REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
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, August 16, 2016.
Council Member Scheid delivered the invocation.
The Mayor led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk took the roll call:
Members Present: Council Members Brad Miller, Mike Scheid, Tom Jones, Douglas Feehan and Ronald Gunderson
Members Absent: None
Approval of Agenda
Mayor Gunderson asked to add Resolution No. 2016-08-51 to the Business Agenda, Item
B.
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the agenda, as amended, supported by Council Member Feehan.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Scheid, Jones, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
Dennis Craycraft – Veteran’s Wall
Mr. Craycraft wished to congratulate Brad and Doug on being on city council and improving the community. He is happy with what is happening with the Vietnam Wall. They placed a monument today. They got good coverage from the media. A lot of Vietnam Veterans came into play today and they talked about what they did in Vietnam. He would like to hold the dedication on Friday at 5 p.m. on Labor Day weekend. There will be a lot of people there. He will leave the monument uncovered until Sunday and then cover it until the dedication. The committee has been working on fundraising. $21,000 is paid for out there. By Veteran’s Day, there will be 40” pillars for those killed from Belding and Greenville. The slant on the pillar will have their face and their story will be on the column. They are getting personal and business donations for the pillars. They will have some done by Veteran’s Day. The goal is to have all the names on the wall in black granite by Memorial Day next year. There will be a $40,000 cost for those two wings. It is a heavy task to raise the money. A company from Idaho is looking at this, and may pick up $80,000. There will be spotlights on the wall. When it is done, it will be amazing. On the back of wall will be the ladies monument. There will be a mural on the back side. The journey to where they are today has been tremendous and he is very proud of it. He stated he wanted to ask the city council for a camera. In another city, the Veteran’s Memorial was vandalized. Positively Michigan will do a program on the memorial. He travels to spread the word on the wall.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Consent Agenda
- Approve Independent Bank Checks 66674 to 66683 in the amount of $165,732.11
Approve Chemical Bank Checks 6930 to 6935 in the amount of $584,429.59
- Approve Minutes: Regular schedule meeting, August 2, 2016
- Temporary Street Closure – W. Mary Street
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the consent agenda, supported by Council Member Feehan.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Scheid, Feehan, Jones and Gunderson
Nays: None
Following are the resolutions contained in the Consent Agenda.
C. Temporary Street Closure – W. Mary Street
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE REQUEST TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE W. MARY STREET, BETWEEN BRIDGE AND PLEASANT STREETS, FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY, AND TO SUSPEND THE NOISE ORDINANCE FOR THE EVENT.
WHEREAS, a request was received from Cindy Huddleston, 719 S. Bridge Street, to temporarily close W. Mary Street, between Bridge and Pleasant Streets, for a neighborhood block party on Saturday, September 3, 2016 between noon and 11 p.m. and
WHEREAS, the closure will provide a safe area for the residents to enjoy the neighborhood event; and
WHEREAS, Belding Code of Ordinances, Section 24, Article IV Noise Control, Section 34-76 and 34-77 will be suspended for the event.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding,
Michigan that W. Mary Street, between Bridge and Pleasant Streets, be closed on September 3, 2016 from noon to 11 p.m. for a neighborhood block party, and Belding Code of Ordinances, Section 24, Article IV Noise Control, Section 34-76 and 34-77 be suspended for the event.
Reports by Council Liaisons
Council Member Jones stated the Planning Commission meeting is August 23 at 6:30 at the depot.
Council Member Feehan stated there is a Labor Day meeting tomorrow, and museum next week.
Council Member Miller stated there is a Historic District meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. at city hall.
Council Member Scheid stated the Housing Commission meets Thursday night, but he will be out of town.
Mayor Gunderson stated he had no meetings.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New Business
A. Approval of the purchase of a John Deere mower/snow blower
The City Clerk read the preamble to the resolution.
Council Member Jones moved the passage of the resolution and the motion was supported by Council Member Scheid.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN
AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A JOHN DEERE 1575 TERRAINCUT WITH COMFORTCAB COMMERCIAL FRONT MOWER FROM BADER & SONS CO.
WHEREAS, the City of Belding wishes to purchase a commercial mower; and
WHEREAS, Bader & Sons Co. participates in MiDEAL, the State of Michigan Purchasing Program; and
WHEREAS, funds in the amount of $32,919.00 have been allocated in the FY 2016/17 budget for the purchase.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that a John Deere 1575 TerrainCut with ComfortCab Commercial Front Mower be purchased from Bader and Sons Co. through MiDEAL, the State of Michigan Purchase Program, in the amount of $32,919.00
The question on the resolution was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Scheid, Jones, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
B. Modification of language – Resolution No 2096-08-51
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN
APPROVING CHARTER AMENDMENT NO. 1 AND THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR CHARTER AMENDMENT NO. 1
WHEREAS, Section 21(1) of the Home Rule City Act (HRCA), MCL 117.21 (1), authorizes a city council to adopt a resolution proposing to amend the city charter by a three-fifths vote of its members-elect, and the resolution proposing to amend the city charter must set forth the exact wording of the proposed amendment to be submitted to the city voters for approval at a regular or special election:
Now, Therefore City Council of the City of Belding resolves that:
CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL NO. 1
1. The Belding City Charter shall be amended as follows:
Section 4.4(f) Each member of a City Board or Commission created by, or pursuant to, this Charter shall have been a resident of the City for at least one year immediately prior to the day of his appointment and shall be a qualified and registered elector of the City on such day and throughout his tenure of office, except that a minority of the members of the Library Board, Museum Advisory Board and Recreation Advisory Board may be non-residents of the City.
2. The current charter section(s) being altered by this amendment provides as follows:
Section 4.4(f) Each Supervisor and each member of a City Board or Commission created by, or pursuant to, this Charter shall have been a resident of the City for at least one year immediately prior to the day of his appointment and shall be a qualified and registered elector of the City on such day and throughout his tenure of office.
3. The ballot language for the proposed amendment shall be as follows:
CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL NO. 1
Section 4.4(f) Each member of a City Board or Commission created by, or pursuant to, this Charter shall have been a resident of the City for at least one year immediately prior to the day of his appointment and shall be a qualified and registered elector of the City on such day and throughout his tenure of office, except that a minority of the members of the Library Board, Museum Advisory Board and Recreation Advisory Board may be non-residents of the City.
This amendment allows non-residents to serve on some City Boards and Commissions.
Shall this amendment be adopted?
Yes _______ No _______
4. The City Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan for approval of the proposed amendment and transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Attorney General of the State of Michigan for approval of the proposed ballot language for the proposed amendment.
5. The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Belding at the general election to be held in the City on November 8, 2016, and the City Clerk is directed to give notice of the election and notice of registration in a manner prescribed by law and to do all things and to provide all supplies necessary to submit the Charter amendment to a vote of the electors as required by law.
6. The proposed charter amendment shall be published in full, together with the existing charter provision amended as required by law.
The last two sentences in the ballot language were modified as follows, to reduce the proposed amendment language to 100 words, as required by the Attorney General office:
Original: This amendment will allow non-residents to serve on some City Boards and Commissions.
Shall the amendments as proposed be adopted?
Revised: This amendment allows non-residents to serve on some City Boards and Commissions.
Shall this amendment be adopted?
Council Member Jones made a motion to ratify and confirm the modified proposed amendment language, supported by Council Member Miller.
The question on the resolution was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Scheid, Jones, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
Public Comments
Monica Tissue Daws, 322 N. Lincoln, Stanton, stated she is a candidate for the 8th Circuit Judge position for Montcalm and Ionia counties. She has practiced as an attorney for 20 years, civil and criminal. She has served six years as Stanton mayor and nine years on the council. She stated she appreciates all their service. She is married to Dan and they live in Stanton.
Dave Hodges, stated today’s meeting was the committee of the whole, and they heard reports from department heads. The 2017 budget is $9.2M. There will be four or five budget meetings in the next month. There will be a facility meeting next Wednesday to see if they will move forward with the courthouse addition. They got the numbers to take the Friend of the Court and jail down. He gave committee updates. He stated maybe the township and city could get together on recycling. He talked about the MSU 4-H program. Membership was down to 353 members in 2015/16. This year there are 509 members, and they hope to grow the program. The finances for the county are healthy now. With the proceeds of a will the Animal Shelter bought a Dodge van. From a grant, they fenced in a 100x100 area behind the shelter so the dogs can move around more. Farm Bureau will be holding their annual meeting at the Shadow Ridge Golf Course.
City Manager Comments
City Manager Brown had no comments.
Council Comments
Council Member Miller stated it is admiral what Denny is working on. It is an absolutely gorgeous monument, with support from the Belding community. City staff did a great job with Gus Macker. He will look forward to seeing the new John Deere. It was a great evening.
Council Member Scheid had no comments.
Council Member Jones stated he made a comment last night during the discussion of residents and the charter amendment. The ZBA, by State Statute, has to be all city residents. He apologized for the confusion. He thanked Ernie and crew and Scott and Macker for the great weekend. He thanked Ernie and Kareen for their work at Music in the Park. Everyone really enjoys it. He thanked the businesses who donate money to support it. Doug has been busy with Labor Day.
Council Member Feehan thanked Ernie and the crew for the cleanup over Macker weekend. He thanked the Macker workers, too.
Mayor Gunderson stated Don Eady has retired with 37 years with the Fire Department. He congratulated him. He will be missed. He thanked everyone for coming tonight. Enjoy the nice weather. He thanked council for their patience and attending meetings at the last minute.
Adjournment
Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member
Miller.
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Scheid, Jones, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
| | Ronald Gunderson, Mayor |
| Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk | |
