REGULAR MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, September 7, 2021
PERE MARQUETTE DEPOT
100 DEPOT 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, 100 Depot Street at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Councilmember Mike Scheid gave the Invocation.
Mayor Meyers led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Clerk, Janae Cooper took the roll call:
Members present: Jorel Davis, Bonita Steele, Mike Scheid, and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: Doug Feehan
Moved by Scheid, seconded by Steele to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes - All.
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 76686 to 76804 the amount of $204,362.64
Approve Independent Bank – ACH Transaction Approval Confirmation
B. Approve Minutes: Regular scheduled meeting, August 17, 2021
Closed Session meeting, August 17, 2021
Scheid commented on the Labor Day festivities and thanked all who had anything to do with it.
Davis reported on the Planning Commission meeting where they voted to change a temporary ordinance to permanent industrial. The Planning Commission will be looking at adding some verbiage to B2 zoning.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission met on August 19th. They went over staffing and financial reports. The contractor’s work on the rehab project has been completed and the final payment has been made. The RAD closing has been completed. They may still do some paving.
Davis noted that there is a vacancy on the Planning Commission as Amy Boyd’s term expired.
A. Rezone 1009 James Street – second read – Moved by Scheid, seconded by Steele to approve the rezone of 1009 James Street from B2 General Business to RM-1 Multi-Family. The first-read took place on March 2, 2021. Prior to the second reading, the owner, Ryan Storey requested the City to hold off as he was considering other alternatives. He has now requested the City to move forward with the second read. Although six months have passed the council can still consider the request. Motion carried 3-1 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Steele, Davis, Meyers
Nays: Scheid
The Rezone 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) to RM-1 (Multiple-Family Residential District) is legally described as:
CITY OF BELDING, SABINS ADDITION, LOTS 15 & 16 EXC NORTH 10 FT OF EAST 1/2 LOT 16 BLOCK 2
Location: 1009 James Street, Belding, Michigan.
Parcel: 34-403-160-000-145-00
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.
A. Zoning Map Amendment – 1331 W. State Street – first read
The City Council acknowledged the first read of the request for an amendment to the Zoning Map at 1331 W. State Street.
The proposed Zoning Map Amendment is as follows:
B. Moved by Davis, seconded by Scheid to bring the “ZBA Final Decision” form to the floor. City Manager John Niemela reported that it was brought to his attention that several municipalities issue this type of form to applicants who come before their ZBA Boards. As our ZBA meets only as needed, it may be months between meetings for minutes to be approved. This form would be issued at the time of the ZBA’s decision and would provide the applicant with documentation and what parameters to follow, if any. As a courtesy to the ZBA Board, the City Council recommended to get the ZBA Boards’ approval/input before voting on implementing the form. (The form is on file in the City Clerk’s Office).
C. Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to accept the resignation of City Council Member Doug Feehan effective September 7, 2021. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all. (The formal resignation is on file in the Clerk’s Office).
D. Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to bring the City Manager search to the floor. Niemela advised that Michigan Municipal League (MML) has offers three different levels of Executive Searches. They typically take up to 120 days or longer. The City could be without a manager when Niemela’s contract runs out. Davis noted that it appears that municipalities with comparable population to the City of Belding use MML’s services. Mayor Meyers requested Niemela to coordinate a presentation/proposal with MML for the next regular City Council meeting, including options if time runs out.
City Manager John Niemela reported that Fleis & Vandenbrink will attend the next regular City Council meeting to discuss hydrogeological studies at the wastewater treatment plant that EGLE is requesting to be performed. Additionally, there will a Closed Session at the next regular meeting with Plunkett/Cooney to discuss a city lawsuit.
Steele commented on the Park Budget and the condition of the tennis courts. Niemela advised that the tennis courts are unsafe; they were not resurfaced properly. They need to be torn up and replaced and currently the Rec Board utilizes their grant funding sources on other projects. Steele inquired on the status of the renovations/repairs on the Depot. Niemela advised that we are still waiting on the state to provide the wording for the bid process as it must be stated in the RFP.
Davis commented on the Labor Day festivities and thanked the committee and volunteers. He additionally thanked everyone who was at the meeting for attending.
Mayor Meyers commented the Labor Day festivities. He thanked Doug Feehan for his service both as a former employee of the City of Belding and as a council member and he thanked John Niemela for what he does, his extreme professionalism and passion for the city. Mayor Meyers also thanked everyone who was at the meeting for in attending.
Moved by Scheid seconded by Davis Steele to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
_______________________________ _______________________________
Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae K. Cooper, City Clerk