REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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, November 21, 2017.
Mayor Gunderson 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, Bruce Meyers, Mike Scheid, Douglas Feehan and Ronald Gunderson
Members Absent: None
Approval of Agenda
Mayor Gunderson requested the addition of closed session minutes of November 7, 2017 to the Consent Agenda, Item G.
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, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Consent Agenda
- Approve Independent Bank Check 69251 in the amount of $200.00 and Checks 69252 to 69314 in the amount of $146,476.04
Approve Chemical Bank Checks 7142 to 7147 in the amount of $10,097.89
- Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, November 7, 2017
- Temporary Street Closure – Christmas Tree Lighting
- DART bus use – Christmas tree lights competition
- DART bus use – Home for the Holidays
- Authorization to execute Help America vote Act (HAVA) Grant Agreement
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, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson.
Nays: None.
Following are the resolutions contained in the Consent Agenda.
C. Temporary Street Closure – Christmas Tree Lighting
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CITY STREETS AND GRANTING A NOISE CONTROL SUSPENSION FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.
WHEREAS, a request was received to close city streets and the south section of the east mall parking lot for the third annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, December 2, 2017: and
WHEREAS, Bridge Street, from High to Congress Streets will be closed from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and after the parade the closure will be shortened to the area between Depot and Congress Streets from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the south section of the east mall parking lot will be closed from 12 noon until 9 p.m. to allow for the set-up of a stage and live reindeer viewing area; and
WHEREAS, the Belding Code of Ordinances Section 34, 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 the designated city streets and south section of the east mall parking lot may be closed on December 2, 2017 for the third annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Belding Code of Ordinances Section 34, Article IV Noise Control, Section 34-76 and 34-77 is suspended for the event.
D. DART bus use – Christmas tree lights competition
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE USE OF A BELDING DIAL-A-RIDE BUS FOR THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT COMPETITION JUDGING.
WHEREAS, a request was received to use a City of Belding Dial-A-Ride bus for the “Christmas Light Competition”; and
WHEREAS, City of Belding Dial-A-Ride staff will donate their time and expertise to transport judges for the competition.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that a City of Belding Dial-A-Ride bus may be used for the Christmas Light Competition on December 16, 2017.
E. DART bus use – Home for the Holidays
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE USE OF A BELDING DIAL-A-RIDE BUS FOR THE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS EVENT.
WHEREAS, a request was received to use a City of Belding Dial-A-Ride bus for the Home for the Holidays event; and
WHEREAS, the bus would be part of the parade and be used for the “Stuff the Bus” program, to allow community members to bring non-perishable food items or toys to donate locally.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the City of Belding Dial-A-Ride bus may be used for the Home for the Holidays event on December 2, 2017.
F. Authorization to execute Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grant Agreement
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA) GRANT AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BELDING.
WHEREAS, the City of Belding is applying to the State of Michigan to receive Federal HAVA and State-appropriated funded voting systems, which will include optical scan tabulators, accessible voting devices and Election Management System software; and
WHEREAS, the Ionia County Clerk has selected Hart Intercivic, Inc. as the contractor for the County of Ionia; and
WHEREAS, a representative of the City of Belding must have the proper authority to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the City of Belding.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the city clerk is hereby authorized to execute the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grant Agreement on behalf of the City of Belding.
Reports by Council Liaisons
Council Member Meyers stated the Rec Board met on November 13. The city manager updated the board on the grant from the GACF for the basketball courts, which was over $50,000. The project will start in the spring. The deadline for submission of a grant application to the ICCF is December 30. The pickleball courts have been completed. The board was updated on the Home for the Holidays event. They reviewed the Community Recreation Plan and put together a priority list for each park. The next meeting is December 11. He did not attend the Housing Commission meeting on the 16th. The board adopted resolutions for 2018 flat rent, utility allowance, pest control, the disposition policy and succession planning. The capitalization policy was reviewed.
Council Member Scheid had no report.
Council Member Feehan had no report.
Council Member Miller stated the Planning Commission is meeting here next Tuesday.
Mayor Gunderson stated the Candlelight Reception at the library will be held at 7 p.m. next Monday night.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New Business
There was no new business.
Public Comments
Jim Mason, 210 S. Broas, stated the Candlelight Reception by the Friends of the Belding Library will be held on November 27 at 7 p.m. There will be refreshments. There are baskets to auction off. They will have something different from years past. He asked everyone to come and support the beautiful library. The library opened in 1918, and 2018 will be the 100th Anniversary.
Sam Mason, 516 W. May, stated a lot of people showed up for the dedication of the flags. He thanked everyone that came to the event. It is a really big asset for Belding.
City Manager Comments
Interim City Manager Niemela stated he sent out a document from MML about medical marijuana in the packet. It is getting to the date when licenses will be made available by the states. He has had contacts by people who are interested. He has talked to contacts about the regulations that are coming out. He went on the website to see what cities have acted. There were no ordinances. If the city chooses not to participate in that program, city council does not have to do anything. It may be advisable to say that to let people know. He is putting together additional information from LARA on licensing. It is up to council to decide. Randy Kraker would be willing to talk more on it if they should choose.
He distributed the Water System Reliability Study as well as a document that is the next step in the asset management process for the water system. The consultants can come to a meeting in December if council would like them to discuss it.
He distributed the City Manager Agreement for them to look at. It can be considered during a December meeting. He asked council members to contact him with questions.
Council acted on street closures for the Christmas Tree Lighting and Home for the Holidays. The streets may have to be closed earlier than stated, for the tent set up and reindeer.
Council Comments
Council Member Scheid stated council approved the authorization to execute the grant for voting. There is no cost to the city. It is done by each county to have the same contractor. He thanked everyone for coming.
Council Member Feehan thanked Ernie and the crew for their work with the leaves. He appreciates their hard work. He asked everyone to be safe over the holidays.
Council Member Miller stated he did look through the information from MML on medical marijuana. They are going after recreational right now and turned in the signatures yesterday. He doesn’t know how that will affect the medical side.
Interim City Manager Niemela stated council may still want to look at that. Recreational may be much broader.
Council Member Miller stated it might be advantageous to opt in to have more control.
Council Member Meyers thanked everyone for coming. He apologized for missing the meeting. He wished everyone a good holiday.
Mayor Gunderson thanked Ernie for having the lights put up on the poles. It made a difference downtown. He thanked everyone for coming. He asked that they be careful traveling and have a great Thanksgiving.
Adjournment
Council Member Feehan 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 7:21 p.m.
| | Ronald Gunderson, Mayor |
| Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk | |
