Approval of Agenda

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, Scheid and Feehan

            Nays:               None

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Guest – Phyllis Jenkins, Museum Board Annual Report

Phyllis Jenkins read the annual report.  Council members thanked her for the report.

Consent Agenda

Reports by Council Liaisons

Council Member Miller stated the Planning Commission approved the sidewalk exemption hearing for Sarah Rhodes.  They are working on the zoning ordinance.  There was additional discussion on working on it and the brevity of the revised ordinance.  They are looking at how zoning ordinances are set up and they wanted to go back and look at the way it is written.  Do they need more explanation or the brevity?  John attended a meeting in Kalamazoo.  They shared their ordinances with other communities, and they said the city may not have enough included.  The city may need more diagrams, descriptions and charts.  They hope to come to a conclusion.  They are comparing the amended against the original version.  Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Ratliff were present to talk about the medical marijuana law.  There was more discussion.  They stated their point of being interested in a grow facility of 500 plants, to keep the conversation going.  There was no commitment made.  It is up to city council to opt in or do nothing.  Chairman Sam Mason announced his resignation.  He thanked him for his support on the Planning Commission. He made an impact and did a good job.  He thanked him for all he has done. 

Council Member Meyers stated he had no meetings.  The Rec Board will meet on March 12.  The Housing Commission will meet on March 15.

Council Member Feehan stated the Labor Day Committee is getting things organized.  They are trying to get stage people.  The Museum Board is getting ready for spring and will be having some painting done.  Phyllis covered everything in the annual report and did a nice job. 

Mayor Protem Scheid stated he had nothing. 

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

New Business

There was no new business.

Public Comments

Shelly Cooper, 115 E. Ann St., stated the sidewalk was replaced at 121 E. Ann.  The city replaced it in the last 15 years.  She had spoken with Bruce Brown.  The sidewalk has completely deteriorated, the whole block.  Bruce said he looked at it and thought the city had some liability.  It was a city contractor that poured the sidewalk.  She had spoken with John, who brought it to council.  They took it to insurance and they rejected it.  There is a lot of gravel in places.  It gets worse with freezes and thaws.  The other two homeowners can’t afford to replace the sidewalk.  Was it poor workmanship, incorrect mixing of cement, too cold, not trowled properly?  She gave John the bill, which was $2,700 for that section.  It is an awful burden to put on the homeowners. It was all done with the same pour with the same contractor.  She would appreciate it if they take into consideration reimbursement, and repair of the rest of the sidewalk.  They say they want a linkable pathway, and this is a disservice to the community.

City Manager Comments

City Manager Niemela stated he attended a meeting in Mt. Pleasant about pavement preservation, He would recommend making it a part of the process, as with the asset plans for the storm, sanitary and water systems.  They should look at the rate structure for water and see what it is capable of supporting.  They have not done that to the detail that was done for sewer.  They should look at the asset management plan for the water system and determine if it can be supported by the revenue stream.  What would it be for a 5-year capital improvement plan?  They will confirm the rate needed to him.  Can the rate adjustments support the 5 year plan?  One option could be to make do with what they have.  Yesterday, they looked at the road system.  They haven’t done the analysis.  It will be documented like water and sewer.  The program was about pavement preservation.  There are certain treatments other than replacing pavement.  They gave a variety of options.  Those investments might extend the life and slow down deterioration.

At the Grand Valley Metro Council, he talked to the transportation folks.  They use a van to do sensing of the road.  He talked to them about doing it here.  He wanted to get on the list and make sure what it would cost to do that.  He talked to the city engineers about a cost to do a similar assessment.  They would come in and do readings and photos of the roads, and put it into a couple of programs for road analysis.  It is the same kind of program for roads, as it was for water and sewer.  The GVMC gave an estimate of $1,000.  Under the asset managements and state law, the city should have been reporting.  He was involved in the creation of the program.  They should rate the roads in the entire road systems.  They must have data to make right decisions.  They can overlay the road system on the program with the water and sewer systems. 

Next week he will be attending the second session of Redevelopment Ready Communities. 

Council Comments

Council Member Meyers stated when John brought up the sidewalk issue, he voiced his opinion. The issue is a city wide issue, not just the deterioration of a specific sidewalk.  Some have no sidewalks.  If they want a walkable city, they need sidewalks and a plan.  That is the responsibility of the council and city manager to come up with the plan and costs.  If they want that, work toward that.  He is very passionate about that.  He understands their situation.

Council Member Feehan asked that the city manager still look into it and see if the city can do anything on the Ann St. situation.

Council Member Miller commended the effort of using the software of the SAW Grant to overlap roads.  They should maintain those records and coordinate the improvements.  The roads are not just an issue here.  Anywhere in Michigan you hear how bad the roads are.  It is good to come up with alternatives.  As a general comment about sidewalks, when they talk about putting them in city wide, they must determine where the funding is coming from.  When they are done with the budget process, there is only so much money.  It is pretty tight now.  Where would they cut?  There are fewer and fewer grants.  How do they balance the whole thing?  There is only so much money in the budget to do a lot with.    

Mayor Protem Scheid thanked everyone for coming tonight.  On the sidewalk issue, that particular stretch is a city problem.  John will try to figure out something.  There is no promise tonight.  Certain areas of the city should have sidewalks.  Some do not need sidewalks.  A few years ago they repaired sidewalk.  It was not a complete replacement.  The sidewalk has been there for sixty years at his home.  He had to replace a few sections.  The taxes are high, but not as high as some areas.  They weigh what they spend money on.  Repairs need to be handled first, with roads, then decide how to gather money for sidewalks and improvements.  They can’t put it all on the homeowners, as they pay the bills.

City Manager Niemela stated the legislature passed a bill on transportation funding for $160M actually, with $15M on other vehicles.  It is being distributed on the same formula as transportation.  The city will receive $48,000, $36,000 for major streets and $12,000 for local streets. 

Adjournment

Council Member Feehan moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member Meyers.

Ayes:               Council Members Miller, Meyers, Scheid and Feehan

            Nays:               None

The Mayor Protem adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m.