Approval of Agenda

Mayor Gunderson requested to add the resignation of Shelley Gladding from the Planning Commission to Consent Agenda, Item D.

Council Member Feehan made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, supported by Council Member Miller.

The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:

            Ayes:               Council Members Miller, Meyers, Feehan and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

Guest

1. Jim Loser, ISD Special Ed Millage Restoration – August 8, 2017 Election

Mr. Loser stated he is the Assistant Superintendent for special education.  The ISD provides special education services for the entire county, including occupational therapy, physical therapy speech therapy, psychology, social work, visual and hearing impairment.  Freedom Acres School services all local districts.  They offer special education services for those ages 0 – 26 and transition programs for ages 18 – 26.  The special ed millage has been 4.75 mills since 2003. It is now down to 4.3 mills due to the Headley override and inflation.  They would like to increase it back to the 4.75 mills.  For the average homeowner with a home valued at $110,000, the increase would be $1.89 per month.  An increase of $715,000 would be realized.  There are a lot of regulations within special education that are different from general education, such as class size.  The general education fund has to pay for special education services, as it does not have enough funding on its own at this point.   The last date to register for the August 8, 2017 Special Election is July 10, 2017

Council Member Scheid arrived at 7:08 p.m.

2. Doug Whiting – Pickleball Courts

Doug Whiting stated he has been working with Mark Kohn on this and they are avid pickleball players. It is the most growing sport in the world.  He plays six days a week.  He plays with people 75-80 years old.  You can put six pickleball courts where they could place two tennis courts.  They have private donations to fund this.  They need a location.  Originally they looked at the Central Riverside tennis courts, but the ground would not support that more than a couple of years.  They talked about the south end of the parking lot at Demorest, behind the men’s softball diamond.  There would be two courts, 60’ x 70’ asphalt, with a 10 ft. fence around it with painting and nets. It was suggested after the meeting with the Rec Board that instead of the original location, they could take the south end of the parking lot and put courts in there. The ground is considerably more stable.  All the contractor would have to do is pull the asphalt out, and it would not need another base.  The other area tends to be a little wet.  From a funding standpoint, they would like to consider the parking lot area, as it would be more stable there.  If not, they could go behind and that would be fine with them, too.  Mark got permission from the school and played indoors on Sundays.  They had 12-18 people by word of mouth.  He and Mark have taken classes and they could possibly do a Beginner 101 to teach the basics.  They are members of the USA Pickleball Association.  They have grants for paddles and balls.  That would get them started if they can get it built.    

Council Member Feehan inquired about maintenance inside the court.

Mr. Whiting stated they would sweep periodically and take the nets up and down, they would take care of that.  They may have a club down the road.  They may collect money to repaint, nets, etc., to have a slush fund to take care of maintenance issues when the time came.

Mayor Gunderson asked if that area had been approved for the dog park?

City Manager Brown stated they had looked at it as a proposed site.

Council Member Meyers asked how far to the north would it take it in the parking lot?

Mr. Whiting stated it would be 60 feet, with the courts aligned north to south so they are not looking into the sun. 

Council Member Meyers stated there are only five parking spaces on each side up to the tree.  It may affect 12-14 parking spots. 

Mayor Gunderson stated he would like to see the minutes and talk to the Rec Board.  He would hate to take spaces away as sometimes it fills up.  The other area does get wet in the spring. 

City Manager Brown stated there is about 130 feet from east to west on the parking area. 

Council Member Miller asked if two courts would be enough?

Mr. Whiting stated it is a start.  He doesn’t forsee them being big enough for tournaments.  Maybe eventually they would put in two courts. 

Mayor Gunderson asked if there was a playing season?

Mr. Whiting stated there is no set time.  They play until it is too cold to get on the courts, and sometimes in months prior to spring, depending on weather conditions.  He felt the courts would last longer in the parking area, than if they were put in the grass.  They would save some money, and if there was more longevity, they would prefer that. 

Public Comments

Mike Hamp, 628 Morton, Chairman of the Rec Board, stated he was not able to make the meeting. The board did pass a recommendation to use the grass.  Council could move forward.  If it is to be moved to the parking lot, it should come back to the Rec Board again.  He talked to Little League and Softball and they are concerned about the loss of parking spaces.  With getting softball up and running, he would hate to lose parking spaces.  Sharon Carlson, Vice-Chair, was there to verify this.  He would hate to have it put off any longer. 

Bob Brown, 747 Jay Street, stated the parking lot is full one time a year on opening day.  Little League will be done in another week.  It should not be a problem.  Little League only runs a month and a half in Belding. 

Consent Agenda

Reports by Council Liaisons

Council Member Feehan had no report.

Council Member Miller stated Shelley Gladding announced her resignation from the Planning Commission.  They are looking for another individual.  She did a great job and will be missed.  They discussed the sidewalk exception policy, and tabled it until John Sparks was in attendance.  They went through the MEDC Ready Communities Redevelopment Program and have started to work on those issues.  They are working on the Zoning Ordinance revisions.  The goal is to come to council shortly to present the revisions and to seek approval.  The ordinance is much simpler. 

Council Member Meyers had no report. 

Council Member Scheid stated he was at the Housing Commission meeting but does not have his notes. 

Mayor Gunderson stated at Library Board, the bills were paid and policies were worked on.  The evaluation of the director has been done. 

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

New Business

1. DPW – Purchase of vehicle

The City Clerk read the preamble to the resolution.

Council Member Scheid moved the passage of the resolution and the motion was supported by Council Member Feehan.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

City Manager Comments

City Manager Brown stated he went to Music in the Park, with music provided by the high school. They are good instrumentalists.  It is a worthwhile adventure.  He thanked Ernie and Kareen, who will be working on this every week all summer long.    

He stated they all want the pickleball courts.  It is the beginning of the summer season, and it doesn’t make sense to delay.  The only issue seems to be the site.  He started the conversation with Tom Kohn over a year ago.  He asked if they should have the Rec Board meet to confirm the location in the grass?  He would like to have Ernie coordinate the project on behalf of the city.  The only thing left is to figure out if they are comfortable with the grass area, so they can build it and get it in use.  They should streamline the process.

Mayor Gunderson stated it should go back to the Rec Board.  He doesn’t want to hold it up.  He asked where would they expand – to the north on the grassy area?  Cars park in that area, even though the lot is not full.    

Mr. Hamp stated the Rec Board has a regular meeting next Wednesday. 

Keven Krieger stated Council Member Meyers had expansion concerns.  Doug and Mark did not see it as an issue.  They are not interested in multiple courts to house tournaments.  They wanted it just for our community.

Council Comments

Council Member Miller stated the Vietnam War Memorial was great and there was good attendance.  The Plant Sale was great, as well. 

Council Member Meyers had no comments. 

Council Member Scheid asked if there were alternative spaces except for the ball parks?  If softball takes off that is the busy end of the parking lot.  There is room at the Gathering Space.  It would bring people downtown to look around town and get them to look at things.  They should look at alternative sites.

Council Member Feehan stated he talked to Ernie about the Memorial Bridge and cutting the weeds.  He shared that the county takes care of that.  He asked if Bruce could make a call to the county.  He plans to do that, too. 

Mayor Gunderson thanked Shelley Gladding for the years of service.  He thanked Denny for putting the event on.  He would feel more comfortable if there was a way to make it work at Demorest.  He wants to make sure it is the right place to go.  He had no minutes from the Rec Board. 

Council Member Scheid stated recently there were about 20 people at the Memorial Wall.  It is a real good thing to the city to bring people downtown. 

City Manager Brown stated he had a meeting with the DNR about the riverwalk and overlook.  People took pictures of the wall.  It will attract attention to the downtown. 

Adjournment

Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member Miller.

Ayes:               Council Members Miller, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.