REGULAR MEETING

BELDING CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Pere Marquette Depot

100 Depot Street

7:00 p.m.

 

 

Motions

 

A meeting of the Belding City Council was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, Belding, MI 48809, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

   

Mayor ProTem Jorel Davis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

City Clerk, Janae Ortego, took the roll call:

 

Members present:           Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers (arrived at 7:09 p.m.) 

 

Members absent:             Jeannine Leary

 

Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to excuse the absence of Leary per section 4.5f of the City Charter.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  yes – all. 

 

Approval of Agenda

Mayor ProTem Davis, made the following amendments to the Agenda: Move Item A under New Business to Item E., moving all other New Business items up by one.  Motion to approve the amended agenda carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.

 

Guest

Dawn Lund, Utility Financial Services, gave a presentation and brief review of the new water and sewer rates and how they will be calculated.  A brief question and answer session took place following the presentation. 

 

Public Hearings

Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to open the Public Hearing to consider establishing an Industrial Development District for the property located at 401 Crawford.  The request was discussed at the last City Council meeting.  Ryan Wilson, ICEA Director, was present to answer any questions.  Hearing none, Gladding moved to close the Public Hearing.  Davis seconded the motion.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.

 

Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to open the Public Hearing to adopt the FY 2023/24 Budget.  Hearing no questions or discussion, Gladding moved to close the Public Hearing.  Davis seconded the motion.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

 

Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to open the Public Hearing on the Proposed Water System Improvements.  Elaine Venema of Fleis & Vandenbrink did a brief presentation regarding the improvements. Additionally, the presentation was a requirement of the state that the city needed to do to comply with to be eligible to qualify for Drinking Water State Revolving Funding dollars for drinking water improvements.  Venema took questions from the public, including Bob Brown, Sam Mason and Cherie Peabody.  Hearing no further questions or comments, Davis moved to close the Public Hearing.  Gladding seconded the motion.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

 

Consent Agenda

A.         Approve Independent Bank Checks 79829 to 79909 in the amount of $459,795.31

         Approve Independent Bank ACH Notifications – (4)

B.      Approve Minutes:                                                                                

         City Council regularly scheduled meeting – May 2, 2023                      

                                                                            

Reports by Council Liaisons

Steele reported that the Rec Board met and discussed the following topics of interest:

·         Continued to work on enhancing and improving forms

·         Briefly discussed the Budget

·         Steele, City Manager Jon Stoppels, a representative from Williams and Works and neighbors near Lightning Bend Park met to discuss an issue with a proposed parking lot.  The DNR was contacted and agreed to remove the parking lot from their plans.

 

Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission met and discussed the following topics of interest:

·         Approved routine bills

·         Heard routine reports

·         Discussed utility increases

·         Bids for doors for four properties

·         Staff training due to regulation changes

·         The next Housing Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, June 15 at 6:15 p.m.

 

New Business

A.   Moved by Gladding, seconded by Davis to approve the Resolution establishing an Industrial Development District for the property located at 401 Crawford.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.  The Resolution is as follows:

 

CITY OF BELDING

RESOLUTION NO. 2023-05-06

RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH AN INDUSTRIAL

DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

 

Resolution Establishing an Industrial Development District for William Bennett, Owner of C3-23, LLC

 

WHEREAS,    pursuant to PA 198 of 1974, as amended, this City Council has the authority to establish "Industrial Development Districts" within the City of Belding; and

 

*WHEREAS,  William Bennett, owner of C3-23 LLC  has petitioned this City Council to establish an Industrial Development District on its property located in the City of Belding hereinafter described; and

 

**WHEREAS, construction, acquisition, alteration, or installation of a proposed facility has not commenced at the time of filing the request to establish this district; and

 

WHEREAS,    written notice has been given by mail to all owners of real property located within the district, and to the public by newspaper advertisement in the Greenville Daily News and/or public posting of the hearing on the establishment of the proposed district; and

 

WHEREAS,    on May 16, 2023 a public hearing was held at which all owners of real property within the proposed Industrial Development District and all residents and taxpayers of the City of Belding were afforded an opportunity to be heard thereon; and

 

WHEREAS,    the Belding City Council deems it to be in the public interest of the City of Belding to establish the Industrial Development District as proposed; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Belding City Council of the  City of Belding that the following described parcel of land situated in City of Belding, County of Ionia, and State of Michigan, to wit:

 

Parcel ID:  401-090-000-010-00  Tax Description: The South 30 feet of Lot 2 and all of Lots 3,4, & 5, Belding & Ellis’Addition to the Village (now City) of Belding, Ionia County, Michigan, according to the recorded plat thereof.  And Lots 30 & 31, Belding & Ellis’ Addition to the Village (Now City) of Belding, Ionia County.

 

is established as an Industrial Development District pursuant to the provisions of PA 198 of 1974, as amended, to be known as TBD Industrial Development District No. TBD.

RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED.

Those statements with * and ** before them can be removed and replaced with the following statement “Whereas, the (governing unit) on its own inititive seeks to establish an Industrial Development District on property located within the (governing unit) boundaries; and” if the governing body is the one seeking to establish the district boundaries.

 

B.     Approve Special Events Applications

1.    Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to approve the Special Events Application for the Belding Middle School Picnic as presented.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

2.    Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to approve the Special Events Application for the Disc Baron Disc Golf Tournament at SMASH park as presented.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

3.    Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to approve the NFG Ladies Day Camp Special Events Application as presented.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

C.   Moved by Steele, supported by Gladding to adopt the FY 2023/24 Budget.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.  The Resolution is as follows:

 

CITY OF BELDING

RESOLUTION NO. 2023-05-07

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 MUNICIPAL BUDGET.

 

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 16^th day of May, 2023.

 

WHEREAS,   the City Manager of the City of Belding, Michigan has submitted to the Mayor Charter and City Council a budget for Fiscal Year 2023/24 as required by the Belding City 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 16, 2023, 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, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024.

 

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	$    29,796
City Manager	192,004
Finance & Administrative Services	249,496
City Clerk	161,146
Central Municipal Activities	257,600
Cemetery	62,208
Police Department	1,141,908
Fire Department	663,454
Park Maintenance	154,804
Interfund Transfers	53,000
Belrockton Community Center	33,208
Community Promotions	10,000
Planning & Community Development	67,000
Contingency	46,000
TOTAL GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS	$3,121,624
MAJOR STREET FUND	789,400
LOCAL STREET FUND	357,000
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	16,000
DRUG FORFEITURE FUND	2,500
LIBRARY	501,990
MUSEUM FUND	9,450
SRF BOND PAYMENT FUND	6,000
CIP BOND PAYMENT FUND	16,850
LIBRARY DEBT FUND	96,000
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND	767,380
DIAL-A-RIDE	539,238
SEWER FUND	1,137,762
WATER FUND	964,537
INTERNAL SERVICE FUND	380,000
BUILDING & GROUNDS FUND	130,000
MOTOR POOL FUND	401,000
HEALTH INSURANCE FUND	407,000
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS	$12,765,355

 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following amounts appropriated and allocated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024, 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          $   767,685                 $   60,000

General Purpose                  $ 3,121,624                $1,850,000

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for the purpose of raising said amounts by taxation in 2023-24, the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan does hereby levy a tax of 16.7906 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 .8406 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 16TH DAY OF MAY, 2023.

 

D.   Moved by Davis, supported by Gladding to adopt the Final Project Planning Document for Water System Improvements.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.  The Resolution is as follows:

 

 

CITY OF BELDING

RESOLUTION NO. 2023-05-08

 

A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A FINAL PROJECT PLANNING DOCUMENT

FOR WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS 

AND DESIGNATING AN AUTHORIZED PROJECT REPRESENTATIVE

 

WHEREAS, the City of Belding recognizes the need to complete water system improvements; and 

 

WHEREAS, the City of Belding authorized Fleis & VandenBrink to prepare a Project Planning Document, which recommends replacement of lead and galvanized service lines and watermain replacement and upsizing; and

 

WHEREAS, said Project Planning Document was presented at a Public Meeting held on May 16th, 2023 at 7 p.m. and all public comments have been considered and addressed.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Belding formally adopts said Project Planning Document and agrees to implement the selected Alternative D, which includes replacement of approximately 594 lead and/or galvanized service lines and replacing 2-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch watermain with 8-inch watermain, pending project funding.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager, a position currently held by Jon Stoppels, is designated as the authorized representative for all activities associated with the project referenced above, including the submittal of said Project Planning Document as the first step in applying to the State of Michigan for a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan to assist in the implementation of the selected alternative.

           

I certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the City of Belding Council on May 16^th, 2023.

 

E.  Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to adopt the Resolution to approve water and sewer rate increase.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

The Resolution is as follows:

 

CITY OF BELDING

RESOLUTION NO. 2023-05-05

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN ESTABLISHING RATES TO BE CHARGED FOR WATER AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL SERVICE IN THE CITY OF BELDING.

 

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 16th day of May, 2023.

 

The following preamble and resolution were offered by Council Member Davis and supported by Council Member Gladding.

 

WHEREAS,    pursuant to Section 86-172 of Chapter 86 of the City Code of the City of Belding, the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan may from time to time review, modify, and revise the rates to be charged for water and sewage disposal service in the City of Belding; and,

 

WHEREAS,    City Staff, along with an outside consultant firm, have completed a water and sewer rate analysis and made recommendations to the Belding City Council for revisions in current rates to be charged for water and sewer disposal services provided by the City of Belding; and,

 

WHEREAS,    the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan has reviewed the current rates to be charged for water and sewer disposal service in the City of Belding and desires to establish a new rate schedule.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that the following rates shall be charged for water and sewage disposal service in the City of Belding for Fiscal Years 2023/2024 – 2026/2027 as outlined below, and that said rates shall become effective with the June 2023 billing and the annual adjustments shall take effect on the June billings of each subsequent year.

 

Water Fee Schedule

 

6.5% YEARLY WATER REVENUE INCREASE

 

 

Water Readiness to Serve Charges

                                   

 

 

 

 

Additional Unit Rates

 

 

 

 

Sewer Fee Schedule

 

35% YEARLY SEWER REVENUE INCREASE IN 2023 & 2024

10% YEARLY SEWER REVENUE INCREASE IN 2025 & 2026

 

Commodity Charges: Each 100 Cubic Feet

 

 

 

Sewer Readiness to Serve Charges

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Unit Rates

 

 

 

This Resolution declared adopted this 16^th day of May, 2023

 

Public Comments

Bob Brown, 759 Jay Street, commented on water bills and also on his request for lighting and cameras at the Veteran’s Memorial Park.

 

Council Comments

Davis congratulated Ortego on her Michigan Professional Municipal Clerk certification.  Davis thanked Lund, Venema, the Rec Board, the ICEA and everyone who attended.

 

Gladding congratulated Ortego and commented on the water and Sewer rate decision.

 

Steele congratulated Ortego and commented on the need for the WWTP.

 

Mayor Meyers thanked Becky Schlienz (City Treasurer) and staff for the work on the budget.  He thanked council for their work on the WWTP and lead line replacement and commented that he hopes the City can get more grant money.  He wished the City Manager, Jon Stoppels a speedy recovery from his illness.  Mayor Meyers apologized for being late as he attended his daughter’s Senior Night.

 

The Mayor called for a brief recess at 8:30 p.m.

 

Back on the Record at 8:35 p.m.

 

Moved by Davis, seconded by Steele to enter into Closed Session per MCL 15.268(d).   

 

Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to return to Open Session at 9:40 p.m.

 

Adjourn

Moved by Davis, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 9:41 p.m.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

 

 

_________________________________________                                              ________________________________________________

Bruce Meyers, Mayor                                     Janae Ortego, City Clerk