cousin Peggy also says this man was into child porn. The feds finally took him down, but my cousin Peggy did not reveal his name in her book. I believe my cousin Peggy told my mom that this man was a famous conductor with a lot of connections in Hollywood and elsewhere, but the feds finally took him down. I believe I know who leaked my report in 2015, and I don't think it was Tracy Lorent. Like I said last night, I do believe some of his cult members hatched a plan in 2015 to get me back. I believe at least one dirty lawyer was involved. Again, I'm not accusing anyone in on the Moskegan City Commission or uh Tracy Loren, but for the safety of victims in this community, I believe there are two

significant community leaders that need to resign. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Vermo Veteran for phoning in your comments from the city of Roseville Park. Did you hear or notice anyone else trying to call in at that time? No.

All right, we'll give it a few more moments. Folks want to phone in numbers. 234 231 724 6721. It does not sound like we have any additional takers proponent comments. Commissioner is not ready quite yet to adjourn. We do have um attorney uh client communications um that we're going to be addressing in close session. And I believe Commissioner Sinclair, you have a motion?

I do. I move to go into close session to consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute client communication. So move have a motion by Commissioner Sinclair supported by Commissioner German. There's no discussion. Roll call, please. Commissioner German, yes. Commissioner Jackson, yes. Commissioner Cochen, yes. Mr. Sinclair, yes. Mayor Johnson, yes. Mr. Kilgo, yes. Vice Mayor Keenir, yes. Motion passes. Thank you.