REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
A meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2013.
Council Member Jones delivered the invocation.
The Mayor led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk took the roll call:
Members Present: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo, Jones and Gunderson.
Members Absent: None.
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, supported by Council Member Jones.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
There were no public comments.
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 61112 to 61156 in the amount of $54,883.04
B. Approve Chemical Bank Checks 6492 to 6497 in the amount of $7,892.53
C. Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, November 19, 2013
D. Appointment of Ronald Gunderson to the Zoning Board of Appeals
E. Appointment of Ronald Gunderson to the DDA
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the consent agenda, supported by Council Member Lallo.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
Following are the resolutions contained in the Consent Agenda.
C. APPOINTMENT OF RONALD GUNDERSON TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-12-80
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN APPOINTING RONALD GUNDERSON THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
WHEREAS, Section 18.1 Membership of the Zoning Ordinance states that one member of the board of zoning appeals may be a member of the city council, but shall not serve as chairperson of the board of zoning appeals; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Gunderson has indicated interest in serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that Ronald Gunderson be appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term to expire on December 3, 2016.
D. APPOINTMENT OF RONALD GUNDERSON TO THE DDA
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-12-81
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN APPOINTING RONALD GUNDERSON TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
WHEREAS, a member of city council shall serve as a member of the Downtown Development Authority; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Gunderson has indicated interest in serving on the Downtown Development Authority.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that Ronald Gunderson be appointed to the Downtown Development Authority with a term to expire on December 3, 2017.
Council Member Feuerstein stated the Planning Commission would meet tomorrow night to consider a special land use for the buildings behind Subway.
Council Member Scheid stated he has a Housing Commission meeting on the 19th.
Council Member Lallo stated he made contact with the Labor Day Committee, but they have not met yet. There is a new brochure for the Tri-River Historical Museum Network and they will be working with Pure Michigan to have the brochure at several welcome centers. There are twenty-seven museums in the network. The board will drop off forms for artifact donations at city hall. The museum will be open in January and February on every weekend. On October 14, 2014, a color tour will be held to several museums. They need 50 people and it will cost $50 per person. The board has been working on the by-laws. They will hold a planning meeting on December 18. They need help from the city to do repairs at the museum. The stairs need repair and cleaning.
Council Member Jones stated the Rec Board meets next week. He is also serving as the clock tower liaison. They had a meeting last night and are trying to get organized. There will be another meeting on Thursday evening. He handed out a sheet with the visions and progress to date, on what they want to do to get the clock tower rebuilt. They wish to create a gateway to the city. It will be erected close to, or over the trail. They would like a wall or educational area to go over the history of Belding, including the silk mills, trading post and refrigeration. They have the clock faces and 5000 bricks. The bricks cannot be used for construction but they may build a short wall. They have created a Facebook page – Rebuilding Belding Clock Tower. They would love to have pictures to include. They would like a working clock. The project may be done in phases, the construction of the tower and clock faces being done first, and then they could work on funding for making the clock work.
Mayor Gunderson stated the DDA met this past week. They hired W&W to amend the Development Plan and TIFA Plan, and restructure the boundaries of the DDA. They have worked on the by-laws. The library had the Candlelight Reception last night, which was sponsored by the Friends Group. Bids will be opened on December 6 to see who will do the 2.2 miles in the city.
The Mayor called for Unfinished Business Agenda Item A – AMENDMENT TO HISTORIC DISTRICT ORDINANCE TO EXCLUDE ELECTROLUX PROPERTY – ADOPTION
The City Clerk read the preamble to the ordinance.
Council Member Scheid moved the adoption of the ordinance and the motion was supported by Council Member Feuerstein.
ORDINANCE NO. 535
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE III OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF BELDING HISTORIC DISTRICT, HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION ORDINANCE SECTION 30-86, HISTORIC DISTRICT BOUNDARY BY AMENDING SECTION 30-86
The City of Belding ordains:
Section 1. That Section 30-86 of Article III of the Code of the City of Belding be amended by revising Section 30-86, pursuant to the terms of a Consent Judgment in the case of Electrolux Home Products, Inc. v. City of Belding, et al., to establish the Downtown Belding, Michigan Historic District, to read as follows:
Sec. 30-86 Designated Historic District:
The official name of the historic district is Downtown Belding, Michigan Historic District. The boundaries of the Downtown Belding, Michigan Historic District are as shown on the map on file in the office of the City Clerk, as amended pursuant to the terms of a Consent Judgment in the case of Electrolux Home Products, Inc. v. City of Belding, et al., Ionia County Circuit Court Case No. 11-K-28535-CH (hereafter “Consent Judgment”), which map is incorporated into and made a part of this Article and Section, and is comprised of the following described area located in the City of Belding, County of Ionia, State of Michigan but, pursuant to the Consent Judgment, excluding from this described are the area that is legally described on Exhibit A attached to this Ordinance:
NW 1/4 Sec 11 T8N R8W, City of Belding‑Com (Intersection of Bridge & Main St.) SW Cor lot 57 Suprv Moons Plat, th N to Southerly line of Former C & O RR, Now the Mid‑Michigan RR, th Neasterly alg sd RR to Swesterly line of the Flat River, th SE alg Swesterly line of the Flat River to the intersection of the SWesterly line of the Flat River and the E line of lot 5 Beldings Addn extended to Rivers edge th S to SE cor lot 5 of Beldings Addn, th W to SE cor lot 4 of Beldings Addn, th S 16', W 66', N 16',W alg S line lots 1, 2 & 3 Beldings Addn, Cont W alg S line lots 62 thru 69 Suprv Moons Plat, th N 40', W to SW cor lot 19 Belding Urban Renwal Replat #1, th S 21.28', W 116.4', N 179.38'+/‑ to POB.
