Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

11. Three and a half hours probably if you're the first one out. Three and a half hours. You don't have to wait for anyone and you don't balls in the woods. Oh yeah. And you're not looking for every a ball or There he is. Just under the wire. Bob.

Yeah. You're not the last. I could have got page out again. We got a quorum if you want to start. Yeah. Okay. Soon as Bob situated. Well, you got to sit down, then you got to stand up. Back up. Exactly. Yes. That's okay. This is second time today. I'll do the pledge of allegiance. Welcome. It is time is now 5:30. Welcome to the city of Manasty Planning Commission meeting for April 2nd, 2026. Please rise for the pledge. Forgot it. I pledge allegiance

to the flag of America of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Continuation of April Fool's Day. Yeah, sorry about that. Roll call, please. Commissioner Sloinski here. Commissioner Zamanssky here. Commissioner Winer here. Uh, Commissioner, I guess member is here. Chair Wetliff

here. Yes, Mikey's here. And we're missing Roger and um Marlene, which they never contacted anybody. I haven't heard from them. Okay. All right. Approval of minutes. Planning Commission can take action to approve the April 2nd, 2026 agenda. Is there a motion? Motion. Motion by Bob. Second. Second. Second by Mick. Any discussion? None. Please take a role. Commissioner Sloinsky. Yes. Commissioner Zamansky. Yes. Commissioner Winer. Yes. Uh, Commissioner member Tu. Yes. And Chair Whit.

Yes. Thank you. Conflicts of interest. Is there anyone with any type of conflict on tonight's agenda? Not. I just want to state I want to uh both Bob and I met with Israel Stone this morning as a meet and greet at Starbucks. Put that in the record. Approval of minutes. At this time, the chair can ask for a motion to approve the minutes of the March 5th, 20 or March 5th, 2026 meeting. Is there a motion? Make a motion. Motion by Shelley. Second. I'll second. Pam, discussion. None. Please take. Commissioner Sinsky, yes. Commissioner Zamansky, yes. Commissioner Winer, yes. Commissioner Member, yes.

And Chair Wetliff,

yes. Thank you. correspondence uh has been shared with the planning commission and will not be read aloud tonight. So presentation we uh child child care presentation by Mr. Mike Sakola of Networks Northwest. Welcome back. Well, good evening everyone. Uh great to be back. Um good to be, you know, back before you. I see the you guys haven't changed much. I know Bob, you're off for a little while, but you're back. And uh so the crew is all back together really. So um I'm coming uh tonight before you guys as part of our uh raising mane county zoning uh solutions project and partners. Um when I, you know, start this presentation, I like to say, hey, it's a 45minute presentation. Um I'm going to really narrow it down for you guys tonight. Um probably going to shoot for about 20 minutes. So, but if you guys have questions or concerns while we're going through it, please stop me and ask them. Um, this is uh part of um a grant that we are working in collaboration with the community foundation, uh the city of Manacey, the county, and the chamber. Uh this is supported by the rural readiness grant from the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity and Project Partners. Uh we were contracted off uh to do the education portions of this and the zoning changes, which we'll talk about a little bit. Um, this presentation is also geared towards a countywide audience. Um, this one is tailored a little bit towards you, but you'll see some of the things in here are kind of might not be applicable to you. So, just keep that in mind as we go through it. All right. So, this is uh raising Manacey County Coalition. Uh we're working primarily on the uh goal number three and goal number uh four I believe it is which is promote and increase access to existing opportunities for child care businesses and increase uh supply and then uh increase uh community

education around early childhood systems and develop universal community based systems and childcare marketing. Um there are other goals in this initiative but these are primarily what we're looking at. I just want to say it's part of a broader effort. Um, so when uh you guys are looking at this, know that there's more going on than just what we're doing tonight. Uh, so this is understanding the need. Uh, really uh child care, it's it's not just here in Manaste that we're having problems with it. It's uh regionwide, it's statewide. We'll talk about that a little bit more. Um, and we'll go on to our next slide. This is uh Andrew. If you guys are not familiar with Andrew, I'd be shocked. Um but uh he has a really nice quote here about uh the uh reliability um of child care in Manacey County as well as loss wages for zero to fives uh 5-year-old children. Um there are other areas of child care need. Um but this is just one of those portions that he is he is speaking on and lost wages u because of it. Uh so the big things to take from this slide are in Michigan 44% of families live in areas classified as a childcare desert. um keep that definition kind of in mind which is uh meaning there are three or more children uh that are competing for one licensed childare slot. So we're going to be talking about that so keep that in mind. Um families are spending on an average about 15.7% of their income on child care u making it unaffordable for many households. All right so now we're going to look at this. This is a closeup of Manacey County. Uh this is a manatee county uh childcare desert. Um and you know the data is showing that basically our region's a desert. There's only a couple of places uh that actually have as you see here this island has adequate and then like right along the coast here are actually um adequate with one kid per slot. The rest of it and the white areas are no data. So just keep that in

mind. Uh the rest of it is yeah we have a need. There's there's not enough childcare slots to go around for the children that that potentially. Now it does take into certain things that every child would need a slot. Um but this is basically how we broke down the the the data but it there is a need in the area. Um this is uh understanding the need from um some people that you may have uh met in the past. What barriers you encountered when expanding your childare business? Um this was uh from Melanie Newman. I think she came before you guys. Uh they said the cost of child care uh to gain six or more children was astronomical. the use permit having to get topographical surveys for of our land for no structural expansion is observed the cost of $1,000 for that on top of a thousand dollar zoning fee. Had I not had the money stored away, I wouldn't have been able to afford the expansion. Um and then you know what would they say making it easier? Remove the topographical survey and lower the zoning fee. Um this is actually the all of our providers um from all age groups in the county. There are not very many. Um you can see some up here. Uh they're mostly primarily around the city. Um and this is in the region itself. So this takes out all the roads and this is what we have. So not a ton. Uh and when you look at it, it looks like our centers are making up the grand total of those slots available. The family homes and the group homes, which are what we're trying to like look at more, are making up a small percentage of that. So keep that in mind. Uh this is basically broken down by age groups. Uh, and I'm gonna kind of go through this quickly here. Um, but you can see there's a need pretty much everywhere. Um, so you know, strategies that we're looking to support childcare friendly communities to make yourself a childcare friendly community. Uh, we want you to understand the need. We're going to identify your partners. we're going to

