REGULAR MEETING
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Pere Marquette Depot
100 Depot Street
7:00 p.m.
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, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego, took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Jeannine Leary, Jorel Davis and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: None
Moved by Leary, seconded by Gladding to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
John Chickering of Chickering & Associates gave an electronic presentation discussing and demonstrating options for communication enhancements to the city website, including broadcast emails and texts. (A handout is on file in the Clerk’s Office.) Mayor Meyers requested the matter to be placed on the next agenda, with Chickering attending, so the council members could have some time to review the proposal and ask any further questions at that time.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Consent Agenda is as follows:
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 81753 to 81795 in the amount of $66,053.12
B. Approve Minutes: City Council regularly scheduled meeting – May 21, 2024
Gladding reported that ZBA met and approved a variance for a driveway due to the large size of the parcel and the length of the driveway. The ZBA sent the ordinance to the Planning Commission to for review, to consider amendments for this type of situation. Gladding reported that there is a Solid Waste meeting on Thursday.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission met last Tuesday. They discussed the start of the Master Plan.
Leary reported that the Museum Board met on May 28th. There was a pre-bid meeting on May 29th for the repairs to the Belrockton, the janitor position was filled, Jill Mason and Jan Mehney requested to be reappointed to the Museum Board and they elected their executive board.
Steele reported that she has been in communication with Mike McCarty to schedule a grand opening for lightning bend as the improvements were over half a million dollars.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission met and conducted and conducted routine business. They additionally made changes to various policies by resolution.
A. Moved by Leary seconded by Gladding to approve the Resolution 2024-05-14 to Amend Museum Advisory Board Expiration Dates and Amend Current Member Terms. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH EXPIRATION DATES FOR THE TERMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE MUSEUM ADVISORY BOARD
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 4th day of June, 2024.
WHEREAS, the City of Belding has established a Museum Advisory Board governed by the Belding City Charter, Section 2-261 Establishment; and,
WHEREAS, the Museum Advisory Board currently meets every 4th Tuesday of the month; and,
WHEREAS, for purposes of consistency and clarity, effective June 4, 2024 all staggered terms for the members of the Museum Advisory Board shall expire on the 30th of April; and,
WHEREAS, it will be necessary to shorten or lengthen the current terms of the existing Museum Advisory Board members to accomplish the establishment of a consistent and clear expiration date; and;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Belding hereby approves that the expiration date for all members of the Museum Advisory Board shall expire on the 30th of April to wit:
Bruce Feuerstein – April 30, 2025
Barb Fagerlin – April 30, 2025
Peggy Crystler – April 30, 2025
Angie Terry – April 30, 2026
Don Bryant – April 30, 2026
Jill Mason – April 30, 2027
Jan Mehney – April 30, 2027
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk will notify the aforementioned Museum Advisory Board members of their new term expiration date.
RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 4TH DAY OF JUNE, 2024.
A. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve FY 2023/24 Budget Amendments as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
B. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to approve the Special Events Application for the 50th Anniversary Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball tournament. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
C. Reappointments to Museum Board
1. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to reappoint Jill Mason and Jan Mehney to the Museum Advisory Board with terms to expire on April 30, 2027. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes- all.
D. Moved by Davis, seconded by Leary to approve the Application submitted by Pyrotecnico Fireworks, Inc. for a Fireworks Permit for Belding Labor Day. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
City Manager Jon Stoppels commented on the following topics of interest:
· Memorial Day - Parks and cemetery were mowed
· Presented photo documentation of the grounds and cemeteries throughout Memorial Day weekend
· No negative comments were received about the cemeteries on Memorial Day weekend
· Central Riverside Park pavilion has new siding and was painted
· Working with local students to do volunteer maintenance around the city parks
· Looking into a potential long-term loan for the renovations at the new City Hall
· C2AE will be coming to the new City Hall building on Friday to start their analysis of renovations
· Music by the River begins this Thursday
· Silk City Market begins this Saturday
Leary commented on the following:
· Thanked everyone in attendance
· The cemetery still looked great this morning
Steele commented on the following:
· Thanked everyone in attendance
· Thanked Chickering for his presentation; she in in favor of the technology
· If the enhancements are approved for the website, to possibly use election funds to pay for a portion of the cost
Gladding commented on the following:
· Thanked Chickering for his presentation
Davis commented on the following:
· Thanked Chickering for his presentation
· Congratulated Mackenzie Linebaugh on receiving a scholarship from the Belding Area Community Foundation (BACF)
Mayor Meyers commented on the following:
· BACF
· Thanked Chickering for his presentation
· Thanked Becky Schlienz, Finance Director, for her work on the budget
· Commented that the cemeteries looked good over Memorial Day weekend
· Hopes that the commitment to the cemeteries continues
· The city will continue to eliminate trees in the cemetery and plant grass
· Thanked Jill Mason and Jan Mehney for their volunteer time around the city
· If the park grants are not awarded to Belding, that we move forward with park improvements with the funds that have already been committed by the city for the improvements
· Thanked Gladding for her work on getting student volunteers
· Music by the River
· Improvements noticed regarding the weeding that has been done around town
· Silk City Market
· Thanked City council for all their work
Moved by Steele, seconded by Leary to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
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Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae Ortego, City Clerk