The Downtown Belding, Michigan Historic District includes all or part of the following parcels of land located in the City of Belding, County of Ionia, State of Michigan, identified by address and/or by Description according to the Records of the Assessor as they existed at the time this ordinance was adopted:
Address: Description:
1. 105 E. Main Street City of Belding Belding Urban Renewal Replat
Belding, MI 48809 No 1 W ½ Lot 18
2. 107 E. Main Street City of Belding Belding Urban Renewal Replat
Belding, MI 48809 No 1 E ½ Lot 18
3. 115 E. Main Street City of Belding Belding Urban Renewal Replat
Belding, MI 48809 No 1 Lot 19
4. 201 E. Main Street City of Belding Supv Moons Plat W 23 Ft
Belding, MI 48809 of Lot 65 & all Lots 66 thru 69
| |
5. 211 E. Main Street City of Belding Supv Moons Plat Lots 62,
Belding, MI 48809 63, 64, & E 10 Ft Lot 65
6. 108 Hanover City of Belding Belding Addn Lots 1 thru 5 S of
Belding, MI 48809 Park St & N 16 Ft Lot 11
7. 302 E. Main Street City of Belding Supv Moons Plat, Lots 192 &193;
Belding, MI 48809 Also the W 96 Ft Lot 194 & E 30 Ft lot 195; Also
Com 30 Ft W of NE Cor Lot 193 th N 7 Ft, th
W 63.34 Ft, th SWLY 37.2 Ft +- to NW Cor Lot
192, Th E 102 Ft to POB.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall be effective 10 days from legal publication.
The question on the ordinance was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo and Jones.
Nays: Council Member Gunderson.
Amy Pethers, 7167 Carlson Rd., Sheridan, stated they are still here in support of Jason. She brought in some of the petitions with 500 signatures.
City Manager Mullendore stated it was her first time attending the event at the library. It was very nice and the silent auction went well. It was nice to have people performing the music. It is a nice tradition.
Council Member Lallo stated he enjoyed the museum meeting and looks forward to working with them.
Council Member Jones stated he was glad to see the rebuild/restore clock tower committee becoming active again. He hopes they can work with them on the program. They were looking at forming a 501(c)3 through the city. They would form their own non-profit corporation to do that. They are enthused about the program. It is a big thing to tackle at $300,000 - $400,000, up to a $1,000,000. They will do a phase I and phase II.
Council Member Feuerstein had no comments.
Council Member Scheid stated there was no cleanup done at the Electrolux property at all. They are trying to run away. There has been no response from DEQ. No information was passed on to council. MDEQ let John Heer know he was calling them to get info. If we had a polluted property, they would take what we have to clean it up. There has been no response from Lansing. There was to be reclamation, but it was not done. Regarding the petitions for Jason, he applauds them for their support for him. There are too many things going on that are not right in town, and they should keep working on it. There are things that need to be changed. There was an article – get government out of the way to get businesses in town. There are a lot of things to work on. They need to draw things back together and fill buildings. They need a plan to have people want to come to Belding. They managed to keep the hardware in town. There are new owners at Westside, who will make improvements. BP is doing improvements and is open 24 hours a day. There are things going on, but they must work on a lot more.
Mayor Gunderson stated they are trying to keep in touch with DEQ. It is up to DEQ if the city gets the property. They need to hold them responsible for their end of it.
The Mayor called for Closed Session A – TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION – FMCS CASE # 141114-51133-6 AND REVIEW THE WRITTEN OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL.
Council Member Scheid made a motion to enter closed session at 7:23 p.m., supported by Council Member Lallo.
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
Council Member Scheid made a motion to enter regular session at 8:50 p.m., supported by Council Member Lallo.
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
The Mayor called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member Feuerstein.
Ayes: Council Members Feuerstein, Scheid, Lallo, Jones and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m.
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Ronald Gunderson, Mayor
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Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk