REGULAR MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
7:00 p.m.
A meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened via a virtual meeting in open and public session at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.
Mayor Brad Miller called the meeting to order. The City Clerk, Janae Cooper, took the roll call:
Members present: Jorel Davis, Bruce Meyers, Doug Feehan, Mike Scheid and Brad Miller
Approval of Agenda
Moved by Scheid, supported by Feehan to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes - all.
Consent Agenda
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 74024 to 74093 in the amount of $71,908.98
Approve Independent Bank - File Approval Confirmation
Approve Independent Bank - ACH Transaction Approval Confirmation
B. Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, April 7, 2020
C. Zoning Board of Appeals reappointment & Resolution - John Sparks (4-18-20)
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-04-11
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN REAPPOINTING JOHN SPARKS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 21st day of April, 2020.
PRESENT: Council Members Mike Sched, Jore!Davis, Bruce Meyers, Douglas Feehan and Bruce Miller
ABSENT: None
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Council Member Sheid and seconded by Council Member Feehan.
WHEREAS, the term of office for John Sparks on the Zoning Board of Appeals expired on April 18, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sparks has indicated that he is interested in serving another term on the board.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that John Sparks be reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term to expire on April 21, 2023.
Upon vote for the adoption of said resolution, the vote was:
YEAS: Council Members Sheid, Meyers, Davis, Feehan and Miller
NAYS: None
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 21ST DAY OF APRIL, 2020.
D. Resolution only - RE: Bonita Steele reappointment to Zoning Board of Appeals on March 17, 2020
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-04-12
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN REAPPOINTING BONITA STEELE TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 21st day of April, 2020.
PRESENT: Council Members Mike Sched, Jore!Davis, Bruce Meyers, Douglas Feehan and Bruce Miller
ABSENT: None
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Council Member Scheid and seconded by Council Member Feehan.
WHEREAS, the term of office for Bonita Steele on the Zoning Board of Appeals expired on March 21, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Steele was reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals at the March 17, 2020 City Council Meeting.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that Bonita Steele be reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term to expire on March 17, 2023.
Upon vote for the adoption of said resolution, the vote was:
YEAS: Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers, Feehan and Miller
NAYS: None
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 21ST DAY OF APRIL, 2020.
Moved by Scheid supported by Feehan to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes - all.
Reports by Council Liaisons
Meyers met with the Belding Housing Commission on April 16th. A Public Hearing was held, discussing the five-year annual plan, which was required for the RAD conversion. The Board reviewed a temporary worker program and approved the program.
New Business
A. Moved by Scheid, supported by Feehan to discuss the Tentative Budget Adoption and Resolution for FY 2020/21. City Manager, John Niemela requested the City Council to adopt the Tentative Budget Adoption & Resolution for FY 2020/21. Meyers indicated that he had some questions inthe Budget including the pavilion repair work. Meyers suggested formalizing a plan as to what will be done by employees and what will be done by contractors, and then come back to Council. Additionally Meyers stated that he did not make it to the Budget Workshop and would like to lmow what Fire Chief Lubitz is in need of, as well as justification for the front loader for DPW and the police car for the Police Department. Niemela stated that the next step is to hold a public hearing to start the process toward adopting the 2020/21 FY Budget. The Tentative Budget and Resolution was adopted by the following roll call vote: yes-all.
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-04-13
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN ADOPTING THE FY 2020/21 TENTATIVE BUDGET.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 21st day of April, 2020.
PRESENT: Council Members Mike Scheid, Jore!Davis, Bruce Meyers, Doug Feehan and Mayor Brad Miller
ABSENT: None
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Council Member Scheid and supported by Council Member Feehan.
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the FY 2020/21 Tentative Budget; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Belding's budget ordinance requires that the tentative budget be adopted; and,
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed budget will be set for May 5, 2020.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the FY 2020/21 Tentative Budget is hereby adopted.
AYES: Council Members Scheid, Davis, Meyers, Feehan and Mayor Miller
NAYS: None
RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 21ST DAY OF APRIL, 2019.
B. Niemela proposed implementing a Traffic Control Order and Resolution regarding a parking issue on Wells Street due to the increased use of the Flat River Trail. The unrestricted parldng is causing traffic congestion and posing difficulty for the DPW trucks and Pitsch tanker tracks to navigate the area. The Council Members discussed the parldng situation at length brainstorming ideas of blocking the parldng on the south side of the road only, or limiting the parking hours of the south side of the road to non-business hours only, using street funding to expand the road or looldng for another option for a new trailhead (possibly Front Street). Moved by Miller, supported by Davis to install a new No Parldng sign on the south side of the street with the exception of the east side where the parldng lot is located. Motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote: Yes - Davis, Meyers, Feehan and Miller. No - Scheid
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-04-14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN APPROVING TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDER # 0020-01.
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 21st of April, 2020.
PRESENT: Council Members Mike Scheid, Jore!Davis, Bruce Meyers, Doug Feehan and Mayor Brad Miller
ABSENT: None
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Mayor Miller and seconded by Council Member Davis.
WHEREAS, Police Chief Dale Nelson, Traffic Engineer for the City of Belding, has requested the approval of Traffic Control Order # 0020-01; and,
WHEREAS, the traffic order concerns the installation of:
1. Install new NO PARKING signs on Wells Street.
2. NO PARKING signs to be installed on south side of road with the exception of the east side where the parking lot is located.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Belding must approve a traffic order to make it a permanent addition to traffic control orders.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that pursuant to Subsection 2.53 as amended, of Section 82.26 of Chapter 82 of the Code of the City of Belding, Traffic Control Order #0020-01 is hereby approved.
Upon vote for the adoption of said resolution, the vote was:
YEAS: Council Members Davis, Meyers, Feehan and Mayor Miller
NAYS: Council Member Scheid
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 21ST DAY OF APRIL, 2020.
City Manager Comments
Niemela reported that the road signs citing the Veterans Memorial Park, as proposed by Holly Noble earlier this year, have been approved by the Highway Department. All four signs entering the City will have these signs. The signs should be up by Memorial Day. There is zero cost to the City as a generous benefactor came forward and paid for the signs.
Meyers commented that Becky Schlienz, City Treasurer, did a great job on the Budget and explained the Major Street Fund ending balance to him. The City continues to have a strong fund balance in both the local and major street funds at no increase to the residents. The Housing Commission also talked about funding as they are pushed on their budgets.
Mayor Miller commented on how we have been thrown into the use of technology for virtual meetings due to COVID-19 and how well we have done so quickly. Mayor Miller stated that electronic communications, via the use of ipads or some other manner could be used to send agenda packets to alleviate the cost of assembling and distributing paper packets. Mayor Miller stated that City Council will discuss that at a later time.
Council Comments
Davis thanked Mayor Miller for getting City Council up and going on ZOOM so we could hold a virtual meeting. Davis would like his agenda packet emailed; do not send it in the mail.