offer incentives or you guys offer incentives where possible and simplify your regulation where possible. Um, one of the things you can do is designate a child care facilitator that can work with the childcare coalition in the region and bring when new information comes out for childare uh then you guys would be aware of it. You guys are pretty dialed in with the community foundation. I think Maddie meets with us as well um with Kelsey there at the community foundation who talks directly with Norica um which we'll talk about later and give you your contact information who works um out of our office now. We hired her from uh um United Way uh and now she works out of our office in the region. Um another thing you guys can do, I know you're talking about your master plan. Update your master plan to include childcare as a community goal. That's a big thing. Um, and then you can say update your zoning ordinance to be in compliance with state regulation, which we're going to talk about a little bit. You can work with your local, regional, and uh, state and federal partners to incentivize and encourage your childare within your community. Um, you guys are already kind of doing that. Um, like I said, you're a little ahead of uh the game on a lot of these. Um, so designating a childcare facilitator. This person's going to work uh with childcare ready activities. They're going to have a designated individual within the department. Um the facilitator can collaborate with childcare partners across the local inner area. And then like I said, Networks Northwest is now home to the regional childare uh coalition and you can coordinate with Nara uh and the new childcare incentives coordinator. Um this is in your master plan. Uh during your five-year review, communities can incorporate this into your master plan as a strategy to support their community uh e economy and residents. Uh, also, um, we look, we tell you to look at the RC childhood, uh, care readiness toolkit, um, that's out there and it can help you kind of set your goals and objectives on those. This could also in the future making it, uh, available for your community to to apply for grants that might be childcare related. So, it's really important that you're

looking to do this if you haven't already. Um, this is why a lot of the reason we're coming out into the communities, uh, in 2022, Michigan enacted, uh, bipartisan, uh, legislative pack package in that there's a bunch of house bills, but mainly what we're looking at is the increased uh, capacity that was allowable in it. It was eligible homebased providers, mainly your family group home or your family daycare homes and your group daycare homes. Their numbers switched uh, from 6 to seven children and group homes went to 12 to 14. Well, a lot of the definitions within zoning ordinances actually listed what the ordinance said and it limited them to six. So, a lot of definitions throughout the county were in violation because they never actually increased them when the the thing came out. And if you weren't a planner, you or your child care professional or provider, you're probably unaware of this. So, a lot of ordinances within the region are also um running into this where their definition needs to be redefined. Um, you guys actually had a really, uh, in-depth look done by McKenna a little while ago. Um, I think Teresa Waldo worked on it. Um, I looked it over. It's honestly really good. You should follow their recommendations. There is one area that we ask you guys to change. Um, but for the most part, when you guys are looking to go over this, you should follow their recommendations. They're really good. They do a lot of the things that we want you to do, uh, which are right here. um talking about group childcare homes as a permitted use instead of as a special use. Um that's a a real big push right now is like, hey, there's really not that much difference between those. Uh if you can, we ask you to make them a permit. McKinna's asking you to do it. Um you guys also I'm going to go back here in your definitions which are right here. Um you guys have they ask you to redefine your group daycare home. we're actually going to ask you to do something different than what they're saying here, which is define it that

meets the same definitions that we're using throughout the county. Um, and what we try to do with these definitions, they're actually redefining it pretty much the same. We're saying, "Hey, look at the act." But the big thing here, um, is they offer they're trying to future proof it by saying, um, you know, they keep it the way it was. There we go. like right here, a private registered license under the act as amended in which one or six. But then they have add in this part where such an increased capacity number of minor children permissible under state law. So if the state in a couple years decides to raise or lower that, you guys don't have to amend your ordinance. And so you won't be right back here doing it again. Um but we ask you to look at that because the other definition that McKenna said does not actually include that. Um, so what can uh you guys do to help out child care? Um, you can reduce or wave permitting and inspection costs. Uh, reduce and wave costs for hookup utilities. Uh, reduce requirements for site plan review. Reduce discretionary redundant regulation to increase the econom economic viability of a childcare facility. Um, or property tax maintenance, property tax exemptions. Those are pretty much your tools on doing it. Um you guys as a planning commission are able to wave certain fees when they come in or your zoning administrator can also say um through your guidance if a if uh a childcare facilities is coming in and there's no structural difference we're not going to make them do that too thing you know we're going to wave that. So those are things that you guys can also look to do there or you can give direction to them to do that. Um this is a regional incentives for childcare facilities. Um, so there's Nara KD Kidi. Her name's hard to say. It just didn't roll off very well, but um she's very nice. She's our Networks Northwest uh uh childc care um coalition uh person that is going to work directly with uh your child care uh

coordinator. Um and then she works also with like the state on early education wage incentives um which I'm sure the chamber is familiar with and uh my LEAP as well as other programs. uh she's a really good uh person to connect to if you're looking at child care within your area or just generally want to know what's out there. Uh state incentives like again we have the myapy and my tric share that are done at the state level that that coordinator will help you navigate if you're not familiar with it. Um and then there's also that that uh wage um where the employers uh continue to pay 33% and the employee pays 67. It's a it's a share program that they do and there's there's programs through the state for that. Uh here's some other resources. Uh just if you guys are interested in uh knowing what's out there, we wrote a plan um in 2024. I wrote the zoning portion of it which is a lot of this is coming into where uh you know we're asking you to do these things. Um we've uh compared it to other people who wrote within other regions as well as other states and we're all saying the same thing. So, uh, uh, how we support you. So, if you guys decide to go forward, which I think you are, especially with the McKenna study and and what's going on now, if you guys are doing zoning changes, um, and there's a writing of notices. Uh, so the zoning changes, um, we've already provided, uh, Maddie with that definition. Um, so she has that. You guys have the McKenna. This is kind of for the other communities. We actually penned actual amendments for them in a format that they could go forward with. Really, we just gave you the definitions and said really follow what McKenna's telling you to do. Uh writing of notices, the county will write the notice of you guys actually have staff on hand. So, I'm probably going to guess Matty's going to take care of it. But if you wanted the county to do that, they would be willing to do that for you. Um grants to cover the cost of updating the zoning ordinances. This can be used for newspaper notices, mailings, whatever.

uh the community foundation if you guys are moving forward with that tonight, which we asked for um just something in your minutes that say that you guys all agreed that we're going to move forward with it. Um and then you put in your minutes so I can give it to them. They'll give you a $500 uh grant to just say, "Okay, you can use this towards going forward with this." So you can apply that towards those newspaper notices, giving a little break for the city on paying for that. Um, and then if you guys want us to as you move forward with your your attendance and adoption uh proceedings, uh, I will come back in and talk to uh, not only you guys if you need help um, as you continue forward or if you need you go to uh, the city council and you when the amendments go up there, I can be in attendance for that if you wish. Um, so and that's really it. And then I ask you at the end of this, are you ready to move forward? And if you guys are, we just ask for a motion um and then copied in the minutes to do so.

You have any questions? No. Excellent presentation. By the way, the only question is um what about quality and safety? Where where are those elements?

So, the state's really going to come in and regulate that. I mean, most of these communities like a lot of them are actually when we first looked at going and doing this, we actually looked at a hands-off model where we removed local control completely and we felt that the um the county as we went out to some of the rural areas may not be comfortable with that, but some of them are like Dixon went forward and they said, "Hey, we're hands off." The state has, if you actually look at the regulation for a child care facility or anything of that, the regulation is like this thick. The generally nine things that you guys can cover under zoning are either redundant or they're really not really necessary. The things that we look at you guys may be doing is like, hey, make sure they have a drop off area, you know, so they're not just dropping off on the street. Those types of things that may not be covered. the rest of it, the the state's going to come in, you know, and even these rural these rural communities, if they're noticing something that doesn't look right, you're going to contact the licensing portion of it, um, and sit there and say, "Hey, can you guys come in and do an inspection?" And they're going to come in and check it out. Uh, you know, and and it really you guys have the ability, especially on group daycare homes, to sit there and say, "Hey, we want to schedule an inspection and walk through yourself." But without that extra professionalism of like actually doing it every day, you might not know. I mean, you can see a spade is a spade, but you might not know what they're actually required to have, the best bet is to contact the state to schedule a walkthrough or inspection with them. So, a lot of that will be covered by the state. Um, and that's what we're really telling, you know, you really don't want to get involved in that. You really want the state to come in. It's kind of like health inspection for uh food places. It's like, yeah, you guys could reg, you know, regulate them on a a stricter basis, but, you know, you have a health uh department that can do that probably a lot better than we can. So,

hey, Mike, on on the LAR child care provisions under the What page you looking at? I'm looking at page eight. All right. I'm going to go all the way back just so I can see it. Nope. Oh, is it in the bottom right or are you talking about your amendments? My Yes. Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry. There you go. And I did not bring my glasses, so I don't know what you're on 16 17. Okay. Yeah. Right here. Here. Okay. Well, I'm on I'm on page eight. Is it this one? Oh, yeah. That's 18. Oh. Oh, you mean actually page eight? Yes. This is what I have as page eight.

Yeah. This is the um is it this one? No, it's the minimum. You have 400 square f feet minimum uh for family. Are you in the McKenna? McKenna. McKenna. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. And that is If you don't have it, I've got it in the file. There it is. Okay. I see it right there. This is page eight right here, I think. Right. Yeah. Okay. Um so you have 400 square feet for uh file family child care home group child care is 600 then child care center 1,200. So I mean what if they can't meet that? Well those are state regulations for licensing. Okay.

So they're copying immediately right out of the state regulations. And actually when we uh when Rob had written uh some zoning ordinances out in the county, they had actually doubled that okay amount to ensure that they had a wider area for that which we have walked back in many of those areas. So um but really those are the state requirements on those areas. So if they can't meet it, that's not a use that can go in there by state licensing. So and those are those are minimum standards. Y they're a lot smaller than the than the military uses for childare just a quick question on that. So y

um if anybody else has anything I'm just going through my notes so I'll hold the show up. is have um anybody from the county um re-engaged with uh the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and reopening their child care center. I know that has been a conversation that's happened in the past, but I don't think we're engaging them at this at this time. really were we were looking at um engaging with the local municipalities getting their zoning ordinance regulated uh

because of the state licensing change. Um so you know the band's not really required to follow that, right? So um but that was a big blow to the county. What 200 200 and some odd unit or slots and and like and a facility like that is incredibly hard to come by. That's That's the challenge. Yeah. Um, as far as I know, that has not taken place. It's not currently set up as a I don't It isn't anymore. I think they they retro. It's It's just It's not currently set up. Did you have something? Yeah, actually, we have a a facility coming online uh within the next 6 to 12 months.

Oh, that's excellent. So, I can share more about that in a moment. I guess I don't have anything, Mike. All right. Well, then I'm gonna try to push you guys to get that $500 grant. So, would you guys be willing to make a motion to move forward um with this tonight um to access that grant?

I I would make that motion that we go forward with uh uh changing our ordinance to uh comply not only with the state but with the county recommendations for uh allowing child care. I think in particular making a uh permitted by right makes a whole lot of sense because I really felt bad for that lady who came here and had a $2,000 bill to probably make $5,000 in a year profit after all the expenses. So and I always tell you guys, you guys can always wave certain things if you feel it's in the betterment of the community, right? Um you just have to justify it. Y so and then be consistent. That's what I always tell you. be consistent, justify,

second it if you need a second. And then uh you guys will still be required to obviously hold your public hearing on this and everything else like that. But I just I want to be clear on that before. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Mike. Do you guys want to vote? Um well, we have a motion by Mick, second by Shelley. Any further discussion on this? None. Please take role. Commissioner Svenki, yes. Commissioner Zamansky, yes. Commissioner Winer, yes. Commissioner Manberu, yes. and chair wet. Yes. Thank motion passed. Thank you guys. It was a pleasure being before you again tonight. Um I have to go to Thompson now. So you guys say we're good. Good to see you Mike. Thank you.

And next we have Mr. Israel Stone from Little River. The down button.

Good evening commission and uh thank you for your time tonight. Uh here to talk to you about the Gateway project and various other projects that we have going on. uh at the holdings company. Uh mainly everybody wants to know what's happening with the end of River Street and understandably so. Uh it's been a journey. Um but I'm proud to announce tonight that we have full funding for the project. Uh we have a groundbreaking that's scheduled for April 10th uh at 3 p.m. Uh I'm sure you guys received an invite. If you didn't, please let me know. Um because of the the amount of time it took to get this project fully funded, uh obviously there were a few changes that had to be made to the scope of the project to get it back in line with the construction cost side. Uh mainly the on the south side uh east end uh was going to be office spaces. That's transitioned into a green space uh park area that you see there. Going to put a statue of me right over there in the corner. Just joking. Not at all. Um, and so, uh, a, as a whole, the project is, uh, remaining, uh, much of the same as it, as it was before. We didn't lose any of the condo space. We didn't lose the parking deck. That's important to downtown Manaste. Uh, as we all know, uh, getting a parking space in the summertime can be somewhat difficult uh, in this area. So, uh, all the main elements are still there. Just took some office space out to reduce the overall cost of the project. Um, so we're excited to announce that. Uh I I said to uh other folks earlier or last week uh certainly uh sorry that it's taken this long, but the important piece is we've we've reached the goal now and uh we can move this project forward and we're excited about that and I think it's going to be good uh not only for the community uh but for the downtown businesses and and help with uh tourism. And so, uh, we're we're, uh, excited to

see you guys on April 10th to break ground on this. Shortly after that, you'll see, uh, earth work begin. Uh, some tree removal will probably begin before, uh, the groundbreaking. Uh, the brownfield, uh, piece of the project has to be completed first. Uh, the southern portion uh, has been designed all the way through constru construction documents. Uh, the northern portion has not yet. that's going to be designed simultaneously as we begin the work on the the south side. Uh we'll be doing earth work uh likewise on the north side. Um and hopefully uh get this project to completion uh as quickly as possible. I asked even for uh design build elements on the north side and some pre-cast construction uh to find an accelerated construction schedule uh to move this project along. So, any questions on that?

Do you have an estimated completion on the on the southside? I knew that was going to come up. Uh, I believe the estimated completion of Southside is uh mid 2027. I think summer uh to fall of 2027 uh on the south southern portion of that, I believe, is the schedule. I don't quote me on that. I'll have to check and I can certainly email that information over uh so that you guys have that construction schedule in front of you and would gladly attend in the future to have further discussions or update uh as we move things along.

Are the Israel are the plans on the western side of the building um you going to have retail like originally? Yeah. So, there's some uh conference space, uh a heritage venue, um there's a restaurant, rooftop bar. Uh the retail space that was uh in that portion of the project is now where that park is. Um again had to find some value engineering uh in the project because since co uh as you know construction costs have uh skyrocketed and we got to try to manage that. It grew the the the cost of the project uh grew exponentially over the number that's on the board right there uh to get it to completion actually with the value engineering that occurred uh even. So, we had to give up something

cuz you're at the green space. Originally, you're going to have your corporate office. Uh yeah, that's changing uh as a part of the uh solar plan, which we'll talk about in a minute. Um we're going to be relocating offices down to that building. Okay. So, um, and then there's a a planned development, uh, beginning for the the Johnson's funeral home property. So, any more questions on Gateway at all? Any questions? No. Nope.

Please continue. Um, so you can see it's going to create 250 jobs, 100 permanent jobs post opening, uh, enhanced tax base for year- round visitor spending, the public plaza, riverwalk enhancements, um, downtown parking, hopefully a catalyst for downtown reinvestment. We're certainly jumping on the bandwagon uh, with that, doing our own investments uh, in the downtown area, um, environmental quality improvements and greater destination. Is is that uh 100 permanent jobs without the 6,000 square feet of retail? Yes. Okay.

That that would include all the support jobs, uh property maintenance, all that stuff. Um would be included in that 100 jobs.

Um so yeah, this project the project time. Oh, there's your answer right there. Sorry, I didn't look at this. Britney put it together. I was out on a bit of a a hangup. Uh so financing is actually completed now. Um pre-construction started construction started Q Q2 of 2026. Um completed in phases yeah 27 and 29. So that's the two timelines. Hopefully we can get that second phase to land in 28. So, Knock Knock is the Native American Utility Company. Um, and currently, um, we got into a venture creating the only 100% domestic solar panels uh in the United States. Um as a part of that project uh we are in negotiations to purchase uh the Fab Light building uh at the end of Washington Street. Um that plant um will do two things. Uh one is recycle of end of life solar panels. Uh those are going to be ground there. Zero emissions, no smiling on site. Um no uh environmental risks. And then the second phase of that is actually construction. um of the panels themselves. These panels were designed uh by our partner who's a Native American from the Chickasaw Nation. Uh the equipment we will be utilizing is equal Bachetti equipment out of Italy. Um and as I said proudly Manasty will have the only 100% domestically produced solar panel. uh several different applications that we have ground mount solar carport floating solar uh which is a patent uh that we hold and then rooftop as well.

Uh our goal is to work with the not only the tribal government municipalities uh casino but local municipalities to take them off the grid, reduce energy costs uh for as many folks as we can. In addition, all of our developments going forward will have a solar component and be green energy um to help the environment because that's our approach as a tribe is uh being environmentally friendly. So, u we're excited about that piece. Uh direct manufacturing jobs, there'll be about 120 in the plant uh with a multiplier of about 300 plus and about 84 8.4 million in annual payroll. Uh we're going to be doing workforce training develop uh development programs to create gener generational skill building um as well as uh STEM programs in the local high schools uh to teach high school seniors a skill in the event they choose not to go to college right away or not at all. Uh these jobs start out average $70,000 a year. Um so good paying jobs. We realize that one of the challenges we face as a community here is our youth growing up and moving away because there's either not jobs or housing uh to support them and their families. Uh and we want to be a partner in solving that problem for the community. Being a former coach of high school football at OnCA um for a few years, uh it was sad to see those kids graduate, move away, and only see them at homecoming football games or uh different events in the community. and we want to give people a reason to stay here. And so we certainly uh believe in this project. We're excited. Um we plan to our equipment's being ordered as we speak. A little bit of turnaround time on that. Uh by the end of summer, we should have installations done of equipment and retrofit into the the factory itself. Um and then we'll start hiring uh those jobs out uh immediately

following. So uh energy sovereignty is a big part of who we are as a tribe and tribal community. We have the ability to create tribal utility authorities, put green power or green energy on the grid and sell that power to other state, local, federal and uh other municipalities. And so um see the PV recycling uh obviously we talked about that uh zero emissions uh commodity revenue low lowest capital investment in the project. Um and that's also EcoProachete equipment. Uh that will create 50 direct jobs with a 150 plus total multiplier um with about 12 tons of materials diverted a year uh from landfills and uh other places. So, uh, actually with the Safe Harbor Act and all the laws that are in place now as it relates to energy, solar energy, uh, a lot of that's going to be demanded, uh, in, um, domestic product. And so that's the space that we're, uh, getting into right now. There is a third phase of this project that we're working on right now, but that's a substantially higher point of entry. um should we get into that, there will be another 600 additional jobs created in the community. So, we're excited uh to be good partners in the community, excited to work with uh the city of Manaste um and everybody else in this county uh to try to make this a better place to work, live, and and play uh truly. And so, that's what we have going on. Um, we talked about uh also and I didn't it's not in the presentation. Uh, daycare was brought up earlier in the discussion. Uh, we currently have our Frost Road project that's getting ready to kick off. Uh, the first phase of that is an indoor recreation center that includes an indoor soccer field, three basketball

courts, a boxing MMA gym, a daycare center, uh, office space, and a fitness center. Um, again, it's part of a community development that's happening at Frost Road, uh, which includes, I believe, uh, 48 homes and 58 apartments as well as a part of the development. The community rec center will be open to everybody. Um, so it's not just for that community. We want something for the youth to do. We also want to try to create draws uh in the wintertime uh for traveling basketball, soccer leagues, give the local Manatee Recreation Association a place to host some tournaments and do some different things to keep our children active. I have a 11-year-old and a 13-year-old and this is probably going to be their favorite place to be uh throughout the winter honestly and probably mine as well. I like playing basketball. So, um we're excited about that project. really excited about bringing back the daycare uh to the community as well. And I appreciated the question. You know, there were a lot of challenges specifically with that parcel of land where it used to be being a gaming parcel use of, you know, that space was difficult, but the Yogamo, the tribe, Larry Romanelli, has wanted this daycare situation resolved. He's wanted to find a solution for it. And so one of the first tasks we set out to do in my long tenure of two months at the holdings company as the president um is uh get the daycare center done and get the gateway project done. Um and in the meantime in my free time we develop these other opportunities for the community. And so uh we're not done yet. We have a lot more. We want to boost the the downtown Manasty area. Uh I'm sure you've already heard it's out in the community that we purchased the North Channel Brewery. Uh that's going to be set to open in May. That includes some really fun elements should we be able to get the approval.

Uh some beer pedal carts uh to go up and down River Street in the corridor and uh some tiki barges on the river. Uh we're looking for things that are going to help the local business owners in Manaste uh draw people to their storefronts and to downtown and create a fun environment, I guess, uh downtown. And so we're trying to be creative and we're trying to be good partners and we're really excited about the efforts that we're making and we I appreciate all the support and outreach. Uh just being there for two months that I've gotten from the city officials, the the commissions. It was great to meet with both of you this morning and I thank you for that opportunity. Um, every the chamber uh everybody's been great uh thus far and and we're excited about the the relationship and our goal is uh no offramps and get to the finish line on these projects so that we can uh assist the community with housing and and other resources that are needed. Is the uh with the north channel, are you going to keep it as a micro brew or are you moving to a brew pub?

Well, we're going to keep it right now. The plan initially is a micro brew. Um we have uh other plans at a different site for a distillery um in a ery there as well. Um so right now it's going to continue as a micro. Okay. With a lot more fun and excitement. There's going to be indoor golf screens and uh different activities, entertainment to bring people in and uh make it an experience really. Well, we uh extered. So,

you know, I look at it kind of like gateway. It's an anchor in some way, right into the city. Um it's in the social district. It just makes sense. You have a viable uh restaurant there, locally owned. Um, no offense to anybody else, but I think a lot of people come here and I'm and I'm a transplant as well. I didn't grow up here. I've been here about 26 years now. Um, but unless you truly understand the economy and many in the winter time, business can be challenging. And I think that's what a lot of people run into. And I think with our creative mindset with the golf screens and indoor entertainment during the winter, we'll solve those problems and we'll be successful there. And we'll be there for years to come. Hey, Maddie. Um, Israel asked about today when when we met uh about the historic district boundaries.

Oh, I can pull it up quick. It's in the It's in the boundaries. North Shadow is in the boundary. He was talking about the uh uh the Johnson's funeral home site. Funeral home. It doesn't go down to that point, but it wouldn't because there's no liquor license there. That would be the defining point that basically then going to city hall and requesting it to be expanded. But you can't expand it past where a liquor license exists. I think is what the state requires. Yeah. Ideally, if we have a successful submission for a project, y

uh we would like to see that extend a little bit further so utilize the entire boardwalk really. Um, and there's other things that I can't uh disclose yet, but I'm sure in the next couple months we'll be having another meeting and I'll be able to share more great great news with you on some of the things we're doing in the downtown corridor. And so, yeah, we're just going to keep uh assisting and doing what we can to help grow the community and support it. Thank you. And then the uh groundbreaking is real is uh 4:10 at 3:00. Is that right at right at the site? Right at the site. Okay. Very cool. Bill sent me an invite that just this a like right before we met. So, okay.

I can make sure that gets out. All right. And then we're going from there over to the North Channel at 5. We're just kind of It's We're not cooking or anything. We're having some more derves and just celebratory uh event for groundbreaking and the opening of the North Channel as well. I hope to see you guys at all the events. Well, thank you so much and thank you for this morning. Thank you. Thank you for the great news. Yes. Any other questions? So, is North Channel going to honor the mug club? Yeah. So, we've been talking about that and like digging through paperwork and trying to figure out uh like who the people were that were in the club and stuff like that. But they'll let you know.

They they have their mug. We all have our mugs. A lot of us took your mugs. Okay. Well, that's that's good news cuz we were like, how are we going to meet this demand if we don't know who everybody is that's in this club? Bring in your mug and you're back in business. Excellent. And we did some really cool things with seating and stuff. I think people will appreciate because it was pretty jam-packed in there previously. And you couldn't hear yourself think. And so, are you going to fix the acoustic so it's easier? Well, we we hope we fix it by removing some seating and reorganizing. Um, higher demand might be a longer wait time, but It's better than going in there and not being able to hear the company that you're sitting with. Can wait at the bar. So,

yeah. Are you going to have the your beer at the casino as well? I don't know. Shel, are we going to have our beer at the casino? I I think that would, you know, again, agreed. Just FYI, it cost about 10 cents to brew a pint of beer. Mhm. And you sell for $5, so do the math. It's It's a pretty good We That's the finance. You talk to Shelly. You hear that, Shelly? I did hear it. Noted. We'll cut you a good deal. Duly noted. We'll talk. Kind of family business. She'll get confusion out of it.

All right. Um, so yeah, that's uh what we have going on. And like I said, our offices are always open. Uh, feel free to stop in at any time, have a cup of coffee, have a conversation, and uh see what we got going on. Great. Great. Awesome. Thank you so much. You won't come see us, Shel. I worked with Shelley for a lot of years at casino. She's had her fill of Israel for a long time. Maybe some of your colleagues. Oh, some like we started over. I heard there's only one of the former uh people that are still the organization. So, we're rebuilding everywhere, not just stop by.

Are your offices down at the at the funeral home right now? Sorry. We're going to relocate uh once we're completed with the purchase of the the factory uh to the offices down there. Um so that we can do a development plan for over here to help with the the housing. Um we've just tried moving professionals to the area. It's near impossible to house them. And so uh we're looking at some long-term rental stuff down on that at the Johnson Funeral Home site. Sweet. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It was nice to meet you. Now I get to walk. I'm going to listen to your meeting though. It's rain.

Yeah. All right. Uh public hearings, we have none tonight. And public comment on agenda related items. Is there anyone in the uh audience that has anything? Nope. We'll move along business. the public part participation review plan review. Let me pull it up. Go through this earlier. No.

So, um, this was technically Teresa and Andrew did this and I don't know if where they got in the review process, but it wasn't formally adopted. And so as a part of the RRC annual review, this is a document that um should be reviewed by you guys moving forward, they sort of tweaked that. And when we went to do it, we realized that this one hadn't been formally adopted. So this is essentially I'm going to have to start yelling over the rain. This is just a tweak of the existing document. Um reformatted to update updated city logoing. Um tweaked a couple things. If you guys have any feedback, I know Mark said he might have a couple things. Um, we will get this, this will count as a review for this year and then just make sure that this one gets adopted through the correct process.

Anybody have anything? I had I had one little thing that I wanted corrected and can't find it. Hang on a second. It's just a minor little I don't know where it's at today. Yes, cuz I'm beautiful. Oh, well, never mind. I can't find it. Oh, there it was. I don't think we ever It was just Yeah, but I could be wrong. I thought we did it on the beach.

I can't find it now. I should have told the camera. is the only one. No, just him. Never mind. I can't find it now. It was just a minor. Well, I'll read. Well, then you will keep looking. Oh, here it is. Um, I just had a question about it. It said that city council meetings are recorded, but it didn't state that like our meetings are being recorded. Did they city stop recording our meetings? No, they're still being recorded. That probably was just in all of the all of the public meetings.

Yeah, they're all recorded, but it clearly states that city council meetings are recorded and televised. Which page? Um, it's actually not numbered. Oh, they're up in the top corner. They're just big numbers. Um, it's in that community toolbox toolbox section 14.

Where is 14? Yeah, 14. Um, it just sounds like the only ones that are being recorded are city council meetings. It's Yeah, like I said, it's just a wording issue. Uh, because it says other boards and commission meetings are summarized in the meeting minutes. It doesn't say anything about any of the other commission meetings being recorded because I do know that people do get on our website, the city's website and watch them. Not me. Yeah, we can make we can make that. Yeah. When I've heard something that I needed to do and check on.

Um, yeah, if if you could just throw that in there that all of them are that city council meetings and commission meetings are recorded. can do. Mark, did you have something to uh Yes. I have it on page six under community stakeholders um including public works, police, and fire and maybe sheriff, state police. Do we have the county on there?

Yeah, county. Yeah, we can do county sheriff department. You've got no public safety in there anywhere. Can do. And then uh the only other one is on page five, which is just an an addition. Um the bus tour we used to do that. I know council does it but with I I believe the PC and ZBA should be included in this too. The bust is that on this page?

Yes. Um I should have circled it but on five. Yes. Local and state regulations. Uh, it's in here. Maybe I wrote down the wrong section, but um, they do do a bus tour with console. Um, control F. And I I would like to have a PC and ZBA included in this. What do you think? Mhm. Yep. I know, Mick, when you're on council, you probably did it, correct? Yeah. Yeah. The county does it, too.

Yep. So, um, also, Manny, when he was talking about it wasn't just the sheriff, it was also city police and the Yeah, I've got those, too. Yeah, pretty much all public safety would be I believe that is it for me. Well, if you guys would like those edits made before you make the recommendation, I can bring it back in May. Um or if you want to make a motion on the condition that those are made with the changes that we submitted. If you're good with that. Oh, okay.

So, that's where it was walking. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. This one. Okay. Are you speaking generally about the bus tours? Okay. So I think it's actually happens in September um that they take this bus tour around. So So the amendments would be on page 14 and page six for the adding public safety and then that all boards are being recorded 11. I think it was 14. I think mine was

if you want to page 17, but that one doesn't say city council. That one says stakeholders. Okay. Well, city city staff. So, that one I'll be that one will be a a me recommendation. Okay. But, um, since it doesn't say city council in there, I think you guys are are included in in the description. Okay. Mine's on 14. Yeah. On page six. Okay. So with that uh with the changes um I would ask for a motion or the additions I guess. Is there a motion to accept or deny? I'll make a motion to accept with the noted additions. Okay,

I'll second. Motion by Shelley, second by Bob to accept with changes or additions, excuse me. Um any further discussion? Take roll. Commissioner Savinski, yes. Commissioner Zamansky, yes. Commissioner Winer, yes. Commissioner Manertu, yes. And Chair Wetliff, yes. Thank you. Whole business master plan.

So, updates and a slight tweaking of our language. Um, the master plan went to city council at their March 17th meeting, St. Patrick's Day and they did um adopt the resolution to approve the plan as it was presented. Um next steps, I will be sending out notices of adoption to all of the neighboring um utility companies and municipalities that have been getting our notices thus far. We'll get that posted on the website and we should be good. One tweak is that I want to just change the language from the um motion that you guys made at the last meeting to formally adopt your resolution. I think I just had you make the motion with this language but not adopt the resolution. Um, and so if you guys have any questions about the approval process or next steps or you want to just go forward, it's just a slight tweak and then I will um tweak this to update today's meeting.

So is there a motion to um adopt a resolution? Adopt the resolution with the master plan. Motion by Mick. Second. No. Second by Bob. Um, further discussion? None. Please take role. Commissioner Sinski, yes. Commissioner Zamansky, yes. Commissioner Winer, yes. Commissioner Member, yes. Chair Whit,

yes. Thank you. Motion is approved. Public comments and communication. There anyone has anything? Okay. Oh, you're leaving. Okay. I thought you were coming up. I thought you were going to talk. We were waiting for It was a fake out. It kind of was. She was waiting for the rain to slow down. Okay. Uh staff and board reports.

Um not anything super crazy to bring back this month. We're still working through the chill grant and the short-term rentals. Um, I wouldn't say we hit any crazy milestones to report back on besides getting closer to getting all of our rentals in and all of our projects done. Feeling good about that. Um, I attached a permit list. We're starting to see some projects come through for the summer. With that being said, I think uh May and June could have some bigger projects hopefully coming up on the agenda. Um, George did give me his completed application. Um, so Pam, Bob, and Mark, you guys are the site plan review. So I attached you to that email. Um, I sent it to department heads for review. Um, potentially May, we'll see based on comments and feedback if we're trying to be a bit lenient with George um, with the drawings that he's given us and what we can see from what we have. But that being said, if if Jeff or Tom need to see more details to do their full safety review, we'll get um those details brought forward in maybe a June meeting based on that

copy of the site plan itself, don't you? Other than what you sent us. Well, we're going to that's what we're working on. Yeah, that the one that you sent is very hard to read. Did you read the um the one in his the attachments or the Yeah, the one you sent us the other day. That's it's real gray looking on the paper on the paper and it's hard to read. Which one? All the entire uh application was hard to read because it was so gray. Yeah. So, the application I took um anything that he sent me separate files for. If you click those, those are a bit higher resolution. No. No. Okay. It didn't.

Good. I thought it was just me. So, yeah, it was I I tried blowing it up and it just gets super fuzzy. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, there's something not, you know, I'm looking at going, "Do I need a microfilm reader on this or what?" You know? Yeah. So, anything his application I had that issue, too. So, I tried to have him send separate files of stuff that he had. So, if you need to see something specifically, let me know. Yeah. I was just trying to look at going I barely read it even that Spicer had done the the site plan. Spicer did the survey. Yeah. So just trying to read that I couldn't even read hardly only part I could read was Spicer. I couldn't read anything else on in the in the packet though or the separate file

the the I didn't bring it with me but part of it I couldn't you know all the stuff that came through gray. Okay. Did you Pam did you try the separate files? So, you sent the survey, you sent us three. Yeah, the survey I sent on its own because it's hard to read in the document. Same with um some of the floor plan. That one I started looking at better, but some of the other stuff I couldn't read on some of the other. Do you want the bigger drawing? I'd like to look at the bigger drawing. Okay. Just to clarify what I'm trying to look at. Just as bad as going to the courthouse trying to look at some of the stuff there. They've got the microfish is so bad. You know where to find me? Yep. Okay, that's all I got.

All right, Jackie. All good. Nothing today. Okay. All right. Um, meeting and training attended by members. Um, I know Pam and myself went through planning and zoning essentials. You like it? I Yeah, I I did. The second half was good.

Second half was good. The the speaker kind of drone on this. The second night was much better than the first. Um, but yeah, it was it was a nice refresher on some things and then he he he really had made a point about the public acts and I didn't it took a while to find them to download them and yeah, they're dense reading. I I yeah, the second half was much better than the first. So, um so if anybody takes that, you know, it's it's worth it. It's worth it. So, is that four credit hours or is that just

You got to submit it and they'll tell you. I couldn't. What do you mean? No, there was no link to submit it. I'll send you the link again. Okay. All right. How many credit hours did we get for the the batch that we took? Those ones were for last year, the online ones. Yeah. So that was six. So it's an hour each. So it should be So you start over now. Start over now. Yeah. This should be for this year. Yeah. It should be four. It should be. It should be four because it was it was four solid hours. In my tracker I put four. But they have their own link I'll send out. Normally when you go to continue edited class, there's usually one hour per credit normally. Yeah.

Yeah. I waited for the at the end for the link and it it just never came up. So I'll send you the link. Okay. Thank you. I didn't get it. I didn't get the link either. So So it wasn't just me. No, they just ended it. It was gone. Mick, I'm going to housing training uh uh 8th through the 10th. So there's a conference down in Battle Creek. Okay. And then uh I'm have to renew my uh competent person. You wouldn't know it, but I am a competent person and I have a a diploma to prove it. So I we would like to see that diploma next please. Robert, that's it.

So I'm trying to balance between few other organizations I'm in trying to figure out when I could have time to do some of these other things right now. Uh work has gotten really hectic. So I'm playing catches catch catch as I can on stuff. So it's going to some of the stuff's going to be last minute jump into. All right. Shall we? I have to put a list together.

Okay. Uh, one thing I thought of is um because I don't know who's on what committees um on the commission. So would or maybe next month um if you could share what's going on with if you're on the NRBC or the zoning or anything like that. Would that be okay? I'm on the housing commission. Okay. I'm on several others. All right. Yeah, if you could do that. So hopefully I will be on the NRVC next week. So

the only thing I'm on site plan review that's that's it. I can give a little update. You're Bob. Bob. Say what? Yeah. Playing with you. Yeah. All right. And Roger, can you help us out? No. Okay. Not talking today. And Marlene is She's very quiet today. She's very quiet. Very quiet. So unlike her. Okay. Members discussion. Anything? I can we get slides of both Mike's and Israel? I was going to ask the same thing. He's great. That would that would be wonderful. Yep. He was just he sent them out to you recently, didn't he?

Oh, yeah. Like uh right before. Yeah. And um the other thing is uh the church on Fifth Street. A never ending one. The never ending one. Yes. Um they did pretty good on the lights on the church itself. The one on the shed is still pointed straight horizontally out is lighting up the Lutheran parking lot for a change and everything else that's the house is is not bad but the the is still bad. Okay, I'll reach out to him. I don't want it. That's I I I gave him a couple of weeks to

let him feel better and everything, but yeah, it's very noticeable. That's awesome. And my husband has a complaint about the new lights down at the the uh ramp. The I guess they replace the bulbs with the LEDs. He says it's brightest day down there and it it's down on First Street. Down on First Street. I have not seen them, but yeah, the boat launches scaring the fish. Well, no, it's just, you know, we're supposed to be having the lights focused down and try to keep it as dark as possible for the night sky. But he says it's it's I can look at it. Incredibly bright. So, and I have not seen it myself, but

Okay. I have not either myself. I'm like Edgar Winner. I don't go out at night. And that's all I got. Mick. Nope. Nothing. Good. And I think we talked to Bob already, right? Right. Yep. Okay. Shelley, I have nothing. Nothing. And I have nothing. So, Okay. Okay. Um, it is 6:35 and I'll take a motion to adjurnn. Motion second. Here we go. Got time to get my feet. Oh, that's right. Thursday. Oh, what time is that? 7:30. 7 o'clock. 7. Okay.

Good meeting. Shelley, did you see my email for ZBA? No, I left you a voicemail, too. We have the meeting that we canled for December is rescheduled for the end of April. Oh, wait. For 26th. Yeah, 27th. 27th. Yeah, that Monday. I think I did. Okay, perfect. I had a breath. I think I did. and some.