Council - Regular Meeting

Order. Pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. Council member Abbott here. Council member Kadoo here. Council member Johnson here. Council member Rogen here. Council member Tapasti is absent. Council member Vanlu Vega is absent. And President Powers here. Do I have a motion to excuse our absent members?

Motion to excuse. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any say at this time? Eyes have it. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda as presented to you? Motion to approve the agenda as presented. Second. All those in favor say I.

I. Any oppos? Say time. Item A, consent agenda, consideration of a motion approving the payment of the bills checks numbered 64473 to 64533 and electronic payments of 669-688 in the total amount of 1,698,2789. Item B, consideration of a motion to approve the April 2026 budget adjustments or fiscal year 2025 to 26. Item C, consideration of a motion to approve the creation of a part-time code enforcement officer position and authorize the village manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Fairiesburg and Spring Lake Township for the shared use of the position. Item D, consideration of a motion to approve the ambulance service agreement with Life EMS, Inc. Item E, consideration of a motion to pass resolution number 226-05 establishing a $25 annual fee for commercial quadricycle operations. Item F, consideration of a motion to approve the Whezies Brothers Spring Lake Streetscapes 2026 proposal in the amount of $18,039. Recommendation from our staff is that any council member may make a motion to approve the consent agenda by roll call vote or a member could ask that an item be removed from the consent agenda. We will discuss that later in the meeting. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as read into the record?

Motion to approve the consent. Before we go, it looks like there was um an error in us putting together the consent agenda in the approval of the minutes was removed from the consent agenda. Well, when we get to general business, we'll throw them at the top of the line. How And the other thing was the Is it 250 or 25 on the fee? It would be 250. I think you read 25. So, did I? Yeah. Yeah.

Nonsense. I said 250 and the video table shows. All right, 250 it is then. Do I hear three? Um, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as read except for the fee? Uh, into the record. Motion to approve as read except for the fee. End of the record. Second. Roll call vote. Council member Johnson. Yes. Council member Kadu. Yes. Council member Rogenau? Yes. Council member Abbott? Yes. And President Powers.

Yes. General business. New item A is the uh approval of the minutes that were included in your packet. Yes. So it' be the approval of the March 9th, 2026 meeting minutes and the uh Monday, March 16th regular meeting minutes. Do I have a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppos say at this time? Eyes have it. I think the Bird City people are up next.

Sure.

Hello. I'm Bruce Ostro. I um am one of the board members for the Washington Islands Ottabbon Society. We're our local Tri Cities Ottabbon Club. We meet once a month at the Grand Haven Library and you're all invited. It's the third Thursday of the month. I have a couple other board members here as advocates. Um so Bird City, you probably heard about Tree City uh USA and we're trying to get the similar kind of thing called the Bird City and this is um organized by the Bird City Network um specifically or more directly through Michigan Audabon. Um and so we're working um our local group is working to get a designation of Bird City USA for the Tri Cities area as a collective whole already. We've uh roped in um Grand Haven. They've passed a resolution and we're looking to Spring Lake Village to be also part of this. And then we're working with Fairiesburg um city to also be part of the bird city network as our tri cities designation. and we would be probably the seventh municipality in M state of Michigan to do this. Village of Ross common was the first to do so. Um there are a number of criteria to be a bird city and um luckily for you all you have to do is basically just approve a resolution saying we we're we're for it. We'll take care of all the work um hard work and and also the money that's um associated with that. So I'll make that uh pledge to you. Um last week I guess there was a work study work session that um had uh discussed this and perhaps had a recommendation. I don't don't I was unfortunately not able to attend that last week perhaps share the information that was done at the work session.

Yeah. So this was added to the work session of course um but because of the miscommunication and the change in meeting times the direction from village council was just to add it to this agenda for further discussion to um have you here to answer any questions followed by um a village council decision. So there was no recommendation made at the work session um but we did want to move this item along so they added it to this this agenda for consideration.

Okay. as well. Great. I don't want to I guess repeat something that's already been done. Um so, uh the requirements for bird city designation, there's a minimum of 10 and um one of those is to have a bird city Michigan resolution um with along with our application and and then every five years afterwards. So, I guess we'll pester you in five years to for another update on the resolution that you're still on board. Um we are putting together a bird city team. Um there are uh we're we're going to be hosting a World Migratory Bird Day event on Saturday, May 9th out at Ottawa Sands. So you're all invited to come enjoy that. Uh that's going to be in the morning time. Um we'll be having events out there alongside um bird walks and some activities by the Ottawa County Parks. So that will also be checking off one of those requirements. And then we have to uh do three actions within the habitat category. one action from threats to birds, one action from education engagement, and one action minimally for from sustainability. So there's a long list on multiple pages here about 80 different choices. And so we can take and and we were looking through this and we said we already do most of these things. So we probably are already a bird city, but to be official designation, we need a resolution from the village to say that you're on board with this. Um we can certainly apply for the highf flyier status in which case you um uh you check off 20 minimum of 20 different actions. So if you want to go above above the 10 minimum and then once we get the resolution from um Grand Haven from uh Spring Lake and from Fairiesburg we'll actually do our application official application in which case we actually document how we match meet these minimum 10 criteria. Um then we will also um pay annual $200. So we'll pay a $200 application fee and

we'll be covering that um within the uh from our fundraising activities at the Ottawa um at the Aashan Islands Ottabban Society. Um and so I guess I proposing that um you all adopt a resolution. I have the official language right here. I don't know if you've read it yet or if you would like me to read it and then if you'd be kind enough to uh vote on that and perhaps sign it then we'd have the documentation we can submit it with our application. So to put it into parliamentary procedure terms, uh the

motion to adopt resolution 26 or 2026-06. Second. Session's open. What do you guys want to do? Yay. Yay. Yeah, that was a no. Okay. Well, I was certainly instructed by my cat that he's very interested in increasing the population of birds in the town. Uh the worms, however, were said they wanted equal time and uh were much less interested in this. So that's the feedback I'm getting from the community. Uh I guess we just need a voice vote on this one. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose say nay at this time. The worms are shot down. The eyes have it. Okay.

Great. Um so eventually u if we're successful in our application there will be a sign and you can actually decide what size sign you want and where you get to look how how many you wish and where you would like to locate them. So I guess we'd have to work with your department of public works whoever put signs up in in Spring Lake, but then you can get a nice pretty sign that says welcome to Bird City uh USA. And um I think there'll be a good attraction to uh uh local populace as well as visitors to our our lovely area. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Savage Management LLC parking agreement. Uh in your packet, there was a parking license agreement uh between the village of Spring Lake and Epicurian Village Condominium Association to authorize uh village manager to sign that thing. We dropped it in here so that way anybody who wasn't at the work session could take a look at it and consider things. Uh do I have a motion to approve that agreement? just to discuss it guys.

Second.

All right. Open for the discussion now. Uh you have the agreement. We've talked about it uh more than a few times over the years. Uh it's going to be in effect for 10 slots uh located between the Epicurian Village and Dollar General as I understand it. Raising your Okay. Right. Um there was an additional uh parking space included for the convenience of the DPW. Wallally felt that this made more sense because of plowing in the winter time. Brady, I don't know if you had anything to add. The only thing I'd add is there were a few of those changes that were um included from discussion at session. So there was um a copy here um included in the packet that identifies um the changes that were made from the license agreement that was in front of you all from the work session. Thoughts, comments, questions, voice vote or uh All right, I'm getting a nod from the attorney, so we'll do what the

what the attorney wants. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose say nay at this time.

Eyes have it. We are on to the Eagle DWSRF giraffe project plan presentation. Take it away, Ryan Erenss. Uh, good evening. Thank you for your time this evening. Um, Ryan Erenss with Moren Bridgink. I'm your village engineer. Also have Sarah Weber here, another engineer here in our office. Um, full disclosure, we are recording this this evening as required uh by the by Eagle requirements for SR DWSRF plans. uh going to give you an overview of the drinking water state revolving fund project plan in preparation for a public hearing that you're having this evening on water distribution improvements here in the village. Next slide please. um going to basically give you an outline uh give you a little bit of background on the project and project plan, the alternatives we considered, the selected alternative, the project financing and end user costs along with the social environmental impacts and mitigations. So a DWSRF project plan um basically the drinking water state revolving fund offers lowinterest loans for financing on water system improvements. generally I think right now two and uh 2.75% is the rate. There is potential however for loan forgiveness on the lead service line replacement portion of the projects as well though. Um the funding does require a project plan that outlines alternatives and effects. It also requires the public hearing which we're doing this evening that happens 10 days after the public notice. uh at this meeting we'll capture any comments, questions and responses, incorporate those into the project plan. They become a part of the document. Um items to note, project plans basically the first step in the process and it's required for the financing. Submitting the project plan does not tie

the village to completing any project or taking the loan. The draft project plan is a guideline. Um it's a draft so you can make changes um along the way. Generally once you submit a project plan they're good for five years. It's competitive funding. Um so if you don't get it this year there's a one-page form you fill out next year to reapply and you can do that like I said for five years. Uh there will be more public input on uh the project as it's designed or projects I should say. So it's not as if this is the only time for input. Uh the need for the project, basically the aging infrastructure in the villages driving the project. Much of the water man on the streets that are in the project plan was put in the ground in the 1920s. Um there have been some water mane breaks and obviously water man brakes are much more costly to repair um in an emergency situation than they are in a planned situation. uh many of the water manes in these streets is und sized uh four and 6 in. Eagle now requires a minimum of 8 inch when you put new water man in the ground. And then there are also numerous lead water service lines to all the homes within the project limits that need to be require or replaced per state requirements. I'm going to turn it over to Sarah now. She's going to talk about the alternatives considered.

We considered two alternatives. Alternative number one was no action. Alternative number two was necessary system improvements. The improvements that are recommended were all identified in the villages CIP. These are the top priority projects. There are other places and locations within the village that need to be replaced future in the future, but as of right now, these are the village's top priority. I do have a map on the following slide to show these areas. So we have six projects listed here. Project number one is James and Mark Street. That would be done in 2027. In 2028 we would tackle Sydney Court, Fleser Court, South Buchanan, West Tolford, West Anne, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall Street. And then in 2029, Liberty and North Jackson Street would be completed. This is a breakdown of three different categories within the project scope. So the first category includes all of the roads that would have a total road reconstruct done. That includes storm and sanitary sewer, water mane and lead service lines or water services to the homes. The second list of roads there um is solely water service replacement. So that does not include any of the sanitary storm or water mane in the road. And then lastly is North Jackson Street which would receive a total road reconstruction. So again the storm and the sanitary sewer would be included in that and the water services. However, the water man is not included or needed in this project. The objectives of the improvement project. So we would be replacing the aging water man. As Ryan was saying earlier, the existing water man, much of it is less than 8 in. Most of it is 4 in

or 6 in. These would all be upsized to 8 in. And then all lead service water, all lead water services would be replaced with copper or PEX. This would also improve the flows and fire protection within the system. Next is cost analysis. So, here's a table showing the estimated cost. This includes interest over the 30 years. The total for all of those would come to about $1.5 million prior to any interest that would be gained in the loan. It would be about $8.9 million to complete all of these projects. These are all estimated totals.

It should be noted as well that these do not include any loan forgiveness on the line replacement. So, And then benefits of this alternative. So again this was alternative two. This would improve the system flows, improve the drinking water quality, reduce the system maintenance costs due to water main breaks mainly. Um it's estimated that the annual onm savings would be about $14,000 and then this could also reduce the chance of costly emergency repairs. I'll pass it back to Ryan.

As far as the the project financing goes, this is a loan the village would pay back over a 30-year period. Um the have worked with the village a little bit in looking at costs for the users and we're estimating about a 30% increase in the rates. Um a rate study would be done to confirm this increase. uh the increased costs, the funds would be used solely to pay back the debt uh secured to fund the projects. Social impacts from the projects. Um obviously the project may inco may coincide with future rate increases for water and sewer. Uh but obviously go through the proper rate studies and meetings and discussions to do that to help minimize and maintain a positive relationship with village residents. Um other social impacts obviously there would be road closures, street closures uh in order to complete the work. There would be properts. We'd have to maintain local resident traffic at all time. Uh we'd communicate that well in advance to minimize uh disturbances for the residents. As far as environmental impacts, uh obviously we have the river to the south, the lake to the north. So we have temporary flood plane construction activities with some of the projects. Uh we also have archaeological and cultural impacts that would be evaluated by Eagle. Being that these are existing utilities. There's already been excavation done in these areas. Those impacts are very unlikely because we're digging up pipe that's already been put in the ground, putting new pipe in the ground, that type of thing. Uh we would have improved drinking water water quality uh with the projects. We'd have reduced water loss, which would also be a cost savings to the village. mitigations uh for the impacts. Obviously, we'd have soil erosion and sedimentation control measures to protect the river and the lake. We would have traffic and safety and dust control measures during construction to maintain traffic, direct people where to go. We would limit the hours of construction.

We aren't going to let the contractors work at night, that type of thing. And then we would also ensure there's no effect on other sensitive features. Um we'd have to get all the state and local permits required. Uh so soil erosion control, water system supply, uh sanitary sewer permits, that type of thing. Go from there. Uh that wraps it up. Have an opening here for question and answer. We do ask the public if you're going to make a comment or a question to give us your name and address and then um we will incorporate all the questions and comments into the draft plan and they will get become a part of the plan after this meeting. Thank you. Bob, I think we can wrap that up in the statement of citizens section, can we not? But we have to do a separate.

I would think you would do a separate. All right, then. So be it. Uh following the presentation, a public comment opportunity is going to be given. And this is it. Uh we seek feedback from the uh community on the proposed project as described by Ryan Erands and Sarah Weber. Sarah Weber. Is there anybody here from the public who would like to speak to this issue? None. We are moving on. Department reports. So, while we're on the topic of infrastructure, just want to note the one thing in my report that um you'll see activity now starting on North Division. So, the village did close on their general obligation limited tax bonds. Um so, we did receive that 7.5 million and we will start spending that down as we work to do north division. And then followed by that project will be River and Visser Street as soon as the school year ends. Uh and then next year we will get um the western um portion of river from Prospect to South Lake completed with um and bond issuance. Nothing notable here, just the personnel shifting. Have some pieces moving and some new people we've brought on board. looking forward to fully integrating them.

Treasur finance director. Nothing to add. Is there any old business or new business that a member of village council would like to raise at this time? Bob Sullivan, village attorney. Do not have anything this evening. Statement of citizens. Council meetings are open to the public and the public is invited to speak on any topic that they feel is worth bringing to the attention of village council. So if anybody in the audience at this time would like to raise an issue, please step forward, give us your name and address and you have up to three minutes to talk about whatever ails you hearing. None. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. All those in favor say I.