Approval of Agenda

Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, 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, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson

            Nays:               None

Public Comments

There was no public comment.

Consent Agenda

Reports by Council Liaisons

Council Member Meyers stated the Housing Commission met on the 19^th.  The RAD Conversion applications are being reviewed.  The process could take 12-18 months to get the applications through.  They discussed the fair market rents for 2018, which will have a slight increase.  The community room rental policy was discussed.  There were reports on succession planning.  The Rec Board meets Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Council Member Miller stated the Planning Commission met on October 24.  They approved setting public hearings for sidewalk exceptions.  At the prior meeting they approved the new application form.  They took a step back on the Major Street Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map.  They will look at everything again and get more info for the next meeting. 

Mayor Gunderson stated at Library Board the bills were paid, the staff is starting to gel together and things are working out really well.   

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

New Business

There was no new business.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

City Manager Comments

Interim City Manager Niemela stated he connected with Randy Kraker to follow up on the acquisition of the Ranney Village property.  He believes it will close on November 16.   

He attended a meeting on Friday with The Right Place, MEDC, and an industry to look at expansion on site.  They went through the opportunities available to them.  Additional funding and training may be available.  They talked about making sure they had capacity for fire protection and a potable system.  They may be able to tie in with their expansion.  It could be advantageous for the city to extend the water line, as it would improve their water flow and provide that loop in the system.  They are looking at possibilities.

The plans and specifications were received from the engineer for the Front St. garage.  Council authorized going out to bid.  They may come to the first meeting in December to select a contractor.

He did attend a GVMC meeting.  He will fill the vacancy from Bruce.  He talked to the executive director about the opportunity to utilize their equipment for the Paser ratings for the roads.  They will put the city on the schedule for spring.  It will not take long and they will have detail of the whole road system.  They will get a lot of useful data for getting the CIP and Asset Management for roads in place.  There will be a cost, but because the city is a member, they will take that into consideration.  He believes they do it by the mile.  He would like to do the entire system.

Council Comments

Council Member Scheid thanked everyone for coming and wished them a good evening. 

Council Member Feehan reminded everyone of the dedication at the memorial site on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Council Member Miller thanked city staff for the Halloween event.  It went over very well.  The number of trick or treaters was good this year.  He thanked everyone for attending.

Council Member Meyers thanked everyone for coming.

Mayor Gunderson thanked everyone for coming. 

Closed Session

1. Interim City Manager Performance Evaluation

Council Member Scheid made a motion to enter into closed session for the purpose of holding the Interim City Manager Performance Evaluation at 7:15 p.m., supported by Council Member Feehan.

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

Nays:               None

Council Member Scheid made a motion to go back to regular session at 7:50 p.m., supported by Council Member Feehan.

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

Nays:               None

Representative Thomas Albert thanked them for their time.  His goal was to come to each local unit twice a year with an update.  Last week there was a vote on no fault reform.  There are big implications state wide.  He voted yes.  It failed in the House.  Michigan has the most expensive auto insurance and benefit in the nation.  In the City of Detroit, it is too expensive.  20-50% of drivers don’t buy insurance.  The Veteran’s Compensation bill passed 180-0.  When the state hires veterans, they use their military experience to compensate.  Have the state set the example. In the Education Committee, there was a bill that would address college student loans in Michigan.  There is a 1.4 trillion dollar debt nationally.  Individuals have an average of $30,000 of college debt.  They want to model it after another state.  If they are using federal loans, the college must disclose information by counseling on debt, etc.  There is data to show there will be a drop in student loans.  Regarding the pension fund, they have worked on the public school employee pensions and are working on local employer pensions.  They do not have a one size solution that fits all.  They have to look at what they can do.  There are unfunded pensions.  They want to identify who is at risk and get on a path to solvency.  He will be holding office hours at 9 a.m. on November 27, 2017 at Third Wave Coffee.  He wants to listen. 

Council Member Meyers asked why auto reform didn’t pass?

Representative Albert stated there are a lot of powerful interests.  Health providers make a lot of money off this and insurance companies make a lot, too.  It is not a partisan issue, because both are fragmented.  It is a very complicated issue.  There is a massive amount of fraud. 

Council Member Meyers asked who would be the next governor?

Representative Albert stated a lot will be determined today. 

Mayor Gunderson asked if he could summarize regarding the teachers and 3% mandate?

Representative Albert stated they are meeting at the Supreme Court this week.  It was a Granholm initiative.  Pensions were very underfunded, and they wanted to increase employee contributions up to 3%.  They fought it.  They said it was unfair.  It has been in the courts.  The money is sitting in escrow and would go back to the employees. 

Mayor Gunderson stated in the closed session they did an evaluation.  John is the interim city manager and council must fill the position by the Charter in x amount of days.  He is interested in being the full time city manager and they had discussion.  No decisions were made in closed session.

Council Member Scheid made a motion to enter contract negotiations with John Niemela to make him the full time city manager, supported by Council Member Feehan.

Mayor Gunderson stated he will negotiate, with Kareen and Randy Kraker.

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

            Nays:               None

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 8:05 p.m.