CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Belding Museum, 108 Hanover Street
7:00 p.m.
A meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at the Belding Museum on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:22 p.m. He gave the Invocation and led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk, Janae Cooper, took the roll call:
Members Present: Bruce Meyers, Doug Feehan, Jorel Davis and Bonita Steele.
Members Absent: Mike Scheid
Moved by Feehan, seconded by Steele to excuse Scheid per section 4.5 of the City Charter. Motion approved by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
Moved by Feehan, seconded by Davis, to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
Sam Mason, 516 W. Main Street, sought clarification of what could be commented on during the first Public Comment.
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 76141 to 76212 in the amount of $82,068.17.
Approve Independent Bank – File Approval Confirmation
Approve Independent Bank – ACH Transaction Approval Confirmation
B. Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meetings May 4, 2021
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission will meet on May 20th.
A. Moved by Feehan, seconded by Davis to approve the rezone of property located at 1001 W. State Street. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all. The Ordinance is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
COUNTY OF IONIA
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF BELDING MICHIGAN, INCORPORATED IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELDING (BELDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 452) BY SECTION 3.2, OF THE BELDING CITY CODE.
THE CITY OF BELDING ORDAINS
SECTION 1 The Zoning Map incorporated in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Belding by Section 3.2, of the Belding City Code is amended as follows:
The property rezoned from B-2 (General Business) and I-1 (Industrial) to R-2 (Single Family Residential District) is legally described as:
City of Belding PT N 1/2 SEC 15-8-8 Commencing North 1/4 Corner then North 89°47’59”E 353 feet to Point of Beginning; then north 89°47’59”E 110 feet, then south 00°57’49”west 2657.69 feet, then south 89°52’34”west 1696.67 feet, then north 00°53’05”east 990 feet, then north 89°52’34”east 828.06 feet, then north 00°57’49”east 1306.49 feet, then north 89°47’59”E 400 feet, then north 00°57’49”east 50 feet, then north 89°47’46”east 240 feet, then S00°57’49”west 20 feet then north 89°47’46”east 120 feet, then north 00°57’49”east 330 feet to Point of Beginning.
Location: 1001 West State, Belding, Michigan.
Parcel: 34-401-250-000-317-10
SECTION 2 All other parts of the zoning map and zoning ordinance are affirmed and shall remain unchanged.
SECTION 3 A copy of this Ordinance shall be filed with the Ionia County Register of Deeds.
SECTION 4 This Ordinance shall be published as provided in the City Charter and shall become effective ten (10) days after publication.
B. Moved by Feehan, seconded by Steele to approve the Social Media Policy for the City of Belding. The City Manager, John Niemela distributed a copy of a proposed Communication Policy at the May 4 City Council Meeting. He emailed a revised draft to Council Members on May 6. Hearing no objections, additions or subtractions, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all. The policy is on file in the Clerk’s Office.
CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN APPOINTING PETER REECE TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 18th day of May, 2021.
WHEREAS, open seats are available on the Downtown Development Authority with a term to expire four years from the date of appointment (May 18, 2025); and
WHEREAS, Peter Reece has indicated that he is interested in serving a term on the Downtown Development Authority.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that Peter Reece be appointed to the Downtown Development Authority with a term to expire on May 18, 2025.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF MAY, 2021.
B. 4th Request to Extend Purchase Agreement with Rite Aid – Mayor Meyers gave some background on the proposed deal with Rite Aid. They are requesting a 4th extension, to expire on July 1, 2021, on the proposed purchase. Rite Aid did not have a representative at the meeting as they informed the Mayor that they did not have enough lead time to make arrangements to attend. Mayor Meyers expressed some concern with the length of time the proposed deal has taken and it may possibly be 2-5 years before they build. He is not in favor to wait five years however it would be prudent at this point to extend for one more month. Steele was not in favor of the one-month extension. Feehan did not agree with the extension. Davis noted that Rite Aid confirmed that they will finally be in front of their board the second week of June – this is what we have been waiting for. Feehan thought their meeting was in May. Davis will not agree to waiting five years for them to build. Steele inquired as to why (even with COVID) they haven’t been able to go before their board for two years. Mayor Meyers advised the council members that the City Manager, John Niemela is the only one who has dealt with them (Rite Aid) from the beginning. There are two previous mayors that were involved in this. Feehan advised that someone else has put a bid in on the property. Bruce Feuerstein, a member of the pubic, requested to speak on the matter. Mayor Meyers allowed Feuerstein to address the City Council. Feuerstein advised that this started in April, 2019. All involved parties were to work together with him and that has not happened. Feuerstein asked the Council to reconsider the proposed deal with Rite Aid as it is bad public policy. Steele thanked Feuerstein for sharing his side of the story and thanked the Mayor for allowing him to speak. The motion to extend the purchase agreement failed by the following roll call vote: yes – Davis and Mayor Meyers; no – Feehan and Steele.
C. Moved by Feehan, seconded by Steele to adopt the FY 2021/22 Budget. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – Feehan, Steele and Mayor Meyers; no – Davis. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021/22 MUNICIPAL BUDGET.
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Council Member Feehan and supported by Council Member Steele.
WHEREAS, the City Manager of the City of Belding, Michigan has submitted to the Mayor Charter; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan have studied and reviewed said budget; and,
WHEREAS, a public hearing on said budget was held on May 4, 2021, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.4 of the Belding City Charter; and,
WHEREAS, the City Clerk of the City of Belding has in accordance with Section 11.4 of the City Charter, and P.A. 621 of 1978, published notices of time and place of holding such hearings, and of the availability to the public of such proposed budget.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that they hereby appropriate the following sums of money deemed necessary to defray all the necessary expenses, liabilities and reserves of the City of Belding, Michigan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the objects and purposes for which said appropriations are to be expended and the amount appropriated which authorizes such expenditures, as provided in the City Charter and City Code for each center and purpose are specified as follows:
APPROPRIATION CENTERS
| GENERAL OPERATING FUND | |
| City Council | $ 12,196 |
| City Manager | 132,304 |
| Finance & Administrative Services | 243,204 |
| City Clerk | |
| Central Municipal Activities | 191,796 |
| Cemetery | 77,796 |
| Police Department | 953,196 |
| Fire Department | 694,050 |
| Park Maintenance | 170,296 |
| Interfund Transfers | 92,000 |
| Belrockton Community Center | 25,996 |
| Community Promotions | 5,500 |
| Planning & Community Development | 28,000 |
| Contingency | 42,000 |
| | |
| TOTAL GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $2,788,138 |
| | |
| MAJOR STREET FUND | 708,600 |
| | |
| LOCAL STREET FUND | 470,000 |
| | |
| DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | 16,671 |
| | |
| DRUG FORFEITURE FUND | 2,500 |
| | |
| LIBRARY | 462,950 |
| | |
| MUSEUM FUND | 20,300 |
| | |
| SRF BOND PAYMENT FUND | 8,797 |
| | |
| CIB BOND PAYMENT FUND | 24,770 |
| | |
| LIBRARY DEBT FUND | 96,000 |
| | |
| CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND | 139,061 |
| | |
| DIAL-A-RIDE | 357,997 |
| | |
| SEWER FUND | 1,748,734 |
| | |
| WATER FUND | 992,617 |
| | |
| INTERNAL SERVICE FUND | 280,000 |
| | |
| BUILDING & GROUNDS FUND | 120,000 |
| | |
| MOTOR POOL FUND | 493,655 |
| | |
| HEALTH INSURANCE FUND | 530,000 |
| | |
| TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS | $9,260,790 |
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following amounts appropriated and allocated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022, be and the same hereby are directed to be raised by mill levy as follows:
| | AMOUNT | AMOUNT TO BE RAISED | |
| | APPROPRIATED | BY MILL LEVY TAXATION | |
| | | | |
| Capital Improvements | $ 142,000 | $ 140,000 | |
| General Purpose | $ 2,789,800 | $1,675,000 | |
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for the purpose of raising said amounts by taxation in 2021-22, the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan does hereby levy a tax of 17.9500 mills per dollar on the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the corporate limits of the City of Belding, and further, said mill levy shall include 15.9500 mills for the General Fund Operation, and 2.00 mills for Capital Improvements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an administrative fee of 1% shall be added and collected for all units of government - said fee to be continued until rescinded.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is hereby authorized to make budgetary transfers within the appropriation centers, also known as funds, established through this budget, except that all transfers between appropriation centers may be made only by further action of the City Council, pursuant to the provisions of the Michigan Uniform Accounting and Budgeting Act; and that the City Manager is hereby authorized to release bidding documents for those capital items requiring bids. Bidding documents may also be described as Requests for Proposals.
THIS RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF MAY, 2021.
County Commissioner Dave Hodges gave updates on the COVID Relief funds that the County received, the Road Commission pension status and Pitsch Landfill’s expansion proposal. A committee is being formed to discuss their proposal.
Sam Mason, 516 W. Main Street, commented on the Rite Aid extension failing, the delinquent water bill at the mall and Rite Aid.
Davis thanked everyone for coming, thanked Becky Schlienz, City Treasurer for attending and for her work on the budget, thanked Bruce Feuerstein for his comments and congratulated Peter Reece on his appointment to the DDA.
Feehan thanked everyone for coming and thanked Schlienz and Feuerstein individually.
Mayor Meyers commented on the way city government works. He thanked Schlienz and Feuerstein for attending. He commented on the layout of the financial spreadsheets. Mayor Meyers also informed everyone that the Deer Crossing signs requested a few meetings ago during Public Comment have been purchased.
Moved by Feehan, seconded by Steele to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All
_____________________________ ____________________________
Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Cooper, City Clerk