REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Tuesday, October 3, 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, October 3, 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
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 were no public comments.
Consent Agenda
- Approve Independent Bank Checks 68979 to 69027 in the amount of $199,345.51
Approve Chemical Bank Checks 7121 to 7128 in the amount of $83,514.97
- Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, September 19, 2017
- Approve Minutes: Special meeting, September 27, 2017
- Appointment to Downtown Development Authority – John Niemela
- Appointment as Street Administrator – John Niemela
- Temporary Street Closure – Belding Beatnik Bazaar/Farmer’s Market
- Temporary Street Closure – Belding Band Invitational
- Approval of Belding Museum Board By-Law amendments
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.
D. Appointment to Downtown Development Authority – John Niemela
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN
APPOINTING JOHN NIEMELA TO THE DDA BOARD.
WHEREAS, a vacancy exists on the Downtown Development Authority due to the resignation of Bruce Brown; and
WHEREAS, Downtown Development Authority Act 197 of 1975 states the Chief Executive Officer, being the mayor or city manager, will serve on the board;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that Interim City Manager John Niemela be appointed to the DDA with a term of office to expire on June 30, 2021.
E. Appointment as Street Administrator – John Niemela
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN DESIGNATING JOHN NIEMELA AS STREET ADMINISTRATOR.
WHEREAS, Section 13(9) of Act 51, Public Acts of 1951 provided that each incorporated city and village to which funds are returned under the provisions of this section, that, "the responsibility for street improvements, maintenance, and traffic operations work, and the development, construction, or repair of off-street parking facilities and construction or repair of street lighting shall be coordinated by a single administrator to be designated by the governing body who shall be responsible for and shall represent the municipality in transactions with the State Transportation Department pursuant to this act."
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan
that John Niemela be designated as the single Street Administrator for the City of Belding, Michigan, in all transactions with the State Transportation Department as provided in Section 13 of the Act.
F. Temporary Street Closure – Belding Beatnik Bazaar/Farmer’s Market
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN SUPPORTING THE REQUEST TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE A PORTION OF WEST CONGRESS STREET AND THE PARKING LOT WEST OF CITY HALL FOR THE BELDING BEATNIK BAZAAR/FARMER’S MARKET.
WHEREAS, Jenny Bennett of the Belding Beatnik Bazaar/Farmers Market has requested the temporary closure of West Congress Street, from Bridge Street to Pleasant Street to create a pedestrian safety zone, and the parking lot west of city hall as an additional display area for farm tractors and implements, on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan supports the temporary closure of West Congress Street and the parking lot west of city hall on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
G. Temporary Street Closure – Belding Band Invitational
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HALL STREET AND SUSPENSION OF THE BELDING CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 34, ARTICLE IV – NOISE CONTROL, SECTIONS 34-76 AND 34-77 FOR THE BELDING BAND INVITATIONAL.
WHEREAS, the Belding High School is sponsoring the Belding Band Invitational at Rudness Field on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, a request was received for the police to temporarily close Hall Street to move the bands from the staging areas at the high school campus and middle school campus to Rudness Field; and
WHEREAS, a request was received to temporarily suspend Belding Code of Ordinances Section 34, Article IV – Noise Control, Sections 34-76 and 34-77 for the event.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding,
Michigan that the police are authorized to temporarily close Hall Street to move the bands, and that the Belding Code of Ordinances for noise control be temporarily suspended for the Belding High School Band Competition on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
H. Approval of Belding Museum Board By-Law Amendments
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN
APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE BELDING MUSEUM ADVISORY BOARD BY-LAWS.
WHEREAS, the Belding Museum Advisory Board has reviewed the by-laws and wishes to make the following amendments to the document:
1. The name of the Belding Museum Advisory Board will be consistent throughout the document.
2. Include the voter approved amendment to allow a minority of the Belding Museum Advisory Board members to be non-residents of the City.
3. To confirm that the Belding Museum Advisory Board is a nonprofit entity under the auspicies of the City of Belding and will remain as such in perpetuity; and,
WHEREAS, legal counsel has reviewed the amendments to the by-laws and recommends approval by the city council.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the amendments to the Belding Museum Advisory Board By-Laws are hereby approved.
Reports by Council Liaisons
Council Member Feehan stated the Museum Board is planning the cemetery walk to be held on October 29 at 1 p.m. A program on the Edmund Fitzgerald will be held on November 7 at 7 p.m. More information will be available on the museum website.
Council Member Miller stated the Historic District Commission and Planning Commission have not met.
Council Member Meyers stated the Housing Commission met on September 26. The RAD applications were reviewed and approved. The applications were submitted to HUD yesterday and they have received a confirmation that review will take place. They are working on succession planning and staff evaluations. They went over the items on the agenda and they want to make sure they explain it well to tenants and attendees. He stated if anyone has questions, reach out to Director Carlson, as they are willing to go over any issues or questions people may have. The Rec Board did not meet.
Council Member Scheid had no report.
Mayor Gunderson stated the Library Board paid bills and the new employees are settling in well.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New Business
A. Approval of preparation of bid specs and solicitation of bids for the police garage roof replacement at 621 Front Street
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.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION OF BID SPECS AND THE SOLICITATION OF BIDS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOF ON THE POLICE GARAGE AT 621 FRONT STREET.
WHEREAS, the police garage at 621 Front Street sustained roof damage and is in need of replacement; and
WHEREAS, city staff would recommend that bid specs be prepared and bids be solicited for replacement of the roof.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding,
Michigan that authorization is hereby granted to have bid specs prepared and bids requested for the replacement of the roof on the police garage at 621 Front Street.
The question on the resolution was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Miller, Meyers, Scheid, Feehan and Gunderson
Nays: None
- Approval of purchase of Ranney Village property, excluding existing structures
Council Member Scheid made a motion to bring the item to the floor, supported by Council Member Feehan.
City Manager Niemela stated the city has been involved with discussion for some time on the lack of progress on Ranney Village. They have communicated with Lehman Brothers who have the title. They expressed interest in allowing the city to acquire the property. That division disbanded as they reorganize from bankruptcy. Council met last week in a special meeting on the details of the process. The city would acquire all the property in the Ranney Village Condominiums except for the three units already set up. There is also a ten acre parcel north of there that would be a part of the acquisition. The cost would be $1.00 to acquire the property. The city would pick up the outstanding mortgage that Lehman Brothers held. It would keep the property clear. The mortgage is uncollectable. The city did a Phase I Environmental Assessment and it was clear. They would like to see it moved as soon as possible but the city will move at its own pace. There are outstanding property taxes of $124,000. Anyone that would buy the property would have to pay the taxes. The intention is not to hold the property that long. The city wants to find a developer to pick it up. Some said they would redo the rest of the property into single family houses. The property would be replatted to individual parcels. The first layer of the road is in, curb and gutter is in place, and there would be water line adjustments because it was built for condominium buildings. It could be reconfigured. They had a light conversation with a developer to get ideas. The city may pursue them further to come up with a development plan, or someone else. The property would be available to acquire. They would like the parcel back on the tax rolls. He talked with the president of the condo association and a condo property owner. They talked about what could be done with the condo parcel. They think it could be redone as just the condo association. They have had the burden of maintaining the road. In this acquisition, they would work it out with the condo association to exclude the road. It would be a city road if they meet the standards and then the city would maintain it.
Council Member Miller stated they had some discussion about 54 lots, and going to 40 lots.
Interim City Manager Niemela stated they could have 42 more lots in there, with about 100 ft. of frontage, or a little more.
Council Member Meyers stated the 54 lots are in the one section, and does not include the other 10 acres.
Mayor Gunderson stated council has had two closed session meetings. This goes back to Bruce Brown, who was working on it. It has been vetted through the attorney. The city would not do anything to the property, but are just taking it to get some revenue coming back to the city when it is sold and developed. John followed up with it to continue moving.
Council Member Feehan made a motion to approve the acquisition of the Ranney Village Condominiums property, excluding the existing structures, supported by Council Member Scheid.
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.
City Manager Comments
Interim City Manager Niemela stated he met with an engineer from Fleis & VandenBrink and they are in the final stages of the SAW Grant. The last date for activity is the end of this month. It is down to acquiring GPS equipment to make the data collected useful for the city. They would like to come to the next council meeting with a brief summary. There will be some equipment training. He is going to Marquette on Thursday for a Transportation Asset Management Council conference. He was actively involved in asset management for roads in his previous position. He is now working on asset management on roads. That will get him back up to speed. They will be able to look at the system to see where there are deficiencies and give the city a program for improvements. The PASER rating system is used to assess the roads, with a scale from 1 to 10. It will be done electronically and will determine fixes and costs. It is a valuable tool. The data is there and will be updated. He hopes to have it up and running. The information is very valuable for assessment.
Council Comments
Council Member Meyers had no comments.
Council Member Scheid thanked everyone for coming.
Council Member Feehan thanked Jenny for the bazaar. It is always a bit bigger. He hopes she runs out of space, and thanked her for the hard work.
Council Member Miller thanked John for picking up the ball and running with it. He thanked Ron in the interim, as it takes a lot of time and hard work. It is great to move forward. There is the opportunity to have additional housing for the tax base with the additional property.
Mayor Gunderson thanked everyone for coming and John for transitioning into the position. He thanked Dale for the report.
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 7:33 p.m.
| | Ronald Gunderson, Mayor |
| Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk | |
