REGULAR MINUTES
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
Thursday, January 3, 2019
A meeting of the City Council of the City of
Mayor Miller delivered the invocation.
The Mayor led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk took the roll call:
Members Present: Council Members Mike Scheid, Jorel Davis, Bruce Meyers, and Brad Miller
Members Absent: Council Member Douglas Feehan
Council Member Scheid made a motion to excuse Council Member Feehan from the meeting, per Section 4.5(f) of the City Charter, supported by Council Member Davis.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers and Miller
Nays: None
Approval of Agenda
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, supported by Council Member Davis.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers and Miller
Nays: None
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Consent Agenda
- Approve Independent Bank Checks 71437 to 71448 in the amount of $18,236.15 and Checks 71449 to 71505 in the amount of $125,601.75
- Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, December 18, 2018
Council Member Scheid made a motion to approve the consent agenda, supported by Council Member Davis.
The question on the motion was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers and Miller
Nays: None
Reports by Council Liaisons
Council Member Scheid had no report.
Council Member Davis stated there has not been a ZBA meeting.
Council Member Meyers stated the Housing Commission met on December 20. They heard the director’s report. Among the items discussed was the RAD conversion, fire protocol, the policy on charges, staff reports and payment of bills. During a work session, an update on the RAD finance plan was given.
Council Member Miller stated the Planning Commission met on December 27 to consider two preliminary site reviews for 416 S. Bridge and 1331 W. State. At the former Belding Bible Church, the site review was to put a daycare center into the church. There would be 60 individuals. There must be one parking spot for every four children and one for each employee. They were going to purchase the houses to remodel and flip. They will reach out to John. Bradley Ratliff was considering a conditional rezoning for the front of the property. They have an option for purchase and will work on the back half of the property. For the front half, they will have to pay rent of approximately $4,000 a month, and they want to generate revenue. There were questions around medical marijuana and the Caregiver Act. They will not go after the Caregiver Act, so people will not be there to purchase. They are just working on medical. They went through the site review. There were concerns about fencing or a berm of some type. The Planning Commission will put together the ordinance for medical marijuana and it will come to city council. They will know more after the meeting to be held regarding 416 S. Bridge.
City Manager Niemela stated the owner of 416 S. Bridge was aware that the variances requested were rejected at the ZBA meeting.
Council Member Meyers asked how the ordinance would lay out for 1331 W. State?
City Manager Niemela stated they want to rezone to industrial for the license. Council can set conditions on the ordinance. A conditional rezoning is temporary for a given period of time, until the building is built on the back of the property. That can either elapse in time, or they could establish a set time. Council direction to the Planning Commission was for a grow facility for 500 plants.
Council Member Meyers stated if it comes to temporary, he is not in favor of continuing as a temporary, as the city was burned on things that were to be done and were not.
Mayor Miller stated they need a stipulation of one year or two years. He did research on what the building would become. Initially, they had tossed out ideas as to what they could do with the front part of the property, something like a kayak float shop and support the river, but it may not be that specifically. It would be an investment in the community. They would like to get to the back property as soon as possible.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New Business
- Sale of Ranney Village Condominium property to Miller-Bliss Properties, LLC
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 Meyers.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN AUTHORIZING APPROVAL OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY FROM MILLER-BLISS PROPERTIES LLC.
WHEREAS, the City of Belding wishes to sell the real property, commonly known as Ranney Village Condominiums, to Miller-Bliss Properties LLC, with the exception of the Seller’s Retained Parcel; and
WHERAS, the legal descriptions for the property to be sold to Miller-Bliss Properties LLC, as well as the Seller’s Retained Parcel, are included as Exhibit A in the Offer to Purchase Real Property; and
WHEREAS, the conditions of the agreement between the City of Belding and Miller-Bliss Properties LLC for the sale of the property are fully contained in the Offer to Purchase Real Property.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that approval of the Offer to Purchase Real Property is hereby granted;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Belding, Michigan,
are hereby authorized to sign the Offer to Purchase Real Property, as well as any other required documents regarding the sale of the property, on behalf of the City of Belding.
The question on the resolution was called and the result of the voting is as follows:
Ayes: Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers and Miller
Nays: None
Public Comments
Sharon Carlson, Director of the Housing Commission, stated she is the chair for the Ionia County Substance Abuse Advisory Board. The board has been in existence for 10 years and consists of seven members, one from each district. There has been concern regarding having no programs within the school systems for drugs for children. Ionia County works with the Michigan State Health Network, and education and preventive services are provided. There are programs in the 5th grade classes in Belding. It is a very good curriculum. There are also programs in Saranac and Portland. Questions in the future could be directed to their director, who would give a lot of information. They have prevention services.
City Manager Comments
City Manager Niemela stated there was no new information from the folks on the Breimayer lot. He met with a developer last month and they discussed parking and utilities. The developer was going to talk to his clients.
He met with a group, a part of Brentwood, and they want to do improvements and put an additional six barrier free units on the property. They want to apply for tax credits. Council would have to allow a PILOT program. The Housing Commission and Crosswinds are on a PILOT program now. They wanted a submission by November 1, but decided to pull back the application until April, and they have worked on a timeline. They need at least one variance to deal with parking. In order to meet the setbacks, they would have to move the new building back and they would lose parking spaces. He asked them to do a parking study. They have the required number of parking spaces. They have done the study. They have 80 spaces and 29 was the maximum number at any time. They will go to the Planning Commission for a site plan review for the new building. They worked backwards on a timeline and would like it done through the month of February. They will get it together next week to move it forward.
Council Comments
Council Member Davis had no comment.
Council Member Meyers thanked everyone for coming. When Sharon talked, he knows she gives back to other things. All the boards give back, with time being spent, and others give back without a lot of fanfare for the meetings and things they do. Maybe they can look at bringing the boards in to the council meeting and give them some recognition. It would be a way for the city to say thank you for their efforts year after year. They do a lot of diligent work. It is also for public works, fire, police and city staff. It is important to take a single moment to recognize their efforts and the work they do.
Council Member Scheid wished everyone a Happy New Year.
Mayor Miller stated he would echo what Bruce said. It is interesting to sit here and find things out. Regarding the drug programs, it is good to hear that. There is a different format, but the bases are covered. Things they think are forgotten are done. He agrees with the recognition point. Public Works did a float for the parade. They should give that recognition to boards and staff. He thanked everyone for coming.
Adjournment
Council Member Scheid moved to adjourn the meeting, supported by Council Member
Meyers.
Ayes: Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers and Miller
Nays: None
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m.
| | Brad Miller, Mayor |
| Kareen J. Thomas, City Clerk | |
